05/10, 7:19am
Micro Four Thirds camera celebrates 50th anniversary of Pen F
Olympus has officially announced its Pen E-P5 Micro Four Thirds camera, one leaked earlier this month. Designed to look like the Pen F to mark its 50th anniversary, the Pen E-P5 boasts a string of thoroughly-modern components within its retro styling, including a 16-megapixel TruePic VI Live MOS sensor and a 1.04 million dot tilting LCD touchscreen on the rear.
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04/24, 7:39am
Panasonic adds Wi-Fi, NFC connectivity to cameras
Panasonic has revealed a pair of new cameras in the Lumix line. The Lumix DMC-LF1 is a 12-megapixel compact camera with built-in Wi-Fi and NFC, while the Lumix DMC-G6 is a 16-megapixel Micro Four Thirds shooter capable of a high-speed burst mode at 7 frames per second, and a half-second booting time.
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04/09, 5:16am
Previously leaked camera includes Wi-Fi, NFC
Panasonic has formally unveiled the Lumix GF6 Micro Four Thirds camera. As previously leaked, the new Lumix GF6 offers a number of improvements over the GF5 from last year, including the introduction of Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity, alongside an upgrade from the GF5's 12.1-megapixel sensor to a 16-megapixel Live MOS version.
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04/08, 1:52pm
Micro Four Thirds camera uses Super-16 1080HD sensor
A Micro Four Thirds camera from Blackmagic has leaked online, ahead of its official reveal at the NAB show in Las Vegas. The Pocket Cinema Camera, a more consumer-oriented version of the Cinema Camera MFT, will retain the same lens mounting capability as its predecessor while also adding a number of user-friendly features.
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01/18, 6:29am
Chinese company JK Imaging reveals its first Kodak-branded camera
Chinese company JK Imaging has released its first camera
with Kodak branding. JK Imaging was able to capitalize on Kodak’s financial woes to formally licence the Kodak brand for use on its own products, making them nothing more than Kodak in name only. It has called the first of its new cameras the Kodak S1, which is mirrorless Micro Four Thirds type.
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10/25, 8:00am
Panasonic has announced when it will start selling the Lumix GH3 in Japan. A release date for mid-December suggests that the Micro Four Thirds, mirrorless camera will be making its way to other markets, if not close to the end of the year, then at the start of 2013. Details of camera-bundles and launch-day accessories have also been revealed.
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09/17, 10:05am
Announcement confirms GH3 leak specifications
Panasonic has finally revealed the Lumix GH3 mirrorless micro four thirds camera. The official announcement ahead of Photokina effectively confirms the specifications leak that took place two weeks ago, and follows another leak of the camera's promotional video by the company's own YouTube account late last week.
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09/17, 9:56am
OM-D bodies continue to shrink
Olympus has introduced several products, including two PEN mirrorless cameras, a Micro Four Thirds macro lens, a body cap lens and a new color option for an existing lens. The PEN E-PL5 and E-PM2 represent the evolution of the company's compact system cameras, utilizing the same 16.1-megapixel OM-D sensor and TruePic VI processing engine as the E-M5 but in smaller bodies characteristic of the PEN series.
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09/14, 3:17pm
Video confirms 16MP sensor, flip-out screen
A video showing off the Lumix GH3 has appeared online earlier than intended. The video, demonstrating the mirrorless micro four thirds camera in various shooting scenarios, appeared on the official Panasonic YouTube channel before being quickly pulled from view, but not before being mirrored by other users of the video streaming service.
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09/07, 1:31pm
Cinema Camera gets passive Micro Four Thirds version, same price
Blackmagic Design has just added a version of its Cinema Camera that supports Micro Four Thirds lenses. The older camera will get an EF suffix to differentiate the two. The new camera will accept Passive Micro Four Thirds lenses with a manual iris and focus, though adapter rings will allow mounting other types of lenses as well.
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09/05, 6:48am
GH3 claimed to have fastest AF of any changeable lens system
The specifications for the Panasonic GH3 have allegedly leaked online. According to sources trusted by 43Rumors, the Micro Four Thirds camera will have a 16-megapixel "Wide dynamic range" CMOS sensor using a new Venus 7 engine, a maximum ISO of 12,800, and the "Fastest AF of any interchangeable lens system camera."
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05/26, 6:45pm
Micro Four Thirds lens boasts 150mm-equivalent field of view
Olympus has outed the M.Zuiko Digital ED 75mm f1.8 lens for its line of Micro Four Thirds cameras. The single focal-length lens boasts a 150mm-equivalent field of view, an all-metal construction, and a f1.8 aperture into a body only 2.7 inches long. Olympus sees the lens as designed for studio, stage, and portrait photography as well as for HD filmmaking.
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04/12, 8:05pm
US availability follows Japan launch
As promised, Olympus has begun shipping its first OM-D camera in the US and other markets. The E-M5, a mirrorless camera that takes advantage of the Micro Four Thirds interchangeable lens system, initially arrived late last month, however the first run was limited to Japan.
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04/05, 5:20am
Panasonic Lumix GF5 official
Panasonic has formally revealed its GF3 revamp, the Lumix GF5 Micro Four Thirds camera, confirming the leaks that preceded its announcement. The camera incorporates a number of advancements over the GF3, but largely retains the same design. On the inside, the GF5 now sports a completely revised 12.1-megapixel Live MOS sensor paired with the latest Venus processor.
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04/02, 8:15pm
Device provides isolated special effects
Lensbaby has
begun shipping its Composer Pro special effects attachment for mirrorless, interchangeable lens cameras. With it, a photographer can reproduce tilt-shift or another specific effect without having to turn to a full DSLR. The Composer Pro works with Panasonic and Olympus Micro Four Thirds cameras, Sony's NEX line, and Samsung NX cameras.
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03/19, 4:30pm
Panasonic Lumix GF5 images are leaked online
A site called nPhoto has just shared what appear to be official photos of the upcoming Lumix GF5 camera from Panasonic. They follow up from yesterday's less formal photo leak, and the source confirmed that the ISO range will be the same as that offered by Canon's EOS 7D and 60D DSLRs. This would put it at 100 to 12,800.
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03/18, 1:00pm
Panasonic GF5 to be quick turnaround
Panasonic may have a quick refresh of the Lumix GF3 just a year after it first arrived. Skipping a whole version number out of superstition, the GF5 was briefly shown in an Instagram photo (direct link still active) from Panasonic brand promoter Angelababy of Hong Kong. On the surface, the Micro Four Thirds camera appears very similar to the small GF3, but the grip has come from the GX1.
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02/29, 10:45am
Camera will hit Asia first, US markets in April
Olympus has confirmed that it will ship its new Micro Four Thirds OM-D camera beginning March 31 in Japan. The OM-D E-M5 will be available in US markets beginning April 10 and is available for preorder now. The E-M5 is the first in Olympus' OM-D line. The E-M5 is a a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera that borrows its retro style from the classic OM-4 film camera.
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02/07, 9:00pm
Olympus OM-D boosts MFT pro credentials
Olympus ended rumors Tuesday by trotting out its highest-end Micro Four Thirds camera to date. The OM-D is consciously styled after the classic OM-4 film camera but, in place of the mirrors and optical viewfinder, has a 1.44-megapixel electronic viewfinder instead. It's billed as one of the few mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras to have its EVF in a more natural position above the lens, rather than at the corner on a camera such as the Sony NEX-7.
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02/04, 5:05pm
Olympus OM-D shows face early
The Olympus OM-D had some of its details spoiled after Amazon Japan (cached) briefly posted a product page with photos. True to form, the Micro Four Thirds camera will be a tribute to the OM-4 with the retro look and tall box above the lens. Instead of a mirror system, though, this space would have the rumored 1.44-megapixel electronic viewfinder, putting it in a more natural position than the corner position on other mirrorless digital cameras.
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01/26, 11:30am
Japan's Astrodesign also joins the standard
Two Japanese camera lens manufacturers have signed onto the Micro Four Thirds standard pioneered by Olympus and Panasonic. They include Kenko Tokina and Tamron, while a third Japanese company, Astrodesign, has also jumped onboard, though it makes video measuring equipment and not lenses. This should give those how have bought into the new type of camera, which allows for interchangeable lenses on digital camera bodies that are smaller than DSLRs, more options for lenses.
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01/20, 4:30pm
Olympus OM-D image shows quality finish
The upcoming Olympus OM-D camera, due for an official unveiling on February 8, has now been seen, at least partially. 43Rumors shared a leaked image of some of the top of the camera, which will be the first digital shooter from Olympus' flagship OM series that dates back 40 years. The Micro Four Thirds camera appears to have a high-quality metal body.
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01/18, 12:00pm
Olympus to unveil OM-D MFT camera in February?
Olympus is likely to unveil a new compact digital camera with a product called the OM-D, which was trademarked on January 3. While the camera hasn't officially been revealed, Olympus did tease its "latest Olympus masterpiece" is coming in a teaser ad. It is expected to be a modern, digital camera styled after the film OM-1 of the past and the more recent OM-2000.
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11/07, 12:40am
Panasonic Lumix GX1 made official
Panasonic as anticipated switched its focus back to more experienced photographers with a new compact Lumix Micro Four Thirds camera. The GX1 is the first in the small-body series to get an upgraded 16-megapixel CMOS sensor and has better low-light performance along with an ISO 12,800 sensitivity ceiling. Customization is also once again more important: it now has C1 and C2 modes that support a total of four user presets, two programmable buttons, and a thumb wheel.
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11/06, 10:55am
Panasonic GX1 confirmed with 16MP sensor
A Panasonic promo page (video below) has inadvertently tipped the company's hand for the launch of the Lumix GX1. As hinted, the camera should be a return to more professional-like control for Panasonic's smallest Micro Four Thirds body with a thumb wheel and other customizable controls. It will be the first compact MFT camera from the company with an upgraded sensor, likely taking the 16-megapixel sensor from the G3, and a likely updated Venus image processor.
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10/29, 4:00am
Panasonic GX1 seen in photos
Panasonic's shift back to experienced photographers became apparent early Saturday after a new leak of the GX1. The details caught by Mobile01 in Taiwan had it using both a 16-megapixel sensor and a new image processing engine, the combination of which could reach ISO 12,800. Dedicated controls and expansion make their comeback, such as a command dial on the thumb grip and a combination of both a pop-up flash and a hot shoe.
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09/19, 6:50pm
Nikon I Am Coming campaign hints mirrorless
Nikon on Tuesday slipped out a teaser page giving a strong clue as to its mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras. While just saying "I am coming," the page has a countdown that ends on Wednesday, coinciding neatly with the rumored launch date. The camera maker rarely ever builds up the public for a launch, either for its regular compacts or its DSLRs, supporting the notion that it's a genuinely new platform and not just a sequel.
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09/10, 2:00am
Nikon mirrorless camera model details slip
Nikon's rapidly approaching mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras may be split into two models but carry some significant limitations that might rule them out versus Micro Four Thirds or DSLRs. Called the J1 and V1 (possibly 1J and 1V), both would shoot at 10 megapixels but use CCD sensors, Nikon Rumors said. The J1 would have a built-in flash while the V1 would go with a multi-purpose port for an external flash, but neither would have a real hot-shoe, blocking them from Speedlights and other standard camera gear.
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09/01, 11:40pm
Latest PEN camera brings smallest form
As Olympus prepares to ship its latest PEN, the E-PM1, the company invited Electronista to try out the upcoming camera at the US Open tennis tournament in New York City. The new PEN represents Olympus' smallest Micro Four Thirds offering, bringing many features from the flagship E-P3 but with a slimmer body and significantly lower price tag.
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08/26, 7:40am
Panasonic G X retractable lenses, GF3X kit show
Panasonic addressed one of the most common complaints of mirrorless interchangeable lenses, the mismatch in size between the body and lenses, with a new set of Lumix lenses and a new camera bundle. The Lumix G X 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 is just over an inch long, as thick as some pancake lenses, but still has the same fast focusing, stabilization, and optics as the original Micro Four Thirds kit lens. Instead of the traditional zoom ring, it has a motorized lever to reach its 3X range.
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08/25, 8:35am
Olympus E-PM1 PEN Mini due autumn for $500
Olympus has announced the pricing on its forthcoming E-PM1 PEN Mini. When the Micro Four Thirds camera launches in early autumn, with retail for $500. The E-PM1 PEN Mini is the smallest in the Olympus MFT range and features an ultra-fast 35-point auto-focus system.
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07/31, 10:15pm
Our review of Sony's NEX-C3 mirrorless camera
Sony was a relative latecomer to mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras, but when it arrived with the NEX line, it shot back with very small designs which were barely larger than compact cameras, although they sometimes controlled like it, too. The NEX-C3 is a second generation and brings a new 16.2-megapixel sensor, overall better performance, and an even smaller design. We'll examine in our review of the NEX-C3 if it's worth trading up from a point-and-shoot or as an alternative to rivals from Olympus and Panasonic.
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07/21, 12:55pm
Olympus E-PL3 Lite due in the UK this summer
The Olympus E-PL3 Lite camera introduced at the start of last month has just got an official release date and price in the UK. It arrives late this summer, priced at £550 (nearly $900) when bundled with a 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 II R zoom lens. It will be available in black, white, silver or red.
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06/30, 1:00am
Olympus MFT gets 12mm f2, 45mm f1.8, FL-300R flash
Olympus finished off a series of launches early Tuesday through the addition of a pair of very bright Micro Four Thirds lenses and a new flash. Both a 12mm f2 ED lens and a 45mm f1.8 lens give the PEN camera line bright lenses more flexible than the 17mm pancake that has defined the line. Olympus envisions the 12mm being used for wide-angle shots and darker street photography, while the 45mm is more a portrait lens that can produce bokeh (soft backgrounds from shallow depth of field) while still keeping a typical distance.
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06/30, 1:00am
Olympus E-P3 official with new sensor, dual-core
Olympus early Thursday remade its entire PEN camera line and headlined it with the E-P3. The camera uses a genuinely new 12.3-megapixel CMOS sensor and the first dual-core TruePic VI processor to reach much faster autofocus performance than not just other Micro Four Thirds cameras but most interchangeable lens cameras. It can supposedly outperform its higher-end rival, the Panasonic GH2, as well as full-fledged DSLRs like the Nikon D3100 and even the Canon EOS 1D Mark IV.
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06/30, 1:00am
Olympus intros E-PL3 and E-PM1 as tiny MFT cameras
Olympus went well beyond the E-P3 in its PEN camera introductions Thursday by launching two small models, one of which might claim a record for interchangeable lens cameras. The PEN Mini or E-PM1 is the star and is smaller even than the E-PL series, more closely approaching the size of a point-and-shoot camera. Even so, the Micro Four Thirds camera has the exact same upgraded 12.3-megapixel sensor and dual-core TruePic VI processor as the E-P3, giving both a very quick 35-point autofocus and better image quality.
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06/26, 9:20pm
Olympus E-P3 details arrive early
One of the cameras part of Olympus' June 30 event was exposed in large form on Sunday after two slips provided details and photos. The E-P3 is superficially similar to the E-P2 but should bring much improved image quality. From what Photo Rumors was told, it would have a new 12-megapixel sensor with a higher ISO 12,800 sensitivity limit, the rumored faster autofocus, and a built-in flash that had previously been limited to cameras like the E-PL2.
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06/23, 12:15am
Camera offers new Q-Mount lens system
Pentax has launched an entirely new camera system, labeled the Q. The platform aims to compete with Micro Four Thirds SLRs, but with Pentax's own Q-Mount lenses. The company claims it is offering the "world's smallest and lightest body" for an interchangeable design, constructed using a magnesium alloy. Like many small DSLRs, the Q lacks an optical viewfinder; users must rely on a three-inch LCD with 460,000-dot resolution and a viewing angle claimed to reach 170 degrees.
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06/21, 8:55am
Olympus to unveil third-gen MFT cameras June 30
Olympus has quietly sent out invitations to a special event in Taiwan on June 30 that should bring out three new cameras. Along with the E-PM1, the camera builder is expected to introduce the E-PL3, a replacement for the E-PL2 that would add a tilting LCD, as well as an E-P3 that would keep the built-in flash and build quality of the E-P2. Their signature trick is expected to be much faster autofocus that would not only compete with Panasonic's Micro Four Thirds cameras but some DSLRs.
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06/20, 8:10am
Claims faster autofocus than Panasonic GH2
A photo of the Olympus PEN mini E-PM1 has been leaked to 43 Rumors. The new Micro Four Thirds format camera compares in size with the Olympus XZ-1, being slightly larger in width and comparable height and depth. Olympus has promised the new PEN camera will feature an ultrafast autofocus that the company says is faster than the Panasonic GH2 AF and many DSLR cameras on the market today.
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06/13, 7:35am
Panasonic GF3 becomes smallest swappable lens cam
Just months after unveiling the GF2, Panasonic has unveiled a third iteration in the Lumix GF3. The new model is just over 16 percent smaller and lighter than the GF2 and designed even more for those graduating from point-and-shoot cameras than pros. Its control set is simpler still, though this includes an improved touchscreen interface, and brings in a "miniature effect" (tilt-shift) art filter.
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06/06, 8:50am
Design appears to be smaller than GF2
Panasonic appears to have briefly posted a promotional video for its upcoming GF3 camera ahead of schedule, though the segment was quickly pulled from YouTube. Several screenshots taken from the video show a compact design that may be smaller than the GF2. Helping to minimize dimensions, the new model eliminates a hot shoe from the camera body.
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05/12, 7:40am
Panasonic makes Lumix G3 MFT official
Panasonic confirmed rumors Thursday by launching its first third-generation Lumix, the G3. The camera is considered the smallest swappable-lens model to still pack a viewfinder and does so by moving some of its button and dial controls to its three-inch, swiveling touchscreen. Autofocusing is also much more powerful: it now can not only get finer-grained tap-to-focus control but has a new precise contrast AF routine that can lock in as quickly as a tenth of a second (on a 14-140mm lens) by doubling the CMOS sensor's live sample rate to 120FPS.
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05/11, 4:05pm
Panasonic G3 to launch Thursday for $650
Panasonic will officially unveil its G3 Micro Four Thirds camera on Thursday, May 12, according to 43rumors. The successor to the current G2, the new camera is expected to be 25 percent smaller and get a 15.8-megapixel sensor. It will have ultra-fast autofocus and a maximum sensitivity of ISO 6400; it's not clear if it will get the improved low-light performance of the GH2.
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04/07, 4:15pm
Fujifilm may make X200 as advanced point and shoot
A rumor surfacing from a business-to-business conversation suggested Fujifilm is hoping to expand its semi-pro line from the X100 to include at least one other model. Photography supplier Bob Todrick was reportedly told Fujifilm has decided to chase the "serious prosumer market" and would start with an X200 in the fall. The new model would be a simplified, point-and-shoot version of the X100. If it and the X100 did well, there could be an interchangeable lens camera sometime in 2012, Todrick said.
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04/05, 11:45am
GE may dip into mirrorless interchangeables soon
GE's General Imaging said in remarks that the company is branching out into the semi-pro segment with mirrorless, interchangeable lens cameras. A spokesperson didn't say what it would entail but promised a Micro Four Thirds-like entry sometime by the end of 2011. The young camera maker has so far clung only to point-and-shoot cameras.
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04/02, 7:05pm
We review Olympus' E-PL2 camera
The Olympus E-PL2 is a still-rare sequel to a MILC (mirrorless interchangeable lens camera). It promises to once again offer a way for relative beginners to get into serious photography as well as a possible sidearm camera for veterans. Now in its fourth iteration, has this series of Micro Four Thirds cameras just scratched the surface or run its course? Our E-PL2 review finds out.
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03/18, 5:10pm
Canon has no current plans to enter CSC segment
Canon Europe head of consumer imaging Rainer Fuehres says that Canon has no need to enter the mirrorless compact system camera (CSC) segment. In an interview with Amateur Photography, Fuehres argues that the segment has only evolved because manufacturers who have introduced them have failed to compete with Canon and Nikon in the DSLR segment. While not ruling out the possibility that Canon will introduce a CSC, Fuehres indicated that it would only likely happen if Canon could offer something different.
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02/10, 6:10am
Expected announcement to come soon?
Nikon is reportedly planning on introducing its first mirrorless camera, possibly towards the end of March. First rumored in July last year, the new camera is expected to use mirrorless lens system similar to the Micro Four Thirds style or the Sony NEX series. In an interview, the head of Nikon Austria Wolfgang Lutzky has indicated that the March timeframe for such a product introduction is on the cards.
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02/08, 4:45am
Move forced by Zeiss, Schneider joining MFT?
Coming hot on the heels of news that Carl Zeiss and Schneider Kreuznach have signed up to make Micro Four Thirds lenses, Sony has announced that it has opened up the NEX’s proprietary E-mount system to other lens makers. Moreover, in this instance Sony has opted not to charge a licence fee for the privilege, which given its history of pushing proprietary technologies at a fee is somewhat surprising. The NEX cameras compete in the same space as the Micro Four Thirds market of mirror-less compact-bodied cameras that aim to offer DSLR-like photo quality and interchangeable lens options.
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