As you see from the graph above (Source: Itmedia.jp) five of the TOP 10 most sold system cameras are mirrorless. The data do referr to the last week sales in Japan.
Ricoh announced a new firmware for the GXR system camera. You can download it here: ftp://download.ricohpmmc.com/DC/. The firmware adds new AF and AE tracking systems, along with new scene modes (via Amateur Photographer).
That’s probably a coincidence only but according to sources from Nikonrumors and SonyAlphaRumors both companies will announce their new mirrorless cameras on April 4th. Channelnews reported that “Nikon is set to re-launch their brand in Australia, with a major multimillion dollar marketing campaign, featuring Robbie Williams. The Japanese Company is also introducing several new digital cameras’ ranging in price from $99 to $2,000.” The first ad will air in the UK on April 11th, 2011.
According to our sources the system should be named “Nikon Coolpix PRO“.
Sony will announce the new NEX-C3 mirrorless camera. It should be a minor update of the current NEX-3 with small design changes and same NEX-5 sensor. There is also a good chance that Sigma and Zeiss will announce the new NEX lenses. The Zeiss E-mount lens should be a 24mm f/1.7 lens.
What about the other companies?
Panasonic should have a press release on late April and Pentax will announce their NC mirrorless system in May. If all those rumors are correct by the end of May Canon will be the only company not having a mirrorless system. Let’s see when they are coming…
The latest Nikon patent shows us how Nikon wants to protect the sensor from “dust contamination”. The mount itself will have a shutter that is closed while changing lenses. Smart idea or not?
Publication number: Patent 2011-13399 (P2011-13399A)
Source: Egami
Image of the Canon mirrorless patent found by Egami
Amateur Photographer just posted the text of an interview made with Rainer Fuehres from Canon: “The idea of the compact system camera is nothing to do with whether the camera has a mirror or not, but about creating a small and more portable system. If Canon does take part I hope we won’t introduce just a me-too product, but we’ll use the opportunity to do something different.”… “For Canon it would be about connectivity and providing high image quality in a small form. The manufacturers that have introduced micro Four Thirds and mirrorless systems have been those that have failed to make a success of their mainstream digital SLR offerings“.
But via Photorumors we found a Canon patent that discloses a possible future Canon mirrorless camera (Click here to see the patent at Egami). So Canon, what are you trying to hide?
Nikon Sony and Panasonic are the three companies that should announce new mirrorless products in April. But the earthquake disaster may will force them to delay the new product announcement.
Nikon officially suspended the operations at the Nikon plant at Natori in Sendai “We are unable to announce how soon the operation will resume due to the regional interruption of life-lines although endeavor for restoration are under the way by some of our maintenance personnel.“. And “Injury is reported to some of our group employees. We are currently continuing to gather safety information of our personnel and its family members.“
Panasonic said that “A few employees working at the Fukushima factory, the Sendai factory of AVC Networks Company and at the Koriyama factory of Panasonic Electronic Works received minor injury. Some part of the ceiling and wall were damaged, but there has been no fire or collapse. As regards the impact on our business operations we are in the process of investigation“
Sony halted and evacuated six factories in northeastern Japan: “The company is assessing the impact of power outages and damage to its facilities in the region, which make Blu-ray discs, magnetic heads and batteries.“
Image from a Nikon patent (Source: Nikonrumors.com)
A month ago we told you that Nikon would announce their new mirrorless system in April. Now Nikonrumors got new confirmation from their sources: “Today I received some information from a reliable source that Nikon indeed will be targeting professional users with their mirrorless solution rather than the consumer market. I was told that the announcement will be in the next few weeks.“
We from Mirrorlessrumors do believe that Nikon’s “PRO” system will not be a full frame nor an APS-C sensor based system. They will more likely use a smaller 2.5 crop sensor (Micro Four Thirds has a larger 2.0 crop sensor). It sounds like PRO is more a marketing suffix :)
Olympus Japan just announced that worldwide shipment of the new Olympus lens converters will start on March 18. The Fisheye, wide and macro converter do work on the new 14-42mm II lens, and on the 14-150mm and 40-150mm lenses.
The Japanese website DC.watch.impress (Click here) tested the three new E-PL2 converters. There are many full size image samples you can analyze!
