New Cameras - Panasonic GX8 and FZ300K

Panasonic has announced two new cameras- The GX8 and the FZ300Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX8 Mirrorless Micro Four Thirds Digital CameraPanasonic GX8Basically this is a little brother to the GH4 in size/shape that offers some significant advances in features and I believe tips the hand off what Panasonic will offer in the GH5.

  • 20.3 MP Digital Live MOS Sensor (the first 20MP sensor in 4/3, previous sensors were 16MP)
  • Tilting 2.36m-Dot 0.77x OLED EVF (The viewfinder is capable of tilting 90 degrees)
  • 3.0" 1.04m-Dot Vari-Angle Touchscreen (full articulated and touch to focus)
  • 4K UHD Video Recording at 30/24 fps (4K video and 4k photo modes)
  • Built-In Wi-Fi Connectivity with NFC
  • 10 fps Shooting with AF-S and ISO 25600
  • DFD AF System (Significantly Improved autofocus system)
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization, Dual I.S. (In body image stabilization also works in conjunction with IS enabled lenses for additional stabilization)
  • Splash proof magnesium alloy construction

Preorder from B&H Photo for $1197.99 Body Only - Shipping August 15thPanasonic GX8 Panasonic GX8Preorder from B&H Photo for $1197.99 Body Only - Shipping August 15th 

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300 Digital Camera

These superzoom cameras continue to improve and while not at the level of a DSLR with massive zoom lens they do offer excellent image quality, crazy amount of zoom in a reasonable size, weight and priced package.Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300 Digital Camera

  • 12.1 MP 1/2.3" MOS Sensor
  • Venus Engine Image Processor
  • Leica DC Vario-Elmarit f/2.8 Lens 25mm-600mm (35mm Equivalent)
  • 1.44m-Dot 0.7x OLED EVF
  • 3.0" 1.04m-Dot Free Angle Touchscreen
  • 4K UHD Video Recording at 30 fps
  • Built-In Wi-Fi Connectivity
  • ISO 6400, 12 fps Shooting, 4K Photo Mode
  • 5-Axis HYBRID O.I.S.+, DFD AF System

Depth-From-Defocus AF TechnologyFor accelerated autofocus performance, DFD (Depth-From-Defocus) technology is employed to quickly calculate the distance to subjects and adjust the focusing position to benefit continuous shooting and movie recording modes. This contrast-detection type focus method also benefits subject tracking performance for maintaining sharp focus on moving subjects. Additionally, supporting working in low-light conditions, a Starlight AF feature enables accurate AF performance in dim environments.Assisting manual focus operation, focus peaking is available that highlights bright edges of contrast with a colored outline for quickly recognizing your focus point, as well as Touch MF Assist for touch-to-focus operation.Preorder from B&H Photo for $597.99 Body Only - Shipping August 15thScreenshot 2015-07-16 09.18.48 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300 Digital CameraPreorder from B&H Photo for $597.99 Body Only - Shipping August 15th

New Bags from ThinkTank - Trifecta Series 8, 10

Trifecta-8-Mirrorless-Backpack-1 Trifecta-10-DSLR-Backpack-1

Our friends at Think Tank Photo have just released two new backpacks designed to allow you three different ways to get at your three “workhorse” lenses.  The Trifecta 10 is designed for DSLR systems, and the Trifecta 8 is designed for mirrorless systems. These innovative backpacks sling for side access from both the left and right. They are the perfect carrying solution for when you are on the move and don’t want to have to take off your backpack to access your gear. The rear panel opening offers complete access to gear.  And don’t forget that when you use my link you receive free gear with your order as well as free shipping.Trifecta lowresShop Trifecta Series and All ThinkTank Bags at ThinkTank or Buy from B&H Photo Video

Sony A7R II - Focus Test with Canon Lenses

Gordon Laing at Cameralabs.com has had his hands on the Sony A7r II and share with us some focus speed samples with the camera and canon 24mm f/2.8 IS lens attached via Metabones.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdhvDg2dkiMhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?t=41&v=Ew05lerH-MQ The results seem impressive.Preorders for this camera are now accepted. Shipping in Late July, Early August.Preorder from B&H Photo Video

Sony a7R Mark II - Video Preview

Preorder link: http://bit.ly/Sonya7Rm2ORDER NOW- Availability will be limited. Shipping in late July.

 Sony has announced the a7 Mark II and it offers a serious and significant upgrade to the original Sony a7R. I run through the spec lists and share why this may be the camera so many of us Canon photographers are waiting for.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Am2oyKtz5L4 Preorder link: http://bit.ly/Sonya7Rm2Support my work- buy fromB&H: http://bit.ly/TobysBHgearAmazon: http://geni.us/DPRAmazon

Sony A7R II - Serious Mirrorless Camera

Sony A7r III am a fan of the Sony A7 series. My most recent review of the Sony a7 Mark II and last year I reviewed the 36MP Sony a7R. Sony has now announced the successor - the a7R II with some serious upgrades that challenge all full frame cameras, including DSLRS currently on the market.Sony a7R II Specs:

  • 42 MP Full-Frame Exmor R BSI CMOS Sensor (BSI means Back Side Illuminated which means better low light performance)
  • ISO expandable to 102,400
  • BIONZ X Image Processor
  • Internal UHD 4K Video & S-Log2 Gamma - 4K video with professional codec and profiles
  • 5-Axis SteadyShot INSIDE Stabilization- Stabilization in body like the Sony a7 Mark II
  • 399 Phase-Detect AF Points & 5 fps Burst - Focusing system is 40% improved over Sony a7R which was rather slow)
  • 0.5" 2.36M-Dot XGA OLED Tru-Finder EVF -world's highest viewfinder magnification at 0.78x
  • 3.0" 1,228.8k-Dot Tilting LCD Monitor
  • Silent Shutter Mode
  • Durable Reduced-Vibration Shutter Design
  • Built-In Wi-Fi Connectivity with NFC

 Sony has seriously packed in the features in this camera, providing a much more well rounded offering that can handle anything. The original a7r felt like a landscape camera only with it's slow operation and didn't provide great video options. Now we have significantly faster focusing system and the ability to shoot 29minutes of 4K!  And a full frame BSI sensor - this is going to provide some excellent low light performance. Honestly I am a bit stunned by everything they have packed in here and putting this camera side by side with current Canon cameras like the 5D Mark III, the 5Ds and 5Dsr and the rumored specs of the Canon 5D Mark IV. . . it is not pretty- No 4K, I doubt drastic improvements in low light performance. Sure the 5DS series offers great megapixels but low light performance and dynamic range are about the same as the 5D Mark III and when I did my testing versus the A7r last year the low light performance and the Dynamic range of the Sony a7r was significantly better.   Usually the response to battles of Sony vs Canon is Canon has the lenses but again that is changing as I look around our office at the Sigma lenses we use at each wedding and the fact that Sony has made huge improvements on focusing with adapters - in fact they have demoed using Canon glass with a metabones adapter and focus is significantly improved.The Sony a7R II will be available for Preorder in June and shipping in August.   Check it out on B&H Photo Video Price: $3,198.00For reference the Canon 5D Mark III was $3,499 when first release and the Canon 5Ds and 5Dsr are $3,699 and $3,899.  You can buy a nice lens for $700 dollars and as it looks right now- get a better all around camera for most people's needs. Sony Videoshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Jor_WkheaE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FZW09bD0m4   

Should You Buy a Kit Lens?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcR5-DNktVgKit lenses are bad and should be avoided at all costs. . . or do they represent a perfectly decent option for beginners to DSLRS and ILCs? I lay out several reasons why I think most beginners should pick up a kit lens with their DSLR. Additional Reading/Viewing:Recommended lenses for Nikon including the 35mm f/1.8https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSJ4trhBfFQCanon 50mm f/1.8 STM Video Reviewhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5EoXor3x44Canon 24mm and other Prime Lenseshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Lra2-HWww0  

Fujifilm X-T10 Mirrorless Announced

Fuji has announced a smaller, cheaper version of their much loved X-T1.Why is the X-T1 much loved?  An excellent sensor, nice manual controls with a good ecosystem of lenses, including two well performing kit lenses 18-55 and 18-135 all wrapped up in a retro styled weather sealed body offering an amazing viewfinder.What you need to know: The Fuji X-T10 offers the same sensor (APS-C) and many of the same features as the X-T1 in a body that is smaller, lighter, cheaper. Part of the savings comes from a cheaper kit lens, though you can buy the X-T10 with more expensive 18-55 that comes with the X-T1 now.

  • 16.3 MP APS-C X-Trans CMOS II Sensor (same sensor as X-T1)
  • EXR Processor II (same processor as X-T1)
  • 0.39" 2,360k-Dot 0.62x OLED Viewfinder (slightly smaller viewfinder vs X-T1)
  • 3.0" 920k-Dot Tilting LCD Monitor (Same LCD as X-T1)
  • Full HD 1080p Video Recording at 60 fps (Same as X-T1)
  • Built-In Wi-Fi Connectivity (Same as X-T1)
  • Intelligent Hybrid AF with 77 Areas (Same as X-T1)
  • Up to 8 fps Shooting and ISO 51200 (Same as X-T1)
  • Film Simulation Mode, Electronic Shutter (Same as X-T1)
  • Fujinon XC 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OIS II Lens (Cheaper kit lens. X-T1 is offered with 18-55 f/2.8-4 lens)

Fuji X-T10 Kit Fuji X-T10 Top Fuji X-T10 KitFujifilm X-T10 Mirrorless Digital Camera with 16-50mm Lens Preorder from B&H Photo $899  ($799 with body only) or buy with the nicer 18-55 f/2.8-4 for $1099.00  SHIPPING JUNE 18This price point hits a sweet spot that brings everything excellent about the X-T1 into the realm of entry level DSLRs. You give up the weather sealing, a slightly larger viewfinder, compatibility with the battery grip but you get an excellent sensor in a well built camera that belongs to a solid ecosystem of excellent lenses and offers the updated AF system that brings it on par with the Sony a6000. The Sony a6000 remains my pick for all around mirrorless camera but photographers that crave a better viewfinder and more manual control this is a better option and provides a little more room to grow as a photographer with additional fast lenses that Sony doesn't have in their line up. Watch my Review/Interview with Photographer Nathan Smith on his X-T1https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xF09VBxakIk  

Sony a7 Mark II Tips - Better Battery Life & More

Quick tips for a better experience with the Sony a7 Mark IISony a7 Mark II Tips

  1. Back Button Focus (more about back button focus)
  2. Set center button for quick focus point selection
  3. In low light use center of frame for faster and more accurate focusing
  4. Increase battery life
    1. Turn of Pre-AF
    2. Turn ON Airplane Mode
    3. Buy a USB battery backup to charge your camera while out and about. Recommended USB Battery: Buy from B&H
  5. Buy a prime lens - I recommend the Sony 35mm f/2.8: Buy from B&H

Have a tip? Leave a comment.

Sony a7 Mark II Review

After using the Sony a7 Mark II for several weeks I share my full review of this full frame mirrorless camera. How does the Sony a7 Mark II compare against the Canon 5D Mark III, my pro/con list and a discussion of where this camera fits in the current market of DSLR and Mirrorless cameras.Video Review: Sony a7 Mark IISony a7 Mark II Features:

  • 24MP (100 - 25,600) Low 50, 64, 80
  • 117 Phase detect / 25 Contrast Detect (center frame)
  • In-body image stabilization IBIS 5-axis ~ rated 4.5 stops
  • 1080 60p & XAVC S Codec 50MB/s bit rate
  • Weather sealed
  • 350 shots battery life
  • 1.32 lbs (598 grams)

Sony a7 Mark II Changes from Sony a7 - Or what the Mark II offers over the original a7

  • 30% faster focusing
  • In-body image stabilization IBIS 5-axis ~ 4.5 stops
  • XAVC S Codec 50MB/s bit rate - better quality video
  • Greater use of magnesium alloy in build construction
  • 350 shots battery life a7 Mark II vs 340 shots in a7
  • Redesign grip for, larger, feels better in hand.
  • Heavier, 1.32 lbs vs 1.04lbs

In my experience the focusing is better, the camera feels much nicer in the hand and the in-body image stabilization allows for excellent versatility and makes using older manual lenses more useful.Sony a7 Mark II vs Sony a7 Sony a7 Mark II Pros:

  • Travel friendly - smaller and lighter than most full frame cameras, can even fit in some jacket pockets, especially when using the excellent Sony Sonnar T* FE 35mm f/2.8 ZA Lens
  • IBIS + shoot with fast prime! - Handheld slow shutter speeds shots are possible, also useful for handheld video (see sample a7 Mark II images)
  • Capable AF system - for general photography and street photography the AF system is fast enough to avoid any frustrating experiences.
  • Peaking and Magnification - additional manual focus aids can be easily assigned custom buttons for quick access and add to your focusing confidence.
  • Very good image quality, fairly clean at higher ISOs (see sample a7 Mark II images)
  • Excellent dynamic range in the RAW files (see sample a7 Mark II images)
  • Easy wireless control and photo transfer via NFC & WiFi

Sony a7 Mark II Cons:

  • Battery Life is short. buy a spare or two and/or carry a USB battery with you to charge the camera
  • Focus- Still not as fast a DSLR and not capable of capturing action or sports reliably.
    • Setting point - No dedicated button for focus point selection (see a7 Mark II tips)
    • Using single point in low light - Camera struggles in low light focusing outside the center area
  • Lens Selection- Sony's selection of native FE lenses is growing but significantly less options than Canon or Nikon offers
  • Pay for apps / Play memories store -I am annoyed that buying an intervalometer costs $9.99 in the app store.
  • Lack of touchscreen and Sony menu system is dense, it would be nice to have the option to touch to focus and a better designed menu system for easy setup.
  • Silly SDcard reqs for XAVC S Codec- You will not have the option of using XAVC S with cards smaller than 64GBs
  • Video Moire - The Morie during video is very noticeable in some situations.

 Sony a7 Mark II Bottom Line:The sony a7 Mark II is an excellent travel and general photography camera offering full frame image quality at a value with the ability to use small fast primes and still have stabilized shots as a nice bonus.  This is my current pick out of all the Sony a7 series cameras unless you are serious about video, consider the sony a7s if that is the case.Support my work-Buy from B&H PhotoSony a7 Mark II from B&H

Blackmagic Nab announcements - 38 New Products!!

NAB - National Association of Broadcasters is happening this week and that means lots of video related announcements.   Blackmagic is making sure of that with 38 new products!   I have highlighted a few below as well as included the complete product list email from Blackmagic.Blackmagic Design Micro Cinema CameraBlackmagic Design Micro Cinema Camera  

  • Super 16mm-Sized Image Sensor
  • Active Micro Four Thirds Lens Mount
  • 13 Stops of Dynamic Range
  • Global and Rolling Shutter Switchable
  • Records Full HD 1920x1080 CinemaDNG RAW
  • Apple ProRes 422 (HQ) at 220 Mbps
  • Ultra-Compact Design
  • Expansion Port with Radio Control Ports
  • SDHC/SDXC Memory Card Slot
  • HDMI & Composite Output, 3.5mm Audio In

This tiny little camera is meant to be controlled by a connected computer or interface - no screen, just a sensor, Micro F/T, great for getting high quality video in remote locations - like drone work.  Radio controlled ports allow for remote control of various camera functions.Screenshot 2015-04-13 21.46.45Expected availability: Mid July 2015 | Preorder from B&H for $995

Blackmagic Design Micro Studio Camera 4K

Screenshot 2015-04-13 21.51.22

  • Active Micro Four Thirds Lens Mount
  • Resolutions Up to 3840x2160 at 30 fps
  • 10-Bit 4:2:2 6G-SDI Video I/O
  • Ultra-Compact Design
  • SDI Remote Control Protocols
  • PTZ Serial Output & B4 Data Link
  • Built-In Talkback
  • HDMI Monitor Output, 3.5mm Audio In
  • Built-In Color Corrector
  • Canon LP-E6 Battery Slot

Similar to the Cinema, this small, screenless camera is designed for remote control and live broadcasting with 4k Resolutions supported and SDI output.Screenshot 2015-04-13 21.51.28Available in Mid- July for $1,295.00 Preorder from B&H 

Blackmagic Video Assist

High resolution, large monitor with recording capabilities!Blackmagic Video AssistBlackmagic Video Assist

  • 5 inch 1080p Touchscreen with SDcard Recording
  • Codec Support: 10-bit 4:2:2 ProRes & DNxHD

Now word yet on price or availability.From Blackmagic:It’s NAB 2015 time and we have some very exciting new products this year and I wanted to update you on all the details!This year we are introducing an amazing new 4.6K image sensor with 15 stops of dynamic range for URSA cameras, three whole new cameras, a massive update to DaVinci Resolve, and a whole range of 12G-SDI products for broadcast, post production and live production.In total we are introducing 38 new products today so it’s very exciting! This does mean that this email update is quite long, however it’s easy to scroll through to the products you are interested in reading about!Each of these products has been a major engineering development and we feel we have really innovated in technology, industrial design and the user experience in every single one!A great example is DaVinci Resolve. Over the years we have worked hard to build in improvements in each release, however this year I feel we have added more new features to DaVinci Resolve than we have in the last 5 years combined.The new DaVinci Resolve 12 truly is now the world's most powerful professional editor and it has over 80 new features including multi-cam, 3D keying, 3D tracking, pro audio with third party audio plug-ins, parameters in the timeline, more trimming modes than any other editor and much much more. Even its user interface has been refined and is dramatically more elegant than ever before.The new products we are announcing are:

  • - Blackmagic URSA 4.6K Models
  • - Blackmagic URSA Viewfinder
  • - Blackmagic URSA Mini
  • - Blackmagic Micro Cinema Camera
  • - Blackmagic Micro Studio Camera
  • - DaVinci Resolve 12
  • - Fusion 8 Studio
  • - Blackmagic Video Assist
  • - Teranex Mini 12G-SDI Converters
  • - ATEM Broadcast Studio 4K
  • - HyperDeck Studio 12G
  • - Smart Videohub 12G 40x40
  • - Smart Videohub CleanSwitch 12x12
  • - ATEM Talkback Converter 4K
  • - UltraStudio 4K Extreme
  • - DeckLink 4K Pro

New Blackmagic URSA 4.6K CamerasWhen we introduced our URSA high end digital film camera last year, it was designed to be user upgradable. The reason for this is we had secretly been working on a whole new generation of sensor technology that we wanted all URSA customers to have, without obsoleting the camera.The great news is the millions of dollars we have invested in this new sensor have turned out wonderfully. It’s exactly as we hoped, the new sensor is 4.6K resolution and it has an amazing 15 stops of dynamic range. We have been shooting with the new sensor and have posted a video on the URSA page of our web site if you want to check it out.The new 4.6K image sensor features a Super 35 size with a resolution of 4608 x 2592 at 120 frames per second. With an extremely wide 15 stops of dynamic range it really rivals most traditional 35mm film stock.We are introducing 2 new models of Blackmagic URSA camera with this 4.6K sensor. The Blackmagic URSA 4.6K EF model will be available for $6,995 and the Blackmagic URSA 4.6K PL will be available for $7,495. Both 4.6K models will initially start with limited availability shipments in June and ramp up to full volume late July and into August.If you already own an URSA, then you will be able to upgrade to the new 4.6K sensor for $1,995 for the EF lens mount and $2,495 for the PL lens mount. All you will need to do is purchase this “4.6K turret upgrade” and then you can replace the turret on your URSA cameras to get this new higher performance image sensor. This new 4.6K turret upgrade is also gives you the ability to choose between the EF or PL models if you want to change from the mount you currently own.What’s exciting is we are also reducing the price of the current shipping 4K models of Blackmagic URSA EF and PL cameras by $1,000. This means if you don’t have an URSA, it’s now more affordable than ever. Plus currently the URSA 4.6K EF is the same price as the URSA 4K EF plus the 4.6K Turret Upgrade so that means you can get started at 4K and then upgrade later if you need the extra dynamic range!These new Blackmagic URSA 4.6K EF and PL models will be available in late July. We will have some limited quantities of the new 4.6K sensor sooner but we would like to reserve them for current URSA customers who want to upgrade.Also, please note we have just released a new update for the URSA 4K models that adds new features and frame rates. Please check out support page for details if you have an URSA camera.https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/blackmagicursaBlackmagic URSA ViewfinderWhen we originally designed URSA, we included an SDI output, power connector and mounting position for a viewfinder on the front of the camera. Now we are introducing our new Blackmagic URSA Viewfinder which is designed to be a perfect match to the URSA camera.The Blackmagic URSA Viewfinder has been designed to meet the needs of high end cinematographers as it has a high resolution 1920 x 1080 color OLED display. This means the display is so sharp you cannot see the pixels and so it’s very similar to using an optical viewfinder.The viewfinder also has proper custom designed precision glass optics as well as a finely adjustable diopter and built in digital focus chart so you can get perfect focus for your eye. There is also a sensor so the OLED is only turned on when you are using the viewfinder. It works really well and preserves OLED life.It simply bolts onto the front of the URSA camera and then the SDI and power plug into the sockets on the side. It’s adjustable for left and right eye use and there are built in overlays, focus zooming, focus peaking and a tally record light on the viewfinder as well.The Blackmagic URSA Viewfinder will be available in July for $1,495https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/blackmagicursaBlackmagic URSA MiniWhen we introduced our first Blackmagic Cinema Camera, we really designed it to be hand held, like how a DLSR is used, but its was a true digital film camera with wide dynamic range. Of course a lot of people wanted to use it shoulder mounted and tripod mounted and it was not as good for that kind of use.Our URSA camera solved these issues, however URSA is designed for a larger crew so it has multiple screens, scopes, high performance and higher frame rates and more. This makes it larger and not as portable as the original Blackmagic Cinema Camera.The result of all this work is URSA Mini. It’s a portable URSA based digital film camera, and while it does not have all the features of URSA, it has a lot and it uses the same sensors and core processing of URSA. It features magnesium alloy for its design so it’s very small and very lightweight which is perfect for portable and hand held use.URSA Mini features the same 4K and 4.6K sensor options as URSA and is compatible with the new Blackmagic URSA Viewfinder. It features frame rates up to 60 fps, and it has a bright 5 inch full HD touch screen that folds out and angles. Like URSA, URSA Mini also has dual CFast card recorders so you can continue to record while changing cards and uses the same battery options.URSA and URSA Mini shoot the same looking images so you can easily use both cameras on the same shoot and intercut the shots perfectly.URSA Mini is a true digital film camera so it can be used on feature films, television shows, commercials, indies, documentaries, music videos and more. The stunning quality of the 4.6K sensor with 15 stops of dynamic range really lets you capture cinematic shots, while its small size is perfect for solo shooting or intimate handheld shots.URSA Mini has multiple mounting points so it can be easily accessorized with lenses, rails, matte boxes and more. There is an optional Blackmagic URSA Mini Shoulder Kit, which features a shoulder pad with a quick release mount built into it so it can go from handheld to shoulder or to a tripod without changing any of the rig. The shoulder kit has been designed specifically for URSA Mini so when its used and the Blackmagic URSA Viewfinder is added, this camera looks amazing!It has an included side handle as standard that has a LANC based record, focus and iris buttons, however when the shoulder kit is used, you can relocate that handle to one of the front rosettes and really hold the camera well on your shoulder. It’s a great shoulder mounted camera rig!There are 4 models of URSA Mini as there is two lens mounts and two sensor options. URSA Mini 4K EF is $2,995, URSA Mini 4K PL is $3,495. With the new 4.6K sensor, URSA Mini 4.6K EF is $4,995 and URSA Mini 4.6K PL is $5,495. URSA Mini will be available late July and a lot more information is available on our URSA Mini web site below.https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/blackmagicursaminiBlackmagic Micro Cinema CameraOur Pocket Cinema Camera has been popular because it’s an incredibly tiny digital film camera that’s super portable. It does not even look like a digital film camera!It’s a great handheld design, however, it’s also been used for shooting remote shots and it was not really designed for that. So we have been working on a digital film camera that’s specifically designed for remote shooting, and it’s even smaller!The result is the Blackmagic Micro Cinema Camera, which is a miniaturized Super 16mm professional digital film camera with a new expansion port that lets you use PWM and S.Bus model airplane remote controls to operate the camera wirelessly for capturing action anywhere.What this means is you can use the same low cost radio control gear that hobbyists use for model aircraft and quadcopters. Normally these receivers plug into “servos” which generate movement when the user adjusts a knob on the hand held transmitter. These connections use a voltage called PVM and we have the same connection on the Micro Cinema Camera. So this means you can plug into the camera and control the camera remotely.You can even map what camera feature you want on what channel. So you could map the lens to adjust iris or focus. You could use a channel to start and stop recording, so you don’t fill the SD Card with RAW or ProRes files before you are ready for your shot!To see what the camera is doing, it has a full sized HDMI connector and it even has composite NTSC/PAL out so you can use a low cost hobbyist video transmitter to see what the camera is doing and confirm its recording. Imagine having live feeds back from the camera when its in all kinds of hard to reach locations. I think its going to be exciting to see where this camera is mounted and what kinds of shots it gets.Because it has an MFT lens mount you can put all kinds of really professional lenses on it, and adapt it easily to other lens mounts. On this camera we even put the buttons on the front of the camera so when it’s mounted on a wall or in a car, you can just start recording from the front. It also has a tally light on the front so you can see if its recording.Image quality wise, its a true digital film camera because it has a wide 13 stops of dynamic range. This means it’s a big improvement in image quality over consumer “action-cam’s” so you can get all those high energy shots, without the consumer look.The Blackmagic Micro Cinema Camera will be available in July for $995.https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/blackmagicmicrocinemacameraBlackmagic Micro Studio Camera 4KWith such a small Micro Cinema Camera design, we quickly realized that if we removed the built in recorder and digital film sensor cooling and replaced with SDI connections and a 4K video image sensor, we could build a really small studio camera for live production!The Blackmagic Micro Studio Camera 4K looks the same as the new Micro Cinema Camera but it’s really a completely different camera because its a broadcast quality Ultra HD studio camera!Although you can use it with an external recorder as a production camera, it’s really designed to be used in live production with a live production switcher. It has an Ultra HD sensor so it works in native Ultra HD and of course with a sensor at that high resolution, it makes an incredible HD camera also!Because it’s a live camera, it’s features are almost identical to our Blackmagic Studio Camera 4K. It has SDI in and out, a built in color corrector and all the control to the camera can be sent via the SDI input so it uses the same SDI control protocol as our studio cameras and ATEM switchers. It uses 6G-SDI, so supports all Ultra HD frame rates up to 30 fps, but it does 1080 HD frame rates up to 60 fps using the full sensor size.It includes an expansion connector, but it’s also different. This camera has a PTZ serial connection out and this can be used for controlling a remote head. Any pan, tilt and zoom commands sent to the camera via SDI from the switcher will be output on this PTZ connection and if you have a zoomable MFT lens, it will adjust the zoom on the lens as well.Also on the expansion connector is a B4 lens control connection so we can control broadcast lenses. We have been asked for this a lot by high end broadcasters and now with this camera and the B4 lens connection you can use add accessories to turn this camera into a fully featured studio camera. Imagine using it as a full sized studio camera with external monitor and broadcast lens. Or using it on set concealed so you can get all kinds of exciting and interesting camera angles!The Blackmagic Micro Studio Camera 4K will be available in July for $1,295.https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/blackmagicmicrostudiocamera4kDaVinci Resolve 12We have worked incredibly hard on the new DaVinci Resolve 12 and we now believe we have the world’s most powerful editor. Combined with the worlds most powerful color correction toolset, it really is an exciting update. And its free!DaVinci Resolve 12 has over 80 new features including a new modern interface, multi-cam editing, powerful new media management tools, an entirely new professional audio engine with support for VST/AU plug-ins, automatic shot matching, 3D keyer, new 3D perspective tracker, enhanced curve editing and so much more.DaVinci Resolve 12 features a new, modern interface with a lighter overall color scheme and has been designed to look great on high DPI monitors. New top down navigation speeds up layout selections and also gives users more flexibility to customize their workspace.The new multi-camera editing feature of DaVinci Resolve 12 lets editors cut programs from multiple sources in real time. There are a lot of improvements in editing including all trim modes, multi-slip, slide, ripple and roll have been extended and editors can now select multiple points for dynamic trimming and asymmetric trimming of clips, even if they’re on the same track.Timelines can be nested, edited together and expanded or collapsed in place to greatly simplify editing of large multi scene projects. New transition curves let editors create and edit custom curves for transition parameters and new on-screen controls let editors see and adjust motion paths directly in the timeline viewer.DaVinci Resolve 12 includes an entirely new, high performance audio engine that offers higher sampling rates and greatly improved realtime audio playback performance, including reverse playback and tape style slow motion scrubbing during dynamic JKL trimming. Both VST and AU audio plug-ins, along with their custom interfaces, are now supported and can be used on individual clips or entire tracks. Audio parameter adjustments can be recorded and now contain editable automation and full curve editor support. For the first time, editors will be able to export projects directly to ProTools via AAF for audio finishing.Media Management in DaVinci Resolve 12 has been redesigned to accommodate editorial workflows. Customers can now manage projects and media using new copy, move, transcode, relink and consolidate tools. Whole projects, including media can be archived and restored with ease. Resolve 12 makes it easier to find media in large projects by letting users create smart bins that can display footage based on metadata tags. Users can now import media by simply dragging it in from the Finder or Windows Explorer.Resolve 12 improves upon DaVinci’s advanced color science by adding support for DaVinci’s own color managed timelines as well as ACES 1.0 transforms. There is an easier to use curves interface, automatic color analysis and matching between two or more clips, an incredibly accurate 3D perspective tracker, and a new 3D keyer with improved matte finesse options. Colorists can now define their own smart filters, convert any window to a bezier, collapse multiple nodes into compound nodes to simplify their view, ripple grades across multiple clips, and flatten pre and post-group grades into a clip’s individual grade.DaVinci Resolve 12 also now supports remote rendering so customers working in larger facilities can distribute rendering jobs to other Resolve systems that are on the same shared database and shared storage.This is a really huge update and I feel like we have added more into this release than we have in the last 5 years. A team of almost 100 people have been working on this release and we think it’s the most exciting ever! DaVinci Resolve 12 will be a free upgrade for existing DaVinci Resolve customers.https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/dvres/Fusion 8 StudioThis NAB we will also be showing Fusion 8 Studio. This update will add support for Mac OS X and Linux operating systems as well as Windows. We have worked hard on this update and you will be able to see it running on the demo stations at the show.Fusion has been Hollywood’s leading visual effects and motion graphics tool for over 25 years, and has been used on thousands of feature film and television projects, including blockbusters like Maleficent, Edge of Tomorrow, Sin City: A Dame to Kill For, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 and The Hunger Games, as well as hit television shows like Battlestar Galactica, Orphan Black and many more.So this will be an exciting update and I hope it will allow more people to add sophisticated visual effects to their work. The node based user interface is such an easy and incredibly fast way to work when you have multiple clips, effects and layers on an effects. Fusion 8 and Fusion 8 Studio will be available sometime in Q3 this year. We also hope to release a public beta before Q3.If you would like to try it now, please download the Windows based Fusion 8 as its free of charge and you can start working with it now!https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/fusionBlackmagic Video AssistBlackmagic Video Assist, a portable, all in one professional monitor and video recorder that can be used with any SDI or HDMI camera. Blackmagic Video Assist adds professional ProRes recording and full resolution HD monitoring to any camera or DLSR.Blackmagic Video Assist is perfect when you need need better monitoring and higher quality recording than your camera has, or in the case of our Blackmagic Studio Cameras, you can use it to add a recorder. Also, a lot of older cameras often feature custom file or tape formats and consumer cameras often have strange file formats.Blackmagic Video Assist solves this problem and it can be mounted on cameras as a large monitor for the entire crew to see, it can be handed to the cinematographer or DOP for setting up shots, or set on a table in front of the director to review each take.With its larger screen, you check shot composition and check the camera is perfectly focused. It’s easy to use as the touch screen lets you use simple swipe gestures for changing settings and displaying video and audio levels on its “heads up” on screen displays.Blackmagic Video Assist has a bright, 5 inch high resolution 1920 x 1080 HD monitor and touchscreen with a wide 135º viewing angle and it records broadcast quality 10-bit 4:2:2 video onto widely available SD cards in ProRes file formats. The SD cards can be mounted directly on a computer for cloning and backup using the included DaVinci Resolve Lite so you get a complete editing and color correction solution included.Even though Blackmagic Video Assist is a HD product, it also has a 6G-SDI input so it can even be used as a Ultra HD monitor!Blackmagic Video Assist will be available in July for $495.https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/blackmagicvideoassistTeranex MiniThe new Teranex Minis are a range of 12G-SDI mini converters, however they are a very different design to normal mini converters.Regular Mini converters cannot dissipate the heat generated from 12G-SDI, they have cumbersome power supplies, they cannot use standard XLR connectors and they only have switches for control.Teranex Mini’s solve all these problems and easily handle the speeds of 12G-SDI without overheating for all video formats from SD to HD, and Ultra HD. 12G-SDI allows Teranex Mini’s to operate in all video standards up to 2160p60 on a single BNC cable.One of the most innovative features of the new Teranex Minis is they feature an optional “smart” front panel that includes a spin knob, color LCD and multiple buttons. This means the user can simply remove the basic front panel from a Teranex Mini and replace it with a Teranex Mini Smart Panel to allow full setup and control from the front panel. You can see the video being converted, monitor audio levels and even verify timecode and the video standard being converted.Teranex Minis have many other benefits, including a built in power supply and all models have built in Ethernet so Teranex Minis can be remotely administered. The Ethernet connection can also power the converter so Teranex Minis don’t even need to be connected to power!The new Teranex Mini design also features proper XLR connectors for balanced analog audio, AES/EBU and timecode connections and the completely redesigned audio electronics have an extremely low noise floor of more than -115dBFS. Teranex Minis also include true Teranex up and down conversions.Unlike card based rack converters which are expensive and can not handle the high speed of 6G-SDI or 12G-SDI, Teranex Minis can be rack mounted using the optional rack tray. With the 12G-SDI, smart front panels and the rack mounting, I think Teranex Mini’s are a much better solution for broadcasters who need rack mount converters. But of course, Teranex Minis can be hidden in cable ducts like normal converters and they look attractive so they even work on a desktop as all cable connections are from the rear of the converter.There are 6 models of Teranex Minis. These include SDI to HDMI, HDMI to SDI, SDI to Analog, Analog to SDI, SDI to Audio and Audio to SDI. There are also 6 optical fiber models that include a single SDI connection and a 12G-SDI SMPTE compatible optical SDI module. These optical fiber models include Optical to HDMI, HDMI to Optical, Optical to Analog, Analog to Optical, Optical to Audio and Audio to Optical.Teranex Minis’s start at $495 and will be available in May.https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/teranexminiATEM 2 M/E Broadcast Studio 4KFor years, broadcasters have used higher frame rates of 50, 59.94 and 60 fps for live production of sports. When we introduced our new 6G-SDI ATEM range of live production switchers, although they offered high frame rates in HD, they only operated up to 2160p30 for Ultra HD. That’s fine for most live production but we needed to build an ATEM that could operate at high frame rates in Ultra HD.The new ATEM 2 M/E Broadcast Studio 4K is a fully 12G-SDI based switcher with 20 inputs. It operates just like a normal ATEM so you can just plug it in and start using it. That means you don’t need to change your workflow! All the ATEM features are built in, including DVE, SuperSource, 6 keyers, transitions, all in Ultra HD up to 2160p60. All inputs still include full re-sync.This new model is not a regular ATEM switcher with 12G-SDI as it also has other general enhancements the other models don’t have. The new model has double the size media pool and the 2 built in multi viewers are HD or Ultra HD resolution so you can have incredibly sharp camera monitoring. There is also 4 built in media players.The ATEM 2 M/E Broadcast Studio 4K will start shipping June for $5,995.https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/atemHyperDeck Studio 12GWith all these new 12G-SDI products, we really need a good quality deck for recording onto! So we have a new advanced HyperDeck Studio 12G, that supports all video formats from SD, HD and Ultra HD up to 2160p60.HyperDeck Studio 12G features the same familiar VTR style controls as the other HyperDeck models and includes advanced 12G-SDI and HDMI 2.0 connections for recording and playback of high frame rate Ultra HD over a single BNC cable.HyperDeck Studio 12G will be available in May for $2,495.https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/hyperdeckstudioSmart Videohub 12G 40x40We also need a router that works at 12G-SDI and the new Smart Videohub 12G 40x40 is a native 12G-SDI router with 40 inputs and 40 outputs. Like our other 12G-SDI products, it’s multi rate so it automatically works with all your SD, HD or Ultra HD equipment. It can route multiple different video formants on the same router at the same time.Smart Videohub 12G 40x40, is an incredibly advanced model of the Smart Videohub router family with 12G-SDI technology, allowing all SDI video formats up to 2160p60 to be routed all on the same router, all at the same time.What’s exciting about this router is all the connections and controls are exactly the same as our regular Smart Videohub 40x40 which is the 6G-SDI model. So this new model is a direct replacement for that router when you need 12G-SDI and it works the same way as all Smart Videohub models. You can use the Mac and Windows control software and the hardware panels, just like other Videohub routers.Smart Videohub 12G 40x40 will be available in May for US$4,995.https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/smartvideohubSmart Videohub CleanSwitch 12x12This new router is part of the regular 6G-SDI router range so it can work with all video standards including SD, HD and Ultra HD up to 2160p30, however what’s different about this model vs the regular Smart Videohub 12x12 is that every single input has a full re-sync.What this means is that if you have multiple untimed video sources of the same video standard, this router will re-sync those sources and then you change the route to a router video output, the switch over will be perfectly clean without any glitches or slow monitor re-locking. That’s important when routing to a big display or projector at a public venue where you want the route changes to be clean cuts.This router still handles multiple video formats on the same router and if it does not recognize one of the video formats, it will still route the signal but just disable the re-sync. It can even re-sync different video standards as long as they are the same frame rate as the reference input, and you are switching between the same video standard to a specific output. Its a really nice router and lot of people have bene asking us to build a clean switch router!Smart Videohub CleanSwitch 12x12 will be available in May for $1,495https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/smartvideohubATEM Talkback Converter 4KWith 4K cameras that include 12G-SDI and the new ATEM switcher with 12G-SDI, we need a new talkback product to manage talkback with cameras. However unlike our ATEM Studio Converter, we wanted to change the design.The new ATEM Talkback Converter now has BNC 12G-SDI connections so you can run simple BNC SDI cables to the cameras, and this means don’t have to run optical fiber if you don’t need it. Optical fiber in this product is optional and the SMPTE SFP modules are not installed, that means you can install them if you need them, and you don’t have to pay for optical fiber interfaces you don't need.The new ATEM Talkback Converter also supports 8 cameras so you can double the number of cameras you can talk with on the single unit.ATEM Talkback Converter 4K will be available in May for $2,495https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/atemconvertersUltraStudio 4K ExtremeUltraStudio 4K Extreme is easily the world’s most advanced Thunderbolt and PCIe video capture and playback solution. UltraStudio 4K Extreme features many types of video connections including quad link 12G-SDI, HDMI 2.0 and more, plus it includes a built in multi format hardware codec encoder!UltraStudio 4K Extreme is designed to work with the highest quality and highest frame rate video, all the way up to 3D stereoscopic 4K at 2160p60. You can use it via Thunderbolt, or if you are operating in RGB at high resolutions and frame rates, the PCIe connection via an optional PCIe cable can be used for faster data transfers.However this is where the hardware codec encoder is a great solution, because on Mac OS X it can encode the data inside the UltraStudio to ProRes before transfer over Thunderbolt so you can use laptops for working in high end Ultra HD and 4K high frame rate formats!This realtime hardware codec encoder can also encode to H.265 compressed streams. This means you can real time encode into the file format thats becoming the standard for Ultra HD content distribution via the Internet. This is exciting as you have a complete solution for editing and color correction as well as encoding for distribution.UltraStudio 4K Extreme is a rack mount design, however if you want to use it on your desktop, the rack mount ears can be removed so it looks nicer on a desk. It also includes a full copy of DaVinci Resolve 12 so you get a complete editing and color correction solution!There are way too many features in UltraStudio 4K Extreme to describe here so please check the UltraStudio web page to learn more! UltraStudio 4K Extreme will be available in June for $2,995 and the H.265 encoding will be a free update that should be available in July.https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/ultrastudiothunderboltDeckLink 4K ProDeckLink 4K Pro is a new lower cost 12G-SDI solution for capture and playback. DeckLink 4K Pro is a great solution for monitoring on DaVinci Resolve as well as for OEM’s and developers. This new model features dual link 12G-SDI in and out so it supports real time capture and playback of fill and key channels even when operating up to 2160p60 so its an extremely powerful card!It includes video reference input and supports Mac, Windows and Linux and it also supports the Blackmagic Design DeckLink SDK.https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/decklinkThat’s all our news for this NAB and I hope this update has been useful!I apologize for the length of this email, however each new product we are launching this NAB is quite feature rich and it’s hard to describe in less space!If you’re heading to the NAB show this year, I hope you get the chance to see these new products in action and to have a talk with us and to share your thoughts!Regards,Grant PettyBlackmagic Design

Canons NEW 4K Video/Stills XC10 Camera

Canon has announced a compact, lightweight video and digital stills camera that provides professional 4K quality and some say signals a convergence of video and stills.Canon XC10 4K Professional CamcorderThe XC10 offers

  • 1-inch sensor
  • Max ISO sensitivity of 20,000
  • 12 stops of dynamic range
  • 305Mbps 4K video up to 30fps
  • 12-megapixel photos
  • SDHC/SDXC and CFast Card Slots
  • Lens is fixed with a 10x 24-240mm-equivalent f/2.8-5.6 zoom
  • Small size at just 4.9 x 4 x 4.8 inches
  • Microphone jack
  • Headphone jack
  • HDMI 1.4 port
  • DC power
  • Built-in neutral density filter
  • Wi-Fi connectivity
  • Tilting Hand Grip
  • Tilting Touchscreen with included add-on viewfinder

XC10 AccessoriesMy Quick Thoughts on the Canon XC10

  • It looks well built and likely will take professional use day in day out
  • Uses same battery as many current Canon pro bodies and will offer excellent battery life
  • Price is an issue,  For $2499 you can pick up a Panasonic GH4 and a really nice lens or two.
    • Benefit of the GH4- Huge lens selection and likely better low light quality - especially with fixed aperture lenses
    • Benefit of the XC10- smaller with broadcast quality bit rates

Available in June - Preorder from B&H for $2,499 or AmazonCanon AU Promo Video:Canon USA Intro Video:

Samsung NX1 Review, the BEST Mirrorless Camera?

After spending a few weeks with the Samsung NX1 and 16-50 f2-f2.8 lens I am ready to share my review.Samsung NX1 Video Review: More NX1 CoverageSamsung NX1 Pros:

  • 28MP Sensor - provides excellent resolution, detail and clean high ISO images(some of the best I have seen from any crop sensor camera)
  • 15 FPS - The fastest of any camera in this price range and class
  • Excellent Auto focus system - 205 Phase Detection points. I was very impressed with the speed and reliability of focus from this camera.
  • 4k video looks gorgeous and the H.265 compression keeps the file sizes reasonable.
  • Serious video features including 120fps for slow mo
  • Wifi, Bluetooth and NFC provide this camera with multiple remote control and wireless image options.
  • Well built weather sealed magnesium alloy body
  • Articulating touchscreen is responsive and well designed - a step above other touchscreens currently on the market.
  • Top Screen LCD for quick glance at your setings
  • Nicely implemented time lapse options - produce video or still images in camera
  • USB Charging (bring a RavPower battery with you and you can charge the camera anywhere, anytime)

Samsung NX1 Cons:

  • Lens Ecosystem - Limited, no zooms above 300mm and only a few professional level prime lenses. (see my recommended lenses)
  • H.265 Support is limited and requires lengthy transcoding options for editing (this should change soon)
  • I am frustrated that there is still no way to remove AF from the shutter button, limiting the usefulness of the AF-ON button for back button focus.
  • Size - Although the NX1 is smaller than most DSLRS it is larger than most mirrorless cameras and you won't see much size, weight savings if you went with the NX system.
  • Cost - Body only the NX1 is a reasonable $1499 - expensive yes but this camera combines the best of several other classes of cameras.  When you start to add lenses, like the fantastic 16-50 f2-f2.8 you end up paying nearly $3,000 and that is an expensive system that still feels limiting for some.

Samsung NX1 from B&HBuy the Samsung NX1 from B&H Photo

Recommended Lenses for Samsung NX1 and NX500

Below is a complete list of NX mount lenses.Recommended Lenses:NX1: The 16-50 f2.-f2.8 is a fantastic lens, it may look expensive, costing nearly the same as the NX body itself but he quality of this lens blew me away and I strongly recommend buying this "kit" lens with the NX1. The one real drawback to the lens is the weight - it isn't light so the little 20mm or 30mm prime lenses are excellent when you want to travel light.16mm f2 - that's FAST. Stays at f2 till 20mm where it hits 2.2. At 24mm f2.5 and at 33mm f2.8NX500: While you can use the 16-50 f/2-f/2.8 with the NX500 it creates a more unbalanced user experience and defeats  the point of buying a small camera like the NX500. I recommend going with the 16-50 kit lens that comes with the NX500 and also picking up one of the prime lenses like the 20 or 30. These give you better quality, better low light performance and do it in a small and compact form factor. 

Focal length 35mm EFL Max Aperture Series Price Buy from:
10mm Fisheye 15mm f/3.5 Carry $319/$337 B&H Photo | Amazon | Adorama
16mm 24mm f/2.4 Carry $269 B&H Photo | Amazon | Adorama
16-50mm 24 - 77mm f/3.5–5.6 Carry $299 B&H Photo | Amazon | Adorama
20mm 30mm f/2.8 Carry $277 B&H Photo | Amazon | Adorama
20-50mm 30 - 77mm f/3.5-5.6 Carry $199 B&H Photo | Amazon | Adorama
30mm 46mm f/2 Carry $238/$279 B&H Photo | Amazon | Adorama
12-24mm 18 - 37mm f/4-5.6 Omnia $516 B&H Photo | Amazon | Adorama
18-200mm 27 - 308mm f/3.5–6.3 Omnia $719 B&H Photo | Amazon | Adorama
18-55mm 27 - 84mm f/3.5–5.6 Optima $195 B&H Photo | Amazon | Adorama
50-200mm 77 - 308 mm f/4–5.6 Optima $269/$278 B&H Photo | Amazon | Adorama
60mm (Macro) 92 mm f/2.8 Optima $469 B&H Photo | Amazon | Adorama
16-50mm 24 - 77mm f/2–2.8 Premium $1149 B&H Photo | Amazon | Adorama
45mm 70mm f/1.8 Premium $256 B&H Photo | Amazon | Adorama
50-150mm 77 - 231mm f/2.8 Premium $1599 B&H Photo | Amazon | Adorama
85mm 130mm f/1.4 Premium $790 B&H Photo | Amazon | Adorama
300mm 462mm f/2.8 Premium ??? (Expensive) B&H Photo | Amazon | Adorama

 Adapters:Fotodiox makes an NX to EF mount adapter that I discuss in my NX review. At this time I cannot recommend it unless you are deserparet to mount EF lenses on your NX. It is a dumb adapter, meaning you will lose aperture control(the lens will be at its widest aperture), manual focus and no image stabilization(if the lens offered it) - Check out the Fotodiox Adapter on B&H PHoto Third Party Lenses for NX mount cameras:Bower, Samyang and Rokinon offer excellent manual focus and manual aperture lenses for the NX system - perfect for video where you will not need to use the NX autofocus system.See the complete list at B&H Photo 

EOS-M3 First Look - Canon's Newest Mirrorless Camera

Update: The EOS-M3 will NOT be released outside of Europe/Asia.Specs:  Canon UK has a full Spec SheetWe have our first look at the new Canon EOS-M3, the successor to the EOS-M. Note- The M2 was only released in Asia.Screenshot 2015-02-03 09.57.48 Screenshot 2015-02-03 09.58.17And now a picture of the back courtesy of DSLR Forum DEScreenshot 2015-02-03 19.05.37Details are very light - we can see that there is a redesigned grip and the mode dial and drive mode dials have appeared, they were not present on earlier models and we know no that it will be compatible with Hotshoe EVF Attachment from Canon.Specs of the original EOS-M:

  • 18.0 Megapixel CMOS (APS-C) sensor (same as in Canon Rebel series)
  • DIGIC 5 Image Processor
  • ISO 100-12800; expandable to 25600 (H)
  • Hybrid CMOS AF (the largest complaint regarding this camera was slow AF)
  • EOS Full HD Movie mode with Movie Servo AF for continuous focus tracking of moving subjects
  • EOS-M Mount, Compatible with Canon EF and EF-S lenses (Optional EF Lens Adapter is required - no light loss or quality degradation - cost is $44.95)
  • 3.0" Touchscreen
  • Retailed for $899, now can be found around $300.

As I mentioned in the specs the largest complaint regarding this camera was the AF speed.  Canon addressed this with a firmware update in June 2013 and those I have spoken to were happier with the performance improvements but compared to similar mirrorless models it still lags behind.What do I want to see in the new EOS-M3?

  • Dual Pixel AF system from the Canon 70D
  • Same or better sensor as the Canon 70D
  • Wifi
  • Slightly articulating screen would be nice ala Sony A7 series (UPDATE: with the new leaked pic of the back it is confirmed that the screen will be at least slightly articulating!
  • Robust video options, higher bitrates and 60fps at 1080p

What do you want to see in this little camera?  Will be announced Feb 6th. Very few upgrades on the EOS-M2,

  • Faster focusing (2.3x speed is the claim)
  • 4.6 fps vs 4.3 in original
  • 10% smaller

 

Panasonic GF7 Announced - Specs and Thoughts

[gallery type="slideshow" link="none" columns="1" size="large" td_select_gallery_slide="slide" ids="6193,6192,6191,6190"] Panasonic has announced the GF7, a small mirrorless camera aimed at point and shoot users who want more control over settings.A follow up the GF6, the GF7 is slightly restyled and actually a little larger, giving you a better form factor to hold onto. Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF7 key specifications:

  • 16MP Four Thirds sensor
  • Focus down to -4EV
  • 3" 1.04M dot rear LCD
  • 180 degree tilt "selfie" screen
  • 5.8 fps burst shooting
  • 1080/60p video in AVCHD or MP4 format
  • One touch "No Password" Wi-Fi connectivity
  • "Face", "Buddy" and "Jumping Selfie" shutter modes

 More about those selfie modes -Selfies are no exception with new automatic shutter modes that offer the ability to capture more fluid, natural-looking self-portraits and group shots. Face Shutter allows a photo to be taken with a wave to the camera and Buddy Shutter recognizes when two faces are brought side-by side within the frame to instantly take a picture. In either case, more spontaneous facial expressions and poses are saved which could otherwise be lost in the process of waiting for a self-timer, or by having asked an inexperienced photographer to take your photo.The capabilities of the Lumix DMC-GF7 and a paired smartphone are further combined for even more dynamic selfies and group shots. Using the camera's touch-control 180° tiltable LCD monitor, you can position yourself and your friends in front of the lens to ensure that no one is outside of the frame even if everyone was to jump up for a mid-air portrait. When Jump Snap is activated, the accelerometer of a paired smartphone in your hand or pocket can be used to detect the highest point of your jump and simultaneously activate the shutter.Overall this should be a nice option for P&S users looking for more control and better image quality. It is a crowded market at this price and the Sony a6000 with a larger sensor gives you slightly better image quality and a viewfinder just minus some of the fun features and at a slightly larger size.Preorder the Panasonic GF7 at B&H for $599 - Shipping Late Feb.

Just Announced: Sony's A7 II - faster autofocus and image stabilization

Screenshot 2014-11-20 08.14.25I reviewed the Sony A7 in April of this year - found it to be a lovely camera but suffered from slower AF and a small lens selection, unless you use adapters which causes focus to get even slower.   Since then I have reviewed the Sony a7r (36MP) and the Sony a7s (Amazing low light capabilities) along with the Sony FE mount to EF mount Metabones adapter that will provide access to all of my Canon lenses.    A complaint that is common across these sony A7 bodies and the more DSLR like A77 is lack of lenses - Sony now has something like 5 full frame bodies currently on the market and about 10 lenses that work natively (no adapters needed) with those bodies. Not a good ratio when you compare to Canon or Nikon.  But! the new Sony A7 II offers in body 5-axis image stabilization, this opens up greater possibilities with using older lenses and increases the catalog of lenses.Screenshot 2014-11-20 08.14.42

Sony A7 II Specs (Same as Original)

  • 24MP Full Frame Sony Sensor
  • 117 phase detect and 25 contrast detect points
  • 5fps continuous shots
  • Same Battery providing about 350 shots

Sony A7 II Upgrades:

5-Axis in body image stabilization. This is similar to what Olympus offers in their micro 4/3 series and I love the capabilities. Sony claims up to 4.5 stops of stabilization. Added benefit of making handheld video wonderful with any lensFaster AF - 30% improvement in the a7 II's AF speed and 1.5x better tracking performance than the original Sony A7Screenshot 2014-11-20 08.14.33Slight redesign to the body providing a deeper grip and more DSLR like feel.XVACs codec for video at 50MBPS and support for S-Log2 profile for better grading control of video in post Should be shipping in early December in Japan - not clear when it will be available here in the US.  Sony Product video showing the A7 Mark II Image Stabilization in action -  

Sony a7 & a7r Trade In Savings

See my review of the Sony A7R | My Review of the Sony a7Adorama has a sweet offering  - Trade in any working interchangeable lens camera for savings on the Sony A7, A7 with 24-70 or Sony A7r. This is on top of instant savings of $200 and 4% rewards! Start here or click the image below.Purchase a Sony a7 or a7R Camera and send Adorama your DSLR camera of any make or model and receive the following trade-in bonus:

  • $345 bonus towards the purchase of a Sony a7R
  • $300 bonus towards the purchase of a Sony a7 Kit
  • $255 bonus towards the purchase of a Sony a7 Body

More information about the trade in.  You buy the camera and they include a box with prepaid label to ship your old camera back. Any model as long as it works.

Sony a7 & a7r Trade In Savings

See my review of the Sony A7RAdorama has a sweet offering  - Trade in any working interchangeable lens camera for savings on the Sony A7, A7 with 24-70 or Sony A7r. This is on top of instant savings of $200 and 4% rewards! Start here or click the image below.Purchase a Sony a7 or a7R Camera and send Adorama your DSLR camera of any make or model and receive the following trade-in bonus:

  • $345 bonus towards the purchase of a Sony a7R
  • $300 bonus towards the purchase of a Sony a7 Kit
  • $255 bonus towards the purchase of a Sony a7 Body

Screenshot 2014-10-08 10.03.48More information about the trade in.  You buy the camera and they include a box with prepaid label to ship your old camera back. Any model as long as it works.