The Sony FE 55mm F1.8 ZA Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* is one of the first lenses for Sony's fledgling full frame mirrorless system, and designed as a fast 'normal' prime to complement the Sony Alpha 7 and 7R. However at around $999 / £900, it costs several times as much as the 50mm F1.4 options for DSLR systems. So what exactly are you paying for? Click through for the lens test data and our analysis.
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December 2013
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January 2014 news and reviews
January 31
Reports have been surfacing that Nikon is issuing new D610 cameras to customers who send in their D600s for service. It's hard to substantiate, but Nikon Rumors has been collating reports from Europe and the US which seem to show that some customers who send their D600s in for service related to the now notorious dust accumulation issue have been receiving brand new D610s in exchange. Read Nikon's statement on the matter
Many have seen Don McCullin's haunting pictures of conflict, but few have heard his own thoughts on his acclaimed career. Created by photographer David Sims for the Dunhill 'Voices' campaign, for three minutes and twenty seconds we are taken into the mind of one this generation's most iconic photographers. 'The majority of the last 50 years of my life has been wasted photographing wars. What good have I done showing these pictures of suffering', McCullin says. See video
January 30
Zeiss has announced an addition to its Touit family of lenses, in the shape of a 50mm F2.8 Macro. The Touit 2.8/50M is designed for mirrorless cameras with APS-C sensors, and will come in Sony E and Fujifilm X mounts. With an angle of view equivalent to 75mm on full frame, it offers 1:1 magnification for close-up shooting. Like the other Touit lenses it includes autofocus, but no image stabilisation. It will go on sale in March 2014 with a recommended price of EUR 755 (excl. VAT.) or US$ 999 (excl. VAT).
When it comes to the (literal) nuts and bolts of cameras and lenses, Roger Cicala at Lens Rentals is the man to ask. This week he's been busy disassembling Sony's flagship mirrorless camera, the Alpha 7R. We're in the middle of our review right now, and we must admit - some of the pictures of his detailed tear-down make us wince. But we can't... look... away. Click through for an edited selection of images from the whole gory process.
Ricoh has updated the suite of apps provided with the Theta spherical image camera, to allow users to post images from the Theta to Google Maps and Google+. According to Ricoh, these new abilities are a result of collaboration with Google to make the Theta's images compatible with Photo Sphere XMP, Google's standard for panoramic images. Click through for more details.
January 29
Olympus has issued a firmware update for the OM-D E-M5, adding two new features that owners should welcome: an extended 'Low' ISO setting and smaller AF points. The ISO 100-equivalent setting promises lower noise, and enables shooting of fast primes at closer to maximum aperture in daylight, but comes at the cost of earlier highlight clipping. Also being added to the E-M5 is the ability to select smaller AF target points for more accurate focusing. Get the update
The Olympus E-M10 wraps much of the E-M5's feature set into a smaller, more compact body. It retains core OM-D features like twin dials, a built-in EVF and a 16 megapixel Four Thirds sensor, but manages to fit them into a body that's more Stylus 1 than ILC. It sits below its E-M5 and E-M1 siblings in terms of both price and specifications, but with features borrowed from two very strong predecessors it's potentially a very impressive camera in its own right. Take a look at our first impressions and sample gallery.
Olympus unveils the OM-D E-M10, a smaller and budget-friendly Micro Four Thirds 'Digital OM' with many parts borrowed from the E-M5 - including its 16 megapixel sensor. It also manages to snag a few features from the flagship E-M1, like a TruePic VII processor and built-in Wi-Fi for image transfer and remote control. It falls short of its siblings with '3-axis' image stabilization rather than the '5-axis' system in the E-M5 and E-M1, and doesn't provide an accessory port, but these concessions help nudge the E-M10 to its attractive $699/£529 body-only price point.
Alongside the OM-D E-M10, Olympus has also announced three lenses. First up is the M.Zuiko Digital 25mm F1.8, a relatively inexpensive fast normal prime, that looks specifically designed to complement the much-loved 45mm F1.8. Second is the 9mm F8 Fish-Eye Body Cap Lens (which Olympus technically considers an 'accessory'); this offers a 140° angle of view in a tiny plastic body. Finally there's a new 'pancake' kit zoom for the E-M10, the M.Zuiko Digital ED 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 EZ, which features an electronic zoom. Learn more
Olympus has introduced the Stylus SP-100 superzoom, a camera with built-in dot-sight technology that enables you to easily track moving subjects while the lens is zoomed in. The dot-sight pops up just above the high-resolution electronic viewfinder. Users can also choose the focus range used by the camera via a focus limit function. The SP-100 combines a 16MP BSI CMOS sensor with a 24-1200mm 50x optical zoom that captures 1080/60p HD video. Learn more
Olympus has announced the Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS, the next generation of the company's mid-range waterproof camera. The TG-850 has a super wide-angle 21-105mm 5x optical zoom lens and now includes a LCD screen that flips upward 180°. It's waterproof down to 33 feet (10m) and the 16-megapixel back-lit CMOS sensor can shoot 1080/60p HD video. Learn more
Apple has patented two novel ways of expanding the capabilities of the iPhone's camera.
January 28
The Fujifilm X-T1 has a lot in common with its X-series siblings - bearing an important distinction: it's weatherproof. It does in fact offer many of the same inner workings as the X-E2, including its 16MP X-Trans CMOS II sensor with on-chip phase detection. On top of that it adds a revamped EVF, an OLED panel boasting a claimed lag time of 0.005 seconds. Consider also that it shoots 8 fps with subject tracking and it all adds up to a very well specified package. Read our first impressions review
Following its first appearance in a teaser ad last week (and a comprehensive leak), the Fujifilm X-T1 makes its official debut. It's a weather-resistant, SLR-styled mirrorless camera bearing a 16MP X-Trans CMOS II sensor, a chip it borrows from its X-E2 sibling. What really separates it from the X-E2 is the X-T1's giant electronic viewfinder and triple control dials on its top plate. The X-T1 also has Wi-Fi built-in, and supports remote control from a smartphone.
January 27
Bloomfield's photos show food as a process instead of just the finished product.
The past and present collided when the National Parks Service recreated a number of 1930's panoramic photos of fire lookouts, this time with modern photographic technology. The results are viewable in an interactive format that's helping the NPS study the changing landscape of U.S. National Parks. Learn more
January 26
Elena Shumilova's atmospheric photographs show a special bond between her sons Yaroslav and Vanya and their animals, on the family farm in rural Russia. Her images are deliberately dreamlike and highly evocative, capturing the bond between her young sons and their animal playmates. See gallery
January 25
Ricoh has released firmware version 3.00 for its GR compact camera. The list of updated features includes two options for folder name settings, ability to develop RAW images in different aspect ratios, and customization to assign various AFL Focus Settings to the AF button when the AF function switching lever is set to AEL/AFL (previously only Spot AF was available). Get the update
January 24
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.
Thanks to the "Black" firmware update the Nokia Lumia 1020 is now capable of recording Raw DNG files. DxOMark has tested the device's Raw image quality and compared it to some compact cameras.
Phase One has announced the 'world's first CMOS-based digital camera back' - the 50MP IQ250. It uses a 44x33mm sensor - 68% larger in area than 35mm full frame -and promises the widest ISO range of any medium format camera system (100-6400). It sports a high-resolution 3.2" touchscreen for live view, playback and changing settings, and has built-in Wi-Fi. The IQ250 is available now, with prices starting at €24,990 / $34,990. Learn more.
Samyang Europe has introduced the SFH-14 filter holder for its 14mm 1:2.8 ED AS IF UMC lens. Along with the holder, three rectangular filters will be manufactured by Cokin. The SFH-14 will come in standard and V-DSLR cine versions. The holder comes with double slideways to use one or two filters at the same time and can be used both vertically and horizontally. Learn more
Fujifilm has filed a patent for an image sensor that uses a novel layout, with green and clear rectangular pixels which are larger in area than their neighboring blue and red pixels. The idea behind it is apparently to reduce luminance noise at the expense of color noise, on the grounds that the human eye is less sensitive to the latter. Learn more
January 23
Fashion and fine art photographer Thomas Park shares the shortcuts that he finds most useful, along with tips for combining them in a fast, fluent manner. While many of these shortcuts and techniques may be familiar to you already, they can be combined to minimize context switches for maximum efficiency. Learn more
Photographer Thomas Park describes 10 essential time-saving shortcuts and a "fluent workflow" for efficient image editing with Photoshop.
The Associated Press news organization has cut ties with freelance photographer Narciso Contreras after he admitted to digitally altering a photo taken last September in Syria. The photo in question shows a Syrian opposition fighter taking cover during an exchange of fire. In the original photo, a fellow journalist's video camera can be seen in the lower left corner. Contreras cloned out the camera before sending back to AP editors. Learn more
Last week, Fujifilm teased a new, apparently high-end X-series camera. Inevitably this has lead to a flurry of new rumors, much speculation about the camera's specification, and now a slew of product photographs courtesy of Japanese site digicame-info.com, apparently showing an 'X-T1'. At this point, we're not sure whether Fujifilm will have anything new to announce when the camera finally gets officially launched. Click through for a taste of what's (probably) coming up.
creativeLIVE is hosting a five-day course on the fundamentals of digital photography presented by John Greengo. The course is free to watch live, and runs through tomorrow, Jan 24th. Some of you may remember John as one of the expert photographers that contributed to our Cyber Monday 'DPReview Live' broadcast. Click through for a link to the course at creativeLIVE.
January 22
Miami Street Photography Festival during Art Basel, Dec 2013 with VP of Marketing for the USA, Roland Wolff at the Leica VIP tent. Mr. Wolff discusses the Sinar purchase, S system and discusses how each camera is handmade which is reflected in the purchase price compared to mass produced cameras.
By putting a 24 megapixel full-frame sensor into a body nearly the same size as the Olympus E-M1, the Alpha 7 is arguably the most ambitious camera Sony has ever made. Never before has there been a full-frame camera this small - and one that supports nearly every 35mm lens format ever made, as well as Sony's own E-mount lenses. Does Sony get enough things right with the Alpha 7 to compete with more conventional full-frame cameras such as the Canon 6D and Nikon D610? Read our full review to find out
Nikon has posted firmware updates for the Df, D5200 and D3200. As well as a number of minor bugs and performance issues, support has been added to the D3200 and D5200 for the new collapsible AF-S DX 18-55mm F3.5–5.6G VR II, allowing them to display an error message if the camera is turned on with the lens in its collapsed state. Read more and get the updates
January 21
Information has leaked about the Android 4.4.2. KitKat OS to be included in Sony's next flagship Xperia handset that points to 4K video capability.
In theory, if you've got a collection of old or obscure lenses for long-defunct 35mm film cameras, the full-frame Sony a7 / a7R may allow you to breathe new life into them. Lenses for a great many systems can be attached to the a7 / a7R without huge cost via a range of third-party mount adapters. We're planning on publishing our full review of the a7 within the next 24 hours, but until then, click through to read about editor Barnaby Britton's experience of shooting with older third-party lenses on the a7 and a7R.
Hasselblad has announced a new camera, the H5D-50c which incorporates a 50MP CMOS sensor. This is a step away from the CCD sensors that have been standard in digital medium-format imaging up to now. The H5D-50c comes weeks after Hasselblad was reported to have quietly replaced its CEO, Dr Larry Hansen. He was the man responsible for the tie-up with Sony that created the Hasselblad Lunar and has been replaced by former chief operating office Ian Rawcliffe. Learn more
Accessory grip maker Richard Franiec has created a custom grip for the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM1. The grip is made from anodized aluminium alloy and should improve handling when using the GM1 with larger Micro Four Thirds lens. It weighs about 20g and leaves the battery/card door and tripod socket unobstructed. It should be available later this month and cost $34.95 plus shipping. Learn more
January 20
Fujifilm is teasing an upcoming SLR-style mirrorless body on its X system page. The camera sports top-plate shutter speed, exposure compensation and ISO dials, along with a prominent central viewfinder 'hump'. It will be formally announced on January 28th, and as usual we'll bring you full details then. For now, though, click through for a few more thoughts and a larger version of Fujifilm's teaser image.
A photographer and her boyfriend document their motorcycle ride from San Francisco to Tierra Del Fuego.
January 19
Tamas Dezso is a fine art documentary photographer based in Budapest. Since 2011 he has been documenting the disintegration of former Communist Romania's infrastructure in a series of photographs called 'Notes for an Epilogue'. In his own words, the purpose of the project is to 'render a world which may disappear forever imperceptibly and very rapidly due to the transitional nature of the [Communist] era'. See gallery
January 18
Adobe has leaked details of an apparently upcoming mobile version of Lightroom
Is Adobe planning to release a mobile version of its Lightroom editing program? It seems so, judging by an accidental leak on its own website earlier this week. A private page on Adobe's website - quickly removed - appears to have revealed details of a planned iOS version of Lightroom, including a price of $99 for an annual license. Click through for more (albeit not much more) detail.
Last month you voted for the best gear in five categories, and now's your chance to let us know which of the winning products was the most impressive. The poll stays open until the end of this month, and if you haven't voted yet this is your chance! Click through for a look at the 2013 category winners from our five classes, and a chance to cast your vote.
January 17
Processing Raw files on Android devices with Photo Mate R2
Kevin Kadooka's Lux is an experiment in DIY camera building. With a waist-level viewfinder, it accepts 120 roll film. Rather than borrowing parts from old cameras as he's done in previous projects, Kevin's Lux camera is comprised of off-the shelf parts. All of its construction specifications are available to enterprising individuals looking to build their own. Click through to learn more
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.
January 16
Adobe has released a major update to Photoshop for Creative Cloud subscribers. The most notable new features are Perspective Warp, Linked Smart Objects and 3D printing capability. Other improvements include enhancements to Scripted Patterns and fills, performance boosts for Smart Sharpen, Adobe Generator improvements for rescaling Smart Objects and adding padding, and font transformations and shape selections. Learn more
January 15
Back in December we hosted a day of live video broadcast with our partners creativeLIVE covering the best products of 2013, live technique demonstrations, shooting advice and a guest panel discussion. If you missed any or all of the live broadcast, don't worry! We're proud to (finally) announce that all of the segments of our Cyber Monday live broadcast are now available for replay, in our videos section. Click through to go straight there.
Photographer Nicolaus Wegner's dedication to his craft has produced a captivating time-lapse video of the wild weather and beautiful landscapes of his home state. In the 14 months it took him to complete his Wyoming Wildscapes II project, he saw it all — from meteor showers, to lightning across hills and prairies, and 60mph winds. Watch video
January 14
In amongst the product releases of the past few months, Fujifilm announced a pair of accessory grips for its X-E and X-Pro cameras. The MHG-Xpro and MHG-XE improve on the original HG designs by providing continued access to the cameras' battery/card compartments. In addition they reposition the tripod mount so that it's in line with the optical axis. The MHG-XPro and HMG-XE are available now priced at $150 and $130 respectively.
Photographers often need to find the most powerful solutions possible and cram them into the smallest places. While the MacBook Air once satisfied only the size part of the equation, the newest member of the family makes it a compelling choice for photographers. The MacBook Air provides a professional level of power in a diminutive package without sacrificing functionality. Learn more
One of the stands we didn't get a chance to visit at CES 2014 was that of Sakar International. Its Vivicam IU680 (as seen by digitalcamera.jp) at first looks like a competitor to Sony's QX models and JK Imaging's Kodak Smart Lenses. However, a closer look reveals that the lens module is interchangeable. We say lens module, rather than lens because it appears to be the same 10-30mm lens/sensor combination shown by Sakar at last year's CES under the Polaroid brand.
January 13
The Pentax K-3 was a justified winner in our reader poll for the Best DSLR of 2013, and now our friends and collaborators over at DxOMark have been looking into how various lenses score on it. In the process, they've also reviewed many of Pentax's lovely 'Limited' primes in their latest 'HD' incarnations. See DxOMark's latest reviews
New images of Washington's Mount St. Helens have been recently discovered. Reid Blackburn, a staff photographer for the The Columbian newspaper, took photographs in a flight over the volcano in April 1980. When he got back to the paper's studio his roll was set aside and never developed. Until now. Learn more
There is no denying the advantages of a tripod for improving your images in the studio or in the field, but a tripod is only three legs. It's the tripod ball head that lets you point it wherever you'd like. There are a variety of head types that can improve your experience with the best set of tripod legs. We reviewed 10 similar ball heads. Find out which one best fits your needs. Learn more
January 12
CES 2014: After all of the meetings, hands-ons and reports were done, we spent a little time wandering the CES 2014 show floor, as we always do when time allows, and found a few interesting products on the side streets between the towering booths of major manufacturers. Many photo-focused products this year related to mobile in some way, standing beside an endless array of iCases, iKeyboards and iEverything else. Click through to see what we found when we left the beaten path...
January 11
The DPReview team has returned from the annual Consumer Electronics Show in las Vegas, Nevada, back to the gloriously cloudy, wet skies of Seattle (and we're not being sarcastic when we say that it's a welcome contrast). CES is mostly about home audio, communication and apparently drones, but there were plenty of new photography-related products launched this year, and the show gave us an interesting insight into the future of some key developing technologies. Click through for a look at our show highlights.
January 10
Canon has released firmware version 2.0.3 for its flagship EOS-1D X full-frame DSLR. The update improves accuracy and versatility to AF and exposure systems, as well as adding significant customization options. Some of the new features include: AF point switching according to camera orientation, improved low-light performance, and expanded minimum shutter speed in auto ISO. Get the update
CES 2014: We got our hands on the recently announced Leica DG Nocticron 42.5mm F1.2 ASPH OIS at the CES trade show in Las Vegas. It's an ultra-fast portrait prime for Micro Four Thirds that offers an 85mm equivalent field of view. We shot some quick samples mounted on the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3, including an aperture progression series. We've just added 16 more images to our previously-published gallery, taken with the new lens attached to an Olympus OM-D E-M5. See gallery
January 9
CES 2014: Among the cameras launched at this year's CES were a handful from JK Imaging, a worldwide licensee for Kodak 'PIXPRO' digital cameras and lenses. JK doesn't have a booth at the show, but we visited them in a hotel suite for a briefing and some hands-on time with the new S1 Micro Four Thirds camera, and the company's two new 'Smart Lens' camera modules. Click through to read more, and see some pictures of the new cameras.
CES 2014: We already snagged a little quality time earlier in the week with Canon's latest PowerShots at Digital Experience, but a visit to the booth was still in order. If nothing else, we wanted to see some really nice lenses chopped in half. Take a look at what Canon has in store for CES attendees this year.
CES 2014: JK Imaging has announced an array of Kodak-branded cameras, including a superzoom compact with a 65x optical zoom and a couple of 'Smart Lenses' designed to clip onto smartphones (very much like Sony's QX cameras). It's also given more details about its long-in-development Pixpro S-1 Micro Four Thirds mirrorless camera. Click through to learn more.
CES 2014: Sigma Photo had a good-sized booth and were showing off their latest lenses, as well as some old favorites. The new lenses are a budget-friendly 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 superzoom, as well as a 50mm F1.4 Prime. Click to see them in action.
CES 2014: Samsung's biggest announcement thus far this year (okay, we're only a handful of days in) came the week before CES with the NX30. That didn't stop them from announcing a few more compacts for the show, continuing the theme of connectivity by including Wi-Fi in all of them. We checked out the always-impressive Samsung booth and got a first look at the latest fleet of smart cameras.
January 8
CES 2014: Fujifilm's stand was bustling, with most of the attention centered around their X-series lineup. While most of the new products were compact cameras - such as the world's first rugged superzoom - we also spent some quality time with the new 56mm F1.2 and 10-24mm F4 lenses. Join us for a virtual tour of the Fujifilm booth
CES 2014: Panasonic typically has a truly large presence at CES, and this year is no exception. Just beyond the acres of curvy 4K displays are some of the most interesting photo-related announcements at the show - the Leica Nocticron 42.5mm F1.2 with Power O.I.S., for example, along with some prototype lenses on display with the diminutive Lumix GM1. We also got some hands-on time with Lumix compacts announced for the show. Take a look at what's new for Panasonic at CES 2014
CES 2014: We got our hands on the recently announced Leica DG Nocticron 42.5mm F1.2 ASPH OIS at the CES trade show in Las Vegas. It's an ultra-fast portrait prime for Micro Four Thirds that offers an 85mm equivalent field of view. We shot some quick samples mounted on the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3, including an aperture progression series. See gallery
CES 2014: Nikon's booth, near the back of the Central Hall, showed off their latest products, and also had a live demo of their 'HD SLR' cameras, replete with models. We've already had some hands-on time with the new D3300, 35mm F1.8G lens and a behind-glass D4S, and we spent our time at the booth checking out the new Coolpix lineup. Tour Nikon's CES 2014 booth
CES 2014: Every year at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Pepcom holds a 'Digital Experience' showcase event before the main show opens, to showcase the best of the technology that is being exhibited. It's also a good opportunity for informal meetings, networking and general gawking at cool new things before the noise and fury of the main event in Las Vegas Convention Center. And did we mention it's also really strange? This year's theme was the Wizard of Oz. Our intrepid editorial team were there.
We’ve added four new clips to our series of informative videos hosted by professional photographer Ryan Phillips. In this installment, he explores how sensor size can help you decide on your next camera, the benefits of shooting video on mirrorless cameras, Fujifilm’s unique technologies, and if image stabilization really makes a difference in your photos. See videos
January 7
CES 2014: Samsung has used CES as an opportunity to refresh its compact line-up, launching the WB1100F superzoom, alongside the WB50F and WB35F CCD-based compacts. All three offer Wi-Fi with NFC, as well as 720p video. The WB35F and 50F are both based around 12x, 24-288mm equiv, F3.1-6.3 lenses, with the more expensive 50F offering a larger, higher-res rear screen. The WB1100F has a 35x, 25-875mm equiv zoom.
CES 2014: Samsung has unveiled the WB350F - its latest style-concious, Wi-Fi connected compact. The leatherette-clad WB350F features a 21x, 23-483mm equivalent, F2.8-5.9 zoom lens, in front of a 16.3MP BSI CMOS sensor. It features a touch-sensitive 3" hVGA (460k dot) LCD. It also features NFC, allowing quick connection and 'Tag & Go' image transfer with compatible smart devices.
CES 2014: Samsung has announced the WB2200F, a 60x superzoom camera with dual grip design. It offers a 20-1200mm equivalent, F2.8-5.9 zoom lens in front of a 1/2.3"-type 16MP BSI CMOS sensor. Beyond that, specifications are sketchy - it's Wi-Fi equipped, with NFC to make pairing and sharing with compatible smart devices simpler. It also has a 3", hVGA (usually 460k dot) LCD panel. The company promises long battery life and an electronic viewfinder, but in both cases gives no real detail.
CES 2014: Nikon announced its new D3300 entry-level DSLR, along with a collapsable 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 VR II kit lens and FX-format 35mm F1.8G prime. We were able to get our hands on all three at the CES trade show in Las Vegas. See gallery
CES 2014: Nikon has announced it is working on the D4S which, like the D4, it describes as an 'HD-SLR.' Details are extremely slight, with the company promising a new image-processing engine and improved autofocus performance. All further details, including price and announcement and availability dates will follow later. The camera is on display at the CES trade show. See photos of the D4S
CES 2014: Nikon has released its D3300 entry-level DSLR, which replaces 2012's D3200. The D3300 gets a new 24.2 megapixel CMOS sensor with no optical low-pass filter, as well as an 'Expeed 4' image processor. The camera's ISO range now tops out at 25,600 and continuous shooting has increased to 5 fps. The D3300 can also record 1080/60p Full HD video. A new, collapsible, 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 VR II kit lens has also been announced. The lens is 30% smaller and 20% lighter than the exisiting 18-55, and will be available as part of a D3300 kit or separately.
CES 2014: Nikon has rounded-out its line of relatively affordable F1.8 primes for FX cameras, with the launch of the AF-S Nikkor 35mm F1.8G. It uses a Silent Wave Motor for fast, quiet autofocus, and includes one ED and one aspheric element in its optical construction. It's not to be confused with the existing AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm F1.8G, which is for DX format cameras only. It'll be on sale February 20th with a MSRP of $599.95.
CES 2014: Nikon has announced several additions to its line of slim compacts including the Coolpix S6800, S5300 and S3600. The Coolpix S6800 features a 12x optical zoom, 16 megapixel BSI CMOS sensor and Wi-Fi connectivity. Below it in the lineup, the S5300 has an 8x zoom, 16 megapixel CMOS chip and built-in Wi-Fi. The S3600 also provides an 8x optical zoom and a 20.1 megapixel CCD sensor. All three will be available in February.
CES 2014: Nikon's compact announcements for CES include the Coolpix L830, a budget-oriented 34x superzoom. It's equipped with a 16 megapixel BSI-CMOS sensor and a tilting 3.0-inch 921k-dot LCD. The L830 records full HD 1080p video with new Hybrid Vibration Reduction stabilization available while recording video. Available in February, the L830 is powered by AA batteries.
CES 2014: Sony has taken the wraps off the a5000, a mirrorless camera that features a 20.1MP APS-C CMOS sensor, Bionz X processor, and built-in Wi-Fi with NFC. Sony bills the a5000 as 'the world's lightest interchangeable lens camera' because it weighs 210g (7.4 oz.) without battery, card, or lens. As promised last year, the new naming scheme leaves the NEX label behind, though the a5000 seems a natural extension of the NEX-5 line. Click through for more.
January 6
CES 2014: Sigma has announced the 50mm F1.4 DG HSM | A, a fast 'normal' prime for full frame DSLRs. It will also work on APS-C / DX format cameras, offering a 75mm equivalent short telephoto effect. It's a completely new lens, rather than a revision of Sigma's existing 50mm F1.4, with an unusually complex optical formula for its type (13 elements in 8 groups). It'll come in Canon, Nikon, Sigma and Sony mounts; pricing and availability are still to be confirmed.
CES 2014: Sigma has announced the 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM | C, a superzoom lens for APS-C / DX format SLRs. With a 28-300mm equivalent zoom range, it's smaller and lighter than its predecessor, and has a shorter minimum focus distance. It will be available in Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Sigma, and Sony mounts; as usual the Pentax and Sony versions won't have optical stabilisation. Availability is still to be confirmed but Sigma USA has set a recommended price of $399.
CES 2014: Panasonic has formally announced the Leica DG Nocticron 42.5mm F1.2 ASPH OIS fast portrait prime for Micro Four Thirds. The lens, first revealed in prototype form back at the Photokina trade show in September 2012, offers an 85mm equivalent field of view, optical image stabilisation, and the brightest aperture of any autofocus lens on the system. It's The lens will be available during the first quarter of 2014 at suggested prices of $1,599/€1,499/£1,299.
CES 2014: Panasonic has introduced the Lumix DMC-ZS40 travel zoom, also known as DMC-TZ60 in some markets. Equipped with Wi-Fi and NFC, it provides a 30x zoom range (24-720mm equiv), an 18.1MP sensor, and a built-in electronic viewfinder. Its enthusiast-leaning feature set includes a control ring around the lens, Raw shooting, and focus peaking. Also introduced is a lower-cost model, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS35 (TZ55), with Wi-Fi connectivity (though no NFC). The ZS35 covers a 28-560mm equivalent 20x zoom range, uses a 16MP sensor, and lacks a viewfinder.
CES 2014: Panasonic keeps the emphasis on zoom and connectivity with the introduction of the Lumix DMC-SZ8, a lower-end alternative to its ZS/TZ travel zooms. It covers a 24-288mm equivalent range and uses a 16 megapixel CCD sensor (a step down from the ZS-series' CMOS chips) and a top video resolution of 720/30p. Wi-Fi connectivity is included, as is a 3.0-inch 460k-dot LCD.
CES 2014: Panasonic has unveiled the Lumix DMC-LZ40, a budget superzoom with an F3.0-6.5 22-924mm equivalent zoom lens. It has a 20 megapixel CCD sensor, fixed 3-inch 460k dot LCD, and can record video at 720/30p. The LZ40 is also equipped with optical image stabilization, 13 filter effect modes, and a lithium-ion battery rated to 320 shots.
CES 2014: Canon has announced the PowerShot N100, which it's calling a 'Story Camera'. The feature that gives it this moniker is its rear-facing camera, which captures an image of the photographer at the moment the shutter is released (in both stills and video) and puts it into one of the corners of the image that was taken. Photo quality should be a strong point, as the N100 uses the same lens and a similar sensor to the PowerShot S120, but there's no Raw option. Other features include a 3-inch LCD that tilts upward by 90 degrees, 1080/60p video recording, and Wi-Fi with NFC.
CES 2014: Canon has unveiled two new low-cost cameras that pack big zoom lenses into compact bodies. The PowerShot ELPH 340 HS (known as the Ixus 265 HS in Europe) is slim and stylish, and sports a 25-200mm equiv. lens, 16 megapixel CMOS sensor, and 3-inch LCD. The SX600 is just a bit larger than the ELPH, but gains an 18X, 25-450mm equiv. lens along with 1080/30p video recording. Both cameras have Wi-Fi with NFC, which Canon says is easier to use than on previous models, plus numerous scene modes and special effects.
CES 2014: Fujifilm has announced the XF 56mm F1.2 R, a fast short telephoto 'portrait' lens for its X system mirrorless cameras. With an angle of view equivalent to an 85mm lens on full frame, it uses an internal focus design for fast, silent autofocus. It has an aperture ring, but unlike the company's wide angle primes, no distance or depth of field scales. It'll be available in February, with a suggested retail price of $999.99 / £999.99.
CES 2014: Fujifilm has updated its X-system roadmap for 2014, adding five lenses to its list of upcoming releases. First up is an extended-range zoom, the XF 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 R OIS (28-200mm equivalent). Following this will be two fast zooms, the XF 16-55mm F2.8 R OIS standard zoom, and XF 50-140 F2.8 R OIS (24-83mm and 75-210mm equivalent respectively). All three feature aperture rings and optical stabilisation. They'll be followed by a 'high speed wide angle lens' and 'super telephoto zoom lens' in late 2014 / early 2015.
CES 2014: Fujifilm has announced a black version of the X100S. It's a more discreet-looking variant that's in all other ways identical to the original X100S - including the price tag. It uses the same 16 megapixel APS-C X-Trans CMOS and fixed 23mm F2 lens that helped earn the X100S a dpreview gold award and recognition as one of our personal Gear of the Year favorites in 2013.
CES 2014: Amid a string of pre-CES compact announcements, Fujifilm unveils the FinePix S1, the 'world's first' weather-resistant superzoom. It offers a 16 megapixel CMOS sensor and an F2.8-5.6, 24-1200mm equivalent zoom lens. With an articulating 3.0-inch LCD its specifications line up with the FinePix SL1000 in Fuji's current lineup, though with a slightly faster lens and the addition of Wi-Fi connectivity. While not a fully ruggedized camera, the S1 offers protection against dust and rain exposure.
CES 2014: Three new FinePix cameras are unveiled today, each with an emphasis on providing long zoom ranges. The Fujifilm FinePix S9400W and FinePix S9200 superzooms offer a 50x optical zoom lens covering a 24-1200mm equivalent zoom range, both using a 16.2 megapixel CMOS sensor. The two cameras are identical, with the S9400W adding Wi-Fi functionality. The Fujifilm FinePix S8600 has a 36x optical zoom (25-900mm equivalent) and a 16 megapixel CCD sensor.
CES 2014: The Fujifilm FinePix XP70 is the company's latest rugged compact, building on its predecessor's specification with Wi-Fi connectivity. It's also waterproof to 33 ft / 10m (compared to the XP60's 20 ft rating), shockproof up to a 5 ft / 1.5m drop and freezeproof to +14F/-10C. It offers a 28-140mm equivalent F3.9-4.9 zoom lens, 16 megapixel sensor, and 1080 HD video at 60i/30p.
Instax Share SP-1 acts as its own Wi-Fi hotspot, and works with both iOS and Android.
January 5
The Vanguard Abeo Pro 283CGH tripod kit ($498) is a three-section carbon fiber tripod with a pistol grip ball head and an Arca-Swiss compatible quick-release plate. Other features include three foot options, an articulating center column, and a built-in shutter release, giving the Vanguard Abeo Pro plenty of options for customization. Click through for our detailed review.
January 4
To showcase the talent and imagination shown by our Challenge hosts and entrants, we're once again running a 'Challenge of Challenges,' to find the dpreview.com Picture of the Year for 2013 (yes, it's a bit late, but we ran out of days before the holidays). We've whittled more than 1000 challenge winners down to a more manageable 25 - selected by the dpreview editorial team. We're also trying out a completely new voting interface for the first time. Click here to jump straight to the voting page.
ETTR, Exposure to the Right, results in an exposure that maximizes captured signal-to-noise and provides the best information from which to base a final image. This can be achieved in several ways. ETTR images of scenes with low-DR and high-DR require very different processing steps.
January 3
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.
Last month you voted for the best gear in five categories, and now's your chance to let us know which of the winning products was the most impressive. With almost 30,000 votes cast already we know that you've got plenty of opinions about which cameras and lenses stood out, but we want more! We want to know which one you thought was the absolute best. Click through for a look at the category winners from our five classes, and a chance to cast your vote!
What are your photographic goals for 2014?
The Samsung NX30 puts the NX300's 20 megapixel APS-C sensor and Hybrid AF in a DSLR-like body. It also features a tilting electronic viewfinder and a fully articulated 3-inch AMOLED display, along with Samsung's familiar suite of connectivity features. Built-in Wi-Fi is available, as is NFC to mediate faster connections with compatible smart devices. We spent a little time getting acquainted with a pre-production model, and have put together some quick first impressions.
January 2
The results are in! Before Christmas, we asked you to vote for your favorite gear in five categories. Best lens, best DSLR / SLT, best fixed-lens compact camera, best mirrorless interchangeable lens camera and best enthusiast zoom compact. Now, with almost 30,000 votes cast since December 18th the results are in! Click through to take a look at the category winners and runners-up.
Compare our reviewer's results for yourself.
Samsung's latest flagship mirrorless camera has arrived, in the form of the NX30. It borrows the 20 megapixel sensor and Hybrid AF system from the NX300, but has a more traditional design. The standout feature is the camera's XGA electronic viewfinder, which can be pulled away from the camera and tilted up as much as 80 degrees. The fully articulated 3-inch AMOLED display is 33% brighter than the screen on the NX20. The Wi-Fi feature has been beefed up, adding NFC support and a more robust remote control app. Find out more about the NX30.
Samsung added two new lenses to its NX mirrorless camera lineup, one for pros, and another designed to serve as a smaller alternative to the kit lens. Both lenses range from 16-50mm, but the first is a premium design with the 'S' designation, whose bulkier design accommodates an F2.0-F2.8 aperture and optical image stabilization. The second lens is a retractable F3.5-5.6 power zoom with OIS, which the company says offers improved performance over the 18-55mm kit lens.
Samsung has released its newest Android-powered Galaxy Camera, aptly named the Galaxy Camera 2. While the GC2 retains the slim form factor, 21X zoom lens, and huge 4.8-inch touchscreen LCD of its predecessor, it adds a faster quad-core processor, double the memory, a more recent version of Android (4.3), and a more powerful battery. Naturally, the camera has Wi-Fi built in (with NFC), and has the latest and greatest Samsung 'Smart' features, including a 'selfie alarm'.
New Galaxy 2 offers more processing power, a bigger battery and Android 4.3.
| Sunset at the lake - 2 by Murat ÜNSAL from Water and sunset.. | Waiting by Konstantine 2013 from Waiting | Crown of Louis XIV by Bibix from Royal crest | Grand Canyon by CO Boy from Landscape Photo in Monochrome |