New on IR
Though it won't be available for sale until at least the end of the month, the Panasonic LF1 enthusiast compact digital camera has already been put through its initial paces in the IR Lab. For your pixel-peeping pleasure, we've posted First Shots taken with this younger sibling of the exceptional Panasonic LX7 -- one of our favorite compacts of 2012. On first impression, we think this little camera's images compare favorably against other enthusiasts compacts, but we'll let you take a look and decide for yourself....
The Samsung NX300 compact system camera appears to be a very promising entry in the mirrorless market. In fact, with this model, Samsung is serving notice to the old-school camera makers that they're in the market to stay, and a force to be reckoned with.
The extensive testing, vetting and double-checking that we do for our reviews often results in a rather exhaustive review process, sometimes making it a long time between our receipt of a camera and the posting of the final review. Moving forward, we'd like to...
We've just posted First Shots -- IR Lab's initial test images -- taken with the new Olympus E-P5, the company's latest flagship offering in its popular and historically excellent PEN Micro Four Thirds camera series. (We recently reviewed the PEN entry- and mid-level models, the Olympus E-PM2 and Olympus E-PL5, and were blown away with the incredible bang-for-the-buck these two cameras provided, especially in terms of image quality.)
The Olympus PEN E-P5 is the successor to the Olympus E-P3 (which we also loved),...
If you haven't used an all-in-one inkjet photo printer lately, you may be pleasantly surprised by the sleek and efficient Canon MG6320, which produces superior photo prints for a device in its class. The MG6320's stylish, slimmed down design won't take up much space in your office or studio but, at the same time, it's packed with features for handling many of your basic office and printing needs -- including wireless connectivity.
Getting the Pixma MG6320 up and running is a snap, thanks to its lightweight build...
Late last week, we reported on availability of Sigma's impressive new 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM Art lens, the world's first f/1.8 constant aperture zoom. With an aggressive pricetag of just US$800 or so, the Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 has quickened the pulses of Canon and Nikon shooters alike, and those of you who were quick to get your preorders in will likely be out shooting your new lenses within the next few weeks. The Sigma-mount variant, too, will be available from early July.
But what of Pentax and Sony shooters? You'll have to wait a...
The Nikon D5200 is a lot of DSLR for the money, and though it's aimed at "advanced beginners" -- in terms of image quality and capabilities -- it's not too far removed from DSLRs geared for more serious photographers. Thanks to its 24.1-megapixel CMOS sensor and EXPEED 3 processor -- which seems to be the same sensor-processor combo packed into the bigger, better, newer D7100 -- the D5200 offers more resolution in a mid-level camera than Nikon's ever offered before.
The camera's clean, highly detailed images rivals those of direct...
Back in April, Sigma unveiled its new 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM Art lens, the world's first f/1.8 constant aperture zoom lens. The new lens, designed for APS-C cameras, looked pretty stunning on paper, and we were eager to get our hands on a copy to see how it performs. Now, we've not only taken this lens for a spin around our test lab, albeit with a pre-production model, but we can also announce that Sigma is setting the price at a shockingly low $799!
So, how does it perform? To put it simply, we were really...
Two years ago, Pentax turned convention on its head with the tiny Pentax Q compact system camera, the smallest interchangeable-lens model on the market by a significant margin. The Q was almost small enough to double as a key fob, and in our Pentax Q review we actually attached it to a keychain for a memorable photo opportunity. Its small size was achieved thanks to its most significant drawback, and that drawback was retained for the followup Pentax Q10 a year later -- but now it's been addressed, thanks to the debut of the brand-new...
Today Pentax launched its two latest K-series DSLRs, the mid-level Pentax K-50 and entry-level Pentax K-500. The Pentax K-50 is a weather-sealed DSLR that succeeds the Pentax K-30, a richly featured camera that we loved for its impressive bang for the buck. The K-30 simply provided advanced photographic capabilities that no other camera could at its price. So you can see why we're excited about the Pentax K-50, because the DSLR not only ups the ante in terms of features and functionality, but also comes in at an...
Earlier today, German camera icon Leica announced its new Leica X Vario large-sensor compact camera, an interesting model which is already dividing opinions.
On the one hand, the Leica X Vario is rare-to-unique (depending on how you look at its nearest rivals, anyway) in including a zoom lens paired with a large sensor, all housed in a compact body. On the other, that lens is rather dim, and the X Vario is a lot closer to the company's current Leica X2 prime-lensed, large-sensor compact than it is to the M-series with which the...
We recently put the perfectly portable Sony 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 PZ OSS -- an E-mount lens designed for Sony NEX cameras -- through its paces in the IR Test Lab and have just published our in-depth review. Commonly paired in a kit with cameras such as the Sony NEX-6 and Sony NEX-3N, this lens is equipped with a particularly useful feature set, most notably Optical SteadyShot image stabilization and a powerzoom function that allows for smooth electronic zooming. Both functions make it a good lens for shooting...
For your pixel-peeping pleasure, we've just posted a full series of lab test images of Sony's newest compact system camera, the Sony NEX-3N. This is in addition to the galleries Mike Tomkins shot earlier for our hands-on preview of the entry-level CSC.
Boasting a 16.1-megapixel, APS-C sensor, the Sony Alpha NEX-3N is a direct followup to the excellent entry-level Sony NEX-F3, but in some ways it's also a return to the ethos of the NEX-C3. Compactness is key, and the Sony NEX-3N's newly-designed body is almost...
Last fall, Pentax announced two new digital SLRs that are near-identical to each other, save for one very important detail. Both the Pentax K-5 II and K-5 IIs are also very closely related to the preceding -- and very well-received -- Pentax K-5, but with a couple of important improvements.
The Pentax K-5 II is the mainstream model. It takes the K-5's design and improves its low-light autofocusing capabilities to the near-magical. It also sports a new gapless LCD monitor that's significantly easier on the eye than that in the standard...
With a 50x optical zoom that delivers an amazing 35mm-equivalent range of 24-1200mm, the Canon SX50 brings distant subjects up close and personal -- and it does so with intelligence and grace. Hand-held shots at full zoom and in good light are relatively easy to take, thanks to the SX50's improved image stabilization and Zoom Framing Assist function. And the end results are surprisingly sharp and pleasing for the digital camera's class and sensor size.
The Canon SX50 HS will no doubt build a fervent following of zoom addicts,...
Announced just last month, the new Panasonic G6 and Panasonic GF6 are two compact system cameras we've been eager to get our hands on and put to the test in the IR Lab -- as well as out in the field with our reviewers. The cameras' predecessors were both enthusiastic Dave's Picks, and we have high hopes that the latest models will show marked improvements. While the Panasonic G6 and GF6 continue to go through our rigorous battery of laboratory tests, we've posted First Shots from both of them for your...
The Sigma DP1 Merrill marks a significant upgrade over its predecessor, the DP1x, and delivers some of the most beautiful, detailed images at low ISOs that we've ever seen from a camera in its price range. Paired with a sharp 28mm-equivalent lens, the DP1M's 46-megapixel, three-layered Foveon sensor captures images that demonstrate remarkable per-pixel sharpness and an extra-special dimensionality that has created an almost cult following of Foveon faithful.
In addition to its massive sensor upgrade, the Sigma DP1M boasts a faster...
We've just posted First Shots of the latest camera the IR Lab has put through its initial paces -- the Sony HX50V -- which the company bills as "the world's smallest and lightest 30x optical zoom camera." Judging by the popularity of its predecessors, we're sure many of you are eager to see how this new hybrid model's images stack up against those of the Sony HX200V bridge camera with its 30x zoom and the Sony HX30V with its more compact body. In fact, you can pit the Sony HX50V's images against its parents' side...
The Olympus PEN E-PM2 just may be one of the most ideal compact system cameras for budding photographers looking to step up into a more sophisticated, interchangeable-lens system.
The E-PM2 is slightly smaller, lighter and more affordable than its fraternal twin, the E-PL5 -- which we also recently reviewed. It also features a less robust build and lacks a physical Mode dial, relying heavily instead on the touchscreen controls of its fixed 3-inch LCD monitor. However, the E-PM2's touchscreen is responsive and convenient, and even...
We've been very pleased with the image quality and overall speedy performance of the Olympus PEN compact system camera line over the past couple of years, and the E-PL5 stands out as a significant evolution on almost every front.
First off, the Olympus E-PL5 inherits the exceptional 16-megapixel sensor from the groundbreaking OM-D E-M5, one of our all-time favorite cameras. Bolstered by this sensor and the TruePic VI image processor (also borrowed from the E-M5), the image quality we saw from the E-PL5 proved to be nothing less than...
Olympus' PEN-series mirrorless camera line has proven to be very popular for the company, and today it grows by one, with the introduction of the Olympus E-P5 compact system camera. (And the first sample photos are already available. Click here to see six full-res images from ISO 200 to 1,600 equivalents on the official website of Olympus Asia.)
We weren't alone in praising their most recent PEN flagship -- the Olympus E-P3 -- for its well-considered design, very fast autofocus, good image quality at base sensitivity, and its...
Next Page
