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Sony has officially confirmed it will be sharing 'basic specifications' of its E-mount for free to manufacturers of lenses and mount adaptors starting April 1, 2011. A company statement says 'this move will open the way for manufacturers of various lenses and mount adaptors to develop products conforming to 'E-mount' specifications, allowing users of the NEX-3, NEX-5, NEX-VG10 and other 'E-mount' compatible Sony digital imaging products to be launched in the future to be able to use interchangeable lenses from both Sony and other manufacturers.' The company has not specified whether these 'basic specifications' will extend to the AF protocols or just the physical construction of the mount.
(01:45 GMT)
CP+ 2011: Pentax has unveiled the GPS-enabled Optio WG-1 GPS and the WG-1 rugged compacts. Tougher than the Optio W90 released last year, both are designed to be crushproof against pressures of up to 100 kilograms (220 pounds), dustproof, waterproof up to 10 meters (33 ft), coldproof down to -10°C (14°F) and shock-resistant for drops of up to 1.5 meters (5 ft). Features-wise the 14MP cameras incorporate the same 28-140mm equiv. zoom lens, 2.7" LCD and 720p HD recording capability as the W90.
(22:00 GMT)
CP+ 2011: Pentax has announced a limited edition silver version of its K-5 DSLR and three prime lenses. The silver K-5 comes with a redesigned grip and shock-resistant, scratchproof reinforced glass on the rear LCD and top status panels. Priced at $1699.95, the K-5 Limited Edition silver body will be available in April 2011. Pricing and availability information for the silver smc DA 21mm F3.2 AL, smc DA 40mm F2.8, smc DA 70mm F2.4 lenses is to be confirmed.
(22:00 GMT)
CP+ 2011: Canon has unveiled the Rebel T3i (EOS 600D) upper entry-level DSLR. It continues to use the 18MP CMOS sensor seen in the Rebel T2i (550D) but gains a tilt and swivel 1,040k dot LCD monitor like the one offered on the more expensive 60D. It also gains the ability to remotely control flashguns using its internal flash, a feature previously only featured on higher-end models. Alongside the camera, Canon is also launching the 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 IS II, a cosmetically revised version of its optically stabilized kit lens. We've had a chance to use pre-production versions of both and have prepared a Hands-On Preview of the EOS 600D including beta samples gallery.
(05:00 GMT)
CP+ 2011: Canon has unveiled the Rebel T3 (EOS 1100D) entry-level DSLR. Built around a 12MP CMOS sensor and the latest Digic 4 processor, the new baby-Rebel is also capable of 720p HD movie recording. It gains the 9-point AF sensor previously used in more expensive models and the iFCL color-sensitive metering sensor first seen in the EOS 7D. It also gains the Basic+ non-technical interface that allows creative control without specialist photography knowledge. The camera will be sold either with the revised, version II 18-55mm IS lens or an updated Mark III non-stabilized version. We had the chance to get out hands on a pre-production EOS 1100D and have prepared a preview with a beta samples gallery.
(05:00 GMT)
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Lens maker Carl Zeiss has joined the Micro Four Thirds group, adding yet another prestigious optics marque to the format. Just days after the news that Schneider Kreuznach had joined the system, it has been announced that Zeiss will start making its HD Video lenses available in the Micro Four Thirds mount. This sudden influx of high-end cine and photographic prime lens makers (Voigtländer maker Cosina joined in August 2010), suggests that format founders Olympus and Panasonic have been working hard behind the scenes to bring some high-end lustre to the system.
(18:51 GMT)
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Samsung has announced two budget compacts, the PL20 and ES80.The PL20 is a 14MP compact that features 27-135mm equivalent 5x zoom. The ES80 meanwhile shares the same lens but instead offers a 12MP sensor. Both cameras are based around CCD chips and offer internal, USB-based charging of their Lithium Ion batteries. The PL20 is capable of shooting 720p24 HD movies. They will be available from March and April respectively.
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CP+ 2011: Pentax has announced the smc D FA 645 25mm F4 AL [IF] SDM AW ultra-wide lens for the 645D medium format digital camera. The second lens designed for the camera, following the DFA 55mm 645 SDM lens kit lens, the 25mm weather-resistant lens offers a field of view equivalent to a 19.5mm lens on a 35mm system. Priced at $4999.95, it will be available from April 2011.
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CP+ 2011: Canon has released the ELPH 500 HS (IXUS 310 HS in Europe) ultra-compact with manual control, stainless steel body and touch screen interface. An enhanced version of the the IXUS 300HS (SD 4000 IS) released last year, the latest model features a 12.1MP back-illuminated CMOS sensor, a wider-angle F2.0-5.8 24-105mm equiv. lens and a larger, higher-resolution 460K dot 3.2" LCD. Features-wise it is capable of 1080p24 Full HD capture compared to the 720p HD recording of the 300HS, and can also shoot Super Slow Motion 340x240 movies at 240fps. It will be available at a retail price of $299.99 in the US market and £299 in the UK.
(05:00 GMT)
CP+ 2011: Canon has introduced its first GPS-enabled camera, the PowerShot SX230 HS compact superzoom and a Europe-only non-GPS version, the SX220 HS. Both compact superzooms feature 28-392mm equivalent 14X zoom lenses, 12.1MP sensors and 460k dot 3.0" LCDs. They come with P/A/S/M shooting modes, a Super Slow Motion movie mode that records 340x240 movies at 240fps, as well as 1080p24 Full HD movies capture. The compacts also feature a Movie Digest mode that records videos around 4 seconds before every still image taken which is later stitched together into a VGA-resolution movie. The only difference between the pair is the SX230 HS's built-in GPS. The SX230 HS will be available at a retail price of $349.99 in the US market and €299 in the European market. The SX220 HS is priced at €269.
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CP+ 2011: Canon has released the ELPH 300 HS (IXUS 220 HS in Europe) premium ultra-compact with back-lit CMOS sensor. Measuring just 19.5mm at its thinnest point, it sports a 12.1MP sensor, 2.7" LCD and 5x (24-120mm equiv.) zoom lens. It records Full HD 1080p 24fps movies with stereo sound, and can also shoot Super Slow movies. The CMOS-derived 'HS system' is claimed to lower noise levels by up to 60% at all ISO speeds. It will be available at a retail price of $249.99 in the US market and £199 in the UK.
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CP+ 2011: Canon has released the ELPH 100 HS (IXUS 115 HS in Europe) ultra-compact. It features a 12.1MP back-illuminated CMOS sensor, 3.0" LCD and 4x zoom lens starting at 28mm equiv. Similar to the other compact cameras announced today it is capable of recording Super Slow 340 x 240 movies at 240fps and 1080p24 Full HD videos, and features the latest Movie Digest mode. The camera comes with 32 scene modes and 6 creative filters including Miniature and Toy Camera effects. It will be available at a retail price of $199.99 in the US market and £179.99 in the UK.
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CP+ 2011: Canon has announced updated versions of its 500mm and 600mm f/4L IS USM professional lenses. Similar to the EF 300mm and EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II USM lenses released last August, the EF 500mm F/4L IS II USM and the EF 600mm F/4L IS II USM feature completely new optical designs and water-repellant Fluorine coatings along with lighter weight construction. A new IS mode has been added that activates stabilization only during exposure. The lenses also offer optional long or short foot tripod mounts suitable for monopods or tripods and an improved tripod collar rotation mechanism for smoother rotation from portrait to landscape orientation. The lenses will be available at retail prices of $9,499.99 and $11,999.99 in the US market, and £8999 and £11299 in the UK market respectively.
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CP+ 2011: Canon has announced it is developing the EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x lens, which features a built-in switchable 1.4x teleconverter. With the converter engaged, it becomes a 280-560mm F5.6 lens. Designed for sports and wildlife photographers the lens will feature weatherproof construction and is scheduled for launch later this year.
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CP+ 2011: Canon has introduced the Speedlite 320EX and Speedlite 270EX II flashguns. With a guide number of 32 and a bounce, swivel and manual zoom head, the 320EX is the company's first Speedlite model to feature a video light complementing its HD-enabled DSLRs. It also gains the ability to be wirelessly operated by a controller such as the one built into the 600D. It can be controlled on one of four 'channels' to allow groups of flashes with different output levels. The 270EX II meanwhile, replaces the 270EX, and also gains wireless slave mode but without the ability to work in channels. Both models also feature a built-in infrared Remote Release function to trigger the shutter release of compatible EOS models. Powered by four and two AA batteries respectively, the flashguns are compatible with all recent Canon DSLRs. The flashguns will be available at retail prices of $249.99 and $169.99 in the US market, and £249.99 and £179.99 in the UK market respectively.
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CP+ 2011: Canon is celebrating the production of its 60 millionth EF lens. The Electro Focus (EF) mount series was introduced in 1987 with the launch of the EOS system of 35mm autofocus SLRs. A press release from the company stresses milestones in its history.
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