Newsletter Overview

As always, we have another jam-packed issue for your reading pleasure this week. To start, we have a bunch of new camera review content, including our finalized review of the Samsung NX30, as well as a trio of Shooter's Reports for the Nikon D810, Sony A7S and new Sony A5100.

In our Features section, we present our latest in-depth editorial comparison review pitting two popular and powerful enthusiast APS-C DSLRs from Canon and Nikon against each other: the 70D vs the D7100. The comparison's a tough one; are you more of a video and speed person, or do you care more for pure image quality and dynamic range?

For some Quick Hits, check out a lens review for the small and lightweight pancake version of the Olympus 14-42mm zoom lens. We also have our first batch of ultra-high-res gallery photos from Mike Tomkins' forthcoming Pentax 645Z review!

With the big Photokina expo quickly approaching, manufactures are beginning to announce their new fall products, and there's been a slew of new products unveiled in past couple of weeks: the new Olympus E-PL7, the upgraded Fujifilm X30 X-trans compact, two more Sony QX-series cameras including one with an APS-C sensor and interchangeable lens, and a futuristic-looking, LED-adorned Pentax K-S1 DSLR.

Lastly, we list off some of the most popular news stories from the last two weeks.

Happy reading!

Table of contents

• Get Social with IR
• Sponsors
• Reviews
  • Samsung NX30 Review
  • Nikon D810 Shooter's Report Part I
  • Sony A7S Shooter's Report Part
  • Sony A5100 Shooter's Report Part I
• Features
  • Canon 70D vs. Nikon D7100: The 'game-changing' AF camera against the FX-rivaling prosumer DSLR

• Quick Hits
  • Olympus 14-42mm EZ Lens Review
  • Pentax 645Z Sample Gallery Images
• New Product Announcements
  • Olympus E-PL7
  • Fujifilm X30
  • Sony QX1, QX30 Lens-Style Cameras
  • Pentax K-S1
• Popular News
• Next Issue
• Signoff

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Samsung

CAMERA REVIEWS

Samsung NX30 Review

Solid performance and image quality at a great value

Article by William Brawley | Review by John Shafer

We've just finished our Samsung NX30 review, after it spent a lot of time out in the wilds of the Rocky Mountains in the hands of reviewer John Shafer, and overall, the NX30 is a solid little camera. Samsung is an extremely large company with a vast portfolio of products, but in the photographic world, more 'traditional' players like Canon, Nikon and Sony tend to get the lion's share of attention, especially among customers.

Samsung NX-mount cameras, however, shouldn't be overlooked, as they offer a lot of performance and great image quality at some very wallet-friendly prices, and the Samsung NX30 is no exception. Despite the 'flagship' moniker, Samsung's newest high-end NX camera packs a punch with its performance, at a very affordable street price more in line with upper entry-level to lower mid-level DSLRs.

With improved ergonomics over the previous NX20 by way of a bigger, deeper handgrip, the NX30 is comfortable and lightweight. On paper, the Samsung NX30's specs are very impressive, and in-use, the camera lives up to our high expectations for the most part. All in all, the Samsung NX30 is a strong contender for those looking for a relatively compact, high-performance APS-C camera at a great price.

While the NX-mount lens lineup is a little sparse at the moment, which might dissuade some more advanced users who need specialized lenses like fast f/2.8 tele zooms or long super tele wildlife lenses, the Samsung NX30 and available native lenses are more than capable for capturing everything from general lifestyle, portrait and travel photos, to even a good amount of action and sports (so long as you pre-focus and don't rely on continuous AF). In a sea of cameras from other "big names," the Samsung NX30 is a worthy competitor and deserves consideration.

Thinking about "ditching the DSLR" (Samsung's slogan these days) and moving to mirrorless with a Samsung NX30? Head over to our in-depth Samsung NX30 review for all the details, see how it performs in the real world with our Shooter's Report, or skip ahead to our final verdict with our NX30 conclusion. 

Nikon D810 Shooter’s Report Part I

The quest for sunshine and razor-sharp detail

by Mike Tomkins

Last week, we posted a big selection of real-world sample photos -- today, our Nikon D810 review takes another step forwards with the addition of my first Shooter's Report section. After days of uncooperative weather, when the sun peeked out briefly I shot all manner of subjects around downtown Knoxville, Tennessee, in the quest for ultimate resolution.

So what am I thinking of the Nikon D810, thus far? You'll want to read my Shooter's Report for the full story, but I don't think it would be too much of a spoiler to say that I'm greatly enjoying my time with this detail-hungry DSLR. It captures oodles of detail, and image quality in general is great. I've found a few minor concerns that you may want to bear in mind while considering your purchase, but nothing hugely significant -- and more than ever, I'm looking forward to shooting some more, and filing my next report.

There is going to be a slight delay before that can happen, though, as our review sample of the D810 is affected by a recently-announced service advisory. Even though we've not personally seen any issues as yet, we're arranging service so that we can be sure of a truly representative result.

Watch this space for part II just as soon as we can manage, and in the meantime, read Part I of my Nikon D810 Shooter's Report now!

Sony A7S Shooter’s Report Part I

First impressions, handling and oh my, high ISO!

by William Brawley

Sony A7S + FE 70-200mm F4 G: 116mm, f/4, 1/125, ISO 10,000

They say "three's a crowd," but in the case of the Sony A7-series of full-frame mirrorless cameras, perhaps the more apt analogy is "The Three Bears", given that with the A7, A7R and now the A7S, there's something for everyone, and you can find an A7 camera that's "just right" for you. The A7 is more focused on speed and being a good "all-around" camera, the A7R is better for sheer image resolution, while the new Sony A7S, with it's large pixels and lower resolution is aimed at video shooters and low-light aficionados who need insanely-high ISO performance.

In the first installment of my Sony A7S Shooter's Report, I dive right with an overview of the ergonomics and design. While the A7S looks exactly like the A7 and A7R before it, this is the first A7-series camera I've personally spent any serious time with. Overall, I love the camera's design, the build quality and the feel of it in my hands, apart from a few rather minor points. 

Being primarily a stills shooter, my big area of focus with this portion of my review was the high ISO performance of the camera. And boy, oh boy, is this a ridiculous camera! In a good way. With a maximum ISO sensitivity of 409,600, the Sony A7S can basically see in the dark. Of course, the low ISO images are very good as well -- be sure to check out the sample gallery images. 

For all the details about how the Sony A7S handles and it's high ISO chops, head over to mySony A7S Shooter's Report Part I. Coming up for my next installment, I'll explore not only more image quality details with this unique sensors's dynamic range performance, but also the A7S's hallmark video recording features with uncompressed 4K output and high quality Full HD video.

PS: If you're interested in comparing the specs between the Sony A7S and it's popular siblings, check out our new comparison pages! [A7S vs A7; A7S vs A7R]

Sony A5100 Shooter’s Report Part I

Out and about with a smorgasbord of lenses

by Dave Pardue

1/640s / f/5.6 / 75mm eq. / ISO 100 / 16-50mm PZ kit lens

The Sony A5100 is a bit of an anomaly. For starters, its name implies that it succeeds the A5000, which it most certainly does not! The A5000 succeeds the lower-tiered NEX-3N, while the A5100 succeeds the mid-level NEX-5T. The popular A6000 succeeded the NEX-6 earlier this year, leaving only the flagship NEX-7 without an APS-C successor model (and we now speculate that the A7 series of full frame cameras are intended to fulfill that role).

At any rate, the NEX-5 series has, since its inception in 2010, been an awesome line of cameras both for point-and-shoot step-up users and also for enthusiasts looking for a capable companion to their DSLRs for lighter duty work when compact size is more important. The A5100 does in many ways represent some of the most significant upgrades to this mid-level line of any prior upgrade, including AF performance on par with the pricier A6000, more resolution than its predecessor and, get this -- it even has a really cool feature not found in the A6000, as it can simultaneously record two different video file formats.

But that's all paper and specs... how does it actually feel in the hands and shoot in the field? After spending some quality time with this little guy (and a few choice lenses) I've now posted the first Shooter's Report installment, covering the basic controls, handling and some work in the field with both the kit lens and a small arsenal of additional Sony zoom lenses and primes.

Check out the A5100 Shooter's Report for all the details.

And don't forget to check out our Sony A5100 gallery page, where you can access more images, RAW files and full EXIF data in doing your own investigating and comparison shopping. And check back often, as we'll have more to come on this feature-packed little camera soon.

[PS: Are you curious as to how the A5100 compares to its predecessor or siblings in both the specs and features departments? We've got you covered in our new camera comparison pages! Click any of the following to get started: A5100 vs NEX-5T / A5100 vs A5000 / A5100 vs A6000]

FEATURES

Canon 70D vs. Nikon D7100: The ‘game-changing’ AF camera against the FX-rivaling prosumer DSLR

by William Brawley

Two of the hottest APS-C DSLRs on the market are arguably the Canon 70D and the Nikon D7100, and if you're looking to upgrade your camera, you may be wondering which one of these cameras should you choose. If you've already accumulated a big collection of lenses from either brand, the decision becomes much easier, as it can be quite an expensive endeavor to switch. However, if you're ready to jump to the "dark side" (from whichever side of the fence you're currently on) or you're upgrading from a compact camera, we're here to help with our in-depth editorial comparison review of the Canon 70D vs. Nikon D7100.

If you're in the market for an enthusiast level APS-C DSLR, the Canon 70D and the Nikon D7100 are two of the top choices. While these two cameras sit in relatively the same spot in their respective product lineup at similar price points, there are some notable differences that cater to different users. And while the exterior ergonomics, as well as size and weight are relatively similar, it's the under-the-hood features that set these two apart. 



We've published detailed reviews both cameras, and we've now written an expanded head-to-head comparison for these two cameras. In our Canon 70D vs. Nikon D7100 comparison, we go beyond simple specs comparisons and take a close look at both cameras, incorporating what we discovered about their handling and performance, based on both our detailed lab testing and real-world Shooter's Reports. 

Ready to upgrade your camera, but don't know which one of these to buy? Read our Canon 70D vs. Nikon D7100 comparison for the answer!

Want more content like this? Check out our Nikon D610 vs Canon 6D comparison, Panasonic FZ1000 vs Sony RX10 comparison, or our battle of the RX100s comparisons!

QUICK HITS

Pentax 645Z sample gallery: The monumental medium-format meets captivating Colorado

Olympus 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 EZ Lens Review: A light, compact ‘kit lens’ alternative

GX1: 14mm, f/5, 1/1600, ISO 160

GX1: 42mm, f/5.6, 1/1600, ISO 160

NEW PRODUCT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Olympus E-PL7 arrives with restyled body, flip-down LCD, better stabilization, and in-camera Wi-Fi

Fuji X30 arrives with overhauled interface, EVF, Wi-Fi and radically better battery life

Sony QX1, QX30 debut: Transform your smartphone into an APS-C ILC or 30x superzoom

A year ago almost to the day, Sony revealed two new cameras unlike anything that had gone before. Both were completely reliant on a smartphone for framing, image review, and all control other than image capture and zoom. Now, it follows up with the Sony QX1 (the first APS-C interchangeable-lens camera module) and Sony QX30 (the first 30x zoom camera module) for your smartphone.

The Sony QX1 marries the basic form and design of the previous QX-cameras with a large 20.1-megapixel Exmor APS-C CMOS sensor a la the Sony A5000 and a fully functional E-mount lens flange. The QX1 provides smartphone-based photographers a slew of qualities normally reserved for dedicated standalone cameras. In addition to the APS-C sensor, the QX1 features Sony's powerful BIONZ X image processor for vastly improved image quality over that from the small-chipped cameras built into today's smartphones.

For the more enthusiast photographer, the QX1 includes a host of advanced features, including RAW+JPEG capture (including the ability to transfer RAW files to Android devices -- no iOS devices for that feature at this time); Program, Aperture Priority and Shutter Priority shooting modes (no Manual exposure, though); Lock-on AF; up to 3.5fps continuous burst shooting; 1080/30p Full HD video, and even a built-in flash.

The Sony QX30, meanwhile, looks to share much with the existing HX50V compact camera. Resolution is 20.4 megapixels, just as in the HX50V, and it's paired to much the same 24-720mm-equivalent, f/3.5-6.3, 30x optical zoom lens as in that model. Not all features make the grade -- there's no manual exposure option, for example, nor is there a built-in GPS, but by forgoing a built-in display and instead pairing with your smartphone, you'll get an overall package that's around a quarter smaller than the equivalent standalone camera.

Available from September 2014, the 30x zoom Sony QX30 is priced at US$350. The APS-C sensor-based Sony QX1 will follow from November 2014, priced at US$400. More details can be found in our Sony QX30 preview and Sony QX1 preview, respectively.

Ready to pre-order? Place your order for the new Sony QX1 or QX30 lens-style cameras at one of Imaging Resource's trusted affiliates:

• Sony QX1 Mirrorless Lens-Style Camera, $398 - B&H
• Sony QX30 Lens-Style Camera, $348 - B&H

Pentax surprises with futuristic new compact K-S1 DSLR

If you thought most new cameras nowadays are all about being "retro" and taking cues from cameras of yesteryear, take heed: Ricoh is going in a bold new direction with their latest DSLR, the new Pentax K-S1. Sporting a strikingly futuristic design, the K-S1 features a new 20-megapixel APS-C image sensor with a high ISO sensitivity up to 51,200, as well as incorporates features from their flagship K-3, such as the on-demand anti-aliasing filter system with their in-camera Shake Reduction image stabilization system.

Other performance specifications include the SAFOX IXi+ AF sensor with eleven focus points (nine of which are cross-type) a glass pentaprism with 100% coverage, 5.4fps continuous burst shooting and a maximum shutter speed of 1/6000s. The K-S1 also captures Full HD video at up to 30p in the H.264 format.


The big story around the new K-S1 is the radical new body design and user interface. With a rather minimal and sleek design in a very compact body, the K-S1 is nearly devoid of all buttons and dials on the front and top deck of the camera. Instead, the K-S1 moves away from standard DSLR design cues with a large LED-backlit multi-function dial setup on the rear face of the camera that includes the standard PASM modes, as well as typical ISO, white balance, flash and drive settings.

For added futuristic and modern design touches, the power switch, mode dial, OK selection button and front handgrip all sport LED illumination that actually changes depending on the particular shooting mode.

Coupled with the sleek exterior design, the camera software itself has undergone a big refresh. Aimed at step-up users and other mid-level photographers who are perhaps more familiar with simpler mobile device interfaces, the K-S1 hopes to bridge the complexity gap with the sleeker, simpler UI design.

In typical Ricoh fashion, the new Pentax K-S1 will be offered in a variety of color choices. Blue, black and white (with a white kit lens) are the three standard colors, however nine additional colors as part of two color collections -- "Fabric" and "Night Sky" -- will be available as well.

Set to be at retailers nationwide in September, the body-only version will be available for $749.95 and a kit bundled with the SMC Pentax-DAL 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL lens for $799.95. There's is also a two-lens kit that also includes the Pentax 50-200mm lens, and is available in the black, blue or white colors only and sells for $899.95. The special color collection editions are available in single-kit configurations only and are also priced at $799.95.

If you're ready to place your pre-order, head over to one of our trusted affiliates, Adorama and B&H, by clicking one of the links below. Your purchase of this camera or any other product helps support this site! -- Pentax K-S1 DSLR: See full listing of cameras: Adorama, B&H

POPULAR NEWS ON THE SITE

At http://www.imaging-resource.com/news you can keep track of the photo news on our main site. Among the most popular stories over the last couple of weeks:

• Revenge of the DSLRs: What our winningest photographers shoot with and why
  • http://www.imaging-resource.com/news/2014/08/23/revenge-of-the-dslrs-what-our-winningest-photographers-shoot-with
• Limited no more: Olympus adds a standard black color for its 12mm f/2.0 Micro Four Thirds lens
  • http://www.imaging-resource.com/news/2014/08/28/limited-no-more-olympus-adds-a-standard-black-color-for-its-12mm-f-2.0-micr
• Zeiss makes full-frame mirrorless dreams come true with the Loxia lens line
  • http://www.imaging-resource.com/news/2014/09/02/zeiss-makes-full-frame-mirrorless-dreams-come-true-with-the-loxia-lens-line
• Samyang introduces a 50mm f/1.4 “dream” lens (and a T1.5 cine version)
  • http://www.imaging-resource.com/news/2014/08/27/samyang-introduces-a-50mm-f-1.4-dream-lens-and-a-t1.5-cine-version
• The men behind the cameras: Canon gives a rare insight into how your EOS SLR was designed
  • http://www.imaging-resource.com/news/2014/08/26/the-men-behind-the-cameras-canon-gives-a-rare-insight-into-how-your-eos-slr
• DxO Optics Pro update adds Nikon D810 support, hits a major milestone for optics support
  • http://www.imaging-resource.com/news/2014/08/28/dxo-optics-pro-update-adds-nikon-d810-support-hits-a-major-milestone-for-op
• Firmware Friday: Nikon ships big update for D4S; 7 more Leica, Nikon, Pentax SLRs get new firmware too
  • http://www.imaging-resource.com/news/2014/08/29/firmware-friday-nikon-ships-big-update-for-d4s-7-more-leica-nikon-pentax-sl
• With split-bodied EXILIM EX-FR10, Casio’s freestyle camera line learns new tricks
  • http://www.imaging-resource.com/news/2014/08/30/with-split-bodied-exilim-ex-fr10-casios-freestyle-camera-line-learns-new-tr

Next Issue

Signoff

That's it for now, but between issues visit our site for the latest news, reviews, or to have your questions answered in our free discussion forum. Here are the links to our most popular pages:

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Happy snapping!
Dave Etchells & the IR Editorial Team

[email protected]
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