Digital Photography Review Newsletter: Wednesday, 28 August 2013

	Digital Photography Review Newsletter Wednesday, 28 August 2013 The most popular weekly photography newsletter, with over 300,000 subscribers
Hello! And welcome to the 472nd Digital Photography Review newsletter. Well after last night's product announcements from Sony, and a whistlestop visit to Canon's HQ last week to see the new PowerShot G16 and S120 I'm afraid you catch me on a pretty tired day. I just drank something to stay awake, and while I'm not exactly sure what's in it (I'd rather not know), apparently I've got 'hours of energy' to look forward to, so apologies of this newsletter starts going a little weird... I'll try to keep it together. The past few days was mainly about new products ('tis the season) but we also took an enjoyable journey back in time to some of the more... unusual early digital cameras, and I had fun sharing my thoughts on commenting, trolls and fanboys in Monday's editorial. Links to all of those pieces follow below. So before I start hallucinating, let's get started! Sony Alpha A3000 Announced and Previewed A DSLR for under four hundred dollars? That might be what it looks like, but under the hood, Sony's latest interchangeable lens camera is all NEX. The Sony A3000 offers a 20.1 megapixel APS-C sensor, a built-in electronic viewfinder, full HD video and a Sony E-mount for interchangeable lenses all for an MSRP of $400 including an 18-55mm kit lens. The competitively priced A3000 offers all the trimmings of an entry-level DSLR including a fixed 3.0-inch LCD, built-in flash and hotshoe. It's a bold move - click the links below to read our first impressions review and find out what we think in more detail. Click here to read our first impressions review of the Sony Alpha A3000 Canon Announces PowerShot G16 and S120 - And We've Got Real-world Samples! It's that time of year again - last week Canon announced its PowerShot G16 and S120 premium compact cameras - both of which benefit from only relatively minor updates compared to their predecessors. The G16 ($550) has the same lens, sensor, and design, but with Wi-Fi, a DIGIC 6 processor, a 12.2 fps burst mode, and a 1080/60p video mode. The Canon S120 ($450) has Wi-Fi like the S110 and gains a slightly faster lens (F1.8-5.7 vs F2.0-5.9), a 12.1 fps burst mode, and 60p video recording. We've had a G16 for a few days and we've published a gallery of real-world samples. Follow the links below to read our announcement content and to view our samples gallery. Click here to view our announcement coverage of the Canon PowerShot G16 and S120 Click here to view our gallery of sample images from the PowerShot G16 Ten Unique Cameras From the Dawn of Digital Photography Do you remember having to change floppy disks on your Sony Mavica? Or perhaps plugging your Coolpix 100 into the side of your laptop? The early days of consumer digital photography were filled with cameras that broke new ground, though not necessarily in directions that were widely adopted. In this article, we take a look back at ten unique cameras from the era of PC Cards and SCSI ports. Follow the link to explore some of the interesting dead-ends of early digital photography. Click here to view our article 'Ten unique cameras from the dawn of consumer digital photography' Sony introduces NEX-5T Wi-Fi and NFC enabled mirrorless camera Sony has announced the Sony Alpha NEX-5T, boasting all the same features that the Alpha NEX-5R offered with the addition of NFC. Smartphones and tablets with the technology will be able to pair easily with the NEX-5T to take advantage of its wireless connectivity. With a 16.1 megapixel APS-C sized sensor, Wi-Fi connectivity and a 3.0-inch flip-up touch LCD, the NEX-5T is introduced at $50 less than its predecessor's initial MSRP. Click here to read our announcement coverage of the new Sony NEX-5T Editorial: Why some people hate comments (and why we don't) Mat Honan of Wired.com thinks the time has come to banish comments sections from web pages. Writing in Wired.com's Gadget Lab blog, Honan describes the 'collective delusion' among online publishers that comments are a necessary component of web content and characterizes active comments moderation as 'a messy, frustrating and typically thankless affair that involves more time than most people have'. In this short editorial, editor Barnaby Britton explains why we do allow comments, despite the downsides. Click here to read 'Why some people hate comments (and why we don't)' What's coming up? Stop me if you've read this before, but we're working on full reviews of the Olympus E-P5, and Sigma's impressive new 18-35mm F1.8 standard zoom. The product announcements of the past few days have pushed both pieces of content back a little, but we're focusing on getting them done asap, before we go insane. We've also got reviews in-progress on the Sony Cyber-shot RX100 II and Fujifilm X-M1. In addition, part two of our nostalgic look back at early digital cameras in the pipeline, and product announcement season isn't over yet, so keep an eye on our homepage. Thanks for reading! I'm going to bed now. Or maybe go for a run. Or maybe fall over. I probably shouldn't drink energy drinks. Barney WTD #1431 Check out What The Duck in our Link Directory GearShop update - a message from Laura This week's best deals: Save up to $300 on popular Fujifilm X-mount lenses when you buy one (or more) with an X-E1 or and X-Pro 1. Both cameras have excellent rangefinder-styling, analog dial controls, and Fujifilm's unique hybrid electronic viewfinder. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 is on sale too! Save $200 on the weather-sealed, fast camera that is sure to please demanding photographers and videographers alike. New in the shop: Pre-order the newest products from Canon and Sony: a slew of new Canon PowerShots, and the Sony a3000 - an incredibly affordable SLR-like mirrorless camera for beginners. On top of all the sale prices, don't forget about the 4% GearShop rewards you'll earn too! Until next week - Laura and the GearShop Team
News updates Artist Rolf Sachs' photo series inspired by train travel, embraces blur Published on Wednesday, August 21, 2013 10:00:00 AM GMT Anyone who's traveled by train has seen the landscape outside of their car moving by in a blur. While most of us turn our attention back to our reading material and mobile devices, artist Rolf Sachs' finds inspiration. His photo series, called 'Camera in Motion,' aims to capture the effect of the blurred landscapes outside of his train traveling between Switzerland and Italy. The resulting images walk a line between landscape photography and surrealist art. Click through to see some of his work. Read full story → Joby introduces GPod Mini Magnetic and MPod Mini Stand flexible tripods Published on Wednesday, August 21, 2013 11:00:00 AM GMT Joby has announced two new flexible tripods. The GPod Mini Magnetic is designed for compact cameras, and the MPod Mini Stand will hold a smartphone in or out of a case. Smaller than the original Gorillapod, the GPod Mini Magnetic - as its name implies - contains magnets in its feet to secure a compact camera to a metal surface. It can hold cameras weighing up to 325 grams. The MPod Mini Stand will accommodate a phone as wide as 3.2 inches between its rubberized 'jaws.' Click through for more details and pricing. Read full story → Kodak bankruptcy plan approved, former film giant exits consumer business Published on Wednesday, August 21, 2013 7:42:20 PM GMT The Kodak planning to exit from bankruptcy on September 3rd looks very different from the familiar imaging company that filed for Chapter 11 last year. The U.S. Bankruptcy court has approved Kodak's plan for reorganization, a step that means the company can resume independent operation soon. CEO Antonio M. Perez issued a statement emphasizing Kodak's move into commercial imaging for a profitable future, including "packaging, functional printing and professional services." Click through to read more about where Kodak now stands. Read full story → Canon's premium PowerShot G16 and S120 get minor updates Published on Thursday, August 22, 2013 4:00:00 AM GMT Canon has announced its PowerShot G16 and S120 premium compact cameras - both of which get only minor updates compared to their predecessors. The G16 ($550) has the same lens, sensor, and design, but with Wi-Fi, a DIGIC 6 processor, a 12.2 fps burst mode, and a 1080/60p video mode. The Canon S120 ($450) has Wi-Fi like the S110 and gains a slightly faster lens (F1.8-5.7 vs F2.0-5.9), a 12.1 fps burst mode, and 60p video recording. Click through for more. Read full story → Canon reveals EF-S 55-250 F4-5.6 IS STM kit-friendly zoom lens Published on Thursday, August 22, 2013 4:00:00 AM GMT Canon has released a version of its EF-S 55-250mm F4-5.6 lens that uses its STM stepping motor. STM lenses are designed for movie recording, with the goal of providing smooth and silent focusing. Unlike its predecessor, the STM version of the 55-250 has internal focusing. You'll be able to pick up the 55-250 STM lens in late September for $350. It's also a safe bet that the 55-250 STM will come bundled with Canon DSLRs in the near future. Read full story → Canon unveils PowerShot SX510 HS and SX170 IS superzooms Published on Thursday, August 22, 2013 4:00:00 AM GMT Canon has announced its PowerShot SX510 and SX170 superzoom digital cameras. The PowerShot SX510 HS now uses a 12.1 megapixel CMOS sensor (versus a 16MP CCD on its predecessor), hence the new 'HS' designation. It offers Wi-Fi connectivity and what's almost certainly the same 24-720mm equivalent optical zoom lens, a 3-inch LCD and Full HD video. The SX170 is essentially the same as its SX160 that came before it, with a 16x optical zoom and 16 megapixel CCD, though it's no longer powered by AA-batteries. The cameras are priced at $250 and $180, respectively. Read full story → Canon announces PowerShot N Facebook ready edition Published on Thursday, August 22, 2013 4:00:00 AM GMT Canon has created a 'Facebook ready' variant of its social-media-focused PowerShot N digital camera. The 'Facebook ready' version will only be available directly from Canon (in the US, at least) and has a dedicated Facebook connect button in the place of the connect-to-device one on the standard N. Once the camera has been taught your login details, you can upload images with a choice of who gets to see them, once posted. The 1/2.3" 12MP sensor camera will cost $299. Read full story → Canon adds Pixma MG7120 and MG5520 all-in-one printers Published on Thursday, August 22, 2013 4:00:00 AM GMT Canon has refreshed its all-in-one lineup with the launch of the Pixma MG7120 and 5520. Both are Wi-Fi capable and, with use of the Pixma Printing Solutions app, can print directly from a host of popular social networks and cloud storage services. Both are also compatible with Apple's AirPrint system. The faster, higher-resolution, 6-ink MG7120 includes a 3.5" touchscreen and the ability to print on CDs and DVDs - it costs around $199. The 5-ink MG5520 has a 2.5" screen and will cost around $149. Read full story → Apple RAW compatibility update adds support for Canon 70D and more Published on Friday, August 23, 2013 2:46:00 AM GMT Apple has released RAW Compatibility Update version 4.08 for Aperture, iPhoto '11, and Mac OS X in general. This update adds support for the Canon EOS 70D, Fujifilm X-M1, Sony RX100 II and five additional cameras. You can download the new software via the System Update feature in Mac OS X or via the source link on the following page. There you'll also find a full list of the newly supported cameras. Read full story → Connected cameras of the future: Crossover solutions Published on Friday, August 23, 2013 3:24:30 AM GMT As camera manufacturers attempt to counter the onslaught of a smartphone-in-every-pocket mobile photography movement taking the place of point-and-shoot cameras, some solutions seek to combine the two devices. Our sister site, connect.dpreview.com has pulled together a handful of these ideas - now in production or still in development - for your interest (and, possibly, amusement). Are these technological wonders that you'll spend your hard-earned cash for, or are they destined for the recycle bin? Read full story → LensRentals shipping Canon EOS 5D Mark III with Magic Lantern Published on Friday, August 23, 2013 3:52:20 AM GMT LensRentals.com is now shipping the Canon EOS 5D Mark III with the Magic Lantern 'hack' pre-installed. The most notable feature gained by using Magic Lantern on the 5D Mark III is Raw video support, which offers much better video quality than on the 'stock' camera. The rest of the Magic Lantern feature set is also available, including focus peaking, an intervalometer, too many movie enhancements to list, plus the DR improvement that we reported on last month. Read full story → Nearly deleted photo helps shot putter secure gold Published on Friday, August 23, 2013 9:00:00 AM GMT Reuters photographer Kai Pfaffenbach found himself unexpectedly on the other side of the lens at the IAAF World Championship Men's Shot Put Finals. His photo of Germany's David Storl was used as evidence in a decision that overturned a 'foul' call and awarded the athlete a gold medal. When it was called into question whether Storl stepped outside of the ring in his attempt, Pfaffenbach discovered that his remote camera clearly showed Storl's attempt to be fair. Click through for more. Read full story → DxOMark rates lenses for Pentax K-50, and reviews Sigma 50-500mm Published on Friday, August 23, 2013 3:22:53 PM GMT Our friends and collaborators over at DxOMark have been investigating lenses for the Pentax K-50, and have just published an article assessing which score best on this well-featured little SLR. They've looked at 28 different models, from both Pentax itself and third-party makes like Sigma and Tamron, and given recommendations for the best lens to buy in various categories. This week they've also tested the Sigma APO 50-500mm f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM super-telephoto zoom, and compared it to the rather more expensive Nikon AF-S Nikkor 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR. Click through for the links.   Read full story → RayFlash introduces universal Ringflash adapter with new clamp design Published on Friday, August 23, 2013 8:17:09 PM GMT RayFlash has announced a new universal ringflash adapter for DSLRs. Designed to clamp on to your own hotshoe flash, it utilizes the light from your existing flash unit and bends it through the circular structure around the lens of a DSLR. It's offered in two sizes - one fits most DSLRs (and the Olympus E-M5 O-MD) and another is configured with a longer neck for cameras with a higher body. It replaces the original adapter which could only accommodate a few Nikon and Canon flash units. Click through for more information. Read full story → What The Duck #1431 Published on Friday, August 23, 2013 10:20:52 PM GMT We've been fans of Aaron Johnson's comic strip 'What the Duck' for years. 'WTD' is one of the best satirical comic strips in the world, and it's published here every week, as well as being included in our weekly newsletter. Barbed, topical and always amusing, we hope you enjoy WTD as much as we do.  Read full story → Retro-styled Mini 90 takes Fujifilm's Instax line back to the future Published on Sunday, August 25, 2013 8:00:07 AM GMT Fujifilm has updated its venerable line of Instax instant film cameras with the new 'Neo Classic' Mini 90, which takes its styling cues from recent X-series digital cameras like the X100S and X-E1. As well as an updated (or rather backdated) design, the Mini 90 includes a lithium-ion battery and features several shooting modes including a macro focus mode, double exposure and bulb - where the shutter can be held open for very long exposures or creative effects. Click through for more details and a link to Fujifilm's (Japanese) Mini 90 microsite. Read full story → Alligator steals DSLR, kindly returns it eight months later Published on Sunday, August 25, 2013 8:11:17 AM GMT During a holiday party at the Everglades Alligator Farm last year, employee and budding wildlife photographer Mario Aldecoa was setting up his camera to capture the glowing eyes of the local residents. It wasn't long after he mounted his Canon DSLR to a tripod when, in a flash, one of the gators grabbed the whole thing as if it was lunch. After a fruitless search the next morning, Aldecoa had all but given up on finding his camera. Eight months later, he was in for a surprise. Read full story → Soak in the season with these vivid summer photos Published on Sunday, August 25, 2013 6:00:00 PM GMT Summer's fast on its way out, something we're acutely aware of in the Pacific Northwest. We're trying to make the most of our sunny days before the clouds and drizzle set in. For a healthy dose of Vitamin D any time of year, take a look at photographer Isac Goulart's sun-soaked images. The Brazilian photographer's colorful beach photos aim to capture the very essence of long summer days. Check them out - and maybe take a few of your own before the weather's gone. Read full story → Michael Wolf offers a new perspective on Hong Kong's high-rises Published on Monday, August 26, 2013 6:03:42 AM GMT At first glance, Michael Wolf's photos look like they could be a tapestry or abstract art. Look closer and you'll see that they're actually cleverly composed photos of Hong Kong's ubiquitous high-rises. Wolf would head to one of the many hills in the city - or sometimes just go upstairs in an adjacent building - and set up his camera. The results are spectacular, as you'll see after the link. Read full story → Editorial: Why some people hate comments (and why we don't) Published on Monday, August 26, 2013 9:04:41 AM GMT Mat Honan of Wired.com thinks the time has come to banish comments sections from web pages. Writing in Wired.com's Gadget Lab blog, Honan describes the 'collective delusion' among online publishers that comments are a necessary component of web content and characterizes active comments moderation as 'a messy, frustrating and typically thankless affair that involves more time than most people have'. In this short editorial, editor Barnaby Britton explains why we do allow comments, despite the downsides.  Read full story → Canon PowerShot G16 Real-world Samples Gallery Published on Monday, August 26, 2013 5:51:04 PM GMT Canon's latest flagship compact camera features a 12MP CMOS sensor, 28-140mm equivalent zoom lens and built-in WiFi. The PowerShot G16 was announced just a few days ago, but we've managed to get hold of one and we've spent the weekend shooting with it in a range of different environments. There's more content on the way, but in the meantime, we hope you enjoy our quick 38-image gallery of JPEGs from the 12MP PowerShot G16.  Read full story → Facebook introduces shared photo albums Published on Tuesday, August 27, 2013 12:05:51 AM GMT Facebook has started rolling out shared photo albums to select users of their social networking website. Currently, photo albums are limited to the user that created it. Shared albums will allow users to create a gallery that can be used by as many as 50 friends, each of whom can upload up to 200 photos. You can learn more about shared photo albums and when you can try it for yourself on our sister site, Connect. Read full story → Sony introduces SLR-esque A3000, a mirrorless camera for $400 Published on Tuesday, August 27, 2013 4:00:00 AM GMT Sony's latest interchangeable lens camera may look like an SLR, but underneath the hood it's all NEX. The Sony A3000 offers a 20.1 megapixel APS-C sensor, a built-in electronic viewfinder, full HD video and a Sony E-mount for interchangeable lenses all for an MSRP of $399 with an 18-55mm kit lens. The competitively priced A3000 offers all the trimmings of an entry-level DSLR including a fixed 3.0-inch LCD, built-in flash and hotshoe. Click through for the full press release and pricing. Read full story → Sony introduces NEX-5T Wi-Fi and NFC enabled mirrorless camera Published on Tuesday, August 27, 2013 4:00:00 AM GMT Sony has announced the Sony Alpha NEX-5T, boasting all the same features that the Alpha NEX-5R offered with the addition of NFC. Smartphones and tablets with the technology will be able to pair easily with the NEX-5T to take advantage of its wireless connectivity. With a 16.1 megapixel APS-C sized sensor, Wi-Fi connectivity and a 3.0-inch flip-up touch LCD, the NEX-5T is introduced at $50 less than its predecessor's initial MSRP. Click through for more information. Read full story → Sony launches Zeiss 16-70mm F4 OSS, 18-105mm F4 G, and black 50mm F1.8 E-mount lenses Published on Tuesday, August 27, 2013 4:00:00 AM GMT Sony has announced three new E-mount lenses today for NEX system cameras: the Carl Zeiss Vario Tessar T* 16-70mm ZA F4, 18-105mm F4 G OSS power zoom, and a black version of its 50mm F1.8 OSS. All three feature Sony's Optical SteadyShot image stabilization. According to Sony, the 50mm F1.8 and 16-70mm F4 zoom will be ready to ship to consumers in September, with the 18-105mm F4 power zoom following in December. Click through for more details. Read full story → Wolf in sheep's clothing? Sony A3000 First-Impressions Review Published on Tuesday, August 27, 2013 4:05:26 AM GMT The Sony A3000 is essentially a 20.1MP mirrorless camera that uses the same E-mount as the Sony NEX, yet which has the look and feel of a traditional SLR. Though not the first manufacturer to take this approach, Sony is the first to achieve the low starting price point of $399 for body and lens. It's a bold move; click through to read our first impressions review to see what we think in more detail. Read full story → Ricoh announces 'HD' update to Pentax DA Limited primes Published on Tuesday, August 27, 2013 10:00:00 PM GMT Ricoh Imaging has announced an updated set of Pentax DA Limited primes, with improved lens coatings and circular aperture diaphragms. Based on the existing 15mm F4, 21mm F3.2, 35mm F2.8 Macro, 40mm F2.8 and 70mm F2.4 designs, the 'HD' versions gain Pentax's multi-layer HD (High Definition) coating, promising reduced flare and ghosting, and include diaphragms that are completely rounded at large aperture settings to give attractive background blur. The lenses will all available in September 2013, in a choice of silver or black. Click through for more details, including pricing. Read full story → Ricoh introduces weather-resistant Pentax flash units Published on Tuesday, August 27, 2013 10:00:00 PM GMT Ricoh has announced the AF540FGZ II and AF360FGZ II Pentax-branded flash units. Both are updates to existing models, now boasting weather-sealed construction to match Pentax's line of weatherized DSLRs. The new flash units also feature built-in LED lights, intended for video recording. The AF540FGZ II offers a guide number of 54 at ISO 100/ft (178 ft) and the AF360FGZ II has a guide number of 36 at ISO 100/m (118 ft). Click through for the full press release. Read full story →
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Digital Photography Review Newsletter: Tuesday, 20 August 2013

	Digital Photography Review Newsletter Tuesday, 20 August 2013 The most popular weekly photography newsletter, with over 300,000 subscribers
Hello! And welcome to the 471st Digital Photography Review newsletter. So last week we were finally able to give you a working preview of our new studio scene in our revised comparison 'widget'. We've completely reworked our studio test image, it's now flatter, bigger (much bigger) and offers a greatly increased resolution for today's generation of sensors. We've also introduced a new 'low light' comparison, and the option to view images at approximately 'web' and 'print' output size. This should be especially useful when it comes to comparing cameras with different output resolutions. Thanks to everyone that has given feedback - keep it coming. We've also been working hard on the Canon EOS 70D, and in addition to the studio and real-world samples that we posted recently, we published a detailed look at its innovative AF system, and added it to our preview. Although we've still got some work to do, the Dual Pixel AF system is certainly looking mighty impressive. Let's take a look at some recent highlights! User experience: In-depth look at Canon 70D's Dual Pixel AF system Following last week's update to the Canon EOS 70D preview, we've been spending a little more time with the camera to get a feel for its new Dual Pixel CMOS phase-detect autofocus system. What we've seen so far has impressed us: in live view the camera offers very responsive AF, eliminating the annoying focus seek we've seen in past models. We have a complete rundown, with samples, on how the Dual Pixel AF performs in both live view and movie mode, as well as a brief studio and low light analysis. Click the links below to go to our review-in-progress. Click here to read our user experience of the Canon EOS 70D's AF system Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX7 Studio and Real-world Samples The GX7 is Panasonic's latest Micro Four Thirds interchangeable lens camera, and one of the company's most interesting models yet. It features a new 16MP sensor, tiltable EVF and LCD, and offers several enthusiast-friendly features including highlight and shadow tone adjustment, an electronic (entirely silent) shutter and in-body image stabilization - a first for Panasonic. Also, we've been working on a brand-new studio comparison scene for some time, and we've decided to give you a sneak peek, using images from the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX7. We'll be speaking more about this new scene (and the new interface that goes with it) very soon, but for now we wanted to let you have a look, try it, play around and tell us what you think. As well as the new scene, you'll find two new options - 'daylight' and 'low light' simulation modes and the option to 'normalize' resolution to simulate print and web output, as well as 100%. Click here to view our gallery of real-world samples from the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX7 Click here to try out our new studio comparison scene using sample images from the GX7 Sony Cyber-shot RX1R Samples Gallery Expanded! We've expanded our gallery of real-world Samples from Sony's Cyber-shot RX1R. The RX1R is essentially the same camera as the older RX1, but without an AA filter on its 24MP full-frame CMOS sensor. We've been shooting with it since we received a production-quality sample and recently took it on a camping trip here in Washington State. We've added 35 images from that trip to our original gallery of real-world samples, including a handful of Raw conversions 'to taste', to give you an idea of what the camera can do. Click here to view our expanded gallery of real-world samples from the Sony Cyber-shot RX1R 'Film was never this sharp': Breaking Bad photographer interviewed Commercial photographer Frank Ockenfels III has worked on several high-profile blockbusters like Harry Potter and Men in Black 3, as well as a number of TV shows, and his most recent work is currently being used to promote the season five finale of Breaking Bad on AMC. PopPhoto has published an interview with him, in which he explains how he got started in the TV and movie business, the equipment he uses, and why he bases his career around the concept of 'never having just one idea'. Click here to read 'Film was never this sharp': Breaking Bad photographer interviewed When bad Weather = Good Photography Landscape photographer Carsten Krieger is no stranger to poor weather, but in this article he explains how you can get great shots even when the sun is hidden from view. His three-page article features several images taken in Ireland which should provide plenty of inspiration for those damp, rainy days that are just around the corner. Click the link below to read the full article. Click here to read 'When Bad Weather = Good Photography' What's coming up? We're getting close to finishing full reviews of the Olympus E-P5, and Sigma's impressive new 18-35mm F1.8 standard zoom. We've also been getting all nostalgic, looking back through our archives to find the most interesting oddities and lost classics from the early days of digital, and we'll be publishing a short article in the next couple of days. Also, remember that autumn (or 'fall', if you'd prefer) is just around the corner, which is traditionally the time when manufacturers start putting out new cameras, so watch out for announcements on our homepage. As always, remember that you can leave feedback, share images and ask questions in our forums, and if there's something you really want to write about, you can also submit your own articles for consideration. We'd love to hear from you. Thanks for reading! Barney WTD #1427 Check out What The Duck in our Link Directory GearShop update - a message from Laura Late last week, GearShop launched 4% rewards that can be redeemed soon after making a qualifying purchase. The good news is that nearly every camera and lens we sell qualifies! Compact, mirrorless and DSLR cameras and their respective lenses have all made the cut. If you aren't sure whether the item you're interested in qualifies, look for this graphic on its GearShop product page: More details are available on our Help Page. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask me on the GearShop forum or contact our customer service team. This week's best deals: Save up to $200 when you buy a Nikon D800 with select lenses or speedlights. Buy Sony's Alpha NEX-7 with the Zeiss Sonnar T* E 24mm f/1.8 ZA Lens and save $200 instantly. Now shipping: Fujifilm's newest X-Mount mirrorless camera, the X-M1 is now available. We have the black and silver kits with the new 16-50mm lens in stock and ready to deliver with free two-day shipping (offered every day, on everything we sell). Thanks! See you next week. Laura and the GearShop Team
News updates Epic fail? 70-200s of all makes among least reliable lenses Published on Tuesday, August 13, 2013 10:17:12 AM GMT Which words spring to mind when you think about 70-200mm zoom lenses - solid and dependable or fragile and unreliable? Lensrentals' Roger Cicala has just published an analysis of the failure rates of the 12,000 lenses he rents out, and the results may surprise you. Even having taken into account popularity and accidental damage, five 70-200s turn up in his highest failure rate table - including the latest models from Canon and Nikon. Read full story → Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ70 Sample Images Published on Tuesday, August 13, 2013 11:00:24 AM GMT We've just posted a 39-image gallery of real-world samples shot on the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ70 zoom compact. Spanning the equivalent of 20-1200mm the FZ70's lens is the largest zoom available in a consumer compact, and we've spent a few days testing it out in a variety of situations, to see what this new superzoom can do. Click through for a link to our gallery of real-world samples.  Read full story → Is the snapshot dead? Seattle collector thinks so Published on Tuesday, August 13, 2013 5:39:35 PM GMT Is the snapshot dead? Seattle-based photo collector Robert E. Jackson believes so. In an interview with National Public Radio, Jackson argues that today's snapshots, stored digitally rather than printed out, are about self-promotion: 'creating an identity about who I am and that's what you want to transfer to Facebook'. You can read extracts from the interview, and watch it in its entirety over at our sister site, connect.dpreview.com. Read full story → 'Film was never this sharp': Breaking Bad photographer interviewed Published on Tuesday, August 13, 2013 9:16:35 PM GMT Commercial photographer Frank Ockenfels III has worked on several high-profile blockbusters like Harry Potter and Men in Black 3, as well as a number of TV shows, and his most recent work is currently being used to promote the season five finale of Breaking Bad on AMC. PopPhoto has published an interview with him, in which he explains how he got started in the TV and movie business, the equipment he uses, and why he bases his career around the concept of 'never having just one idea'. Click through for a link to the full article.  Read full story → Did you miss it? Take a look at the Perseid meteor shower's peak Published on Wednesday, August 14, 2013 10:00:00 AM GMT While some of us were sleeping this weekend, photographers around the northern hemisphere were capturing the Perseid meteor shower as it peaked. The annual shower continues through August 24th, but it reached its highest activity levels on August 11th and 12th as debris from a passing comet produced as many as 100 meteors per hour. This year's relatively dim waxing crescent moon meant more meteors were visible to eager stargazers. Businessinsider.com has put together an impressive gallery of shots. Click through to take a look.  Read full story → Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX7 Real-world Samples Published on Wednesday, August 14, 2013 4:28:08 PM GMT We've just published a gallery of real-world samples shot using the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX7. The GX7 is Panasonic's latest Micro Four Thirds interchangeable lens camera, and one of the company's most interesting models yet. It features a new 16MP sensor, tiltable EVF and LCD, and offers several enthusiast-friendly features including highlight and shadow tone adjustment, an electronic (entirely silent) shutter and in-body image stabilization - a first for Panasonic. Click through for a link to our gallery of real-world shots.  Read full story → Lowepro introduces Photo Sport Shoulder bag in two sizes Published on Wednesday, August 14, 2013 6:16:58 PM GMT Lowepro has announced the Photo Sport Shoulder bag, in two sizes for both DSLR and mirrorless ILC camera kits. The Photo Sport Shoulder 18L is designed to fit a 'pro DSLR without grip' and a standard zoom lens, with a second small lens and room for accessories, including a 10" tablet computer. The smaller Photo Sport Shoulder 12L is designed for an interchangeable lens camera with two lenses, and similar capacity for accessories - including a 10" tablet - as its bigger companion. Both bags are available now for $84.99 and $74.99 respectively. Read full story → Prepare yourself for the 41-megapixel... wristwatch? Published on Wednesday, August 14, 2013 6:53:17 PM GMT Swiss company Hyetis has created a new wristwatch which features a built-in 41MP camera (because anything less would have been soooo 2012...) which is expected to cost around $1200 when it goes on sale. Details are sketchy, but according to the manufacturer, the watch's built-in camera features an 'optical zoom lens', with an integrated ring flash, as well as communication features including a microphone. Click through for more details on our sister site, connect.dpreview.com. Read full story → 20 people injured trying to win new LG phone Published on Wednesday, August 14, 2013 7:58:02 PM GMT What would you do for a new smartphone? At recent promotional event in Seoul, South Korea, twenty people were injured, seven seriously, while trying to collect free phone vouchers for LG's new G2 handset. According to authorities, the stunt went badly wrong when crowds showed up carrying BB guns and 'knives on sticks' to retrieve the vouchers, which were suspended from helium balloons. This simply confirms our long-standing suspicion that the human race truly is doomed. Click through to read more at connect.dpreview.com. Read full story → New test scene beta begins with Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX7 samples Published on Wednesday, August 14, 2013 10:44:11 PM GMT We've been working on a brand-new studio comparison scene for some time, and we've decided to give you a sneak peek, using images from the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX7. We'll be speaking more about this new scene (and the new interface that goes with it) very soon, but for now we wanted to let you have a look, try it, play around and tell us what you think. As well as the new scene, you'll find two new options - 'daylight' and 'low light' simulation modes and the option to 'normalize' resolution to simulate print and web output, as well as 100%. Click through for more.  Read full story → A Day in the Life of the KKK: Anthony Karen talks trust & photojournalism Published on Thursday, August 15, 2013 2:05:49 AM GMT Photographer Anthony Karen has built a career around gaining access to ostensibly inaccessible societies. After a trip to Haiti documenting Vodou rituals, he has gone on to photograph white supremacist groups, the infamous Westboro Baptist Church and the Ku Klux Klan. His compelling photos and unrestricted access to the KKK resulted in a collaboration with the Discovery Channel, and slate.com has published an interesting profile of his work, in which he explains his approach. Click through for extracts, and some of his compelling images.  Read full story → Exposure: Jason van Genderen on 'pocket filmmaking' Published on Thursday, August 15, 2013 5:11:18 PM GMT Sometimes, the best thing that you can do creatively is to give yourself limitations. For filmmaker Jason van Genderen, that meant putting down his camera and picking up his smartphone. Van Genderen prides himself on being a 'pocket filmmaker.' Living in Terrigal, Austrailia, van Genderen spends his days running a creative agency and whenever he gets a chance, he uses smartphones to create films. We spoke to van Genderen about his experience using the Lumia 920 for filmmaking. Click through to read the full interview on connect.dpreview.com. Read full story → User experience: In-depth look at Canon EOS 70D's Dual Pixel AF system Published on Thursday, August 15, 2013 7:20:08 PM GMT Following last week's update to the Canon EOS 70D preview, we've been spending a little more time with the camera to get a feel for its new Dual Pixel CMOS phase-detect autofocus system. What we've seen so far has impressed us: in live view the camera offers very responsive AF, eliminating the annoying focus seek we’ve seen in past models. We have a complete rundown, with samples, on how the Dual Pixel AF performs in both live view and movie mode, as well as a brief studio and low light analysis. Click through to read our review-in-progress. Read full story → What The Duck #1427 Published on Friday, August 16, 2013 2:00:36 PM GMT We've been fans of Aaron Johnson's comic strip 'What the Duck' for years. 'WTD' is one of the best satirical comic strips in the world, and it's published here every week, as well as being included in our weekly newsletter. Barbed, topical and always amusing, we hope you enjoy WTD as much as we do.  Read full story → ThinkTank introduces TurnStyle sling bag Published on Friday, August 16, 2013 3:00:00 PM GMT ThinkTank has announced a new sling-style camera bag. Called the TurnStyle, it's available in three different models, the smallest of which is targeted to mirrorless camera owners. TurnStyle 5 is designed to hold a mirrorless body and up to four lenses. ThinkTank claims the larger TurnStyle 10 and TurnStyle 20 will hold a standard DSLR body and up to three and four lenses, respectively. All three are built with weather-resistant materials and include a rain cover. Click through for details. Read full story → Bolivian airline's demise documented in haunting photos Published on Friday, August 16, 2013 6:37:00 PM GMT Photographer Nick Ballon stumbled across the Lloyd Aero Boliviano headquarters on an annual trip to Bolivia. He was captivated by the expansive property and dilapidated buildings he saw, and his curiosity sparked a photo series and collaboration with Bolivian writer Amaru Villanueva Rance. Six months exploring the grounds, talking with employees and researching the long history of the dying airline has resulted in a stunning photo series and a book called Ezekiel 36:36. Click through for a glimpse into the L.A.B.  Read full story → Full 360-degree camera rig takes your 3D portrait with 60 DSLRs Published on Sunday, August 18, 2013 12:00:00 PM GMT Printing in 3D is in the news a lot lately, but applications are usually limited to industrial prototypes. A company called Captured Dimensions has a different use for this technology. They've rigged 60 DSLRs in a 360-degree array to capture 3D portraits. The likeness is then printed using a substance containing gypsum powder, resulting in a 3D sculpture of 1/12 to 1/5 scale. Ready for your 3D closeup? Click through for more details (including how much it'll set you back). Read full story → Gorgeous color photos of America in the 1930's and 40's Published on Sunday, August 18, 2013 1:00:00 PM GMT World War II and Depression-era America was mostly documented in black and white. That's why these color photos of the time belonging to the Library of Congress are so engrossing. Shot in color at the same time as more widely recognized black-and-white photos, these images offer a vivid look into American life in 30's and 40's. We've picked a few favorites of the more than 1500 images total contained within the Library of Congress' Flickr account.  Read full story → When Bad Weather Means Great Photography Published on Monday, August 19, 2013 9:00:17 AM GMT Landscape photographer Carsten Krieger is no stranger to poor weather, but in this article he explains how you can get great shots even when the sun is hidden from view. His three-page article features several images taken in Ireland which should provide plenty of inspiration for those damp, rainy days that are just around the corner. Click through for a link to the full article.  Read full story → Sanna Dullaway Adds Color to the Most Iconic Photos in History Published on Monday, August 19, 2013 9:44:57 AM GMT General-interest blog The Roosevelts has posted a selection of artist Sanna Dullaway's colorized images, showing what iconic images might have looked like to the photographer that captured them. Among the (exceeding well-done, it must be said) adjusted images are Malcolm Browne's iconic shot of monk Thich Quang Duc's self-immolation, Alfred Eisenstaedt's famous image of the kiss in Times Square on VJ Day, and Anne Frank's haunting 1942 portrait. Click through for a selection of shots, and links to both the full article and Sanna's website. Read full story → Rokinon launches Cine 16mm T2.2 lens for APS-C and Micro Four Thirds Published on Monday, August 19, 2013 6:43:29 PM GMT Rokinon has made available a video version of the Samyang 16mm f/2.0 prime. The 16mm T2.2 Cine lens is available for pre-order in Nikon F, Canon EF, Micro Four Thirds, Sony A, and Sony E mounts. Like other video primes, it offers focus and aperture racks for use with cinema rigs, stepless aperture control, and calibration in T-stops rather than F-stops. Rokinon's website lists compatible mounts for Pentax, Samsung NX and Fujifilm X though they aren't yet available for pre-order, and lists the lens at an MSRP of $499. Read full story → Sony Cyber-shot RX1R Samples Gallery Expanded! Published on Monday, August 19, 2013 9:57:51 PM GMT We've just expanded our gallery of real-world Samples from Sony's Cyber-shot RX1R. The RX1R is essentially the same camera as the older RX1, but without an AA filter on its 24MP full-frame CMOS sensor. We've been shooting with it since we received a production-quality sample and recently took it on a camping trip here in Washington State. We've added 35 images from that trip to our original gallery of real-world samples, including a handful of Raw conversions 'to taste', to give you an idea of what the camera can do. Click through for a link.  Read full story →
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