Dpreview has posted a very detailed review of the Nikon D5200, Nikon’s mid level DSLR.

Here’s some conclusions:

Pro’s

• Excellent low ISO performance in both JPEG and Raw files
• Class-leading noise performance at high ISO sensitivities
• Very good default JPEG settings
• Articulated rear screen
• Effective auto white balance in a variety of lighting conditions
• Auto ISO selection can be linked to lens focal length
• Generous frame coverage of 39-point AF array
• Customizeable Fn button
• In-camera Raw processing
• Ability to output uncompressed HD video to an external recorder
• Manual audio recording levels
• 3.5mm Stereo mic input

Con’s

• Slow AF in live view and video modes (compared to mirrorless APS-C cameras)
• No real-time aperture adjustment in live view
• Relatively small image buffer limits burst capacity in Raw-enabled modes
• Soft video output at default settings
• No aperture control in video mode
• Upsampled video at default 60i output
• When shooting in live view, rear screen is blacked out until data is written to the card
• File numbering default that resets after every card format

Mark Baynham (May 2012)

Photography Blog UK have posted a review of the Panasonic G6, Panasonic’s mirrorless / compact camera that’s meant to represent a genuine mid level DSLR rival to offerings from Canon, Nikon, Pentax and Sony.So has does the new Panasonic G6 fair.

From Photography Blog UK:

“It may not offer too many genuine surprises, but the new Panasonic Lumix G6 is a compelling, very well-balanced compact system camera that offers a lot of features and performance at an attractive price. Falling into the mini-DSLR category of mirrorless models, the Panasonic G6 in many ways matches and even betters similarly priced DSLRs. Indeed we can’t think of any DSLR or CSC model that offers all of the G6′s features, which happily are matched by great performance, proven handling and seemingly endless customisability. Image quality is really the only obvious Achilles heel of the G6 when comparing it to a bigger sensor camera. Although delivering excellent quality for its Micro Four Thirds class, with noise not rearing its ugly head until ISO 1600, and offering accurate colours and good dynamic range, it can’t quite match DSLRs or the APS-C sensor compact system cameras at higher ISO speeds.

In our view the Lumix G6 is the best overall compact system camera that Panasonic have yet released, offering a great mix of must-have features, intuitive DSLR-like handling and speedy performance, all at a reasonable price. Whether its image quality meets your needs, good as it is for a Micro Four Thirds camera, is perhaps the only reason for looking elsewhere – in all other regards it’s very easy for us to strongly recommend the Panasonic Lumix G6 as a fantastic camera in its own right.

My Take:

The m4/3rd system from Panasonic and Olympus has developed and matured these past 4 years to the point that I genuinely believe the best from each company ( i.e. Panasonic GH3 / G6 and from Olympus the OMD EM5 and new PEN EP5) can in most aspects match DSLR rivals. Throw into the mix the size advantage the m4/3rd cameras have over DSLR’s and the availability of some really classy, high performing optics and you can see why even a fussy person like myself has adopted the system. Yes the m4/3rd sensor still trails APS-C sensors when it comes to “noise” performance but the gap / difference is not huge. The Panasonic G6 is clearly a very good camera in its own rights and deserves consideration if you’ll looking for a portable, high performing camera with access to some great optics.

Mark Baynham (May 2013)

Dpreview have conducted one of their very detailed reviews of the Fuji X20 a retro looking high end compact which went straight to the top of my wish list when I had a play with one a month or so back.

Here’s what Dpreview concluded and had to say:

 Pro’s:

• Very good photo quality; noticeably sharper than X10
• Fast, 28-112mm equiv. F2.0-2.8 zoom lens with manual zoom ring
• Solid build quality with retro design
• Large optical viewfinder offers exposure data and focus point overlay
• Wide selection of manual controls (plus a scene-selecting auto mode for beginners)
• New Hybrid AF system is noticeably faster than the X10
• Focus peaking
• Excellent in-camera Raw conversion
• DR Correction feature reduces highlight clipping (with a slight increase in noise)
• Customizable Fn button, dual dials, and ‘Q menu’ make adjusting settings fast and easy

Con’s

• Tends to smudge fine details (even at ISO 100)
• Clips highlights at default DR setting (though no worse than its peers)
• Optical viewfinder doesn’t live up to its potential (no composition grid, live histogram); lens can be seen through viewfinder at wide-angle
• No dedicated movie record button; no manual controls (aside from mic level adjustment)
• Video quality not as good as other high-end compacts
• Raw not available above ISO 3200
• Camera can be slow to wake from sleep (requires a one second button press)
• Long write times after a burst of Raw images is taken
• Below average battery life

 The X20 generally metered scenes correctly, though like most compact cameras, it is prone to highlight clipping (which the aforementioned DR Correction feature can reduce). Colours are vivid, and the camera keeps chromatic aberrations to a minimum. Noise levels are relatively low up to ISO 800, after which they start to take off. We found that shooting Raw at high sensitivities helped maintain colour saturation and reduce colour bleeding.

 Overall, we can’t help but like the Fujifilm X20, despite a few quirks. It’s a capable enthusiast compact that offers just about everything that an advanced user would want, but Fujifilm has left enough automatic features to please the point-and-shoot crowd, as well.

The Fujifilm X20 is a true enthusiast’s compact, with solid build quality, a fast lens, unique optical viewfinder, and sharp, high resolution photos. It offers a wide selection of manual controls, easily adjustable settings (thanks to twin control dials, the Fn button, and Quick Menu), and 1080/60p video recording. Downsides include a mediocre, hard-to-access movie mode and sub-par battery life.

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Photography Blog Uk have posted a review of Sony’s latest super zoom / bridge camera, the Sony HX300.

Does the HX300 have what it takes to take on and maybe beat the class leader of this type of camera, the Panasonic FZ200?

Here’s what they concluded:

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300 is a rather modest update of last year’s HX200V model, principally adding a bigger 50x zoom and slightly more megapixels. This doesn’t feel like enough of a step forward though, especially as most of our criticisms of the HX300 haven’t been addressed, namely a lack of direct access to the ISO speed and other key settings, a missing second control wheel, no RAW format support, a low-resolution electronic viewfinder, an LCD that can only be tilted up and down, and the inability to attach an external flashgun. The move to a 20 megapixel sensor, while looking good on paper, has resulted in slightly poorer image quality than the HX200 offered, and that camera‘s GPS functionality has disappeared entirely from the 2013 model.

The inclusion of a 50x zoom lens means that the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300 offers the same 24-1200mm focal length as one of its main rivals, the Canon PowerShot SX50 HS. Commendably we were able to achieve sharp results shooting handheld even at the far reaches of the zoom, although the camera somewhat inevitably increased the ISO speed to try and compensate, resulting in noisier images. Still, its heartening to discover that the 50x zoom is actually a lot more usable in real-life than you might first imagine. We are disappointed that the electronic viewfinder still only has a resolution of 202k dots, especially considering that it’s imperative to compose your photos through the viewfinder given the huge focal range, and there’s no longer any automatic switching between LCD and EVF either when you hold the camera up to your eye.

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300 ultimately suffers in comparison to the Canon PowerShot SX50 HS, Fujifilm FinePix HS50 EXR and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200 by not offering enough prosumer features, especially when you factor in its high price-tag. In a crowded marketplace with less well-specified models available at cheaper prices and better-specified alternatives for the same kind of money, it’s difficult to more whole-heartedly recommend the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300, even thought that 50x zoom lens is literally hard to ignore.

My Take:

So that’s a “no” the Sony HX300 may have a HUGE zoom lens but why has Sony yet again gone “pixel mad”? Looking at the end results, image quality is not brillant but that was bound to happen with a 1/2.3″ sensor that is literally stuffed with 20mp’s, why? The EVF is equally not great, there’s no RAW capture, the rear screen not fully articuklated and the camera lacks a hot shoe, these are serious ommissions.

No, if your in the market for a high quality, versatile, adaptable super zoom which produces half reasonable images, then look no further the Panasonic FZ200 or take a look at Fuji’s HS50EXR

Mark Baynham (May 2013)