Digital Photography Review Newsletter: Wednesday, 14 January 2015

	Digital Photography Review Newsletter Wednesday, 14 January 2015 The most popular weekly photography newsletter, with over 300,000 subscribers
Welcome to the 543rd Digital Photography Review newsletter. Well we're back from CES, and although there was little 'new' at the show, we did have a series of very interesting meetings with manufacturers keen to tell us about products coming up next month at CP+ and beyond. I could tell you what's around the corner, but then I'd have to kill you, and that's just impractical. Moving on... CES 2015 Samsung Interview: Mirrorless to outsell DSLRs 'in three years' Since releasing the NX1 late last year, Samsung has been gathering feedback from users, and is preparing a major firmware update before the end of this month. We made time at CES in Las Vegas to sit down with Byungdeok Nam, Senior Vice President of Samsung's R&D team in the company's mobile division, to speak about the NX1, the new firmware, and the mirrorless camera market in general. Click here to read our interview with Byungdeok Nam of Samsung Fujifilm X100T real-world sample gallery posted The Fujifilm X100T is the third iteration of the company's enthusiast-level fixed-lens compact, and we've followed up our initial real-world gallery from the camera with even more samples. The majority of the images that follow were shot as JPEGs in the Classic Chrome film mode, a new film simulation not included in previous iterations of the camera. View our gallery of samples on the Fujifim X100T Beta Alphas: Sony shows mockups of upcoming FE lenses for Alpha 7 system Sony is showing mockups of four new lenses for its full frame FE series for the Alpha 7 on its stand at CES, as well as two wide angle converters. With only six FE lenses to choose from at the moment, Alpha 7 users will be pleased to see some physical evidence of these lenses that Sony initially announced on a roadmap at the Photokina show in September. Click here to take a closer look at Sony's upcoming FE lenses Opinion: The myth of the upgrade path Full frame cameras have never been more accessible but what does that mean for owners of cropped-sensor cameras? DPReview's Richard Butler argues that the existence of a full frame model in your brand's line-up doesn't mean there are intermediate steps you can take on the way there. Or that it's a destination you should necessarily aspire to. Click here to read 'the myth of the upgrade path' What else is coming up? The next thing on my calendar is another shoot in our series of real-world video tests of this year (and last year's) most important gear, so keep an eye on the homepage for that before the end of this month. Meanwhile we're almost done with our review of the new Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM5 and the team is also working hard on the Sony A77 II, and Samsung NX1 reviews. Barney
News updates Metz launches Mecablitz 26 AF-1, a pocket-sized flash for hotshoe compacts and CSCs Published on Tuesday, January 13, 2015 10:31:44 PM GMT Lighting manufacturer Metz is to introduce a new miniature flash unit designed for use with small cameras, such as premium hotshoe-equipped compacts and compact system bodies. With a maximum guide number of 26m/85 ft at ISO 100, the Mecablitz 26 AF-1 is many times more powerful than the flash units that come bundled with, or built-in to, this sort of camera - and indeed many don’t come equipped with a flash at all. Learn more Read full story → CES 2015 Samsung Interview: Mirrorless to outsell DSLRs 'in three years' Published on Tuesday, January 13, 2015 8:11:00 PM GMT Since releasing the NX1 late last year, Samsung has been gathering feedback from users, and is preparing a major firmware update before the end of this month. We made time at CES in Las Vegas to sit down with Byungdeok Nam, Senior Vice President of Samsung's R&D team in the company's Digital Imaging division, to speak about the NX1, the new firmware, and the mirrorless camera market in general. Click through to read our interview Read full story → Samsung promises extensive NX1 improvements with firmware v1.2 Published on Tuesday, January 13, 2015 7:18:41 PM GMT Samsung has announced a major firmware update for the NX1, which is claimed to bring a host of improvements. Firmware v1.2 - available later this month - will bring additional features, increased customization and several menu refinements. DPReview was one of the organizations that provided Samsung with feedback on the camera and shooting with it over the past few days has shown a selection of the requests we made have been incorporated. Read more Read full story → Samyang launches 135mm f/2.2 lens for stills and video Published on Tuesday, January 13, 2015 12:15:00 AM GMT Korean lens brand Samyang has released details of a 135mm lens it will bring to market with versions for stills and video photographers. The Samyang 135mm f/2.0 ED UMC stills lens will be accompanied by the Samyang 135mm T2.2 ED UMC VDSLR for cine and videographers. Read more Read full story → Canon to move camera production back to Japan Published on Monday, January 12, 2015 7:25:34 PM GMT Canon wants to increase its domestic production over the next few years, something spurred by the falling value of the yen. According to Reuters, Canon is looking to increase its production in Japan from 40 percent of its overall output to 60 percent. Read more Read full story → Wild Things: Marsel van Oosten's landscape and wildlife photography Published on Sunday, January 11, 2015 1:00:00 PM GMT "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication," says wildlife and nature photographer Marsel van Oosten. A talented landscape and wildlife photographer, his imagery has been featured in a number of publications like National Geographic. Check out more of his work and peek inside his camera bag. See gallery Read full story → Quick Look: The art of the unforeground Published on Saturday, January 10, 2015 1:00:00 PM GMT 'It's all about the foreground'. Generations of landscape photographers learn this principle the moment they first pick up a camera. In this quick behind-the-shot look, professional landscape photographer Erez Marom argues for a compositional technique he calls the 'unforeground,' or lack of a defined foreground subject. Read more Read full story → Beta Alphas: Sony shows mockups of upcoming FE lenses for Alpha 7 system Published on Friday, January 9, 2015 8:14:00 PM GMT Sony is showing mockups of four new lenses for its full frame FE series for the Alpha 7 on its stand at CES, as well as two wide angle converters. With only six FE lenses to choose from at the moment, Alpha 7 users will be pleased to see some physical evidence of these lenses that Sony initially announced on a roadmap at the Photokina show in September. Scheduled to ship this spring, click through for a closer look at the upcoming lenses Read full story → Update: Nikon will service flare-affected D750s for free Published on Friday, January 9, 2015 6:07:40 AM GMT Nikon USA has issued an update to its communication around issues with flare in some D750 camera bodies. Following a statement in late December that the company was 'looking into' the matter, Nikon has announced that it will inspect and if necessary service affected cameras at no cost, starting at the end of this month. Click through for a link to the full statement Read full story → Upcoming GoPro Hero4 firmware will enable new photo and video features Published on Friday, January 9, 2015 12:01:00 AM GMT GoPro has released details about upcoming firmware updates for its Hero4 action cameras; the new firmware versions will be delivered next month, enabling new photo and video features like in-camera time lapse creation. Read more Read full story → Sony issues firmware 1.10 for Alpha 7 II Published on Thursday, January 8, 2015 10:46:41 PM GMT Announced in late November, the Sony Alpha 7 II has received its first firmware update. Somewhat thin on specifics, firmware version 1.10 promises improved image stabilization. The firmware details cite improvements in IS when half-pressing the shutter, in 'Focus Magnifier' mode, during movie recording, and with 'other functions'. Read more Read full story → Opinion: The myth of the upgrade path Published on Thursday, January 8, 2015 5:00:00 PM GMT Full frame cameras have never been more accessible but what does that mean for owners of cropped-sensor cameras? DPReview's Richard Butler argues that the existence of a full frame model in your brand's line-up doesn't mean there are intermediate steps you can take on the way there. Or that it's a destination you should necessarily aspire to. Read more Read full story → Toshiba announces world's first SDHC card with NFC Published on Thursday, January 8, 2015 12:00:00 AM GMT Toshiba has announced an SDHC card equipped with NFC, claiming it to be the world's first. With the corresponding 'Memory Card Preview' app downloaded to a mobile device, the user can tap the card to view thumbnails of 16 images and see available storage. Read more Read full story → G-Technology launches new G-DRIVE ev rugged portable storage with all-terrain-cases Published on Wednesday, January 7, 2015 7:02:34 PM GMT Digital storage brand G-Technology has announced a collection of new portable hard drives designed to survive in difficult environments. The two available G-DRIVE ev models, equipped with Thunderbolt or USB 3.0 connections, will come housed in what the company calls an ATC – All-Terrain-Case – said to be able to withstand a 2m/6.5 ft drop onto a carpeted concrete floor. The ATC is also water-tight and will float should the drive fall into a body of water, and can also be removed to house other drives in the G-Technology Evolution Series. Read more Read full story → Fujifilm X100T real-world sample gallery posted Published on Wednesday, January 7, 2015 1:00:00 PM GMT The Fujifilm X100T is the third iteration of the company's enthusiast-level fixed-lens compact, and we've followed up our initial real-world gallery from the camera with even more samples. The majority of the images that follow were shot as JPEGs in the Classic Chrome film mode, a new film simulation not included in previous iterations of the camera. See gallery Read full story → Toshiba offers FlashAir III wireless SD card Published on Wednesday, January 7, 2015 2:17:58 AM GMT Toshiba has announced a third generation of its FlashAir wireless SD cards. Like the previous version, the Toshiba FlashAir III acts as its own wireless LAN point for sharing to smartphones, tablets and computers. The newly introduced card boasts 'enhanced photo sharing and management features,' and maintains the same Class 10 rating as its predecessor. Read more Read full story → Kodak announces IM5 Android smartphone Published on Wednesday, January 7, 2015 1:30:00 AM GMT Before CES there were rumors that we would see a Kodak-branded mobile device at the show, but those who were expecting an innovative, imaging-centric gadget have been disappointed. The Kodak IM5 has arrived and appears to be nothing more than a nondescript, mid-tier Android smartphone with Kodak branding. Read more Read full story →
How to unsubscribe To unsubscribe from the Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com) weekly newsletter, visit the newsletter homepage (http://www.dpreview.com/news/newsletter/), enter your email address into the Your email address box, then click on Unsubscribe.