DPReview's newest staff member finds surprise and delight in the Fujifilm X-A2, the least expensive model in Fuji's interchangeable-lens camera lineup. While its build quality can't compete with his X100's, the X-A2 proves itself with a large sensor, sharp kit lens and features that elevate it beyond its entry-level class. Read more
Gear of the Year 2015
December 10
Epson has announced its latest electronic viewfinder panel: a 4.41m dot SXGA+ display, a spec that may sound familiar to anyone who's been reading about Leica's SL full-frame mirrorless camera. Epson had shown a mockup of the panel at CP+ back in February 2015, and says the unit is now in mass production. Read more
Alien Skin has launched Exposure X, its non-destructive photo editor for Mac OS X and Windows. Exposure X is the successor to Exposure 7, and functions as both a plug-in for Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop as well as a standalone editor. Features include a revamped user interface, RAW image editing, and an import system that doesn't use a catalog file. Read more
Action camera manufacturer GoPro has officially named its forthcoming camera drone and announced that it will be available in 2016. Footage from the GoPro Karma is demonstrated in a video on the GoPro website, which is also the same movie the company showed when it first teased the drone. Read more
Roger Cicala at LensRentals has a great job - he gets to take things apart whenever he wants, and get paid to do it. And even better, he gets to pay himself to do it. Roger just got his hands on Canon's new EF 35mm F1.4 L II, and just like us, he's been very impressed. But, it must be said, for very different reasons. Click through for a quick look at what he found behind the red ring. Read more
Image sharing platform Flickr has announced today its app for the Samsung Gear VR virtual reality headset. It allows you to view the tens of thousands of 360-degree panorama images that have been uploaded by Flickr users in an immersive way that allows for panning by moving your head. Read more
December 9
If your dream job hasn't come along yet and you fancy yourself as a bit of an Ansel Adams, you could do worse than to pay a visit to the US Government's employment website. The National Parks Service is looking for a full-time photographer to record the glory of the country's natural treasures, much as Ansel Adams did on contract to the Department of the Interior in the 1940s. Read more
Ricoh has announced a software plug-in for Adobe Lightroom supporting tethered shooting with the Pentax 645Z medium-format camera. Read more
Apple released a number of software updates yesterday including iOS 9.2. In addition to a large number of bug fixes, the update adds iPhone support for the company's Lightning to USB Camera Adapter, making it possible now to transfer images directly from a camera to your iPhone. Previously, only iPads were supported. Read more
German/Chinese optics brand HandeVision is set to introduce five new lenses next year that are designed for full-frame mirrorless cameras. Each with a maximum aperture of F2.4, the focal lengths the company is planning to release in its Iberit series will be 24mm, 35mm, 50mm, 75mm and 90mm. Read more
Back in October we reported on the Mitakon Speedmaster 135mm F1.4 - a massive, heavy but beautiful lens, which will be available soon in a very limited manufacturing run of only 100 samples. We were lucky enough to be able to use a prototype recently, and we've spent some time take shots with this weird and quite wonderful lens in our studio and out in the real world. Read more
December 8
Battery life is still one of the most obvious weaknesses of smartphones and many devices, even high-end models, will struggle to get through an entire day of normal use without charging. Apple's iPhones are no exception, which is why there is an abundance of aftermarket battery packs and cases available for the range, but until today no Apple-branded battery expansion had been available. Read more
As virtual reality grows in popularity, an increasing number of consumer-grade 360° cameras are hitting the market. Latest among them is Luna, a spherical camera that records 360° footage for viewing on desktop or through a cardboard VR headset. The team behind Luna is seeking funding on Indiegogo to cover design and production costs. Read more
Kicking off our 2015 series of articles highlighting some staff favorites of the past year, DPR editor Dan Bracaglia writes about his experience with the Nikon D750. But this is less a story about his favorite piece of gear from the last 365 days, and more about a photographer and system owner holding out several years for the perfect camera. Read more
December 7
In this field test video we follow photographer Kiliii Fish to the Arctic - specifically, the tiny fishing village of Barrow, Alaska. Using the Canon EOS Rebel T6i - Canon's 24MP entry-level DSLR - Kiliii aims to document how the indigenous population is adapting to the changing environment in the far North. Read more
According to a report from the Nikkei Asian Review, Panasonic has decided to resume image sensor development in order to speed up the drive for 8K video. The company suspended its development program a few years ago, the report says, but now Panasonic is preparing to invest ¥10bn/$80.8m to get its R&D back up to speed. Read more
It seems like just yesterday that we were trying to come up with a sensible name for mirrorless cameras but 2016 will mark the eighth anniversary of the first Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera. In that time they've gone from being an interesting new development to being a credible alternative to APS-C and full-frame DSLRs. In this primer we explain what mirrorless cameras are, how they differ from traditional DSLRs, and what this means to a potential first-time buyer. Read more
In October, Adobe released Lightroom 2.0 for iOS which, unlike previous versions, can be used as a stand-alone app on your Apple mobile device, without a paid subscription to the company's Creative Cloud services. Apparently customer response to the move has been very positive and Adobe has decided to do the same with the Android version of the app. Read more
Canon's new EF 35mm F1.4L II lens has caused quite a stir around the DPReview office. DPReview staffer and photographer Jordan Stead has years of experience with the original 35mm F1.4L, as well as the newer EF 35mm F2 IS USM. In this article he talks about why he enjoys the 35mm focal length, how it affects his photography and his feelings on the Mark II after using it around the office, Seattle, and most recently, on assignment. Read more
December 6
Giuseppe Milo credits his interest in landscape and architectural photography with helping to shape a series of street photos he calls 'Faceless.' His fascination with the interaction between humans and the built environment are a common thread through the series, a project he calls 'endless' with new additions every week. Take a look at a selection of his photos and learn more about his history with photography. Read more
December 5
Lindsay Adler started her career as a portrait photographer very early. As a teenager, she took her classmates' senior portraits, and later found that shooting portraits through each summer during college would help offset the costs of the school year. She's now an author, educator and a leading fashion and studio photographer based in New York. We sat down with her recently to find out more about her early career, success and her evolving views on her own so-called 'failures.' Read more
December 4
As a followup to its Cardboard headset and Cardboard app, Google has launched a new VR content creation tool for Android called Cardboard Camera. With Cardboard Camera, users are able to record 360-degree panoramas for viewing with Cardboard VR headsets. Read more
Back in October, Sony announced its intention to buy out Toshiba's sensor business, and today they've sealed the deal. Sony is spending ¥19 billion ($154 million) on the acquisition, which includes technology and a factory in Oita, Japan. Toshiba's 1,100 workers will be offered positions at Sony Semiconductor after the merger closes by the end of the first quarter 2016. Read more
Italian accessories manufacturer Manfrotto has announced it is to introduce a new range of LED light panels under the Lykos brand name. The Lykos Daylight and Lykos BiColor panels are small enough to hold in one hand but can also be mounted on a lighting stand, and can be powered by an L-type video-camera battery or via the included AC adapter. Read more
In his first year learning photography, Benjamin Von Wong created over 50,000 photographs, but none of them struck him as extraordinary. It wasn't until he tried out a flash gun that he began to see new possibilities that could make his work stand out. Read more
December 3
Update: The Yi Action Camera is now being sold in the US. 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
Pulse, a project currently seeking funding on Kickstarter, aims to bring wireless control to many Nikon and Canon DSLRs. The device consists of a wireless controller that attaches to a camera's hot shoe and plugs into its USB port, connecting to Android and iOS smartphones over Bluetooth. Read more
Most of us think of image compression as a necessary evil. It makes our files more manageable, but reduces the quality of our images and can undo the incremental benefits of buying more pixels and better lenses. But can better compression make file sizes even smaller without any extra image quality cost? Beamr, the company behind the JPEGmini application, thinks it's possible. Read more
Vallerret, a Norway-based startup, is looking for funding on Kickstarter for some cold weather photography gloves. Currently in prototype form, the Vallerret Photography Gloves are designed for adventurous photographers who shoot outside in cold temperatures, aiming to eliminate the hassle that comes with bulky, cumbersome gloves while protecting hands from snow and ice. Read more
December 2
Fall in Seattle means two things - the return of cold drizzle and University of Washington Husky football. Veteran sports shooter and DPR staffer Jordan Stead recently took advantage of a sunny afternoon game to do a little more testing of the Canon 35mm F1.4L II USM. Read more
Samsung has today officially launched a new generation of its A-series smartphones, and although the new devices range below the high-end Galaxy S and Note models in the Samsung line-up, they come with promising-looking specifications - especially in the camera department. Read more
Digital medium format brand Phase One has bought the whole of the Mamiya Digital Imaging Company and has taken over Mamiya's Saku factory for its Japanese HQ. The Danish company has had a long-standing relationship with the Japanese camera and lens manufacturer, and since 2009 has owned 45% of the company's shares. Read more
December 1
Adobe has updated Photoshop CC 2015 with the new features it detailed a few weeks ago as its MAX conference. Among the new, mostly designer-oriented features is a high-contrast touch-enabled interface, the ability to customize your Photoshop CC toolbar, direct SVG importing, Artboard improvements and support for Fuse CC, a 3D design application. Read more
Nikon has released firmware updates for its D750 and D4S DSLRs, providing both with a new external recording control option for use with external recorders using Atomos Open Protocol. At the end of a list of bug fixes, Nikon also mentions that the D750's firmware version 1.10 introduces 'optimal vibration reduction' with vibration reduction lenses. Read more
The iPhone 6s Plus is the iPhone 6s' bigger brother and, apart from the larger 5.5-inch screen, mainly distinguishes itself from the smaller model by offering optical image stabilization system in its camera module. Compared to its predecessor, the 6s Plus ups camera resolution to 12MP, adds 50% more phase detection sensors and is capable of 4K footage. Our review tests its camera performance. Read more
Ricoh has announced it is to offer an infrared-sensitive version of its 645Z medium format camera, the 645Z IR. Sadly, the new model is not intended for public consumption, but will be aimed at museums and scientific establishments who will have to sign a usage agreement before they can make a purchase. Read more
November 30
In this video we take a look at the work of Cristina Mittermeier, a conservation photographer who has dedicated her working life to documenting our changing environment and the roles of human communities around the world in protecting it. Watch the video
The DxO ONE smartphone companion camera is to benefit from a host of improvements and new features when the company releases new firmware early in December. Read more
The team behind the Lumu smartphone light meter has launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund the production of Lumu Power, their next generation device. In addition to ambient light levels, the Lumu Power is also capable of measuring flash exposure and color temperature. Read more
Phase One has launched Capture One Pro 9, the latest iteration of its tethering and image editing software. Capture One Pro 9 offers a 'completely updated contrast engine,' additional brushes, color editor masks and new keyword tools, among other features. Read more
Ricoh's string of teaser coverage for its upcoming full-frame Pentax DSLR continues today with a new image of the camera and a press release - though not much in the way of more concrete information. Read more
Fujifilm's XF 35mm F2 strikes an appealing balance between size, cost and durability. It's sealed against moisture and dust, making it a great candidate for use with the weather-resistant X-T1, and at $399 is a fairly affordable 'normal' prime for Fuji's X-system. The Pacific Northwest is just the place to test weather-resistant gear, though thankfully we've had enough unseasonably dry and sunny days to put together a real-world sample gallery with the 35mm F2. Read more
November 29
Robert Hurt might just have the coolest job in the galaxy. He's a visualization scientist with NASA, helping to interpret research data from space telescopes and NASA missions into photography. In short, he helps reveal the hidden universe that exists beyond the realm of human vision. In his PIX 2015 talk, he shares his insight on how his images are created and what kinds of things we can hope to discover when the unseen world becomes visible. Read more
November 28
Trained as a photojournalist, Victoria Will found herself gravitating toward portraiture as she honed her skills at the New York Post. She's now known for her celebrity portraits, including a series of tintype portraits created at the Sundance Film Festival. We sat down with her at PPE 2015 to learn more about what led her to where she is now and how she connects with her subjects. Read more
November 26
A story on video blog EOSHD claims that Samsung has discontinued its NX1 mirrorless camera across Europe. An email that one of the site's forum users claims to be from Samsung states that 'in Europe, we will be discontinuing sales of NX1 cameras for now since there is already much better and upgraded cameras'. We're skeptical about this rumor and have reached out to Samsung for comment, so stay tuned. Update 11/26/15: Company leaving UK market. Update 11/19/15: Confirmed in Germany. Read more.
November 25
This category has something for everyone, whether it's ultra-high resolution, 4K video, high dynamic range, or pinpoint AF accuracy. For the enthusiast or pro who refuse to compromise, here's a look at cameras priced over $2000. Read more
As announced on Friday, Panasonic has just released new firmware that enables a post-capture refocusing feature in some of its cameras that run 4K video on a Micro Four Thirds sensor. We got hold of a pre-release copy of the firmware and have been able to try it out on the Lumix DMC-GX8 body. Read more
November 24
Lytro, maker of the ILLUM light field camera, has announced an update to its Lytro Desktop software. The application used to edit Lytro's 'Living Pictures' in which focus can be selected after capture now allows for exposure, saturation and color edits to specific areas of an image based on depth. Read more
Canon's new EF 35mm F1.4L USM II lens has some pretty big shoes to fill. Its older brother, now on the market for 17 years, has become both a benchmark and a staple of many a pro Canon shooter's kit. We've had the Mark II version for a few days, and we've spent that time shooting some environmental portraits, landscapes and lots more in between. Read more
Our friends over at Photo District News and Rangefinder Magazine have just published their first ever holiday gift guide, with contributions from Rolling Stone, Tiny Atlas Quarterly, TIME and our very own editor, Barney Britton. Click through to read the full guide!
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