Photography News 10

Camera review

Everything about the X-T1 speaks of quality, and the handling gives you delightfully stripped-back control. For example, there’s no mode dial, but shooting mode is determined via the aperture ring and shutter speed dial. There are also ISO, drive mode and exposure compensation dials. The X-T1’s viewfinder is the biggest of its kind with a magnification ratio of 0.77x. It feels huge, the image is extremely clear, and there’s no noticeable lag. You can change the view mode too, including the option of having the EVF on permanently, with no activation or switch-over delay when lifting it to your eye. In good light, the X-T1 is very quick to focus, while top shooting speed is eight frames-per- second. Storage can keep up, since the X-T1 supports the new UHS-II SD format. Manual focusing makes use of Fujifilm’s innovative digital split imaging technology, which mimics the split-image focusing of film SLRs. Canon EOSM The biggest attraction of the EOS M for existing Canon DSLR users is that you can use it with Canon EF lenses via the mount adaptor, costing an extra £109. This widens the options considerably, although using big lenses negates the benefit of the small body. In use, there’s some familiarity for Canon DSLR users, but plenty to adjust to. The PASM modes come under Creative Auto on the mode dial, selectable in the quick menu, and there are few direct access buttons, with limited customisation. There’s no viewfinder either. DSLR-level control is still there, it’s just mostly tucked away in the quick menu. The touchscreen makes this simple, but it’s also easy to move the focus area by accident, and you can’t turn touch functionality off. Focusing in the EOS M has been criticised, but we found the latest firmware (v2.0.2) made focusing more decisive, and brings AF speed closer to competitors. FujifilmX-T1 The NX300 launched much of the latest NX technology. Perhaps most significant is the autofocus, which unlike previous NX models, is a hybrid system with phase detection. In good light, this makes it pretty speedy. There’s plenty of Smart technology in the NX300, with latest additions including Autoshare and Remote Viewfinder – this lets you release the shutter from a smart device, but with little control over settings. Samsung has done well in combining traditional and touchscreen control for a cohesive interface. The Fn menu panel, for example, is easily accessed with the Fn button, but once it’s open, the panel-like interface on-screen makes it intuitive to use the screen instead of buttons. Themost obvious absence in the handling of the NX300 is a viewfinder; it feels like it needs one, although few other CSCs in this price range do. SamsungNX300

FujifilmX-M1

The A7 provides the best of both worlds – a full-frame sensor in a body the size of the Fujifilm X-T1. The problem with the full-frame set-up though is that lenses are less compact, and with telephoto or prime lenses, the body’s size advantage all but disappears. Like any other CSC, no mirror means on- sensor autofocusing. Here, it’s a Fast Hybrid AF system with phase-detection. For sensor- based technology, it’s speedy and reliable, but struggles when light levels fall. Burst shooting also suffers – without focusing, the A7 has a top burst speed of five frames-per-second, but add autofocusing and this drops to 2.5. While the body is small, the handgrip gives a firm hold. There’s good button customisation available, although the control wheel/directional pad can be fiddly, and responses aren’t always the quickest. The electronic viewfinder has 2.36 million dots for a crisp, accurate preview with little lag. Without a sense of scale, you could mistake the NX30 for a DSLR, and the user experience is similar. The handgrip is comfortable, and direct access control on the body is fantastic. The electronic viewfinder has an impressive 2359k dots, and its magnification is similar to most APS-C DSLRs. Uniquely, it also tilts by up to 80°, but there’s also the articulated LCD. This LCD is a touch panel and includes one of the cleverest touchscreen functions around: you can use your finger to drag out a box and drop it anywhere in the frame for instant spot metering. With plenty of light, the autofocus is speedy, and rarely fails to lock on – even in low light, it’s surprisingly tenacious. With Samsung, you always get a plethora of connectivity options, and it’s no different here, with plenty of image sharing options and Remote Viewfinder Pro, providing impressive levels of remote control from a smart device. SamsungNX30 Otherwise, control of the camera is great. The back dial is the main control and the buttons provide comprehensive direct access. For anything you can’t get to directly, there’s a quick menu, which does a great job. We’re getting used to touchscreens on these cameras, but the X-M1’s screen is not one. Focusing with the X-M1 isn’t the quickest, but it’s reliable. The continuous and tracking AF functions seem somewhat flawed though, since they focus continually, but then refocus as though in single AF mode when you half- press the shutter button, by which time your subject has moved on. SonyA7 Although aimed at the entry-level market, the X-M1 has the same X-Trans sensor technology as the top-end X-series. The body is very small – it’s very light, but slightly awkward to hold. Vulnerable positioning of the exposure compensation dial on the corner also means it can be turned accidentally.

KEY SPECS

PRICE £299 with 18-55mm CONTACT www.canon.co.uk SENSOR 18 megapixels with Digic 5

AUTOFOCUS One-Shot, Servo, manual SHOOTING SPEED 4.3fps DIMENSIONS 108.6x66.5x32.3mm WEIGHT 298g (inc. battery and memory card)

PRICE £429 with 16-50mm CONTACT www.fujifilm.co.uk SENSOR 16 megapixels with EXR Processor II

AUTOFOCUS Multi, area, continuous, tracking, manual SHOOTING SPEED 5.6fps DIMENSIONS 116.9x66.5x39mm WEIGHT 300g (inc. battery and memory card)

ISO RANGE 100-25,600 expanded

KEY SPECS

PRICE £799 with 18-55mm CONTACT www.samsung.com/ uk SENSOR 20.3 megapixels with DRIMe IV

AUTOFOCUS Single, continuous, manual, touch SHOOTING SPEED 9fps DIMENSIONS 127x95.5x41.7mm WEIGHT 375g (inc. battery and memory card)

PRICE £1349 with 18-55mm CONTACT www.fujifilm.co.uk SENSOR 16.3 megapixels with EXR II processor ISO RANGE 100-51,200 expanded

AUTOFOCUS Single, continuous, manual SHOOTING SPEED 8fps DIMENSIONS 129x89.8x46.7mm WEIGHT 440g (inc. battery and memory card)

ISO RANGE 100-25,600

KEY SPECS

PRICE £1399 with 28-70mm CONTACT www.sony.co.uk SENSOR 24.3 megapixels with BIONZ X ISO RANGE 50-25,600

AUTOFOCUS Single-shot, continuous, manual, direct manual SHOOTING SPEED 5fps DIMENSIONS 126.9x94.4x48.2mm WEIGHT 474g (inc. battery and memory card)

PRICE £425 with 20-50mm CONTACT www.samsung.com/ uk SENSOR 20.3 megapixels with DRIMe IV

AUTOFOCUS Single, continuous, manual, Touch AF & Shutter SHOOTING SPEED 8.6fps DIMENSIONS 122x63.7x40.7mm WEIGHT 333g (inc. battery and memory card)

ISO RANGE 100-25,600 extended

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Issue 10 | Photography News