The year 2009 is fast becoming the most significant year for cameras, be they compact cameras or DSLRs.
With so many new inventions coming into the market this year, one can be forgiven for wondering if there are still things left to be invented in the year 2010.
What do you think are among the most compelling camera features in the year 2009? I can think of several features, off hand. They are:
1. ISO 102,400
Who can forget the buzz created by Nikon D3s when it was unveiled that the camera is capable of shooting at ISO 102,400, something only left to imagination a as recent as a few months ago. And if you think Canon is letting Nikon pulls away in the race, it too came up with the EOS-1Ds Mark IV with similar ISO ceiling.
2. HD video in DSLRs
HD video in DSLRs is fast becoming a must-have feature rather than a nice-to-have offering, with DSLRs from the higher end to the entry level, offering movie capture. While HD movie offerings in DSLRs are not quite there yet in terms of making DSLRs a true video shooter, it is a nevertheless a very encouraging development.
3. Sony’s Sweep Panorama
This is a Sony-exclusive feature introduced for the first time on board the HX1. The camera shoots full resolution images in rapid succession and stitches the pictures together for a breathtaking panorama picture.
4. The rise of Micro Four-Third camera
This year also saw the rise of Micro Four-Third camera with Olympus E-P1, Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1, G1 and GH1 coming into the market. Micro 4/3rd cameras match DSLR cameras in terms of image quality and ahead of DSLRs in terms of compactness.
5. Pentax K-7
Pentax K-7 is the most feature-rich camera at the most competitive price to date. The only thing letting it down is the complain about slightly noisier images than those taken by its competitors at ISO 1600 and above.
6. Pentax K-x
Of course who can forget the colour which makes the K-x the first camera to offer no less than 100 combinations of body colour. It is also the first Pentax which has the ability to shoot in high ISO, beating even its big brother the K-7.
7. Leica M9
Leica M9 redefines the term “expensive camera” as it redefines image quality and camera beauty. Enough said.
8. Longest zoom of 26x optical
The year 2009 also saw for the first time super zoom compact cameras reaching a whopping 26x optical zoom or a mind-boggling 26-676mm in the form of Olympus SP590UZ.
There… I can think of several more but now is your turn. What are the camera features that impressed you the most this year?
