Digital Photography Review Newsletter: Saturday, 7 April 2012

Welcome to the 472nd Digital Photography Review newsletter. Panasonic unveils latest miniature model Panasonic has given its entry-level point-and-shoot mirrorless model a makeover, with the debut of the GF5. It's not a radical update over the GF3 but features a re-engineered sensor, higher-resolution screen and the latest refinement of the company's user interface. It's a small camera by any standards and, in tandem with the 14-42mm power zoom, is available as an impressively small combination. Click here to read our preview of probably the most pocketable large sensor zoom cameras available. Fujifilm X-Pro1 First Impressions We've been shooting with the Fujifilm X-Pro1 for a little while now and, as part of the ongoing review process, have written about our experiences with the camera so far. Our first impressions article looks at how the camera handles and how many of the X100's quirks have made the leap across to the new camera. It also includes a 30 image sample gallery. Click here to have a read. Canon 5D III production and studio samples To augment the preview samples gallery we shot with a pre-production mode, we've gone out and taken a 'production' samples gallery, using a mass-production 5D Mk III. This 25-image samples gallery includes images taken in a variety of situations with a range of lenses and includes a handful of Adobe Camera Raw conversions. We've also published our standard studio test shots, including Raw conversions, allowing comparison with all the cameras we've reviewed in recent years. Click here to see the samples gallery. Photoshop CS6 Blur Gallery tutorial One of the features added in the Photoshop CS6 beta is the blur gallery - a photographically-styled blur tool that can be used to create a series of depth-of-field-mimicking effects. Ellen Anon has prepared a tutorial, looking at how to use the tools and demonstrating some of the effects that can be achieved. Click here to read her article. Richard

News updates Dpreview product database now mobile Published on Saturday, March 31, 2012 12:33:22 AM GMT We've made our product database available on the mobile version of the site. The addition of the products section (searchable by product name, browsable by brand and product type), is another step towards making the entire site available on-the-go. Our database currently includes cameras, lenses and printers and is probably the most comprehensive on the web. As before, there are small links at the bottom of every page to swap between the mobile and desktop versions. Read full story → Sony announces NEX-FS700 '4k-ready' E-mount camcorder Published on Monday, April 02, 2012 6:40:10 PM GMT Sony has announced the NEX_FS700 pro-grade 4k-capable E-mount camcorder. The camera will initially offer 1080p video, switchable between 50Hz and 60Hz frame rates (including 60p, 50p, 60i and 24p). A later upgrade will enable 4k capture and Raw output from its built-in 3G-SDI connector. The camera is also able to capture slow-motion footage, shooting at up to 960 fps at reduced resolution (240fps in Full HD). It also offers built-in 2- and 4-stop ND filters (which can be combined), to allow lenses to be used at wide apertures in bright light. Read full story → Canon launches EOS 60Da DSLR for astrophotography Published on Tuesday, April 03, 2012 7:04:58 AM GMT Canon has launched the EOS 60Da, a variant of its 60D DSLR tuned for astrophotography. The camera features a re-worked infra-red filter leaving the camera more sensitive to a specific emission frequency (656nm) of hydrogen, key to capturing images of features such as nebulae (gas clouds) in space. The 18MP camera continues where 2005's 8MP EOS 20Da left off. It will be available from a limited number of authorized dealers at a price of around $1499.00/£1174.99. Read full story → Instagram app arrives for Android Published on Tuesday, April 03, 2012 4:41:28 PM GMT Instagram, one of the most popular photo processing and sharing apps is now available for Android. The free app, which works with Android 2.2 or newer, is initially missing a couple of the iOS app's features (such as tilt-shift and blur), which the company will add soon. As well as processing, the app uploads images to Instagram's sharing service, which has recently been expanded to include submissions from other popular apps such as Hipstamatic and Camera Awesome. Read full story → Just Posted: Fujifilm X-Pro1 first impressions, including sample images Published on Tuesday, April 03, 2012 6:29:10 PM GMT Just Posted: First impressions of the Fujifilm X-Pro1. We've been using a production standard X-Pro1 for a little while now, as we work on our review. We took this opportunity to write about our impressions of the camera, including a look at the lenses Fujifilm has developed and whether the Pro1 features the quirkiness of the elegant but initially troubled X100. What's it like to shoot with the X-Pro1 and are the images as attractive as the camera's design? Read on to find out. Read full story → Dan Chung posts 5D Mark III vs. D800 video shootout Published on Wednesday, April 04, 2012 5:37:47 PM GMT Award-winning photojournalist and videographer Dan Chung from DSLR News Shooter has just posted a video shootout pitting the Canon EOS 5D Mark III against the Nikon D800. In the interesting and in-depth article accompanying it, Chung looks at the video features of both cameras in detail and compares them, not only in terms of output quality, but also usability. Read full story → Flickr introduces users to Aviary as Picnik ends Published on Wednesday, April 04, 2012 7:52:15 PM GMT Flickr has added the option to use the Aviary photo editing service, following Google's decision to close the Picnik service that had previously been offered. Flickr users will be able to make basic edits and image corrections using Aviary which, unlike Picnik, is HTML 5-based - allowing its use on non-Flash devices such as the iPad. However, while Aviary offers similar cropping, filter and sticker options, it loses Picnik's paintable curves adjustments and other more advanced options. Read full story → Panasonic DMC-GF5 12MP mirrorless camera announced and previewed Published on Thursday, April 05, 2012 5:00:00 AM GMT Panasonic has formally announced the much-discussed DMC-GF5. We've had a pre-production GF5 for a couple of days, so we've had a look at what's changed and what the diminutive Micro Four Thirds camera offers to compact camera users looking for better image quality but still wanting the option to simply point and shoot. The 12MP camera is a subtle revision over the GF3, but a higher-res screen, refined user interface and the inclusion of Panasonic's retractable 14-42mm power zoom lens for a list price of $749.99/£579 makes it worth looking at. Read full story → Fujifilm issues X100 firmware v1.21, fixing minor bugs from v1.20 Published on Thursday, April 05, 2012 6:17:59 PM GMT Fujifilm has issued another firmware update for the X100, fixing a couple of bugs introduced in the previous update. Firmware version 1.21 fixes some problems with using the AEL/AFL button to perform a focus acquisition in manual focus mode, that occurred with v1.20. It is available for immediate download. Read full story → Carl Zeiss adds 15mm T/2.9 and 135 T/2.1 Compact Prime cine lenses at NAB Published on Thursday, April 05, 2012 7:08:20 PM GMT Carl Zeiss has announced two videography-orientated lenses to add to its CP.2 Compact Prime range, a 15mm and a 135mm. The lenses, to be unveiled at the NAB broadcast industry trade show in Las Vegas, are the CP.2 15mm T/2.9 and CP.2 135mm T/2.1. Both lenses are color-matched to allow consistency in footage shot with different lenses, and feature interchangeable mounts, allowing use with PL, EF, F, MFT and E mounts. The two lenses will be available in the fourth quarter of 2012 at an MSRP of €4,200 / US$5,700 (excluding VAT). Read full story → Tamron gives SP 24-70mm F2.8 Di VC USD price and availability Published on Friday, April 06, 2012 5:54:48 PM GMT Tamron USA has announced pricing and availability of its SP 24-70mm F/2.8 Di VC USD image-stabilized fast zoom lens. Canon and Nikon mount versions of the lens will be available from April 26th 2012, at a MSRP of $1299. The Sony version, without image stabilization, will follow at a later, unspecified date. The lens is compatible with both full-frame and APS-C cameras, includes a moisture-resistant body, and a rounded aperture for attractive background blur. Read full story → Just Posted: Canon EOS 5D Mark III 'production' sample gallery Published on Friday, April 06, 2012 10:28:07 PM GMT We've just posted a gallery of real-world sample images shot using a production-standard Canon EOS 5D Mark III. We've been out shooting with a range of lenses and in a variety of lighting conditions with Canon's latest full-frame DSLR, superseding our preview gallery that was shot with a pre-production camera. The gallery includes some shots processed with Adobe Camera Raw and a shot using the camera's multiple exposure feature. Read full story →