OM System’s OM-1 Mark II updates its flagship high-speed Micro Four Thirds camera with incremental improvements to hardware and some performance and handling tweaks. Micro Four Thirds is marketed as a lightweight system ideal for travel and wildlife where reduced size and weight can make or break plans for what gear to take on a trip. So we hit Seattle in search of nature and sightseeing.
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Winters in the Pacific Northwest mean rain and gray skies, with a rare day of sunshine every so often to remind us that color and contrast still exist. We encountered some eagles and hungry ducks in a downpour and caught up with some people and zoo animals on a dry day.
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Gear in this story
If you blinked, you may have missed it, but the first month of 2024 has already come and gone. Here’s a recap of the most noteworthy camera gear announced, released, or put up for preorder this January.
Sony updates the ZV-1, giving the vlog-centric compact camera a 18-50mm equivalent F1.8-4.0 lens that’s now wide enough for less cramped selfie mode videos.The Fujifilm XF 23mm F2 R WR delivers a 35mm full-frame equivalent field of view and stands out due to its small size and weather-resistant build. However, it faces stiff competition from lenses with faster F1.4 apertures. In this review, we tell you what you need to know about this popular lens.The EOS R100 is the cheapest way to get into Canon’s RF-mount system. But, as the saying goes, you get what you pay for, since its older components make the R100 feel dated.The Nikon Zf is a 24MP full-frame mirrorless camera with classic looks that adds the latest Expeed 7 processor and features such as 3D Tracking AF to the $2000 price bracket. We’re not sure the experience lives up to the looks.The Sony a9 III is the world’s first full-frame mirrorless camera to feature a global electronic shutter with simultaneous readout. We’ve been using a full production version of this 120 fps sports camera, to see what you gain (and, perhaps, lose).
If you want a compact camera that produces great quality photos without the hassle of changing lenses, there are plenty of choices available for every budget. Read on to find out which portable enthusiast compacts are our favorites.What’s the best camera for travel? Good travel cameras should be small, versatile, and offer good image quality. In this buying guide we’ve rounded-up several great cameras for travel and recommended the best.’What’s the best mirrorless camera?’ We’re glad you asked.What’s the best camera for around $2000? This price point gives you access to some of the most all-round capable cameras available. Excellent image quality, powerful autofocus and great looking video are the least you can expect. We’ve picked the models that really stand out.Above $2500 cameras tend to become increasingly specialized, making it difficult to select a ‘best’ option. We case our eye over the options costing more than $2500 but less than $4000, to find the best all-rounder.