After the launch of Fujifilm X10 in 2011, which was one of the most advanced compact cameras in its segment then, Fujifilm has developed yet another camera in this segment, the Fujifilm X20. With similar attributes like its predecessor, the X20 is loaded with a 12 megapixel sensor, 28-112 mm equivalent lens capable of 4x manual zoom and a 1080p HD video recording capability set in a body designed very similar to the X10. What distinguishes it from the X10 though is its new X-Trans CMOS II sensor, an improved 12fps burst shooting mode and Focus Peak Highlight, to name a few features. But do they add up to a convincing reason to buy?

Look, body and feel

At first glance the X20 looks just like its predecessor the X10, although it’s now available in a dual tone silver-and-black finish, an addition to the conventional black finish. The camera has a magnesium alloy body with black leather finish around most part of it. The well crafted X20 has a sturdy and superior build which feels reassuringly solid in the hands.

The X20 doesn’t just imbibe similar looks as the X10, but also similar control buttons and dials. The top panel of the camera features an a mode dial, shutter button which is threaded for a mechanical cable release, a customisable Fn button and exposure compensation dial. There is also a centrally-mounted hot shoe for an external flash unit, and a little pop-up flash on the left.

The front of the camera is minimalistic and maintains a retro feel. It houses 28-112 mm f/2.0 Fujinon lens which has an integrated power switch on it, similar to the one on the X10. New users may find it a little confusing at times, trying to locate the power button, but overall this feature helps reduce the need of an additional power button and also gives the camera a compact look. The front of the camera also houses a conveniently placed swivel focus mode dial, the autofocus white led lamp and a stereo microphone for recording audio.

The back of the X20 consists of a larger optical viewfinder than its predecessor, which displays data such as shutter speed, ISO etc. An eye sensor beside the viewfinder window helps for automatic switching with the rear LCD. Other than the 2.8 inch 460k dot LCD screen which dominates the back of the camera, a host of ergonomic control buttons and dials add to a smooth and quick control of the cameras settings. One such example is the button labeled ‘Q’ which facilitates quick changing of camera settings.

Features

The Fujifilm X20 comes with impressive features. The sensor adopted by the X20 is a 12 megapixel 2/3inch X-Trans CMOS type. X20’s sensor is nearly 50% the size of the sensor of Sony RX100, which has a 1 inch full frame sensor. X20’s sensor is larger than most of the cameras in the advanced compact camera segment today.

Other than using the rear LCD to compose your images you can also use the optical viewfinder, with 85% coverage, a diopter control and to top it all, Fujifilm has developed a Digital Trans Panel which overlays the viewfinder and displays shooting information such as shutter speed, aperture, ISO, and focussing area. The viewfinder displays the information in one of three different colours, depending on the scene and shooting conditions – black in good light, green in bad, and red if an error occurs.

There is Focus Peaking display for manual focus using the rear LCD. While shooting using manual focus, the X20 focusses accurately by using the Focus Peaking Highlight which indicates areas of highest contrast.  The Fujifilm X20 boasts of a continuous burst shooting rate of 12fps for 11 JPEGs while shooting a burst of RAW files at 9fps for 14 RAW photos.

The X20 records videos in full HD 1080 at 60fps with built-in stereo microphones for audio support.

Performance

In the last few years Fujifilm has been producing cameras with unique styling and consistently good image quality. Like its predecessor, the Fujifilm X20 is quite a performer.

The camera is easy to use; manual focus zoom ring gives the user additional control. The focussing mechanism on the X20 is spot on, however the focus does lag in low light conditions while shooting at a higher focal length. The optical viewfinder on the X20 could revive the trend of using the viewfinder instead of the LCD screen to compose frames. While shooting close up shots, switching to the Supermacro mode allows the user to focus as close as 1 cm to the subject. The rear LCD screen is clear and bright and is not affected by glare and reflection.

 The image produced by the X20 contains details and they are not lost even after when zoomed in 100% of the image size. The larger than usual sensor is responsible for the excellent image quality. The colours reproduced by the camera are accurate and vibrant. The images display good contrast and the tonal range shows good detail in shadows as well highlights. While shooting using the auto white balance, the colours in the frame are reproduced accurately even under mixed lighting. In addition, the X20 has digital filters in the Advanced Mode which include Toy Camera, Pop Colour, Miniature, Partial Colour and so on which are fun to experiment with.

ISO performance

The Fujifilm X20 performs well in low ISO sensitivities but while shooting in low light situations, the images reveal slight traces of noise at higher ISOs (ISO 800 and above). When shooting at ISO 3200 and above the noise becomes very visible and there is a loss in detail.

Conclusion

The Fujifilm X20 is similar to the X10 but with definite improvements. The better image quality owing to the new megapixel 2/3-type X-Trans CMOS II sensor with no low-pass filter, the hybrid optical viewfinder and speedy autofocus are few features that make this camera stand apart.

The camera is priced at Rs. 39,999, higher than most cameras in this segment. Loaded with excellent image quality that comes in a cool retro look, the X20 is an excellent camera.

Text: Steve D’Souza

Fujifilm recently launched its latest bridge camera, 50x zoom enabled SL1000. The camera is designed keeping travelers in mind, with zoom values ranging from 1cm macro to 1200mm telephoto. The camera supports movie recording as well, shooting in full HD (60 fps and stereo sound) with advanced filter and 3D shooting features. There is also an Intelligent Digital Zoom feature, which increases the effective focal length from 1200mm upto 2400mm, or 100x.

Fujifilm has aimed at keeping the blurring at a minimum low with its High-Magnification Zoom and Powerful Optical Image Stabilization features, minimizing the effect of blurring at longer zoom lengths. The LCD monitor is 180˚ tilting, making way for more shooting angles than usual. SL1000 has a 16 million pixels 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS sensor, which is designed to cope with high ISO values. Mr. Rohit Pandit, EVP – Sales & Marketing, FUJIFILM India said about the launch, “We are extremely proud to bring the best of the long zoom camera segment- SL1000 which is enriched with versatile functionalities and will be desired by those photographers who do not want the lens-changing capability of a DSLR, but are still keen on having total control over their images. It’s powerful zooming capacity is certain to attract people with an eye for detail.” The camera is priced at Rs. 29,999.

Olympus Imaging India Private Limited recently announced the launch of 8 new cameras in its Olympus Stylus brand. The XZ-2 and the XZ-10 for image quality, SZ-16 and SH-50 for low light performance, VG-165, VG-180 and VG-190 for easy shooting and the awaited Tough – TG-2 are added to the Indian shelves.

With the launch of these cameras, Olympus has shown interest in adapting to changing times, as the compact camera segment continues to fall to the smartphone camera. At such a point in time, the advanced point-and-shoot, an advanced breed of cameras has taken much of the imaging world by surprise with competitive imaging quality at extremely competitive prices.

“Much has been said of India being a price sensitive country. Today, we at Olympus, having interacted with Indian consumers can firmly say that they are willing to consider a premium, provided the product is of exceptional quality, both style-and-substance-wise” said Mr. Kenichiro Mori, newly appointed Managing Director, Olympus Imaging India Private Limited adding, “We have placed our faith in advanced point-and-shoot this year as we see consumers evolving to ask for a product which is a combination of exceptional photoquality and amazing style. We want to be at the forefront of that race.”

Olympus has entered the market with these multiple offerings in the compact camera segment, and its PEN series and the t O-MD E-M5 in the professional camera space. With these it hopes to change the face of the Indian imaging industry. “India has traditionally had a slower rate of adoption of new technology than some other regions such as Europe, the Americas or Japan. But demographically being a young country, this trend is rapidly reversing. Keeping this in mind, Olympus is concentrating on launching products which are futuristic, yet are firmly anchored in needs of consumers.

Nikon recently announced the release of the AF-S NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR, a FX format, 5x telephoto zoom covering a range of 80-400mm. As it covers a wide variety of focal lengths, the camera is primarily aimed at genres which require a higher zoom range, like bird, sports or landscape, though it can be put to use in a variety of other genres as well. The lens is made with a new optical design utilizing four of Nikon’s ED lens elements, one of them being the Nano Crystal Coat which helps reducing ghost and flare. There is also a Silent Wave Motor (SWM) which helps the lens silently autofocus. The lens comes with three focusing modes – A/M (autofocus with manual override, AF priority), M/A (autofocus with manual override, manual priority) and M (manual).

Commenting on the announcement, Mr. Hiroshi Takashina said, “We are pleased to announce the new addition to our NIKKOR lens line-up. It is a much awaited lens and we assure that it will suffice the requirements of a photographer who wishes to capture distant subjects.”Talking about Nikon’s presence in India, he added, “Nikon has always believed in creating a photography culture in India, and to achieve this we are coming up with new products to meet discerning needs of the growing customer base.”

Since the announcement of the Samsung Galaxy camera, we have been waiting to get our hands on this beauty. In fact, our hopes were triggered even higher after we reviewed the Nikon S800C in the last month’s issue, which was the first Android powered camera. Samsung is pretty much the only manufacturer that has given Apple a run for its money in the smartphone arena, so when they announced that they were launching a Galaxy camera on the Android platform, it was a simple no brainer.

It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that there was going to be a heavy integration of the point-and-shoot system with a smartphone like user interface. But the biggest dilemma I had while reviewing it was if I should review it as a phone or as a camera. Because of its features, it was very difficult for me to disassociate it from a smartphone, but due to its primary objective I couldn’t help but think if it was really a camera. So what exactly has Samsung come up with? Let us find out.

What is the Galaxy camera?

Well in simple words, it’s the smaller version of the Galaxy Note 2 and a bigger version of the Galaxy S3 attached with a camera. Naturally, it is a camera that comes equipped with a 21x zoom, runs on the Jelly Bean OS, built-in Wi-Fi, GPS and a sim-card slot to stay connected on the move (as if you already weren’t with your smartphones these days).

Who is it exactly for?

At Rs. 29,995, who is the Galaxy Camera exactly meant for? Especially as one can easily buy an entry level DSLR in that kind of money these days. Well, it is basically for the average, trigger happy Social Network junkie,  as the term goes these days. A person who is looking for decent picture quality, but more importantly wants to share the details of their life with the outside world.

Look, Body and Feel

One would have to be really not paying attention dislike the cameras design and look. It seems elegant, stylish and big. When you will see the camera in one of the commercial ads on television these days, you might find yourself thinking that it is a pint-sized. But it is only when you see it in reality when you see it for the monster it is. The Galaxy camera is much bigger than most of the point-and-shoot cameras out there, and surely much heavier as well. At 300 gms the camera is much heavier than the others in the similar category. But it still looks quite pleasant due to its simple design and minimal look. The right side of the camera features a protruding textured grip, which does its job fantastically, whereas, the front houses the 23mm wide lens which offers 21x zoom.

The magic begins at the back, which looks exactly like the screen of the Galaxy series of phones. It’s big, bright and unlike what one has seen on any camera before. Essentially, the Galaxy camera looks very much like a phone fitted with a 21x optical zoom lens in the front.

Interface

Samsung has really aced the platform here. Not only have they aced it, but much like Apple, created a new category in the camera segment. Powered by the latest Jelly Bean OS on the Android platform, the Galaxy camera looks and feels exactly like a smartphone. Not only that, it can do everything that a phone can, minus the calls. The integration of the touch screen is seamless, thanks to the 4.8” Super AMOLED touch screen that have gained popularity due to the Samsung range of smartphones.

It also comes preloaded with interesting apps for photo editing, and can always be connected to the Google Play Store to download a host of apps as per the users interests. While the screen is seamless and big, it does tend to have some chinks in its armour. Occasionally while toggling between the menus, there seemed to be some lag.

Performance

While everything about the Galaxy camera is great, its primary objective is to deliver good pictures. And that is where we thought that it lacked punch. The best way to describe the cameras performance is average. The camera delivers crisp and sharp images in broad daylight, but tends to have focusing problems in low light conditions. Also, there is a visible noise on the images shot under the same setting.

Although pictures shot at ISO 100 do not exhibit noise, it seems like the noise reduction algorithms go into an overdrive trying to keep a check on it, and we thought the ultimate results were far from impressive. The noise gets worse as we progress towards the higher ISO values. A 16-megapixel sensor doesn’t necessarily do a whole lot for your photos if you have a 1/2.3” sensor like the one on this camera.

Sample Images

      The Downside

Although the camera offers manual options to control the aperture and the shutter speed to click pictures, the touch screen, which otherwise is a boon, suddenly tends to become a bane because you have to get into the touch screen again and again to either bracket your images or change certain settings. I wish that there were buttons dedicated to control it directly.

While the camera provides a great grip on the right-hand side due to its rubberised texture, it’s next to impossible to rest your fingers anywhere on the left, especially when the flash pops up. This means that there is a possibility of getting shaky pictures, especially in low light conditions.

Conclusion

At Rs. 29,995 the Samsung Galaxy Camera offers a lot to the tech-savvy consumer and one must hand it to the manufacturer for creating a whole new market segment. But where Samsung seems to have aced the integration of a camera with a phone, the Galaxy’s image quality and performance takes a beating. While the pictures in broad daylight seemed decent, we felt that the camera struggled a little under low-light conditions. But being one of the first cameras to touch upon this segment, it doesn’t seem to be a bad effort at all. If you are looking for a camera which delivers average photography performance but a host of other attractive features, the Samsung Galaxy Camera is a perfect choice for you.

 Text: Bhavya Desai

Jindal Photo Ltd announced the launch of the new Kodak Premium Digital Paper at the Photofair this year. The company seems excited about the future of their new product in the Indian market and expects the same to drive growth. David Santer, Regional Director, Output Systems programme, Asia Pacific region, Kodakwho was visiting the fair along with some team members is also optimistic about this new launch. He says that the new paper creates premium, thicker prints with increased gloss, deeper blacks and enhanced robustness for post-production of the premium products. He also seemed excited by the response that the Jindal booth got at the expo in the last two days. Although the price of this paper has not been announced yet, it is expected to be done sometime in April.

India ranks as one of the top three markets for Kodak in the Asia Pacific region. Kodak has already launched four different papers in 2012 and will be launching another three this year. “We have a strong market share and continue to grow this year. It has been a successful 2012 and we are hoping to do better in 2013. Although competition is tough but we have a significant market share in Asia and will continue to grow,” added Santer. In India, Kodak works with Jindal Photo Ltd and has developed a strong relationship with them since August.

When asked about Kodak’s Edge paper? Santer adds that this paper is not changed and is excellent and has been accepted very well in many countries worldwide. However, there were some technical issues in India which have now been sorted out. With the launch of this new premium paper, he seems confident of surging ahead. Wedding photographers have responded positively to this new launch in the last two days.

 Scott Robinson, Director, Current Product Marketing, Retail Systems Solutions who is visiting India for the first time also sees lot of opportunities in the Indian market.