The Verge - Photokina: all the news from the world's biggest imaging show

How mirrorless camera upstarts are beating the giants at their own game

2012-09-27T15:29:41Z

Mirrorless cameras are a great solution to the biggest problem facing the camera industry — with smartphones obviating the need for dedicated compact cameras, the promise of a huge leap in image quality without the bulk of a DSLR is a compelling one. The numbers back it up, too, with research firm IDC reporting rapid growth for the category; in Japan mirrorless cameras make up around half of all interchangeable-lens camera sales, an undoubtedly worrying figure for traditional DSLR leaders Canon and Nikon. However, the camera makers themselves have often seemed unwilling participants in the revolution, hamstrung by history and an inability to let go of the past.

Full-frame goes mainstream: your next camera's must-have feature

2012-09-26T14:00:13Z

Much has been made of the death of the point-and-shoot camera, obviated by the ubiquity and improving imaging power of the smartphone. At Photokina 2012, there was evidence of that everywhere: only a few entry-level cameras were even announced, and all were afterthoughts displayed off in a remote corner of the companies' giant booths. Some of them even ran Android, if the inspiration wasn't already clear enough.

But the rise of the cameraphone has impacted more than just cheap cameras. It's forced manufacturers to make the case for every product it makes, to convince consumers why it's so much better than a smartphone that it's worth your money. Manufacturers have also turned their attention upward, to products with obvious advantages...

Android, apps, and Wi-Fi: why your next phone may be a camera

2012-09-20T15:00:13Z

Stick with a "tried and trusted" strategy long enough and you're guaranteed to see it fail. In the world of consumer electronics, even brief periods of stagnation can be lethal to a company's wellbeing — just witness the demise of Sony's TV leadership or Nokia's rapid decline from mobile leader to current also-ran.

It's probably not a coincidence that Samsung was the company to supplant both those former greats. The Korean giant, unhindered by any traditions or commitments of its own, has been able to enter these industries with an odd sort of late mover advantage. Learning from the mistakes of those who came before it, Samsung has invested in the right sort of research and development, and exploited a combination of vertical...

Leica M: hands-on photos, video and preview of the $7,000 rangefinder

2012-09-18T09:41:37Z

Like fellow luxury brand Porsche, Leica keeps the design of its products almost painfully uniform across generations. The all-new Leica M, successor to the M9, maintains that tradition faithfully, sticking to a bulky brass and magnesium construction that's as heavy as it is reassuring in the hand. The few external changes you might notice are an enlarged 3-inch 920k-dot LCD on the back, an anonymous button on the front to let you activate Live View Peaking, and a dedicated movie-recording button. Yes, this Leica rangefinder has a Live View mode and 1080p video recording!

Unlike its ascetically restrained external tweaks, Leica has really overhauled the innards of its new M series camera. Gone is the beloved CCD sensor of the M9, to be...

Testing Nikon's first Android camera, the Coolpix S800c

2012-09-18T09:06:41Z

Two companies lead the Android camera charge, and at Photokina in Germany both are going way out of their way to talk about it. Samsung held a press conference nominally to announce two lenses, but mostly to talk about the new Galaxy Camera; Nikon's event introduced no new products but spent a long time telling us about the Coolpix S800c, and why Android is the future for digital cameras.

The S800c piqued our interest perhaps even more than the Galaxy Camera, because it's a much bigger departure for Nikon. Samsung already makes plenty of Android devices, so slapping a big lens on a 4.8-inch Galaxy Player doesn't seem like much of a stretch. Nikon, on the other hand, is a photography behemoth, and we've seen it and its competitors mostly...

Leica shows off Paul Smith-designed X2 limited to 1,500 units

2012-09-18T03:01:39Z

It wouldn't be a day of Leica announcements without an extravagant special edition, and the legendary German camera maker hasn't disappointed. Following the introduction of the new M and M-E, Leica has also unveiled a Paul Smith-designed edition of the X2 premium compact. The fashion designer has decked out the X2 in orange, yellow, and British racing green stripes with a lightbulb engraving on the flash cover, as well as creating a taupe calfskin case and strap for the camera.

We're unconvinced that the gaudy design is altogether appropriate for discreet street photography, but the Leica collectors among us are unlikely to care too much. The Paul Smith edition X2 is limited to 1,500 units, and while there's no word on a date or price...

Leica M-E rangefinder is a refreshed M9 with a bare-bones feature set

2012-09-17T20:06:53Z

Along with the brand-new Leica M, Leica has also announced the M-E, a stripped down rangefinder with familiar parts. Essentially a refresh of the M9, the M-E has the same 18-megapixel full-frame CCD sensor and minimalist design as the older rangefinder. Unlike the new M, the M-E doesn't record video, doesn't offer Live View, and doesn't have a large 3-inch LCD.

Traditional rangefinder shooters will feel right at home with the M-E, though, as it offers familiar manual focusing and exposure features and Leica's signature solid build quality. Leica has added leather trim and improved the camera's grip for better handling, but at its core, the M-E is a purist's camera (or as close to a purist's camera that a digital camera can be). The...

Leica's new M rangefinder features a 24-megapixel, full frame sensor, HD video recording

2012-09-17T19:35:34Z

Leica has just unveiled its new flagship digital rangefinder, the Leica M. The M is the latest version of Leica's venerable rangefinder series, and features an all-new 24-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor, enhanced focusing features, and the ability to record 1080p HD video. Despite the modern improvements, the M still carries the traditional Leica look and feel, and wouldn't look out of place on the shelf of a 1950s camera store.

Leica says that the new sensor was designed from the ground-up for the M and its M- and R-series lenses. Replacing the CCD sensor that was used in the M9, the new Leica Max CMOS chip is said to have the same color characteristics of the old sensor, while providing improved low-light capabilities and better...