New camera wrap up and pre-orders! Nikon D800E, Olympus OM-D, Fuji X-Pro 1

138 Comments

1. My wife eventually got her long awaited OM-D (& the kit 12-50 lens), and together with her ‘old’ set of PEN lenses (9-18, Pan 20, 14-150, plus the newly bought Oly 45, & the Sigma 30) she now has a kit rivaling my Nikon V1 kit (18-70, 55-200, 70-300, 50/1.4, all AF-S G lenses, and old 80-400/4, plus the 10, 10-30, 30-110).

   What in some ways have been left in the dust is our Pentax gear (K-5s, most of the FA lenses there are, plus a handful of DAs, a few antiques, and a few of the best Tamrons, and a two other camera bodies (SFX & K-x).

   But as yet, when you have a need for fast lenses, the Pentax still reins supreme with its FA lenses, and/or Limited range (some FAs are Limited, not all, and some DA are Limited). But if it is long focal lengths that is your liking, and your budget is restricted, the combination of a V1, a TF1 (adapter), and Nikon AF-S 70-300 VR is superb, as is the OM-D which hasn’t missed a shot, yet (you can still wobble more than any SR/OIS/VR can handle, of course, but otherwise).

   This seems to be the next generation of cameras, with far better sensors, than those available just a few months ago!

2. Um…you got me there. While explaining my self proclaimed intelligent plan to gf, I was met with the same response. I had no real answer other than the initial reasoning was I was purchasing two cameras because of my internal girlish nuances and the look of the FujiX100 I really liked (which of course doesn’t have an interchangeable lens), so that meant I had to buy another one for my business…. I was worried about the mirrorless and to be honest- just ignorant on making the decision myself. I do love the idea of having just one camera, the ability to change lenses, and that camera is swell looking as well; I really like the 1970’s vibe. And, the water proof, rust proof thing is an added plus. I’ve been reading that Nikon vs Olympus are pretty much just a preference… It probably won’t made a difference to me 😉 Thanks for your input!

3. i’m a bit late to this party. but i *was* looking at the fuji x100 for a while and was pretty set on purchasing, but now it seems a few other contenders have cropped up and i’m utterly confused on what i should get now.

   i just stumbled upon steve’s reviews, which i find refreshing because they’re not all about dslr’s, and i wanted a nice hobbyist camera for my enjoyment. i’m not a pro. i’m less than an amateur. but, i don’t want to waste any more money on crappy cameras. i am now looking into the nikon v1, or mirrorless (unless that is- i said i was less than amateur so….yeah…), and- shoot, after reading this, that Om-D. And, even the one the reader suggested- the K-01.

   i’m probably going to purchase a nikon d3100 or 5100 simply for work, so i can also have the ability to change to a wide angle lens if needed because i am a designer. but, i hate lugging around heavy cameras for play. i just end up taking photos on my iphone.

   any help would be appreciated. or one camera that would do it all, which i never seem to think will work because of the wide angle thing? i’m planning on spending around $800 for the dslr (plus the wide lens). and, the hobby camera is…well…that depends how much i like it 😉 thanks

   • Why buying two cams? I think, I should buy the E-M5. When you go out for your hobby, simply use a little lens, like the Panasonic 20mm. For work you can buy some other lenses. There are lots of lenses available.

4. Actually, I should say the one reason you might not like the m43 is if you want to do fast acton sports or something requiring continuous autofocus. contrast detect autofocus can be fast and accurate, but not so much for action (doesn’t do predictive AF like phase detect). But if this describes you, stick with dslr, or possibly try the nikon 1 ( not much of a system yet).

   • 4.5fps AF 3D Tracking of OMD EM5 will need to be tested. With dedicated lenses there is a good chance it will be excellent.

5. Really enjoy your site Steve,all these new cameras what is a person to do have pre-ordered Fuji Pro X-1 can`t wait, as for the Nikon D800 I`ll keep my D700 not interested in 36mp and its paid for.Thanks for all your hard work.

6. The more I hear about the E-M5 the more interesting it seems.

   The m4/3 companies have now produced some very fine lenses: the 12/2 Oly, 20/1.7 Panny, the 25/1.4 Panny/Leica, the Oly 45/1.8, an ultra wide zoom in the Panny 7-14 f/4 and some quite acceptible long zooms like the Panny 100-300.

   You can now (if like most of us) you mostly post on the net, as opposed to making 30″ x 40″ prints, put together a single system that’ll cover almost any kind of shooting (even Macro if you can live with the Panny-Leica 45/2.8 and studio flash) with a weather sealed, fast AF, flip out OLED touch screen, decent mid range (1600 – 3200) ISO, smallish, lightish, good burst rate camera with a built in EVF of very high quality and state of the art in body IS plus a more than just OK video capability to boot. At what point is the m4/3 sensor a satisfactory compromise given all the capability that single system otherwise has? I confess I’m going to have to think about that.

   The Fuji is intriguing, but it’s prety much all new. Going to surely have some growing pains and limited lenses for a while yet. The Nikon fits in with what I already have, and will be completely awesome I’m sure, but it’s that size and weight I’ve been trying to shed. The G1X lens is just too slow to be a (mostly) everything system. The Sony is all about the lenses it doesn’t have and how fat and cumbersome the ones it does have are. The Pentax is actually quite large AND lacks a VF.

   I’m not ready to jump yet, but that E-M5 and those lenses could be a single do everything I need it to do system. I already have a couple of the great lenses and the body is only a grand. arrrggg…

   • Yep! Yep! Right, Right!

   • I don’t know what you’re shooting with now, but pretty much any compact system camera available today has the image quality for reasonable sized prints, let alone video display. As you say, the m4/3 system does have a very nice selection of lenses, far more than any other system right now. The differences between pany and oly are mostly minor ergonomics, IBIS for Oly, differences in color rendition. I have an Ep3 and I can tell you it has very few shortcomings. It has good image quality up to 1600 (IMO), which when coupled with the fast lenses is enough to shoot in ridiculously low light. And build quality is more than adequate. I have dropped mine onto rocks with hardly a scratch, though the lens took the brunt of the impact (cosmetic damage only). Anyone who dismisses the m43 sensor due to its smaller size vs APS-C hasn’t shot with one, just as many have dismissed the Nikon 1 sensor because it’s smaller.
     If you have the bucks, I suggest you try the EM5 or EP3. Order from b and h, and you can always send it back if you don’t like it. I seriously doubt you will want to return it though.

7. Sorry, but non of these novelties attract my attention. I like Leica M, have film bodies and lenses, but still find it hard to justify the expense for an M9. All new EVILs require to buy into an entire new system at premium prices, but all suffer from various quirks. My main complaint is that despite of smaller sensors, lenses and even bodies are huge in comparison to Leica M. After all, my favourite system is still not available (Nex 7 with 24 and 50 lens). In principle, this also applies to APS-C DSLRs, but at least these are cheap nowadays.

   I don’t disrespect the achievements of camera and lens designers, but for the moment they are just not sufficient to make me spend my hard earned money. Last year I developed interest in the X100. In the meantime availability and even pricing has improved, but in view of the current rate of novelites on the market, I am reluctant to spend money on a transitional product. At least the X100 is not a system with further expenses on lenses. And with its fixed, but fast wideangle lens it fills a gap in all existing APS-C DSLRs systems.

8. Man, was I pumped-up about the X-Pro! But the “buzz” re: IQ questions has temporarily at least dampened the lust. At the same time I love the look and feel of the Oly EP-3, not to mention the great lenses available for it – but no integral viewfinder! Along comes the OM-D, available on Amazon for preorder…all the attributes of the PEN, plus. So, I preordered it…no more agonizing over this brand or that…I woulda gone with B&H to support Senor Huff, but I had a weak moment!

9. Question for Steve to look into:
   The OMD may be bundled with the new 12-50mm f/3.5-6.3 ED lens. The Adorama blog shows a price of $1300.00 for the package. The lens is priced at $500 on B&H (but it’s not available yet.)
   This lens has a broader span (12-50) than the existing kit lenses, but it’s a little slow at the long end.

   So, is this lens worth $500 (or $300), compared to the almost nothing of the kit lenses? Other than the fact that it’s quiet (important for video folks, but useless to everybody else), what’s special about it?

   • I’m pretty sure it is weather sealed like the body, hence the premium.

   • electronic zoom and weather sealing. It’s more suited to video. If video isn’t important, you probably couldn’t justify the price, but if you do shoot video, the power zoom is likely worth the price. It also has a programmable function button FWIW.

10. OM-D in every combo is up for pre order on Amazon right now

11. OM-D in every combo is up for per order on Amazon right now

12. The OM-D has dropped! 43rumors has all the info

13. If I hadn’t recently gotten the EP-3 I’d have already preordered from B&H tonight. But I love my EP3 and don’t have any issues with the low light performance, at least not enough to justify the upgrade. I have the VF2, which apparently will work on the OMD, LOL. I’ll be setting funds aside for that 75 mm bit of camera pr0n either way.

14. Pictures and preview article re: Olympus OMD:

    http://www.adorama.com/alc/blogarticle/13553

15. Re OMD sensor v Apsc, FF

    David Bailey with Jean Shrimpton in NY & Pentax Spotmtic :
    the pies he got chucked at him by Vogue cause it wasnt MF and would have grain and not the range of MF.

    Well boys n girls it is all in the photographers vision and what is being photographed.

    Thousands of super photos flicr, photobucket, zen with sensors 1/2.33,1/1.8, 2/3.

16. Not that anyone should care what I want to buy, but here it is:

    I have an X100 and like the images it produces, but have never gotten really comfortable with it. I’m hoping the new Fuji is a great camera, but I’ll hold off and save my pennies. Maybe buy one eventually if it’s well reviewed.

    The OMD is another story. I have an E-PL2 and and EP-2, and a bunch of lenses. If the OMD is no better than an EP-3 with a built-in EVF, then I’ll pre-order one tomorrow, and sell the EPs. Don’t care about the new features, don’t care about video. I just want an Olympus with a built-in viewfinder. All the way back to the E-420 (actually back to the OM-2n), I’ve never used an Olympus camera that wasn’t comfortable and intuitive to shoot with. So the OMD is the one.

    Incidentally, I have dslrs that I use if I have to shoot in the dark, and for pictures where sharpness is the most important thing (mostly it’s not.) For me, m4/2 is the sweet spot for quality vs luggability.

17. XP1 portraits, weddings, low light (photographers who have used Fuji S5 & Nikon D700 Canon 5D2 say how special Fuji is for portraits and weddings).
    OMD reportage, street, fly on the wall (any situation eg backstage catwalk show), take anywhere rain sand snow, macro with deep dof, mount legacy lenses especially with 5axis IS, fastest AF without tracking.
    1DX & D4 action, sports, low light, tough weather.
    5D3 & D800/D800E : architecture, cityscapes, landscape, advertisement shoots of jewlery, watches, auction & museum catalogues.
    K01 : people with Pentax lenses though it is more a jack of all trades and not so hot in any of them (and it is lacking in AF speed, evf, tilt screen, weather proofing).
    Nex7 : more a jack of all trades and not so hot in any of them except video & 24MP, mounting legacy lenses though not having in body IS hampers this.
    J1V1 : reach & speed in a small package.

    Samsung NX20,Leica mirrorless tbc.

18. thing is, the K01 may look toy like and be cheap, but its IQ will eat the OM-D for breakfast. So which is the real photographers tool?

    • totally agree

19. Just a comment

    43rumors says the OM-D will be 1000$ for the body

    If true then that’s a very good price and I think the camera will be a great hit for that price point. Much cheaper than the X Pro1 (700$ difference) and still cheaper than the Sony NEX-7 (200$ difference). So at least from a marketing point of view it will be very competitive.

    Anyway the official announcement is in about 1 hour from now so we’ll see how great this camera will be. But from rumors alone, it’s already great, it’s just a question of how great.

    The E-P3 was announced and selling for a long time now relativity speaking. And despite it having a very old sensor, it still sells for the same price it started out at. I think this should be an indication of how well it’s selling in the market. The OM-D should be even better. So we can forget about any price drops.

    It seems all the successful models never drop in price. Fuji X100, Lumix GF1, Olympus E-P3. More recently the Lumix FZ150 is proving to be a great success and the prices are crazy for it now. Going back in time the Lumix LX3 back in its day when it had no competitors was always out of stock and pretty much never dropped in price. Chances are, if you really want that camera then everyone else does and you can forget about any discounts.

    End conclusion: I think if you want the OM-D then you should pre-order with no hesitation.

20. The OM-D is my favorite of the bunch

21. @AadB: My guess is Steve is keeping count of the number of replies directed at the different cameras mentioned in this part of his blog.

    You can’t keep a good man down… 🙂

22. If I would trade in my D700, 2.0/28 Distagon, 2.0/50 Makro-Planar, keep the excellent 1.4 AF-S G 24, 35 and 85 primes, for a D800 (would prefer that one over the D800E is my guess) would my life’s quality improve?

    Mmm… 🙂

    • don’t forget to budget for the new quad core computer with multi-terabyte harddrive, and lots of high speed CF cards, a NEF file is about 75MB.

      • Converted from NEF to JPG the files are around 20MB and the IQ is astonishing from what if have seen. That means about 50 images per GB.

        • I’m not worried about my cf cards; might be worried about my laptop, though it’s already pretty well spec’ed.

23. My God! The OM-D is quite a beauty, isn’t she?! While the drop-off from the Braun assembly line of shavers (aka Pentax K-01) seems to have been found in a museum of Braun consumer goods from the 70’s. Not quite my cup of tea!

    The Nikon D800 looks Nikon, not pretty, not ugly, but 100% business!

    Canon have to hurry to produce something that will beat that one, no doubt about that! The 5D III seems as yet be just vaporware, just as Pentax FF digital cameras are, no matter that prototypes been shown to select people years ago!

24. Wow, look at that line-up! This year could turn into an even bigger year than last for new cameras!! 😀

25. Thanks for the tidy wrap up. Saved me a ton of time surfing the web during work hours looking for a daily fix of these cameras. Very exciting slew of releases.

    Kevin

26. I already pre ordered the d800e. Be a great com

27. Guys, according to the specs, the OM-D is not a Micro Four Thirds ( m43 ) sensor, its a Four Thirds sensor which is bigger and should deliver better IQ IMO. Looks amazing! Wow! and the Nikon D800E, what a beast… I swore i will never buy another DSLR, but man this thing is sweet and i want it…

    So for 2012, here’s my wish list:

    Fuji X-Pro 1
    Olympus OM-D
    Nikon D800E

    God help me!

    • The only difference between 4/3 and m4/3 is the mount. That is to say, the sensor is excactly the same.

      • Thanks Sarig for the correction or clarification, i meant to say the mount… Guess i got too excited 🙂

        • Well, it’s a micro 4/3 mount so you’re wrong there too. 🙂

          • I’m pretty sure that Olympus announced several months ago that it will not (ever) be producing any more “prosumer” 4/3 dslrs (the E420, E520. E620 line), but will continue the E-5 “professional” 4/3 cameras and successors. (Of course, I can’t find the link at the moment.)

            They are, for now, completely committed to micro 4/3, which also rules out the APS and full-frame options that people have been going on about.

28. So D800 or D800E?

    That is the question I want answered. Along with how much extra processing the D800E pics will take.
    Hopefully we will get some real world comparisons soon.

    I pre-ordered a D800, I keep thinking about switching to the D800E.

    • E.

      Same discussion I’m having with myself. Not that I’m getting one (a D800) of course. I have a D700, a better camera than I am a photographer, and I keep regressing into film B&W (FM2n, FA, RTSIII, 139Q, FE2 coming…). Did any of you notice recently what exquisite results Plus-X gives in D76 1+1?

      LoL!

      • Man, RTS III – quite possibly the best camera ever made…I wish I hadn’t sold mine to help fund the M8

    • There are some comparison shoots of D800 and D800E where the “E” exibits false color and moire on some fabric. I don’t know how easily it is avoided in daily use, but I think I would get the D800 instead of the D800E.

      http://imaging.nikon.com/lineup/dslr/d800/features01.htm

      • Thanks Anders; that’s helpful.

        And isn’t it great that Nikon actually bothers to bring out the same high level camera in two versions, with and without AA filter?

        That’s a first in the industry if I’m correct, and the punter (sorry; customer) benefits!

        • You are welcome 🙂 – and yes, I agree.

        • It is impressive.

          Many folks will say they need the highest possible sharpness, so they’ll buy the “E”, but for many pros who need to produce high quality images that include fabrics (for instance) to a schedule, moire would be more trouble than it’s worth.

          The sample shots look so good that I’d bet many pros (maybe most) will take the “safe” choice and buy the non-E version. Or maybe one of each.

      • Yes, I have been reading that too. I wish Steve could get both the D800 and D800E and do a real world side by side comparison!

29. Yes the new D800 will be sporting Sony’s new 36mp CMOS sensor. This sensor will be use in future Sony DSLR full frame coming next year the A99.

30. It will be a hard choice. Fuji vs. Olympus. Highest quality and best colors vs. high quality and responsiveness / quick AF. I’m looking on your site, Steve, every day. Please, tell me more about these cameras. Thanks!

31. Steve… tell fuji to over night you an x pro 1 with all 3 fujinon lenses pronto so we can get one of your A1 quality reviews. Do you think the camera will flop? I really want this camera to be the king! And I don’t even care for fuji

32. I really want to like the oly em-5 and from a physical standpoint I do. My problem is that if it’s really true that the sensor will be the exact same one as the $549 g3 and the $800 gx1 that just really alters my desire for the oly! I’m sure the sensor will have some tweaks but to what extent? Right now I’m really leaning towards the sexy x pro 1, with the well built solid black rangefinder body. Also, throw some red after market parts on the fuji x pro 1 like Steve has on his x100 with the red strap and red button release and were talking pure unadulterated lust!!!!!

33. The OM-D looks great. Not too concerned that it doesn’t have the flash built-in. I’d much rather a built-in EVF and no built-in flash than the other way around.

    The most disappointing thing about the OM-D is its lackluster video modes (at least according to the above specs). I know most here probably couldn’t care less about video modes, but the absence of progressive HD modes is sort of glaring. Maybe 24p and 30p modes will be made available via software (ie, firmware updates if they don’t come initially), in which case it will be similar to K-01 or GH2 on paper. Doesn’t look like anyone other than Sony is using AVCHD 2.0 either. I wonder how long it will take others to catch up in this regard. I bet the GH3 will have AVCHD 2.0.

    • I completely agree about the video. For stills and video, I have a 5D Mk II for tripod/landscape work, a GH2, and a lovely new GX1 that I use with a PL 25 1.4 for on the go. (Love this little camera with that lens).

      The compelling feature of the OM-D for me is weather sealing, but that’s not enough. It will likely be the same IQ as my GX1 (very nice) but the same 60i video without the AVCHD, there is really no reason to get this camera with the GH3 on the horizon. Olympus just doesn’t seem to take video seriously at all.

      To me, the D800 is the big announcement from last week. Nikon’s tank-like bodies, glass, and, uncompressed video like the D4 are huge for me, and will likely mean my new 5D Mk II will not stay. Lots of choices, but the only thing I really want is a magnesium alloy GH3 with a higher res LCD and EVF, and a D800. Note I said “want”, not “need”.

34. Nikon D800/D800E samples here: http://imaging.nikon.com/lineup/dslr/d800/sample01.htm

    • Would say that some of these images approaches medium format IQ. Pretty amazing stuff.

      • I agree, that Geisha photo is full of details

        • That’s not a geisha.

          Anyways; the amount and delicacy of detail I thought was pretty shocking (that’s a positive), even at ISO 640; I won’t make the obvious (and expensive) comparison here.

          The other “portrait” shows some ugly flash umbrella reflection in her eyes, but that could be just me (or the photograph(er)).

          I couldn’t figure out which was D800 and which D800E; could any of you?

          Smaller and lighter than a D700. This could be expensive… 🙁

          • sorry about the Geisha name then 🙂 but I guess you know what photo I was referring to

        • Still, SOMEBODY’s going to comment that they look soft. Somebody always does.

35. Too … many … good … cameras … can’t compute…. whirr… fizzzz… bang! My head just exploded! Help meeee!!!!

    In all seriousness, the OM-D has got to be the one I’d choose right now given I have the two best M43 lenses already (12 & 45mm Olys!). That paired with the Nikon J1 for a decent small everyday carry around camera will have to just about sort me out for this year I think!

36. Love everything in the D800, except the sensor. I can see how pro’s like it, but not for me I think. But the Olympus OM-D, ooooooooooooohhhhh, this might be the thing that gets me into the m43. I may actually pre-order.

37. If the X-Pro 1 retains the quality of the files and the lens of the X100 I will be my next camera… over the OM-D because I that the sensor is small compared to the Xpro 1.

38. Black or Silver on the OM-D? This is going to be one of the tougher decisions I’ve had to make in recent memory. Yeah, my life isn’t all that interesting.

39. only 36 megapixies… skip! 🙂

    • LoL! 🙂

40. This D800 announcement makes me think. I replaced my ageing dSLR with X100 but sometimes I miss narrower field of view.

    So a ILCS would be handy. So I was thinking about X-Pro1, for those occasions where I can be asked to take camera bag with a body and few lenses.

    But, with confirmed UK prices it looks like this:

    Fujifilm X-Pro1 body: £1429
    Fujifilm 35mm f/1.4 lens: £549
    Fuji system total: £1978

    Nikon D800: £2399
    Nikon 50mm f/1.8 (AF-D): £105
    Nikon system total: £2504

    yes, there’s £500 difference but D800 looks definitely (at least from the samples on Nikon’s website) at least £1000 better camera.

    • so for me it’s my X100 for my daily snaps and some ILCS for those days when I want to be more serious

    • You could have already been shooting a better camera for cheaper than the X-Pro1 for several years with a 5Dii, D700, A900, A850, etc. Cameras like the X-Pro1 are about size and convenience, not overall IQ. I sold my A900 after using NEX-5N and rangefinder lenses, but not because the IQ of the 5N was better. It was because it was smaller.

      It sounds like you need to prioritize some things before jumping into another camera purchase.

      • I already have small and discreet camera – X100. What I miss sometimes is the flexibility (different focal lengths). Which also means that if I require something like that it’s likely that if I go out shooting with this system I’d probably have a bag with few lenses. There would be no difference between taking X-Pro1 or D800, it still would be a bag full of gear.

        You’re right about 5D/D700 – could have done that, but decided to try out fixed focal length camera. And I like it a lot, have taken almost the same amount of photos like with my SLR over 3 years.

41. Wow, I’m loving that OM-D. It looks sweet. I’m guessing it’s going to be in NEX-7 territory? I would like to know how the EVF compares to Sony’s. Can’t wait for Steve to get his hands on this!

    • Still an mft… Tiny lenses… Harder for oof stuff

      • With the lineup of fast primes, it’s plenty easy to get shallow depth of field with micro 4/3 cams. Heck, Voigtlander just announced the second f.95 lens for the mount.

42. I am deciding between a Nex 5n/7, Xpro-1 and the OM-D. Tough call really. I must say though I am worried about the xpro-1. The Australians posted a few samples which looked very soft to me. They were supposed to post several days worth and make a bunch of videos.

    Pretty much everyone on DP Review ripped the IQ of the photos. Their site was down but its been back up for days now and they have resized the photos way down now so I cant really tell anything about them. Also, they have not posted anything new accept for a few on their flickr account days ago (which again are very small jpegs). I am learning still but at that size I assume almost anything is going to look ok.

    Anyhow, what I am asking is should this worry me? It seems like maybe Fuji freaked at everyones bad reaction to the photos and pumped the breaks on their test but maybe I am wrong. I want to love that camera but they are making it harder ;). Any thoughts?

    • I agree. There is something up with all the XPro-1 images I have seen. NR or something is softening them…they are not tack sharp. Will love to see that camera reviewed here.

    • If the AF works on the X-Pro 1 I would go for it. It most likely have as good or better IQ than the X100 which was really good.

      However, I must admit that the OM-D looks really great. I just hate the thought of an EVF only and the smaller 4/3 sensor, but maybe I’m wrong and maybe it will deliver great IQ.

      • I guess it also depends on your shooting needs. The OM will have more limited Dynamic Range…but the incredible part of MFT to me is that you have very small decent lenses available from fisheye to 600mm (equivalent). If MFT can come up with a sensor with a little more DR…the system is a no-brainer for most.

    • I think Fuji X-Pro 1’s IQ is going to be fine with good low light performance. Photos from the Australian photographers were taken in real life low light situations which typically show much more noise than what we would see in studio photographs on DPReview, etc. My bigger concern about the X-Pro1 is the AF speed. At $1700, I’d expect mid range DSLR performance for static and moving subjects and I don’t think we are going to get it.

      I am also debating between NEX-5N/7, X-Pro 1, and the OM-D. Can’t wait for Steve’s comparison review 🙂

      I already have the NEX-5N and I quite like it even though it is not a DSLR replacement. I am most likely going to hold off on NEX-7 simply because I don’t need 24MP and at that price point, I expect better AF performance. X-Pro1 will likely be out for the same reason (pending production camera reviews).

      That leaves OM-D as the one that ticks a lot of boxes. My only reservation with that camera is the lack of video framerate options. From the specs leaked so far, it does 30p only – no 24p or 60p option. This would be no concern for snapshot videos but for my work, I absolutely need 24p at the least. Also, though I really like Olympus cameras for the reasons Steve has stated, I find it difficult to cough up $1200 for a body that has the same sensor as the Panasonic G3 ($549) and Panasonic G ($699).

      My hope right now is that sometime this year, Sony would release NEX-6, with a new 18-21MP sensor. This camera should be closer to NEX-7 than NEX-5N. May be a dual-navi instead of tri-navi interface. There is a considerable gap between the $599 NEX-5N and $1200 NEX-7. It is reasonable to assume that they would bridge that with an equivalent of A65 on the DSLR side. At any rate, I am putting my money in lenses (Zeiss 24mm and Sony 50mm OSS) and wait out a year or two before upgrading the camera body.

      • Those are the two lenses I want as well if I go nex.

      • Fast AF depends on :

        1. AF motor in the lens (we shouldn’t expect fast AF from landscape, macro, f1.4, we should expect fast Af from Fujis XP1 zooms). Canon Nikon have lenses fast and slow AF.
        2. Type of AF : currently PDAF is faster and more accurate at Tracking than CDAF though CDAF is more accurate and faster at single shot with dedicated lens (soon we will we see more hybrid as Nikon V1 J1, and in time cdaf taking over for tracking).
        Where CDAF is implemented it is faster on smaller sensors eg X10 2/3, m4/3.
        3. Dedicated processor and AF driver in the body (one reason for the size of dslrs and 1DX, D4 being the biggest as their large body can accommodate faster AF driver and faster see hotter cpu). Given technology we will see possible in smaller bodies in the future.

      • Really?
        I am holding out for the Nex-7n… Seems reasonable to assume that since they tweaked the sensor on the Nex-5 and added microlenses to compensate for CA on wide angle lenses within 12 months of it’s release, that Sony would do the same for the Nex-7 before investing in a new body/sensor. This is my hope anyhow. 😉

    • I’m no X-Pro 1 apologist (have little interest in it) but I recall there was a similar panic over “soft images” when the first X100 samples were released and that lens/sensor combination turned out to be stellar.

43. The Nikon D800E (without AA) certainly seems like a 2012 winner for landscape and studio work. I would not exclude the possibility of a 36 MP Canon 5DXE without AA and with Fuji inspired randomized color filter locations rather than the older Bayer pattern used by the D800E.
    Both of them would be a big step in the right direction for landscape and studio.

44. Thanks Steve. Have to say, the new digital OM is probably the camera that pulls me off the fence on µ4/3–a very compact, weatherproof camera for outdoor pursuits that’s a fraction of the size and weight of my weatherproof dslr gear. And finally, a built-in EVF from Oly.

    Hooray!

45. I fail to see how the D800 relates to anything you’re posting on your blog.

    • Open your mind just a tad, dude.

      The title of his blog is “stevhuffphoto.com – reviews, inspiration, passion, community, technique.”

      Why exactly SHOULDN’T he post news about an amazing new camera?

      • Maybe because nothing on this blog is about dslr’s?

        • Steve has done reviews on DSLRs in the past, and tried out many more than that. He generally chooses to write written reviews on cameras that he enjoys, and just send the others back. There’s a post about it somewhere where he doesn’t feel the need to just bash stuff he didn’t enjoy at all, so that’s where a lot of the DSLR stuff gets relegated. But if a DSLR excites him, he will write about it, just like compact cameras, iPhone apps, camera bags, computers – if Steve is fascinated with something he will write about it.

          So the d800e more than belongs here.

        • Well the past year has been all about mirrorless cameras! And many people want to know more and more about these. People like me. I started shooting with a NEX-3. I don’t think I plan on getting a DSLR; I want to stay mirrorless. There’s a new generation of photography unfolding. The only brand new DSLR that I can think of that came out is the Sony A77. So really you can’t blame Steve for the lack of DSLR-related content. This is a blog and blogs should be relevant.

        • aadb: you say “Maybe because nothing on this blog is about dslr’s?”

          Man, you are a textbook example of narrow-mindedness. Good luck with that.

          1. Your statement is wrong – he has written about dslr’s before
          2. Even if he hadn’t written about dslr’s before, why should past practice dictate future behavior?
          3. as I pointed out above, writing about pretty much ANY camera falls within the parameters of the title of his blog (see the title of his blog: “reviews, inspiration, passion, community, technique”)
          4. it’s his blog and he can write about unicorns if he likes to
          5. you can always ask for your money back. oh wait…

          like I said, open your mind dude.

          • Didn’t like the unicorn in ‘Blade Runner – Director’s Cut’ ..nor ‘Legend’. Nor ‘The Last Unicorn’. Nor ‘Voyage of the Unicorn’.

            ‘The Hunt for the Unicorn Killer’ ..ugh.

            ‘The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn’ ..terrific!

          • Wait…WAIT…there wasn’t a unicorn in Blade Runner….was there????
            Did I miss that? LOL!

          • Gaff folds an origami unicorn ..remember?

            And then in ‘The Director’s Cut’ 17 seconds of unicorn were inserted (..an out-take from ‘Legend’?..) when Deckard’s dreaming at the piano..

            ..or did you sleep through that bit, Bob?

          • LOL! Gaff is Gerry Lopez…Soul Surfer of the 70’s. One of my lifetime idols. I distinctly remember the origami but did not know that it was a unicorn. That is why I come here…to learn stuff!!!!!! How is that for off-subject!!!!! LOL!

          • No, no, no: Gaff is Edward James Olmos. Are you asleep at the back, Bob?

            At the end of the film Rachel’s heel steps on Gaff’s unicorn as they leave Deckard’s apartment: Deckard (Harrison Ford – NOT yet cast in the sequel now in pre-production) picks it up (the paper unicorn), looks at it and nods to himself.

            Voice-over (on original release, not on ‘The Director’s Cut’) says “Gaff had been there, and let her live . . . I didn’t know how long we had together; who does?” (Elevator door closes; cue closing music and out-takes from ‘The Shining’ of helicopter shots over trees.)

            Really Bob: move up to one of these seats at the front of the class, and don’t let me catch you snoozing again!

          • Wait..wait…you are correct..but I have an excuse, look how much Lopez and Olmos looked alike back then. Plus…I might have been in the back row smokin something. 🙂

            http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m620/Infared007/Lopez-Olmos.jpg

          • You’re right! You win ten points, an afternoon off, and a toffee apple!

            And with that hairstyle – kiss curl – Olmos could almost BE a unicorn.

            (..As we’re on Steve’s photo-blog, here’s a photo of someone taking a photograph of a unicorn.. http://www.frigateunicorn.org/hire-unicorn )

      • Nice call Jay. Its all about awareness. The fact that a small DSLR does not have an AA filter and a huge 36MP capture is BIG news…That little child will be able to capture some incredible files and we should all be aware of it as it relates to some of the other cameras that appear on this blog regularly. Nice call, Steve.

      • I agree. And why shouldn’t it be reviewed when the D700 was reviewed on this site?

    • The very fact you use the word “your”, when you say your blog, means that the ownership and thus the content of the blog is Steve’s and as such he is entitled to write about whatever interest him.

      Sorry if you feel this hurts some sort of superiority or elitist “mirrorless” clique that you see yourself as a part of, but most people are merely photographers who while having certain preferences can appreciate and often use a wide range of imaging tools. As such, even if one shoots say a M9, the fact that an AA less 36meg camera now exist for a mere $3300 is very interesting, if for no other reason than to see how it could relate to development of a M10

      Open your mind a bit, these things are all merely tools

    • Maybe, aadb, you should put up your suggestions as to how Steve should run his blog in a more positive way.

      Or get out of the house more, whatever you prefer.

    • Oh c’mon. The D800 is a very expensive camera for a very limited, mostly professional audience.

      I don’t need one, and can’t afford one, but I’m still interested to read about it.

      Writing about the D800 here is a little like writing about a Ferrari in Motor Trend. Most of the readership won’t be buying one, but it’s still cool.

      • Expensive? Well, that rules out any discussion of Leica’s on this blog then!

        What utter b*ll*cks. Sigh…

        P.s.: Sorry. I have to apologize for this contribution, having only now read and truly understood this poster’s name. “Paris”. A member of the, outspokenly non-professional, Louis Vuitton set. Again, my profound apologies.

        • Michiel,

          Apparently you didn’t actually READ my post, or I wasn’t clear.
          My point was that I LIKE reading about state-of-the-art cameras, even if
          I’m not going to buy one.

          And further, Steve can write about whatever he pleases.

          I said the D800 is expensive, which is true, and that it will mostly appeal to a relatively small audience, which I think is also true. I did not say it was uninteresting, or that it shouldn’t be written about.

          With respect, your post was unnecessarily insulting, and really doesn’t make much sense.

          • We’ll agree to disagree then. And I didn’t mean to be insulting. I apologize if you felt you were.

      • Basically half the reason I read these kind of blogs, Paris! It’s not like I’m actually planning on buying into 7 different camera systems, but I sure love reading about them:)

        (Though I’d like to! Just as most people would love to have a sports car)

        • Sarig, I agree…. That’s exactly what I said, or anyway what I meant.
          I guess I was unclear.

      • It is damn cheap compared to a Leica M9 🙂

    • never ceases to amaze me, how so many here whose passion/hobby/profession centers around vision, are so adamantly devoted to such myopic thinking. whose vision, it seems, will never see past that which they might one day hold in their hands.

      blessings

      • Ehh; you mean “GAS”? It’s a common affliction. Very human. Pity us mere humans.

        • Michiel, you know in America they sell pills for these afflictions.

          pop. mmm… we are human. we are human and happy. we are happy to be human. we are happy to be happy. we are happy. we are happy. we are happy. we are.

46. There are actually two D800’s: D800 (with AA filter) and D800E (without AA filter).

    If you read the specs (and eye the price tag), they’re not real spiritual successors to the D700, so in that sense… But they’re a tiny bit smaller and appr 100 grs lighter; that must be worth something. And have video.

    Looking forward to reviews of those two eye- and mouthwatering pieces of gear!

47. Steve… I just don’t get the point of the D4 been 2K more expensive than the D800E… where are those extra bucks going? just frames per second? ISO Range? Do you think that the D800E is going to compete against medium format cameras like the Leica S2?

    cheers!

    • Same here. I just chatted with a friend today about the D800E vs the S2. We both seem to think the D800E would be a competitor to the S2 but with better high ISO. All we can do is wait and see but the lack of the AA filter is pretty awesome.

      • Thank you… I hope you can get the chance to compare those cameras… D4, D800E against the S2… another question… why Nikon is making two versions of the D800? Why don’t release just the one without the AA filter?

        • Obviously because it indeed still produce considerable degree of moire. Though the the higher price for one less part is questionable.

          • It is just $300, seems right to me. If it seems high to you, then consider that you still have the option. Canon has no options for that (well, no other manufacturer has)

      • Actually, Steve, the D800E has an AA filter, but it is dofferently configured to blur 4 times less than the strong one in the ,,normal D800,,

    • Looing forward to the D800E review.There is an advantage in detail/sharpness without the AA filter, but that is at the cost of higher risk of moire which is also seen sometimes on pictures from the M9 with repeated patterns on fabric etc.

      The Olympus looks great, but why can’t they make a full frame like the good old 35mm OM-series. Why is it so difficult to fit an FF sensor where the film plane is on an OM-1/2/3/4? I know it would be a lot more expensive, because an FF sensor is very expensive to manufacure compared to a 4/3 sensor, but then it would be a real camera 🙂

      • And there wouldn’t be any modern lenses for it and overall its like 1% of 1% who really want to use their old (though quite good) Zuiko glass for it.

        Everyone else would complain that its not a viable system until there are more choices in glass (just as people have said about the E-mount NEX) and it would be a nonstarter for a majority of consumers.

        If you want a FF camera what would you pick, a Nikon D700, D800 etc with a huge selection of lenses or a Canon 5D mkII with a huge selection of lens, or even a Sony A series with a pretty good selection of lenses……OR, a FF digital OM that has a couple of lens and maybe a 2 year roadmap of future offerings ?

        Just doesn’t make any sense really, especially given how Olympus has built up such a nice collection of m4/3 mount glass. Make a natural upgrade path.

        Besides, so few people even remember the OM line. I’ve still got an OM-G model covered in dust on my shelf, but many photographers don’t even remember the pre-digital days.

        I mean think about this, in the Back to the Future movie they went back in time 30 years to the 50’s

        Go back that same period today and you’d only be in 1982, which to me at least, doesn’t seem like that long ago, but a good number of readers here weren’t even born then!

        • Actually a lot of readers here know about the OM-series and the film days.

          The OM-1 is famous because it was a revolution at the time it appeared with it’s small size. OM-2 was revolutionary because it was the first DSLR to measure light through the lens and had a mode to automaticly select shutter speed when the aperture was set.

          The 4/3 series is fine, but the IQ it is just not up to the prof. standard you get from FF, that is why I would haved liked Olympus to create something really great and revolutionary again.

          Olympus could make some new lenses for such an FF camera. It is really not rocket science to make a good lens. I don’t say it is easy, but Olympus is an old company and they know how to create great lenses.

          But maybe they don’t see a market in it compared to the 4/3 series.

          • Should have been SLR

    • the way is see it is:

      D4:
      – professional workhorse for sports, wildlife
      – can handle a lot of abuse
      – built with speed in mind

      D800/E
      – studio
      – landscape
      – weddings

      They aim at two different groups of professionals I believe. Where D800/E is here for customers who would normally buy 5DMK2 and D4 is just professional workhorse for sport events, safari and so on…

      • This is indeed the typical bifurcation most seem to point at.
        But — where does this leave the typical enthusiast (many of which are loyal followers of this site).

        For example: I have 2 kids, they move fast, lot of pics are indoors, so I like my D3S for low light & speed. And yet typical travel photography is more landscape kind of stuff. So what should I do? Was considering upgrading to D4 (also b/c video) but now I am not so sure. Lets pretend size/weight less of an issue since I have Fuji x100 and soon x1pro as “carry on”.

        @Steve — any views for thos “mixed use” people amongst us?

        • I’m in similar boat, I replaced my old SLR with X100 but want something with exchangeable lenses, so until now it was X-Pro1 for me. Will have to wait for field reports. I’m not a pro, for me pro is a person who makes his/her living with photography. I just enjoy taking photos after work, at work I’m web developer.

48. Hey Steve, thanks for the roundup!

    Quick question – in a previous x pro 1 post you said someone you knew reported the AF to be sluggish still (or something like that), but now you say you expect it to be fast? Has something changed, or still holding out hope that the production firmware will be better?

    • I haven’t used one yet but am hoping to soon. I have heard from a couple others who tried it out at CES and was told it is about equal to the X10 in AF speed. Ill have to wait and see how that translates to the X-Pro 1 when I get to use it.

      • Apparently people currently sending their X100 back to fuji receive their camera with a firmware version of 1.12 instead of a 1.11, which already on the X100 boost significantly the AF. Let’s wait and see 😉

        • I got my X100 back (sticky blades problem; second time) couple of weeks ago, with this firmware. Are you sure a change is made on AF, because I have not noticed that? I’m still hoping Fuji will come with a real firmware update, like the new quick menu of the X-PRO1.

    • From my reading of what determines AF speed

      Dslrs as D4,1DX have dedicated processor & motor in the body to drive AF of lenses (one reason for their size).
      Canon Nikon have lenses which are fast to AF and slow to AF.

      A firmware can only tune things.

      Much more depends on
      1. AF motor in the lens (we shouldn’t expect fast AF from landscape, macro, f1.4, we should expect fast Af from Fujis XP1 zooms).
      2. Type of AF : currently PDAF is faster and more accurate at Tracking than CDAF though CDAF is more accurate and faster at single shot with dedicated lens (soon we will we see more hybrid as Nikon V1 J1, and in time cdaf taking over for tracking).
      Where CDAF is implemented it is faster on smaller sensors eg X10 2/3, m4/3.
      3. Dedicated processor driver in the body which given technology we will see possible in smaller bodies in the future.

      • I totally agree. Firmware can only tune things up, From my and Im sure other other X100 user experience and history shows that firmware only tuned the AF but never solved the problem.

        Don’t expect the AF of the Fuji xpro too be fixed AFTER the launch. It’s either fixed or not. The same goes for the manual focus.

        It’s a real dealbreaker and Fuji knows it that is why they rather not talk or comment on this issue.

49. Seems like the K-01 has already been relegated to the mirrorless whipping boy. My knee-jerk reaction was also that the look was very polarizing and not very desirable. However, it has grown on me immensely, and I’m excited to get my hands on it. Although I own more powerful DSLRs, I anticipate the K-01 as being a camera that I am much more likely to take out with me, with zero compromise in IQ, lens selection, and full image stabilization.

    If AF speed is competent enough, the K-01 is going to produce some pretty amazing results for the price ($750).

    • It could be the sleeper hit of the bunch! Sometimes things like this surprise us 🙂

      • That would certainly be an interesting result.

        Steve, somehow I feel that your audience may be more reluctant to accept it. If anything, a great reason for you to get your hands on it and run it through the ringer.

    • If it had a viewfinder…it could be a real winner. Perhaps Pentax will me coming forth with another mirrorless model that is a bit more full-featured.

    • Sticking two smarties buttons and dayglo body cover maketh not an innovative nor different design.

      • Americans don’t know Smarties, they have m&m’s. but point well taken. The PenTonka will probably sell well enough in Japan, and may appeal to those with Pentax k mount lenses, but thats about it.

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