Image on top shows the current two fast wide angle primes: 20mm f/1.8 G and 24mm f/1.4 GM (via CameraSize).

On October 14 I told you the 16mm f/1.8 lens will be announced in early 2021. A new source gave me some additional info:

The new GM lens that is ready (as you guessed correctly) and was planned to be announced “by surprise” on November 4th has indeed been moved to “early” 2021 due to production issues (production isn’t up to speed and can’t keep up).
On November 17th there will be the official presentation of FX6 and sadly enough that will be it for 2020. Next year will be more exciting.

Of this new source is right on the FX6 launch date than we know the 16mm lens launch was indeed delayed due these issues.

A couple of sources told me that we can expect some of the current existing FE lenses to be updated in 2021. I think particularly some older zoom needs to get a boost in optical quality performance…what say you?

As you know in early October the Zeiss ZX1 has been quickly listed for $6,000 at BHphoto (preorder price has now been removed). Today Nokishita confirmed the camera will be announced on October 29 at 19:00 Tokyo time. I guess we will also finally see some early hands-on review of this quite unusual camera!

I got this from a new source. So I don’t know yet if this is completely BS or if this is a real (and very exciting) news. He told me this:

After the recent IPHONE 12 premiere I was talking to one of my friends who is an Apple engineer. He said that at some point Sony was looking at incorporating new APPLE’s A14Z chip that will be used in the upcoming 2021 Ipad Pro. He said that Sony is working on adding computational photography features to their upcoming cameras. He said that it is also very probable that Sony will start using their own LIDAR sensor that they sell to Apple as they were impressed by how well Apple used Lidar for better AF tracking. One thing he said is that to get maximum performance of the A14Z chip, Sony has to completely rebuild its in-body camera software. I find this very interesting so I thought I’d share. We need to remember that Sony is selling both image sensors and LiDAR sensors to Apple and they have a really good relationship.

Just recently DJI released the new RS 2 Gimbal Stabilizer (available at BHphoto, Adorama). It also comes with a new Lidar sensor with autofocus motor for manual focusing lenses. Here is how it works:

So while a rumor from a new source doesn’t make this a reliable info yet I think it is really highly likely Sony is working to add Lidar tech on their cameras. This may be the next generation autofocus system to beat the rest of the competition!

Nikon currently has two 500mm and 300mm Fresnel lenses in their range. This technology allows to make smaller and lighter lenses compared to traditional lens designs:

The design allows the construction of lenses of large aperture and short focal length without the mass and volume of material that would be required by a lens of conventional design. A Fresnel lens can be made much thinner than a comparable conventional lens, in some cases taking the form of a flat sheet.

One of the downsides of Fresnel lenses are the Flare artifacts. But a new Sony patent proves that they are ready to launch such lenses with a new tech that can suppress the flare issue:

The present invention has been made in the light of the actual situation described above, and one of objects thereof is to provide a Fresnel lens and a method of manufacturing the Fresnel lens which can suppress a flare which is generated in an image visually recognized through the Fresnel lens so as to extend toward a center of a lens.

Finally we might get closer to our dream to have both small FF cameras and small FF lenses?

The Sigma 200mm f/2.0 optical design described within a Sigma patent

One of our Sigma source told us about a new kind of Sigma lens. He said the 200mm f/2.0 development has been approved and we can expect a release as early as in second half 2021. This lens would obviously be available as native E-mount option too (along the other FF mirrorless mount versions).

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A Czech store listed the new FX-6 with a price tag of 169k Koruna which is roughly 6.000 Euro ($7,000 with tax). That’s very similar to the previously leaked UK price so I guess we can really expect a price like this once Sony unveils it.

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Thanks to the anonymous sender