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It’s not every day that a camera company launches two major models the same day, but Pentax has done just that with the Q10 mirrorless interchangeable and the K-5 II / IIs cameras. The Q10 joins its equally tiny stablemate, the Q, to round out its line of mini-sensored, playing-card-sized cams that still let you change lenses. The new model boasts the same bokeh control and effects dial of the original Q, but adds a new grip and several color options, like the now-ubiquitous red shown above. Other features include a K-mount lens adapter, an included 15-45mm zoom telephoto, improved AF performance, full HD video recording, anti-shake technology, 5 fps continuous shooting capability and a pop-up flash. The new mini-shooter will go on sale in October at around $600 with the kit lens.

If you have bigger (and deeper) pockets for something more sporty, Pentax has also announced it’s top K-5 II and K-5 IIs models to replace the popular K5, which has been around since 2010. The weather- and cold-resistant, dustproof DSLRs retain the same 16.2-megapixel resolution of their predecessor, but Pentax claims the new SAFOX X AF sensor has improved sensitivity in low-light conditions and improved auto-focus. The K-5 IIs eschews the anti-aliasing filter found on its sibling, but is otherwise the same, with a 3-inch, 925k LCD, 7fps burst mode, magnesium alloy / stainless steel body and RAW data retrieve function. These models will also appear in October and dent your wallet to the tune of $1,200 and $1,350 for the K-5 II and IIs, respectively. All that might address some of the AF and light sensitivity beefs we heard before, but we’ll have wait for the next round of reviews to find out.

Continue reading Pentax launches Q10 interchangeable lens camera, K-5 II and K-5 IIs flagship DSLRs

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Pentax launches Q10 interchangeable lens camera, K-5 II and K-5 IIs flagship DSLRs originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 Sep 2012 08:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We’ve had furtive glances of Sony’s upcoming NEX-6 before, but only in the very clinical space of a government test lab. Apparently, no mere agency can confine it: photography workshop director Vincent Kang has posted a photo of the pre-release mirrorless camera on Weibo for all to see. Posing next to 24mm and 50mm lenses, the NEX-6 looks to be very much the in-between camera we suspected it was, without as much dedicated control as the NEX-7 but still carrying an electronic viewfinder, a pop-up flash and a dedicated function key near the shutter release. The dedicated mode dial is also more conspicuous — there’s no question that Sony wants to free up controls on the back for the future camera’s more experienced target audience. Between the new design and the already known inclusion of WiFi, it’s looking as though the NEX-6 may hit the sweet spot for shooters who want more control than the NEX-5R without sacrificing all its newer features. We just need to wait for official launch details to make it all real.

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Sony NEX-6 spotted in the wild, electronic viewfinder and mode dial in tow originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 Sep 2012 10:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We enjoyed our short time with Panasonic’s new mirrorless G5 in our hands-on last month, even if it was a little on the porky side. And, if you hail from the Land of the Rising Sun and had your heart set on one of these 16-megapixel shooters, Panny’s announced you’ll get your chance from September 13th. We’re getting dangerously close to missing the stateside launch target of August, but where the US website is showing the G5 as unreleased, availability on Amazon tells a different story. We’re reaching out for confirmation on that — as well as pricing — and will update should we hear more.

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Panasonic G5 mirrorless camera gets September 13th release date in Japan originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Aug 2012 10:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Not even a year after Nikon ceremoniously entered the mirrorless world, it’s issuing the followup to the J1: it’s the Nikon 1 J2, and it’s — at most — a gentle revision to a camera that was near-universally hailed as being one of the more disappointing ILC options. Disappointing, of course, because it’s Nikon. A company that quite clearly knows a thing or two about photography (D3S / D4, anyone?), but seemed to miss the mark in terms of price, performance and lens compatibility. With the J2, it sort of feels like a do-over. Outside of a slightly tweaked orange color and a reimagined exterior finish, the J2 is identical in size to the J1. You’ll find the same 10.1 megapixel CMOS sensor (1-inch), the same autofocus system and support for the same lens collection. What’s new are the additions to the Mode Selector dial, which add a smattering of creative options and access to P/S/A/M exposure modes. The rear LCD has seen its resolution double (to 921,000 dots, same as on the D4), and the camera has been intelligently designed to turn on when extending a 1 Series lens out, and turn off when retracting it into storage.

Perhaps most importantly, Nikon’s finally on the same playing field in terms of asking price. The J2 will ship in September for $549.95, and that includes the same 10-30mm f/3.5-5.6 kit lens that shipped with the J1. If you’ll recall, the J1 kit started at $100 more, yet offered far less punch than Sony’s cheaper NEX-C3. It’s also worth noting that one other player has joined the ILC movement since the J1: Canon. Arguably, the EOS M still beats the J2 in practically every way; the thing that really needed an overhaul in the J2 was the meager 1-inch sensor, yet it remains. Perhaps the best news out of this ordeal is that the J1 isn’t immediately going away. Nikon confirmed that it’d remain on store shelves for an undetermined amount of time, likely at a nice discount. If it’s offered low enough, it may be easier to live with the shortcomings.

In terms of accessories, Nikon’s also introducing an optional 11-27.5mm f/3.5-5.6 lens ($189.95; ships next month) for the 1 Series. Though similar (on paper) to the 10-30mm kit lens, this guy is nearly 30 percent smaller from a physical size and weight standpoint. And on the other extreme, there’s the WP-N1 waterproof case. This one’s engineered to encase both the J1 and J2 for beneath-the-sea action up to 140 feet deep, but the staggering $749.95 (!) price tag is bound to attract jeers, chuckles and blank stares. Now, underwater cases of merit aren’t ever “affordable,” but offering an enclosure that’s a full $200 more than the hardware it protects? Questionable. That said, we’d certainly relish the chance to test one out, but you best be sure that Nikon’s J1 / J2 is going to be your underwater cam of choice for a long while before plunking down that much coin.

Continue reading Nikon 1 J2 mirrorless camera: minor control tweaks, $549, ships in September

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Nikon 1 J2 mirrorless camera: minor control tweaks, $549, ships in September originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Aug 2012 00:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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There have been plenty of false alarms in recent months, but Canon’s first mirrorless interchangeable lens camera (ILC) is finally here — in fact, we’re holding it in our hands. The EOS M is clearly reminiscent of a point-and-shoot, such as the company’s high-end PowerShot S100. Sure, Canon could have added some of the dedicated controls that its professional user base would demand, but photojournalists aren’t the target here, for a few reasons. Canon’s primary motivation, at least from an official perspective, was to create a camera that serves to bridge the gap between pocketable compacts and full-size DSLRs with a simple user interface designed to educate, not intimidate. Also key, however, was avoiding cannibalization of the company’s low-end and mid-range Digital SLR models, which clearly still have a place in the lineup one tier above this ILC.

Consumers willing to sacrifice hardware controls for a touchscreen-driven UI won’t be missing out on much else — functionally, the EOS M is a near-clone of Rebel T4i with the same 18-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor, DIGIC 5 processor and 3-inch touchscreen. Even the advanced two-stage focusing system has made its way from the T4i, which utilizes both phase-difference and contrast AF in order to achieve focus more efficiently when capturing video. The housing design and lens mount are unlike any other that Canon has produced, however, combining features from other models without completely eliminating the need for a DSLR, or a compact for that matter. If you can get by without granular controls, you’ll do just fine here — the design really is spectacular. With an $800 price tag, the EOS M falls within the upper tier of the mirrorless category, and it remains to be seen whether it will be an obvious pick when it finally hits stores in October, a month after competitors tease their own products at the massive Photokina expo in Germany. How does it fare today? You’ll find our impressions just past the break.

Continue reading Canon EOS M mirrorless camera hands-on (video)

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Canon EOS M mirrorless camera hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Jul 2012 15:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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