|
Photokina only takes place once every two years, so
there's been much excitement and speculation around the cameras, lenses,
photo printers and other photographic tools and accessories announced at
Photokina 2012 in Cologne.
The show opened to the press yesterday, so TechRadar was of course there
to cover all the breaking news and get a first peek at the newest
cameras and imaging technology on offer.
Here is our constantly updated roundup of some of the key announcements
we've seen at Photokina 2012 so far.
|
|
Canon at Photokina 2012
Canon used Photokina 2012 as a chance to reveal the Canon EOS 6D DSLR
and Canon S110, Canon G15 and Canon SX50 compact cameras.
The Canon EOS 6D is similar in size and weight to the EOS 60D, making it
the world's lightest DSLR to feature a full-frame CMOS sensor. The 20.2
megapixel camera is also the first Canon DSLR to feature Wi-Fi and GPS
connectivity, for easy photo sharing.
The Canon PowerShot G15 boasts a new, brighter f/1.8-2.8 lens with an
extra-wide aperture, while the Canon PowerShot SX50 HS sports an
impressive 50x optical zoom. Both high-end compact cameras feature full
manual controls and raw image capture.
Proving that wireless camera connectivity is a big deal in Canon world,
the 12.1MP Canon PowerShot S110 also has Wi-Fi and GPS. Plus it has a
new 3-inch PureColor II G capacitive touchscreen with Touch AF for easy
focusing when shooting stills or videos, and pinching to zoom in on
captured images.
Canon also unveiled Project 1709, a new image sharing service that makes
it easy to store and access images, regardless of where they have been
saved, using the cloud.
Photos from the new cameras can be printed on any of the six new photo
printers that Canon also revealed at Photokina 2012.
|
|
 |
|
Nikon at Photokina 2012
Although Nikon didn't use Photokina 2012 to launch any new cameras or
lenses, the show was the first chance the public had to see the new
Nikon D600, announced last week. The new 24.3MP DSLR sits below the
Nikon D800 in the manufacturer's lineup, and features a newly designed
24.3MP FX format CMOS sensor and the same Expeed 3 processing engine as
the one in the top-of the-range Nikon D4.
We also got a chance to try out the Nikon P7700, a premium compact
camera that features a large 1/1.7-inch 12 million pixel CMOS sensor, a
7.1x optical zoom lens and a fully articulating screen.
Olympus at Photokina 2012
Olympus introduced two new PEN compact system cameras (CSCs) at
Photokina 2012, which both use the sensor from the Olympus OM-D. The new
Olympus PEN Lite E-PL5 and new Olympus PEN Mini E-PM2 will sit in the
middle and bottom of the PEN lineup, and combine the 16.1 million pixel
sensor from the Olympus OM-D with a True Pic VI image processor. They
both also feature touchscreens, for easy control.
Olympus also announced it has replaced its high-end premium compact
camera, the Olympus XZ-1, with the Olympus XZ-2, a new flagship camera
for the new range of Stylus compact cameras, which again features a
tilting touchscreen. It has a bright zoom lens with a maximum aperture
of f/1.8 at the 28mm wide angle end of the lens. It also has a 12.3
million pixel backlit 1/1.7-inch BSI CMOS sensor and 4x optical zoom.
Fujifilm at Photokina 2012
Hot on the heels of the Fuji X-E1, announced less than two weeks ago,
Fuji revealed a second new premium X series compact camera at Photokina
2012 - the Fuji X-F1.
|
|
|
|
The Fuji X-F1 features the same 2/3-inch EXR-CMOS sensor as the Fuji
FinePix X10, plus a newly developed f/1.8 4x optical zoom Fujinon lens,
which retracts into the body to give a super-sleek external appearance.
Panasonic at Photokina 2012
Panasonic used Photokina 2012 to unveil the Lumix GH3, to replace the
respected Panasonic GH2 at the top of the company's Micro Four Thirds
compact system camera (CSC) range.
The Panasonic Lumix GH3 couples a new 16MP Live MOS sensor with a new
Venus Engine processor in a 550g body. It builds on the impressive video
capability of the GH2, by being able to record 1080 50p Full HD Mov
video with a bitrate of 50Mbps, or MOV videos at 72Mbps in ALL-I.
Leica at Photokina 2012
Leica has decided to omit product numbers on its Leica S and Leica M
ranges, announced at Photokina 2012 alongside the Leica V-Lux 4 and
Leica D-Lux 6 and new lenses.
The Leica S is a medium format camera with a 37.5 megapixel low noise
CCD sensor with microlenses and microlens shift. It has an increased
buffer memory for increased continuous shooting, upgraded AF, new lenses
and is the only Leica camera to feature GPS. It's also very expensive,
as Leica cameras tend to be, at £16,000 (around $26,000).
The new Leica M boasts a new 24 megapixel full-frame 35mm CMOS sensor,
and is the first Leica M camera to include Live View and Full HD video
recording. The Leica M-E rangefinder camera includes a full-frame 35mm
CCD sensor, boasting 18 million pixels, plus a 230,000 dot 2.5-inch TFT
screen and a new leather-style trim.
Pitched to the Photokina 2012 audience as an alternative to a DSLR, the
Leica V-Lux 4 is a bridge camera with an impressive 24x optical zoom.
The compact camera maintains an f/2.8 constant aperture, throughout this
zoom range, for shooting in low light conditions. An integrated optical
image stabiliser also helps to reduce blur caused by camera shake.
Leica's D-Lux 6 is basically Leica's rebadged version of the Panasonic
LX7, a compact camera with a wide maximum aperture of f/1.4. Announced
at Photokina 2012, a newly developed 1/1.7-inch CMOS sensor is joined by
a wide range of features, including fully automatic mode, manual setting
modes and Full HD video recording.
|
|
|
|
Sony at Photokina 2012
Like Nikon, Sony hasn't launched any new cameras at Photokina 2012, but
it is the first time the public can look at its new products announced
last week. The Sony Alpha 99 is the world's first full-frame DSLT
camera, and is out on the stands for people to touch and try. With a
24.3 million pixel sensor, the company is hoping to take on the might of
Canon and Nikon with its new offering.
Meanwhile, the Sony NEX-6, the company's latest compact system camera,
is also on display for visitors to get a feel for.
Those hoping to take an in-depth peek at the Sony RX1, the world's first
compact camera to incorporate a 35mm full-frame sensor, may have been a
little disappointed to find prototypes hidden away inside glass cases.
Still, you get a feel for how small the device is, and we've seen many
interested people milling around the stand.
Pentax at Photokina 2012
Like Nikon and Sony, Pentax also announced its new cameras ahead of
Photokina 2012, so visitors to the German imaging show got their first
glimpse of the newly announced Pentax Q10, Pentax K-5 II, Pentax K-5 IIs
and new lenses on the stands.
Pentax says the new Q10 delivers higher quality images and better AF
performance than the Pentax Q, thanks to a new CMOS imaging sensor and
an upgraded AF algorithm. The compact system camera has a 1/2.3-inch
CMOS sensor with 12.4 million effective pixels, plus a back-illuminated
sensor. Pentax hasn't pushed the maximum sensitivity level beyond the
ISO 6400 maximum of the Q.
The Pentax K-5 II and Pentax K-5 IIs upgrade the premium DSLR, the K-5.
Both feature an APS-C format CMOS sensor, 16.3MP resolution, Prime II
processing engine, 7fps maximum continuous shooting rate, 77-segment
metering, sensor-shifting Shake Reduction system and 0.92x magnification
viewfinder. Plus, the AF system has been updated to a SAFOX X AF module,
which has a sensitivity range of -3 EV to +18 EV, for better autofocus.
|
|
 |
|
On the new lenses front, the smc Pentax-DA 18-270mm F3.5-6.3 ED SDM is a
15x zoom lens that has an effective focal length range of 27.5-414mm.
Pentax has also announced the HD Pentax-DA 560mm f/5.6 ED AW, a
telephoto lens with a 35mm focal length equivalent of an 859mm lens on a
Pentax DSLR.
Samsung at Photokina 2012
Samsung used Photokina 2012 to announce two new lenses in its NX range
of compact system cameras (CSCs) and accessories, to fit the NX20, NX210
and NX1000, expanding the number of NX lenses up to 11.
The 12-24mm f/4-5.6 ED ultra-wide zoom lens and 45mm f/1.8 mid-telephoto
prime lens are extremely lightweight, and are compatible with Samsung's
i-Function system, which enables you to easily adjust shutter speed,
aperture and ISO settings.
Samsung was also keen to talk about its Galaxy Camera, launched at IFA
2012 in August, with Nick White, head of digital imaging, saying: "By
announcing two new NX lenses and the innovative GALAXY Camera, Samsung
has continued its commitment to both innovation and capturing high
quality photographs".
Sigma at Photokina 2012
Sigma told the crowd at Photokina 2012 that it's released new lenses and
reorganised its lens lineup.
The Sigma 17-70 f/2.8-4 DC Macro OS HSM lens is the first new lens for
the Contemporary category. Mainly designed for general purpose
photography, the lens gives equivalent focal lengths of 25.5-105mm on a
35mm camera.
A new lens in the Art category is a 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM. An FLD glass lens
and four SLD glass lenses are included to correct chromatic aberration,
while Sigma's multi-layer coating was designed to reduce flare and
ghosting.
In the Sports category, there's a new Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 DG OSM lens,
which is dust and moisture-resistant, for use in harsh shooting
conditions. Multi-layer coating again reduces flare and ghosting and
provides high contrast images even in backlit conditions.
Hasselblad at Photokina 2012
Hasselblad unveiled plans for its Lunar compact system camera (CSC) at
Photokina 2012, which currently exists in around 30 different versions.
As yet the company doesn't know exactly which ones will make it to
market as the final production version.
We do that the camera has a 24.3MP APS-C format sensor, 25 AF points and
is able to capture both still imagess and video. Images can also be shot
at up to 10fps, with sensitivity settings running from ISO 100-16000.
|