Pentax confirms the imminent launch of two mirrorless systems???

Take it with a BIG grain of salt. According to the russian magazine Onliner (Click here) a Pentax company representative (name Anton Melnikov) commented on plans to produce mirrorless Pentax cameras. He said the first camera based on the APS-C sensor will be released in September this year. It is based on the K bayonet. The second mirrorless system is a compact camera with interchangeable lenses and the matrix 1 / 2, 33 inches.

Let’s see…

Two mirrorless concepts

I am sure many of you already saw those nice mirrorless concept videos and images floating around the web. But for those that might missed them here is a short recap. The video on top shows the WVIL camera. It is a concept camera envisioned by Artefact’s award-winning design team. It answers the question: “what’s next for camera design?”. You can read more info at http://www.artefactgroup.com/wvil/.

And there is also that cool Leica i9 concept (See the image on Engadget). It transforms your in a real rangefinder-mirrorless looking camera.

First images of the upcoming Sony NEX-C3.


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 Fuji X100 firmware is out! (and gets reviewed at the NYC)

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 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“.