Welcome to the 600th Digital Photography Review newsletter. Pentax is back! The long-awaited (and much teased) full-frame Pentax DSLR from Ricoh became a reality today, and it really does look very nice indeed. We had some time with a pre-production camera a little while back, and we've created a first-impressions review, small sample gallery and there's more content on the way - check the links below for complete launch content. As well as the K-1, we've also been working on Sony's Cyber-shot RX1R II, the world's smallest full-frame compact camera. You can find our full review - and much more - linked from this week's newsletter. Remember that next week we'll be reporting from the CP+ tradeshow in Yokohama, Japan. And I wouldn't be surprised if we saw some more products announced between now and then... watch this space. Full-frame at last! Pentax announces 36MP K-1 To say that a full-frame Pentax DSLR is one of the most anticipated cameras of all-time is probably an understatement. With the arrival of the K-1, Pentaxians have finally had their wish granted, with an impressively spec'd camera at a relatively low price. We got to spend a bit of time with the K-1 recently and have put together some first impressions. Click here to check out our full coverage of the Pentax K-1 
Ultra-compact: Sony Cyber-shot RX1R II review There’s no denying the appeal of Sony’s RX1R II. It promises high-resolution full-frame image quality that’s bolstered by an impressive autofocus system, reasonable depth-of-field control from its 35mm F2 lens and a compact form factor that encourages you to take it with you everywhere. But would you want to? Click through to find out what we think. Click here to read our full review of the Sony Cyber-shot RX1R II  >
Lens Technique: Wide-angle portraiture with the Sigma 24-35mm F2 DG HSM Art Photographers tend to shy away from wide-angle lenses when shooting portraits, but DPReview Technical Editor Rishi Sanyal thinks that's all wrong. In this video, he uses the Sigma 24-35mm F2 Art to illustrate his case for wide-angle portraits, capturing a couple of models with a setting sun in Seattle's lovely Discovery Park. Step away from your 85mm comfort zone and learn some of Rishi's tips - and reasons - for going wide with portraits. Click here to watch our video about shooting portraits on wideangle lenses 
A conversation with portrait photographer Brian Smith  When Brian Smith was just a High School student with a budding interest in making photographs, he learned that photography could earn you some significant perks – and at that age, that meant a pass to leave campus. These days he's well known for his portraiture, including a portfolio of A-list celebrities. He sat down with DPReview Editor Barney Britton at PIX 2015 to discuss his career.
Click here to watch Brian Smith's talk at PIX 2015 Fujifilm X70 Shooting Experience: Taking it to the streets  What looks like a Fujifilm X100T but has the focal length of a Ricoh GR II? Well, Fujifilm's newest and smallest X-series camera, the X70, may have a lot in common with these cameras at first blush, but extended use reveals a more complicated story. Find out what it's like to shoot with the X70 in the real world, and check out an updated sample gallery along with our studio test scene comparison.
Click here to read about our experience shooting with the Fujifilm X70 Thanks for reading! Barney  |
| News updates | Published Wednesday, February 17, 2016 10:00:00 PM GMT To say that a full-frame Pentax DSLR is one of the most anticipated cameras of all-time is probably an understatement. With the arrival of the K-1, Pentaxians have finally had their wish granted, with an impressively spec'd camera at a relatively low price. We got to spend a bit of time with the K-1 recently and have put together some first impressions. Read more | | Published Wednesday, February 17, 2016 10:00:00 PM GMT After being introduced to the long-awaited Pentax K-1, staff contributors Jordan Stead and Sam Spencer were able to take a quick stroll with the new full-frame camera and a handful of lenses. Read more | | Published Wednesday, February 17, 2016 10:00:00 PM GMT After years of development, not to mention months of teasers, Ricoh has made its Pentax K-1 full-frame DSLR a reality. The first 35mm format Pentax DSLR, the K-1 offers a 36.4MP CMOS sensor, 5-axis sensor-shift image stabilization, a 'nearly 100%' optical viewfinder and 33-point AF system with 25 cross-type points – all for under $1800. Read more | | Published Wednesday, February 17, 2016 10:00:00 PM GMT Ricoh has expanded its full-frame lens range, announcing the HD Pentax-D FA 15-30mm F2.8 and FA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 alongside the introduction of the full-frame K-1 DSLR. Read more | | Published Wednesday, February 17, 2016 9:29:00 PM GMT Cloud photo storage services are abundant, but not all photographers are willing to pay the monthly fees associated with large storage amounts. Monument, a project currently seeking crowdfunding, aims to bring the organization and syncing features found in cloud services like Google Photos to a photography-centric storage device that you keep in your own home. Read more | | Published Wednesday, February 17, 2016 7:00:00 PM GMT You may have noticed a new feature in our camera reviews lately – an interactive, 360-degree view. With selectable hot spots, the 360-view gives a closer look at a camera's notable body features. We've been excited to roll them out in recent reviews, and now you can take a look at how we put them together. Read more | | Published Tuesday, February 16, 2016 11:11:00 PM GMT A team of researchers at Rice University are developing a thin, lensless camera called FlatCam, which replaces the traditional lens with a grid-like coded mask essentially made of many pinholes positioned over the sensor. Read more | | Published Tuesday, February 16, 2016 8:03:00 PM GMT Sony has announced a 22.5MP Exmor RS imaging sensor for smartphones. The new stacked 1/2.6" CMOS sensor, called IMX318, is smaller than most used by current smartphones and includes on-chip processing for AF and video image stabilization. Sony has used pixels measuring 1.0µm, allowing for a smaller sensor with higher resolution to be included in likewise slimmer mobile devices. Read more | | Published Tuesday, February 16, 2016 1:00:00 PM GMT Pacific Northwest native Fritz Liedtke strives to create fine art portraiture that tells a story through lighting and focus. With years of work spanning the use of 4x5 cameras, DSLRs and Lensbaby lenses, Liedtke's work often has an air of both surrealism and intimacy. In this video, find out more about Liedtke's approach to personal projects and portraiture in general. Read more | | Published Tuesday, February 16, 2016 2:18:00 AM GMT In terms of processing power, look and feel the Sony Xperia M5 ranks below Sony's Xperia Z flagship line of smartphones. However, like the Z-models it's dustproof, waterproof and has a lot to offer in the photography department. The rear camera provides a 21.5MP Sony Exmor sensor with on-chip phase detection combined with an F2.2. lens, as well as 4K video recording. Scoring 79 in DxOMark's Mobile testing, it sets the bar as the best mid-range device in DxO's rankings. Read more | | Published Monday, February 15, 2016 10:00:00 PM GMT If the stealth-black GR II isn't quite showy enough for you, then you may be interested in Ricoh's new 'Silver Edition' camera, which it created to celebrate its 80th anniversary. In addition to its new color, Ricoh has also diamond-engraved the lens' specs onto its front ring, added a custom on/off screen and bundled a leather carrying case. Only 3200 of the Silver Edition GR II cameras will be sold worldwide, so get your order in soon. Read more | | Published Monday, February 15, 2016 8:21:00 PM GMT Last week, Adobe rolled out a Creative Cloud update with a harmful bug that, for some subscribers, deleted files from the user's system root directory. Once the bug was discovered with the help of backup platform Backblaze, Creative Cloud version 3.5.0.206 was pulled from release and was replaced Sunday with an update that promises to fix the issue. Read more | | Published Monday, February 15, 2016 7:47:00 PM GMT Last year, Google rolled out a stand-alone Photos app with unlimited storage, stirring up rumors that its photo editing application Picasa's days were numbered. Sure enough, in a statement on Friday Google announced that Picasa will be phased to make way for Google Photos, detailing what it hopes will be a more uniform photo experience. The change will take place 'over the coming months.' Read more | | Published Monday, February 15, 2016 7:07:00 PM GMT The Shenyang Zhongyi Optical & Electronic Company Limited has introduced an updated version of its super-fast 35mm lens for APS-C sensor cameras that it claims has better resolution and reduced chromatic aberration. The manual focus Mitakon Speedmaster 35mm F0.95 II is also smaller and lighter than the original model, with a length of 60mm instead of 82mm, a filter thread of 55mm instead of 58mm and a weight of 460g/1.06lb versus 680g/1.5lb. Read more | | Published Monday, February 15, 2016 6:18:00 PM GMT There’s no denying the appeal of Sony’s RX1R II. It promises high-resolution full-frame image quality that’s bolstered by an impressive autofocus system, reasonable depth-of-field control from its 35mm F2 lens and a compact form factor that encourages you to take it with you everywhere. But would you want to? Click through to find out what we think. Read more | | Published Monday, February 15, 2016 4:00:00 AM GMT Panasonic has introduced the Lumix DMC-GF8, essentially a GF7 with an emphasis on selfie-friendly features. It continues to offer the GF7's 16MP Four Thirds sensor, 1080/60p video and built-in Wi-Fi, but wraps it all up in your choice of a pink, silver, brown or orange leather-like finish. Read more | | Published Sunday, February 14, 2016 1:00:00 PM GMT Photographers tend to shy away from wide-angle lenses when shooting portraits, but DPReview Technical Editor Rishi Sanyal thinks that's all wrong. In this video, he uses the Sigma 24-35mm F2 Art to illustrate his case for wide-angle portraits, capturing a couple of models with a setting sun in Seattle's lovely Discovery Park. Read more | | Published Saturday, February 13, 2016 1:00:00 PM GMT When Brian Smith was just a High School student with a budding interest in making photographs, he learned that photography could earn you some significant perks – and at that age, that meant a pass to leave campus. These days he's well known for his portraiture, including a portfolio of A-list celebrities. He sat down with DPReview Editor Barney Britton at PIX 2015 to discuss his career. See video | | Published Friday, February 12, 2016 8:25:00 PM GMT Tripod and accessory manufacturer Manfrotto has announced a total of six new monopods that it has added to the XPRO range, including models in carbon fiber as well as aluminum. The models cover three families of monopods: Prime for the heaviest equipment, Over for those who need height but for lighter kit, and Land for traveling. Read more | | Published Friday, February 12, 2016 8:18:00 PM GMT The folks at Sphericam are back with a second generation model of their unique angular camera. The Sphericam 2 is, according to the company, the first fully spherical pro-grade 360-degree camera that records 4K footage at 60 fps. The resulting videos can be used in VR applications, as well as on platforms that support 360-degree content like YouTube and Spinnable. Read more | | Published Friday, February 12, 2016 12:36:00 AM GMT Chinese lens adapter manufacturer Kipon has said it is producing a new model that will allow Canon EF lenses to fit on Sony A-series mirrorless bodies while maintaining their AF functionality. The Kipon EF-S/E AF ND lens adapter also comes provided with a slot-in four-stop graduated neutral density filter that can be fitted into the body of the ring. Read more | | Published Thursday, February 11, 2016 11:45:00 PM GMT Cambo has devised a new Canon EF/EF-S lens plate for its Actus view camera system that allows users to control aperture settings on Canon EOS lenses. The Cambo Actus system is designed to deliver a view camera style of shooting to some mirrorless camera bodies, consisting of a lens plate and a body plate with bellows and a monorail in between. Read more | | Published Thursday, February 11, 2016 10:56:00 PM GMT Chinese company Techart has produced an adapter that works with the AF system of Sony's A7 II and A7R II cameras to create an autofocus effect for Leica M mount lenses. The adapter ring sits between the body and the lens and uses a motor to drive the lens back and forth until sharp focus is found. Read more | | Published Thursday, February 11, 2016 8:37:00 PM GMT Ricoh has partnered with Spinnable, a social sharing platform dedicated to 360-degree content. The partnership allows Ricoh Theta S owners to directly upload 360-degree videos recorded with the camera to Spinnable. The Spinnable platform is currently available as an iOS app, and will soon be launched for Android, Samsung Gear, and desktop, as well. Read more | | Published Thursday, February 11, 2016 7:24:00 PM GMT What looks like a Fujifilm X100T but has the focal length of a Ricoh GR II? Well, Fujifilm's newest and smallest X-series camera, the X70, may have a lot in common with these cameras at first blush, but extended use reveals a more complicated story. Find out what it's like to shoot with the X70 in the real world, and check out an updated sample gallery along with our studio test scene comparison. Read more | | Published Thursday, February 11, 2016 7:59:00 AM GMT Why can't you just make them better? It sounds like a reasonable question until you start unpacking exactly what it entails, and that's exactly what Roger Cicala does in the latest LensRentals blog post. As usual, the closer he looks, the more complicated the question becomes. So why can't everyone just (repeatably and affordably) make lenses, you know... better? Read more | |
