Wednesday 29 January 2014

Olympus M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 14‑42mm 1:3.5‑5.6 EZ first thoughts, compact standard zoom

Every thing in camera equipment these days have to get smaller and smaller. Here is Olympus answer to the standard zoom lens in a small size. Panasonic have a similar model at the same price, but it hasn't gotten good reviews, so the Olympus lens have a good option
Olympus M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 14-42mm 1:3.5-5.6 EZ product image


I don't expect it to be much better than the Panasonic lens, but we might be surprised when it hit the market and gets through tests.

Follow the Olympus M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 14‑42mm 1:3.5‑5.6 EZ at Olympus Index.


Olympus M.Zuiko DIGITAL 25mm f/1.8 first thoughts, expensive standard lens

If you just want a standard lens for you micro four third system (50mm in the 35mm world) there isn't many choices. Before today it was only Panasonic that had a true "50mm" lens, but today came the Olympus 25mm and as the Panasonic hasn't been the perfect lens there is a market for this lens.

Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 25mm f/1.8 product image
The Olympus lens is one stop slower than the Panasonic lens, but at the same time cost less than the Panasonic lens. It is still an expensive lens when you look at what a standard "50mm" lens cost in other systems.

Follow the Olympus M.Zuiko DIGITAL 25mm f/1.8 at Olympus Index.


Olympus OM-D E-M10 first thoughts, great product at a great price

A new little brother in the OM-D line from Olympus looks like it is a great deal for those that are looking for a Olympus camera.
Olmpus OM-D E-M10 product image from front

It is clear better than the almost two year old E-M5 and for most photographers it is a great deal compared to the E-M1, but you might miss some of the power features of the E-M1. The viewfinder in E-M1 is better, it is faster and a better camera for action photography, but the E-M10 is still a great deal of a camera for those that want a mirrorless micro four third camera.


Follow the Olympus OM-D E-M10 at Olympus Index.

Here are some interesting compares with other camera models:




Tuesday 28 January 2014

Fujifilm X-T1 first thoughts, Weather Resistant does it make a difference?

A camera long rumored was announced today and there wasn't really any secrets about the cameras that wasn't known before today. It was a smart trick by Fujifilm as it has gotten a lot of mentions, so it is off to a good start, but does the camera hold up to the hype?

Fujfilm X-T1 product image from front



The camera is listed as being weather resistant, but as far as I know most of the lenses from Fujifilm hasn't gotten the same feature, so does it make a difference that the camera body is? I have always have cameras that were listed as being weather resistant, but I think I treat the camera the same way as I would a model that doesn't have it. I protect the camera and try not to expose it. Why? Well I think I just don't want to hit the point where I have to send the camera for a repair and try to convince the camera maker that it wasn't my fault.


Follow the Fujifilm X-T1 at Fujifilm Index.


Here are some interesting compares with other camera models:




Tuesday 14 January 2014

AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR II first thoughts (best start lens?)

With the new Nikon D3300 came a new start lens to be sold with camera and other DX cameras from Nikon. The is very compact and shows promise of great performance.

AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR II product image
The previous 18-55 VR lens from Nikon had great performance and is/was a good lens to start with. It looks like Nikon has taken this a step forward with out the same lens construction, just in a smaller form factor.

And a look at the MTF charts shows promise of better performance, so this could turn out to be a great deal lens to start with. We will have to wait for reviews before we give it the final judgement...

Follow the AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR II at Nikon Index.


Here are some interesting compares with other models:




Sunday 12 January 2014

AF-S NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G ED first thoughts (killer lens?)

Is the AF-S NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G ED the next 1.8 lens in the line of upgrades that Nikon has done, where the 1.8 version is better or almost as good as the more expensive 1.4 version?

AF-S NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G ED product image


The current line-up of 1.8 lens that counts the 28mm, 50mm and 85mm all got a great reputation where you really have to need a the extra stop from the 1.4 or are working as a professional photographer. We wouldn't know before this lens is put the test, but it looks like it could be another killer 1.8 lens from Nikon and at a great price.

I think we can expect a lens that performs great, but might just be a little bit worse when it comes to bokeh and the color reproduction. Only time will tell.

Follow the AF-S NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G ED at Nikon Index.


Here are some interesting compares with other lenses:




Nikon D3300 first thoughts (small upgrade and better than the Nikon D3200)

If you look at the Nikon D3300 and compare it to the older model and even some of the other models that Nikon has you start to wonder what is really new with this model and why did Nikon release it? Well it all comes down to two things. One (and most important is to get the attention it a competitive marketplace. This is just easier with a newer camera instead of a model that is 1½ years old. Second could be internal optimization, where the sensor looks like it being maybe the same as a couple of the other models, so Nikon might with this model save some money on production cost.

  Nikon D3300 product image from front

So what is really new here. Well the ISO got pump up, so it is the same as bigger models like Nikon D5300 and Nikon D7100. This is both in video and picture mode.

The speed of the camera is faster with the same Exceed processor as again the bigger models mentioned before. This means a little bit more fps as the most important thing.

And maybe the most important factor with the new camera is that it is smaller. Nikon is feeling the heat from the mirrorless market and have to think more about size and weight.

A small fun new feature is the panorama mode that is know from smartphones and other cameras. I
wonder if it really get used that much.

Really looks like a great buy for people that wants to have more control with a small DSLR camera. I am sure that Nikon will sell a lot of this camera.

Follow the Nikon D3300 at Nikon Index.

Here are some interesting compares with other camera models: