In the wake of the recent price / availability announcements, Leica now unveiled the full specifications of the Leica S2 and four S-system lenses. The Leica S2 is a new interchangeable-lens DSLR with a sensor that is 56% bigger than a conventional “full-frame” imager. The first prototypes were shown to us at Photokina 2008, and availability is now slated for October 2009. Highlights include a 37.5-megapixel Kodak CCD with a claimed 12 stops of dynamic range, a metal focal-plane shutter with a maximum shutter speed of 1/4000 second, fast auto-focus, a large and high-eye-point TTL optical viewfinder with 0.86x magnification, interchangeable focusing screens, CompactFlash and SDHC compatibility, an HDMI port and a 3-inch rear screen with 460,000 pixels and optional sapphire glass. The Leica S2 will be available at an SRP of £15,996 from selected authorised dealers. The Leica S2-P, which includes the sapphire glass display and comes with a Platinum service package, is priced at £19,092.

Samsung has issued a firmware update for its GX-20 digital SLR camera. Version 1.03 improves the accuracy of the mechanical shake reduction system. You can download the Samsung GX-20 firmware update from the website below.

Website: Samsung GX-20 Firmware
Review: Read our in-depth review of the Samsung GX-20

Sony Hong Kong has quietly made available the English-language instruction manual of a new, 24-megapixel full-frame DSLR, called the Sony A850. According to the specifications listed on pages 154-156, the Sony A850 is very similar to the existing A900 model we reviewed earlier this year, except that it has a slower burst rate of 3 frames per second, and a somewhat lower viewfinder coverage of approximately 98%. Most other features and functions of the Sony A850 appear identical to those found in the A900, including mirror lock-up, AF micro adjustment, intelligent preview, 9+10 AF points, dual CompactFlash/MemoryStick slots etc. Like the A900, the A850 appears to lack live view and video recording functionality. At the time of writing, the manual is still available for download at the website below.

Website: Download the Sony A850 manual from Sony Asia Pacific
(Select “Digital SLR Camera” from the first drop-down list, then pick “DSLR-A850” from the third.)

Via Engadget

Update (3 August 2009): After being available for about 24 hours, the manual appears to have been pulled.
Update 2 (27 August 2009): The Sony A850 is officially announced.

Canon has issued a firmware upgrade for the Canon EOS 50D digital SLR camera. Version 1.0.7 corrects a phenomenon where captured images may tend to appear somewhat magenta depending on the shooting scene. Plus, it also fixes incorrect indications on the Arabic, Romanian, Spanish, and Ukrainian menu screens.

Website: Canon EOS 50D Firmware Update
Review: Read our in-depth review of the Canon EOS 50D

The Nikon D300S is a new 12.3 megapixel DSLR camera that can record HD movies. Based upon the D300, the D300S also adds a continuous shooting speed of 7fps and dual CF and SD memory card slots. The D300S also features a Quiet release mode for discrete photography, the same multi-selector to that used on the D3 series and D700, and built-in pop-up flash that covers 16mm wide-angle field of view. It incorporates the same DX-format 12.3 megapixel CMOS sensor, 51-point autofocus system, 3 inch 920K dot LCD screen and EXPEED image processing of the D300. The Nikon D300S will cost £1499.99 / €1821.00 / $1799.95 body only, available from 28th August 2009.

The Nikon D3000 is a new entry-level DSLR camera designed to be simple and accessible. Based on the D5000, the D3000 is designed for anyone who wants to take pictures without worrying about settings. The new intelligent Guide mode recommends the appropriate settings for the current subject or scene. The D3000 also features a 10.2 megapixel sensor, EXPEED processing system, 3-inch LCD screen, 3 fps continuous shooting and 11-point autofocus system. The Nikon D3000 will be available on 28th August 2009 for £429.99 / €522.00 body-only or £499.99 / €607.00 / $599.95 with the 18-55mm VR lens.

Pentax have released a firmware update for their Pentax K-7 digital SLR. Version 1.01 improves the overall operational stability of the camera, and allows users to give priority to auto-focus selection by way of the four-way controller.

Website: Latest K-7 Firmware Update
Review: Read our in-depth review of the Pentax K-7

Pentax have released a new version of their raw codec for Windows Vista. The update adds support to the new Pentax K-7 digital SLR, which we reviewed recently.

Website: Pentax Raw Codec Software for Windows Vista

Via The Imaging Resource

Nikon has issued an important service notice to owners of the Nikon D5000 digital SLR camera. Apparently, an electronic component related to power control in some Nikon D5000 units does not meet factory specifications and may, in certain circumstances, prevent the camera from turning on. Service related to this issue, including the cost of shipping affected D5000 cameras to Nikon, as well as their return to customers, will be free of charge. On 23 July Nikon will post the serial numbers of affected cameras at the website below.

Website: Nikon D5000 Service Advisory
Review: Read our in-depth review of the Nikon D5000

Electrophysics, a Sofradir Group company, has introduced a new high performance night vision module for use with Canon full-frame digital SLR cameras such as the EOS-1Ds Mark III and EOS 5D Mark II. When used with the new AstroScope 9350EOS-FF, these digital cameras deliver bright, high-resolution green images of night-time scenes. Because the night vision module fits between the camera body and SLR lens, all the lens electrical connections are maintained and important lens features such as optical image stabilisation remain fully functional even in night vision mode. The modules deliver optimum performance, sharp detail and highest quality full-frame images with no vignetting, a common problem with other night vision configurations, the company says.

Website: Electrophysics

Nikon UK is celebrating 50 years of its pioneering F-Mount lens system by offering up to £75/€90 cashback on D5000 and lens combination purchases. The promotion begins today, and runs until 31 August 2009. All claims must arrive by 30th September in order to qualify. The £75/€90 offer is valid for double-lens kits, whereas there is £50/€60 cashback available for single-lens kits. The promotion does not extend to body-only purchases.

Review: Read our in-depth review of the Nikon D5000

Pentax has announced a $100 instant rebate programme effective 12 June - 20 June 2009 on the K20D body and two lens kit configurations. These include a kit with the 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 lens and another kit with the 16-45mm f4 lens. With the instant rebate programme, there is no need to submit or track claims or wait several weeks for a rebate cheque. More information about the programme and all of these products is available at: www.pentaximaging.com.

Canon has revived its plan to build a new camera factory in Nagasaki, with construction starting in July, according to Reuters. The plan was shelved a few months ago due to the crisis of the world economy. Canon now says that strong demand for its DSLRs makes the investment economically viable, although the construction of one of the originally planned three facilities might still be delayed. Reuters quotes a spokesperson as saying that the Nagasaki plant, which is to have an annual capacity of 4 million cameras inlcluding both SLRs and compacts, would start production in March/April 2010.

Via Reuters

Update: Canon has just issued a press release, which you can read below.

Jessops have just announced that the Sony Alpha DSLR-A330 is going to be available exclusively from them, starting ‘early June’. The 10.2-megapixel A330, which weighs just 490 grams and comes with sensor-shift anti-shake as well as secondary-sensor Live View delivered on a tilting 2.7” LCD, is now available for pre-order at a price of £549, including a Sony DT18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 kit zoom.

Canon have released the eagerly anticipated new firmware update for the Canon EOS 5D Mark II, which is now available for download. As noted earlier, version 1.1.0 makes it possible to manually control the exposure while recording video. This can be done by selecting an f-stop from the entire aperture range offered by the lens in use, picking a shutter speed from 1/30 to 1/4000 second, and specifying an ISO speed between ISO 100 and H1 (ISO 12,800). Other fixes include disabling the function of the depth-of-field preview button when images are played back or when the menu screen is displayed on the LCD panel, fixing a bug with the peripheral illumination correction feature, fixing the algorithms of the Auto Lighting Optimizer function when Custom Function C.Fn II-3 Highlight tone priority is enabled, correcting incorrect indications on the Arabic, Romanian, Spanish, and Ukrainian menu screens and changing the battery information displayed on the camera when using the optional Battery Grip BG-E6.

Website: Canon EOS 5D Mk II Firmware Update (click the Drivers & Downloads tab)

The Fashion 360, Powered by Nikon is an intricate technical rig of fifty D700 cameras timed at different intervals to capture celebrities on the red carpet from an innovative visual “surround sound” perspective. In collaboration with production company Big Freeze, the Fashion 360, Powered by Nikon will allow viewers at home to experience a 360-degree view of their favourite celebrities. Many of the Fashion 360, Powered by Nikon images will appear throughout the broadcast and online in an exclusive photo gallery on http://movieawards.mtv.com, offering viewers at home an opportunity to check out the latest in Hollywood fashion trends up close.

Website: Watch the making of Fashion 360

Canon have announced a new firmware update for the EOS 5D Mark II DSLR camera that will enable manual exposure control when shooting video. Available for download from 2nd June 2009, the 5D Mark II firmware update will include the following manual controls when shooting video:

- Full aperture selection
- ISO speed: Auto, 100 – 6400 and H1
- Shutter speed: 1/30th – 1/4000th second

Manual exposure control while shooting video on the EOS 5D Mark II is expected to make a big impact with cinematographers and videographers using the 5D Mark II for high-end HD video production.

Pentax Japan has posted a selection of official sample images taken with the recently announced Pentax K-7 DSLR. You can download four full-resolution sample photographs taken with three different lenses, the smc PENTAX-DA?55mmF1.4 SDM (pictured), the smc PENTAX-DA?50-135mmF2.8ED[IF]SDM and the smc PENTAX-DA 12-24mmF4ED AL[IF]. All of the photos were captured at ISO 100.

Website: Official Pentax K-7 Samples

The Pentax K-7 is a new mid-range DSLR with a number of novel features. New to the Pentax K7 are functions like video recording, in-camera HDR and automatic horizon correction. The dustproof, weather and cold-resistant Pentax K-7 also features a new shutter designed for 100,000 actuations, a top shutter speed of 1/8000 second, a through-the-lens optical viewfinder with approximately 100% frame coverage and 0.92x magnification, and a new Natural-Bright-Matte III focusing screen designed to improve focusing accuracy during manual-focus operation.

The Pentax K-7 has a continuous shooting rate of 5.2 frames per second for up to 40 JPEG images, a newly developed DR II dust removal system, a new 77-segment matrix meter, a new-generation SR mechanism for improved shake-reduction, a 3” LCD monitor with approximately 920k dots, Live View with Face Recognition AF, a new 11-point wide-frame AF module with 9 cross sensors and 2 line sensors, a multi-exposure function and automatic compensation of lens distortion and lateral chromatic aberrations with DA and DFA lenses.

The Pentax K7 also offers all the well-known Pentax goodies like the RAW button, Shutter/Aperture priority and Sensitivity-Priority modes, Hyper Programme and Hyper Manual functions. In line with what Gabrielle Remmers, Marketing Communication Manager of the Division of Imaging Systems of Pentax Europe, recently said about the “sensible resolution limit” having already been reached, the new Pentax K-7 has the same pixel count as its predecessor the K20D, although the sensor is a newly developed CMOS that allegedly offers “greatly reduced” noise levels.

In the UK, the Pentax K-7 will cost £1,199.99 body only, £1,229.99 with the 18-55mm kit lens, and £1329.99 with the 18-55mm + 50-200mm double kit lens. In the US, the K-7 body only will ship in July 2009 for $1,299.95 USD. The D-BG4 battery grip also will ship in July 2009 for $229.95. The newest weather-resistant lenses will be priced at $199.95 for the DA 18-55mm and $249.95 for the DA 50-200mm. These products also will ship in July 2009.