As photographers, we are often interested in knowing the gear a person is using. Which sensor does one rely on? What lens did this person use to get that stunning portrait? Or what was the setting to capture raindrops or thunderstorms with an APS-C camera? We understand the importance of being up-to-date about gear, and we have been finding ways to help you with that. However, we are also taking an extra step to reveal which cameras photographers are looking for more so now. Here is a quick look at the top five.
Google Trends often keeps changing. However, we have often seen certain names repeatedly pop up in the past week. They come and go like a breeze. Here is a quick look at the stats we found:
Canon G7 X
This is one of the compact cameras from 2014 that people are gradually picking up again. Some are looking for the original G7X, while others want its latest successor, the G7 Mk III. The G7X houses a 20MP 1-inch CMOS sensor that can record 12-bit RAW and Full HD video at 60fps. It comes with a 24-100mm equivalent lens, a pop-up flash, an LCD, and focus peaking. What we liked about the camera was the experience, compactness, controls, and great WiFi abilities. The battery life is incredible, the autofocus is good, and the camera produces exceptional JPEG files. Plus, the images will be very different than what you shoot on your phone.
Sony A5100
Sony also makes popular cameras, with a6400 and a6700 often getting a lot of attention. However, in the past week, we noticed the a5100 making headlines, and we aren’t really surprised. The camera has the compact design of the Sony a5000, while its 24.3MP sensor is like the Sony a6000. It offers 179-point phase-detect autofocusing points, a 3-inch 921.6k-dot LCD, a pop-up flash, a zoom lever, and ISO up to 25,600. What we liked about the camera is its RAW file flexibility, low-light performance up to 6400, image quality, and autofocus. But the challenge is the battery, which only lasts about four to five hours, while the build is plastic-like.
Nikon Coolpix AW100
Back in 2011, Nikon introduced waterproof cameras, with the Nikon Coolpix AW100 being one such rugged offering. It has a 16MP sensor, is waterproof up to 10m (33ft), and is drop-proof from 1.5m (5ft). The camera also has an in-built GPS and a maximum ISO of 3200. The device comes with a 28-140mm 35mm equivalent lens as well as vibration reduction (VR) technology. The camera records Full HD videos and is designed for adventure and outdoor photographers. Since we haven’t reviewed this, we can’t recommend that you buy it.
Panasonic GF-1
The Panasonic GF-1 features a 12MP sensor, like the G1, and comes with full HD recording with AVCHD Lite format. There is an optional hot-shoe mount, a 3-inch LCD, ISO up to 3200, and a 3fps continuous shooting mode. The camera feels and is designed like a Leica, and also features a quick autofocus, which is speedy and reliable. The only problem we had was the dynamic range, which is not too much in the files. Similarly, one will face the challenge with high ISO.
Fujifilm GFX 100S II
It was really surprising to see a medium format camera amidst small sensor cameras. The Fujifilm GFX 100S II features a 100MP sensor, a 3.2-inch 2,360,000-dot LCD, and ISO up to 102,400. The camera has 8-stop IS, 425 autofocus points, and a 5,760,000-dot electronic viewfinder. The biggest difference between GFX 100 and the 100S is the scene detection, which is better in the latter camera. The camera offers good image quality, better scene detection, and weather resistance. However, the high ISO output is lacking. We believe some professionals may be looking into it because of tariffs, which will increase the prices of cameras very soon.
