News tagged with "mirrorless"

Samsung has announced the NX300 - the latest in its NX series of APS-C mirrorless cameras. The NX300 is built around a 20MP sensor that includes phase-detection focus elements to allow a Hybrid AF system for faster focusing. It gains a larger, 3.3" OLED touch screen with WVGA (800 x 480) equivalent resolution. A faster processor helps the NX300 hit nine frames-per-second for continuous shooting, and allows 1080p movies to be shot at 60fps. Upgrades to the camera's Wi-Fi should make connectivity simpler than its predecessors.

We got the chance to grab some hands-on time with Nikon's latest 1-Series mirrorless interchangeable lens camera - the 1 V2. It gains a 14MP sensor, built-in flash and more conventional control points than its predecessor. Here we give our first impressions of Nikon's smallest 'serious' interchangeable lens camera.

Nikon has launched the 1 V2 - a more enthusiast-focused 1-series camera built around a 14MP sensor. The V2 adds a built-in flash and mode dial and more extensive front grip. It can shoot at up to 15 frames per second in combination with its hybrid AF system. It also has a configurable 'F' button to give faster access to key camera settings. The V2 uses a processor that lives up to the latest Expeed 3A billing. It also retains the V1's original list price of $899 with 10-30mm kit zoom. Nikon has also announced an accessory SB-N7 bounce-able Speedlight for the 1 System. The V2 will be available from late November, with the SB-N7 following in January 2013.

Nikon has announced that it is developing three additional lenses for its 1 System mirrorless cameras. The 32mm f/1.2 will offer a classic short telephoto 'portrait' option, equivalent to an 86mm lens on the 35mm full frame format. The 6.7-13mm f/3.5-5.6 VR is an image-stabilized, 18-35mm-equivalent wideangle zoom. Finally the 10-100mm f/4-5.6 superzoom will offer a similar 27-270mm-equivalent range to Nikon's existing 1 System powerzoom, but in a smaller package with a mechanical zoom ring. Full specifications, price and release date are yet to be revealed.

Sensor maker Aptina has released more details of its two most recently-announced chips, including a 10MP, 1"-type sensor that uses its dynamic range-boosting DR-Pix technology. The company, which also makes the 1" sensors used in the Nikon 1 System cameras, is making this new sensor available to the wider market. It has also provided more detail about an 18MP 1/2.3" compact camera sensor that can shoot 1080p video with three different crops at up to 120 frames per second.

Responding to the swift and negative reaction to its just-announced Lunar mirrorless camera, Hasselblad's business development manager, Luca Alessandrini, forcefully defended the venerable camera maker's new partnership with Sony in an interview with the British Journal of Photography. Alessandrini also says that the decision to use the NEX-7 Sony sensor for the first Lunar camera doesn't preclude the company from making sensor modifications for future models.

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.' [Updated with images of mockups]

Photokina 2012: Panasonic has unveiled the DMC-GH3, its most movie-orientated Micro Four Thirds camera yet. The GH3 is built around a new 16MP sensor, which the company promises will offer improved image quality. In addition the camera, which now features a larger and weather-sealed magnesium alloy body, is packed with videographer-friendly features. These include 3.5mm mic and headphone sockets, 60p/60i/30p/24p output, All-I or IPB compression options (at up to 80 or 50 Mbps respectively) and timecode support. There will also be the option of a battery grip to allow shooting for longer periods.

Photokina 2012: Olympus has refreshed its PEN series with the PEN Lite E-PL5 and PEN Mini E-PM2 16MP touch-screen mirrorless cameras. Both models feature the 16MP sensor and TruePic VI image processor first seen in the OM-D E-M5. Both cameras also gain 460,000 dot, touch-sensitive rear LCDs, with the ability to focus and shoot by touching the screen. They can also shoot at 8 frames per second. The E-PL5 offers a mode dial, an extra button, flip-up LCD and E-P3-style screw-on front grip over the PEN Mini. The E-PL5 will cost $699 with the 14-42mm retractable zoom, while the E-PM2 will cost $599 with the same lens.

Nikon has announced the 1 Nikkor 18.5mm F1.8 fast 'normal' prime lens for its 1 system mirrorless cameras. The 18.5mm lens offers a field of view equivalent to that of a 50mm lens on a full-frame camera. Its wide maximum aperture makes it easier to get the most out of the 1 system cameras in low light and to produce shallow depth-of-field images. The lens will be available in black, white or silver, at a cost of around $189.95.

Photokina 2012: Sony has announced the Alpha NEX-6 16MP enthusiast mirrorless interchangeable lens camera and three additional E-mount lenses for its NEX cameras. The NEX-6 builds on the features first seen on the NEX-5R announced last month, including Wi-Fi, in-camera apps and on-sensor phase detection. In addition it gains the high-resolution, 2.3M dot OLED viewfinder previously seen on the NEX-7, plus an external mode dial. In addition, the NEX-6 becomes the first NEX camera to feature the Sony's revived Quick Navi interactive control panel and an ISO-standard hotshoe. The NEX-6 is launched along with a 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 retractable power zoom lens creating a much smaller zoom kit than was previously possible with the NEX system.

Photokina 2012: Pentax Ricoh has expanded its Q system with the addition of the Q10 body and adapter allowing the use of K-mount lenses. The Q10 features a slightly redesigned body and updated 12.4MP 1/2.3" back-lit CMOS sensor. Improvements include faster operation and autofocus performance, the company says. There is also a 15-45mm F2.8 fast 80-250mm equivalent telephoto zoom, the Pentax 06 Telephoto Zoom lens. There's also an adapter for mounting and manuallty focusing K-mount lenses on Q-mount bodies - where the Qs' compact-camera-sized sensors will give a roughly 5.5x crop factor, meaning a 28mm lens will give a 154mm equivalent field of view. The Q10 will cost around $700 with the 02 Standard kit zoom, with the fast zoom costing around $300 and the K-mount adapter roughly $250.

Photokina 2012: Carl Zeiss will show prototypes of a 55mm F1.4 Distagon prime lens for DSLRs and the first lenses for mirrorless system cameras. The lenses for mirrorless cameras will be autofocus designs and will become available in mid 2013. The prototypes on show will include a wide-angle prime, a standard prime and a macro lens. No details are given for which systems will be supported. The manual focus Distagon* 1.4/55 will be available in the second half of 2013 for Canon and Nikon mounts.

Photokina 2012: Fujifilm has announced the X-E1 - its second mirrorless interchangeable lens camera - along with two additional XF-mount lenses. The X-E1 uses the same 16MP 'X-Trans' APS-C sensor as the more expensive X-Pro 1 model. It offers a high-resolution 2.4m dot OLED electronic viewfinder in the place of the Pro1's opto-electronic hybrid finder and gains a pop-up flash in a smaller body. Alongside the X-E1 come a 18-55mm F2.8-4 stabilized kit zoom that promises AF times as fast as 0.1 seconds when the two are used together. The kit will sell for a recommended price of around $1,399.95, or $999.95 without a lens.

Sony has announced the Alpha NEX-5R, the latest in its series of mid-level mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras. The 16MP 5R adds on-sensor phase detection elements to enable hybrid autofocus, and gains a control dial and dedicated function button over its predecessor, the 5N. The 5R also gains Wi-Fi capabilities and the ability to run proprietary in-camera apps to extend its capabilities.

Nikon has released the J2, a slightly updated addition to its 1 System of mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras. The J2 is gently-reworked version of the more basic J1 model, gaining a higher-resolution rear screen. It also inherits a handful of feature modes from Nikon's Coolpix compacts on an additional position on its mode dial, and is now available in orange. Probably the biggest change is the price tag - its suggested selling price of $549 is $100 below the original launch price of the J1. In Europe the J2 will cost around €539 with the 10-30mm VR lens and €519 with the 11-27.5mm zoom.

We've updated our initial preview of the Canon EOS M with lots more information, including our own hands-on pictures of the camera and a video illustrating the shutter sound. So if you're interested in finding out more about Canon's first mirrorless offering, it's worth having a glance through to see if there's anything you missed first time around. Click through for the link.

Chinese accessory manufacturer Kipon says it has developed mount adapters to use Canon EOS lenses on Micro Four Thirds and Sony NEX bodies with full electronic control of the aperture setting. There's no word on whether other functions such as image stabilization or autofocus have any chance of working, and as yet Kipon is only showing unfinished-looking examples on its website. There's also no information on availabililty or pricing, but we'd expect it to be very competitive. 

Canon has, as expected, announced the EOS M - its first mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. Based around the same 18MP APS-C sensor as the recent EOS 650D/T4i, the EOS M is the first model to use a new, smaller 'EF-M' lens mount. It is launched alongside two EF-M lenses that use STM stepper motors optimized for use with the camera's hybrid AF system. As we've seen before in the mirrorless sector, the EOS M is predominantly aimed at the point-and-shoot upgrader market looking for DSLR quality and makes greater use of a 650D-style touch-screen interface. We've been using the EOS M for a little while and have prepared a preview, looking in more detail at Canon's first mirrorless EOS camera and how it handles.

Canon has announced two lenses for the EF-M mount used for the first time by its EOS M mirrorless camera. The first lenses will be a EF-M 22mm F2.0 STM 'pancake' prime and an EF-M 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 IS STM standard zoom lens. Both are built around a STM linear stepping motors to drive focus. The EF-M 22mm F2.0 offers a field-of-view equivalent to a 35mm lens on a 135 film camera, while the 18-55mm offers around 29-88mm equivalent coverage. Both feature metal lens barrels and focus-by-wire manual focus.