Mirrorless Camera News

LensRentals is a premier online source for photographers in the U.S. who want to rent photography, videography and lighting gear, including a wide array of accessories. They’ve shared their annual list of the most popular equipment they handle, so you can see how your arsenal stacks up. 

The new Olympus E-PL8 is the latest model of the PEN series. PEN cameras are stylish and compact systems based on Micro Four/Thirds sensors and lens mounts. The camera is available in different colors, as are the numerous accessories that can be matched to the initial color choice. The camera looks like an analog rangefinder camera, but the Olympus E-PL8 doesn’t come with a viewfinder. The photographer has to use the 3-inch LCD on the back, which also serves as the visual control center for menus and image parameters. Olympus does offers an EVF system that can be mounted on the hot shoe of the E-PL8.

The new Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II is designed to hold up to inclement weather and boy did we put it to the test! During a press trip to Iceland last week, we adhered to the mailman’s creed while using Olympus’ new flagship mirrorless camera, shooting with it in rain, hail, sleet, snow and gloom of night (along with some sunshine) in this rugged but beautiful Nordic island country.

Shutterbug was on hand at the PhotoPlus Expo show, which wrapped up in New York City wrapped up yesterday, where we got to touch, try and test out some of the hottest new photo gear out there.

Not one to shy away from special-edition models, Leica recently introduced the M-P “Grip,” a $15,000 “irresistible work of art” designed in collaboration with Rolf Sachs that’s essentially a Leica-MP mirrorless digital camera (with a very nice Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH lens). But if you can’t afford this masterpiece because you’re bidding on the Ansel Adams Arca Swiss 4x5 that’s up for auction, there’s always this silver metallic Leica M3 candy-tin replica (above right) for $40.

Arguably, the biggest camera news at this year’s photokina show in Cologne, Germany was the announcement of the new Fujifilm GFX, a medium format mirrorless camera, which was unveiled to much fanfare on Monday. Shutterbug was one of a handful of media outlets to get our hands on a prototype of the 51.4-megapixel GFX and try it out for about half an hour in a conference room at the show.