News / New Cameras & Lenses

Olympus USA has announced the launch of the Stylus XZ-10 enthusiast compact, just three weeks after it was introduced to the rest of the world. A cheaper companion to the XZ-2, it's built around a 26-130mm equivalent F1.8-2.7 lens, coupled with a 12MP 1/2.3" type backlit CMOS sensor that offers ISOs up to 6400 and sensor-shift image stabilization. It can record 1080p Full HD movies with stereo sound, has a fixed 3" 920k dot touch-sensitive LCD, and offers a full set of manual controls including a customizable round-lens control ring. It'll be available from March 2013 at an estimated street price of $399.99.

Casio Europe has launched the Exilim EX-ZS30 featuring a 20.1 MP CCD sensor. It comes with a a 6x 26-156mm equiv. optical zoom lens and a 2.7 inch LCD. The camera includes beginner-friendly features include a Premium Auto mode and a set of eight Art shot filters. The Z320 will be available silver, black, purple, white, and pink at a price to be confirmed. Click through for the press release.

Casio Europe has announced the Exilim EX-N5 and EX-N50 16MP entry-level compact cameras. Both come with a similar feature set of the EX-ZS30 announced today, including 26-156mm equiv. optical zoom lenses, 2.7" LCDs and a set of eight Art Shot filters. The cameras differ only in terms of finish - the EX-N50 features a textured pinstripe pattern on its front, while the EX-N5 comes with two-tone silver ring around the lens. There is currently no information on price and availability.

Olympus is denying reports that it is ceasing its production of DSLR cameras. In its official statement Olympus says there is no truth to these reports and the company will continue to offer DSLR cameras alongside its popular mirrorless camera range. The reports came as Olympus promised 'extensive business restructuring' in its imaging division, above and beyond the downsizing already taking place as part of its 'medium term vision.'

Samsung has started shipping its Wi-Fi enabled DV150F dual-LCD and WB250F compact cameras at retail prices of $149.99 and $249.99 respectively. Announced at the CES 2013 tradeshow, the WB250F is an 18x, 24-432mm equiv compact superzoom with a 3.0" touch screen and the company's latest Wi-Fi implementation - dubbed 'Smart 2.0.' The DV150F is 16MP CCD with a 25-125mm equiv zoom and includes a 2.7" LCD and a 1.5" front LCD. UK and European pricing and availability have yet to be confirmed.

Nikon has offered a behind-the-scenes look at its lens manufacturing process. The YouTube video follows the process from creating the glass through to final assembly and has been posted to celebrate the 80th anniversary of its Nikkor lenses. The company has also listed out few milestones of the brand's history, which started with the Aero-Nikkor aerial photography lenses in 1933. Click through to watch the video.

Ricoh exhibited a concept camera at CP+ that captures spherical panoramic images and sends them wirelessly to a smartphone or tablet. Apparently produced mainly to gauge market reaction, Ricoh released no technical info on the camera apart from the fact that it uses two opposed 180-degree lenses whose images it combines into one spherical panorama. Users can zoom in on the image elements and swipe to look around the sphere; they can also zoom out to a circular image. The company imagines printing images on spheres as a potential product concept, and is considering video capture as well as stills.

CP+ 2013: Panasonic has added a 42.5mm F1.2 portrait lens and 150mm F2.8 super-telephoto prime to its lens roadmap for Micro Four Thirds, for release in the near future. The lenses, shown in prototype form at Photokina 2012, last September, are shown as being ready for release just after the 14-42mm II ASPH. kit zoom launched this week.

Olympus has announced the Stylus XZ-10 enthusiast compact - a smaller, cheaper addition to the range alongside the well-regarded XZ-2. It's built around a 26-130mm equivalent F1.8-2.7 lens, coupled with a 12MP 1/2.3" type backlit CMOS sensor that offers ISOs up to 6400 and sensor-shift image stabilization. It can record 1080p Full HD movies with stereo sound, with Multi-motion Movie IS to reduce blur while walking. The 3" 920k dot LCD is touch-sensitive, but unlike the XZ-2's doesn't tilt, which helps make the camera slimmer. The package is rounded off by a full set of manual controls including a customizable round-lens control ring, but there's no hot shoe or support for an external EVF. It'll be available from March 2013 for £349.99 in black, brown or white.

Fujifilm has announced the FinePix F900EXR, a 20X zoom, raw-capable compact superzoom with built-in Wi-Fi, offering what Fujifilm claims is the 'world's fastest AF'. The F900 uses a 16MP EXR-CMOS II sensor with Phase Detection AF technology and sensor-shift image stabiisation. A near-identical twin of the F800EXR in other respects, it offers the same 25-500mm equivalent lens, captures 1080p movies, P,A,S,M shooting modes and the ability to wirelessly transfer files via the free 'Fujifilm Camera Application' app for Android and iOS devices. Price and availability details have not been given.

Fujifilm has launched the Finepix S6800 and S4800 superzooms with stabilized 30x (24-720mm equiv.) zoom lenses. The 16MP BSI-CMOS sensor-based S6800 captures 1080p60 full HD and high speed movies, while the 16MP CCD-based S4800 is limited to 720p30 videos. Both come with 3-inch LCDs and run on four AA batteries. The S6800 and S4800 will be available from March 2013 at a retail price of $249.95 and $229.95 respectively. The company has also launched the $99.95 JX680 ultra-compact with 26-130mm optical zoom lens, 16MP sensor and full HD video recording that will available around the same time.

Olympus has announced the M.Zuiko Digital ED 75-300mm 1:4.8-6.7 II, an updated version of its lightweight 150-600mm equivalent telephoto lens for the Micro Four Thirds system. While most of the changes are cosmetic, the lens elements feature the latest ZERO (Zuiko Extra-low Reflection Optical) coating to resist scratches and reduce ghosting. Like its predecessor, this version also includes Olympus' MSC technology which aims to minimize focusing noise during video capture. The lens will be available only in black from March 2013 at an estimated street price of $549.99.

CP+ 2013: Pentax announces the WG-3 rugged digital camera, available with and without a built-in GPS. Both versions feature an image-stabilized 16MP CMOS sensor, and now an F2.0-4.9 lens with 25-100mm equivalent zoom. Both are also waterproof down to 45 feet, drop-resistant from heights of 6.6 feet, dust-resistant, and can handle temperatures down to 14F. Finally, they're back-pocket-safe, meaning you can sit on them and they're still likely to work (they can handle up to 220 pounds of pressure).

CP+ 2013: With the WG-10 Pentax has created a more affordable waterproof digital camera, one that still withstands depths of 33 feet, as well as the usual drops, dust, cold, and pressure. With a 14MP CCD sensor, Pentax says the camera can produce 'poster size' images thanks to its new imaging engine, and can also capture 720p videos. Its 5x lens zooms from 28-140mm equivalent.

CP+ 2013: Sigma has announced four additions to its 'Art' range of prime lenses, including a 60mm F2.8 DN lens for mirrorless cameras and an updated 30mm F1.4 DC for APS-C DSLRs. Alongside these are redesigned versions of its 30mm and 19mm F2.8 DN lenses for mirrorless in metal bodies. Like these lenses, the 60mm F2.8 DN features a metal casing and will be available for the Sony E and Micro Four Thirds mounts. It will offer a 90mm equivalent field of view on Sony NEX cameras or 120mm equivalent coverage of Micro Four Thirds bodies. The Sigma 30mm F1.4 DC is a completely redesigned version of the popular normal lens for APS-C DSLRs - it will be available in Canon, Nikon and Sigma mounts. Price and availability details have not been given.

Tokina has announced it will be exhibiting two soon-to-be-released lenses at the CP+ trade show in Japan. The AT-X 70-200 F4 PRO FX VCM-S is a telephoto zoom that's designed for use on both full frame and APS-C SLRs, and features both optical image stabilisation and a ring-type ultrasonic autofocus motor with full-time manual override. Meanwhile the AT-X 12-28 F4 PRO DX is a replacement for the company's existing 12-24mm F4 wideangle zoom for APS-C cameras. But rather than making the lens wider to match its competitors, Tokina has chosen to extend it further into the 'normal' range, to give an 18-42mm equivalent zoom. 

Tamron has announced that it's developing an image stabilised superzoom lens for Micro Four Thirds cameras. The 14-150mm F/3.5-5.8 Di III VC (Model C001) is poised to become the first third-party zoom for the system, and will offer a 28-300mm equivalent focal length range. It uses the company's Vibration Control (VC) system to counteract hand-shake, and a stepper motor for fast and silent autofocus. The lens will also feature a metal barrel and be available in a black or silver finish. Price and availibility are still to be confirmed.

CP+ 2013: Nikon has announced the AF-S Nikkor 18-35mm F3.5-4.5G ED full-frame wideangle zoom and the AF-S Nikkor 800mm F5.6E FL ED VR, a super-telephoto prime that comes with its own dedicated teleconverter. The 18-35mm is a consumer-grade wideangle to extend the options available to buyers of the company's more affordable D600 model, and will cost around $750 / £670. The 800mm lens, which uses fluorite glass, will cost around $18,000 / £15,600 and comes with an exclusive, matched 1.25x teleconverter that gives a 1000mm F7.1 combination.

CP+ 2013: Nikon has unveiled a quartet of mid-level Coolpix compacts including the Coolpix P520 42x superzoom and S9500 22x compact superzoom, alongside the Coolpix L820 30x budget superzoom and the S6500 12x compact. The P520 features the same 24-1000mm equivalent zoom seen in the P510 but moves to an 18MP BSI CMOS sensor and is compatible with the optional WU-1a Wi-Fi module. The S9500 has built-in Wi-Fi and fits the same 18MP sensor into a slim body with a 25-550mm equivalent lens.

Casio has announced two additions to its High Speed Exilim series, the EX-ZR700 and EX-ZR400. The EX-ZR700 uses a 16.1 MP back-illuminated CMOS sensor, 3 inch LCD and a stabilized 18x, 25-450mm equivalent optical zoom lens. The EX-ZR400 is similar to its predecessor the EX-ZR300, inheriting its 16.1MP BSI-CMOS sensor and 24-300mm equiv. lens, and comes equipped with a long-lasting battery promising 515 photos on a single charge. Both cameras feature the company's latest Exilim Engine HS 3 processer and new shooting modes including a Premium Auto Pro and an All-In-Focus Macro mode. There is currently no information available about their price and availability.