Today Zeiss launched the new Loxia 25mm f/2.4 FE lens.
Preorders at BHphoto (preorders coming soon) and at Photo Porst Neuwied.
Full review by ePhotozine. Hands-on by ThePhoBlographer. Loxia PDF file. Image samples by Zeiss. Product images by Zeiss. Article on Lenspire. Product page on Zeiss.
Panasonic announced the GX9 and the new TZ200 (ZS200 in USA). Preorders are now open:
GX9 at BHphoto. Adorama. Amazon.
ZS200 at BHphoto. Adorama. Amazon.
Press text:
GX9 press text on 43rumors. Imaging Resource. Photolari (spanish).
ZS200 press text on Dpreview. ThePhoBlographer. Photolari (spanish).
Reivews:
GX9: Video review by Photo Richard. Preview by Imaging Resource. Preview by Photographyblog. First impressions by ThePhoBlographer.
ZS200: Hands-on by ePhotozine. Preview by Photographyblog.
After the Panasonic GF10 we got another underwhelming MFT announcement. Olympus announced the E-PL9 which uses the usual 16Mp sensor that feels like 100 years old :)
E-PL9 news coverage:
Review at CameraLabs. Hands-on at Photographyblog. Hands-on by ePhotozine. Dpreview. Olympus Japan. Systemkameraforum (german). Photographyblog. Albedomedia (spanish). Techradar.
Fuji released the Q3 financial report. And the results are impressive: +15.6% revenue increase and +76,1 +76,1% operating income increase. Fuji writes:
In the photo imaging business, overall sales increased due to favorable sales, especially in instant photo systems which enable users to enjoy on-the-spot printing of photos, such as the instax series and instax films in the Year-End shopping season. instax SHARE SP-3, smartphone printer, launched in November 2017, adopted the square format, popular for use in SNS. It advocates a new way of photo printing to boost printing demand among smartphone users. In the high-value-added printing businesses, sales expanded thanks to continued business growth from various services, including Wall Decor services that enhance the fun of decorating and displaying photographs by adding panels to the photographs and framing, the new COYOMI service for creating desktop calendars with favorite photographs, and the Year Album service that uses AI-based proprietary technology to automatically arrange the layout of a photo album.
–
In the electronic imaging field of the optical device and electronic imaging business, overall sales increased due to strong sales of FUJIFILM X-E3, which is achieving the most compact and lightweight body*, offering outstanding operational comfort and launched in September 2017, X Series such as FUJIFILM X-T20, FUJIFILM X100F which were launched in February 2017, FUJIFILM GFX 50S, a medium format mirrorless digital camera, adopting a big sensor (43.8mm by 32.9mm), and interchangeable lenses. In the optical device field, overall sales increased, reflecting the strong sales of various industrial use lenses such as lenses for and vehicle camera and projector, and MK lenses series were also launched as a new series of cinema camera lenses designed for recording video such as online video, whose market is expanding. Fujifilm announced 24x zoom lense UA24 x7.8BE in September 2017, achieving both small, lightweight body and 4K high-definition. With this introduction, Fujifilm has 8 4K broadcast camera lense products and is seeking to lead the field. * As of January 2017 in the X Series of mirrorless cameras equipped with a viewfinder
So you really CAN do good money in the camera business if you make the right products and take care of your customers. Good work Fuji!
image on the page on Meike
Meike announced a new 50mm f/1.7, 25mm f/2.0 and a new 25mm t/2.2 lens which will be available for Sony FE, Canon EF-M, Nikon 1, Fujifilm X and Micro Four Thirds mount cameras. ePhotozine writes:
The lens is comprised of 12 diaphragm blades and has a 0.11x magnification ratio. The lens is set to be available in mid-March.
The lens is yet not available for preorder. But you will soon find it like any other Meike lens on Amazon US, Amazon UK, Amazon DE.
Thanks Mistral!
Canon released the new financial report and there are some good news. Asian Review writes:
An unexpected revival in cameras and multifunction printers provided Canon with its first upturn in full-year net profit in three years. Even as many abandoned hope for growth in such operations, the digital camera market rose for the first time in five years, aided by people’s desire to shine on the photo-sharing social media platform Instagram. Healthy sales of mirrorless cameras propelled Canon to a 22% operating profit gain in a segment that had been on an uninterrupted decline.
Canon also expects 2018 to be an even better year thanks to double-digit growth in the mirrorless segment.
via CanonWatch (Thanks EdinaMN)
Panasonic announced the GF-10 in Japan. And the improvements are so minimal nobody really cared to discuss this “news”. I hope that the GX9 which should be announced soon will at last have some exciting new sensor. And not the usual 5 year old 16MP or 3 year old 20MP sensor.
