Month in review: top camera news and rumors from May 2015

The fifth month of 2015 is now over and we are revisiting the top camera news and rumors that you may have missed due to various reasons.

Just like industry followers are accustomed, digital imaging companies have made several announcements over the course of one month. Canon, Fujifilm, and Panasonic among others have introduced new gear that photographers may find useful during the summer vacation.

In addition to the official product launch events, the rumor mill was active throughout May 2015. Inside sources have revealed that exciting gear lies ahead and that plenty of cameras as well as lenses will be released by the end of 2015 or in early 2016. Here are the top camera news and rumors from the past month!

Olympus and Panasonic announced new Micro Four Thirds products

Micro Four Thirds fans will be pleased to hear that Olympus has introduced the Titanium E-M5 Mark II Limited Edition kit, which consists of a special version of the newest OM-D-series camera that will be made in only 7,000 units.

Olympus 8mm f/1.8 Fisheye PRO lens will provide a full-frame equivalent of 16mm.

Olympus has also introduced the 8mm f/1.8 Fisheye PRO-series lens that has become the company’s first fisheye optic with a maximum aperture of f/1.8.

The Japan-based company has expanded its PRO lens line-up with the 7-14mm f/2.8 model. All three Olympus products will be released this summer.

On the other hand, Panasonic has just introduced a new mirrorless camera capable of recording 4K videos. The Lumix G7 will become available with several improvements over its predecessor by the end of June.

Panasonic Lumix G7 Micro Four Thirds camera captures 4K footage.

Fuji introduced new X-mount camera and lens in May 2015

Fujifilm has made a couple of announcements of its own. The manufacturer has introduced a lower-end version of the X-T1. It goes by the name of X-T10 and it features a new autofocus technology and a pop-up flash among others.

Fujifilm X-T10 omes packed with a 16.3-megapixel sensor and a built-in pop-up flash.

A Fujinon 90mm f/2 R LM WR lens has been introduced, too, and it will show up on the market this summer for a price under $1,000.

GoPro to enter drone market in 2016

Canon and Leica have both revealed new lenses. The former has announced the long-rumored EF 50mm f/1.8 STM model, while the latter has launched its first 28mm optic with a maximum aperture of f/1.8 in the body of the Summilux-M 28mm f/1.4 ASPH.

A new drone captivated videographers and adventurers worldwide in May 2015. It is called Lily and it is capable of following you around in order to record your activities.

Speaking of drones, GoPro has officially confirmed its intention of joining this market. The company will release a quadcopter in 2016.

Sony to launch new gear in June 2015 and beyond

A company which is expected to introduce a bunch of stuff by the end of June 2015 is Sony. Among others, the PlayStation maker will announce the A7RII, which was believed to feature a sensor with over 50 megapixels in early May. However, trusted sources have recently debunked the allegations and it appears that the A7RII will be a minor improvement over the A7R.

Sony will finally replace the NEX-7 in June 2015.

A new A6000-series camera will be revealed to replace the NEX-7 flagship E-mount camera with an APS-C sensor. It might be called A7000 but its specs list has not been revealed, yet. It is believed that the shooter will employ world’s quickest autofocus system.

By the end of the year, Sony will launch another camera. However, it will be an A-mount unit and it will succeed the A99. The so-called A99 Mark II will come packed with new AF and RAW technologies.

Canon is working on a handful of cameras, including 5D Mark IV and 1D X Mark II

Canon has begun testing the EOS 5D Mark IV, a camera which was supposed to be launched by now. Additionally, the EOS 1D X Mark II should have been here, too, but it has allegedly been delayed due to the upcoming E-TTL III flash metering technology, just like the aforementioned EOS 5D Mark IV.

Canon is already testing the replacement to the EOS 5D Mark III camera, which will be called EOS 5D Mark IV.

The EOS company is believed to be working on an astrophotography camera to rival the Nikon D810A, while a professional underwater camera is in the works, too.

In the near future, Canon will launch the Rebel SL2 / EOS 150D DSLR camera, whose specs have been leaked on the web.

Panasonic and Fujifilm planning to launch new products by the end the year

Panasonic registered three new cameras in mid-May 2015. The Lumix G7 has already been revealed, while the GX8 and the FZ300 are expected to show up sometime this fall. Both units will come with built-in WiFi and they could be capable of recording 4K videos.

An updated X-mount lens roadmap for 2015-2016 has been leaked and it has revealed the exact dates when Fujifilm is planning to release its already-confirmed optics. Additionally, the rumor mill is claiming that the company is working on an ultra-fast 33mm f/1 lens.

These are the top camera news and rumors that showed up on the web during the month of May 2015. Stay tuned to Camyx throughout June 2015 to grab the latest announcements and gossip talks from the digital imaging world!