DL Awards 2015 Nominees: Best Cameras

Digital Life's annual awards for the best gadgets and games of the year is back for the fourth year. Here are the nominees for the 5 camera categories.

Best Overall Camera

Canon EOS 7D Mark II

The original Canon EOS 7D was a cult-classic due to its superb image quality and handling. The Mark II version maintains the status quo with improvements, such as Canon's Dual Pixel CMOS AF technology for fast autofocusing in live-view mode and a new 20.2-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor with a 65-point autofocus system, making it one of the best APS-C DSLR cameras around.

Fujifilm X100T

The X100T does not offer the versatility of mirrorless cameras that allow for lens-swopping. It also comes with manual controls that may not be everyone's cup of tea. But this 35mm fixed lens camera wows with superb image quality, fast autofocusing, compact size, sharp prime lens and great handling, making it a camera that is in a class of its own. It is also ideal for photography purists.

Nikon D4S

It may not offer a big leap in features from Nikon D4, but the D4S is still one of the fastest full-frame DSLR cameras around. Whether you are shooting sports or wildlife, this 16.2-megapixel DSLR's 51 autofocus points are able to get everything sharp in the shortest time and in full-frame glory.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100

For those who want a digital compact camera with manual controls and great image quality, the Lumix DMC-LX100 is probably the best in the market right now.

Despite its compact body, it comes with a 16-megapixel Micro Four Thirds image sensor, which is larger than the sensors found in most prosumer compact cameras. It also has a fast 24-75mm f/1.7-f/2.8 lens.

Sony a7 II

Combine a compact mirrorless camera body with a full-frame CMOS image sensor and you get the a7 II. It features a five-axis image stabilisation system - the first for a full-frame interchangeable lens camera. Priced slightly over $2,000, it is also one of the cheapest full-frame interchangeable lens cameras.

Next: Best Compact Prosumer Camera

Best Compact Prosumer Camera

Fujifilm X30

This camera will appeal to photographers who like the look of the classic rangefinder camera. Inside its beautiful chassis is a 12-megapixel 2/3-inch CMOS sensor, a built-in electronic viewfinder, a 3-inch tiltable display and a fast 28-112mm f/2.0-f/2.8 lens.

Canon PowerShot G7 X

Canon may be a bit late in releasing a compact prosumer with a 1-inch image sensor, but better late than never. The PowerShot G7 X has a 20.2-inch image sensor, a 24-100mm f/1.8-f/2.8 lens and weighs just 304g. It has a fast shooting speed of up to 6.5 frames per second.

Sony Cyber-shot RX100 III

Its predecessor won this category last year and the original RX100 won it the year before. So, will the Mark III version of this highly touted series from Sony score a triple win? Improvements to this 20.1-megapixel shooter include a faster 24-70mm f/1.8-f/2.8 zoom lens and a built-in electronic viewfinder.

Casio Exilim EX-100

A disadvantage of most compact prosumer cameras is their short focal range. This camera bucks the trend by having an impressive 28-300mm telephoto lens with a constant wide aperture of f/2.8 throughout. It features a 12.1-megapixel 1/1.7-inch image sensor and a 3.5-inch tiltable display in a sturdy magnesium body.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100

With a 16-megapixel Micro Four Thirds image sensor and a fast 24-75mm f/1.7-f/2.8 lens, this robustly built prosumer compact camera delivers excellent image quality. It has a built-in electronic viewfinder and handles superbly like a rangefinder camera.

Next: Best Interchangeable Lens Camera (Micro Four Thirds and below)

Best Interchangeable Lens Camera (Micro Four Thirds and Below)

Nikon 1 J4

As tall as an Apple iPhone 4 and just 28.5mm thick, the Nikon 1 J4 is one of the smallest and lightest cameras in its class. Its body weighs only 232g.

Yet its petite anodised aluminium body is sturdy and packs an 18.4-megapixel 1-inch image sensor. It is lightning quick with its ability to shoot up to 20 frames per second.

Olympus OM-D E-M10

However, the 16-megapixel camera possesses 81 contrast autofocusing (AF) points, the same number as its flagship cousin, E-M1. And it costs half the price of the E-M1.

Samsung NX mini

Samsung says this is the smallest and lightest interchangeable lens camera in the world.

The NX mini mirrorless camera is only 22.5mm thick and weighs 158g without battery and memory card. It uses a 20.5-megapixel 1-inch CMOS sensor and is capable of shooting up to six frames per second.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM5

This is the successor to Panasonic's palm-sized mirrorless camera from last year, the Lumix DMC-GM1. The major upgrade in the GM5 is a built-in electronic viewfinder.

It still has the same 16-megapixel Micro Four Thirds image sensor, 3-inch touchscreen display and Wi-Fi connectivity. It has a magnesium alloy body that weighs just 211g.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4

When launched earlier this year, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 was the world's first digital interchangeable lens camera to feature Cinematic 4K (4,096 x 2,160 pixels) video-recording.

This has a higher resolution than normal 4K (3,840 x 2,160 pixels) video-recording. It has a 16-megapixel Micro Four Thirds image sensor and can shoot up to 12 frames per second.

Next: Best Interchangeable Lens Camera (APS-C)

Best Interchangeable Lens Camera (APS-C)

Sony a77 II

This Single Lens Translucent camera uses Sony's proprietary translucent mirror technology to significantly reduce the autofocusing (AF) lag when the display or live view is used during photo-taking.

With its 24.3-megapixel APS-C image sensor, Bionz X image processor and 79 phase-detection AF points, the a77 II is one of the fastest interchangeable lens camera in the market.

Canon EOS 7D Mark II

It is a case of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" with the EOS 7D Mark II DSLR camera.

Instead of introducing a slew of new features, Canon has simply provided solid upgrades to make this camera better than its critically acclaimed predecessor.

This 20.2-megapixel shooter comes with Canon's Dual Pixel CMOS AF technology that allows it to focus rapidly in live-view mode. It also has a 65-point all cross-type AF system for faster and more accurate autofocusing.

Samsung NX1

Samsung's flagship DSLR has an impressive continuous shooting speed of up to 15 frames per second.

It comes with a 28-megapixel APS-C image sensor, an AF system comprising of 205 AF points, and 4K (3,840 x 2,160 pixels) video-recording.

Sony a6000

Styled like a classic rangefinder, this mirrorless camera packs modern features with its 179-point phase-detection AF sensor, 24.3-megapixel APS-C image sensor, Wi-Fi connectivity and Near Field Communication ability. It also claims to have the world's fastest AF system.

Fujifilm X-T1

Made of magnesium alloy and resistant to dust and water with 80 points of weather sealing, the Fujifilm X-T1 is one tough mirrorless camera.

It has a 16.3-megapixel APS-C image sensor and a set of well-implemented manual controls gives it terrific handling.

Next: Best Interchangeable Lens Camera (Full-Frame)

Best Interchangeable Lens Camera (Full-Frame)

Nikon D4S

The D4S packs a 16.2-megapixel full-frame image sensor, a 91,000-pixel metering sensor, a 3.2-inch display and 51 autofocusing points, along with an upgraded Expeed 4 image processor. In other words, the latest guise of Nikon's flagship professional DSLR has upped the ante for the competition with its image quality. It handles superbly too.

Nikon D750

Full-frame cameras seem to be Nikon's forte this year. The D750 is the Japanese imaging giant's third full-frame DSLR this year, boosting the usually quiet market for this type of camera. Sitting between Nikon's entry-level full-frame D610 and mid-range full-frame D810 DSLRs, this 24.3-megapixel shooter provides those upgrading to a full-frame camera with another compelling option to choose from.

Nikon D810

The Nikon D810 is the successor to Nikon's two mid-range full-frame DSLR cameras - the D800 and the D800E. The D800 has an optical low-pass filter which reduces wavy patterns in images, while the D800E does not. The D810 also lacks such a filter, but it includes an alternative method to solve the same issue. Compared with its predecessors, it has a faster shooting rate, a higher resolution LCD screen and a smaller RAW file format.

Sony a7 II

The successor to the Sony a7 full-frame DSLR camera features a five-axis sensor-shift image stabilisation system to further reduce camera shake. It retains the original 24.3-megapixel sensor, but sports a faster autofocusing mechanism and has better build quality.

Sony a7S

With a 12.2-megapixel image sensor, the a7S has the lowest megapixel count in Sony's a7 full-frame mirrorless camera family. However, it is the world's first camera to use the full width of its image sensor for 4K (3,840 x 2,160 pixels) video-recording. Another plus: It is able to shoot at a wide sensitivity range of ISO 50 to 409,600.

All reports by Oo Gin Lee, Sherwin Loh, Trevor Tan, Vincent Chang, Ebel Tang and Joshua Chen. For a chance to win and to vote, go to www.straitstimes.com/2015DigitalLifeAwards

This article was first published on Dec 17 2014.
Get a copy of Digital Life, The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.