Reviews

Fujifilm x20: Low-light performance test at the National Cinema Museum of Turin

27/03/2013 By Heather

Update: Check out our x20 full review, Photoshow gallery, Advanced mode test, and high ISO test.

We all know that mirrorless cameras like the Olympus OM-D E-M5, the Panasonic GH3 and the Fujifilm x100s have been bestowed with superior low-light capabilities. And with an average price tag of over $1000, we shouldn’t expect much less.

So, what should we be hoping for from the new Fujifilm x20 in terms of ISO performance? Despite its classy retro appearance, it is, in all effects, a compact point-and-shoot, so we need to treat it as such.

Photoshow 2013 – Hands-on with the new Nikon Coolpix A

25/03/2013 By Mathieu

Nikon announced the Coolpix A at the beginning of March 2013. It is the first Coolpix to incorporate a large sensor, the DX sensor that is used in Nikon entry and medium level DSLRs. In fact, it seems to share the exact same 16 megapixel sensor as the Nikon D7000. The Coolpix A features a 200-6400 ISO sensitivity range, and doesn’t have a low pass filter, which should increase the sharpness of the pictures. It has fixed 18.5mm lens (28mm equivalent), and is the smallest compact camera with a large sensor, according to Nikon.

Photoshow 2013 – Hands-on with the new Sigma DN lenses for Micro Four Thirds

24/03/2013 By Mathieu

In late January 2013, Sigma announced three new lenses for Micro Four Thirds cameras: the 19mm and the 30mm, which have been redesigned and enhanced in optical performance from the previous versions, and a brand new 60mm, all with a fast 2.8 aperture. I had the chance to try them all at the Photoshow in Milan. The lady at the Sigma stand told me that they were prototypes, so the images you’re about to see may not accurately reflect the performance of these lenses, or their physical appearance once they appear on the market. [Read more…] about Photoshow 2013 – Hands-on with the new Sigma DN lenses for Micro Four Thirds

Fujifilm x20: Review of Advanced Mode with the Mole Antonelliana

22/03/2013 By Heather

Update: Check out our x20 full review, homemade macro test, Photoshow gallery, and high ISO test.

Spring has sprung here in Turin, and for the first time in a long while, the Alps were clearly visible from the city centre. Since this industrial Italian city is located in a valley, smog and mist often shroud the mountains from sight, but every now and then, the winds carry it away, leaving us with a view that makes the Torinese (and foreigners like me) burst with pride.

After work, I took a stroll up to Monte dei Cappucini, one of the best places to photograph not only the mountains but the city itself. The panoramic view extends as far as Mt. Viso to the left, carries on past the Mole Antonelliana in the heart of the city, and finishes at the basilica Superga on the far right.

Given the fine weather and clear skies, I went ahead and tested some of the functions found in the Advanced Mode of the Fujifilm x20.

Experimenting with the Fuji X20: A Homemade Macro Test

21/03/2013 By Mathieu

Update: Check out our x20 full review, Photoshow gallery, Advanced mode test, and high ISO test.

Yesterday, we published the very first pictures taken with the Fujifilm x20 the day the camera arrived. Tonight, back at home, I was inspired to play around with the macro mode. The important thing was to find something small and detailed to photograph, so I turned to my old collection of Formula 1 cars, as I was a big Ayrton Senna fan when I was little. I took three of them, and put them in different positions on our dining room table.

After placing the camera on a tripod, I set the ISO to 100 and the macro mode to Super Macro. There are two modes on the X20, the Macro and Super Macro mode. The first one lets you use a little bit more focal range, while the second lets you focus in really close. However, it is restricted to only the widest angle and flash is disable. With the Super Macro mode, the X20 can focus really close at its widest angle, around 1 cm.