Premieres of Photokina-2016: TOP-5 cameras

Nikon KeyMission 170

Nikon's first steps in the production of action cameras came in 2016: at the very beginning of the year, the panoramic camera Nikon KeyMission 360 , and in September, the replenishment of the line was presented in the person of Nikon KeyMission 80 and Nikon KeyMission 170 .

The numbers after the index of the action camera model indicate the viewing angle of its object. So, the lens of the average representative of the ruler captures 170 ° of space in front of itself in its field of view. The maximum optical aperture is f/2.8 — the same characteristics are found in most models of cameras for active shooting GoPro and Sony. The heart of the camcorder is a matrix with a physical size of 1/2.3" and a resolution of 8.3 MP. It opens up features for recording 4K videos at a speed of 25 or 30 fps. In FullHD resolution, the speed increases to 120 fps and a digital stabilization system capable of compensating for camera vibrations and shaking comes to the operator's aid.

The Nikon KeyMission 170 is enclosed in an all-protective rectangular case. According to the manufacturer's assurances, the camera will easily survive falls from a two-metre height, exposure to low temperatures (up to -10 °C) and immersion under water to a depth of 10 m. With the additional purchase of the WP-AA1 cover, the maximum immersion depth can be safely increased to 40 m. A 1.5-inch LCD display will help to be seen in the process of active or extreme shooting, and a complete remote control that connects to the camera via a Bluetooth connection will help to control the camcorder remotely.

Special shooting modes are designed to diversify and decorate the video sequence. These include slow-motion video recording, interval and time-lapse shooting, as well as the ability to save photos during video recording. You can share the footage without leaving the camera — by tying it to a smartphone with the SnapBridge 170/360 preinstalled application, it opens up the possibility of quickly exchanging photos and videos, broadcasting pictures in real time on the gadget screen and editing the captured episodes.

The limiting factor in the acquisition of an action camera can only be the underdevelopment of the accessory park. Nevertheless, we are faced with a practical option for everyday use, which also has a built-in stereo microphone and a removable battery with a capacity of 1050 mAh in its arsenal.

GoPro HERO5

The fifth "hero" from GoPro has been updated both externally and internally: the camcorder for active shooting received a more rounded rubberized body and got an electronic image stabilization system, previously unavailable in the model range of the trendsetter in the production of action cameras.

The redesigned body of the model has dust and water protection according to the IPX8 standard, withstanding immersion under water to a depth of 10 m. Probably that is why the manufacturer decided not to include an underwater box in the delivery package, which simultaneously serves as a protection of the camera from impacts. In which case it can be purchased separately.

The control of the action camera is implemented both using a 2-inch touchscreen display located on the back of the case, and via wireless Wi-Fi and Bluetooth networks. And if you can't free your hands in any way, voice commands will come to the rescue — the camcorder supports 7 language packs "out of the box".

The belonging of the action camera to the top segment is fully confirmed by its video capabilities. The merit of a sharp, clear and saturated picture lies on the shoulders of a 1/2.3-inch sensor with a resolution of 12 MP, which allows you to shoot video in 4K resolution with a frequency of up to 30 fps or FullHD with a recording speed of up to 120 fps. To get a wider dynamic range, you can activate the WDR function (analogous to HDR for photos). By the way, photos are recorded on a memory card in JPG or RAW formats.

Modern fashion trends have been embodied in the use of a USB Type-C port for charging. The battery capacity has also grown (up to 1220 mAh), on one charge of which the action camera is able to record about 2 hours of video in FullHD resolution or 1 hour in 4K shooting format. However, the included GPS module has the property of eating up the battery and reducing the duration of the video recording.

GoPro HERO 5 will allow you to capture moments of active recreation or extreme sports in ultra-high resolution with high detail and smoothness of the video sequence. And the excellent functionality of the camcorder makes it one of the most competitive models on the camera market for active filming.

Panasonic DMC-G80 kit 12-60 Price from 26 390 up to 37 504 ₴ →

A mirrorless mirror that looks more like a DSLR. This is how you can characterize the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G85 (in some regions, the model bears the G80 index), released to replace one of the most affordable options for high-quality 4K video shooting in the face of Panasonic DMC-G7 kit 14-42 Price from 18 987 up to 37 095 ₴.

The increased dimensions of the camera body contributed to the placement of a number of programmable keys on it and a more tenacious grip in the hand. The model is more focused on video shooting, which is subtly hinted at by the presence in its design of a 5-axis matrix image stabilization system that compensates for camera fluctuations in all planes (up-down, left-right and around its own axis). The use of a stabilizer allows in most cases to do without a tripod when shooting.

The camera writes videos in all major formats: from HD (1280x720 pixels with a speed of 60 fps) to 4K (3840x2160 pixels with a speed of up to 30 fps and a bitrate of 100 Mbit/s). But for serious video shooting, its design lacks a port for connecting headphones. The audio input for the microphone is traditionally present.

One of the "buns" of the camera is the function of post—focus images — the ability to select the sharpness zone allows you to focus on the object of shooting after the fact. The specified zone is selected by tapping on the touch rotary display with a resolution of 720x480 pixels. It is also possible to be seen during the shooting process using an electronic viewfinder, which covers 100% of the future frame and has a magnification of 0.74x (against 0.7x for its predecessor).

The list of positive aspects of the camera would be incomplete without mentioning the dust and water protection of the case, which moved to the side of the memory card slot, which opens access to replacing the flash drive when shooting from a tripod, and a wide fleet of interchangeable optics for the Micro 4/3 system. With such a set of advantages, the camera will become a faithful assistant in realizing the creative potential for photo and video lovers.

Olympus OM-D E-M1 II kit 14-42 Price from 122 917 up to 205 510 ₴ →

The new flagship of Olympus was a success. It increasingly focuses on professional video shooting, for which a 5-axis matrix image stabilization system capable of compensating for up to 5.5 exposure steps, as well as a powerful processor that allows you to record a 4K video sequence with a bitrate of up to 236 Mbit/s, have been used in the camera design.

The camera's photo capabilities also do not graze the rear ones. An autofocus system with 121 cross-type points is built right into the 20.4-megapixel Micro 4/3 sensor. Autofocus is controlled by a separate 4-core processor, so that focus is carried out at high speed, and tracking of moving objects is more accurate.

The camera's rate of fire is even more respected: serial shooting in RAW takes place at a speed of 18 fps, and when the focus is locked, this value rises to an impressive 60 fps in full resolution. To turn over such data arrays, it is necessary to stock up on fast SD memory cards, for which two slots are provided in the camera design at once.

Matrix shift technology, first implemented in a camera Olympus OM-D E-M5 II body , opens up features to increase the resolution of images up to 50 MP. To do this, you will need to install the camera on a tripod and take several frames with a sensor shift in a row, which the camera will then automatically combine into one photograph.

Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II fits perfectly in your hand, has in its arsenal a rotating display on all axes and an electronic viewfinder with a high refresh rate (120 fps), and the camera body is reliably protected from dust and moisture ingress. The only fly in the ointment is the lack of a built-in flash. But the package includes an external (Olympus FL-LM3 ), therefore, you will not have to worry about the illumination of scenes during photo and video shooting.

Sony A99 II kit

The second version of the full-frame DSLR {!!! block='price' idgood='215562' !!! it is packed with the most progressive hardware, which opens up wide features in photo and video shooting.

The heart of the camera is a full-frame sensor with a resolution of 42.2 MP, devoid of an antimuar filter in its design. Its absence has a positive effect on the detail of the images. Following modern trends, the camera uses a 5-axis matrix image stabilization system. She can compensate for up to 4.5 exposure steps when shooting with her hands in low-light conditions. The standard sensitivity range of the matrix is 100-25600 ISO units with the possibility of expansion to values from 50 to 102400 units.

There is something to be proud of and the autofocus system, which has received the name 4D Focus. It has 79 points of classical phase autofocus and 399 additional focus points located directly on the camera matrix. Such a set was obtained thanks to the use of a translucent mirror in the design — a proprietary "chip" of all Sony mirrors. Focus is almost lightning fast even in the dark, and moving objects are caught by the focus system very tenaciously and reliably.

A huge bet is made on the video capabilities of the DSLR — it writes videos in a maximum resolution of 3840x2160 pixels with a bitrate of 100 Mbit/s. Recording is carried out in the XAVC S codec, while the S-Log2 and S-Log3 profiles are available to the operator, and it is also possible to output an uncompressed signal with a 4:2:2 colour sampling via HDMI. In addition, the video signal is read from the entire area of the matrix, and if necessary, you can forcibly switch to the Super35 cinematic format, which uses the central part of the sensor (1.8x crop). Professional videographers will definitely like these characteristics.

Sony has been honored with a significant update of its full-frame mirror flagship. In its design, only the touch screen is missing. Putting such a significant drawback aside, the camera can be safely recommended to both advanced amateurs and professionals in the field of creating photo and video content.