Sigma has announced a duo of compact system cameras featuring large Foveon X3 direct image sensors. Building on the concept of the SD1 Merrill,both cameras feature a Sigma SA lens mount, making them compatible with all of the Sigma GLOBAL VISION lenses in the Contemporary, Art and Sports lines. The Sigma sd Quattro has a 19.6-megapixel APS-C size sensor, whilte the Sigma sd Quattro H has an even larger (APS-H sized) 25.5-megapixel imager measuring 26.6 x 17.9mm. The cameras offer a combination of contrast-detect and phase-detect auto focus, plus a focus peaking function for manual focus enthusiasts. The high-resolution 2.36-million-dot electronic viewfinder features near-100% viewfinder coverage and a 1.09 magnification ratio. O-rings and environmental seals around buttons and seams prevent the intrusion of dust and water, making the cameras suitable for use in adverse weather conditions.

The Panasonic Lumix GF8 is a new compact system camera aimed at selfie enthusiasts. Offering the same core specifications as the existing Panasonic GF7 - such as a 16-megapixel FourThirds sensor, Micro FourThirds lens mount, tiltable 3" 1040K-dot touchscreen, integrated Wi-FI and Full HD movies -, the new Lumix GF8 comes with a variety of beauty functions including Soft Skin, Defocusing and Slimming. After shooting, you can even put on make-up or retouch in camera with the Beauty Retouch function. Available in certain markets only, the Panasonic GF8 is not planned for release in the UK or the US.

The new Sony A6300 compact system camera can shoot at 11fps in the Hi+ option with continuous autofocus, or a slightly slower 8fps in the normal Hi option - the key difference is that shooting at 11fps causes the electronic viewfinder to black-out.

Here are a couple of video clips showing the A6300 in action on both settings until the camera's buffer is full (using the Fine JPEG setting).

Want to see exactly what the new Sony A6300 compact system camera looks like in the flesh?

Check out our hands-on gallery of photos of the Sony A6300 compact system camera, including an exploded view of the magnesium alloy body.

Want to see exactly what the new Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM lens looks like in the flesh?

Check out our hands-on gallery of photos of the Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM lens, including a side-by-side comparison with the Carl Zeiss Vario Tessar T* FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS lens and a sliced-through view of the interior.

Want to see exactly what the new Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS lens looks like in the flesh?

Check out our hands-on gallery of photos of the Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS lens, including a side-by-side comparison with the Sony FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS lens, the Sony 70-200mm F2.8 G SSM II A-mount lens, the new 1.4x and 2x teleconverters, and a sliced-through view of the interior.

Want to see exactly what the new Sony FE 85mm F1.4 GM lens looks like in the flesh?

Check out our hands-on gallery of photos of the Sony FE 85mm F1.4 GM lens, including a side-by-side comparison with the Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS lens and a sliced-through view of the interior.

Panasonic UK is offering consumers up to £100/€140 cashback with the purchase of select Lumix G compact system cameras and Lumix compacts. These include the Panasonic GH4, GX8, G7 and GX7 (£100 cashback), the LX100, FZ100 and FZ330 (£50 cashback), the FZ200 and FZ72 (£30 cashback). The offer is available from 10th February - 30th March 2016 from participating retailers and is claimed via consumer redemption at Panasonic.

Leica today released a firmware update for the Leica T compact system camera. Version 1.5 adds a new feature called Wi-Fi DIRECT, which enables users to set up their own mobile hotspot and transfer pictures via a wireless link between the camera and the Leica T iOS app. The connection speed to known networks has also been improved.

The Sony A6300 is a new mirrorless camera featuring the world’s fastest AF speed and highest number of AF points, plus a newly developed 24.2 megapixel APS-C sensor and 4K video recording. The A6300 boasts 425 phase detection AF points that are densely positioned over the entire image area, and can shoot images at up to 11 frames per second with continuous autofocus and exposure tracking.

The A6300 will be available in Europe from March 2016 priced at approximately €1,250 body only and €1,400 with SELP1650 lens. The A6300 will also be available as a kit with the SEL1670Z lens in April 2016, priced at approximately €2,250.

In the UK, the Sony A6300 will retail for around £1,000 body only, £1,100 with the SELP1650 lens, and £1,750 with the SEL1670Z lens.

Sony today introduced their flagship G Master brand of interchangeable lenses. The new brand includes three new E-mount full frame lenses including a 24-70mm constant F2.8 standard zoom, an 85mm F1.4 prime and a 70-200mm constant F2.8 telephoto zoom.

The new FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM Standard Zoom and 85mm F1.4 GM Telephoto prime lenses will be available in Europe in March 2016 priced at approximately €2,400 (SEL2470GM) and €2,000 (SEL85F14GM).

In the UK the FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM lens will retail for around £1,800 and the 85mm F1.4 GM for around £1,500.

The 70-200mm F2.8 GM Telephoto Zoom Lens and its compatible 1.4x and 2x Teleconverters will be available in Europe and the UK in May 2016 with pricing still to be confirmed.

‘A masterpiece for creating your own masterpiece’ is the confident pitch for the latest Micro Four Thirds compact system camera from Olympus: the Pen-F.  Rather than replace the formerly range topping E-P5 in the Pen line up however, Olympus suggested to Photography Blog at its London preview that the new rangefinder-styled camera – if successful – should form a new, independent strand on its own.

The Olympus PEN-F is the most powerful ever PEN and one of the most beautiful system cameras Olympus has ever produced. The PEN-F inherits much state-of-the-art optical technology from Olympus’ larger, high-end OM-D camera family, including its world’s best 5-axis Image Stabilisation system (worth some 5 EV stops when shooting at low ISO), a 50-Megapixel high resolution shot capability, and a built-in electronic viewfinder with a real-time preview of settings adjustments.

The Olympus PEN-F is available in black or silver from end- February 2016. PEN-F body only £999.99, PEN-F and M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 14-42mm 1-3.5-5.6 EZ Pancake lens kit £1099.99, PEN-F and M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 17mm 1:1.8 lens kit £1199.99.

As well as being shown the production of the Fujifilm X-Pro2 camera, we were also lucky enough to find out how the XF 35 f/2 and new XF 100-400mm X-series lenses are made at Fujifilm's Sendai factory.

To avoid contamination of the lenses, a strict Cleanroom Suit protocol is followed in this part of the factory, causing much mirth among the assembled journalists.

Again, the production process is surprisingly manual and labour intensive, with a small team of workers (one line for each lens) taking around 3 hours to produce the XF 100-400mm lens from start to finish, and around half that time for the less complicated XF 35mm f/2 lens.

The completed lenses are then laser-engraved, inspected, spot-checked and finally packaged up, again all by hand.

Fujifilm also conduct their own in-depth target testing of sample lenses, which we weren't allowed to photograph for confidentiality reasons.

Fujifilm have been remarkably candid about just what's inside the new X-Pro2 compact system camera, sharing exploded views of the camera and key component parts at their 5th Anniversary of X-series press event in Tokyo.

They also showed us some intriguing early prototypes of a camera that has taken more than 3 years to develop, including alternative designs for the dioptre control, ISO dial and rear control layout. Fujifilm even went to the lengths of articificially weathering the X-Pro2 to show what it might look like after a few years of hard service!

Ever wanted to find out exactly how your camera was made? Well, now you can, as we take a behind-the-scenes look at how the brand new Fujifilm X-Pro2 compact system cameras is put together.

Photography Blog was granted priveleged access to Fujifilm Optics Co Ltd's Taiwa factory in Sendai, Japan, where the X-Pro2 production line is located (along with the other X-series cameras and lenses).

The X-Pro2 is painstakingly assembled largely by hand by a surprisingly small team of skilled workers, with the main component parts shipped in from other factories first.

There are 8 different steps in the entire process, from the main board assembly, final aseembly of outer parts, firmware installation, image quality check, button control check, inspection of the hybrid viewfinder, a performance test, resolution and dust check, and finally the leather covering assembly and final inspection of the finish. A couple of the stages are semi-automated, but most of it truly is hand-made in Japan.

Each X-Pro2 camera is then packed-up,  laser engraved with a serial number and "Made in Japan", and then spot-checked for no less than 76 different items.

Want to see exactly what the new Fujifilm XF 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR lens looks like in the flesh?

Check out our hands-on gallery of photos of the Fujifilm XF 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR lens.

Want to see exactly what the new Fujifilm XF-500 flash looks like in the flesh?

Check out our hands-on gallery of photos of the Fujifilm XF-500 flash, which is looking surprisingly complete given that it's not due for release until May 2016.

Want to see exactly what the new Fujifilm X-E2S compact system camera looks like in the flesh?

Check out our hands-on gallery of photos of the Fujifilm X-E2S compact system camera.

Fuji have posted five high-resolution sample images captured with the new Fujifilm X-Pro2 compact system camera. Shot using a variety of X-mount lenses including the Fujinon XF16mmF1.4 R WR, XF14mmF2.8 R, XF56mmF1.2 R and XF27mmF2.8; these Fujifilm X-Pro2 samples were taken at sensitivity settings ranging from ISO 200/24° to ISO 6,400/39°. You can download the images in JPEG format from the website below.

Website: Fujifilm X-Pro2 Sample Images