Digital Photography Review Newsletter: Thursday, 9 April 2015

	Digital Photography Review Newsletter Thursday, 9 April 2015 The most popular weekly photography newsletter, with over 300,000 subscribers
Welcome to the 555th Digital Photography Review newsletter. April is continuing where March left off, with new cameras launched, and reviews published. Canon and Nikon both dropped some new hardware in recent days - Nikon's 1 J5 brings proper manual controls to the entry-level segment of its 1-series lineup, and Canon's XC10 is a totally new device, which blurs the line between stills and video capture. As far as reviews go, we published our full review of the Nikon D5500 this week and we're almost ready to post our review of the Samsung NX1, too (in fact, it might already be online by the time you read this). Touch and go: Nikon D5500 review posted Slightly smaller and lighter than its predecessor, the Nikon D5500 continues to offer a proven 24.2MP APS-C sensor in a body that's more approachable than a D7000-series DSLR. It offers a fully articulated 3.2" touchscreen, 1080/60p HD video, a new EXPEED 4 processor and built-in Wi-Fi. Can it compete in ever more crowded class? Read our review of the Nikon D5500 Opinion: Why the Canon XC10 is a big deal Today Canon released the XC10, a camera that for all practical purposes is equal part a stills and a video camera. It promises to deliver not only both types of media, but an appropriate user experience for either type of shooting. It may be the first true 'convergence' camera. Learn more about this camera and why we think it's a significant milestone of technology. Read about Canon's new XC10 hybrid video/stills camera What goes around: 6 mid-sized ball heads put to the test One of the most important parts of a tripod is the head that connects the camera to the legs. Continuing where our previous ball head roundup left off, we've collected six ball-type heads for review that are in the medium-to-large size class. These heads are suitable for most large cameras and lenses, with only the truly gigantic or heavy devices requiring something larger. Find out which ones earn our recommendation. Read our roundup of mid-sized ball heads Readers' Showcase: Rajesh Bhattacharjee Like many of our site readers, Rajesh Bhattacharjee is a self-taught photographer who connected with other photographers online and in person to help improve his craft. He's a keen traveler, spending his free time in National Parks pursuing great landscapes. Based on his portfolio, we'd say he's found more than a few. Take a look at his images and read more in our Q&A. Click here to view DPReview reader Rajesh Bhattacharjee's portfolio Sony FE 24-240mm f/3.5-6.3 OSS real-world samples posted In theory, Sony's FE 24-240mm f/3.5-6.3 OSS all-in-one zoom is an ideal candidate for travel photography with one of the company's a7-series. The stabilized lens provides Sony's full frame mirrorless cameras with a 10x zoom range, designed with five aspherical elements and one ED glass element. We put it to the test on landscapes, portraits, and lots of things in between. Click here to view our gallery of samples from Sony's new 24-240mm FE zoom What else is coming up? Finishing touches to our review of the Samsung NX1 are being applied as I write this, and we're also getting close to completing our review of the Sony SLT-A77 II. We've also started work on our review of Nikon's latest high-end DX format DSLR, the D7200, too. We should be able to publish our video field test of Tamron's excellent 15-30mm F2.8 zoom in the next few days as well! Barney
News updates Venus Optics offers hotshoe Macro Twin Flash KX-800 with guide number of 190ft/58m Published on Wednesday, April 8, 2015 6:49:00 PM GMT Chinese flash manufacturer Venus Optics has launched a double headed macro flash unit, claiming that it has the highest guide number in the world for such a device. The Kuangren Macro Twin Flash KX-800 uses a pair of flash heads on extending flexible arms that can be positioned in front of the lens for extreme close-up work. Another arm houses an LED light to help with focusing. Read more Read full story → LaCie updates Rugged Thunderbolt lineup with 1TB SSD option Published on Wednesday, April 8, 2015 6:04:29 PM GMT LaCie has introduced a new Rugged Thunderbolt external drive, updating its lineup with a 1TB SSD. This is double the previous Rugged drive's 500GB capacity, and is coupled with a rugged external housing able to withstand water exposure, shock, and dust. The inclusion of a Thunderbolt connection, meanwhile, enables fast transfer speeds compared to typical external hard drive speeds. Read more Read full story → Opinion: Why the Canon XC10 is a big deal Published on Wednesday, April 8, 2015 4:35:00 PM GMT Today Canon released the XC10, a camera that for all practical purposes is equal part a stills and a video camera. It promises to deliver not only both types of media, but an appropriate user experience for either type of shooting. It may be the first true 'convergence' camera. Learn more about this camera and why it's a significant milestone of technology. Read more Read full story → Canon XC10: What you need to know Published on Wednesday, April 8, 2015 1:00:00 PM GMT Canon's new XC10 is the first product we've seen which is neither a stills camera with a video feature or a video camera that can capture stills. In terms of both specification and ergonomics it is a true 'convergence' product with the potential to shake up more than one market segment. We've been poring over the specifications for a while now - here's what you need to know  Read full story → Canon XC10 digital camcorder brings 4K video and stills together Published on Wednesday, April 8, 2015 1:00:00 PM GMT Canon has released its XC10 digital camcorder which combines advanced 4K video recording with capable still shooting features. The core features are a 12MP 1" CMOS sensor and a fixed F2.8-5.6 image stabilized lens equivalent to 27-270mm for videos and 24-240mm for stills. 4K UHD video is captured using the XF-AVC Intra codec (which offers bit rates up to 305MBps) and 8MP stills can be grabbed from 4K video. Other notable features include a rotating grip, tilting LCD, and built-in Wi-Fi. Read more. Read full story → Canon C300 Mark II announced with new 8.85MP 35mm sensor and 4K recording Published on Wednesday, April 8, 2015 1:00:00 PM GMT Canon has announced the EOS C300 Mark II Cinema EOS camera, updating its predecessor with a new 8.85 megapixel 35mm sensor allowing 4K shooting. Also new are Dual DIGIC DV5 processors bringing the ability to record 10-bit 4:2:2 4K (UHD or DCI) video internally thanks using the new XF-AVC Codec. Read more Read full story → Datacolor offers Spyder5 with redesigned calibrator Published on Wednesday, April 8, 2015 12:27:00 AM GMT Color management company Datacolor has announced a new version of its Spyder monitor calibrating tool that it claims offers up to 55% improvement in tonal response, leading to 'more accurate shadow detail and smoother gradients.' The body of the new Spyder5 calibrator has been redesigned, somewhat losing the spider legs that got the series it name. Read more Read full story → Lensbaby introduces Velvet 56mm f/1.6 Published on Tuesday, April 7, 2015 8:00:00 PM GMT Lensbaby has introduced the Velvet 56, a portrait lens with an f/1.6 aperture and 1:2 magnification, as well as a minimum focus distance of 5 inches. Lensbaby claims the lens produces 'soft, glowing' effects at brighter apertures for a 'velvety' quality the lens is named for. Read more Read full story → What goes around: 6 mid-sized ball heads put to the test Published on Tuesday, April 7, 2015 6:30:31 PM GMT One of the most important parts of a tripod is the head that connects the camera to the legs. Continuing where our previous ball head roundup left off, we've collected six ball-type heads for review that are in the medium-to-large size class. These heads are suitable for most large cameras and lenses, with only the truly gigantic or heavy devices requiring something larger. Find out which ones earn our recommendation. Read more Read full story → Colorado proposes bill supporting photographers who record police Published on Monday, April 6, 2015 9:27:00 PM GMT Colorado, U.S. state legislatures have introduced a new bill that, if signed into law, will prevent law enforcement officers from interfering with citizens who are photographing or recording police activity. It is House Bill 15-1290, and it comes at a time when Texas has proposed its own bill on the topic, but with a draconian slant: it penalizes citizens that film or photograph police actions within 25 feet of the incident. Read more Read full story → Sony FE 24-240mm f/3.5-6.3 OSS real-world samples posted Published on Monday, April 6, 2015 7:49:00 PM GMT In theory, Sony's FE 24-240mm f/3.5-6.3 OSS all-in-one zoom is an ideal candidate for travel photography with one of the company's a7-series. The stabilized lens provides Sony's full frame mirrorless cameras with a 10x zoom range, designed with five aspherical elements and one ED glass element. We put it to the test on landscapes, portraits, and lots of things in between. See gallery Read full story → Studio Update: Nikon D7200 and Panasonic GF7 added to comparison tool Published on Monday, April 6, 2015 3:00:00 PM GMT Monday got you down? We've got something to help pick you right back up - our studio scene comparison tool has just been updated. Now included are samples from the Nikon D7200, Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF7 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50. Take a look at how they perform against their peers. Read more Read full story → Sony FE 28mm F2 samples gallery posted Published on Sunday, April 5, 2015 1:00:00 PM GMT Sony's line of FE lenses continues to grow. One of the most recent models to be released, the FE 28mm F2, recently landed in our office, and we spent some time toting it around on a variety of Sony FE bodies. Check out our samples. See gallery Read full story → Readers' Showcase: Rajesh Bhattacharjee Published on Saturday, April 4, 2015 1:00:00 PM GMT Like many of our site readers, Rajesh Bhattacharjee is a self-taught photographer who connected with other photographers online and in person to help improve his craft. He's a keen traveler, spending his free time in National Parks pursuing great landscapes. Based on his portfolio, we'd say he's found more than a few. Take a look at his images and read more in our Q&A. See gallery Read full story → Tamron USA announces fourth travel-themed photo contest Published on Friday, April 3, 2015 9:25:14 PM GMT Tamron has announced a competition for US-based customers, who are encouraged to submit 8-14 images with a travel theme. Prizes for the winner include having his or her work featured on Tamron's website and in its newsletter, as well as the opportunity to pick up a shiny new SP 15-30mm F/2.8, 24-70mm F/2.8 or 70-200mm F/2.8. Learn more Read full story → DPReview week in review: April showers Published on Friday, April 3, 2015 5:39:36 PM GMT When it rains, it pours - that was definitely the case this week, both outside our office windows (Thunder! In Seattle!) and in terms of content on the site. We posted our Sony a7 II review, got out shooting with Nikon's newest DX-format DSLR, and reviewed another Nikon crop sensor camera. Don't be an April fool - take a look back and get caught up. Read more Read full story → Triggertrap introduces pauses and delays for timelapse sequences with Timelapse Pro app Published on Friday, April 3, 2015 12:01:00 AM GMT Triggertrap has released a new app that allows photographers to take more control of timelapse sessions by introducing the ability to add delays into a sequence. Timelapse Pro is available for iOS devices running iOS 8 and, with the appropriate dedicated cable, can control over 300 models of camera. Read more Read full story → Voigtlander releases price of forthcoming 10.5mm f/0.95 lens for Micro Four Thirds system Published on Thursday, April 2, 2015 9:11:00 PM GMT Premium optical brand Voigtländer has announced the price of the 10.5mm super wide angle lens that it first displayed at Photokina in September 2014. The Voigtländer Nokton 10.5mm f/0.95 is designed to be used with Micro Four Thirds cameras, and will be the fourth in the current line of f/0.95 lenses that the company offers. Read more Read full story → Samyang and Rokinon formally introduce 100mm f2.8 macro lens Published on Thursday, April 2, 2015 8:13:00 PM GMT On March 27, Samyang and Rokinon teased a new lens on Facebook, saying that it would offer 'immense focus and unparalleled features'. That lens was officially introduced today, and it's a 100mm f2.8 Macro offering with 1:1 magnification and a 1ft. minimum focusing distance. Though it won't be shipping until next month, the lens is available to pre-order from retailers now. Read more Read full story → Touch and go: Nikon D5500 review posted Published on Thursday, April 2, 2015 4:51:00 PM GMT Slightly smaller and lighter than its predecessor, the Nikon D5500 continues to offer a proven 24.2MP APS-C sensor in a body that's more approachable than a D7000-series DSLR. It offers a fully articulated 3.2" touchscreen, 1080/60p HD video, a new EXPEED 4 processor and built-in Wi-Fi. Can it compete in ever more crowded class? Read more Read full story → Nikon 1 J5: What you need to know Published on Thursday, April 2, 2015 4:00:00 AM GMT While Nikon's DSLRs tend to get the most attention, its 1-series mirrorless cameras have become more and more capable since their introduction in 2011. The company's latest offering is the Nikon 1 J5, which sports a more upscale, classic look and some notable changes inside and out. We dug into its features and have put together a slideshow that displays the highlights. Read more Read full story → Nikon 1 J5 offers 20.8MP BSI sensor and revamped look Published on Thursday, April 2, 2015 4:00:00 AM GMT The Nikon 1 J5 has been announced as the latest member of Nikon's mirrorless lineup. It offers a more traditional shape and feel with a contoured grip and a command dial. Its 1"-type 20.8MP BSI-CMOS sensor offers a boost in resolution over its predecessor, and is capable of 4K video capture at 15 fps. Read more Read full story → Fujifilm announces firmware updates for X100T, X-T1, S1 and several X-mount OIS zoom lenses Published on Thursday, April 2, 2015 12:36:44 AM GMT Fujifilm has rolled out firmware updates aimed at fixing quirks in the X100T and X-T1, improving image quality in the FinePix S1 superzoom, and improving OIS functionality in several X-mount zoom lenses. Read more Read full story →
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