Okay guys and gals, here’s to some serious pornography. Yes, I’m serious! Today, several exciting and breathtaking announcements have been made in anticipation of this year’s photokina (which will commence tomorrow, and not today as I accidentally stated in my previous post – apologies again!), some of them so absolutely stunning that’s they are seriously close to pornography! 😉

So here’s what I’m talking about:

• Fujifilm today announced the development of yet another large-sensor fixed-lens enthusiast’s compact – but this time it could be the real thing! It’s got a stunning, classic rangefinder design, support for full manual operation (seperate shutter speed and exosure correction dials on top and an aperture ring on the lens), and a unique hybrid electric-optical viewfinder, featuring a semi-transparent high-resolution LCD that is projected into the optical viewfinder image.
• Olympus announced the development of yet yet another large-sensor fixed-lens enthusiast’s compact featuring a Zuiko branded lens. Judging from the pictures (the camera is only a mock-up so far), it’ll feature a Micro Four Thirds sensor. Detailed specs are unknown as of yet.
• Leica will present the M9 Titanium, which has been designed by VW chief of design Walter de Silva – the man who draw the stunning Audi A5! It looks absolutely gorgeous, and like the new Fuji it’ll feature a hybrid viewfinder with electronically projected framelines! Also the two new re-branded Panasonic models, the D-Lux 5, successor to the D-Lux 4 and close-to-identical to the Panasonic LX5, as well as the V-Lux 2, successor to the V-Lux 1 and close-to-identical to the Panasonic FZ100.

More after the cut!

The Fujifilm FinePix X100

This camera could become an X1 killer, an put Sigma’s DP series effectively to retirement. According to the press release, it’ll feature a 12 megapixel CMOS sensor, a fast 35mm equivalent f/2 Fujinon lens, all-manual controls, a 460k dot 2.8″ monitor as well as a so-called hybrid viewfinder, featuring a real optical viewfinder coupled with a high-resolving electronic display that is being projected into the optical image. Wow! And it looks fabulous!

The Fujifilm FinePix X100. Picture courtesy of Fujifilm Corp.

A representation of the hybrid viewfinder. Picture courtesy of Fujifilm Corp.

Additional images can be found at dpreview.com. A detailed look at some of the X100’s special features can be found at the Amateur Photographer.

Olympus’ new large-sensor compact

Olympus as well today announced development of a new large-sensor compact. It will feature a Zuiko branded lens – a name thus far reserved for Olympus’ SLR and EVIL lens setup. This leads to suggesting that the camera will feature a Four Thirds sized sensor. Additionally, the camera will feature the accessory port known from the PEN E-P2 and E-PL1, which can accomodate for an external microphone and the brilliant million-dot EVF VF-2.

The announced Olympus compact. Picture provided by quesabesde.com.

More information at dpreview.com.

Leica M9 Titatnium, Leica D-Lux 5 and Leica V-Lux 2

Granted, it seems these models haven’t been officially announced yet, but they have been rumored, and today I’ve held the latest issue of the LFI in my hands, and pictures and articles were featured.

To anticipate it — the M9 Ti is just WOW! Styled by Volkswagen chief of design Walter de Silva, it looks just breathtaking! It’ll feature a titanium body as well as a special titanium 35mm f/1.4 Summilux-M lens, a unique design different from the standard M-series bodies, and a new hybrid viewfinder that doesn’t use optical framelines anymore, but framelines digitally projected into the viewfinder. I’m quite excited to hear the first reports on this once it is available! Pictures at twitpic via #leicaforum — LOOK NOW! 😉

The D-Lux 5 and V-Lux 2 will be re-badged Panasonic models, namely the LX5 enthusiast’s compact and FZ100 superzoom. Not much to say about these two, thus. Pictures can be found at quesabesde.com (via Leica Rumors).

Wow! Almost three exciting announcements on the day before photokina — one can only start to wonder what else we’ll see during the next six days! Only twelve hours left … 😀