Yasuhara a Japanese lens maker, just launched their MoMo Soft Focus Pancake Lens for digital cameras on Kickstarter. The MoMo Lens is based on the single meniscus lens used in the Vest Pocket Kodak (VPK) camera from 100 years ago. It is designed to achieve the same dreamy, soft focus pictures with the convenience of today’s digital cameras.
The soft focus on the MoMo Lens is set at F6.4, but users can adjust the aperture through F22 to control the power of its effect. MoMo Lenses will work with mirrorless and DSLR cameras. It will be available with mounts for Micro Four Thirds, Sony NEX, Canon-EF or Nikon F-Series, and eventually Canon EOS-M as well as Fuji X cameras. Further specifications provided below:

Sony issued a detailed forecast of the major Kumamoto earthquake damage. You can find the reports here:
Earnings Release: http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/IR/library/fr/20160524_sony.pdf
Presentation Slides: http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/IR/library/fr/20160524_sonypre.pdf

The probably most preoccupying line of their report is that one:

“terminate the development and manufacturing of high-functionality camera modules for external sale“

This sounds like Sony will focus on producing sensors for their own company products rather than third-party companies. Does it mean that all companies using Sony sensors (Fuji Nikon Panasonic Canon Olympus and so) will have to get their sensors from other manufacturers like Samsung?

Go Far Away with the LUMIX GH4

The Contax G2 – guest review by Adam Laws (35mmc).
Techart LM-EA7 firmware 2.0 released (STkB).
New Sennheiser MKE 440 Compact Stereo Shotgun Microphone at BHphoto.
Filmmaking Test: How Format Size Affects Your Focal Length (Explora).
Portraits with the Lensbaby Twist 60 Optic (Youtube).
2016 Roundup: Interchangeable Lens Cameras $800-1200 (Dpreview).
The Future of Image Sensor Technology – Beyond the Bayer CFA (Cinema5D).
How to convert your dslr kit to mirrorless on a budget (ResourceMag).
Top 10 Best Serious Compact Digital Cameras 2016 (ePhotozine).

Fuji announced two new products:
Fujifilm XF 2x TC WR Teleconverter (details and price here at BHphoto).
Fujifilm LH-XF23 Lens Hood for XF 23mm f/1.4 R (details and price here at BHphoto).

Nikon publsihed their latest financial report and there are only bad news for the Imaging Business (video business + digital camera business):

• The whole company sales and operating income reduced 4% and 16%, respectively, from the year earlier. Against the previous forecasts, sales posted a slight decrease while operating income was 8% higher.
• Nikon sold less cameras and less lenses.
• The sales volume of digital SLR cameras decreased, resulting in 11% sales reduction and 19% operating income reduction from the previous year. Partly because of the negative exchange rate impact, both sales and operating income did not reach the forecasts.
• Yet, the forecast (for the Imaging Business) shows the sales reduction of 15% and operating income reduction of 23%.

The full PDF presentantion can be found here: nikon.com/about/ir/ir_library/result/pdf/2016/16_all_e.pdf.

So far only Sony has shown a positive result in the Imaging Business. So Nikon isn’t the only company having troubles in the Imaging Business.

Canon announced three new products:

Canon EF-M 28mm f/3.5 Macro IS STM Lens (here at BHphoto).
Canon Speedlite 600EX II-RT (here at BHphoto).
Canon PowerShot SX620 (here at BHphoto).

Of course the highlight is the macro lens with built-in LED light. Here is a quick look video:

Samsung never took time to explain their NX customers why they did quit their NX system. Dpreview forum user RAW JAW is trying to convince Samsung to give a public statement. At the same time he got an interesting theory about why Samsung may had to quit the NX line:

It took me a while but the recent post regarding Samsung Camera Manager app problems indicates to me a clear possibility that Samsung is trying to avoid a class-action lawsuit.
Now this is strictly my opinion and in my neck of the woods you’re allowed to express your opinion and here goes:
Knowing Samsung’s past history regarding various patent infringement issues it is my belief at this point in time that the ongoing apparent discontinuing of the Samsung NX camera line has occurred as part of a possible patent infringement lawsuit settlement.
It is my opinion that’s Samsung is discontinuing the NX camera line in the manner they did so not to make everyone aware that their purchases of Samsung camera equipment were actually purchases of the Samsung camera equipment that possibly violated the patent of other manufacturers.
I repeat this is just my opinion at the moment. My having invested quite a bit of my own money on Samsung gear, I am more than content with the quality of images I’m getting from my Samsung camera gear.
With the absence of a full explaination from Samsung about their actions in these matters, in my attempt to try to understand Samsung’s actions regarding their ongoing apparent removal of the NX line from the marketplace it seems to me the only logical reason is they are trying to satisfy a patent-infringement lawsuit settlement and at the same time not have their customers file a class action suit due to the possibility that Samsung was possibly selling camera gear that possibly violated another manufacturers patents.
I am guessing Samsung is trying to avoid its NX camera line customers from filing a class action law suit to recover their money spent on Samsung Camera gear, gear that possibly violated patents held by other manufacturers.
As I stated this is only my opinion and my motivation is ONLY to get Samsung to respond in this Public Forum with an official statement on their NX camera line.
If this post does not prompt an Official Announcement from Samsung regarding their NX camera line my opinion is that everyone should jump the Samsung ship.