Digital Camera News, Reviews and Tips
Hasselblad was recently acquired by a Swiss and German private equity group. Interestingly, in the press release announcing the acquisition, Hasselblad’s Chairman and CEO said the company would continue its high-end medium format production but would also focus on “exploiting the potential we see in brand new markets.” [Read more…]
As of today, the Fuji X100 stands in a category of its own in terms of features, price and performance. While other manufacturers have attempted to push the envelope, none have succeeded like Fuji has with the X100. Armed with a 12.3MP sensor and a fixed focal length of 23mm (35mm equivalent), the X100 is not your ordinary point and shoot camera. It’s also not a DSLR or what we typically categorize as a “mirrorless” camera even though it has no reflex mirror.
The Fuji X100 stands alone as a game changer in the “pro”-sumer photography realm. [Read more…]
Leica has introduced its new M9 variant that’s geared toward the pro shooter. [Read more…]
I just got my hands on the Fuji X100, and after reading all the praises this APS-C format camera has received for its image quality, I wanted to take a closer look.
Below you will find a chart that covers the sensitivity range of the Fuji X100 for both RAW images exported via Lightroom 3 and in-camera JPEG images. [Read more…]
B&H Photo has the Fuji X100 in-stock right now. The availability on this camera has been a tough cookie over the last several weeks. It only lasted a few hours the last time I saw this camera in stock – expect the same this time.
So, if you want one here is the link to the product page at B&H.
The Fuji X100 has been scarce since its announcement, with many in the US wondering just when they’ll get their chance to put hands on one. If you’ve been waiting, it looks like Amazon has some in stock now.
Only 17 more left in stock at the time of this post. Better hurry.
Update: It took 25 minutes to blow through the 17 available (at 3AM). However, Amazon says it has more in stock, but it just takes 1-2 days extra to process the orders (guess they’re in the back of the warehouse, eh?).
Update #2: Wow. Those are gone too. The X100 may be some hot stuff this year…
Fuji has made quite a show of its APS-C format, fixed lens X100 camera. Today, Fuji dropped what should be its final press release on the X100, detailing availability, price and full spec list.
The 12.3MP Fuji X100 should be available in March 2011 at an initial retail price of $1199.95. Check availability at B&H Photo and Amazon.com.
Check out additional photos, the press release and full specifications below. [Read more…]
Leica has annouced a new M-Series lens – the SUMMILUX-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH. The new 35mm will serve as a companion for all M-Series Leica rangefinders, including the recently introduced Leica M9.
The new 35mm lens should be available in July 2010 at an initial retail price of $4995.
More details in the press release below. [Read more…]
Since the arrival of the Leica M9, bloggers have been abound with posts about Leicas, street photography, and why you need a rangefinder right now. Further, Chris Weeks has made a documentary on street photography and the human condition. If you watch it, you’ll see that it’s very pro-rangefinder. A personal critique of mine is that it almost seems like what we call in the industry to be an “advertorial.” To clarify, this is an article or piece of media that is supposed to be presented in a journalistic fashion but can seem more like subliminal marketing. To be fair, Mr. Weeks probably does legitimately love Leicas for street photography. However, as a photographer that has shot with all brands of cameras, I see no reason why a DSLR can’t do the same job. Regular readers of this blog may know that street photography is some that is held dear to me. More on this after the jump.
Author’s Note: This is not an anti-Leica post, when I worked for Magnum Photos many of their photographers used Leicas. I hold them in high regard and respect their history, but this post is about you as a photographer.
Ok, “clone” may be strong words; however, word on the street is that the Leica X1 sensor is manufactured by Sony – and that same sensor is set to be placed in an upcoming (and as-yet unannounced Nikon camera). More specifically, the sensor is 23.6 x 15.8mm with 12.2 “effective” megapixels. 13 million pixels in total sit on the sensor.
At recent press event in Singapore, Sunil Kaul, regional director of Asia Pacific for Leica Camera AG spilled the beans as to the sensor’s origin and its future home inside a Nikon camera, which he “cannot disclose.”
I haven’t read any news lately about Sony developing a new 12.2-megapixel CMOS sensor, which seems like it would have surfaced by now if it was newly developed. That’s roughly the same size sensor that the Sony A700 and the Nikon D300 have been sporting for a long time.
I really can’t imagine Nikon moving away from its 12.3-megapixel CMOS sensor that has been such a workhorse in it’s recent DSLR lineup. I also can’t imagine Nikon dropping another 12.3-megapixel DSLR into its lineup right now. So, the compact, rangefinder-style camera sounds like the logical next step for this sensor.
Anyone with more knowledge about Sony’s CMOS sensor lineup feel free to chime in via the comments below to confirm or rebut my assumptions.
[Cnet Asia via DPR Forums]