New on IR
We've just posted our Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM "S" lens review, which is Sigma's first Global Vision lens in their "Sport" category of high-performance, fast-aperture lenses. Available since May 2013, the 120-300mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM "S" is functionally the same as its predecessor, the 120-300mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM APO, but has undergone Sigma's "Global Vision" redesign. It features a whole new barrel construction, updated mechanics and a new autofocus algorithm. Like the older model, it's designed for...
UPDATE: We've recorded sample videos with the Canon 70D to demonstrate how well its Dual Pixel CMOS AF system performs. Watch our test videos here.
The Canon 70D has been the hottest camera announcement of the late summer, and we've been fortunate to get a sample unit into the IR Lab to begin our rigorous testing of this replacement to the three-year-old (and hugely popular) Canon 60D. We've posted First Shots taken with the Canon 70D -- still lifes that show off the camera's imaging prowess -- but please be...
Late to the mirrorless camera game, the Canon EOS M wasn't a big hit at launch -- primarily due to reports of its glacial autofocus speeds. (Something we discovered here at IR immediately.) Due to what was considered a fatal flaw, the camera was mostly ignored until recently when Canon finally addressed the AF issue with a much-anticipated firmware update. We're happy to report that this update did in fact markedly improve the EOS M's speed, shaving an average of a half a second off its single-shot autofocusing times. While it's still...
The Panasonic GX7 compact system camera is here, and it reinvents the company's GX-series with some seriously impressive, enthusiast-friendly features. We've already been hands-on with this exciting street shooter, and came away impressed with Panasonic's commitment to the GX-series. This is no mere level-up with a few more megapixels: Many of the most important features are brand-new. Sure, the Panasonic GX7 has grown in size a little too, but not as much as you might expect given all the changes on the inside.
Key among the new...
Canon once again updates its primary kit lens for APS-C cameras: the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM is sold with the T5i, SL1 and 70D cameras, so it makes sense that they've put some thought into refining it. The result is a completely redesigned lens, with a new STM ("Stepping") motor which provides quick and near-silent autofocus, and great performance for video. We've put the lens through its paces in our test lab: Click here to read our full Canon 18-55mm IS STM review!
We've just posted First Shots -- our still life test images shot under controlled conditions in the IR Lab -- for Samsung's newest and most-connected mirrorless camera, the Samsung NX2000. Announced last May, the NX2000 takes an imaging pipeline much like that of the more expensive Samsung NX300, and combines it with cutting-edge connectivity to create a truly unique compact system camera.
The NX2000 forgoes the NX300's hybrid autofocus system, because its image sensor lacks the on-chip phase detection autofocus pixels found on its...
In many ways, the Canon SL1 DSLR provides the best of both worlds, pairing the compact, lightweight body of a mirrorless camera and the performance and image quality of a DSLR. You could almost call it a miniaturized version of Canon's Rebel T4i and T5i DSLRs. And that's a good thing: Both standard-size interchangeable lens cameras are solid, full-featured consumer models. Its somewhat amazing that Canon can pack so much DSLR into such a small body.
However, the SL1 does have one important advantage over its bigger siblings -- its new...
At Imaging Resource, we've always been intrigued about Pentax's Q-series of tiny mirrorless cameras, but unfortunately they've never delivered the image quality we'd expect from an interchangeable lens system. However, about a month ago, we got a sneak peek at the latest model in the series, and published our thoughts about it in our first impressions Pentax Q7 review. We were very glad to see that Pentax had attempted to address its predecessors' biggest flaw. But would it be a big step up in image quality over...
Earlier this year, fans of large sensors and fixed prime lenses received a double treat, as in quick succession, both Nikon and Ricoh debuted their first models in a fast-growing market niche. We've just posted our Ricoh GR review, hot on the heels of our recent Nikon Coolpix A review, and in it we aim to choose the victor among two models that are exceptionally similar.
Like the Nikon announced before it, the Ricoh GR pairs a bright, wide 28mm-equivalent f/2.8 optic with a 16-megapixel imager. The sensor looks to be very...
The Panasonic FZ70 superzoom digital camera has just been announced, and man does it ever have an attention-grabbing optic! We've been hands-on with the camera already, and while we'll reserve judgement until we've had the chance to run it through our labs -- and some extensive real-world shooting -- we're mighty impressed. The mighty 60x zoom of the FZ70 looks to be pay strong testament to Panasonic's in-house lens development chops.
As you'll see in our hands-on preview, the Panasonic FZ70's Lumix DC Vario-branded, 60x optical zoom...
Improving upon its popular predecessor with several key upgrades, the Olympus XZ-2 boasts a brand new 12-megapixel 1/1.7-inch CMOS sensor but thankfully keeps the fast, bright f/1.8-2.5 iZUIKO zoom lens which made the XZ-1 stand out against other enthusiast compact cameras. The XZ-2's 4x zoom lens maintains a wide maximum aperture across its 28-112mm equivalent range, and paired with the new sensor -- which replaces a 10-megapixel CCD -- we found the camera delivered sharp, detailed images even in low-light situations.
Other...
Last week, we published our review of the Nikon Coolpix A, the first truly mainstream entry in the large-sensor, fixed prime lens camera market. At the time we noted that we were simultaneously working on a review of the Ricoh GR, a close competitor which was announced just a few weeks later, and which is both smaller and more affordable.
As our full review of that camera draws closer, we've just published a gallery with no less than 43 real-world Ricoh GR sample images -- and to ensure that they provided a valid basis for comparison...
Nikon's Coolpix compact camera line finally has its first large-sensor model, and with our Nikon Coolpix A review we've taken an in-depth look at this interesting camera. It's the company's first entry into the burgeoning large-sensor, fixed prime lens market, and the category's first offering from a mainstream brand.
As of its announcement it was also the smallest and lightest by a fair margin, and tied for the most affordable. While it's since been bested in those areas by the Ricoh GR, it's still a very compact camera especially...
We've just posted our Nikon 80-400 AF-S review over at Imaging Resource sister site SLRgear.com. The Nikon 80-400mm ƒ/4.5-5.6G ED VR AF-S Nikkor is an upgrade to Nikon's previous full-frame, medium-to-supertelephoto zoom lens, the 80-400mm ƒ/4.5-5.6D ED VR AF Nikkor. The new version features several improvements and new features such as Nikon's Nano Crystal Coating and the inclusion of a Super ED glass element and second-gen Vibration Reduction. The lens is also designated as a G-series lens meaning the...
Most camera announcements these days are largely evolutionary, but every now and then one crops up that's clearly a revolution in the making. That's definitely true of Canon's latest, as you'll find out when you read our Canon 70D review for our first impressions on the most exciting announcement in quite some time. The Canon 70D is a replacement for the 3-year-old 60D, and it debuts an autofocus system new not just for Canon, but for the camera industry as a whole.
Thanks to its revolutionary on-sensor phase-detect AF system, the...
We've just posted our Canon 55-250mm IS II lens review, the updated telephoto zoom kit lens for Canon APS-C cameras. Released in June 2011, the EF-S 55-250mm ƒ/4-5.6 IS II is functionally the same as its predecessor, but cosmetically it has been updated. It was designed specifically to fit on the EF-S mount and will not work with larger-sensor bodies.
The Canon 55-250mm covers an impressive zoom range, with a 35mm-equivalent field of view comparable to 88-400mm. Zooms with this level of magnification...
The Fuji XF1 is the James Bond of enthusiast pocket cameras -- sleek, retro-styled (but somehow still eminently modern) and even a little dangerous looking. Like the classic Walther PPK, it's not a bad little shooter either, providing a bright f/1.8 max aperture at wide angle, overall speedy performance, tons of advanced features and some unique shooting modes that will no doubt please Fuji fanatics.
With its compact size, quality build and luxurious feel, the Fujifilm XF1 just begs to be used. The slick 4x optical zoom lens is of the...
Last summer, the debut of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 answered the prayers of enthusiast shooters looking for a capable yet compact second camera, and those who wanted large-sensor iimage quality, but who found interchangeable-lens cameras simply too large. Unlike almost all its large-sensor compact camera competitors, the RX100 sports a handy optical zoom lens. (And it's far smaller than the rare models which pair a large sensor with a fixed zoom.)
Not surprisingly, the RX100 was a big seller for Sony. We loved it too, awarding it...
We didn't think it would be possible to improve upon the Sony RX1, the full-frame compact camera we named our overall 2012 Camera of the Year -- at least not so soon. But that's exactly what Sony has accomplished with the Sony RX1R, a special edition of the award-winning model that removes its almost-identical twin's optical low-pass filter for the sake of sharpness and detail (and at the greater risk of inducing moiré ).
Other camera manufacturers have made similar resolution-boosting moves recently to some...
As the Nikon's new flagship APS-C DSLR, the Nikon D7100 occupies a sweet spot in the company's lineup. The D7100 provides a ton of advanced photographic capabilities at a reasonably affordable price point. And it's a perfect model for photographers who are becoming more serious about their craft and want to step up from their consumer-oriented DSLRs.
Compared to its predecessor -- the much beloved D7000 -- the D7100 offers a big jump in image resolution to 24 megapixels and delivers even more fine pixel-level details by removing the...
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