Digital Photography Review Newsletter: Saturday, 9 June 2012

	Digital Photography Review Newsletter Saturday, 9 June 2012 The most popular weekly photography newsletter, with over 300,000 subscribers
Welcome to the 477th Digital Photography Review newsletter. Canon announces EOS 650D / Rebel T4i touchscreen DSLR with Hybrid AF system Canon has announced the EOS 650D, which will also be known as the Rebel T4i for those of us in North America. While the top-level specs: 18MP, 9-point AF and flip-out 1.04m dot flip-out LCD all look the same as the 600D, the fine detail of each of these represents a considerable step forward for the series. The 9 points are all cross-type, thanks to it inheriting the AF sensor from the EOS 60D, the LCD is now touch-sensitive, which had led to a user interface overhaul but the big news is the on-image-sensor phase-detection AF. This 'Hybrid AF' system is similar in principle to the ones introduced in some Fujifilm compacts and Nikon's 1 series cameras. Does this mean the Rebel is trying to push back against the mirrorless threat? Read our hands-on preview (with image samples) of the Canon EOS 650D to find out. Sony gets seriously compact with the DSC-RX100 The enthusiast compact camera sector was reinvigorated a couple of years ago by the Panasonic LX3 - a camera that mated a larger-than-usual sensor with a bright lens in a small body. Its success prompted a host of other manufacturers to create their own small, capable cameras, including the popular Canon S90, S95 and S100, which kept size down by having a handy control ring around more modest lenses. With the RX100, Sony has taken this basic concept and made something pretty impressive - it's placed a 20MP sensor nearly three times larger in a body that's barely any bigger than the Canons. Despite this, it manages to offer a similar focal length and aperture range. The RX100 promises a distinct step-up in image quality in a genuinely pocketable camera. Click here to read our hands-on preview with real-world image samples. Fine detail on the Nikon D800E We've been pushing the limits of our testing capabilities to examine the detailed differences between the Nikon D800 and the more expensive D800E. The 'E' variant features an interesting self-cancelling anti-aliasing filter, and promises even higher resolution. So what differences can you expect and where does one offer an advantage over the other? We'll be publishing our finding early next week. Richard
News updates Review: Nik Snapseed for Mac Published on Tuesday, May 29, 2012 4:32:23 PM GMT Snapseed started life as an iOS app that married Nik Software's 'U Point' localized effect controls with a touch-based interface. The app has now stepped back across the mobile divide and is available for desk-bound Macs. Lauren Crabbe investigates whether the $20 desktop version is a useful addition to your image-editing arsenal. Read full story → Nikon issues firmware updates for D4 and D800/D800E Published on Tuesday, May 29, 2012 6:16:00 PM GMT Nikon has updated the firmware of both the D4 and D800 professional DSLRs. The D4 receives updates to v1.01 for both firmware A and B, while the D800 and D800E only have B firmware v1.01. In both cases the firmware corrects minor operational glitches, including one that could cause the cameras to occasionally lock up. The updates can be downloaded from Nikon's websites. Read full story → Panasonic DMC-FX90 firmware v2.0 makes Wi-Fi functions smarter Published on Tuesday, May 29, 2012 6:50:21 PM GMT Panasonic has release firmware v2.0 for its DMC-FX90 Wi-Fi compact, adding a series of features to allow its use with smartphones. The FX90, launched in August 2011 featured the ability to upload images to smartphones, but the latest firmware adds the option to remotely view the camera's live view, zoom the lens and trigger the shutter. These features, which can be used with the associated iOS and Android smartphone apps, bring it into line with the latest 'smart cameras' from Samsung. Read full story → Adobe launches ACR v7.1 and Lightroom v4.1 with X-Pro1 support Published on Wednesday, May 30, 2012 5:25:33 AM GMT Adobe has launched final versions of Photoshop Lightroom v4.1 and Adobe Camera Raw v7.1 that include support for the Fujifilm X-Pro1. Both versions include the advanced defringing tools introduced in the Release Candidate versions they replace as well as promising to address 'performance issues.' Both versions include support for the Fujifilm X-Pro1 non-Bayer color filter array. They can be downloaded from the Adobe website now. Adobe Camera Raw 7.1 works with Photoshop CS6. Read full story → Just Posted: Pentax K-01 review Published on Wednesday, May 30, 2012 11:01:04 PM GMT Just posted: our sixteen-page Pentax K-01 review. In the third of our collaborative reviews with the Digital Camera Resource Page's Jeff Keller, we look at Pentax's first large-sensor mirrorless camera, the 16MP APS-C K-01. The K-01 is unusual for a mirrorless camera in that it uses a preexisting lens mount - so it has to be the same depth as a DSLR, despite the lack of mirror. The idiosyncratic approach is emphasized by the camera's unconventional styling by designer Marc Newson, but what's the K-01 like to use, when you get past its looks? Read full story → Woven app lets you browse all your images in one place Published on Friday, June 01, 2012 12:39:08 AM GMT Woven, a free app for iOS, Android, Kindle Fire and Nook allows you to browse all of your photos from services such as Flickr, Facebook, Picasa and Smugmug in a single place. Once you've logged into each of the services, through the app, it downloads thumbnail versions to your mobile device, allowing you to scan through all your pictures. The app maintains the folder or grouping structures from each service, so you can easily find images and work out where you uploaded them to, even when you're offline. Read full story → Sony World Photo Awards open for entries, including 3D and movie prizes Published on Friday, June 01, 2012 9:21:57 PM GMT The 2013 Sony World Photography Awards are now open for entries, and include categories for 3D and filmmakers. The competition has categories for both amateur and professional photographers and prizes that include both cash and Sony photographic equipment. Submissions must be received before January 4th 2013, with the professional category closing on January 9th. The student competition provides the chance to win 40,000 worth of Sony equipment for the winner's university. Read full story → Canon announces 2012 photo workshops in US National Parks Published on Monday, June 04, 2012 5:44:18 PM GMT Canon USA, Inc. has announced its annual series of summer photography workshops hosted at a select number of US National Parks. Dubbed the 'Canon Photography in the Parks Program', it provides participants with free equipment loans and professional-led instruction during guided photo walks. Attendees will also be able to make prints of their images and bring home their image files on a CD. This year's program also includes video workshop sessions, using Canon VIXIA camcorders and EOS DSLRs. Read full story → Just Posted: Canon PowerShot SX260 HS Review Published on Monday, June 04, 2012 7:49:56 PM GMT Just Posted: Canon PowerShot SX260 HS review. We've collaborated with Jeff Keller of the Digital Camera Resource Page to bring you an 8-page review of Canon's latest travel zoom. The SX260 HS features a 12MP sensor and a 20x optical zoom spanning an effective range of 25-500mm. It also offers inbuilt GPS and a Smart Auto mode which can select from 58 scene modes automatically depending on the shooting environment. So how does it perform overall? Read our 8-page review to find out.  Read full story → Corel releases Service Pack 2 for PaintShop Pro X4 Published on Monday, June 04, 2012 10:14:26 PM GMT Corel has announced Service Pack 2 for PaintShop Pro X4, the company's photo editing solution. With this update Corel has added bug fixes, Raw file support for 18 additional cameras and improved support for PSD files. Click through for a link to the download and a full list of the newly supported cameras. Read full story → Panasonic reported as planning $630m stake in beleaguered Olympus Published on Wednesday, June 06, 2012 12:11:59 AM GMT Panasonic is finalizing a substantial investment in troubled medical and camera company Olympus, according to reports from Japan. The Kyodo news agency is saying that Panasonic will invest around ¥500bn ($630m) in the business - making it the company's largest shareholder. Panasonic has little presence in the medical market, so it seems likely the move is as much about ensuring the continuation of its partner in the Micro Four Thirds collaboration, which could have been jeopardized if the much-needed tie-up had been with a rival camera maker. Update: Panasonic denies plans. Read full story → Sony announces Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 large sensor enthusiast compact Published on Wednesday, June 06, 2012 4:01:53 AM GMT Sony has announced the Cyber-shot DSC-RX100, an enthusiast compact camera based around a 20MP 1" CMOS sensor. It features a 28-100mm equivalent lens with F1.8-4.9 aperture range and image stabilization and is the first Sony compact to capture Raw files. It can shoot 1080p60 and capture 17MP (16:9 crop) stills simultaneously. It features a lens control dial and a 3:2 aspect ratio sensor (the same proportions as most DSLRs). It's also the first Sony compact to feature the company's 'WhiteMagic' LCD technology, promising a brighter or lower-power display. The RX100 will be available from July at a price of around $649. Read full story → Just Posted: Sony DSC-RX100 preview with sample images Published on Wednesday, June 06, 2012 4:03:08 AM GMT We've been using a Sony DSC-RX100 for the last few days and have prepared a hands-on preview of the 20MP, 1" sensor compact. Its 13.2 x 8.8mm sensor is over twice the size of most of its peers and, despite this being the same size as Nikon's 1 system cameras, the RX100 is genuinely pocketable. We've used our time with the camera to prepare a detailed preview, looking at the camera's key features, and have also shot a gallery of real-world samples in a variety of shooting situations. Read full story → Just Posted: Canon Rebel T4i / EOS 650D preview with real-world samples Published on Friday, June 08, 2012 4:00:00 AM GMT Just Posted: We've been shooting with Canon's latest entry-level DSLR - the Rebel T4i (EOS 650D), and have prepared an hands-on preview. The T4i shares many of the headline specs (18MP CMOS sensor, 9-point AF system, 1.0M dot flip-out LCD) with its predecessor, the EOS 600D / Rebel T3i, but significant changes have been made to every one of those features. The result is the first touch-screen DSLR and the first EOS to offer continuous AF in movie shooting mode. Read our preview to find out more about the 650D's features and what its 'Hybrid AF' really offers. The preview includes real-world samples and low-light studio shots. Read full story → Canon announces EOS 650D / Rebel T4i 18MP touch-screen DSLR with Hybrid AF Published on Friday, June 08, 2012 4:00:00 AM GMT Canon has announced the EOS 650D (known as the Rebel T4i in North America), and 18MP touch-screen DSLR with a sensor-based hybrid AF system for improved focus in movie and live view modes. The camera gains the all-cross-type 9-point AF sensor from the EOS 60D and can now shoot at 5fps. It also adds stereo mics for its Full HD video recording, which is available at 30, 25 and 24fps. The camera will be available from the end of June at a price of $849, body only, $949 will the 18-55mm IS lens or $1199 with the co-announced 18-135mm STM IS lens. Read full story → Canon creates EF-S 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 IS STM and EF 40mm F2.8 STM Published on Friday, June 08, 2012 4:00:00 AM GMT Canon has developed the EF-S 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 IS STM and EF 40mm F2.8 STM lenses with stepper motors for fast, quiet operation when shooting video. The 18-135mm STM is an extended standard zoom for APS-C DSLRs, while the 40mm STM is a pancake prime lens for full frame and APS-C cameras. Both lenses feature stepper motors, to enable fast, quiet focus, particularly with the contrast-detection method of autofocus used for live view and video. They also both have electromagnetic diaphragms - allowing smooth and accurate control over aperture for video shooting. The lenses will be available from late June 2012, with the 18-135mm STM costing $549 and the 40mm F2.8 STM costing $199. Read full story →
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