full-frame
Latest
Three days with Canon’s EOS R full-frame mirrorless camera
Earlier this week, Canon unveiled one of the most critical products in its history: the full-frame mirrorless EOS R. On paper, it had a lot going for it, like an all-new mount that will allow for superior lens designs, excellent handling and a much-improved Dual Pixel autofocus system. There was also some not-so-good, like the cropped 4K and lack of in-body stabilization. But specs are specs, and Canon let us give the EOS R a thorough hands-on test with a variety of lenses and shooting scenarios. Three days isn't a lot of time to test an all-new camera, but it was enough to get the flavor of it. So far, there's a lot to like, but the company didn't look hard enough at what rivals Sony and Nikon were doing.
Canon's full-frame mirrorless camera leaks in vivid detail
You don't have to wonder how Canon will respond to Nikon's Z-series mirrorless cameras (and by extension Sony) -- many of the details now appear to be out in the open. Nokishita and Canon Rumors have posted leaked details of the EOS R, a 30.3-megapixel full-frame cam that would primarily compete with the Nikon Z6 and Sony's A7 III. The design would thrive on low-light photography with a wide ISO 100 to 40,000 normal sensitivity (up to ISO 102,400) and the company's familiar dual-pixel autofocusing. Those aren't exceptional specs given the increasingly competitive full-frame mirrorless space, but there would be a few twists that might give it an edge over its rivals.
Nikon may unveil its full-frame mirrorless cameras on August 23rd
The seemingly endless dribble of teases for Nikon's full-frame mirrorless cameras might soon come to an end. Nikon Rumors (historically accurate with leaks) claims that the camera maker will unveil the two models on August 23rd. The 24-megapixel camera, reportedly named the Z6, would focus on high-speed and low-light photography. The 45-megapixel Z7, meanwhile, would unsurprisingly emphasize detail. Nikon is still rumored to deliver the two cameras with just three lens options: a 24-70mm f/4 standard zoom, a 50mm f/1.8 prime and wider-angle f/1.8 lens between 24mm and 35mm. However, there might be a post-unveiling surprise.
Nikon confirms new full-frame FX mirrorless cameras and lens mount
It's official: Nikon will soon launch a full-frame mirrorless camera system with a brand a new lens mount. In a press release, it announced that it's developing a "next-generation full-frame (Nikon FX-format) mirrorless camera and Nikkor lenses, featuring a new mount," adding that "professional creators around the world have contributed to the development." As expected, it's also working on an adapter that will let you use existing full-frame Nikon F-Mount DSLR lenses with the cameras.
Nikon teases its first full-frame mirrorless cameras
If you thought Nikon was going to introduce its first full-frame mirrorless cameras without some fanfare, you had another thing coming. Nikon has posted a teaser video and "In Pursuit of Light" campaign website that might just hint at what its first pro-oriented mirrorless cams will look like. Provided the brief view is representative, it backs up a number of rumors, including the large mounting format (which could support super-bright f/0.95 lenses), an electronic viewfinder and a more ergonomic design. The lineup could be public as soon as July 23rd, so you may see much more in the near future.
Sony's A7R III mirrorless can take anything you throw at it
On paper, Sony's $3,200 full-frame mirrorless Alpha A7R III is a beast. With an ultra-high-res 42.4-megapixel sensor that can shoot bursts at 10 fps, you can capture landscape photos one day and sports the next. It also handles video like a boss, recording 4K without line skipping, and super-slo-mo 1080p at 120 fps. To find out if the performance measured up with the specs, I took it for a weeklong spin with high expectations and can report that the A7R III is the real deal -- provided you get to know it, first.
Nikon is making a full-frame mirrorless camera
To say Nikon has been conservative with mirrorless cameras would be an understatement. While most of its rivals have embraced mirrorless (even a cautious company like Canon takes them seriously), Nikon's efforts have been timid at best -- the 1 series is closer to point-and-shoots in spirit than a DSLR replacement. Thankfully, it's mending its ways. In an interview with Xitek, company R&D manager Tetsuro Goto says that any new Nikon mirrorless camera "must" be full-frame. Given that the firm's president has already said that a mirrorless camera is in the works, it's clear that this upcoming model will come with a giant sensor.
Nikon's D850 DSLR blends speed with insane resolution
Nikon recently teased a full-frame D850 for its 100th anniversary, hoping it would fulfill the wish-lists of pro photographers. It has now unwrapped the DSLR and seems to have wildly succeeded with that goal. The D850 is entering medium-format territory, resolution-wise, with a 45.7 megapixel sensor, and can push those images through the camera at 7 fps, or 9 fps with the optional battery grip. And this time, Nikon didn't leave videographers out, as it can handle 4K video at 30 fps.
Nikon working on next-gen D850 DSLR for its 100th anniversary
Nikon has become a bit set in its ways, failing to compete with Sony, Fujifilm and others in the profitable mirrorless and high-end compact realm. For its 100th anniversary, the camera maker has no intention of ceding the high-end professional market, however: It just announced the development of the full-frame (FX) D850, the successor to the 36.3-megapixel, full-frame D810 (above).
Canon's full-frame 6D Mark II is a solid upgrade with a catch
Nearly four years after it first launched its original EOS 6D budget full-frame camera, Canon has unveiled a successor. The EOS 6D Mark II improves on the past model in nearly every way, offering more connection options, resolution, much faster autofocus and higher sensitivity, while retaining the light weight and good handling we liked about the original. It falls down in a key area, however, offering just 1080p video resolution rather than the 4K you'd expect in a modern DSLR.
Sony's A9 is a powerhouse full-frame flagship camera
Sony has just launched its most impressive, and most expensive mirrorless camera yet, the 24.2-megapixel Alpha A9. Equipped with the first ever full-frame stacked CMOS sensor, it's all about speed, not resolution. The pixel count isn't that high compared to the 42.4-megapixel Alpha 7R II, but it can shoot up to 241 RAW, full-frame images at a scorching 20 fps, thanks to a processing speed 20 times faster than previous models. It also has an ultra-dense 693-point focal plane phase detection autofocus that can do 60 AF/AE tracking calculations per second.
A first look at Sony's Alpha A99 II
In the past year alone, Sony launched three major E-mount cameras: the full-frame A7S II and A7R II, along with the A6300 -- all impressive mirrorless models. So you might think it was losing interest in its A-mount single-lens translucent (SLT) series, having just launched one, the entry-level A68, late last year. At Photokina, however, Sony unveiled the Alpha A99 II, the long-awaited successor to its flagship A99 model.
Sony's A99 II promises fast focus in a full-frame camera
It's been four years since Sony last introduced a flagship-class full-frame camera, but it's finally back with more. Sony is launching the A99 II, a 42.4-megapixel pro cam that incorporates many of the upgrades you've seen in recent Alpha DSLRs and mirrorless models... and then some. To start, it promises to be an autofocusing champ. This is the first full-frame Alpha to use 4D Focus tech, delivering a hybrid autofocusing system that melds 79 dedicated phase detection points with 399 focal plane phase detection points. Between this and the lack of a moving mirror, Sony is promising "full-time" autofocus that can track fast-moving objects -- important when you can shoot up to a brisk 12 frames per second (8FPS in live view).
Leica's M-D is a digital camera for manual purists
You may be able to live without WiFi on your camera, but would you be willing to ditch JPEG capture, autofocus and any kind of electronic screen? Oh, and pay $6,000 for the privilege, plus thousands more for a lens? If not, you don't fit into Leica's target market for its latest model, the 24-megapixel M-D. The company calls it a "purely functional" camera that's "radically reduced to the most important parameters required for photography -- shutter speed, aperture, distance and ISO sensitivity."
The Pentax K-1 is its first full-frame DSLR
Pentax has finally filled a big hole in its lineup with the K-1, its first full-frame DSLR. The camera arrives a year after Pentax first revealed a full-frame prototype, and considerably later than parent Ricoh's ETA of late 2015. The K-1 appears to be a solid first attempt at a full-frame camera, however, especially considering its $1,799 price -- less than most other full-frame models from Canon, Sony and Nikon. That sum will get you a weather-resistant, dustproof magnesium body with a 36.4-megapixel full-frame sensor, top sensitivity of a 204,800 ISO and 4.4 fps maximum shooting speed.
Sony's A7 II camera gets a faster and more accurate autofocus
The Sony A7 II is one of the best mirrorless cameras available right now, although it isn't perfect. After trying it out earlier this year, one of our main issues with the full-frame shooter was its autofocus performance, which was at times slow and unreliable. But Sony has an update coming soon that, along with bringing a new feature, promises to fix some of these woes. In addition to activating the phase detection AF on the A7 II, the company's also turning on support for uncompressed 14-bit RAW image capture -- something that already exists in models such as the A7S II, A7R II and RX1R II. You can grab the refreshed firmware, version 2.0, on November 18th from Sony's support website.
Leica's SL full-frame camera features an impressive high-res EVF
Fresh off of its Q release this past summer, Leica is back with another full-frame camera: the SL Typ-601. The new shooter, which Leica says is geared toward professional photographers, comes with a 24-megapixel CMOS sensor, Maestro II processor, an ISO range of up to 50,000, WiFi for remote access and image sharing and a weather-sealed body. Leica's latest SL also features an 11 fps continuous shooting mode and max mechanical shutter speeds of 1/8,000 -- the company says an electronic option will be available at a later point. Video-wise, you'll have access to both 1080p and 4K (3,840 x 2,160), with the latter capable of handling 24 and 30 fps. While the SL is stacked with all of the aforementioned specs, Leica wants people to focus on the new, round 4.4-megapixel (60 fps) electric viewfinder; it is the highest resolution EVF on the market, according to the German manufacturer.
Sony's RX1R II full-frame camera stuffs 42MP into a small body
As far as compact cameras go, Sony is undeniably the best at making them. But in case that RX100 IV point-and-shoot wasn't good enough for you, the company is now introducing the RX1R II, a full-frame pocket-sized shooter with a 42.4-megapixel Exmor R CMOS sensor. If you're keeping tabs at home, then you'd know that's similar to the one featured in the recently announced A7R II mirrorless camera. Another highlight of the second-gen RX1R is its retractable, 2.4-million-dot XGA OLED viewfinder, as well as what Sony's calling the "world's first" optical variable low-pass filter -- which you can turn on or off based on the sharpness strength you want on certain images. The fixed lens, meanwhile, is a 35mm (f2.0) ZEISS Sonnar T*. What you won't find here is 4K video recording. Instead, you have the option to shoot up to 1080p at 24, 30 and 60 fps, while the ISO is set at a maximum of 102,400 when expanded. Like what you see? Then be ready to have your jaw drop, as the RX1R II will cost a wallet-clinching $3,300 when it hits stores in November.
Sony's new A7R II brings more than just a resolution bump
Sony's A7 range of full-frame mirrorless cameras has only been around for just under two years and yet there are already six members in the lineup. The company has wasted no time in filling the series with models tuned for different uses -- from low-light performance to high-megapixel applications. The A7R II, with its 42.4-megapixel full-frame sensor, certainly falls in that latter category with specs that place it roughly in the same league as heavy hitters from Canon and Nikon. Still, bullet points on a page are one thing; using it in the field can uncover something entirely different. I spent a month with the expensive shooter ($3,200 for the body) and it turns out Sony's latest megapixel monster can hold its own among the big boys.
Sony's full-frame, high-ISO Alpha 7s II can record 4K video
Sony has revealed the mirrorless full-frame Alpha A7s II, the successor to one of its most unusual cameras. The original Alpha A7s carried a maximum 409,600 max ISO setting, allowing images to be captured in near darkness. The new model has similar powers, but fixes the biggest problem with the old one. You no longer need an external recorder for Ultra HD video, as the A7s II now has internal 4K recording (3,840 x 2,160) at 24 or 30fps. It also uses a full-frame sensor readout with no pixel binning at both 4K and 1080p resolutions. In layman's terms, that means you'll get sharper 4K video with no moire or jagged edges.
