The X-T3 has a new backlit sensor with Fujifilm colours and has improved low light performance and the video quality has been improved compared to the previous model, X-T2. One thing I’ve noticed is that in order for you to be able to live share your images you have to shoot both JPEG and RAW. But the jpegs are still so good that they still have so much detail in them especially in the shadows where some details tend to get lost. Don’t get me wrong, RAW files are still better but, in the age where you have to live upload you need a superfast turnaround time and that’s where great jpegs come to play. On burst mode the X-T3 has been claimed to shoot 11 fps and on silent mode 30 fps.

The autofocus on this camera has to be one of my favourite features as its super responsive and adjusts just as quickly because of the face and eye detector focus. The only let down is that the rear screen. This does not flip enough to allow one to vlog without wondering if they’ve cropped off their head or if they’ve zoomed in too much. The X-T3 can shoot 4K, 24 fps at 400mbps. What this means is that the camera is able to absorb so much more information to make grading and additional changes in post so much better. Shooting 4K, 60 fps at 200mbps allows one to get incredible slow-motion footage in 4K. Another great feature is the ability to shoot F-log on the X-T3 as this always gives better room for grading the video in post. Something that could be a letdown is the lack of in body stabilization, this may be a deal breaker to some videographers out there.

All of these features go hand in hand with the new X-Processor 4, a quad-core CPU that promises thrice the speed of its current X series. Then there’s the AF system with 2.16 million phase detection pixel that covers nearly 100% of sensor. This makes it possible to use PDAF even in low light conditions and face-detection on a moving person.

If I were to switch cameras this would definitely be high up there for consideration.

Even with all the external buttons Fujifilm has designed the camera to have them customizable to the user’s satisfaction. I also found that the menu settings do get a bit tricky. But that didn’t bother me too much. The ISO, shutter speed and exposure compensation dials each have a center button that can be pressed to avoid the setting from easily changing while shooting. This model also has dual SD card slots which I’ve noticed to be quite favourable to some photographers, a USB-C port that can be used for either charging, or can allow the camera to be used while plugged in to an external source of power.

A headphone slot has also been included in the body unlike the previous model. The back screen is touchscreen and can be used to focus when recording video or also use It to take an image by touching it for stills. However, one cannot use the touch screen when in the menu function.

One can expect to pay around R25 000 for the body only with additional add-on’s that can be purchased separately. Personally, if I were to switch camera’s this would definitely be high up there for consideration. Getting a well-priced camera with great specs. Another thing I enjoyed most about this camera is the size. This would be great when travelling and it doesn’t feel like you’re trying too hard when its strapped down from your neck.

• Review by Tshego Mmahlatji (@HarmonixEnt), all images featured on this review were shot using the Fujifilm XT-3.

Necessary? Hardly. Interesting? Definitely. The LiPlay has a button dedicated to capturing audio, and when you press it, it’ll record up to 10 seconds of sound. From there, your image will print with QR code on it, which can be scanned with your smartphone to view the image and hear the audio together. While we imagine that most audio clips will amount to nothing more than people shouting the word “smile” at each other, the sound functionality could be a nifty tool for reliving some particularly happy memories.

The LiPlay supports two different kinds of Instax film: the Confetti mini-format and the Star-Illumination square format. You don’t have to print all of the photos you take, though, which is good news indeed because each Instax film stack only includes enough film for 10 pictures. The LiPlay has enough internal storage for around 45 photos, though you can also add a microSD card to expand on that.

The 2.7-inch LCD display on the back will let you cycle through your stored photos to help you find the best ones for printing, but you’re not limited to only printing the photos on your LiPlay. You can also connect your phone to the camera and print photos in your camera roll using the LiPlay’s “Direct Print” feature.

Other specifications include an capture resolution of 2560 x 1920, a battery that’s said to last for 100 prints on a full charge, a 1/5-inch CMOS sensor, and a remote shooting function that lets you control the camera and snap pictures from your smartphone (assuming you’ve got the LiPlay app, which is also required if you want to capture audio). It’s definitely not the most capable digital camera around, but it should be a decent choice for people who like instant cameras. We’ll see the Instax Mini LiPlay launch in three beautifully stylish colours – Blush Gold, Stone White and Elegant Black, at the opening of the FUJIFILM PrintLife Exhibition, scheduled to run at Sandton City Centre Court from 19-24 June 2019 at R2 499.

Samsung SA hosted a highly successful “Ditch The DSLR Day” event from noon to 6PM, letting you trade in a digital SLR (any DSLR) for a brand-new NX30 mirrorless camera, “while supplies last.” Unfortunately Samsung reps were only able to allow 100 consumers to trade in their old DSLR’s in Johannesburg, so if you want the best chance of getting R10 000 worth of free loot, you might want to queue up early at the upcoming events in Cape Town on 29 & 30 November at Canal Walk, followed by Durban on 13 December at Gateway.

Alternatively, if you can’t get your hands on a DSLR worth “ditching,” you’ll still be able to walk away with promotional discounts off a Samsung cam, such as the NX Mini or Galaxy Camera 2, both of which will be on hand for you to try out at the events in the respective cities.

UPDATE: Samsung provided more information regarding which DSLRs qualify for the trade-in, which you’ll find below.

Qualifying Digital Camera : For your existing digital camera to qualify for the Trade Up Reward, it must be a digital camera which is fully operational, including the main battery. and power supply and functioning lens, must not be permanently marked or defaced and must be complete and undamaged (reasonable wear & tear excepted) (the “Trade-In Criteria”).

If your first impression of the Lumia 1020 was like ours, we’re guessing you had a hard time differentiating it from last year’s flagship 925 model. Take a closer look, turn it around even, however, and it becomes more apparent that Nokia’s design team didn’t actually use the past year to catch up on the sleep it lost crafting the 925. The phone maker kept to the same overall style, but it made a few crucial tweaks along the way to improve its fit and finish.

Nokia’s choice of build material wasn’t one of them. If you are a critic of the Lumia plastic construction, you’ll be disappointed with its successor — the company’s continuing its long-standing tradition of keeping metal out of the assembly lines, building the entire device out of polycarbonate.

The biggest benefit in using this type of material is that it offers a little more give when you drop the phone. It’s still plenty sturdy, and it feels like it’s just as durable as the 925. This may be ideal for a large number of potential buyers, but we still prefer the HTC One’s premium build quality and visual appeal, thanks to its use of high-grade aluminum through its entire unibody chassis.

The back of the Lumia 1020 looks different from its Lumia cousins, thanks largely to the 41-megapixel camera module that sticks out of the back. However, the bulge is not as big a problem with the 1020 as it was with the Nokia 808 PureView. The 808 was not the easiest phone to carry around, measuring 13.95mm at its thinnest and 17.95mm thick at the camera module. The Lumia 1020, however, is just 10.40mm at its thickest (you guessed it, the camera module), and the bulge as compared to the rest of the body is not as pronounced as the one in the 808. However, the phone is unable to lie flat on its back; instead it rests at an angle that makes it easier to glance the screen if you are looking from front, an unintended benefit. The phone weighs 158 grams, but doesn’t feel too heavy.

The Lumia 1020 is available in Yellow and White colour options, in addition to the Black that we received as our review unit. The display on the 1020 is bright and the colour reproduction closer to the real world when compared with most other AMOLED displays, similar to what we noted in our Nokia Lumia 925 review.

Nokia claims that its ClearBlack technology ensures that users see truer blacks, which in turn enhances the contrast of the display, thanks mainly to reduced reflections on the screen. The result is a screen that is easy to use, even in bright sunlight.

Needless to say, the highlight of the Nokia Lumia 1020 is its 41-megapixel camera, so we’ll be focusing most of our energy on this section. While the sensor inside the Lumia 1020 is 41-megapixel, the pictures it clicks are either 38-megapixel or 34-megapixel, depending upon if you are clicking pictures in 4:3 mode or 16:9, similar to what we saw in the Nokia 808 PureView.

While Nokia has worked hard to improve the hardware behind the camera, the software side seems to have regressed a bit. The default camera app on the Lumia 1020 is Nokia Pro Cam that seems to be lacking a few options found in the year-old Nokia. With the 808 you could choose to simultaneously click photographs in 2-megapixel, 3-megapixel, 5-megapixel or 8-megapixel effective resolutions, in addition to 34-megapixel or 38-megapixel full blown images. With the 1020, however, you are limited to a 5-megapixel image in addition to the 34-megapixel (16:9 mode) and 38-megapixel (4:3 mode) full-sized image.

Having said that, Nokia Pro Cam offers plenty of control to experienced users letting them adjust the exposure, shutter speed, ISO, white balance and, of course, focus as per their needs. This can be done using controls at the top right (while holding the phone in landscape mode) of the screen or by dragging the on-screen click button to the left to reveal a grid of circular lines. The app also gives a live preview of how the resultant image would look when you, say, adjust the white balance. The app also offers options for shutter delay and exposure bracketing, which can be used for creating manual HDR images.

Nokia Pro Cam is one of the many camera apps (or lenses as they are called in Windows Phone) installed on the Lumia 1020 and that can be a little confusing for users. You can switch to any of these apps by clicking the switch lens button on the bottom right of the screen, but remember that only the Nokia Pro Cam can take 34-/38-megapixel pictures. The other lenses (apps) that the Lumia 1020 ships with are Bing Vision, Camera360, the default Windows Phone Camera, Nokia Cinemagraph, Nokia Smart Cam, Panorama and Vyclone.

The Lumia 1020 comes with 32GB of non-expandable storage, with 29.12GB available for the end user. While that seems like plenty of storage, on a phone that captures large-sized images, an option to have expandable storage would’ve been nice. In case you are wondering, the 1020 comes with FM radio support, which can be utilised thanks to the pre-installed Amber Update. Nokia Lumia 1020 is priced at R10 000 which makes it slightly more expensive than the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, and considerably pricier than other flagship devices like the Samsung Galaxy S4, HTC One, Sony Xperia Z1 and Sony Xperia Z Ultra.

Yes, shutterbugs will love the Lumia 1020 camera, but at the price tag one has to wonder if they are perhaps better off buying a point-and-shoot camera, which are getting smaller, easier to carry bodies and bigger sensors, and a mid-level smartphone. If you want one that runs Windows Phone, pick the Nokia Lumia 925 which is still our favourite Windows Phone running device.

We can confirm that add-ons to the 1020 are now available through Vodacom starting with the Wireless Charging cover retailing for R429, while the Camera Grip is said to be around R1199. And thanks to the guys at Nokia SA for the tip, you can also get the Lumia 2010 + a mini tripod on Vodacom for a once-off R9 149. Mother Mary!

*image credit: Shutterstock

The RX10 is being positioned as a step-up camera for point-and-shoot users and even some DSLR owners. The camera is priced at R13 999 — considering that you’ll often spend that much for an f/2.8 zoom lens alone, it’ll likely appeal to a variety of photographers… but no press guys, we’re told. Sony’s also targeting video shooters here; like the new Alphas announced today, the RX10 shoots 1080p video at 60 or 24 frames per second with full manual control, and offers uncompressed output through the HDMI port. There’s also an adjustable audio level meter, a headphone and mic jack, and compatibility with the XLR-K1M adapter for even more sound input options.

You can share video and still images with the built-in WiFi, which you can also use for remote shooting with Sony’s Android and iOS apps. Unfortunately you’re stuck with just contrast-detect AF on board. You can shoot an unlimited number of consecutive frames at 10 fps with continuous autofocus, and the three-axis image stabilization should aid in keeping shots steady. You can frame shots using the built-in OLED EVF or the 1.23M-dot 3-inch White Magic LCD, which tilts up 84 degrees or down 43 degrees for shooting at odd angles. There’s a magnesium-alloy body, so it’s dust and moisture-resistant as well. The Sony RX10 is expected to hit stores next month (November) for R13 999