Can you say ‘Blah’?

When it comes to changes in cameras my primary area of interest is the advanced amateur/semi-pro gear. It’s what I use and fits nicely as regards features and cost between the mind-numbing array of point-and-shoots and the heavy duty and very costly pro gear.

For the advanced amateur user 2010 was a disappointing year for hardware, with by far the greatest let down being the Panasonic GF2. Where the world was expecting Panny’s design genius to deliver a camera with a proper offset optical or electronic viewfinder, what we got instead was a warmed over GF1.

Still sporting the useless LCD finder, with a clip on low definition/high noise EVF option (you might as well get the G1/2 as the size is much the same with one of these clunkers and the G1/2 EVF is a whole lot better), the camera addds little to the GF1 for the serious user.

No less disappointing was Panny’s G2. Adding a touch screen to the immensely capable G1, which I use and love, is not my idea of progress. Excuse me, you are going to ponce about touching the hard-to-see screen to do stuff while taking pictures? I don’t think so.

At the upper end of the spectrum for the truly insecure nouveau riche came the Hasselblad Ferrari. Or is that Ferrari Hasselblad? I like both marques as well as anyone but, please, you need to tell the whole world that your ship just came in?

Hair piece and gold chains not included.

No, by far the most exciting camera of 2010 is one which will not be available until 2011 – the Leica for the rest of us, the Fuji FX100.

Promising a dual optical/electronic finder, a fast six element wide angle fixed lens, an APS-sized sensor and looks that are just right, this is an exciting machine. Aperture priority, shutter priority or full exposure automation come standard. Let’s just hope it lives up to its promise. Why, even the textured body covering reminds me of my film rangefinder Leicas.

As for 2010, it was strictly a year of blah.