Mirrorless Camera Reviews

The Nikon J5 is the newest in Nikon's 1 series mirrorless camera line and is the first in the series to offer 20MP resolution. (Note: the first Nikon 1 cameras had 10MP, while the most recent, the V3, had 18MP resolution). Compared to APS-C sensors with about 23.5 x 15.6 mm and Micro-Four-Third cameras with 17 x 13 mm, the J5 has a smaller sensor at 13.2 x 8.8 mm, Nikon’s CX format. The crop factor is nearly 1:2.7 which means that the “effective” (defined as the 35mm format equivalent) focal length of the kit lens (1 Nikkor 10-30mm f/3.5-5.6 VR) is about 27-81 mm. The camera has a very slim and compact design, which allows for easy transport and usage, similar to a compact camera.

The Nikon V1 camera is designed and sized like a compact camera. It offers a new lens mount system for the new Nikon 1 lenses and offers two viewfinder systems—an EVF (electronic viewfinder) with very high resolution (1.44 million RGB dots), which delivers a very brilliant and crisp image. Alternatively, users can work via a large and bright LCD on the back, which also offers high resolution (921,000 RGB dots). The sensor will switch automatically between viewfinder systems when the photographer looks through the ocular. This differs from the camera’s sibling, the J1, which offers LCD viewing only.

If you’re considering buying a high-resolution full-frame camera, you’ve likely considered both the Nikon D850 DSLR or the Sony A7R III mirrorless camera.

It was a pleasure shooting with the original Nikon Z6 mirrorless camera when I reviewed this affordable model just about two years ago, so it was a pleasant surprise when the new upgraded Nikon Z 6II arrived at my door. The original Z6 scored high marks for it’s compact size, rugged build, pleasing image quality, and versatility—especially for the uncommon price of $1,995 for a full-frame camera.

Nikon, long favored by pros and advanced amateurs for cameras with state-of-the-art capabilities, has recently targeted budget-conscious photographers with mirrorless models offering an uncommon combination of value and price. A year ago, I reviewed the Nikon Z6, a nimble, full-frame mirrorless camera at a price of $1,995 for the body. While that camera was considerably less expensive than more advanced Nikon models, it’s more than twice the cost of the new Nikon Z50 that we’ll look at today.

The Nikon Z7 is, perhaps, the most well-designed full frame mirrorless camera on the market right now. It took me a little while to realize this.

The Olympus E-P3 is the follower of the E-P2 and E-P1, the first Olympus Micro Four Thirds cameras that were offered as “retro style cameras”. The E-P3 offers the same image sensor as the E-P2, with a nominal resolution of 12MP, but the E-P3 uses a newly developed image processor unit called “TruePic VI” plus offers some enhancements in the AF-speed. The automatic focusing system is really fast and showed a very good performance during our tests. In addition it has some special modes like “AF tracking mode”, which will help both photographers and videographers.