New Ricoh and Samsungs firmware update


Ricoh firmware update for the GXR system (Ricoh.com). The firmware adds Spot and Macro AF area selection options, faster AF, auto noise reduction, Exif 2.3 support and 3 magnification ratios to check focus.
And Samsung posted the new firmware upgrade (version 1.01) for the new NX100. This update improves the accuracy of autofocus in the Night mode. You can download the firmware at samsungimaging.com. There is also a pdf file with a How-to at downloadcenter.samsung.com.

Google trend: The mirrorless success analyzed

The top cameras comparison (we choosed the most sold camera for every brand)

We used google trends to see which is the most searched mirrorless camera. The winner is the Sony NEX-5. But if we compare any mirrorless camera with a DSLR oyu easily see that Canon and Nikon still dominate the world (look the graph below).

Photokina: Latest cameras. DSLR still rules

New worldwide Amazon mirrorless rankings!

Amazon recently added a new bestseller category for mirrrorless cameras! That’s one more proof for the success of such cameras. But there is one BIG mistake. Amazon US names the category “Micro Four Thirds cameras” unlike other Amazon Europe stores where they call it “Compact System Cameras”. Is that a mistake or a Panasonic/Olympus marketing action?

Check out the current rankings:
– Mirrorless camera ranking at Amazon US (Click here)
– Mirrorless camera ranking at Amazon Deutschland (Click here)
– Mirrorless camera ranking at Amazon UK (Click here)
– Mirrorless camera ranking at Amazon France (Click here)

Amazon Canada and Amazon Japan do not offer the new ranking system.

What can we learn from those rankings? Generally spoken Micro Four Thirds is winning the game against Sony and Samsung. In UK and Germany, Samsung is doing surprisingly well and in France the NEX cameras are on top of the list. And the most popular camera is (as usual) the .

Which is the best mirrorless Kit lens?

Serious compacts compared the image quality of the kit lenses of each mirrorless system:

Sony E 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 (Kit zoom for Sony NEX cameras) tested on Sony NEX5
Samsung 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 (Kit zoom for and tested on Samsung NX10)
Panasonic G 14-45mm f/3.5-5.6 (Kit zoom for Panasonic G1 (discontinued) and GF1)
Panasonic G 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 (Kit zoom for Panasonic G2, G10, and GH2)
Olympus mZD 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 (Kit zoom for Olympus Digital Pen Cameras)

Which is the best lens? Difficoult to answer because eveyr lens has it’s pros and cons. Check out Seriouscompacts to see all image samples and to read the conclusions!

Ricoh photographer do confirm the existence of a Micro Four Thirds module for the GXR?


Image courtesy: Photoscala

Mobile01 went to the GRD 5th Anniversary Party in Tokyo and they interviewed many RICOH employees and photographers. Unofficially they got the information that RICOH will launch the new Micro Four Thirds sensor module for GXR system during 2011. Their goal is to move Micro Four Thirds fans to the [shoplink 100059]RICOH GXR system[/shoplink].

This is not the first time we hear that RICOH is preparing a Micro Four Thirds module. Ricoh has already shown a “mysterious” Expansion Unit on their road map but without specifying what kind of mount it will use.

Sony mirrorless product announcement on October 12th. Samsung NX200 in March!

Sony-alpha.saloon.jp found a scheduled press release from Sony at SankeiBiz that says that on October 12 at 13:00 Sony will “Unveil a new SLR mirror-less product“. Probably they will show the colored NEX cameras or some new mirrorless accessories. A NEX7 seems very unlikely to be announced after Photokina!

According to X-rumors.om Samsung will launch two new NX camera in March 2011. One of the cameras is the new Samsung compact camera, the NX200. Compared to the new NX100 it will have new advanced features (like better video and high-ISO quality) and very likely a new built-in flash and swivel display. It will use the same 14 Megapixel sensor (but with a new better processor engine). The other NX camera will replace the current .