Digital Photography Review Newsletter: Tuesday, 4 September 2012

	Digital Photography Review Newsletter Tuesday, 4 September 2012 The most popular weekly photography newsletter, with over 300,000 subscribers
Welcome to the 478th Digital Photography Review newsletter. Sony RX100 super-compact reviewed We've been using Sony's RX100 for a while now, to really get to grips with what its huge (by compact camera standards) sensor means in everyday use. The RX100 may look a lot like a Canon S series but it crams a sensor 2.7 times larger into a similar space, and then adds the full set of shooting and processing features Sony has developed in its recent cameras. The result is one of the most capable cameras you can fit in your pocket, but what's it like to live with and just how much of an advantage does it offer over its rivals? Click here to read our Sony RX100 review. NEX-5R adds Wi-Fi and apps to Sony mirrorless family Sony has also continued its seemingly perpetual process of refreshing its NEX lineup with the launch of the NEX-5R. The latest model may look a lot like its 5-series predecessors but it gains a series of extra features that will benefit a broad range of photographers. Additions include Wi-Fi capability, a hybrid AF system, in-camera apps and more external controls. Click here to read our hands-on preview, looking at these features. Samsung and Nikon cameras get better connected It's long been suggested that the Android smartphone operating system would be a sound basis for a connected camera, having had connectivity designed-in from the start. The benefits, both in terms of this flexibility and the ability to run image processing and sharing apps seemed like an obvious way for manufacturers to fend-off the smartphone onslaught their compacts have been facing. We're not sure anyone expected two Android devices to appear in the space of a week, or that the first-to-market would be Nikon, rather than one of the consumer-electronics makers. But, sure enough, the Nikon Coolpix S800c became the first big-name Android camera, with Samsung following a few days later. The Samsung Galaxy Camera tops the Nikon with a longer zoom, a newer version of Android and the tantalising prospect of 3G or 4G cellular connectivity. Only the inability to make phone calls prevents the Galaxy Camera becoming the zoomingest smartphone ever. Click here to read about the Galaxy Camera, before those distinctions no longer make sense. Richard
News updates Just Posted: Pentax K-30 studio test shots as part of rolling review Published on Tuesday, August 28, 2012 1:22:02 AM GMT Just Posted: Studio test samples and analysis of the Pentax K-30. We're working on a full review of Pentax's K-30 mid-level DSLR and will be posting content as it's completed, building up the review progressively over the coming weeks. The first part of this process is the addition of our standard studio test images to the K-30 preview. As usual this means the images are accessible from other reviews and the standalone comparison tool, and Raw files are available for download. Read full story → Adobe posts Lightroom v4.2 and ACR 7.2 release candidates Published on Tuesday, August 28, 2012 1:29:18 AM GMT Adobe has announced 'release candidate' versions of Lightroom 4.2 and Adobe Camera Raw 7.2. The latest near-complete versions add support for a series of hotly-anticipated cameras, including the Sony DSC-RX100 and Canon EOS 650D / Rebel T4i. The Lightroom update also corrects a series of bugs present in the current version of the software. As usual, release candidates are considered well tested but not final. Camera Raw 7.2 also adds the option to change the 'as-shot' image crop, if the camera has recorded the whole sensor's data. Read full story → Just Posted: Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 review Published on Tuesday, August 28, 2012 8:04:40 PM GMT Just Posted: Our review of the Sony RX100 large-sensor compact camera. The RX100 may look a lot like its 1/1.7" sensor peers but it boasts a sensor 2.7 times larger, which should directly translate into better image quality. It also packs class-leading video features into its tiny metal body. It's already being heralded in some quarters as the best compact ever so, after extensive use in a variety of conditions, can it possibly live up to the hype? Read our review to find out. Read full story → Canon announces EOS C100 professional video camera Published on Wednesday, August 29, 2012 11:54:57 AM GMT Canon has announced a the EOS C100, a 'budget' addition to its Cinema EOS range of professional video cameras. Designed for independent videographers, the C100 offers the same core technology as the C300, including its 8.3MP Super 35mm image sensor, in a smaller package. Its EF lens mount means it's compatible with all of Canon's SLR lenses, as well as the company's specialist Cinema EOS optics. The C100 records 1920 x 1080 Full HD movies to SD cards at a bitrate of 24Mbps, offers an ISO range of 320-20000, and can output uncompressed video directly to external recorders. It will be available from November 2012 at a price of $7,999. Read full story → Canon unveils EOS C500 4K cinema video camera and four lenses Published on Wednesday, August 29, 2012 12:17:10 PM GMT Canon has officially announced the EOS C500, the professional 4K video camera output that it promised at the NAB trade show in April. A continuation of the concept of the C300, it can capture Raw 4K video footage and offers frame rates of up to 120fps in compressed 4K. It also captures 2K footage (2,048 x 1,080 pixels) at 12-bit, with 4:4:4 Y'CbCr chroma sub-sampling for high colour resolution. The company has also confirmed four cinema EOS lenses alongside it - the EF mount CN-E15.5-47mm T2.8 L S and CN-E30-105mm T2.8 L S, and the same optics in PL mount (known as the CNE15.5-47mm T2.8 L SP and CN-E30-105mm T2.8 L SP respectively). The C500's price will be in the region of $30,000. Read full story → Just Posted: Sony Alpha NEX-5R hands-on preview Published on Wednesday, August 29, 2012 3:00:00 PM GMT Just Posted: Sony Alpha NEX-5R hands-on preview. We've been investigating Sony's latest mid-range NEX to try to get to the bottom of the features it adds to the NEX family. These include a revised 16MP APS-C CMOS sensor with phase-detection elements to power the camera's hybrid AF system, and the ability to download proprietary apps. The body may look the same as the previous 5-series cameras, but don't let that fool you - there are a lot of changes under that magnesium alloy skin. Read our preview to find out more. Read full story → Sony announces Alpha NEX-5R Wi-Fi capable mirrorless camera with hybrid AF Published on Wednesday, August 29, 2012 3:00:00 PM GMT Sony has announced the Alpha NEX-5R, the latest in its series of mid-level mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras. The 16MP 5R adds on-sensor phase detection elements to enable hybrid autofocus, and gains a control dial and dedicated function button over its predecessor, the 5N. The 5R also gains Wi-Fi capabilities and the ability to run proprietary in-camera apps to extend its capabilities. Read full story → Sony announces 'PlayMemories' Camera Apps to extend NEX-5R capabilities Published on Wednesday, August 29, 2012 3:00:00 PM GMT Sony has announced the first in a series of 'PlayMemories' Camera Apps. These apps will be available to Sony owners with an account on the company's 'PlayMemories' web service and can be installed on the newly-announced Alpha NEX-5R. The Apps allow various features and capabilities to be added to the camera, including image processing and remote triggering options. The move comes as Sony expands the 'PlayMemories' service to make sharing images across its devices easier. Read full story → Samsung announces Galaxy Camera hybrid camera with Android 4.1 OS Published on Wednesday, August 29, 2012 5:30:00 PM GMT Samsung has announced the Galaxy Camera, a 16MP BSI CMOS compact superzoom/Android smart device hybrid. It combines a 21x, 23-481mmm equivalent zoom camera on the front with a 4.8" touchscreen on the back. It runs Android 4.1 (known as Jelly Bean), the latest version of the operating system. Under the surface, the Galaxy Camera shares most of its key specifications with the company's Galaxy SIII smartphone - with a 1.4GHz quad-core processor at its heart, missing only the ability to make calls. It will be available in two versions - one with 3G connectivity and the other with 4G. As you'd expect, both versions support Wi-Fi. Read full story → Samsung's Android-powered Galaxy Camera: the most connected camera? Published on Wednesday, August 29, 2012 5:34:31 PM GMT Samsung today launched the first true compact camera/smart device hybrid - the Galaxy Camera. While it's not able to make phone calls, it is the first 3G/4G connected camera to reach a worldwide audience. We've been talking to Samsung representatives for months about the concept of a camera running the Android OS, and now that the wraps are off, the final specification is more or less in line with what we expected - a versatile, consumer-level camera running 'full strength' Android and both 3G/4G connectivity, in addition to Wi-Fi. Click through for more information and for our take on what all this means.  Read full story → DxO Optics Pro 7.5.4 adds Sony RX100 and Pentax K-30 support Published on Wednesday, August 29, 2012 7:09:11 PM GMT DxO Labs has updated its DxO Optics Pro software to version 7.5.4. The latest version adds Raw support for the Sony DSC-RX100 and the Pentax K-30. In addition, the company has added 400 lens-optimizing Optics Modules for a variety of cameras and lenses, taking the total to over 8000. The upgrade is free to existing Optics Pro 7 users and those who bought Pro 6 after September 1st 2011. A trial version is available from the DxO Labs website. Read full story → Carl Zeiss presents CZ.2 28-80mm T2.9 cinema zoom lens Published on Thursday, August 30, 2012 9:47:45 AM GMT Carl Zeiss is displaying a 28-80mm T2.9 cinema zoom lens at the IBC trade show in Amsterdam, that will complement the 70-200mm T2.9 optic it announced earlier this year. Designed for use on 35mm full-frame format video-capable SLRs, as well as HD video cameras and professional cine cameras, the Compact Zoom CZ.2 28-80/T2.9 will be available in Canon EF, Nikon F, Micro Four Thirds, Sony E and Arri PL mounts. It will be available in the second quarter of 2013 for €14,900 or US$19,900 (excluding VAT). Read full story → Carl Zeiss announces CP.2 25mm T2.1 fast cinema prime Published on Thursday, August 30, 2012 10:28:32 AM GMT Carl Zeiss has announced the Compact Prime CP.2 25/T2.1 cinema lens. It's a replacement for the existing CP.2 25/T2.9, offering a whole stop greater light-gathering ability. The CP.2 25/T2.1 uses the company's interchangeable lens mount system, with Arri PL, Canon EF, Nikon F, Micro Four Thirds and Sony E options all available. It will start shipping on October 1st, 2012, with an expected retail price of €3,300 (excl. VAT) or $4,500 (excl. VAT).   Read full story → Accessory Review: Pixel Vertax D12 Grip for Nikon D800/E Published on Thursday, August 30, 2012 5:14:29 PM GMT Just Posted: Our review of the Pixel Vertax D12 third-party battery grip for the Nikon D800. Third-party manufacturers offer a broad range of accessories for popular cameras, providing more options or lower prices. Vertical grips can aid the handling of DSLRs for portrait-format shooting and when working with long, heavy lenses. In this short review, we look at the Pixel Vertax D12 battery grip. At $99 it's considerably cheaper than Nikon's MB-D12 but can it do the same job? Click through for our opinion.  Read full story → Wikipedia launches 'world's largest photo contest' to expand image collection Published on Thursday, August 30, 2012 10:36:19 PM GMT Wikipedia has launched what it calls 'the world's largest photo contest' to increase the number of images of 'historic sites' in its image database - Wikimedia Commons. The contest, called 'Wiki Loves Monuments 2012' will run throughout September 2012, with the best entry receiving a photo tour of Hong Kong, coinciding with the Wikimania 2013 conference. Wikipedia has run photographic competitions before, but this is the biggest yet, and will involve volunteers from more than 30 countries. Click through for more details. Read full story → Sigma US announces DP1 Merrill at $1000, arriving in mid September Published on Friday, August 31, 2012 5:00:00 AM GMT Sigma Corportation of North America has announced that the DP1 Merrill will be available from mid September at a price of around $1000. The DP1M is the version of the company's fixed lens, APS-C compact camera with a 28mm equivalent, F2.8. It uses the same Foveon X3 sensor as the company's flagship SD1 DSLR, which captures three colors at each of its 14.6 million pixel sites. The quoted price is the camera's 'street price' reflecting what Sigma thinks the camera will actually sell for, rather than a more speculative recommended selling price. Read full story → Exhibition Review: '8x10' By Impossible Published on Sunday, September 02, 2012 12:00:00 AM GMT The discontinuation of Polaroid film in 2008 led to much despair among its fans. The Impossible Project, founded in the same year, set out to recreate the out-of-production films that Polaroid users had come to depend on. In advance of a new 8x10 monochrome emulsion becoming available to the wider public, The Impossible Project shared it with some of their test users - photographers they call their 'Pioneers', and has created an exhibition in New York City, from the resulting images. Adam Koplan takes a look.  Read full story →
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