Fuji has released their new FinePix F800EXR, which is essentially the F770EXR but with Wi-Fi instead of a GPS. Like a lot of Wi-Fi cameras, the F800EXR will be able to use your smartphone as the middleman for photo sharing. In addition, you'll be able to use your phone to supply your coordinates, with an available application providing landmark information. Here's more on Fuji's latest model:
Sensor can prioritize images for high resolution, low noise, or wide dynamic range
F3.5-5.3, 20X optical zoom lens, equivalent to 25 - 500 mm (same as the F750/F770)
Sensor-shift image stabilization
3-inch LCD display with 460,000 pixels
New Wireless Image Transfer Function (better known as Wi-Fi)
Fujifilm Photo Receiver app (for iOS and Android) can download photos from the camera and then send them on to Facebook, Twitter, etc
Fujifilm Camera Application app uses your smartphone's GPS to provide location data to the camera; app can also display where a photo was taken on a map, and has a database of 1 million landmarks available (I'm not clear on whether those get embedded in the metadata as well)
Decent selection of manual controls (aperture choices will be limited), plus RAW support
EXR Auto mode chooses both a scene and EXR mode for you
Autofocus speeds as fast as 0.16 sec
Full resolution continuous shooting at 8 frames/second
New special effects include pop color, miniature effect, partial color, and more
Motion Panorama mode creates 360 degree panoramas (and smaller, if you want)
Intelligent Digital Zoom (found on many other cameras these days) boosts zoom power by 2X, with less detail loss than normal digital zoom
Records movies at 1080/30p with stereo sound and use of optical zoom
30MB onboard memory + SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot
Uses NP-50A lithium-ion battery, 300 shots per charge
Sony has announced a new telephoto lens for their Alpha-mount cameras. This new F4.5-5.6, 55 - 300 mm lens has a Smooth Autofocus Motor (SAM) for fast and silent focusing for both stills and movies. The lens will be available this September for $300. A few more details and a photo after the link.
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I don't think anyone believed that Canon would stay on the sidelines while
the mirrorless camera took off without them, and today they've stepped into this segment with their new EOS M interchangeable lens camera. The EOS M features an 18 Megapixel APS-C-sized CMOS sensor, a new EF-M lens mount, backward compatibility with EF and EF-S lenses via an optional adapter, and Full HD video recording.
This first model appears to be the "consumer" model, with its PowerShot-like body, missing mode dial, lack of electronic viewfinder support, and touchscreen interface. While I have absolutely nothing to back this up, I would imagine that a more "professional" model will arrive at some point in the future. In the meantime, here's what I can tell you about the EOS M:
Uses new EOS M mount (EF-M), with same 1.6X crop factor as Canon's APS-C D-SLRs
Backward compatible with EF and EF-S lenses via EF-EOS M Mount Adapter ($199)
Compact body is 4.3 x 2.6 x 1.3 inches in size (which may well be the smallest out there), and comes in black and white (the latter is only available if you order direct from Canon)
Hybrid CMOS AF system uses phase difference for subjects in the center of the frame, and contrast detection for everything else
If this sounds familiar, it's because the Rebel T4i uses the same system (which I haven't heard great things about)
Users can choose from 31-point auto, face detection/tracking, and single-point AF
3-inch touchscreen LCD display has 1.04 million pixels and a smudge-proof coating
Touch functions include Touch AF and shutter, menus, image playback (complete with pinch-to-zoom), and video editing
Lacks a built-in flash; you'll have to pony up for an external flash (like the new 90EX, described below), which attaches to the hot shoe, if you want to take flash pictures
Full manual controls, including RAW support
Shutter speed range of 30 - 1/4000 sec
ISO range of 100 - 12800, expandable to 25600
Scene Intelligent Auto mode picks a scene mode for you
Numerous special effects plus Handheld Night Scene and HDR Backlight Control modes
Continuous shooting at 4.3 frames/second
Records Full HD video at 1080/30p with stereo sound, continuous autofocus, and full manual controls (for both exposure and audio level)
Optional GPS receiver (attaches to hot shoe)
SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot
Uses LP-E12 lithium-ion battery, 230 shots per charge
Ships this October with the new F2.0, 22 mm STM pancake lens for $799
I'd like to tell you a little bit more about the two new EF-M lenses and the 90EX external flash.
Both the F2.0, 22 mm pancake and F3.5-5.6, 18 - 55 mm IS zoom lenses use the STM motor (described above), which allows for fast, silent autofocus. The pancake lens comes bundled with the EOS M, while the 18-55 will be available for $299 in October.
The Speedlite 90EX is a pretty basic external flash with a guide number of 9 meters (at ISO 100) and works with lenses as wide as 24 mm. You'll be able to pick one up this October for $149.
Samsung added a new "Smart Camera" to their collection, with the MV900F. This camera's claims to fame include Wi-Fi (which I enjoyed using on the NX210) as well as an LCD that flips upward 180 degrees (like the NEX-F3 I just reviewed). Here's what else it can do:
F2.5-6.3, 5X optical zoom lens, equivalent to 25 - 125 mm
Optical image stabilization
3.3-inch AMOLED display with 614k pixels
Display can flip upward 180 degrees for self-portraits
Subjects can use hand gestures to operate the camera's zoom lens and take a photo
Point-and-shoot operation, with scene-selecting Smart Auto mode
Built-in Wi-Fi lets you control the camera from an Android smartphone, or send photos to social networking sites, e-mail recipients, or your computer on any open network
Plenty of special effects, including panorama and HDR modes
Records Full HD video at 1080/30p with monaural sound
Supports Micro SD/SDHC/SDXC cards
Uses BP-88B lithium-ion battery; no battery life available
Panasonic today introduced a host of new cameras -- some of which are pretty exciting, in my opinion. I'm going to start with the long-awaited replacement to the DMC-LX5, which will be known as the DMC-LX7. If you like fast lenses, you're gonna love this one:
Panasonic claims a 1.5 dB improvement in the S/N ratio compared to the LX5
F1.4-2.3, 3.8X optical zoom Leica lens, equivalent to 24 - 90 mm
Manual aperture ring around lens (works in A/M modes only, not customizable)
Built-in ND filter can be activated via a lever on the back of the camera
Lens is threaded for 37 mm filters
Power OIS image stabilization
3-inch LCD has 920,000 pixels
Optional electronic viewfinder (DMW-LVF2)
Full manual controls, with RAW support
Shutter speed range of 30 - 1/4000 sec
ISO range of 80 - 6400, with a 12800 option available (that uses pixel binning)
Four aspect ratios, which are easy to choose via the switch on top of the lens
Intelligent Auto (and iA+) mode does everything for you, from scene selection to blur reduction to smart sharpening
Continuous shooting at 11 frames/second (5 fps with continuous AF)
Always handy electronic level
Lots of special effects, plus HDR and time-lapse modes
In-camera panorama stitching
Records Full HD video (1920 x 1080) at 60p with stereo sound, use of the optical zoom, and manual controls
70MB on-board memory + SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot
Uses DMW-BCJ13 lithium-ion battery, 330 shots per charge
Comes in black and white
Pricing and availability TBA
I've started off our photo gallery with a couple of shots that I took at the Panasonic launch event that was held here in the Bay Area last week. I'm hoping to get a camera of my own very soon, and will add all the usual shots at that time.
Another camera that really caught my eye at the launch event last week was the DMC-FZ200, which sounds like the super zoom camera to beat, with it's F2.8, 25 - 600 mm lens. Yes, that's F2.8 through the whole focal range. Before I can tell you about that, I need to describe its little brother (and FZ47 replacement), the DMC-FZ60:
Adds RAW support, wider shutter speed range; ISO range is 100 - 6400
Continuous shooting at 12 frames/second (5.5 fps with continuous AF)
Hot shoe for external flash
Records true 1080/60p video using AVCHD Progressive codec
540 shots per charge with DMW-BLC12 battery
Optional stereo microphone and remote shutter release
Pricing and availability TBA
The good news is that I have some sample photos from the FZ200 to share. The bad news is that Panasonic required them to be downsized (a lot) since the firmware wasn't final. Check out our photo gallery taken with a pre-production DMC-FZ200 for a taste of what it can do.
I'm going to jump over to interchangeable lens cameras for a moment. In their big day of announcements, Panasonic also released the Lumix DMC-G5, which is the replacement to the DMC-G3. Here are the details:
Touch features include focus, shutter, menus, and image playback
Eye sensor switches between the LCD and EVF automatically
New Touch Pad function lets you use the touchscreen while looking through the EVF
New function lever on top of camera can be used for setting adjustment and for operating a power zoom lens
Full manuals, with RAW support (naturally)
ISO range of 160 - 12800
Shutter speed range of 60 - 1/4000 sec
Intelligent Auto mode does it all for you; new Scene Guide gives examples of photos you'd take using a given scene mode, also gives advice
Continuous shooting at 6 frames/second
Lots of special effects, plus an HDR mode
Electronic level
Built-in flash + hot shoe for something bigger
Records Full HD video at 1080/60p with stereo sound, continuous AF, and manual controls
SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot
320 shots per charge using DMW-BLC12 lithium-ion battery (and 14-42 PZ lens)
Available in black, silver, and white
Will come in several kits at prices to be named later
There's a new lens to go along with the DMC-G5, as well. The new F4.0-5.6, 45 - 150 mm is a compact lens that's equivalent to 90 - 300 mm when attached to a Micro Four Thirds camera. It features an internal zoom motor (for silent focusing during movies) as well as optical image stabilization. This lens will ship this summer in your choice for silver and black. As you might have guessed by now, the price has not been set.
Moving back to compact cameras, I'd like to tell you about the Lumix DMC-SZ5, which is Panasonic's latest attempt at making a Wi-Fi camera. Here are all the details:
F3.1-5.9, 10X optical zoom lens, equivalent to 25 - 250 mm
Mega OIS image stabilization
3-inch LCD display with 230,000 pixels
Point-and-shoot operation, with Intelligent Auto mode
Built-in Wi-Fi allows you to control camera from your iOS or Android smartphone (with Lumix Link app); users can compose photos with a smooth live view and the ability to adjust zoom and other settings; smartphone's GPS can also be used to geo-tag your photos; once photos are taken you can send them to social networking sites through your phone
Photos can also be transmitted to compatible Panasonic TVs, or to your home computer while the camera is charging
Records 720p video with monaural sound using the MPEG-4 codec
55MB on-board memory + SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot
250 shots per charge with DMW-BCK7 lithium-ion battery (presumably with Wi-Fi turned off)
If you've been wondering how Samsung's new trio of interchangeable lens cameras performs, then check out my review of the NX210, their midrange model.
You might be surprised by my conclusions!
Samsung today introduced their new EX2F, a compact camera with a fast lens, larger-than-average sensor, full manual controls, rotating LCD display, and Wi-Fi support. Despite what some websites have said, it's not really a competitor to the Sony RX100, which has a sensor four times larger. Rather, it's closer to the Olympus XZ-1 or the Panasonic DMC-LX5 (both of which are due for replacements). Here are the details on the EX2F:
Sensor is the same size as what's inside the Canon PowerShot S100 and G12, which makes it a bit larger than normal
F1.4-2.7, 3.3X "Schneider-Kreuznach" optical zoom lens, equivalent to 24 - 80 mm
Available neutral density filter
Optical image stabilization
Flip-out, rotating 3-inch AMOLED display with 614,000 pixels
Full manual controls, with RAW support
ISO range of 80 - 3200, expandable to 12800
Smart Auto selects a scene mode for you
Built-in Wi-Fi allows photos to be uploaded to social media sites, e-mailed to friends, stored in the cloud, or backed up to your PC; if you have an Android smartphone, you can use it to control the camera remotely
Hot shoe for external flash
Records Full HD video at 1080/30p with stereo sound, use of optical zoom
Can record full resolution stills while recording a movie
Available optical viewfinder, external microphone
SD/SDHC/SDXC memory card slot
Uses SLB10A lithium-ion battery; battery life not available
