Digital Photography Review Newsletter: Wednesday, 27 August 2014

	Digital Photography Review Newsletter Wednesday, 27 August 2014 The most popular weekly photography newsletter, with over 300,000 subscribers
Welcome to the 524th Digital Photography Review newsletter. We're squeezing out the last dregs of the summer here in DPReview's Seattle offices, making the most of the last few really sunny weekends before autumn arrives. The ground needs the rain, but the past couple of months have been glorious, and full of photographic opportunities. We've been posting plenty of sample galleries recently - take a look in our new features index page. In the meantime, here are a few other content highlights from the past few days: X-Trans excellence? Fujifilm X30 First Impressions Review Fujifilm's new X30 premium compact is an intriguing piece of kit, with a larger-than-average sensor and reasonably fast lens. While not a revolutionary upgrade to the X20, it still provides some nice improvements. After some play time, we've put together a First Impressions Review that spells out what's new and what's not. Click here to read our first-impressions review of the Fujifilm X30 Part two: Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 / Sony Alpha 7S Comparative Review Our comparative review of the Panasonic GH4 and Sony Alpha 7S started with a look at their designs, handling and video spec. Between them they've set new benchmarks for the sophistication of their video capabilities, but they're both potentially very capable stills cameras as well. That brings us to part two of our review, which adds six pages including analysis of image quality and dynamic range. We've also expanded our look at the video modes on each camera. Take a look at our expanded comparison of the GH4 and A7S. Read part 2 of our comparative review of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 and Sony Alpha 7S Camera roundups 2014: What to buy and why We've updated two of our 2013 camera roundups, bringing the enthusiast compact and consumer DSLR categories up to date with the latest models. These guides are designed to help give a comprehensive look at each camera class. We'll be addressing the remaining four roundups in the coming weeks. View our updated camera roundups Readers' Showcase: Macro Photography While it's easy to get swept up in the stream of announcements over the next few weeks, it's also a good idea to remember why we buy that gear - to make great photos. What better way to do it than to showcase the excellent work of our own community? This week we asked users of our Macro and Still Life Photography forum to submit their favorite macro shots for inclusion in our Readers' Showcase. Unsurprisingly, we saw a lot of great work. Click here to take a look at our gallery of readers' images Portfolio: Todd Bretl's captivating underwater photography Todd Bretl says he asks himself 'Would I hang this on my wall?' when he's composing his photos of marine life. Challenging himself with this question has helped him produce some stunning works of art. Some of his images call to mind glass sculpture, while others capture the wildness that thrives below the water's surface. He answered our questions about his process and gear - take a look at some of his work and find out more about how it's created. Click here to read more and see a gallery of Todd's images What's coming up? Work continues on the Nikon D810, and we're finishing up our look at the Panasonic GH4 and Sony Alpha A7S with more detail on their video features and performance in the next few days. It's unlikely that the Fujifilm X30 was the last pre-Photokina camera we'll see, either and I'm expecting a few more briefings from manufacturers before we head to Germany next month. Things are about to get busy! See you next week. Barney GearShop update - a message from the team Not every camera gets the prestigious Gold Award, but it gets even better when it's available for $200 off. The Olympus OM-D M5 received high marks for its high-ISO performance and its outstanding image quality. It features an articulated LCD with touchscreen controls, RAW shooting, and manual controls… and right now you can save $200 off its list price. For the DSLR user, the Gold-awarded Canon EOS 70D is available for $100 less than list price. This top-quality camera, also with a touchscreen LCD interface, offers DSLR shooters a unique way to interface with their craft. Until next week - the GearShop Team
News updates Part two: Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 / Sony Alpha 7S Comparative Review Published on Tuesday, August 26, 2014 7:05:21 PM GMT Our comparative review of the Panasonic GH4 and Sony Alpha 7S started with a look at their designs, handling and video spec. They've set new benchmarks for the sophistication of their video capabilities, but they're both potentially very capable stills cameras as well. That brings us to part two of our review, which adds six pages including analysis of image quality and dynamic range. We've also expanded our look at the video modes on each camera. Read more Read full story → Instagram Hyperlapse app creates smooth time-lapse video Published on Tuesday, August 26, 2014 6:35:44 PM GMT Last week Microsoft announced development of a technology that turns shaky first-person video into smooth, stabilized hyperlapse videos. Now it appears that Instagram has beaten them to market with a similar product. They've announced Hyperlapse, an app that converts videos of up to 45 minutes into smooth and stable time-lapses with a speed of up to 12x faster than the original. Read more Read full story → Opinion: Do we really need the Fuji X30? Published on Tuesday, August 26, 2014 2:00:00 PM GMT With the camera industry moved on somewhat since the birth of the Fuji X series compact, is there still room for a 12 million pixel compact in a less-than compact body? In this opinion piece, senior contributing writer Damien Demolder ponders the very existence of Fujifim's newest X-series camera. Read more Read full story → X-Trans excellence? Fujifilm X30 First Impressions Review Published on Tuesday, August 26, 2014 5:00:00 AM GMT Fujifilm's new X30 premium compact is an intriguing piece of kit, with a larger-than-average sensor and reasonably fast lens. While not a revolutionary upgrade to the X20, it still provides some nice improvements. After some play time, we've put together a First Impressions Review that spells out what's new and what's not. Read full story → The X-factor: Hands-on with Fujifilm's X30 Published on Tuesday, August 26, 2014 5:00:00 AM GMT The X30, Fujifilm's latest enthusiast compact camera, offers the same 12MP sensor and 28-112mm (equivalent) lens as the X20 but improves on its predecessor with updated ergonomics. Changes include a new electronic viewfinder, a tilting screen, and Wi-Fi. We've had access to a prototype X30 for a few days - click through for a hands-on tour of the new camera.  Read full story → Fujifilm announces X30 enthusiast compact camera Published on Tuesday, August 26, 2014 5:00:00 AM GMT Fujfilm has introduced its X30 enthusiast compact, which offers a 2/3" X-Trans II CMOS sensor and a 28-112mm equivalent F2.0-2.8 lens - both of which are retained from the X20 that precedes it. New features include a larger, tilting 3" LCD, an XGA OLED electronic viewfinder, a control wheel around the lens, and greatly improved battery life. A new 'Classic Chrome' film simulation mode has also been added, as has Wi-Fi. Read more Read full story → DxOMark Mobile Report added to our HTC One M8 review Published on Monday, August 25, 2014 9:01:40 PM GMT With top-notch hardware and plenty of imaging features, the HTC One M8 presents a lot to like as a mobile photography tool. Unfortunately, its 4 megapixel camera just can't keep up with other flagship phones and we were underwhelmed by its image quality when we reviewed it. Our collaborators at DxO have put the One M8 through their usual round of mobile imaging tests. See how it scored Read full story → Enthusiast compact camera roundup (2014) Published on Monday, August 25, 2014 6:42:33 PM GMT Which capable compact, with plenty of control, should I buy? Read full story → Consumer SLR Camera Roundup (2014) Published on Monday, August 25, 2014 6:38:00 PM GMT To improve my general purpose and family photography, which camera should I choose? Read full story → What to buy and why: Camera roundups updated Published on Monday, August 25, 2014 5:16:31 PM GMT We've updated two of our 2013 camera roundups, bringing the enthusiast compact and consumer DSLR categories up to date with the latest models. These guides are designed to help give a comprehensive look at each camera class. We'll be addressing the remaining four roundups in the coming weeks. Read more Read full story → Fujifilm XF 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR samples gallery Published on Monday, August 25, 2014 10:00:00 AM GMT The Fujifilm XF 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 is a weather-resistant lens designed as a companion to the weather-resistant Fujifilm X-T1. Covering a 27-200mm equivalent range, it claims to offer the world's most advanced image stabilization system, using gyro sensors for a gain of up to five stops. Is it the ideal pair for the X-T1? We took it out for a spin. See gallery Read full story → Portfolio: Todd Bretl's captivating underwater photography Published on Sunday, August 24, 2014 10:00:00 AM GMT Todd Bretl says he asks himself 'Would I hang this on my wall?' when he's composing his photos of marine life. Challenging himself with this question has helped him produce some stunning works of art. Some of his images call to mind glass sculpture, while others capture the wildness that thrives below the water's surface. He answered our questions about his process and gear - take a look at some of his work and find out more about how it's created. See gallery Read full story → Portfolio: Martin Kimbell's 'Light Paintings' Published on Sunday, August 24, 2014 10:00:00 AM GMT UK-based photographer Martin Kimbell doesn't put his camera down when the sun goes in. His series of 'light paintings' add a surreal twist to long-exposure night pictures. In his images, tunnels, spirals and discs of light create sculptural forms in the landscape. We spoke to him about his work, and how he creates it. Click through to view his images and read our Q&A.  Read full story → Things they carried: Thom Atkinson's 'Soldiers' Inventories' Published on Saturday, August 23, 2014 10:00:00 AM GMT 'What's in your bag?' is a question we ask a lot of photographers, because, well, we're nosy that way. Asking the very same question, photographer Thom Atkinson posed it (figuratively) to centuries of British soldiers. He's assembled what would have been the belongings and clothing of a dozen combatants, ranging from medieval to modern-day soldiers. Take a look and learn how it all came together in our Q&A. See gallery Read full story → Readers' Showcase: Macro photography Published on Saturday, August 23, 2014 10:00:00 AM GMT While it’s easy to get swept up in the stream of announcements over the next few weeks, it’s also a good idea to remember why we buy that gear - to make great photos. What better way to do it than to showcase the excellent work of our own community? This week we asked users of our Macro and Still Life Photography forum to submit their favorite macro shots for inclusion in our Readers' Showcase. Unsurprisingly, we saw a lot of great work. See gallery Read full story → Hasselblad unveils pixel-shifting 200MP H5D-200c MS Published on Friday, August 22, 2014 3:55:00 PM GMT Hasselblad has taken another step towards the total switch to CMOS sensors with the introduction of new multi-shot versions of the company’s H5D 50c, including a model that outputs images of up to 200 million pixels. The H5D-50c MS and H5D-200c MS are 4-shot and 6-shot bodies that use pixel shifting to create higher resolution images than their 50-million-pixel sensors could in a single shot. Click through for more information. Read full story → Pics.io, a browser-based Raw editor built on Google Drive, goes live with public beta Published on Friday, August 22, 2014 3:45:47 PM GMT Ukrainian start-up Pics.io is hoping to change your photography post-processing workflow with its new browser-based Raw editing and organization service. Using WebGL technology to harness the power of your computer’s graphics card, Pics.io is able to offer Raw image editing and management for Canon, Nikon, Sony and Olympus Raw files right in your web browser. Read more Read full story → Quick Review: Zenfolio's Photographer Central Published on Friday, August 22, 2014 10:00:00 AM GMT Recently, Zenfolio announced its newest online venture, Photographer Central - an online directory of photographers. This website promises to bring customers in direct contact with local photographers while making the search free and easy to use. Does it live up to its claims? We took the service for a test spin. Read more Read full story → Monkey photo copyright in question as Wikipedia denies photographer's takedown request Published on Friday, August 22, 2014 12:21:00 AM GMT Update: A report issued by the US Copyright Office takes Wikimedia's side in a debate between a nature photographer and the organization. According to the report, the 'selfie' captured by a black crested macaque on David Slater's camera cannot by copyrighted since it was created by an animal. On a trip to Indonesia in 2011, Slater, a nature photographer was photographing the monkey when it grabbed his camera and proceeded to take hundreds of pictures of itself. Wikimedia defended a decision to keep the image in its database when Slater cried foul. Read more Read full story → Where's the red dot? Leica releases new M-P Digital rangefinder Published on Thursday, August 21, 2014 5:22:40 PM GMT Under the slogan 'Perfect understatement' Leica has quietly released a new M-series rangefinder, the M-P Digital (240). Featuring a full-frame 24MP CMOS sensor and 2GB of built-in RAM, Leica claims that the new M-P digital is 'twice as fast' as the standard M (Typ 240). The original Leica MP (no hypen) announced in 2003, took the film M-series back to its 1950s roots by featuring unflashy ergonomics inspired by the M3. The new model updates the same approach, omitting the iconic Leica red dot. Click through for more details. Read full story → Sony a7S used to shoot Chevrolet commercial Published on Thursday, August 21, 2014 7:01:00 AM GMT Film industry accessory manufacturer Cinoflex was recently tasked with rigging up a new Sony a7S mirrorless camera for use on a Chevrolet commercial. After some testing, the Cinoflex Type SA7S Camera System was created to allow the filmmakers to attach the necessary range of auxiliary equipment needed on a high budget commercial shoot. Read more Read full story → 'Cities at Night' project puts citizens to work identifying images of Earth Published on Thursday, August 21, 2014 4:00:00 AM GMT Got a few minutes to spare? You've got enough time on your hands to help a group of researchers tackle a massive problem. Cities at Night is a project aiming to recruit help from ordinary citizens in classifying images of Earth at night taken by astronauts aboard the International Space Station. An effort of Universidad Complutense de Madrid staff and students, their main goal is to better understand and reduce light pollution. See how you can help Read full story → Lensbaby announces availability of LM-10 Sweet Spot lens for mobile and Sweet 50 optic Published on Wednesday, August 20, 2014 7:45:00 PM GMT Lensbaby has announced that its LM-10 Sweet Spot lens for mobile devices is available immediately through its online store and retailers worldwide. The LM-10 concept was unveiled back in April with a Kickstarter campaign that raised more than twice the amount needed to see the lens go into production. Alongside the LM-10, Lensbaby has also announced the Sweet 50 optic. The Sweet 50, a selective-focus 50mm lens, works with Lensbaby's Optic Swap System and is also available now. Read more Read full story → Google Photo Sphere now available for iOS Published on Wednesday, August 20, 2014 6:40:06 PM GMT Google's Photo Sphere feature for capturing 360° spheric panoramas was launched in 2012 with the camera app in Android 4.2. Since then it has only been available for devices running Google's mobile OS - until now. The Photo Sphere team at Google has just launched a version for Apple's iOS devices, dramatically increasing the potential user base of its app. Read more Read full story → Samsung NX3000 real-world samples Published on Wednesday, August 20, 2014 7:01:00 AM GMT The Samsung NX3000 is a rangefinder-style mirrorless interchangeable lens camera that sports a 20.3MP APS-C CMOS sensor, a 3" flip-up LCD, 5 fps continuous shooting, and Wi-Fi with NFC. We took delivery of an NX3000 recently and we've been out shooting with it and the 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 power zoom lens to see how it performs in the real world. Click through for a link to our gallery.  Read full story → Metz Mecablitz 64 AF-1 flagship flash unit gets US announcement and pricing Published on Wednesday, August 20, 2014 5:00:00 AM GMT Previously introduced on its European website, Metz has announced its new flagship model the Mecablitz 64 AF-1 in the US market. It's the most powerful flash in that manufacturer's lineup with a guide number of 64 at ISO 100 and a zoom range covering 24-200mm focal lengths, and will be available for Canon, Nikon, Sony, Olympus, Panasonic and Pentax cameras. Read more Read full story → HTC introduces One M8 for Windows Phone Published on Wednesday, August 20, 2014 12:01:00 AM GMT Two years after HTC launched its Windows Phone flagship model 8X, the Taiwanese manufacturer now offers another high-end model with the Microsoft OS. Today HTC has revealed a Windows Phone version of the HTC One M8, originally launched with Google's Android OS in March this year. This means the One M8's unique Duo Cam features are now available in a Windows phone environment. Read more Read full story →
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Digital Photography Review Newsletter: Wednesday, 20 August 2014

	Digital Photography Review Newsletter Wednesday, 20 August 2014 The most popular weekly photography newsletter, with over 300,000 subscribers
Welcome to the 523rd Digital Photography Review newsletter. As Photokina draws closer, rumors abound about what's coming around the corner. What's on your wish list? A Canon EOS 7D Mark II? A Nikon 'D750'? It's still a little too far out for us to know anything official, but both cameras - if real - would certainly be exciting. Back in the real world, here are a few other content highlights from the past few days: What's NEX? Sony Alpha a5100 first impressions review As Sony introduces the Alpha a5100 interchangeable lens camera, it officially leaves behind the NEX moniker its mirrorless line originated with. The a5100 picks up where the NEX-5 series leaves off, combining the 24.3 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor of the a6000 and the more compact footprint of the NEX-5T. The a5100 also inherits many of the a6000's good qualities, including its impressive autofocus system. The a5100 also one-ups its big brother by offering 1080/60p video at 50Mbps. We took a hands-on, preliminary look at the a5100. Click here to read our first-impressions review of the Sony Alpha a5100 Accessory Review: Drobo Mini RAID The Drobo Mini is a portable RAID storage solution with four HD bays, speedy Thunderbolt connectivity, and desktop-based monitoring software. Ideal for photography and videography, the Drobo Mini has many features that might make it attractive to enthusiast and professional photographers and videographers. See how the Drobo Mini fared in our review. Read our review of the Drobo Mini RAID Site News: New 'Features' Index Page! Just a reminder, we've created a new index page for non-review content. This is where you'll find articles and news stories, arranged in categories according to theme - everything from interviews and show reports to accessory reviews. Read more and check out our new features index page Readers' Showcase: Astrophotography In all the talk about new gear, it's easy to overlook the end result of our shared passion - the pursuit of stunning images. Among our large community there are some incredibly talented photographers who share their work in our forums, galleries and photo challenges, and from time to time we like to showcase some of the best work on our homepage. Recently we asked users of our astrophotography forum to submit their favorite shots and as usual, the images were excellent. Click here to take a look at our gallery of readers' images DPR reader loses camera in fall, sustains injury and lives to tell the tale Let's get the important thing out of the way first - Greg Theulings is fine. His Fujifilm X-T1, on the other hand, is not. Keen landscape photographer and DPR forum member, Theulings was on a trip to to Luxembourg and the German Eifel photographing the some rapids when he slipped on a rock, fell into the water and dislocated his shoulder. His camera and lens were destroyed, but his memory card survived. See his photos and read his story - and maybe take a little extra care on those rocks when you're out on your last photo trip of the summer. Click here to read more and see a gallery of Greg's images What's coming up? Business as usual - we're finishing up our reviews of the Panasonic GH4 and Sony Alpha 7S, and hard at work adding more to our detailed first-impressions review of the D810 - specifically looking at the AF system. We've also got a couple of real-world samples galleries coming soon as well - one from the very nice Samsung NX3000 and another from Fujifilm's new weather-sealed 18-135mm X-mount zoom lens. See you next week! Barney GearShop update - a message from the team Now is the time to save $300 on the Olympus OM-D E-M5 with 12-50mm F3.5-6.3 lens (24-100mm equivalent). With its low-profile, fast autofocus, weather-sealed body, and speedy 9fps shooting speed, this handy unit will make the best of travel companions. Another $300 savings deal awaits in the Olympus XZ-2 enthusiast compact. This camera offers a hand grip for those occasions where you want to have sure hold while shooting 1080p HD video of your adventures. It will accept a dedicated flash, but also includes a built-in flash. You may not need to use either one, however, as the fast F1.8-2.5 zoom lens (28-112mm equivalent) makes it easy to use available light to get the shot. Until next week - the GearShop Team
News updates Canon offers three new wireless Pixma inkjet photo printers Published on Tuesday, August 19, 2014 6:52:40 PM GMT Canon has announced three new Pixma All-in-One inkjet printers, the Canon Pixma MG7520, MG6620 and MG5620 (MG7550, MG6650 and MG5650 in Europe). They all offer wireless support with Apple AirPrint connectivity, as well as compatibility with Canon's Easy-PhotoPrint+ web application and Pixma Printing Solutions. Read more Read full story → Nikon announces service advisory for D810 'bright spots' Published on Tuesday, August 19, 2014 4:52:00 PM GMT Nikon has announced a service advisory for the Nikon D810, in response to reports of 'bright spots' in images taken at long shutter speeds and in 1.2X crop mode. According to an announcement on Nikon's website, affected cameras will be serviced free of charge. Apparently, the issue only affects cameras within a certain serial number range, and if you're lucky enough to have got hold of a D810 already, you can check the serial number of your camera against Nikon's database via the company's service and support pages. Click through for a link.  Read full story → Sony Xperia Z2 camera review Published on Tuesday, August 19, 2014 7:01:00 AM GMT The Xperia Z2 is Sony's latest flagship Android smartphone and a solid upgrade to its predecessor, the Xperia Z1. Though the Z2 offers nearly identical camera specs to its predecessor, its 20.7MP 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor is capable of recording 4K video, unlike the Z1. We've put the Sony Xperia Z2 through our usual testing routine to find how image quality compares to the preceding model, and how the new features perform in real-life shooting. Read more Read full story → Profoto confirms Nikon compatible B1 update for September Published on Tuesday, August 19, 2014 1:00:00 AM GMT Profoto, the Swedish flash manufacturer, has confirmed that a Nikon compatible TTL remote will be available for its popular B1 off-camera flash on September 15th - just in time for Photokina. The Air Remote TTL-N will give Nikon photographers the same TTL functionality enjoyed by Canon shooters with its Air Remote TTL-C since the November 2013 launch of the B1 flash. Read more Read full story → What's NEX? Sony Alpha a5100 first impressions review Published on Monday, August 18, 2014 4:00:00 AM GMT As Sony introduces the Alpha a5100 interchangeable lens camera, it officially leaves behind the NEX moniker its mirrorless line originated with. The a5100 picks up where the NEX-5 series leaves off, combining the 24.3 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor of the a6000 and the more compact footprint of the NEX-5T. The a5100 also inherits many of the a6000's good qualities, including its impressive autofocus system. The a5100 also one-ups its big brother by offering 1080/60p video at 50Mbps. We took a hands-on, preliminary look at the a5100. Read more Read full story → Hands-on with the Sony Alpha a5100 Published on Monday, August 18, 2014 4:00:00 AM GMT The Sony Alpha a5100 is a petite, compact mirrorless interchangeable lens camera with a lot to offer. We've had access to a pre-production sample for a few days, and as well as a full first impressions review we also got hands-on with Sony's latest Alpha. Click through for a tour of the a5100's major features. Read full story → Sony announces Alpha a5100 compact mirrorless camera Published on Monday, August 18, 2014 4:00:00 AM GMT Sony has announce its new Alpha a5100 mirrorless camera, which takes the 'guts' from the a6000 and puts it into the compact body inherited from the NEX-5 line. The a5100 offers the same 24.3MP sensor with on-chip phase detection as the a6000, along with a 3" LCD that flips up 180 degrees for taking self-portraits. The a5100 has impressive video features for its price, including support for the XAVC S codec, which allows for 1080/60p/24p recording at 50Mbps. Read full story → Readers' Showcase: Astrophotography Published on Sunday, August 17, 2014 9:00:00 AM GMT In all the talk about new gear, it's easy to overlook the end result of our shared passion - the pursuit of stunning images. Among our large community there are some incredibly talented photographers who share their work in our forums, galleries and photo challenges, and from time to time we like to showcase some of the best work on our homepage. Recently we asked users of our astrophotography forum to submit their favorite shots and as usual, the images were excellent. See gallery Read full story → DPR reader loses camera in fall, sustains injury and lives to tell the tale Published on Saturday, August 16, 2014 9:00:00 AM GMT Let's get the important thing out of the way first - Greg Theulings is fine. His Fujifilm X-T1, on the other hand, is not. Keen landscape photographer and DPR forum member, Theulings was on a trip to to Luxembourg and the German Eifel photographing the some rapids when he slipped on a rock, fell into the water and dislocated his shoulder. His camera and lens were destroyed, but his memory card survived. See his photos and read his story - and maybe take a little extra care on those rocks when you're out on your last photo trip of the summer. Read full story → Rare Canon EF 1200mm f/5.6L USM goes on sale in UK Published on Friday, August 15, 2014 3:56:00 PM GMT A copy of one of the largest interchangeable lenses for SLRs ever produced has emerged for at a UK retailer. Canon's massive EF 1200mm f/5.6 L USM is a rare beast, and the longest lens in the world with AF. MPB Photographic describes it as being in mint condition and has priced the lens at £99,000. Read more Read full story → ESA's ATV-5 equipped with camera to document atmospheric breakup Published on Friday, August 15, 2014 12:01:00 AM GMT The European Space Agency's ATV-5 supply vessel docked a couple of days ago with the International Space Station. Not just loaded with cargo for the ISS, the ATV-5 is also carrying newly developed camera technology which will record the final moments of ATV-5's breakup on re-entering Earth's atmosphere. The Break-Up Camera was designed in only nine months and will relay images from the last 20 seconds of the vessel's life to a capsule that can survive the extreme heat of reentry. Learn more Read full story → Accessory Review: Drobo Mini RAID Published on Thursday, August 14, 2014 3:00:00 AM GMT The Drobo Mini is a portable RAID storage solution with four HD bays, speedy Thunderbolt connectivity, and desktop-based monitoring software. Ideal for photography and videography, the Drobo Mini has many features that might make it attractive to enthusiast and professional photographers and videographers. See how the Drobo Mini fared in our review. Read full story → Manfrotto announces carbon fiber BeFree tripod Published on Wednesday, August 13, 2014 6:40:00 PM GMT Manfrotto has announced a carbon fiber version of its BeFree tripod, previously available only in aluminum. The lighter carbon fiber BeFree weighs 1.1 kg/2.4 lbs (as compared to the 1.4 kg/3 lb aluminum version) and features a reverse folding design that allows it shrink to 15.7 inches (~40cm) in length when collapsed and stored. Designed for travel, it can hold up to 4 kg/8.8 lbs and is available now in the US for $389. Read more Read full story → Samsung announces Galaxy Alpha with metal body and 12MP camera Published on Wednesday, August 13, 2014 4:40:00 PM GMT Samsung has announced the Galaxy Alpha - the first Galaxy smartphone with a metal frame. With its 4.7-inch 720p AMOLED screen the Galaxy Alpha is similar in dimensions to the Galaxy S5 Mini but 6.7mm thinner. The device comes with a 12MP rear camera which is unusual in that no other current high-end Samsung offers this sort of megapixel-count but no information on sensor size and technology is currently available.  Read full story → Weather Channel announces photo contest winners Published on Wednesday, August 13, 2014 10:00:00 AM GMT The Weather Channel has announced the winners of its inaugural photo contest. Photographers submitted images that best capture the spirit of the Weather Channel's 'It's Amazing Out There' tagline. From over 30,000 entries, one Grand Prize Winner was selected along with three finalists from each category - Living World, Adventure and the Elements. Take a look at the winning photos. See gallery Read full story →
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Digital Photography Review Newsletter: Wednesday, 13 August 2014

	Digital Photography Review Newsletter Wednesday, 13 August 2014 The most popular weekly photography newsletter, with over 300,000 subscribers
Welcome to the 522nd Digital Photography Review newsletter. Hello from Seattle, fresh from last night's lightning storm and a little cooler for it. In the temperature sense, I mean - this is still the nerdiest city I've ever lived in. Speaking of nerdy, if you've been enjoying our content on the Panasonic GH4 and Sony a7S you should check out how they stack up in our studio comparison scene. Both are very impressive products indeed, even if you don't need their 4K video capabilities. Here are a few other content highlights from the past few days: Nikon D810: A sport photographer's impressions UK-based sports photographer Guy Swarbrick specializes in shooting cycling events, but this summer he got the opportunity to shoot the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow Scotland. Just before the games he took delivery of Nikon's latest full-frame DSLR the D810, and in this article he shares his experiences of using the camera. Click through to read his impressions of the D810, and take a look at some of his pictures. Click here to read Guy Swarbrick's impressions of shooting sports with the Nikon D810 Behind the Shot: Flames of the North Nature photographer Erez Marom had cold feet - literally - when he created this image. Standing (with thermal boots on) in the freezing waters of a glacier lagoon in Iceland, he saw an opportunity to capture a unique ice formation in the foreground, distant snow-capped mountains and the Aurora Borealis above it all. In this article he explains how he used focus stacking to get the look he wanted for his final image, 'Flames of the North'. Read Erez Marom's article 'Behind the Shot: Flames of the North' Site News: New 'Features' Index Page! Hey you know that article you read on dpreview.com a couple of months ago that you really liked? What was it called again...? do you remember who wrote it...? Yeah, we hear you. Since we made some site changes earlier this summer it's been pretty hard to find certain types of articles but we've been working on it, and we're pleased to announce a new index page for non-review content. This is where you'll find articles and news stories, arranged in categories according to theme - everything from interviews and show reports to accessory reviews. Read more and check out our new features index page LensRentals looks into the Canon EF 16-35 f/4 IS The team over at LensRentals has been doing a lot of work recently, looking at the performance of Canon's new EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM wideangle zoom. They're pretty impressed by the optical quality of the new lens, but being in the business of renting and repairing gear, they also wanted to know how well it would stand up to the rigors of daily use - and how easy it would be to work on. Click through to learn how the new EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM compares mechanically. Click here to take a look inside Canon's new wideangle zoom Exposing sharks in a positive light George Probst has been fascinated with sharks his whole life, but it wasn't until he found himself newly single with some extra money in savings that his dream of diving with and photographing sharks became a reality. He hopes his photos will inspire others to see sharks in a light unlike their typical portrayal in movies and pop culture. Find out about his process and see his work. Click here to take a look at George Probst's work What's coming up? It's that time again... we're starting to get invites to press briefings, and we're booking meetings at Photokina, which is coming around the corner pretty quickly so it's safe to assume that there's a lot of new gear on its way very soon. We'll be right there with full coverage as you'd expect, and until then we're cracking on with our reviews of the Nikon D810, Panasonic GH4 and Sony Alpha 7S. See you next week! Barney WTD #1342   GearShop update - a message from the team Now is a great time to explore the world of mirrorless rangefinder-style cameras. Two great models from Samsung can get you there. First, the NX300 with the 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 OIS lens is being offered with a savings of over $250. This cameras features a 20 megapixel CMOS sensor, hybrid autofocus, up to 9 fps shooting, and advanced Wi-Fi to make uploading to the web easier than ever. For greater savings, look to the Samsung NX2000 kit with the 20-50mm F3.5-5.6 lens, which, when bought together, will save you over $350. Also featuring a 20MP sensor, this setup offers 8fps shooting, the simplicity of NFC which allows you connect instantly to compatible Android devices, and a variety of different body colors to suit your style. Until next week - the GearShop Team
News updates Nikon D810: A sport photographer's impressions Published on Tuesday, August 12, 2014 8:35:00 PM GMT UK-based sports photographer Guy Swarbrick specializes in shooting cycling events, but this summer he got the opportunity to shoot the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow Scotland. Just before the games he took delivery of Nikon's latest full-frame DSLR the D810, and in this article he shares his experiences of using the camera. Click through to read his impressions of the D810, and take a look at some of his pictures.  Read full story → Site news: New 'Features' index page Published on Tuesday, August 12, 2014 7:12:00 PM GMT Hey you know that article you read on dpreview.com a couple of months ago that you really liked? What was it called again...? do you remember who wrote it...? Yeah, we hear you. Since we made some site changes earlier this summer it's been pretty hard to find certain types of articles but we've been working on it, and we're pleased to announce a new index page for non-review content. This is where you'll find articles and news stories, arranged in categories according to theme - everything from interviews and show reports to accessory reviews. Click through to learn more. Read full story → Microsoft introduces hyperlapse algorithm to fix shaky first-person videos Published on Tuesday, August 12, 2014 6:59:00 AM GMT Microsoft's Research division in Redmond, Washington has published material detailing a method for turning shaky first-person camera footage into a stabilized hyperlapse video. The algorithm they've developed uses a 3-step process to produce exceptionally stable videos that play back in a single fluid camera sweep. Researchers state that they are woking on bringing this technology to a Windows app, though no release date is given. Learn more Read full story → DPReview is hiring! Published on Monday, August 11, 2014 8:08:00 PM GMT DPReview's Seattle-based team is growing! We're looking for an editorial writer, whose responsibilities will include testing and producing reviews of digital system cameras, compact cameras, smart phone cameras, lenses and other photographic equipment. We're also on the hunt for a studio and product photographer to conduct and analyze camera tests, as well as a web developer/designer. Successful applicants will have have a strong understanding of dpreview, our principles and our community. Learn more Read full story → Manfrotto introduces Pro Light series of photo and video bags Published on Monday, August 11, 2014 7:01:58 PM GMT Manfrotto has announced a new line of backpacks and accessories, the Pro Light series. The new line includes backpacks designed for both still photographers and videographers, holsters and rain covers, all designed with an emphasis on portability and versatility. The five styles of backpacks for still photographers offer side access for another route to your gear and are priced from $220 - $310 USD/£199.95 - £249.95 GBP. Read more Read full story → Behind the Shot: Flames of the North Published on Monday, August 11, 2014 6:59:00 AM GMT Nature photographer Erez Marom had cold feet - literally - when he created this image. Standing (with thermal boots on) in the freezing waters of a glacier lagoon in Iceland, he saw an opportunity to capture a unique ice formation in the foreground, distant snow-capped mountains and the Aurora Borealis above it all. In this article he explains how he used focus stacking to get the look he wanted for his final image, 'Flames of the North'. Learn more Read full story → Exposing sharks in a positive light Published on Sunday, August 10, 2014 9:00:00 AM GMT George Probst has been fascinated with sharks his whole life, but it wasn't until he found himself newly single with some extra money in savings that his dream of diving with and photographing sharks became a reality. He hopes his photos will inspire others to see sharks in a light unlike their typical portrayal in movies and pop culture. Find out about his process and see his work. See gallery Read full story → Tables turned: Photo series depicts children getting the better of their nightmares Published on Saturday, August 9, 2014 9:01:00 AM GMT Photographer Laure Fauvel's series 'Terreurs' turns an age-old rivalry on its head. The retouched photos depict children fighting back - and winning by the looks of it - against the monsters that typically terrorize them in the night. Children wielding toy weapons keep the nightmarish creatures cowering in closets and under beds with fearful expressions. See gallery Read full story → EyeEm update for iOS comes with EyeZoom Published on Saturday, August 9, 2014 9:00:00 AM GMT EyeEm, a photo sharing platform and image marketplace, has released an update to its iOS app, taking it closer to the recently-overhauled Android version. The redesign attempts to put more focus on the images by changing font sizes and moving controls around, and the new EyeZoom feature lets you zoom into images by tapping on them. Read more Read full story → What The Duck #1342 Published on Friday, August 8, 2014 9:49:26 PM GMT We've come to the end of another week here at dpreview, and as our thoughts drift to weekend shooting opportunities, it's time to take things a little less seriously. Aaron Johnson's comic strip ‘What the Duck’ is just the thing, taking a gently satirical look through the lens of a photographically inclined waterfowl. You can find it published here (and in our newsletter) every week; we hope you enjoy it, and your weekend. Read full story → And in the end... Beatles 'Abbey Road' cover photo was shot 45 years ago today Published on Friday, August 8, 2014 5:03:00 PM GMT The photograph on the sleeve of 'Abbey Road' by The Beatles is among the most famous images in popular music, and it was taken 45 years ago today. The debate about whether Abbey Road was The Beatles final album continues but for a whole generation of fans, the image of John, Paul, George and Ringo walking across the street outside Abbey Road studios in London signified the end of an era. Click through to see how fans are marking the anniversary. Read full story → LensRentals looks into the Canon EF 16-35 f/4 IS Published on Friday, August 8, 2014 7:00:00 AM GMT The team over at LensRentals has been doing a lot of work recently, looking at the performance of Canon's new EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM wideangle zoom. They're pretty impressed by the optical quality of the new lens, but being in the business of renting and repairing gear, they also wanted to know how well it would stand up to the rigors of daily use - and how easy it would be to work on. Click through to learn how the new EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM compares mechanically. Read full story → Apple expands OS X Mavericks Raw compatibility Published on Friday, August 8, 2014 12:00:00 AM GMT Apple has issued an update for OS X Mavericks, adding Raw support for ten recent camera models. Digital Camera Raw Compatibility Update 5.06 provides system-level support for Raw files from the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III, Olympus OM-D E-M10 and Nikon 1 V3. See the full list of cameras. Read more Read full story → HTC Gallery update allows for sharing of Duo Cam images Published on Thursday, August 7, 2014 6:49:05 PM GMT We weren't wowed by the HTC One M8's Duo Cam features in our review of the device, partly because its corresponding re-focusing effects could only be used on the phone itself. HTC has changed that with a Gallery App update, allowing users to share the experience with others through a web interface. Read more Read full story → Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 and Sony Alpha 7S added to studio comparison Published on Thursday, August 7, 2014 5:12:30 PM GMT With our comparative review underway, we've added studio test scene results from both the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 and Sony Alpha 7S to our comparison tool. The 16MP Micro Four Thirds Panasonic GH4 and 12MP full-frame Sony a7S both shoot 4K video, and we spent some time in part one of our review taking a look at those features. Take a look now at the stills capabilities of both of these cameras by comparing them to each other and an ever-growing list of competing models in our studio test scene comparison tool. Read more Read full story → Monkey photo copyright in question as Wikipedia denies photographer's takedown request Published on Wednesday, August 6, 2014 9:31:00 PM GMT On a trip to Indonesia in 2011, photographer David Slater was photographing a black crested macaque when it grabbed his camera and proceeded to take hundreds of pictures of itself. The resulting 'monkey selfie' did the rounds on the internet, winding up in Wikimedia Commons. Mr. Slater has asked that the photo be taken down, but Wikimedia sees things differently. Read more Read full story → GoPro points to increased costs as it reports deeper losses in financial results Published on Wednesday, August 6, 2014 1:00:00 PM GMT Despite the ubiquity of GoPro's diminutive 'action cam' video cameras, the company has reported a loss of $19.8 million for the second quarter following an additional loss of $5.1 million from the year prior. GoPro first went public in June of this year, and while shares have dropped a whopping 11-15% following the financial results, everything is not necessarily doom and gloom for the company. Read more Read full story → Dorothea Lange 'American Masters' profile to premiere on PBS August 29 Published on Wednesday, August 6, 2014 3:00:00 AM GMT A PBS profile of Dorothea Lange, the photographer behind iconic images of the Great Depression and Dust Bowl, is set to air later this month. American Masters - Dorothea Lange: Grab a Hunk of Lightning will premiere on PBS stations Friday August 29th from 9-11pm. The documentary, directed and narrated by Lange's granddaughter Dyanna Taylor, features newly discovered interviews with the photographer, remembrances from family and friends, as well as a look into her career retrospective at New York's Museum of Modern Art. Read more Read full story →
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