Last Updated on 10/03/2018 by Mark Beckenbach
Here’s a round up of some of the biggest Photokina 2018 announcements and product launches if you’re late to the party.
We collected our thoughts and expectations shortly before Photokina 2018 started, but some of the event’s biggest newsmakers still managed to surprise us. If you’re late to the party or haven’t been able to keep tabs with the flurry of announcements and product launches in the past few days, we’ve put together this round up for you.
Sony’s new strategy for their Interchangeable lens cameras
At Photokina 2018, Sony announced that they’re changing up their strategy when it comes to interchangeable lens cameras. Amongst things discussed are their innovations over the years and how they’ve worked to change the full frame, mirrorless camera market. But they also let us know a few new things, a couple of which are that there are at least 10 new lenses coming in the near future and Eye AF is going to work for animals too.
Read more: Sony is Announcing at Least 10 New Lenses in the Near Future
Joint initiative by Leica, Panasonic, and Sigma for the L mount
This news from Photokina 2018 is amongst the most exciting as it means that there is going to be a whole lot more full frame camera competition on the market. Leica, Panasonic, and Sigma are announcing a joint initiative on the L mount. For the uninitiated, the L mount is Leica’s other mount besides the M. The L mount is key to the Leica T series and the Leica SL. For years, Leica and Panasonic had a relationship of sharing with one another and this is going to continue on in the future. But now Sigma is coming into that relationship and naturally it makes sense that one of the world’s greatest lens makers comes in.
Read more: Leica, Panasonic and Sigma Announce New Initiative on the Full Frame L Mount
A brand new 100MP Fujifilm GFX camera
To a truly stunned audience at Photokina 2018, Fujifilm announced that a brand new 100MP Fujifilm GFX camera will be coming soon. But this isn’t any camera; they’re pulling out all the stops here. It has sensor-based stabilization, 4K video, and on-sensor phase detection pixels. The body is a style similar to a Canon 1D or a Nikon D5.
Read more: Fujifilm is Developing a 100MP GFX Camera with IBIS and Phase Detection
Fujifilm GFX 50R
There were reports abound on the new Fujifilm GFX 50R, and while there are features that are difficult to implement, what we’re getting today at Photokina 2018 is more than enough for all photographers. Standard to the new Fujifilm GFX 50R is the 0.77×3.69M-dot organic “OLED” electronic viewfinder that is built-in as opposed to being attachable like it is with the GFX 50S, weather sealing in 64 different places, 43.8 x 32.9mm sensor with 51.4MP defining it. More or less, it’s a variant of the highly rated Fujifilm GFX 50s.
Read more: The Fujifilm GFX 50R is the Rangefinder Style Camera We Wanted
Ricoh GR III
We previously talked about specs and we heard reports on what the new camera could be, but now we’ve got official word. The new Ricoh GR III is currently under development and will sport a brand new 24.24MP APS-C – likely the same one Sony has been using in their Sony a6300 and a variant of those in nearly every other APS-C camera. The lens has been revamped; it’s an 18.3mm f2.8 lens that equates to a 28mm field of view. The Ricoh GR III shoots 14 bit RAW DNG files, has a built in ND filter and more or less a lot of the same features as the previous camera.
Read more: The Ricoh GR III Doesn’t Have a Full Frame Sensor; Targets Street Photography
Leica S3
10 years after the release of the Leica S2, the company has now announced their new evolution of the medium format camera: the Leica S3. It still has the 3:2 ratio and it also keeps the optical viewfinder. It is still a DSLR too. Here are some of the major details. However, all we know is that it’s a prototype being shown off and full production units will be available next year.
Read more: The Leica S3 is the Company’s Latest Medium Format Camera
Zenit M Digital Rangefinder
It’s been long rumored, but since it has just made an appearance at Photokina 2018, we can all be sure that it’s real. Krasnogorsky Zavod (KMZ), the manufacturer of the Russian brand Zenit, and German camera and optics company Leica Camera AG have indeed joined forces to create the Zenit M, a full frame, digital rangefinder camera.
Read more: Zenit and Leica Collaborate on Zenit M Digital Rangefinder Camera
New Sigma lenses for Art, Sports, and Contemporary lines
Though they’ve mostly been focusing on the Art collection of lenses, tonight Sigma announced new lenses not only for the Art collection but also for their Sports and Contemporary lines. These lenses will be coming for DSLRs, and a few of them will also be coming for Sony E mount. They’re all full frame and there seems to be quite a bit of innovation behind each of the lenses.
Read more: Sigma Announces 5 New Lenses for the Photo World at Photokina
Reflex 40mm f1.8, 5mm f1.8, and 24mm f1.8 Manual Focus Full Frame Lenses
If you’re one of the backers who helped bring the Reflex I to life, looks like you’ll have another Kickstarter project to consider backing in the coming months. In a Photokina 2018 preview special, REFLEX presented the Reflex 40mm f1.8 – the first of its lineup of three manual focus, full frame lenses. The other lenses planned for the lineup are a 75mm f1.8 and a 24mm f1.8, which will complete a selection of large aperture prime lenses. This announcement also came ahead of the anticipated release of the Reflex I film SLR camera later this year.
Read more: REFLEX to Launch Kickstarter Project for Three Manual Focus Full Frame Lenses
New Hasselblad XCD lenses
Hasselblad has expanded the XCD lens family with three new additions to make the X1D-50c an even more powerful mirrorless medium format camera. These are comprised of the XCD 65mm f2.8, XCD 135mm f2.8 telephoto lens with X Converter 1.7, and the XCD 80mm f1.9, the largest aperture ever in a Hasselblad lens. With these releases, the XCD lens lineup now covers nine different focal lengths.
Read more: Hasselblad Adds Three New XCD Lenses to X1D Lens Lineup, Including XCD 80mm f1.9
Kodak Ektachrome E100
Sound the alarm, ready your wallets: the highly anticipated Kodak Ektachrome film line will finally start shipping to distributors and stock house dealers worldwide, starting “immediately” with the Kodak Ektachrome E100 for 135/36x camera formats!
Read more: Kodak Finally Begins Shipping of Ektachrome E100 “Immediately”
Instax Square SQ20 (and new colors for Instax Square SQ6)
It hasn’t even been too long since the SQ6 was released, yet Fujifilm is back with another Instax Square camera to trigger your instant camera gear acquisition syndrome – the Hybrid Instant Camera Instax Square SQ20, announced at Photokina 2018.
Read more: Fujifilm Announces New Instax Square SQ20 + New Colors for Instax Square SQ6, Double Sided Stickers
Limited Edition ONA x Japan Camera Hunter Bowery Bag
ONA and Japan Camera Hunter announced last night at Photokina 2018 their collaboration for a limited edition ONA x Japan Camera Hunter Bowery camera bag, which is designed with the film street photographer in mind.