CP+ quick camera hands-on

by Shawn Low | 10 February 2012 12:31am SGT

YOKOHAMA, Japan--Every year, thousands make the pilgrimage to the Camera and Photo Imaging Show that happens annually in Yokohama, Japan. Called CP+ in short, the tradeshow is where various camera and lens makers come together to showcase the latest in digital imaging products and technology. We've gone into the thick of the action and came out with five of the most interesting cameras out there. Here are our first impressions.

Pentax K-01

The Pentax K-01. (Credit: Shawn Low/CNET Asia)

First impressions: Initially, it was quite tough for us to take the Pentax K-01 seriously as it looks and feels like a child's toy. It definitely feels bulkier than how it looks in images. However, what impressed us was its relatively fast autofocus speed and the 9.2mm-thin 40mm F2.8 pancake lens. When coupled with the camera's large APS-C sensor, this lens will definitely allow shutterbugs to achieve defocused backgrounds and help isolate your subjects. Despite its less-than-handsome looks, the K-01 can universally adapt most K-mount lenses, which is a bonus if you have a collection of Pentax glass.

Verdict: Skip this if you're looking for a camera that's slim and compact. However, those who want something unique (or odd) or have previously invested in K-mount lenses should give the K-01 a try.

Sony Cyber-shot TX200V

The Sony Cyber-shot TX200V. (Credit: Shawn Low/CNET Asia)

First impressions: Marry function and form and you'll get the TX200V. This Cyber-shot caught our eye with its sleek and polished finish. If you compare it with an ATM card, the TX200V has a footprint that's only slightly larger. Underneath the attractive exterior, it features weather-sealed specifications--such as being waterproof to about 5m as well as dustproof and freezeproof to -10 degrees Celsius. We found its 1.2-million-dot-resolution OLED touchscreen very responsive, allowing us to make selections and swipe through images quickly. Also, its zoom lever that's located at the top-right corner of the snapper makes zooming in and out quite intuitive. However, one of our gripes was that the TX200V's polished surface had the tendency to be a fingerprint magnet, leaving many smudges after each use.

Verdict: We think the Sony Cyber-shot TX200V is a good combination of style and substance with its sleek design and attractive feature set. It's nice that it's weather-sealed, too.

Fujifilm FinePix X-Pro1

The Fujifilm FinePix X-Pro1. (Credit: Shawn Low/CNET Asia)

First impressions: 30 minutes and a 20-person queue later, we finally held the Fujifilm FinePix X-Pro1 in our hands. This interchangeable lens camera (ILC) exudes the charm of a vintage rangefinder camera--with its dedicated dials, painted engravings and faux-leather finish on a magnesium alloy chassis. The hybrid viewfinder was a joy to use, allowing users to preview various color profiles such as Velvia or Provia before actually shooting it. It also has the ability to switch among different magnification settings in the electronic viewfinder, from wide to telephoto perspectives, with a simple flick of the lever (different lenses also bring up different frame boxes when using the optical viewfinder). We like that the 35mm F1.4 and the other X-mount primes came with an aperture ring, which makes it easier to control the lens iris with your left hand, leaving the right hand to shoot.

Verdict: Despite its hefty US$1,700 price tag (body only), we feel that serious enthusiasts would be swayed by the X-Pro1's classic good looks, excellent hybrid viewfinder and a selection of fast primes.

Nikon Coolpix P510

The Nikon Coolpix P510. (Credit: Shawn Low/CNET Asia)

First impressions: The Nikon P510 looks like it means business when its zoom barrel is fully extended, equipping it with a whopping 42x optical zoom range, which roughly translates to 24mm to 1000mm. It sports a glossy finish that we found to be a bit tacky, but the camera feels solid enough to withstand everyday use. We found its megazoom capabilities very versatile and handy for a variety of situations. Nikon has allocated the autofocus function to the left arrow on the four-way directional keypad instead of the typical shutter button which seems more intuitive to us. We expected the camera to give us blurred results when shooting at the telephoto end (1000mm), but managed to get sharp images thanks to the company's Vibration Reduction (VR) image-stabilization technology.

Verdict: The Nikon Coolpix P510's versatile zoom range should appeal to shutterbugs that want a "one-size-fits-all" solution.

Canon PowerShot G1X

The Canon PowerShot G1X. (Credit: Shawn Low/CNET Asia)

First impressions: The PowerShot comes in a matte black finish that gives it an understated, professional feel. We handled it for a bit and found it to have a robust build quality. Also, the attention to detail was impressive. Canon has added knurled metal on the grip for a more secure hold and, to ensure quick adjustments, there are two mode dials located on its top panel. Also, we found that the G1X's fully articulated screen made it easier to capture images at high or low angles. However, its close focusing capabilities were nothing to write home about--the G1X couldn't focus on objects that were closer than 20cm when most good compacts these days reach about 5cm.

Verdict: Despite its less-than-impressive macro capabilities, the G1X's full manual controls and larger sensor (that's slightly bigger than Micro Four Thirds) could satisfy advanced users looking for something smaller than a dSLR.

About the author

Fueled by his passion for all things photography, Shawn decided that a writer's position reviewing cameras is the perfect job.

He now does reviews, how-to guides, and scours far and wide to cover anything camera-related under the sun. When he's not behind the desk, the former freelance photographer enjoys wandering about documenting his life with his beloved medium format film cameras.

The RMIT business graduate ventures to work every day with camera in one hand, and laptop in another, taking over the Internet one review at a time.

Shawn Low, Writer