Today we have a huge news! Sony and Olympus have signed an agreement where Sony will become Olympus largest shareholder. And they already anticipated that they will work together in the medical and camera business. What this means for the future of the NEX and Micro Four Thirds system has yet to be seen. But I think this may not be good news for Panasonic…

Just my two cent. Sony urgently needs lenses for the NEX system while Olympus needs the Sony sensor for their cameras. They may keep challenging each other with their own systems but saving costs on the development front.

Full rpess release with strategy goals is available here (.pdf).

Prophoto-online.de (Click here to download the pdf) published the full analysis of the Digital Camera market in Germany. As you can easily see from the graph posted on top the Mirrorless camera sales (“Systemkameras”) are incresing while the classic DSLR sales of 2012 are on par with the sales in 2011. Still, mirrorless has “only” 15% of the interchangeable camera market.

via SystemKameraForum.

In an Interview at Imaging Resource Sigma confirmed that they have no plan to launch a new mirrorless and interchangeable camera system.

Amateur Photographer interviewed Mr. Hiroshi Kawahara from Fuji. And he confirmed that “Fujifilm technicians are seriously investigating the possible launch of a full-frame compact system camera (CSC) and are focusing on the sensor and processor that would be required.” Mr Kawahara also confirmed that “the covering circle of Fuji’s current X-series lenses is large enough to accommodate full frame.” The problem is that current wide angle lenses would not cover the full FF area.

Intruiguing. I only can say…go Fuji! Do it! What do you think?

Preorder links to the new Fuji stuff:
Black Fuji X-E1 at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
Silver Fuji X-E1 at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
Black Fuji X-E1 with 18-55mm lens at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
Silver Fuji X-E1 with 18-55mm lens at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
Fuji 14mm f/2.8 lens at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
Fuji 18-55mm f/2.8-4.0 OIS lens at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).

There is a lot going on at Photokina and there is a need for a short roundup of all latest news! Here you have some links:
First, Leica preorders are now up at BHphoto: Black Leica M, Silver Leica M, Leica ME.
New Samsung NX lens hands-on at ePhotozine.
Sigma DP2 hands-on at Outbackphoto.
Match Technical Developing Thumbs Up for Fuji X-E1 at Echenique.
Fuji XF1 hands-on by Engadget.
Fuji X-E1 hands-on at Engadget.
Hasselblad video by Branding Value, FotoTVplus, Centrum Papieru (polish).
Zeiss pics at Photographyblog.
Novoflex Tilt- and Shift Bellows System for CSCs via Photographyblog.
An image sample wiht the 15mm lens at TheDigitalStory.
Nokton 17.5mm hands-on at ePhotozine.
E-PL5 samples at ePhotozine.
Nokton 25mm at ePhotozine.
Panasonic interview at Personal View.
GH3 Hands-on by DC.watch. GH3 hands-on at EosHD. Impression review at Digitalcamerainfo.
E-PL5 pictures at Photographyblog.
E-PM2 pictures at Photographyblog.
35-100mm X lens at CSCmagazine.
60mm hands-on at ePhotozine, Zuikoholics.
15mm cap lens at Popphoto.
Sony interview at Amateur Photographer

The Leica M and Jean Gaumy, Magnum Photographer from Leica Camera on Vimeo.

First preorders are up at Adorama:
Leica M for $6950 (Click here)
Leica M-E for $5450 (Click here)

Leica created a lot of attention thanks to the two new M and M-E rangefinder cameras. Here is a roundup of news:
photokina 2012 – DAS WESENTLICHE on Vimeo.
Leica M y M-E: toma de contacto en Photokina 2012 on Vimeo.
Interview on the floor with Stefan Daniel of Leica Camera AG at Photokina 2012 about the new Leica M and Leica ME on Vimeo.
Leica M hands-on at Engadget. Interview: Jesko von Oeynhausen of Leica on Dpreview. Sir Jonathan Ive to design one-of-a-kind Leica M rangefinder (Dpreview).

Image courtesy by Optyczne

The polish website Optyczne (Click here) just published the pictures of five new Fuji X lenses. These are the specs:
Fujinon Super EBC XF 10–24 mm f/4 R LM OIS
Fujinon Super EBC XF 23 mm f/1.4 R
Fujinon Super EBC XF 27 mm f/2.8 R
Fujinon Super EBC XF 55–200 mm f/3.5–4.8 R LM OIS
Fujinon Super EBC XF 56 mm f/1.4 R

Really some nice lenses they are offering here! There is no info about price and availability yet. You heard something about that?