As you all know phase detection focusing is one of the main area of interests that Olympus and Panasonic are focusing on. Particularly Olympus needs that to have full Four Thirds lens support on Micro Four Thirds cameras. And the next MFT cameras are “rumored” to have on sensor phase detection. We already had a couple of cameras from Sony, Canon, Nikon with such AF pixels on sensor. But there was always a trade off. You have to “give-up” some space and therefore sacrifice resolution for the dedicated AF pixels. More AF pixels you add (to increase the AF performance) more RGB pixels you loose. That was the equation until today:

Canon just announced the new 70D ($1199 DSLR). We wouldn’t care about it if there would not be a new amazing feature. The 70D features a “Dual Pixel CMOS AF” sensor. And the amazing thing is that every pixel can do both at the same time: Capture the light for the actual image, and act as phase detection agent! A detailed description can be read at Dpreview: According the Canon the EOS 70D’s Dual Pixel CMOS AF system has the following key characteristics:

• Usable phase detection AF area covers 80% of the frame horizontally and vertically
• AF works at apertures down to F11
• AF works in light levels as low as 0 EV
• Can work with face detection to keep moving subjects in focus

This sounds like a great solution! I am sure Sony sensors will have a similar solution that will be implemented by future Olympus cameras.

The video made by Samsung shows us in a funny way one of the reason why Mirrorless is having a hard time to convince people that they are as good as DSLR cameras. Chapeau Samsung for making such a video!

From my personal experience I can tell you that this is definitely true. Even more serious photographers sometimes buy tremendous stuff without really needing it. Just because they “think” it’s better.

Personal note: I shot pics of my son with the E-P1 and the [shoplink 15659]Nokton 25mm f/0.95[/shoplink]. Not because these are the best cameras and lenses on market…but because that’s all I need!

Image source Fotointern.ch.

If you have a massive amount of money to spend on a new Cine Zoom lens than you may be interested to learn that Zeiss announced the new CZ.2 28-80 T2.9. It has what ZEISS calls a “sweet spot effect” (uniformity of illumination) when used on Super 35 sensors and are “future-proofed” for next generation digital cinema cameras that may have larger sensors (Source: Fdtimes).

T front diameter is 95 mm, the focus rotation angle is almost 300 degrees, it is conform to “4K production standards” and cover a resolution of 4096 x 2160 with no distortion. The ZEISS Compact Zoom lenses weigh 2.5 to 2.8 kilograms (5.5 to 6.2 pounds).

Oh yes…the price…that’s the problem: You have to pay €14,900 or US$19,900 (excluding VAT)!

P.S.: List CP.2 for Micro Four Thirds at BHphoto (Click here).