The New Year is here and it is sure to be filled with some incredible moments that you are going to want to memorialize. Of course, these days most people are happy to just take photos and videos with their phones. But for all of those shutterbugs out there who aspire to something a little better, consider these high-end cameras that will help ensure each photo is perfect.
Light: 16 Cameras in One
The Light L16 ($1,699) is a new kind of camera that actually packs 16 individual cameras into its slim pocket-size package. With every shot, 10 of the cameras fire simultaneously so that the L16 can capture details at multiple fixed focal lengths. After the shot is taken, the images are computationally fused to create one high-quality image with up to 52 megapixel resolution. The L16’s image engine also works great in low light settings so photos are always beautifully lit, even as you lose the sun’s natural light.
Polaroid: Instant Gratification Delivered
While the Polaroid Snap ($100) won’t deliver the same high-quality photos as some of these other cameras, it can offer something the others can’t—an instant printed photo. Yes, Polaroid is back to doing what it does best, and it is doing it even better. This 10 megapixel camera uses Zero Ink printing, which requires no ink cartridges, ribbons or toner—and you can continue to shoot new images while a photo is still printing.
Fujifilm: Choose Your Colors
With more than 80 years of photographic film manufacturing experience, Fujifilm knows a little something about color reproduction. Fujifilm’s X-T10 ($699) puts that experience to use via the camera’s 11 Film Simulation options that can be applied post-capture to reproduce warm skin tones, bright blue skies, rich green trees and more. The 16 megapixel camera also offers a Multiple Exposure function which can combine two separate shots into one photo. And amateurs can feel at ease with an auto mode that selects the optimum shooting settings from 58 preset scenes.
Leica: A New View of Photography
Meant for professionals, the Leica SL (Typ 601) ($7,450) is going to put a dent in your bank account, but its features are impressive. This full-frame, mirrorless, interchangeable lens camera that can shoot 11 frames per second is one of the first built for professionals to include an electronic viewfinder. This EyeRes viewfinder has an imperceptible latency time and a resolution of 4.4 million pixels. Furthermore, it will show you exactly how the photo will look—with exposure, depth of focus, and white balance all simulated—before pressing the shutter release.
Sony: Full-Frame in Palm Size
Sony’s RX1R II ($3,300) offers the highest picture quality of any Sony compact camera made to date. This full-frame camera fits in your palm, but packs a 42.4 megapixel sensor and a large aperture, fixed focal length ZEISS Sonnar T* 35mm F2 lens. It also features the first optical variable low pass filter that can be set to “off” (to prioritize image resolution), “high” (to reduce moiré and color artifacts) and “standard” (to balance those priorities). The camera also has a built-in retractable electronic viewfinder.
