While it's easy to get swept up in the stream of product announcements at this time of year, it's also a good idea to remember why we buy that gear - to make great photos. What better way to do it than to showcase the excellent work of our own community? This week we asked users of our Black and White Photography forum to submit their favorite shots for inclusion in our Readers' Showcase. As usual, the photos submitted were of a very high quality. See gallery
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July 2014
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August 2014 news and reviews
August 31
August 30
Nikon has issued a firmware update for the D4S. The long list of improvements included in this firmware version are mostly minor bug fixes and tweaks to menus and camera operation. See the full details and get a link to download the latest D4S firmware version. Read more
August 29
The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 is a video powerhouse, and Sony is now giving it the same XAVC S codec found on its RX100 III and a5100 models via firmware update v.2. This allows for 1080p/60/30/24 and 720p/120 resolutions at a bit rate of 50Mbps. Aside from the new firmware, a SDXC card is the only other thing you'll need to get started. Update: the firmware is now available in the US, as is a Mac version. Find out how to get it.
It's been a busy week and as we head into a long weekend here in the US, it seemed like a good time to take a look back at everything that's happened in the past seven(ish) days. With new products from Fujifilm, Olympus and Ricoh, Photokina fever is definitely taking hold. And the week wasn't without an oddball moment or two, including the emergence of Sony's Asia-only 'perfume bottle selfie camera.' Relive the highs, the lows, the weird and the wonderful with us, in this slideshow.
Lens adapter manufacturer Metabones has launched a pair of long-awaited Canon EF to Micro Four Thirds lens adapters. The first adapter is the Smart Mount version which allows electronic control of the aperture in a Canon lens from a Micro Four Thirds camera, as well as correct recording of EXIF information and activation of Image Stabilization where present. Also debuting is an EF to Micro Four Thirds Speed Booster. Read more
In June Adobe announced Photoshop Mix, an image organization and manipulation app for the Apple iPad which can sync with Photoshop CC for desktop computers and Lightroom Mobile via Adobe's Creative Cloud.Today the software maker has released Photoshop Mix 1.1, the first major upgrade to the new app. Improvements include support for large panoramic images and PNG fields as well as the option to open files directly from Dropbox. Read more at connect.dpreview.com.
German camera brand Leica is set to launch a new portrait lens for its professional S system that features a super-fast maximum aperture of F2. The Summicron-S 100mm F2 ASPH will sit between the company’s existing Summarit-S 70mm F2.5 ASPH and the APO-Macro-Summarit-S 120mm F2.5, both of which are also popular choices for portrait photographers using the S cameras. Click through for more details.
GoPro's in-house production team travel the globe with some of the world's best athletes and produce videos like the Hero 3+ launch, with over 16 million views on YouTube. This week GoPro and its production team released a new tutorial series called the GoPro Field Guide, a set of videos designed to delve a little deeper into some of the more complex functions of their action camera lineup. Read more
This week Corel has unveiled PaintShop Pro X7 and PaintShop Pro X7 Ultimate, two new versions of its image editing software for Windows. This update features extensive changes to the user interface as well as a claimed 30 percent improvement in brush performance, including the Paint Brush, Airbrush and various retouching tools. Speed improvements have allowed for new instant previews of effects before they are applied to images and the 64-bit architecture allows fast performance with larger or multiple images. Read more
August 28
Casio is set to launch a new action cam in September, featuring a wireless camera unit that is detatchable from the main body. The Casio Exilim EX-FR10, which will initially be only available in the Japanese market, uses a Bluetooth connection with a range of up to 10m between the body and the camera so images can be recorded remotely and monitored on the 2-inch 230,400-dot touch screen. Read more
At first glance the Olympus PEN E-PL7 looks like yet another compact, selfie-friendly mirrorless camera -- but looks can be deceiving. The innards of the camera come largely from the excellent OM-D E-M10, and Olympus touts the E-PL7's autofocus system as its best yet. For all the details on the latest PEN, check out our First Impressions Review.
Olympus has announced the PEN E-PL7, refreshing its entry-level mirrorless line. It offers a 16MP CMOS sensor, 3-axis image stabilization system borrowed from the OM-D E-M10, 8 fps continuous shooting and built-in Wi-Fi. Not forgetting the self-portrait-obsessed masses, the E-PL7 provides an articulated 3" touch LCD capable of flipping downward by 180°. Along with the E-PL7, Olympus has also announced an update to its OI.Share app as well as a black version of its 12mm F2.0 prime. Read more
CreativeLIVE is hosting a three-day course on wildlife photography presented by Ian Shive. The course is free to watch live, and runs through August 29th. Shive will demonstrate techniques and give advice during three days of shooting, live from the Mt Rainier and Olympic National Parks in Washington State. Click through for a link to the course at creativeLIVE.
August 27
The Pentax K-S1 is a unique-looking DSLR, with pulsing LED lights on the front and a backlit mode dial on the back. There's more to the K-S1 than just its looks, including a new sensor, image processor, and even a new font in the menus. As always, all of the features one would expect to see on a Pentax DSLR are here too. Learn more in our slideshow.
Ricoh and its Pentax brand have never been afraid of a little color, and the introduction of the K-S1 DSLR reaffirms that. The K-S1 offers a 20.1MP APS-C sensor, an AA filter simulator (as seen on the Pentax K-3) and burst shooting at 5.4 fps, but none of that is quite as attention-grabbing as its headline body specification - a set of green LEDs on the front of the camera's grip and around the power switch. Read more
Korean lens brand Samyang has announced that it will use the Photokina show next month to introduce a new 50mm f/1.4 lens for stills photographers and the same lens designed for videographers using DSLR and mirrorless cameras. Both the Samyang 50mm f/1.4 AS UMC and 50mm T1.5 AS UMC are designed to cover a full frame sensor and will each come in 10 mounts. Read more
August 26
Our comparative review of the Panasonic GH4 and Sony Alpha 7S started with a look at their designs, handling and video spec. They've set new benchmarks for the sophistication of their video capabilities, but they're both potentially very capable stills cameras as well. That brings us to part two of our review, which adds six pages including analysis of image quality and dynamic range. We've also expanded our look at the video modes on each camera. Read more
Last week Microsoft announced development of a technology that turns shaky first-person video into smooth, stabilized hyperlapse videos. Now it appears that Instagram has beaten them to market with a similar product. They've announced Hyperlapse, an app that converts videos of up to 45 minutes into smooth and stable time-lapses with a speed of up to 12x faster than the original. Read more
With the camera industry moved on somewhat since the birth of the Fuji X series compact, is there still room for a 12 million pixel compact in a less-than compact body? In this opinion piece, senior contributing writer Damien Demolder ponders the very existence of Fujifim's newest X-series camera. Read more
Fujifilm's new X30 premium compact is an intriguing piece of kit, with a larger-than-average sensor and reasonably fast lens. While not a revolutionary upgrade to the X20, it still provides some nice improvements. After some play time, we've put together a First Impressions Review that spells out what's new and what's not.
The X30, Fujifilm's latest enthusiast compact camera, offers the same 12MP sensor and 28-112mm (equivalent) lens as the X20 but improves on its predecessor with updated ergonomics. Changes include a new electronic viewfinder, a tilting screen, and Wi-Fi. We've had access to a prototype X30 for a few days - click through for a hands-on tour of the new camera.
Fujfilm has introduced its X30 enthusiast compact, which offers a 2/3" X-Trans II CMOS sensor and a 28-112mm equivalent F2.0-2.8 lens - both of which are retained from the X20 that precedes it. New features include a larger, tilting 3" LCD, an XGA OLED electronic viewfinder, a control wheel around the lens, and greatly improved battery life. A new 'Classic Chrome' film simulation mode has also been added, as has Wi-Fi. Read more
August 25
With top-notch hardware and plenty of imaging features, the HTC One M8 presents a lot to like as a mobile photography tool. Unfortunately, its 4 megapixel camera just can't keep up with other flagship phones and we were underwhelmed by its image quality when we reviewed it. Our collaborators at DxO have put the One M8 through their usual round of mobile imaging tests. See how it scored
We've updated two of our 2013 camera roundups, bringing the enthusiast compact and consumer DSLR categories up to date with the latest models. These guides are designed to help give a comprehensive look at each camera class. We'll be addressing the remaining four roundups in the coming weeks. Read more
The Fujifilm XF 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 is a weather-resistant lens designed as a companion to the weather-resistant Fujifilm X-T1. Covering a 27-200mm equivalent range, it claims to offer the world's most advanced image stabilization system, using gyro sensors for a gain of up to five stops. Is it the ideal pair for the X-T1? We took it out for a spin. See gallery
August 24
Todd Bretl says he asks himself 'Would I hang this on my wall?' when he's composing his photos of marine life. Challenging himself with this question has helped him produce some stunning works of art. Some of his images call to mind glass sculpture, while others capture the wildness that thrives below the water's surface. He answered our questions about his process and gear - take a look at some of his work and find out more about how it's created. See gallery
UK-based photographer Martin Kimbell doesn't put his camera down when the sun goes in. His series of 'light paintings' add a surreal twist to long-exposure night pictures. In his images, tunnels, spirals and discs of light create sculptural forms in the landscape. We spoke to him about his work, and how he creates it. Click through to view his images and read our Q&A.
August 23
'What's in your bag?' is a question we ask a lot of photographers, because, well, we're nosy that way. Asking the very same question, photographer Thom Atkinson posed it (figuratively) to centuries of British soldiers. He's assembled what would have been the belongings and clothing of a dozen combatants, ranging from medieval to modern-day soldiers. Take a look and learn how it all came together in our Q&A. See gallery
While it’s easy to get swept up in the stream of announcements over the next few weeks, it’s also a good idea to remember why we buy that gear - to make great photos. What better way to do it than to showcase the excellent work of our own community? This week we asked users of our Macro and Still Life Photography forum to submit their favorite macro shots for inclusion in our Readers' Showcase. Unsurprisingly, we saw a lot of great work. See gallery
August 22
Hasselblad has taken another step towards the total switch to CMOS sensors with the introduction of new multi-shot versions of the company’s H5D 50c, including a model that outputs images of up to 200 million pixels. The H5D-50c MS and H5D-200c MS are 4-shot and 6-shot bodies that use pixel shifting to create higher resolution images than their 50-million-pixel sensors could in a single shot. Click through for more information.
Ukrainian start-up Pics.io is hoping to change your photography post-processing workflow with its new browser-based Raw editing and organization service. Using WebGL technology to harness the power of your computer’s graphics card, Pics.io is able to offer Raw image editing and management for Canon, Nikon, Sony and Olympus Raw files right in your web browser. Read more
Recently, Zenfolio announced its newest online venture, Photographer Central - an online directory of photographers. This website promises to bring customers in direct contact with local photographers while making the search free and easy to use. Does it live up to its claims? We took the service for a test spin. Read more
Update: A report issued by the US Copyright Office takes Wikimedia's side in a debate between a nature photographer and the organization. According to the report, the 'selfie' captured by a black crested macaque on David Slater's camera cannot by copyrighted since it was created by an animal. On a trip to Indonesia in 2011, Slater, a nature photographer was photographing the monkey when it grabbed his camera and proceeded to take hundreds of pictures of itself. Wikimedia defended a decision to keep the image in its database when Slater cried foul. Read more
August 21
Under the slogan 'Perfect understatement' Leica has quietly released a new M-series rangefinder, the M-P Digital (240). Featuring a full-frame 24MP CMOS sensor and 2GB of built-in RAM, Leica claims that the new M-P digital is 'twice as fast' as the standard M (Typ 240). The original Leica MP (no hypen) announced in 2003, took the film M-series back to its 1950s roots by featuring unflashy ergonomics inspired by the M3. The new model updates the same approach, omitting the iconic Leica red dot. Click through for more details.
Film industry accessory manufacturer Cinoflex was recently tasked with rigging up a new Sony a7S mirrorless camera for use on a Chevrolet commercial. After some testing, the Cinoflex Type SA7S Camera System was created to allow the filmmakers to attach the necessary range of auxiliary equipment needed on a high budget commercial shoot. Read more
Got a few minutes to spare? You've got enough time on your hands to help a group of researchers tackle a massive problem. Cities at Night is a project aiming to recruit help from ordinary citizens in classifying images of Earth at night taken by astronauts aboard the International Space Station. An effort of Universidad Complutense de Madrid staff and students, their main goal is to better understand and reduce light pollution. See how you can help
August 20
Lensbaby has announced that its LM-10 Sweet Spot lens for mobile devices is available immediately through its online store and retailers worldwide. The LM-10 concept was unveiled back in April with a Kickstarter campaign that raised more than twice the amount needed to see the lens go into production. Alongside the LM-10, Lensbaby has also announced the Sweet 50 optic. The Sweet 50, a selective-focus 50mm lens, works with Lensbaby's Optic Swap System and is also available now. Read more
Google's Photo Sphere feature for capturing 360° spheric panoramas was launched in 2012 with the camera app in Android 4.2. Since then it has only been available for devices running Google's mobile OS - until now. The Photo Sphere team at Google has just launched a version for Apple's iOS devices, dramatically increasing the potential user base of its app. Read more
The Samsung NX3000 is a rangefinder-style mirrorless interchangeable lens camera that sports a 20.3MP APS-C CMOS sensor, a 3" flip-up LCD, 5 fps continuous shooting, and Wi-Fi with NFC. We took delivery of an NX3000 recently and we've been out shooting with it and the 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 power zoom lens to see how it performs in the real world. Click through for a link to our gallery.
Previously introduced on its European website, Metz has announced its new flagship model the Mecablitz 64 AF-1 in the US market. It's the most powerful flash in that manufacturer's lineup with a guide number of 64 at ISO 100 and a zoom range covering 24-200mm focal lengths, and will be available for Canon, Nikon, Sony, Olympus, Panasonic and Pentax cameras. Read more
Two years after HTC launched its Windows Phone flagship model 8X, the Taiwanese manufacturer now offers another high-end model with the Microsoft OS. Today HTC has revealed a Windows Phone version of the HTC One M8, originally launched with Google's Android OS in March this year. This means the One M8's unique Duo Cam features are now available in a Windows phone environment. Read more
August 19
Canon has announced three new Pixma All-in-One inkjet printers, the Canon Pixma MG7520, MG6620 and MG5620 (MG7550, MG6650 and MG5650 in Europe). They all offer wireless support with Apple AirPrint connectivity, as well as compatibility with Canon's Easy-PhotoPrint+ web application and Pixma Printing Solutions. Read more
Nikon has announced a service advisory for the Nikon D810, in response to reports of 'bright spots' in images taken at long shutter speeds and in 1.2X crop mode. According to an announcement on Nikon's website, affected cameras will be serviced free of charge. Apparently, the issue only affects cameras within a certain serial number range, and if you're lucky enough to have got hold of a D810 already, you can check the serial number of your camera against Nikon's database via the company's service and support pages. Click through for a link.
The Xperia Z2 is Sony's latest flagship Android smartphone and a solid upgrade to its predecessor, the Xperia Z1. Though the Z2 offers nearly identical camera specs to its predecessor, its 20.7MP 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor is capable of recording 4K video, unlike the Z1. We've put the Sony Xperia Z2 through our usual testing routine to find how image quality compares to the preceding model, and how the new features perform in real-life shooting. Read more
Profoto, the Swedish flash manufacturer, has confirmed that a Nikon compatible TTL remote will be available for its popular B1 off-camera flash on September 15th - just in time for Photokina. The Air Remote TTL-N will give Nikon photographers the same TTL functionality enjoyed by Canon shooters with its Air Remote TTL-C since the November 2013 launch of the B1 flash. Read more
August 18
As Sony introduces the Alpha a5100 interchangeable lens camera, it officially leaves behind the NEX moniker its mirrorless line originated with. The a5100 picks up where the NEX-5 series leaves off, combining the 24.3 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor of the a6000 and the more compact footprint of the NEX-5T. The a5100 also inherits many of the a6000's good qualities, including its impressive autofocus system. The a5100 also one-ups its big brother by offering 1080/60p video at 50Mbps. We took a hands-on, preliminary look at the a5100. Read more
The Sony Alpha a5100 is a petite, compact mirrorless interchangeable lens camera with a lot to offer. We've had access to a pre-production sample for a few days, and as well as a full first impressions review we also got hands-on with Sony's latest Alpha. Click through for a tour of the a5100's major features.
Sony has announce its new Alpha a5100 mirrorless camera, which takes the 'guts' from the a6000 and puts it into the compact body inherited from the NEX-5 line. The a5100 offers the same 24.3MP sensor with on-chip phase detection as the a6000, along with a 3" LCD that flips up 180 degrees for taking self-portraits. The a5100 has impressive video features for its price, including support for the XAVC S codec, which allows for 1080/60p/24p recording at 50Mbps.
August 17
In all the talk about new gear, it's easy to overlook the end result of our shared passion - the pursuit of stunning images. Among our large community there are some incredibly talented photographers who share their work in our forums, galleries and photo challenges, and from time to time we like to showcase some of the best work on our homepage. Recently we asked users of our astrophotography forum to submit their favorite shots and as usual, the images were excellent. See gallery
August 16
Let's get the important thing out of the way first - Greg Theulings is fine. His Fujifilm X-T1, on the other hand, is not. Keen landscape photographer and DPR forum member, Theulings was on a trip to to Luxembourg and the German Eifel photographing the some rapids when he slipped on a rock, fell into the water and dislocated his shoulder. His camera and lens were destroyed, but his memory card survived. See his photos and read his story - and maybe take a little extra care on those rocks when you're out on your last photo trip of the summer.
August 15
A copy of one of the largest interchangeable lenses for SLRs ever produced has emerged for at a UK retailer. Canon's massive EF 1200mm f/5.6 L USM is a rare beast, and the longest lens in the world with AF. MPB Photographic describes it as being in mint condition and has priced the lens at £99,000. Read more
The European Space Agency's ATV-5 supply vessel docked a couple of days ago with the International Space Station. Not just loaded with cargo for the ISS, the ATV-5 is also carrying newly developed camera technology which will record the final moments of ATV-5's breakup on re-entering Earth's atmosphere. The Break-Up Camera was designed in only nine months and will relay images from the last 20 seconds of the vessel's life to a capsule that can survive the extreme heat of reentry. Learn more
August 14
The Drobo Mini is a portable RAID storage solution with four HD bays, speedy Thunderbolt connectivity, and desktop-based monitoring software. Ideal for photography and videography, the Drobo Mini has many features that might make it attractive to enthusiast and professional photographers and videographers. See how the Drobo Mini fared in our review.
August 13
Manfrotto has announced a carbon fiber version of its BeFree tripod, previously available only in aluminum. The lighter carbon fiber BeFree weighs 1.1 kg/2.4 lbs (as compared to the 1.4 kg/3 lb aluminum version) and features a reverse folding design that allows it shrink to 15.7 inches (~40cm) in length when collapsed and stored. Designed for travel, it can hold up to 4 kg/8.8 lbs and is available now in the US for $389. Read more
Samsung has announced the Galaxy Alpha - the first Galaxy smartphone with a metal frame. With its 4.7-inch 720p AMOLED screen the Galaxy Alpha is similar in dimensions to the Galaxy S5 Mini but 6.7mm thinner. The device comes with a 12MP rear camera which is unusual in that no other current high-end Samsung offers this sort of megapixel-count but no information on sensor size and technology is currently available.
The Weather Channel has announced the winners of its inaugural photo contest. Photographers submitted images that best capture the spirit of the Weather Channel's 'It's Amazing Out There' tagline. From over 30,000 entries, one Grand Prize Winner was selected along with three finalists from each category - Living World, Adventure and the Elements. Take a look at the winning photos. See gallery
August 12
UK-based sports photographer Guy Swarbrick specializes in shooting cycling events, but this summer he got the opportunity to shoot the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow Scotland. Just before the games he took delivery of Nikon's latest full-frame DSLR the D810, and in this article he shares his experiences of using the camera. Click through to read his impressions of the D810, and take a look at some of his pictures.
Hey you know that article you read on dpreview.com a couple of months ago that you really liked? What was it called again...? do you remember who wrote it...? Yeah, we hear you. Since we made some site changes earlier this summer it's been pretty hard to find certain types of articles but we've been working on it, and we're pleased to announce a new index page for non-review content. This is where you'll find articles and news stories, arranged in categories according to theme - everything from interviews and show reports to accessory reviews. Click through to learn more.
Microsoft's Research division in Redmond, Washington has published material detailing a method for turning shaky first-person camera footage into a stabilized hyperlapse video. The algorithm they've developed uses a 3-step process to produce exceptionally stable videos that play back in a single fluid camera sweep. Researchers state that they are woking on bringing this technology to a Windows app, though no release date is given. Learn more
August 11
DPReview's Seattle-based team is growing! We're looking for an editorial writer, whose responsibilities will include testing and producing reviews of digital system cameras, compact cameras, smart phone cameras, lenses and other photographic equipment. We're also on the hunt for a studio and product photographer to conduct and analyze camera tests, as well as a web developer/designer. Successful applicants will have have a strong understanding of dpreview, our principles and our community. Learn more
Manfrotto has announced a new line of backpacks and accessories, the Pro Light series. The new line includes backpacks designed for both still photographers and videographers, holsters and rain covers, all designed with an emphasis on portability and versatility. The five styles of backpacks for still photographers offer side access for another route to your gear and are priced from $220 - $310 USD/£199.95 - £249.95 GBP. Read more
Nature photographer Erez Marom had cold feet - literally - when he created this image. Standing (with thermal boots on) in the freezing waters of a glacier lagoon in Iceland, he saw an opportunity to capture a unique ice formation in the foreground, distant snow-capped mountains and the Aurora Borealis above it all. In this article he explains how he used focus stacking to get the look he wanted for his final image, 'Flames of the North'. Learn more
August 10
George Probst has been fascinated with sharks his whole life, but it wasn't until he found himself newly single with some extra money in savings that his dream of diving with and photographing sharks became a reality. He hopes his photos will inspire others to see sharks in a light unlike their typical portrayal in movies and pop culture. Find out about his process and see his work. See gallery
August 9
Photographer Laure Fauvel's series 'Terreurs' turns an age-old rivalry on its head. The retouched photos depict children fighting back - and winning by the looks of it - against the monsters that typically terrorize them in the night. Children wielding toy weapons keep the nightmarish creatures cowering in closets and under beds with fearful expressions. See gallery
EyeEm, a photo sharing platform and image marketplace, has released an update to its iOS app, taking it closer to the recently-overhauled Android version. The redesign attempts to put more focus on the images by changing font sizes and moving controls around, and the new EyeZoom feature lets you zoom into images by tapping on them. Read more
August 8
We've come to the end of another week here at dpreview, and as our thoughts drift to weekend shooting opportunities, it's time to take things a little less seriously. Aaron Johnson's comic strip ‘What the Duck’ is just the thing, taking a gently satirical look through the lens of a photographically inclined waterfowl. You can find it published here (and in our newsletter) every week; we hope you enjoy it, and your weekend.
The photograph on the sleeve of 'Abbey Road' by The Beatles is among the most famous images in popular music, and it was taken 45 years ago today. The debate about whether Abbey Road was The Beatles final album continues but for a whole generation of fans, the image of John, Paul, George and Ringo walking across the street outside Abbey Road studios in London signified the end of an era. Click through to see how fans are marking the anniversary.
The team over at LensRentals has been doing a lot of work recently, looking at the performance of Canon's new EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM wideangle zoom. They're pretty impressed by the optical quality of the new lens, but being in the business of renting and repairing gear, they also wanted to know how well it would stand up to the rigors of daily use - and how easy it would be to work on. Click through to learn how the new EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM compares mechanically.
Apple has issued an update for OS X Mavericks, adding Raw support for ten recent camera models. Digital Camera Raw Compatibility Update 5.06 provides system-level support for Raw files from the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III, Olympus OM-D E-M10 and Nikon 1 V3. See the full list of cameras. Read more
August 7
We weren't wowed by the HTC One M8's Duo Cam features in our review of the device, partly because its corresponding re-focusing effects could only be used on the phone itself. HTC has changed that with a Gallery App update, allowing users to share the experience with others through a web interface. Read more
With our comparative review underway, we've added studio test scene results from both the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 and Sony Alpha 7S to our comparison tool. The 16MP Micro Four Thirds Panasonic GH4 and 12MP full-frame Sony a7S both shoot 4K video, and we spent some time in part one of our review taking a look at those features. Take a look now at the stills capabilities of both of these cameras by comparing them to each other and an ever-growing list of competing models in our studio test scene comparison tool. Read more
August 6
Despite the ubiquity of GoPro's diminutive 'action cam' video cameras, the company has reported a loss of $19.8 million for the second quarter following an additional loss of $5.1 million from the year prior. GoPro first went public in June of this year, and while shares have dropped a whopping 11-15% following the financial results, everything is not necessarily doom and gloom for the company. Read more
A PBS profile of Dorothea Lange, the photographer behind iconic images of the Great Depression and Dust Bowl, is set to air later this month. American Masters - Dorothea Lange: Grab a Hunk of Lightning will premiere on PBS stations Friday August 29th from 9-11pm. The documentary, directed and narrated by Lange's granddaughter Dyanna Taylor, features newly discovered interviews with the photographer, remembrances from family and friends, as well as a look into her career retrospective at New York's Museum of Modern Art. Read more
August 5
Lenovo has just announced what looks like one of the most interesting smartphones of the year, from a camera perspective. According to the announcement the Vibe Z2 Pro captures images with a 16MP camera that features an optical image stabilization system. Camera functions include a Pro Mode, which allows for manual control over a range of shooting parameters. The new device is also capable of 4K video recording. Read more
PocketWizard has announced the latest ControlTL firmware upgrade to its line of 'Control the Light' wireless flash transceivers and receivers, updating the MiniTT1 Transmitter and FlexTT5 transceiver and receiver units to work with all available Canon and Nikon DSLR systems. The company has also added resources to achieve a much faster turnaround on updates, as evidenced by new support for the Nikon D810, which was just announced in late June. Read more
August 4
Ricoh has announced the Pentax Q-S1, its latest compact interchangeable lens camera with a Q lens mount. It offers some cosmetic updates, but the internals like a 12MP 1/1.7-inch BSI CMOS have remained largely unchanged from the previous Q7 model. The Q-S1 will be sold in 40 different color combinations when it becomes available in September for a price of $499.95/£379.99 with kit zoom. Read more
Ricoh adds a new lens to its 645 medium format lineup, the weather-resistant HD Pentax-DA645 28-45mm F4.5ED AW SR. Covering a 22-35.5mm equivalent range in full-frame terms, it uses 17 elements in 12 groups. It's Pentax's first optically stabilized zoom lens, with SR Shake Reduction technology that claims to compensate for camera shake for an additional 3.5 stops. The lens is dust- and weather-resistant, becoming available in August for a price of $4,999.95/£3,399.99. Read more
Though they come with vastly different sensor sizes and price tags, the Panasonic Lumix GH4 and the Sony Alpha 7S are similar in spirit. They're both meant for video recording as much as they are for stills. To that point, the 12.2MP full frame A7S and 16MP Micro Four Thirds GH4 are both capable of 4K video output and offer extensive video features. Our comparative review takes a detailed look at how these cameras perform in terms of video and stills, as well how they stack up against one another. Read part one
August 3
In his series 'tautochronos', Berlin-based artist and photographer Michel Lamoller takes multiple pictures of the same scene at different times, before physically combining the prints and using a scalpel to cut through the layers. In doing so, Lamoller's 'layerscapes' offer a vision of time and space that would be impossible in a conventional single exposure. His work is hard to describe in words - click through to read our Q&A and take a look at his work.
In all the talk about new gear, it's easy to overlook the end result of our shared passion - the pursuit of stunning images. Among our large community there are some incredibly talented photographers who share their work in our forums, galleries and photo challenges, and from time to time we like to showcase some of the best work on our homepage. This week we asked users of our Nature and Wildlife forum to submit their favorite shots and as usual, the submissions were excellent. See gallery
August 2
It would seem that a trip somewhere as exotic as Thailand would require a pro camera and a heavy bag of lenses. Photographer Jan Ras took a lighter approach on a recent trip to Thailand, photographing some of the native inhabitants of a village (monkeys, to be precise) with a Nokia Lumia 1020. He captures their expressive, curious nature in a documentary style, all while forgoing traditional photographic equipment. See gallery
August 1
We've come to the end of another week here at dpreview, and as our thoughts drift to weekend shooting opportunities, it's time to take things a little less seriously. Aaron Johnson's comic strip ‘What the Duck’ is just the thing, taking a gently satirical look through the lens of a photographically inclined waterfowl. You can find it published here (and in our newsletter) every week; we hope you enjoy it, and your weekend.
Just when Canon India had us all excited... it looks like the company's 'something BIG is coming' teaser was referring to a competition. 'Photomarathon India' is open for registration from August 5th, and prizes include a trip to Japan, worth $5000. This is great news for Indian photographers, but likely to disappoint those of us hoping that 'something BIG' might refer to new hardware. Oh well.
You'd know just by looking at it that the Samsung NX Mini is the slimmest and lightest interchangeable lens camera on the market. Tucked inside is a 1"-type, 20MP CMOS sensor along with Wi-Fi with NFC and 1080/30p video. The aptly named Mini also introduces a new NX-M lens mount. We've updated our existing NX Mini samples gallery with images from the 17mm F1.8 prime. See gallery
Lens Rentals Canada has announced that it is temporarily not accepting new orders. A brief notice on lensrentalscanada.com cites 'serious issues' with Canada Post Corporation, and states that current orders will be shipped using Purolator Courier. An email that a reddit user claims was sent to him by Lens Rentals Canada is more to the point, stating that a Canada Post employee has stolen equipment in transit. No estimated timeframe has been given as to when orders will be accepted again. Read more
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