Not an April’s fools joke: Brand new Rokinon 100mm macro lens announced!

The new Rokinon 100mm macro lens can now be preordered at BHphoto (Click here).

Product Highlights
Fuji X, Samsung NX, MFT and Sony E-mount version available
100mm (35mm Equivalent)
Aperture Range: f/2.8 to f/32
One High Refractive Index Element
One Extra-Low Dispersion Element
Ultra Multi-Coating
1:1 Magnification, 1′ Minimum Focus
Internal Focus; Manual Focus Design
Non-Rotating Filter Mount
Rounded 9-Blade Diaphragm

Great lens!

Next great Fuji X-T1, X100T and lens firmware update.

Fuji keeps showing the world how to take care of customers by releasing the next major firmware update. I hope other companies will learn from it :)

X-T1 FIRMWARE (download here)

X-T1 firmware update: 1. Improvement of the flash function when “MECHANICAL+ELECTRONIC” is selected. An external non-TTL flash will fire when the “MECHANICAL+ELECTRONIC” is selected in the “SHUTTER TYPE” option of the SHOOTING MENU. If “S (Shutter-Priority)” or “M (Manual Exposure)” mode is selected, set the shutter speed to 1/180 sec. or slower. 2. Improvement of the Wi-Fi function when “FUJIFILM PC AutoSave” is used. The phenomenon is fixed that Wi-Fi communication with “FUJIFILM PC AutoSave” stops at the moment the LCD turns off 3. Improvement of the display for the “USB MODE” in the SET-UP menu
1) When “PC SHOOT FIXED” is selected, the warning of “IMAGES ARE NOT SAVED IN THE CARD” appears [screenshot]. 2) In case that “PC SHOOT FIXED” is selected in the “USB MODE” and the camera is not connected to a PC via a USB cable, you cannot turn off the camera when you turn the ON/OFF switch to the OFF positon or remove the lens from the camera becasue the camera stays in the waiting mode for image transfer. With this upgrade, the message below will appear to confirm whether you stop the image transfer to the PC or not in such operations. If you press “OK” button, the camera will turn off without recording images.

X100T FIRMWARE (download here)

X100T firmware update: 1. Addition of the messages when “COVERSION LENS” setting is changed in the FUNCTION (Fn) SETTING. When an Fn button with “CONVERSION LENS” setting is pressed, one of the messages below appears in a cyclic manner in addition to the icons. 2. Improvement of flash function when “MECHANICAL+ELECTRONIC” is selected. An external flash will fire when the “MECHANICAL+ELECTRONIC” is selected in the “SHUTTER TYPE” option of the shooting menu. 3. Improvement of the viewfinder display. When the dual optical viewfinder/electronic range finder (ERF) display is used with the Digital Split Image, the white Focus frame appears in the center of the viewfinder. 4. Improvement of Focus Peaking display in the electronic viewfinder under a dark environment for easy focus setting.

IMPROVED OIS

Also, the OIS has been improved for the following lenses (download link): XF 10-24, XF 18-55, XF 18-135 and XF 55-200.

found via Fujrumors.

More Samsung NX1-LX rumors…

There is some weird rumor about a “special” NX1 edition. The source told me Samsung is testing such a camera and still checking if it makes sense to bring it to market. It’s basically a lower megapixel version of the NX1 with those specs:

1) 10% lighter body compared to nx1, slightly different grip
2) 60fps at 4k, full sensor readout
3) swivel display
4) 1.5 stop better dr and high iso compared to nx1
5) A Samsung led video lamp is also in development to bundle with nx1-lx

What do you think of it?