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
August 19
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
August 18
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
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.
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.
August 17
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
August 16
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.
August 15
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
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
August 14
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.
August 13
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
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.
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
August 12
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.
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.
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
August 11
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
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
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
August 10
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
August 9
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
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
August 8
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.
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.
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.
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
August 7
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
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
August 6
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
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
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
August 5
Lenovo has just announced what looks like one of the most interesting smartphones of the year, from a camera perspective. According to the announcement the Vibe Z2 Pro captures images with a 16MP camera that features an optical image stabilization system. Camera functions include a Pro Mode, which allows for manual control over a range of shooting parameters. The new device is also capable of 4K video recording. Read more
PocketWizard has announced the latest ControlTL firmware upgrade to its line of 'Control the Light' wireless flash transceivers and receivers, updating the MiniTT1 Transmitter and FlexTT5 transceiver and receiver units to work with all available Canon and Nikon DSLR systems. The company has also added resources to achieve a much faster turnaround on updates, as evidenced by new support for the Nikon D810, which was just announced in late June. Read more
August 4
Ricoh has announced the Pentax Q-S1, its latest compact interchangeable lens camera with a Q lens mount. It offers some cosmetic updates, but the internals like a 12MP 1/1.7-inch BSI CMOS have remained largely unchanged from the previous Q7 model. The Q-S1 will be sold in 40 different color combinations when it becomes available in September for a price of $499.95/£379.99 with kit zoom. Read more
Ricoh adds a new lens to its 645 medium format lineup, the weather-resistant HD Pentax-DA645 28-45mm F4.5ED AW SR. Covering a 22-35.5mm equivalent range in full-frame terms, it uses 17 elements in 12 groups. It's Pentax's first optically stabilized zoom lens, with SR Shake Reduction technology that claims to compensate for camera shake for an additional 3.5 stops. The lens is dust- and weather-resistant, becoming available in August for a price of $4,999.95/£3,399.99. Read more
Though they come with vastly different sensor sizes and price tags, the Panasonic Lumix GH4 and the Sony Alpha 7S are similar in spirit. They're both meant for video recording as much as they are for stills. To that point, the 12.2MP full frame A7S and 16MP Micro Four Thirds GH4 are both capable of 4K video output and offer extensive video features. Our comparative review takes a detailed look at how these cameras perform in terms of video and stills, as well how they stack up against one another. Read part one
August 3
In his series 'tautochronos', Berlin-based artist and photographer Michel Lamoller takes multiple pictures of the same scene at different times, before physically combining the prints and using a scalpel to cut through the layers. In doing so, Lamoller's 'layerscapes' offer a vision of time and space that would be impossible in a conventional single exposure. His work is hard to describe in words - click through to read our Q&A and take a look at his work.
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. This week we asked users of our Nature and Wildlife forum to submit their favorite shots and as usual, the submissions were excellent. See gallery
August 2
It would seem that a trip somewhere as exotic as Thailand would require a pro camera and a heavy bag of lenses. Photographer Jan Ras took a lighter approach on a recent trip to Thailand, photographing some of the native inhabitants of a village (monkeys, to be precise) with a Nokia Lumia 1020. He captures their expressive, curious nature in a documentary style, all while forgoing traditional photographic equipment. See gallery
August 1
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.
Just when Canon India had us all excited... it looks like the company's 'something BIG is coming' teaser was referring to a competition. 'Photomarathon India' is open for registration from August 5th, and prizes include a trip to Japan, worth $5000. This is great news for Indian photographers, but likely to disappoint those of us hoping that 'something BIG' might refer to new hardware. Oh well.
You'd know just by looking at it that the Samsung NX Mini is the slimmest and lightest interchangeable lens camera on the market. Tucked inside is a 1"-type, 20MP CMOS sensor along with Wi-Fi with NFC and 1080/30p video. The aptly named Mini also introduces a new NX-M lens mount. We've updated our existing NX Mini samples gallery with images from the 17mm F1.8 prime. See gallery
Lens Rentals Canada has announced that it is temporarily not accepting new orders. A brief notice on lensrentalscanada.com cites 'serious issues' with Canada Post Corporation, and states that current orders will be shipped using Purolator Courier. An email that a reddit user claims was sent to him by Lens Rentals Canada is more to the point, stating that a Canada Post employee has stolen equipment in transit. No estimated timeframe has been given as to when orders will be accepted again. Read more
July 31
Adobe has made final release versions of Camera Raw 8.6 and DNG Converter 8.6 available. This update adds support for the Nikon D810, Panasonic Lumix AG-GH4 (GH4 with interface unit) and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000, as well as several bug fixes. Color profiles are added for the Sony Cyber-shot RX100 III, A7S and Alpha SLT-A77 II. Also included are a number of new lens profiles. Learn more
Canon India has posted a teaser on its Facebook page showing a 1-series DSLR alongside the words 'Get your camera ready, something BIG is coming'. Being a teaser rather than a leak, the meaning of the post is open to interpretation, although 'get your camera ready' suggests that the new product might be a lens. With Photokina just around the corner, the time is right for new product announcements. Click through for a look at the teaser.
The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX220 and W810, which have been available in certain markets for several months, are making their way onto US shores in August and September. The WX220 features an 18.2MP BSI-CMOS sensor, Bionz X processor, 25-250mm equiv. lens, 1080/60p video, and Wi-Fi with NFC. The W810 offers a 20MP CCD, 26-156mm equiv. lens, and 720p video. The cameras are priced at $200 and $100, respectively. Click through for details.
A group of big name Hollywood directors has nudged studio executives into talks with Kodak, negotiating a deal that would keep the company's movie film in production. With support from the likes of Quentin Tarantino, Christopher Nolan, and J.J. Abrams, the deal would see studios commit to buying a certain amount of film from Kodak for the next few years. Read more
July 30
The Nikon D810 represents a consolidation of its two predecessors, the D800 and D800E. The 36MP full frame DSLR lacks an anti-aliasing filter to make the absolute most of its high resolution sensor and provides a number of meaningful updates over the previous generation. After some extensive shooting in the field we've updated our First Impressions Review with a shooting experience. Read more
The Sony SLT-A77 II is that company's latest DSLR using translucent mirror technology. With a 24MP CMOS sensor, it has a newly-designed 79-point AF system and offers 12fps continuous shooting with autofocus. That's all very impressive on paper, but what's it like in the real world? We've pulled together a sample gallery and added it to our a77 II First Impressions Review. See gallery
July 29
Flickr has announced that it is expanding its photo licensing opportunities for users. Alongside its partnership with Getty Images, Flickr will now allow users to opt in to an 'image curation' initiative called Marketplace. Participating members may have their images featured across Yahoo's network of sites along with other media outlets including the New York Times and the BBC. Read more
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