Hasta La Gadget!

It’s been a long time coming, but the patience has paid off with Sony’s A77 finally getting its first pro review. Sure, the $1,400 cost of entry (body only) will weigh heavily on even the most enthusiastic cameraman conscious. But, what’s a few hundred dollars when it comes to a camera that Popular Photography says has “radically changed the world of DSLRs”? It seems only the rival Canon 7D holds a candle to this would-be king, besting Sony’s latest when it comes to noise and performance at higher ISOs. However, the A77 wins on its all-around charm, with a 24.3 megapixel Exmor APS-C sensor, articulated LCD screen, world-first OLED EVF and impressive video-shooting chops. Video-wise, that top dollar gets you a high-end performance of 60fps at 1920 x 1080 with the fast phase-detection auto-focus we’ve also seen on its predecessors, the Sony A55 and A33.

Popular Photography does add a single caveat to the largely very positive conclusion: video enthusiasts should probably hold tight to see what Canon and Nikon counter with. Especially if you’re in possession of multiple lenses. Aside from that, what’s stopping you? Dig in to all the nitty-gritty details below, and we’d advise cutting down on those impulse eBay purchases — this magnesium-alloyed beauty will certainly make a financial dent when it lands, if not a physical one.

Sony A77 reviewed: A 24.3 megapixel game-changer? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Oct 2011 13:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nikon may be generous with the paint colors for its more compact cameras, but it’s been a decidedly different story for its DSLRs (unlike some other camera makers). There is one new non-DIY option available courtesy of Best Buy, however, which is now offering an exclusive red version of the Nikon D3100. Unfortunately, while it has the same $650 list price as the regular D3100 (including an 18-55mm VR kit lens), it doesn’t have the same $100 discount that Best Buy’s currently offering on the standard black model.

Red Nikon D3100 now available exclusively at Best Buy originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Sep 2011 13:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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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