The Interchangeable Lens— Mirror-less Cameras— Just Keep Coming

The big story in imaging for 2011 was in the ILML camera segment: 14 new cameras were introduced last year. The trend seems to be continuing in 2012 with Olympus expanding its ILML camera line with the OM-D E-M5 as well as a fast telephoto prime and macro lens; Fujifilm announcing the X-Pro 1 and several lenses; and Pentax-Ricoh announcing the K-O1, the companies second ILML model but the first of the mirror-less cameras to work with a manufacturers existing DSLR lenses without an adapter. With Fujifilm’s entry into this market, there are now seven manufacturers using four sensor formats; and seven different systems and lens mounts. The price range of $400 to $1700 for an ILML body, suggest that some manufacturers believe the appeal of smaller bodied, high quality camera systems goes beyond amateurs and enthusiast moving up from point & shoot and “advanced” compact cameras. The chart below profiles the available ILML camera systems.

The Micro Four Thirds format used by Olympus and Panasonic, as well as the Sony NEX format got a huge boost with Sigma’s announcement that it would be producing lenses for both formats and news that Tamron and Tokina, the other two large third-party lens manufacturers have joined the Micro Four Thirds Group.

Since the Micro Four Thirds system used by Panasonic and Olympus is the oldest of the ILML camera systems, it should come as no surprise that the format is leading the pack in terms of lens availability with more than 28 OEM lenses developed specifically for the system available; and covering an effective focal length range of 14 to 600mm. Although Panasonic and Olympus use the same format and mount, Olympus lenses are not image-stabilized since the Pen system uses body-based image stabilization; Panasonic, on the other hand, uses lens-based stabilization. Many of the Olympus and Panasonic lenses are silent -focusing and are therefore optimized for use in conjunction with autofocus during motion capture.

The announcement and availability of an increasing number of large aperture primes from many of the ILML camera makers addresses what some believed was the Achilles Heel of the segment in general. With the addition of these lenses, many ILML cameras— particularly those using the larger sensor formats— will offer the same depth of field control options and low light capabilities as HDSLs using the same sensor format.

While the Leica M9 is technically an ILML camera, it has not been listed as it does not have video capability. Leica is expected to unveil a new compact ILML camera system during the second half of 2012. As of this writing, Canon remains the sole major camera manufacturer yet to enter this growing and increasingly competitive segment of the imaging market.

While the ILMC segments continue to expand, point &shoot and advanced cameras remain an important segment in the imaging market with 65 new cameras being announced since January 1.

The Current Range of HDSLR and ILML Cameras

An updated and expanded edition of Going Beyond Stills:  HDSLR and Interchangeable Lens - Mirror-less (ILML -because we hate referring to them as EVILs)  Cameras is now available.  You can view it by clicking on the "image" embedded below. 

Open publication - Free publishing - More sony

The HDSLR Camera Class of 2010- The Newest Arrivals

Open publication - Free publishing - More sony

HDSLRs: The Ranks Continue to Swell

I have expanded the exhibit of cameras that was included in the inaugural issue of “Outfitting your H(d)SLR” to include the newest members of the class. The models have increased from two in the fall of 2008 to twelve today (including the Panasonic GH1 which is technically not a HDSLR.) That number will continue to grow as the interest in multi-media collateral for personal and business applications continues to grow. I have to admit that I was surprised that Sony released new DSLR models over the last several months without video capability.

But before we get to the chart, let’s look at a few statistics:

• Social networking continued to gain momentum in 2009 with nearly four out of five Internet users visiting a social networking site on a monthly basis

• During December 2009, 86.5 percent of the total U.S. Internet audience (up from 79% in April) viewed online video.

• During December, 134.4 million viewers watched more than 13 billion videos on YouTube.com (97.1 videos per viewer) versus 107 million viewers watching 6.8 million videos (64 videos per viewer) in April 2009.

• 44.9 million viewers watched 423.3 million videos on MySpace sites (9.4 videos per viewer) in December 2009 versus 49 million viewers watching 387 million videos (8 videos per viewer) in April 2009.

• The duration of the average online video was 4.1 minutes in December versus 3.5 minutes in April, 2009.
Source: Comscore Inc.  JN6F8B57VCJJ

What is clear is that the demand for video continues to grow.

In terms of the chart, I have included the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 because although it is not a DSLR, there are aspects of the video implementation which are superior to some of the HDSLR offerings in the market, and its price (which includes a video optimized zoom lens) makes it competitive to some of those offerings as well.

(Click on chart to enlarge.)

As always I invite you to look through the current issue of “Outfitting Your H(d)SLR.” by clicking on the magazine embedded below.



Disclosure: No consideration has been received in connection with this blog entry, nor has any manufacturer and/or retailer offered any consideration. Consumers should check and evaluate the features on any equipment for themselves prior to purchase.