Lavidaleica contacted me to say that they have insider info about a new Leica camera called “Leica ME”.

UPDATE: The site posted some more info. “The “ME” name however is subject to change. It is a real Leica, not a clone or a re-badge. It will cost less than the M9 and feature a regular VF (no EVF and not EVIL). In fact, it’s more like the M9 than it is different – it’s a scaled back M9. M mount. So there it is – sorry EVIL fans. We’re trying to confirm, but it should have a full frame sensor. Available shortly after Photokina.“

Yesterday we read the rumor about a new X PRO 2 model and in the meantime Digicaminfo found those nice pics of the entry level X-E1 Fuji camera! As you see there is no optical viewfinder…and it seemd to have an electronic viewfinder only. It comes in Black and in Silver. The price is still unknown. There is also a picture of the new XF18-55mm F2.8-4 R OIS. Now let’s see if the X PRO 2 is coming too!

The video on top shows you the inside of the Fuji X PRO 1. And as you know the X PRO 1 has quite some quirks we hoped they could solve via firmware upgrade. Apparently this is not going to happen and Fuji will do some major hardware changes on a new X PRO 2 camera that sources from Fujirumors said will be announced at Photokina. This camera is likely to bring some major advancement in AF speed and sensor technique.

P.S.: Some other website speculated that the camera may feature a Full Frame sensor. I haven’t heard anything like that yet from my sources…

So, it sounds like we will still have to wait a bit before to see the first “cheap Leica” Full Frame mirrorless. Sony is going to announce a new E-mount Full Frame camcorder that will likely cost a lot and be uninteresting for 99,9% of us poor photographers :)

Anyway there is hope that Sony may announce a sort of E-mount FF NEX-7 alike camera in 2013. But it still want be a fulfilled system as it is rumored that there want be any E-mount native Full Frame lenses. You will very likely need an adapter for Alpha or M Mount lenses. And current NEX lenses will work in crop mode. I don’t think that is a super tempting system. Would have been nice to have a full new system with native FF lenses included right from the start…

Let’s hope Fuji will do it…Fuji are you listening?

This very first images of the new Sony NEX-5R and NEX-6 cameras have been very likely found by chinese.vr-zone.com through a public Chinese agency that registered the new WiFi capable cameras. Click on the pictures to see the full size version!

Reminder:
Sony may announce the new cameras and lenses on August 28th. This is what we will likely see soon in stores:
NEX-5R: Looks almost exactly like the NEX-5n and has the flip screen from the NEX-F3. It has a completely newly designed 16 Megapixel APS-C sensor with Phase Detection AF pixels. It has WiFi connectivity and APP support. You can surf on Internet with it. Price around $700 with kit lens.
NEX-6: It’s a mini [shoplink ”]NEX-7[/shoplink] with integrated viewfinder. Compared to the NEX’7 it has an EVF with less resolution and same newly designed 16 Megapixel APS-C sensor. It has WiFi connectivity and APP support. Price between the NEX-5R and NEX-7 (NEX-7 is currently priced at $1200 at Amazon so my guess is around $950 and $1000).
Sony 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6: It is a pancake zoom with OSS and power zoom.
Sony 11-18 f/4.0: Normal (non pancake) zoom.
Sony 35mm f/1.8: Fast non expensive prime lens as big as the Sigma 30mm lens.

Getting closer to Photokina and next mirrorless stuff is coming. Olympus will announce the 60mm macro (with ring flash adapter) on August 22th (yes on Wednesday London time). The new PEN cameras will follow in a second announcement in September. A more “spectacular” announcement could be made by Sony on August 28th. New NEX5-R and NEX-6 cameras with Application support, WiFi, Phase detection on sensor will be announced. Along a 16-50mm pancake zoom, a normal 11-18mm wide angle zoom and a fast 35mm f/1.8 prime.

Oh the spectacular part may be that sort of “hybrid” E-A mount Full Frame mirrorless camera from Sony. I really want to see that monstrous thing for real :)