Lensor for smartphone from Sony

Digital cameras allow more flexibility in design compared to film cameras. For example, lens and camera body can be separated. Nikon did it long time ago, through a cable. It was great idea but it was abandoned. Ricoh created several modular cameras with interchangeable lensor (lens and sensor) and body. Development of the wireless technology adds more flexibility to such design. Smartphones are very popular, and addition of lensor unit looks like a logical step. (bluetouth - how I managed to write that?). It seems that Sony did it again: the company is rumored to release a lens and sensor combo that will work with smartphones. It seems the lensor will have a big sensor. So, it might be a very compact mirrorless camera. The obvious problems: it will be a separate unit with a battery.

I guess it would be possible to add a tilting lensor at the top of a smartphone. The length of the lensor is equal to the width of the smartphone. Put hinge / connection in the middle. The benefits: it can be a slightly thicker than the phone, so it will be able to accommodate a better lens and a bigger sensor that a standard smartphone. No need for a separate battery. The lensor in such system can be used at different angles.  

Processing of Fuji X-Trans RAW

Converters for X-Trans RAW files are getting better all the time. Post on SoundImagePlus blog describes a  new Irident software which is "the best so far" for precessing of RAW files from X-Trans sensor used in Fuji X-E1, X-Pro1 and X100S. It is Mac only.

Death of compact cameras

It seems that I am completely out of the touch with the current trends in photography. By photography I mean "taking pictures", casual snapshots, not a professional photography or hobby. It seems that camera phones took over digital cameras. In previous week I've attended a big meeting, with several hundreds participants. It turned out that nobody use digital cameras to take pictures during presentation. Everyone use smartphones. Once I've heard a sound of shutter, but it turned out to be a smartphone, too: these things can simulate any sounds including that of shutter. I felt myself as a caveman. Actually, it is not just smartphones, the tablets are also very popular choice.

Smartphones also change the way people share / promote / show their pictures. Smartphone is your personal photo album, and it is always with you. No problem with sudden changes in layout as on flickr.

Macro with Canon M

I came across a post on the DPReview forum containing several amazing "macro" photos taken with Canon M and 90mm Tamron (link).

More discounts: Canon M

The camera sales are going down, and the competition between companies is tough. Some companies release cameras with very short "lifespan", with the replacement models coming in quick succession. New models got all new things but in many cases the difference in image quality or/and specs is not huge. In meantime "old models" are sold with heavy discounts. Right now Canon M camera with  EF-M18-55mm IS STM lens are available on Amazon for ~$350. Well, a new mirrorless Canon camera is expected. Obviously, new model will be better and faster, but the price will be significantly higher. The latest firmware improved the autofocus speed on Canon M. The only drawback of Canon M is lack of lenses but the company recently announced very interesting wide angle zoom, a very attractive option for any mirrorless camera. At the time of writing Canon M one of the most popular digital cameras on Amazon.

Compact camera with big sensor from Fuji

I keep my fingers crossed: according to Mirrorless Rumors, Fuji will release a compact camera with a big sensor (> 1"). If true, "X30" will fit X10 / X20 line, fairly big camera with a good lens and a viewfinder. The rumor at this stage is very vague.

If true, people can choose between a very compact camera with 1" sensor (Sony RX100 / RX100 II), Nikon 1 cameras and new Fuji. Sony offers a really compact camera, and people pay premium for a small size. Nikon 1 cameras have very fast autofocus and very good image quality. The previous J models are selling on Amazon for $300 - $400, and V1 is available fro $630. For comparison, Sony RX100 is priced for $650. The selling point of rumored Fuji X30 will be UI and lens. The lens needs to be brighter than Nikon 1 kit lens. The X30 price probably will be higher than X20 and on par or slightly above Sony RX100 II. This price range is under pressure from all sorts of cameras: advanced compacts, mirrorless, and entry-level DSLRs, so the camera must to offer something valuable.   

Super special on Olympus E-PL5 in the US

On Amazon (US) Olympus E-PL5 is selling for ~ $500 including some extra. The camera has the same sensor as Olympus OM-D E-M5, so the image quality is as good as you can get from the current generation of Olympus compact system cameras. The camera does not have the latest image (sensor) stabilization system (it was "reserved" for Olympus E-P5). But with tilting screen the offer looks very attractive.The camera is very compact, and the image quality is superb.