camera
Review: Samsung NX10
A bit of background to begin:
A digital single lens reflex camera (DSLR) by definition has a mirror system designed to let you look through the lens to compose your photo. The mirror is behind the lens and pops up out of the way at the instant of exposure (to let light hit the sensor), and then drops back into viewing position (all with a distinctive double-clunk). That mirror system takes up space, adding bulk to the camera. A DSLR has a removable lens, letting you select the lens which best suits your picture-taking needs at any particular moment.
Today’s compact, point and shoot camera has a fixed lens (you can’t change it) and an electronic viewfinder; the image from the lens hitting the sensor is displayed on an electronic screen — whether it be on the back of the camera or viewable through the little viewfinder.
So what do you have when you have a camera with interchangeable lenses, but no mirror system, using an electronic screen instead? Why, you have one of the newly-named “mirrorless” cameras.
Case in point, the Samsung NX10.
Without that mirror box, the camera is not much bigger than a standard compact camera – lens excepted. The lens is much larger in diameter than you’d expect for a compact, because the sensor is much larger. In fact, it’s an APS-C CMOS sensor, the same size as found in most DSLRs.
The NX10’s sensor is 14.6 megapixels, which is certainly more than enough to deliver high quality.
It is an excellent step-up for someone who wants more than a compact, but is a little shy of going to what they perceive as a more complicated – and larger – DSLR.
In fact, size is about the only real reason, because there are small – and less expensive – DSLRs which will provide a fairly easy-to-use camera.
That’s not to say the NX10 is a poseur. It is a delightful camera. And that 3-inch screen on the camera’s back – oh, that’s to die for! Gorgeous colour.
Speaking of which, Henry Ford said you could have your Model T automobile in any colour, as long as it was black. Taking a page from Henry’s order book, the Samsung NX10 is available only in “Noble” black.
Samsung says it has one of the fastest autofocus systems in its class; the company says the camera’s “engine” – processor – helps the contrast AF zing along.
It also delivers HD movie recording in the H.264 codec.
The NX10 offers manual controls as well as a Smart Auto function which automatically detects the surrounding environment of the shot and selects the best shooting mode. Its Smart Range feature also delivers both bright areas and dark areas in the same frame
Because you can change lenses, it has a supersonic dust reduction system to help keep dust particles off the image sensor.
DSLRs will give you the option of switching to Live View, putting the image on the rear screen for composition, or keeping the image in the viewfinder, with your face pressed against the camera back. The NX10 does not have that switch – at least not manually. The camera senses when you bring the camera close to your face to look through the viewfinder, and puts the back screen on standby to conserve power. Neat.
Not so neat, in some respects, is the camera’s action when you switch off the autofocus and try your hand at manual focusing. It caught me, the first time, wondering what was going on. I was in tight for a close-up shot, and the camera automatically displayed the central portion of the image, to assist with manual focusing. I thought that’s what was going to be captured. Instead, it was a wider view. It’s a bit disconcerting; touch the manual focus ring and the image tightens for focusing, but then will pop back to regular view if you don’t move/touch the ring. This zooming in for focusing makes manual focusing super easy, but it is confusing, especially when the image is bopping back and forth. With time, I’m sure it will become second nature.
There are three lenses available at the moment for the NX10: a 30 mm f/2.0 pancake – i.e. small and flat – lens (full-frame equivalent = 46 mm); an 18‐55 mm f/3.5‐5.6 kit lens with optical image stabilizer (equivalent = 28-85 mm); and a 50‐200 mm f/4.0‐5.6 ED telephoto lens (equivalent = 77-308 mm). In addition, Samsung also has CPL and ND filters tailor‐made for NX lenses, as well as two external electronic flashes. There’s a K‐Mount adaptor for the NX system, which will also be compatible with Samsung DSLR GX series. You’ll be able to use your K‐mount lenses on the NX10.
The Samsung NX10, with 18‐55 mm OIS lens, carries a suggested retail price of a penny less than $800. That’s obviously more expensive than a compact camera with a similar zoom range, and more than some DSLRs. Do you get something more for the money if you buy the NX10? Certainly you get less – smaller size, less complexity than a DSLR. And certainly you get more, most specifically that huge (in comparison to a compact camera) sensor.
The camera was a delight to use, delivering excellent quality, with a size making you occasionally forget you were carrying it. It’s not going to fit in a shirt pocket, carrying the 18-55 mm lens, but might sporting the pancake lens; it certainly is smaller and lighter than any DSLR I’m aware of. It is a nice fit in the hands.
Picture quality is quite good with the 18-55 mm lens I used.
Movie-making is pretty straightforward, delivering quite good quality with just a bit of artifacting when moving the camera or capturing motion.
Low light shooting was surprisingly good, better than I’ve seen from some DSLRs, so Samsung’s image processor is doing a doggone good job. This will make for better no-flash shots, for example, when you don’t want that deer-in-the-headlights look to your people pix.
In total, the NX10 is a delightful surprise. My only disappointment: I have to give it back.
Canon PowerShot SD4000
Canon Canada has announced the PowerShot SD4000 IS Digital ELPH camera. It’s the first of the Digital ELPH series to offer a high-sensitivity system, known as Canon’s HS System, with a CMOS sensor and bright f/2 lens.
The new 10-megapixel back-illuminated CMOS sensor, in conjunction with the DIGIC 4 image processor, creating the HS System, enhances image quality in low-light situations and helps reduce noise at high ISO speeds. Along with this system, the f/2 lens allows more light to enter, permitting higher shutter speeds, further reducing the effect of camera shake, and enables users to take photos without a flash. In addition, the SD4000 has the fastest high-speed burst rate to date in a Digital ELPH camera, at 8.4 frames per second (fps).
New to the ELPH cameras, the PowerShot SD4000 IS has aperture and shutter controls, allowing for enhanced flexibility and creative control.
The camera also features HD Movie. The My Colour function, composed of Colour Swap and Colour Accent options, are part of the camera’s capabilities.
The new Super Slow Motion movie function allows users to record video at a very high frame rate, delivering the appearance of slow motion when played back at regular speed. This function captures a subject at 240 frames-per-second (fps) and plays back at 30 fps, maintaining image quality.
The camera has a 3-inch LCD, 3.8X optical zoom with optical image stabilization, support for SDXC memory cards, Eye-Fi memory card connectivity, new scene modes, such as miniature and fish-eye effects, and Smart Shutter technology which automatically takes pictures when a person smiles or winks.
The PowerShot SD4000 IS is scheduled to be available at the end of May, in red, black and silver, with an estimated retail price of $399.99.
Pentax Optio W90
The Pentax Optio W90 digital compact camera is the company’s 11th generation waterproof digital camera, and in addition to the expected waterproof, dustproof and shockproof capabilities, it adds Digital Microscope mode with LED subject lighting, for macro subjects as near as 1 cm from the camera.
The W90 offers improved underwater picture-taking performance from five meters in previous models to six meters, and can be used underwater continuously for up to two hours. It will withstand a fall from a height of 1.2 meters without damage to the body. And it will deliver reliable operation at temperatures as low as –10°C.
Now, Digital Microscope mode. To 1 cm. That means the camera and the person holding it throw a shadow on the subject. Thanks to three LEDs installed on the face of the lens barrel, the subject is clearly and brightly displayed on the LCD monitor even when the camera is held at a distance at which it casts a shadow on the subject.
The Optio W90 features a new-generation Face Detection AF & AE function, which instantly and accurately detects up to 32 faces in the image field, then catches them in sharp focus and optimum exposure in just 0.03 seconds. In addition to popular features such as the innovative Small Face filter, Smile Capture and Blink Detection, this upgraded version is programmed to detect not only human faces, but also the faces of dogs and cats. When the user selects preregistered dog or cat faces (up to 3 choices), the camera automatically detects them and optimizes focus and exposure. The user can program the camera to automatically release the shutter the moment the subject’s face turns straight toward the camera.
The W90 captures movie clips at 16:9 high-definition TV proportions (1280 x 720 pixels) at a frame rate of 30 frames per second. This mode offers a variety of editing functions: Still images can be extracted from movie clips, title images can be added to the beginning and/or end of a movie clip and more.
The Optio W90 features a 2.7-inch high-brightness colour LCD monitor, 12.1 effective megapixels, 5X zoom lens covering focal lengths the equivalent of 28-140 mm, three anti-shake systems (Pixel Track SR, High-Sensitivity anti-shake mode, Movie SR), and a Subscreen Input function allowing the user to display a thumbnail of a recorded image in the upper left corner of the LCD panel, as reference.
Also on board: Collage function to compose a single picture from multiple images; Ink Rubbing filter to create a monochromatic, high-contrast image from a recorded image; Auto Picture mode to automatically select one of the eight shooting modes for optimum result; 12 digital filters to add distinctive visual effects; Digital Wide mode to create a panoramic, ultra-wide-angle picture from two images.
Sony concept
I know nothing more than this: Sony has shown an ultra compact camera which accepts interchangeable lenses. It was announced at a press conference at the Photo Marketing Assoc. show I attended. There is no firm release date, although I suspect this fall somewhere around Photokina time, that being the big international show in Germany. The camera will use a CMOS sensor larger than that found in a conventional compact camera, and larger than that used by Olympus and Panasonic in their Micro Four Thirds cameras. It will shoot video as well as stills.
Four Canon Powershots
Canon has added four new PowerShot digital cameras to its lineup, the PowerShot SX210 IS, SD3500 IS, SD1400 IS and SD1300 IS. The new models offer increased shooting flexibility in a number of settings through advancements to the Smart Auto mode while offering greater photo personalization and enhanced creativity with new Scene Modes and Image effects. The addition of Fish-eye and Miniature Effect modes help photographers add a creative element or lend a humorous look and feel when capturing images of their favorite household pet or landscape scene.
The X210 IS, SD3500 IS and SD1400 IS offer a Face Detection self-timer, and the new Smart Shutter scene mode now has Smile and Wink self-timers where the camera looks for a wink or smile which will act as the trigger and release the camera’s shutter.
The advances to Canon’s Smart Auto mode increases the number of shooting scenarios where each PowerShot camera can automatically adjust to different lighting or movement levels to obtain the best image possible. In addition, the Smart FE (Flash Exposure) function improves image quality by automatically adding the optimum level of flash illumination, aperture, ISO and shutter speed while the Low Light Mode features a wide ISO range (up to 6400), allowing more light to be captured creating sharper more vivid images and further enhancing the overall quality.
Three of the four new cameras have the ability to shoot 720p High Definition (HD) video. With the camera tethered to a computer and using included software, movies can be uploaded directly to YouTube.
All of the new cameras will support the high-spec SDXC memory cards with a maximum storage capacity of two terabytes (TB) in SDA standard.
The PowerShot SX210 IS has a 14x optical zoom lens beginning at 28 mm (equivalent), Optical Image Stabilization, 14.1-megapixel resolution, 7.6 cm (3-inch) LCD screen with enhanced Control Dial with Hints and Tips. For shooting video, the SX210 IS has the ability to zoom optically, shoot in stereo sound and has Dynamic Mode Image Stabilization for improved image clarity.
Available in black, purple and gold, the SX210 IS is scheduled for March availability for an estimated retail price of $429.99.
The PowerShot SD3500 IS features an 8.9 cm (3.5-inch) LCD touch screen which lets users customize their photo settings by simply dragging icons to their preferred on-screen location, then utilizing “tap” operations to switch between images during playback. The camera has a 5X optical zoom lens anchored at an ultra-wide 24 mm (equivalent), with Optical Image Stabilization, 14.1-megapixel resolution and HD quality video.
Available in black, silver and pink, the PowerShot SD3500 IS has an estimated retail price of $379.99.
The PowerShot SD1400 IS is less than 2.5 cm (1 inch) thick, has a 4x optical zoom starting at 28 mm (equivalent), Optical Image Stabilization, 14.1-megapixel resolution.
Available in pink, orange, silver and black for an estimated retail price of $299.99.
The Canon PowerShot SD1300 IS features a 4x optical zoom lens anchored at 28 mm (equivalent), Optical Image Stabilization, 12.1-megapixel resolution, 6.9 cm (2.7 inch) LCD screen.
Available in silver, pink, green, blue and brown, the SD1300 IS has an estimated retail price of $249.99.
Rollei’s Sportsline 90
Rollei’s Sportsline 90 camera is waterproof and shock proof. The camera can be submerged in up to 3 meters of water and can be dropped 1 meter without being internally damaged.
This camera features eight shooting modes, including night-shot mode and sport mode.
It also has three unique flash modes.
Olympus Pen E-PL1
At $649.99 (suggested), the Olympus Pen E-PL1 is a little more downmarker than the original versions introduced last year. This third-generation Pen, says Olympus, is built for shutterbugs who always wanted better pictures and considered a DSLR, but were intimidated by the bulky size and complex interface, yet still want interchangeable lenses.
Recording HD movies is simple, thanks to an easy-to-reach red “direct button” (red record button) on the back of the camera body. If you are about to snap a photo and you realize a video would capture the spirit of the scene even better, simply press the record button and instantly you are capturing videos. Easily toggle back and forth between capturing stills and videos by using your index finger to press the shutter button or your thumb to press the red record button.
Select Live Guide and press the up and down arrows on the back of the camera to slide through numerous photographic effects. Make adjustments and watch the LCD as the effects are made live, before the image is captured.
From portraits to sunset shots, the E-PL1 is equipped with 19 Scene-Select modes, including Fireworks, Sunset, Children, Macro and Panorama, and ePortrait Mode lets you smooth your subject’s complexion.
Intelligent Auto (iAuto) Mode automatically identifies what you are shooting and adjusts settings.
Face Detection recognizes up to eight faces, tracking them within the image area, and automatically focusing and optimizing exposure for sharp portraits.
In-Camera Panorama captures three images and stitches them together to create a seamless panoramic picture. Or use the included [ib] software to stitch up to 10 images together.
iEnhance enhances the warm yellow and orange colours of a sunset, in any mode, and automatically engages when using iAuto to enrich colour in any subject.
Aha! The E-PL1 is the first camera in the Olympus Pen series with a built-in pop-up flash. The camera is also compatible with a range of optional external flashes.
At the heart of the E-PL1 is a large-size image sensor, the same as inside the E-30 and E-620 DSLRs – 12.3-megapixel Live MOS image sensor, eight times larger than the average point-and-shoot camera sensor, said to deliver excellent dynamic range, accurate colour fidelity, and with an amplifier circuit to reduce noise and capture fine image details in both highlight and shadow areas.
Image stabilization is built into the body of the E-PL1.
Continuous Autofocus (C-AF) Tracking and Autofocus (AF) Target Registration lock your subject into focus and constantly adjust focus and brightness whether you or your subject is moving. Imager Autofocus in Live View enables you to compose, focus and capture the shot without taking your eyes off the camera’s 2.7-inch LCD. The LCD also provides a viewing angle of 176 degrees.
Of course the cameras as the Olympus Dust Reduction System with Supersonic Wave Filter.
The TruePic V Image Processor handles the camera’s image processing duties.
The E-PL1 has six in-camera Art Filters, including a new one called Gentle Sepia. This filter gives your images and videos a soft, warm sepia cast similar to historical images from the early days of photography. The sepia tones are softer and the blacks are a true black, unlike traditional sepia images. The new filter joins Pop Art, Soft Focus, Pin Hole, Grainy Film and Diorama.
Other features: multiple exposures; four aspect ratios; mix stills and movies inside the camera to create a multimedia slideshow, and dub in one of three built-in dramatic background music options to provide a soundtrack.
The ED 14-42 mm f3.5/5.6 zoom lens (28-84 mm equivalent) comes with the E-PL1.
Available in March, it will come in three new body colours: black, champagne gold and slate blue.
Olympus ultra-zooms
Called ultra-zooms by Olympus, the SP-800UZ is said to be the world’s smallest 30x wide-angle optical-zoom, while the SP-600UZ is 15x. These are the equivalent of 28-840 mm for the 800UZ, and 28-420 mm on the 600UZ.
Both the shoot 720p HD videos, with the 800UZ delivering 16:9 format for playback on your high-definition television or laptop.
AF Tracking technology locks focus on fast-moving subjects, continuously adjusting focus and brightness. There’s even a specially designed “Pet Mode” for animal lovers.
In-camera Art Filters, which debuted on Olympus DSLRs last year, are found as Magic Filters on the UZs: Pop Art enhances and saturate colours to create vivid, high-impact pictures; Pin Hole reduces the peripheral brightness of an image as though it were shot through a pin hole; Fish-Eye emulates the wide-angle of a fish-eye lens by taking extremely wide, hemispherical images and magnifying the center of the frame; and Drawing, which can turn an image into a sketch outline for children to colour.
Beauty Mode enables you to soften shadows and smooth wrinkles or blemishes on your subject’s face – in-camera and before capture. Additionally, subtle edits can be made post-capture using the Beauty Fix mode. Choose “Clear Skin” to smooth a person’s complexion, “Dramatic Eye” to slightly emphasize the eyes, and “Sparkle Eye” to brighten and enhance the contrast of the iris and pupils. You also can apply all three edits at once.
The two cameras offer Shadow Adjustment Technology, which compensates for extreme contrast where the shadow areas are underexposed and lack visible detail.
The 800UZ offers a 14-megapixel image sensor, and the 600UZ a 12-megapixel image sensor, working with the TruePic III image processor. Olympus says the processor produces crystal clear photos using all the pixel information for each image to deliver superior picture quality with more accurate colours, true-to-life flesh tones and faster processing speeds. TruePic III is also said to capture crisp, clear images at high ISO settings, traditionally associated with increasing image noise or producing grainy photos.
Dual Image Stabilization combines two technologies – mechanical Sensor-Shift Image Stabilization and Digital Image Stabilization. The mechanical Sensor-Shift Image Stabilization adjusts the internal image sensor to compensate for camera movement, even in low-light conditions when shutter speeds are slower. Digital Image Stabilization freezes the action with high ISO sensitivity and fast shutter speeds.
Face Detection handles up to 16 faces within the frame and automatically focuses and optimizes exposure.
Intelligent Auto Mode automatically identifies what you are shooting (i.e., Portrait, Night + Portrait, Landscape, Macro and Sports) and adjusts the camera’s settings to capture the best quality results. In-Camera Panorama mode captures three images and stitches them together to create one panoramic picture. Press the shutter button and slowly pan across a scene; the second and third images will be captured automatically and stitched together with the first image. You can use Olympus [ib] Software to stitch up to 10 images together.
The SP-800UZ has a 3-inch LCD monitor, the SP-600UZ a 2.7-inch LCD.
The new SP cameras have the instruction manual saved on the cameras’ internal memory. No paper!
SP-800UZ estimated street price: $349.99, SP-600UZ: $249.99.
Olympus PEN E-P2
This is a surprise. Olympus has delivered the PEN E-P2 less than six months after the arrival of the E-P1, its Micro Four Thirds, interchangeable lens, non-DSLR camera. Olympus says the new camera has more power and performance.
Olympus bills the E-P2 as the world’s smallest 12.3-megapixel interchangeable lens system with In-body image stabilization. Along with high-quality stills, it also delivers High Definition (HD) video, stereo Linear PCM audio recording and a number of new features, all inside a small body.
So what do we have?
A retro black metal body reminiscent of a traditional PEN camera (from back in the film days).
An accessory port to accommodate the included detachable VF-2 electronic viewfinder (EVF) or optional external microphone adapter EMA-1. I’m on the fence with this viewfinder. I like cameras with viewfinders, but I’m not so sure I like one that looks like an add-on (which it is). Mind you, it has the retro look to it, hearkening back to the days of the wide-angle viewfinder of the old Leicas. The finder slides onto the camera’s accessory port and hot shoe,
providing 1.15x magnification, a 100 percent field of view, and what Olympus terms “amazing” resolution, brightness and contrast. The viewfinder is said to refresh quickly to minimize image ghosting on fast-moving subjects. The VF-2 rotates up to 90 degrees so you can look down into it, and the built-in diopter adjustment and high magnification offer easy viewing with and without glasses. If you don’t want to spring for the accessory viewfinder, remember the camera has a 3-inch full colour HyperCrystal LCD.
A newly-developed continuous autofocus (C-AF) tracking system which tracks the subject across or back-and-forward through the frame.
Two new art filters: Diorama and Cross Process for both still and video.
iEnhance to automatically adjust colour and contrast for a more dramatic effect. iEnhance analyzes colours and brightness. The new mode mimics what the naked eye sees. For example, a sunset looks awesome in person and generally seems to fade when captured in an image. With iEnhance, the warm yellow and orange colours are heightened to be brilliant and closer to the actual scene. The result is exceptionally clear imaging with a dramatically lifelike colour, says Olympus. iEnhance can be used in any shooting mode – from program to manual – and automatically engages when in iAuto.
Full manual control of shutter/aperture in Movie Mode.
HDMI Control of camera playback functions using the TV remote when the camera is connected to an HDTV.
The E-P2 comes with either the 14-42 mm f/3.5-5.6 (28-84mm equivalent) lens or 17 mm f/2.8 (34 mm equivalent) lens.
Olympus says the E-P2 provides the same image quality as current Four Thirds format E-System cameras because it has the same image sensor size as the E-30 and E-620 DSLRs. This 12.3-megapixel Live MOS image sensor delivers excellent dynamic range, accurate colour fidelity, and a state-of-the-art amplifier circuit to reduce noise and capture fine image details in both highlight and shadow areas.
The E-P2’s Live MOS image sensor is complemented by Olympus’ TruePic V Image Processor, noted for accurate natural colour, true-to-life flesh tones, brilliant blue skies and precise tonal expression; it also lowers image noise in photos shot at higher ISO settings (ISO 100 to ISO 6400), for low light situations.
The camera has 19 scene-select modes, including standard scene modes like Night-Scene, Portrait and Landscape, as well as ePortrait Mode. The latter lets you smooth your subject’s skin, in-camera, and before capture. Additional edits can be made post-capture using the ePortrait mode.
Shadow Adjustment Technology adjusts for extreme light variations and maintains visible detail in both the shadow and highlight areas of the scene.
The E-P2’s Face Detection system recognizes up to eight people’s faces and the background, tracking the faces within the image area, even if people are moving, and automatically focusing and optimizing exposure.
Intelligent Auto Mode automatically identifies what you are shooting (Portrait, Landscape, Night + Portrait, Macro, Sports) and adjusts settings to capture the best result depending on the situation.
The Olympus E-P2 will be available in December. E-P2 Body with ED 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 Zuiko lens and electronic viewfinder has an estimated street price of $1,099.99.
Olympus zoom lenses coming
We’re a little ahead of the game here. Olympus will be releasing two new Micro Four Thirds System lenses in the first half of 2010. The M. Zuiko Digital ED 9-18 mm f/4.0-5.6 lens (18-36 mm equivalent) and M. Zuiko Digital ED 14-150 mm f/4.0-5.6 lens (28-300 mm equivalent) are going to offer “amazing optical performance in an extraordinarily compact and lightweight design,” says the company. Note these lenses are designed for the smaller PEN cameras (E-P1 and E-P2). That means a much smaller design than the Four Thirds System standard, accomplished by reducing the outer diameter of the lens mount by 6 mm, and the distance from the lens mount to the focal plane (the flange back distance) by approximately half.
The 9-18 mm lens will be about 50 mm long (less than two inches), while the 14-150 will have a lens barrel diameter of about 65 mm (2.5 inches). As Olympus notes, that latter lens could just be left on one of the E-P cameras; it covers almost all the bases.
And if that 9-18 is anything like the one designed for the Four Thirds system, then it will be a hands down winner.
Both lenses will use ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass elements to suppress the colour aberration that can degrade image quality, and will work on any Micro Four Thirds camera.
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