The new year starts off with a big announcement from Samsung. They’ve finally announced their new interchangeable lens camera, the NX10, which was first shown in concept form at last year’s PMA. While details are still pretty sparse, here’s what I can tell you about it:Samsung NX10
14.6 Megapixel CMOS sensor
Mirrorless design (like the Panasonic Lumix G series and the Olympus E-P1) and new NX lens mount allows for a body roughly the size of the Panasonic DMC-G1
“Ultra-fast” contrast-detect AF performance
Supersonic Dust Reduction system
3-inch AMOLED display (with 614k pixels) offers improved contrast ratio and viewing angle over conventional LCDs
Electronic viewfinder has 921k pixels and a magnification of 0.86X
Smart Auto mode plus full manual controls
“Smart Range” feature promises improved dynamic range
Built-in flash plus a hot shoe
Records movies at 1280 x 720 using the H.264 codec
HDMI output
Ships this Spring; pricing to be announced
There will initially be three NX lenses available: you’ve got your standard F3.5-5.6, 18 - 55 mm IS and F4.0-5.6, 50 - 200 mm IS kit lenses. An F2.0, 30 mm pancake lens will also be available.
Canon has introduced the new EOS-1D Mark IV professional digital SLR. The Mk IV doesn’t just take photos — it takes HD videos too, at a variety of resolutions and frame rates. Here are the highlights:EOS-1D Mark IV
16.1 Megapixel APS-H CMOS sensor
Supports all Canon EF-mount lenses with a 1.3X crop factor
Sealed, weather resistant magnesium alloy body ; shutter rated to 300,000 cycles
Dual DIGIC 4 image processors with 14-bit A/D conversion
3-inch LCD display with 920,000 pixels and live view support (with both contrast detect and phase difference AF)
Optical viewfinder has 0.76X magnification and 100% coverage
New 45-point AF system, with 39 cross-type focus points; new AI Servo II AF mode improves focusing performance when your subject is moving
Continuous shooting at up to 10 frames/second (28 RAW, 121 JPEGs when using a UDMA-enabled CF card)
Full manual controls (obviously)
Shutter speed range of 30 - 1/8000 sec, plus bulb mode
Standard ISO range of 100 - 12,800, expandable to 50 - 102,400 (!)
Three RAW sizes to choose from
Hot shoe and flash sync port for using an external flash; X-sync speed is 1/300 sec
Auto Lighting Optimizer improves contrast, Peripheral Illumination Correction reduces vignetting, Highlight Tone Priority protects highlight detail
Records Full HD video (1920 x 1080) at 24p, 25p, or 30p
Can also record 720p or VGA movies at 50p or 60p
Full manual control available
Records monaural sound, with support for an optional external mic
Dust reduction system
Dual memory card slots: CompactFlash Type I/II and SD/SDHC
HDMI output
New Wireless File Transmitter (price TBA) supports numerous Wi-Fi protocols, Ethernet, and can be connected to a GPS; User can control up to ten other cameras, access the camera remotely, and more
Uses LP-E4 lithium-ion battery; 1500 shots per charge using viewfinder
Nikon has announced their new D3S digital SLR, which is an update to the popular D3. While the D3S uses a newer FX-format CMOS sensor than its predecessor, the 12.1 Megapixel resolution remains the same (interesting, huh?). This new sensor allows you to increase the ISO as high as an incredible ISO 102,400 — and the results are usable, believe it or not (I’ve seen them myself). The D3S also adds HD movie recording, just like on Nikon’s other D-SLRs. Here’s more:
Nikon D3S
New 12.1 Megapixel, FX-format (full-frame) CMOS sensor
Supports all Nikkor F-mount lenses with no focal length conversion ratio to deal with; if you’re using a DX-format lens, the resolution will drop to 5MP and there will be a 1.5X crop factor
Very rugged, weather-sealed magnesium-alloy body; shutter rated to 300,000 cycles
3-inch LCD display with 921,000 pixels
Live view (now activated by one button) with two AF modes and frame enlargement in manual focus mode
Optical viewfinder has 100% coverage (97% with DX-format lenses) and 0.70X magnification
Same 51-point autofocus system as the D3
Full manual controls (obviously)
ISO range of 200 - 12,800, expandable to an incredible 100 - 102,400
Shutter speed range of 30 - 1/8000 sec, plus a bulb mode
Six different RAW options to choose from: 12 or 14 bit, lossless compressed, compressed, or uncompressed
User can bracket for exposure, white balance, and Active D-Lighting
Can take up to 36 RAW or 82 JPEGs at a whopping 9 frames/second with FX lenses and 11 fps with DX lenses
New 1.2X crop mode gives you a small telephoto boost with a modest decrease in resolution (drops to 8.4MP)
Dust reduction system (which the D3 did not have)
Hot shoe + flash sync port
Same virtual horizon feature as D3
Records HD movies at 1280 x 720 (24 fps) with monaural sound
5 minute recording limit
New algorithm “severely reduces the phenomenon of rolling shutter while panning”
Stereo microphone input allows for better sound quality
High sensitivity movie mode allows video recording in near-darkness
Dual CompactFlash card slots with overflow, backup, and file format separation options
HDMI output
Compatible with Nikon GP-1 GPS unit and WT-4A wireless transmitter
Uses EN-EL4a li-ion battery; 4200 shots per charge (!)
Canon today introduced the new EOS-7D digital SLR (you’ve probably read bits and pieces about it over the last week). Despite its name, the 7D is not a full-frame camera; rather, it’s an APS-C model that fits between the EOS-50D and EOS-5D Mark II. I’d personally call it Canon’s answer to the Nikon D300s.
EOS-7D
18.0 Megapixel CMOS sensor
Dual DIGIC 4 processors
Supports all EF and EF-S lenses with a 1.6 focal length conversion ratio
Rugged magnesium alloy body has weather seals and a shutter rated to 150,000 cycles
3-inch LCD display with 920,000 pixels
Intelligent pentaprism viewfinder has 100% coverage, a magnification of 1.0X
An LCD is overlaid on top of the viewfinder to show AF points, composition grids, spot metering, electronic level, and the usual shooting info
New 19-point, all cross-type AF system
Supports AF point expansion (surrounding AF points used to track a moving subject) and Zone AF (divides all focus points into five selectable zones)
Intelligent Macro Tracking detects when a macro lens is attached and adjusts the AI Servo sampling frequency to compensate for forward/backward camera movement
New iFCL 63-zone dual layer metering system
Full manual controls
ISO range of 100 - 12,800 when fully expanded
Shutter speed range of 30 - 1/8000 sec, plus a bulb mode
Three RAW sizes to choose from
Continuous shooting at 8 frames/second (15 RAW, 126 JPEG with UDMA card)
Dual axis electronic level handles roll and pitch; data can be shown on LCD or viewfinder
Pop-up flash has built-in wireless flash transmitter; external flash supported via hot shoe or flash sync port
Dust reduction system
Records movies in Full HD (1920 x 1080) with sound, using H.264 codec
Frame rates at 1920 x 1080: 30p, 24p, 25p; at 1280 x 720: 60p, 50p; at 640 x 480: 60p, 50p
Exposure and focus can be manually adjusted
Dedicated movie recording button
Stereo mic input
CompactFlash Type I/II slot
HDMI output
Optional battery grip and wireless file transmitter (see below)
Uses LP-E6 li-ion battery; 800 shots per charge
Ships in late September for $1699 body only, or $1899 with the F3.5-5.6, 28 - 135 mm IS lens
Along with the 7D comes the new WFT-E5A wireless file transmitter. This attaches to the camera like a battery grip and offers 802.11a/b/g wireless support, plus Ethernet and USB ports (to which you can attach a hard drive). The WFT can send photos to your computer or another DNLA-enabled device, supports geotagging with a compatible GPS, and even has a built-in web server that allows you to control it (complete with live view) from your PC or smartphone. The WFT will be shipping in early November for $699.
Panasonic today introduced the new Lumix DMC-GF1 interchangeable lens camera — their third to use the Micro Four Thirds standard. Like the Olympus E-P1, the DMC-GF1 really fulfills the promise of the MFT format. You get all the benefits of having a digital SLR, with a lot less bulk. And did I mention the super-fast autofocus and 720p movie mode? Even this jaded reviewer is licking his chops over this one.Lumix DMC-GF1
12.1 effective Megapixel Live MOS sensor (same as the DMC-G1)
Supports all Micro Four Thirds lenses with a 2X focal length conversion ratio
Also supports legacy Four Thirds and Leica R- and M-mount lenses with optional adapters
Compact body (for a camera with interchangeable lenses), roughly the size of the E-P1
3-inch LCD display with 460,000 pixels and live view
Live view features super-fast 23-point AF, face detection, custom guidelines, a live histogram, and more
Optional electronic viewfinder ($200) attaches to hot shoe and provides the same benefits as the main LCD; screen has 202,000 pixels and a 1.04X magnification; it can also tilt upward 90 degrees
Built-in pop-up flash (yay) has a GN of 6 meters at ISO 100
Full manual controls
ISO range of 100 - 3200
Shutter speed range of 60 - 1/4000 sec, plus a bulb mode
RAW, RAW+JPEG support
Continuous shooting as fast as 3 frames/second (7 RAW, unlimited JPEGs)
Intelligent Auto mode selects a scene mode, detects faces, brightens shadows, and more
My Color mode similar to Olympus’ art filters; a new peripheral defocus mode makes it easy to have a sharp subject and blurry background
Dust reduction system
Capable of recording movies at 1280 x 720 using AVCHD Lite or Motion JPEG
Unlimited recording time with AVCHD Lite, unless you’re in Europe
Frame rate is 60 fps (sensor output of 30 fps) when using AVCHD Lite
Aperture and exposure compensation can be adjusted
Camera can focus continuously while recording, though you’ll want to use the 14-140 lens for the most camcorder-like experience
Wind-cut feature for recording video outdoors
HDMI port
SD/SDHC card slot
Uses DMW-BLB13 lithium-ion battery; battery life ranges from 350 - 380 shots depending on which lens you’re using
Ships in October with your choice of the 20 mm pancake lens (described below) or the 14 - 45 mm lens from the DMC-G1; price is $899 for both
There are two new Micro Four Thirds lenses to mention, as well. The first is the 20 mm pancake lens that you see in the photo of the GF1. This F1.7 lens is compact, light, and equivalent to 40 mm on a MFT camera. It will be available in about a month for $399.
The next lens isn’t just the first macro Micro Four Thirds model — it’s also the first lens to carry the Leica name. The F2.8, 45 mm Leica DG Macro-Elmarit lens has image stabilization, a minimum focus distance of 15 cm, and it’s set to ship in early October for $899.
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