News from CES and CP+ 2017

Microsoft Azure

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas in January 2017 focuses on connected objects but also like last year to the automobile.
250 young companies of the French Tech presented their know-how in terms of connected objects to the CES, but the international manufacturers are also continuing their push into the "smart home" and well-being market with several personal assistants, competitors of Amazon Echo, security solutions, cameras and object for an home fully connected.
On the automotive side, Microsoft unveiled a cloud platform dedicated to connected vehicles. Renault-Nissan is among the first manufacturers interested in Toyota by the predictive maintenance or navigation functions it brings.
This leaves little room for photographic equipment. Few new cameras presented: All the announcements of the previous salons have not yet been put on the market.

The CP⁺ (Camera Photo Imaging Show), one of the world's leading photo fairs, was held in Yokohama (Japan) in February 2017. There are still few new cameras.

In beginning 2017, the only new full-format camera is the Leica M10. It incorporates a full-size 24x36 CMOS sensor with 24 million pixels, a telemetric triangulation optical viewfinder with a large magnification (0.73x), a manual focusing, a sensitivity from 100 to 6400 ISO, expandable to 50,000 ISO, a 7.6 cm non-touching rear screen of 1 036 000 points, no video but a live-view and built-in WiFi. It accepts an optional EVF.
The M10 is available at the price of 6500 € body only (February 2017).

Announced at the end of 2015, the Leica SL (Typ 601) is finally available. This hybrid, mirrorless camera accepts interchangeable L-mount lenses. Leica M, R or S mount lenses can be mounted on the Leica SL using adapters. The Leica SL is the heir of Leicaflex S and SL.
The 24 mm pixel CMOS sensor without a low-pass filter of 24 million pixels and the Maestro II image processor are borrowed from the Leica Q (Typ 116), the L-mount is derived from the mount of the T (Typ 701). The Leica SL also features a 4.4 megapixel electronic viewfinder, a video mode in 4K, UHD and Full HD 120p, a touch rear screen, a Wi-Fi and GPS modules and a secondary black and white LCD 128 x 128 points. A new 24-90 mm f/2.8-4 lens is also available.
The SL is available at the price of 6950 € body only (February 2017).

Format APS-C and (Micro) 4/3

Canon G9X Mark II

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH5

Fujifilm XT2 graphite

The Canon Powershot G9X MarkII is perhaps the only real photo innovations of this CES. It is the successor of the tiny PowerShot G9X, which retains the same look, the same touch and the same weight as the original. It is the smallest compact camera on the market with a type 1" sensor. It has an equivalent zoom of 28-82mm F2- 4.9 and a new Digic VII processor that allows a raw burst shooting up to 8.2 fps on 21 images with double-image stabilization. The Canon Powershot G9 X Mark II is available in black or silver for 530 € (February 2017).

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH5 is the new Panasonic flagship camera. It was evoked during the Fotokina 2016 then visible at the Salon de la Photo 2016 at Paris and finally available. The Panasonic Lumix GH5 has an 4/3 megapixel sensor with 5-axis stabilization, sensitivity up to 25 600 ISO, 4K/30p video on 1 bit, 9 burst per second in burst mode, two slots for SD cards UHS II, the Wi-Fi, NFC and Bluetooth, an Oled viewfinder of 3680000 points and a autonomy of more than 1000 views.

The Fujifilm X-Pro2 with its XF 23mm f/2 lens and the Fujifilm X-T2 are available in "Graphite" version. The technical characteristics are the same as the original cameras.
The Fujifilm X-Pro2 Graphite Silver Edition is available in the US for $ 2300 and the Fujifilm X-T2 Graphite Silver Edition for $ 1800 (February 2017).

Canon EOS M6

Pentax KP

At Yokohama CP⁺ , Canon presents the Canon EOS Rebel T7i (called 800D in EU) and the Canon EOS 77D that replace the 700D and Rebel T6i (called 750D in EU) respectively and feature the same sensor technology as the Canon EOS 80D. These cameras feature a 24.2-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor, a dual-pixel CMOS AF, an ISO sensitivity range up to ISO 25,600, expandable to 51,200 ISO, a DIGIC 7 image processor, a HD full-frame video at 60 fps and an adjustable touchscreen.
Ergonomic is the main difference between these cameras. The Canon 77D has two knobs for selecting the aperture and speed settings and a LCD monitor on the top of the body. The Canon Rebel T7i has only a simplified interface.

Pentax introduces the Pentax KP, an APS-C expert DLSR, the successor to the K-3 II. KP has a sensor of 24 million of pixels without low pass filter, a vertically adjustable screen, a 100% viewfinder, a WiFi b/g/n module and a sensitivity until ISO 819 200.
It is available for 1,299 € body only but with three interchangeable handles of different sizes (February 2017).

Canon also introduces the Canon EOS M6 an APS-C mirrorless camera more compact than the previous M5, it receives an optional electronic viewfinder.

Nikon is going through a difficult period with a decline in results, fall of photo and semiconductor production equipment markets. KeyMission sales are below expectations. Nikon launched a 2-year restructuring plan with the removal or redeployment of 1,550 jobs. To rebound, the Japanese group of precision optics is focused on medical and metrology.

Nikon announced also that Nikon decided that sales of the DL series would be canceled due to concerns regarding their profitability considering the increase in development costs, and the drop in the number of expected sales due to the slow-down of the market.

During CP⁺ , Nikon executives precise some points in an interview :

Nikon did not announce a new product at CP⁺ . As for the fifty years of the Nikon I , Nikon offers, for the 100 years of the company, a special edition of the Nikon D5, Nikon D500 and a kit of three-lens (14-28mm f / 2.8, 24-70mm f / 2.8 and the new 70-200mm f / 2.8), all delivered with a special gunmetal finish and special gunmetal flight case, with special body cap, special shoulder strap and special booklet with a logo "100 th anniversary", all other characteristic are same as the standard products. Nikon joins the fashion of "graphite" initiated by Fuji.
WX 7X50 IF, WX 10X50 IF and 8X30 EII binoculars are also available, limited to 100 copies for the first two, as well as many marketing products: Nikon F or Nikon I in crystal, posters, polo shirts and other pins.

Others

Ambarella H12S75 8K

Kodak Ektachrome 100

Ambarella, A leading developer of high-definition HD and ultra-HD video processing semiconductors, has launched the H3 System-on-Chip (SoC) system for high-end drones and a new generation of video cameras, including 360 degree cameras and virtual reality. The SoC H3 video allows 8k Ultra HD H.264 / AVC video at 30 frames per second, as well as multiple video streams with equivalent performance, including 360 degree cameras with dual video capture 4KP60 sensor. Ambarella sensors are used by GoPro cameras, drones manufacturers ...

On the heels of Kodak's announcement that it plans to bring its Ektachrome film back into production, Kodak CMO Steve Overman has revealed that the company is also looking into bringing back another beloved film: Kodachrome.

DJI would have acquired a majority shareholding in Hasselblad. It is possible that a high demand for the new X1D would have forced Hasselblad to seek financing to produce this camera. In any case, it is a new Chinese company that acquires the Swedish manufacturer most emblematic of the picture, as the Chinese group Geely (Zhejiang Geely Holding Group) acquired the Swedish carmaker Volvo.

Zeiss Distagon T 15mm f2.8

Sigma 24-70 2.8 Art

During the CP⁺ , While Nikon, Canon, Pentax and Sony have announced new lenses, independent opticians are present: in addition to Zeiss and its 15mm, 18mm and 135mm ZF.2 full frame DSLR lenses for Nikon F mount, Cosina announced the development of three Voigtländer lenses in E Sony mount (Nokton classic 35mm F1.4, Nokton 40mm F1.2, Macro APO-Lanthar 65mm F2.), Fujifilm the development of cinema lenses (18-55mm T2.9 and 50-135mm T2.9) and Sigma lenses like the 14mm F1.8, 24-70mm F2.8 , 135mm F1.8 or 100-400mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM. A new optician Irix proposes an 11 mm full frame lens.
It is a direct competition in price and quality with DSLR manufacturers in a market becoming smaller.

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EOS, Powershot, Lumix, Voigtländer are products of these trade marks

Created January 10^th 2017, updated April 5^th 2017.
v1.0 © Pierre J.