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Posts Tagged ‘Cameras’

2016 Roundup: Interchangeable Lens Cameras around $500

20 May

While they aren’t cameras that make headlines, one thing is for certain: entry-level interchangeable lens cameras sell by the truckload. The majority of them are stripped-down versions of their midrange siblings, with things like newer sensors, advanced autofocus systems, customizable controls and ‘premium’ build quality being left out. That doesn’t mean that these aren’t capable cameras – quite the contrary, actually.

All of these cameras – both mirrored and mirrorless – produce good image quality, offer respectable performance and can record Full HD video. The majority have Wi-Fi. Many of them are targeted toward beginners, with ‘help’ systems that point out the best settings to use for various shooting situations.

Those unfamiliar with DSLR and mirrorless cameras may be wondering what advantages and disadvantages each brings to the table. DSLRs are larger cameras, with a more ‘traditional’ shape and control layout, as well as an optical viewfinder. While they’re great for shooting stills, they’re not as well suited to video capture, and focusing using live view can be sluggish. Mirrorless cameras are typically smaller and are very capable video shooters, since live view focusing is much faster than most DSLRs. Two negatives about mirrorless cameras are that battery life isn’t nearly as good as a DSLR and – especially true in this class – they often lack a viewfinder.

Let’s take a look at several entry-level ILCs, with US MSRPs in the $ 500 region, kit lens included. 

  • Canon EOS M10
  • Canon EOS Rebel T6
  • Fujifilm X-A2
  • Nikon 1 J5
  • Nikon D3300
  • Olympus PEN E-PL7
  • Sony Alpha a5100

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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VR / Action cameras forum just launched

19 May
Be like these guys.

Are you excited about VR but frustrated that we don’t have a clearly demarcated area in our forums for you to talk about it? You’re not alone, probably. But we’re pleased to announce that your nightmare is over, with the launch of our dedicated VR and action cameras forum!

Moderated by DPR contributor and VR enthusiast Mark Banas, this is the place to discuss VR capture, action cameras and related technologies.

Click here to visit our new VR and action cameras forum

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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2016 Roundup: Interchangeable Lens Cameras $800-1200

16 May

These days, many (if not most) consumers are likely to shop based on price and capability, rather than according to whether a certain model contains a mirror, or not. We think this is a good thing; with all the increased competition, cameras are improving more and at a faster rate than ever before. From the gear perspective, it’s certainly an exciting time to be a photographer.

In this category, you’ll find both mirrorless and DSLR cameras that are highly capable under a variety of shooting situations, offer built-in high-spec viewfinders – either optical and electronic – and an extensive array of external controls. The biggest differences in performance tend to come down to autofocus sophistication and video capability, but neither of those is dictated by the presence or lack of mirror.

The contenders are:

  • Canon EOS 80D
  • Canon EOS Rebel T6s
  • Nikon D7200
  • Olympus OM-D E-M5 II
  • Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX8
  • Pentax K-3 II
  • Sony Alpha a77 II
  • Sony Alpha a6300

Most of the camera in this roundup are built around either Four Thirds or APS-C sensors. Sensor size plays a large part in determining the image quality a camera is ultimately capable of and, in general, the larger a camera’s sensor, the better the image quality and the more control you have over depth-of-field. APS-C sensors are larger than Four Thirds chips, but the differences are rarely huge. 

Of course, the sensor sizes and image quality of these cameras are not the only thing that varies; the feature sets and performance of each camera are also quite different across the board. Within this category you’ll find weather-sealed cameras, cameras that can capture 4K video, cameras that can shoot bursts at incredibly high speeds with autofocus, and cameras that are simply well-balanced all-rounders. Which one should you buy? Read on to find out…

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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2016 Roundup: Interchangeable Lens Cameras $500-800

10 May

The $ 500-800 category (based on US MSRP) features quite a few strong offerings, some of which should satisfy first-time camera buyers with easy-to-use interfaces and point-and-shoot style functionality. Others are aimed more at seasoned-enthusiasts, offering direct manual controls and high-end features.

At this price point, all of the cameras use either Four Thirds or larger APS-C-sized sensors and all can shoot Raw. And while a larger sensor can mean the potential for better image quality and more control over depth-of-field, the difference in size between APS-C and Four Thirds is not enormous. As such, small differences notwithstanding, the vast majority of cameras in this roundup have what we would consider to be very good image quality.

All of the cameras in this selection are reasonably small in size (compared to pricier ILCs), but the number and arrangement of control points, grip size, build quality and weight all vary quite a bit. As do the inclusion of features like like 4K video capture and in-body image stabilization.

Let’s take a look at the currently available interchangeable lens cameras that fall into the $ 500-800 price range (give or take).

  • Canon EOS M3
  • Canon EOS Rebel SL1
  • Canon EOS Rebel T6i
  • Fujifilm X-T10
  • Nikon D3300
  • Nikon D5500
  • Olympus OM-D E-M10 II
  • Panasonic Lumix DMC-G7
  • Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX85
  • Pentax K-S2
  • Sony Alpha a6000

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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TIME names Kodak and Polaroid cameras two of the ‘most influential gadgets’ in history

07 May

TIME Magazine has published its list of ‘the 50 most influential gadgets of all time,’ and included among them is the Kodak Brownie Camera (#8) and the Polaroid Camera (#27). According to the publication, the list is ordered by each gadget’s influence on subsequent technologies and devices, such as the Brownie camera that helped bring photography ‘into everyday use.’

The Kodak Brownie Camera, launched in February 1900, was priced at $ 1 and used inexpensive film, making it possible for anyone to capture snapshots of daily life. The low price and subsequent ease by which anyone could get into photography boosted film sales for Kodak, but that was only a small part of the Brownie’s role in our history and its influence on our future. Says TIME, the Brownie camera ‘helped capture countless moments and shape civilization’s relationship to images.’

Arriving later on (and further down the list) is Polaroid and its OneStep Land instant camera launched in 1977. This model holds the distinction of having been the first affordable and easy to use camera of its kind, says TIME, going on to become so popular that the influence of its ‘square-framed, often off-color snaps’ lives on today in apps like Instagram.

Are the Brownie and Polaroid cameras deserving of their spots on the list? Let us know what you think in the comments.

Via: TIME Magazine

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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2016 Roundup: Enthusiast Long Zoom Cameras

03 May

While most of new 1″ sensor enthusiast cameras have been on the shorter end of the focal length spectrum, there are now quite a few long zoom models, as well. Whether you want something pocketable or want to shoot for the moon (pun intended), you’ll find it in this group.

There are plenty of other long zoom compacts out there, some offering focal ranges reaching 2000mm though they almost always use much smaller 1/2.3″ sensors (the Olympus Stylus 1s is one exception). The cameras in this roundup eclipse those models, especially when it comes to image quality and control over depth-of-field.

The models we’re looking at in this article include:

  • Canon PowerShot G3 X
  • Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000
  • Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100/TZ100
  • Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10
  • Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 II
  • Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 III (coming soon)

The cameras that have the shortest zoom are arguably the most robust, feature-wise: the Sony Cyber-shot RX10 twins. (The RX10 Mark III, which will cover soon, has a significantly longer lens.) The Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100/TZ100 is likely the best travel zoom ever, offering a good balance of size and zoom power, while the Canon PowerShot G3 X and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000 swing for the fences in terms of zoom power.

To further help you pick the right camera in this class, we’ve created the chart below, which breaks down the equivalent aperture for each camera, as you work your way through the zoom range. Our article here explains the concept of equivalence, but at a high level all you need to know is that the lower the line is on the graph below, the blurrier the backgrounds you’ll be able to get and typically, though not always, the better the overall low-light performance.

This graph plots equivalent focal length against equivalent aperture – with both axes taking sensor size into account so that they can be compared on a common basis. Equivalent focal lengths offer the same field-of-view and equivalent apertures give the same depth-of-field and similar total light capture. For more information, click here.

With its constant aperture (F2.8) lens, the Sony Cyber-shot RX10 I/II capture more total light and offers more control over depth-of-field compared to its peers, by 1 or 2 stops. The trade-off is that its focal length caps out at 200mm equiv. The Canon PowerShot G3 X has the longest lens, but it reaches its maximum aperture (F5.6) at around 200mm equiv., putting it 1 stop behind the Panasonic Lumix FZ1000, which tops out at F4.

And with that out of the way, let’s get right into exploring the enthusiast long zoom cameras!

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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2016 Roundup: Compact Enthusiast Zoom Cameras

29 Apr

The enthusiast compact market has exploded over the last couple of years, with almost every manufacturer offering a product with a 1″-type sensors. Most of those cameras are small (and sometimes pocketable) and feature fast (but short) lenses. They also vary in terms of design, control points, video specs and whether they have an EVF, so you’ll have some decisions to make. In this roundup, we’ll try to help.

Here are the cameras that we’ll be covering in this article:

  • Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark II
  • Canon PowerShot G5 X
  • Canon PowerShot G7 X
  • Canon PowerShot G9 X
  • Fujifilm X30
  • Fujifilm XQ2
  • Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100
  • Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100/TZ100
  • Sony Cyber-shot RX100
  • Sony Cyber-shot RX100 II
  • Sony Cyber-shot RX100 III
  • Sony Cyber-shot RX100 IV

As mentioned above, the majority of offerings in this category utilize 1″-type sensor, however two cameras offer even larger sensors. The Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark II is built around the largest sensor of the bunch at 1.5″, while the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100 uses a slightly smaller Micro Four Thirds chip.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, the two Fujifilm options use significantly smaller 2/3″ sensors, which is important, because sensor size can be a major indicator of potential – particularly lowlight – image quality. Also, cameras with larger sensors will generally allow for much more control over depth of field.

To further help you pick the right camera in this class, we’ve also created the chart below, which breaks down the equivalent aperture for each camera, as you work your way through the zoom range. Our article here explains the concept of equivalence, but at a high level all you need to know is that the lower the line is on the graph below, the blurrier the backgrounds you’ll be able to get and typically, though not always, the better the overall low-light performance.

This graph plots equivalent focal length against equivalent aperture – with both axes taking sensor size into account so that they can be compared on a common basis. Equivalent focal lengths offer the same field-of-view and equivalent apertures give the same depth-of-field and similar total light capture. For more information, click here.

On the following pages, you’ll find what we liked and didn’t like about each camera, links to our test scenes for image quality comparisons, and real-world galleries to give you a sense of how each performs outside the lab.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Top 6 Best Cameras Under $1000

29 Apr

If you are interested in taking up photography as a hobby or just love snapping pictures of family and friends, you are probably well aware of how expensive most high-end digital cameras can be. The really great cameras all seem to be well outside your budget. In fact, if you happen to run across a great camera for around $ 3000, Continue Reading

The post Top 6 Best Cameras Under $ 1000 appeared first on Photodoto.


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Canon announces firmware updates for XC10 and Cinema EOS cameras

13 Apr

With the annual NAB (National Association of Broadcasters) Show just around the corner, Canon has announced numerous firmware updates for its video-oriented cameras and display systems.

A new firmware update for the XC10 camcorder adds MP4 recording capability for HD video, improved AF speed and shutter speed options to reduce flicker. You can read our recent review of the XC10 camera here.

Additional products receiving firmware updates include the Cinema EOS C100 Mark II camera, the Cinema EOS C300 Mark II camera (including Canon Log3), the XA30/35 and XF300/305 series of professional camcorders, the VIXIA HF G40 camcorder, the CINE-SERVO 17-120mm lens, and two reference displays.

Press release:

Canon U.S.A. announces a host of product firmware updates at NAB 2016

New Updates Include Canon Log3 for the EOS C300 Mark II Camera and Support of ARRI Log C and Metadata for Canon’s DP-V2410 4K Reference Display 

MELVILLE, N.Y., April 13, 2016 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, today announced firmware updates to several products being showcased at NAB 2016. These firmware updates support a number of feature updates for users including improvement of workflow, ease of use, focusing and lens corrections, color space, and creative flexibility for products in the Cinema EOS, HD Video, and 4K Reference Display lines. 

Firmware updates are as follows: 

  • The EOS C300 Mark II Digital Cinema Camera updates will allow various functions such as shooting in new Canon Log3, viewfinder magnification during recording, focus guide with EF Cinema Prime lenses, Push Auto Iris and Zoom function on the grip joystick with New COMPACT-SERVO and CINE-SERVO series lenses, Canon Dual Pixel CMOS AF (DAF) with COMPACT-SERVO 18-80mm and CINE-SERVO 17-120mm lenses, ACES 1.0 output, peripheral illumination correction updates and overall image improvements such as noise level reduction in low-light for Canon Log2.
  • The EOS C100 Mark II Digital Cinema Camera update will allow various functions such as Push Auto Iris and Zoom function on the grip joystick with the new COMPACT-SERVO and CINE-SERVO series lenses,  Canon DAF with COMPACT-SERVO 18-80mm and CINE-SERVO 17-120mm lenses, and peripheral illumination correction updates and selectable disabling of the microphone.
  • The DP-V2410 4K Reference Display firmware will be updated to support ARRI Log C and ARRI metadata; improve display contrast and dynamic range; add support for Canon Log3 and Hybrid Log Gamma; and display of SMPTE 2084 input signal on the waveform monitor.
  • The DP-V3010 4K Reference Display firmware will be updated to improve display contrast and dynamic range; add support for Canon Log3 and Hybrid Log Gamma; and display of SMPTE 2084 input signal on the waveform monitor.
  • The CINE-SERVO 17-120mm Lens will be updated to be compatible with Canon’s DAF function in the EOS C300 Mark II and EOS C100 Mark II Cameras.
  • The update for the ME20F-SH Camera will include lens support for an additional 19 EF and CINE lenses allowing for more creative choices in a wider variety of shooting applications including television and film production.
  • The XA35 and XA30 Professional Camcorders and VIXIA HF G40 Camcorder updates include a new file format making it easier to integrate into third party software systems that are used for athletic coaching applications.
  • The firmware updates for the XF305 and XF300 Professional Camcorders include new shooting modes allowing for greater creative flexibility, Wide DR Gamma (600 percent) Mode, Highlight Priority Mode, and Signal/Noise priority mode.   
  • The XC10 4K Camcorder firmware will be updated to include a new file format MP4 in HD mode (35 Mbps only), improved AF speed, and shutter speed options for flicker reduction. 

To see these products mentioned above at NAB 2016, visit Canon U.S.A., Inc. in the Central Hall, Booth C4325. Follow Canon throughout the show on Instagram at @CanonUSA and Twitter at @CanonUSApro. To learn more about the firmware updates and their availability, please visit www.usa.canon.com/NAB2016Firmware. 

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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HTC 10 is the first smartphone with OIS in front and rear cameras

13 Apr

Taiwanese smartphone maker HTC has today launched its latest flagship model, the HTC 10. While the predecessors we tested were frankly disappointing in the camera department, looking at its specs it seems like the 10 has the potential to turn things around for HTC. Read more

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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