Hasselblad has announced a partnership with Sony, with plans to market the Lunar, a state-of-the-art, Italian-designed “ultimate luxury” mirrorless, interchangeable lens camera early in 2013.

Hasselblad’s New Business Development Manager, Luca Alessandrini said, “We’ve developed this model in the traditional way, using handmade wooden prototypes to ensure superior ergonomics and functionality. This is a camera for both serious photographers and enthusiasts who aspire to shooting with a Hasselblad.

“Lunar, which can be used in fully automatic or fully manual mode, has been designed to be easy to use and versatile but with all the advanced technology employed in top DSLRs. For the first time the market now has a camera embracing traditional Hasselblad state-of-the-art image capture combined with stunning Italian design features.

“And for the first time ever we are using carbon fiber, titanium, wood, leather and precious metals – including gold. The camera grip itself offers unparalleled ergonomics and has been developed to embrace both compact E-mount and the larger professional A-mount lenses.”

At Photokina 2012: Hasselblad plans to release a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera utilizing Sony’s E-Mount. The Hasselblad Lunar, which is expected to cost around €5000 ($6500) appears to share a lot of technology with Sony’s recent NEX-7 model, including the same 24.3MP CMOS sensor, OLED “True Finder” EVF, and the “TriNavi” navigation system. The Lunar, which is set for launch in the first quarter of 2013, will be available “in a choice of standard models plus a variety of exclusive hand grips and precious materials on special order.”

Nikon’s D5000 “baby Nikon” is positioned between the D60 and D90 and is not intended to be a replacement for either.

The D5000 lacks an autofocus motor in the body but it does sport a tilt-and-swivel LCD.

Following the pre-credit-crunch boom in digital single-lens reflex cameras (DSLRs), these smaller, stripped-down models seem to be the norm now.

The D5000 fills a gap below the enthusiast grade D90 — Canon’s 500D and Olympus’s E-620 point to a similar market.

Here are the main features of the Nikon D5000

* 12.9 megapixel DX-format CMOS sensor (effective pixels: 12.3 million)
* 2.7″ tilt and swivel LCD monitor (230,000 dots)
* Movie capture at up to 1280 x 720 (720p) 24 fps with mono sound
* Live View with contrast-detect AF, face detection and subject tracking
* Image sensor cleaning (sensor shake)
* 11 AF points (with 3D tracking)
* IS0 200-3200 range (100-6400 expanded)
* 4 frames per second continuous shooting (buffer: 7 RAW, 25 JPEG fine, 100 JPEG Normal)
* Expeed image processing engine
* Extensive in-camera retouching including raw development and straightening
* Connector for optional GPS unit (fits on hot shoe)
* New battery with increased capacity
* 72 thumbnail and calendar view in playback

This is certainly one to watch and, to the right market, sure to be a success.

The Lumix DMC-L10KEB-K can be purchased from the UK Panasonic eShop: shop.panasonic.co.uk, for £391.99.

Since I own a Lumix DMC FZ8, I can thoroughly recommend this range.

The DMC-L10 features:

10.1 Mega pixels
MEGA Optical Image Stabilizer
Free Angle 2.5 inch Diagonal LCD
Ergonomic Grip
2x, 4x Digital zoom
Advanced hybrid-type AF system
Dust reduction with a Supersonic Wave Filter system

It is equipped with a LEICA D VARIO-ELMAR 14-50mm / F3.8-5.6 / MEGA O.I.S. lens designed specifically for a digital SLR camera to be sold as a kit, the DMC-L10K.

The camera is especially designed for the consumer who is familiar with compact digital cameras and would like to experience digital SLR photography, but also for the ambitious photographer who wishes to take more impressive pictures.

Sony has announced eight new models in its Cyber-Shot range of digital cameras.

They are produced in colourful designs for the youth and female markets at affordable prices. They are listed below:

Cyber-Shot T900 and T90
• Chic, ultra-slim design (15.1mm T900, 13.9mm T90)
• 12.1 effective megapixels
• 3.5-inch wide Xtra Fine LCD touchscreen (T900) / 3.0-inch wide Clear Photo LCD Plus touchscreen (T90)
• Carl Zeiss 4x optical zoom lens
• Record 720p HD movie clips
• Optical SteadyShot for clearer handheld shooting
• Enhanced Face Detection and Smile Shutter technology

Cyber-Shot W290, W270 and W230
• 12.1 effective megapixels
• Carl Zeiss 5x optical zoom with 28mm wide angle lens (W230 4x/30mm)
• Record 720p HD movie clips (not W230)
• Optical SteadyShot for clearer handheld shooting
• Enhanced Face Detection and Smile Shutter technology

Cyber-Shot H20
• 10.1 effective megapixels
• Carl Zeiss 10x optical zoom lens
• Record 720p HD movie clips
• Optical SteadyShot for clearer handheld shooting
• Enhanced Face Detection and Smile Shutter technology

Cyber-Shot S980 and S930
• 12.1 effective megapixels (10.1 megapixels S930)
• 4x optical zoom lens (3x optical zoom S930)
• SteadyShot for clearer handheld shooting
• Enhanced Face Detection technology

We have not yet got details of when they will be on sale.