Articles from August 2013

The 41-megapixel Lumia 1020 melds technology first debuted on the Pureview 808 with a relevant operating system and the optical image stabilization introduced in Nokia’s Lumia 920 that allows significantly better image quality in low light. But do these great ideas translate into a great photographic experience? Our sister site, connect.dpreview.com has put the Lumia 1020 through its picture-making paces to find out how well its impressive imaging technology works in the real world.  

Back in April we posted about the GSS C520 - a five-axis gyro stabilized 4K cinema system being used by Teton Gravity Research to shoot a feature film about skiing. If the preview footage is any indication, it'll be pretty intense, putting the 4K rig to work in some impressive locations. The trailer is available online now - click through to see the preview footage in all its high-definition glory. 

Nikon has patented a technology that can adjust a camera's low-pass (AA) filter based on the situation. By using an electronically controlled liquid crystal panel, the AA filter can either be turned on and off, or set to 'normal' or 'high' intensity. The first design would allow for a D800 that become a D800E at the push of a button. The second design would have a mild anti-aliasing effect for stills, and a stronger effect to reduce moiré in movies. More details on this exciting development after the link.

As part of its effort to 'make Flickr awesome again', parent company Yahoo has released a hefty update to its Flickr app for iOS. Improved capture tools include the ability to lock separate focus and exposure points on the capture screen with a two finger tap. In addition, users can view the filters 'live'. When you are ready to edit, you can customize the exposure using the new Levels adjustment, correct color balance, sharpen, brighten, crop, straighten, or even add vignetting to your image. Click through for more details at connect.dpreview.com.

As the first hybrid smartphone and interchangeable lens camera, the Samsung Galaxy NX certainly cut a unique profile when we first looked at it in June. The Galaxy NX merges the features of Samsung smartphones, including a huge 4.8-inch touch LCD and 3G/4G/Wi-Fi connectivity, with a NX-mount ILC with a 20.3MP APS-C sensor, hybrid AF system, and 8.6 fps burst mode. At long last, the Galaxy NX has been given a price: $1,599.99 body only, or $1,699.99 bundled with an 18-55mm lens. 

It's an open secret that many compact cameras are produced by OEMs - companies that produce large numbers of products that are then sold under other brand names. There are also consumer-grade zooms from big name manufacturers that look much alike (we know for a fact that third-party makers commonly create lenses for the bigger brands). But we were still surprised to read about Sigma's latest patent for a 75mm F1.8 prime lens...

Being able to wirelessly connect your camera to a smartphone, computer or to 'the cloud' has a lot of appeal. Wi-Fi can expedite workflow by allowing you to transfer image files remotely while on location and also negate the need for card readers or cables. It's easy to forget that your camera doesn't have to have Wi-Fi built-in to benefit from the advantages of connectivity. In this article, we pit Eye-Fi's 16GB Pro X2 Wi-Fi SDHC card against the cheaper, higher-capacity Transcend 32GB Wi-Fi card and see which comes out on top. 

Mumbai-based photo journalist and camera collector Dilish Parekh has been entered into the Guinness Book of World Records for the second time. The previous record holder? Parekh himself. His collection has now grown to 4,425 antique cameras, ranging from Leica to Voigtlander. Learn more about his stockpile of cameras after the link.

The Pentax K-500 is a stripped-down version of the K-50, lacking the weather-sealed body and electronic level of that model, but offering the same 16MP sensor and basic ergonomics. It's an attractive entry-level option, and as soon as a production-quality sample arrived in our office we started shooting with it. Click through for a link to our gallery of real-world samples taken in a range of different environments. 

From the air, the landscape of Texas' vast feedlots and oil fields is by turns bleak and surreal. Photographer Mishka Henner aimed to capture the contrasts and intense colors of these landscapes in a collection of work titled 'Feedlots.' By stitching together hundreds of satellite images, he created large, detailed prints documenting the dynamism of these locations - earth tones clashing with the violent greens and reds of feedlot waste. Click through to see more of his stirring work.

Ricoh has announced the AF540FGZ II and AF360FGZ II Pentax-branded flash units. Both are updates to existing models, now boasting weather-sealed construction to match Pentax's line of weatherized DSLRs. The new flash units also feature built-in LED lights, intended for video recording. The AF540FGZ II offers a guide number of 54 at ISO 100/ft (178 ft) and the AF360FGZ II has a guide number of 36 at ISO 100/m (118 ft). Click through for the full press release.

The Sony A3000 is essentially a 20.1MP mirrorless camera that uses the same E-mount as the Sony NEX, yet which has the look and feel of a traditional SLR. Though not the first manufacturer to take this approach, Sony is the first to achieve the low starting price point of $399 for body and lens. It's a bold move; click through to read our first impressions review to see what we think in more detail.

Sony's latest interchangeable lens camera may look like an SLR, but underneath the hood it's all NEX. The Sony A3000 offers a 20.1 megapixel APS-C sensor, a built-in electronic viewfinder, full HD video and a Sony E-mount for interchangeable lenses all for an MSRP of $399 with an 18-55mm kit lens. The competitively priced A3000 offers all the trimmings of an entry-level DSLR including a fixed 3.0-inch LCD, built-in flash and hotshoe. Click through for the full press release and pricing.

Sony has announced the Sony Alpha NEX-5T, boasting all the same features that the Alpha NEX-5R offered with the addition of NFC. Smartphones and tablets with the technology will be able to pair easily with the NEX-5T to take advantage of its wireless connectivity. With a 16.1 megapixel APS-C sized sensor, Wi-Fi connectivity and a 3.0-inch flip-up touch LCD, the NEX-5T is introduced at $50 less than its predecessor's initial MSRP. Click through for more information.

Sony has announced three new E-mount lenses today for NEX system cameras: the Carl Zeiss Vario Tessar T* 16-70mm ZA F4, 18-105mm F4 G OSS power zoom, and a black version of its 50mm F1.8 OSS. All three feature Sony's Optical SteadyShot image stabilization. According to Sony, the 50mm F1.8 and 16-70mm F4 zoom will be ready to ship to consumers in September, with the 18-105mm F4 power zoom following in December. Click through for more details.

Facebook has started rolling out shared photo albums to select users of their social networking website. Currently, photo albums are limited to the user that created it. Shared albums will allow users to create a gallery that can be used by as many as 50 friends, each of whom can upload up to 200 photos. You can learn more about shared photo albums and when you can try it for yourself on our sister site, Connect.

Mat Honan of Wired.com thinks the time has come to banish comments sections from web pages. Writing in Wired.com's Gadget Lab blog, Honan describes the 'collective delusion' among online publishers that comments are a necessary component of web content and characterizes active comments moderation as 'a messy, frustrating and typically thankless affair that involves more time than most people have'. In this short editorial, editor Barnaby Britton explains why we do allow comments, despite the downsides. 

At first glance, Michael Wolf's photos look like they could be a tapestry or abstract art. Look closer and you'll see that they're actually cleverly composed photos of Hong Kong's ubiquitous high-rises. Wolf would head to one of the many hills in the city - or sometimes just go upstairs in an adjacent building - and set up his camera. The results are spectacular, as you'll see after the link.

During a holiday party at the Everglades Alligator Farm last year, employee and budding wildlife photographer Mario Aldecoa was setting up his camera to capture the glowing eyes of the local residents. It wasn't long after he mounted his Canon DSLR to a tripod when, in a flash, one of the gators grabbed the whole thing as if it was lunch. After a fruitless search the next morning, Aldecoa had all but given up on finding his camera. Eight months later, he was in for a surprise.

Fujifilm has updated its venerable line of Instax instant film cameras with the new 'Neo Classic' Mini 90, which takes its styling cues from recent X-series digital cameras like the X100S and X-E1. As well as an updated (or rather backdated) design, the Mini 90 includes a lithium-ion battery and features several shooting modes including a macro focus mode, double exposure and bulb - where the shutter can be held open for very long exposures or creative effects. Click through for more details and a link to Fujifilm's (Japanese) Mini 90 microsite.

RayFlash has announced a new universal ringflash adapter for DSLRs. Designed to clamp on to your own hotshoe flash, it utilizes the light from your existing flash unit and bends it through the circular structure around the lens of a DSLR. It's offered in two sizes - one fits most DSLRs (and the Olympus E-M5 O-MD) and another is configured with a longer neck for cameras with a higher body. It replaces the original adapter which could only accommodate a few Nikon and Canon flash units. Click through for more information.

Our friends and collaborators over at DxOMark have been investigating lenses for the Pentax K-50, and have just published an article assessing which score best on this well-featured little SLR. They've looked at 28 different models, from both Pentax itself and third-party makes like Sigma and Tamron, and given recommendations for the best lens to buy in various categories. This week they've also tested the Sigma APO 50-500mm f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM super-telephoto zoom, and compared it to the rather more expensive Nikon AF-S Nikkor 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR. Click through for the links.  

Reuters photographer Kai Pfaffenbach found himself unexpectedly on the other side of the lens at the IAAF World Championship Men's Shot Put Finals. His photo of Germany's David Storl was used as evidence in a decision that overturned a 'foul' call and awarded the athlete a gold medal. When it was called into question whether Storl stepped outside of the ring in his attempt, Pfaffenbach discovered that his remote camera clearly showed Storl's attempt to be fair. Click through for more.

LensRentals.com is now shipping the Canon EOS 5D Mark III with the Magic Lantern 'hack' pre-installed. The most notable feature gained by using Magic Lantern on the 5D Mark III is Raw video support, which offers much better video quality than on the 'stock' camera. The rest of the Magic Lantern feature set is also available, including focus peaking, an intervalometer, too many movie enhancements to list, plus the DR improvement that we reported on last month.

As camera manufacturers attempt to counter the onslaught of a smartphone-in-every-pocket mobile photography movement taking the place of point-and-shoot cameras, some solutions seek to combine the two devices. Our sister site, connect.dpreview.com has pulled together a handful of these ideas - now in production or still in development - for your interest (and, possibly, amusement). Are these technological wonders that you'll spend your hard-earned cash for, or are they destined for the recycle bin?

Apple has released RAW Compatibility Update version 4.08 for Aperture, iPhoto '11, and Mac OS X in general. This update adds support for the Canon EOS 70D, Fujifilm X-M1, Sony RX100 II and five additional cameras. You can download the new software via the System Update feature in Mac OS X or via the source link on the following page. There you'll also find a full list of the newly supported cameras.

Canon has released a version of its EF-S 55-250mm F4-5.6 lens that uses its STM stepping motor. STM lenses are designed for movie recording, with the goal of providing smooth and silent focusing. Unlike its predecessor, the STM version of the 55-250 has internal focusing. You'll be able to pick up the 55-250 STM lens in late September for $350. It's also a safe bet that the 55-250 STM will come bundled with Canon DSLRs in the near future.

Canon has announced its PowerShot SX510 and SX170 superzoom digital cameras. The PowerShot SX510 HS now uses a 12.1 megapixel CMOS sensor (versus a 16MP CCD on its predecessor), hence the new 'HS' designation. It offers Wi-Fi connectivity and what's almost certainly the same 24-720mm equivalent optical zoom lens, a 3-inch LCD and Full HD video. The SX170 is essentially the same as its SX160 that came before it, with a 16x optical zoom and 16 megapixel CCD, though it's no longer powered by AA-batteries. The cameras are priced at $250 and $180, respectively.

Canon has created a 'Facebook ready' variant of its social-media-focused PowerShot N digital camera. The 'Facebook ready' version will only be available directly from Canon (in the US, at least) and has a dedicated Facebook connect button in the place of the connect-to-device one on the standard N. Once the camera has been taught your login details, you can upload images with a choice of who gets to see them, once posted. The 1/2.3" 12MP sensor camera will cost $299.

Canon has refreshed its all-in-one lineup with the launch of the Pixma MG7120 and 5520. Both are Wi-Fi capable and, with use of the Pixma Printing Solutions app, can print directly from a host of popular social networks and cloud storage services. Both are also compatible with Apple's AirPrint system. The faster, higher-resolution, 6-ink MG7120 includes a 3.5" touchscreen and the ability to print on CDs and DVDs - it costs around $199. The 5-ink MG5520 has a 2.5" screen and will cost around $149.

Joby has announced two new flexible tripods. The GPod Mini Magnetic is designed for compact cameras, and the MPod Mini Stand will hold a smartphone in or out of a case. Smaller than the original Gorillapod, the GPod Mini Magnetic - as its name implies - contains magnets in its feet to secure a compact camera to a metal surface. It can hold cameras weighing up to 325 grams. The MPod Mini Stand will accommodate a phone as wide as 3.2 inches between its rubberized 'jaws.' Click through for more details and pricing.

Anyone who's traveled by train has seen the landscape outside of their car moving by in a blur. While most of us turn our attention back to our reading material and mobile devices, artist Rolf Sachs' finds inspiration. His photo series, called 'Camera in Motion,' aims to capture the effect of the blurred landscapes outside of his train traveling between Switzerland and Italy. The resulting images walk a line between landscape photography and surrealist art. Click through to see some of his work.

Garmin has taken a leap into the rugged action camera market with the Garmin VIRB and VIRB Elite, designed to capture video and stills in extreme conditions. In a market segment currently dominated by GoPro, the VIRB steps into the ring with a 1.4-inch display, 1080p video capture, integrated weatherproof housing and ANT+ connectivity. The VIRB Elite is a step-up model with built-in Wi-Fi and GPS. Both are capable of 16 megapixel still images, as well as time-lapse photography. Click through for the full press release and pricing.

Do you remember having to change floppy disks on your Sony Mavica? Or perhaps plugging your Coolpix 100 into the side of your laptop? The early days of consumer digital photography were filled with cameras that broke new ground, though not necessarily in directions that were widely adopted. In this article, DPReview's Jeff Keller takes a look back at ten unique cameras from the era of PC Cards and SCSI ports. Follow the link to explore some of the interesting dead-ends of early digital photography.

The early days of digital were filled with unique, often bizarre cameras. DPReview Senior Writer Jeff Keller takes a look back at some of the most memorable cameras from the 1990s.

In the early days of digital photography a small American company, Imagek, started developing a digital sensor module that could be installed in film SLRs. The idea still generates excitement today, more than ten years after the company (by then named Silicon Film) failed. Photographer and blogger Olivier Duong has taken a look back at the promise and disappointment of the Silicon Film dream.

Rokinon has made available a video version of the Samyang 16mm f/2.0 prime. The 16mm T2.2 Cine lens is available for pre-order in Nikon F, Canon EF, Micro Four Thirds, Sony A, and Sony E mounts. Like other video primes, it offers focus and aperture racks for use with cinema rigs, stepless aperture control, and calibration in T-stops rather than F-stops. Rokinon's website lists compatible mounts for Pentax, Samsung NX and Fujifilm X though they aren't yet available for pre-order, and lists the lens at an MSRP of $499.

General-interest blog The Roosevelts has posted a selection of artist Sanna Dullaway's colorized images, showing what iconic images might have looked like to the photographer that captured them. Among the (exceeding well-done, it must be said) adjusted images are Malcolm Browne's iconic shot of monk Thich Quang Duc's self-immolation, Alfred Eisenstaedt's famous image of the kiss in Times Square on VJ Day, and Anne Frank's haunting 1942 portrait. Click through for a selection of shots, and links to both the full article and Sanna's website.

Landscape photographer Carsten Krieger is no stranger to poor weather, but in this article he explains how you can get great shots even when the sun is hidden from view. His three-page article features several images taken in Ireland which should provide plenty of inspiration for those damp, rainy days that are just around the corner. Click through for a link to the full article. 

Printing in 3D is in the news a lot lately, but applications are usually limited to industrial prototypes. A company called Captured Dimensions has a different use for this technology. They've rigged 60 DSLRs in a 360-degree array to capture 3D portraits. The likeness is then printed using a substance containing gypsum powder, resulting in a 3D sculpture of 1/12 to 1/5 scale. Ready for your 3D closeup? Click through for more details (including how much it'll set you back).

ThinkTank has announced a new sling-style camera bag. Called the TurnStyle, it's available in three different models, the smallest of which is targeted to mirrorless camera owners. TurnStyle 5 is designed to hold a mirrorless body and up to four lenses. ThinkTank claims the larger TurnStyle 10 and TurnStyle 20 will hold a standard DSLR body and up to three and four lenses, respectively. All three are built with weather-resistant materials and include a rain cover. Click through for details.

We've been fans of Aaron Johnson's comic strip 'What the Duck' for years. 'WTD' is one of the best satirical comic strips in the world, and it's published here every week, as well as being included in our weekly newsletter. Barbed, topical and always amusing, we hope you enjoy WTD as much as we do. 

Sometimes, the best thing that you can do creatively is to give yourself limitations. For filmmaker Jason van Genderen, that meant putting down his camera and picking up his smartphone. Van Genderen prides himself on being a 'pocket filmmaker.' Living in Terrigal, Austrailia, van Genderen spends his days running a creative agency and whenever he gets a chance, he uses smartphones to create films. We spoke to van Genderen about his experience using the Lumia 920 for filmmaking. Click through to read the full interview on connect.dpreview.com.

Photographer Anthony Karen has built a career around gaining access to ostensibly inaccessible societies. After a trip to Haiti documenting Vodou rituals, he has gone on to photograph white supremacist groups, the infamous Westboro Baptist Church and the Ku Klux Klan. His compelling photos and unrestricted access to the KKK resulted in a collaboration with the Discovery Channel, and slate.com has published an interesting profile of his work, in which he explains his approach. Click through for extracts, and some of his compelling images. 

What would you do for a new smartphone? At recent promotional event in Seoul, South Korea, twenty people were injured, seven seriously, while trying to collect free phone vouchers for LG's new G2 handset. According to authorities, the stunt went badly wrong when crowds showed up carrying BB guns and 'knives on sticks' to retrieve the vouchers, which were suspended from helium balloons. This simply confirms our long-standing suspicion that the human race truly is doomed. Click through to read more at connect.dpreview.com.

Swiss company Hyetis has created a new wristwatch which features a built-in 41MP camera (because anything less would have been soooo 2012...) which is expected to cost around $1200 when it goes on sale. Details are sketchy, but according to the manufacturer, the watch's built-in camera features an 'optical zoom lens', with an integrated ring flash, as well as communication features including a microphone. Click through for more details on our sister site, connect.dpreview.com.

Lowepro has announced the Photo Sport Shoulder bag, in two sizes for both DSLR and mirrorless ILC camera kits. The Photo Sport Shoulder 18L is designed to fit a 'pro DSLR without grip' and a standard zoom lens, with a second small lens and room for accessories, including a 10" tablet computer. The smaller Photo Sport Shoulder 12L is designed for an interchangeable lens camera with two lenses, and similar capacity for accessories - including a 10" tablet - as its bigger companion. Both bags are available now for $84.99 and $74.99 respectively.

We've just published a gallery of real-world samples shot using the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX7. The GX7 is Panasonic's latest Micro Four Thirds interchangeable lens camera, and one of the company's most interesting models yet. It features a new 16MP sensor, tiltable EVF and LCD, and offers several enthusiast-friendly features including highlight and shadow tone adjustment, an electronic (entirely silent) shutter and in-body image stabilization - a first for Panasonic. Click through for a link to our gallery of real-world shots. 

While some of us were sleeping this weekend, photographers around the northern hemisphere were capturing the Perseid meteor shower as it peaked. The annual shower continues through August 24th, but it reached its highest activity levels on August 11th and 12th as debris from a passing comet produced as many as 100 meteors per hour. This year's relatively dim waxing crescent moon meant more meteors were visible to eager stargazers. Businessinsider.com has put together an impressive gallery of shots. Click through to take a look. 

Is the snapshot dead? Seattle-based photo collector Robert E. Jackson believes so. In an interview with National Public Radio, Jackson argues that today's snapshots, stored digitally rather than printed out, are about self-promotion: 'creating an identity about who I am and that's what you want to transfer to Facebook'. You can read extracts from the interview, and watch it in its entirety over at our sister site, connect.dpreview.com.

We've just posted a 39-image gallery of real-world samples shot on the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ70 zoom compact. Spanning the equivalent of 20-1200mm the FZ70's lens is the largest zoom available in a consumer compact, and we've spent a few days testing it out in a variety of situations, to see what this new superzoom can do. Click through for a link to our gallery of real-world samples. 

Which words spring to mind when you think about 70-200mm zoom lenses - solid and dependable or fragile and unreliable? Lensrentals' Roger Cicala has just published an analysis of the failure rates of the 12,000 lenses he rents out, and the results may surprise you. Even having taken into account popularity and accidental damage, five 70-200s turn up in his highest failure rate table - including the latest models from Canon and Nikon.

Lytro CEO Jason Rosenthal has acknowledged that the company made a 'small number' of layoffs earlier this year and that there are some 'kinks' to be worked out with its unique 'light field' camera. Meanwhile, according to an article by tech blog SFGate, industry sources report that the Lytro camera 'isn't selling well so far', due to its price and lack of appeal to professional photographers. Rosenthal is, however, bullish on the future of the company, promising 'multiple [...] breakthrough products' in 2014. More details are available after the link.

Sigma has been doing lots of good things recently, and one of its most interesting recent products is the USB Dock. This device connects a lens to a computer and, in concert with Sigma's Optimization Pro software, allows the user to do such things as update the firmware and configure detailed autofocus microadjustment settings. In our quick review we take a close look at how it works and what it can do. Click through to find out more.  

New York Times writer Nick Bilton recently wrote an article about his experience with Leica cameras and lenses, and was surprised when this was met by an aggressive influx of 'vehement messages from all kinds of photographers and camera fans'. Not only did Canon and Nikon fans attack him for not writing a similar piece about their favorite brands, but according to Bilton many Leica fans were also critical of his article, as well as his selection of 'experts'. Click through for more on this surprising development.

New printer concepts from Samsung look to lower-cost and sustainable materials as a way to reduce prices and environmental impact. Receiving recognition at the 2013 International Design Excellence Awards, these three designs take a page from Ikea's flat-pack, assemble-it-yourself playbook, using materials like corrugated cardboard and Polyethylene plastic to create printers with exteriors that are easier to manufacture. Will your next printer come with a cardboard shell? Click through and take a look at the concepts.

Olivier Morin, photographer for Agence France-Presse (AFP) managed to capture champion runner Usain 'lightning' Bolt approaching the finishing line at the same time as an actual lightning bolt lit up the sky behind him. The image, captured at the IAAF World Championships in Moscow, was taken using a remote-controlled camera, one of five that Morin had set up by the side of the track to cover the finishing line. Click through for more details, and a closer look at the 'double lightning' shot. 

Walker Evans' iconic images of American life in the early 20th century helped elevate photography to the status of fine art. His 1938 book 'Walker Evans: American Photographs' celebrates its 75th anniversary this year and the Museum of Modern Art is commemorating this milestone by bringing it back into print with an accompanying exhibition of his work. Click through and take a look at some of Walker's captivating images of American society in last century.

What's the safest way to get close up photos of lions on the Serengeti? Send in a robot. And an aerial drone. That's what photographer Michael Nichols and his team did, producing incredible images for a National Geographic feature. From a nearby car, Nichols and crew directed a small remote-controlled robot outfitted with a Canon camera toward lion prides as they hunted, slept and well, do everything lions do. And we do mean everything.

Money may not buy happiness, but it can buy you some pretty weird things. Luxury London store Harrods has a long history of catering to the 1%, and its exclusive 'Olympus Pen Art Edition' kit includes two Olympus E-P5 camera bodies - one hand-painted - with an assortment of lenses and accessories, all bundled together with a customized Vespa scooter. We presume this must have made sense to someone. Just how much will it set you back? Click through for more details.

In the latest of his series of 'Behind the Shot' articles, landscape photographer Erez Marom shows us how he got his stunning shot inside an icecave in Vatnajökull, the largest glacier in Iceland. As well as setup and equipment choice, Marom also gives us a detailed look at the post-processing required to achieve the final result. Click through for a link to the full article. 

We've been fans of Aaron Johnson's comic strip 'What the Duck' for years. 'WTD' is one of the best satirical comic strips in the world, and it's published here every week, as well as being included in our weekly newsletter. Barbed, topical and always amusing, we hope you enjoy WTD as much as we do. 

Nikon has lowered its sales and revenue estimates for this year, prompting a rethink of its 1 Series mirrorless cameras. Nikon cites poor market conditions, a large drop in compact camera sales and, most interestingly, a 'deceleration' in mirrorless camera sales growth. Nikon's measures against these changing conditions include accelerating production of entry-level DSLRs and 'reconsider[ing] product planning' of their Nikon 1 mirrorless camera system. Follow the link for additional details.

Ricoh has released firmware v2.30 for its GR Digital IV enthusiast compact. The latest update is the fifth for the GRD IV, and adds a couple of features, slightly modifies the camera's behavior and fixes some minor bugs. The latest update brings the white balance options of the GRD IV into line with the more recent, large sensor, GR model, for which Ricoh has also said it will provide function-enhancing firmware.

Lomography's campaign to raise funds to bring the centuries-old Petzval lens back into production via Kickstarter has now raised more than $1 million - ten times the original target. The 'New Petzval' lens looks and functions much like the originals, with a brass exterior, and the aim is to produce it in both Canon EF- and Nikon F- mounts. The lens is expected to be available next spring. 

A woman who had her phone stolen has been keeping an eye on the thief, using Dropbox. Apparently unaware that the phone was set to automatically sync its camera roll, the phone's new 'owner' has been merrily posting pictures of himself and his surroundings, which now form the basis of an amusing Tumblr account, 'Life of a Stranger who Stole my Phone'. Click through for some pictures and a link over at connect.dpreview.com.

Casio Europe has announced the Exilim EX-ZR800 - a Raw-shooting compact with multi-shot-based 'five-axis image stabilization.' The 16MP BSI-CMOS camera shares many features with the existing EX-ZR700, including the 18x, 25-400mm equivalent lens and ability to capture DNG files. The ZR800 gains the ability to shoot time-lapse sequences, along with a stabilization system that can be used for both stills and movies, on top of the usual multi-shot and high speed modes that Casio has developed over recent years.

In his series 'Time is a Dimension,' photographer Fong Qi Wei stretches the boundaries of still photography to produce images that convey the passage of time. Rather than using time-lapse, he has created a series of photo collages, each composed of many 'slices' taken in a 2 to 4 hour timespan. The resulting images capture the changing colors of sunrise and sunset in a way a single still or video clip can't match. Click through and take a look at some of his work.

Zeiss has posted a blog article that talks about the inception and development of its latest line of lenses, led by the 55mm F1.4 that was first shown at Photokina last year. Titled 'No Compromise', it explains how the company is aiming to meet the demands of the latest high resolution sensors, to satisfy the needs of both professional photographers and ambitious hobbyists. Click through to read more, and the link to the original article.

One of the hottest cameras of the year so far, the Canon EOS 70D won't be in stores for a few more weeks but we've got hold of an early beta sample, and Canon has let us post pictures from it. Not wanting to waste any time, we've been busily shooting with it for the past few days both in the studio and out in the real world, and we've added a lot to our previously-published preview. Click through for a link to the expanded preview, now including studio comparison pages and a large gallery of sample images.

As the official White House photographer, Pete Souza gets more access to the President than any other professional photographer. Souza is no stranger to photographic social media, either. His images are regularly posted on the White House's Flickr stream, where the Obama administration has been giving insight into the daily lives of the first family since the inauguration in 2009, and he recently joined Instagram. Time recently interviewed Souza about his work, and you can read more at our sister site, connect.dpreview.com.

Nikon has announced the Coolpix S6600 - a Wi-Fi equipped 'connected compact' with an articulated screen and 'gesture control'. When the screen is facing forward in 'self portrait mode', a photographer in front of the camera can use hand gestures to zoom the lens and record stills or movies. The camera sports a 12x, 25-300mm equivalent optical zoom and 16MP backlit CMOS sensor, and will be available in a choice of black, silver, pink, purple and red. It will go on sale in early September for £200 / €229.

Nikon has announced the AF-S DX Nikkor 18-140mm F3.5-5.6G ED VR, a mid-level standard zoom that looks a lot like a kit lens waiting for a camera. The 7.8x lens, designed for APS-C DSLRs, covers a 27-210mm equivalent range and includes the latest VR image stabilization system, rated as offering four stops of stabilization, according to CIPA standard tests. It will sell for around $600 / £580 / €620 and will not be bundled with any current Nikon DSLRs. We're not convinced many users will spend so much money to gain a little reach over their existing kit lens, leading us to suspect there may be a body on its way that will match its enthusiast-friendly ambitions.

Nikon has added an entry-level Speedlight to its external flash lineup. The company says the SB-300 can 'fit comfortably in a shirt pocket' and weighs 120g (4.2oz) with its two AAA batteries installed. It has a guide number of 18 meters and can tilt upwards by as much as 120 degrees. The SB-300 covers 18mm with a DX-format camera, and 27mm with FX-format. You'll be able to pick one up for yourself later this month for around $150.

Nikon has unveiled the Coolpix L620, an ultra zoom camera in its budget-friendly L-series. It sports an F3.3-5.9, 25-350mm equivalent lens coupled to an 18.1 megapixel BSI CMOS sensor. Other features include lens-shift Vibration Reduction, a 3", 480k dot LCD, 1080p video recording, and use of AA batteries. You'll be able to pick up the Coolpix L620 in your choice of black and red in September for around $250/£199/€239.

Legendary filmmaker Stanley Kubrick pushed the boundaries of moviemaking in many ways, and was responsible for some of the most enduring visuals in cinema. When he made Barry Lyndon in 1975, Kubrick shot with two ultra-rare Carl Zeiss primes, originally created for NASA. Using the 50mm and 35mm f/0.7 lenses, Kubrick was able to film some scenes purely by candlelight. Now, Germany-based company P+S Technik has announced that they've modified a PS-Cam X35 HD camera to be able to accept Kubrick's primes, and the whole package is available to rent. Click through for more details. 

Photographic pioneer Eadweard Muybridge was fascinated by motion, and today, scientists at the Locomotion Lab of the Friedrich Schiller University of Jena continue to use cameras to research how we walk. As well as looking at human and animal movements, they've also created 'walking robots', and are capturing their movement using high-speed cameras. According to Zeiss's blog, the researchers are using the Zeiss Makro-Planar T* 2/50 ZF.2 lens attached to Vosskühler HCC-1000 cameras, which are capable of 923 fps, at 1024 x 512 pixel resolution. Click through for more details. 

Just posted: Our review of the Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4 DC Macro OS HSM | C. This lens occupies its own little niche in the market, as an upgrade to the typical 18-55mm zoom that offers both usefully extended zoom range and a faster maximum aperture. It also includes Sigma's 'Hypersonic Motor' for silent focusing, and built-in Optical Stabilisation. In the latest of our lens reviews prepared in partnership with DxOMark, we see whether it should be top of the short-list for SLR owners looking to progress beyond their kit lens.

There's nothing traditional about photographer Nagano Toyokazu's portraits of his daughter. His unorthodox shots put the girl at the center of a series of whimsical scenes, in turn commanding the attention of a line of yellow rubber ducks, conducting a chorus of frogs and tackling an impossible tower of ice cream scoops on a cone. They're funny, sweet, and probably the most adorable thing you'll see on the internet today. Click through and get ready for the cute.

Just posted: Our quick review of the Autographer from OMG Life. Billed as the 'world's first intelligent wearable camera', it's designed to take pictures automatically triggered by the output from five built-in sensors. The camera has a super wideangle lens with a 136° angle of view, a 5MP CMOS sensor, and 8GB of built-in memory for image storage. It also has Bluetooth for connection to a smartphone. It's certainly intriguing, but how well does it work?

Feeling old? Photoshelter has published a humorous list of 17 signs that you were around before digital photography became the norm. For those of us who were, the list is a nostalgic look at some tools and accessories that have fallen into disuse, as well as a reminder, possibly, that some things remain useful, even in the digital age. If you're too young to remember anything before digital, you should take a look at the list anyway. You might learn something. 

Consumers need to think about sensor size rather than pixel count, says Aptina's Sandor Barna, because larger image sensors are likely to appear in all types of devices. Barna, the Vice President and General Manager of sensor maker Aptina's Consumer Camera Business Unit, spoke to us about the challenges facing compact cameras, the niche that will continue to exist for them, and hints that more large sensor compacts are on their way.

If you haven't seen the 600,000 pixel, 360 degree Tokyo panorama that's flying around the internet, clear your schedule for the next hour and take a look. It's a work from photographer Jeffrey Martin, who previously documented London in a similar fashion. With a lot of storage and processing power, Martin captured the photo with a Canon 7D, 400mm F5.6L lens and a robotic assistant. Click through and check it out.

The Japanese imaging manufacturers association, CIPA, has just released its global shipments report for the first half of the year, and there's not a lot of good news in it. Between January and June 2013 Japanese manufacturers shipped just short of 30 million digital cameras - that's a 45% drop in a single year. And it's not just point and shoots in decline: SLR and mirrorless sales are down too. More after the link...

Prior to its announcement today, we had the opportunity to use Panasonic's new high-end Lumix DMC-GX7 mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. As well as a redesigned 16MP Live MOS sensor, the GX7 features a tilting camcorder-style EVF, a tiltable rear LCD screen and a silent mode designed to capture full-resolution still images without the mechanical shutter. Click through for our hands-on first impressions review. 

Panasonic has announced the Lumix DMC-GX7 - the follow-up to the DMC-GX1 - which is its first mirrorless interchangeable lens camera to include in-body image stabilization. This 16MP, rangefinder-style camera also includes a high-resolution, widescreen EVF that can be tilted upwards 90 degrees. Panasonic claims that their newly designed Live MOS sensor improves both detail and color saturation by 10%. Other features of note include a tilting LCD, a 'silent shooting' mode, focus peaking, 1080/60p videos, and Wi-Fi with NFC capability. 

Alongside the enthusiast-oriented DMC-GX7, Panasonic has announced the Leica DG Nocticron 42.5mm F1.2 - the fastest autofocus lens ever created for the Micro Four Thirds system. If you're getting a sense of deja vu that's because Panasonic actually announced this lens already (sort of) at last year's Photokina tradeshow in Cologne, Germany. But what was then a dummy lens behind glass now appears to be a real product, albeit one without any firm availability date or pricing information. 

Sigma has announced a 'Mount Conversion Service' for any of its recent 'Global Vision' lenses - a paid-for service designed to reduce the uncertainty of changing camera systems. The company says it will charge between $80 and $250, plus shipping costs, depending on the specific lens. The Global Vision range currently includes seven lenses - from the huge 120-300mm F2.8 DG OS Sport for full-frame DSLRs, down to the 19mm F2.8 DN Art for Micro Four Thirds. The company has also extended the warranties on all new products to four years (USA only).