Ricoh announces the new Theta S Spherical Digital Camera!

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I don’t know you but I really like Ricoh’s spherical camera idea. And just now they announced a new Theta S Spherical Camera which is already on preorder at BHphoto and Adorama. Read the press text via BH:

Spherical images have increased in popularity in recent years, and Ricoh has been at the forefront of consumer innovation with its popular Theta spherical camera line. The Theta S improves upon its predecessors by adding larger image sensors, a longer video-recording time, and two fast f/2 lenses with a folded optical system. It features dual 1/2.3″ 12MP sensors that output a 14.4MP equirectangular image, and can also capture 25-minute clips of full HD 1080p video at up to 30 fps. Videos can be streamed live via USB or HDMI, and a Live View function enables easy previewing on a mobile device. Furthering the Theta S’s ability to capture images in low light are the additions of manual exposure compensation and long exposures of up to 60 seconds. Internal memory has been increased from 4GB to 8GB, so you can store twice as many images and videos as the Theta m15.

A new Theta S app for smart devices allows you to adjust camera settings and improved Wi-Fi connectivity enables data transfer up to four times faster than the previous Theta m15. Sharing of your images and videos has also been made easier by the inclusion of a Google-supported Open Spherical Camera API that is compatible with Google’s services, such as Google Maps and Street View. You can also upload your files directly to theta360.com, or social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Tumblr, and YouTube.

An updated user interface and physical design includes a sure-grip rubber coating and a face-mounted LED mode indicator. A clear TH-1 Hard Case, and a white or black TS-1 Soft Case is available to help protect the Theta S; the Strap Attachment is available in silver, blue, orange, green, and gray.

The new Panasonic GH4R is coming….to Europe only!

So what fas all that fuzz about the “GH4R”? Well really nothing as expected! The GH4R is just a GH4R made for the European market. It removes the 29min video recording limit which has been there to avoid to pay additional taxes to the EU. Yes, EU considers camera recording video more than 30min as videocameras and companies would have to pay an extra tax on it.
Furthermore the GH4R already includes the V-LOG update which increase the dynamic range from 10 to 12 stops when recording video. Quite a big step forward!
The GH4 will sell for £1199 in UK.

Panasonic announces the new V-LOG update, 25mm f/1.7 and two “updated” lenses.

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Panasonic today announced the long expected V-LOG update for the GH4. Pity they will charge you $99 for that! They also announced a new 25mm f/1.7 lens and two updated MFT lenses. Here are the links:

Panasonic Lumix G 25mm f/1.7 ASPH. Lens at Amazon. BHphoto. Panasonic Store.
Panasonic Lumix G Vario 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 II ASPH. MEGA O.I.S. Lens at BHphoto.
45-150mm MATTE version at BHphoto.
14-140mm MATTE version at BHphoto.
Panasonic V-Log L Function Activation Code for Lumix DMC-GH4 at BHphoto, Panasonic Store.

Yole Developement predicts Sony sensor domiation to increase the next years.

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The upcoming years Sony is highly likely going to increase the “domination” of the sensor market. Pierre Cambou from Yole Development writes:

“Yole forecasts that the CIS industry will reach $10B this year, with Sony remaining the undisputed world leader –mainly at image sensor level, but gaining strong momentum at camera module level too. And what will Sony’s $4B be used for? Probably to increase capacity, enhance R&D efforts, and further widen the gap between its competitors. It may also be used in applications that will generate a firm lead in automotive, and to develop sensing technologies for consumer and automotive applications. With this bold financing move, Sony is leveraging its leading technology position and demonstrating the confidence it has in its products, its technology, and its future.

I am really wondering what this will mean for the photographic industry. Fuji, Nikon and Canon…how will they work or compete against Sony?

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found via Image Sensor World.