Popular Photography Magazines "Report from Japan"
Minolta will show a 90% working digital version of their popular Maxxum SLR at PMA in Feb and will deliver it by Photokina in Sept-Oct 2004. A high-level Nikon exec says that they will stick with APS-size sensors for their digital SLRs, research is going forward with 24x36mm size sensors but no product is forthcoming. Olympus plans to release an amateur- and medium-priced version of their E-1 dSLR, both with built-in flash. An independant lens manufacturer will be producing optics for the new 4/3 camera system. Olympus won't show much at PMA but could introduce the medium-priced E-1 by Photokina. Canon prefers 24x36mm sensors for pro cameras and predicts only a slight drop in their price which will keep them out of the amateur range. APS-size sensors will continue to rule the amateur SLR market and Canon has no plans to produce an entire range of APS-dedicated lenses. Pentax already has the lightest digital SLR with their *ist D and vows to make even smaller, lighter and less expensive dSLRs. They also are working on a more comprehensive SLR with image stabilization in the camera body or lenses. Pentax is also planning on two series of lenses, one for the APS digital sensor cameras and one for 35mm cameras, at the rate of about five per year.Canon and Nikon are committed to Image Stabilization (Canon) and Vibration Reduction (Nikon) in lenses, almost all other camera makers are researching putting such systems into digital SLR camera bodies. Both mechanical and optical systems are being researched. Problems include whether such systems should be mechanical or optical, whether they can overcome vertical, horizontal and panning shake, and how to avoid violating Nikon and Canon petents. In Point-n-Shoot cameras Nikon plans to add Vibration Reduction, Canon does not think that Image Stabilization is necessary for point-n-shoots.
