Pre-order alert: Olympus E-M1 II for $2000 [updated]

The brand new Olympus E-M1 II micro-four-thirds price-flagship is now available for pre-order as a body only kit with a starting price of $2000 at B&H Photo. Shipping estimate is early December… This camera too is included in the Stock Status Tracker

UPDATE: more retailers have it available for pre-order for $2000 including Amazon itself (December 8 estimate) and Adorama and the official Olympus USA store GetOlympus.

New MacBook PROs invade Amazon

The new MacBook PRO laptops are now available for pre-order at Amazon. Release date is not specified:

+ 15.4″ MLW82LL/A with i7, 512GB for $2800
+ 13.3″ MNQF2LL/A with i5, 512GB for $2000
+ same in silver, MNQG2LL/A for $2000
+ 13.3″ MLL42LL/A, i5, 256GB for $1500

Pre-order brand new MacBook Pro Laptops

In today’s live-streamed announcement, Apple finally revealed their new generation of MacBook Pro laptops, with their brand new “Touch Bar” technology. They are available in 13.3″ and 15.4″ sizes, with prices ranging from $1500 to $2800 and they are available for pre-orders at B&H Photo and MacMall and other authorized Apple dealers.

PS: I forgot about this event, so I wasn’t able to live-tweet it.

Pre-Order new Nikon 70-200 f2.8E and 19mm f4E Tilt-Shift

Nikon photographers looking for pro-caliber lenses have two new options today attacking their wallets. It’s a new f2.8 PRO zoom and a new f4 Tilt Shift lens, available for pre-orders as follows:

+ 70-200mm f/2.8E FL ED VR for $2800 at B&H Photo

+ 19mm f/4E ED Tilt-Shift for $3400 at B&H Photo

Pre-order Sony RX100 V for $1000

Sony switched to an Apple style two-step announcement, with the pre-orders coming in Step #2 of the whole song and dance. Which brings us to step #2, the new Sony RX100 Mark V Compact-with-RAW (1″ sensor, 24-70mm eq f1.8-2.8 Zeiss-blessed lens) is now available for pre-order for $1000 at B&H Photo and Adorama and Amazon by Amazon itself. The release estimate is somewhere between October 14-28 in 2016.

This camera has just been added to the Stock Status Tracking page

Pre-order new Pixel Phones [updated with more options]

Google generated some waves in multiple dimensions with today’s Google-centric Made-by-Google announcement (raw video stream which I was live-tweeting at high speed). One of those waves was a new flagship “made by HTC for Google” Pixel phone duo. Already this phone got reviewed by DxoMark which gave it the highest camera score ever for a smartphone camera.

The said phones are now available for pre-orders. If you prefer to go through a carrier, it is available through Verizon Wireless only which is running a trade-in credit promotion.

If you prefer an unlocked no-contracts no-obligations phone or to prefer the other carriers, you can purchase it from the Google Store (not to be confused with the Google Play Store) or through Project Fi. Yes, it is Project Fi compatible! They offer financing as well (through Symphony Bank) and for a limited time, you can get a free Daydream View VR headset for FREE ($79 value).

Prices are flagship prices here, the 5-inch model goes for $650 (32GB storage) while the 5.5-inch model goes for $770 (32GB). If you prefer the 128GB model is an extra $100 for each model. If you are used to Nexus pricing, it’s a bit of a sticker shock 🙂

UPDATE: Best Buy is offering pre-orders for the Verizon Wireless versions with a free $100 Best Buy Gift Card and a free Chromecast.

UPDATE #2: if you purchase the Unlocked Pixels, you can activate them with Republic Wireless using their budget-friendly BYOD plans (if you don’t need a lot of cellular data).

Pre-Order new Nikon Key Mission 360 or 170 Action Cams with Free Accessory Bundles (same prices as without)

Nikon’s new Key Mission action cameras that were launched at Photokina 2016 are currently available for pre-order with Free Accessory Bundles, and these bundles have the same price as the standard camera kits. They are:

+ Nikon KeyMission 360 with FREE System Case, Extra EN-EL12 battery and Extension Arm for $500
+ Nikon KeyMission 170 with FREE System Case, Extra EN-EL12 battery and Extension Arm for $400
+ the KeyMission 80 does not have a free accessory bundle

Pre-order Canon EF 70-300mm f4-5.6 IS II USM for $550

For many Canon fans, the 75-300mm lens being non-IS non-USM in the digital era sticks out like a sore thumb, but at that price, Canon will probably not offer an IS lens. But they have a new IS lens in this ballpark range, the new EF 70-300mm f4-5.6 IS II USM lens, available for pre-order for $550 at Amazon itself and Adorama and B&H Photo. The early shipping estimate is around Thanksgiving 2016 :)… This too has been added to the Interesting New Lenses of 2016 Tracking page

Pre-order new Canon M5 Mirrorless for $980

Some thought the day would never come, but here it is, a more serious Canon mirrorless camera, the brand new Canon EOS M5 mirrorless camera available in three official kits: body only for $980, with 15-45 for $1100 and with 18-150 for $1480. Pre-orders of these three are available at Amazon and Adorama and B&H Photo. The early shipping estimate is around Black Friday 2016, which is *GASP* just two months away :)… This has been added to the Interesting New Cameras of 2016 tracking page…

Coming along for the Canon EF-M system is a new superzoom lens, the EF-M 18-150mm f3.5-6.3 IS STM, available in either black or silver, with a pre-order price of $500 at Adorama and B&H Photo.

Pre-order Leica Sofort Instant Film Camera for $299

Leica has joined the Instant Film Bandwagon/craze of the 21st century with a brand new camera, available in three cameras, it is the Sofort Instant Film Camera available for pre-order for $299 with free shipping at Adorama.

Pre-order DJI Osmo+ Handheld Gimbal Camera for $649

Another new item is available for pre-order at B&H Photo, it is the new DJI Osmo+ Handheld Gimbal Camera with a pre-order price of $659 and an early September 2016 release estimate.

Pre-order Zeiss Loxia Prime Bundle with Transport Case for $4228 (21/2.8, 35/2, 50/2)

If you like Zeiss, Primes and the Sony E-mount, there’s a new Zeiss Loxia bundle available for pre-order at B&H Photo. It includes the 21mm f2.8 and 35mm f2 and 50mm f2 along with related accessories and of course the Loxia Transport Case made for them. The pre-order price is $4228.

Pre-order new Fuji X-A3 with 16-50 for $599

DSLRs and Mirrorless cameras have some things in common, for example, the 4th letter of both is “R”. Which brings us to a new mirrorless camera, the new entry-point into the Fuji X-system line-up is the X-A3 bundled with the 16-50mm lens for $600 and available in three consumer-friendly colors (silver, pink, brown). Pre-orders are available at B&H Photo and Adorama and Amazon by Amazon itself with an early October 2016 release estimate. This has been added to the Interesting New Cameras of 2016 tracking page.

Pre-order new Fuji 23mm f2 R WR XF for $450

Last night we got the new Canon 5D IV and lenses, today it is Fuji’s turn to have new products available for pre-order, starting with the brand new 23mm f2 XF R WR lens available in silver or black (but not in a Las Vegas Raiders uniform) with a pre-order price of $449 at B&H Photo and Adorama. Shipping estimate is late September 2016. This has been added to the New Lenses of 2016 Tracking page.

Pre-order Canon 5D Mark IV DSLR for $3500

In addition to the two new lenses, Canon has launched a brand new Canon 5D DSLR, the fourth generation model, aka 5D Mark IV, available in three kits:

+ body only for $3500
+ with 24-105 f4L IS II for $4600
+ with 24-70 f4L IS for $4400

Pre-orders are accepted for these kits at Amazon by Amazon itself and B&H Photo and Adorama.

UPDATE: speaking of the 5D Mark IV, B&H Photo is planning a Live Discussion Panel starting at 2pm Eastern on Thursday 8/25/16.

A brand new battery grip is also announced, the Canon Battery Grip BG-E20 has a pre-order price of $490 at Amazon by Amazon itself and Adorama and B&H Photo.

But wait, there’s more. There’s some more action the Canon 7D Mark II front, two new kits are being released that bundle it with the Canon Wi-Fi Adapter Kit, going for $1850 for the 7D II body only and $2450 for the “with 18-135mm IS STM lens” kit. They are available for pre-order at Adorama and B&H Photo.

Speaking of the Canon W-E1 Wifi Adapter, it is available for pre-order on its own for $50 at Adorama.

The new DSLR and lenses have been added to the Interesting New Cameras and Lenses of 2016 Tracking page. This is a Photokina year [see Trade Show Calendar], so we’ll have more new gear before the holidays.

The 5D Mark IV will be one of the cameras included when I reboot the Stock Status Tracking page with unreleased cameras in the next few days. Let me know what other cameras you’d like to see tracked in the comments or using the online contact form.

Pre-order new Canon 16-35mm f2.8L III ($2200) and 24-105mm f4L IS II ($1100) Lenses

Alongside the Canon 5D Mark IV DSLR, Canon has unleashed two new four-figure Canon EF (D)SLR lenses and they are available for pre-ordering as follows:

+ 16-35mm f2.8L III for $2200 at Adorama and B&H Photo and Amazon by Amazon itself

+ 24-105mm f4L IS II for $1100 at Adorama and B&H Photo and Amazon by Amazon itself

Pre-order Kipon Baveyes Ultra 0.7x Adapter for Hasselblad MF Lenses to Sony E or Leica M or SL bodies

Adorama is now accepting pre-orders for the new Kipon Baveyes Ultra 0.7x Adapter available in three different options. It lets you attach Hasselblad Medium Format Lenses to either Sony E/NEX camera bodies or Leica M, or Leica SL. The pre-order price is $495 for each option.

Pre-order new Nikon AF-P 70-300 and 18-55 DX Lenses (Four Options, $200 to $400)

While the new Nikon D3400 kit options were straightforward, things are a bit more complicated in the new AF-P Nikon lenses. Two different lenses are available in two different options each, with and without VR. An interesting decision here, perhaps with an eye towards bundling them in different ways and discounting them? Regardless..

… the four new AF-P lenses are now available for pre-order as follows:

+ 70-300mm f4.5-6.3G ED AF-P DX VR for $400 at Amazon and Adorama and B&H Photo

+ 70-300mm f4.5-6.3G ED AF-P DX non-VR for $350 at Amazon and Adorama and B&H Photo

+ 18-55 f3.5-5.6G DX VR for $250 at Adorama and B&H Photo

+ 18-55 f3.5-5.6G DX non-VR for $200 at Adorama and B&H Photo

These have been added to the new Interesting New Lenses of 2016 tracking page. We no longer track most non-RAW P&S fixed lens digital cameras over there.

Pre-order new Nikon D3400 DSLR kit for $650

With IFA and Photokina 2016 just around the corner [see Trade Show Calendar], many and more new tech items will see the light of day in the next few weeks.

Which brings us to Nikon, revealing their new entry-point in their APS-C DSLR line-up, it is the new Nikon D3400 DSLR that comes with two official kits. One is bundled with the new AF-P (yes, P as in Pea) 18-55mm f3.5-5.6G DX VR lens for $650, and another bundled with the new 18-55 and the new AF-P 70-300mm f4.5-6.3G ED DX non-VR for $1000.

Pre-orders of all the kits are available at B&H Photo and Adorama and Amazon itself.

This too have been added to the interesting New Cameras and Lenses of 2016 tracking page.

Pre-order new Rokinon 14mm f2.8 FE Auto Focus for $849 (E-mount)

Santa brought Auto Focus technology to Rokinon-Samyang, and their putting that gift to good use with another new Sony E-mount FE lens with AF, it is the 14mm f2.8 and it is available for pre-order for $849 with free expedited shipping and a October 2016 release estimate at B&H Photo.

Pre-order alert: Xbox One S starting at $300

Gaming consoles are not following the general technology cycle of a new model every year (or sooner), so it’s a bigger event when it happens, which brings us to the new Microsoft Xbox One S, whose reviews began popping out today (review embargo), and they are available for pre-order starting at $300 for the 500GB bundle and $350 for the 1TB bundle and $400 for the 2TB Launch Edition and $450 for the 2TB Gears of War bundle.

UPDATE: eBay seller AntOnline is offering the 2TB Launch Bundle for $400 with a $25 eBay Gift Card.

Pre-order new Silk Lite Travel Tripods (5 options, $100 to $330)

While we are in a pre-order wave, here’s another new set of products available for pre-order, a quintet of Silk Lite travel tripods with prices ranging from $110 to $330, available for pre-order at Adorama and sorted by price order.

Pre-order new Nikon 105mm f1.4E ED for $2200

They said it couldn’t be done, but slowly and steadily we see more lenses that the naysayers said they couldn’t be done! Or something like that if lens-making was a sporting-event post-game interview 🙂 Which brings us to the brand new Nikon 105mm f1.4E ED lens, available for pre-order for $2200 at Adorama and B&H Photo… This too has been added to the Interesting Cameras and Lenses of 2016 Tracking page…

Pre-order Rokinon 50mm f1.4 FE Autofocus (GASP!) for $699

Never say never and indeed, Rokinon has found an ancient alien crash landing site where they have procured… Autofocus technology! Pre-orders are also accepted now for the E-mount version of the Rokinon 50mm f1.4 FE Autofocus for $699… Shipping estimate is August 2016… This too has been added to the Interesting Cameras and Lenses of 2016 Tracking page…

Pre-order new Rokinon Xeen 135mm T2.2 for $2500

Prime time is Tea time, it’s a new video-priority lens from Rokinon, the Xeen 135mm T2.2 is now available for pre-order for $2500 at B&H Photo in the Canon and Nikon DSLR mounts, the Sony E and M43rds mirrornyet mounts, and since it is a video-priority lens, the PL mount too… This has been added to the Interesting Cameras and Lenses of 2016 Tracking page…

Pre-order Sale: Canon EOS C100MK II Wedding/Documentary Kit (EF) for $5500

Wedding season is upon us, and there are plenty of reasons to film documentaries these days, which is perhaps why this Canon EOS C100MK II Wedding/Documentary Kit (EF mount version) is on sale for $5500 with free expedited shipping at B&H Photo. This is a pre-order sale, there is no estimated shipping date yet for this bundle that includes a Ronin-M Stabilizer among other things.

Pre-order new Sony FE Gear (late July release; 7 options)

Sony has gone to an Apple-style multi-tier announcement/order/release cycle, and today is the first day photographers can pre-order some of their latest gear. A total of seven items are available for pre-order at B&H Photo, including the 70-200mm f2.8 FE GM OSS for $2600 and the 50mm f1.4 ZA FE T* for $1500. Also part of the seven are two teleconverters (1.4x, 2x), two wireless radios, and a multi-terminal cable. These are estimated to ship late July 2016.

Pre-order new Fuji X-T2 and EF-X500 Flash

Fuji time! A new camera is coming along with a new flash, and they are now available for pre-ordering. The new Fuji X-T2 body only goes for $1600, while the kit with the 18-55mm lens goes for $1900. The new EF-X500 flash goes for $450. Pre-orders for all these are available at Adorama and Amazon itself and B&H Photo.

This too has been added to the New Interesting Cameras of 2016 tracking page.

Pre-order Sigma SD Quattro Mirrorless

Sigma has a mirrorless camera too, and it is now available for pre-order at B&H Photo in two options. The SD Quattro Body Only goes for $800 while the SD Quattro with 30mm f1.4 goes for $1000. There’s also the PG-41 Power Grip going for $250 and compatible with more than just one camera.

Pre-order YUNEEC Typhoon H Hexacopter with Intel RealSense, GCO3+ 4K Camera, and Backpack for $1900

The drones are getting smarter and smarter, it was about time to develop more effective obstacle avoidance systems. It is pre-order for one such new drone system, the YUNEEC Typhoon H Hexacopter with Intel RealSense, GCO3+ 4K Camera, and Backpack is available for pre-order for $1900 with free expedited shipping at B&H Photo with a late July 2016 release estimate… For more new/recent arrivals, check their New Arrivals page