Olympus discloses details about their E-M1 and E-M5II firmware upgrade coming in November.

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Olympus unveiled that it plans to release a new firmware upgrade for the E-M1 and E-M5II sometimes in November. This is the official press text:

New main features added in firmware upgrade

1) Focus Stacking Mode (OM-D E-M1 only)
Focus Stacking Mode let you shoot macro photos that are completely in focus at all depths. A single press of the shutter button captures 8 shots with different focal positions, automatically merging them into a single shot on the camera. Depth of field larger than that of minimum aperture and high resolution without diffraction can be achieved.

2) Focus Bracketing Mode
This function captures up to 999 shots with the focus position for each shot being changed, allowing you to use photo retouching software to merge the images with larger depth of field that cannot be achieved in focus stacking mode (8 shots).

3) S-OVF (Simulated OVF)
S-OVF enables a view that is similar to that of an optical viewfinder.
Exposure compensation and white balance are purposely not shown in S-OVF so that users who are comfortable with the optical viewfinder in DSLR cameras can use the camera in the exact same way.

4) Movie-Exclusive Picture Mode: Flat (OM-D E-M5 Mark II only)
Movie-Exclusive Picture Mode Flat provides beautiful post-editing or grading color by lowering the contrast to minimize highlight blowouts and loss of detail in shadows.

5) Synchronized PCM Audio Rec. with Movie Recording
Functions have been added for shooting movies when connecting Olympus Linear PCM Recorder LS-100 via USB cable. Slate Tone can be added to make it easier to synchronize the audio and image after recording is complete, and a function for synchronizing the start of audio recording with movie recording on the camera is also available.

6) Enhanced functions on Olympus Capture Version 1.1
You can customize the display of items on the Super Control Panel so that only the required functions are displayed, and you can change the layout for easier access of the most frequently used functions. Direct PC saving is also available and the transfer speed is made faster by saving images directly to a computer without recording to an SD card. Transfer speed is improved up to 4 times faster than before. Tether shooting capabilities are also expanded. Features such as Keystone Compensation are now available to operate via a computer by connecting the camera to a computer.

7) MF Clutch and Snapshot Focus Disable
You can change settings from the menu to disable MF Clutch and Snapshot Focus.

8) Latest firmware for M.Zuiko Pro and Premium lenses
Along with this latest firmware upgrade, latest firmware for the M.Zuiko Pro and Premium lenses will also be released. Aperture drive has been improved for smooth exposure control even when shooting movies in situations with sudden changes in brightness. It also supports for disabling the MF Clutch and Snapshot Focus.

First video shot at 4,5 Million ISO with the Canon ME20F-SH FF camcorder!

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Canon Japan just published the very first video shot with their ME20F-SH Full Frame prototype camera. The camera records up to 4,5 Million ISO. Take that Sony A7s! But in Sony’s defense the Canon has a 2 Megapixel sensor only to make those amazing low light results possible. The image above shows you Zebras walking in the complete darkness. Below you can see one more image of the camera sensor and another 4.5 Million ISO image taken from the video. Full info about the protoype camera can be read at Explora BH.

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The ME20F-SH will ship in December and cost $30,000!

First posted on CanonWatch.

Sony surprises us all and announces the new Sony A7sII!

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Sony announced the new FS5 E-mount camcorder (expected) and the new Sony A7sII (not expected yet). The A6000 successor has not been announced and is probably coming at Photoplus in 1 month. Here are the full A7sII info borrowed from SAR:

Preorders:
A7sII at BHphoto (Click here).

Key specs:
12MP Exmor CMOS sensor
RAW output 14 bit (real or lossy?)
Internal 4K recording with higher dynamic range
5 axis stabilization
Much improved AF in low light conditions (169 AF points)
The A7SII will be available in November 2015, at 3400€.

Press text, Image smaples and videos:
Full Sony specs on that SonyAlphaRumors page.
Sony A7sII official press text: “Out of darkness cometh light” on that SonyAlphaRumors page.
List fo real world pictures of the new Sony A7sII! (SonyAlphaCameras).
Sample photos at Sony.net Gallery.
?7S II – 4K low-light ISO comparison MOVIE | ? | Sony (Youtube video on Sonyalphacameras).
?7S II – 5x Slow Motion “Landscape” in Full HD | ? | Sony (Youtube video on Sonyalphacameras)
?7S II – 5-axis optical image stabilization | ? | Sony (Youtube video on Sonyalphacameras)
?7S II – S-Gamut3.Cine/S-Log3 and S-Gamut3/S-Log3 movie | ? | Sony (Youtube video on Sonyalphacameras)
?7S II – High quality 4K movie “Takigi-noh” in Full frame | ? | Sony (Youtube video on Sonyalphacameras)
?7S II – Fast Intelligent AF for movie | ? | Sony (Youtube video on Sonyalphacameras).

Yes we can! What? A f/0.95 in “almost” pancake format!

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The chinese folks at Zhongyi (aka Mitakon) spilled out what could become a real gem for the Micro Four Thirds world. An “almost” pancake sized 25mm f/0.95 lens! A sort of downsized [shoplink 300282 ebay]Voigtlander Nokton 25mm lens (here on eBay)[/shoplink].

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The developer promises the lens price will be on par with the Nokton but the image quality will actually be higher. And to proof that he also shared those (non full size) image samples:

There is no info on when this lens will ship. We only know it comes in Black only…

Canon announces that it will develop a new 8K Camcorder and 120 Megapixel FF camera.

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Today Canon announced that it is devleoping a new 8K camcorder and 120 Megapixel FF camera. Full press text here:

Canon developing next-generation imaging devices to expand the possibilities of visual expression

TOKYO, September 8, 2015—Canon Inc. announced today that it is developing a Cinema EOS System 8K camera and professional-use 8K reference display that will support the production of next-generation 8K video content, along with a still-image single-lens reflex camera equipped with a CMOS sensor featuring approximately 120 million effective pixels. Through the Company’s proprietary imaging technologies, Canon provides still and video input and output devices that will contribute to the development of imaging culture.

Canon, as a leading company in the field of imaging technology, conducts research and development into devices designed to support cinema and video production with the aim of expanding the boundaries of visual expression. Through the further enhancement of the Cinema EOS System 8K camera and professional-use 8K reference display under development, Canon aims to contribute to smooth production workflows, facilitating not only the input and output of 8K video content, but also such processes as 8K to 4K down-conversion and 4K cropping.

The Cinema EOS System 8K camera being developed will be equipped with a Canon Super 35 mm-equivalent CMOS sensor that makes possible high-resolution 8,192 x 4,320 pixel (approximately 35.39 million effective pixels) imaging performance even at a frame rate of 60 frames per second with 13 stops1 of dynamic range and a richly expressive wide color gamut. Additionally, featuring a body size that realizes outstanding mobility and a design that delivers high levels of operability, along with an EF mount that offers compatibility with Canon’s extensive interchangeable EF lens lineup,2 the camera will support diverse shooting styles and means of visual expression.

Incorporating Canon image-processing technology, the ultra-high-resolution 8K reference display currently under development will achieve high brightness, high contrast (high dynamic range) and a wide color gamut. Additionally, with a pixel density exceeding 300 pixels per inch, a level approaching the limit of human visibility, the display will make possible ultra-realistic imaging that enables the reproduction of subtle changes in light that were previously not possible. Furthermore, when used in combination with the Cinema EOS System 8K camera, the display will be capable of conveying truly impressive levels of visual expression.

Featuring a resolution of approximately 120 effective megapixels, the SLR camera now being developed will incorporate a Canon-developed high-pixel-density CMOS sensor within the current EOS-series platform, which will realize compatibility with the Company’s diverse interchangeable EF lens lineup.3 The high-resolution images that the camera will be capable of producing will recreate the three-dimensional texture, feel and presence of subjects, making them appear as if they are really before one’s eyes. The camera will facilitate a level of resolution that is more than sufficient for enlarged poster-sized printout while also enabling images to be cropped and trimmed without sacrificing image resolution and clarity.

1
A stop is a unit of measurement used to express dynamic range, which refers to the difference between the brightest and darkest areas of an image that can be simultaneously captured.
2
Out of the 96 lenses that make up the EF lens lineup, 78 models (60 EF lenses and 18 EF Cinema Lenses) will be compatible with the 8K camera under development.
3
Out of the 96 lenses that make up the EF lens lineup, 60 models will be compatible with the SLR camera under development.

Source: Canon.