DxOmark (Click here) tested the Sony NEX-5R sensor and it will not be a surprise for anyone here that it got the same score as the previous NEX-5n cameras (78 vs 77 points). So the real question is, will you spend hundreds of dollars/euro more to buy the NEX-5R? The answer seems to be no! Currently the NEX-5n is the most sold camera at Amazon US (ranking here),

Interesting is also the note they added when comparing the NEX-5R with the Olympus E-M5. basically the performance is the same. The real difference and reason why the NEX scores better is that it has ISO 100!

It’s time for a focus on the new Fuji X-E1 that is being delivered in these days in EU and US too.

EVF videos:
You really have to check out the video posted by Apw100 on youtube. It shows you the performance of the new X-E1. Let’s see if you will still miss the hybrid viewfinder of the X PRO 1 after watching these :)

X-E1 against the rest of the world (on par with FF DSLR?):
The Spanish friends from DSLRmagazine (translation here) compared the image quality of the new X-E1 against the Full Frame Nikon D600 and Canon 5DmarkIII. Just check out the comparison image (Click here). And guess what? The Fuji is pretty damn close to both of them!
Also the Chinese website pcpop.com posted some comparisons:
Here you can see the comparison between the X-PRO1, X-E1 and NEX-7 (see the pictures here).
The next comparison is between the X-E1 and the D600. Take a look at the JPEGs of these cameras (click here).

The X-E1 in Stock status:
Europe at Amazon UK, Amazon DE and of course on eBay (Click here to see auctions).
USA at Amazon US (overpriced via third party reseller) and via worldwide eBay stores.

X PRO 1 with Minolta lens test:
There is one more interesting news to report. If you want to see how good Minolta lens will work on your X camera than check out this post on Fujirumors!

Model Shoot at San Francisco’s Fairmont Hotel with the Sony NEX-VG900 from HDVP Magazine on Vimeo.

Samsung NX1000 First Look Review (Digitalcamerareview).
Sigma P2 Merrill Field Report (Outbackphoto).
Samsung prices new NX-mount lenses (Imaging Resource).
Lomography X-Pro Sunset Strip 100 Film Au Naturel (ThePhoBlographer).
EOS-M test at Itmedia (translation here) and Mobile01 (translation here) and DC.watch (translation here).
EOS M + Color-Skopar X 50mm F2.8 at DC.watch (translation here).
Canon EOS-M review at DC.watch (translation here).

New Gariz case for the E-PM2 (CLick here), for the E-PL5 (Click here) and new full case for the X-E1 (Click here).

Steve Huff spotted the first Leica M image samples you see here at HKLFC. There are many portrait images taken with the Noctilux at f/1.0 apetrure. Some of the images are taken at High ISO (up to ISO 2000). All looks very clean but we really need to see some full size samples to get a more accurate idea.

As you know the camera will ship in February and preorders can be taken at BHphoto (Click here),

The EOS-M is now shipping in every country and reviewers testing the camera do share the same impressions.

Shawn Low from Cnet Asia posted a full EOS-M review: “We were impressed by the EOS M’s excellent low-light performance and fluid touchscreen interface, but were let down by its slow autofocus performance–a factor which prevented us from awarding it with our Editors’ Choice.“

Roger Cicala from Lensrentals got his first bunch of EOS-M cameras and says about the camera: “This camera gives me great, great image quality in an amazingly small package. Will it replace an OM-D or SLR for my everyday shooting? Absolutely not; its AF is too slow and there aren’t many native lenses yet. “

This is the first Canon mirrorless camera and certainly not a perfect one. But if you can live with the slow AF than this may be the right camera for you. As small as the smallest MFT cameras but with a larger sensor. Not bad. But let’s hope Canon didn’t really mean it when they said that the EVF technology is not that important for their mirrorless system…

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In Europe the EOS-M is massively in Stock (just check slidoo ebay). And also some US stores are selling them (again on slidoo ebay).

Watch the video to see if Kai likes the Canon EOS-M or not! I hope to receive my preorder soon to test it for my own too. And Digitalrev ishaving the camera in Stock and ready to ship worldwide (Click here).

Luminous Landscape (Click here) published the full Fuji X-E1 review. And they like the camera a lot: “So there you have it.  A really serious mirrorless system camera from Fuji.  While many will paint it as an ‘X-Pro1-lite’, it’s actually its whole own creature.  Rather than being a step-down second  camera for X-Pro1 owners, I think far more people will find their way into the Fuji system with the X-E1 as their primary tool.  They will then perhaps add an X-Pro1 if they find they want to start move out of the mirrorless ethos and experiment with truly rangefinder-style work.“

The X-E1 has not the fastest AF nor the best EVF quality but it is the image quality that impresses the reviewer: “Let’s get right to the point: the Fuji X-Trans sensor is superb.  I sang its praises thoroughly here in the X-Pro1 review, as have many other serious photographers and reviewers.  In my first round of testing, I found that, with the 35mm f1.4, the X-Pro1’s image quality was competitive to what came out of my Leica M9, save-for colour depth, on which the Leica trumps all other 35mm systems in my experience. We’re talking some pretty seriously high resolution.  Most shooters simply won’t need more.“

By reading their words it sounds like Fuji has for now the most “serious” mirrorless system on market. At least until Fuji or Sony will launch their FF systems… :)

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Preorders:
Black Fuji X-E1 at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
Silver Fuji X-E1 at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
Black Fuji X-E1 with 18-55mm lens at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
Silver Fuji X-E1 with 18-55mm lens at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
Fuji 14mm f/2.8 lens at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
Fuji 18-55mm f/2.8-4.0 OIS lens at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).