I've posted my review of the Canon EOS Rebel T4i digital SLR. This camera, also known as the EOS-650D, is the first Canon model to use the new Hybrid CMOS AF system. Find out how well that works -- and more -- in our review.
I'm still pounding away at my Canon EOS Rebel T4i review, but in the meantime, I put together a photo gallery for you. I'm hoping to get the review posted by the end of the week.
Friday night update: it's been foggy all week so I've been unable to get the night shots needed to complete the review. This weekend should be better.
Sony and Hasselblad have announced a new long-term partnership. Hasselblad, long known for their medium format cameras, wants to get into the D-SLR and mirrorless market, and the first product they're releasing is the Lunar, a rather gaudy version of the Sony NEX-7. It's not clear what Sony is going to get out of this deal, but I'm sure we'll find out in the not-too-distant future.
Samsung has added two new lenses to their NX mirrorless camera system. First up is an F4.0-5.6, 12 - 24 mm zoom, which is equivalent to 18.5 - 37.0 mm on an NX camera. The other lens is an F1.8, 45 mm prime (equivalent to 69.3 mm), which is great for low light shooting and portraits. Both of these lenses support Samsung's i-Function feature, which lets you use the focus ring on the lens to adjust camera settings. Pricing and availability will be disclosed at a future date.
Panasonic has pulled back the curtain to reveal their new flagship Lumix DMC-GH3 Micro Four Thirds camera. This camera has a ton of improvements over the GH2 that came before it, especially in terms of build quality and movie recording. Here are the specs on this exciting new mirrorless "Creative HD" camera:
New 16.1 Megapixel Live MOS sensor promises improved dynamic range and less noise
Latest Venus Engine (they don't number them anymore) combines 3D and multi-process noise reduction for better high sensitivity photos
Supports all Micro Four Thirds lenses with a 2X crop factor
Light Speed AF system offers improved focusing speeds compared to the GH2
Splash and dustproof magnesium alloy body features more direct and customizable buttons than ever before
Flip-out, rotating 3-inch touchscreen OLED display with 614,000 pixels
Touch functions include focus, shutter release, menus, and image playback; touch pad AF lets you set the focus point using the LCD while you're looking through the EVF
Electronic viewfinder has 1.37 million dots and a magnification of 1.34x (0.67x equivalent)
Tons of manual controls
ISO range of 200 - 12800, expandable to 125 - 25600
Shutter speed range of 60 - 1/4000 sec
Intelligent Auto mode offers scene selection, face detection, dynamic range correction, and blur reduction
Built-in Wi-Fi with smartphone connectivity; user can change camera settings and release the shutter using a phone or table; photos can also be backed up automatically to your PC
Full resolution continuous shooting at 6 frames/second; can shoot at 20 fps at 4 Megapixel
Always-handy electronic level
New electronic shutter function eliminates mirror-slapping noise; new shutter delay function releases the shutter after a set number of seconds
New HDR, time-lapse, and multiple exposure modes, plus plenty of Creative Controls (aka Art Filters)
Built-in flash (GN 12) offers wireless control of other flashes; camera also has hot shoe and a PC sync port
Records Full HD video at 1080/24p, 30p, or 60p with stereo sound, continuous AF, and manual controls
Can record at ultra-high bit rates using ALL-Intra (72 MBps) or IPB (50 MBps) codecs; regular MPEG-4 and AVCHD supported, as well
Auto file partitioning lets you keep recording until your memory card is full (outside of Europe)
External microphone and headphone ports; Panasonic also offers a new stereo shotgun mic which attaches to the hot shoe
Live video output over HDMI
Can take 12 Megapixel stills while recording video
Slow/fast motion modes available, even at 1080p resolution
SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot
Uses DMW-BLF19 lithium-ion battery, 500 shots per charge (with the 14-140 lens)
Pricing and availability TBA; rumors point to a roughly $2000 price point
Well that sounds really nice -- how about a new weather-resistant lens to go along with it? The new F2.8, 35 - 100 mm Lumix G X is the smallest and lightest lens in its class, and it offers a nano surface coating to reduce flare and ghosting, a splash/dustproof body, and Panasonic's Power OIS image stabilization system. No word on pricing or availability yet.
Big Photokina launch day continues with three cameras and four lenses from Olympus. First up are two models in the Pen series of mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras. These two cameras, the E-PM2 and E-PL5, are quite similar, with size and LCD design being the main differences. Both cameras share the sensor and AF system of Olympus' flagship E-M5, and that's a good thing. Here are the details on these two models, followed by the four new lenses you can attach to them:
Chunkier body supports interchangeable grips; comes in silver, black, and white
Articulating LCD can flip up 170 degrees to face your subject
Priced at $649 body only, or $699 with a 14 - 42 mm lens
Now how about those lenses? First, the crazy one: the BCL-15 F8.0, 15 mm body cap lens. That's right, instead of a body cap, you can have an actual lens, so you can literally take a photo at any time! This lens is just 9 mm thick and is equivalent to 30 mm when attached to a Micro Four Thirds body. It has a focus switch that lets you move between pan, macro, and manual focus. I can't seem to find a price or release date for the BCL-15, but I'll ask.
For more serious photography, Olympus also has this trio of fast primes:
F2.8, 60 mm M. Zuiko Digital ED lens: for 1:1 macro shooting at a minimum distance of 19 cm; sealed against dust and moisture; inner focus mechanism for fast and silent AF; ships in early October for $499
F2.0, 12 mm M. Zuiko Digital ED lens: okay, this lens isn't new, but the fact that you can get it in black is; like the 60 mm lens it's Movie & Still Compatible (read: quiet AF); unlike that lens, the 12 mm is not weather-sealed; you'll be able to pick up this limited edition black model for $1099 in early October
F1.8, 17 mm M. Zuiko Digital lens: Olympus is only announcing the development of this lens today; it'll have a snapshot focusing mechanism (like the 12 mm) and will be available in the first half of next year
But wait, there's more. Olympus has brought the Stylus brand back from the dead, and are using it first on their new XZ-2 premium compact. While it's a bit pricey, this camera sounds like a solid competitor to the likes of the Panasonic LX7. Here's why:
Canon today took the wraps off of their latest full-frame D-SLR, the EOS-6D. Like the Nikon D600 from last week, the 6D is Canon's "budget-friendly" full-frame model. The big difference between the EOS-6D and its Nikon competitor is that the former has built-in Wi-Fi and GPS receivers -- both of which are optional on the D600. Here are the specs:
Supports all Canon EF-mount lenses with no crop factor to worry about
3-inch LCD display with 1.04 million pixels; naturally, the 6D supports live view
Optical viewfinder has 97% coverage and 0.71x magnification
Full manual controls, with 14-bit RAW support
ISO range of 100 - 25600, expandable to 50 - 102400
11-point AF system (with center cross-type point rated to -3EV) and 63-zone dual-layer metering
Continuous shooting at up to 4.5 frames/sec
Built-in Wi-Fi and GPS
Wi-Fi allows you to transfer images to other wireless devices, to Canon's cloud service, or directly to your PC
Apps for Android and iOS let you send images onward to social networking sites; a new EOS Remote app will let you control the camera from your smartphone or tablet
GPS saves location, altitude, and current time into the EXIF data of photos and movies
HDR and multiple exposure modes
Records Full HD video at 1080/24p, 25p, or 30p (as well as 720/60p) with monaural sound
Camera can record just under 30 minutes of continuous video, with auto file partitioning
Choice of All I-Frame (All-I) or IBP compression
Manual exposure controls are available, naturally
External mic input
SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot
Uses LP-E6 lithium-ion battery, 1090 shots per charge
Optional battery grip supports two LP-E6 or six AA batteries
Ships in December for $2099 body only, or $2899 with the F4L, 24 - 105 mm IS lens
Canon is also showing off three new PowerShot models at Photokina. I'll start with the new PowerShot G15, which finally brings a fast lens (and improved AF performance) to one of Canon's flagship models. Unfortunately, Canon did away with the rotating LCD that's long been a trademark of their G-series cameras. Here are the details:
Next up is Canon's big zoom camera, the PowerShot SX50 HS. And when I say big, I'm not kidding: the SX50 packs an unbelievable (in more ways than one) 50X zoom lens! I wonder if Canon will be including a coupon for a free tripod?
12.1 Megapixel, 1/2.3" CMOS sensor (same as on its predecessor, the SX40 HS)
DIGIC 5 image processor
F3.4-6.5, 50X optical zoom lens, equivalent to 24 - 1200 mm (!!)
Zoom Frame Assist feature lets you "back out" when you're near the telephoto end of the lens so you can figure out where your subject went; new "lock" feature uses the image stabilizer to try to keep your subject in the center of the frame
Optical image stabilization (and you're gonna need it)
Autofocus speeds are twice as fast as on the SX40, with similar reductions in shutter lag
Flip-out, rotating 2.8" LCD display with 461,000 pixels
Electronic viewfinder with 202,000 pixels
Full manual controls, now with RAW support
ISO range of 80 - 6400
Smart Auto chooses one of 58 scene modes for you
Hot shoe for external flash
Records Full HD video at 1080/24p with stereo sound, use of optical zoom
SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot
Uses same NB-10L li-ion battery as the SX40, 315 shots per charge
The final Canon compact camera for the day is the PowerShot S110 (no, not this one). The S110 replaces the PowerShot S100, which was the follow-up to the S90 and S95. The big story here is the addition of a touchscreen LCD and Wi-Fi, with most of the other specs remaining the same. Here's what I can share about this camera:
Fuji has rolled out a new premium ultra-compact camera known as the XF1. This camera features a fast lens, a larger-than-average sensor, and a retro design complete with faux leather. Here are some additional details:
12 Megapixel, 2/3" EXR CMOS sensor is larger than average, and can prioritize resolution, high sensitivity, or dynamic range
F1.8-4.9, 4X optical zoom Fujinon lens, equivalent to 25 - 100 mm
Zoom is controlled manually using the ring around the lens, just like on the Fuji X10; ring is also used to turn on the camera, and can be set to a "standby mode" which allows for quick startup times
Optical image stabilization
Ultra-compact metal body comes in black, tan, and red, and features a synthetic leather accents
3-inch LCD display with 460,000 pixels
Full manual controls, with RAW support
ISO range of 100 - 12800, though highest sensitivities are at lower resolutions
EXR Auto mode chooses both the EXR and scene mode for you
Snappy performance, with a 0.55 sec startup time, and AF times as low as 0.16 sec
Plenty of special effects and Film Simulation modes
360 degree in-camera panorama stitching
In-camera RAW conversion
Records Full HD video (presumably 1080/30p) with use of the optical zoom
300 shots per charge using include lithium-ion battery
Just in time to get buried under all of tomorrow's camera announcements, it's my review of the Pentax K-30 digital SLR. The K-30 offers a lot of features -- including a weather-proof body -- for just $850. Read the review to find out how it performs!
Nikon has announced their new D600 full-frame digital SLR. This is now their entry-level full-frame camera, though that doesn't mean it's cheap -- it'll still run you over $2000. Even so, it's nice to see FF cameras getting more affordable. Here are the details:
The other news from Nikon today is a new F1.8, 18.5 mm CX-mount lens for their 1 System mirrorless cameras. When attached to a J1, J2, or V1, it'll have a focal length equivalent to 50 mm, making it a great choice for portrait shooters. This compact lens weighs just 2.5 ounces and will come in black, white, and silver. You'll be able to pick one up in early November for $189.
Sony has announced three intriguing new cameras today, all of which will likely pique your interest. It's hard to decide which to present first, so I'll start with the camera that was leaked over the weekend: the Cyber-shot DSC-RX1. This compact camera does indeed have a full-frame 24 Megapixel sensor and a fast 35 mm lens, though it won't come cheap. Here are all the details:
Compact body is about the size of an NEX-7, weighs just over a pound
Manual aperture and focus rings, plus dials for exposure compensation and focus mode
3-inch LCD display with WhiteMagic technology (for improved outdoor visibility) and a total of 1.3 million pixels
Optional optical and (XGA) electronic viewfinders ($450 and $600, respectively -- ouch)
Full manual controls (of course), with 14-bit RAW support and focus peaking
ISO range of 50 - 25600, expandable to 50 - 102400 (using Multi Frame NR at the highest sensitivities)
Shutter speed range of 30 - 1/2000 sec
25-point autofocus system
Continuous shooting at 5 frames/sec
Plenty of special effects, plus HDR and Sweep Panorama features
Electronic level
Built-in flash (GN 6), plus new Sony Multi Interface Shoe, which can fire a standard external flash, and has an additional interface for Sony-designed flashes, microphones, etc.
Records Full HD video at 1080/24p or 60p with stereo sound and manual controls
Supports SD/SDHC/SDXC and Memory Stick Pro Duo cards
Uses NP-BX1 lithium-ion battery, 220 shots per charge
The next camera shares the same 24 Megapixel full-frame sensor as the RX1, but puts it in a slightly larger body. The new SLT-A99 is Sony's flagship SLR, and is the first camera in this price range to use an electronic (rather than optical) viewfinder. As you probably have figured out by now, that means that the A99 uses Sony's Translucent Mirror technology, which has been replacing traditional SLRs across Sony's lineup. Here's what else makes the A99 unique:
New BIONZ image processor offers 14-bit RAW support, new area-specific noise reduction, and super-fast performance
Multi-segment optional low-pass filter increases sensor's resolving power
Supports all Sony/Minolta A-mount lenses, with no crop factor on most lenses (DT lenses optimized for APS-C sensors are the exception)
Sensor-shift image stabilization
Dual phase detection AF system combines a 19-point main sensor with 102 more focus points overlaid on the sensor itself, allowing for fast continuous AF and subject tracking
New AF-D (depth) mode allows for "wider and more dense coverage of the frame", allowing for better AF performance with "fast or erratically moving subjects against complex backgrounds"
AF range control lets the photographer select the beginning and end of the focus range that the camera will use
Magnesium alloy, weather-sealed body is the lightest full-frame D-SLR on the market
New multi-controller on the front of the body allows user to silently adjust common settings (silence during movie recording = good)
3-inch LCD display with WhiteMagic technology (1.3 million pixels) can tilt in three directions
Super-sharp OLED electronic viewfinder has XGA resolution and 100% coverage with all lenses
Tons of manual controls, with 14-bit RAW support
ISO range of 100 - 6400, expands to 25600
Shutter speed range of 30 - 1/8000 sec
Improved Quick Navi Pro interface lets you change settings without menu diving
Continuous shooting at 6 frames/second at full resolution, or 10 frames/sec in the cropped Tele-Zoom mode
Uses new Multi Interface Shoe, which can fire an ISO-standard flash and also supports Sony-designed flashes, microphones, and even an XLR adapter kit
An adapter is available to let you use Minolta-standard flashes on the A99's new hot shoe
Built-in GPS attaches your location to your photos and videos
Records Full HD video at 1080/60p or 24p with stereo sound and manual controls
Real-time video output over HDMI
I/O ports for headphones, external mic, PC flash sync
Dual memory card slots supports both SD and Memory Stick Duo cards
Uses NP-FM500H li-ion battery, 500 shots per charge (with LCD)
Optional battery grip ($380) holds two additional batteries
Ships in November for $2799, body only
Along with the camera come several new accessories. They include:
F2.8, 300 mm Sony G SSM II lens: new Nano AR coating reduces flare/ghosting, improved AF performance, dust/moisture resistant; ships in November for $7500
F1.4, 50 mm Carl Zeiss Planar T* lens: coming next Spring
HVL-F60M external flash: works with the new Multi Interface Shoe, has a guide number of 60 (!), has unique Quick Shift Bounce system, and is weather-sealed; ships in October for $550
RMT-DSLR2: new wireless remote lets you take stills and videos on the A99 and other compatible Sony cameras; ships in October for $30
Shoe adapters: the ADP-MAA lets you use Auto-lock Accessory Shoe (Minolta's hot shoe) flashes on cameras with the new Multi Interface Shoe; the ADP-AMA adapter lets you use new flashes on cameras with the Minolta shoe; pricing not available
Last, but certainly not least, we have the new Alpha NEX-6. This camera adds two things that have been missing on all other NEX cameras: a real mode dial, and a non-proprietary hot shoe (well, sort of). Add in the the same XGA OLED electronic viewfinder as the NEX-7, the Wi-Fi / Camera Apps from the NEX-5R, and you've got a camera that'll interest the enthusiast crowd. Here's the full story:
Supports all Sony E-mount lenses with a 1.5X crop factor
Fast Hybrid AF system combines contrast and on-sensor phase detection AF for fast focusing and subject tracking, even while shooting continuously; note that only certain lenses will take advantage of this AF system
3-inch articulating touchscreen LCD display with 921,600 pixels
Super-sharp XGA OLED electronic viewfinder with 2.36 million dots
Full manual controls, with RAW support and focus peaking
ISO range of 100 - 25600
Shutter speed range of 30 - 1/4000 sec
Mode dial, customizable Function button, and Quick Navi interface make changing settings a lot easier than on other NEX models
Built-in Wi-Fi with downloadable "Camera Apps" that add additional features to the NEX-6; users can use smartphone apps to operate the camera remotely, or share photos on social networking sites
Handy features include HDR, Anti Motion Blur, and Sweep Panorama
Built-in flash (GN 6) plus Multi Interface Shoe for something more powerful (see above for more details)
Records Full HD video at 1080/60p with stereo sound, continuous AF, and manual controls
Auto Slow Shutter feature lowers the shutter speed to brighten dark scenes
Supports SD/SDHC/SDXC and Memory Stick Pro Duo cards
Uses NP-FW50 li-ion battery, 360 shots per charge (with LCD)
Ships in November for $850 body only, or $1000 with the new 16 - 50 mm power zoom lens (see below)
There are three new E-mount lenses to discuss, as well. They are the:
F3.5-5.6, 16 - 50 mm Power Zoom IS lens: this lens collapses to less than 30 mm when powered off; dual function ring controls both zoom and manual focus, depending on the setting; equivalent to 24 - 75 mm on an NEX camera; ships in January for $350
F1.8, 35 mm IS lens: nice to see some fast E-mount primes showing up; equivalent to 52.5 mm; ships in November for $450
F4.0, 10 -18 mm IS lens: this lens has a fixed aperture across its 15 - 27 mm (equivalent) focal range; also available in November, for $850
Pentax today introduced not one but two successors to their excellent K-5 digital SLR. These cameras are known as the K-5 II and K-5 IIs. The difference between the two is the same as with the Nikon D800 and D800E: the K-5 IIs is the same as the K-5, but without an anti-aliasing filter. This means better resolution, at the expense of increased moiré and false color.
The main improvement on these models is autofocus performance, but there's plenty more to talk about. Here are the details:
Supports all Pentax K-mount lenses with a 1.5X crop factor
Sensor-shift image stabilization
Magnesium alloy body is sealed against weather, dust, and cold
3-inch LCD display with 921,000 pixels
Optical viewfinder has a magnification of 0.92X and 100% coverage
New 11-point SAFOX X autofocus system promises "the broadest range (-3EV to +18EV) in its class"
Full manual controls, with support for 14-bit RAW files (DNG or PEF)
ISO range of 50 - 12800, expandable to 51200
Shutter speed range of 30 - 1/8000 sec
Continuous shooting at 7 frames/second
Electronic level
Auto distortion and purple fringing correction, plus dynamic range expansion (for highlights and shadows)
Plenty of special effects and filters, plus an HDR feature
In-camera RAW editing
Records Full HD video at 1080/25p with monaural sound
I/O ports for stereo mic input, remote shutter release cable, and PC flash sync
SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot
Uses D-LI90 lithium-ion battery, 740 shots per charge
Optional battery grip holds an additional D-LI90 or six AA batteries
The K-5 II ships in October for $1199 body only, $1349 with an 18-55 WR lens, and $1549 with an 18-135 WR lens
The K-5 IIs will also be available in October, for $1299 body only
In addition to the two new bodies, we have two new K-mount lenses. They include:
F3.5-5.6, 18 - 270 mm ED SDM DA zoom lens: 15X total zoom power, fast/silent "supersonic" autofocus system; ships in November for $799
F5.6, 560 mm ED AW DA lens: uses new HD lens coating that reduces flare and ghosting, dust and weather resistant, built-in filter holder, quick shift focus system; ships in December for a whopping $6999
I had thought that the Pentax Q mirrorless camera was going to be a one-hit wonder, and boy was I wrong. Today Pentax introduced the new Q10, which offers more resolution, faster performance, and Full HD video recording in a body that's the smallest on the market (by far). In addition, there's a new telephoto lens, and an adapter that lets you use K-mount lenses (maybe even that new 560mm model?). Here's more:
Supports Pentax Q-mount lenses with a 5.5X crop factor
K-mount lenses can be used with new adapter ($249)
Sensor-shift image stabilization
Ultra-compact body isn't much larger than a deck of cards, and comes in silver and red
3-inch LCD with 460,000 pixels
Full manual controls, with RAW support
ISO range of 100 - 6400
Auto Picture mode selects a scene mode for you
Improved performance from the Q10's 25-point AF system
Continuous shooting at 5 frames/second
Plenty of special effects and filters, plus an HDR mode; Quick Dial on the front of the camera lets you quickly switch effects
Built-in flash (GN 4.9) can stay in default position, or pop up and away from the camera; hot shoe lets you attach something more powerful
Records Full HD video at 1080/30p with monaural sound, continuous AF
SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot
Uses D-LI68 lithium-ion battery, 250 shots per charge
Ships in October with the 02 zoom lens (27.5 - 83.0 mm equivalent) for $599
Also coming in October is the long-awaited Pentax 06 telephoto zoom Q-mount lens. This F2.8 lens has a focal range of 5 - 15 mm, which is equivalent to 83 - 249 mm when attached to the Q or Q10. It has a Quick Shift function, so you can quickly switch from auto to manual focus. And did I mention that it weighs only 3.2 ounces? The new telephoto lens will be priced at $299.
I don't normally get to report on rumors due to non-disclosure agreements. But I haven't signed anything regarding the leaked Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1, so enjoy this leak, courtesy of Sony Alpha Rumors. This camera will reportedlyfeature a full-frame 24 Megapixel CMOS sensor, an F2.0, 35mm Carl Zeiss T* lens, manual dials for aperture and exposure compensation, a 3-inch LCD display, a standard-looking hot shoe, and viewfinder support -- all in a compact package. The rumored price: $2799. Hopefully we'll get official news soon.
I've updated my Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7 review with new night photos, as well as RAW vs. JPEG comparisons. For those who remember the focusing problems I had with the night shots, those were resolved by using a full production camera.
I will be adding RAW vs. JPEG comparisons to the Sony RX100 review shortly.
Fujifilm has announced the X-E1 mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, which is the little brother to their X-Pro1 (introduced earlier this year). The X-E1 uses the same 16 Megapixel X-Trans CMOS sensor and lens mount as its more expensive sibling, and puts them into a body 30% smaller. Here are the details:
Unique color filter array eliminates the need for a low pass filter, allowing for resolution "equal to even some full frame sensors"
Fuji X-mount supports small but growing collection of XF lenses (see two new models below) with a 1.5X crop factor
Optional adapter lets you use Leica M-mount lenses
Magnesium alloy body (made in Japan, naturally) is around the same size as the Fuji X100, comes in black or two-tone silver/black
Dials on top of camera allow for easy shutter speed / exposure compensation adjustment
2.8" LCD display with 460,000 pixels
Super-high resolution OLED electronic viewfinder has 2.36 million dots for incredible sharpness
Full manual controls, of course, including RAW support and four types of bracketing
ISO range of 100 - 25600
Shutter speed range of 30 - 1/4000 sec (plus bulb mode)
49-point autofocus system, with focus times as low as 0.1 sec
Continuous shooting at 6 frames/second
Built-in flash (GN 7) + hot shoe for something more powerful
In-camera panorama stitching and RAW editing
Records Full HD video at 1080/24p with stereo sound
External mic input
SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot
Uses NP-W126 lithium-ion battery, 350 shots per charge
Ships in November for $999 body only, or $1399 with the new 18 - 55 mm kit lens
There are also two new lenses to talk about, which brings the number of XF lenses to five (Fuji says five more are coming next year). The first is not your ordinary 18 - 55 mm lens. This one's fast, with a maximum aperture range of F2.8 - F4.0, and optical image stabilization with a 4-stop advantage. It'll ship in November for $699. The other lens is a fast F2.8, 14 mm prime (equivalent to 21 mm on an X-mount body). You'll also be able to pick up this lens in November, at a price of $899.
