PMA 2010: Sony joins the mirrorless revolution…
Ultra-compact new camera with interchangeable lenses, APS-size sensor and AVCHD | image from dpreview.com
On Sunday, DPReview.com syndicated Sony’s announcement at PMA of a new line of mirror-less, interchangeable-lens compact cameras using a proprietary lens mount. But who cares?
Camera Design of the Future?
For owners of 35mm SLR cameras, the idea of owning a camera that does not allow you to see through the lens–directly through the optics–seems strange. It seems a throwback to the days of the rangefinder. Of course, if that was truly the case that no one would want it, then why would Leica, let alone is M9 35mm digital rangefinder, still exist?
The answer, to put it succinctly, is that these smaller cameras with their smaller, but quite fine lenses, bring the fun back into photography.
And with no mirror in the way (electronic viewfinders are getting astonishingly good, and you can have a live preview of what the histogram will be at your given exposure), the lenses can be reduced in size dramatically. Ever wonder why a 35mm Leica lens looks so different from one from Canon? Single-lens-reflect requires a retrofocus design to compensate for the distance between the end of the lens and the film plane. While this is over-simplified, the shorter that distance between film plane and lens, the smaller (and lighter!) the lens can be.
They're doing their part... | Panasonic Lumix G1 and 45-200mm f/4-5.6 lens @ 45mm; exposed 1/60 sec. @ f/4, ISO 400.
For over a year now I’ve been working with a Panasonic Lumix G1–you can see all the photos I’ve posted with it–and along with its standard lens, a telephoto zoom, and an Olympus pancake lens that I’ve borrowed on occasion, it has enabled me to make pictures that I wouldn’t otherwise have because I don’t always want to schlep along my 5D Mk. II and 24-70 f/2.8L lens.
The G1 and its 14-45mm lens weigh in at one pound, six ounces. The 5D and 24-70 weigh four pounds, five ounces. Is the quality the same? Of course not. But I wouldn’t have had the images without the lighter camera, because I don’t want to have bad knees and shoulders because of camera gear. A bird in the hand…
