N&R: Canon, Leica, Panasonic Sigma, Sony, Tamron, Cactus and Sekonic

Sony RX1R III may be coming, but will it be worth an upgrade?

N&R: It's all about the lenses (Canon, Sigma & Zeiss)

Not much this week, except about lenses.

N&R: Sony, Sigma, Zeiss, Atomos, Fujifilm & Google

Sony

An exciting new FE mount camera is rumoured to be coming from Sony on April 23. SonyAlphaRumors lists the most reliable information as being:

• There will be a new High End E-mount FF camera.
• This camera is all about speed: fastest AF of all Sony E-mount cameras, around 20fps, unlimited RAW recording.
• Dual SD card.
• Bit larger than current A7II camera series.
• It has a joystick control on the back.
• New FE lenses coming (16-35mm f/2.8 GM and 100-400mm FE G).

It remains to be seen if this is the extension of an existing line, or a brand new line. I just hope and pray that it can use AF-assist lights from flashes and triggers (and that RAW from continuous shooting modes are 14-bit instead of 12-bit).

Sigma

Pricing for the Sigma 135mm 1.8 has been announced at $1,400 USD, with expected delivery in May.

Zeiss

If you want a slower, and probably more expensive, 135mm lens... it has been confirmed that the next lens in the Zeiss Batis range (for Sony full-frame mirrorless cameras) will be a135mm f2.8.

Of course, it should be lighter and smaller as well.

Atomos

Atomos have announced the Ninja Inferno, a cut down version of the Shogun Inferno. At half the price, you are losing the ability to record RAW, and SDI connections. If you're planning to pair it with a Panasonic Gh5, or a Sony A7S, this makes a good deal of sense.

Fujifilm

Fujifilm have announced major new firmware updates for their X-T2 and X-Pro2 cameras. Bravo Fuji, this is the thing I probably admire most about Fuji, even though I feel their cameras aren't for me.

Meanwhile, DPReview have released a devastating article questioning the actual real life gains you will get from using the new Fujifilm’s GFX 50S (and, by extension, Hasselblad X1D).

This article summed up a lot of my thoughts, as I'd been a doubtful how much gain there is to be gotten from 'crop' medium format ever since seeing the comparison of the Pentax 645Z to the Sony A7R2 by Luminous Landscape.

For me, the quality bump you get from going to medium format isn't worth the extra cost, weight, slower AF, etc.

Google

Google have released an open-source JPEG encoder that claims to produce 35% smaller files without noticeable loss in quality. Just be warned, many claim to see loss in saturation levels.

N&R: Hasselblad, Phottix and Metz

In addition to the news below, there has been some rumours of a new Sigma 70-200 sports lens floating around. However, the original source of the news rates that as a less than 40% accurate rumour.

N&R: Changing formats...

I haven't posted one of these summaries in a while. I was planning to until suddenly Canon released a new DSLR, seemingly starting a new line, and I just couldn't bring myself to try to work out what all the Canon lines are. The thought of no longer doing this summary crossed my mind, but instead I am going to try a briefer format. (edit: I failed.)

Sony 100mm f2.8STF - For lovers of creamy bokeh

N&R: It's all about Sony again...

Almost immediately after last week's post, the Sony A6500 and RX100V were announced.

I had a wish list of 5 things I was hoping for in order to make the A6500 a buy on my list, did they deliver?

N&R: Photokina with new cameras and lenses from Fuji, Olympus, Panasonic, Sigma, Sony, Tokina and Voigtlander.

This week is all about Photokina, so lets look at a recap of all the new cameras and lenses announced in the last few days;my word there's a lot of them.

Fuji enters the mirrorless medium format arena.

News and Rumours: Apple, Canon, Fuji, Hasselblad, Leica, Olympus, Panasonic, Sigma, Sony, Tamron, Zeiss, Metz and FlashQ

In this week summary:

• The long awaited iPhone 7 Plus gets announced with dual cameras.
• Stylised images of the new Canon EOS-M5 are leaked.
• Fuji announces monochrome instax film.
• Hasselblad will soon announce another medium format mirrorless lens.
• Leica announce a new 6mm macro lens for their TL mirrorless camera.
• The three new lenses from Olympus have leaked images.
• More information on the Panasonic G80/G85 cameras.
• Sigma announce a new series of Cine lenses.
• Sony will also soon announce a new cine lens.
• Tamron announces the previously leaked 15-600mm G2 lens.
• Leaked images of three new Milvus lenses coming from Zeiss.
• Metz is teasing a new, smaller flash.
• The FlashQ Q20 small flash should is expected to be released in Q4 this year.

You read it here first: the LightPix Q20 is expected to arrive this year.

News and Rumours: Canon, Fuji, Olympus, Sigma, Sony, Cactus and Metabones

In this week's summary:

• The Canon 1D X sensor gets reviewed by DXOMark and seems to be a Nikon D5 killer.
• The Fuji XT2 is to be announced very soon, as well as a Hasselblad competitor.
• Some info about the Olympus E-M1 II.
• Sigma has announced the pricing and availability for the sd Quattro.
• Sony announces more delays to cameras and lenses.
• Cactus has announced the the Cactus V6 II.
• Metabones have brought out a seemingly ill advised firmware update to the Canon to Sony Smart Adapter IV.

The DxOMark overall mark for 1DX and D5 is the same, but is that the full story?

News and Rumour Thursday: Canon, Fuji, Nikon, Olympus, Sigma and Sony

In this week's summary:

• Canon - Finally some news about the 5d Mark IV, and a new lens is coming
• Fuji - More news on the X-T2, a teleconverter, a new Instax SP-2 printer and a new lens
• Nikon - The D500 gets DPReviw's highest award
• Olympus - A new action camera and more rumours on the new 30mm macro lens.
• Sigma - The long anticipated 85mm f/1.4 ART is rumoured to be coming soon.
• Sony - The Voigtlander 10mm FE lens is now in stock

The existing Sigma 85mm f/1.4 is reportedly out of production.

News and Rumour Thursday: Samsung, Sigma for Pentax, Sony and Elinchrom

In this week's summary:

• Samsung - a new firmware available for the NX1 and NX500 cameras.
• Sigma -  offers fix to prevent some of their lenses from scratching the new Pentax K-1.
• Sony - sensor production expected to resume by end of the month, and rumored pricing on the new GM 70-200 f/2.8.
• Elinchrom - The new Skyport HS for Sony has been tested in the real world.

News and Rumour Thursday: Instagram Feeds, Canon, Sigma, Sony, Affinity, Elinchrom and Nissin

In this two week summary (sorry I missed last week):

• Instagram: An end to chronological feeds.
• Canon: A new (disappointing?) entry level DSLR.
• Sigma: Their Sony FE adapter offers full AF support unlike any other existing adapter.
• Affinity: Photoshop alternative coming to Windows.
• Elinchrom: The real replacement for the Skyport triggers are announced.
• Nissin: Pricing for the new i60 flash is announced.

News and Rumour Thursday: Micro 43s, Nikon, Nissin, Sigma and Tamron

In this weeks summary:

• Micro 43s: A new lens from Panasonic.
• Nikon: 3 new 1-inch sensor compacts (with PDAF).
• Nissin: New additions to their Nissin Air System.
• Samsung: “officially discontinued manufacturing of cameras”
• Sigma: New lenses and new mirrorless cameras.
• Tamron: New lenses and a USB dock.

News and Rumour Thursday - Adobe, Canon, Micro 43s, Pentax, Sigma and auto-focus with Leica M

In this weeks summary:

• Adobe: A fix to stop Adobe from deleting your files.
• Canon: A prosumer APS-C DSLR and some compacts.
• Micro 43s: A uninspiring camera from Panasonic and rumours of new Olympus lenses.
• Pentax: After many years and gnashing of teeth, the full frame Pentax is here.
• Sigma: Two new lenses are rumoured to be coming this month.
• Leica M Glass: Can now be auto-focused with Sony cameras.