Digital Photography Review Newsletter: Tuesday, 22 April 2014

	Digital Photography Review Newsletter Tuesday, 22 April 2014 The most popular weekly photography newsletter, with over 300,000 subscribers
Welcome to the 506th Digital Photography Review newsletter. Spring has definitely sprung here in Seattle. The temperature is swinging all over the place, it's raining one minute and sunny the next and no-one knows quite what to wear on leaving the house in the morning. We've been taking advantage of the sunny spells to shoot plenty of stills and video, and the rainy intervals have allowed us to focus on writing and studio testing. Let's take a look at some recent content highlights... Nikon D3300 review Nikon's introduction of the D3300 at this year's CES didn't exactly shake up the industry, but it was still a noteworthy launch. The entry-level 3000 series have been popular with consumers looking to making a first step into more advanced photography, and the 24 megapixel D3300 is the latest generation in that popular line. With 1080/60p HD video capture, 5 fps burst shooting and 700-shot battery life it provides a beginner with some useful tools to experiment with. Is it a clear winner in the entry-level class? Read our full review to find out. Click here to read our review of the Nikon D3300 Sigma 50mm F1.4 DG HSM 'Art' lab test report and samples The Sigma 50mm F1.4 DG HSM 'Art' is a fast normal prime for full frame cameras, with an unusually complex optical design. Its premium price tag of $950 / £850 makes it substantially more expensive than either its predecessor, or Canon and Nikon's 50mm F1.4 lenses. However Sigma's recent high-end offerings such as the 35mm F1.4 DG HSM and 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM have been truly excellent, so how does the new 50mm measure up? See the lens test data and our analysis View our gallery of real-world samples New Lytro Ilium, announced and interview with CEO Lytro has unveiled the Illum light field camera, its first new hardware since the original Lytro launched more than two years ago. Like its predecessor, the Illum captures information about the angle from which light has arrived, allowing it to calculate images with different perspective and focus. The biggest change is the use of a much larger sensor: now a 1" type, rather than 1/3" type usually found in smartphones. Click through to read more about the Lytro Ilium light field camera Read our interview with Lytro's CEO and founder   Nikon Coolpix P340 real-world samples gallery The Coolpix P340 is Nikon's latest pocket enthusiast camera, featuring a large 1/1.7", 12.2-megapixel BSI CMOS sensor, full manual controls (P, S, A, M) and Raw image capture. The P340 has a versatile 5x (24-120mm equivalent) wide-angle to telephoto zoom range plus 10x Dynamic Fine Zoom and a fast F1.8 maximum aperture lens with Lens Shift VR image stabilization. We've spent a few days shooting with it to see if these specs add up to impressive performance. Click here to view our gallery of real-world samples from the Nikon Coolpix P340 In photos: Paris in the springtime 'Paris in the Springtime' is a new photography exhibition at the Beetles+Huxley gallery in London featuring notable photographers such as André Kertész, Robert Doisneau, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Willy Ronis and Elliott Erwitt. These classic black and white images are some of the scenes that have defined Paris' romantic street life cliché found in modern pop culture. The collection of mid-twentieth century photos are on display from April 7 - May 3. Click here to read (and see) more What's coming up? There's plenty in the pipeline, and despite being a traditionally fairly fallow period for new releases, from the rumors we're hearing this spring and summer might still hold some surprises. In the meantime we're focused on delivering reviews and sample images on those cameras that have been released in the past few weeks, including Sony's a6000 and Canon's powerful new PowerShot the G1 X Mark II. Towards the end of this week I'm also hoping to be able to show you something very special that I found in my grandmother's attic... and as soon as I wrote that, I realised how creepy it must have sounded. You'll love it, I promise! Barney WTD #1324 Check out What The Duck in our Link Directory GearShop update - a message from Laura Now shipping: The gold award winning OM-D E-M10 is back in stock, but selling fast! Get one while the getting's good. Also available now is the Canon G1 X Mark II, which DPR users having given great reviews and DPR editors have recently spent some time with. Another hot new seller is the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40 travel zoom, a Raw-shooter with 30x zoom, Wi-Fi, NFC, and GPS. On sale now: Canon PowerShots for all of your different photographic needs have instant savings. Models on sale include the (first generation) G1 X, G16, D20, and more. And for a few more days you can save $100 on the Panasonic Lumix G6 kit. Until next week - Laura and the GearShop Team
News updates Ricoh announces medium-format Pentax 645Z Published on Tuesday, April 15, 2014 1:00:00 AM GMT Ricoh has launched the Pentax 645Z, a medium-format camera with a 51.4 megapixel CMOS sensor. Boasting an articulated 3.2-inch LCD, top ISO of 204,800, 3 fps continuous shooting, and 1080/60i video, the 645Z is cold-resistant, dustproof and weather-resistant with 76 weather-seals. It's also compatible with the Pentax FluCard, offering wireless remote control and image sharing from the camera to a smartphone, tablet or computer. Read full story → Hands on with the Pentax 645Z Published on Tuesday, April 15, 2014 1:55:00 AM GMT It's hard to resist the opportunity to play with a new medium format DSLR, so we quickly took up Ricoh's offer to try out its 645Z. While it may look intimidating, the 645Z is surprisingly accessible, with an experience that feels strangely familiar to those who have handled Pentax cameras like the K-3. It's also a bargain by medium format standards, and not a huge step up from full-frame. Learn more about the 645Z. Read full story → Pulitzer Prize 2014 winners announced for photography Published on Tuesday, April 15, 2014 7:00:00 AM GMT Two New York Times photographers are honored with Pulitzer Prizes in photojournalism this year. Tyler Hicks takes the award for Breaking News Photography for his work documenting a terrorist attack at a mall in Kenya, and Josh Haner's photos of a Boston Marathon bombing survivor take the top award in Feature Photography. Five finalists also receive recognition for their contributions to photojournalism in 2014. Read more Read full story → Compact smartphone shootout: Sony vs HTC vs Samsung Published on Tuesday, April 15, 2014 3:06:22 PM GMT Most manufacturers of Android devices have designed smaller versions of their flagship smartphones to cater to those user who prefer more pocketable devices. In this shootout we pit three of those models against each other: the Sony Xperia Z1 Compact, HTC One Mini and Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini. Learn more Read full story → Never lose your lens cap again with HACkxTACK Published on Tuesday, April 15, 2014 9:00:00 PM GMT We all know the situation just too well. You're out shooting with your DSLR or mirrorless camera when you decide to swap lenses and have no idea where you've put the lens cap for the lens that's mounted on your camera body. Usually it's in the very last place you look for it. In the worst case scenario you never find it at all. Two Canadian designers have a solution to this problem. Learn more Read full story → Sony releases update for QX10 and QX100 lens modules Published on Wednesday, April 16, 2014 1:00:00 AM GMT Sony has released a firmware update for its QX10 and QX100 camera modules that bring a couple of improvements. The shutter button can now be used to pre-focus with a half-press which allows you to focus and recompose with the QX modules just like you would do with any digital camera. Learn more Read full story → Google applies for contact lens camera patent Published on Wednesday, April 16, 2014 2:00:00 AM GMT If you are the kind of person who gets uncomfortable at the thought of somebody recording you on Google Glass, the search company's latest patent application will probably make you feel even more uneasy. In January Google announced its smart contact lens project and now has filed a patent application for a micro camera module to go with the smart lenses. Learn more Read full story → Fujifilm announces 1.4x teleconverter for X100/X100S Published on Wednesday, April 16, 2014 5:00:00 AM GMT Fujifilm has formally announced the TCL-X100, a 1.4x teleconverter for the X100 and X100S that was first shown at CP+ back in February. The converter brings the focal length up to 33mm (50mm equiv.) and features an HT-EBC coating to reduce flare. Owners of the X100 and X100S will need to update their firmware in order to take advantage of the TCL-X100. The teleconverter will be available this May in your choice of black or silver for $349.99. Read full story → Fuji adds grips, grip strap, and extended eye-cup accessories for X-T1 Published on Wednesday, April 16, 2014 5:09:00 AM GMT Fujifilm UK has announced a host of accessories for its X-T1 mirrorless cameras. These include two extra accessory grips for the X-T1, which build on the features offered by the MHG-style grips already available for the X-series cameras. The MHG-XT Small and Large offer a choice grip sizes and include integrated Arca-Swiss compatible flanges, as well as full-time access to the battery port. Other accessories include a deeper viewfinder eye-cup and a handgrip-style strap that's compatible across the X-mount range. Pricing and availability dates have not yet been announced. Read full story → Canon G1 X Mark II First Impressions Review Published on Wednesday, April 16, 2014 7:30:00 PM GMT Canon's PowerShot G1 X Mark II is an intriguing update. It keeps the 1.5"-type sensor from its predecessor, but adds a faster processor, longer and brighter lens, tilting LCD, dual control rings and has Wi-Fi with NFC. The big change for 2014 is no more optical viewfinder. Our first impressions review covers the usual aspects of the camera (Controls, Body and Design, etc.), but also has our Shooting Experience report where we talk about it handles in the real-world. Learn more Read full story → Call for entries: Getty Images grants Published on Thursday, April 17, 2014 7:00:00 AM GMT Getty Images has announced a call for entries for its Getty Grants, a series of photographic grants for editorial and portrait photographers totaling $130,000 (~£77,737). To celebrate the 10-year anniversary of its grant program, Getty Images is offering six prizes for editorial photography, three creative grants for non-profits and individual photographers, and one for portrait photographers. Learn more Read full story → Behind the scenes: Small lighting, big results with Joe McNally Published on Thursday, April 17, 2014 8:00:00 AM GMT Nikon's latest in a series of behind the scenes videos features photographer Joe McNally. An off-camera lighting wizard, McNally shares some useful tips from three different flash scenarios. No diffusion panel? No worries, McNally explains you can get the same results by placing a bed sheet between the flash and the subject. And as natural light began flowing through his studio, like any good photographer, McNally moved his model to make some pictures — without flash, this time. See video Read full story → Eyefi announces photo sharing cloud service Published on Thursday, April 17, 2014 9:01:00 AM GMT The maker of popular Wi-Fi SD cards has launched Eyefi Cloud, a private photo-centric cloud service that makes photos instantly available on a smartphone, tablet, PC or smart TV. Once users send images from their camera to mobile device using the Eyefi Mobi SD memory card and updated iOS and Android Eyefi apps, images can now be transferred to Eyefi Cloud for viewing on any browser-enabled device. Learn more Read full story → Sigma 50mm F1.4 DG HSM 'Art' lab test report Published on Thursday, April 17, 2014 3:00:00 PM GMT The Sigma 50mm F1.4 DG HSM 'Art' is a fast normal prime for full frame cameras, with an unusually complex optical design. Its premium price tag of $950 / £850 makes it substantially more expensive than either its predecessor, or Canon and Nikon's 50mm F1.4 lenses. However Sigma's recent high-end offerings such as the 35mm F1.4 DG HSM and 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM have been truly excellent, so how does the new 50mm measure up? See the lens test data and our analysis Read full story → Sigma 50mm F1.4 DG HSM 'Art' real-world samples gallery Published on Thursday, April 17, 2014 3:00:00 PM GMT The 50mm F1.4 DG HSM is Sigma's latest fast normal prime for full-frame cameras, and one of the most hotly-anticipated lenses of the year. But how does it perform in real-world use?  We've been using the lens for a couple of days, and put together a gallery of samples. We've concentrated on large-aperture shots to show sharpness and bokeh, but have also included several taken at smaller apertures. See photos Read full story → 1991 Nikon-Kodak hack was first DSLR in space Published on Thursday, April 17, 2014 9:35:00 PM GMT What was the first digital camera in space? It turns out in 1991 NASA sent a modified Nikon F3 with small Kodak CCD sensor and external processing unit on a shuttle mission. Called the Hawkeye II, this system used a RS-232 serial port to connect to its external gear. Kodak would use this platform as the basis for the DCS system, the first commercially available digital camera. Learn more Read full story → Google Camera app now on Kitkat and adds Lytro-like effect Published on Friday, April 18, 2014 7:00:00 AM GMT So far Google's in-house camera app has only been available on Nexus devices but now a new version of the app is available to anyone in the Google Play Store. The app only works on devices running Android Kitkat 4.4 but Google is planning to make it work on older versions too. It comes with a minimalist design and a brand new feature called Lens Blur to simulate shallow depth-of-field. Learn more Read full story → Helping children one print at a time Published on Friday, April 18, 2014 8:00:00 AM GMT National Geometric is a social enterprise that brings a personal touch to charitable giving. Through the sales of single-edition, 10x15 prints of a person with a specific need, National Geometric helps provide food, water, medical care, tuition for school, and other basic necessities. The cost of each photograph reflects the amount needed to help the person in the photograph. Learn more Read full story → Pixels.com licensing service promises full control of images Published on Friday, April 18, 2014 9:00:00 AM GMT Pixels.com is a new image licensing marketplace that aims to give photographers more control than competing services. Users can set their own prices for images and manage the type of licenses they want to offer. There is even an option to create custom licenses with your own terms and conditions. Learn more Read full story → Olympus Stylus SH-1 real-world samples gallery Published on Friday, April 18, 2014 10:00:00 AM GMT The Olympus Stylus SH-1 brings the manufacturer's well-regarded 5-axis image stabilization to a fixed lens compact for the first time. The SH-1 looks the part too with its Pen-inspired styling, and offers a substantial 25-600mm equivalent zoom. Who could resist taking it for a spin? That's exactly what we did, and we've come back with a gallery of real-world samples to prove it. See photos Read full story → Toshiba unveils UHS-II Class 3 microSD memory cards Published on Friday, April 18, 2014 8:00:00 PM GMT Toshiba has announced the industry's first microSD memory cards to comply with the UHS-II standard. Also being UHS Speed Class 3 (U3) enabled will allow the new cards, available in 64GB and 32GB capacities, to capture 4K video at constant minimum write speeds of 30MB/s. The 64GB cards offer a maximum read speed of 260MB/s and a maximum write speed of 240MB/s. The 32GB cards have a maximum read speed of 145MB/s and maximum write speed of 130MB/s. Learn more Read full story → What The Duck #1324 Published on Friday, April 18, 2014 10:11:57 PM 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 → Ryan Brenizer on how to shoot engagement sessions Published on Saturday, April 19, 2014 7:00:00 AM GMT Engagement photo sessions are not only an additional source of income for photographers but, as New York City-based wedding photographer Ryan Brenizer explains, these shoots provide the perfect opportunity to establish a relationship with the couple and learn how to make them feel comfortable in front of the camera before the big day. See video Read full story → In photos: 'Paris in the Springtime' Published on Sunday, April 20, 2014 7:00:00 AM GMT 'Paris in the Springtime' is a new photography exhibition at the Beetles+Huxley gallery in London featuring notable photographers such as André Kertész, Robert Doisneau, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Willy Ronis and Elliott Erwitt. These classic black and white images are some of the scenes that have defined Paris' romantic street life cliché found in modern pop culture. The collection of mid-twentieth century photos are on display from April 7 - May 3. See gallery Read full story → National Geographic editor tells how photography changed her life Published on Monday, April 21, 2014 5:09:51 PM GMT Photographer, producer and Senior Photo Editor at National Geographic, Pamela Chen first picked up a camera at around 9 months old. Although she was pointing the camera the wrong way, as children often do, the photo that Chen shares with us in this video is a sweet remembrance. During the video, which is sponsored by Microsoft OneDrive, Chen tells the story of how capturing one blurry photograph when she was a college student changed the course of her life. See video Read full story → A travel-sized large-format 4x5 camera? Published on Monday, April 21, 2014 6:00:00 PM GMT Ever wanted to shoot with the incredible image quality of large-format 4"x5" film? Well now you can without lugging around a massive view camera. Wanderlust’s Travelwide 4x5 camera is small enough to go wherever you go. At 6.3 x 3.9 x 5 inches and 9.7 ounces it’s relatively compact and definitely lightweight. Constructed of glass-filled ABS plastic, the point-and-shoot camera features a focusing screen, focusing marks on the barrel, and a trio of cold shoe accessory mounts. Learn more Read full story → For starters: Nikon D3300 review Published on Monday, April 21, 2014 7:24:00 PM GMT Nikon's introduction of the D3300 at this year's CES didn't shake up the industry, but it was still a noteworthy launch. The entry-level 3000 series have been popular with consumers looking to making a first step into more advanced photography, and the 24 megapixel D3300 is the latest generation in that popular line. With 1080/60p HD video capture, 5 fps burst shooting and 700-shot battery life it provides a beginner with some useful tools to experiment with. Is it a clear winner in the entry-level class? Read our full review Read full story →
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