INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Fujifilm Announces Instax mini LiPlay

Fujifilm has announced the Instax mini LiPlay, a hybrid instant camera that allows you to review photos captured on the device via the rear 2.7-inch LCD monitor and choose which images you want to print. The smallest and most lightweight camera in the instax series, the Instax mini LiPlay has 2560 x 1920 effective pixels, a 1/5-inch CMOS sensor, a 28 mm equivalent lens with an f/2.0 aperture, a single AF that is equipped with AF auxillary illumination, 1/4 sec to 1/8000 sec shutter speed and an auto ISO sensitivity from 100 to 1600. The camera’s Sound function is capable of recording up to 10 seconds of audio. The function converts the audio data into a QR code and adds it to a photo to be printed out together. The audio can be replayed by scanning the printed QR code with a smartphone. The camera also features the Direct Print function, which transfers a photo taken with your smartphone to the LiPlay for printing. To make it easy to take a group photo, the camera also offers a Remote Shooting function that allows you to use a smartphone to release the shutter.

Fujifilm has also announced two instax films. The CONFETTI film is compatible with all instax mini models. The film has a colourful metallic frame and comes with 10 prints per pack. The Star-illumination film is a square-format film, compatible with all instax Square series models, and comes with 10 prints per pack. It has a border depicting a night sky scattered with colourful stars. The Fujifilm Instax mini LiPlay will be released on or after 14 June 2019, on a market-by-market basis. The camera comes in three colours, Elegant Black, Blush Gold and Stone White, each of which has different surface processing, such as embossed or smooth finish.

Fujifilm Announces 102 MP GFX100

Fujifilm has announced that its GFX100 mirrorless digital camera, to be released in late June 2019, will incorporate an image sensor with the world’s highest 102 MP resolution and unique colour reproduction technology. The large image sensor is approximately 1.7 times the size of the 35 mm full-frame sensor, with a diagonal length of about 55 mm (43.8 mm x 32.9 mm). Other features include a back-illuminated sensor with phase detection pixels, which improves image quality while making AF up to twice as fast as the current Fujifilm GFX 50S and GFX 50R cameras.

The camera also includes an in-body image stabilisation (IBIS) mechanism and supports 4K/30P video recording. This allows users to enjoy beautiful bokeh with shallow depth-of-field and wide tonal reproducibility.

The GFX100 has a new 2.05-inch sub monitor on the rear panel, the main 3.2-inch LCD monitor that can be tilted to three directions and a top panel 1.80-inch sub LCD monitor. The GFX100 body measures just 48.9 mm at the thinnest part and weighs approx. 1,400 g.

Panasonic Announces First f/1.7 Zoom Lens

Panasonic has introduced the Leica DG Vario-Summilux 10-25 mm f/1.7 Asph standard interchangeable zoom lens for the MFT system. Panasonic has implied that the image quality of this lens will be as good as that of a prime lens. The lens is suitable for a variety of daily