Samsung rumored to have “rewritten” the NX1 firmware code.

Apparently the reason why Samsung delayed the new firmware release for the NX1 is quite…surprising:

A source who shared correct Samsung rumors in the past told me that Samsung has “rewritten” the NX1 code. I don’t know how deep those changes are. We will likely see that new NX1 code with the next firmware update. Let’s hope this means we can expect some great improvements!
 

Sony, Fuji, Panasonic and Olympus announcements in May!

April is almost over and in May we will get plenty of new cameras and lenses. Here is a roundup of the planned announcements:

Sony will announce the A7rII by mid-end May. The A6100 could be announced on the same event or in June along the new RX cameras

Fuji will announce the X-T10 in mid May.

Panasonic will announce the G7 in mid May.

Olympus will release the pricing info of the new 7-14mm PRO lens that will ship in late June (see BHphoto).

Hot US rebates: Up to $300 off on the Samsung NX1 and Sony A7 and A7II!

Today US readers woke up with some great deals available in their country! Up to $300 off on those cameras:

Samsung NX1 rebates at Amazon, Adorama and BHphoto.
Sony Alpha a7II (Body Only) for $1,498 at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama, SonyStore.
Sony Alpha a7II with FE 28-70mm OSS Lens for $1,798 at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama, SonyStore.
Sony Alpha a7 (Body Only) for $998 at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama, SonyStore.
Sony Alpha a7 with FE 28-70mm OSS Lens for $1,298 at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama, SonyStore.

DxO about the NX1 sensor: “Hail the new king of APS-C hybrids!”

DxO (Click here) tested the new Samsung NX1 sensor and indeed it is the best APS-C sensor of all mirrorless cameras yet tested. It beats by a hair the current best of the class, the Sony A6000. DxO writes:

The new sensor in the NX1 has upped the stakes in terms of hybrid image quality, making Samsung’s latest hybrid the current king of mirrorless APS-C cameras in our database.  The BSI sensor is not only the physically largest sensor of its type, but boasting a 28.2 million pixels, it’s also the highest-resolution APS-C hybrid currently available. With an overall DxOMark Sensor Score of 83 points, the NX1 knocks our previous APS-C hybrid champion, the Sony A6000, down into second place with 82 points.

As we’ve also seen with the impressive image quality results from the latest APS-C sensor in the Nikon D7200, the NX1’s smaller chip offers image quality close to that of full-frame sensors. It’s not quite as good, but still, being just one stop behind in all categories against models such as the Sony A7R, the image quality on the NX1 is impressive.

Add to that high-caliber features such as the 205-point autofocus system and 15fps burst shooting, and the NX1 is an attractive-looking proposition. The slightly bulkier design, not to mention the hefty $2400 price tag, will put off some consumers. For the more discerning enthusiast, however, the DSLR-style body, larger handgrip, optional vertical handgrip, external controls, and great image quality will certainly appeal.

Zeiss launches a new autofocus Full Frame lens line for Sony FE!

That’s quite a surprise! Today Zeiss announced a completely new line of lenses for Sony FE cameras! Unlike Loxia those lenses have autofocus and a huge OLED display on the lens!

Preorder links:
Zeiss Batis 85mm f/1.8 lens at Adorama (Click here)
Zeiss Batis 25mm f/2.0 lens at Adorama (Click here)
Lens shade for 25mm at Adorama (Click here)
Lens shade for 85mm at Adorama (Click here)

And here is the press text:

The new ZEISS Batis 2/25 and 1.8/85 lenses are the first full-frame autofocus lenses with an OLED display for the mirrorless Sony ? series and therefore the pioneers of a new era. As professional tools, they enable outstanding outcomes with optimal image performance, impressive contrast and maximum resolution down to the very last detail.
The innovative OLED display shows the distance of the focal plane from the camera system and the depth of fields, therefore ideally supporting creative image composition. For the demanding photographer, the OLED display is an absolute highlight – an innovation that is currently unparalleled in camera lenses.  ZEISS Batis lenses are available in a wide-angle and portrait focal length and are the perfect match for the existing lenses offered for the system. The ZEISS Batis 2/25 and Batis 1.8/85 lenses will be available for purchase from July 2015 – place your order now!

Plenty of more images and video on SonyAlphaRumors.com