Category Archives: Camera & Lens Reviews

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Panasonic set the stage almost five years ago by introducing us to the Micro Four-Thirds camera system. I like to refer to it as a Gen 3 camera for its unique feature (or lack-thereof) of not using a mirror in its operation--pretty significant when you think about how long we've had mirrors in our SLR's and now digital-SLR's.

Since that time, we've seen other manufacturers begin to dabble in this technology while being careful not to fully embrace it until it had proven itself. In the age of "smaller is better," combined with the fact that even the most basic of smart phones now take photos that rival the earliest digital-SLR's, the Micro Four-Thirds is getting more attention and being taken more serious.

So now we have the Canon EOS-M camera system. It's been on the market for nearly 8 months now and we've been able to put it through its paces and determine its worthiness as an EOS camera. While consumer opinion has been mixed, you have to admit, it's one pretty cool little camera and with the ability to use EF lens with an adapter, the possibilities are endless. With a retail price of just under $700, it's not exactly cheap but for the right person, it's a dream camera.

Packing a powerful 18 megapixel APS-C "hybrid" sensor and 14-bit DIGIC5 processor, the camera is certainly capable of producing crisp, clean images and is perfectly suited for novice users who are looking for better quality and more options than their current point-and-shoots offer. The EOS-M is essentially a mirrorless version of the EOS 650D but with a much simpler interface and more compact size.

   

The new EF-M lens mount currently supports two lenses natively--the EF-M 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM zoom, and the EF-M 22mm f/2 STM prime and with the EF-EOS-M lens mount adapter, all of Canon's EF lenses can be used.

While there is no mechanical viewfinder on the camera, the fixed (non-articulated) 3" touchscreen LCD on the rear of the camera combines framing, focusing, and various exposure options, all in one place. Staying true to Canon quality, the camera features a magnesium-alloy body and although it lacks a built in flash, a hot shoe on the top plate allows it to be fitted with a Speedlite 90EX. The camera is available in black, white, red, and silver.

A lot of talk has been going on lately about the future of digital SLR cameras and as a professional photography instructor/blogger, I suppose every now and then I'm expected to write about the looming death of some photo technology. Well, today is not that day, but this topic does provide us with the opportunity to discuss exciting advances with digital photography and provide some insight as to the direction we're heading.

The buzz phrase in the digital camera industry right now is "3rd Gen cameras," also known as "four-thirds" or "micro four-thirds" cameras, "EVIL cameras", and a short list of other such names. With advances in technology, some camera manufacturers are starting to push out cameras that produce high quality images utilizing a smaller sensor and no mirror such as the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Micro-Four-Thirds digital camera, seen here. So what does this mean for the future of digital photography? Are these new "3rd gen" cameras ready to take over? Not by a long shot, but let's take a look at how I've come to that conclusion:

There's no denying that at some point in time, all digital cameras will lose the antiquated mirror, a technology that has been in use for for over 60 years since the advent of the Zeiss Ikon VEB Contax S back in 1949. The mirror in DSLR's is a mechanical component of the camera that must flap open and closed with each frame, creating a mechanical bottleneck that directly affects the maximum frames-per-second the camera is capable of. But losing the mirror won't happen overnight, in fact, it will likely be a gradual transition over the next decade.

The camera industry is a multi-billion dollar industry with photographers using billions of dollars worth of digital SLR gear, some of which is very expensive, especially when it comes to lenses. With high quality lenses ranging in price from $500 for a simple prime lens, to more than $14,000 for a top-of-the-line 800mm super telephoto, it's practically impossible from a financial standpoint for photographers to just switch overnight.

Let's take a look at some current issues I see with 3rd Gen cameras that will undoubtedly be resolved over time:

3RD GEN TECHNOLOGY IS STILL IN ITS INFANCY

So should you sell your DSLR and lenses and pick up a new 3rd Gen camera? No, and the reason is simple: These new 3rd Gen cameras are just that, new, and that means the technology is just starting to come to market, accessories are sparse, and there is a lack of lenses for these cameras compared with what is available for DSLR's. The 3rd Gen cameras of today will not be of the same caliber as the ones available in 5 or 10 years. The same was true when digital SLR's hit the market a couple decades ago. It takes a few years to get the ball rolling, test the waters, and see what works and what doesn't.

LENS COMPATIBILITY

It is unlikely 3rd Gen cameras will be compatible with the lenses of today because of the way today's lenses operate. Of course firmware may be developed to allow the camera to capture the old lens' image, flip it like the pentaprism does now, and display it correctly, but most likely, new lens technology will be used to compliment the new cameras. The new 3rd Gen lenses will be smaller, lighter, faster, and quieter than today's lenses which will be a welcomed change for those of us stuck lugging around 15 lbs. worth of lenses through the woods or on a safari.

SMALL SENSOR SIZE = POOR IMAGE QUALITY

Another current drawback that will improve over the next decade is image quality due to sensor size. Right now, the sensor size of choice for most pros is "full-frame," which means the sensor is the same size as a 35mm negative. Both Canon and Nikon's flagship cameras feature a full-frame sensor along with a slightly smaller APS-C sensor used in their sports/wildlife tailored cameras. The 3rd Gen cameras use an even smaller sensor, about 75% smaller than the full-frame sensors. The use of these tiny sensors allows the cameras to be made smaller and more compact, and allows them to be fast by devoting processing power to onboard systems like the digital viewfinder, auto image processing, autofocus, etc. What you end up with is poor image quality at high ISO or in low light conditions--a deal breaker for any professional photographer or advanced amateur.

DSLR's ARE HERE TO STAY... FOR NOW

So for now, digital SLR's are still the way to go if you're looking to achieve pro results from your gear. I anticipate these cameras will continue to be sold for at least another decade or longer and as better and better 3rd Gen cameras start hitting the shelves, they will slowly begin to phase out. The bottom line is, digital SLR technology is HOT right now and each new product launch yields even more impressive specifications. We're just starting to hit the plateau with digital SLR's so you can still feel confident in purchasing a nice DSLR and some lenses without having to worry about obsoleteness for a while.

UPDATE, JANUARY 22, 2013:

Today, Olympus announced five more companies would be joining the Micro Four Thirds family. These companies are as far as we know, unaffiliated with the consumer camera industry and a few of them are very new companies. JK Imaging, Ltd., the company which purchased the Kodak brand, just formed last year in 2012. Below is a full list of the companies with brief biographies provided by Olympus:

Blackmagic Design Pty. Ltd.:

An Australian company established in 1984 that manufactures high quality electronic equipment for broadcast and video production.
Blackmagic Design Pty. Ltd. Website : http://www.blackmagicdesign.com/

JK Imaging Ltd.:

An American company established in 2012, and the recently announced brand licensee for "KODAK" branded cameras, pico projectors and other digital imaging products.
JK Imaging Ltd. Website : http://www.kodakcamera.jkiltd.com

PHOTRON LIMITED.:

A Japanese company established in 1968 that provides manufacturing, sales and service of professional film and video equipment and photo- instrumentation.
PHOTRON LIMITED. Website : http://www.photron.com/

SVS-VISTEK GmbH:

A German company established in 2001 that develops, manufactures and distributes professional machine vision components and systems.
SVS-VISTEK GmbH Website : http://www.svs-vistek.com/

ViewPLUS Inc.:

A Japanese company established in 1998 that provides video equipment and the solutions which link communication and image processing as well as sensing technology.
ViewPLUS Inc. Website : http://www.viewplus.co.jp/english.html