Sony NEX-3N

Sony’s fourth-generation, entry-level mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera, the NEX-3N combines the excellent image quality of a 16.1-megapixel Sony Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor with a number of features to simplify making good photos.

By The Editors

Estimated Street Price: $499 (with 16-50mm power-zoom) INTRODUCED 2/2013 Sony’s fourth-generation, entry-level mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera, the NEX-3N combines the excellent image quality of a 16.1-megapixel Sony Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor with a number of features to simplify making good photos. The camera is sold with a compact 16-50mm... Read more

Sony SLT A58

Sony’s newest Translucent Mirror Technology (TMT) model, the SLT-A58 features a new 20.1-megapixel Sony Exmor APS HD CMOS image sensor and improved Bionz processing engine, with ISOs from 100-16,000.

By The Editors

Estimated Street Price: $599 (with 18-55mm zoom) INTRODUCED 2/2013 Sony’s newest Translucent Mirror Technology (TMT) model, the SLT-A58 features a new 20.1-megapixel Sony Exmor APS HD CMOS image sensor and improved Bionz processing engine, with ISOs from 100-16,000. Super SteadyShot Inside sensor-shift stabilization works with any lens, while... Read more

Super Zooms

All-in-one zooms—those that go from wide-angle to medium telephoto—are quite versatile.

By Mike Stensvold

All-in-one zooms—those that go from wide-angle to medium telephoto—are quite versatile. They provide a whole range of focal lengths, from wide through tele, in a single, compact package, terrific when you want to reduce the weight and bulk of your gear. With focal lengths from 28mm to 200mm (and sometimes more), and everything in between, you can... Read more

Is It Time To Go Full-Frame?

Full-frame DSLRs are hot! The reasons?

By Mike Stensvold

Full-frame DSLRs are hot! The reasons? Well, image quality, for starters: All other things being equal, a full-frame sensor can collect more light than a smaller one, and that means a better signal-to-noise ratio (see the sidebar for more about this). And that means better image quality, with less noise, especially at higher ISO settings—full-frame... Read more

Nikon 1 V2

Estimated Street Price: 799 (body only) INTRODUCED 10/2012 While the new Nikon 1 J2 compact mirrorless, interchangeable-lens camera closely resembles its predecessor, the V2 has a new look and incorporates a number of improvements. And inside, there’s a new 14.2-megapixel CX-format CMOS sensor and EXPEED 3A processor, enhancing image quality and operating speed, and providing Read more…

By The Editors

Smart Cameras

Everywhere you look, people are snapping photos and shooting videos with their smartphones, iPads and Android tablets.

By Michael J. McNamara

Everywhere you look, people are snapping photos and shooting videos with their smartphones, iPads and Android tablets. Most of those devices, unfortunately, lack the low-light sensitivity, zoom lenses, image stabilization and exposure controls found in even the most basic compact digital cameras. But do the owners care? Nope! They’re too busy... Read more

Hybrid AF

Phase-detection AF, used in DSLRs for non-live-view shooting, is quick and very good at tracking moving subjects.

By Mike Stensvold

Phase-detection AF, used in DSLRs for non-live-view shooting, is quick and very good at tracking moving subjects. Contrast-detection AF, used in compact and mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras—and DSLRs (other than Sony’s) when shooting in Live View mode—is very accurate, but historically slow, and not good at tracking moving subjects.... Read more

Olympus Pen E-PL5

Olympus’s PEN mirrorless camera lineup received a double update at Photokina.

By The Editors

Estimated Street Price: $649 (body only) INTRODUCED 9/2012 Olympus’s PEN mirrorless camera lineup received a double update at Photokina: the new E-PM2 and E-PL5 (the M stands for “Mini,” the L for “Lite”). The E-PL5 updates the tilt-monitor E-PL3 (there was no E-PL4), improving image quality noticeably by replacing the... Read more

Olympus Pen E-M2

The new PEN E-PM2 can be considered the "little brother" of the new E-PL5.

By The Editors

Estimated Street Price: $549 (body only) INTRODUCED 9/2012 The new PEN E-PM2 can be considered the “little brother” of the new E-PL5. In fact, the two cameras more closely resemble each other than their E-PM1 and E-PL3 predecessors (in large part because both now have grips). Like the E-PL5, the E-PM2 provides the opportunity to get... Read more

Pentax Q10

The concept behind the first mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras was to fit a DSLR-size sensor into a compact-size body.

By The Editors

Estimated Street Price: $599 (body only) INTRODUCED 9/2012 The concept behind the first mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras was to fit a DSLR-size sensor into a compact-size body. Pentax produced the smallest mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera by building it around a compact-camera-size sensor. The Q10 improves on that original Pentax Q model... Read more

Pentax k-5 II

The K-5 II retains those features and adds some new ones, all at a good price.

By DPMag

Estimated Street Price: $1,199 (K-5 II/body only); $1,299 (K-5 IIs/body only) INTRODUCED 9/2012 Pentax’s K-5 DSLR offered a lot of great features in a compact package, including an excellent 16.3-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor, 7 fps shooting, two 14-bit RAW formats (PEF and DNG), and dustproof, cold- and weather-resistant construction with a stainless-steel... Read more

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3

A new 16-megapixel Live MOS image sensor delivers even better still image quality, as well as new video capabilities.

By The Editors

Estimated Street Price: $1,229 (body only) INTRODUCED 9/2012 The new Lumix DMC-GH3 improves on Panasonic’s popular GH2 flagship mirrorless model in many ways, not the least of which is providing a rugged, dust- and splash-proof magnesium-alloy body that’s a bit larger for easier video shooting. A new 16-megapixel Live MOS image sensor... Read more

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