First leaked images of the new Sony A7c

And here it is the new Sony A7c. What you see is the “Platinum” model which has a platined top plate. The rest of the body is made out of black plastic. The camera will be announce next week on Sept 15

Sony A7c specs we know so far:

  • Announcement Sept 15 at 2am London time (follow live on SonyAlphaRumors.com)
  • Similar Sony A7III specs with 24MP sensor
  • It has the same A7sIII fully articulating screen
  • autofocus algorithm is the one from the A7sIII
  • 4k30p
  • body shape similar to the A6600 with EVF in the corner (note: it’s NOT a pop-up EVF)
  • it has IBIS
  • The camera will be marketed for vloggers and youtubers
  • Battery is NP-FZ100,
  • USB is Type-C.
  • it has a single SD card slot
  • It has both a mic-in and a headphone jack
  • Wi-Fi (11a/b/g/n/ac) and Bluetooth
  • price will be above A7III (2.100 Euro and 2399 Euro with kit lens)
  • Comes with a new collapsible 28-60mm f/4-5.6 lens

UPDATE: Some more images via Nokishita

 

 

JIP lays out their strategy after the Olympus digital camera business acquisition: Focus on high end, video and surveillance cameras

JIP director Shinichi Inagaki has been interviewed by Toyokeizai. He laid out the strategy he has in mind with the Olympus digital camera business

JIP will not sell :
They said there have been no cases of bankruptcy in their past 30 investments. They are confident they can regenerate the business and definitely do NOT plan to sell the business to the best bidders. The hope is to achieve a profitability in the first year. After that, instead of selling it to external companies, they will search for a way to revive it under JIP company.
This self-confidence is underpinned by the success of the PC “VAIO” business. It returned to profitability in the fiscal year ended May 2016, and has continued to increase profits every fiscal year. EMS (manufacturing outsourcing) business for robots has also started, and the core of the business is increasing.

JIP will maintain Olympus brand and not withdraw from overseas markets:
The Olympus brand will be maintained for the time being, and the maintenance of the sold products will be continued. Unlike the “VAIO”, there is no plan to ​​withdraw from the overseas market, and they will continue to sell overseas such as in Europe, which is their “main market”.  They also plan to keep using the new fab in Vietnam.

JIP plan to regenerate the MFT business:
Key to success is “focusing on unique features and technologies. They plan to shift from consumer-oriented market to the business-oriented market where “its features can be maximized”. JIP also plans to focus on the “video business” which so far Olympus hasn’t really focused on: “we are considering various markets such as consumer products specialized for video and business such as surveillance cameras”

The issue with human resources:
It has not been decided whether all human resources in the video business will move to the new company. JIP is negotiating with Olympus to acquire talent along with acquisition

My guts tell me this aint’ goign to work out well for MFT customers :(

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via Digicameinfo

The Sony A7c is real and Sony will announce it on September 15

All those Sony A7c rumors are likely to be true: Sony has officially confirmed that September 15 they will announce a “new concept”. The A7c is rumored to be a Sony A7III in the body of an A6600. I like the idea but I have the problem with the rumored price: 2100 Euro! Way too high! It would have been a real killer camera if the price would have been udner 1500 Euro/Dollar :(

Sony A7c specs we know so far:

  • In mid September Sony will announce the new “Sony A7c” entry level Full Frame compact camera
  • Similar Sony A7III specs with 24MP sensor
  • It has the same A7sIII fully articulating screen
  • autofocus algorithm is the one from the A7sIII
  • 4k30p
  • body shape similar to the A6600 with EVF in the corner (camera is only slightly bigger)
  • The camera will be marketed for vloggers and youtubers
  • Battery is NP-FZ100,
  • USB is Type-C.
  • it has a single SD card slot
  • It has both a mic-in and a headphone jack
  • Wi-Fi (11a/b/g/n/ac) and Bluetooth
  • price will be above A7III (2.100 Euro)
  • New lens line will be announced too: The compact lenses will have the code “V”
  • The first lens will be a compact travel zoom (something like a 28-60mm f/4.5-5.6 and similar to the Nikkor 24-50)

Join our new Sony A7c facebook group.

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Panasonic will have the same fate as Olympus? Probably not….but a restructure program might be started soon…

Nikkei has posted an interesting “rumor” about Panasonic plans with the Lumix camera brand:

  1. Because of the difficult environment Panasonic plans to do a “structural reform” of the business.
  2. Nikkei writes that this could end in a “collaboration with other companies“.

Sounds like there is a chance they might separate the Lumix brand into a new company with partners (like Olympus is doing). But I guess it might be a different solution: Right now the L-mount partners are allied with separate businesses and ideas. Some kind of more advanced partnership with Leica and Sigma to cut costs and develop L-mount gear together makes sense.

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via 43rumors

Fuji is sure their GFX system can challenge Full Frame

Imaging-resource had a chat with Fujifilm managers, including Toshihisa Iida. The one think that made me think most of what iida said is that he is sure the GFX system can challenge the FF system. He said that to achieve that “GFX has to become smaller and cheaper“. The problems I see here are multiple:

  1. GFX can never be as cheap as FF. The sensor is bigger, produced in a much smaler number which increases the cost a lot. And that ain’t going to change unless more manufacturers start to make medium format cameras
  2. The pace of innovation on MF sensors is much slower than on FF. Sony releases new MF sensors every 3-4 years. And it’s a one of a kind sensor where Fuji has little saying on the development
  3. Lenses are also bigger and in theory more costlier.

Just my two cent. If fuji wants to make GFX a success they may have to look elsewhere for sensors. Maybe ask Samsung to make MF sensors for them? This way they can tailor the sensor development and fasten the innovation path. Still, costs and size of their GFX cameras and lenses will always be higher.

Panasonic manager talks about S1H and GH5 successor. Vows to keep developing the MFT system

CineD published a full interview with Panasonic’s Director of Imaging Business Unit. The English translated text of the interview can be read on their site. Here are some hints about future products:

S1H successor:
Of course, we are thinking about a successor model to the S1H. Regarding the video performance of the S1H’s successor model, I am thinking of one rank higher, so I think that the technical difficulty will become even higher, too. We are continuously developing technologies regarding heat dissipation, and we hope to develop this technology will make it an attractive product.

GH5 successor:
Nearly 3.5 years have passed since the launch of the GH5, and many customers are still purchasing GH5, but many creators still shoot movies in a Micro Four Thirds format. As I have assured many times, we will continue to develop products for Micro Four Thirds as well as Full Frame to meet the needs of a wide range of creators. Regarding the replacement model for the GH camera that you asked about, I will inform you but the information may be spread. Of course, we are considering it, and we look forward to seeing you there.

8K:
We are currently exploring the future potential and marketability of 8K, and continue to develop technologies for the future and the expanding needs of the market. I feel like the needs of the market are a little behind from what I thought 3 years ago.

I wonder how serious Panasonic really is about MFT. It may be that they simply will slow down the pace of innovation and product announcement with MFT to cut the costs….