CIPA released the April shipment reports. As expected the overall camera shipments numbers are down compared to last year. The good news is that the system camera shipment numbers where higher than in 2017 and 2016. And this is mainly due the increased sales of mirrorless system cameras: +24% in terms of numbers compared to the same month last year. +40% in terms of mirrorless camera value.

Finally a glimpse of hope?

Kamlan announced the new 28mm f/1.4 lens. From June 1 you will be able to preorder it on that Kickstarter page. And they also discloses the roadmap with four more lenses:

All lenses will be available in four mounts and go on sale on Amazon US, Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon FR, Amazon ES and Amazon IT.

After raising over 1 million Dollars for their Digifilm Y35 camera they launched a new Kickstarter campaign for their updated camera version. This has a larger 1/2.5-inch sensor and a faster f/2.8 lens.

Specifications

• 1/2.5-inch CMOS sensor
• 14 megapixel photos
• Built-in viewfinder
• Filter thread comply with 37mm filter (filter is not included)
• Lens cap to protect the Lens
• Apertures of f2.0 with a 4G lens
• High Speed Electronic Shutter
• 5 Steps EV control
• 1-second exposure
• Focal Length 35mm
• A minimum focusing distance of 1.5m (~4.5 feet) to infinity
• SD card storage (wifi card compatible)
• Micro USB connectivity for data transfers
• Tripod mount ready
• Operate with 2 x AA batteries
• Image controlled by digiFilm™

Dimension:

• Body Only: 100 (w) x 64 (h) x 28 (d) mm
• With lens and switch: 110 (w) x 70 (h) x 55 (d) mm

via ThePhoBlographer

Some E-mount lens news:

1) Today Sigma announced the pricing of the new 105mm f/1.4 lens. It costs $1,599 but shipment start has yet to be determined.

2) Samyang will announce a new 24mm f/2.8 FE pancake autofocus lens in June.

Fuji announced the “selfie-friendly” XT100. And you can proerder it now at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama and FocusCamera.

First look reviews:

• keithwee – Informative review of the Fujifilm X-T100: The complete basic camera
• jonasraskphotography – Fujifilm X-T100 Review – Quality on a budget
• ivanjoshualoh – X-T100: Budget Powerhouse
• fujilove – First Look and Impressions

A newly published Nikon patent application (P2018-77520A) confirms Nikon is working on a collapsible Full Frame lens for their new FF mirrorless system camera.

We got a couple of financial news a rumor and an interview to report:

Panasonic full year financial report: Net sales and operating profit increased (43rumors)
Olympus financial report discloses Olympus will keep focusing on high end mirrorless (43rumors).
Canon to reframe the business, scared by further smartphone disruption, report suggests (CanonWatch).
Fujifilm X-T2 Bug Fix Firmware Coming (Fujirumors).
Sony interview at IR: “The 400mm f/2.8 GM will be light and easy to handle” (Imaging Resource).

As a reminder: Next week Fuji will announce a new XT100 camera. Sony should announce a new RX camera in June. Still no news from other companies.