Google has announced Snapseed version 2.1 for Android, introducing the ability to edit Raw DNG files. While quite a few high-end Android smartphones have allowed Raw shooting for some time, editing those files hasn't been easy. This update to the extremely popular Snapseed app will certainly change that. Read more 

Leica has released a major firmware update for its T (Typ 701) APS-C mirrorless camera. Firmware 1.4 promises to make autofocus twice as fast, and improves touchscreen responsiveness by three times. The company has also announced plans to release two new prime lenses for the T in 2016. Read more

Manfrotto's Digital Director, introduced in April, is a departure from its usual array of tripods and tripod heads. It's a device designed to hold an iPad Air tethered to a DSLR, providing a large live view screen, access to camera controls and wireless sharing options. Shooting with a large screen can be a revelation compared to using a 3" LCD, but the Digital Director is pretty pricey. Is it worth the cost? Read more

With smartphone screens growing larger and nearing what used to be tablet territory, it's probably natural that the latter are increasing screen size as well. Apple launched the 12.9-inch iPad Pro in September and now Samsung, which already has the 12.2-inch Galaxy Tab Pro in its line-up, has gone one step further and launched the gigantic Galaxy View with an 18.4-inch display. Read more

Canon's Imaging Systems business has reported its third quarter sales fell by ¥26.5bn ($220m), compared to the same time last year. The company blamed a decline in worldwide demand for its interchangeable lens cameras 'due to market shrinkage,' with unit sales down 17% year-on-year, despite sales increases in Japan and Europe. Read more

It came out of nowhere, a brand-new full-frame professional level mirrorless camera and lens system: the Leica SL. It combines a new lens system (using the existing mount from the T) with an extremely high resolution viewfinder and a sensor based on the one used by the coveted Leica Q. Take a look at some preliminary studio test results from the Leica SL. Read more

Ricoh Imaging US has announced the Medium Format by PENTAX Advantage Program, a new support and service offering for the Pentax 645Z camera. Under this program, camera owners are given three years of extended service and support from the date of purchase, as well as loaner lenses and camera bodies and a toll-free support number. Read more

The Droid Turbo 2 is Motorola's latest high-end device, bearing a 21MP sensor and an F2.0 aperture. Camera specs are mostly shared with the Moto X Style, but the new provides a more powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 chipset, shatter-proof display and a battery good for 48 hours on a single charge. With a DxOMark Mobile score of 84 the Droid Turbo 2 cracks DxOMark's top mobile rankings. Read more

The Droid Turbo 2 is Motorola's latest high-end model for US carrier Verizon, and in terms of specification ranks even above Motorola's current flagship Moto X Style. With the Sony 1/2.4-inch 21MP IMX230 sensor and an F2.0 aperture, the camera specification is pretty much identical but the Droid Turbo 2 offers improved performance in a few key areas. We got our hands on the Turbo 2 before launch - check out our impressions sample images. Read more

Researches from German university Ruhr-Universitat Bochum spent half a decade creating the largest astronomical image created to date, a 46-gigapixel image of the Milky Way, which is now available via an interactive online viewer. The image is made up of 46 billion pixels, and the file weighs in at a hefty 194GB. Read more

For a few years now, InVisage has been working on a new kind of smartphone image sensor that claims to offer higher dynamic range and zero rolling shutter than the chips currently found in mobile devices. It appears the technology is now at a stage where its benefits can be demonstrated, and for this purpose InVisage has commissioned a short movie called Prix  shot entirely on a prototype device using InVisage's QuantumFilm technology. Read more

At PIX 2015 we took the opportunity to sit down and talk with industry leaders while they were in our neighborhood. Sony's Alpha system has made some interesting moves over the last year, and we asked product manager Kenta Honjo all of our burning questions, including what's in store for the future of the system. Read more

There's really no event on the photo industry's yearly calendar like PhotoPlus Expo. Occupying the Javits Center in Manhattan, it's an opportunity for us to get our hands on new gear and talk with manufacturers about what's coming next. There's nothing like a show in the Big Apple - see for yourself. Read more

Landscape and nature photographer Erez Marom has a lot of experience getting images in tough locations all over the world. Getting great shots takes a lot of work, but how many of us spend any time considering how to name our images? In this article, Erez takes us through his thought-process when titling his images, and explains why he thinks it's so important. Click through to read the full article

Chinese manufacturer Zhongyi optics has announced a new lens, the stupendously large Zhongyi 135mm F1.4 Speedmaster. The company is aiming to make less than 100 units, and expects the lens to appeal to specialized stills photographers and filmmakers. We got up close and personal with a prototype this week at the Photo Plus Expo show in New York. Read more

Canon's new PowerShot G5 X and G9 X offer 1-inch sensors in compact, easy-to-use bodies. The G9 X is similar in to Canon's popular PowerShot S-series, while the G5 X takes the guts of last year's G7 X but with much more enthusiast-friendly ergonomics. We got our hands on both new models this week at the Photo Plus Expo in New York. Read our first impressions

Brian Smith has an extraordinary portfolio, with a career shooting celebrity portraits for over 30 years, but like many other photographers he's got one problem - a lot of legacy glass in his closet and nowhere to put it. At least that was the case until he got his hands on his first mirrorless camera. Read more

Chinese lens manufacturer Shenyang Zhongyi Optics has redesigned the optical construction of is Turbo Adapter that allows Micro Four Thirds users to mount Nikon and Canon lenses to their cameras. The details are slight, but the company says the configuration is completely different, although still using four elements, and new coatings have been applied to reduce flare and increase contrast. Read more

Following the success of last year's excellent Hyperlapse app for creating smoothly stabilized time-lapse videos, Instagram has today launched its second 'special feature app'. Boomerang captures a burst of still images over one second and combines them into a video that plays backwards and forwards continuously, resembling something not unlike an animated GIF. Read more

Think Tank has launched the Lily Deanne, its first series of photo bags designed specifically with women in mind. The shoulder bag is available in three sizes, each designed to accommodate pro-sized camera bodies and lenses. Read more

Yesterday, Western Digital announced plans to acquire SanDisk Corporation, a company that specializes in memory chips and SD cards. According to a statement released on Wednesday, WD will purchase all of SanDisk’s shares in a deal totaling about $19 billion; a combination of cash and stock will be paid. Read more

PhotoShelter has launched 'The Professional's Guide to Food Photography,' a new free guide dedicated to the art and business of photographing food. The guide includes tips for breaking into the industry, in-depth interviews with food photographers and a how-to on building a portfolio. Read more

Canon has introduced a new flagship professional photo printer, the 17" imagePROGRAF PRO-1000. Offering a new print head, ink set and image processor, it boasts an L-series-esque red line to reflect is top-end specification. Read more

Lensbaby has announced new additions to its lens lineup with the Composer Pro II and Edge 50 Optic. The Composer Pro II houses the swap-able optic, updating the original Composer with an 'upgraded' metal body, and the 50mm equivalent F3.2 Edge optic provides a tilt shift effect slice of focus that can be moved around the frame. Read more

Fujifilm has added another lens to its X-mount, this one being a low-cost Fujinon XF 35mm F2 prime. This compact lens features a nearly silent internal AF system, 9-blade circular aperture, 2 ED elements, and is sealed against moisture and dust. Also announced is a 1.4x teleconverter, which is currently only compatible with the XF 50-140mm F2.8 zoom. It will, however, be compatible with future lenses, including the XF 100-400mm super telephoto lens expected next year. Read more.

ZY Optics, a Chinese company that sells lenses under brand name Mitakon, teased a massive lens on the Chinese social network Weibo over the weekend, the Mitakon Speedmaster 135mm F1.4. While the company revealed a few details at the time, it didn't specify when the lens would be available for pre-order. That changed on Monday, and the company is now offering $500 non-refundable deposits to reserve a unit for shipping in early 2016. Read more

HTC has today announced its newest member of the One smartphone family, the One A9, which slots into the HTC device line-up just under the flagship One M9. In the camera department the new model comes with a lower 13MP sensor resolution than the M9 with its 20MP chip, but on the plus side offers a slightly faster F2.0 aperture and an optical image stabilization system which could easily make it the better option in low light. Read more

Last year Leica entered the mirrorless ILC market with its T (Typ 701). And now, just in time for the PhotoPlus Expo later this week in New York the company is going big - and we mean big - with the SL (Typ 601), a full-frame mirrorless model for enthusiasts with a high credit limit. Read more

Leica has introduced the full-frame SL system, including the SL Typ 601 ILC and three compatible SL lenses. The SL uses a 24MP CMOS sensor adapted from the Leica Q, and true to form its weather-sealed body is cut from a single block of milled aluminum. Read more

Earlier this year Nikon expanded a series of F1.8 primes with the 24mm F1.8G ED, sitting alongside 20mm and 35mm models. Compact and lightweight, it hits a $750 price point that's relatively reasonable, considering the F1.4 version retails for over $2000. We've spent some time shooting with the new 24mm prime - take a look at its performance out and about. Read more

The U.S. government may soon require most drones to be registered, according to the Associated Press. Sources speaking on the matter state the FAA is working with unspecified industry and government officials to create a registration system. While the exact requirements aren't known, it is believed small and toy drones will not require registration. Read more

Sony has gradually been updating its Alpha line of full frame mirrorless cameras, and the a7S II is the latest to get the update treatment. The original a7S gained a bit of a cult following as an outstanding HD video camera, thanks to its full sensor readout, outstanding HD video, and impressive low light capability. As a result, it should come as no surprise that Sony has largely aimed the a7S II at the videography crowd. Click through to read more

Taylor Gray may be young, but he's serious about photography. After taking a borrowed DSLR on a backpacking trip, Gray was hooked on photography and found a new love for adventure and travel. See some of the young photographer's work. Read more

Polarr has released Photo Editor 3, the third version of its lightweight photo editing software. The new version brings with it support for using a mouse and a touchscreen, as well as a new user interface, adjustment sliders, photo editing guides, and other features. Read more