Digital Photography Review Newsletter: Wednesday, 26 March 2014

	Digital Photography Review Newsletter Wednesday, 26 March 2014 The most popular weekly photography newsletter, with over 300,000 subscribers
Welcome to the 502nd Digital Photography Review newsletter! We're as busy as ever here, and as well as the normal run of news and new product announcements we've also put some serious review content online in the past few days. A full review of the Sony Cyber-shot RX10 went up last week and just today we added eight pages to our 'rolling' review of the Pentax K-3. You can find links to both pieces of content below. OK, let's run through some recent content highlights! Sony Cyber-shot RX10 review The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 looks at first glance a bit like a high-end superzoom with its 24-200mm equivalent F2.8 lens. That's a fairly modest range by modern standards, but then the camera's 1" sensor is very large compared to conventional superzooms. Sony has put a lot of effort into the camera's video capabilities and tools, making it more than just a stills shooter, but are the sum of these parts enough to make the whole worth $1300? Read our review to see what we think about the RX10 - and whether it's worth the premium price. Click here to read our in-depth review of the Sony Cyber-shot RX10 Eight pages added to ongoing Pentax K-3 review As we're working towards finishing our full in-depth review of Ricoh's Pentax K-3, we've decided to publish pages of the review that are complete so far instead of making you wait. You'll find the new sections of the ongoing review in our original first impressions review. The additional pages include: A shooting experience report, operation and controls, menus, a look at the K-3's video mode, our two test scene pages and a new real-world samples gallery. Click here to read ongoing Pentax K-3 review Ona Lima camera strap review Camera straps are not, on the face of it, the most exciting accessories in the world but they do inspire strong feelings on the part of many photographers. While most people stick with the strap that came in the box with their camera, for a lot of enthusiasts the quest for the 'perfect strap' is an ongoing diversion. I recently picked up the Ona Lima strap for my camera. Click through to find out what I thought. Click here to read our review of the Ona Lima camera strap Behind the shot: 'Louisville in motion' Making a time-lapse video is hard work, but the end results can be stunning. Photographer Eric Stemen explains how he made his tribute to Louisville, Kentucky. He talks about his shooting technique - everything from getting good exposures to using sliders. There's also a look at all the gear he used and some post-processing tips. Click here to read our article - 'Behind the Shot: Louisville in Motion' What's coming up? We're continuing to shoot with the new Nikon D4s with the intention of adding more test pages to our first-impressions review as soon as we can, and we're also working on the Samsung NX30 as well as Nikon's latest entry-level DSLR, the D3300. We're also hoping to get hold of a Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark II in the next couple of weeks so watch this space for studio and real-world samples. Until next week... Barney WTD #1455 Check out What The Duck in our Link Directory GearShop update - a message from Laura GearShop update - a message from Laura New and now shipping: The Sony a5000 is the manufacturer's smallest and lightest interchangeable lens camera to date, and it's in stock now. The 20MP APS-C camera is a compact alternative to an entry-level DSLR or an excellent back up camera for the photographer with a lot of heavy gear. Check out the new Manfrotto 055 tripod series, available in carbon fiber and aluminum material. The updated series features new lock levers, an improved center column mechanism for easy vertical-to-horizontal orientation, more rigid materials and more. While you're checking those tripods out, take a look at the recently redesigned Gitzo Mountaineer tripods too. Until next week - Laura and the GearShop Team
News updates Little wonder: Samsung NX mini First Impressions Review Published on Wednesday, March 19, 2014 2:00:00 AM GMT Samsung has announced the NX mini, the world's slimmest interchangeable lens camera. It boasts a 1-inch, 20MP sensor and provides all of the wireless connectivity we've come to expect from Samsung's cameras. We spent a little bit of time with a pre-production unit getting to know it, photographing it, and pondering its existence. Take a look at some hands-on photos and read our first impressions of Samsung's latest (and littlest) connected, mirrorless camera.  Read full story → Samsung announces tiny NX mini mirrorless camera Published on Wednesday, March 19, 2014 2:00:00 AM GMT Samsung has announced its new NX mini mirrorless camera, which uses a smaller sensor and lens mount than its existing NX system. Sporting a new 20.5MP 1"-type BSI-CMOS sensor, the NX mini is the slimmest mirrorless camera on the market. It  uses a new NX-M lens mount, with two lenses available at launch (9-27mm and 9mm) and a third (17mm) coming this summer. Other features include an LCD that flips up 180 degrees, Wi-Fi with NFC, 1080/30p video, and Samsung's usual assortment of bells and whistles. Learn more. Read full story → Firmware roundup: Updates for the Alpha 7/7R, Nikon D4, Canon EOS 6D Published on Wednesday, March 19, 2014 4:59:00 PM GMT This week camera manufacturers released a number of new firmware versions. Today Sony released the previously announced Sony Alpha 7/7R update that promises faster start-up speeds, improved image quality and better AF support. There are also updates for a host of other Sony NEX cameras. Meanwhile, Nikon and Canon released updates to the D4 and EOS 6D, respectively. Learn more Read full story → Apple patents remote control for iPhone camera Published on Wednesday, March 19, 2014 6:30:00 PM GMT A patent for a wireless accessory that allows users to remotely control the camera of an iPhone - including image preview, capture and review - has been granted to Apple by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Of course we don't know at this point if the patent will ever result in an actual product but there is no doubt that, at the right price, it could be a useful accessory. Learn more Read full story → LifePrint's portable wireless printer hits Kickstarter Published on Wednesday, March 19, 2014 7:30:00 PM GMT Robert Macauley wants to make photographs special again - by printing them. He's one of the heads behind the LifePrint Kickstarter project that is aiming to build a portable wireless printer that is controlled via an iOS or Android app. The LifePrint team is looking to secure $200,000 of funding to build a printer that will be capable of printing a 3x4" photo in approximately 30 seconds. Learn more  Read full story → 900MP portraits show human face in extreme detail Published on Wednesday, March 19, 2014 8:30:00 PM GMT 'Facial cartography' is an apt description of Swiss photographer Daniel Boschung's portraits. Folds, crevices and pores that are often invisible under normal viewing conditions are shown in extreme detail in his 900MP images. Each of his photographs is comprised of about 600 images captured by an ABB robot with a Canon 5D Mark II and a 180mm macro lens. Learn more Read full story → DxO Optics Pro 9.1.4 supports Nikon D4s and four other cameras Published on Wednesday, March 19, 2014 9:30:00 PM GMT DxO Labs has released version 9.1.4 of its DxO Optics Pro software. Both the Elite and Standard versions gain support for the Sony A5000, Leica X Vario and GoPro Hero 3+ Black edition. The Elite version also gives support for the Nikon D4s. The update also adds 170 lens and cameras combinations to its library, with a list of over 18,000 combinations now available. Click through for the download link. Read full story → Oppo launches Find 7 with QHD display and 50MP image option Published on Thursday, March 20, 2014 7:00:00 AM GMT Several manufacturers were rumored to launch a smartphone with a QHD-display (2560x1440 pixels) at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona but none of the models introduced at the show featured one of the high-resolution screens. Now the wait is over. The Chinese smartphone manufacturer Oppo has introduced the Find 7, the first smartphone to feature a QHD screen. Learn more Read full story → Gear breakdown: Behind the scenes with Chase Jarvis Published on Thursday, March 20, 2014 8:00:00 AM GMT Chase Jarvis has posted another show-and-tell video about the core gear he carries with him on shoots. In this video, you can see bag upon bag of photo and video gear sitting on industrial shelving in the background. Rather than going through every piece of equipment he owns, Jarvis presents his essential camera gear, the stuff he takes with him on every shoot. See video Read full story → Best of both worlds: Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 review Published on Thursday, March 20, 2014 3:40:00 PM GMT The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 looks at first glance a bit like a high-end superzoom with its 24-200mm equivalent F2.8 lens. That's a fairly modest range by modern standards, but then the camera's 1" sensor is very large compared to conventional superzooms. Sony has put a lot of effort into the camera's video capabilities and tools, making it more than just a stills shooter, but are the sum of these parts enough to make the whole worth $1300? Find out in our review Read full story → Samsung files patent for camera with transparent display Published on Thursday, March 20, 2014 9:00:00 PM GMT The Wall Street Journal has discovered a patent filing with the Korean Intellectual Property Rights Information Service that seems to indicate Samsung is experimenting with transparent displays for digital cameras. The idea behind the concept is that the photographer and their subject can maintain eye-contact while the image is being framed. Learn more  Read full story → LUUV aims to produce 3D-printed camera stabilizer Published on Friday, March 21, 2014 8:00:00 AM GMT A Berlin-based start-up is aiming to produce and market a camera stabilizer for smartphones and actions cams, such as the GoPro. There is an abundance of similar devices available already but LUUV's design is unique because it allows for upside-down filming at very close proximity to the ground. Learn more Read full story → Samyang announces 12mm 1:2.0 NCS CS wideangle for mirrorless cameras Published on Friday, March 21, 2014 9:41:00 AM GMT Samyang has announced a wideangle prime for mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras, the 12mm F2.0 NCS CS. With manual focus and aperture control, it will offer an 18mm equivalent angle of view on cameras with APS-C sensors (19mm equiv on Canon EOS M), and 24mm equivalent on Micro Four Thirds. It uses nanocrystal coating to minimise flare and ghosting, and will be available in Canon M, Fujifilm X, Samsung NX, Sony E, and Micro Four Thirds mounts. Pricing and availability are still to be confirmed. Read full story → DIY revolution: Donald Weber's Molotov cocktail 'portraits' Published on Friday, March 21, 2014 5:00:00 PM GMT Photographer Donald Weber returned to his former home of Kiev during the civil unrest last month. Working without a commission, Weber avoided news-style images of the running battles between protestors and police, he says he attempted to take 'a macro view of the situation.' As well as architectural images of the homemade barricades and portraits of some of the participants, he also created a series of images detailing the protesters' weapons of choice - homemade Molotov cocktails. See photos of Weber's unique perspective Read full story → Kodak reborn: A look at JK Imaging's 2014 lineup Published on Friday, March 21, 2014 6:21:00 PM GMT Kodak famously failed to adapt to the transition from film to digital photography, and finally stopped making digital cameras in early 2012. Now the famous old brand has been resurrected by JK Imaging Ltd, which is producing cameras in partnership with Asia Optical. We got a quick look at some of the 2014 product portfolio earlier this year at CES but this week we had a more detailed briefing at a European press event. Click through to take a closer look.  Read full story → What The Duck #1455 Published on Saturday, March 22, 2014 12:07:00 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 → Winners of the 2014 Sony World Photography Awards, part 1 Published on Saturday, March 22, 2014 7:00:00 AM GMT Sony World Photography Awards has announced the winners in their Open, Youth and National categories. The winning photos were selected from more than 70,000 images submitted by enthusiasts all over world. An overall winner with a $5,000 (~£3,024) cash prize and judging of the remaining categories will be announced on April 30. See gallery Read full story → 'Building Absence': Stephen Tourlentes' prison landscapes Published on Sunday, March 23, 2014 8:00:00 AM GMT Stephen Tourlentes started photographing prisons after a facility was built in his home town, in Illinois, USA. In his series of images entitled 'Building Absence', Tourlentes captures prisons at night, in the distance, their lights illuminating the landscapes in which they exist. By his own estimation he has photographed more than 100 prisons in 46 states, often from dead-end public roads and from within the communities that border the huge facilities. Click through for a look at his work.  Read full story → Samsung NX30 real-world samples gallery Published on Monday, March 24, 2014 4:06:50 AM GMT The Samsung NX30 is a midrange mirrorless camera that features a 20.3MP CMOS sensor and the company's latest DRIMeIV processor. The NX30 has a Hybrid AF system that combines on-chip phase detection with more traditional contrast detection and photos can be composed on a fully articulating 3-inch AMOLED display or a unique pull-out, tilting electronic viewfinder. We've spent some time with a production sample to see how it performs out in the real world. Read full story → Behind the shot: 'Louisville in Motion' Published on Monday, March 24, 2014 7:00:00 AM GMT Making a time-lapse video isn't trivial, but the end result is compelling. Photographer Eric Stemen explains how he made his tribute to Louisville, Kentucky. He talks about his shooting technique - everything from getting good exposures to using sliders. There's also a look at all the gear he used and some post-processing tips. Learn more Read full story → Panasonic announces Leica DG Summilux 15mm F1.7 ASPH, and GM1 kit Published on Monday, March 24, 2014 12:59:00 PM GMT Panasonic has officially announced the Leica DG Summilux 15mm F1.7 ASPH, a premium fast wideangle prime for Micro Four Thirds cameras. It offers an angle of view equivalent to 30mm on full frame, and features an aperture ring at the front of the barrel. It's also very small in diameter to match the tiny DMC-GM1 camera, with which it will be offered as a kit. It'll be available in black or silver from mid-June for $599/£549, with the GM1 kit costing £999. Read full story → Camera from NASA's moon missions sold at auction Published on Monday, March 24, 2014 5:30:00 PM GMT A Hasselblad camera claimed to have been used by U.S. astronauts on the moon sold on at auction in Vienna for nearly $1 million, despite questions as to the veracity of its travels. WestLicht Photographica Auction in Austria reported the camera, a Hasselblad Electronic Data Camera, sold for €550,000 (€660,000 with the buyer’s premium which is about $910,400) and was won by Japanese businessman Terukazu Fujisawa. Learn more Read full story → Sony Australia releases a3500 with new kit lens Published on Monday, March 24, 2014 6:54:00 PM GMT Sony has announced its new Alpha 3500 (a3500) which, at this point, is only for the Australian market. The camera is identical to the a3000, with the exception of a new kit lens. This 18-50mm F4.0-5.6 lens is less impressive than the 18-55 F3.5-5.6 that came with the a3000, as it's shorter, slower, and lacks image stabilization. The a3500 will be available soon for AU$499. Read full story → World Press Photo Multimedia winners announced Published on Monday, March 24, 2014 8:30:00 PM GMT The winners of the 2014 World Press Photo Multimedia contest have been announced and the work represents a staggering array of subjects and documentary styles. The international jury selected first, second and third place winners in three categories: Short Feature, Long Feature and Interactive Documentary. Learn more Read full story → Accessory review: Ona Lima camera strap Published on Tuesday, March 25, 2014 7:00:00 AM GMT Camera straps are not, on the face of it, the most exciting accessories in the world but they do inspire strong feelings on the part of many photographers. While most people stick with the strap that came in the box with their camera, for a lot of enthusiasts the quest for the 'perfect strap' is an ongoing diversion. DPReview editor Barney Britton recently picked up the Ona Lima strap. Find out if it makes practical sense. Read his review Read full story → GoPro rival? Panasonic launches wearable HX-A500 4K action camera Published on Tuesday, March 25, 2014 6:45:00 PM GMT Panasonic has announced the HX-A500, a wearable video camera with ultra HD 4K at 30p capability. Along with Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity options, the HX-A500 can also shoot 1080p at 60fps, 720p at 120fps and 480p at 240fps. Panasonic's action camera is also dustproof and waterproof for up to 30 minutes down to 10 feet (3 meters). The HX-A500 has a separate body unit that has a 1.5-inch color LCD display and camera unit that is connected by a cable. Learn more Read full story → HTC launches One M8 with new 'Duo Camera' Published on Tuesday, March 25, 2014 7:30:00 PM GMT HTC has launched their new flagship model, the HTC One M8, at simultaneous events in London and New York City today. As we've come to know through various leaks the new device's headline feature is its Duo Camera. In addition to a 4MP "Ultra Pixel" sensor, the HTC One M8 comes with a secondary image sensor that captures depth information which allows for the application of bokeh effects to your images. Learn more Read full story → Pentax K-3: Eight pages added to our ongoing review Published on Tuesday, March 25, 2014 8:13:00 PM GMT As we're working towards finishing our full in-depth review of Ricoh's Pentax K-3, we've decided to publish pages of the review that are complete so far instead of making you wait. You'll find the new sections of the ongoing review in our original first impressions review. The additional pages include: A shooting experience report, operation and controls, menus, a look at the K-3's video mode, our two test scene pages and a new real-world samples gallery. Click through for more Read full story →
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