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Pentax GR Camera: APS-C sensor, fixed-lens compact

Pentax GR Camera: APS-C sensor, fixed-lens compact


It seems large-sensor compacts are the latest trend and Ricoh Pentax has got in on the action with the announcement of the Pentax GR. Based around the Ricoh GR-series - the same company which acquired all Pentax Imaging Corp shares back in 2011 - this 16-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor based compact has got a whole lot going for it.

Ricoh has always said that it wouldn't release a DSLR camera, and while the company hasn't, it has plonked a DSLR-sized sensor into a GRD-esque compact camera body and stripped out the low-pass filter - much like the Nikon Coolpix A - for heightened sharpness. But unlike the near-£1000 Nikon, the GR will retail for a far more affordable £599. Nice work Pentax.

The GR pairs the large sensor up with an 18.3mm f/2.8 lens - the equivalent of 27.5mm - for a single, wide-angle view onto the world. There's no zoom so the focus is on premier optical quality instead and while this may sound limiting to some first-time snappers, it's just what the doctor ordered for street photography and the like. A build-in ND (neutral density) filter will also mean the wide aperture is available for use in bright conditions, while a crop mode - which uses a smaller portion of the sensor - can equate to a 35mm equivalent output if preferred. Or go the other way by adding the optional 0.75x magnification GW-3 wide conversion lens for a 21mm equivalent ultra-wide shooting experience.

The GR's sensor can capture images from ISO 100-25,600 thanks to the latest GR Engine V processor, while in-body raw data development gives full control wherever you happen to be. With no low-pass filter we'd anticipate that images ought to be even higher quality than the likes of the Pentax K-5 II DSLR which, given the price point, is quite an achievement. However we're yet to use the GR so we'll have to wait with baited breath as to how well it performs in reality.

Capable of shooting at up to four frames per second (4fps), and acquiring subject focus in just 0.2-seconds the GR sounds pretty nippy - though its 1-second start-up time doesn't sound as immediate as it could be.

The GR holds onto the long-standing benefits of the Ricoh GRD series, such as the magnesium alloy frame, but has been redesigned to include an AF and aperture preview button to make for easier everyday shooting.

There's also a hotshoe and an optional electronic viewfinder can be added for £223. Add that to the £599 camera price and it looks like Pentax has just produced a £822 prime compact camera that should rival the best of them. We're rather excited to see more of what this bad boy can do.


By Mike Lowe
source: http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/120515-pentax-gr-aps-c-sensor-fixed-lens-compact-camera-with-599-price-tag-makes-us-want-to-go-grrr

Samsung NX20 Review

Samsung NX20 Review

Samsung NX20
 
Highs:

    Top notch stills and quality videos
    Excellent iFunction lens with OIS
    Superior vari-angle screen

Lows:

    Forget high-speed burst mode
    Occasional focusing issues
    Noisy at high ISOs
   

Features and Design


The 20.3-megapixel NX20 not only looks like a small DSLR, it has all the features you’ll find on their bigger cousins such as a built-in viewfinder, mode dial, and pop-up flash. Many CSCs lack these critical features and we give Samsung a pat on the back for the convenience. The camera really is small, measuring 4.8 x 3.5 x 1.5, tipping the scales at 12 ounces without a lens. Even with the supplied 18-55 OIS glass, we had no problems carrying the NX20 anywhere and everywhere.

As with any interchangeable lens camera, the most important feature on the front is the lens mount. Here it’s Samsung’s NX mount and there are 11 lenses available, covering most of the photographic bases.


On the top deck are the built-in flash, hot shoe, stereo mics, mode dial, jog wheel, as well as metering and green buttons. This last one resets values you might’ve changed in the menus. The combo shutter and on/off switch are angled on the fairly substantial grip. The mode dial has everything you’d expect including Smart (auto), PASM, and Custom. There’s also Wi-Fi for sharing, Movie, Scene, and iEffect (filters).


On the back is a killer 3-inch AMOLED vari-angle display (rated 614K dots). It’s really high-contrast with deep blacks. There were very few times it wiped out, even in direct sunlight. We used the electronic viewfinder (EVF) more for convenience when holding the camera up to our eyes rather than out of necessity. It’s SVGA (800×600), very clear with 100-percent coverage and there’s a diopter adjustment to individually fine-tune it.

Also on the back is a nice thumb rest, a red-dot video button, and many of same buttons/controls you’ll find on a DSLR – exposure compensation, AEL (auto exposure lock), Function, and so on. It’s a bit busy but hardly intimidating. You can use it in aim-and-forget auto mode or tweak it to your heart’s content. ISO options range from 100-12,800, and shutter speeds are 1/8000-30 seconds. You can shoot in RAW at 8 frames per second for 11 shots (at continuous high mode). Toss in a very nicely designed menu system and the NX20 will take you where you want to go – to a point, as we’ll see shortly.

What’s in the Box

You’ll find the camera and the 18-55mm OIS iFunction lens, various caps/covers, battery, and charger plus USB cable and strap. You also get a basic printed manual along with the full version on the included CD-ROM. Samsung also supplies Intelli-studio and Samsung RAW converter software on the disk for handling images.

Performance and Use

The NX20 uses Contrast AF focusing, not the phase detect of DSLRs. While it works okay for the most part, there are times the camera has difficulty grabbing focus. This is something that occurs with almost every CSC we’ve used. It’s not a deal breaker as this type of interchangeable lens camera is a lot smaller than any DSLR and Live View is much more fluid than any DSLR’s. In other words, no camera is perfect as there are always tradeoffs of one kind or another.

We had the camera with us in Florida, the Northeast, with some palm trees in Aruba thrown in for good measure. We did most of our shooting in Smart (auto) mode then proceeded through the mode dial as subjects warranted; resolution was maxed out for stills and videos (5472 x 3648 pixels, 1920 x 1080/30p MP4).



Using the NX20 is very pleasant. It has a good feel, controls are easy to find and use, plus the menu system is clean and user friendly. You should first peruse the manual to dig into the camera’s capabilities but you’ll hardly refer to it once you start shooting.

We’re big fans of Samsung’s iFunction lens system. Once you move out of Smart (auto) by pressing the iFunction button on the side of the lens you can change settings just by turning the lens ring or jog wheel on the top deck. There are options for shutter speed, ISO, exposure value (EV), white balance (WB), and digital zoom, depending on your needs. It’s simple and fun to use with a really attractive interface. Anything that makes it easier for people to make the most out of their cameras is heartily welcomed.

Before getting into the photographic results, let’s discuss a really strange experience we had. A refresher, this is a 20.3-megapixel CSC that uses an APS-C size sensor capable of ripping off a burst of full-res JPEGs at 8 fps for 11 frames. This is an excellent spec. However, when you use this setting for a full burst, the camera basically freezes as it tries to save all the large files to memory. On several occasions, the “ready” lamp continued to flash during this process and wouldn’t stop. In order to continue our tests, we had to take the battery out, reinsert it, and reboot. Of the cameras we have tested, this was one of the few times we had to use this trick. Clearly the company has to beef up the processing – or else we had a lemon. However, judging by the results we saw onscreen and the zero problems using single-shot and low-burst modes (3 fps), this wasn’t the case.

Now with this nasty issue is out of the way, let’s discuss the photographs and videos. On a 27-inch display the stills looked outstanding, even at 100-percent enlargements. Colors were rich, deep, and accurate – exactly what you want with any camera. In fact, we can easily state the Samsung NX20 delivered dynamite images in bright Florida and Aruba sunshine as well as less well-lit indoor subjects (see samples). As is the case with any camera, there was more digital noise shooting in low light but you’re fine up to ISO 800 – even 1,250 – but things get messy as you move higher. We found the lens delivered very sharp, finely-focused images with hardly any blur; Samsung’s OIS (optical image stabilization) did its job.

Videos were also quite good. We generally like CSCs for movies versus DSLRs (other than Sony Translucent Mirror models). Focusing is much simpler and there’s no need to deal with flipping the mirror up in Live View. We were in Florida for a wedding and the NX20 handled the flashing lights and twisting bodies as the band played. We’re hardly Hollywood cinematographers but the results were solid with little of the “rolling shutter” waves of many DSLRs. Sound was surprisingly good too.

As noted, the NX20 has built-in Wi-Fi. It’s hardly the simple sharing of a smartphone but it’s relatively painless. Just download the Samsung MobileLink app to your smartphone (iOS/Android) and you can upload JPEGs to the Web or your phone; there’s no native app for the iPad in the App Store, but you can use the iPhone version.

Conclusion

Overall, the Samsung NX20 is an excellent camera. Still quality is superb and movies are very good. It’s a good choice for both aim-and-forgetters and those who tweak every image to the nth degrees. However, avoid the high-speed burst mode or you may have to do a reboot. So forget the speeding bullets, stick to more leisurely action and you’ll be in fine shape.


Source: www.digitaltrends.com/digital-camera-reviews/samsung-nx20-review/

Panasonic Lumix GF6 Review (hands on)

Panasonic Lumix GF6 Review (hands on)


The Panasonic Lumix GF6 is the latest snapper to join the brand's entry-level range of  Compact System Cameras.

Panasonic is aiming to fine-tune the main features of each level of its Lumix G Series CSCs to suit their target users more clearly, with the GF6 being aimed at smartphone users who want to share their images instantly.

Panasonic will also be including both Wi-Fi and NFC on the new camera - it argues that NFC vital as an increasing number of smartphones, including the Samsung Galaxy S3, already have it - with the number expected to treble in 2013.

Earlier in 2013, the maker launched the NFC and Wi-Fi-toting Panasonic TZ40 compact camera. The GF6 will take over from the Panasonic GF5 which will be discontinued.

Panasonic GF6: Size and build

At first glance, the GF6 looks slightly on the chunky side, mainly due to the new, fold-out screen, however, after taking a look at the GF5 again, Panasonic has actually managed to add thd improved screen without adding too much bulk to the camera chassis at all.

The GF6 will be available in black or white.

Panasonic GF6: Features


The GF6 sports an a new 16MP sensor Live MOS sensor (compared to the 12.1MP sensor on GF5), along with a slightly extended ISO range (up to 25600).

The GF6 also includes a expanded range of filter effects, bringing the total to 19, and some of the more basic effects (such as monochrome and sepia) can now be used when shooting in panoramic mode.

People who like taking pictures of their dinner to post on Instagram (you know who you are) will be pleased to hear that the new camera includes a Food Recognition mode. This may sound like a wind-up, but it's actually just an extra shooting mode that will automatically apply the most suitable settings for you to capture an image of your latest snack.

The camera also includes an improved burst mode along with a new function lever for one-handed control and a full-area autofocus on the touchscreen - which enables you set the focus on any point on the screen.

Panasonic GF6: Screen

Unlike it predecessor, the GF6 sports a screen that can be folded out from the camera body and tilted at an angle of 180 degrees - very handy for self portratis and shooting in awkward posistions.

The new screen packs a 1040k-dot resolution.There's also a dedicated video button for recording full-HD video at a resolution of 1920x1080 in AVCHD.

Panasonic GF6 release date: May 2013

Panasonic GF6 price: £499 (with kit lens), £649 (twin lens pack)

Source: http://www.t3.com/reviews/panasonic-lumix-gf6-review
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