Mighty Gadget Blog: The latest technology news & reviews in the UK

After the success of last years Olympus PEN (E-PL1 and E-PL2) it seems the market was open for the micro four thirds camera. If you aren’t sure what that is it’s basically a DSSLR style camera with interchangeable lenses but is the size of a compact camera. Now Sony is entering the frame with its trusty Alpha range of cameras with the NEX-3 and the NEX-5.

Both compact cameras in size, the NEX-3 is 25.4mm thin and the NEX-5 an even slimmer 24.2mm. The difference between the two is that the NEX-5’s body is made from Magnesium making it even lighter than the NEX-3, in fact Sony claim its the lightest camera where one can change the lens.

Both contain the new Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor. This means you can snap images at a fantastic 14.2MP and can record video at another fantastic 1080i. Both also have 3” LCD with a simple control system and even despite the sheer amount of menus and options, Sony claims it’s easy to get around.

Also available are 30 different lenses so you can play about to get that perfect shot, including the classic skateboard picture, fish-eye shot.

Available next month Sony is keeping quiet on the price, but I gues we’ll know soon seeing as June is only 3 weeks away.

With the PMA(Photo Marketing Association) tradeshow a month away in Vegas we’re sure to see a lot more coming from the camera genre then but Olympus has stunned the world with its the next ultra-zoom compact camera the SP-800UZ.

Firstly its a 14MP camera but what really really grabs your attention is the massive 30x optical zoom. Now obviously despite the fact its a compact it needs the room to house the lens which makes a little bigger than your average compact but still smaller than your SLR's. With 2GB of internal memory and SD expansion you can also video 720p and then output it to your telly via its HDMI out.

It also comes with the usual face detection, image stabilisation and has a 3” LCD panel on the back to view your shots. You can even plug it in and charge via USB, handy if you don’t carry your charger around and have access to someone’s computer.

Also a smaller 12MP 15x optical zoom camera, the SP-600UZ is coming out alongside it.Both are out in March and will be priced at £369.99 and £259.99.