Digital Photography Review Newsletter: Wednesday, 28 May 2014

	Digital Photography Review Newsletter Wednesday, 28 May 2014 The most popular weekly photography newsletter, with over 300,000 subscribers
Welcome to the 511th Digital Photography Review newsletter. It's a short week in the USA and the UK, thanks to a rare (and much-needed) public holiday in both countries. As we try to remember which day it is, we're working hard on plenty of content, including a full review of Sony's new Cyber-shot RX100 III (we're expecting a camera any day) and a roundup of this year's waterproof compact cameras. For now, here's what we've been up to over the past few days: Lens review: Sigma 50mm F1.4 DG HSM | A The Sigma 50mm F1.4 DG HSM 'Art' is a fast normal prime for full frame cameras, with an unusually complex optical design. However at $950 / £850 it's substantially more expensive than either its predecessor, or Canon and Nikon's 50mm F1.4 lenses. We've already published lab test data showing that its optically excellent, but what does this mean in real-world use? Read our detailed review to find out. Click here to read our in-depth review of the Sigma 50mm F1.4 DG HSM | A NX big thing: Samsung's flagship NX30 reviewed and rated The NX30 uses the same 20MP, Samsung-designed CMOS sensor and Hybrid AF system as the more compact NX300, but puts it into an SLR-style body with a pull-out, tilting electronic viewfinder and generous hand grip. Add in Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity options, a 3" AMOLED display and 1080/60p video, and the NX30 is arguably Samsung's most enthusiast-oriented camera yet. But does it offer anything to standout from other high-performing cameras in its class? Find out in our review! Read our in-depth review of the Samsung NX30 DPReview is hiring! DPReview is hiring! We're looking for a writer to join our growing editorial team based in Seattle, WA. Responsibilities will include testing and producing reviews of digital system cameras, compact cameras, smart phone cameras, lenses and other photographic equipment. Successful applicants will have have a store of solid practical knowledge about the theory and practice of photography, and a strong understanding of dpreview, our principles and our community. Click here to read more about our vacant position HTC One M8 camera review The HTC One M8 is HTC's latest flagship smartphone and competes with the Samsung Galaxy S5, Sony Xperia Z2, Nokia Lumia 930, LG G2 and Apple' iPhone 5s. While HTC has stuck with the design language of the original One, the new model is slightly larger and comes with a faster processor, more RAM, bigger screen and new software functions. Images are captured on a 1/3-inch 4MP CMOS sensor but with the assistance of a secondary chip that records depth information. Read our review to find out how it performs. Click here to read our review of the HTC One M8's camera What's coming up? Our reviews of the Sony Cyber-shot RX100 III and Nikon D4S are in progress, and work progresses on Samsung's pocketable NX Mini and Nikon's flagship mirrorless camera, the 1 V3. I've already mentioned the waterproof compact camera roundup that we're working on, and Richard is hurrying to get our review of the very nice Sony s6000 completed in the next few days as well. A reminder that we're hiring right now (see link above) so if you think you've got what it takes to join our Seattle-based team, please do get in touch. We're also looking for freelance news and features writers to help out our in-house team - click here for more information! See you next week! Barney WTD #4114 Check out What The Duck in our Link Directory GearShop update - a message from Laura This week's best deals: Save $50 on the Sony a5000 mirrorless camera kit, plus save an additional $200 when you bundle with a 55-210mm or $100 with a 50mm F1.8 OSS lens. Time is running out on the popular Olympus camera and lens bundle deal. Now through 5/31, choose from select micro four thirds camera bodies and up to 18 different lens options to build your kit at a great price. Nikon is offering instant savings on up to 7 different lenses when purchased with select DSLRs, and $100 off the Coolpix P530 superzoom. Until next week - Laura and the GearShop Team
News updates Filmmaker links 50 Lumia 1020s to create 'bullet time' effect Published on Saturday, May 24, 2014 7:35:00 AM GMT Filmmaker Paul Trillo has teamed up with Microsoft to build an apparatus which they call the 'Lumia Arc of Wonder'. It consists of 50 Nokia Lumia 1020 smartphones fixed to a custom-built metal arc on casters, some networking equipment and external power sources. Click through to read more, and see the results on connect.dpreview.com Read full story → Street photography tips with Zack Arias Published on Saturday, May 24, 2014 12:00:00 PM GMT Photographer Zack Arias is particularly known for is his street work, and in a new video he shares some street photography tips while shooting with a Fuji X-T1 in Marrakech, Morocco. Even though the video is clearly sponsored by Fujifilm, it’s more than just a video tour of a new camera system. Arias talks about subjects and framing, composition and timing, and shows the resulting images after each technique. Learn more Read full story → National Park Foundation 2013 photo contest winners announced Published on Sunday, May 25, 2014 8:00:00 AM GMT The National Park Foundation, a charitable organization partnered with the National Park Service, has announced the 2013 winners of its annual 'Share the Experience' photo contest. Open to U.S. residents, amateur photographers are invited to submit their photos taken within National Parks to compete for a top prize of $10,000. Take a look at the winning photographs from 2013 and submit your photos for this year's competition. Learn more Read full story → Touch Ground: Massimo Cristaldi documents cost of migration Published on Sunday, May 25, 2014 10:00:00 AM GMT Photographer and dpreview.com member Massimo Cristaldi has spent the past five years documenting illegal migration from North Africa into Europe through Sicily and its islands. Last year alone more than 40,000 desperate migrants made the journey, which many did not survive. In 'Touch Ground' Cristaldi focuses not on them directly, but on the places where they came to shore - tired, hungry, and in many cases dead. Click through to learn more and see a selection of images. Read full story → Leica M Monochrom now available in grayscale (sort of) Published on Monday, May 26, 2014 8:00:00 AM GMT Have you been lusting after a Leica Monochrom but anxiously hoping for its release in a new body finish? Well your long, nightmarish wait is over. Leica has announced that its M Monochrom, first announced in 2012, is now available in a new limited silver chrome 'color version'. Click through for (not much) more information, or just to take part in the inevitable comments debate about whether chrome and /or black really count as 'color' options.  Read full story → Portfolio: Photography student Luke Evans Published on Monday, May 26, 2014 9:00:00 AM GMT Luke Evans is a student, just coming to the end of a three-year course in graphic design and photography at London's University of Westminster. Since starting the course Luke has received attention from media across the globe for his unusually fresh approach to the challenges of the course. Luke's work is imaginative, technically innovative and thought-provoking, and we spoke to him as he was preparing his final year show. Click through to read our interview and see some of his work. Read full story → Wanted: Freelance news / features writers! Published on Monday, May 26, 2014 11:11:00 AM 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. Click through for more details. Read full story → Leica T (Typ 701) gains updated firmware version 1.1 Published on Tuesday, May 27, 2014 10:29:00 AM GMT Leica has updated the firmware for its T (Typ 701) mirrorless camera to Version 1.1. In one of the stranger descriptions we've seen, Leica hasn't given any specific details of what's changed, saying instead that "you will get the complete scope of functions and performance as described in the manual of your camera". The firmware is available to download now - click through for the link. Read full story → Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40 Real-world Samples Gallery Published on Tuesday, May 27, 2014 5:10:00 PM GMT The Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40 (TZ60 outside of North America) is a compact travel zoom camera with a 30X, 24-720mm equiv. lens and 18.1 megapixel 'high sensitivity' MOS sensor. The ZS40 features both a 3-inch (920k dot) LCD as well as an electronic viewfinder (200k dot). The camera has full manual controls, Raw support, focus peaking, plus a control ring. We've been out shooting with it, ahead of publishing a short review. Click through below to take a look at our real-world samples. Read full story → Lomography seeks crowdfunding for Lomo'Instant Camera Published on Tuesday, May 27, 2014 5:14:00 PM GMT Lomography has announced a new Kickstarter campaign, looking to fund the production of the Lomo'Instant camera. This is the company's first fully instant camera, featuring a 27mm equivalent lens with 0.4m close focusing distance, a built-in flash, tripod mount, fisheye and portrait lens attachments and included color gels. It accepts Fujifilm Instax Mini film, and is estimated to become available in late 2014. Learn more Read full story → LG releases G3 with QHD screen and laser-AF Published on Tuesday, May 27, 2014 10:02:00 PM GMT LG has announced the G3, succeeding last year's G2 as the Korean manufacturer's flagship smartphone. The new model's headline feature is its screen. The 5.5-inch True HD-IPS+ display comes with a 2560 x 1440 QHD resolution which, at 534 ppi, makes it one of the pixel-densest current displays. Additionally, the G3 uses a new laser-AF system that is capable of measuring the subject-to-camera distance. Read more Read full story →
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