Compact System Camera - A New (Future) Breed of Camera

Compact System Camera - A New (Future) Breed of Camera

Thanks to the domination of DSLR from Canon and Nikon in the enthusiastic - professional level camera since the new millennium, Compact System Camera (CSC) was born. Canon and Nikon together they combine about 70-80% of DSLR market share, the high profit margin camera segment. The other brands that can't compete with them need to create a new kind of camera. DSLR has its name on image quality and fast operation and intuitive control. The only downsize of DSLR could be its size and weight as well as their lenses, especially professional lenses (which can weigh up to 2 KG easily). From this point of view company such as Olyumpus, Panasonic knew that there should create the cameras that fill the gap between compact camera (point and shoot) and DSLR.

Olympus and Panasonic (I don't know if they cooperate in invent the new breed of camera) were the first camera makers that release the CSC. They release them in the format call "micro four third camera". This kind of camera contain the image sensor is about half the size of DSLR yet twice or thrice the size of most point and shoot camera. The weight and size is also fall within the gap between those two. When the image sensor is small the lenses that will attach the body and capture the light can also miniature. Combine the body and lenses together these CSC are usually one-third or half weight and size of DSLR.

Since the success of micro four third format introduced by Olympus and Panasonic, now other bigger players also put themselves in this camera segment. Sony release its NEX-system last year with come into success. They sold very well especially in their hometown Japan. This year Sony continue their success with a new line-up of NEX camera. NEX-C3, NEX-5N and NEX-7. These new line of NEX yield better results in already very good image quality in the old NEX-line as well as the feature that incorporate into the camera to make users not hesitate to buy one such as manual lens guidance. The NEX-7 can also be categorize as the new breed of CSC as Sony position this one as the enthusiastic level CSC. The camera that professional wanna take it with them in the light day or casual travel something like that. I heard that this year NEX-line is even successful than last year.

The other players such as Samsung and Nikon also jump in to this market with some difference. Samsung come with their NX-100 and now NX-200 (which both are not selling well I presume) Nikon come with J1 and V1 with the different in their image sensor size. The J1 and V1 come with relatively small image sensor, smaller than micro four third but yet bigger than most point and shoot. From this perspective many users consider the J1 and V1 are not worth enough to spend their fortune on them. Actually the price of J1 and V1 are so high that they can buy other brand with some option lenses such as Sony NEX-5N with 2 lenses that also cost less.

The only major drawback of CSC in the meantime (Dec 2011) is that the lenses to be accompany with the body are kind of limit. The lenses from Olympus and Panasonic which enter the market prior Sony and Olympus are considered to have the sufficient range of lenses. However, compare to DSLR lens from Canon and Nikon, their lenses are outnumbered. Canon alone offer 60 plus lenses from very wide angle lenses to super-zoom lenses compare to Panasonic and Olympus that combine for only 30-40 lenses if I not recall wrong. This drawback go deeper with Sony. Although their NEX-series contain a superb image sensors, the lenses that can maximize its their potential is very limit or should I say there are only one! (Carl Zeiss 24 1.8).

The next year (2012) I think it will be CSC year. As Sony will continue releasing their new line of lens (including pro lenses) and maybe a full frame CSC camera (which I think if they can make one it will be a leapfrog in camera market). Panasonic and Olympus release the wider range of camera such as Panasonic-GX1 that focus on enthusiastic users. Not to forget Samsung and Nikon whether what the hide on their sleeves and of course, Canon the biggest camera manufacturer in the world that hasn't come into this market yet but I'm sure they are planning on a big-hit thing.

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