It’s not a secret that Pentax is close to release their first mirrorless camera. The chinese blog Sina (Click here) found that picture (not) showing an upcoming new Pentax product. According to Sina that product is positioned above the P&S cameras. Sounds like the rumors we posted the past few months could be true. Read more at https://www.mirrorlessrumors.com/hot-first-pictures-of-the-pentax-nc-mirrorless-system/
Not only the NEX-7 but there is more to come from Sony…the Sony NEX-C3! It has 16 Megapixels but records still HD video only. The design also changed a bit and it looks more elaborated/rugged and in my opinion it’s a very nice camera. I still have no idea when the camera will be announced…
The new firmware fixes the following problem: “If the images are shot with ISO Bracketing mode when “QUICK START MODE”(*1) is set to “ON” and turn off the camera,the camera cannot be turned on again even with ordinary operation.“
You can download the firmware at: http://www.fujifilm.com/support/digital_cameras/software/firmware/x/finepix_x100/fupd.html
There is also a new review by David Pogue from the New Yor Times: “Real photo devotees don’t see a fixed lens as a huge detriment. They see it as a limit that inspires compositional creativity, like the 140-character limit on Twitter. And on the X100, the lens is the equivalent of a 35-millimeter film lens, perfect for portraits and a nice balance for landscapes. If you know how to use aperture and shutter speed controls, no camera on earth gives you quicker and more direct access. “
Fuji is very likely to launch a mirrorless system camera in 2012. And it’s also on of the few players (Unlike Olympus, Pentax or Nikon for example) that is producing their own sensors. So you might be interested to see what they are working on. The japanese blog Egami found a new patent (filed in 2009.9.29 and published 2011.4.14) that discloses a new three layer technology very similar to the current Foveon sensors from Sigma. As you probably know the single RGB pixels are arranged vertically one below another. Theoretically the advantages are:
1) no color artifacts
2) More of the photons entering the camera will be detected (larger pixels compared to Bayer sensor)
3) No need for demosaicing and the separate anti-aliasing filter commonly used to reduce the occurrence or severity of color moiré patterns. As a result we have a higher resolution.
Anyway keep in mind. There is a long way to go before a patent gets used inside real products!
Samsung released a new firmware for the NX10 and NX100 (Download: samsung.co.uk):
“Released today, the upgrade for the NX10 and NX100 models is designed to enhance the ‘steadiness of video recording when moving from subject to subject’, according to Samsung.
‘It also incorporates an enhanced Contrast Auto-Focus, to deliver clearer low contrast shots, even in low light conditions,’ adds the firm.
‘The firmware upgrade also makes these functions faster and quieter than ever, giving photographers the ability to take noise-free professional-looking movies with ease,’ claims Samsung.
Billed improvements also include the availability of the Panorama Shot function in Scene Mode.“
Brandon Remler claims to know that Fuji will release a new X100 firmware upgrade “is set for Thursday the 21st“.
A black X100 rendering made by ThePhoBlographer.
A dpreview forum user who had focusing issues with the new X100 received the following text from Fuji UK: “Sorry for the delay. We have just had confirmation that our office in Japan have been made aware of this as an issue and are looking into it as a matter of urgency. The problem which you describe should be fixable by simply upgrading the firmware. I have been informed that a new firmware version will be released late next week (please keep an eye on our website) which should resolve the problem which you are experiencing.”
You can get the Fuji X100 on [shoplink 100018 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]. But watch out the high price!
There is a list of new reviews:
Laroquephoto
Streetreverbmagazine
Samhurdphotography
Photoreview
The rolling review by Sean Reid.
A readers showcas on Flickr.
Thom Hogan (Click here) tested the Ricoh GXR and all the available modules: “An oddball in the “mirrorless” sweepstakes is the Ricoh GXR. I include it in the mirrorless end of things, because, well, it’s mirrorless and it has interchangeable lensors (more on that term in a moment).”
What does he think about? “I actually like the GXR. It’s not quite a pocket camera with the APS modules (though it may be with the P10 module if you’ve got largish shirt pockets). But it’s definitely a jacket pocket camera, and a very rugged one, at that. The two APS modules perform extremely well in terms of image quality, on par with most 12mp DSLRs. I find that I actually strongly prefer the GXR with the two APS modules to carrying a D3100 with the Voigtlander 20mm and Nikon 35mm f/1.8G lens (the closest I can match to the Ricoh’s focal lengths)” and “In the end, we’re still waiting. The 24-70mm and Leica M-mount modules promise to make the GXR a much more interesting beast, though I’m getting a little tired of buying the same sensor over and over. Especially considering how the 12mp Sony sensor is now a generation behind the times. Still, 12mp is good enough for my carry-all-the-time camera, so the two future APS modules may be just what the doctor ordered. Overall, I think you have to think of the GXR as an odd little DSLR substitute, especially if you use the EVF. As I noted, I like it better than carrying a D3100 around with a few prime lenses.“
Check out the current GXR price at [shopcountry 100059].
