Fuji patent discloses a new three layer sensor (Foveon style)

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 NX10 & NX100 firmware updates (And Fuji X100 firmware coming on Thursday)

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“.

New Fuji X100 firmware coming soon? + new reviews roundup

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.

In deep Ricoh GXR review by Thom Hogan

[shoplink ‘Ricoh GXR’]

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].

Fuji X100 against the rest of the world (Ricoh, Leica and Sigma)

[shoplink 100018 eBay][/shoplink]

There are three new Fuji X100 reviews you can read today.

The Japanese website DC.watch (Click here) compared the Fuji X100 against the other fixed lens cameras. The Leica X1, Sigma DP1x and Ricoh GXR + GR LENS A12 28mm. The text is in Japanese and google translation tool does a terrible job here. So we can’t tel you what the tester conclusions is. But you can take a look at the full-size samples for yourself. And let me know what in your opinion is the best camera!

The french magazine Focus Numerique (Click here) finalized their X100 reviews. The google english translation amkes a little bit more of sense here: “the list of positives and negatives is symptomatic of this duality. Both the X100 we delivers good image quality, features innovative features such as hybrid viewfinder, so it is penalized by small faults (ergonomics, slow). Some of these shortcomings can probably be corrected by a simple firmware update (assign functions to the rocker back button to customize the RAW option to auto ISO sensitivity menu …), others are not. “

You can get the Fuji X100 on [shoplink 100018 eBay]eBay[/shoplink], or preorder on J&R and Digitalrev.

Another review by Sam Hurd (Click here).
Image samples and Hands-on on Flickr (Click here).

New Samsung NX20 and NX200 in July with 18 megapixel sensor???

An anonymous source just sent us the following info. We received similar hints form other sources too that’s why we are going to post it here.
According to the source the NX200 and NX20 will be announced in July. Both camera will be in Stock in September. They will share the same new 18 Megapixel sensor that supports 1080p video recording. Samsung will announce the new 2012 lens roadmap in September. There should be a total of 5 new lenses in 2012.
One more thing: Both, the NX20 and NX200 will have a complete new design!

Links to the current Samsung cameras:
NX10 at .
NX100 at .

Samsung Russia says the NX20 and NX200 with more Megapixel will be announced within 2011

In a Question and Answer session at forum.ixbt a russian Samsung representative said that:
1. New NX cameras will be announced close to summer and will be on sale on the second part of year.
2. There will be no more new GX system cameras.
3. New NX cameras will have more MP than NX10/11/100.
4. Weather-proof NX is not planned

Samsung is currently offering three NX cameras:
The most popular NX camera is the NX100 .
The first NX camera was the NX10 at .
and than the slightly modified NX11 at .