Olympus has introduced two new cameras to sit in its PEN range of compact system cameras (CSCs), both using the sensor from the Olympus OM-D.
The cameras, which will sit in the middle and bottom of the PEN lineup, have combined some of the best features of both the PEN range and the newer OM-D camera.
The new Olympus PEN Lite E-PL5 and new Olympus PEN Mini E-PM2 team up the 16.1 million pixel from the Olympus OM-D with a True Pic VI image processor, which should mean that the cameras are capable of delivering similar image quality.
For the moment, the Olympus PEN E-P3, which sits at the top of the PEN range, has not been replaced.
Touchy feely
Both now feature a touchscreen, with the Olympus PEN Lite E-PL5 featuring a tilting version, to help with shooting from awkward angles, and the Olympus PEN Mini E-PM2 including a fixed display. The PEN Lite's screen is so flexible that it can be tilted upwards for shooting self-portraits.
Olympus PEN E-PL5 at a glance 16.1 million pixel Live MOS sensor True Pic VI image processor ISO up to 25,600 1080p Full HD Tiltable 3-inch, 460k dot LCD touchscreen 12 creative art filters 8fps shooting
Fast AF autofocusing, as already seen on the Olympus OM-D, is also available, along with in-body image stabilisation.
Well known as a keen advocate of digital filters, Olympus has included 12 different art effects on the latest PEN compact system cameras, including cross process and pop colour. Filters can also be used while shooting HD video.
Olympus PEN E-PM2 at a glance 16.1 million pixel Live MOS sensor True Pic VI image processor ISO up to 25,600 1080p Full HD Fixed, 460k dot LCD touchscreen 12 creative art filters 8fps shooting
The new Olympus PEN Lite E-PL5 price is set to be £599 (around $970), while the Olympus PEN Mini E-PM2 will cost around £499 (approx $810). For an extra £70 (approx $113) you can add a new 15mm "body cap" f/8 lens that enables spontaneous and quick shooting while also protecting the camera from dust.
A November release date is currently the most likely.
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As soon as you pick up the 20.2MP Canon EOS 6D you notice that it's quite a bit different from the Canon EOS 5D Mark III. It's smaller for a start, being similar in proportions to the Canon EOS 60D. And although it still feels pretty durable, it doesn't feel quite so tough as the cameras further up Canon's DSLR line.
There's also no mini-joystick multi-controller for selecting the AF point, instead there's a navigation pad inside the dial large dial on the back of the camera.
The menu system also looks a bit different, with a long list of option tabs across the top of the screen. All the usual features that you would expect to find in there are present, with one or two new additions. The custom functions section, for example, has an Autofocus option, and it's possible to adjust how the AF system responds to a change in subject distance.
This makes the Canon EOS 6D a more versatile, customisable option than the Canon EOS 60D for sports photographers - although the maximum continuous shooting rate is only 4.5fps. There's no M.Fn button next to the shutter release for adjusting the focusing options, though.
There's an interesting option in the Playback menu that enables you to create a photobook direct from the camera. This is a pretty exciting option that ties in with Canon's Project 1709 cloud storage plans, since this will enable photographers to order prints and books to be made via the internet.
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There are 'only' 11 AF points, but they are pretty well spread across the frame, and the system is as responsive as we have come to expect. The subject is brought smartly into focus after half pressing the shutter release, even when light levels are quite low.
Although the Canon EOS 6D has HDR capture like the Canon EOS 5D Mark III, this is a JPEG only option, so it's not quite as exciting for serious photographers as the raw HDR capture option of the Canon EOS 5D Mark III.
Making connections
Wi-Fi connectivity is a key new feature for the Canon EOS 6D. We weren't able to test this with the pre-production sample that we got to use, but it was good to see that you can create a nickname for the camera to make it easy to recognise when you're trying to connect.
We look forward to testing this function when we get a full production sample camera in for our Canon EOS 6D review.
Being able to upload and share images directly has obvious advantages, and it ties in nicely with Canon's Project 1709 beta cloud storage program, announced at the same time as the Canon EOS 6D. This enables you to store, index and view images on a range of devices, wherever you are - provided there's an internet connection.
An iOS and Android app also makes it possible to see the Live View image on a smartphone screen and trigger the camera's shutter remotely. We have yet to see if this will also enable you to remotely adjust key aspects such as the exposure or the focus point, but it's a step in the right direction, especially for wildlife and macro photographers.
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The Canon EOS 6D also has GPS technology built in, which enables images to be tagged with location data as they are captured, making it easy to identify where they were taken post-capture, which is useful for travellers and forgetful photographers.
Even when the camera is turned off, the GPS can record your journey, and it will be interesting to see how this impacts battery life.
Composing images
Unlike the Canon EOS 650D, the Canon EOS 6D doesn't have touchscreen technology, and the 3-inch 1,040,000-dot Clear View II LCD screen is a fixed rather than an articulating unit.
This provides a decent view in a range of light conditions, but predictably direct sunlight is still a problem, and it's a shame that the screen can't be tilted.
One disappointment is that, unlike the Canon EOS 5D Mark III, the Canon EOS 6D doesn't have a rating button, so images can only be assigned a score out of five via the menu. It's an easy enough process, but it's not the same as simply hitting a button to rate an image and make it easy to identify when you download it to a computer.
Being a DSLR, the Canon EOS 6D also has an optical viewfinder, and this provides a nice bright view without any obvious dimming or corner shading.
Memory
One key difference from the Canon EOS 5D Mark III and Canon EOS 7D is that the Canon EOS 6D only accepts one SD card.
While this enables the camera to be smaller, we wonder what the implications will be for dedicated Live View users and video shooters, since there's bound to be lots of heat generated, which could result in extra image noise or recording shutting off. We'll be looking at this when we get a full production sample in for testing.
Speaking of videographers, these users will be disappointed to learn that the Canon EOS 6D doesn't have a headphone port to enable audio to be monitored - there's just a mic port to facilitate cleaner sound recording.
Early verdict
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All things considered, the Canon EOS 6D looks like a pretty decent DSLR, with the Wi-Fi and GPS technology being nice bonuses for the average photographer. At 20.2MP, the resolution is not a great deal more than that offered by Canon's APS-C format DSLRs, but there should be a significant image quality advantage.
Those upgrading from a Canon EOS 60D should find it pretty straightforward, without any major handling changes. You'll also be happy that the Canon EOS 6D uses SD format cards rather than CF, but we wonder whether this could be a limiting factor for video shooting.
Priced at £1,799/$2,099 body only or £2,519.99/$2,899 with an EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM kit lens, the Canon EOS 6D is appreciably more affordable than the Nikon D600. But the figure still feels a little on the high side for a camera aimed at enthusiast photographers, and many will wait a few months for the price to come down.
The Canon EOS 6D is set to go on sale in December, and we are looking forward to giving it a thorough test as soon as we get a full production sample.
The new Leica M - the company is opting to omit product numbers - is the first camera to implement a newly designed and constructed CMOS sensor, and the first Leica M to include Live View and Full HD video recording.
Leica says that the new system is the most versatile Leica M camera to date, while it also accepts classic Leica R lenses.
The new 24 million pixel full-frame 35mm CMOS sensor has been designed in collaboration with CMOSIS and, according to Leica, combines the advantages of CCD sensors - such as natural colour rendition - with the detail reproduction capabilities of a CMOS sensor.
A Leica Maestro processor is included, while a high capacity battery is promised, which combined means that the camera should perform well over long shooting periods.
The Leica M and Leica M-E were announced at Photokina 2012, alongside the Leica D-Lux 6, Leica V-Lux 4, Leica S and new lenses.
Viewing images
One of the new features of the camera is Live View and Live View Focus. A 3-inch, 920,000 pixel screen can be used to compose the image. The screen itself is manufactured from tough, scratch-resistant glass.
Two additional focusing methods have been incorporated onto the camera. Live View Zoom enables up to 10x magnification for precise assessment of sharp details. Live View Focus Peaking is also included, which displays the contours of a subject as red lines for simple focus assessment.
Build quality and interface
Leica has manufactured the camera according to its strict quality standards. This sees the top and base plates constructed from solid brass, while the chassis itself is a full-metal, die-cast magnesium alloy.
Rubber sealing protects the camera body against dust, spray and moisture.
A new layout and menu interface has been designed to make the camera simpler to use. There are dedicated button controls for Live View Zoom and Live View Focus Peaking on the front of the camera. An ergonomically formed thumb rest, which features an integrated setting dial, is also part of the design.
Accessories, price and release date
Lots of new accessories will be available for the Leica M, perhaps most notably the new Leica-R adaptor M, which enables you to mount almost all Leica-R lenses on the camera. An electronic viewfinder, handgrip with GPS module and a microphone adaptor will also be available.
The Leica M price will be £5,100 (around $8,289) with a release date of early 2013.
Leica M-E
Meanwhile, the Leica M-E completes the rangefinder trio of cameras available from Leica. Inside is a full-frame 35mm CCD sensor, boasting 18 million pixels.
Other features include a 230,000 dot 2.5-inch TFT screen and a new leather-style trim.
Leica describes the M-E as an "entry level" camera, though of course it's still not cheap compared to offerings from other brands.
The Leica M-E price will be £3,900 (around $6,338), with a release date of September 2012.
We had begun to wonder if Canon would ever replace the PowerShot G12, but at last it has gone and introduced the 12.1 million pixel Canon PowerShot G15, unveiled at Photokina 2012.
At first glance, the Canon G15 looks remarkably similar to the Canon G12, but there are a few distinct differences. The most noticeable of these is the stacked or overlapping dials on the top that enable both the mode dial and the exposure compensation dial to be squeezed on to the right side of the camera's top-plate.
These may be a turn-off for novices, but they enable more experienced photographers to set the exposure mode you want and adjust exposure quickly.
A keen eye will also spot that the lens is a little different, and the Canon G15 is the first Canon compact camera to feature an f/1.8 optic. This maximum aperture reduces to f/2.8 at the telephoto end of the 5x (28-140mm equivalent) zoom lens.
This should make it possible to restrict depth of field much more effectively to separate the subject from the background.
Canon G-series cameras have never been the prettiest, with a distinct utilitarian look, and the Canon G15 does nothing to change this. The basic shape is the same, and there's none of the retro charm that Fuji has managed to give its cameras such as the Fuji X10 and Fuji X100.
But, nevertheless, it is a design that has found favour with many enthusiast and professional photographers, so why make dramatic changes?
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One change that we're not too happy about is that the Canon G15 has a fixed rather than an articulating screen. On the plus side, this is a 3-inch 920,000-dot unit, and the new camera is a little slimmer than the previous model, but we feel this makes the camera less versatile, since it's harder to compose images from awkward angles.
Early verdict
Canon has pushed the pixel count of the Canon G15, and using its Digic 5 processor is bound to see image quality improvements, but we would have liked to have seen a bit more of a radical upgrade from the Canon G12.
An articulating touchscreen would have been nice, and perhaps built-in Wi-Fi and GPS technology would have give the camera more appeal to photographers on the move looking for a lighter replacement for their DSLR.
Due for release in October, the Canon G15 will be priced at £549.99 in the UK and $499.99 in the US. We will bring you our full Canon G15 review as soon as we get a full production sample in for testing.
