February 2014 news and reviews

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. Click through for this week's strip.

Nikon has issued a worldwide technical service bulletin regarding 'dust' issues on its D600 DSLRs. Nikon says that it has evaluated user reports and has 'determined' that spots on the sensor are caused by dust particles which are visible in images taken in certain situations. The company will be offering all D600 owners a full inspection, cleaning, and replacement of the shutter mechanism in their cameras, free of charge and regardless of warrantee status.  Read more and find out how to get your camera serviced.

Panning, tilting and sliding are essential actions in both photography and video. To elevate the quality of camera movement, particularly in video, you need professional-grade equipment, and it's usually very expensive. But the folks at Cinetics aim to bridge the gap with the Axis360, an affordable, motorized tripod head and slider to help photographers create dynamic video and time-lapse photography. Read our review

Chinese manufacturer Huawei has launched its 7-inch MediaPad X1 at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. The MediaPad X1 comes with a 13MP Sony Exmor R BSI sensor in the rear camera and a 5MP front-unit. Imaging features include panorama shooting, 10-level auto-facial enhancement and voice-activated capture. Learn more on connect.dpreview.com

We first laid our hands on the Fujifilm X-T1 about a month ago when it was announced. Now that we've had some time to shoot with it, we've gathered our thoughts on using Fujifilm's latest X-Series camera. The X-T1 offers much of what the X-E2 does, including a 16 megapixel APS-C sensor with on-chip phase detection, but  more than that, it offers an SLR-style sculpted handgrip and weather-resistant sealing. Find out what the X-T1 is like to use in the field. 

Nikon has released a beta version of an update to its Capture NX software, a product which has been relatively stagnant in recent years. Capture NX-D is the first version of Nikon's Raw converter to be made since previous developer Nik Software was bought by Google in 2012. The software features a new user interface, batch conversion and a non-destructive workflow that saves adjustments in sidecar files alongside the original image. Find out how to try Capture NX-D for yourself.

Nikon's latest flagship body, the D4s, gets an updated 16 megapixel full-frame sensor, Expeed 4-level processing, 1080/60p video recording and can now autofocus at up to 11fps. Beyond that it boasts a laundry list of small (but potentially meaningful) improvements over its predecessor. After spending some brief time with the camera, we've prepared some first impressions of the pro-level body. For a detailed analysis of what's new in Nikon's top-of-the-line, take a look at our first impressions review.

Nikon has officially launched its new flagship DSLR, the D4s. Offering a number of improvements over its predecessor the D4, the D4s features greater ISO sensitivity in stills and video mode, a new 60p video capture option and some minor design changes. At the recent CP+ show in Yokohama, Japan editor Barnaby Britton was able to sit down with the new camera and two of the men responsible for creating it. Click through for a hands-on tour of the D4s and insights from its creators. 

Nikon has released an update to their flagship D4 pro DSLR: the D4s. While not a major upgrade to the camera (hence the 's' in the name), the D4s packs more processing power, a refined autofocus system, faster continuous shooting, and more video features (including 1080/60p support). Two other items pros will appreciate are a 'small' Raw size and a noticeable improvement in battery life compared to the D4. The camera will be available in early March for $6499.95 / £5,199.99.

Sony has launched the latest iteration of its Xperia Z-line of flagship Android smartphones. With a 20.7 MP 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor the camera specifications look identical to the Z1 but the new model is now capable of recording 4K video. Learn more on connect.dpreview.com

We've just returned from the CP+ show in Japan, where Fujifilm was kind enough to loan us a beta sample of its new 10-24mm zoom lens for the X-series interchangeable lens cameras. Although this is a beta (not final) sample, Fujifilm is confident enough about its performance to allow us to post images. We've prepared a gallery of sample images taken in various conditions at various ISO sensitivity settings on the X-T1 for you to take a look at. See gallery

Manufacturers are putting on brave faces as compact sales continue their decline and interchangeable lens camera sales fail to shine. Canon, Fujifilm, Nikon and Olympus have all put out their financial results covering the Christmas period, and there's little to be positive about, with falling sales of interchangeable lens cameras being reported by the industry's biggest players.

SanDisk has announced its new 128GB Ultra microSDXC UHS-I memory card. The new card increases storage capacity options for Android smartphones, tablets and other microSD enabled devices, while delivering Class 10 performance, with read speeds up to 30MB/s. It also ships with an SD adapter to use the card with digital cameras and computers. Learn more on connect.dpreview.com

The Nokia Lumia 1020 comes with one of the best smartphone cameras we have tested. After installing the Nokia "Black" firmware update you can now also capture images in DNG Raw format. Just how much more detail can you squeeze out of it? Find out on connect.dpreview.com Update: Added raw sample images for download.

Google has announced Project Tango, an initiative that aims to develop mobile devices that are capable of capturing 3D-maps of your surroundings. Formerly a division of Motorola, Google's Advanced Technology and Projects group (ATAP) has been working with academic and industrial partners from nine countries, and used research from the last decade in the areas of robotics and computer vision. According to Google the goal of the project is 'to give mobile devices a human scale understanding of space and motion.' Click through for more.

Fujifilm has announced firmware updates for five X-series cameras and three zoom lenses. It adds XF 56mm F1.2 lens compatibility to the following cameras: X-Pro1, X-E1, X-E2, X-M1 and X-A1. Improved optical image stabilization functions are added to the XC16-50mm, XF18-55mm and XF55-200mm lenses; the latter two also gain improved AF focus tracking on the X-E1 and X-T1. Get the updates

If you're looking for a Wi-Fi card that's simple to setup and blasts images off into cyberspace in a matter of seconds while you take advantage of your camera's far superior image quality (compared to a phone), you can't go wrong with the Eye-Fi Mobi. How does the Mobi stack up against the pricier Eye-Fi Pro X2 card? Find out in our review

The Sony FE 35mm F2.8 ZA Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* is one of the first lenses for Sony's fledgling full frame mirrorless system, offering a classic moderate wideangle view. It's a small lens that nicely complements the Alpha 7 and 7R, but at around $800 / £680 it's distinctly pricey for a relatively slow prime. So is it worth the money See the lens test data and our analysis

The CP+ show in Yokohama Japan has closed, but we've still got plenty of content in the pipeline including more interviews with senior executives from the major camera manufacturers which we'll be publishing over the coming few days. Until then, click through for a look at some of the highlights from this years' show including a miniature model of Yokohama, lots and lots of snow, and plenty of things that had been cut in half. Oh - and some cameras. 

The CP+ show in Yokohama Japan has just closed, but in between visits to the various booths we made time to sit down with four senior Nikon executives to get their thoughts on the state of the market, future opportunities and the inevitable coming together of stills and video. Click through to read the full interview. 

Building modern digital cameras and lenses is an exacting business. Each product is made up of sometimes hundreds of tiny components, assembled to meticulously narrow tolerances and if one piece is out of alignment, the whole is compromised. But you want to see what stuff looks like when it's been cut in half? Yes. You do, you know you do. It's OK, we won't tell anyone. Click through for a look at things that we found at CP+ that have been cut in half. 

We're at the CP+ show in Yokohama Japan where Fujifilm is showing off its latest camera, the weathersealed X-T1. Yesterday the show was cancelled due to heavy snow and today the line of people waiting to get in is formidable. Editor Barnaby Britton finagled an exhibitor's pass to get in early and beat the crowds. Click through to read our report from the Fujifilm stand. 

We're at the CP+ show in Yokohama, Japan where Japanese camera and lens manufacturers show off their latest products to a domestic and international audience. Today, Toshihisa Iida, senior sales and marketing manager at Fujifilm found time to sit down with editor Barnaby Britton to discuss a range of topics including the reception of the new X-T1, firmware updates to older and existing models and the possibility of larger-format X-Trans cameras in the future... click through to read the full interview.

We're at the (currently very snowy) CP+ show in Japan and we've been checking out the Nikon stand, getting a feel for the latest products and exploring the various demonstrations. Click through for a look at what we found. trust us - it's worth it just for the scale model of Yokohama...

We're at the CP+ show in Japan, where Fujifilm is showing a new teleconverter for the X100S. Attached in the same way as the existing WCL-X100, the new TCL-X100 increases the X100S's effective focal length to 50mm, without effecting the minimum aperture. Details are scarce but unofficially we understand that the new converter will be available later in spring, for around $300. Click through for some hands-on impressions. 

Canon has a large stand at this year's CP+ show in Yokohama, Japan, showcasing its current range of DSLRs, compact cameras and Cinema EOS video lineup. We're at the show, and stopped by earlier today for a look at what's on offer. Click through for our stand report, which we'll be updating over the next couple of days. 

LG has launched the LG G Pro 2 in Korea and the new device's global launch is expected at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona next week. With its 5.9-inch 1080p IPS screen the new model falls firmly into the phablet category and follows last year's Optimus G Pro in the LG lineup. Click for more on connect.dpreview.com

SLR Magic has created the Anamorphot 1,33x – 50, an accessory lens for film makers that compresses the image horizontally by a factor of 1.33x. This allows footage to be shot for 2.35:1 widescreen projection using the standard 16:9 aspect ratio that most cameras record, without having to crop vertically and lose resolution. The lens will be available by March 2014 and cost $899.  

Cosina has announced a slightly revised version of its ultra-fast normal prime for Micro Four Thirds cameras. The Voigtländer Nokton 25mm F0.95 Type II gains an aperture ring mechanism that is switchable between clicked and clickless operation, a desirable feature for movie makers (and previously seen in its 17.5mm F0.95 and 42.5mm F0.95 stablemates). The optics are unchanged, but the updated lens is slightly heavier and larger in diameter. It will be available in March. 

Sony is maintaining its near-hectic pace of new product releases into 2014, and the highlight product of the company's year so far is the a6000. Replacing the NEX-6 (and for now at least, the NEX-7 too) the a6000 is a 24MP APS-C interchangeable lens camera with a serious feature set including an impressive autofocus system. We've written a lot about the a6000 over the past couple of days but since we're at CP+ in Japan we wandered over to Sony's booth for a quick look. Click through for our hands-on impressions. 

We've never accused Sigma of lacking innovation, and while the Japanese manufacturer is best known for making lenses, Sigma also markets a line of cameras. The latest - the DP2 Quattro - features an all-new ~19.6 million pixel APC-C Foveon sensor and a completely new body design. Is this (in Sigma's words) a 'reinvention of camera'? We won't know until we've tried one out, but in the meantime click through for an initial hands-on look. 

We're at the CP+ show in Yokohama, Japan where Canon is showing off its latest high-end compact camera, the PowerShot G1 X Mark II. The G1 X Mark II replaces the original G1 X, which was announced two years ago and offers several improvements over the older model including a faster 24-120mm equivalent F2.0-3.9 lens and a closer minimum focus distance. The G1 X Mark II is built around a 1.5 inch 12.8MP CMOS sensor and can be used with an (optional) electronic viewfinder. Click through for a hands-on look.

The Nikon D5300 presents an entry-level photographer with some serious specifications, starting with a 24 megapixel APS-C sensor. It shapes up to be quite the formidable DX-format camera with 1080/60p HD video recording, built-in Wi-Fi/GPS, a 39-point AF system and a flip-out LCD. It's not short on features, but do its handling and image quality match the tall specs list? Read our full review

When Olympus announced the high-end OM-D E-M1, it promised that it would be making a wideangle zoom and super-telephoto prime in its matching 'PRO' line of lenses. Now it's given a few more details for those products. The M.Zuiko Digital ED 7-14mm 1:2.8 PRO shares many design features with the current 12-40mm 1:2.8 PRO, while the M.Zuiko Digital ED 300mm 1:4 PRO offers a 600mm equivalent angle of view. Both lenses are dust- and splash-proof, and will be available next year. Click through for more details and pictures of the lenses

One of the most exciting cameras released today is Canon's PowerShot G1 X Mark II, which retains the 1.5-inch-type sensor from its predecessor and adds a faster processor, longer and brighter lens, tilting LCD, dual control rings, and much more. We've put together a short article that covers the most interesting new features on the G1 X II. Have a look.

Canon has announced the long-awaited follow-up to its PowerShot G1 X large-sensor compact: the G1 X Mark II. The G1 X II improves upon its predecessor in many ways. It's smaller, features a faster 24-120mm equivalent F2.0-3.9 lens (with closer focusing distances), a 31-point AF system, dual lens rings, a touchscreen LCD that can tilt upward by 180°, and Wi-Fi with NFC. One added trick is that the G1 X II can shoot at 3:2 or 4:3 with the same field-of-view. The catch? No more optical viewfinder (though a $299 EVF is optional). It will be available in April for $799.

Sony has released its new a6000 mirrorless camera, which is the replacement to the NEX-6. This midrange mirrorless features a 24MP CMOS sensor, Sony's latest Bionz X processor, and a refined Hybrid AF system that covers 92% of the frame with phase-detect points. The new AF system allows for continuous shooting at 11 fps with subject tracking, and also promises the 'world's fastest autofocus', according to Sony. Video enthusiasts will be pleased to see that the a6000 offers a zebra pattern and clean HDMI output, though it lacks headphone or mic ports. Read more.

The a6000 sits in the middle of Sony's range of mirrorless cameras, just above the a5000 and aging NEX-7. The feature that makes it stand out from the crowd (and not just among Sony cameras) is its Hybrid AF system, which has phase detect points across 92% of the frame. To learn what that means to photographers, and learn more about the a6000 in general, then have a look at our a6000 First Impressions Review.

There's a new entry-level camera in Canon's DSLRs lineup, and it's the Rebel T5 (EOS 1200D). This model replaces the Rebel T3 (EOS 1100D) and features the company's familiar 18 megapixel CMOS sensor, DIGIC 4 processor, and 9-point AF system. The T5 also has a 3" LCD, 3 fps continuous shooting, and 1080p video recording. Canon also announced the MR-14EX II Macro Ring Light, which offers 'independent flash head operation, increased responsiveness and enhanced custom functions'. Both the camera and ring light are priced at $549, with the former including an 18-55mm lens.

Buried at the end of its press release announcing the α6000, Sony has revealed pricing and availability for its previously announced FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS. Like the other FE lenses it's not especially cheap, though; the image-stabilised telezoom will be available in March for about $1500 (or £1240 in the UK). The lens will work on both full frame and APS-C sensor E-mount cameras, offering a 105-300mm equivalent range on the latter.

While the megapixel race has shown signs of slowing down, the competition for zoom range is still going strong. Sony's Cyber-shot DSC-H400's 63X lens covers an enormous 24.5-1550mm equivalent range. If that's a bit too much for you, the DSC-H300 has a 35X (25-875mm equiv.) lens and shares the same 20.1MP CCD as the H400. Stepping up, there's the DSC-HX400V, which has a 20.4MP CMOS sensor, Bionz X processor, 50X (24-1200mm equiv.) zoom, tilting 3" LCD, Wi-Fi, GPS, and 1080/60p video recording. Prices range from $220 to $500.

Canon has introduced its new PowerShot SX700 travel zoom, which features a 25-750mm equivalent F3.2-6.9 lens and the company's latest DIGIC 6 processor. While you're zoomed in tight, the camera's Zoom Framing Assist feature lets you quickly back out, recompose, and return to where you were. The SX700 also features manual exposure control, Wi-Fi with NFC, and 1080/60p video. The camera will be shipping next month in your choice of black or red for $349.99.

Canon has announced the PowerShot D30 rugged digital camera, boasting a new design and a 12.1 megapixel CMOS sensor. It's waterproof to an impressive 25m/82 ft, making it a class-leader. It's also temperature resistant from -10° C/14° F to 40° C/105° F and shockproof to 2m/6.5 ft. The D30 features built-in GPS and is capable of 1080p HD video recording. It's also equipped with a new Sunlight LCD mode, which boasts improved visibility in bright conditions. The PowerShot D30 is available in April for $330.

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX350 features an 18.2 megapixel BSI CMOS sensor and the company's latest Bionz X processor, and puts it into a slim body with a 20X, 25-500mm equivalent F3.5-6.5 lens. The WX350 also shoots up to ten shots at 10 fps, records 1080/60p video, and has a 'Motion Shot feature' for capturing things like golf swings. And, like most of Sony's midrange cameras, the WX350 also has Wi-Fi with NFC. The camera will ship in March for $320.

Canon announces the PowerShot ELPH 150 IS, ELPH 140 IS and ELPH 135, replacing its A-series of budget-friendly compacts. Each model uses a CCD sensor, providing a top video resolution of 720p. The 20 megapixel PowerShot ELPH 150 IS offers a 10x optical zoom and Intelligent IS. The PowerShot ELPH 140 IS has a 16 megapixel sensor, Intelligent IS and an 8x zoom, and the ELPH 135 provides an 8x zoom and 16 megapixels without IS. All three cameras are offered with a sub-$200 MSRP - a significant step down in price for the ELPH series.

While other phone-to-computer services require syncing a select set of files to 'the cloud', a service called Younity offers mobile access to all your photos and other files via direct access. The company's new iOS app allows users to connect to and browse the contents of computers and connected hard drives over the airwaves. Click to learn more.

Nikon's new collapsible kit zoom, the 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR II rolled into our office Friday afternoon and we took it for a spin over the weekend. Like similar designs used in mirrorless kit lenses, the 18-55mm VR II twists to expand when you're ready to shoot, and contracts into a more compact 'at rest' state. It's a natural companion for Nikon's consumer-level bodies including the D5300. While we put the finishing touches to our D5300 review, we used that camera to put together a gallery of real-world samples. See gallery

Blackmagic Design has announced it is shipping its 4K, global-shutter camera for $1000 less than originally suggested. The Blackmagic Production Camera 4K is built around a Super 35mm (roughly APS-C-sized) sensor and can shoot 4K and 1080p footage in Apple ProRes 422 (HQ) or Adobe CinemaDNG Raw formats, direct to SSD. The camera offers 4K at 30p, 25p, 24p and NTSC equivalents. It has a Canon EF-compatible lens mount, offering electronic aperture control with Canon and Zeiss lenses. It is available for $2,995.

Sigma has revealed the next generation of its DP series of APS-C sensor, fixed focal length cameras, with the dp2 Quattro. The latest, 45mm-equivalent, model features dramatic styling and a fundamental re-think of the company's Foveon multi-layer sensor design. The Quattro sensor still uses three layers to detect color information but now only captures its full, 19.6 million pixel resolution in the top layer, with lower two layers capturing 4.9MP of information each. The sensor will also appear in 28mm and 75mm equivalent dp1 Quattro and dp3 Quattro models.

Photo-sharing site 500px has launched 'Prime' a licensing service that it is describing as 'the world's most intelligent marketplace' with fees that start at $250. Interestingly, the company is also claiming that the photographer will get 30% of every fee for a licensed image, no matter 'how it is bought, who buys it, or under what license'. Click through for more details. 

We were visited recently by Panasonic product experts and got some time to handle Panasonic's latest still/video hybrid camera - the Lumix DMC-GH4. We've dug through its feature set to get a feel for what it offers and have summarized what's new and improved. And, although it's the 4K-capability that will grab all the initial attention, there's also plenty for 1080p shooters and even still photographers to take notice of. Click through to read more...

Panasonic has announced its latest flagship Micro Four Thirds camera, the Lumix DMC-GH4. It's designed as a 'hybrid camera' that can shoot both stills and videos, and the emphasis of the improvements is clearly on the latter. Its revised 16MP Live MOS sensor and Venus Engine IX processor allow for 4K video, 12 fps continuous shooting and 1080p shooting at bitrates as high as 200Mbps. An optional 'interface unit' adds five SDI and two XLR terminals, and permits 10-bit 4:2:2 output with time code.

The Coolpix P340 is Nikon's latest pocket enthusiast camera designed to compete with the likes of the Canon PowerShot S120. It features a 1/1.7", 12.2-megapixel BSI CMOS sensor with ability to capture Raw files. The P340 has a useful 24-120mm equivalent stabilized zoom range with F1.8-5.6 maximum aperture, a high resolution 3" LCD screen and now includes built-in Wi-Fi. Learn more

Nikon introduces its Coolpix P600, P530 and S9700 high zoom cameras with 16MP BSI CMOS sensors. The Coolpix P600 and P530 feature built-in electronic viewfinders and 60x and 42x optical zoom ranges, respectively, while the Coolpix S9700 travel zoom compact has a 30x optical zoom. Both the P600 and S9700 offer built-in Wi-Fi, and all three cameras provide 1080/60i HD video recording.

Nikon has announced its Coolpix AW120 and S32 waterproof cameras. The AW120 features a 16-megapixel CMOS sensor, a 3" OLED screen and a wide-angle 24-120mm equivalent image stabilized zoom. It's waterproof down to 18m (59ft), shockproof from a height of 2m (6.6ft), and freezeproof down to -10C/+14F. It also comes with built-in Wi-fi and GPS. The inexpensive S32 has a 13.2-megapixel CMOS sensor, a 2.7-inch LCD display and 30-90mm equivalent lens. Learn more

Tamron has announced the development of an all-in-one 'superzoom' lens for APS-C SLRs with a huge 18.8x range. The 16-300mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD Macro will offer an unusually wide angle view for its class (24-450mm equivalent), while also allowing close-up shooting with 0.34x magnification. It has an ultrasonic-type autofocus motor, splashproof construction and optical image stabilization. Pricing and availability are still to be announced. Learn more

Tamron has announced that it's developing a new 28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 Di VC PZD superzoom lens for full frame SLRs. A near-twin of the co-announced 16-300mm F3.5-6.3 for APS-C, it's distinguished from the current model by featuring an ultrasonic-type 'Piezo Drive' autofocus motor, splashproof construction and more-compact design with a 67mm filter thread. It'll be made in Canon, Nikon and Sony mounts; pricing and availability are to be confirmed. Learn more

Ricoh has announced the WG-20, an inexpensive rugged compact that's waterproof to 10m/33ft, freezeproof to -10C/+14F, and able to survive a 1.5m/5ft drop. Sporting a 14 megapixel CCD sensor, it provides a 28-140mm 5x optical zoom lens and 720p HD movie recording. It's a continuation of Pentax's WG-line (minus the 'Pentax' logo), and presumably a WG-10 replacement, though the cameras appear to share the same sensor, lens and rugged specifications. Available in March, it will ship in red or white for $199.95. Learn more

Ricoh has announced the HD Pentax DA AF 1.4X AW Rear Converter - a weather-resistant 1.4x teleconverter. It's designed to maintain autofocus both with lenses that use built-in focus motors, and those which are driven from the camera body. It'll be available in March 2014 for a price of $599.95 / £379.99. See full details, including a list of compatible lenses

Ricoh Imaging has announced it will be showing four 'reference products' at the forthcoming CP+ trade show in Yokohama, Japan. The company's Pentax brand has previously shown early prototypes of future models at the show. This year's products include a CMOS-based 645D medium format camera with tilting LCD, scheduled for launch in Spring 2014, along with an ultra-wide-angle zoom for the 645 system. Also on show will be a telephoto macro prime lens for the small sensor Q-mount system and a DSLR accessory for making digital captures from slide and negative film.

The Canon EOS 5D Mark III has a very sophisticated and complex AF System. The possible combinations to tweak the AF properties are basically unlimited, so especially for beginners it can be hard to assess which configuration will yield the best results.

Pentax has released new firmware for its flagship K-3 DSLR, allowing users to bracket exposures by AA filter simulation mode. As a reminder, the K-3 lacks a physical anti-aliasing filter, but simulates the blurring effect via minute movement of its sensor, with two intensity levels available (three if you include 'off'). Firmware v1.02 allows you to shoot a burst of sequential images at each AA filter level, to fine-tune the optimal balance between resolution and artifacts like moiré.

Artist Emma Jaubert Howell has combined her passions for glass blowing and photography by adopting the wet plate collodion process to expose images directly onto her artwork. The process alone is tricky, but to expose onto her three-dimensional glasswork Howell had to create a camera from scratch that was large enough to accommodate the hand-blown bowls. We spoke to Emma about her project. Learn more about her process and see some of her art in our gallery. 

Nikon has released Capture NX version 2.4.6. The latest update adds Raw image support for the recently announced entry-level D3300 and the improved white balance adjustment options can now match the 'Auto 1' setting found in newer DSLR and Coolpix cameras. Version 2.4.6 also expands Fine Adjustment range from 4132–7042k to 2500–7042k when using the Direct Sunlight option for Daylight. Get the update

Tamrac has introduced the Apache Series photo messenger bags. The three new models are made of waterproof sailcloth and designed to look discreet. The smallest of the new bags, the Apache 2 Photo Messenger, can hold a compact DSLR kit or mirrorless system. The Apache 6 Photo Messenger, the largest bag, can hold a DSLR with lens attached and 2-3 extra lenses, along with a tablet or laptop. The Apache 4 and 6 also have a silent closure system. Learn more

A factory-fresh Fujifilm X-T1 arrived in our office last week, and editor Barnaby Britton spent the weekend trying it out, taking a range of sample images in different environments, with several lenses. Highlights of the X-T1's specification include a 16MP X-Trans CMOS II sensor with on-chip phase detection, high-resolution EVF and 8 fps continuous shooting with AF tracking. See our gallery and detailed first-impressions review

Weeks after replacing its CEO and announcing a new 50MP CMOS-equipped medium format DSLR, Hasselblad has us scratching our heads yet again. The just-announced Hasselblad HV joins the Lunar and Stellar as a restyled Sony SLT-A99 that offers identical specifications but has a complete aesthetic overhaul and 'tough as nails' PVD-coated aluminum and titanium construction. And we thought those days were over...  Learn more

Before Christmas, we asked you to vote for your favorite cameras and lenses in five categories. We announced the category winners earlier this year and created a final poll to find what - in your opinion - was the single standout product of 2013. Click through for a reminder of the category winners and to find out which of the winning products was your choice for 2013 product of the year!

Chef April Bloomfield is an avid smartphone photographer who has made something of an art posting largely behind-the-scenes shots of the work done in her kitchens. Rather than express horror at the low quality of food photographs swirling out on the Internet, Bloomfield embraces the medium, advising potential culinary photographers to hold out for good lighting or hold off altogether. Click through for a sample of her images on Connect.