The new Sony NEX cameras feature one of Sony's latest APS-C sensors. Our DxOMark measurements show that the NEX sensor seems very similar to the one found in the Sony A450.

Test results support Sony's assertion that this new camera category (mirrorless with interchangable lenses, sometimes referred to "EVIL" for "Electronic Viewfinder with Interchangable Lens") provides "DSLR image quality in a compact camera."

On February 12, 2010, we published the DxOMark ranking and test results for a Canon EOS 550D pre-production model. However, as we always want to make sure that our data reflects the performance of cameras that are actually released on the market and available to consumers, we have since measured a commercial model and can now publish its results.

Launched in September 2009, the Leica M9 is the first full-frame (24x36mm) rangefinder camera provided by the famous German brand. For its top of the line camera, Leica provides a new 18 Mpix CCD sensor. It is important to note that Leica is the only brand that still makes cameras with CCD sensors; all other main full-frame cameras have CMOS sensors.

Nikon and Canon launched their new top-of-the-line cameras for news and sports photography at the end of 2009. The Nikon D3s replaced the NikonD3, and the Canon EOS 1D Mark IV replaces the Canon EOS 1D Mark III.
On the one hand, the Nikon D3s’s sensor specifications remain very close to those of the Nikon D3; on the other hand, Canon replaced the Mark III’s 10 Mpix sensor with a new 15.9 Mpix sensor with the same sensor surface.

The Panasonic DMC GH1 replaces its predecessor, the Panasonic DMC G1. Both are 12 megapixel four-thirds sensors with micro-four-thirds mounts, although the GH1’s is more video-oriented.

At first glance, we would expect both cameras to have similar (if not identical) sensors. Actually, looking at the GH1 manufacturer’s specifications, this is definitely not the case, since the GH1 contains a slightly wider sensor capable of keeping the same diagonal size for different aspect ratios such as 4/3, 3/2, and 16/9. The sensor is natively 14 megapixels, but at most only 12 megapixels can be output in 4/3 aspect ratio (fewer with other aspect ratios), so we chose to evaluate its performance in 4/3 aspect ratio.

The new "advanced compact" category that adds DSLR features (such as RAW output, manual operation, and interchangeable lenses) to classy, compact-style cameras, continues to be populated with new models—e.g., Canon Powershot G11 and S90, Olympus EP1 and EP2, Panasonic GF1, Leica X1, etc.

Sony was the first brand to deliver a very high resolution full-frame camera with the Sony Alpha 900. They now add the Sony Alpha 850. Although this is a new camera, it has the same resolution, the same body, and the same ISP as the Sony Alpha 900. In short, the announced differences seem very slight between these two twins.

With the launch of the Nikon D5000, Nikon captures the top two places on the DxOMark Sensor scale for APS-C sensor format cameras. The Nikon D5000 sensor behaves globally like the Nikon D90’s sensor, with very similar results for Color Depth and Dynamic Range in particular.

Canon adds a new “high resolution” APS-C sensor camera with its new model EOS 500D. For this entry-level camera (in the most competitive category currently), Canon clearly chose to provide the highest resolution available even as pixel size becomes smaller and smaller.

With a DxOMark Sensor score of 89.1 points, the Phase One P65+ takes the lead in the DxOMark Sensor rankings, beating the Nikon D3x by just 1 point.

Dxomark.com adds the Hasseblad H3DII 50 to its database, and its results coincide with those of the previously-analyzed H3DII 39. With a global DxOMark score of 78.2, the H3DII 50 ranks number 8, very close to the H3DII 39, which achieved a score of 75.3.

The DxOMark Sensor scale is based on RAW data measurements and provides comparable metrics only if no RAW-specific processing has been applied.

The Sony Alpha 700 with its new version 4.0 firmware scored a 66.3 on the DxOMark Sensor scale, putting it in 17th place on the dxomark.com overall ranking, and in 5th place for APS-C cameras. Given its launch date (Sept. 2007), this is a pretty good result.

Dxomark.com RAW sensor data on the Hasselblad H3DII-39 show a performance just slightly above the average results of the medium-format category with an overall score of 75.5

With a DxOMark Sensor score of 77.2 points, the Phase One P45 achieves a remarkable result with respect to its design.

The Leaf Aptus 75s was launched during Photokina 2006. With a DxOMark Sensor score of 77.3, Leaf takes the lead for dxomark.com rankings for medium format cameras (as of February 3, 2009).

As the first commercially-available Micro Four Thirds system camera, the Panasonic DMC G1 was one of the big hits at Photokina 2008.

With a DxOMark Sensor score of 88 points, the Nikon D3X takes the lead for dxomark.com rankings as of January 14, 2009. It shows very good color depth (24.7bits) and max Dynamic Range (13.7bits), with a somewhat lower Low-Light ISO value at about 1990 ISO (all 3 values in “Print” mode).

The dxomark sensor scale is based on RAW data measurements and provides comparable metrics only if no RAW-specific processing has been applied.