Digital Photography Review Newsletter: Wednesday, 3 December 2014

	Digital Photography Review Newsletter Wednesday, 3 December 2014 The most popular weekly photography newsletter, with over 300,000 subscribers
Welcome to the 538th Digital Photography Review newsletter. As the dust settles from Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Cyber Monday and what - in a cold snap here in Seattle - I've decided to call 'Blue Tuesday', we're hard at work, adding more content to our range of seasonal roundups, and finishing up some outstanding reviews. We've also just published a real-world video review of the Nikon D750, and you can check that out from the links below. We had a lot of fun making this one, and I hope you enjoy it. Real-world test: Nikon D750 at Seattle's Museum of Flight The D750 is Nikon's enthusiast-oriented full-frame DSLR, featuring a 24MP sensor and a raft of high-end features borrowed from the D810 and D4S. These include a tweaked version of their highly capable 51-point AF system and a very solid HD video specification. We're working on a full review of the D750 right now, and as part of that process we made a short video, highlighting some of the camera's key features in real-world use. Enjoy! Watch our video real-world test of the Nikon D750 Studio analysis added to Canon EOS 7D Mark II first-impressions The Canon EOS 7D Mark II is the long-awaited replacement to the 7D, which was launched in 2009. It features a 20.2MP APS-C CMOS sensor and dual DIGIC 6 image processors. It has a new 65-point, all cross-type autofocus system as well as an updated version of Canon's Dual Pixel CMOS AF system that provides continuous phase detect focusing during video recording. We've just updated our first impressions review with analysis of the camera's performance in our studio scene. Read our analysis of the Canon EOS 7D Mark II's performance in our studio What to Buy and Why: 2014 Buying Guides Updated! We've been devoting a lot of time over the past few weeks to updating our various roundups and buying guides ahead of the busy holiday season. As Thanksgiving comes around again here in the USA we've published major updates to our existing 2013 content, to bring everything up to date. You can see our complete portfolio of buying guide content by following the links below. We hope you find it useful. Read our in-depth buying guide content - updated for 2014 . Behind the Shot: Clouds over Skagsanden In this article, nature photographer Erez Marom shares the story of his panoramic shot 'Clouds over Skagsanden', taken earlier this year in the Lofoten Islands in Arctic Norway. His article covers everything from preparing to shoot at the location, to the shoot itself through to final post-processing of the resulting image. Click through to read Erez Marom's article 'Behind the Shot: Clouds over Skagsanden' Click here to read Erez Marom's article 'Clouds over Skagsanden' Documentary photographer turns to video for 'The Long Night' A multimedia journalist by trade, Tim Matsui's still photography projects have taken him from native Alaskan villages to Brazilian Air Force training facilities. Matsui shares with us his journey in creating his latest documentary work, from its beginnings in still photography to the adaptations he made to turn it into a video production. Learn more about his work on 'The Long Night,' a documentary debuting this week that looks into human trafficking in Seattle. Click here to watch a trailer for 'The Long Night' What's coming up? Work continues on the Canon EOS 7D Mark II, the Nikon D810 and Samsung's new NX1, as well as on our seasonal roundups. We're also starting work on some holiday gift guides for the photographer in your life (and if that's you, that's nothing to be ashamed of - we all need a treat sometimes). Happy Blue Tuesday! Barney
News updates Real-world test: Nikon D750 at the Museum of Flight Published on Tuesday, December 2, 2014 10:28:00 PM GMT The D750 is Nikon's enthusiast-oriented full-frame DSLR, featuring a 24MP sensor and a raft of high-end features borrowed from the D810 and D4S. These include a tweaked version of their highly capable 51-point AF system and a very solid HD video specification. We're working on a full review of the D750 right now, and as part of that process we made a short video, highlighting some of the camera's key features in real-world use. Click through to watch. Read full story → Documentary photographer turns to video for 'The Long Night' Published on Tuesday, December 2, 2014 6:30:04 PM GMT A multimedia journalist by trade, Tim Matsui's still photography projects have taken him from native Alaskan villages to Brazilian Air Force training facilities. Matsui shares with us his journey in creating his latest documentary work, from its beginnings in still photography to the adaptations he made to turn it into a video production. Learn more about his work on 'The Long Night,' a documentary debuting this week that looks into human trafficking in Seattle. Read our Q&A Read full story → creativeLIVE presents 'The Art of Wildlife Photography' with Tom Mangelsen Published on Tuesday, December 2, 2014 4:45:00 PM GMT creativeLIVE is hosting a two day live workshop with nature photographer Tom Mangelsen. The class will be broadcast live from 9am today, December 2nd (Pacific time) and will cover everything from gear and location scouting advice to wildlife etiquette. It also includes a critique and portfolio review of viewers' images. The class is free to watch live and costs $99 for the rebroadcast. Click through for a link Read full story → DPReview Recommends: Best Compact Cameras for Enthusiasts Published on Tuesday, December 2, 2014 12:07:00 AM GMT There's a long tradition of high-quality compact cameras and today there are some incredibly capable compact cameras on the market. Top-notch lenses, great sensors and plenty of control are the hallmarks of every one of our top five recommended compact cameras for enthusiasts. Read full story → DPReview Recommends: Best Cameras for Beginners Published on Tuesday, December 2, 2014 12:06:00 AM GMT Choosing a first camera is extremely important. You want to make sure that the beginner has room to grow as they learn more, but you don't want to put them off with a lot of options that they might not understand. We've prepared some recommendations for you. Read full story → DPReview Recommends: Best Compact Cameras for Travel Published on Tuesday, December 2, 2014 12:06:00 AM GMT There's a big world out there, just waiting for you to explore it. In our opinion, a camera is one of the best traveling companions you can have. Here are our top five recommendations. Read full story → DPReview Recommends: Best Cameras for Social Photography Published on Tuesday, December 2, 2014 12:06:00 AM GMT Social photography didn't always mean snapshot selfies taken on a smartphone. For this list we've selected five of our top recommendations for cameras that you should consider taking out socially, to informal or special occasions. Read full story → DPReview Recommends: Best Waterproof Cameras Published on Tuesday, December 2, 2014 12:06:00 AM GMT Most cameras are delicate objects, and the last thing you want to do is drop them or subject them to wet or freezing conditions. But there are cameras which are specifically designed to handle rough treatment. In this list, we've chosen our top five recommendations for waterproof cameras. Read full story → DPReview Recommends: Best Interchangeable Lens Cameras for Under $1000 Published on Tuesday, December 2, 2014 12:06:00 AM GMT A few years ago, the idea of a DSLR under $1000 was just a distant dream, but these days the financial bar to entry is much lower than it was in the past. Here's our list of the top five interchangeable lens cameras that we'd currently recommend for under $1000 - including a kit zoom lens. Read full story → Cactus V6 update adds Micro Four Thirds and Metz flashguns to wireless control list Published on Monday, December 1, 2014 10:26:41 PM GMT Flash manufacturer Cactus has updated firmware for its V6 wireless flash transceiver to include profiles for top end guns from Olympus and Panasonic's Micro Four Thirds and Four Thirds systems. Firmware 1.1.004 makes the V6 transmitter/receiver units compatible specifically with Olympus FL-50R, FL-36R and Panasonic FL-500R and FL-360R. Read more Read full story → Vela One LED promises 1/2,000,000 flash duration for the price of a normal hotshoe gun Published on Monday, December 1, 2014 10:26:27 PM GMT An inventor from Bristol in the UK is developing an LED-based light source for high speed photography, promising to produce a burst of flash with a duration short enough to freeze a bullet. The Vela One, which will be priced at a similar level to standard hotshoe flashguns, uses nine LEDs arranged in a bank that generates a million lumens and is powered by just four AA cells that the inventor claims will last a full day’s shooting. Learn more Read full story → Canon EOS 7D Mark II studio analysis added to first impressions Published on Monday, December 1, 2014 6:02:00 PM GMT The Canon EOS 7D Mark II is the long-awaited replacement to the 7D, which was launched in 2009. It features a 20.2MP APS-C CMOS sensor and dual DIGIC 6 image processors. It has a new 65-point, all cross-type autofocus system as well as an updated version of Canon's Dual Pixel CMOS AF system that provides continuous phase detect focusing during video recording. We've just updated our first impressions review with analysis of the camera's performance in our studio scene. See how it compares Read full story → Lumu smartphone light meter app updated with reflective mode Published on Friday, November 28, 2014 8:13:00 PM GMT Even for photographers who would not even think about taking pictures with a smartphone camera, with the right accessories your phone can be a very useful photographic tool. The Lumu light meter is a great example - it plugs into the headphone socket of a smartphone and, with the help of the dedicated Lumu app, turns your smartphone into a fully-fledged light meter that can help enhance your understanding of a scene's lighting situation. Click through to read more Read full story → Lensbaby Circular Fisheye 5.8mm f/3.5 now available in new mounts Published on Friday, November 28, 2014 4:30:00 PM GMT Lensbaby has announced its Circular Fisheye 5.8mm f/3.5 lens is now available with new mount options. Launched in April for Canon and Nikon DSLRs, the Circular Fisheye will soon be offered with Micro Four Thirds, Nikon F, Sony A and E, Samsung NX, Canon EF, and Pentax K mounts. Read more Read full story → 2014 Enthusiast Mirrorless Camera Roundup Published on Thursday, November 27, 2014 4:52:00 AM GMT The enthusiast camera category is small, but mighty. These cameras offer more high-end features and controls than their consumer-level counterparts, many doubling as excellent video and still cameras. Expect fast burst rates, strong image quality, solid AF performance and in several cases, 4k video capture. Read our 2014 enthusiast mirrorless roundup and see how the cameras in this category compare Read full story → 2014 High-end Pocketable Compact Roundup Published on Thursday, November 27, 2014 4:50:00 AM GMT Optical zooms with fast glass, the ability to capture in Raw, large sensors (compared to those in smartphones), and even EVFs are finding their way into this class of camera. And while they may lack the controls of bulkier enthusiast compacts, many of them offer comparable image quality in a sleeker package 2014 Enthusiast Pocketable Compact Roundup Read full story → 2014 Enthusiast DSLR Roundup Published on Thursday, November 27, 2014 4:15:00 AM GMT There's a lot of action in the enthusiast DSLR segment at the moment, and this category in our seasonal roundup includes the top-performing APS-C DSLRs from each manufacturers. These cameras may not have full frame sensors, but what they do have is pro-level controls and features, borrowed from their high-end cousins. Read more in our 2014 enthusiast DSLR roundup Read full story → Enthusiast mirrorless camera roundup (2014) Published on Thursday, November 27, 2014 4:14:00 AM GMT As a keen enthusiast photographer, which mirrorless camera should I buy? Read full story → 2014 Mid-range Mirrorless Roundup Published on Thursday, November 27, 2014 4:10:00 AM GMT 2014 saw the addition of numerous consumer-oriented mirrorless cameras, many borrowing high-end features from their enthusiast-level counterparts. These cameras make for excellent second cameras to a DSLR and great standalone cameras for anyone craving controls, good image quality and a compact size. Find out which we recommend in our 2014 Mid-level mirrorless roundup Read full story → Real-world test: Going pro with the Samsung NX1 Published on Thursday, November 27, 2014 12:13:00 AM GMT As often as we can, we like to put the cameras that we test into the hands of working photographers to find out what they think. Recently we gave the Samsung NX1 to Jordan Stead, staff photographer at SeattlePI.com, and ventured out to nearby Carkeek Park to photograph the salmon run. A seasoned shooter accustomed to pro camera bodies, Jordan gave the NX1's hybrid AF system and 28.2MP BSI-CMOS sensor a try. See the video Read full story → Ten things you need to know about the Sony Alpha 7 II Published on Wednesday, November 26, 2014 11:27:00 PM GMT Sony announced the Alpha 7 II last week relatively quietly, introducing a new member to its full-frame mirrorless family. The a7 II brings 5-axis in-body stabilization to a full-frame camera for the first time, claiming 4.5 stops in shake reduction. Other updates include improved ergonomics - you can see these for yourself in our hands-on overview of the a7 II. Here's what you need to know about Sony's newest Alpha camera. Read more Read full story → Small change: Samsung NX mini review Published on Wednesday, November 26, 2014 9:31:09 PM GMT The Samsung NX mini is truly tiny, offering a 20MP 1" sensor inside a highly compact body which features a 180-degree tilting LCD and extensive connectivity features. The mini's touch-sensitive display is the camera's primary interface for changing shooting settings, and an interchangeable lens mount should make this the ideal combination of versatility and point-and-shoot simplicity. Read our review to find out how it compares Read full story → 2014 Consumer DSLR Roundup Published on Wednesday, November 26, 2014 6:05:00 PM GMT Despite the emergence of the mirrorless class, the market is still dominated by conventional DSLRs. Large sensors, optical viewfinders, and sizable grips make them comfortable choices for many aspiring photographers. We cover seven consumer and mid-level models in this roundup. Find out which we recommend. Read more Read full story → Sony announces US pricing for full-frame Alpha 7 II Published on Wednesday, November 26, 2014 3:00:00 PM GMT Sony Electronics has announced US pricing and availability for its recently announced Alpha 7 II camera. The a7 II is the world's first full-frame mirrorless camera with in-body image stabilization (5-axis, no less), and also offers improved controls, focusing performance, and video specs. It will be available on December 9th for $1700 body only and $2000 with the 28-70mm F3.5-5.6 FE lens. We'll be getting our hands on a beta version shortly and will post samples as soon as possible. Read more Read full story → Not dead yet: Sony announces three A-mount lenses Published on Wednesday, November 26, 2014 3:00:00 PM GMT Among all of the excitement around the a7 II, Sony quietly announced a new A-mount lens last week. The 70-300mm F4.5 – F5.6 G SSM II lens for A-mount offers faster AF tracking, a new Nano AR coating, and weatherproofing, and will be available in February for $1150. The company also announced the development of Vario-Sonnar T* 24-70mm F2.8 ZA SSM II and 16-35mm F2.8 ZA SSM II A-mount lenses, which will arrive next Spring with similar improvements. Read more Read full story → 2014 Enthusiast Compact Camera Roundup Published on Wednesday, November 26, 2014 12:37:00 AM GMT We're updating our 'What to buy and why' camera roundups to include new models introduced in 2014, and first up is the enthusiast compact camera class. These cameras may be a bit too big to fit in your pocket but most are compact enough to be considered appealing alternatives to heavier, bulkier, interchangeable lens camera systems. Read more Read full story →
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