A Sony kit vs. A Fujifilm Kit

Recently I was reviewing the APSC Fujifilm kit which according to Fujifilm rivals the full frame cameras. Although currently, unless you are at high ISOs the X-T2 and Pro2 certainly rival the A7II in image IQ, this may change if the rumoured A7III includes a back-illuminated sensor. However, when it comes to the A7RII there is no real comparison, the resolution of this camera is well beyond the Fujifilm cameras. So it seemed to me of some interest to compare a prime shooters kit on both the X-T2 and the A7RII.

An Idea Travel Kit Cost and Weight

So let's look at what a travel kit might look like with both cameras, which should include a 35mm for street photography, a 25/24mm for landscape and an 85mm for detailRecently I was reviewing the APSC Fujifilm kit which according to Fujifilm rivals the full frame cameras. Although currently, unless you are at high ISOs the X-T2 and Pro2 certainly rival the A7II in image IQ, this may change if the rumoured A7III includes a back-illuminated sensor. However, when it comes to the A7RII there is no real comparison, the resolution of this camera is well beyond the Fujifilm cameras. So it seemed to me of some interest to compare a prime shooters kit on both the X-T2 and the A7RII.
So let's look at what a travel kit might look like with both cameras, which should include a 35mm for street photography, a 25/24mm for landscape and an 85mm for detail or portrait shots.

What is most interesting in this comparison is the Cost of the Sony kit is much higher than that of the Fuji kit, but the weight is identical! Although the Zeiss lenses are a little larger, the small Sony 35mm street lens is perhaps more compact that the Fuji rig. 

The Selection of Lenses

The selection of the lenses was quite easy for the Fujifilm camera as these three lenses, 16/23/56, all score very highly on the testing sites, and test very similar to Zeiss lens. This made the selection for the Sony A7RII a little easier because there was both a 25mm and 85mm Zeiss lens. However to find a street lens for the 35mm field of view I had to defer to the 2.8 Sony lens, because it was similar in size to the Fuji 35mm equivalent and small enough to not be too obtrusive. Now not everyone might agree with that call but the 35mm Sony lens does test very well.

The Fuji Kit

The Sony Kit

Ergonomics, Menus and Dials

The X-T2 has some advantages over the Sony in terms of its retro style controls, which keep you out of the menus and away from programming buttons. This tactile non-menu operation also extends to the lenses which have aperture rings and some also have lens shifting to manual focus. The two SD bays, which typically were only found in FF high-end cameras is also a big advantage. It allows for the backing up of critical shoots or the facilitation of dual separate storage during travel. Also of course it is much cheaper to upgrade your camera which these days seems to age enormously over 3-4 years. 
Sony on the other hand is a very high-resolution camera with a full frame sensor and in the same size and weight as the Fujifilm camera. If money was not really an issue and you can live without the manual none menu operation of the camera then it is hard to imagine not investing in the Sony. The Sony also has a much better hand grip on the front of the camera than the X-T2.

Conclusion

This comparison raises some interesting points in my mind. The two camera kits are significantly different in price but not in weight and perhaps not so much in size either. They are also significantly different in resolution.

Zeiss Lens Families

SLR Lenses

• Otus lenses, which are similar to their cine lenses, all have an f-stop of 1.4. There are three lenses in this lineup the 28mm, 55 mm and 85mm. 
• The Standard lens line up is the Milvus Lens line-up designed for SLR cameras, it comes with either a Canon or Nikon lens mount. The lineup includes 15mm(f2.8), 21mm(f2), 35mm(f2), 50mm(f1.4), 85mm(f1.4), 100mm(f2) and 135mm(f2). They are also designed for videographers in mind.
• The classic lens called Zeiss Planar are manual focus lenses that made for Canon, Nikon, Leica and Sony cameras. This family of lenses includes 25mm(f2), 28mm(f2.8), 50mm(f1.4), 50mm(f2 Makro), 85mm(f1.4) and100mm(f2 Makro).
• The Sony/ZEISS A mount lens family are autofocus lenses designed specifically for Sony A-mount cameras which include 24mm(f2), 50mm(f1.4), 85mm(f1.8), 135mm(f1.8), 16-35mm(f2.8), 16-80mm(f3.4-4.5), and 24-70mm(f2.8). 

CSC Lenses for mirrorless cameras

• The Batis E-mount lens line that was introduced in 2015 specifically for the Sony Full Frame cameras. The lens family currently includes an 18mm(f2.8), 25mm(f2) and 85mm(f1.8). There are strong rumours that a135mm is to be released in shortly. These lenses are autofocus lenses which integrated into the camera's 5 axis stabilisation.
• Loxia E-mount lenses are a manual focus set of lenses designed specifically for the Sony A series cameras. The lens family includes a 21mm(f2.8), 35mm(f2), 50mm(f2) and a 85mm(f2.4).
• The Touit family of lenses is designed for both the Sony E-mount and Fujifilm X-mount APSC mirrorless cameras. They are autofocus lens in the following field of views 12mm(f2.8 18mm equivalent), 32mm(f1.8 50mm equivalent) and 50mm(f2.8 75mm equivalent). 
• Then there is the Sony/ZEISS lens which currently has 8 lenses in this family, and this lens family is expanding rapidly.

Zeiss Explains Lens Nomenclature

In a dialogue, between Bertram Honlinger and Lensvid, Zeiss lens nomenclature is explained.

Zeiss Ikon System

These two families of lenses are designed for the M-mount Leica rangefinder cameras, as well as Zeiss's own Ikon Camera. There are 12 lenses in this lineup. 

Post Photokina the Newest Camera Systems of 2016

Best of Photokina 2016 

There was a lot of new equipment announced at Photokina and more that has been previously announced this year. All of which in was on display at this amazing exhibition. At this point it is unlikely that any new announcements will be made and we can now examine all the cameras of 2016, not everything announced was groundbreaking or exciting but the following list contains, for me, announcements of the year:

1. Fujifilm GFX 50S mirrorless medium format camera.
2. Hasselblad X1D mirrorless medium format camera 
3. Sony A99 II 42.4mp full frame DSLR.
4. Fujifilm's flagship rangefinder X-Pro2 APSC mirrorless optical/OLED hybrid.
5. Fujifilm's flagship X-T2 mirrorless APSC camera.
6. Sony A6500 their flagship APSC camera
7. Olympus's flagship OM-D E-M1 Mark II micro four thirds mirrorless camera.
8. Nikon D500 APSC flagship DSLR. 
9. Pentax K-1 full frame DSLR camera.
10. Canon EOS 5D Mark IV full frame DSLR

The Biggest Story of 2016 -Medium Format Mirrorless!

The biggest story of 2016 was mirrorless coming to medium format, with two amazing cameras the Hasselblad X1D and the Fujifilm GFX 50S. 

GFX 50

The runaway jaw dropper was the Fujifilm GFX 50S medium format camera and it dominated the news coming out of Photokina, and perhaps overshadowed the earlier announcement by Hasselblad, who introduced their own mirrorless medium format cameras the X1D.

Hasselblad X1D

It is had to say which mirrorless medium format camera is more stunning. The Hasselblad is smaller strikingly more beautiful and ergonomically easier to handle. However, the Fujifilm GFX 50S seems to be a lot more flexible. Here a few of the key advantages of each camera.

Hasselblad X1D Advantages

• More compact
• It has a leaf shutter
• The ISO is one stop higher

Fujifilm GFX 50S Advantages

• It will be cheaper
• Three-way tilting screen
• Its focal plane shutter will allow third party lenses and leaf shutter lenses.
• Better resolution in the viewfinder
• They will make an HC Hasselblad adapter with leaf shutter, electronic aperture and Auto Focus support.
• It will have a faster shutter speed

Sony's Amazing A99 II

Most of the reviews of this camera start with "we thought the A mount might be dead" but with this new camera, Sony has produced a DSLR camera that is well beyond the image quality and motion stopping capacity of any DSLR on the market today. The camera has jumped to 41 megapixels with a stunning frame rate of 12fps, has a copper substrate sensor and Back Illumination. So now Sony is on the leading of edge of both the full frame DSLR and mirrorless camera world!
So if you are a DSLR person and can't get your mind around a mirrorless camera, this DSLR camera would be the one to own.

Sony A99 II

Nikon's D500

Nikon's D500 is a very interesting entrance into the market clearly this is a big advancement in Nikon technology as some of the features of this APSC camera can not be found in Nikon's full frame line. If you compare it with the D810 you will find it has a higher ISO ceiling; it has 153 focus points compared to 51; the viewfinder resolutions is almost double that of the 810; the camera uses UHSII cards + QRD and shoots 10fps instead of 5fps. A closer examination of the camera will reveal even more complexity that will make this camera a sports photographer's dream. 

Perhaps even more important we are likely seeing a peek at the advances that Nikon will be bringing to their full frame line when it is refreshed. After all the two-year-old D810 was really a slightly modified D800e which came out four years ago. In the last four years, immense changes have occurred in image quality, so it should be interesting to see where Nikon goes next. 

Nikon D500

Fujifilm X-Pro2 and X-T2

These two flagship cameras made by Fujifilm have built a camera that has full frame DSLR shooters, migrating to these APSC cameras. If you compare the quality as Jordan Steele has done in a comparison of the X-Pro2 and the Sony A7II, both 24-megapixel cameras, they are very close in image quality. In general, these cameras are similar in ISO performance up to 6400, a level I don't like to go over. In terms of colour fidelity as the ISO climbs in these two cameras, the X-Pro2 maintains good colour control in the dark areas with no visible banding, whereas the A7II shows some pattern noise and slight banding. It is unusual for an APSC camera to perform this well against a full frame camera.

Fujifilm X-T2

Fujifilm X-Pro2

It is this performance against 24-megapixel full frames that has professionals, especially those who travel, moving toward Fujifilm XPro2 and X-T2 cameras, especially when you consider the Fuji lenses. Fujifilm lenses have a reputation for being very high quality, perhaps not all of them but certainly the critical ones a professional wants in their bag. This is perhaps the secret that is leading the migration to these cameras as the lenses are much more compact than a full frame lens. This makes you kit have the cost and half the weight while maintaining an image quality as good or higher than a full frame 24-megapixel equivalent. My experience with their lenses that compared to my high-end Nikon lenses are sharper to the edge over a greater range of F stops.

Sony A6500 

This is the new Sony's flagship APSC camera, like the Fujifilm XPro2 and X-T2 it has a copper substrate sensor, making this camera and the Fujifilm cameras a top choice for a lightweight professional camera with excellent dynamic range and ISO performance. These three cameras in terms of image quality (IQ), should be almost identical sensor wise. So dynamic range and ISO performance should be identical. So what are the differences?

1. The Sony camera is slightly less in price, but not enough to really be meaningful to a decerning buyer.
2. The colour array in the Sony is Bayer and the Fujifilm has an X-Tran array. The X-trans colour array is designed to eliminate moire that is problematic for Bayer style filters. Having said that moire is in most cases not and issue and all but severe moire can be corrected in post-processing of RAW images.
3. The colour rendition coming from the two cameras is somewhat different, so this is really a personal preference issue, I suggest you spend some time looking at samples on the DPreview site. 
4. The focal points on the Sony jumped to 425 compared to Fujifilm's 321 points.
5. The Sony camera also shoots 11 frames per second (fps) compared to Fujifilm's 8fps. However, in electronic shutter mode, the Fujifilm camera shoots at 14fps. 
6. Perhaps Sony's biggest upgrade is the 5 axis in camera image stabilisation. Now as a prime lens user trying to maintain maximum sharpness, this is not that significant. But if you are constantly finding yourself in low light or using telephoto lenses this is a big deal.
7. The Fujifilm camera has a dual SD slot, which allows you to backup to a second disk while in the field. The Sony still retains its single SD slot. The Sony camera is only compliant to slower UHS-II cards, unlike the Fuji that is UHS-II compliant.

Now those are the differences in specifications, but there are other things that make this camera a better choice for certain people than the Fujifilm camera. If you want a light compact kit and still have high-quality lenses then the Fuji kit is for you. Also if you do not like to worry about menus or programming buttons to avoid the menu then you will want to avoid the Sony. Now if you want a compact camera capable of using full frames lenses because some day you are going to buy a full frame camera then the Sony is the camera for you. The Sony camera itself is smaller and cheaper than the Fujifilm cameras.

Then there is the buffer issue with Sony will shoot 100 frames of RAW files before the buffer is reached but the Fujifilm X-T2 can only record 25 frames of RAW at 14fps or 30 at 5fps. So clearly here there is a big difference. If you are a sports or wildlife photographer the Sony may be a much better camera for you.

The OM-D E-M1 Mark II

Many people dismiss the 4/3 cameras as consumer cameras, good for internet shoots, making videos and small prints suggesting that is is not a Prosumer camera. Although there are some merits to the argument that printing large with these cameras is problematic, many of the high-end models like this one have all the controls and sophistication of a more advanced camera. For example, this camera is now using both phase-detection and contrast focusing, which should improve its tracking performance over models that do not. 

Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II

Also, the 18 fps speed of this camera is well above the speed of any professional camera on the market making it very useful in capturing high-speed movement.

Olympus and also Panasonic who share the 4/3 sensor and the same mount are both targeting their flagship cameras toward a more professional crowd, according to Setsuya Kataoka the Deputy Division Manager of Imaging Product Development of Olympus. Specifically trying to target DSLR users rather than people committed to other mirrorless systems (in other words Sony and Fujifilm).

Their advantage over the other mirrorless camera systems APSC and Full Frame is compactness of the camera and the kit. The disadvantage is their sensor is 61% the size of an APSC sensor so image quality suffers, but only if you are printing large. Also lens quality will not be as good either. So if you post most of your work to the web and you don't work big and still want to have all the professional aspects of a camera system this might be the camera for you.

The Canon EOS 5D Mark IV and Pentax K-1

I have included the Canon camera in this article for those who are committed to this line, as this camera for them represents an improvement in image quality and camera technology. In terms of its advances in camera technology and image quality compared to other cameras, I covered this in a previous article, titled "5D Mark IV Canon Shooters Full Frame Dilemma." 

The Pentax K-1 has some merits but has largely been ignored even though it is priced well below the 5D Mark IV and other high-end full frame cameras, it is 36 megapixels with an auto ISO that goes up to 204,800! It also has 5 axis stabilisation, AA filter simulation, built-in GPS and a cross tilt LCD. So in these areas, it seems to be quite innovative. The downside perhaps is the 33 point AF autofocus system very limited and less than the Mark IV and neither is up to par with other cameras. Again, like the Canon 5D Mark IV, this is more of a camera for someone who has a large investment in Pentax lenses or someone that wants to exploit the vast collection of K-mount lenses that can be found around the world.

M5 a Travelling Camera for Canon Shooters?

The Canon Mirrorless Experiment

Although Canon only has nine lenses at the moment for their mirrorless camera, they seem to be slowly re-engineering the M series mirrorless cameras, that uses the EF-M mount. It initially came out in June of 2012. Then Feb of 2015 they launched the M3 and increased the resolution to 24 megapixels. This was quickly followed by the M10 in Oct of 2015 at 18 megapixels and the focal points were increased to 49. Now, this September they have announced an M5, which now looks more like DSLR than any of the previous cameras.

Is it Consumer or Prosumer

If you go back through the reviews and history of the M series one thing sticks out. Very few reviewers seem interested in comparing the M series to the leading mirrorless cameras on the market. Most comparisons are between the M series and other Canon DSLRs. Perhaps this is because they saw the mirrorless camera market as occupied by the consumer low-end market. However beginning with the M3 they seemed to add more advanced features, introducing features found in their DSLR so there must have been a shift at this point. Still, this left the camera half way between and in no position to compete with the higher end mirrorless cameras, which were now adding Pro features to their cameras.

The M5 could bring Canon into line with the prosumer market but it is unclear if it would raise the quality of the camera to the professional level; a level that the flagship cameras made by Sony and Fujifilm are now at. It will be impossible to tell until serious reviews have had time to do the necessary testing and analysis of this new camera.

In the meantime, the only thing we can to is to look at the technical specifications and compare them.

A Technical Comparision

If we look carefully at the chart below we can see there are a number of hallmarks of the high-end mirrorless cameras missing (I have included the A7RII full frame in the comparison even though it is not an APSC camera because it is around the same size as these cameras):

• The camera is only compatible with UHS-I cards, unlike all the others that use UHS-II cards. This means the camera's  write speed slower and ones read speed will also be slower.
• I can not find magnesium body anywhere on their website so the lightweight and durability advantages of the other cameras are not present with the M5.
• A big difference is the extremely low number of focus points 49 compared to 425/321/399 perhaps the most problematic issue.
• Having only nine native lenses for this camera which puts it way behind its competition and lenses are really important. Also unlike the other cameras no third party lenses are available.
• Auto ISO maxing out at 6400 is very curious when the others max out at 12,800 and 25,600, I wonder what that says about noise at high ISOs.
• Lack of complete weather proofing is also a difference between this camera and the others. Canon claims it is weather seal but not like their DSLR, I am not sure what this means?
• The frames per second is a decent 7fps but this does lag behind the other APSC cameras.
• Then there is the single SD drive the most recent APSC cameras now have dual drives, additional insurance against card failure.
• There is the smaller APSC sensor which impacts pixel pitch which is the lowest of all the cameras, which means the lowest image quality.

So it seems, although the M series is improving, it is not really marketing towards Prosumers and Pros yet, at least as far as a comparison of technical specifications can tell us.

Should You Buy One?

I think if you are familiar with Canon and their products there is something to be said for sticking with the family, and if you own a previous version of the M camera you already have some lenses. However, if you do not have M lenses, in terms of value for the dollar, the Sony A6300 is a smaller, lighter and a more advanced camera for the same price. The Sony lens stable is also much larger both native and third party. In addition to this high-quality adaptors allow all Sony mirrorless cameras to use Canon EF lenses and they will operate faster (with 5-axis stabilisation) than on the M5.
If you are really looking for a good high-quality travelling camera then Fujifilm's APSC cameras, both the X-Pro2 and X-T2 might be the way to go, although it is more expensive its lenses are smaller than both the M5 and Sony's cameras. They also have a disproportionately high recommendation rate on lens testing sites. So these two cameras would create your lightest kit.

Buying the Most Advanced Camera: or preventing technical ageing

This is a difficult thing to track down but beyond the mythical organic sensor rumours, the most advanced technology in the camera is usually the sensor. Here two new things have just reached the market the use of copper substrates and Back Illuminated Sensors BSI. This is the latest technology and can be found in Sony sensors currently Nikon, Fuji and Sony are using Sony Sensors, Canon manufactures their own sensors. The only cameras on the market, that I am aware of, with copper a substrate is the Sony A6300, Fuji X-T2, Fuji X-Pro2, Sony A7RII and Sony RXiRII the later two are full frame and also have BSI. So if you are concerned about the technology not ageing you would want one of these cameras.

The Technical Leap in Image Quality because of BSI and Copper Substrates

• Copper substrate sensors have a much lower heat signature so your noise level is at least one to two stops better, which means you can run your ISO up without a lot of nasty noise. Good for night shots or poorly lit churches.
• BSI sensors allow a wider angle of light to be recorded by the sensor, therefore they are more accurate and increase the dynamic range of the camera by one or two stops as well as improve colour rendition and other improvements.

A Size Comparison

In this comparison, I used a pancake lens version of each company's lens, so they don’t exactly match up, but they do demonstrate how compact they can be if you are using a pancake lens on the camera. As you can see none of these cameras is pocketable, but compared to a DSLR they are really half the size, perhaps more. Keep in mind that all the cameras are APSC sensors except for the A7RII which is full frame.

Left to Right: Canon M5 22mm, Sony S6300 20mm, Sony A7RII 35mm and Fujifilm X-T2 18mm (equivalent to 28mm)

5D Mark IV Canon Shooters Full Frame Dilemma

The New Sensor and Processor?

If you own a full frame Canon and a collection of wonderful lenses then the latest upgrades does present a dilemma. First the latest 5D Mark IV took 4 years to arrive, unlike other manufacturers who appear to be revolutionising the camera industry yearly and sometimes more frequently. Then you discover that the processor might be a tweaked Digic 6 with a "+" added on to the end of it so it can switch quickly to video. Now if your primary work is in stills then this is worrying. Which draws into question the sensor is it new or has it also just been tweaked. A quick visit to a review site and you discover yes indeed it is the best sensor Canon has ever produced, but then you discover they are still behind Nikon, Fuji and Sony in terms of dynamic range, colour and noise.
A quick comparison from the DXO testing site is found below, the X-T2/X-Pro2 have not been tested yet:

Courtesy of DXOmark

The New Autofocus and FPS

The new autofocus engine on the new Canon is 41 cross points with 61 point autofocus, but wait even Nikon's APSC camera has 153 autofocus points, Sony's mirrorless full frame AR7 II has 399 autofocus points, Fuji's X-T2 has 321 and Sony's A99 II has 399 autofocus points. Anyone who has seen the A99 presentation of a camera shooting 42 megapixels tack sharp images at 12 frames per second, would realize that Canon may well be bringing up the rear guard with their focusing technology. So we can forget even discussing the 7 frames per second of the Canon camera does even though it is 2 fps faster than last years Sony A series or the Nikon 800 series. But keep in mind that the new Nikon D500 is 10 fps and the Fuji X-T2 is 8 fps. Yes, I know these last two cameras are APSC cameras but if you look at the resolution test, especially from the X-T2 (except at extreme ISOs) it is of similar image quality.

Falling Back on the Lenses

Well, of course, the fall back here is the lenses are excellent and the lens stable is large, after all, you date your camera but marry your lenses. What could be better than shooting on Canon lenses, they have great glass? It is really more important to have good glass than anything else. So let us look at two trusted lens testing sights for an evaluation of prime lenses.

Although some of the sites have not caught up to the new lenses that have been produced over the last few years, it does seem the Canon lens are not testing as well as other brands.

How About Cost and Weight?

Well in this regard the comparisons show that the Canon kit might be the cheapest full frame kit but only by a few hundred dollars over the Sony kit. When you are spending this much money to go full frame the difference is meaningless. Especially when the Sony kit contains a better camera and some of the best glass on the market. If you are going to go full frame it would make no sense to keep investing in a new Canon camera.
If you are going to travel given the extremely high quality of the Fuji lenses it might make some sense to look at this kit, after all, the weight and price are half that of a full frame camera! A little googling will come up with a plethora of full frame pros that have gone Fuji especially for field work.

Side by Side Comparision

Here all three cameras in the same order as above with a 35mm lens attached.

Conclusion

Given the quality of the lenses, the low level of camera innovation and the quality all round compared to other choices, it would make some sense to liquidate a Canon system before the news gets around, that even Nikon is out producing better lenses and cameras. 

The good news is glass retains a high degree of value and the cost of moving over to another full frame system might be around 40% of what it might costs if you sell off your camera and lenses. Given how far ahead the mirrorless cameras are now it might make a lot of sense to buy into a mirrorless system and really there are only two choices here, Sony full frame A7 series or the Fujifilm APSC X series. 

Sony provides excellent choices of three full frame mirrorless cameras the A7S II which is the best low light camera on the market and a favourite of the video world; the A7II a 24 megapixel all purpose camera; and the world's most advanced high-resolution full frame camera the A7R II with a 42-megapixel sensor. All at prices below those of equivalent DSLRs. Not to mention the ability to use their new G master lens calibrated to a quality well above any current full frame lens or the stable of superb Zeiss Batis lenses specifically designed for the Sony A7 series.

Now if you were considering a Fuji system, which many full frame photographers are moving to because of the extremely high quality of the lenses and the X-Tran sensor which gives a boost to your resolution, then you might be able to almost do this for free. The quality of Fujifilm lenses is their best-kept secret and in most cases can run rings around the quality of full frame pro lenses.
One final note if you want to hedge you bet a simple Metabones Adaptor would allow you to keep using your Canon lenses while you explore a Sony Camera.

Canon EF Lens to E mount Smart Adapter (Mark IV)

Links

• In-Depth 5D Mark IV Review -Probably not worth upgrading if you have a 5D Mark III
• Making the Switch from a Canon 5D Mark III to a Sony A7R II
• Why I prefer the Fuji X-T1 to My Nikon D810 (the XT1 has since been replaced by the X-T2 going from 16mp to 24mp)
• Full-Frame Fury: Comparing Canon's 5DS R and Sony's AYR II
• Using Fuji X Lenses vs Canon Full Frame Lenses (the XT1 has since been replaced by the X-T2 going from 16mp to 24mp)
• Long Term Comparison: Fujifilm or Sony: Which is Right for You? 
• The 10 Main Differences Between the Fujifilm X-T2 and the Sony A7 II
• Fuji X-Pro2 vs. Sony A7 II: Noise Comparison
• X-Pro takes on Canon 5D Mark III?

A New Look at Sensor Size

Sensor Sizes Compared

Below I have posted three charts and a table. The first chart compares cameras with APSC size sensors or smaller, in this chart, I assume the APSC sensor is 100% and show how the others compare in terms of the percentage of square mm. The second chart compares full frame cameras sensors to smaller camera sensors assuming the full frame is 100%. The third chart follows the same format but starts with medium format cameras at 100%. The table below the charts has more specific information about cameras sensors, their size and their pixel pitch which has a big impact on image quality (IQ).
For more information on pixel pitch check out my previous post titled "The Great Megapixel Con."  

Links

This is how Fuji's New Medium Format Sensor Stacks Up.

Sensor Size
Digital Camera Database

Musing on a High Quality Pocket Camera

Attempting to get a good camera into your pocket, is the holy grail for a lot of photographers, a second camera that is easy to have with you, when carrying the rig just won't work. Clearly, the best camera with you is the right camera has some real flaws when it comes to actually printing your prize photograph, especially if that camera turns out to be a smartphone. Certainly, a smartphone is all you need for the internet and those prints you pass around or put into your albums. In fact, in today's world, there are few arguments for using a point and shoot as their sensors are almost the same size as an iPhone unless of course, you don't have a smartphone.

No matter how you rationalised it, if you are going beyond an 8x10 print then you are looking at an APSC sensor or larger. Yes, I know there are a lot of people that would argue with this, claiming 4/3 or small can be printed larger than this but there is a real quality issue that is being ignored. So for me, perhaps not you, I look at cameras that have an APSC sensor or larger for my pocketable camera that gets me the quality I need.

So what is out there you ask?

There are a lot of choices of course but if you sift through the reviews carefully and examine the technical specifications. Making sure you are spending your hard earned money on the most current technology, not something that has been marketed for the last four years. Then the field narrows considerably. Clearly, the final selection is my opinion so if you have another camera you swear by please don't take it the wrong way. However, I would say that the top mirrorless cameras at this point in time are made by Fujifilm, Sony and Leica. Keep in mind neither Canon nor Nikon have innovated in this area, so their large cameras are not listed. I have also excluded the Ricoh GR II, because of reviews suggesting soft sides and excessive noise reduction application to files. One other obvious omission is the Sony A6300, a beautiful camera. However, the A6300 uses a full frame mount making the lenses larger than those of the Fuji, and therefore not very pocketable.

Comparison courtesy of CameraSize.com

Fujifilm X-70

The X-70 is perhaps the smallest of all the APSC camera and comes with a 2.8f 28mm equivalent fixed lens. It does in fact easily slip into a jacket pocket and at 16 megapixels will provide you with a fairly good print. One of the compromises, however, used to shrink this camera is the lack of a viewfinder. Fuji does make an X-T2 and X-T10 but when a 35mm equivalent lens is added they are much larger than most of these cameras. I have chosen the 35mm lens as it is a standard lens for street photography and therefore a good way to cross compare camera size. Even if you add the 28mm equivalent to these two cameras neither of them are pocketable.

Comparison courtesy of CameraSize.com

Image courtesy of Tech Toy Review

Image courtesy of Amateur Photographer

Sony RX1 series

The next smallest is a stunning camera the Sony RX1 series, whose most current iteration is the RXIR II which sports a 35mm 2f lens and creates a 43-megapixel file, on a full-size sensor. There is no doubt that this camera's image quality is excellent if not close to a medium format camera. A stunning achievement in such a small package. However, its lens, although rated very well does make the camera larger than the X-70. So not really so easy to put in a jacket pocket on a regular basis. It does have a viewfinder however but it is a pop-up viewfinder, a strange choice and somewhat awkward to use and requires a removable rubber cup. It seems to me it could simply have been built in.

Sony.ca

Leica Q

The Leica Q is a cautious camera at 24 megapixels, it is fitted with a 28mm 1.7f lens, and is a very solid and heavy camera on a full-size sensor. At 24 megapixels the pixel pitch is much better than the Sony or the Fujifilm camera, and should, as a result, render richer picture quality. The lens is also larger than the RX1R II so in terms of pocketability this camera is lens wise and body wish just too big. However, it is a beautiful camera and has some wonderful features.

Image courtesy of Mirrorlessons

Sony A7 series

The A7 series or Alpha series is like the RX1 is also 43 megapixels but unlike the RX1 series is an interchangeable lens camera. Like the RX1 it is a bold and stunning camera whose picture quality rivals that of medium format cameras. Again this camera is simply too big to fit into a coat pocket.

Sony.ca

Conclusion

For me, the only real pocketable camera is the Fujifilm's X70. The other smaller cameras, which all have full-size sensors demand larger lenses, I would say unless there is an optical revolution full-size sensor cameras can never be pocketed because of the size of the lenses needed to make full use of the sensor. Furthermore, there is only one APSC camera on the market that you can slip into the pocket at this point in time, with the exception of the Ricoh and that is the X70.
Now the one disappointment with this camera is it came out at the same time as the X-Pro 2 which now sports the new 24-megapixel sensor, yet the X70 had the 16-megapixel sensor. Clearly, if the X70 had have been outfitted with this sensor it would be flying off the selfs. If Fujifilm married the 24-megapixel camera to this sensor it would be in the pocket of every serious photographer.

If You're OK with a Smaller Sensor

There are some wonderful pocket cameras that will give you very high quality if you are either an internet photographer or print on or below the 8 by 10 size. The one I would recommend for the pocket is the Lumix LX100K. It has a fixed lens but it is a 24-70mm equivalent at 1.7-2.8f, which is a very impressively bright lens. However, its 4/3 sensor is 2/3 the size of the Fujifilm APSC sensor, but it does have a pop-up viewfinder.

Image courtesy of Lens Work Daily

Comparison courtesy of CameraSize.com

Fujifilm X-T2

Today Fujifilm released their long rumoured and anticipated X-T2 moving from 16 megapixels to 24, and with dual SD slots. Having read the reviews the verdict is this is a great camera, perhaps the APSC camera of the year, it may well be more popular than the X-Pro 2 released early this year. This camera is a DSLR killer and the top APSC camera mirrorless camera on the market. There are also some who say moves this camera into the image quality of most full frame cameras. Certainly, if you are upgrading to more professional gear why would you buy a DSLR, you're either going to buy a Fujifilm APSC camera or a Sony Alpha series camera, depending on your budget.
After shooting extensively with the Fujifilm X-T1, Fujifilm X-Pro2 and a Nikon D800e Fujifilm's move from 16-megapixels on the traditional sensor to a 24-megapixel copper substrate sensor made a big difference. The resolution between the Nikon D800e at 36-megapixels and the X-Pro 2 at 24-megapixels on paper seems to differ significantly but when you factor in the Fujifilm lenses which in a lot of cases are sharper to the edge than the professional ED glass made by Nikon, the difference narrows considerably.
So when I look at the full frame Nikon equipment, which is twice as bulky as the Fujifilm gear I am now using the later all of the time. So for me, the new 24-megapixel world of the X-Pro2 and the X-T2 have caused me to finally decide to sell my D800e.

Fujifilm Release

Fujifilm X-T2 release document July 7, 2016. 

Reviews

• Why I Sold my Nikon D5 for a Fujifilm X-T2
• Australian Fujifilm Guys, Leigh Diprose and Warrewyk Williams talk about the stand-out features on the new Fujifilm X-T2.
• B&H Unveiling Video: Fujifilm Enhances Autofocus and Adds 4K to the X-T2. 
• Camera Labs Review and Video “… I’m already very impressed with what I’ve seen and can’t wait to start shooting with it! If it performs as hoped, it will almost certainly find itself in my bag.”
• Ian MacDonald Photography's first impressions of the camera … “I am incredibly happy with my gear pack with [X-Pro2 and X100], but I can say with little hesitation that I think the X-T2 will be Fujifilm’s best-selling camera to date.
• David du Chemin's first impressions.   
• DPReview's first impression of the X-T2 
• Christian Lauder Portraits: Her review concludes "...and where this camera is really exciting me is that I plan to take it with me everywhere now. The size of the Canon has prevented me from taking it with me unless it was really important. And low-end compact cameras never appealed to me as I was compromising on quality. The X-T2, on the other hand, has it all in one neat little package. Really, only time will tell. My days with my Canon could be numbered."
• Fujifilm Rumors Ten things you might have missed today about the X-T2, details with Video. 
• Dan Bailey's review "...the X-T2 is so bad-ass, I don't even know where to begin.
• Damien Lovegrove's review of the of the new X-T2. "I am delighted to say that in my opinion the size and feel of the X-T2 are spot on..... This camera is the camera I've been waiting for and it's a delight to use."
• F16.Click, Kevin Mullins initial thoughts from a UK official X-Photographer.
• John and Jeong comparison between the Fujifilm X-T2 and the Nikon D810. Some inaccuracies due to the lack of grip and firmware upgrades, during the testing.

Kevin Mullins "F16Click" site

Fuji X-Pro 2… Stunning!

March 3, 2016 will likely be the first roll out of the X-Pro2, heralding in a new series of X series cameras. Up until now the X series have been based on a 16 megapixel, X-Trans CMOS II sensor and a stunning range of very high quality lenses. Lenses whose performance out performs many full frame professional lenses. The X-Pro2 makes two large changes to the X line of cameras, first the resolution has moved from 16 to 24 megapixels, but just as important the aluminum substrate on the sensor has been replaced by copper. The increase resolution should have brought with it increased problems with noise and low light capacity, but a quick look at the test comparison shows just the opposite, better low light capacity and lower noise levels! The new copper substrate has pulled of a miracle, and challenged the conventional notions of how low pixel pitch impacts noise.
The X-Trans CMOS III 24 megapixel sensor still uses the unique 6 by 6 colour filter, unlike other camera sensors that use a 2 by 2 bayer colour filter, which when combined with the XF Fuji lenses produces a resolution that rivals Full Frame. Certainly it presents a real challenge to any full frame Nikon or Canon 24 megapixel camera with its superior noise and ISO performance. Especially when the physical package is so much smaller and discrete. Unlike its DSLR equivalents this camera has a number of really advantages beside size. The camera can operate in a completely silent fashion, with absolutely no noise (I mean really no noise at all). It has a jpg engine that is the best in the industry. The hybrid viewfinder, that can be toggled, allows for OVF (optical viewfinder), EVF (electronic view finder) and ERF (electronic rangefinder) viewing. The ERF has a small EVF magnification of the focal point in the lower part of the OVF to allow for accurate manual focus assistance. Lenses that out perform, edge to edge, most full frame high end lenses, especially at low f stops. Most impressive of all is, once you have set up the camera’s defaults, you really can operate the camera from the dial on top and through the read outs on either the display, EVF or Optical Viewfinder. The camera melts into the background as a camera should.
There are lots of other features that make this camera amazing, but I will leave you to explore this in the reviews I have listed below.
There has already been a large migration of professional photographer to the previous X family of cameras, and I think this new camera will accelerate this migration. If you read the threads associated with the reviews they are filled with full frame DSLR users looking for tips on how to sell of their equipment as they go all in with this new camera.
Links:

• Fujifilm X-Pro 2 site
• Dpreview Review
• David duChemin move from Full Frame DSLR to Fuji
• Camera Labs Review
• First Look Review: Fujifilm X-Pro2
• The Camera Store Video Review
• Pete Bridgwood Video Review
• FUJIFILM X-Pro2 winter test video

Sony A7RII Camera of the Year but Should You Buy It?

A Little History

Sony has been innovating with full frame mirrorless cameras since their first initial release of the A7 (24 megapixels) and A7R (36 megapixels) in October of 2013. At the time other than a Leica with a price point well above $5000, this was the cheapest full frame mirrorless camera on the market. Of course these two cameras had their problems with extremely noisy shutters that created camera vibration and a lack lustre stable of lenses. Even so with its more reasonable price and much smaller size and weight some early adopters began moving away from the massive full frame DSLR rigs. On big attraction was the ability to use Leica lenses through the use of a simple adaptor. After all if you could buy a full frame mirrorless with the same specifications as a D800e for less money, then this is a viable option.
Since that time they have produced a number of A7 cameras in rapid succession. First the A7s in April of 2014, a 12 megapixel camera that can almost shoot in the dark with outstanding video quality. This was followed quickly by the update A7II in November of 2014, with the first ever 5 axis sensor shifting image stabilization in a full frame camera, and they fixed the shutter noise. Then in June of 2015, they came out with what will undoubtable be called the camera of the year the A7RII. This camera not only has the 5 axis stabilization, but it has been bumped to 42 megapixels and now has the first ever back illuminated sensor in an interchangeable lens camera. I can also be set to a completely quiet electronic shutter. There is literally no camera on the market as advanced as this camera.

The Reason to Buy

The A7RII now that it is in production and has been review and tested by scores of people is proving to be a monster of a camera. Lets take a look at what you would be getting:

• the camera’s 42.4 megapixel CMOS sensor produces better dynamic range and low noise images than the Canon’s  5Ds high resolution 50 megapixel camera.
• the back illuminated sensor has expanded the dynamic range of the camera beyond that of other interchangeable lens camera.
• low light ISO by .05 stops is better even than the A7s raising the maximum ISO by two stops.
• it has the largest electronic view finder on the market today.
• the shutter is designed for a stunning 500,000 actuations.
• I has the five axis image stabilization on the sensor which means any lens you attach whether it be Sony or not is stabilized. The stabilization boasts a 4.5 stop gain. Reviews have reported a realistic 2 to 2.5 stop advantage over the Nikon D810, and more if the electronic shutter is not engaged.
• the on sensor phase focus system and third party adaptors allow you to use many Canon lenses in fully automatic mode, adapters for Nikon lenses have just been released and of course there is an adaptor for Leica lenses as well.
• the camera has 4k video so you can capture photographic stills from a video, and the video imaging is excellent.
• there is a electronic shutter which can both eliminate vibration and make the camera completely quite when shooting.
• there is no optical low pass filter which gives this camera a significant sharpness boost.
• the new sensor has 399 focal-plan phase – detection auto focus which can shoot at a surprising 5 frames per second, while covering 60% of the frame. This is in addition to its 25 contrast auto focus points.
• the camera is well connected to the the smartphone world with Wi-Fi and NFC that connect to both Android and Apple apps.
• the focus accuracy of the camera is better than any DSLR so far on the market.
• bracketing on this camera is excellent up to 9 images 1 EV or up to 5 images 3 EV, giving it the flexibility not found on other cameras.
• Zeiss is now producing a line of “Batis” lenses specifically for the A7 series of cameras and they are fully integrated with the cameras automatic systems, and are very high quality.
• the weight and size of this camera will allow you to carry for much longer periods of time than a full frame DSLR, not to mention it is more discrete.
• Sony is now manufacturing a line of G lenses which are perhaps better than the Zeiss Batis lenses!
• Most third party lenses can be attached to this camera using converters.

The Reason not to Buy

Nothing is ever perfect so there are some draw backs to the camera which are easily overlooked when such a stunning camera comes onto the market.

• reviewers have reported that is really not a fast camera and that there are sluggish responses in many of its actions including powering up, reviewing images and zooming.
• like many Sony cameras the battery life is very short and will likely mean you need to carry a number of extra batteries. In the field the camera gets 350 shots RAW + JPG. So this is perhaps half that of a DSLR but not a deal breaker, especial when the Sony is so much smaller.
• the menu system is also typical of Sony somewhat unintuitive and more complex than necessary.
• some people who have tested the camera have found the IBIS has completed the process of keeping the sensor clean of dust spots, but for some reason many of the spots can not be removed with a blower or a shaker.
• the video is limited to 8 bit 420 internal and 8 bit 422 external recording so it can not do 10 bit.
• some of the Sony lenses suffer from asymemetry problems, creating blurring in specific spots of the lens. Some reviews suggest that this is due to lapses in quality control.
• if you need a faster camera this is not the camera for you as the increase in dynamic range and low light capacity, that is achieved by replacing the EXMOR RS (stacking sensors) with the EXMOR R (back illuminated sensor), comes at the cost of slowing the camera down to five frames per second.
• the camera has a reasonable feel in the hand but does lack the ergonomics of other full frame cameras and is perhaps more menu oriented than cameras like the Fuji X series.
• other DSLR have extensive third party equipment developed for them and there is an extensive used market for this equipment, this is not the case yet for Sony. So this means you can buy and sell much more easily with other systems.

Travel Considerations

When you consider travelling with the camera on an airplane this focuses you attention sharply on the differences between systems. You are not likely going to check your camera equipment where it can get stolen or damaged through improper handling. So it will be going on the plane with you along with other essentials that can not be checked. At this point you begin to realize that the camera and its associate equipment as a whole is not the same as the size of just the camera and its lens. I think the following quote from Ming Thein, which describes his thinking on this issue, describes very well the thought process photographers go through when travelling:
On top of that, frequent fliers will also be familiar with the eternal problem of airlines and weight – the A7RII and six batteries might not be lighter than a D810 and one [note he is overstating the battery needs and weight], but the Batis 85 is a third of the weight of the Otus 85, and weather sealed (even if the A7RII’s seals appear somewhat questionable). I could carry the 55 FE, 85 Batis and perhaps Voigtlander 180/4 APO together with a Q and have an extremely versatile and high quality travel kit without printing compromises. A D810-based system would require a Zacuto, two Otuses and perhaps a tripod – which raises weight by 2.5-7kg and is the difference between checking in and carrying on only.
Personally my decision on this issue would be different. For one I would want to be travelling with a much smaller package than he is considering and one that is somewhat of less value and easier to conceal. One thing that goes through my mind is what am I prepared to leave behind in my hotel room? The Sony A7RII five axis stabilization comes very close to eliminating the need for a tripod, so this is something to consider when travelling. This coupled with the 35 mm 2.8 lens makes the camera just slightly larger than some APSC cameras. So in some ways it might be an ideal travel camera.

Financial Considerations

The Street Camera Comparison in the chart below looks at the price of “streeting” the leading compact APSC and Full Frame cameras. As you can see from the chart there is quite a range in prices and quality. However with the exception of the X100t and the D810 the cameras seem to all be of a similar size.

Steet Camera Compared

Conclusion

If you own an X100t camera or a Fujifilm APSC camera, or 6000, Leica Q, D800/810 upgrading to the A7RII just to get a smaller street camera would really make no sense. If you are a landscape photographer and own any of these cameras, unless you really need the extreme detail then it really is not worth upgrading. If you need extreme detail and own a D800/810, there is not enough difference in camera IQ to really need to change unless you need really good low light performance or a smaller camera.
So if you always have to have the best and want to stay on the cutting edge of photographic technology then you should be liquidating your camera equipment to invest in this camera. It is time to take the leap. The only caveat I have here is “will another more amazing camera be released tomorrow?”
If you are a landscape or street photographer upgrading to a full frame camera from a APSC DSLR then I think the A7RII would likely be the camera to consider, it is more “streetable,” more advanced and by the time you become comfortable with the camera Leica will have sufficiently closed the gap in the high end lens arena.

Some Links for Further Reading.

Dpreview article on the RAW compression problem

Dpreview Review of A7RII

Why I’m Not Ditching My DSLR for a Sony A7RII

Ming Thein Review of the A7RII

TWIP: All About the Gear Review of the A7RII

Camera Labs Review of the A7RII

Luminous Landscape Review of the A7RII (video)

Ming Thein dislikes the A7rII: “something designed for anoraks by anoraks, not a camera.”

DXOMark A7rII comparisons