Zhong Yi Optics has just launched the first ever 50mm f/0.95 prime lens for L-mount full-frame mirrorless cameras.
The new Mitakon Speedmaster 50mm f/0.95 for L mount is available now priced at $799.
Leica puts an ‘M’ in the month with the unveiling of its newest high-end 40 megapixel camera, the M10-R, available in black or silver.
The Insta360 ONE R is an adaptive action cam whose unique interchangeable-lens design enables 360-degree capture, standard 4K wide-angle capture, and use of a groundbreaking 5.3K 1-inch sensor - all with a single device.
Insta360 ONE R Twin Edition brings together two great ways to shoot - the Dual-Lens 360 Mod and 4K Wide Angle Mod - in one convenient package for $479.99.
Insta360 ONE R 1-Inch Edition comes standard with the premium 1-Inch Wide Angle Mod co-engineered with Leica, and retails for $549.99.
Insta360 ONE R 4K Edition offers creators all they need to enjoy the versatile 4K Wide Angle Mod for $299.99.
The Leica V-Lux 5 is a new super-zoom camera with a 25-400mm lens, 20 megapixels and 4K/60p movies.
- 20 megapixel 1-inch sensor
- 9.1-146 mm (25-400 mm equiv.) f/2.8-4 ASPH. lens
- 2.36 megapixel OLED EVF with 0.74x magnification
- High-speed AF & 12 fps continuous burst shooting
- 4K video recording and 4K photo modes
- Wi-Fi + Bluetooth connectivity with the Leica FOTOS app
The Leica V-Lux 5 is available now priced at £1,050 / $1,250.
The brand new Leica TL is a refined version of the Leica T mirrorless camera, offering an improved auto-focus system, more built-in memory, and expanded lens compatibility. Read our in-depth Leica TL review to find out if this "affordable" Leica is worth considering...
Leica has announced the expansion of the Leitz Park in Wetzlar. Over the next two years, the Company Group from Salzburg, Austria, headed by Leica chairman Andreas Kaufmann, will be investing in the construction of four further buildings that will expand the gross floor area at the complex by an additional 26,000 square metres. On completion of this third phase of construction in 2018, the Leitz Park complex will have been expanded by an attractive World of Leica Experience – featuring a museum, the Leica archives, a Leica Galerie and an outlet store – a 4-star hotel, a building for CW Sonderoptik GmbH and an office building. “We are very pleased to see how the Leitz Park is already accepted and appreciated by the citizens of the region and the employees of the companies on our site,” Kaufmann says. “Breaking ground for the start of the third phase now marks the next milestone in our ambitious project: the expansion of the Leitz Park to create the foremost centre of the optical industry in Germany. I am certain that this next phase of development will make the site even more attractive and further increase its international charisma.”
The Leica V-Lux (Typ 114) is is a new super-zoom compact camera, offering a large 1-inch image sensor with 20 megapixels, 4K video recording and a 16x zoom lens with a 25-400mm focal range. Priced at £925 / $1350, read our expert Leica V-Lux (Typ 114) review to find out if it can justify its price-tag...
We sat down with HTC’s Imaging Specialist, Symon Whitehorn, this week to discuss the new HTC One (M8) smartphone.
"Whilst smartphones have already pretty much swallowed up point and shoot cameras, swallowing up the likes of a DSLR is a real challenge. But we can close the gap and certainly give you some of the experience."
Click through to read more about Symon Whitehorn's take on the camera industry and the HTC One M8.
The Panasonic Lumix GH4 is the world's first compact system camera to feature 4K video shooting. The GH4 can record in multiple high quality video file outputs - including MOV, MP4, AVCHD Progressive and AVCHD - with 4K video recording in MOV/MP4, and Full HD video with ultra-high bitrate at 200 Mbps (ALL-Intra) or 100 Mbps (IPB). Boasting an improved 16.05-megapixel Live MOS sensor and Venus Engine processor, along with an enhanced fast and accurate Auto Focus (AF) system (approximately 0.07 seconds), the Panasonic GH4 also has a splashproof and dustproof magnesium alloy full die cast body, 12fps burst shooting, 1/8000th top shutter speed,and Wi-Fi connectivity with NFC technology. Pricing and availability of the new Panasonic Lumix GH4 have yet to be announced.
The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX300 is an affordable travel-zoom compact camera. A 20x zoom lens, 18 megapixel Exmor R CMOS sensor, 10fps continuous shooting, built-in wi-fi, Full HD movie recording and 500 shot battery life are all on offer. Priced at around £250 / $300, read our Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX300 review to find out if it lives up to its full promise.
Panasonic’s new, 12.1-megapixel DMC-FT4 is dustproof, waterproof to 12m, shockproof to 2m and freezeproof to -10 °C. The FT4 also features a folded. 28-128mm equivalent lens comprising 10 elements and a prism unit in 8 groups, including 1 ED and 5 aspherical lens elements with 6 aspherical surfaces; a Hi-Speed CCD sensor that makes it possible for the camera to record Full HD videos; an on-board GPS module; compass; altimeter and barometer. Panasonic has also added three new shooting modes, including Time Lapse Shot, Miniature Effect and Panorama Shot. The FT4 will be available in a choice of black, blue, white or orange. Pricing to be communicated.
The WB700 is Samsung's latest travel-zoom challenger to the market-leading Panasonic TZ series. Offering a wide-angle 18x zoom lens, 14 megapixel sensor, 720p video recording and full manual controls are just some of the highlights of the WB700. Read our Samsung WB700 review to find out if it's a real contender.
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ48 is a new super-zoom compact camera with a 24x optical zoom lens. Other standout features of the FZ48 include a 12.1-megapixel Hi-Speed CCD sensor, Sonic Speed AF, manual operation, 1920 x 1080 full-HD video recording, 3D Photo mode and new Creative Controls with Miniature Effect mode. Pricing and availability of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ48 are still to be announced.
The Leica Super-Elmar M 21mm f/3.4 ASPH.is a new, compact ultra-wideangle lens for the M system. The lens’ retrofocus-like construction comprises 8 elements including one element with two aspherical surfaces and four lens elements made of glass types with anomalous colour dispersion (partial dispersion). The aperture range goes from f/3.4 to f/16, and is set with a traditional aperture ring with click-stops at half-stop increments. The lens’ closest focusing distance is 0.7m. As with other recent M-mount lenses, 6-bit lens identification is provided for digital bodies. The suggested retail price of the lens is £2025.
The Panasonic DMC-FT3 is a new rugged digital compact camera. The 12.1 megapixel FT3 (also known as the Panasonic TS3) is waterproof to 12m, shockproof to 2m, freezeproof to -10 degrees C and dustproof. The FT3 also has a 4.6, 28mm wide-angle zoom lens, 1920 x 1080 full-HD movie recording, 3D photo Mode, GPS functionality, a compass, altimeter and even a barometer. The price and availability of the Panasonic DMC-FT3 are still to be announced.
The new Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP8 camera features a futuristic flat body and retracting lens with folding optics. Built of high-quality aluminum, the 12.1 megapixel Panasonic FP8 uses blue LED cursor buttons that light up when pressed. A total of 27 scene modes are available with the DMC-FP8, including the new High Dynamic mode which helps to capture a scene with moderate exposure even if it contains both bright and dark areas. The FP8 can also record high definition 1280 x 720, 30 fps motion jpeg movies. Available in early September, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP8 is priced at £249.99 / $299.95.
The Panasonic DMC-FT1 is the company’s first waterproof, shockproof and dustproof digital camera. Featuring a 28mm wide angle lens, 4.6x optical zoom lens and high-definition movies in the new AVCHD Lite format, the Panasonic FT1 (also known as the DMC-TS1 in the USA) can be used underwater to a depth of up to 3 meters and is drop proof from a height up to 1.5m. In the UK, the Panasonic DMC-FT1 will be available from March in a choice of silver or blue for £329, with a 40m underwater housing also available. In the US, the DMC-TS1 will be available in silver, green or orange in April 2009 for $399.95.
Photokina is over for another 2 years, so we’ve looked back at some of the most notable developments from the World’s biggest photography show.
Leica S System
Undoubtedly the greatest surprise of this year’s Photokina was Leica’s announcement of the new S system. The German manufacturer did not simply launch a new, high-resolution camera with an assortment of lenses to go with it. They did not simply introduce a new mount either. Instead they announced a completely new camera format, something that hasn’t happened since the debut of the FourThirds system five years ago.
Capture One 4 Pro allows photographers to enhance and develop RAW digital files with excellent color and detail reproduction. New features include lens enhancement tools, Skin Tone tool, and a redesigned Styles feature. Capture One Pro customers can upgrade to Capture One 4 Pro at no extra cost. For new customers, it is 399 USD and 299 EUR. Phase One have also unveiled a new lineup of high-quality lenses, including 28mm f4.5, 45mm f2.8, 80mm f2.8, 120mm f4.0, 150mm f2.8, and a 75-150mm f4.5 zoom. A new 80mm leafshutter lens, vertical grip, and additional accessories for the Phase One 645 camera system will be available in Spring 2009.
A panel of digital imaging editors have selected the winners of the prestigious DIMA Innovative Digital Product Awards. DIMA Innovative Digital Product Awards recognize products or services utilizing new technologies and /or applications that make the product either distinct or the first of its kind. The winners include the HP Designjet Z Photo Printer Series, Lensbaby 3G, Olympus SP-550 UZ and Think Tank Photo rotation360 backpack.
Focus on Imaging 2007, Europe’s biggest annual imaging event, takes place as usual at the NEC in Birmingham, UK. It opens on Sunday, February 25th and runs until Wednesday, February 28th. Nikon will have an exciting new stand, which will enable more hands on contact with the products and allow visitors to get advice from the team of Nikon experts. A number of Nikon’s products which will be getting their exhibition debut at the show. PhotographyBLOG will be there to bring you all the latest news.
The Leica V-Lux 1 is unveiled today. Essentially a re-badged version of the Panasonic DMC-FZ50 (with some image processing changes), the Leica V-Lux 1 has the same 10 megapixel sensor, 35-420mm lens and optical image stabilizer.
Leica Press Release
Leica Camera AG, Solms is exhibiting the new LEICA V-LUX 1 at photokina in Cologne (26th September to 1st October 2006). The LEICA V-LUX 1 is a digital compact camera which combines high-performance optics and outstanding picture quality in a compact camera body. The camera offers 10 million pixels and a LEICA DC VARIO-ELMARIT 1:2.8-3.7/7.4-88.8 ASPH lens with an extremely wide range of focal lengths from 35 to 420 millimetres, thus commanding universal capability for the small picture system. From spacious landscape shots, filigree macro close-up shots through to photos of far distant objects in super telephoto mode, the lens with its 12 times zoom creates outstanding picture results in all photographic situations.
PMA 2006: The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ7 is announced. 6 megapixels, 12x zoom with optical stabilizer, 2.5 inch LCD.
Panasonic UK Press Release
New Digital Camera DMC-FZ7 Combines 12x Optical Zoom with MEGA O.I.S. in a Compact Body
Panasonic is introducing the incoming LUMIX model 6.0-megapixel DMC-FZ7 with MEGA O.I.S., Optical Image Stabilizer that compensates the hand-shake, incorporating a 12x optical zoom (equivalent to 36mm to 432mm on a 35mm film camera) LEICA DC lens. Differing from the FZ30 with manual focus ring and manual zoom ring, which was already released and highly evaluated by prosumers, the FZ7 is more compact and easy to carry while preserving the same powerful zoom capability and manual controllability. It is the heir to the 5.0-megapixel DMC-FZ5, but enhanced its excellence not only with the total number of pixels but also with other innovative technical improvements such as incorporation of joystick which allows easy manual control on focusing in addition to the manual exposure setting. The 1.8-Inch LCD monitor for FZ5 has become large as 2.5-Inch for FZ7 gaining much brightness even in the low-lit situations thanks to the pixel-mixed readout method performed at the CCD. Furthermore, the adoption of 710 mAh big battery extends the battery life realizing 320 pictures shooting per a single charge. Last but not least, the FZ7 gains the High Sensitivity mode for one of the new scene modes that allows shooting at Max. ISO 1600 setting as another anti-blurring measure in addition to the MEGA O.I.S.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ5 and DMC-FZ4: successors to the Lumix DMC-FZ3. Panasonic have announced the 5 megapixel DMC-FZ5 and 4 megapixel DMC-FZ4 ahead of the PMA show 2005. With a 12x image stabilized Leica lens, both models improve on the DMC-FZ3 by offering faster auto-focus and improved body design, as well as more megapixels.
Panasonic Press Release
Combine 12x Optical Zoom with MEGA O.I.S. in Compact Body
Panasonic is introducing the incoming LUMIX model 5.0-megapixel DMC-FZ5 and 4.0-megapixel DMC-FZ4 with MEGA O.I.S., Optical Image Stabilizer that compensates the handshake, incorporating a newly developed 12x optical zoom (equivalent to 36mm to 432mm(FZ5) / 35mm to 420mm(FZ4) on a 35mm film camera) lens. The DMC-FZ5/FZ4 is the heir to the 3.1-megapixel DMC-FZ3, but enhanced its excellence not only with the total number of pixels but also with other innovative technical improvements such as faster AF and various design development on the grip or the position of shutter button, to encourage higher-level shooting with comfortable operation. Panasonic has already introduced the DMC-FZ20, 5-megapixel 12x optical zoom model in 2004 for high-end prosumers. DMC-FZ5, however, makes clear distinction in the point of body size and usability, by which nonexclusive users can enjoy the deeper world of photography.