The latest special edition camera from Leica Camera, the Leica M10-P "White", is a unique take on the flagship Leica M10-P digital rangefinder. The all-white paint finish with white cowhide leather covering, white engravings, silver accents and matching silver chrome Leica 50 mm Summilux-M f/1.4 ASPH. lens create a striking presence of a pure white canvas that allows the vibrant red of the Leica logo and lens alignment dot to beautifully catch the eye with their stark contrast.
Especially unique to this camera is the surrounding frame of the LCD and buttons on the rear, normally black, now in white for the first time. As for the lens, the metal silver chrome front cap, white engravings, and white focusing tab on the barrel maintain the unified look of the camera set in nearly every way possible. The Leica M10-P "White" will be limited to 350 sets worldwide, with an individual special edition number engraved on the hot shoe in white, exclusively available through Leica Stores and Boutiques.
Comes with the original Fujifilm Certified Refurbished Box With Fuji's Original 90 Days Limited Warranty. Refurbished by the Manufacture themselves, by Fuji, not by seller or any other company Latest model (from the S9900W Series) SAME DAY SHIPPING !!! (or next business day if purchase after working hours.) 100% AUTHENTIC & GENUINE !!! What You Get: Camera Shoulder strap USB cable Software CD-ROM with Owners Manual on CD. FujiFilm Product Registration Form Manufacturer's 90 Days limited warranty. Wi-Fi sharing Quickly share photos and movies with smartphones or tablets, without the need for an ID or password Upload photos to your computer with no cable required Simply download the free Fujifilm Camera Application to your device Save photos and movies automatically from camera to computer with PC AutoSave 16.2MP CMOS sensor Capture rich, vivid, high-resolution stills suitable for cropping or enlargement without sacrificing image quality or detail 50X optical zoom lens Capture incredible close-up detail Shoot from a distance without losing track of your subject Record high-definition video Capture HD video up to 720p/1080i High-speed continuous shooting Capture up to 10 frames per second (for up to 10 shots) 5-axis image stabilization Helps minimize blur caused by camera shake or subject movement Combines two-axis optical image stabilization and three-axis electronics image stabilization ISO sensitivity up to 12,800 Offers improved image quality in low-light situations Motion Panorama 360 Capture breathtaking panorama shots up to 360 degrees Super Macro mode Capture extraordinarily close-up images in brilliant detail as close as 1cm from the lens More Features 920k-dot electronic viewfinder 460k-dot LCD screen High dynamic range capture 11 Advanced Filter effects. FEATURE:
This Certified Refurbished product is tested and certified by Fuji to look and work like new.
50X optical zoom lens, Capture incredible close-up detail, Shoot from a distance without losing track of your subject.
High-speed continuous shooting Capture up to 10 frames per second (for up to 10 shots).
16.2MP CMOS sensor Capture rich, vivid, high-resolution stills suitable for cropping or enlargement without sacrificing image quality or detail.
Wi-Fi sharing Quickly share photos and movies with smartphones or tablets, without the need for an ID or password Upload photos to your computer with no cable required . See details on pictures.
SOME OF THE SAMPLE CUSTOMER REVIEW FROM AMAZON :
1) GET ONE BEFORE THEY'RE GONE! - These Fujifilm FinePix cameras are all tried and true. I have been using them for years, this is my fourth upgrade of virtually the same camera. The WiFi compatibility feature is just icing on the cake. RUN don't walk to get one at this price while they're still available!
ByAmazon Customeron March 28, 2016
2) It will do what I want. - Camera is smarter than I am. I have learned to take good photo's with it. Very satisfied with it.
With the Samsung SMART CAMERA NX2000 you’re telling stories, not just taking pictures. Its ultra-sensitive 20.3MP APS-C CMOS Sensor allows you to create images full of detail with colors that fire up the imagination. The spacious 3.7” (93.8mm) WVGA touch screen gives you plenty of room to hone your craftsmanship, and variety of Smart Modes and manual controls make it ideal for photography enthusiasts like you. FEATURE:
20.3MP CMOS Sensor.
SMART features - Social Media Upload, E-mail, Direct Link, Mobile Link, PC Auto-backup, Remote Viewfinder, All share, Cloud Service.
Hybrid Autofocus System.
SOME OF THE SAMPLE CUSTOMER REVIEW FROM AMAZON :
1) A very good mirrorless DSLR like compact camera - I have tested my new Samsung NX2000 for 2 weeks and its overall performance and picture quality is not bad, actually very good. I was shopping a DSLR like mirrorless compact camera that provide light weight, changeable lens and good picture quality camera. I have two choices either Sony NEX5T (just released this month) or the Samsung NX2000. Believe me, you won't find too much reviews and details info on the website because both cameras are new. Some info and spec I found on line actually was incorrect and the reviewers did not really done a hand on review. Most of them were just review the camera spec sheet and criticize its good and bad. I concluded Sony NEX5T is a better mirror less camera than NX2000 but its price tag still consider steep when adding up the optional lens, accessory flashlight. It will cost more than a grand. If budget is also a factor of consideration, the NX2000 can fit in perfectly. The NX bundle lens kit cost less than $800.
So far the operation and picture quality of the NX2000 are pretty good. Its APS-C sensor definitely can react to more lights. The high ISO performance is very good below 6400 without noise. It is still tolerable if higher than 6400. The noise reduction from this camera is very good. The contrast AF is not bad, believe me it is not fast but really not bad. The 8fps continue shoot was surprising fast and perfect for motion sport. 20-50mm kit lens without image stabilization performs pretty well and the 50-200mm zoom lens with OIS is excellent. Pro: Price fits budget buyer who wants good quality picture and changeable lens compact camera. Easy and clear in camera menu and touch screen with less button (I consider less button is a pro but some user don't) Fast 8fps continue shooting with high accuracy to catch the perfect moment. Big APS-C sensor gives better quality pictures. Combines with the high ISO low noise reduction, this camera can shoot without flash. Many optional Samsung lens to choose ( I prefer buying the 16mm wide angle lens too) Con: Contrast AF not Phase detection (the speed is still acceptable to me) No optional EVF, it is very difficult to see the screen under sun light. Samsung, how can we take a good photo under the sun light when the LCD screen is totally invisible by the reflection. I think Samsung needs to consider an option EVF that can be attached to the hot shoe like Sony did on the NEX. Battery life is also unacceptable. I highly suggest purchase 2 or 4 for back up and you need a aftermarket wall charger.
Update Oct 1 2013: After continue usage of this camera, I found out the LCD screen under the bright sun light is really a problem. Although I can adjust the LCD brighter to make it easier to see, it will drain the battery faster. Samsung really needs to make an optional EVF to attach it on the hotshoe as soon as possible. I don't mind to spend couple hundreds to buy an optional EVF for this camera but seems Samsung is not listening to the feedback of the consumers. No tilting LCD panel + no optional EVF made the outdoor bright light shooting not too much fun.
Update Dec 4 2014: When I keep using this camera everyday on street, indoor, outdoor sport and car show, this camera continues give me the good quality result. I have no idea why some people gave one or two stars on the review. Some said the price on Amazon is more expensive than Costco then gave one star to the product. It seems it is not fair to this product. Some complained the auto focus is slow, I know this camera doesn't have a super fast AF focus with phase detection, but the speed is not too bad at all. The point & shot cameras are no way to compare. Remember this camera is not P&S, it is a DSLR like mirrorless camera. If you don't know how to use the M,A,S,P mode and its setting, you either don't buy this camera or go to take a photography lesson. Because I am sure if you can't take good pictures with this camera, it is either your skill or haven't learned the full function of this camera.
Bycutie19on September 23, 2013
2) Samsung NX2000 20.3MP - I started with a Minolta SLR back in the early 70's, graduated to a Nikon SLR and a complete dark room. Did a lot of neat stuff "push-processing" film to increase the speed, then to color. Last 8 - 10 years a lot of digital gear, printing software and that was huge in terms of flexibility.
The Samsung NX2000 has exceeded my expectations, which is loaded with features you might expect to pay a much higher price for a much larger and heavier body. Some basic software (included in this purchase) and I was off and running. Very user friendly. 20 to 30 minutes with the manual and I was uploading to my iPad, Facebook and into files for storage. 15 year old grandson was able to do same with this camera. Can not say enough about how user friendly this camera is.
The white Samsung GC200 Galaxy Camera 2 is a Wi-Fi enabled 16.3 megapixel digital camera that runs the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean operating system. This provides the ability to utilize Android apps available through Google Play. The camera also features a 21x optical zoom f/2.8-5.9 lens with a 35mm equivalent focal length of 23-483mm and optical image stabilization The Galaxy Camera 2 also has the ability to capture full HD 1920 x 1080 video at up to 30 frames per second with a variety of effects. All of this processing is handled by a 1.6 GHz quad-core processor and 2GB of RAM. This allows the camera to run apps and process images smoothly. For changing settings and shooting there is a 4.8" Super Clear Touch LCD screen with a resolution of 1280 x 720. This gives it a similar interface to those commonly found on smartphones, ideal for working with the Android operating system and running applications. This information is stored within the 8GB of internal memory, which is capable of being expanded up to 64GB with the use of a microSDXC card. Taking pictures can be supplemented by the use of a built-in pop-up Xenon flash. This features numerous red-eye reduction and automatic firing modes for the best shot in any condition. Additionally, this camera has a wide range of connectivity features, including Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth 4.0, and NFC for ensuring fast and secure connections to your other devices. FEATURE:
This Certified Refurbished product is tested and certified to look and work like new. The product ships with all relevant accessories, a minimum 90-day warranty. Only select sellers who maintain a high performance bar may offer Certified Refurbished products on Amazon.com
Wi-Fi with Android 4.3 (Jellybean) for access to Apps and sharing on the go.
SMART features - Social Media Upload, E-mail, Photo beam, Direct Link, Mobile Link, PC Auto-backup, Remote Viewfinder, All Share.
4.8" HD Super Clear Display - Huge Screen for crisp and beautiful previews and playback.
21x Optical Zoom for great shots up front or from a distance 1080p HD Video.
The DSCU60 Features A 2 Megapixel Effective Resolution 1632 x 1224 Pixels A 1 inch Hybrid LCD Monitor And So Much More With The Rugged Design And One Handed Operation This Is A Camera With A Sport Lifestyle In Mind DSCU60 Is Waterproof It Can Be Taken To The Pool The Beach And Even Underwater Though Only To 1.5 Meters 5 Feet It Has An Underwater Scene Mode To Match The Shooting Conditions Under Water. FEATURE:
Durable for active lifestyle; waterproof up to 5 feet; one-handed operation.
Fast start up (0.9 seconds); built-in flash with red-eye reduction; 1-inch LCD monitor.
Includes 8 MB Memory Stick; compatible with Memory Stick Pro media.
Includes rechargeable NiMH AAA batteries and charger; connects to PCs and Macs via USB 1.1.
SOME OF THE SAMPLE CUSTOMER REVIEW FROM AMAZON :
1) Does what it says - The U-60 is a gem. I bought it for water sports and to have a small rugged carry-anywhere digicam (I also have an Olympus C-700 for more technical and telephoto shots). I keep it in my pocket and often get those "I wish I had a camera right now" spontaneous shots that I used to miss. It's fast to start, easy to understand, very user friendly, small to carry, and gets decent resolution pics. It goes surfing every time I do. Especially fun and useful is the "burst mode" that takes five shots in a row. It addresses that frustration of "shutter lag" and "shutter timing" that can happen with digital action shots. More info:
PROS: Small, cheap, rugged, easy to use, good software, good battery life, decent resolution, well waterproofed, cheap batteries, burst mode, battery-saving lowlight LCD mode, card reader unnecessary. Cons: No viewfinder, tiny LCD, no opt. zoom, burst pics are only 600x400. (although I adjusted to all these shortcomings and didn't miss them!) For it's intended use, it excels.
ByPeter Bowmanon September 19, 2003
2) Perfect for what it is. - Although the DSC-U60 has almost none of the features one has come to expect on a digital camera, it does what it does flawlessly. What it does is snap simple, hi-resolution photos in any environment without fail.
It has no zoom lens. What you see in the viewfiner is what you get, period. You point, you shoot, that's it.
It is (or at least mine is) really, truly waterproof. This is an absolutely essential feature for me, and is the raison d'etre of the DSC-U60. If you don't need a waterproof camera, look elsewhere. On the other hand, if you kayak, canoe, fish, or camp, it's really cool to have a camera you don't have to worry about getting wet. I've killed a number of cameras on river trips, and probably lost some great photos as a result. This puppy has been in rivers, lakes, and hot tubs, and hasn't skipped a beat.
The lens is great, the electronics are great, and the resolution is superb. Although 5 or 6 MP is becoming standard these days, the DSC-U60 takes extremely sharp, clear photos, good for printing or viewing on-screen.
If you need anything more or less than a waterproof point-and-shoot, you will be disappointed. This would be a really poor choice for a general-purpose camera. There are better, sharper, and easier-to-use cameras out there with way more features for much less money.
On the other hand, if (like me) you really need an indestructable camera for simple, high-quality snapshots, you couldn't ask for more.
The PENTAX K-50 is the perfect partner for all types of active shooting, and a talented guide to a brand-new photographic experienceA camera that is amazingly mobile and spor ty, one that can preserve all your memories in beautiful images.An elegantly contoured body that fits per fectly in the hand, and is comfor table to carry.With a weather- resistant construction that withstands the rain, exceptional imaging power even in the dark, high-speed continuous shooting to capture a once- in-a- lifetime moment, and a large viewfinder image, the PENTAX K-50 takes you everywhere - even beyond the conventional boundaries of photography!In-body SR mechanism to minimize camera shake with any lensFeaturing the PENTAX- original SR (Shake Reduct ion) mechanism, the K-50 minimizes camera shake with all compatible lenses - from wide-angle to telephoto - to assure sharp, blur-free images, even in such demanding situations as when using a telephoto lens or photographing dimly lit
SOME OF THE SAMPLE CUSTOMER REVIEW FROM AMAZON :
1) Five Stars - What a great camera for the price.
Canon EOS M2 18.0 MP Digital Camera with 18-55MM F/3.5-5.6 IS EF-M STM Lens (White) The second generation in Canon's mirrorless interchangeable line of cameras, the EOS M2 makes only a few tweaks to the original model. A new hybrid CMOS sensor allows for greatly improved auto focus. The addition of Wi-Fi allows for wireless picture sharing. And some minor changes to the buttons and body allow the advanced amateur better control of the camera. FEATURE:
1080p full HD video, Movie Servo AF continuous subject tracking.
8% reduction of body size than older models, remote operation of the smartphone.
SOME OF THE SAMPLE CUSTOMER REVIEW FROM AMAZON :
1) Where are my socks? WHERE ARE MY SOCKS?!?! - I needed a second camera to shoot with and well this blew my socks off, there are search parties looking for my socks right now. Autofocus is weird, granted, but with an EF to EOS-M mount adapter my travel kit has reduced in size from a m4/3s with multiple lenses, for walk around with the full sized dSLR and lenses for the work stuff; to just the dSLR with lenses and the M2 plus an adapter. Though I will admit that I did buy a EOS-M kit lens because it was so dang cheap (ebay for 60 dollars score!) and why not? FWIW it's replaced a 6 year old first gen 7D as my second body at some things, such as on this helicopter tour i did recently without really pixel peeping or checking the exif most people can't tell which camera is which. https://www.flickr.com/photos/stormyteacup/albums/72157660808478337.
ByR. Lion November 25, 2015
2) So despite its obvious flaws it was an good option for a second body -- or for a ... -I've read a lot of reviews that say basically "Canon contented itself with just a few minor tweaks on the flawed M version." I think that might understate the impact of the changes they made. The original M was attractive to me because it can use Canon's lenses. So despite its obvious flaws it was an good option for a second body -- or for a camera with a little less bulk. It's missing a little bit in controls, but it took superb photos.
The biggest problem with the M, noted by most people who commented on it, was the incredibly slow metering. That problem has been fixed. I took the camera out for a good workout and it's operation is pleasingly fast. I was photographing on a foggy morning and it captured the shades of light very well. It's never going to make you forget the EOS cameras, but for a more portable camera or a second body that can use your existing lenses, this is a nice camera.
This bundle contains 4 items (may ship separately)
1 ofCanon EOS Rebel SL1 Digital SLR with 18-55mm STM Lens (White)
18 MP APS-C CMOS sensor.
4 FPS continuous shooting.
9 point AF system, center AF point is cross-type.
ISO 100-12800 (expandable to 25600).
1080 (30, 25, 24 fps) and 720 (60, 50 fps) HD video (29min limit, H.264 format).
3" touch panel LCD screen with 1,040,000 dots.
Movie Servo AF for continuous focus tracking of moving subjects.
Special scene modes for shooting kids, food, by candlelight, and creative filters.
GPS compatible with the GP-E2 (sold separately).
1 of Canon EF-S 55-250mm F4-5.6 IS STM Lens for Canon SLR Cameras
Focal length and maximum aperture: 55-250mm 1:4-5.6
Lens construction: 15 elements in 12 groups.
Diagonal angle of view: 27 Degree 50 ft. - 6 Degree 15 ft.
Rear focus system
Closest focusing distance: 0.85m/2.8 ft.
1 ofAmazonBasics DSLR and Laptop Backpack - Orange interior
Backpack holds and protects 2 SLR camera bodies, 3-4 lenses, 17 inch laptop and additional smaller accessories.
Customizable padded interior. Movable dividers allow for optimal storage.
Side straps secure tripods or other bulky accessories.
Internal Dimensions: 12.6" x 7.8" x 16.5" (LxWxH).
External Dimensions: 13.4" x 8.8" x 17.7" (LxWxH).
Ships in Certified Frustration-Free Packaging.
1 ofSanDisk Ultra 16GB Class 10 SDHC Memory Card Up To 40MB/s- SDSDUN-0016G-G46 [Newest Version]
Up To 40MB/s Read Speed.
10-Year Warranty.
Easily Back Up Files With "SanDisk Memory Zone" App.
SOME OF THE SAMPLE CUSTOMER
REVIEW FROM AMAZON:
1) Excellent Entry Level DSLR with Advanced Ability - I am a casual photographer, who travels a lot and wanted a SLR to take with me. I also want to enhance my photography as a hobby, although I don't plan on ever being professional. I've owned several compact digital prior to this camera.
Size:
Even though I knew what I was ordering, I couldn't get over the size. It's so small for an SLR and so lightweight. I've checked multiple times because I didn't think it was loaded in my bag, it felt empty. No kidding, it's that light weight. But still has all the buttons you need, well placed and easy to operate. It also feels tough and durable, so don't be dissuaded by the light weight or small size. I'm not sure about the concern some voiced about it being "too small" to hold. It's very comfortable. If you are going to shoot for 2 hours straight and/or have shot with a larger camera for 5 years, then maybe this would take some getting used to. But it's very easy to manage, comfortable to hold and feels solid in my hand.
Performance:
I've been experimenting for a couple months now with various settings, different creative shots and I love the camera. Any failures are certainly mine as an amateur. It's easy to shoot, fast enough (I'm not shooting for the NHL) and takes accurate, colorful pictures that are only limited by my creativity. I've shot macro, landscape, architecture, pets and portraits. I love it. It has a deep, feature rich set of custom options, menus and settings. I'm almost addicted to loading my amazing photos into a post photo software (name omitted) and playing with them to see how incredible they can get. That being said, they look incredible (when composed properly) straight from the RAW image. Also remember, this is a canon, so you can use virtually any lens ever created by them.
Video:
The improved AF Focus and STM lens is evident when shooting video. Video is amazingly clear, the AF does a good job keeping up with most subjects (again not shooting NHL or nocturnal animal scenery). The touchscreen, nearly silent lens combo is a huge improvement over prior versions. All but the most demanding professionals will find it does a remarkable job.
Cons:
Not many, seriously. No built in stereo mic..(minor issue use an external) No built in wifi (use an eye fi card)
I kept this simple as there are some more technical reviews out there. I thought simple usage from a consumer standpoint would be most helpful. My advice, be very careful hanging your hat on some of the Amazon reviews that are overly technical. Some of the reviewers don't know as much as they pretend and quote erroneous facts, like the fact that this camera uses "contrast phase detect" for it's auto focus. Wrong, older canon's did, not this one. If you really need the technical details read a review by dpmag, dppreview, camera labs etc. They will be spot on accurate and not a pseudo professional opinion. Happy hunting...
If you found this helpful, please click yes! Thank you.
ByS Mackon November 4, 2013
2) Best combination of image quality, viewfinder, and size - I am impressed with my new Canon SL1 with the 18-55 kit lens. As a long time dedicated amateur photographer with a shelf full of other equipment, including fancier and much more expensive equipment, this will now be the one I take with me and use most of the time. Here's why:
* Incredibly small and incredibly light. The biggest single reason for the recent spate of mirrorless cameras (Sony NEX, Fujifilm X) is now negated! I am sitting here looking at the SL1 next to my Fujifilm XE-1 with a comparable 18-55 zoom lens. The SL1 is lighter and smaller than the Fuji mirrorless camera with its electronic viewfinder. The SL1 optical viewfinder, while more compressed than the one in a large high-end DSLR, to my eyes is still far superior to any electronic viewfinder, which is like looking at a fuzzy little television from the 1960's. Canon appears to have achieved the small size by repackaging the sensor and shutter; impressive engineering and I expect that Nikon and others will have to follow suit. Let's hope we will now see a new generation of tiny DSLRs.
*Image quality: OK you say, it's small. So what am I giving up? Answer is - not really much. Image quality is excellent. The electronics of sensors have advanced rapidly in the last few years and the newest entry level camera is going to perform better than the high end product you bought two years ago. And new half frame sensors may be comparable to full frame sensors from a few years back. Also, the entry level DSLR market is the most competitive. Nikon (D3200) and Canon (SL1 or T5) are forced to give you more for your money than with high end full frame cameras. The SL1 is a bargain. Yes, you can get a marginal improvement in images and controls by going up market, but you will pay 3X as much in dollars, and in weight, and in volume. The cost of any technology is usually on a log scale; 90% of state of the art costs X and 95% costs 3X and 99% costs 9X. It makes no sense to ride this curve unless you do very specialized or commercial photography. For most of us, the most important thing is whether we have the camera with us when the photo opp comes up.
*Comparison. The images coming out of this Canon SL1 are lovely, contrasty and with excellent colors. I compared directly with my full frame Nikon D600 and also Sony NEX 6 at ISO 400. Results; unless you are a fanatical pixel peeper, they are all in the same ballpark. Only by blowing up the central 10% to fill the computer screen can one begin to see significant differences. If you do make this extreme blowup, the full frame D600 had the cleanest, lowest noise, and finest detail. But then the D600 costs 4X the SL1 and weighs more than twice as much! And anyway, does it really matter if some other sensor is s-l-i-g-h-t-l-y better? No it doesn't. Having the 'best' equipment is just not the determining factor in capturing beautiful photos that I will take pride in years down the road. The SL1 gives me 90% of the quality I will get from any camera anywhere at 1/4 the cost of a high end DSLR. The main difference is that the viewfinder is cramped and the settings are in menus rather than dedicated buttons. Big deal. You can still do any creative thing you want and win photo contests with this camera.
*How about the kit lens?: Just fine. By profession I am interested in the details of lens design and I admire beautiful finely crafted Zeiss lenses just as much as as the next fanatic. But as a photographer I can tell you that for actually capturing once-in-a-lifetime handheld photo opportunities with a sharp high quality image, there are two things that matter much more than ultimate optical quality: a) image stabilization and b) zoom so you can scale the desired image to fill your sensor. Are high quality prime lenses "better?" In practical terms, usually not. For most photography, they will not produce a more detailed image unless your camera is on a tripod and the scene just happens to be matched to the focal length. For general opportunistic or travel photography, squeezing out the last iota of lens quality is close to irrelevant. This is especially so these days when the camera JPG engine corrects typical lens defects such as distortion and chromatic aberration automatically. Modern lenses no longer have to be perfect in the glass; they all end up pretty much alike after the software corrections are applied. This is also why spending hours diddling around with RAW images in Photoshop no longer makes much sense for most of us - the JPEG engine has been programmed to optimize the specific lens - and it will take much time and skill to equal or improve on this on one's own. Today, post processing is not optional so JPEG is how cameras should be judged.
Image stabilization in particular has a lot more to do with sharpness for handheld photos then ultimate lens quality. The stabilization on this Canon lens works fine, showing its best advantage with shutter speeds around 1/10 to 1/25 second and giving effective reduced jitter as if you were shooting at 1/200. (If the required exposure is much slower than 1/25, let's say 1/5 or slower, even IS will not help - and if it's much faster, don't need IS and it won't improve anything.) And as noted, using a zoom has a lot bigger impact on quality then the niceties of a prime lens because one doesn't need to crop down. If I crop to the central 1/4 of the image area because my lens did not frame the scene optimally, I am throwing away 3/4 of my pixels, so I no longer have 18MP anyway. Overall results will be better with a zoom, even if it's optically imperfect.
*So is mirrorless no longer needed? There is one factor which does still favor mirrorless over SLR; the size of lenses, which are limited by the laws of physics and the long flange-to-sensor distance that comes with an SLR mirror. For the Canon SL1 or any SLR, zoom lenses will usually be bigger than the body. So I also bought the 40mm f2.8 Canon pancake lens which is compact for walk-around, although if I have to use a fixed lens I would prefer a wider angle. Canon makes a dozen other mid range zooms such as the 15-85, but you will have to accept a weight of 575-645 g compared to 205 g for the kit lens. In fixed focal lengths, Canon also makes two nice wide angle (24 mm and 28mm) lenses with image stabilization that weigh only 260-281 g and would offer a good match for the SL1. The 50mm f1.8 should be considered instead of the 40mm; faster and costs less. And of course you may already own a shelf full of Canon EF or EF-S lenses.
*But isn't the SL1 plasticky? Yes, it is plasticky, and there are tacky "sculpted" buttons on the back, ala consumer cameras, and the shutter release is not as snappy as my Nikon D600. It does not give the impression of a professional tool. I regret that Canon interpreted "small and light" as "entry level;" I would have been willing to pay more for a compact but higher precision package. But it's also very light. And it's so handy I'm going to take it with me when I travel as opposed to leaving my big full frame Nikon at home. And if it gets stolen or dropped, not such a tragedy. Every camera is a compromise. In my opinion enthusiasts sometimes obsess too much over 'build quality.' Yes, there is a tactile pleasure to high precision Leicas from the 1950's, but that kind of mechanical quality is no longer necessary for quality photos. Cameras today, like so many other products are made of plastic and software but the results - photographs - are better than ever.
*Interface and ease of use. Canon along with all other Japanese camera brands cram their interfaces with all sorts of useless clutter in the form of indecipherable icons, unnecessary modes and confusing redundancies. What does that odd little icon which looks like an upside down flag with a teardrop mean? Why not just use plain old WORDS to label it? And has anyone you know actually used the "Food Mode?" Is it really more convenient to have three or four redundant ways to change the ISO setting, or just confusing? Canon and the other makers should really drastically simplify the whole thing - look at your iPhone, which does many more things than a camera but has very few icons and labels and buttons. All the major Japanese cameras have the same overly complicated philosophy, but the SL1 Canon is somewhat easier to figure out than most, and the touch screen is a definite plus. In any case, although this is considered an 'entry level' DSLR, the full manual nevertheless runs to 388 pages, so plenty of options. There is also a remote control available as an option, to get yourself in family photos or for nature photography. In short, there is very little you can't do with the SL1.
*Flaws? There is one real photographic deficiency. When I switch to Live View for still photos (this means lock up the mirror and use the LCD to frame photos, like a point-and-shoot), the autofocus becomes very slow and hunts for a lock. The mirrored autofocus runs on a fast phase detection principle but in Live View the sensor focusses using some combination of contrast detection (slow in poor light) with special phase pixels. The solution; don't use Live View for still photos, keep it for movies. Other minor annoyances: the on/off switch is not in the most natural place. Also the optical viewfinder picture is not only cramped but also does not capture 100% of the full sensor field; more like 79%, so you will have to learn to compensate by overfilling the viewfinder frame a bit. I wish the buttons on the back were bigger (Note to Canon: Just because the back of the camera is small does not mean the buttons have to be small - get it?) Finally the flash pops up when I don't want it to, although there is mode dial setting to suppress that.
*Movies. Since one cannot use the optical SLR viewfinder to make movies, an SLR like this is not really the best camera for movies. In you want to concentrate on movies, the Sony NEX design is much better suited.
*Bottom line: This is a great little state of the art camera and lens which takes lovely still photos without much fuss in an affordable tiny package. It benefits from the latest up to the minute sensor technology, the photos are quite comparable to high end mirrorless or other half frame DSLR cameras and only slightly inferior to full frame costing much more and weighing much more. Yes, it is cluttered with too many modes and icons, but they all do that. With the kit lens you get the benefits of zoom and image stabilization and still the overall package is very portable. There is very little one might wish to do in art photography which cannot be done with the SL1. Speaking for myself, a small half-frame camera with an optical viewfinder is just the ticket - the best overall combination of image quality, viewfinder and functionality for the size and weight. It seems to me that the main justification for half frame mirrorless designs with electronic viewfinders has been negated. Is there a time when I won't use the SL1? Yes, for street photography where people may be intimidated by having a camera pointed at them - the Sony NEX with its articulated rear display is better for that. But for any photography where SLR works best, Canon has produced an advance similar to that of the Olympus OM series in the 1970's. Small is beautiful. Bravo, Canon; you will sell a lot of these!
Note added in response to comments below:
Thanks to everyone who commented but perhaps I did not make my viewpoint clear. Yes I know a knowledgable PhotoShop artist who spends time fiddling with an image may produce a better result than the in-camera JPEG. That's not the point. Post RAW processing is no longer optional since lenses are now designed assuming their distortions and aberrations will be corrected in software. Since the efficiency of the in-camera JPEG is part of the product and the mode most people will use, it should be part of the review. For any hobbyist who insists on doing it all by hand, be my guest, knock yourself out!
Second, yes it is possible to get somewhat better, somewhat lower noise images at high ISO from a full frame sensor such as the D600. But in my tests this was only apparent if I crop to a small part of the original image. Normally the difference - in my judgement - is not great enough to make it worth lugging the big heavy D600.
One more update: Consumer Reports just reviewed the SL1 and rated it near the top of DSLR overall.
By Doctor.GenerosityTOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE VOICEon May 3, 2013
