Imaging Resource Review of the Year

[Mike Farley]

Everyone is doing it, but if you want to know what IR reckons is the best kit introduced during the year then it is in the course of publishing a seriesof articles.

First up, entry level cameras:

http://www.imaging-resource.com/news/20 ... as-of-2014

I can endorse its recommendation for the Olympus E-M10. True, its big brother E-M1 has has better image stabilisation, weather proofing and better AF (allegedly, I did not find it worked particularly well when I tested it), but image quality is the same and I prefer the E-M10's controls and more compact dimensions. The optional grip is well designed and improves the handling. I was at the Leica store in Mayfair the other day and put my E-M10 with a Panasonic 20mm f/1.7 next to the new Leica D-Lux (actually a Panasonic LX100 in a cosmetically different body) and the two were more or less identical in size. Even the salesman was surprised and impressed. True, the E-M10 bulks up when other lenses are attached as they do not retract like the fixed one on the PanaLeica, but I know which option I would prefer.

[Mike Farley]

I should have said in my previous post that it was the performance of continuous AF which I found disappointing with the E-M1. The single shot AF of both cameras is quick and accurate.

[Mike Farley]

Imaging Resource has completed its review of the year and named the best cameras of 2014. Intriguingly, it manages to find a special award for the Sigma DP2 Quattro based on the uniqueness of both its sensor and body design.

http://www.imaging-resource.com/news/20 ... ial-awards