Canon EOS M Review

This is an in-depth review of the Canon EOS M camera that came out on July 23, 2012, the first mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera from Canon. Along with the EOS M, Canon also announced the first two lenses for the new “EF-M” mount: Canon EF-M 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM and Canon EF-M 22mm f/2 STM. Among major camera manufacturers, Canon was the last to enter the mirrorless market. Aside from Panasonic and Olympus sharing the same Micro Four Thirds sensor and Nikon going with a smaller “CX” sensor, all other manufacturers chose large APS-C sized sensors (Samsung, Sony, Fuji and Pentax), each with its own proprietary lens mount. With the introduction of the EOS M system, Canon has officially joined the APS-C club. Instead of developing a new sensor format, Canon chose to reuse the same 18 MP sensor from the EOS Rebel 650D / T4i DSLR camera. Canon also released an EF-M to EF / EF-S adapter for mounting existing and future DSLR lenses on the EOS M, with full compatibility with all lens functions such as autofocus and image stabilization. In this review, I will go over the features and capabilities of the camera and compare it to other mirrorless options, including Nikon 1, Sony NEX series and Olympus OM-D E-M5.

With its arch-rival Nikon debuting the Nikon 1 CX mount with a smaller 2.7x crop factor sensor a year earlier, Canon made sure that the 1.6x crop factor APS-C sensor was in the headlines of its announcements, with “The Quality of a Canon DSLR” title being a major part of the initial marketing effort. I spent over two months with the Canon EOS M while testing other mirrorless cameras for my “Battle of the Mirrorless” series, so I will be doing a lot of comparisons of the EOS M to other cameras in this review, along with discussing the strengths and weaknesses of the camera. Let’s take a look at the Canon EOS M in detail.

1) Canon EOS M Specifications

Main Features:

1. 18 MP CMOS image sensor, 4.3 µm pixel pitch
2. ISO 100-12800 native, expandable to 25600 in H mode)
3. Hybrid CMOS AF (phase-detection AF/contrast-detection AF)
4. 31 AF points
5. 3″ Touchscreen LCD with 1040K dots
6. Full 1080p HD movie shooting 30p/24p/25p
7. Face Detection + Object Tracking AF
8. 4 Standard “Creative Zone” Exposure Modes (Program, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority and Manual) and 8 additional presets
9. Battery life for up to 230 shots
10. Vertical-travel, mechanical, focal-plane shutter with all speeds electronically-controlled (1/4000 max)
11. Compatible with Canon EF and EF-S lenses via an optional EF-EOS M mount adapter
12. Standard size flash hot shoe
13. Up to 4.3 fps continuous shooting

Fuji X-Pro1 Review

This is an in-depth review of the Fuji X-Pro1, a highly anticipated mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera. Built on the success of the Fuji X100 and aimed at pros and photo enthusiasts that need a lightweight camera alternative to a DSLR with amazing image quality, the Fuji X-Pro1 is the first mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera from Fuji. Along with the X-Pro1, Fuji simultaneously introduced three prime lenses – Fujinon 18mm f/2.0 XF R, Fujinon 35mm f/1.4 XF R and Fujinon 60mm f/2.4 XF Macro, all specifically designed to be used for the new Fuji X mount. In this Fuji X-Pro1 review, I will not only provide detailed information about the camera, but will also try to answer the many questions that we have gotten so far on the camera from our readers, along with comparisons to Nikon and Canon DSLRs.

I had an opportunity to work closely with the Fuji X-Pro1 on two separate occasions – once when the camera initially came out back in 2012 and again in the summer of 2013, after the latest 3.01 firmware update was released. I had a number of complaints about the X-Pro1 in my original review, because the camera was full of bugs and autofocus problems. The latest firmware 3.01 addressed many of those concerns, so I am simply revisiting the same review and re-evaluating the camera based on my latest findings.

I originally stated that I had “a love and hate” relationship with the Fuji X-Pro1, because there were a lot of things I both loved and hated about it. I loved the compactness of the camera, the feel, the looks and the stunning images the camera is capable of taking. What I hated was the unreliable autofocus system, painful manual focus and plenty of other bugs and issues I encountered while evaluating the camera. Since its launch, Fuji has been working hard on addressing most of the concerns via firmware updates and as of today, it is a completely different tool compared to what it was before. Let’s take a look at the camera in more detail.

1) Fujifilm X-Pro1 Specifications

Main Features and Specifications:

1. Sensor: 16.3 MP (1.5x crop factor), 4.8µ pixel size
2. Sensor Size: 23.6 x 15.6mm
3. Resolution: 4896 x 3264
4. Native ISO Sensitivity: 200-6,400
5. Boost Low ISO Sensitivity: 100
6. Boost High ISO Sensitivity: 12,800-25,600
7. Sensor Cleaning System: Yes
8. Lens mount: FUJIFILM X mount
9. Weather Sealing/Protection: No
10. Body Build: Full Magnesium Alloy
11. Shutter: Up to 1/4000 and 30 sec exposure
12. Shutter Control: Focal Plane Shutter
13. Storage: 1x SD slot (SD/SDHC/SDXC compatible)
14. Viewfinder Type: Hybrid Multi Viewfinder with 100% coverage in Electronic mode
15. Speed: 6 FPS
16. Exposure Meter: TTL 256-zones metering
17. Built-in Flash: No
18. Autofocus: Yes
19. Manual Focus: Yes
20. LCD Screen: 3 inch diagonal with 1,230,000 dots
21. Movie Modes: Full 1080p HD @ 24 fps max
22. Movie Exposure Control: Full
23. Movie Recording Limit: 29 minutes
24. Movie Output: MOV (H.264)
25. GPS: No
26. Battery Type: NP-W126
27. Battery Life: 300 shots, 900 in power save mode
28. USB Standard: 2.0
29. Weight: 400g (excluding battery)
30. Price: $1,699 MSRP body only at launch (currently sells for around $1,199)

source:photographylife

Fuji X-E1 Review

This is an in-depth review of the Fujifilm X-E1 mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera, which was released on September 6, 2012 right before the Photokina event in Cologne, Germany. After the success of the X100 line and the release of the X-Pro1 (which initially received a rather mixed review from us due to its poor AF performance), Fuji introduced the X-E1 – basically a lower-end version of the X-Pro1. It was not an unexpected move, given how quickly Fuji was growing in popularity, thanks to its amazing retro design and excellent image quality. Despite its autofocus flaws and other quirks, both the X100 and the X-Pro1 created a huge fan base and a healthy community of supporters. The X-Pro1 was an expensive camera aimed at professionals and enthusiasts, so the X-E1 was naturally targeted as a more budget version with less features. In this Fuji X-E1 review (based on Firmware 2.00), I will provide detailed information about the camera, along with some image samples, and compare it to other cameras from Nikon, Canon and Olympus.

As usual, my goal was to thoroughly test the camera, especially its autofocus performance and accuracy (which historically has been a problem area for newly released Fuji cameras) and evaluate it for both personal and professional photography. As some of our readers might already know, I picked Micro Four Thirds as my mirrorless system of choice last year and I have been shooting with the Olympus OM-D E-M5since then. I loved everything about the X-Pro1, except for its bugs and AF performance, so I ended up dismissing the Fuji system completely last year. Since then, a number of our readers have been asking me to re-evaluate the X-Pro1 and review the new lines of Fuji cameras, including the X-E1. Fuji has been working hard on updating the reported issues and improving autofocus performance through firmware updates, so it made sense to revisit the Fuji X-Pro1. After two months of heavy use, I am happy to say that the Fuji X-Pro1 is indeed a totally different camera compared to what it was initially. Naturally, I went back and completely rewrote my Fuji X-Pro1 Review, praising Fuji for fixing bugs and autofocus issues, and making the X-Pro1 an attractive choice for most photography needs today.

Similar to the X-Pro1, my experience with the X-E1 has been very positive, as you will see further down in the review. Without giving too many spoilers, let me just say that I have been enjoying the X-E1 immensely, even more than the X-Pro1. During the last two months, I have shot various events, engagements, weddings and have used the X-E1 for personal photography as well, so by now I have a pretty good idea about its strengths and weaknesses.

1) Fujifilm X-E1 Specifications

Main Features and Specifications:

1. Sensor: 16.3 MP (1.5x crop factor), 4.8µ pixel size, same as on X-Pro1
2. Sensor Size: 23.6 x 15.6mm
3. Resolution: 4896 x 3264
4. Native ISO Sensitivity: 200-6,400
5. Boost Low ISO Sensitivity: 100
6. Boost High ISO Sensitivity: 12,800-25,600
7. Sensor Cleaning System: Yes
8. Lens mount: FUJIFILM X mount
9. Weather Sealing/Protection: No
10. Body Build: Magnesium Alloy, Top and Front covers
11. Shutter: Up to 1/4000 and 30 sec exposure
12. Shutter Control: Focal Plane Shutter
13. Storage: 1x SD slot (SD/SDHC/SDXC compatible)
14. Viewfinder Type: 2,360,000-dot OLED color viewfinder
15. Speed: 6 FPS
16. Exposure Meter: TTL 256-zones metering
17. Built-in Flash: Yes
18. Autofocus: Yes
19. Manual Focus: Yes
20. LCD Screen: 2.8 inch, approx. 460,000-dot, TFT color LCD monitor
21. Movie Modes: Full 1080p HD @ 24 fps max
22. Movie Recording Limit: 29 minutes
23. Movie Output: MOV (H.264)
24. GPS: No
25. Battery Type: NP-W126
26. Battery Life: 350 shots
27. USB Standard: 2.0
28. Weight: 300g (excluding battery and accessories)
29. Price: $999 MSRP body only at launch (currently sells for $799)

source:photographylife

Sony Alpha A5100 Digital Camera Review

Sony's camera team has been on a tear in the past year and a half, quietly assembling one of the more enviable top-to-bottom lineups on the market. The full-frame mirrorless A7 series won the company a number of awards, but stellar values like the compact A6000 and traditional DSLRs like the A77 II are also strong bets. These are all on top of Sony's best-in-class point-and-shoots, including the RX10and RX100 III.



Looking to add to what is already a very impressive and thorough lineup, Sony has decided to slip another model between the low-end A5000 and the aforementioned A6000. Enter: the new Sony Alpha A5100 (MSRP $549.99). The A5100 bumps last year's NEX-5T out of the current lineup, ending Sony's "NEX" era forever while borrowing most of the same tech from this year's eye-catching A6000.
Describing the A5100 isn't difficult; it's basically a slightly slower A6000 minus a few creature comforts. The notable absences: You don't get the A6000's EVF (electronic view finder), hotshoe, 11fps burst shooting, or the extended ISO range. That's all a bummer, but it's $100 cheaper than the A6000 and prices should continue to fall. On the other end consider that for just $70 more than the low-end A5000 you get higher resolution images, 60p video, and a host of other improvements.
All three of these new E-mount Alphas are mighty impressive, but can this middle child stand out from the pack?

Design & Handling

An advanced camera that meets novice shooters on their level.

Sony CyberShot RX100 III Review

 

If you want a pocketable high-end compact camera that offers it all, it looks as though Sony may have finally cracked it with the Cyber-shot RX100 III. This third-generation model delivers a large 1-inch sensor size, but rewrites the earlier RX100 rulebook with a new 24-70mm f/1.8-2.8 equivalent lens. It even squeezes a built-in retractable electronic viewfinder into the mix.

It all sounds great, until you cross eyes with the £700 launch price. But in the order of things Sony gets away with it: with Canon and Nikon failing to offer inspirational pocketable high-end compacts - and the larger-sensor models they do are more expensive and not as well specified - the RX100 III looks to be a step ahead. Is it worth scratching together the heap of cash required to buy one and, indeed, is the RX100 III the new king of compacts?

Mark III: What's new?

If you've been following the RX100 series since conception then you'll understand the premise: a pocketable compact with considerably larger-than-average sensor for premier image quality. The second-generation model, released a year after the original, updated the sensor, added a built-in hotshoe for accessories, and introduced a tilt-angle mechanism to the LCD screen on the rear. Both are still available at considerably smaller price points than they each debuted.

Enter the RX100 III and, again, there's another new sensor update despite retaining the same 20.1-megapixel resolution, but the new model does away with the 28-100mm equivalent lens of its predecessors and instead opts for a faster 24-70mm f/1.8-2.8 equivalent. This wider-angle but shorter top-end zoom in conjunction with the new retractable 1.44mm-dot electronic viewfinder makes it the most comprehensive of the trio. But also the most expensive.

Fujifilm X100T Review

If you're unfamiliar with the X100 series then get prepared to geek out. If you already know all about it then get prepared to be blown away by the Fujifilm X100T - because it's the best X100 model yet.

The reason is simple: the X100T brings an updated viewfinder, complete with parallax correction in manual focus and what the company is calling an "electronicrangefinder" feature too. And it's utterly brilliant.

n terms of build, the X100T is the same fine example of craftsmanship as the previous X100S and original X100 models. There's not much we can say to better our previous thoughts on that - this silver-colour, magnesium alloy construction is solid in both visual and physical terms.

If, that is, you like retro styling and the old school of thought when shooting, because the X100T has manual control dials and a fixed 23mm (which is a 35mm equivalent) f/2.0 aperture lens. No zoom to be found here. That's a staple of the X100 series though and it restricts working practice in a kind of beautiful way. The quality is the same tried and tested optical performance as in its predecessors, as is the APS-C sized 16-megapixel X-Trans II CMOS sensor.

But anyway, enough of what we already know - and, if not, then check out our original X100 review - and on to the good stuff. Namely the hybrid viewfinder that merges the worlds of optical and electronic into one unit. The Fujifilm X100T has a wider-than-100-per-cent field of view optical viewfinder, so you can see  subjects entering the frame before they're even in it. The edge of the frame is determined by an electronic overlay which shows up as a white border within the finder view.

Olympus OM-D E-M1 Review

We've been using the Olympus OM-D E-M1 for a number of months now. This compact system camera has seen us through many different shoots - from personal snaps to product images that you might have seen in some other Pocket-lint reviews - made all the easier thanks to its high-end specification.

If you're looking for a small and light interchangeable lens camera then they don't come much more complete than the E-M1. It takes it design cues from the older E-M5 model which was inspired by the decades-old OM DSLR series. However, the E-M1 is the embodiment of the new age: in a sense it's the camera to mark the end of the Olympus DSLR as there will be no "E-7" model. Instead the E-M1 takes compact system camera up a notch by showing it can cater for all demands: it accepts Micro Four Thirds lenses but will also get solid performance out of Four Thirds lenses via an adaptor too.

New design, new sensor minus the optical low-pass filter, an updated electronic viewfinder (EVF), a space-age image stabilisation system unlike the competition and plenty more besides. Is there anything the E-M1 can't do? It's far from a budget camera, but is it worthy of its price tag and can its small scale deliver things just as big as an equivalent DSLR?

Sony Alpha A6000 Review

The Sony A6000 is, in some respects, the older NEX-6 reincarnate. Which puts it in good stead: as far as interchangeable lens cameras go, the NEX-6 was one of our favourite small scale models with a built-in electronic viewfinder, so the Alpha A6000 arrives with high expectations.

The Alpha name now prefixes all Sony interchangeable lens cameras, as part of the company's attempt to breathe new life into its E-mount compact system camera line. Although the A6000 hasn't reinvented the wheel, it does retain the positive elements from Sony's back catalogue of products alongside a more advanced autofocus system than before. 

But time moves fast and in the last couple of years we've seen some great autofocus advances in among the compact system camera competition. Is the Alpha A6000 good enough to hold up against the best of them?

Panasonic Lumix GM5 Review

Last year we were treated by the Lumix GM1, an interchangeable lens camera that, in many respects, was small enough and packed with all the goodies to be considered an alternative to a compact camera. One year on and the small-scale compact system camera is back for round two, this time in the shape of thePanasonic Lumix GM5, and Pocket-lint has been given the lowdown of this all-new model ahead of its official announcement at Photokina 2014.

The Panasonic Lumix GM5 doesn't out-and-out replace the original GM1, instead it's there to act as a more advanced model by incorporating a built-in electronic viewfinder and hotshoe for adding additional accessories - there's even a dinky flash included in the box to get you started (a stand-in for the absence of a built-in flash, as featured in the GM1).

Canon G7 X, Canon's first camera with a 1-inch sensor

This is where things get interesting! It's over two years since Sony shook up the compact camera market by putting a 1"-type sensor into a genuinely pocketable compact. The RX100 looked a lot like one of Canon's S-series of high-end compacts but used a sensor 2.8 times larger to offer a substantial increase in image quality.

Amazingly, Sony has remained unchallenged in this field for over two years, in which time it's managed to introduce two more generations of RX100. The RX100 III brought an electronic viewfinder and a more consistently bright (albeit shorter) zoom, helping it climb even further beyond the competition. That essentially unchallenged supremacy ends with the arrival of Canon's G7 X.

Like the RX100 III, the G7 X offers a 1"-type, 20MP BSI sensor mated to an F1.8-2.8 zoom starting at 24mm equivalent. The two cameras are also similar in size and offer broadly similar feature sets. Which is great for photographers, because it means the Sony finally has some proper competition.