2011 was a year where mirrorless cameras evolved into
serious cameras and where some interesting brand decisions were made. Lets try
to put some order into all of this and explain.
The Exmor R domination of the compact camera world
The Sony Exmor R sensor is probably a marvel of recent
times. It can produce great full HD video, ISO 1600 images and shoot full
resolution images at 10fps. Most of its common 10fps uses were for “handheld
twilight mode” where the camera shoots many hi-iso frames and combines them
into a noiseless image, “HDR mode” where the camera brackets a few shots at
different exposures then combines them automatically and the highly popular
“sweep panorama” that lets the user create panoramic shots just by sweeping the
camera from one side to the other of a landscape. Not only Exmor R sensors are
the saving grace of many photographic devices today like the Nikon p300 or the
Apple iPhone 4s, such technology brought Sony to sit comfortably at the top of
the compact line with its X series (WX, HX, TX), a territory usually shared by Canon
and the now fallen Lumix. Canon’s only response against the Sony uprising is
the S100.
The restructuration year of Lumix
Lumix in 2011 tried pushing in various expensive directions
within the G line of micro-4/3 cameras. It first started with the expansion of
its 16mp sensor from the much successful GH2 on lower end bodies like the G3
and GF3 to accommodate the need for better image quality at high-ISO and to be
able to produce high quality HD videos to compete with Canon. It also produced
X series lenses for the micro 4/3 system, a line of high-end motor driven (not
barrel driven) zoom-lenses with special nanocrystal coating that reduces lens
defects and enhances contrast. While Sony was dominating the compact world with
its new sensor, many Lumix enthusiast were wondering if the LX6 would once
again set a new benchmark in compact image quality. The answer came to the
world bearing the name of GX1, a high-end compact micro-4/3 camera body. By
changing the L into the G, it became clear that Lumix is attempting a migration
to the G series while keeping its once great compact line in vegetative state.
As such 2011 was spend redirecting itself in camera evolution. One might agree
that to fight against both compact (the much better s95 and the Sony Exmor R
line) and dSLR fronts (the new Sony 16.2mp sensor found in the D7000), Lumix
had to attack in sacrificing its current evolution and begin exploiting a middle
ground solution to create a space that the consumer wouldn’t have thought to
exist.
Canon’s video domination
It has to be said. Canon’s new found direction in HDSLR
video dominance created a huge market for videographers among with a world of
new video accessories that emulate the setups found in more expensive video
solution. All the recent consumer Canon dSLRs have a tilt and swivel screen to
help the videographer frame video images. There is no denying that regardless
of how good the competition is, Canon dominates completely this market and is
there to stay. On the other hand, the company has fallen behind in the
photography department by recycling the once great but very plasticky Canon 7D
18mp sensor.
Nikon’s strong start and weak finish
Looking at Nikon’s decisions in 2011, one would say that the
company knows what it wants and can afford wasting money experimenting in
creating the ipod-like abominations called the Nikon 1. Nikon started strong
with the D7000 literally taking the photographic industry by force. The D7000
offered a significant upgrade to the crop sensor crowd with much better ISO
performance and many more stops of dynamic range. Then it continued strong with
the release of the 50mm f/1.8G that finally gave the low to mid end crowd an
affordable 50mm lens. Then the Nikon 1 happened… That new camera line made Nikon’s
evolution in cameras questionable in which it’s sacrificing resources in
competing in a market with a product that isn’t ready to be released into it.
Olympus search for speed
Olympus didn’t do much aside from releasing lenses that I
never tried and that cost way too much to purchase and upgrading its AF engine
in its recent entries in cameras. 2011 was an evolutive year for the company on
the micro-4/3 side only, almost like it’s letting other product lines die
slowly.
Pentax’s worst year ever
A brand stuck in between owners and failing at producing
coherent photography products, Pentax managed to downgrade itself into an
abysmal level by creating the Pentax Q line, a failed attempt into the
mirrorless camera industry. Like all pentax products, the initial idea was
bold: to use the acclaimed Exmor R sensor in an interchangeable lens body that
encompasses the retro look of the Fuji X100. Like all Pentax products, it feels
like an unpolished turd: slow menus, slow operation, generic looking buttons,
etc… Over the past few years, Pentax only updated the sensor within its dSLR
line without enhancing anything else. It was eventually bought by another
excentric brand that produces awkward looking cameras: Ricoh. Lets all pray for
a complete reboot for 2012.
Fuji’s suXess
As cheezy as that tag line just sounded, Fujifilm did
succeed in reproducing a series of retro-looking like cameras to please its
crowd looking to dive in some of the magic of the leica rangefinders without
actually knowing how to shoot with one while applying its expertise on high-ISO
image quality on the image. It’s also great that Fujifilm decided to dump the
dreaded color-fringing SuperCCD for a Sony sensor. It stands now as a competent
contender to the mirrorless camera solution.
Nexavior
Some might call me biased towards the NEX. Thing is that the
Sony NEX series has come a long way from being that sony Ericson cellphone
camera with a lens device. Throughout the year 2011, it has received a
considerable amount of firmware updates to improve the user experience and
upgraded to nearly flawless modern digital photography sensors (great hi-iso
and dynamic range) on its current camera line. On top of that, a huge variety
of lens adapters made using attractive 35mm prime lenses on the NEX possible.
With the peaking mode, it’s even more encouraging. The NEX has truly become the
definite example of how a mirrorless system should work.
The beginning of the end of the compact camera
In 2011, cellphone cameras started to be capable of great
image quality. With the help of strong processors and great image enhancing
softwares, creating great images with a modern smartphone is somewhat easy and
fast to share. The trend of image sharing drove the use of the smartphone as
camera and the abandonment of the compact camera that added an extra electronic
device in everybody’s pocket or bag.
2012: the year of the next generation of dSLR
2012 will be a defining year for dSLR photography. The next
Canon 1 series will clash against the Nikon D4 (16.2mp camera which ISO goes up
to 204 800) whereas the Nikon D800 (36mp sensor camera) is set out to
annihilate the Canon 5dmkII. I would also expect Nikon to finish making AF-S G
version of its current non-G prime lens lineup (85 f/1.8D, 135 f/2DC, etc…). It
would be also very surprising to see Nikon make a 50mm f/1.2N. I’m also quite
glad rumors are suggesting the production of a version II of the legendary
Canon 35L lens. Lumix has to come up with a way to drop the price down in order
to make its G series much more attractive. NEX needs to continue releasing
lenses in order to beef up its library, including a low aperture zoom lens. Fujifilm
is expected to release an ILC system. Pentax/Ricoh needs a reboot. I can see
the smartphone cameras becoming better up to a point where users wouldn’t be
able to tell the difference between a cellphone and a compact camera. I would
love if Sony makes a pro-compact camera with its amazing sensor to go against
the Canon s100, but to do so would put Sony out of its philosophy in providing
for the everyday consumer that wants a camera that takes great photos on
auto-mode. To finish, I think the year 2012
will be even more interesting than 2011 because our glimpse at the future of
photography through the clash of the flagship dSLRs of both leading brands in
high-end consumer photography will define what is possible to capture today
with a digital camera.
Stay tuned.
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