The Fuji strategy: X-PRO2 as next, f/2.8 zoom and Full Frame in two years

Sony shaked the camera industry with their A7 camera series. And the first to react on a “rumor” level has been Fuji. According to our sources and info from Fujirumors and Photorumors this is what we can expect for the future:

– Next camera to be announced is the ASP-C X-PRO2 (no full frame as rumored on other sites!)
– X200 Full Frame camera with fixed prime lens coming in 2014
– New XF lens roadmap to be unveiled early 2014 (liekly along the X-PRO2 announcement).
– The new roadmap contains some weathersealed lenses, a f/2.8 constant aperture zoom, a mid and tele zoom
– A Full Frame interchangeable camera is likely coming after Photokina 2014 (on market 2015).

Sounds pretty amazing!

New Nikon DF retro camera is nice, but not mirrorless!

Nikon will soon announce the new retro styled Nikon DF camera. It’s really an exciting camera that focus on top stills quality and has no video recording feature at all. But unlike the early rumors reported on the web this isn’t a mirrorless camera. It’s F-mount. And once again it’s a statement from Nikon in favour of optical viewfinder and mirror cameras.

And from what I heard recently Neither Canon nor Nikon will go the full mirrorless route like Panasonic, Olympus, Samsung and Sony. They still think DSLR is the way to go also for the future! What if they are wrong?

Image via Nikonrumors.

Zeiss Full Frame manual lenses for the new Sony FE system coming by end 2014.

I guess what we are seeing here is the official comeback of the Zeiss ZM alike manual lenses! On Zeiss’ Facebook page they just unveiled that:

We are currently working on manual focus lenses for these new full-frame CSCs. They will have an interface to provide EXIF data to the camera. They are expected to be in stores by the end of 2014. However, we cannot provide any additional infos right now.

The current Sony Zeiss FE lenses are made and designed by Sony with the quality control from Zeiss. The new manual Zeiss manual lenses will be designed straight by the German engineers!

Sounds exciting and also pity. Why let us wait one year? I want them now  :)

 

Specs and Preorders in US and Canada (Click on store name to see direct preorder page):
Dedicated Sony announcement page at Amazon US (Click here).
Sony A7r body at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
Sony A7 body at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
Sony A7 with 28-70mm kit lens at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
Sony RX10 at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS.
Zeiss 24-70mm at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
Zeiss 35mm at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto..
Zeiss 55mm at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
70-200mm A-mount at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
Sony A-Mount to E-Mount Lens Adapter at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
Sony A to E adapter with mirror at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
A7/A7r leather case at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
A7/A7r vertical grip at Amazon, BHphoto.
Sony W Series Battery Charger at Amazon, BHphoto.
Sony FA-CS1M Off-Camera Shoe at BHphoto.
Semi-Hard LCD Screen Protector for A7-A7r at Amazon, BHphoto.

Specs and Preorders in Europe:
Sony A7r body at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, FI, WexUK, WexDE.
Sony A7 body at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, FI, FR, WexUK, WexDE.
Sony A7 with 28-70mm kit Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, FI, FR, WexUK, WexDE.
Sony RX10 at Sony DE, WexUK, WexDE.
Zeiss 35mm at Sony DE.
Zeiss 55mm at Sony DE.

 

UPDATED: Will Nikon announce a hybrid (mirrorless?) FF camera too?

Now that’s a surprise. According to Nikonrumors there will be a new “hybrid” Full Frame camera from Nikon within the next 2-3 months! It is yet not clear if that’s a mirrorless camera and if it has an interchangeable mount. The “hybrid” could refer to a sort of hybrid viewfinder tech like the one used by Fuji’s X-PRO1. There are the possible specs:

  • 16,2MP 36×23,9 full frame sensor (same as in the D4?)
  • SD memory card
  • 2016-pixel RGB image sensor
  • 9-cell framing grid display
  • 3D color matrix metering II
  • Native ISO range: 100-12800 (incl. ISO 50 and ISO 108,200)
  • 5.5 fps for up to 100 shots
  • 3.2″ LCD screen
  • Battery:EN-EL14
  • Dimensions: 143,5 x 110 x 66,5mm
  • Weight: 765g
  • It will come with a new AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G lens (again, not clear what mount the new lens will have)

UPDATE: False alarm! Nikonrumors corrected his rumor and now states that the Camera is an F-mount camera and not a mirrorless camera!

New Leica consumer camera coming next week (Oct 24)

leica_logo_2360

For the first time Leica is facing some competition because of the new Sony A7-A7r cameras (preorders here). And that’s actually good news for Leica lovers too. They have to innovate even faster than before to keep their exclusive market. That said Leica is also active on the consumer market. According to Photographicwanderings they will announce a new consumer camera next week on October 24. We don’t know yet what’s coming but the definitely most surprising news is the one posted by Globalpost.com. According to them Panasonic and Leica will work together on mirrorless interchangeable cameras. Does it mean Leica will join the Micro Four Thirds system?