Want to see exactly what the new Sony NEX-6 compact system camera looks like in the flesh?

Check out our hands-on gallery of photos of the Sony NEX-6 mirrorless camera and the innovative 16-50mm Power Zoom lens.

The Sony NEX-6 is a new enthusiast compact system camera. The NEX-6 features a 16.1 megapixel Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor, ISO 100-25600, Fast Hybrid AF for optimal fast and precise autofocus, 10fps burst shooting with continuous focusing, XGA OLED Tru-Finder, wi-fi connectivity, PlayMemories Camera Apps, a built-in flash and new Multi Interface Shoe. The Sony NEX-6 will be available from mid-November 2012 priced at around £710 body only, £830 with the new 16-50mm Power Zoom lens, and £1030 with the 16-50mm Power Zoom and the 55-210mm lenses.

The SELP1650 is an extremely light, compact 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 powered zoom lens, priced at £310 / $350. The SEL35F18 is a fast 35mm prime / fixed focal length lens with a bright maximum aperture of F1.8, costing £400 / $450. The SEL1018 is a super-wide angle zoom with a maximum aperture of F4 right across its 10-18mm range, retailing for £750 / $850. All three new lenses have Optical SteadyShot image stabilisation built-in.

The Pentax Q10 is a tiny, raw-capable compact system camera featuring a new, 12.4-megapixel BSI CMOS sensor, improved AF operation, Shake Reduction and a Full HD movie-recording function. Other highlights include 5fps continuous shooting (for up to five JPEGs), a small built-in auto flash with a guide number of 7 (in metres at ISO 200), an easy-to-access Quick Dial to simplify the application of creative visual effects, a three-inch LCD screen with a resolution of 460,000 dots and a sensor dust buster that incorporates a supersonic vibration mechanism. The Pentax Q10 will be available from early October in white, black and red. The single-lens kit (with the 5-15mm lens) will cost £379.99/$599.95, while the double-zoom kit (which also includes the new 15-45mm lens) will retail for £539.99.

Fuji has posted 24 full-resolution sample photos captured with the new Fujifilm X-E1 compact system camera. Taken with the XF18mm f/2 R, XF35mm f/1.4 R and XF60mm f/2.4 R Macro lenses, the Fujifilm X-E1 samples were shot at low to medium sensitivity settings (ISO 200/24° through ISO 800/30°), and depict a variety of subjects including animals, people, city- and streetscapes, architecture, and more.

Website: Fujifilm

The Fujifilm X-E1 is a sixteen-megapixel compact system camera with a 2.36-million-dot EVF, fast auto-focus and a built-in flash. Other highlights include in-camera raw conversion, a range of film simulation modes, multiple exposure and panoramic shooting modes, a number of auto bracketing options and Full HD video recording capabilities. Featuring the same Fujinon XF lens X mount as the X-Pro 1, the Fujifilm X-E1 is compatible with the 3 existing XF lenses available, with 2 more arriving this year and 5 further additions in 2013. In the US, the Fujifilm X-E1 will be available in November for around $1,000 (body only) and ~$1,400 in a kit with the new 18-55mm f/2.8-4 OIS lens. In the UK the Fujifilm X-E1 will cost £749.00 body only and will be on sale at the end of October.

Fujifilm has announced a firmware update for the Fujifilm X-Pro1 compact system camera. Version 2.00 promises a “significant improvement” in auto focus speeds in challenging lighting conditions, and also makes it easier to focus the camera manually. The firmware upgrade also enables the Fujifilm X-Pro1 to “write to memory card twice as fast as before.” Firmware Version 2.00 will be available to download on 18th September.

At Photokina 2012, Olympus will be challenging visitors to directly compare their own digital SLRs against the Olympus OM-D E-M5 in a low-light shoot-off. At the Olympus booth - Stand A11-B10 in Hall 2.2 - visitors will have a chance to put their camera’s picture quality to the test by pitting their own dSLR against an OM-D in the hands of a professional photographer. A model will pose for pictures taken by the public and the resident professional. A0-sized prints will show how well the OM-D E-M5 measures up. Other booth highlights include professional video making in the Audio Lounge and a Hello Terminal where you can have your picture taken against a backdrop.

If you can’t wait until Photokina, check out our own Olympus OM-D vs. Nikon D7000 head-to-head review!

Want to see exactly what the new Sony NEX-5R digital camera looks like in the flesh?

The NEX-5R launches in October and replaces the NEX-5N, which is now discontinued. The NEX-5 series accounts for around 70% of NEX sales in the UK, so a lot is expected of the new 5R with Christmas just around the corner.

The Sony NEX-5R is a new compact system camera with Fast Hybrid AF, Wi-Fi and PlayMemories Camera Apps. The NEX-5R offers 16.1 effective megapixels, DSLR-like AF tracking for shooting at up to 10fps, built-in Wi-Fi with PlayMemories Camera Apps, and a 180° tiltable LCD touchscreen. The Sony NEX-5R compact system camera is available in the UK from mid-October 2012 in silver, black or white for around £670 with the 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 OSS kit lens. In the US, the camera body will be available for around $650, and the NEX-5R+18-55mm lens kit will retail for ~$750.

PlayMemories Camera Apps is the world’s first application download service for cameras. It initially lets you install extra functions on demand to boost the capabilities of the new NEX-5R compact system camera, also announced today. New PlayMemories Camera Apps will be initially available in the UK from October 2012.

Nikon has released a firmware update for two of its 1 System lenses, including the 1 Nikkor VR 10-30mm f/3.5-5.6 L and the 1 NIKKOR VR 30-110mm f/3.8-5.6 L. Version 1.10 adds the following feature: when these lenses are used with Nikon 1 cameras released in, or after, August 2012, the camera can be turned off by locking the lens barrel (retractable lens barrel button), even if the monitor has turned off and the camera has entered standby mode.

Website: 1 NIKKOR VR 10-30mm f/3.5-5.6 L Firmware Update 1.10
Website: 1 NIKKOR VR 30-110mm f/3.8-5.6 L Firmware Update 1.10

The Nikon 1 J2 is a new, 10.1-megapixel compact system camera offering a novel Creative Mode, a metallic body and high-resolution LCD screen. Retaining the headline features of its predecessor, the Nikon 1 J2 comes with a CX-format CMOS sensor, Advanced Hybrid Autofocus system, EXPEED 3 image processing engine, 10fps continuous shooting with AF (and 60fps without), plus Full HD movie recording. Priced at $549.95 including a 10-30mm kit lens, the Nikon 1 J2 will be available in white, black, silver, pink, red and orange starting September 2012.

Pentax Ricoh Imaging Americas have announced that Bloomingdale’s will carry the Marc Newson designed Pentax K-01 compact system camera. Through August and September 2012, the K-01 will be featured for sale in Bloomingdale’s “Check it Out” national catalogue series and will also be available for purchase online. And beginning October 2012, the K-01 will also be available at 11 different Bloomingdale’s locations across the U.S.A.

Nikon has posted firmware updates for the Nikon 1 J1 and Nikon 1 V1 compact system cameras. Version 1.20 (for both models) incorporates the following modifications and fixes:

• The exposure control program used with shooting in Smart Photo Selector mode, or still image shooting mode with Exposure mode set to P Programmed auto or Scene auto selector, has been revised for faster shutter speeds to prevent blurred subjects.
• Auto white balance performance has been increased.
• Exposure accuracy with ISO sensitivity set to Auto 100–3200, Auto 100–800, or Auto 100–400 has been increased with shooting using the optional Speedlight SB-N5 to photograph subjects at close distances.
• The following issues have been resolved.
  - An error message was sometimes displayed during interval timer shooting, preventing capture of the specified number of shots.
  - When the camera was turned on by releasing the retractable lens barrel lock on applicable lenses, there was sometimes a slight delay before the shutter could be released.

Website: Nikon 1 V1 Firmware Update 1.20
Website: Nikon 1 J1 Firmware Update 1.20

Samsung today announced that it is now shipping the Wi-Fi enabled NX1000 compact system camera to retailers across the USA.  The entry-level Samsung NX1000 is a highly portable 20-megapixel camera weighing in at just over 350g with a lens, battery and memory card fitted. In the US, the camera is available in black, white and pink, priced at $699.99 including a 20-50mm lens and external flash.

Read our in-depth review of the Samsung NX1000 compact system camera

Canon Japan has posted 9 sample images and two sample movies captured with the new Canon EOS M compact system camera, Shot at ISO speeds ranging from ISO 100/21° to ISO 400/27°, the Canon EOS M sample photos are provided in JPEG format, at full 18-megapixel resolution (though note that a number of them are currently labelled as “coming soon”). Six of these images were taken using the new EOS M lenses (EF-M 22mm f/2 STM and EF-M 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM), whilst the remaining three were captured with the EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM, EF 50mm f/1.8 II and EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM, The Canon EOS M sample videos were shot in Full HD but are provided at reduced resolution settings (960x540 and 480x270 pixels) only.

Website: Canon EOS M Sample Images & Movies

The Canon EOS M is a new compact system camera with an 18-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor, new EOS M lens mount and a touch-screen interface. Key features include a Full HD Movie mode with Movie Servo AF for continuous focus tracking of moving subjects, manual exposure control, a sensitivity range of ISO 100-6400 (expandable to ISO 12800) for video recording, ISO 100-12800 (expandable to ISO 25600) for still image shooting, Multi-shot Noise Reduction and a 1,040,000-dot, 3.0-inch Clear View LCD monitor II with smudge-resistant coating, multi-touch operation and Touch AF. Other highlights include a flash hot-shoe, stereo microphones, manual audio level adjustment and a Video Snapshot mode with touch-screen editing. The Canon EOS M Digital Camera bundled with the new EF-M 22mm f/2 STM kit lens will be available in October for an estimated retail price of $799.99 / £879.99 /  €1,049.99.

A hands-on preview of the new Panasonic G5 compact system camera.

The Panasonic G5 is a new compact system camera with a Micro Four Thirds lens mount, newly developed 16-megapixel sensor, free-angle LCD screen, redesigned grip and integrated electronic viewfinder. In continuous shooting mode, the Panasonic Lumix G5 can capture full-resolution stills at up to 6 frames per second (fps), with a 20fps burst mode also available at reduced resolution settings. Another novelty is the option to shoot full-resolution photos using a completely silent electronic shutter whenever total discretion is required (users still have the option of using the traditional mechanical shutter if they so desire). The new sensor promises cleaner images at high sensitivity settings up to ISO 12,800. The camera can record videos in Full HD 1080/50p, with outputs in both AVCHD Progressive and MP4 formats. Other highlights include a new Function Lever, an eye proximity sensor and the ability to set the active focus point by touch even when using the EVF for framing your shots. The Panasonic Lumix G5 will be available from mid-August for £599 (body only).