One of the most interesting products that Nikon unveiled last week at CES was its KeyMission 360 activity camera. Although this isn’t the first time that the company has delved into products for adventurous consumers, it is their first entry into the action camera market.

However, unlike most of its competitors, the KeyMission 360 takes the action camera proposition a notch higher by allowing users to record content 360 degrees, which is great for viewing using VR devices like Google’s Cardboard or the Oculus Rift.

The device is waterproof up to 100 ft and is shockproof from heights up to 6.6 feet. The camera has a square form factor but features recessed portions and a lens that is placed at the center of the body. Just like other action cameras, the KeyMission 360 can be mounted on various devices including helmets, backpacks and other surface (though we suppose a special mount is needed to do this).

At the moment, Nikon hasn’t provided a lot of information about the device including its price, availability and its specs.  

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Sony has recently announced a new entry-level DSLR camera that promises fast focusing speeds thanks to what it calls 4D focusing technology.

The new Sony A68 sports a 24MP APS-C sensor that can go with lens from the company A-mount line. The camera’s sensor has 79 autofocus points which when combined with its translucent mirror provides continuous autofocus tracking at up to 8fps.

Sony has installed a 2.7-inch TFT LCD screen that tilts 135 degrees upwards and 55 degrees down. The camera also has an ISO range that goes up to 25600 and supports video recording up to 1080p.

The Sony A68 will be available Q1 2016 with a price tag of $650 for the body only. 

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The action camera market is really picking up. The once small niche market of waterproof and shockproof video recording devices is now a booming industry that a lot of manufacturers are trying to take advantage of. In fact, this niche is now starting to branch out as new types of action cameras are now being introduced.

One startup that’s trying to catch the wave is the GoFish cam, which recently received full backing on Kickstarter. The GoFish cam is a patent-pending underwater action camera that’s meant to provide anglers with an underwater shot of their catch.

The camera is capable of capturing Full HD videos and comes with a 170-degree wide-angle lens to allow for maximum coverage. It also comes with night vision capabilities which makes it handy even for anglers who fish at night. The GoFish cam is capable of going underwater up to 150 meters thanks to its tough armor casing.

The GoFish cam has also been designed in order to reduce wobble offering a stabilized video regardless if it’s trolling, cast-and-retrieve or bottom fishing. The battery on the device is said to last up to 4 hours and is recharged using a mini USB cable. It also comes with a built-in microphone and can store videos via a microSD card.

Finally, the camera comes with a companion app which provides users with a simple user interface to edit and share their captured videos through the internet. According to the company’s page on Kickstarter, they’re expecting to ship the product hopefully before mid-2016. The GoFish Cam is available for pre-order for $115, and will retail at $170.00 after the Kickstarter campaign.

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Canon has just unveiled a new type of camera that can potentially bring photography to new heights. The company’s new ME-20F-SH is a full-frame camera with a sensor whose pixels are arranged over a 19µm square giving the camera superb performance in low-light conditions.

To be more precise, the camera’s ISO range tops at 4,000,000. Yep, you read it right, six zeros, which is exceptionally higher even compared to high-end models currently in the market. This means that the ME-20F-SH will be capable of capturing images and videos even in conditions with only 0.005 lux of brightness (that’s like shooting on a clear night with no moon).

Design-wise, the camera looks pretty unconventional in contrast to typical DSLR and compact system cameras in the market. The ME-20F-SH look boxy though it contains an impressive slew of features and ports including HDMI, a 2.5mm stereo mini-jack and a round 8-pin RS-422 jack.

Luckily, the camera works well with Canon’s SLR and EOS lines, which further extends the night-time performance of the camera by coupling the device with different types of lenses. Canon is saying the camera is a multi-purpose one but it will likely be used in certain niches like night-time surveillance and wildlife photography among others.

The Canon ME-20F-SH will be available starting this December for a cool $30,000.

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Panasonic has just announced two new cameras this week as an update to its GX and FZ camera line. The GX8 will be replacing the outgoing GX7 from two years ago while the FZ3000 will succeed the FZ1000 from last year.

The Lumix GX8 will be Panasonic’s flagship compact camera system and features a 20.3MP Digital Live MOS Sensor that works with a Venus Engine imaging processor. The camera’s ISO range goes up to 25,600 and supports 4K video recording both at 24fps and 30fps.

It also has a dual image stabilizer, features high-speed burst shooting modes at 8fps and 6ps, NFC and Wi-Fi connectivity. The camera also comes with a 3-inch LCD monitor that swings outward and swivels to give photographers more flexibility. And just like the GX7, this model also packs an articulating electronic viewfinder.

The GX8 will come in either black of silver and will be available in August for around $1200 body only.

Now, for those looking for a camera with more serious zoom power, Panasonic’s FZ3000 might be the one for you. The camera has a 24x optical zoom and is capable of capturing 4K video at both 24fps and 30fps.

At the heart of the FZ3000 is a 12.1MP high sensitivity MOS sensor with the same Venus Engine image processor as the GX8. The camera’s light sensitivity tops at 6400 ISO and the lens that’s permanently mounted into the FZ3000 is a Leica DC Vario-Elmarit 24mm lens with an f/2.8 aperture.

The Panasonic Lumix FZ3000 will be available by October for around $600.  

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Fujifilm released this week an update to its 2014 premium interchangeable camera lens model – the X-T1. For its 2015 model, the Japanese manufacturer has decided to add an extra digit in the model number and a number of new improvements to the already impressive specs of the outgoing model.

Just like its predecessor, the X-T10 sports premium styling and materials including die-cut magnesium parts and precision-milled aluminium dials. There’s also a 3-inch 920k-dot LCD monitor at the back that can be adjusted for improved shooting flexibility. There’s also a pop-up flash located at the center of the top plate and features a Super Intelligent flash that automatically adjusts light output according to the scene type.

The X-T10 also features a real-time view finder that displays images at 0.62x magnification and 0.005 seconds lag time, thanks to its 2.36 million-dot organic EL screen.

As for the internals, the camera is packing a 16MP APS-C X-Trans CMOS II sensor and is complimented by an EXR II image processor and a high-performance Fujinon X-mount lens. The X-T10 also features a new autofocus system comprised of a standard 49-point single point mode for high-speed focusing and a new Wide/Tracking mode that uses a 77-point area.

Moreover, the camera uses Eye Detection AF that allows the device to automatically detect and focus on human eyes. Naturally, Fujifilm has added a number of software-based photo-enhancers and modes including Film Simulation mode and a variety of filters.

There’s no word yet on availability, but it’s likely to follow in the footsteps of its predecessor in terms of pricing, which is around $1300 during launch.

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Sony has recently announced a new camera that borrows a couple of features from some of its top-tier models. The new HX90V is a compact camera that offers entry-level to mid-range pricing with some of the features you’ll find from its more expensive alpha and RX models.

The HX90V comes with an 18.2MP Exmor R CMOS sensor that’s coupled with a BIONZ image processor and a 30x optical zoom lens. There’s also a 5-axis Optical image stabilization just like in the new A7 II full frame ILC that was launched just a few months ago.

Sony has rigged the HX90V with a 921k-dot LCD panel that can tilt for 180 degrees, which means taking selfies will be very convenient. There’s also a pop-up flash, Wi-Fi, NFC for pairing with devices and a retractable OLED Tru-Finder EVF.

Furthermore, the camera is also equipped with built-in GPS for automatic tagging of photos and videos, Full HD video recording, adjustable dials and customizable control rings.

Sony will offer the HX90V starting in June for $430. For a few dollars less, the smaller camera – the WX500 can be had for just $330, though this model doesn’t have the retractable EVF.

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