The Leica DG Vario-Elmar 100-400mm F4-6.3 ASPH offers a heck of a lot of reach for not much size. Plus, the rotating buttons on the tripod collar are a smart feature. We took the lens out with the Panasonic GX8 and Olympus E-M1 to see if this new tele option for the Micro Four Thirds system is as serious as its name. Read more
Real-world Samples
February 23
Ricoh has announced the WG-M2, an update to the WG-M1, its original rugged action camera, adding 4K video at 30 fps. It's capable of diving to depths of up to 19.8m/65ft, an improvement over the prior model's 9.8m/32ft waterproof rating, and is 40% smaller than the WG-M1. The WG-M2 is also able to operate in temperatures as low as -10°C/14°F and will survive falls up to 2m/6.5ft. Read more
February 22
A California-based company called Aurora Aperture has introduced a variable density filter that can cut up to eleven stops of light, an amount it claims is more than anything else on the market. The Aurora PowerXND 2000 has a rating of ND 16-2000 or ND 1.2-3.3, meaning that it can reduce exposures by between 4 and 11 stops. Read more
SanDisk has introduced the Extreme PRO microSDXC UHS-II card, calling it the fastest microSD card in the world. The new Extreme PRO will be offered in 64GB and 128GB capacities, and features transfer speeds up to 275MB/sec with Class 10 and UHS Speed Class 3 (U3) ratings. Read more
Together with its new Galaxy S7 and S7 edge flagship phones, Samsung has announced the Galaxy Gear 360 camera at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. The Gear 360 is a ball-shaped device that uses two 15MP cameras with F2.0 fisheye-lenses to record 30MP spherical still images or 360-degree video with a resolution of 3840 x 1920 pixels. Read more
Adobe has released a major update to its Photoshop Lightroom for Android mobile app, now achieving feature parity with its iOS counterpart — and even surpassing it in one major way. A brand new in-app camera lets you shoot in Adobe Camera Raw DNG format. Read more
Third party lens-maker Tamron has released a pair of new full-frame, stabilized primes. First is an 85mm F1.8 Di VC USD which has LD and XLD elements, 9 circular aperture blades, a fluorine coating to keep moisture off of the front element and 3.5 stops of shake reduction. Lens number two is a 90mm F2.8 Di VC USD Macro which has many of the same specs as the 85mm but allows for life-size close-ups. Both lenses are weather-sealed and will be available for Canon, Nikon and Sony mounts. Read more
Tamron has announced the TAP-in console, enabling firmware updates and customized setup for select SP-series lenses. Much like the Sigma Dock for Sigma lenses, Tamron's console mounts to the back of compatible lenses and connects to a PC/Mac utility, allowing users to optimize focus calibration, set focus limiters and optimize vibration compensation on lenses that support these functions. Read more
Samsung has launched the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge, the successors to the flagship models Galaxy S6 and S6 edge. Despite only fairly moderate design changes, a lot of new technology is incorporated. In the camera department pixel count has been reduced to 12MP for larger 1.4um pixels which means a 56 percent increase in size compared to the Galaxy S6. Samsung has also introduced a new AF system it calls Dual-Pixels, which splits every single pixel into two photodiodes for on-chip phase detection. Read more
February 21
Keep it simple. Do what you can with what you've got. A great expression can be perfection. After over 30 years in the business, professional portrait and wedding photographer Bambi Cantrell is chock-full of useful advice for both aspiring amateurs and established pros alike. Click through to see some of Cantrell's work, and how she uses common sense, intuition and charm to capture meaningful images for her clients. Read more
A photographer from the UK has collected £7500 along with the title International Garden Photographer of the Year as the results of the ninth competition have been announced. Richard Bloom took the first prize with a picture of a field of lupins he came across while in New Zealand in the summer of 2015. See his photo and other category winners here. Read more
February 20
The Nextbit Robin is a different kind of smartphone. It's an Android device with a fresh modern design, but its most important feature is the one you never see – it's fully integrated with the cloud, backing up and archiving your phone's images, apps and files so you never run out of local storage. We got ahold of an early unit to test out its camera and unique interface. Read more
To say it was a busy week is an understatement. The world didn't only get full-frame Pentax this week, it got so many more things: a Canon EOS 80D! A kit lens with a strange detachable power zoom accessory! A Panasonic GF-series update made just for selfies! Just to be sure you didn't miss anything, you better take a look back with us. Read more
February 19
Storage manufacturer Western Digital Corporation has added a new 1.3 GHz dual core processor and 1GB of DDR3 memory to its latest network attached storage system and increased its maximum capacity to 12TB. The My Cloud EX2 Ultra is a twin-bay data storage device that the company aims at creative users, and which it is says is especially suited to those working with still and moving images. Read more
Rumors suggest Sigma is to launch a 50-100mm F1.8 lens for APS-C cameras. Full specifications and convincing images of the lens have been leaked, which suggest the lens will be part of the company's impressive 'Art' range. Such a lens would offer a fast partner to the company's 18-35mm F1.8 Art lens, giving the same angle-of-view, depth-of-field and total light gathering capability as a ~75-150mm F2.8 lens on full-frame. Read more
Born into a family with a taste for the 'restless life,' Max Lowe's photographic journey began late and grew quickly. His zeal for travel to far flung regions of the world, to lead a restless life himself, naturally extended to a desire to tell the stories of his experiences through photography. What started as a hobby quickly became the journey of a lifetime through a grant with National Geographic. See Lowe's pictures and learn more about his career. Read more
The new Pentax K-1 has been long awaited by Pentax users past and present, but the road to its creation has been long, winding and not without some wrong turns. In this article, DPReview editor and old (ish) fart Barnaby Britton turns back the clock and looks at what went wrong with Pentax's original, canceled full-frame DSLR, and how the company came through two buy-outs and several changes of strategy to end up with the K-1. Read more
February 18
Australian photographer Warren Richardson has won the 2015 World Press Photo of the Year. Richardson’s winning photo, taken on the night of August 28, 2015 at the Hungarian-Serbian border, shows a baby being passed through a barbed wire fence by a refugee. Read more
The long-awaited Pentax K-1 fits some interesting new technology into a solidly constructed, tough-as-nails frame. We had the chance to take an in-depth look at some of the camera's new features and grabbed some hands-on shots while the K-1 paid our office a brief visit. Take a closer look at what makes this Pentax full-frame camera quite impressive. Read more
Canon has announced the EOS 80D, the successor to very capable EOS 70D that, notably, introduced Dual Pixel autofocus. The 80D brings some marked improvements to Canon's mid-market, enthusiast line, including a new 45-point AF module and updated Dual Pixel AF. Take a look as we go hands-on with the 80D and dig into its new features. Read more
Don't have time to read through our rather tech-y hands-on overview of the Canon EOS 80D? We've put together a quick primer video on the camera's features and changes, to bring you up to speed. Lend us your ears for a mere 106 seconds and we'll tell you what you need to know. Read more
Canon has updated its prosumer DSLR line with the EOS 80D, offering a new 24.2MP APS-C sensor, 45-point all cross-type autofocus module, updated Dual Pixel AF for live view still and video recording and Wi-Fi with NFC. Read more
Canon has introduced the PowerShot G7 Mark II with a new DIGIC 7 processor, which improves Raw shooting performance and battery life. Maintaining its predecessor's 20.1MP 1"-type CMOS sensor and 24-100mm equiv. lens, the G7 X II brings some updates to the camera's exterior as well, with a re-designed grip, bottom-hinged 3" 1.04M-dot LCD and a front control dial with clicking or smooth-turning operation. Read more
Introduced alongside the Canon EOS 80D is an updated 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 IS USM lens, which uses a new 'Nano USM' focus motor. Complementing the 80D's video features, Canon has also announced a power zoom adapter for use with the 18-135mm as well a directional microphone. Read more
The Canon PowerShot SX720 IS comes with an all-new 40x, F3.3-6.9 zoom lens, achieving a 35mm-equivalent zoom range of 24-960mm. Backing up the lens is a 20.3MP 1/2.3" BSI CMOS sensor and DIGIC 6 imaging processor, and a textured grip and Wi-Fi with NFC round out the package. Click through for all the details. Read more
February 17
To say that a full-frame Pentax DSLR is one of the most anticipated cameras of all-time is probably an understatement. With the arrival of the K-1, Pentaxians have finally had their wish granted, with an impressively spec'd camera at a relatively low price. We got to spend a bit of time with the K-1 recently and have put together some first impressions. Read more
After being introduced to the long-awaited Pentax K-1, staff contributors Jordan Stead and Sam Spencer were able to take a quick stroll with the new full-frame camera and a handful of lenses. Read more
After years of development, not to mention months of teasers, Ricoh has made its Pentax K-1 full-frame DSLR a reality. The first 35mm format Pentax DSLR, the K-1 offers a 36.4MP CMOS sensor, 5-axis sensor-shift image stabilization, a 'nearly 100%' optical viewfinder and 33-point AF system with 25 cross-type points – all for under $1800. Read more
Ricoh has expanded its full-frame lens range, announcing the HD Pentax-D FA 15-30mm F2.8 and FA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 alongside the introduction of the full-frame K-1 DSLR. Read more
Cloud photo storage services are abundant, but not all photographers are willing to pay the monthly fees associated with large storage amounts. Monument, a project currently seeking crowdfunding, aims to bring the organization and syncing features found in cloud services like Google Photos to a photography-centric storage device that you keep in your own home. Read more
You may have noticed a new feature in our camera reviews lately – an interactive, 360-degree view. With selectable hot spots, the 360-view gives a closer look at a camera's notable body features. We've been excited to roll them out in recent reviews, and now you can take a look at how we put them together. Read more
February 16
A team of researchers at Rice University are developing a thin, lensless camera called FlatCam, which replaces the traditional lens with a grid-like coded mask essentially made of many pinholes positioned over the sensor. Read more
Sony has announced a 22.5MP Exmor RS imaging sensor for smartphones. The new stacked 1/2.6" CMOS sensor, called IMX318, is smaller than most used by current smartphones and includes on-chip processing for AF and video image stabilization. Sony has used pixels measuring 1.0µm, allowing for a smaller sensor with higher resolution to be included in likewise slimmer mobile devices. Read more
Pacific Northwest native Fritz Liedtke strives to create fine art portraiture that tells a story through lighting and focus. With years of work spanning the use of 4x5 cameras, DSLRs and Lensbaby lenses, Liedtke's work often has an air of both surrealism and intimacy. In this video, find out more about Liedtke's approach to personal projects and portraiture in general. Read more
In terms of processing power, look and feel the Sony Xperia M5 ranks below Sony's Xperia Z flagship line of smartphones. However, like the Z-models it's dustproof, waterproof and has a lot to offer in the photography department. The rear camera provides a 21.5MP Sony Exmor sensor with on-chip phase detection combined with an F2.2. lens, as well as 4K video recording. Scoring 79 in DxOMark's Mobile testing, it sets the bar as the best mid-range device in DxO's rankings. Read more
February 15
If the stealth-black GR II isn't quite showy enough for you, then you may be interested in Ricoh's new 'Silver Edition' camera, which it created to celebrate its 80th anniversary. In addition to its new color, Ricoh has also diamond-engraved the lens' specs onto its front ring, added a custom on/off screen and bundled a leather carrying case. Only 3200 of the Silver Edition GR II cameras will be sold worldwide, so get your order in soon. Read more
Last week, Adobe rolled out a Creative Cloud update with a harmful bug that, for some subscribers, deleted files from the user's system root directory. Once the bug was discovered with the help of backup platform Backblaze, Creative Cloud version 3.5.0.206 was pulled from release and was replaced Sunday with an update that promises to fix the issue. Read more
Last year, Google rolled out a stand-alone Photos app with unlimited storage, stirring up rumors that its photo editing application Picasa's days were numbered. Sure enough, in a statement on Friday Google announced that Picasa will be phased to make way for Google Photos, detailing what it hopes will be a more uniform photo experience. The change will take place 'over the coming months.' Read more
The Shenyang Zhongyi Optical & Electronic Company Limited has introduced an updated version of its super-fast 35mm lens for APS-C sensor cameras that it claims has better resolution and reduced chromatic aberration. The manual focus Mitakon Speedmaster 35mm F0.95 II is also smaller and lighter than the original model, with a length of 60mm instead of 82mm, a filter thread of 55mm instead of 58mm and a weight of 460g/1.06lb versus 680g/1.5lb. Read more
There’s no denying the appeal of Sony’s RX1R II. It promises high-resolution full-frame image quality that’s bolstered by an impressive autofocus system, reasonable depth-of-field control from its 35mm F2 lens and a compact form factor that encourages you to take it with you everywhere. But would you want to? Click through to find out what we think. Read more
Panasonic has introduced the Lumix DMC-GF8, essentially a GF7 with an emphasis on selfie-friendly features. It continues to offer the GF7's 16MP Four Thirds sensor, 1080/60p video and built-in Wi-Fi, but wraps it all up in your choice of a pink, silver, brown or orange leather-like finish. Read more
February 14
Photographers tend to shy away from wide-angle lenses when shooting portraits, but DPReview Technical Editor Rishi Sanyal thinks that's all wrong. In this video, he uses the Sigma 24-35mm F2 Art to illustrate his case for wide-angle portraits, capturing a couple of models with a setting sun in Seattle's lovely Discovery Park. Read more
February 13
When Brian Smith was just a High School student with a budding interest in making photographs, he learned that photography could earn you some significant perks – and at that age, that meant a pass to leave campus. These days he's well known for his portraiture, including a portfolio of A-list celebrities. He sat down with DPReview Editor Barney Britton at PIX 2015 to discuss his career. See video
February 12
Tripod and accessory manufacturer Manfrotto has announced a total of six new monopods that it has added to the XPRO range, including models in carbon fiber as well as aluminum. The models cover three families of monopods: Prime for the heaviest equipment, Over for those who need height but for lighter kit, and Land for traveling. Read more
The folks at Sphericam are back with a second generation model of their unique angular camera. The Sphericam 2 is, according to the company, the first fully spherical pro-grade 360-degree camera that records 4K footage at 60 fps. The resulting videos can be used in VR applications, as well as on platforms that support 360-degree content like YouTube and Spinnable. Read more
Chinese lens adapter manufacturer Kipon has said it is producing a new model that will allow Canon EF lenses to fit on Sony A-series mirrorless bodies while maintaining their AF functionality. The Kipon EF-S/E AF ND lens adapter also comes provided with a slot-in four-stop graduated neutral density filter that can be fitted into the body of the ring. Read more
February 11
Cambo has devised a new Canon EF/EF-S lens plate for its Actus view camera system that allows users to control aperture settings on Canon EOS lenses. The Cambo Actus system is designed to deliver a view camera style of shooting to some mirrorless camera bodies, consisting of a lens plate and a body plate with bellows and a monorail in between. Read more
Chinese company Techart has produced an adapter that works with the AF system of Sony's A7 II and A7R II cameras to create an autofocus effect for Leica M mount lenses. The adapter ring sits between the body and the lens and uses a motor to drive the lens back and forth until sharp focus is found. Read more
Ricoh has partnered with Spinnable, a social sharing platform dedicated to 360-degree content. The partnership allows Ricoh Theta S owners to directly upload 360-degree videos recorded with the camera to Spinnable. The Spinnable platform is currently available as an iOS app, and will soon be launched for Android, Samsung Gear, and desktop, as well. Read more
What looks like a Fujifilm X100T but has the focal length of a Ricoh GR II? Well, Fujifilm's newest and smallest X-series camera, the X70, may have a lot in common with these cameras at first blush, but extended use reveals a more complicated story. Find out what it's like to shoot with the X70 in the real world, and check out an updated sample gallery along with our studio test scene comparison. Read more
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