The Sigma SD Quattro H will start shipping on December 20 in Japan

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The 45 megapixel Foveon APS-H camera was announced in February ans since then we didn’t hear about it anymore. Today Sigma Japan finally dais it will start shipping the new SD Quattro H on December 20 for a price around 140,000 YEN. There is no word yet about the shipment start and price in other countries. So far BHphoto (Click here) has listed the camera with no preorder option.

The Sigma SD Quattro H specs:

  • APS-H sensor
  • Resolution equal to 51MP Bayer sensor on resolution testing
  • Designed to take advantage of SGV lenses with great IQ
  • SA mount

New October worldwide sales report: Glass is half full and half empty.

sales-system

The image above shows the new October worldwide system camera shipment data (DSLR+Mirrorless). If you are the kind of guy that like to see a glass as half full well the good news is that sales were almost as good as the previous year. Which after 5-6 years of continuous fall is not so bad.

But the glass is also half empty because 2016 will be again a year with worse sales than we had in 2015 (which was already very bad).

Source: Cipa

Tamron announced a new sensor that Exceeds Far Beyond Human Visual Capability

Tamron announced a new sensor (yes they make sensors too) that Exceeds Far Beyond Human Visual Capability. Impressive:

Technology Development Announcement

Imaging Technology that Exceeds Far Beyond Human Visual Capability

– Extrasensory Imaging Technology –

Tamron Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Saitama City, Japan; President & CEO: Shiro Ajisaka), an integrated optics manufacturer announces successful development of an innovative technology, with support of Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) of National Research and Development Agency, that enhances imaging capability far exceeding that of human vision, with critical consistency established between ultra-high sensitivity and wide dynamic range.
This technology is aimed at consistent enhancement of ultra-high sensitivity and wide dynamic range, which has been considered difficult in the past. The ultra-high sensitivity technology enables capturing clear full-color images even under an extreme low brightness of 0.003 lux, which is darker than starlight. The wide dynamic-range performance assures luminance resolution of a range of brightness in excess of 140 dB (a lightness-and-darkness difference of 10 million times).
Consistent implementation of these two technologies opens a new imaging potential that enables vision far beyond human visual capability.

 

Image observed by human eyes

Key Elements of Technology

Three key technologies – Optics, Image Sensor, and Image Processing – have been identified essential, and their effective integration has been studied for the new imaging technology.

 

    • Optical Technology

Development of an extremely low-reflection technology to suppress optical artifacts that arise in ultra-high sensitivity and wide dynamic range, and optical focusing system optimized for imagers.

    • Image Sensor Technology

A proprietary low gain-noise, wide dynamic-range CMOS image sensor was originally developed.

    • Image Processing Technology

Development of a digital noise-reduction technology that does not compromise the resolution of an object in focus or under motion, and a dynamic brightness-range technology that enables luminance resolution for an extreme wide range of low and high brightness.
Thanks Barry!

Canon and Toshiba patented a special curved sensor design

Years ago Sony patented a Full Frame curved sensor design for a fixed lens camera. They yet have to unveil such a product but in the meantime Toshiba and Canon patented such designs too:

The Toshiba patent looks like this:

bildschirmfoto-2016-11-30-um-12-00-20

The Canon patent proposes two variations. A fully curved sensor and a sensor flat in the center and curved on the edge:

bildschirmfoto-2016-11-30-um-11-58-19

A fully curved sensor would require the launch of a completely new system camera as the lenses would have to be redesigned. While the Canon sensor design with flat center and curved edges might work with current lens designs too.

The five new IBERIT lenses for Sony E, Fuji X Leica SL and M will ship in December

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Kipon and Handevision jointly developed five new lenses for the Sony E,  Fuji X Leica SL and M system. These lenses will start shippin in December:

Shanghai, Nov 29,2016. Handevision will begin shipping its new IBERIT series of full frame lenses of 24mm/35mm/50mm/75mm focal lengths with constant aperture f2.4 from the beginning of Dec.This collection are designed for SONY E mount, Leica SL mount, Fuji X mount, also Leica M rangefinder version. The 90mm/f2.4 lens will ship in January 2017.
This series are jointly developed by camera adapter specialist at KIPON and German lens manufacture IB/E OPTICS GmbH . The development endeavor has lasted a year and half before it’s final release. This series now come in four colors choices in response to market demand. Followers and fans are now able to choose to suit their personal preference.