Price: $880 with 18–55mm lens
A refinement of the 650D

THE LOW-DOWN: This 18mp DSLR is a small refinement of the 650D which pioneered a hybrid auto-focus system designed to give continuous tracking focus in video mode. The system has been improved with a new kit lens (29–88mm full frame equivalent) with stepping motor for faster  focus. Video gets special ranking in the camera functions with a video position in the on/off switch. There is a microphone socket and HDMI out. The high definition 7.7cm LCD is a capacitive touch screen through which most settings can be adjusted. It works like a mobile phone with gesture controls. It swivels and can face frontwards or be used at waist or head level. There are inbuilt “creative filters” to add effects such as soft focus, grainy B and W etc. The printed 387 page user manual is exemplary.

LIKE: The sensitive touch screen works well. Bringing up the Q menu gives access to camera controls and in Liveview the touch/focus/fire function is accessible. Canon has kept the zoom range of the new lens to a modest 3X for faster focus and better image quality.

DISLIKE: The continuous auto focus still leaves a lot to be desired. If the camera can lock onto a bold, high contrast object that doesn’t change then it follows well, but tracking a moving child or pet is hit and miss. Compacts and mirrorless system cameras still do a better job of capturing video.

VERDICT: This is a good entry level DSLR which takes excellent stills and, in certain situations, decent video. The 700D is a relatively inexpensive entrée into the Canon system of lenses and accessories.

Marketing gadgets is a tricky business. You can go the Apple way and keep everything a secret until launch day, building up expectation and excitement. Or you can follow the Olympus lead and give the world a good look at your new device months before it hits the shops.

Olympus officially unveiled the new Pen E-P5 on May 10, but it won’t be on sale until July. And even before the end of the official embargo there were leaks and rumours, complete with photos, that turned out to be correct in all details.

Presumably the reveal-early tactic is what is known as FUD – fear, uncertainty and doubt. The message is: Don’t buy a new camera until you have seen what we’ve got coming up.

We have used a pre-production sample of the E-P5 and can report that it is certainly worth waiting for. It can be had with the new, very high definition optional electronic viewfinder, and the combination is a winner. Internally the E-P5 is pretty much the same as the OMD E-M5, which means its image performance is outstanding.

The E-P5 uses a new smartphone control app for Android and iOS. We saw a beta version in operation and it is clever, following the pioneering of phone control by Canon and Panasonic. Definitely a worthwhile innovation.

The E-P5 is a micro four thirds mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. According to consumer survey results Olympus has high brand recognition, but we would be surprised if customers also know what micro four thirds and mirrorless interchangeable lens means. However, in the MILC category Olympus is number one with six models taking 42 per cent market share.

MILCs, produced in various forms by Olympus, Sony, Panasonic, Nikon, Samsung and Canon, take about twenty per cent of the interchangeable lens category that includes DSLRs. In Japan the share is closer to 60 per cent. In Australia the MILC share is growing. In the US, on the other hand, the share is very low. They like their cameras big.

Australians are the world champions in buying two-lens kits and we tell pollsters that the important criteria in camera choice are lens quality, size and weight and then pixel count. We put a high priority on battery life and effective image stabilisation. It’s only a few years since “style” was the number one criterion – we have grown up.

Sony is hoping to boost its category share by running another campaign mocking DSLR “tragics” who have all the gear and no ideas and would be better kitted with an NEX compact system camera (tinyurl.com/d7zj3w3). Hmmm. Sony also make outstanding DSLRs. Is this market cannibalism?

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At 1500 today, Australian Eastern Standard Time, the embargo that has prevented us from writing the new Olympus Pen E-P5 expired. We can now tell you all about the camera, although we still cannot upload images taken with it because the units we have handled are pre-production.

The good news is that the E-P5 is a ripper camera.

In many ways it is the OMD E-M5 without the built in electronic viewfinder. Like the other EP models you can fit the 5 with an optional EVF, and the new EVF 4 is a very high resolution beauty.

Like the OMD the new camera has two control wheels for function adjustment. There is a swivelling (on one plane) LCD. And the sensor is the same (or similar) 16 megapixel unit as in the OMD. Ergonomics are excellent, better even than the E-P3.

The camera has a lovely feel in the hand, being surprisingly heavy to pick up. The styling is even more classic than other Olympus E cameras, with the word PEN added to the nameplate on the front. It looks terrific, especially in black.

Handling is much the same as with the E-P3, using the same touch-sensitive Super Control Panel for instant access to most functions. As before the focus can be set, exposure determined and shutter fired by touching on the critical spot on the LCD.

The Pen E-P5 is WiFi enabled and can be controlled from a smartphone with an Android or iOS app. Presumably a Win8 app can’t be far away. We saw it demonstrated with a beta of the app but were not able to try it when we had the early review unit last week.

The E-P5 will be on sale in July and at this stage Olympus is not even hinting at prices for the camera or the EVF 4. Presumably it must sit under the OMD E-M5, in which case it will be a very desirable piece of gear. Olympus is already the market leader in the compact system camera category and this new model should help cement their position.

[DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL OLYMPUS PRESS RELEASE HERE]

The Panasonic Lumix GH3 reviewed today is about as close to a true hybrid still and video camera as we can buy. It is one of the best compact system cameras, equalling mid-range DSLRs in features and image quality. And it is also a video camera producing results comparable with dedicated camcorders. So now the question for the customer to ponder is: Do I need two cameras or will the GH3 do it all in the one unit?

To answer the question we set up an unscientific test. We mounted the GH3 on a bracket alongside a Panasonic HC-V700 camcorder and shot simultaneous high definition (1080p AVCHD) video. Both cameras record to SD memory cards which we plugged directly into a high definition television set, avoiding any post-camera image processing.

Both cameras produce remarkable HD video. The tiny HC V700 camcorder with its 46X zoom lens is simply astonishing. This camera has five-axis optical image stabilisation which is like having it mounted on a gyro-stabilised steadycam rig. The GH3 can’t match the V700 for smooth panning, tilting and camera movement.

For hand-held tracking of a moving subject the camcorder has an edge over the hybrid still camera. The camcorder also does constant autofocus better, presumably because it has a smaller sensor, greater depth of field and shorter movement of lens elements in the focusing mechanism. 

Where the Lumix GH3 wins out is in absolute image quality. When the cameras are tripod-mounted and static the GH3 produces the more detailed pictures. The words “broadcast quality” are bandied about with scant regard for the facts and we wouldn’t use the expression for either of these cameras but the GH3, in ideal circumstances, comes close.

The GH3 has the advantage of the eye-level electronic viewfinder. This helps in two ways. Pressing the camera against the eye aids stabilisation, and an EVF can be used in bright sunlight where the V700 LCD screen tends to be useless for framing.

Both cameras use Panasonic’s touch screen technology and the V700 camcorder has the advantage of being much smaller and lighter than the compact system camera. Both have HDMI out for direct connection to a high definition TV.

The V700, being designed only for video, (it can take stills, but…) has a better zoom control with the wide-tele slider right where the left thumb falls when holding and operating the camera. The powered zoom moves smoothly through the focal length range. With the GH3 smooth manual zooming is impossible, but there are optional powered zooms for the camera.

For top quality, carefully controlled video shooting the Lumix GH3 is the way to go. For following kids and dogs to spontaneously capture precious family moments with the minimum of fuss the HC-V700 is an astonishing device for $800. But for two cameras for the price of one the GH3 is unbeatable.

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Price: $1380 body only (street price)  

A true hybrid? 

THE LOW-DOWN: This 16mp micro four thirds camera is the flagship in the Panasonic range. It is designed with equal emphasis on still and video photography. It is large and heavy for the format, giving up one of the advantages of micro four thirds for the extra durability and the ergonomics of a DSLR. The magnesium alloy body is dust and splash proof. Video can be recorded in MOV (for Mac editing) or AVCHD (best for direct play on a Panasonic TV). There is a mic and headphone socket. The swivelling LCD is a touch screen and the WiFi facility can be used to control the camera from a smartphone, using the Panasonic Image app. An optional battery grip is available.

LIKE: The video quality is sensational. The company is obviously aiming at the professional videographers who have already made the GH2 a piece of preferred gear. Still images are good, particularly when saved RAW. 

DISLIKE: The electronic viewfinder falls short of present standards in tonality, clarity or colour. Compared with EVFs from Sony or Fujifilm it is underwhelming. 

VERDICT: For anyone intending to shoot a lot of video this camera is the perfect tool. And you won’t be disappointed in the quality of stills even if the jpegs lack the zap of the competition. The ergonomics of the GH3 are excellent with every important camera function accessible from external knobs, buttons and programmable function controls. This is an expensive camera, but keep in mind that its features and performance put it up against serious DSLR competition. The Australian price is only $80 more than in the US – factor in GST and we are paying a fair price.

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Price: $464

Up with the best

THE LOW-DOWN: This 12 megapixel compact with a fast (bright) f1.8–2.5 lens and a focal length range of 28–112mm lens is the Pentax entry into the category of top quality enthusiast compacts. The retro styling features old-fashioned metal top and bottom plates and faux leather skin, reminiscent of cameras of yore. The swivelling, high resolution LCD is as modern as it gets and the external controls, together with an onscreen control panel, give easy access to all settings. Image capture is in JPEG and DNG RAW and the camera can record in both formats simultaneously. It is relatively chunky and heavy for a compact.

LIKE: Image quality is superb, with one caveat – there is a noticeable difference in fine detail and exposure between JPEG and RAW. JPEG pictures are good, RAW are stellar. We have never seen such an obvious difference between formats before and strongly recommend taking the trouble to shoot RAW.

DISLIKE: File writing can occasionally hold up shooting. There is no hot shoe which is unusual for this category of camera.

VERDICT: This is an outstanding camera and a pleasure to use. It easily takes its place alongside the top compacts from Canon, Nikon, Panasonic and Olympus. Once again a lens with a modest zoom range stands out for its sharpness and colour fidelity and 12 megapixels is just about right for a compact sensor. (It seems that Nikon and Olympus use the same sensor in their top compacts.) And finally, the really good news: this camera costs $33 less here than in the US (typical street prices), and that is including GST. C R Kennedy, the distributors, treat their customers with respect.

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From time to time software makers invite us to volunteer as guinea pigs to try out their new programs. Microsoft and Adobe regularly enlist the curious and the bold to run their new applications in beta form and feed back any problems or bugs to headquarters.

There are many timid computer users who never trust any software until the release of version 3, but we prefer to boldly go where no prudent person dares. The payoff is that we get to use the software for months without paying. We had six months of Windows 8 in its various beta forms before we opened the wallet, and in that time we never encountered a single problem. Our experience with Adobe previews has been the same – so we have not hesitated to download and install the beta of Lightroom 5. (tinyurl.com/d2w9pq4)

This fully functional version of Lightroom 5 works until June when the final release goes on sale – so we’ve got two months to see if the improvements are worth the money.

The new features seem desirable rather than revolutionary. For instance Lightroom now has the ability to remove an unwanted object from a photo by painting over it and selecting a fill from another part of the picture, much as in Photoshop. Lightroom outlines the area that it thinks best fills in over the pole or box or unloved uncle, and if that doesn’t look ideal the user can move the fill selection around.

More useful is the removal or “healing” brush. In previous versions of Lightroom there is a spot healing tool, but now it is possible to brush over a wire, thread, hair or scratch and produce a thin line, content-aware fill.

There are changes to the PhotoBook and Slideshow modules that are worth having. Slideshows created from selections of stills and videos can have a music track added with the show exported in a variety of formats, optimised for YouTube or Facebook and also for high definition widescreen TVs. Slide advance can be automatic at selected intervals, with dissolves between slides, or manually. We can see ourselves using the slideshow feature for presentations in the future.

LR5 has an ”Upright” tool that straightens the subject and, if necessary, corrects perspective. Leaning buildings with converging verticals can be fixed with a single click. To see it in action is to be amazed! We opened a photo of a cathedral taken from street level. It was leaning dramatically to one side and converging to a point at the top. One click and it is perfect. Worth the price of admission and certainly worth the minimal risk of running a beta just to see it happen. Give it a try.

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Price: $3000
Hmmm!

THE LOW-DOWN: This not-so-compact camera has a 24mp full frame sensor and a fixed f2 35mm Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* lens. Construction is superbly retro, right down to an aperture control ring around the lens and a conventional threaded remote cable socket. The quality of construction is outstanding with all controls and menus smooth and luxurious in operation. In a word this is one of the most beautiful cameras and will gladden the heart of photographers who long for a classic design and feel. Macro and normal focus are selected by another lens-concentric ring, and manual focus, set from a body lever, is smooth. Unfortunately it is not a true mechanical focus mechanism so it has no stopping points.

LIKE: The lens is as sharp as we would expect from an optic bearing the Zeiss branding. High ISO performance is excellent and image quality is very good indeed.

DISLIKE: The auto-focus is surprisingly slow, although accurate enough. Auto white balance is easily fooled. And the lens, generally good, shows marked barrel distortion.

VERDICT: This is a very expensive camera. For this sort of money you can buy a full frame DSLR body, such as the new Sony a99. And strong competition for this camera comes from Sony’s own NEX-7, a mirrorless system camera for less than half the price. It isn’t full frame, but it is one of the best APS cameras around. It is as well made as the RX1 and has a high resolution electronic viewfinder. We suspect that buying the RX1 will be a heart-over-head decision. It is a gorgeous curiosity that looks like a testing-of-the-market exercise.

Now is not a good time to be in the business of making and selling personal computers. Research firm International Data Corp reports a fourteen per cent drop in PC sales, while their rivals, Gartner Inc, reckon the decline is about eleven per cent.

Two reasons are given for the decline; first, people are using their discretionary budget to buy tablets; and second, Windows 8 is confusing customers and making them stick with what they know. And computer makers are victims of their own quality control – PCs are so good that users are content with what they’ve got, even if it is five years old.

For us a computer is the machine on which we fiddle with photos, using Photoshop, Lightroom or one of the third party applications that come in handy from time to time. We want a good screen, easy file handling, plenty of ports for external devices, lots of storage space and a decent turn of speed. A tablet doesn’t cut the mustard in these departments, except for screen quality. Nothing beats an iPad with Retina display.

We have been well served by a succession of Hewlett Packard tower-form PCs with the best processor we can afford, along with as much RAM as Windows can handle and as big a hard drive as HP fit. We use a Dell monitor, one of their superior 60cm units.

For a laptop we have a conventional resolution MacBook Pro because it has the best display of any portable we have seen, at least until this past week. We now have in front of us the latest Retina MacBook Pro with the 38cm display with 2880X1800 resolution and we may be looking at the future of our computing.

This laptop ticks almost all our boxes. At the risk of incurring the wrath of the Mac Pixies we do not find the OSX file handling as neatly intuitive as the PC. There is not the same range of third party photo editing applications for the Mac. And the new MacBook has fewer external connection ports than we need. There is no CF memory card slot, and, most perplexing, no optical drive. An external DVD drive is an essential add-on.

Against the minuses are the pluses of the superb display, small volume and mass and portability.

For photo editing with iPhoto and video editing with iMovie the new MacBook we tested is bliss. Its Intel Core i7 processor, 8GB of RAM and 500GB solid state drive make it lightning fast. For most domestic users this MacBook will more than meet their computing needs.

For the record, and to avoid accusations of OS bias, we run Windows, Mac OSX and iOS, Android and Linux. We love them all.

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Price: Free for Android/iOS; Win 8 coming

A work in progress?

THE LOW-DOWN: This app from Google Play and the App Store creates and shares photo groups. It is cloud-enabled, so after installation there is an obligatory sign-up for the Nero service. When run Kwik scours associated devices and social media sites for photos and displays a grid of thumbnails. If you have many photos you get a very big grid which is a visible table of contents to your photo collection. The next step is to create a “tapestry” of the picture group for sharing. This is done by clicking on the individual thumbnails and assigning the selected photo to a “tapestry” – another selective grid of thumbnails. When the tapestry is complete the job is done, because while the tapestry group is compiled the app has been working in the background updating the tapestry on the Nero server. To “Share” a link is sent to the chosen recipient who downloads the tapestry to a web browser. Clicking on any thumbnail in the tapestry opens the image to fill the browser.

LIKE: Seeing all the photo thumbnails in one grid saves a lot of time hunting through various devices and social media sites.

DISLIKE: The interface is confusing and not intuitive. At first sight you might mistake it for another collage app like Pic Collage.

VERDICT: The Android version of Nero Kwik has been around for a few months and now the iOS app has been added, with the Win 8 version promised. The interface could do with a tidy up and a user guide would help. As it stands Nero Kwik is a good way to create and transmit a pictorial travel diary.

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