Not everybody wants or needs a full frame sensor, but that doesn't mean you have to give up pro-level performance on your camera. In this episode, Chris and Jordan compare four of the top performing APS-C and Micro Four Thirds models currently on the market: the Fujifilm X-T3, Nikon D500, Panasonic G9, and Olympus E-M1 Mark II.
Whether your priority is landscapes, portraits, sports and wildlife, or street photography, we'll help you figure out which of these models is right for you. Want more information? Check out our in-depth reviews and sample galleries for each of these cameras.
"Crop Sensor" is the wrong word - every Sensor Size image is being "FullFrame", (1/3.2" Smartphone Sensors up to 53.7 x 40.4mm Medium Format (used into the IQ3/IQ4 Phase One for instance) as long, as you don't crop it. Watch the "Crop or Crap!?" Video from Zack Arias, to learn about that, links posted many times the past years. ;-)
And if Ansel Adams would still being alive, he'd agree that 35mm "FullFrame" Format is too small - back then, these Guys shooted Large Format Cameras.
As long as you don't use a smartphone (which can be great, although) camera, nowadays, any camera should satisfy one needs for Quality - so pick your poison...err, what you need.
There aren't any bad cameras anno 2018 like some 10-15 years ago into the stores anyway nowadays. Horses for Courses.
Btw, the 26 MP Sony APS-C Sensor into the X-T3 is capable of delivering 16-bit RAW Output, a APS-C 1st for enhanced Tonality. People should do a Poll for Fujifilm to support that with KAIZEN FW. ;-)
The D850 has very similar pixel size to the D500. 100% crop, and they're extremely similar in performance. But viewing the entire frame, the D850 will obviously have better IQ from downsampling.
No, it is considerably better: 4.63um, Multi-aspect. BI-CMOS, High Dynamic Range: 85dB+24dB(TGT) *WDR, Dual gain.
The sensor in a typical 24MP crop camera like X-T2/X-T3/ etc: does not have Dual gain, does not have WDR, sensitivity is lower than 85dB+24dB(TGT), and the photosite size is 3.91-3.76um.
Did you not open... any of the links? This is vs the best APS-C can do, and it matches or beats the GH5S already. The best FFs are 1-2 stops better, STARTING AT twice the resolution of the GH5S.
D500 looks like the dinosaur out of the bunch, X-T3 is really in a league of its own and the other two small sensor cameras are more competitive with smartphones.
'Competitive with smartphones..?" Really? I'll take my now ancient M43 cam over any brand new smartphone-let alone the amazing things the modern day 'little giants' are doing with stills and video. No phone can do what either of these M43s can do-no matter how shiny the anodizing is on that clip on adapter tele lens iPhone attachment.
Titles says "crop sensor, pro body" .....What, no K3!?!?!?! Why not? DPR really does seem to be a 'Pentax-free Zone'. With two lenses that worked across both formats, I shot an event on Friday using an apsc K3 with a full frame K1 as back up.
3-4 bodies is absolutely as much as we want to cram into a short YouTube video. So we chose rugged, pro grade bodies with the best AF the manufacturer offers. That left us with these four cameras. I hope you understand why we have to be so selective when trying to keep these videos to a manageable length.
To Jordan: when there are more than 4 cameras that qualify but you artificially limit yourself to 4, only because of the "length" of a video, you are doing the photographic community a grand disservice. The length of the video dictates what you do? I find that hilarious. You can always make two videos, like Part I and Part II What is a Pro Body? In my book it is a camera that is used to make money with. Well, does it have to be super rugged, weather proof, etc.? Lots of pros use 2nd bodies as well; are they not Pro Bodies? You could only qualify 4 out of a much longer list? Sorry, but I find it difficult to accept your "excuse".
The headline and first sentence imply that these cameras are handicapped with sensors cut down from something better. It doesn't work like that at all. I wish you'd stop using silly terminology. Every sensor size is a compromise but the sensor sizes in these cameras actually give the smallest compromise for most digital photography uses, as they give MUCH more than adequate image quality with fewer trade-offs to get there than 35mm and larger formats. Well, I could argue that 1" sensors do that even more but pulling some heads that far out of the sand would be too big an ask!
@CanonSharpShooter - Nikon is a small company short on resources. Plus, they rely on outside vendors for their sensors. This was certainly the case with the 1" sensors they used for Nikon 1. The source of their CX sensors was Aptina, which got bought out by ON Semiconductor who pulled them out of the camera market. For their last Nikon 1 body, the J5, Nikon switched to a 1" sensor from Sony. But who knows what happened with that deal? Maybe Sony didn't want any competition for their RX100 line, or maybe Sony wanted to charge Nikon too much money. Sourcing the 1" sensors obviously effected the DL line, too because "The three [DL series] cameras were built around the 1-inch “CX” image sensor that Nikon uses in its Nikon 1 series of cameras."
The cancellation of the DL had nothing to do with sensor supply afaict. Bugs in the image processing chip caused delays past the point where releasing the camera was deemed to be profitable. Nikon decided to cut their losses and focus on Z-mount instead.
The Fujifilm is a niche camera, the EOS R is a camera for everyone beginners, amateur, semi-pro, PRO, retired, parents with kids, teachers, doctors, vets, librarians, construction workers, aunts, moms, dentists, hikers, Uber drivers, store clerks, models....
On what basis? The EOS R isn't suitable for sports (AF-C FPS), video (1.83x crop), high risk events like weddings (1 SD card), people who want to adapt lenses (no IBIS). The X-T3 can do them all.
Other than X-Trans, there's not too much niche about it. Everyone you mentioned could use either camera.
@canonsharpshooter I obviously wouldn't expect much objectivity from a person with a handle like that, but come on, did you really just call the X-t3 a niche camera compared to the EOS-R? It's literally the best camera you can buy for all round use now I would say, and the EOS-R has THREE lenses, and is considerably more expensive. This is the kind of shilling that aggravates people. I'm not even a Fuji Shooter and I can recognize a brilliant piece of kit when I see one.
I was worried when I saw in the studio test scene the very yellowish skin tones on the X-T3. Also wasn’t impressed with the colours in general. Either raw or jpeg. Wonder if those can be easily fixed in post or create a colour profile.
Dpreview decided to use a standardized color curve across multiple cameras for comparison purposes. Your results in practice won't have a tint because your processor will if course use a custom curve for each camera model.
Without watching the video, you already know the APS cameras produce technically better images than m43. The difference isn't that much and probably wouldn't be an issue in a blind test, but the bigger difference is the size and weight of entire outfits.
The Fuji with a single slow prime lens is a jewel and a great reason not to go full frame. But when they mention in passing the 100-400 or the eagerly awaited 200 f/2, this is not stuff you want to tote around if you can avoid it. On on hot day in Australia, I saw a guy on a walking tour trying to keep up while working with his Fuji system, out of a rolling bag.
Also, I wish DPR would find out what the resistance is to in-body stabilization. I'm guessing it's a licensing issue ($) but like sensors that shake to remove dust, it's such a good idea, everybody should adopt it.
The difference is significant m43 is THREE stops of dr behind. Considering that ff and apsc are on similar level, there is no excuse. And rhen, m43 doesnt have iso 100.
For MEDISN; Seeing as there's no Fuji's in the list you must have taken it from DXOMark. IMO a more realistic measure is Bill Claff's PDR (Photographic Dynamic Range) and there the current Fuji's are equal to or better than most Canon FF's and even several Nikons on your list.
The point being technology marches on and the differences in useful DR between APS-C and FF is becoming insignificant for most photographic applications.
@rwbaron "IMO a more realistic measure is Bill Claff's PDR "
I would say it's a different measure than DxO for sure, but not uniformly better. Just look at the G9 dynamic which suggests it should be the best for low ISO DR in m43 but the reality is that the color cast when lifting shadows is so bad that it's probably one of the worst performers in m43-land for lwo ISO DR.
Very good pictures by all of the cameras, but I have to point out that most of them could have been taken by any modern camera and the appropriate technique.
IE a good pair of lights lol. You can buy a Canon T3I or an A6000, spend the remainder on lights and modifiers and get better results than the guy that buys an EOS-R, two lenses and nothing else.
What this shows me is that both Olympus and Panasonic (Olympus in particular) have to really pay attention how the proceed with m43rds moving forward... or face extinction. I just saw amazon selling the Em1 mKII for $1299 body only... that's quite a drop from $2,000- much more than pro bodies they had used to drop.
I really hope they don't continue an expensive *big* body camera path or we will see another 4/3rds. I am convinced there's an out for them here but doing these bigger camera bodies ain't it.
Try and buy that $1299 camera from Cardinal. You’ll get an OOS email 10 min later. The legit vendors are all $1700USD. Not so unexpected discount for a 2016 camera.
While I agree that a small, high quality, portable kit is a great advantage for micro 4/3 they should capitalize on, I think they also have an advantage in sports and wildlife with their additional reach with smaller lenses. I think for both they need additional lenses. New small high quality pro lenses for smaller kit with pro level PEN or GM cameras, and new pro image stablized telephoto lenses with pro level EM1 and G cameras.
I personally want to see Olympus release a 150-400/450mm f/2.8-4/5 IS. They also have patents for a 300-500mm f/2.8-4 and 200-300mm f/2.8-4. If Olympus releases these as pro level quality, sealed lenses with sync IS, and a couple more pro IS primes, you could make a great wildlife setup.
Both the portable and wildlife/sports setup would benefit greatly from sensor R&D. If micro 4/3 can increase their low light abilities and other IQ aspects, their greater portability, reach, great weather sealing, and overall lens selection could help them gain popularity.
@Raist3d If you think that's bad you should see how Panasonic is selling the G9. There have been some "special event" sales where it's been going for $999 brand new, in one case even including a free Sony 128GB G UHS-II card. I think sales numbers for the G9 must be awful.
Where's Pentax at all? It might be a different story for Pentax if the K-P and K-1 bodies had been mirrorless bodies. When I look at the K-P, with its disproportionately sized mid-section and viewfinder pyramid (requirements of its DSLR design), I think how nice it would have been as a mirrorless body with a short flange distance. The K-P seems like a body that screams for the mirrorless short-flange treatment. Doing so would bring its body proportions more in line with the classic look of Pentax manual film SLRs.
Pentax has one of the best FF and still one the best apsc. And the most complete apsc lens line. But as T3 says, they are not mirrorless. Wait, D500, is it mirrorless? Oh, no. But it's very similar to Nikon FM2, right? Or not right?
@turvyT - My point is that Pentax missed an opportunity to capitalize on changes in the market that would have brought more attention to the Pentax brand. They could have done that with mirrorless. They could have been more bold. Instead, they have been staying a footnote in the camera industry. Instead, they are in a position of being the only brand who hasn't moved to mirrorless. (I'm ignoring the toy Pentax Q system.)
@T3: I am sured preview would have overlooked the K-p even if it had been a mirrorless camera. By your own reasoning the Nikon D500 didn't have any place neither in the video...
For my photo cameras, I still like good glass and a mirror (Pentax) way before any mirrorles except for real rengefinders (Leica) and one compact exception (GR). I like seeing what I see and then getting what I'have worked on the camera. It's a personal choice, of course. And for the rest,I have my phone, whose camera use a lot.
Very nice backyard, Chris. It has evolved beautifully from baredom to lushdom over the last few years. How did you manage to get bright sun while all I heard is snowy grey in Calgary? Please make use Jordan's backyard next time, sun or snow.
Ahhh, who cares about "the best" cameras, eh? These days, all cameras are better than their users. ;)
I predict that the Canon 90D will be a 1.6 crop, will come out in February, will have an RF mount, will include an EF-s/EF to RF adapter, and will come with EF-s kit lenses for $1,299.
Why would it have an RF mount and still come with an EF-S kit lens? That's pointless. Think of all the consumers out there who might be buying the 90D that have no previous Canon DSLR gear, or have no interest in buying a Canon DSLR, or sold off their Canon DSLR before buying the 90D. Why would they want a Canon DSLR lens? That's ridiculous. Canon will never include an EF/EF-S lens with an RF-mount body. Having to adapt a kit lens that comes with the camera body is absurd. Just the idea of selling a kit in which a manufacturer gives you a lens with one mount and a body with another mount is absurd, even if they gave you a free adapter. If Canon did that, I can see it being ridiculed across the web: "Yes, believe it or not, Canon wants you to use an adapter to use the lens that came with the body! They couldn't be bothered to make a kit lens specifically for their own RF mount!"
Canon's mount strategy is a total mess right now. RF mount and crop? What about EF-M? This tells you they had no clue what they were doing when EF-M was developed. Way to go, Canon.
@T3, They have a kit lens for the R. The RF 24-105mm L. You think they will sell that $1,000 lens as a kit with a 90D, or will they bring out a $100 plastic RF 35-70mm, and perhaps discontinue (kill off) the EF-s line like they did the FD.
@Fergus Ferguson - All your suggestions are rather ridiculous. EF-S kit lens for an APS-C RF body? No. RF 35-70mm kit lens for an APS-C RF body? No. You're ignoring the most logical and most likely APS-C kit lenses: an RF 18-55mm, RF 18-105mm, or RF 18-135mm kit lens. After all, 18-55mm and 18-135mm are the two kit lens focal ranges currently available for the 80D:
The idea that Canon would give an RF-mount 90D either an EF-S kit lens that required you to use an adapter, or an RF 35-70mm kit lens, is absurd. It's also unlikely that they'd give an APS-C camera body a full frame L lens (such as the 24-105/4L) as its kit lens. I don't think Canon has ever done that with any of their APS-C bodies.
@T3, You originally said there is no way they will sell an EF-s kit lens, and then later you suggest a few of them. Which way are you going? One way or the other, you can’t do both. Make up your mind son. Oh, you do know that Canon made an FD to EOS converter that worked on a few FD L lenses during the transition. But who would want to use FD lenses on an EOS body I hear you ask? Probably the same sort of people with a load of EF-s lenses who don’t want to spend $2.5k on the R, but would like a new camera body, and could just as easily drop them all on EBay and buy a Sony.
Yeah, I don't think you really need high rez for street. Things like size, stealth, shooting sound (or lack thereof), quick face focus acquisition, etc. are more important for street shooting.
Northrup video - few whiteboards and talking head, speculation, 5% photography content, repetitive. Dpreview video - real life comparison, samples, 100% about photography.
@falconeyes - Northrup has some photography content but it is lost in clickbaits, like earlier mirrorless wars, now m43 death, hundreds of useless "reviews". He already reviewed new canon 50mm 1.2 and 28-70 without owning it or using more than a day. All this to make sure he will post links to amazon first. recall how he hyped sony 24-70 gm in video from sony event ("tested" - better than nikon or canon!) and a year later took another video "reviewing" the lens in his dining room ( seriously) and concluded canon is much better! Chceck this, videos are there. Basically his content is borderline worthless.
@arbux I guess you don’t need to make a living as a Youtuber ;)
You are right, it’s all true. But they make so many videos (need to) that the opposite is true too: real gems of photography videos, like their travel vlogs.
And wrt Amazon links ... LOL DPR TV is owned by Amazon ...
I thought all of this locking up talk for the X-T3 was exaggeration but I just got a rental body and have had the thing lock up on me 5 times in less than 24 hours.
Cant call the X-T3 a pro body if it locked up on you 5 times.
If its not working reliably its not "pro".
A GFX locking up 4 times is scary. Imagine the model has to hold pose again because youre all "hmm, sorry, just a sec..."
There is a reason that nearly 100% of sports photos are Nikon and Canon. They know that when you click the shutter it needs to take a photo. Every. Time.
@SteveAnderson lol worried about the model? I’d be worried about looking like a jacka** in front of the client while you try to figure out why your camera isn’t working 😂
@SteveAnderson It appears to have been an issue with the Lexar 64GB 2000x Rev E card. After switching to the Sony 64GB G card I've had zero issues. Also, write speed to the Sony seems significantly faster. The Panasonic GH5 and G9 also have issues with that same card while the Olympus E-M1ii does fine with it.
Great video as usual and demonstrates what happens when a company is serious about the APS-C format. The Fuji forum is loaded with former Canon and Nikon shooters for a reason and many (most) even ditched their big, heavy FF systems for Fuji.
APS-C is really the sweet spot for many types of photography
I would say that there is no real advantage against a FF or APS-C on professional level. The higher burst rate and fps now exist in FF so the only good reason for a professional can be video (as GH5 is a real good video camera compared to few) and reach (as you can use lighter lenses for the same field of view). I find though that is a real good alternative for amateurs and prosumers as it is lightweight and cheap.
@morinor, what is a "prosumer?" An iPhone used by a professional for paid-work is a pro camera. A Nikon D5 used by a Doctor to shoot cat-photos is an amateur camera.
M43 still gives you a smaller, lighter package which is attractive for those who want to travel light. And a great lens selection. No it isn't dead.
Only the D500 of these cameras is a pro camera; for the others pro is a marketing gimmick. They are serious enthusiast cameras, and at that level there is a lot more choice.
@cdembrey I am referring to higher end cameras with a higher cost (see the trade term https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosumer). I am think you are confusing terms used on different things. The camera abilities are not defined by the user. The user abilities are not defined by the camera. But each of them take place in producing good results. I do not know how you can think a photograph taken with an iPhone even by a professional as a good quality one. I can see obviously the difference between one picture taken with a smartphone and a good quality camera. When shooting portraits, in low light situations or sports m43 are trailing behind as tools. You can use them but with more difficulty and the end result sometimes cannot be the same. As an example m43 cannot produce equivalent results of a FF lens wider than f/2.4. A professional which knows much more how to use his tool, will find himself stumble more on his tool limits.
@NCB: I think they are pros working with all these 4 cameras..
"Only the D500 of these cameras is a pro camera; for the others pro is a marketing gimmick. They are serious enthusiast cameras, and at that level there is a lot more choice."
Loved this because street photography is all about delving into the darkest, grittiest corners of the urban nightmare and bringing back heart-wrenching stories of society’s castoffs, the unloved yet unforgettable people on the icy margins of our cold-blooded society....but in their Canadian town the scariest, most real street they could come up with looked as threatening as the set for a Holllywood musical.
Please may I renounce my American citizenship and move to the Great White?
The D500 still strong after 2 years. The X-T3 incredible value. Incredible performance The GH5 and G9 are very interesting too, the only camera that I think never really stood out is the E-M1 II. Was too expansive when it came out and fell behind the Panasonic and Fuji offerings.
But all four cameras show, that you don't need a full frame camera do to professional work
D500 is a proper beast, and will be for a lot longer than 2yrs. Nikon really laid it all out in the D850 and D500, will be hard for them to out do themselves.
My 7Dm2 is not bad but the D500 smokes it for everything except skin-tones.
@ozturert - i guess you never used other cameras from this review. The issue with e-m1 2 is that it fails where it was hyped - on autofocus. And it doesnt excel anywhere else.
I did not meantit seriously. But think about your statement! For what use are Hasselblads, Phase Ones, Sinars, Alpas, Linhofs, Horsmans (Horsmen?) intended for? And are they all built like a D5?
"Crop sensors , pro bodies": those words put together hurts. I would rather change the title to "crop sensors, consumer bodies, reviewed from a consumer point of view".
Whether a body is "pro" or not has nothing to do with sensor size. It's the build quality, ergonomics, customization and feature set that separates a consumer body from a pro-grade body. And also the performance, if we're talking about a body intended for sports/action/wildlife. Would the build, handling and features of a Nikon D5 suddenly become less tailored for the professional photographer if the FF sensor was replaced with a crop sensor? No, of course not.
I guess we have to define what “pro” means but the D500 is definitely pro. I haven’t shot with the X-T3 yet but judging by the X-T2 it is likely a pro camera. The E-M1 Mk2 is definitely a pro camera. I don’t own it but have shot with it many times. It isn’t far behind my D500 (superior in some cases). Most importantly, the term “pro” doesn’t ever include sensor size. I’m a cinematographer and super35 (APS-Cush size) is a staple for thousands of movies and shows you’ve watched. So... yeah. The GH5 is an incredible camera. Filmmakers everywhere are loving it. I certainly do. And that would be another pro body.
Pro images means images are sold at a price high enough to drive a business. And the reactions to my post just confirm what I wrote: review of consumer cameras for consumers. Of course lots of people egos get hurt when they think of themselves as being professionals when they are not.
one of the most popular wedding photographer cameras back in the day was a Fuji pro s2. before the canon 5D a lot of pros shot crop cameras go read some old reviews. Full time Professional in the days of film didn't have the specs of the cheapest canon or Nikon that are going to sell major numbers on black Friday in 499 kits. All camera produced by major brand can produce great photos if the photographers have the ability. And all this talk about sensor size I cringe when I say this but a lot of people and some on this website love the pictures phones produce which has a smaller sensor than any ILC.
There is quite a bit of complete confusion here since it is a consumer website. The commercial market for photographs counts in hundreds of million dollar/Euro, billions over the US only: that's what I call professional. How can there be a sustainable market for Phase One systems and similar? Comments here are from amateurs who feel hurt when we tell them the truth. Clearly, labeling camera models as "pro" make them sell to hobbyists, doesn't mean they actual are professional grade tools. Sorry if that hurts, but that's the truth. Agreed: not every truth feels good to hear.
Two years ago Dpreview couldn't stop gushing over the Nikon D500. This just goes to show you how much cameras have improved since 2016. They really are getting better.
The most interesting part of this video is that three of the four "contenders" are MILC cameras. I still don't believe that the DSLR is going away, but you have to admit the best MILC cameras have come a long way in ten short years.
ML has come a long way. However, there is very little long glass (500mm+) available as of yet. Consequently, for wildlife shooters that require more reach, ML still has a way to go and the D500 is the better fit for now.
I think DPreview leans a bit too much on the gearhead side of things. D500 is an exciting body in itself (for stills anyway), but the native lens choices for Nikon APSC is quite lacking. Relying on FF lenses to compensate is cumbersome. Might as well get a D5.
Steve.... the D500 is still the best APSC DSLR ever made. At least in my opinion.
I just pointed out that DPR was raving about it two years ago, and today it finished poorly in their "APSC ILC" review because the top MILC cameras have eclipsed it in some ways.
The D500 lost it's halo when the D850 came out. The D850 almost-but-not-quite has a "D500 mode" built in, but is not radically larger or more expensive.
A little surprised that D500's sensor is considered limited in the context of landscape. I haven't been paying much attention to the crop sensors segment, but I was under the impression that D500 had a significantly better sensor performance than its peer when it came out. But apparently it didn't hold up
It isn't just the sensor thought, Nikon doesn't really have any good professional APS C glasses and thus the D500 will also lose out in sharpness which is pretty important for landscape.
Chris did mention the great lenses available for the D500. But what he didn't mention is that most of those great lenses were designed for full frame cameras.
This only matters if size and weight matter to you. In my own case, it really matters a lot.
Yes but in the video Chris seems to suggest that the sensor performance was not on par with the competition, which in the context of the video, was g9, em1ii, and xt3
plenty of great lenses to use with DX bodies including most probably the lightest and smallest 300mm and 500mm primes out there, there are plenty of 3rd party lenses too
@wu jiaqiui crop bodies do not fully use FF lenses and you will get nowhere near the sharpness of purposely built APS C lenses.
Also Sigma Art APS C lenses do not go wider than 18mm and for landscape 18mm is not wide enough. The Sigma 8 - 16mm is nowhere near as good as Fuji lenses.
Nikon doesn't have any professional "Glasses." Perhaps you mean Glass? Depends on what you're shooting. Most that buy the D500 are not going to use a 50mm. For wildlife, the D500 is the obvious choice. For action sports and wildlife, the longer Nikon primes are fabulous... so is the new 500 F5.6. Just one reason not to buy another brand APS-C mirorless... no long glass
Marty, to face the truth, Nikon doesn't have ever developed a complete DX Lens LineUp, like they did for their FX Fullframe System - i am waiting since my D100 for this, but finally had given it up, seriously.
The best DX (Zoom) Lens is their 16-80 E VR, but also being way (still) over-priced, for what it does, no offense.
Yet, no 24/28/35/85mm DX Prime-equivalent in FF-terms with F1.8 - that's really bad into 2018. Of course, Nikon DX Shooters are migrating to Fujifilm.
Do you know why? Because Fujifilm treats APS-C quite more seriously than Nikon, instead of bringing just new Variants of their DX D3x00, D5x00 & D7x00 DSLRs, they really made a complete System into just a few years. And metal barrel mostly (not XC), which are quite better from haptics as the plastic DX lenses.
Seriously, we do have at least 5 variants of the 18-55 Kitzoom, then these 18-105/140 and 18-2x0 Zooms. Not fast, not great after all. And also the AF-P incompabilitity with older DX Bodies.
@GrapeJam No pro glass? I don’t follow. There are dozens if not hundreds of Nikon pro lenses that are more than happy to be on a D500. My 14-24mm does a superb job for landscapes on my D500. DX cameras are not limited to DX lenses. In fact, I don’t own a single DX lens for my D500. Nikon is the last company one should suggest there isn’t enough glass available.
Fuji, and to some extent Olympus and Panasonic have the advantage of having high end lenses that were designed SPECIFICALLY for the smaller sensor.
Nikon, Canon and Sony supply the bare minimum of APSC kit type lenses, then expect you to buy their full frame lenses if you want something better. And Leica will probably stop making TL lenses for their APSC cameras, and require their customers to buy SL full frame lenses instead.
Sharing the same mount for APSC and Full Frame has both advantages and disadvantages, but those advantages go mostly to the camera maker. The customer gets to buy larger and heavier lenses than APSC requires, with the only upside being "it is easy to upgrade to full frame, because you already own the lenses."
Marty, well Canon does have a more complete APS-C LineUp, than Nikon, For instance, the EF-S 24/2.8 STM, 18-55 F4-5.6 STM, 10-18/4.5-5.6 STM, 55-250/4-5.6 STM.
I do use all these, but not the 24mm, because i have the nice 40/2.8 STM Pancake on my 5D, as everyday Lens, 40mm is so much better, than the narrower 50mm 1.8 STM, from focal Length.
Yes, Nikon does have a new AF-P UWA since some time, too...but it's not nowhere as good, as the 10-18 STM Canon, and it does cost more, and it doesn't feature VR, whileas the STM does have IS.
I do wait another 2 Generations (never need the latest & greatest) and then get the X-T3, together with the 16-80/F4 Zoom. ;-)
How can the 7DII not be in here? Canon carved out this category with the original 7D.
I use a 7DII as my main camera for paid work and it has performed flawlessly. Sure it's due for a replacement but it still holds its own. Pitty it's not here.
The D300 was a leap forward from the D200 with (small body) pro build, and features such as an AF system based on the D3. The 7D was a new entry into a market that already existed, not a replacement for the 50D and certainly not a catagory carving camera.
The 7DII isn't featured here as it falls behind in just about every measurable way against the models chosen as it is an older camera.
@ybizzle, the 7DII is now fours years old, and is bettered by the D500 in every way, so just compared to that it wouldn't come out too well, nevermind the other cameras too. Not saying you still get great pics with one, just that it is getting old. :-/
Will Canon do a 7DIII? Questionable imho. It would have to be something special to better the D500, and then there is what the mirrorless cameras bring to the contest too. Nikon may not be able to better the D500. lol
That whole class of cameras was an evolution of the 2 digit crop series of both Nikon and Canon, when the Canon 40D -> went to the 50D, the D300 soundly trounced it, forcing Canon to quickly develop the 7D to counter Nikon. Nikon put together a warmed over D300s but nothing else forever until the D500, which trounced the 7D2 easily. No idea why Canon have not been as aggressive as they were before but maybe Canon is aimless/clueless about which direction they are going now.
The Canon 7D II is over four years old now, and really wouldn't do too well compared to more current crop sensored models. I suppose Dpreview decided to save Canon from the embarrassment of finishing in last place in every category.
@sh10453 Did you watch the video? At 0:52 into it, Chris explains that the 7DII and a6500 were omitted because they wanted to review cameras with rugged bodies, the manufacturer's best AF system, and the fastest processors.
That makes sense, Marty, but I still find it unfair not to include it along with mentioning its age. As CD sais, a lot of professional work has been done with the 7D and 7D-II. It's a heck of a powerful machine.
Lesson learned. I confess. It has been a bad habit when I view these videos. I fast-forward the first few seconds in order to get to the heart of the video. Still, I think it would've been a nice kick in the ars to Canon if they included the 7D-II and found it to be the small, aging dog on the market. If Canon continues the old tradition of roughly 5 or more years to introduce a new version of a product, they probably will lose many loyal customers to Fuji and others. This reminds me of how the automotive industry used to be.
the 7Dii is only current because it hasnt had a replacement, its certainly not real competition for any of its crop sensored bretheren. It wouldnt win any category, and come last in a lot of them i'd expect.
You really don't want them to include 7d2 in the test. See what happened to D500 and imagine what would have happened to a camera with worse sensor, smaller buffer, lesser AF,... It would get humiliated and people would burst into flames in comments.
... "... It would get humiliated ..." But that would've been a good shot in Canon's arm. They need to start faster, MORE COMPETITIVE updates, especially the 6D and 7D lines.
I don't think they can, honestly. They lack any modern semiconductor manufacturing installation critical for advanced CPU/GPU/ISP. They can mask it in larger bodies by using more power hungry components, but that does not fly in compact or price sensitive bodies. That's why Samsung was able to have full sensor readout from 28MP sensor downscaled to 4k in h265 with no overheating issues years ago and Canon is still cropping the sensor for 4k.
How is Canon Semiconductors lacking when they're producing the sensors inside the 200D, 800D, 80D, 77D, 5DIV, R, M100, M50, M6, M5, C200, C300II, C700 GS, and the recently put up for sale APS-H 120 & 250mp chips & the 2mp FF 4M ISO chip, and many more.
A semiconductors manufacturer producing these products, with DPAF, is by no means lacking. It's like any competetive market there are sometimes other products that do a specific task better, and the leap frogging cycle never ends.
Simple - none of those sensors are ones with the best DR or high ISO. You can produce large sensors on outdated process, at the price of increased read noise (so lower DR at base ISO), slower readout (so cropping for 4k and visible rolling shutter), etc. The same goes for CPUs - slower AF/AE in live view, older codecs, etc. If they were semiconductor and sensor powerhouse they would surely be a major player in the biggest markets right now - mobile and automobile. Reality is that noone is buying their sensors and processors. For a reason.
Dynamic range and noise performance are absolutely fine on all these sensors. You're thinking last generation Canons. And of course no one is buying from Canon for the automobile industry, they were not selling! They litterally just put up sensors for individual sale, like days ago.
Oh, come on, I like canon as much as the next guy (and have had one for years and am buying m50 in next few months), but there is not a single test that puts any Canon sensor above contemporary alternatives. Everyone hates DXO but they do have a sound methodology and m100 is the newest canon sensor with full test (https://www.dxomark.com/canon-eos-m100-small-size-big-punch/). This site (dpr) agrees as well putting a6300 and D7200 as having a base ISO DR a stop better. Same goes for readout with Canon being the one with lowest fps of the bunch, especially in e shutter (m43 going fit 60fps, even full frame at 20fps in a9). Same goes for 4k video. Look, this is getting pointless. Do you have a source for any actual camera with Canon sensor that is measurably equal to alternatives? Not specialized sensors for industry (since everyone has new magic sensor for niches, be it organic, super high resolution, super sensitive, etc) but an actual camera you can buy at bhphoto or adorama.
So Chris considers full frame cameras as specialized. Yet the D500 is tested, which is the most specialized camera of the bunch in the video :) Maybe even more specialized than most full frame cameras.
From the time of its release, the D500 was the DX flagship, suitable for everything. With its rugged construction, it's ideal to carry anywhere, from a stroll in the park to a war zone. It has the best OVF of all Nikon DX cameras, the best rear display, and (at the time) the best video implementation of the whole range. It's hardly a "high-end sports camera" and nothing else.
Great video, as always, Guys! You should do more, Chris & Jordan.
It's only funny, to see that you Guys find 20 MP of the D500 "too little" Resolution for Landscape Photography into 2018. Well, i love to take Landscape Pictures with "just" 12 MP - and it's way enough. ;-)
kreislauf, go out and tell all users of the Sony A7S/II and Canon 5D, Nikon D700, D3(s), D4, DF Users, they just can't do Landscape Photography - too less MP for doing so! :-)
And also all other APS-C & FF Users with less than 24 MP, because it's 2018!
OMG, they should put Infos at famous photography spots all over the world "No Picture with less than 24 MP" other-wise one must pay a fee, for using their old gear then!
But why would you continue to use 12MP when you can buy a D800/A7R for way less than the cost of a decent lens? I can crop 2/3 of the picture out and still have 12MP (assuming the lens is good enough to resolve those pixels). Any i7 processor from the last 8 years will make light work of the files and you can get an 8TB HDD for $130. The dynamic range on the modern Sony sensors also has to be seen to be believed.
You can obviously do what you want, but if you shoot landscape and can afford it, upgrading to a high-resolution body seems like a no-brainer to me.
marc petzold, that video from Zach is really funny. You know he said all that but then he kept a medium format camera for all the things a crop camera couldn't do?!
zse, because i do like way & look, the 5D does render pictures. A 8TB HDD for 130$ - not gonna happen into germany, and most important, that's a consumer class HDD only then. I do use only HDDs with 5y warranty, and specified for 24/365h operation, i have had enough "fun" with the IBM "DeathStar" DHEA/DTLA Drama, and also various Seagate Barracuda Series from 7200.7 to 7200.9 LineUp, bottom line since then - i never buy these cheap consumer products, in terms of harddrives. WD Velociraptor, WD SE & Gold Series for mech. HDDs, and Samsung SSDs with 5y of warranty, and enough TBW. Lesson learned a long time ago. ;-)
And someday, i'd buy a A7S II into mint-like condition for a good price, it just needs to get cheaper. Also, i do like the Film-esque rendering of old gear, especially with old mf lenses. I personally hate my A7 menu style, and so is with latest CaNikons. Too crowded. Would love to own a Leica M 60 Edition, but can't afford it. ;-) So much for that.
PaN, hopefully someday i can build my own Large Format Camera (analog, of course) and then learning, doing WetPlate Collodion Photography. Because that is something, that got myself already, when i was a kid, this photographic process.
Yes, Zack said it all, with his very own way & humor, like this video since >4 years much. ;-)
The 200mm F2 is a fast telephoto lens for Fujifilm's APS-C cameras. We took it out to photograph the US Navy's Blue Angels and hydroplanes screaming across the water at over 300 km/h.
In our interview with Fujifilm executives we covered everything from the upcoming GFX 100 to plans for APS-C, and why the X100 still occupies such an important position in the company's lineup.
With 'Deep Learning' autofocus, crazy-fast burst speeds and refined ergonomics, the E-M1X is the most focused action and sports shooting camera that Olympus has ever made. Here's how it squares up against some key Micro Four Thirds and APS-C competitors.
Sony's flagship APS-C camera, the a6600, is a refinement of its predecessor and now includes industry-leading autofocus and battery life. But is that enough to earn it top marks? We think Sony could have pushed the boundaries a little further - find out how in our full review.
With the EOS M6 Mark II, Canon has taken its midrange mirrorless game up a notch. Offering the highest-res APS-C sensor on the market, 4K video, super-fast burst shooting and comfortable ergonomics, the M6 II is compact and a real pleasure to shoot with. Get all the details in our full review.
The PowerShot G7 X Mark III doesn't stray from the formula that made its predecessors well-liked, at least on the outside. Its feature set, however, has been greatly improved, with live YouTube streaming being the highlight.
The Fujifilm X-Pro3's new viewfinder, new screen and titanium construction all make for an appealing camera, but perhaps only for a certain type of photographer.
Weighing in at just 249g, the Mavic Mini fits in the palm of your hand. You give up a few features in exchange for that tiny size, but we still found it to be a solid performer.
Looking to get in on the instant camera fun? We tried every model and think the Fujifilm Instax Mini 70 strikes the right balance between price and feature - the Instax Wide 300 is our choice if you crave a larger format.
Long-zoom compacts fill the gap between pocketable cameras and interchangeable lens models with expensive lenses, offering a great combination of lens reach and portability. Read on to learn about our favorite enthusiast long zoom cameras.
Whether you're looking for a toddler-proof rugged camera or something for an older child learning about photography, we've identified several options that won't break the bank.
The holiday season is upon us. If you're looking for the perfect drone for yourself, or to gift someone special, we've selected a handful of models at every price point.
The new Tamron 35mm F2.8 Di III OSD M1:2 lens has an attractive price, but how does it stack up against Sony's own 35mm F2.8? According to Chris and Jordan, pretty darn well.
In this week's episode of DPReview TV, Chris and Jordan did a shootout between the new Tamron 35mm F2.8 lens for E-mount and Sony's own 35mm F2.8 ZA Carl Zeiss lens. Check out the galleries from both lenses and tell us what you think.
Three months after it confirmed Leica, Nikon and Olympus wouldn't be returning to Photokina, the event organizers have put out a press release confirming Canon, Panasonic and Sony will 'promise a fireworks display of new products at Photokina.'
A new photography podcast has kicked off with an episode that looks critically at the photo preset market, detailing the negative impact it has on photographers and the wider industry.
As promised earlier this year, Sigma will be releasing the L-mount versions of its 40mm F1.4 DG HSM and 105mm F1.4 DG HSM lenses by the end of the year.
Over months of using Sigma's 45mm F2.8 Contemporary lens, Reviews Editor Carey Rose rediscovers that there's so much more to a lens than speed and sharpness.
Looking to get in on the instant camera fun? We tried every model and think the Fujifilm Instax Mini 70 strikes the right balance between price and feature - the Instax Wide 300 is our choice if you crave a larger format.
The new Motorola One Hyper has a 64MP sensor in its main camera, and even the pop-up selfie camera produces 32MP pictures that can be display across the full area of the 6.5in screen.
The Thanksgiving break gave us a chance to take the Nikon Z50 on a tour of New Orleans. See how it did with both the kit zoom and the new Nikkor Z 24mm F1.8 S.
What better way to promote a phone than to shoot a commercial for it directly on the device. It's not the first of its kind, nor will it be the last, but as has often been the case, it's a fun watch from a blockbuster director.
The new Snapdragon 865 is more power-efficient than ever but continues to push the boundaries of mobile computing, especially in the imaging department.
Since launching in 2014, over 18 million aerial photographers and content creators have uploaded their work to SkyPixel. They are celebrating by giving away big prizes for their 5th anniversary.
Senior Editor Barney Britton's first choice for Gear of the Year is a camera that he has carried with him more than any other in 2019 (not including his phone) – the Ricoh GR III.
Chris and Jordan test the Canon EOS R with new v1.4 firmware to see how much it improves autofocus. TL;DR – if you use eye-AF, you'll want this update.
Google's latest update for Google Photos makes it possible to have conversations and share images with others directly from the service's mobile apps and Web.
Google has announced it's rolling out new features for its Google Photos mobile app that makes it possible to manually tag faces that aren't recognized (or mistakenly identified) by its AI system.
ZY Optics says the lens was specifically designed ‘to have one of the longest working distance for any super macro lens.’ It's available in eight mount options and retails for $499.
The fourth lens to debut in Panasonic's full-frame lineup is the 24-70mm F2.8. It's a popular and versatile focal range, and the company makes big claims of its image quality.
Facebook gets the Data Transfer Project moving by announcing the ongoing roll-out of an open-source tool that lets you move all your Facebook photos to Google Photos
Comments