The Fuji X-S1 was just reviewed at Neocamera. This is the new flagship ultra-zoom from Fuji using their latest technologies include a larger-than-usual 12 megapixels EXR BSI-CMOS sensor and an awesome mechanical 26X ultra-wide-angle optical zoom lens. It includes a complete set of manual controls, including PASM exposure modes, custom white-balance with fine-tuning, fly-by-wire manual focusing, a hot-shoe and RAW file support.

Read on to find out all the details. This review includes plenty of samples and our recurring comparison across camera types to check the state of the art between DSLRs and advanced fixed-lens cameras.

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The premium Fuji Finepix X10 was just reviewed at Neocamera. This is an advanced compact with a full complement of manual controls, dual control-dials, an optical viewfinder, a hot-shoe and RAW capability.  Its stand out feature though is a unique mechanical lens with a bright F/2 maximum aperture. The lens actually covers a 4X optical zoom range, equivalent to a 28-112mm F/2 – 2.8 lens in 35mm terms.

This digital camera has very few serious competitors and is aimed at advanced users looking for efficient photographic controls in a compact size. It is a worthy contender for those looking to upgrade from a point-and-shoot but not wanting the bulk of a DSLR or for existing DSLR users who need something smaller on occasions but really do not want to abandon manual controls. Its classic styling and number controls make being creative with it quick and easy.

The mechanical lens which doubles as a power button is actually a pleasure to use. I’ve always had an affinity for mechanical lenses and the Fuji X10 proved it once again. This design allows perfectly accurate framing when used with the 100% coverage LCD which is critical to produce images with the most impact. Remember, if there is one factor which goes beyond all others to define an image, it is its framing!

Read the detailed review to find out how the Fuji Finepix X10 performs.

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Today, Canon unveiled the Powershot  G1 X. This premium compact is based on the G-series design of advanced photographic controls but puts the bulk of that camera to good  use by fitting it with a 14 megapixels 1.5″ CMOS sensor. This is between the size of a cropped-sensor DSLR and Micro Four-Thirds SLD.  Matched with the new sensor is a wide-angle 4X optical zoom lens equivalent to 28-112mm, only slightly shorter than one on the G12.

The G1 X has everything expected from an advanced compact, including dual control-dials, full manual controls, manual focus, custom white-balance, bracketing and even a hot-shoe and optical viewfinder. The external design has been slightly simplified compared to the G12 while retaining the traditional mode-dial and exposure-compensation dial.

Canon is setting the suggested retain price of the G1 X to $799 USD which significantly undercuts the price of the premium fixed-focal-length Fuji Finepix X100, the only true competitor of the G1 X. The growing number of premium compacts is facing even more pressure because of compact SLDs which use similarly-sized sensors  while providing the versatility of interchangeable lenses. The Canon Powershot G1 X is scheduled to be available at the end of next month.

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Fuji took the wraps off today of the long-anticipated Fuji X-Pro1,  their first SLD. This unique mirrorless interchangeable lens camera is based on their premium compact X-series but introduces an entirely different X-Trans CMOS sensor. This new sensor is  APS-C sized, just like mainstream DSLRs with a 1.5X crop factor, but features a randomized arrangement of color-filters to avoid color-moire without using an anti-alias filter. Fuji claims this will let the X-Pro1 out-resolve full-frame DSLRs.

This SLD uses a newly developed all-electronic lens mount called the Fuji X Mount. Simultaneously with the launch of the X-Pro1, they are introducing 3 lenses: XF18mm F/2, XF35mm F/1.4 and XP60mm F/2.4 Macro. While none of these are zooms, Fuji plans to produce 9 lenses by the end of 2013, including zooms and primes as wide as 14mm.

The X-Pro1 features a second generation hybrid EVF, first seen on the Finepix X100, which is large high-precision EVF with 1.4 megapixels which turns into an optical viewfinder with optical magnification between 0.6X and 0.37X, depending on the lens used. The X-Pro is expected to be available February 2012 for an anticipated price of $1700 USD for the body and around $650 for each lens.

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Today Nikon announced the long anticipated successor of the legendary D3. The new Nikon D4 is built around a 16 megapixels full-frame CMOS sensor capable of an unprecedented ISO 204,800! It  can shoot continuous at 11 FPS with Autofocus locked on the first frame or 10 FPS with continuous autofocus from its 51-point Phase-Detect AF system. There is also an all new 3D Matrix metering sensor which measures 91,000 pixels to evaluate the scene.

The D4 is  dubbed a multimedia DSLR and brings video capabilites not seen among any other digital camera on the market. Full 1080p HD video capture is supported with manual controls and stereo sound input. Additionally a headphone output jack is provided to monitor  recorded audio.  While the D4 saves video in Quicktime files with the H.264 codec it can output full uncompressed HD video to HDMI in realtime, allowing an external  recording  device to record each frame with perfect clarity.

The D4 features all functions expected from a top-of-the-line DSLR including full manual controls, custom white-balance with 4 memories, 4 kinds of bracketing, timelapse capture and playback, mirror lock up (MLU) and a large 100% coverage viewfinder. Being a large full-frame DSLR, this one has dual control-dials and joysticks on both its horizontal and vertical grip.

The Nikon D4 is the first camera to support XQD memory while also supporting Compact Flash Type I cards. This new type of memory promises much faster transfer rates and capacities exceeded 2 TB. There is also an Ethernet port to offload images. In order to work better in the dark, the D4 features illuminated buttons and 2 backlit status displays.

Along side the D4, Nikon introduced a  Nikkor AF-S 85mm F/1.8G lens, suitable for portraits and closeups  with a full-frame camera. This one has a built-in internal supersonic autofocus motor and  full-time manual focus ring. This lens ships next month for a moderate $499 USD.

The Nikon D4 is also  scheduled to be available at the end of next month but for the price of  $6000 USD. Adorama is already accepting pre-orders and will not charge your card until the D4 is shipped to you.

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