Samsung

It seems that Sony is not as tight-lipped as usual in the preparation of the upcoming Photokina show in Köln, Germany at the end of next month. The offering is now nearly certain: 4 Alpha cameras and a set of lenses can be expected. They should be announced on August 24 (next week).

• Alpha 33 (a pellix camera with a 14 MP sensor)
• Alpha 55 (a pellix camera with a 16.7 MP sensor, 10 fps, ISO 100-25600, 15-point AF, EVF – all to be confirmed)
• Alpha 560 (with 14MP sensor, 5 fps, ISO 100-12800, 15-point AF, swivel display – near certain feature set)
• Alpha 580 (same as A560, with 16MP sensor)

Note: Pellix is the name usually applied to describe a camera where there is no mobile mirror, but a pellix semi-transparent mirror which is providing a simultaneous and continuous AF while bringing light to the photo/video sensor. For more information about it, see the Wikipedia articles in both English and German. The presence of Pellix should also allow to keep a LiveView operation during the photo/video capture (probably in association with an Electronic View Finder or EVF).

Images of the A55 and A33

Alpha 33 - front	Alpha 55 - front
Alpha 55 - back	Alpha 55 - back
Alpha 55 - front	Alpha 55 - back
Images from DChome

A33/A55 size

What is now certain is that the Alpha 33 and Alpha 55 will be very small indeed. They are smaller than the smallest existing Alpha cameras (the Alpha 290). They are nearly as small as the NEX-5 camera.

Thanks to SonyAlphaRumors, you can see a marketing-based and meaningful size comparison:

Alpha 33 vs. Samsung NX10 vs. Panasonic G2

As was reported here about a month ago, Canon does not believe that it is necessary to leave the traditional APS-C DSLR format factor to compete with the EVIL cameras. Sony seems to have understood this too. But they decided to provide both the (still?) smaller ones (NEX series) and continuously shrinking ones (Alpha series). It will be interesting to see how this works in the end.

At least, Canon appears right and we can expect to see similar comparisons appearing with Canon bodies of the near future.

Compatible lenses for NEX

Additionally, some companies are rumored to be interested in providing a real competition in terms of lenses for the NEX camera range (Sony will no longer be alone). If Zeiss and Leica are actually present there in a few weeks, it will mean that this NEX camera series will certainly be a huge success, if only because of the large advertisement effort supported by several companies at the same time. However, it is nearly impossible to sort out the good information and the false rumors in what is said from all sides.

As we all know, the upcoming Photokina in September is already the center of rumours coming from all parts. I have been trying to give an idea of what could be coming for the major brands in the DSLR market, concentrating mostly on the new bodies to be seen. But there is no end to the list of rumours about lenses. So, let’s try to make a summary of the most common ones, with no order or no probability figures.

photo credit: nhuhoai

• Samsung NX line would receive 3 new lenses according to Korean DDaily: Pancake 20mm, 20-50mm zoom and Macro 60mm lens.
• Canon could come with 3 lenses of its own: Possibly including an EF 16-50 f/4L H-IS.
• Panasonic already announced a 3D lens for the micro-4/3 (Lumix G-series). It should be visible in September and available in December.
• Samyang (the new company you should consider for compatible lenses) is readying a 35mm f/1.4 with manual focus, for the Samsung NX line. 8mm (fisheye) and 85mm have been rumored too.
• Nikon is said to be preparing at least three lenses: Nikkor AF-S 85mm f/1.4G N, Nikkor 24-120 f/4 ED VR N, Nikkor 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6 ED VR DX. They could possibly add a 18-200mm f/5.6 or a 28-300mm f/5.6.
• Sony has already said that we will see a 500mm f/4 G (big grey tele-lens for rich pro photographers) and a wide-angle lens Zeiss Distagon T* 24 mm f/2 ZA SSM, but the rumour has that it will not be the only lenses for the Alpha series. Sony could also present one or two lenses for the NEX line, on top of the 18-200mm already promised for mid-September 2010.

Of course, those could be announced a little before the Photokina show (brands try to steal the wind from the other by moving ahead of time).

From Sweden (Feber.se), we learn about the planned new lenses that Schneider Kreuznach will be launching for the recent Samsung NX line of Digital SLR photo cameras.

2010
15mm f/2.3 Super-Angulon
21mm f/2 Super-Angulon
35mm f/1.4 Xenon
55mm f/1.4 Xenon

2011
90mm f/1.8 Tele-Xenar
70mm f/2.8 Claron (Macro)

I got this nice little funny text from Lithos in the Pentax Forums. Please, notice that it may (or may not) be what really happened.

Here’s how Samsung gets Schneider Kreuznach to make lenses for ‘em:

SAMSUNG: “We’re making a play, like every other man and his giant-electronics-corporation dog, for the digital camera market. Unfortunately, we have zero credibility in the camera industry, and, well, that’s where you come in…”

SCHNEIDER KREUZNACH: “NEIN! Ve are a respected European opticz company, with many years of fine tradition und expertise in the field…”

Samsung drops, with a surprisingly loud thud, a briefcase on the conference table. It pops open, revealing row upon row of shiny Euro notes, neatly bundled in 10000-Euro lots.

SK: “…and as such vill not be villing to zell our name for use on some cheap, mass-produced cameras! Our lens are a ground by magic elves, und coated vith ze finest, purest dragon’s urine…”

Samsung reaches into its pocket, and pulls out a handful of diamonds, water clear, each the size of a human testicle, and tumbles them onto the briefcase.

SK: “Our lenses are hand-assembled by virgins! The lens barrels are polished on zeir thighs!”

Samsung whistles, and a team of sunglass-wearing security guards with earpieces screwed into their ears, wielding submachine guns, enter the room. They briefly check the corners, the faces of those at the conference table, then nod and mutter into their lapels. Seconds later, a powered trolley laden with gold bullion enters the room, and is placed at the head of the table.

SK: “EACH LENS IS HAND-TESTED BY ZE POPE!”

Samsung pulls a share certificate from his pocket. Laying it next to the briefcase, it reads: “COCA-COLA: 250,000 Shares”.

SK: “I look forward to working vith you, Samsung. Here’s the TIFF file of our logo. Stick it vhere you vant. Guten tag!”

Thanks to lithos for his cooperation. As he wrote me: “Really, I hope the satire puts to rest some of the rumour.”

As expected, 2010 will be a great year for lenses to strengthen the range delivered to the Samsung NX-10: Samsung announces no less than 10 glasses for this year.

To be released during the first half of 2010:
18-55mm F3.5-5.6, Non OIS

To be released during the second half of 2010:
20-50mm F3.5-5.6
20mm F2.8
18-200mm F3.5-6.3 OIS
60mm F2.8

The PMA in Las Vegas is now arriving fast. After a long time of little rumors, here comes the moment for big rumors, but not the actual revelations yet.

• Nikon has been telling the world that they intended to have a great year 2010. It seems that they will bring a new DSLR (it could be the Nikon D700x, Nikon D700s, or Nikon D800 according to the rumor mill). It would be confirmed according to the banner visible on LetsGoDigital. But this is apparently a fake built from press material from the older Nikon D3 (via NR).
• Yesterday’s press conference did not bring a single SLR though (Coolpix S8000, Coolpix S6000, Coolpix S4000, Coolpix S3000, Coolpix P100, Coolpix L110, Coolpix L22, Coolpix L21, nothing less!)
• Plenty of people expect to see the Canon EOS 60D arriving now, but it’s still uncertain. NL/DPR predicts a set of features: CMOS 18MPs, 6.3fps, HD 24 and 36fps, Digic IV.
• According to CR, Canon is preparing a new Rebel/EOS camera whose name should be Rebel T2i (the European name could be 550D or EOS 600D), with video, fixed LCD of improved resolution.
• At last, Canon would present the very pro Canon EOS 1Ds Mk IV
• Samsung should extend its new NX line, possibly with some lenses (waiting a little more for a new NX camera body).
• Olympus and Fuji should bring only P&S cameras.
• The Sony rumour line is totally silent, which could be indicator that either they are efficient at keeping a lid on the new Alpha 750 or there is nothing in preparation.

So, let’s wait a little more.

Assuredly, Samsung decided to shake the market of mirror-less SLR (how can we name these cameras?) since the official launch of the Samsung NX-10.

Samsung new web site

They open a new Korean web site at http://www.samsungimaging.co.kr/ which is -for now- dedicated to the NX-10 but which will certainly be the spearhead of the 2010-2011 marketing efforts around the new NX series. It should support Samsung’s strike to become a major actor of the mid-range SLR cameras (what could not be achieved even in the partnership with Pentax).

But they also announce us relatively bad news: The NX10 will not be available on camera shop shelves before March 2010 (in the US and in Europe). We will all have to be patient waiting to the opportunity to get access to this camera which intend to shake up too-well-established categories of the SLR market.

I just updated the tests/reviews in the database of the SLR photo cameras, mostly for the Pentax and Samsung cameras (and some Nikon, Sony, Canon, too).

Samsung NX-10

Finally, it arrived. The forecasts were right. To open the Las Vegas CES show, Samsung just presented its new photo camera, the Samsung NX-10. It’s a mirror-less interchangeable lens camera that will use the new Samsung NX lens mount (three lenses available at launch: 30mm f/2, 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 OIS, 50-200mm f/4-5.6 ED OIS; Future adaptor for Pentax K mount lenses).

A very small body (not the smallest in its category since some 4/3 do a little better) with an APS-C 14.6 mega-pixel photo sensor, thanks to an Electronic View Finder (EVF) which allowed to completely remove the mirror cage.

Samsung also decided to add a a superb autofocus to the NX-10 with a 16-area AF which should be very quick and very well-endowed (dynamic tracking of subjects, face recognition).

Moreover, the list of features looks a little like a technology feast with a high-contrast 3″ AMOLED LCD screen supposed to offer the best possible viewing under the sun, with a VGA-resolution Electronic Viewfinder which will need to be tested.

Faithful to its consumer target, the Samsung NX-10 also brings video capture in 720p HD format, compressed to H.264 (the HD digital video standard of this year).

The lacking features:

• Wireless transmission
• Weather-sealed body
• Fast burst modes

Anyway, the exact possibilities will have to be checked, but it looks good indeed.

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Samsung NX-10

It seems true, indeed. Just see the number of posts about it on K-Rumors. If I wanted to sum it up, I would say the following.

Since months already, it is clear that Samsung and Pentax are no longer living a love affair. The Korean company parted and now thinks a lot about being independent and thinks it is able to live happily ever after -at least when it comes about entry-level SLR photo cameras which still are the beating heart of this industry.

Leaks abounded in the recent weeks to confirm the arrival of such a camera at Samsung and many people think that it will be named Samsung NX-10 as shown on a leaked technical declaration to an official Korean legal body. The features are not detailed but it is now possible to list a lot of them without great risk of error:

• The NX-10 is a Single Lens Reflex (maybe not reflex) camera with interchangeable lenses
• Electronic Viewfinder (EVF) with 100% coverage (1x magnification): 1080p/260Hz (920,000 pixels)
• 14.6 MP APS-C photo sensor with image stabilization
• Sensitivity: ISO 100-3200 (ext. ISO 50-6400)
• Shutter: 30s-1/6000s, in 4.5 fps in burst mode
• 7 fps bursts (30 consecutive pictures) made without lifting the mirror
• Video capture: Full HD 1080p/30i/s with stereo sound
• Autofocus: 16 areas, face detection and movement tracking (considerably more powerful than the entry-level competition)
• AMOLED-type LCD screen for a better readability
• Built-in flash 12GN at ISO 100
• Connectivity: HDMI, USB 2.0, Video/Audio out
• Wireless transmission: BlueTooth, WiFi
• SD/SDHC memory cards
• Body: At least, partly weather-sealed
• Weight: 369g

Samsung would take the same opportunity to finally present lenses of its own design.

And the announcement would be ready either tomorrow or on the 10th of January!

Sources: K-Rumors, yonhapnews.co.kr, etc.

It seems that Samsung started to leak marketing data about a new NX-series camera that could be launched in November 2009.

We don’t know much (Samsung would be giving details in August, but launching real products only at the end of the year), but there should be a few notable features:

• No in-body image stabilization
• New lenses (maybe 3 of them)
• Possibly a structure intermediate bewteen a Point-n-Shoot and an SLR camera (who said EVF? Electronic View Finder?)

Let’s wait…

The Pentax representatives and PR people keep telling us that the Pentax K20D is not replaced by the newest Pentax K-7. So, what? Do you replace the K20D or not?

The answer could come from Samsung, forever-partner of Pentax for digital SLR photo cameras. The network of informers in direct contact with Samsung keeps repeating that Samsung is ready to launch a new SLR camera, probably to be named GX-30, as soon as next 7th of July. Of course, this is soft music to the ears of Samsung lovers (I have to admit that they are more numerous in Asia than in Europe, by far), but it’s also source of wonderment in the Pentax lovers ranks. They immediately rushed to the near-obvious conclusion that the Pentax K30D is around the corner (since, usually, Samsung launches its copy of the Pentax design a few days or a few weeks after the Pentax original).

So, a Pentax K30D before the end of June? Then, a Samsung GX-30 right after that?

It’s not so sure. Pentax and Samsung could well be on the verge of splitting their strategies and going on different roads. Instead of sharing all of their SLR camera designs, the two brands could start diverging in 2009 and 2010. That would give a Samsung GX-30 which would not be a Pentax K30D…

The PMA 2009 fair in Las Vegas is opening its doors and it is time to confirm or correct the rumours.

• Nikon is concentrating on existing SLR products: Nikon D700 is king.
• Sony is not introducing any new SLR camera.
• Panasonic is advertising strongly the existing Lumix DMC-G1

So, where are the news? Here are some of the notable items:

• Samsung offers new compact point-and-shoot cameras (NX series) with an APS-C imaging sensor. Direct competitors for the SLR cameras, in the “Image Quality” category.
• Olympus E-620
• 6 new lenses for the Sony SLR cameras (one undisclosed Sony G Super Telephoto, 28-75mm f/2.8, DT 30mm f/2.8 Macro, DT 50mm f/1.8, DT 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6, DT 55-200mm f/4-5.6)
• A new Panasonic Lumix GH1 (improvement over the G1 in 12MP with 1080p video)
• 2 new lenses for the Lumix cameras (14-140mm & 7-14mm)

We will certainly conclude that this issue of the world photo event is going to be tagged as “consumer-oriented” or “entry-level sensitive”.

Wall Street: Early afternoon light (by mkrigsman)

According to Canon Rumours, there could be some concentration moves around the camera manufacturers. Up to this, it’s just in line with what I’ve been telling about some brands whose CEOs have heart burns from the intense current competition.

But they also give us names and combinations to think about.

• Panasonic could buy the photo division of Leica. Assuredly weirder than certain.
• Panasonic could buy Olympus. Here comes credibility. And it would be industrially much more tenable.
• Samsung could buy Hoya, the owner of Pentax. If Pentax is suffering financial pains, Samsung is nearly certain to come and help. But why buy Hoya? This would be bizarre.

What do you think about this? There are already several point-and-shoot compact cameras using LCD touchscreens for all or part of the user interface. But, to this day, none of the major SLR camera manufacturers did try this on a them while it would be relatively easy to push this into a design budget for an expensive camera like SLRs. Nothing at Nikon, nothing at Canon, nothing at Sony, …

Who will be the first to bring this innovation? And I really think it is inevitable that it will come soon on our reflex cameras. Even if only because it reduces the number of needed buttons and it brings a certain flavor of technical progress that should appeal to most of the camera enthusiasts buying SLR cameras (just think about the unrelenting success of video modes which should -as a matter of fact- only be considered as anecdotal on a photo camera).

I think that it’s possible to list the best candidates for this:

• Low- to mid-range camera at Sony, like a Sony Alpha 400
• Entry-level camera at Nikon, like a Nikon D65
• Lowest price cameras at Samsung and Pentax, Pentax K3000, Samsung GX-3000 (and maybe even a mid-range option for these brands are striving to distinguish themselves technically from the market leaders)
• A complement to Panasonic DMC-G1 under the name of DMC-G2 or DMC-G3

This is all mere observation of technolody presence among the compact models (such point-and-shoot cameras like the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T77, the Nikon S60 Coolpix, the Samsung NV34HD or the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX580). And there is more reality to these remarks than to most predictions about the launch of presumed major products at the next PMA fair in Las Vegas.

About the Pentax K30D, I obviously missed and important news-bit which was published last October by WhatDigitalCamera. Thanks for helping me correct myself.

This article that collects elements of an interview of Young-Bae Kim, Samsung’s Director of DSLR business, brings us informations all the more important that we remember that (and this is confirmed again) Samsung and Pentax work tightly together on the development of digital SLR cameras. Nothing is told in precise words and terms, but some important conclusions can be drawn.

Pentax K20D

If the name of the future successor of the Pentax K20D or Samsung GX-20 is not confirmed yet, everything leads us to think that it will stay as Pentax K30D and Samsung GX-30 and we will keep these names for the time being. Nevertheless, contrary to the hopes of many a pentaxian, Mr Kim is very clear on th fact that the sensor will stay in the APS-C form factor. No Full Frame for the Pentax K30D.

However, he insists on the fact that this new camera will be a significant milestone in the trend of the Pentax/Samsung SLR cameras. More specifically, size will be the matter of news. Look where I’m headed: A completely digital new viewfinder would reduce the size and weight a lot: no mirror cage, no pentaprism. But, why should they appply this to a camera in the high-medium range? Probably, because Pentax and Samsung nwo need to stand up in the competition (where they can’t really enter up to now) between Canon, Nikon and Sony.

Furthermore, I think that despite what Mr Kim says, the video mode -even with its limitations- will be introduced in such a camera. Digital viewfinders already include the video capability; So, why not go a step further. 2009 being the year when video-capable SLR cameras seriously hit the shelves and Samsung already having the technology included in some of its digital compact PnS cameras, I think that they will have no choice here. The marketing pressure will be very high on the engineers in charge of the design of the Samsung GX-30 / Pentax K30D.

Consequently, my prediction for the features of the Pentax K30D (or Samsung GX-30) goes along the following lines:

• CMOS APS-C sensor of 15 to 17 MP (Samsung origin)
• Sensitivity: 100-6400 ISO
• Video mode 720p (maybe 1080p)
• Electronics fully digital viewfinder (100% coverage)
• 3″ LCD rear display
• All-weather body

That being said, I would forecast some heavy workload for the designers at Samsung to develop a Full Frame sensor anyway. But no announcement before the 4th quarter of 2009. Mayeb this will give us the nice names of Pentax K3D and Samsung GX-3 ?

The PMA fair which will happen in Las Vegas between the 3rd and the 5th of March 2009 will bring us many news and a few surprises. All the signs are there, as confirmed by my informers. There is only a few weeks to be patient, but expect most important news to be revealed a few days before the opening.

If you want to go through the various brands with me, we will see what is coming.
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