Digital Photography Review Newsletter: Wednesday, 4 December 2013

	Digital Photography Review Newsletter Wednesday, 4 December 2013 The most popular weekly photography newsletter, with over 300,000 subscribers
Hello! And welcome to the 486th Digital Photography Review newsletter. Well, what a week it's been, and it's only Tuesday! We're recovering from a jam-packed day yesterday, shooting live video coverage with our friends at creativeLIVE. You'll find more details below, but suffice to say it was really scary, but a lot of fun. We hope you enjoyed it, but if you missed any or all of the broadcast, you can watch it again from the links provided below. So, as we recover from that, we're focusing again on completing our seasonal product roundup and recommendations content, and pushing hard to complete our full reviews of several products. Let's take a look at some recent content highlights. DPReview LIVE! Phew! Well, we finally did it. Yesterday we broadcast a day of live video, in association with creativeLIVE covering the best of this years' cameras and lenses, as well as sessions exploring practical advice for setting up a home portrait shoot and what types of gear are best suited to various shooting environments. We also included a panel segment, where expert guests joined DPReview editors to discuss current and future technology trends. We've never done anything like this before, but it was a lot of fun. If you missed any of the broadcast, you can watch it again over at creativeLIVE's website. Just follow the links below! Click here to watch our (archived) day of live broadcast in association with creativeLIVE Camera Roundups 2013: What to Buy and Why The holidays are a great time to take pictures - and they're a great time to get a camera for yourself or for a loved one. With more than 50 cameras going through the hands of the DPReview team over the year, we've seen it all (or so we think). Based on our collective knowledge we've been preparing and publishing a series of roundups covering current gear in all of the major product categories which we hope will help you make an informed decision on which camera will fit your needs. Last week we published the final roundup and you can read all of our content by following the links below. Click here to read our product roundup content DPReview Gear of the Year Part 3: Olympus OM-D E-M1 A lot of equipment passes through our Seattle and London offices, everything from high-end cameras to inexpensive accessories. A lot of it gets reviewed, but we can't cover everything. In this series of short articles, DPReview staff will be highlighting their personal standout products of the year. In part 3, Andy Westlake talks about his personal favorite - the Olympus OM-D E-M1. Click here to read all about why the E-M1 is Andy's favorite product of the year DPReview Top Picks: Stand-out third party lenses When you buy into a camera system, it can be tempting to only consider lenses of the same make as your camera. But companies such as Sigma, Tamron and Tokina offer some excellent options too. In this article, we're highlighting our pick of stand-out third party lenses. We've chosen them based on their ability to offer something different to the camera manufacturers' own, in terms of either focal length range, maximum aperture, image quality or value. Click through to read all about them. Click here to read our top pics of third-party lenses DPReview Recommends: Best Cameras for Social Photography Smartphones are great for casual picture-taking, but they're at their absolute worst in poor lighting, or when using flash. One of the reasons smartphones are so popular is that they're small, but better images don't require enormous cameras, and increasingly, good-quality compacts are shipping with social-friendly options including built-in wireless connectivity.  Click here to read our recommendations of top five cameras for social photography DPReview Recommends: Best Cameras for Travel There's a big world out there, just waiting for you to explore it. In our opinion, a camera is one of the best traveling companions you can have. Depending on where you're going, you might have specific priorities. Maybe you're heading to the mountains? Or perhaps you're exploring a city? Or maybe you're doing a round the world tour. Here are our top five recommendations. Click here to read our recommendations of top five cameras for travel What's coming up? More product recommendations of course, plus more sample images and test shots from the new Nikon Df, a full review of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM1 and plenty more besides. It may be getting close to the end of the year but we're not done yet - keep checking our homepage for plenty of new content as 2013 draws to a close. and as always, please keep your feedback coming. Thanks for reading! Barney WTD #88 Check out What The Duck in our Link Directory GearShop update - a message from Laura On sale now: Most Nikon DSLR purchases qualify for big savings when you add an eligible lens to build a bundle. Click on the green deals buttons to see what's available. Many popular lenses are on sale, including the 14-24mm F2.8, 24-70mm F2.8, and 70-200mm F2.8. You can even pick multiple lenses (or flashes) to maximize savings and build your perfect kit. Now shipping: Full frame, mirrorless, palm-sized: the Sony A7 has arrived! Available in a kit with FE 28-70mm lens, or pair the body with a new FE 35mm F2.8 lens. We've also begun shipping the bright, zoomy RX10, which is sure to have excellent image quality. Also available, Fujifilm's X-E2! Don't forget that you can add up to 6 XF lenses to your X-E2 purchase and save $100-$250 instantly. Until next week - Laura and the GearShop Team
News updates DPReview Recommends: Best Waterproof Cameras Published on Wednesday, November 27, 2013 1:18:47 AM GMT Most cameras are delicate objects, and the last thing you want to do is drop them or subject them to wet or freezing conditions. But there are cameras which are specifically designed to handle rough treatment. In this list, we've chosen our top five recommendations for tough cameras. Every model in this list can be dropped, soaked, frozen and, in some cases, crushed. Our recommendations cover the entire class, from stylish compacts that can handle the occasional accident to high-end rugged cameras capable of serious image quality. Read full story → What to buy and why: Consumer DSLRs Published on Wednesday, November 27, 2013 5:26:15 AM GMT The holidays are a great time to take pictures — and they're a great time to get a camera for yourself or for a loved one. With more than 50 cameras going through the hands of the DPReview team over the year, we've seen it all (or so we think). Based on our collective knowledge we hope this guide will help you make an informed decision on which camera will fit your needs. In this penultimate part, we look at consumer-level DSLRs. Read full story → Tokina announces Sony Alpha-mount version of 11-16mm f/2.8 II Published on Wednesday, November 27, 2013 10:22:11 AM GMT Tokina has announced that its highly-regarded AT-X PRO 11-16mm f/2.8 DX II fast wideangle zoom for APS-C SLRs will be available in Sony Alpha mount from the start of next year. The 'type II' version adds improved coatings compared to the previous model of the lens. The design is otherwise unchanged, with the same optics and useful 'one touch' focus clutch mechanism. Click through for full details. Read full story → DPReview Recommends: Best Compact Cameras for Travel Published on Wednesday, November 27, 2013 7:04:52 PM GMT There's a big world out there, just waiting for you to explore it. In our opinion, a camera is one of the best traveling companions you can have. Depending on where you're going, you might have specific priorities. Maybe you're heading to the mountains? Or perhaps you're exploring a city? Or maybe you're doing a round the world tour. Here are our top five recommendations. Read full story → Celebrated photographer Saul Leiter dies, aged 89 Published on Wednesday, November 27, 2013 9:05:19 PM GMT Photographer Saul Leiter has died aged 89. Leiter eluded mainstream fame for most of his life, but his body of work, particularly his experiments in abstract street color studies in the middle years of the 20th Century are a continuing inspiration to new generations of photographers. A shy figure, Leiter is the subject of a new film, 'In No Great Hurry' about his life and work which was recently released.  Read full story → Nikon Df test scene samples added to first impressions review Published on Thursday, November 28, 2013 12:14:51 AM GMT Having spent a little more time with a full production unit, we've updated our Nikon Df coverage with images from our studio test scene and some more handling impressions. Nikon's thoroughly retro full-frame Df uses the same 16MP chip first seen in the D4, and provides an unprecedented level of support for legacy lenses. The new scene shows its performance in both daylight and low light, with downloadable image files. As always, you can compare the Df to the increasing number of cameras in our test scene. Read full story → Fujifilm to update firmware for X-Pro1, X-E2, X-E1 and X100S (again) Published on Thursday, November 28, 2013 7:42:17 AM GMT Fujifilm has announced forthcoming firmware updates for its X-Pro1, X-E2 and X-E1 mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras, and for the X100S fixed-lens large sensor compact. Features promised include customizable Auto ISO, exposure preview in manual exposure mode, improved workflow for in-camera Raw conversion, and the ability to edit filenames in-camera. The update for the X-Pro1 will be available on 5th December; those for the X-E1, X-E2 and X100S on 19th December. Click through for full details. Read full story → Photo app promotes creativity with crowd-sourced assignments Published on Thursday, November 28, 2013 7:59:00 AM GMT A new app for iOS aims to motivate and inspire photographers by merging assignment-based photography with an optional social media element, all in the palm of your hand. OKDOTHIS offers a wide array of categories, including those created by users, with photo assignments that anyone can participate in. Learn more on connect.dpreview.com. Read full story → DPReview Top Picks: Stand-out third party lenses Published on Thursday, November 28, 2013 10:22:34 AM GMT When you buy into a camera system, it can be tempting to only consider lenses of the same make as your camera. But companies such as Sigma, Tamron and Tokina offer some excellent options too. In this article, we're highlighting our pick of stand-out third party lenses. We've chosen them based on their ability to offer something different to the camera manufacturers' own, in terms of either focal length range, maximum aperture, image quality or value. Click through to read all about them. Read full story → Olympus updates firmware for OM-D E-M1, XZ-2, and 12-50mm lens Published on Thursday, November 28, 2013 12:36:36 PM GMT Olympus has released firmware updates for its OM-D E-M1 mirrorless camera, XZ-2 enthusiast compact, and 12-50mm F3.5-6.3 lens. Version 1.1 for the E-M1 promises improved autofocus and image stabilisation operation, and better image quality in Live Bulb mode. Meanwhile version 1.3 for the XZ-2 should improve autofocus in low light. Click through for full details. Read full story → DPReview Gear of the Year Part 3: Olympus OM-D E-M1 Published on Friday, November 29, 2013 10:53:03 AM GMT A lot of equipment passes through our Seattle and London offices, everything from high-end cameras to inexpensive accessories. A lot of it gets reviewed, but we can't cover everything. In this series of short articles, DPReview staff will be highlighting their personal standout products of the year. In part 3, Andy Westlake talks about his personal favorite - the Olympus OM-D E-M1. Read full story → Camera review: Google turns its attention to imaging on new Nexus 5 Published on Friday, November 29, 2013 6:17:22 PM GMT The Nexus 5 is Google’s latest showcase smartphone, bringing with it Android 4.4 (aka KitKat) and some new imaging features. This time around, Google is talking up the Nexus 5’s camera, highlighting its optical image stabilization and revamped HDR mode. We put the phone through its photographic paces to see how it holds up in the real world on connect.dpreview.com. Read full story → What to buy and why: Entry-level mirrorless cameras Published on Saturday, November 30, 2013 3:21:43 AM GMT The holidays are a great time to take pictures — and they're a great time to get a camera for yourself or for a loved one. With more than 50 cameras going through the hands of the DPReview team over the year, we've seen it all (or so we think). Based on our collective knowledge we hope this guide will help you make an informed decision on which camera will fit your needs. In this final part, we look at entry-level mirrorless cameras Read full story → What The Duck #88 Published on Saturday, November 30, 2013 4:26:00 AM GMT 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. Read full story → DPReview Recommends: Best Cameras for Social Photography Published on Sunday, December 1, 2013 9:10:03 AM GMT Smartphones are great for casual picture-taking, but they're at their absolute worst in poor lighting, or when using flash. One of the reasons smartphones are so popular is that they're small, but better images don't require enormous cameras, and increasingly, good-quality compacts are shipping with social-friendly options including built-in wireless connectivity. Click through to read our recommendations.  Read full story → DPReview on CreativeLIVE Published on Monday, December 2, 2013 2:06:40 AM GMT We're very excited to announce a day of live video coverage on Monday December 2nd in partnership with CreativeLIVE. The live stream, which will be broadcast on our homepage will cover product highlights from the past year, as well as live shooting demonstrations and panels discussing the current state of the photography market, and predictions for the future. Click through for more details. Read full story → Homemade rig captures extreme macro shots of snowflakes Published on Monday, December 2, 2013 8:01:01 AM GMT Moscow-based photographer Alexey Kljatov is a keen macro photographer, and for the past couple of years he's been producing closeup shots of snowflakes. His inexpensive homemade rig delivers extraordinary magnification, revealing an incredible amount of detail in the intricate crystals of ice. See his setup and gallery of snowflakes Read full story → Roger Cicala reveals winners of First Annual Photogeek contest Published on Monday, December 2, 2013 2:32:16 PM GMT Roger Cicala of LensRentals has revealed the winners of his 'First Annual Photogeek Geek Photo Contest'. What was originally intended as a light-hearted joke ended up receiving over 400 entries from at least 20 countries, and the impressive quality of the entries caused a real headache for the judges. After a lot of deliberation, Rishi Sanyal won 'Best in Show' for his remarkable 'MacroSetUp' series. Click through to see the extraordinarily geeky winning images, and a link to the full contest gallery. Read full story → Canon announces EOS M2 in Japan Published on Tuesday, December 3, 2013 12:29:59 PM GMT Canon has announced the EOS M2 in Japan. An updated version of its EOS M mirrorless camera, the new model promises faster autofocus due to the use of a Hybrid CMOS II sensor, as seen in the EOS 100D / SL1. It also has built-in Wi-Fi and a slightly revised body design. It will be sold either body-only or in kits with one, two, or all three EF-M lenses, and be available in either black or white. Read full story → Sigma issues advisory on lens compatibility with Nikon Df Published on Tuesday, December 3, 2013 3:21:55 PM GMT Sigma has posted a statement on its website regarding incompatibilities between its lenses and the Nikon Df. As with the D5300, both autofocus and image stabilisation may not work correctly; however lenses without built-in focus motors are also affected when used on the Df. The company says it will provide free lens firmware updates to fix the issue, but this may not be possible with discontinued models. Click through for full details. Read full story → Metabones now available for Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera Published on Tuesday, December 3, 2013 5:57:42 PM GMT Metabones has introduced two new versions of its Nikon-F to Micro Four Thirds mount Speed Booster adapters. This time they are designed specifically for the Blackmagic Cinema and Pocket Cinema cameras. The new 0.64x Speed Booster reduces the full-frame crop factor of the Blackmagic Cinema Camera from 2.39x to 1.53x. The 0.58x Speed Booster reduces the crop factor of the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera from 2.88x to 1.75x. Learn more Read full story →
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