Mirrorless news roundup…(with Fuji RAW conversion tests).

Fuji X RAW:
As you may know Adobe now supports the Fuji X RAW file conversion. Here are three links to first tests:
Diglloyd posted a first image using the new Adobe RAW converter. Soundimagesplus posted a full Adobe converter test: “ACR is obviously a much more responsive and flexible programme, but it does seem that the unique nature of the sensor means that some of my normal techniques may not work so well. Interestingly, I have a preset saved that defaults to the parameters in the previous version of the Camera Raw plug-in, and I felt that I got slightly better results.“. Some watercolor effect after ACR conversion shown at Fredmiranda.

More mirrorless news:
Will the DSLR die? Will small cameras rule the world? (Visualsciencelab).
How to Improve Photography Without Upgrading Gear (RobinWong).
Canon G1X review at ThePhoBlographer.
A German NX20 review at Cnet Germany.
Zeiss 18mm F4.0 vs Fujinon 18mm F2.0 at Photoheadonline.
Full Fuji X PRO 1 review by Thom Hogan at Sansmirror.
A very exotic Fuji X-Pro1 + MIR-1 37mm F2.8 lens test at DC.watch.
How to get the most out of your Fuji X Pro1 for street photography by Mike Kobal.

New Leica M Monochrome review roudup! (18 B&W Megapixel = 30 Bayer Megapixels)

One hour with the Momochrome by Steve Huff (Click here). Leica Momochrome thoughts by Luminous Landscape (Click here): “I am confident in saying that the MM’s 18 Megapixel sensor performs more like a 26–32 MP Bayer sensor camera.”. Henri (Click here) posted a couple of image samples.Hands-on pictures by Photographyblog (Click here). And Imaging Resource (Click here) tries to find an answer to the following question “Is Leica Pricing Out Its Loyal Customers with an $8,000 Black-and-White Camera?

Leica M Monochrome is available for preorder at Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
Leica X2 and accessories are available for preorder at Adorama (Click here) and listed at BHphoto (Click here).
Leica 50mm Summicron is available for preorder at Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).

First M Monochrome video review (and preorders at Adorama)

Leica forum posted the video you see here on top and actually also the first review (Click here): “This sensor definitely has an fantastic detail resolution. Up to ISO 3,200 almost no noise is visible, even at ISO 8,000 the results are still very good.

Preorders are also up
Leica M Monochrome is available for preorder at Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
Leica X2 and accessories are available for preorder at Adorama (Click here) and listed at BHphoto (Click here).
Leica 50mm Summicron is available for preorder at Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).

New Fuji X PRO 1 review (versus Sony and Olympus) and a Super Canon G1X deal on eBay

The G1X superdeal on

If you still need to read more reviews about the X PRO 1 go at Photographyblog (Click here). The camera gets Highly Recommended: “Thankfully the X-Pro1’s innovative image sensor and lack of low-pass filter lives up to all the hype and more, delivering truly excellent image quality. Noise is noticeable only by its almost complete absence throughout the ISO range of 100-25,600, while the Dynamic Range function helps to boost contrast and detail.

Soundimagesplus (Click here) compared the X PRO 1 image quality with that of the Olympus E-M5 and Sony NEX-5n: “Firstly, using the same Nikon lens on the Fuji and Sony the Sony has purple fringing and the Fuji doesn’t. Secondly, while the Fuji is clearly the best at ISO 3200, just look at how close the Olympus OM-D gets to this much praised Sony sensor at that setting.

And lets end that post with a super deal for our USA readers. The Canon G1X with three extra accessories is for sale for $729 (that’s a $70 discount) on (found via CanonWatch).

The Samsung 85mm for NX is superb (tested at Photozone).

I guess Samsung managers are hitting their heads against the wall trying to figure out why their NX system isn’t becoming popular as it should. There could be many reason why their strategy isn’t working but it certainly doesn’t depend form their lens offering (and future roadmap). Photozone (Click here) just tested the Samsung 85mm f/1.4 lens and got a huge appraisal by the reviewer Klaus. If you know Klaus you will also know that he is very sever in his judgment. But he writes about that lens: “The Samsung NX 85mm f/1.4 ED SSA is a lighthouse product – it’s a truly professional grade lens and the best news is that it’s even a comparatively affordable one (in Europe at least). It stands out from the crowd – also quality-wise – which is why we recommend it highly to all Samsung NX users.

Overall I think Samsung needs a breakthrough camera like Fuji did with the , Sony with the or Olympus with the [shoplink 100170]E-M5[/shoplink]. Maybe that would help them to get a momentum?

Menatime here are the search links to the superb Samsung lens: .

E-M5 versus Fuji X PRO review battle!

If you still haven’t decided if you should go for the new Olympus E-M5 or the Fuji X PRO 1 here is the fully loaded review roundup! Of course instead of spending hours on pixel fighting and ISO charts you can also spend some minutes in your local store to hold both cameras in your hands. That helped me in the past to pickup the right camera! :)

Olympus E-M5: Federico Cabrera, Lesnumeriques (Click here for the translation), Focusmedia (Click here for the translation), DSLRcheck, Cnet US, Digitalrev, Digitalkamera (Click here for the  translation), DC.view (Click here for the translation), Itmedia (Click here for the translation), Photogenicweekend (Click here for the translation), Damian Mc Gillicuddy and Phototravelasia.

Fuji X PRO 1: Cnet, Pfflynn, Nikkei, Lesnumerique, DigitalJournalOfPhotography, Digitalkamera (Click here to read the google translation), Photoscala (Click here for the translation), Brandon Remler, Outbackphoto (Click here), Uniquephoto (Click here), RonMartBlog (Click here), SonyAlphaLab (Click here).

Goof Luck!

P.S.: My next camera should be a Full Frame Mirrorless. let’s see who will be the first to fulfill my dream!

Check price and specs by clicking these search links:
Fuji X PRO 1 at [shopcountry 100018].
Sony NEX-7 at .
Olympus E-M5 at [shopcountry 100170].

NEX-7 vs X PRO vs E-M5 28mm lens battle! Guess who wins?

The picture on top (Click on it to see the full size version!) shows an intriguing test made by DSRLcheck (Click here). It compares the JPEG quality of the very likely three new most famous mirrorless cameras at 28mm focal length. It looks like the Fuji 18mm X lens isn’t as expected. The edge probably goes to the Tamron 18-200 II VC lens for NEX and the Olympus 9-18mm lenses. I am very, very surprised to see that Tamron sharpness!

Here are the full size image samples from DSRLcheck:
? X-Pro1 + XF 18mm F2R ( F4, JPEG )
? NEX7 + E 18-55 OSS ( 18mm, F4, JPEG )
? NEX7 + Tamron B011 ( 18mm, F4, JPEG )
? E-M5 + M.ZD 12-50 EZ ( 14mm, F4, JPEG )
? E-M5 + M.ZD 14-42 II R ( 14mm, F4, JPEG )
? E-M5 + M.ZD 14-150 ( 14mm, F4, JPEG )
? E-M5 + M.ZD 9-18 ( 14mm, F4.9 JPEG )
? E-M5 + Lumix G X 14-42 ( 14mm, F4, JPEG )
? E-M5 + Lumix G 14mm ( 14mm, F4, JPEG )
? E-M5 + Lumix G 14-45 ( 14mm, F4, JPEG )
? E-M5 + Lumix G 7-14 ( 14mm, F4 JPEG )

Check price and specs by clicking these search links:
Fuji X PRO 1 at [shopcountry 100018].
Sony NEX-7 at .
Olympus E-M5 at [shopcountry 100170].