Hasta La Gadget!

There are some cameras that we would be willing to use in a bind, some that we wouldn’t hesitate to shoot with, and a very select few that would motivate a cross-country journey, just for the chance to spend a few days behind the lens. Sony’s Alpha NEX-7 falls within that incredibly unique final category — in fact, we’ve done just that, flying from New York to San Diego to go hands-on with one of only a half-dozen pre-production samples to have landed on American soil. After seeing a very early NEX-7 prototype a few months ago, it didn’t take much convincing to get us on a plane.

Sony’s 24.3 megapixel APS-C masterpiece represents a giant leap forward for the interchangeable lens market, theoretically capable of capturing images identical in quality to its much larger Alpha A77 counterpart, but in a body only slightly larger than the NEX-C3. Pair that image quality with an XGA OLED electronic viewfinder, a revamped tri-navi interface, standard hot-shoe, 1080 / 60p AVCHD video, microphone input, and a built-in flash, and you have one very worthy compact DSLR replacement. That said, the NEX-7 kit’s $1,350 price tag is far more than many are willing to spend on a camera. But is that premium pricing justified? Jump past the break to find out.

Continue reading Sony Alpha NEX-7 hands-on preview (video)

Sony Alpha NEX-7 hands-on preview (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Sep 2011 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Joining the family of Olympus Pen products is the lovingly nicknamed “PEN Mini,” or E-PM1. Compared to its big brothers the PEN E-PL2 and E-PL3, this little guy packs some serious punch in a tiny body, with a similarly small price tag of $500. But can this ILC that Olympus claims offers “DSLR quality in a compact camera design” stack up against the big boys in the pit at the US Open? The 12.3 megapixel camera comes with a 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 kit lens and includes a Micro Four Thirds mount, enabling it to accept compatible lenses from both Olympus and Panasonic — something that was really easy to get the hang of for speedy switching between sets. Check out our impressions as we go hands-on with the camera at one of the biggest tennis matches of the year.

Continue reading Olympus Pen E-PM1 hands-on (video)

Olympus Pen E-PM1 hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Sep 2011 17:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Being the gadget hounds that we are, we’re still struggling to fully digest the Micro Four Thirds / interchangeable lens camera market. The performance freak in us suggests that one simply buy a smaller DSLR given the parallel annoyance of carrying around a bag full of lenses, but the mobility junkie in us does appreciate the downsizing — however minor. Olympus’ PEN line has been a beautiful one from the start, but one that found itself out of consideration for many due to the poor value proposition. Even the newest PEN E-P3 isn’t a bargain; at $900 with a somewhat versatile 14-42mm lens, it’s well north of most entry-level DSLRs, and on-par with many mid-rangers. So, is it really worth splurging on a slightly more compact frame, devilishly good looks and “the world’s fastest autofocus system?” Read on for our take.

Continue reading Olympus PEN E-P3 Micro Four Thirds camera review

Olympus PEN E-P3 Micro Four Thirds camera review originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Aug 2011 13:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony is on a roll with some fairly incredible product unveilings this morning. The Alpha A65 is almost an afterthought when compared to today’s NEX-7 and A77 announcements, but this $900 (body only) DSLR targets the vastly popular entry-level category, while still including a new OLED electronic viewfinder, 24.3 megapixel CMOS APS-C sensor, and 1080 / 60p AVCHD video capture. Many of the A77’s other features made the cut as well, including Sony’s Translucent Mirror Technology, an ISO range of 100-16,000, object tracking autofocus, and a high-speed shooting mode (though the pricier model can shoot 12 fps, compared to 10 fps on the A65). You will be missing out on the A77’s nifty three-way tilt and swivel LCD, though the A65’s display does support tilt. Also missing is a 19-point AF sensor (the A65’s has 15 points), a secondary text LCD, and support for an optional vertical grip. Jump past the break for a brief video walkthrough from Sony, along with a sneak peek at the A77.

Continue reading Sony announces entry-level A65, adds yet another DSLR to the Alpha family

Sony announces entry-level A65, adds yet another DSLR to the Alpha family originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Aug 2011 01:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Without a doubt, today’s biggest news on the NEX front is Sony’s 24.3 megapixel NEX-7. But for photographers looking for a bit less power (and a lower $600 body-only price tag), the NEX-5N delivers some of the 7’s headline features in a slimmed-down magnesium-alloy body. Sony boosted the NEX-5’s sensor from 14 to 16 megapixels in the N, also adding 1080 / 60p AVCHD video capture, a 10 fps continuous shooting mode, a touch-enabled 3-inch LCD, and a maximum sensitivity of ISO 25,600. The mid-range NEX cam also supports an optional XGA OLED electronic viewfinder, which attaches to its accessory port and carries a price tag of $350. We should note that although the accessory port appears to be similar to that used on the NEX-C3 and previous gen NEX-5, the OLED attachment is only compatible with the 5N. Want to know more? Jump past the break for a brief overview video, and check out the rather comprehensive gallery of press shots below.

Continue reading Sony NEX-5N replaces NEX-5, adds 16.1 MP sensor, 25,600 max ISO, OLED viewfinder option (video)

Sony NEX-5N replaces NEX-5, adds 16.1 MP sensor, 25,600 max ISO, OLED viewfinder option (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Aug 2011 01:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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