Digital Photography Review Newsletter: Tuesday, 11 June 2013

	Digital Photography Review Newsletter Tuesday, 11 June 2013 The most popular weekly photography newsletter, with over 300,000 subscribers
Hello! And welcome to the 461st Digital Photography Review newsletter. This is shaping up to be one of the busiest few days that I can remember at DPReview. As well as the reviews and articles we've published since we last spoke there's plenty in the pipeline (some of which I can't tell you about for now, sorry!) which should keep us (and you) occupied in the days ahead. By the way, if you want to help us out with any of that, we're currently hiring for two full-time positions here in our Seattle offices. We're looking for an editor to join our team of reviewers and a software development manager to help build the systems which will power DPReview as it grows in the future. We're also on the lookout for talented freelance writers to supply us with front-page content. You can find details of all this in our news article, published last week (linked below). We look forward to hearing from you. In the meantime, let's crack on. Here's what you might have missed from the past few days. Nikon Coolpix A review I don't know, you wait for years for a manufacturer to release an APS-C compact with a fixed 28mm equivalent F2.8 lens, and then three come along (almost) at once... The new Nikon Coolpix A offers a 16MP DX-format sensor with no AA filter, in a form-factor that's somewhere between a midrange F-mount DSLR and a high-end zoom compact. In this review, we examine its performance in detail and pitch it against the Ricoh GR, which offers very similar baseline specs at a lower price-point. We've also included comparison samples from the Sigma DP1 Merrill, which was announced late last year. Click here to read our review of the Nikon Coolpix A Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM | Art first impressions and sample images We've been out playing with the new Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM | Art and now we're best of friends. The sample we were sent isn't final production quality, but assuming nothing changes for the worse before they start shipping, the 18-35mm F1.8 is shaping up to be one of the most exciting lenses we've seen all year. We published a selection of samples last week, and we just added a page of first impressions to our previously-published preview, as well as dropping a couple of new images into the gallery. Click here for our first impressions of the Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM, with sample images! Canon EOS Rebel T5i/700D review The 700D may be a near-identical twin of the short-lived EOS 650D, but it's still a worthy option for novice DSLR upgraders, combining high image quality and an articulated LCD with a comprehensive touchscreen interface. This new model also ships with an STM version of the 18-55mm kit zoom, providing another welcome option for faster, silent AF. What else does the 700D have to offer? Read our review to find out. Spoiler alert - it's a lot like the EOS 650D... Click here to read our review of the Canon EOS 700D/Rebel T5i Canon EF-M 11-22mm f/4-5.6 IS STM announced and previewed Canon's third lens for its nascent EOS M mirrorless camera is its first image-stabilized wide-angle zoom, and first with a collapsible barrel design. With an 18-35mm equivalent angle of view and silent STM focusing, it could be an interesting option for photographers wanting the wider view but looking to travel light. So go ahead and read our preview of this mini M while you're waiting for Leica to get around to announcing theirs. Click here to read our preview of the new Canon EF-M 11-22mm F4-5.6 IS STM Wanted: Freelance news/features writers. Also, DPReview is hiring! We're on the lookout for freelance writers to contribute news and short feature content for our homepage. If you're an experienced writer with great editorial instincts who loves ferreting out interesting and unusual photo-related content, we want to hear from you. Also, DPReview is hiring! We have two open full-time positions available in our Seattle office: we're looking for an Editor to join our team of writers and reviewers, and a Software Manager. Click here for more details of current employment opportunities at dpreview.com What's coming up? Well, the Hasselblad Lunar is apparently now shipping, so we'll be spending the next few weeks writing a 100-page review, to cover all of the many grip materials... Just kidding. We've got plenty of stuff coming up, including a full review of the Canon EF 40mm STM pancake and a review of the Ricoh GR, following the publication of our Nikon Coolpix A review last week (see above). Also, as we work through this season's crop of waterproof tough compact cameras we're finishing off the first one - Canon's PowerShot D20 - and we'll have a short standalone review ready in a few days, complete with a samples gallery that may or may not contain fish. Now as we all know, as well as known knowns, there are also known unknowns. One of these known unknowns is the new Leica something-or-other, which everyone seems to be calling the 'M Mini' for now. Expect it to be black, expensive, and officially announced tomorrow. As for unknown unknowns... watch this space. Thanks for reading, Barney WTD #1393 Check out What The Duck in our Link Directory
News updates Pentax announces Efina budget compact and white WG-3 waterproof Published on Tuesday, June 4, 2013 12:11:14 AM GMT Pentax has announced a white version of its WG-3 rugged waterproof camera and an entry-level point-and-shoot compact. The white version of the WG-3 shares all the features with the existing model but comes in a different color scheme (we'll let you guess what that is). We'll be testing the GPS version of the WG-3 as one of our forthcoming waterproof camera tests. Meanwhile, the 'Efina' is an inexpensive 14MP CCD-based camera that's exactly the sort we thought Pentax had stopped making. Still, it comes with decorative patterns on it, which seems to be this season's thing - so that's something. The Efina, announced in Japan in January, will cost around £80, while the white WG-3 will retail for $299/£289. Read full story → Just Posted: Pentax K-5 II / K-5 IIS Review Published on Tuesday, June 4, 2013 1:11:37 AM GMT We just posted a review of the Pentax K-5 II, which also covers its near-twin the K-5 IIS, a version of the camera that lacks an AA filter for higher resolution (in theory). Offering 16MP CMOS sensors, a unique shake reduction system, and a rugged weatherproof body, the Pentax K-5 II and K-5 IIS are compelling little cameras and in this review we'll explore their various standout features, as well as look at the difference in image quality between the two models. Click through for a link to the full review. Read full story → Just posted: Our Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM preview samples gallery Published on Tuesday, June 4, 2013 6:50:00 PM GMT We've been lucky enough to get our hands on an early pre-production sample of one of the most anticipated lenses of the year, the Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM, and bring you a gallery of full-resolution sample images shot with it. This lens is the fastest zoom ever made for SLRs and, in principle, should provide the depth-of-field control and low-light image quality on an APS-C DSLR that you'd get using an F2.8 zoom on 35mm full-frame. We've shot a samples gallery including a variety of subjects, using a range of apertures, focal lengths and subject distances, to try to give an initial flavor of how the lens performs. Read full story → Sun-Times photographer uses iPhone to document life after layoffs Published on Tuesday, June 4, 2013 6:53:46 PM GMT Rob Hart was amongst the 28 members of the Chicago Sun-Times photography staff laid off last week. He's been pointedly documenting his experience via Tumblr ever since, deliberately opting to use his iPhone over his Nikon D3 because, as he says of himself in his blog, he was "replaced with a reporter with an iPhone, so he is documenting his new life with an iPhone, but with the eye of a photojournalist trained in storytelling." We spoke to him about it for connect.dpreview.com. Read full story → Bell Labs creates lensless single-pixel camera Published on Tuesday, June 4, 2013 8:06:11 PM GMT Scientists at Bell Labs have built a prototype camera that uses no lens and a single-pixel sensor. This idea is based around a grid of small apertures that each direct light rays from different parts of the scene to the sensor, and can be opened and closed independently. The sensor makes a series of measurements with different combinations of open apertures, and uses this data to reconstruct the scene in front of the camera. No lens to focus the resultant image means infinite depth of field and low cost. Click through for more details and a link to the original research.  Read full story → Just posted: In-depth HTC One review: Do ultrapixels offer more? Published on Tuesday, June 4, 2013 9:17:59 PM GMT The HTC One smartphone made headlines with its claims about 'ultrapixel technology,' which the company used to describe the device's 4MP CMOS sensor. While current competitors boast 8-13MP cameras, HTC is betting on fewer, larger pixels a same-sized sensor to offer better image quality. But does the innovative approach work? We've put the HTC One and its ultrapixels through our rigorous real life and studio testing trials to find out. See how it fared at connect.dpreview.com. Read full story → DxO releases FilmPack 4, with 65 new creative effects Published on Wednesday, June 5, 2013 1:00:00 PM GMT DxO Labs has announced availability of FilmPack 4, the fourth version of its film-simulation software. FilmPack 4 adds 65 'even more aesthetically-pleasing renderings'. Available in two editions, Essential and Expert, a single DxO FilmPack 4 license can be used as a plugin for Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Photoshop Elements, Adobe Photoshop Lightroom, Apple Aperture, and DxO Optics Pro, and as a standalone application for Mac and Windows. Click through for the press release. Read full story → DxO releases Optics Pro 8.2 with additional cameras, FilmPack 4 support Published on Wednesday, June 5, 2013 1:00:00 PM GMT DxO Labs has released version 8.2 of its DxO Optics Pro software. Both the Elite and Standard versions gain support for the Canon EOS Rebel SL1, the Sony SLT-A58, and the Ricoh GR. Version 8.2 of DxO Optics Pro also supports all features of the newly announced FilmPack 4 as a plugin. Click through for a download link and the full press release. Read full story → Chronicler of NYC art scene can't give away his collection Published on Wednesday, June 5, 2013 6:03:56 PM GMT For nearly forty years, photographer D. James Dee has documented artwork and installations for seminal artists like Jean-Michel Basquiat, Julian Schnabel and prominent New York City galleries. He's now closing up shop and faces the prospect of finding a home for roughly 250,000 color slides and negatives that chronicle the explosive growth of the Soho art scene of the 70s, 80s and 90s. So far he's found no takers. Is this trove of recent art history headed for the dumpster? Click through to read more. (via The New York Times) Read full story → Classic lines when clients want you to work for free Published on Wednesday, June 5, 2013 9:22:19 PM GMT If you've ever spent any time as a self-employed photographer, you've no doubt heard countless rationales from clients about why you should work for free, or at least lower your rate. PhotographyTalk.com posted a pitch-perfect list of five classic lines that not only ring true to those of us on staff with freelance backgrounds, but would be perfect punchline setups in an Aaron Johnson 'What The Duck' comic strip. Click to see if any of them sound familiar. (via PhotographyTalk.com) Read full story → Just posted: Our Canon EF-M 11-22mm f/4-5.6 IS STM preview Published on Thursday, June 6, 2013 4:00:00 AM GMT Just posted: Our hands-on preview of the Canon EF-M 11-22mm f/4-5.6 IS STM. Canon's third lens for its EOS M mirrorless camera is its first image-stabilized wideangle zoom, and first with a collapsible barrel design. With an 18-35mm equivalent angle of view and silent STM focusing, it could be an interesting option for photographers wanting the wider view but looking to travel light. Click through for our first look. Read full story → Canon announces EF-M 11-22mm f/4-5.6 IS STM wide zoom Published on Thursday, June 6, 2013 4:00:00 AM GMT Canon has announced the EF-M 11-22mm f/4-5.6 IS STM - an image-stabilized wideangle zoom for its EOS M mirrorless camera. It's Canon's first wide zoom with IS, promising three stops of stabilization for stills and 'Dynamic IS' for video. A linear stepper motor offers silent autofocus during movie shooting, and a retractable barrel design makes the lens about the same size as the 18-55mm kit zoom. It should be in shops at the end of June, at an MSRP of £379.99 / €399. A firmware update for the EOS M (v.2) will give full compatibility with the 11-22mm, and faster autofocus with all lenses. Read full story → Just Posted: Our Nikon Coolpix A review Published on Thursday, June 6, 2013 5:17:13 PM GMT Just posted: Our review of the Nikon Coolpix A. With a 28mm-equivalent wideangle lens, and the same 16MP DX format sensor as used by the D7000 SLR, the Coolpix A is designed as a serious compact camera capable of professional-quality results. But it's up against stiff competition, in the shape of the similarly-specified but cheaper Ricoh GR that was announced a month later. In our 16-page comparative review, we take a detailed at how the Coolpix A measures up to the challenge posed by its close rival. Read full story → A photographer's wishlist: 5 things we want to see from Apple's WWDC Published on Thursday, June 6, 2013 5:41:38 PM GMT In advance of Apple's World Wide Developer's Conference next week, we're sharing our photographer's wishlist of the announcements we're hoping to see from the annual event. Compare our thoughts with yours on an expected new iOS 7 mobile operating system, whether or not we'll see a new iPhone and more at connect.dpreview.com. Read full story → Spinpod wants to help you snap better panorama pictures Published on Thursday, June 6, 2013 5:42:19 PM GMT Capturing the perfect panorama shot with a smartphone can be tricky. A new gadget currently gaining ground on Kickstarter could help you achieve a perfect panning motion, and even aid in motion time lapse photography. Spinpod works with both iOS and Android devices, as well as cameras. See it in action on connect.dpreview.com. Read full story → Tokina offers US pricing for AT-X 12-28mm F4 Pro DX lens Published on Thursday, June 6, 2013 7:39:10 PM GMT Tokina has announced a US price of $599 for its AT-X 12-28mm F4 Pro DX lens. Soon to be available in both Canon and Nikon mounts for APS-C bodies, this lens was announced at the CP+ tradeshow back in January and will replace the company's existing 12-24mm F4 wideangle zoom for APS-C cameras.  Read full story → Former Chicago Sun-Times Visual Editor speaks out at CNN.com Published on Friday, June 7, 2013 5:46:36 PM GMT Following the widely-reported layoffs at the Chicago Sun-Times a former Visual Editor at the paper, Robb Montgomery, has written a thoughtful piece for CNN.com about what the decision to move to a freelance work force means for the paper, and the industry as a whole. The same article also includes a video interview with Pulitzer price-winning photographer John H. White, who was among those laid off at the Sun-Times last week. Click through for extracts and a link to the full article at CNN.com. Read full story → Wanted: Freelance news/features writers. Also, DPReview is hiring! Published on Friday, June 7, 2013 5:50:40 PM GMT We're on the lookout for freelance writers to contribute news and short feature content for our homepage. If you're an experienced writer with great editorial instincts who loves ferreting out interesting and unusual photo-related content, we want to hear from you. Also, DPReview is hiring! We have two open full-time positions available: we're looking for an Editor to join our team of writers and reviewers, and a Software Manager. Click through for more details. Read full story → 'Dark Matter': Erez Marom takes us behind the picture Published on Friday, June 7, 2013 6:53:10 PM GMT In this article, photographer Erez Marom explains how he created his image 'Dark Matter', which was captured at glacier beach in Iceland earlier this year. Marom sheds light on everything from from composition and gear choice to post-processing, and finally, what to call the final, dramatic picture. Click through for a link to the full article. Read full story → Nokia EOS rumors abound: A look at what's likely Published on Friday, June 7, 2013 7:01:09 PM GMT Rumors are flying about a supposed Nokia EOS smartphone that would surpass even the 41-megapixel Nokia 808 PureView model. Reports indicate that the 'EOS' will sport the same size sensor that made the Nokia 808 so remarkable. Photos of a purported EOS prototype also show a similar raised camera profile as the 808. See what other speculations are likely by clicking through to connect.dpreview.com. Read full story → Koloid app offers digital darkroom experience Published on Friday, June 7, 2013 7:03:35 PM GMT A new app asks users to step back into the darkroom as it offers digital equivalents of the developing process. Koloid is inspired by 19th century's wet-plate collodion photography. The app creates a unique texture and exposure on a black and white image. Koloid takes a little longer than most camera apps but it also gives the satisfaction of using something other than a one-touch filter. We give it a go on connect.dpreview.com. Read full story → Northern lights play over the USA Published on Friday, June 7, 2013 10:25:57 PM GMT Photographers and star-gazers in the upper United States were treated to a rare display of Aurora Borealis when the 'Earth passed through a region of south-pointing magnetism in the solar wind,' according to spaceweather.com. More aurorae are expected in the late hours of June 8 or early June 9, with NOAA forecasters estimating a 65% chance of geomagnetic storms. Click through for images and more details. Read full story → What The Duck #1402 Published on Friday, June 7, 2013 11:27:56 PM GMT We've been fans of Aaron Johnson's comic strip 'What the Duck' for years. 'WTD' is one of the best satirical comic strips in the world, and it's published here every week, as well as being included in our weekly newsletter. Barbed, topical and always amusing, we hope you enjoy WTD as much as we do. Click through for this week's strip. Read full story → Adobe releases Photoshop Lightroom 5 Published on Monday, June 10, 2013 4:01:00 AM GMT Adobe has released Photoshop Lightroom 5, the latest version of its workflow and image editing software. Available as either an individual license or as part of a Creative Cloud subscription, Lightroom 5 adds a more advanced healing/cloning tool, automatic image leveling and perspective correction, a new selective editing tool and the ability to edit files that are offline. US pricing is $149 for new customers and $79 for the upgrade. Click here for more information, including our features preview and download links. Read full story → Adobe releases Camera Raw 8.1 and DNG Converter 8.1 Published on Monday, June 10, 2013 9:41:01 AM GMT Adobe has released Camera Raw 8.1 and DNG Converter 8.1, as final versions of updates that were originally posted as 'release candidates'. ACR 8.1 is designed to work with Photoshop CC but, as promised, is also compatible with Photoshop CS6. It brings support for 7 additional cameras, including the Olympus PEN E-P5 and E-PL5, Ricoh GR and Panasonic Lumix DMC-G6, along with profiles for 16 more lens, including Sigma and Zeiss's latest models. Click through for more details and how to download. Read full story → First impressions shooting with the Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM Published on Monday, June 10, 2013 10:29:11 AM GMT We've just published our first impressions of shooting with the Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM | Art lens. We've tried to express just why we're so excited about this lens, which offers APS-C DSLR users access to some of the depth-of-field and low-light capabilities that full-frame shooters get from their F2.8 zooms. We're hoping to hear about pricing and availability soon so, in the meantime and in the light of our first impressions, what would you expect to pay for this lens? Click through for a link to the article and for your chance to comment.  Read full story → Hasselblad Lunar interchangeable lens camera now shipping Published on Monday, June 10, 2013 6:32:36 PM GMT Swedish camera manufacturer Hasselblad is finally shipping the 'Lunar'. This 24 megapixel camera - essentially a rebadged Sony Alpha NEX-7 - was announced at Photokina last year and comes with your choice of grips: black or brown leather, carbon fiber, and wood: mahogany or olive, to be precise. The Lunar includes an 18-55mm lens and is priced at $6995/£5280.  Read full story → What Apple announcements mean for mobile photographers Published on Monday, June 10, 2013 7:55:56 PM GMT As expected, Apple revealed iOS 7 today at the 24th annual World Wide Developers Conference, and there's plenty for mobile photography enthusiasts to be excited about. From photo filters built into the Camera app to better automatic organization within the Photos app, we take a look at Apple's forthcoming revamped mobile operating system and what it will bring to photographers on the go. Read full story → Just Posted: Canon EOS 700D / EOS Rebel T5i review Published on Monday, June 10, 2013 8:47:31 PM GMT Just Posted: Our review of the Canon EOS 700D / EOS Rebel T5i. The 700D may be a near-identical twin of the short-lived EOS 650D, but it's still a worthy option for novice DSLR upgraders, combining high image quality and an articulated LCD with a comprehensive touchscreen interface. This new model also ships with an STM version of the 18-55mm kit zoom, providing another welcome option for faster, silent AF. What else does the 700D have to offer? Read our review to find out. Read full story →
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