'Conceptual' and 'commercial' photography are styles that relatively few are able to achieve success in, especially at the same time. But Dean Bradshaw’s intellectual and humorous approach to advertorial work sets his portfolio far above that of the typical commercial photographer. Take a look at a selection of his imagery and find out a few insights behind his success in our Q+A. See gallery
March 22
March 21
It was curiosity that got DPR reader Rutger Bus into photography. Of his dad's darkroom in his childhood home he says, ' I always wondered what was going on in that little dark room with the red light above the door.' That spark of curiosity comes across in his colorful landscapes, which first caught our eye in our Landscape Readers' Showcase. Check out more of his images and read our Q&A. See gallery
March 20
The weather spoiled today's solar eclipse for many would-be watchers in the UK but it was visible in some parts of the country. Dutch photographer Rutger Pauw teamed up with trials biking genius Danny MacAskill to get a rather different shot. Using a long telephoto lens and shooting from over 300m away, Pauw had to communicate with MacAskill by radio to time the shot precisely, a process complicated by only having enough battery power to fire their super-powerful strobe once. Read more
Adobe has released the final version of Camera Raw 8.8 for Photoshop CC/CS6. Support for several additional Canon, Panasonic, and Fujifilm cameras have been added, as well as the Hasselblad Stellar II, Nikon D5500, and Olympus OM-D E-M5 II, among others. Read more
Italian accessory maker CPtech has launched a new holster in its B-Grip range that is designed for smaller cameras. The company says that its Uno holster will be suitable for compact system users, as well as those who own bridge and compact cameras. Read more
Recently we joined our friends at CreativeLive for a panel discussion as part of their 2015 Gear Day. Our live discussion centered on the continued rise of mirrorless cameras, 4K video and what it means for stills photographers, the benefits and pitfalls of high pixel sensors, and of course, lots of new and exciting gear. Watch the segment and nerd out with us all over again. See video
March 19
Atomos has released a major firmware update to the Atomos Shogun 4K external video recorder. The Shogun, already popular among filmmakers and professional videographers thanks to its 4K 10-bit ProRes recording capabilities, gains several important features that should appeal to motion picture shooters. The update, dubbed AtomOS6.2, adds important features such as 3D LUTs and Avid DNxHR/DNxHD recording formats. Read more
Canon's new EF 11-24mm F4 L wideangle zoom lens is Canon's widest ever rectilinear zoom by some margin, and may even challenge Nikon's venerable 14-24mm F2.8 as the tool of choice for landscape, property and architectural photographers. When a reviewable sample arrived in our office last week we wasted no time taking it out shooting. See gallery
March 18
A new platform called Defrozo has launched on Kickstarter. Currently in beta, it offers photographers online services needed to market and run a photography business, including an online store through which customers can purchase prints and a website to showcase one's own work. When it fully launches in October, Defrozo will offer free and paid subscription options. Read more
The Olympus OM-D E-M5 II follows-up on the groundbreaking original E-M5 and brings extra control points (a lot of them) a 40MP high-res mode, better video, improved image stabilization and a host of other refinements, large and small. We've been shooting a lot with the E-M5 II over the past few weeks, and that work has culminated in a full review, with our usual combination of studio and real-world tests. Click through to see what we think
March 17
A new filter manufacturer called Novo is promising a range of filters that will be made from super-durable sapphire crystal and Gorilla Glass, which should have enhanced scratch resistance. The company also claims its filters will have extremely thin brass frames, and will feature 'superior coatings'. Read more
As promised earlier this month, Nikon has made its ViewNX-i software available for download today today. Building on the camera maker's previous View NX 2 software, the new application works in conjunction with Nikon's NX-D photofinishing software for editing photographs, and bundles Nikon's ViewNX-Movie Editor for editing videos. Read more
UPDATED: We just added several images to this gallery, converted from raw. The Samsung NX500 is essentially a scaled down version of Samsung's flagship NX1. It uses the same 28MP BSI-CMOS sensor, advanced hybrid AF system, and DRIMe V processor as the NX1, with the main differences being the form factor (resembling a rangefinder rather than an SLR), burst mode (9 vs 15 fps), and viewfinder (none vs electronic). We've been using a production NX500 for a couple of days, and we've put together a gallery of real-world samples. Click through for the updated gallery
March 16
It hasn't even entered production yet, but Samsung's S 300mm f/2.8 ED OIS telephoto lens is certainly shaping up to be a very nice addition to the NX line. We were fortunate enough to be allowed access to a pre-production engineering sample of this new lens for a few hours. As a result we've put together a small gallery of images which should give some idea about the lens's likely performance once it becomes available. See gallery
Lytro has announced the launch of Lytro Studio in Tokyo. The studio is open to the public so that anyone can visit to learn about light field imaging and the technology behind it. This includes training on how to use Lytro's platform and software, as well as demonstrations of how its cameras and related technology work. Read more
Bag manufacturer Lowepro has introduced a pair of new backpacks to its Fastpack range, with added weather-proofing and a compartment for a laptop or tablet. The Fastpack BP 150 AW ll and BP 250 AW ll are basically the same bag in two sizes, and each is divided into three sections that allow storage of camera equipment as well as other everyday items for photographers on the move. Read more
March 15
Maxime Siegler is a DPR reader who caught our eye with his contributions to our black and white Readers' Showcase. We wanted to share more of his work, and he was kind enough to answer a few questions about his photography. Find out how he stays inspired and why he's so fond of monochromatic photography. See gallery
March 14
After several iterations, Panasonic's GF- series compact mirrorless camera line has settled into a comfortable position: providing mass market point-and-shoot appeal while giving photographers the option to fully control settings. The latest camera in the series, the Lumix DMC-GF7, continues this trend. Check out our sample gallery
March 13
Adorama has launched a 400ws ring flash which uses a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. Part of the Flashpoint brand, it features a circular flash tube with an aperture capable of accommodating a lens barrel with a diameter of up to 3.5in/95mm. With a guide number of 82ft/25m the ring is powerful enough not only for macro work, but also headshots and full-length portraits. Read more
The developers behind Facetune have created a new app called Enlight, a general purpose image editor. It challenges apps like VSCO Cam and Adobe's own mobile image editors, with adjustment tools, presets and various filters. Read more
March 12
Bag and accessory manufacturer Think Tank has announced that it will introduce a new range of shoulder bags and a backpack for compact system camera users in April this year. Dubbed the ‘Urban Approach’ range the bags are said to be ‘low profile’ to allow the photographer to carry equipment without standing out, and will be finished in low-contrast matte black. Click through for details
Eyefi, the maker of Wi-Fi memory cards, has today launched Eyefi Mobi Pro, a new 32GB WiFi SD card. It improves the existing Eyefi Mobi model by adding wireless transfer of Raw image files, along with new photo categorization and search functions. Read more
March 11
Tenba has unveiled a new customizable camera bag designed for mirrorless cameras and their accessories. The product is called Switch, a name derived from its interchangeable front flap. A total of three sizes are offered, all of which are now available through Tenba's website. Read more
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50 (TZ70 outside North America) earns its travel zoom designation with a 30x optical zoom range, equivalent to 24-720mm. It features a 12MP CMOS sensor, full manual controls, Raw shooting and a built-in 1.2M dot electronic viewfinder. Find out what it's capable of doing in the field. See gallery
Landscape photographer Erez Marom has taken photographs all over the world in all manner of locations, in all kinds of weather conditions. But whereas many landscape photographers are slaves to the weather forecast, Marom has learned that some of his best shots come from the most unlikely situations. Click through to read more, and see some stunning images
The Olympus Stylus SH-2 is a compact long-zoom camera that bears a remarkable resemblance to the company's PEN series of mirrorless cameras. While it shares the design and 5-axis image stabilization of some of the PEN models, the similarities end there, as the SH-2 is very much a point-and-shoot camera. Learn more about the SH-2 in our hands-on preview. Read more
Olympus has announced an update to its Pen-like travel zoom: the Stylus SH-2. The SH-2 replaces the SH-1 with added support for Raw shooting, while maintaining the previous model's 24x zoom (25-600mm equiv.), 16MP BSI CMOS sensor, 5-axis image stabilization and built-in Wi-Fi. Read more
March 10
Flash equipment manufacturer Elinchrom has launched a new portable flash system that promises faster recycling times, more bursts per charge and greater flexibility than the company’s current battery-powered kits. The Elinchrom ELB 400 is a 424Ws pack that can manage up to 350 full power flashes per charge and can recycle in 1.6 seconds after a maximum output burst. Read more
A team at Harvard School of Engineering has developed a method for making flat lenses that could dramatically reduce the size and weight of camera lenses in the future. The method employs tiny silicon antennas positioned on flat glass components to redirect light when it reaches the surface of the lens instead of relying on refraction and the thickness of glass to bend light in a particular direction. Learn more
The Olympus OM-D E-M5 II has attracted a lot of attention, both for its technology and because it succeeds an already popular camera. We sat down with Product Manager Richard Pelkowski to find out more about the technology that went into the E-M5's successor and what might be possible in the future. See video
We recently returned from the CP+ show in Yokohama, Japan, where we sat down with executives from most of the major camera and lens manufacturers to get their insights and opinions on the challenges facing their companies and the market as a whole. One of them was Masaya Maeda - Managing Director and Chief Executive, Image Communication Products Operations at Canon. Click through to read the interview
March 9
A poor built-in LED-flash is still one of the smartphone camera's most glaring weaknesses. We've seen a number of accessory makers addressing the problem with different external light solutions. The latest one comes from Vision global which has launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund mass production of its Flasher accessory. Read more
On our recent visit to Japan to attend the CP+ show in Yokohama we were fortunate to be invited to tour Sigma's factory in Aizu. The Aizu factory is where all of Sigma's lenses are manufactured, including the company's impressive new 'Art' line of primes. Click through to take a virtual tour of the factory, in the company of Kazuto Yamaki, Sigma's CEO.
March 8
We recently returned from the CP+ show in Yokohama, Japan, where we sat down with Kazunobu Saiki - General Manager of the Marketing Communication Department, in the Global Marketing Division of Ricoh Imaging. We spoke to Mr Saiki about Ricoh's forthcoming full-frame DSLR, the success of the 645Z and about his desire to improve AF performance in Pentax's DSLRs and lenses. Click through to read the interview
Based out of the climbing town of Chamonix, France, Jonathan Griffith has been making 'life threatening' a sport for more than a decade. With exceptional sets of images from extended mountain hikes and nearly vertical ice climbs as well as perilous extreme sports like cliff-face paragliding, the alpinist and photographer has toured worldwide sites from Alaska to the Alps. We asked him a few questions about his photography and passion for climbing. See gallery
March 7
Three photographs taken by Joseph Nicephore Niépce, a Frenchman born in 1765, will soon be exhibited by the National Media Museum. These particular images, which their creator called 'heliographs', were taken during the 1820s, and are part of a set of 16 image located throughout the world. All three images are said to be amongst the earliest of photographs ever taken. Read more
March 6
A slight update to the D5300, the Nikon D5500 is a midrange DX-format that sports a 24MP CMOS sensor with no optical low-pass filter (OLPF) and the company's latest Expeed 4 processor. This combination offers an ISO range of 100-25600 and 5 fps burst shooting, while the 39-point AF system can track subjects in '3D'. Other features include a fully articulating 3.2" touchscreen LCD with 1.04M dots and 1080/60p video. We've been using it for a few days - click through to view our gallery of samples
Livestream has introduced its new Broadcaster mini device for live-streaming video directly from a camera. The dongle is compatible with any camera that offers a mini HDMI port, and works wirelessly in conjunction with Android/iOS devices and Livestream's Studio software. The Broadcaster mini will be joined by the Broadcaster Pro next month, which will offer longer battery life, more connectivity options and higher-quality streaming. Read more
March 5
Sony announced three new FE primes yesterday, including a 28 f/2, a 35mm f/1.4 and a 90mm f/2.8 macro. We got our hands on the Zeiss Distagon T* FE 35mm f/1.4 and shot with it around Seattle. It features a 9-blade circular aperture and a Direct Drive SSM focus system. Check out our samples gallery
Following an investigation into Contemporary Issues winner Giovanni Troilo's photo story 'La Ville Noir - The Dark Heart of Europe,' World Press Photo has stripped the photographer of his prize. The organization found Troilo to be in violation of contest rules - specifically, a photo he submitted that he alleged to have been taken in the Belgian city at the heart of the project turns out to have been taken in Sint-Jans-Molenbeek, Brussels. Read more
While we were at CP+ 2015 in Japan, we met with Tamron, and the company was kind enough to lend us their newly announced 15-30mm F2.8 Di VC USD. In Nikon mount, no less. It's a wide range for a full-frame zoom, made more impressive by the inclusion of vibration compensation (VC). With a price tag of $1200, Tamron is taking the Nikon 14-24 head-on, and so we decided to do the same: pit the two against one another in a shootout, which you can view here
March 4
At this year's CP+ show in Yokohama Japan we made time to sit down with several senior executives from major manufacturers, including Sigma. In this interview with Kazuto Yamaki, CEO of Sigma, we spoke about the challenges of making lenses for ever-increasing pixel counts, the company's 'small office, big factory' philosophy and why the company is continuing to make cameras. Read more
Italian tripod and accessory manufacturer Manfrotto has announced it is introducing a new heavy-weight head to its XPRO range. The XPRO Geared Head is designed for photographers who use weighty equipment and who like to be able to make precise adjustments to their composition. Read more
Independent Japanese flash manufacturer Nissin has announced a new wireless flash system that uses radio transmission. The first gun to be compatible with the company’s Nissin Air System (NAS) will be an adapted version of the Di700 flash unit. The Di700A will have the same specification as the GN48m/157ft current model, but will also feature a 2.4GHz radio transmitter that will be able to communicate with other NAS guns and the Nissin Commander Air 1 command unit from a distance of up to 30m. Read more
Chinese company Xiaomi, perhaps best known for its smartphones, has introduced a new GoPro competitor called the Yi Action Camera. This new action camera will only be sold inside of China for the equivalent of approximately $64 USD (399 CNY); the company doesn't, as of now, have plans to sell it elsewhere. This still poses a problem for GoPro, however, which has recently been looking to expand into the Chinese market. Read more
Three full-frame prime lenses on Sony's lens roadmap officially arrived today which, including the 24-240, brings the total number of FE lenses to eleven. The least expensive of the trio is the 28mm F2 lens, which also supports ultra-wide and fisheye adapters. Next is the long-awaited Zeiss 35mm F1.4 ZA, which is Sony's fastest FE lens to date. Close-up shooters will be interested in the new 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS lens, which uses a Direct Drive SSM mechanism for ultra-precise focusing. More details here.
Another full-frame lens from Sony's roadmap that hit the market today is a consumer-friendly super zoom. This 24-240mm F3.5-6.3 FE lens features optical image stabilization, five aspherical elements and one ED element, and is sealed against dust and moisture. The lens will ship this month for around $1000.
Sony is releasing a pair of firmware updates this month that will reduce startup times when FE lenses are attached to both full-frame and APS-C bodies. The first update, available now, will make your E-mount camera get ready to shoot in less time when using five currently available FE lenses. The second update, due later this month, will do the same for Sony's a7 series, this time for the four new lenses announced today. Read more
Sony has officially announced four new conversion lenses - two for full-frame and two for APS-C - that can be screwed onto a select group of lenses. On the full-frame side there are ultra-wide and fisheye adapters for the new FE 28mm F2, which drop the focal range to 21mm and 16mm, respectively. The adapters for APS-C lenses - the 20mm F2.8 and 16mm F2.8 specifically - and reduce the focal lengths by 0.75X for the ultra-wide adapter and 0.6X for the fisheye. More details.
Japanese optical manufacturer Kowa has released pricing for the three Micro Four Thirds lenses it first announced a year ago. The trio, Kowa Prominar MFT 12mm f/1.8, Prominar MFT 8.5mm f/2.8 and Prominar MFT 25mm f/1.8 are available now and will come in a choice of black, silver or green finishes. The lenses are all manual focus, and do not feature electrical contacts for communicating aperture or focus distance data to the camera. The company had them on show at the Broadcast Video Expo in London. Read more
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