Price: $715
Verdict: A hugely impressive compact system
camera that outperforms even its DSLR rivals
Ratings: 5/5
For the first time, a compact system camera
has hit the pinnacle of this Top 10.
The Lumix GX1 is the spiritual successor to
the GF1, offering a Micro Four Thirds camera that's as satisfying for the photo
enthusiast as it is for those stepping straight up from a compact. Plenty of
controls and a touchscreen give access to a plethora of settings, the autofocus
locks on at ridiculous speed, and the 16MP sensor delivers punchy, detailed
images that take the GX1 a notch above its main rival, the Olympus E-P3. The
compact system cam has truly come of age.
Canon EOS 650D
Price: $1,000 (body only)
Ratings: 5/5
Our new favourite DSLR has a new hybrid
CMOS sensor which enables continuous autofocus during video recording, a
responsive touchscreen and 5fps burst shooting. Image quality from the 18MP
sensor is excellent and focusing is super-quick. Brilliant.
Nikon D5100
Price: $980
Ratings: 5/5
Improvements over our old favourite the
D5000 are a vari-angle screen that's grown to 3in, 1080p video recording and a
16.2MP chip sensitive up to ISO 6400. Its sensor is amazing in low light,
serving up punchy stills and hi-def video.
Olympus PEN E-P3
Price: $1,300 (w/ 14-42mm lens)
Ratings: 5/5
You could get a great DSLR for this money,
but while it would often do a better job, the E-P3 will always feel more
special. Quality build and styling, lightning-fast focus and razor-sharp pics
with a built-in flash and swappable Micro Four Thirds lenses.
Olympus OM-D E-M5
Price: $1,550 (body only)
Ratings: 5/5
Olympus was brave to attempt building a
pro-quality compact system camera, But boy did it pay off - you get
astoundingly fast autofocus, 9fps burst shooting, an EVF weatherproof body, and
superb 16MP Pics. Only its price keeps it from the top.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3
Price: $710 (w/ 14-42mm lens)
Ratings: 5/5
This electronic viewfinder-sporting Micro
Four Thirds camera has a 16MP sensor that takes better snaps and video than the
Olympus E-P3, although the autofocus isn't as quick and it's bulkier. The Sony
NEX-7 should soon give it stiff competition, though.
Canon 60D
Price: $1,175 (body only)
Ratings: 5/5
The Canon 60D is a DSLR camera aimed at the
serious amateur: a ruggedly built, feature- stuffed snapper that counts full
1080p video among its charms. Pricey, yes, but the perfect camera for the Canon
user looking to step up from the entry level.
Sony NEX-7
Price: $1,575 (with 18-55mm lens)
Ratings: 5/5
A host of manual photo and video controls
are available via its gorgeously minimalist unmarked knobs, but it's the
exceptional quality of its 24.3MP images that really impresses. A pop-up flash
and handy mic input top off the (admittedly pricey) package.
Panasonic DMC-G5
Price: $1,065 (w/14-42mm lens)
Ratings: 5/5
The G5 is the only snapper with the pace to
keep up with the Olympus E-M5's autofocus. Beginner friendly controls, decent
16MP pics, touchscreen control and superb full HD 60fps AVCHD video recording
all add up to a compelling package.
Nikon D3200
Price: $785 (body only)
Ratings: 4/5
Like its D3100 predecessor, the D3200 has
an excellent photography course in a camera Guide mode, but that's no longer the
star attraction. This entry level DSLR has a very non-entry level 24MP sensor
that's capable of truly professional results.
Instant expert
Every two years, the camera world violently
Haemorrhages new wares. Photokina, the Cologne based, biannual photography
show, is the scene of this spewing forth of tech and 2012 saw more spewing than
perhaps ever before. You'll have seen many of the new cameras in our Hot Stuff
section, but let's not forget the glassware. Among the new optics announced was
an interesting Olympus 15mm f/8 (US$110, olympus.com) which is basically a
Micro Four Thirds body cap with a fixed focus, fixed aperture lens built in. Also
for MFT, Panasonic unveiled a 35-100mm f/2.8 Telezoom and a superfast, 42.5mm
f/1.2 portrait lens, while Carl Zeiss has promised a range of optics for
mirrorless cameras. Looks like it's time to mothball that boring kit lens.
What to look for
Continuous shooting
If you're into action photography, you'll
appreciate a camera that can fire off shots like a machine gun. The average is
3fps, but 6fps and above is ideal.
Live View/HD video
The former allows you to frame shots using
the SLR's display; the latter captures video at 720p or 1080p.
1080p is best; look for 24fps (or faster) framerates,
Kit lens
Most SLRs can be bought with a standard, or
‘kit' lens, which is usually around 18-55mm (or 14-42mm on an Olympus or
Panasonic). That's OK for starters, but you'll want more length to get closer
to the main event with sports and action.
Image stabilisation (IS)
Anti-shake tech is built into more
expensive lenses, but if you're buying a load of extra glass you'll ultimately
save money if there's an image stabiliser already built into your camera's
body.
