Filed under: Digital Cameras

Just weeks after Olympus and Panasonic launched the potentially revolutionary Micro Four Thirds system, in flies word that Samsung is looking to steal their thunder with a sure-to-be-incompatible alternative. Speaking at IFA in Berlin, Samsung Techwin executive vice president Byung Woo Lee confessed that the company was gearing up to introduce a new “interchangeable lens ‘Hybrid’ digital camera system.” The first model in the still unnamed system would reportedly carry Sammy’s own 14-megapixel APS-C sized CMOS sensor and a new lens mount, and while exact size specifications weren’t disclosed, you can rest assured that the end product will aim to deliver DSLR-like results in a much more compact frame. As with the aforementioned Micro Four Thirds, this method will also utilize electronic viewfinders and a live rear LCD for framing, though we won’t see anything on store shelves until early 2010. Talk about testing our patience.

[Via 1001 Noisy Cameras]

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Filed under: Digital Cameras

Why hello darlin.’ As we had hoped, Sigma’s DP1 just got a release date. Come Spring, we’ll finally see what that 14 megapixel FOVEON X3 sensor found in Sigma’s SD14 DSLR can do in a compact’s body. That’s about 7 to 12 times larger than the sensor found in ordinary compacts. The biggest compromise you’ll be making though, is with the lens. A fixed, 16.6-mm F4 lens designed exclusively for the DP1 illuminates each 7.8μm pixel on that 20.7 x 13.8-mm sensor. If you’re still game then rounding things out are Sigma’s new “TRUE” image processing engine, a 2.5-inch LCD, pop-up manual flash, hot shoe, manual or 9-point autofocus modes, and QVGA movie recording to SDHC cards. All this in a 4.5 x 2.3 x 2-inch body weighing 8.5-ounces. We remain intrigued.

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Filed under: Digital Cameras

We understand that many of you have given up hope of seeing Sigma’s compact DP1 with DSLR-sized (APS-C not full-frame) sensor. For the rest of you, take note, Sigma just sprouted a new teaser page promising, “The worldwide debut, soon.” For all of Sigma’s claims that the DP1 is “a camera that belongs to no known category,” we’ll be sure to toss it under the “vaporware” tag if we don’t see it say, PMA-soon as in tomorrow.

[Thanks, Daniel]

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Filed under: Digital Cameras

More than a year since its announcement, Sigma has released an official update on the progress of their DP1 anomaly. According to Sigma, the delay is the result of poor image quality delivered during testing necessitating a “change to the entire image processing pipeline.” Alpha tests of the redesign began in early November with no date given for production. Remember, this is slated to be the first compact to feature an APS-C sized image sensor found in DSLRs — no easy task. In this case, we’re talking the 14 megapixel FOVEON X3 found in their SD14. At least that was the plan. Sigma now says that the specs will change from what was originally announced. Bottom line: Sigma will be rolling out a redesigned compact with unknown specs on an unspecified date. Clear?

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