April 2015 news and reviews

Leica has introduced an updated version of its black-and-white-only digital rangefinder. The M-Monochrom Typ 246 uses a full frame 24MP CMOS sensor that, like its predecessor, has no color filter array. The model that came before it used an 18MP CCD sensor, so the upgrade to a CMOS chip provides several improvements such as live view and video recording capabilities. Read more

Entries are now being accepted for the Epson International Pano Awards competition that celebrates and rewards outstanding panoramic photography. In its sixth year, the contest which is sponsored by Epson Australia, has a prize fund of $50,000, including a single prize of $5,000 for the Jeff Mitchum Fine Art category. Read more

Ansix Engineering has taken to Kickstarter with its LensPacks, a rear lens cap backed with Velcro that can be attached to the inside of a camera bag. It's designed to speed up lens changes - when a lens swap is necessary, the photographer can twist the current lens into the fixed lens cap, then twist a different lens off of another cap. Read more

US bag manufacturer MindShift Gear has introduced a new range of bags and pouches aimed at the GoPro and action cam market. The GP series is made up of 10 individual cases that can be purchased individually or in three bundles of differing sizes. Read more

GoPro has announced its acquisition of Kolor, makers of stitching software used for spherical 360-degree videos and panoramas. Demonstrating exactly what we can expect when the two companies combine forces, the above 360-degree video has been released today, recorded with three GoPro Heros and stitched together with Kolor software. Read more

American photographer John Moore has won the L'Iris d'Or Photographer of the Year prize in the World Photography Organization's annual competition. The Getty Images photographer submitted a dramatic and emotional series of pictures telling the story of the Ebola crisis in Liberia's capital Monrovia – a series that was credited with being the first to expose the scale of the problem that country faced and the severity of the epidemic. Read more

DxOMark has just released its test results for the Galaxy Note 4, putting it just behind Samsung's Galaxy S6 but above Apple's flagship iPhone 6 Plus. Our comprehensive review of the Note 4 and its 16MP BSI CMOS sensor, F2.2 lens and optical image stabilization has been updated with DxOMark's findings. See how it stacks up against the competition. Read more

How would you react if you were told that the aperture and shutter speed you choose make more difference to image noise than the ISO setting? You might be surprised to discover that a lot of the noise in your images doesn't come from your camera at all: it comes from the light you're capturing. Our own Richard Butler explains. Read more

Sony has released a beta version of its Touchless Shutter app, immediately available for download through the PlayMemories app store. The app makes use of the eyepiece sensor as a shutter release mechanism and brings all the advantages of a traditional cable release without needing any extra camera gear. All that is needed is a hand wave near the eyepiece and the shutter will release. Read more

Italian accessories brand Manfrotto has announced a new model in the 190 range of tripods that is lighter and more compact than others in the series. The Manfrotto 190Go! is designed for traveling photographers and those working on location who require an eye-height tripod that packs away to take up as little space as possible. Read more

China-based manufacturer Yongnuo has produced what looks like a near-clone of Canon's well-liked EF 35mm f/2, a lens that dates back to 1990. With a couple of minor exceptions (one of which being the brand name on the front of the lens) the Yongnuo lens looks very similar to Canon's 25-year-old prime, but at an attractive price of ~$115. Read more

DPReview attended the NAB 2015 show in Las Vegas recently, where we had an opportunity to sit down with Chuck Westfall, Technical Advisor for Canon U.S.A.'s Professional Engineering and Solutions Division. The main topic of conversation was Canon's new XC10 hybrid video/stills camera, which made its first public appearance at the show. Read more

Olympus and Pentax have introduced cameras with sensor-shift-driven resolution modes designed to maximize the amount of information collected by their sensors. Apple has also patented a similar system, using an optical image stabilization system to create and combine multiple exposures into a higher resolution image. Read more

As promised last November, Sony has announced two new full-frame A-mount lenses. Compared to their 2008-vintage predecessors the Vario-Sonnar T* 16-35mm F2.8 ZA SSM II and 24-70mm F2.8 ZA SSM II feature improved image quality, less ghosting and flare, and a four-fold improvement in subject tracking speed, according to Sony. Another addition are seals that should make these lenses dust and water resistant. More details

Ricoh has just launched the Pentax K-3 II semi-pro DSLR with an improved image stabilization system that drives a new Pixel Shift Resolution feature. Retaining its predecessor's 24MP sensor, 27-point AF system, and durable construction, the K-3 II now offers sensor-shift IS with a claimed 4.5 stops of shake reduction. Read more

Chinese lens adapter manufacturer Kipon has announced plans to introduce the first adapter that allows AF operation when a Canon EF or EF-S lens is attached to a Micro Four Thirds camera body. Previous adapters have either been entirely manual or, more lately, offered aperture control, but the Shanghai-based company has said that its next model will allow full frame and APS-C EOS system lenses to focus automatically too. Read more

Sigma has issued a service notice advising that some of its Canon mount interchangeable lenses cannot be used with Live Mode on the Canon EOS Rebel T6s (760D) and the Canon EOS Rebel T6i (750D). Lens owners will receive a free firmware update to fix the problem, though the company has not provided a timeframe for when the update is expected. Both current and discontinued lens models are affected by this issue. Read more

With the launch of Lightroom 6 and Lightroom CC, Adobe has released Camera Raw 9 with some of the some added features. Merge to HDR and Panorama are now available in ACR, using Raw image data to automatically assemble HDR and panoramic images, which are output as DNG files. This eliminates the need to edit files before merging them in Photoshop. Read more

Zeiss has revealed two new full-frame lenses for Sony's E-mount system, the Batis 2/25 and 1.8/85. They offer autofocus, and are the first Zeiss-produced FE-style lenses to do so. Each lens barrel contains an OLED displaying focus distance and depth of field. A linear motor AF drive keeps operation quiet, and both lenses are sealed against dust and moisture. Read more

The Sony SLT-A77 II uses that company's translucent mirror technology in combination with an AF system that Sony claims is dramatically improved over its predecessor. It boasts 12fps continuous shooting with AF, not to mention a 24MP sensor, built-in Wi-Fi with NFC, 2.4M dot OLED viewfinder and a tiliting/swiveling LCD. We put its impressive AF claims to the test. Read review

Adobe has announced standalone and Creative Cloud versions of its image management and Raw conversion software, Lightroom. Among other new features the latest versions gain simple HDR and Panorama merging tools that create 16-bit DNG files from the merged results.  Read more

Printer manufacturer Epson has announced it will introduce an A2 printer that uses its new extended-life UltraChrome ink-set and will accept roll-fed paper via an optional roll holder. The professional photo printer will be able to produce prints of up to 17in high in panoramic formats as long as 1.1m/43.3in, as well as printing on thick art paper via a front media loader. Read more

Western Digital's Wi-Fi enabled My Passport Wireless is a hard drive that features a built-in SD card reader. Alongside the drive, it offers a My Cloud app, allowing photo, video and audio files on the drive to be viewed wirelessly from a phone or tablet. With Wi-Fi hotspot capabilities it could be a very tempting device for roaming photographers who want photo backup without the burden of a laptop. Is it a travel photographer's new best friend? Read review

Renowned nature and landscape photographer Art Wolfe has been all over the world during his 40+ year career. In this article he describes his first visit to Antarctica in late 1992, where he went in search of emperor penguins. Braving freezing conditions and dangerous under-maintained airplanes, Art spent $25,000 to take the trip - as it turned out, the first of many. Click through for the full story

A 20MP Four Thirds sensor, a high-speed APS-C sensor, and a Stacked CMOS design for enthusiast compacts are likely to be just three of the sensors we can expect to see in cameras over the coming months. Sony's semiconductor division has made these products public with the creation of a new website, which lists some of the chips it offers to potential buyers. Alongside many familiar-sounding sensors are examples we've yet to see in any cameras. Read more

With over 100,000 attendees, the NAB Show (National Association of Broadcasters) can be a dizzying experience of cutting edge technology mixed with valuable information and practical tools. Though mainly focused on the broadcast and motion picture industries, the emergence of still cameras that shoot high quality video has driven the development of products and tools aimed specifically at DSLR/mirrorless filmmakers and video shooters, many of which were on display. Read more

One of the most talked about subjects for photographers using Macs to process and archive their photos is the loss of Apple Aperture and its replacement, simply known as Photos. This new software strongly resembles the iOS software of the same name and while it still offers some of the features from the enthusiast-grade Aperture, quite a few things are missing. Learn more about Photos - both what it offers and doesn't - in this opinion piece from senior writer Jeff Keller. Read more

Nikon has announced a firmware update for its new AF-S NIKKOR 300mm f/4E PF ED VR, to fix an issue where at certain shutter speeds on D800-series cameras, images can exhibit 'noticeable blur'. According to Nikon, the problem can occur at around 1/125sec with the lens's VR function enabled in either 'Normal' or 'Sport' modes. Users of affected units are encouraged to return their lenses to Nikon where the update will be applied free of charge. Click through for more details

Canon has announced it will introduce a new dye-sublimation thermal transfer printer to its Selphy range of compact photo printers this summer. The Selphy CP1000 will have features very similar to the current products, but will additionally offer the ability to print twin ID photos on the same sheet of paper using the new Dual ID mode. The new model features a USB socket for printing from USB Flash storage as well as from a computer. The printer will also have memory card slots that will accept CF and SD type memory cards, and mini/micro SD cards via adapters. Read more

Columbia University researchers have created a self-powered video camera featuring a sensor that both captures images and powers the device. Although it can only record low-resolution 30x40 pixel images at 1fps, the photodiodes on the camera's sensor can switch between being photoconductive, and photovoltaic. In the latter mode - given enough light - the photodiodes supply enough power to a built-in supercapacitor to keep the camera operating indefinitely. Click through for more information

Another lens from Fujifilm's roadmap is making its way to retailers, and that's the XF 16mm F1.4 R WR wide prime. This lens, equivalent to 24mm, has a nine-blade aperture, flare-reducing Nano-GI coating, and a minimum focusing distance of 15cm/6 in. It's also sealed against weather and dust and can function at temperatures as low as -10C/+14F. More details

An initiative from Ricoh to salvage, clean, scan and return photographic prints found in the areas devastated by the March 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami has reunited over 90,000 images with their rightful owners since shortly after the disaster struck. The Save The Memory Project has recovered over 400,000 prints from the rubble of affected areas, having cleaned, scanned and posted digitized versions to an online system for owners to claim. Learn more

Garmin has introduced two new action cameras, the VIRB X and the VIRB XE. Both cameras feature a new form factor that increases the number of mounting options available. Both feature a waterproof design, and the VIRB XE offers support for 1440/30p and 1080/60p video recording. In addition, the action cameras feature G-Metrix, which leverages integrated sensors and wireless tech to monitor 'action data' like speed, and display the information as animated data overlays. Read more

Historically, Pentax's entry- and mid-range DSLRs have managed to offer a number of features usually reserved for higher-end models, and the K-S2 is no exception. Omitting the blinking lights and unconventional mode dial placement of its K-S1 sibling, the K-S2 provides a 20MP APS-C sensor, fully articulated 3" 921k-dot LCD, 100% coverage optical viewfinder, and built-in Wi-Fi with NFC. Take a look at how it performs against other cameras in its class. Read more

Sony has announced the Cyber-shot DSC-HX90V and DSC-WX500, two travel zooms which the company claims are the world's smallest. Both cameras boast an 18.2MP BSI-CMOS sensor plus a 30x, 24-720mm equiv. lens with optical image stabilization, 3" LCD that tilts upward, a control ring around the lens, 1080/60p video using the XAVC S codec, and Wi-Fi with NFC. The HX90V adds a pop-up OLED viewfinder similar to the one in the RX100 III, as well as built-in GPS. Read more

Manfrotto has used the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) show as launching pad for the Digital Director, a bracket designed to turn an iPad Air into an external monitor for Canon and Nikon DSLRs. By connecting the Digital Director to a camera via USB and opening the app of the same name, a Live View feed is provided and exposure settings can be controlled by the iPad. Read more

Red has unveiled its latest camera body and announced its next-generation 8K sensor. The Weapon body will be produced in magnesium alloy or carbon fiber and is available as an upgrade for users with the 6K 'Dragon' sensor. Anyone making the upgrade to the Carbon Fiber version will then be able to pay extra to get the forthcoming 8K sensor. Read more

Tiffen has announced an updated version of its Dfx photo and video editing software that adds new filters, historic process simulations and extra tools, as well as wider compatibility with movie editing programs. Tiffen Dfx produces effects like those created by the company’s optical glass filters, with the latest version 4 adding 12 extra 'filters' to the menu system, including the company’s new Pearlescent and Satin diffusers. Read more

The Note 4 is the latest iteration of Samsung's top-end line of so-called 'phablets'. In terms of design the new model is very close to its predecessor, the Galaxy Note 3, but under the hood, things have been upgraded significantly. A 1/2.6-inch 16MP BSI CMOS image sensor and F2.2 maximum aperture are shared with the Galaxy S5 but the Note 4 has gained an optical image stabilization system which makes it the first Samsung smartphone with this feature. Read our full review at connect.dpreview.com

Panasonic has announced firmware v2.2 for the GH4 to make it easier to use anamorphic lenses with the camera. The new anamorphic mode allows the camera to capture video from a 4:3 aspect ratio chunk from the middle of the sensor to match the projection of specialist lenses, allowing genuine anamorphic capture, rather than digital simulation of the look.

Canon USA has dropped the price of 31 of its high-end L-series prime and zoom lenses, by between $30 and $800. Several popular zooms like the EF 24-70mm F2.8 II USM and EF 70-200mm F2.8 IS II USM have been discounted by $100 and very high-end primes like the 400mm + F2.8 sports lenses have dropped in price by $500. Meanwhile the Extender EF 1.4x III and Extender EF 2x III have been reduced by $20. Click through for a full list

Olympus has announced the Stylus 1s in the US, a camera it had previously announced in Japan last year. This enthusiast compact features much of the same hardware as its predecessor, the Olympus Stylus 1, including a 12MP 1/1.7" BSI CMOS sensor, 28-300mm equivalent F2.8 lens, and integrated Wi-Fi. Added features include a redesigned grip, higher-capacity BLS-50 battery, Small AF target mode, and Step Zoom with nine preset zoom positions. Read more

Olympus has announced a new flagship rugged compact, the Stylus Tough TG-4. It offers modest improvements over its TG-3 predecessor, namely Raw shooting capability. It offers the same 16MP BSI CMOS sensor as the previous model, a 25-100mm equivalent f/2.0-4.9 zoom lens, Wi-Fi, and a built-in GPS. Read more

Nikon has announced that it will release new firmware for three of its DSLRs, improving their ability to communicate with the Atomos Shogun and Ninja-2 external video recording devices. The cameras concerned are the Nikon D4S, the D810 and the D750 and the update is slated to arrive this summer. Read more

Linkedin has announced plans to acquire lynda.com, home to extensive online photography classes. The deal is expected to close in the second quarter of 2015, bringing lynda.com's library of educational content to Linkedin's professional networking site, all for approximately $1.5 billion. Read more 

Apple has released the OS X Yosemite 10.10.3 update, and among its features is the new Photos app that has been available to developers since February. Photos replaces Aperture and iPhoto, and is designed to work better with the company's mobile products. Read more

Samsung's NX1 seemed to offer pretty much every feature possible when we were first briefed about it last year. Its 28.2MP APS-C BSI sensor, hybrid AF system, 4K video and 15 fps continuous shooting with AF have continued to impress us throughout our extensive testing. Can such an innovative on-paper feature set make it a serious competitor to well-established brands in the DSLR and mirrorless worlds? Read review

DJI has announced the Phantom 3 in two versions: the Professional, capable of 4K video, and the Advanced, which shoots 1080p. Both capture 12MP stills thanks to a 1/2.3" Sony EXMOR sensor and offer an f/2.8 lens with a 20mm equiv. angle of view. A 3-axis gimbal keeps the camera unit steady in flight. Read more

LaCie has introduced a new Rugged Thunderbolt external drive, updating its lineup with a 1TB SSD. This is double the previous Rugged drive's 500GB capacity, and is coupled with a rugged external housing able to withstand water exposure, shock, and dust. The inclusion of a Thunderbolt connection, meanwhile, enables fast transfer speeds compared to typical external hard drive speeds. Read more

Today Canon released the XC10, a camera that for all practical purposes is equal part a stills and a video camera. It promises to deliver not only both types of media, but an appropriate user experience for either type of shooting. It may be the first true 'convergence' camera. Learn more about this camera and why it's a significant milestone of technology. Read more

Canon's new XC10 is the first product we've seen which is neither a stills camera with a video feature or a video camera that can capture stills. In terms of both specification and ergonomics it is a true 'convergence' product with the potential to shake up more than one market segment. We've been poring over the specifications for a while now - here's what you need to know 

Canon has released its XC10 digital camcorder which combines advanced 4K video recording with capable still shooting features. The core features are a 12MP 1" CMOS sensor and a fixed F2.8-5.6 image stabilized lens equivalent to 27-270mm for videos and 24-240mm for stills. 4K UHD video is captured using the XF-AVC Intra codec (which offers bit rates up to 305MBps) and 8MP stills can be grabbed from 4K video. Other notable features include a rotating grip, tilting LCD, and built-in Wi-Fi. Read more.

Canon has announced the EOS C300 Mark II Cinema EOS camera, updating its predecessor with a new 8.85 megapixel 35mm sensor allowing 4K shooting. Also new are Dual DIGIC DV5 processors bringing the ability to record 10-bit 4:2:2 4K (UHD or DCI) video internally thanks using the new XF-AVC Codec. Read more

Color management company Datacolor has announced a new version of its Spyder monitor calibrating tool that it claims offers up to 55% improvement in tonal response, leading to 'more accurate shadow detail and smoother gradients.' The body of the new Spyder5 calibrator has been redesigned, somewhat losing the spider legs that got the series it name. Read more

One of the most important parts of a tripod is the head that connects the camera to the legs. Continuing where our previous ball head roundup left off, we've collected six ball-type heads for review that are in the medium-to-large size class. These heads are suitable for most large cameras and lenses, with only the truly gigantic or heavy devices requiring something larger. Find out which ones earn our recommendation. Read more

In theory, Sony's FE 24-240mm f/3.5-6.3 OSS all-in-one zoom is an ideal candidate for travel photography with one of the company's a7-series. The stabilized lens provides Sony's full frame mirrorless cameras with a 10x zoom range, designed with five aspherical elements and one ED glass element. We put it to the test on landscapes, portraits, and lots of things in between. See gallery

Monday got you down? We've got something to help pick you right back up - our studio scene comparison tool has just been updated. Now included are samples from the Nikon D7200, Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF7 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50. Take a look at how they perform against their peers. Read more

When it rains, it pours - that was definitely the case this week, both outside our office windows (Thunder! In Seattle!) and in terms of content on the site. We posted our Sony a7 II review, got out shooting with Nikon's newest DX-format DSLR, and reviewed another Nikon crop sensor camera. Don't be an April fool - take a look back and get caught up. Read more

Triggertrap has released a new app that allows photographers to take more control of timelapse sessions by introducing the ability to add delays into a sequence. Timelapse Pro is available for iOS devices running iOS 8 and, with the appropriate dedicated cable, can control over 300 models of camera. Read more

On March 27, Samyang and Rokinon teased a new lens on Facebook, saying that it would offer 'immense focus and unparalleled features'. That lens was officially introduced today, and it's a 100mm f2.8 Macro offering with 1:1 magnification and a 1ft. minimum focusing distance. Though it won't be shipping until next month, the lens is available to pre-order from retailers now. Read more

Slightly smaller and lighter than its predecessor, the Nikon D5500 continues to offer a proven 24.2MP APS-C sensor in a body that's more approachable than a D7000-series DSLR. It offers a fully articulated 3.2" touchscreen, 1080/60p HD video, a new EXPEED 4 processor and built-in Wi-Fi. Can it compete in ever more crowded class? Read more

While Nikon's DSLRs tend to get the most attention, its 1-series mirrorless cameras have become more and more capable since their introduction in 2011. The company's latest offering is the Nikon 1 J5, which sports a more upscale, classic look and some notable changes inside and out. We dug into its features and have put together a slideshow that displays the highlights. Read more

The Nikon 1 J5 has been announced as the latest member of Nikon's mirrorless lineup. It offers a more traditional shape and feel with a contoured grip and a command dial. Its 1"-type 20.8MP BSI-CMOS sensor offers a boost in resolution over its predecessor, and is capable of 4K video capture at 15 fps. Read more

Fujifilm has rolled out firmware updates aimed at fixing quirks in the X100T and X-T1, improving image quality in the FinePix S1 superzoom, and improving OIS functionality in several X-mount zoom lenses. Read more

GoPro has been granted a patent for a small square camera housing, which eschews the rectangular shape its cameras have taken thus far in favor of something resembling the Polaroid Cube. According to the patent, which was recently published by the USPTO, the square design would allow for additional mounting options, with every orientation being the same. Read more

When using 'the camera you have with you' for serious photographic pursuits, sometimes the visual elements present in the scene lack that personal connection so critical in modern photography. These situations call for that groundbreaking coalescence of technology, dexterity, and tubing, known as the selfie-stick. We've put several popular models to the test in this in-depth, comprehensive roundup. Read more

The Nikon D7200 improves over its predecessor in one important way, offering a greatly improved buffer. Other improvements are more subtle, but more sensitive AF and an improved video specification make the D7200 a more capable camera than the model which came before it. We've had a D7200 for a few days, and wasted no time pairing it with Sigma's excellent 18-35mm F1.8 A to get some real-world samples. Click through to see more