Recently Canon have shown that manual control is very important even if they do release the same camera 3 times in 12 months. Also recently, Sony have shown that they do not think any kind of manual control is important for the budding filmmaker.
Browsing: specs
See my Canon 60D versus Panasonic GH2 review here If this is innovation, then I’m Britney Spears! Canon have released another very conservative derivative of the 7D in the form of the 60D with articulated screen. The company has managed to fill the tiny hole in the range between the 550D and 7D. The main distinguishing features of the 60D is a hinge, a wheel and the price.
Above: the Sony A55, which died today. UPDATE #1: Sadly the same applies to the Sony A580 – the full sized DSLR which has also been announced. It also has interlaced footage, low bite rates and limited manual controls (aperture priority and that is all). Who is responsible at Sony for these blanket movie mode limitations? UPDATE #2: Not everybody gets the DSLR video revolution and it is these customers…
Here is a nice summary of what we may expect from the Panasonic GH2. The newly skinned 43rumors.com has posted some supposed GH2 specs found on a Japanese website. The Photoshop mock ups are bunk but I believe the specs themselves sound credible and very satisfying.
Sony have announced the specs, release date and price of their first interchangable lens consumer camcorder. Retailing in September at $2000 (including 18-200mm kit lens worth $800), the Sony VG10 is an interchangeable lens mount camcorder, available to pre-order today. “Targeting video enthusiasts and photographers, the NEX-VG10E opens up unprecedented artistic possibilities not achievable with conventional consumer video cameras.”
Nikon patents in Japan have been decoded at NikonRumors.com and relate to (you guessed it) a mirrorless camera system. The system is not APS-C based like the Sony NEX or Samsung NX10 and Nikon are not joining Micro 4/3rd’s. Instead they are set to produce the smallest possible interchangeable lens camera, with 49mm lens barrels (think filter thread size of the Olympus EP1 kit lens).
Above: mock up of what the LX4 might look like, with it’s range-finder style viewfinder and non-interchangable zoom lens by Leica. 43Rumors have reported that a new Panasonic ‘compact’ will be announced shortly. It sports a Leica designed rangefinder style optical viewfinder and a Panasonic Micro 4/3rds sensor, possibly from the GF1.
Lots of rumours are hitting the net ahead of the expected ‘2 waves’ of announcements from Canon next month and in August. One of the cameras constantly mooted is a 60D. But I see a problem with this and something profound has been missed.