Sony Forges Ahead As Competitors Fuddle With Tiny Sensors

Rumors are rife that Fujifilm is planning to introduce the X10, a baby brother to the X100 but using a tiny 2/3-in. image sensor. The X10 will compete directly with the Canon G12 and Panasonic LX5. Two other cameras are planned: a long zoom fixed lens with a large sensor (APS-C or 4/3) and a mirrorless DSLR with a 4/3 sensor. Further ahead, the X300 will be a X100 but with interchangeable lens.

Meanwhile Sony is forging ahead with using a large APS-C sensor in its cameras, pushing the image quality envelope as far as it can. Its most popular compact mirrorless DSLR, the NEX-5 is already marked as discontinued as Sony gets ready to introduce the NEX-7 with a whopping 24.3MP resolution, ISO range of 100-16000, 3.0-in. (921k-dot) LCD, XGA OLED viewfinder, Continuous Shooting of 10fps and further improved startup time and AF speed. If we were all won over by the incredible low light capability of the NEX-5 sensor, what exciting sensor development does the NEX-7 reserve for us? The NEX-5N specs are also interesting, and the A77 is poised to raise the bar for all DSLRs. [It’s interesting to wonder how much, if any, of the Minolta DNA is in the new cameras.]

Instead of going backwards with using tiny sensors, the traditional camera manufacturers should be considering that it is probably only a matter of time before Sony gets a full-frame sensor into its digital cameras. Leica has showed us that there is no more technological hurdles to prevent that and apparently its new mirrorless will also use an APS-C sensor. In this competition, it’s a bit like watching a bicycle race and, as the riders take the bend, it is clear who are leading the peloton.

via Photo Rumors