Image courtesy: Quesabesde

Iker Morán from Quesabesde made an Interview with Hiroshi Kawahara, Operations Manager at Fujifilm Electronic Imaging Products Division and one of the designers of the FinePix X100.

Why an APS-C sized sensor instead of one with smaller dimensions, like in the case of the Micro Four Thirds cameras, which would have enabled you to reduce the size of the camera?
“Although the size of the camera is not a fundamental aspect in this type of model, we designed the FinePix X100 under the concept “co-existence of compact size and high-quality”. From the viewpoint of image quality, the APS-C system has a clear advantage over Micro Four Thirds (in particular, high sensitivity and low noise). Also, for obtaining a beautiful soft focus background “bokeh” effect, APS achieves beautiful result. For these reasons, we chose an APS-C sized sensor.”

But that is the most interesting part:

At Photokina we tried a pre-production unit of the X100 and one of the things we liked most was the “hybrid viewfinder”. Is this your own technology or will we see it in future cameras of other companies?
“Fujifilm is the first company to use a hybrid system viewfinder and we did this because we thought it was the best option for this type of product. We cannot say whether other companies are going to follow in our footsteps, but in view of the speed with which other manufacturers’ technology is currently adopted, it’s possible this might happen.”

So the question know is Fuji working with on the Hybrid Viewfinder technology development?, Maybe with Panasonic or Olympus?

Dear readers! The snowstorm that hit Europe blocked me on an italian highway for 17 hours! I made 70km only between 2pm (Friday) and 7am today. I made the “famous” Bologna-Firenze highway that is well known for it’s danger. I saw many car accidents and I had nothing to eat, and of course no Internet connection to post news and rumors on 43rumors. So please excuse me if I didn’t post anything during the last 20 hours and I beg you a few hours free time because I really need to sleep a little bit. The picture on top has been taken at 8am in the morning in Radda in Chianti (Taken with my “old” but still superb [shoplink 16885]Olympus E-P1[/shoplink] and the new amazing [shoplink 15659]Nokton 25mm[/shoplink]).

Thanks for your understanding! See you later!

43rumors reader “Stopkidding” just discovered soemthing really interesting: “On the right there is a link for Employee Purchase Discount programs. If you work for a company that has a tie up with Panasonic, then you sign in through that, and shop. If I revealed the size of the discount, many of you will have heart attacks here :)”

Clicking here to check for yourself! https://www2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/vEPPLogin?storeId=15001&page=/consumer-electronics/shop (P.S.: Panasonics website is offline right now!)

The rest of us has to pay the full price to preorder the GH2. The only shop having the GH2 in Stock is Amazon US (but via third party reselelr and with heavy extra-premium price). Meanwhile BHphoto sold out the Silver GH2.

I am always keeping an eye on what “jieying-usa” is doing. He is continually making new crazy reworked Lenses and adapters for Micro Four Thirds. As you knwo we don’t have any weather sealed Micro Four Thirds camera or lens. Jieying found the “solution”  :)
He created a new Nikonos to Micro Four Thirds adapter: “[shoplink 18406 ebay]Nikonos lens[/shoplink] were made for Nikonos underwater use, now I made [shoplink 18405 ebay]adapters on M4/3[/shoplink] or NEX camera, it looks very funny and I wrap a plastic bag, although you can’t use underwater but you can use on the beach, swimming poor, also in raining days. Lens removable, so you may use other Nikonos lenses on this adapter.”

It’s certainly cool to be able to use underwater lenses on MFT cameras but I hope someone can find a better idea to seal the camera!

Crop Dusting from Artwerk Media on Vimeo.

Panasonic GH2 image quality tests, ISO performance and image samples at Photoradar.

Panasonic GH2 test at Focus Numerique.

GH2 vs G1 High ISO Noise Comparison (Dpreview forum).

Panasonic GF2 preview at camera.itmedia.co.jp and DCfever.

The UK camera industry fears compact system cameras (CSC) will kill off sales in the rest of the photographic market, according to research by industry analysts.(Amateur Photographer)

LOS ENCAMISADOS-Objetivos manuales en cámaras digitales Olympus (Flickr)

There are a few new info about the Fuji X100. Why do we care about Fuji? Many 43rumors reader demonstrated their interest for that camera. That’s why I am going to aks you what kind of aspect/feature you would love to see to be “copied” by Olympus/Panasonic. But first the news (via Fuji):

– The X100 offers three focusing options, selected by a switch on the left hand side of the body.
– The X100 has a dedicated RAW button
– In standard form, the planned ISO range is from 200 to 6400, but this can be expanded to include 100 and 12800.
– Autofocus points will be visible in the viewfinder. The autofocus points are also user-selectable, making it easier for photographers to focus on off-centre subjects without having to resort to the focus lock facility.
– HD video output is 1280 x 720 pixels at 24 frames per second with stereo sound recording. Aperture Priority AE can be used whilst shooting movies.
– The camera retain its existing settings when it’s turned off
– You can turn the LCD off.
– The shutter lag is 0.01 sec
– PROVIA, Velvia, ASTIA and mono chrome pictures will be able to be achieved with filter effects.
– It is not wheater sealed and has no built-in or in lens stabilization.
– There is an switchable integral ND filter.
– Price is still to be confirmed.

And here the poll. Let Panasonic and Olympus know what you like from the X100

 Loading ...

Links: Official Fuji X100 presentation page / Fuji X100 at Amazon

“A Verse Before Dying” – Trailer from Proof, Inc. on Vimeo.

Notes: “A Verse Before Dying” is the first narrative short film shot on the new [shoplink 16841]Panasonic AG-AF100[/shoplink] Digital Cinema Camera. The film was shot on location in Dripping Springs, Texas. For additional information, behind-the-scenes photos and more, go to dvxuser.com/​V6/​showthread.php?230414-quot-A-Verse-Before-Dying-quot-A-Borderlands-Spaghetti-Western. Thanks Stephen Mick for sending us the link!

A few european dealers contacted us to say that the first stock of [shoplink 16841]Panasonic AG-AF100 (Click here to preorder at BHphoto)[/shoplink] are already sold out!

The good news is that the [shoplink 16254]Panasonic GH2[/shoplink] is now in Stock almost everywhere (in Europe). Today also Pixmania has them: Pixmania.fr, Pixmania.it, Pixmania.pl, Pixmania.es,

And a warning for US customers that wants to buy the GH2 at “The Price Pros“: “I ordered a GH2 from amazon after seeing your post on December 9th. The camera was being sold through a amazon partner store called “The Price Pros”. The Price Pros sent a confirmation email and charged my credit card, but then can cancelled the order late last night saying it was “damaged in shipping”. However, after speaking with them on the phone, they clearly never had the GH2 to begin with. I asked them what happened to the other GH2 they sold and they said that that was also damaged in shipping.
I’m sending you this email so that if the GH2 shows up on amazon again and it’s being sold by The Price Pros you might want to add a buyer beware disclaimer or maybe not report on it what so ever. I should be getting refunded for my order, but the bad part is, after I got the order confirmation from The Price Pros, I cancelled my pre-order for the GH2 from Amazon which I placed weeks ago.  Just want to help other 4/3 users and 43rumors readers so that they are not scammed like I was.”