Digital Photography Review Newsletter: Saturday, 3 March 2012

Welcome to the 469th Digital Photography Review newsletter. Canon EOS 5D Mark III preview, video and low-light samples As you may be aware, Canon has unveiled its latest full-frame DSLR: the EOS 5D Mark III. While a 22MP sensor and 1080p30 video shooting may not sound like a radical departure from the Mark II, the latest model makes up for the rather familiar headline specs with a host of features borrowed from the EOS-1D X. The most obvious of these are the 61-point autofocus system and more sophisticated video compression options, but there's still more if you dig around under the surface. That's exactly what we've done in our hands-on preview and video. We've also published a range of images shot under low, challenging lighting at all the camera's ISO settings, which we've included in the preview. Samsung NX200 Review Back in the realms of cameras you can actually buy, we've reviewed the Samsung NX200; its 20.3MP third-generation mirrorless camera. While Sony has attracted a lot of attention with its increasingly capable NEX cameras and the Micro Four Thirds coalition have established a comprehensive lens line-up, Samsung has quietly been upgrading and expanding its NX series. Central to this is the NX200 - with its new sensor, high-quality metal build and seven frame-per-second continuous shooting, it represents a considerable step forward for the range. We've spent the last few weeks living and shooting with the NX200 and have published our full review. Does it have what it takes to compete in the increasingly competitive mirrorless sector? Click here to find out. Lytro Light Field Camera Review The Lytro Light Field Camera caused a lot of excitement when the idea of refocusable images was publicised last summer. Now the Silicon Valley startup has shipped its first camera, the time has come for us to review it. It's a camera that's almost as unconventional as the concept on which it's based. Click here to find out what we thought of it. Canon ELPH 510 HS Quick Review The Canon ELPH 510 HS seemed like the perfect candidate to test out our new Quick Review format that should allow us to publish much more regular compact camera reviews. It's a 12MP, 12X zoom compact based around a back-lit CMOS sensor and offering a 28-336mm image stabilized lens. Click here to read all about it. Nikon D4 coverage coming soon The launch of the 5D III has diverted a lot of attention towards Canon but we've been recently got our hands on Nikon's range-topping DSLR, the D4. We're working on an article about what it's like to shoot with the camera, which will include a full samples gallery. In the meantime, we have published our standard studio test shots, including Raw conversions. Richard

News updates Fujifilm X10 'Orbs' Investigated. Does the Firmware Fix Work? Published on Saturday, February 25, 2012 1:39:13 AM GMT Not long after samples of the Fujifilm X10 became available reports started surfacing of 'white orbs' or 'white discs' appearing in images. We mentioned this phenomenon when we included the X10 in our pre-Christmas roundup of high-end enthusiast compact cameras, and Fujifilm has subsequently released a firmware update that promises to address the issue. So does firmware version 1.03 banish the dreaded 'white orbs' for good? Click through to find out. Read full story → Book Review: Visual Stories - Behind the Lens with Vincent Laforet Published on Monday, February 27, 2012 5:51:36 AM GMT Book Review: Visual Stories - Behind the Lens with Vincent Laforet. As Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Vincent Laforet transitions away from still photography and more towards film and video, he looks back at his photojournalistic and commercial career in this engaging book, published late last year. Adam Koplan takes a look. Read full story → 41MP Nokia 808 smartphone hints at pixel-binning future for small sensor cameras Published on Monday, February 27, 2012 8:56:43 PM GMT Nokia has made the startling announcement that it has created a 41MP smartphone, the Nokia 808 PureView. Interestingly, in most shooting modes the camera will output 3, 5MP or 8MP stills, rather than offering its full resolution - promising greater quality and offering some clever features. And this isn't a trade-show concept model, this is a product that will be offered to the public, though details of when and in which countries haven't been announced. What's interesting isn't so much the pixel count as how it's used, so we took a closer look. Read full story → Sony launches five zoom compacts, including HX30V 20x WiFi compact superzoom Published on Tuesday, February 28, 2012 4:00:00 AM GMT Sony has launched four GPS-enabled 18MP CMOS zoom compacts, ranging from the 16x DSC-HX10V all the way up to the 30x DSC-HX200V. The DSS-HX20V adds a 20x zoom to the 10V's specs and the HX30V gains WiFi on top of that. All four CMOS cameras offer nine creative processing filters and latest fast AF which the company says will focus in as little as 0.1sec and 0.2sec in low light, they also have high-res 920,000 dot LCDs. There's also a less-expensive 16MP CCD 16X zoom model, the DSC-H90. All of the cameras feature at least 27mm equivalent wide-angle lenses. Read full story → Sony adds to slim T-series and launches WX150 flagship style compact Published on Tuesday, February 28, 2012 4:00:00 AM GMT Sony has added depth to its T-series range of slim cameras with the skinny DSC-T66 and svelte-yet-rugged DSC-TX20. It has also added the 10x zoom DSC-WX150 to the top of its conventionally-shaped compact camera lineup - claiming it to be the slimmest 10x camera currently available. The 5x zoom T66 and the WX150 are both based around the company's latest 18MP CMOS sensor, helping them offer high-speed autofocus. The T66 has an OLED touch-screen while the waterproof, 16MP T20 instead uses a LCD touch-panel. Finally there's a DSC-W690, a 16MP CCD camera based around the same 10x, 25-250mm equivalent lens as the WX150. Read full story → Just posted: Our Samsung NX200 in-depth review Published on Tuesday, February 28, 2012 7:54:10 PM GMT Just posted: Our in-depth review of the Samsung NX200. The Samsung NX200 is the Korean manufacturer's fifth NX camera and with its completely new 20.3MP APS-C CMOS sensor, expanded feature set and all-metal body is a significant step up from its predecessor, the NX100. After the Sony NEX-7 the NX200 offers the second highest pixel count in the mirrorless system camera segment which would make it an obvious choice for photographers who want to capture a lot of detail in a portable package. But how do the impressive specs translate into real-life performance? Read our in-depth review to find out. Read full story → Goodbye to Gravatar - dpreview will be hosting your user image Published on Tuesday, February 28, 2012 11:27:12 PM GMT We're going to be hosting user avatars from now on - removing the need for you to use the Gravatar service. It means you can easily manage your avatar from within dpreview and that changes are reflected much faster. If you already had an avatar hosted on Gravatar, it will have been imported already so you don't need to do anything. However, if you wish to add or update an avatar, or you've changed yours in the past few days, we're prepared some instructions for how the process now works. Read full story → Richard Franiec adds custom accessory grip for Nikon 1 V1 Published on Wednesday, February 29, 2012 12:48:33 AM GMT Richard Franiec has announced a custom grip for the Nikon 1 V1, adding to the one already available for the J1. The V1 grip slots over the ridge on the camera's front plate, to offer a more substantial surface to hold on to. Unlike Franiec's previous grips, the V1 grip extends across the camera's front and has the camera series '1' etched into it. The grip will be available in the second-half of March 2012 at a cost of $34.95, plus shipping. Read full story → SmugMug brings respected tools to 'Camera Awesome' iPhone app Published on Wednesday, February 29, 2012 5:47:15 PM GMT Strangely-entitled photo sharing site SmugMug has launched a zanily-named iPhone app. The free 'Camera Awesome' app gives iPhone users greater control over the phone's camera and adds a series of filters and processing tools. This includes the ability to separate focus and metering, and adds a virtual level gauge. It also includes filters, textures and frames from Kevin Kubota as well as an 'Awesomize' button powered by Athentech's 'Perfectly Clear' technology. Read full story → Just Posted: Lytro Light Field Camera review and video Published on Wednesday, February 29, 2012 10:33:23 PM GMT Lytro has shipped its first Light Field Camera to a customer and we've had a chance to spend some time with one, to see what their experience is likely to be like. It's a totally unconventional camera that captures images that can be refocused after they're shot, so we haven't shot our usual, 2D test charts but we've tried to sum-up its technology and what it's like to shoot with. Click here to find out what we thought. Read full story → Just Posted: Canon ELPH 510 HS (IXUS 1100 HS) Quick Review Published on Thursday, March 01, 2012 11:14:10 PM GMT We've just posted our review of the Canon 510 HS (known as the IXUS 1100 HS in Europe). It's a small, stylish point-and-shoot camera with a 12x, 28mm-336mm equiv zoom lens, a backlit 12MP CMOS sensor and a 3.2" touchscreen LCD. Although Canon has recently refreshed its PowerShot lineup, the ELPH 510 HS, released late last year still boasts a compelling feature set - is it the perfect pocketable point-and-shoot? Read our quick review to find out. Read full story → Canon EOS 5D Mark III hands-on preview and video Published on Friday, March 02, 2012 5:00:00 AM GMT We've had a chance to handle Canon's EOS 5D Mark III 22MP HD DSLR and have prepared a detailed preview and video. The specifications may initially look a little familiar but almost every component has been updated or improved. It gains most of its ergonomics from the EOS 7D but inherits the sophisticated 61-point AF system from the EOS-1D X. It also comes with a range of movie-focused features and promises of a 2-stop improvement in low-light performance. The camera will be available from the end of March 2012. Click here to find out more. Read full story → Canon announces EOS 5D Mark III 22MP full-frame DSLR Published on Friday, March 02, 2012 5:00:00 AM GMT Canon has announced the Canon EOS 5D Mark III, the latest in its enthusiast full-frame 5D series and successor to the popular EOS 5D Mark II. Based around a 22MP full-frame sensor, it can shoot 6 frames per second and features a 61-point AF system much like the EOS-1D X. It can capture 1080p movies at 24, 25 or 30 fps and offers high quality intraframe (All-I) video compression amongst a host of movie-related improvements. It will be available from the end of March with an MSRP of $3499 / €3299 / £2999.99. Read full story → Canon releases 600EX-RT radio-controlled Speedlite with other accessories Published on Friday, March 02, 2012 5:00:00 AM GMT Canon has announced the Speedlite 600EX-RT flash, its first to include wireless radio control, alongside a selection of EOS accessories. A radio frequency transmitter, the Speedlite ST-E3-RT, has also been released and can trigger up to 15 Speedlites at up to 30 meters. Meanwhile, the GP-E2 GPS unit allows for automatic geotagging of images from the latest Canon DSLRs and the WFT-E7 wireless file transmitter can use either a Wi-Fi or Gigabit Ethernet connection to move files from camera to computer or to control the camera. There's also the BG-E11 dual-slot battery grip for the EOS 5D Mark III. Read full story → Canon EOS 5D Mark III low-light ISO series samples Published on Friday, March 02, 2012 2:07:22 PM GMT We've had a chance to prepare a set of full-resolution studio-based JPEG samples from a pre-production Canon EOS 5D Mark III, at all available ISOs from 50 to 102,800. We've chosen to shoot under low level halogen lighting, which provides a stern test of the camera's sensor and noise reduction systems. Click through to explore what the camera can deliver.  Read full story → Pentax releases second silver K-5 limited edition, adding slimline 40mm F2.8 Published on Friday, March 02, 2012 8:54:44 PM GMT Pentax has announced a silver special edition of its K-5 DSLR, this time combined with the slim DA 40mm F2.8 XS prime lens redesigned by Marc Newson. The latest package, following the silver K-5 body offered in 2011, will be limited to 1,500 examples worldwide. It will be available in April exclusively from Pentax or Ace Photo, at a price of $1599.95 ($100 less, with the lens, than the previous, body-only version). Read full story →