Camera Price Buster Blog – Camera News & Photography

Panasonic have announced two new compact system cameras in the last few weeks, and I’ve been busy in the last few days getting the price listings up for them.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G6
The 16 megapixel Panasonic G6 is the latest in the long line of G system cameras, and introduces built in Wi-Fi and NFC (near field communication) as does the new GF6 model (see below). Apart from just transferring files wirelessly, the G6 can be remotely controlled from your smartphone or tablet, allowing control of a variety of camera functions and settings. The G6 has an OLED live viewfinder, and a rotating tilting touch screen LCD panel.

You can shoot images at a frame rate of up to 7 frames per ssecond, and full HD 1920×1080 video. When shooting video you can use Touch AF to control the focussing. The Panasonic G6 also has an improved ISO range from 160 ISO up to 25,600 ISO (extended).

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-G6 is available to pre-order now and is due in June – see the latest G6 prices here.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF6
The new Panasonic GF6 boasts a new 16 megapixel Live MOS Sensor and a new processing engine. It is the first G system camera to include built in Wi-Fi and NFC (near field communication) – a feature that is also available in the forthcoming G6 (see above) – allowing you to remotely control the camera from a smartphone or tablet and transfer files wirelessly.

The tiltable touch panel LCD screen means that you can control focus using Full-area Touch AF, allowing you to select any part of the picture to focus on. The tiltable LCD also allows you to take pictures of yourself should you feel the need in “self shot” mode.

You can shoot full HD video via a dedicated video record button, The GF6 has an expanded creative control function that allows you to apply 19 different filter effects, with several new ones. The Panasonic GF6 also has an improved ISO range from 160 ISO up to 25,600 ISO (extended), and allows shooting at 4 frames per second.

You can preorder the GF6 now – check the latest Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF6 prices here.

Something strange is going on with the pricing of Canon’s two newest SLRs. Both are entry level SLRs, but the 700D is aimed at slightly more advanced users, and is described as “Canon`s most advanced consumer EOS model to date”. Now, you would expect the 100D to be cheaper than the 700D, but currently you can get the 700D with 18-55mm IS STM Lens for a lower price than the EOS 100D with 18-55mm IS STM Lens.

There is not a huge difference in price, about £15 at the time of writing, but the current cashback deals mean you can save an extra £10 on the 700D. Which makes me wonder why you would choose the 100D over the more advanced 700D? – unless the size difference is really important to you (116.8 x 90.7 x 69.4mm for the 100D against 133.1 x 99.8 x 78.8mm for the 700D).

If you compare the two cameras, and ignore the size, then it is quite hard to spot the difference – in many ways they are the same camera inside. The main advantages of the Canon 700D over the Canon 100D are:

• More advanced autofocus system (9 point cross type AF system)
• More powerful built in flash (guide number 13 compared to 9.4)
• Integrated Speedlite Transmitter
• Max frames per second shooting of 5fps, compares to 4fps for the 100D.
• Battery grip available for the 700D, but not the 100D.

Although the differences are fairly subtle, when put together it is clear that the 700D is a better featured camera, but a bit bigger than the 100D. I would certainly go for the 700D, even if it wasn’t cheaper at the moment.

Two new entry level SLRs from Canon today, the Canon EOS 700D and the Canon EOS 100D.

Canon EOS 700D Details

The latest in a long line of Canon entry level SLRs, the EOS 700D has an 18 megapixel APS-C sensor. It can capture images at a frame rate of 5 frames per second, and has an ISO range of 100-12,800 (expandable to 25600). It features a vari-angle (swivelly) LCD touch screen, and a 9 point cross type AF system. Full HD video is of course possible.

In common with its predecessors, the Canon 700D can be used with the EF-S range of canon lenses, as well as the full standard EF range. The view finder coverage is only 95%, and the built in flash has a guide number of 13. The Canon EOS 700D uses SD cards (including SDHC and SDXC). Sadly there is no built in wi-fi or GPS (but you can use Eye-Fi cards). It is compatible with the BG-E8 battery grip.

The RRP for the 700D is expected to be £849, and is expected some time in April. It will be offered bundled with various lenses as normal.

Canon EOS 100D Details

The Canon EOS 100D becomes the base level SLR in the Canon range. It too features an 18 megapixel APS-C sensor, and a less advanced 9 point AF system. The Canon 100D has a touch screen LCD and a viewfinder with 95% coverage. Canon claim it is the “smallest and lightest APS-C DSLR in its class”, and it weighs in at 407g (without a lens attached).

The EOS 100D can shoot at a frame rate of 4 frames per second, for up to at least 28 frames if shooting jpeg. The ISO range is 100-12,800 (expandable to 25600), and the built in flash has a guide number of 9.4.

You can shoot full HD movies with the 100D. There is no battery grip available for the 100D.

The Canon EOS 100D should be available in April, and I’ve not seen the RRP confirmed yet, but expect it to be around £600-£650.

Nikon have announced a new version of the popular FX format 80-400mm VR lens.

The original 80-400mm VR was the first Nikon lens to feature vibration reduction, and in the intervening years the technology has improved. The new version of the lens therefore has an updated VR system, capable of a four stop compensation – this means that hand held with VR on you can, for example, capture a sharp image at a shutter speed that is four stops slower than the shutter speed you would need to capture a sharp image without the VR (assuming the subject is keeping still of course). There are two VR modes, Normal and Active VR, and also automatic tripod detection that reduces vibration from the shutter release when the camera is mounted on a tripod.

The new lens also features an “improved optical construction that easily meets the demands of today’s D-SLRs” -with 20 elements in 12 groups, Nano Crystal Coat and four ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass elements and one Super ED glass element. The ED elements are are designed to reduce chromatic aberration and the coating to reduce ghosting and flare.

Nikon have today announced the Nikon D7100 DX format digital SLR camera.

It features a 24 megapixel sensor, a 51-point AF system and an ISO range of 100-6400, extendable to 25600. The D7100 can shoot at a speed of 6 frames per second (and 7 fps in its 1.3X crop mode). The 1.3X crop mode essentially seems to ignore some of the sensor, giving the aforementioned higher frame rate but presumably at a therefore reduced resultion, and full HD movie recording up to 50i/60i.

The D7100 weighs 675g, and has magnesium alloy top and rear covers. Nikon claim this gives it “superior dust, drop and weather resistance”. As already mentioned above, full HD movie recording is possible in a full range of HD flavours.

The Nikon D7100 does not have built in wi-fi, but you can fit the WU-1a Mobile Adapter to get this.

The Nikon press release is here.

The Sony NEX-3N compact system camera has been announced.

It features a 16 megapixel APS CMOS sensor and an ISO range up 16000. The 7.5cm LCD screen can be flipped through 180 degrees, to make it easy to take self portraits. The camera body has a zoom lever, which can be used to zoom on compatible power zoom lenses.

The NEX-3N weighs just 210g, making it the “world’s smallest, lightest interchangeable-lens camera with a large APS-C sized sensor” – with a built in flash. The Sony NEX-3N is of course compatible with all the Sony E mount lenses.

The NEX-3N should be available in March 2013. The press release can be found here.

A new SLT camera from Sony, the Sony a58, has been announced. Featuring a 20 megapixel APS CMOS sensor, it offers shooting at up to 8 frames per second. The ISO range is a modest 100 to 16000.

As with other Sony SLTs it has image stabilisation built into the body, and is compatible with the Sony A-Mount lenses. The LCD screen on the back is tiltable, and the viewfinder is a new “OLED Tru-Finder”, with 100% cover.

You can of course shoot full HD video with the a58.

The Sony a58 is due for release in April 2013. The press release can be found here.

Owners of the Pentax K-5 II and K-5 IIs cameras have a update to firmware version 1.01 available. The new firmware provides the option to adjust monitor contrast, and offers “improved stability for general performance”.

You can find the update and details here.

Nikon Coolpix S2700
The new Nikon Coolpix S2700 has a slim 20.7 mm body and comes in a range of colours (some complete with line art). It features a 6x optical zoom lens and a 16 megapixel CCD image sensor. You also get a 2.7 inch LCD screen and HD (720p) movie recording.

Nikon Coolpix S6500
The new S6500 has built in wifi, a 16 megapixel CMOS sensor and a 25–300mm 12x zoom lens. Full HD (1080p) movie recording and Vibration Reduction are the other key features.

Canon Ixus 140
The new IXUS 140 camera is wifi enabled. It has a 16 megapixel sensor, 8x zoom lens and a 3.0 inch LCD. You can shoot HD movies (720p) and it has “Intelligent IS” optical image stabilisation.

Canon Powershot A1400
The Canon A1400 has a 16 megapixel sensor and 5x optical zoom lens. You get a 2.7 inch LCD screen, and an optical viewfinder. You can also shoot HD movies (720p).

Canon Powershot A2600
The A2600 also has a 16 megapixel sensor and 5x optical zoom lens. You get a larger 3 inch LCD, but no optical viewfinder. Again you can shoot HD movies (720p).

Canon Powershot A3500 IS
Last up from Canon is the Powershot A3500 IS with a 16 megapixel sensor and 5x optical zoom lens. It has “Intelligent IS” optical image stabilisation, and is wi-fi enabled.

Two new Nikon 1 system cameras have been announced, the Nikon 1 J3 and the Nikon 1 S1.

The Nikon 1 S1 is the first S-series Nikon 1 camera, designed to be as easy to use as a digital compact, but with better image quality and more powerful features available. With a fast image processing engine, it shares with the J3 a continuous shooting rate at 15 frames per second with autofocus for a short burst, and up to 60 frames per second with fixed-point AF.

The new Nikon 1 J3 is the worlds smallest compact system body (with comparably sized sensors), 14.2 megapixel sensor and super fast shooting as detailed above. Both cameras feature full HD movie recording.

Nikon have also launched two new Nikon 1 lenses, the 1 NIKKOR VR 6.7-13mm f/3.5-5.6 ultra wide-angle zoom lens and the 1 NIKKOR VR 10-100mm f/4.0-5.6 zoom lens.

1 NIKKOR VR 6.7-13mm lens
The new Nikon 1 NIKKOR VR 6.7-13mm lens is the widest lens in the Nikon 1 range, and features vibration reduction.
It gives a 35mm (full frame) equivalent range of 18-35mm, for those of you like me who still think in these terms.

1 NIKKOR VR 10-100mm lens
This lens also features vibration reduction, and has a 10x zoom, equivalent to a range of 27-270mm on a full frame SLR – making it a great all round lens. Nikon claim it is the “world’s smallest … among zoom lenses with a zoom ratio of 5x or higher for digital cameras with interchangeable lenses”.

See the Nikon site for details, here and here.