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Best new gear announced at Photokina 2018
Photokina is the World’s biggest photographic trade show and it’s been a key event in the photographic calendar for decades. It takes place in Cologne in Germany and this year it was held from 26th to 29th September. As usual, there were lots of exciting announcements with some creating a bigger splash than others. Here’s what caught our eye:
No major announcements from Canon at Photokina 2018
Canon didn’t announce anything major at the show but its first mirrorless full-frame camera, the EOS R (now discontinued) was on display along with a selection of lenses. It’s an exciting camera with 30.3 million pixels on the sensor and a 5,655-point AF system.
We were able to test its focusing in very dark conditions and it performed very well, so we’re looking forward to taking a closer look at it in the near future.
Fujifilm Announce GFX 50R and GFX100...
Hot on the heels of its X-T3 announcement, Fujifilm used Photokina to announce the GFX 50R, a new 50Mp rangefinder-style medium format camera. In addition, the company revealed that it’s working on a 100Mp medium format camera that will use phase detection focusing. Set to be called the GFX100, it will also be the first medium format camera to feature in-body image stabilisation (IBIS).
Fujifilm GFX 50R - Medium Format Rangefinder
Fujifilm GFX 50R Back View
Fujifilm GFX 50R Top View
Fujifilm GFX100 Medium Format with IBIS
Leica will ship S3 medium format camera in Spring 2019
As well as announcing the S3, an update to the medium format S2, the esteemed German manufacturer revealed an alliance with Panasonic and Sigma. This new partnership sees the three companies free to use the Leica L-mount on cameras and lenses. Their agreement means that all the cameras and lenses with that mount will have their full functionality however they are combined.
The Leica S3 64MP medium format DSLR will be their most expensive standard camera when released Spring 2019.
Nikon displayed the Z-series camera, but no announcements at Photokina 2018
Nikon revealed its Z 6 and Z 7 full-frame mirrorless cameras a few weeks ago so there was nothing new at Photokina. However, it was the first opportunity for many people to get their hands on the cameras and they proved to be a big hit. The Z 7 will be in store very soon.
Panasonic announce exciting new full-frame mirrorless cameras the S1 and S1R
Panasonic made one of the most exciting announcements of the show, the development of not one but two full-frame mirrorless cameras that are set to go on sale in early 2019.
The 24Mp S1 will be the photo/video hybrid model while the S1R is the 47Mp high-resolution version.
Aside from their sensors, the two cameras are said to be identical and have a DSLR-like design. Most of the details are still under wraps, but Panasonic is aiming them at professional photographers.
Ricoh updates popular GR-series of compact cameras with the GR III
Ricoh announced the latest incarnation of its popular GR-series of compact cameras, the GRIII. The new camera will go on sale in early 2019 and will feature a new 18.3mm (28mm equivalent) lens along with a new APS-C format 24.2Mp sensor that’s coupled with a new processing engine.
Sigma reveal plans for a full-frame camera
As part of the alliance between Sigma, Leica and Panasonic, Sigma revealed that it will be making a full-frame L-mount camera in the future. However, the company is most widely known for its lens manufacturing and it also announced five new lenses at the show. In addition to three f/1.4 prime lenses (28mm, 40mm and 56mm), there’s a 70-200mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM and a 60-600mm f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM that will be available in Canon, Nikon and Sigma mount.
Sony Eye AF system to work on animals in the near future
Sony chose not to announce anything at the show but it revealed that its fantastic Eye AF system will be extended to work with animals’ eyes in the near future. At the moment it’s not clear whether this will be added to current cameras as a firmware update or if it will be introduced with a new camera. Fingers crossed!
Zeiss announces full-frame compact camera the ZX1
Full-frame sensors were a popular theme for Photokina 2018 and Zeiss joined in by announcing a full-frame compact camera called the ZX1. This is a 37.4Mp camera with a Zeiss Distagon 35mm f/2 lens. What really makes it stand out though, is that Adobe Lightroom CC is integrated into the camera so its touchscreen can be used to edit images.
Zeiss ZX1 full-frame compact camera
The Zeiss ZX1 full-frame compact comes equipped with a 35mm lens and the ability to edit photos in the camera.
- 2 Oct 2018
