First A6000 test shows impressive AF performance. NEX-6 gets $140 discount.

Alin Popescu is the worldwide first site/blog posting the Sony A6000 review: http://www.alinpopescu.eu/blog/full-review-focus-tests-sony-a6000-beautiful-dream/

And in normal light conditions the A6000 new autofocusing system is really as fast as promised by Sony! Also in normal interior light conditions the A6000 focus works pretty fine. We still have to see how it performs in extreme low light conditions and I do hope next reviewers will take care of that aspect. Usually it’s there were DSLR cameras still show their advantages.

If you do not care about having super fast autofocusing at all you can buy the predecessor of the A6000 for $598 only at BHphoto (Click here).

First pictures of the Samsung NX mini!

NXrumors (translation here) posted the first pictures of the Samsung NX mini (ah NXF1). The specs also got leaked on a presentation PDF:

20 million pixels a “back-illuminated CMOS which appears to be the same used by the Sony RX100II.
Has a new sort of mini NX mount and comes with two lenses: 9mm and a 9-27mm lens
DRIMe 4 processor
1/16000s maximum shutter speed
3 “LCD IPS Screen swiveling Like MV800
Built-in flash
22fps continuous shooting
ISO 160-12800
1080p/30p video capabilities
Micro SD
Slim
Super continuous shooting capability

NXF1 thickness is less than 35mm, and the 9mm lens is only 12mm thick.

Announcement in less than one month! Price yet not unveiled.

Samsung to launch the NX mini, the world smallest interchangeable system camera?

An anonymous source just sent us this:

Yesterday I had my hands on Samsung NX mini. It will be definitely the smallest interchangeable lens camera currently on the market. It will feature:
– 1 inch BSI CMOS sensor 20.2MPx (probably the same as Sony RX10 / RX100M2)
– no build in flash
– menu doesn’t look like android at all
– now mount and 3 lenses (2 wide angle primes + kit)
– 180 degrees tilt screen (touch screen)
– electronic shutter 1/6000s
– will be available in: pink, mint, white, leather like brown and black color

From what i heard it will be launched within a month

 

Well if the rumor is correct this could become a nice system! A real compact system camera that fits in your pocket, with RX100 image quality and the unique advantage of having a lens mount.

What do you think, will Samsung succeed?

P.S.: The image on top shows the leaked name of the new camera: Samsung NXF1?

 

AP special report explains why DSLR still sells better than Mirrorless system cameras.

Last week we reported how 2013 mirrorless sales fell by 34% in UK. Now Amateur Photographer investigated the reason why DSLR is still more popular than mirrorless cameras. They say:

1) Smaller cameras are fiddly to use compared to DSLR

Well that’s no more truth. With cameras like the GH4 and Fuji X-T1 and E-m1 you get very DSLR alike controls. But for a long time mirrorless system cameras where very compact.

2) Confusing category names

Mirrorless cameras get called all sort of things like “mirrorless system cameras”, “compact system cameras” and sometimes they are also incorrectly referred as “DSRL’s cameras”. And also the the term “compact system camera” gets interpreted as something like a point and shoot “compact camera”, also not necessarily of high image quality.

3) Consumer are still hanging on to the glory days of Canon and Nikon.

Particularly North America and most European countries are very conservative

4) DSLR has wider range of accessories.

5) Low bugdget DSLR compete against system cameras

DSLR became very cheap the last couple of years. That made it even harder for Mirrorless cameras to gain some visibility.

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What should be done to increase the popularity of mirrorless cameras?

Panasonic manager Sykes said that instead of trying to sell a certain volume we should focus on educate the customer

There is also a good news reported by Sykes: “Compact system camera is now returning to a period of growth which is really pleasing“.
 

 

Olympus will likely not make a “rangefinder” designed EVF camera. Focus on f/1.0 lens instead.

Olympus manager Terada made it clear in that video interview that the EVF best position is on the lens axis. And this basically rules out the possibility for Olympus to make a PEN camera with an EVF in the corner just like the Panasonic GX7 or Fuji X-E2 cameras.

Olympus focus will be on the OMD development which basically saved Olympus financial results last year. And after the two next PRO lenses Olympus could focus on super fast primes. A very new patent published on February 20 shows an amazing 12 and 14mm f/1.0 prime lens (Source: Egami).

But what is the long term plan for Olympus? Fuji and Sony are releasing very strong competitors and Olympus needs to create something exciting to gain some market shares!

GoPro Hero 3+ Black Edition tested at Dpreview.

Guess what’s the most sold cameras at Amazon US (ranking here), the GoPro Hero 3+ Black Edition! It sells more than any other compact, DSLR or mirrorless camera!

And it now got tested by the Dpreview team that writes:

It has better battery life, quicker Wi-Fi speeds with longer range, is more compact with the new case, has a significantly improved microphone, and the best image quality I’ve seen from a GoPro to date. I love the addition of SuperView, and the improved wind noise reduction is a substantial fix. Low Light is still up in the air for me, even though the Hero 3+ does exhibit better sensitivity than previous models I’ve used. The still image capture options are almost endless, and very effective.

DSLR and Mirrorless markets may be stagnating but Sports Cameras like the GoPro still sell like hotcakes!