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.

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 Rumors: Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Samyang, Sony/Zeiss, F-Stop and Instagram

In this week's summary:

• Canon is rumoured to soon release a cheap wifi adapter for the 7D Mark II.
• Another patent for the rumoured Nikon 19mm tilt-shift lens.
• The Olympus E-M1 Mark II might feature a brand new sensor.
• Another week in the Samyang summer blockbusters - this time an actual new product.
• Some rumoured lenses from Sony and Zeiss for the FE mount.
• F-Stop bags - is the company in serious financial trouble?
• Instagram starts to complete with Snapchat.

News and Rumours: Canon, Nikon, Samyang, Sony, Affinity Photo, Aputure, Paul C.Buff and PetaPixel

In this weeks summary:

• Canon's 5D Mark IV is registered with an Indonesian authority;
• Nikon has a 70-200mm f/2.8 replacement in the pipelines;
• Samyang has released the first of 5 new lenses;
• Sony's new 50mm f/1.4 is compared the 55mm f/1.8;
• Affinity Photo announces new features;
• Aputure announced a new mini constant light;
• Paul C. Buff have a new monolight series available; and
• PetaPixel is copying my weekly rumour summary?

 PetaPixel are "pretty sure (this) will make it into many (many many) photographer gear bags".

News and Rumours: Sony, Adobe, FLM, Phottix and Westcott

In this week's summary:

• Sony surprises everyone with a new prime lens release;
• Adobe releases new versions of Lightroom for mobile;
• FLM is launching a new high quality travel tripod on Indiegogo;
• Phottix has a new collapsible beauty dish; and
• So does Westcott.

News and Rumour Thursday: Nikon, Olympus, Sony/Zeiss, Nissin and DxO Optics

In this week's summary:

• Nikon - DPReview reviews the D5, and some early rumours of a new mirrorless system.
• Olympus - New PRO lenses coming.
• Sony - Reports next Zeiss Loxia will be telephoto, and delays from earthquake aftermath.
• Nissin - the new Nissin i60A for Sony has been delayed until August.
• DxO Optics - DxO OpticsPro 11 has been released with advanced noise reduction.
• Huawei/Leica - DPReview has reviewed the Huawei P9 camera.

The one touch zoom on the Nikon D5 sounds very convenient for review.

News and Rumour Thursday: Fuji, Leica, Sony, Zeiss, Blackmagic, Lexar, Pelican and Phottix

In this week's summary:

• Fuji: Images of the X-T2 leaked
• Leica: New major firmware update to the SL
• Sony: Earthquakes affect sensor production, and possible issues with the Sony 85mm G-Master
• Blackmagic Design: Blackmagic have announced a new public beta of DaVinci Resolve 12.5
• Lexar: Easy way to access MicroSD cards on your iPhone
• Pelican: A new, lighter, range of cases
• Phottix: A new mount for using Elinchrom and Bowen's light shaping tools with speedlights

The TIPA Awards: Everyone wins a prize

I recall correctly, last year many photography sites were making fun of the TIPA awards - by having each of an Entry Level, Advanced, Expert and Professional award for various cameras, they may as well start giving out awards for participation. Was there a mirrorless camera released last year that didn't get an award? If you're thinking the Leica SL, don't worry, they snuck that in as the Best Premium Camera.

For some reason though, most brand focused sites are instead reporting just on what their preferred brand won.

News and Rumour Thursday: Canon, Panasonic, Sony, Zeiss, Lee and Lensbaby

In this week's summary:

• Canon: Rumours spread of a full frame mirrorless, plus the 5D Mark 4.
• Panasonic: Interview talks about their current strategy.
• Sony: A reliable rumour talks about the next generation of the Sony mirrorless cameras.
• Zeiss: The Batis 18mm f/2.8 announcement is imminent.
• Lee: A new harder neutral density grad filter is announced.
• Lensbaby: Lensbaby have announced a cheaper alternative for those who love twirly bokeh.

See digicame-info for more images