Mathieu

A Family Summer Holiday in Wales: The Sony RX100M2 Full Review

06/09/2013 By Mathieu

After using DSLRs for several years, and then switching to the Olympus Micro Four Thirds and Fuji X systems, I never would have thought that I would enjoy using a point-and-shoot camera so much, but the truth is that I really had fun testing the new Sony RX100 II. I also feel that I got it at the right time, which was right at the beginning of my summer holiday in Wales.

I love the country of Wales, and since 2010 I have spent all of my summer holidays there. It is the perfect place for me to escape from Italy and my hectic work regime. There, I can enjoy time with family, walks and breathtaking landscapes, and concentrate on improving my photography and of course our beloved blog, MirrorLessons. So, this is the spirit with which I embrace this small yet powerful camera, the perfect companion for my vacation!

4 Reasons You’re Missing Out By Not Owning a Mirrorless Camera

06/09/2013 By Mathieu

The title above could be perceived as provocative at first, because it is the photographer that makes the photograph, not the gear. But it is also true that since I started this website and switched from DSLRs to mirrorless, I have learned the importance of adapting your gear not only to the kind of photography you engage in, but to your personal style as well.

Olympus Pen E-P5 vs. Fuji X100s: Retro never looked so good!

29/08/2013 By Mathieu

A few months ago, we pitted the then brand-new Fujifilm X100s against the OM-D E-M5, Olympus’ Micro 4/3s flagship, to see which camera would emerge victorious. As it turned out, it was impossible to definitively say that one camera was better than the other as they have been designed for very different purposes. Though I risk giving away the punchline of this article in the very first paragraph, I’ll blurt it out anyway: the same stands for the E-P5 and the X100s.

The E-P5 is an MILC (mirrorless interchangeable lens camera) with a Micro Four Thirds sensor, and is very similar to the E-M5 in terms of specifications despite actually being the successor to the Pen E-P3. Thanks to its unique array of features, it can easily be considered a new reference for Olympus–that is, until the new OM-D E-M1 arrives later this year. The X100s, on the other hand, has a fixed 35mm lens and an APS-C X-Trans II sensor, and remains one of two Fujifilm flagships alongside the interchangeable X-Pro 1.

The Colours of Aberdyfi: An X100s Gallery using Rebecca Lily’s Pro Set II

27/08/2013 By Mathieu

Last week, post-processing tool designer Rebecca Lily sent me her new Pro Set II presets for Adobe Lightroom and ACR, developed primarly for the Fuji X-Trans Sensor (X100s, X-Pro1, X-E1, etc.). Since Fuji digital cameras have a colour rendition more similar to film than other digital sensors (especially to Fujifilm and in particular the Fuji Pro 400H), its RAW files are easier to match to a more natural film look in post-production. Rebecca designed these new presets to complement this unique base palette.

Vacationing in Wales: An In-Depth Look at the Sony RX100 II Video Function

25/08/2013 By Mathieu

Having a professional background in video production always makes me very aware of the video capabilities of the cameras I review. If I see that a camera possesses acceptable video specs, the filmmaker inside me loses no time in taking the lead!

The Sony Cybershot RX100 II (or RX100M2, or RX100 mark II) is a tiny yet powerful compact camera with superb still image quality. It is without a doubt the Queen of all point-and-shoot cameras out there and can hold its own against bigger and more advanced systems. I already wrote up my first impressions and published a gallery and comparison to prove what this camera is capable of, but another feature that caught me off guard was its video function.