Digital Photography Review Newsletter: Wednesday, 18 June 2014

	Digital Photography Review Newsletter Wednesday, 18 June 2014 The most popular weekly photography newsletter, with over 300,000 subscribers
Welcome to the 514th Digital Photography Review newsletter. We're having a very watery few days here in our Seattle office, partly because autumn seems to have returned but we've also been publishing a lot of content about waterproof and rugged cameras. Last week we posted four sample galleries, over the weekend we showcased some of the best work in our new underwater photography forum and just this morning we published our 2014 Waterproof Compact Camera Roundup. I hope you enjoyed it! The other big story last week was Panasonic's affordable 24-400mm superzoom, the very lovely FZ1000. There's a link to the first-impressions review below, but be sure to check out my short opinion piece, and Allison's hands-on product tour as well. Here are a few highlights from the past few days: 2014 Waterproof Compact Camera Group Test For those of us here in the Northern Hemisphere summer is upon us. We're celebrating the arrival of longer days and seaside vacations with our annual waterproof compact group test. This year's test includes the Canon PowerShot D30, Nikon Coolpix AW120, Olympus Tough TG-3, and Ricoh WG-4 GPS. Click the links below and find out which of these rugged compacts came out on top! Click here to read our 2014 Waterproof Compact Camera Group Test Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000 First-impressions Review Up until now, the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 was the only game in town for those seeking a big zoom camera with a larger-than-average sensor. Panasonic has thrown its hat into the ring with the Lumix DMC-FZ1000, which offers a 1"-type, 20.1MP CMOS sensor, plus a longer (but slightly slower) zoom lens. The FZ1000 is also the first compact camera to support 4K video recording. Perhaps the biggest story is the price: $899. We've gotten our mitts on a production model and have some initial thoughts to share. Read our detailed first-impressions review of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000 Nikon AF-S Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G Lab Test The AF-S Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G is Nikon's latest moderate wideangle prime, designed for full frame SLRs like the D610. It sits in the lineup between the budget, DX-only AF-S Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G and the premium, half-stop faster AF-S Nikkor 35mm f/1.4G. It also faces stiff competition from the highly-regarded Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM. So how does it measure up in terms of optical quality? See the lens test data and our analysis Click here to read our lab report on the Nikon AF-S Nikkor 35mm F1.8G DPReview Reader Showcase: Underwater photography With our yearly waterproof compact group test nearing completion, we put out a call on our new underwater photography forum asking readers to showcase their best photos from the deep. The responses were impressive - take a look at a few of our favorites. And if you're inspired to dive in and take some photos of your own, check out our now-published 2014 Waterproof Compact Camera Group Test (see links above). Click here to view the images in our DPReview Reader Showcase: Underwater photography What's coming up? There's plenty in the pipeline, including some detailed content on the Nikon 1 V3, our full review of Sony's RX100 III, and some side-by-side analysis of the new Panasonic FZ1000 against its main rival the Sony RX10. Just today we took delivery of the new Sony A7S, so watch out for studio and real-world sample images from that camera (and some video) very soon. Rishi is ridiculously excited. A reminder that we're hiring right now 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 editors - click here for more information! See you next week! Barney GearShop update - a message from the team This week's best deals: Welcome the first days of summer with a rugged, waterproof camera. Save $70 on the Olympus Stylus TG-850 which features a 180-degree flip-up screen and a wide-angle setting of 21mm, making it ideal for capturing the big picture beneath the sea. Olympus continues to deliver high quality gear for the active crowd, with the imminent release of the new Stylus TG-3, which impressed the dpreview team in their recent group test and is currently available for pre-order. Until next week - the GearShop Team
News updates Picquest wants to be the Uber for photography Published on Wednesday, June 11, 2014 12:45:00 AM GMT Location-based search for restaurants, taxis or other services, as offered by Yelp, Uber and a multitude of other apps, have been around for a quite a while. Now, a new service called Picquest wants to apply the same concept to photography. The Android and iOS app allows you to find photographers on a map or get notified of photographers in your geographical proximity. It's an interesting potential social networking and business tool for phtoographers. Learn more Read full story → Canon PowerShot D30 real-world samples gallery Published on Wednesday, June 11, 2014 7:01:00 AM GMT Waterproof to 25m/82 ft, the Canon PowerShot D30 is capable of diving deeper than its current competitors. The 12.1 megapixel D30 also features a 28-140mm equiv. lens and built-in GPS. In addition to its impressive waterproof specification, it's coldproof to -10° C/14° F and shockproof to 2m/ 6.5 ft. See how it performs in the real world, both on land and under the waves. See gallery Read full story → Nikon Coolpix AW120 real-world samples gallery Published on Wednesday, June 11, 2014 7:20:00 AM GMT Nikon's Coolpix AW120 features a 16 megapixel sensor and is waterproof to 18m/59 ft. It offers a 24-120mm equiv. lens, along with built-in Wi-Fi and GPS. The AW120 will withstand a drop from 2m/6.6 ft and is freezeproof to -10° C/ 14° F. Among nearly all of its peers it offers the widest lens, though at F2.8-4.9 not as fast at the wide end as the Olympus TG-3's or Ricoh WG-4's. Take a look at what the AW120 is capable of in the real-world. See gallery Read full story → Ricoh WG-4 real-world samples gallery Published on Wednesday, June 11, 2014 7:40:00 AM GMT The Ricoh WG-4 offers a 16 megapixel sensor and a 25-100mm equivalent F2.0-4.9 lens. Identical to its WG-4 GPS sibling in almost every way except for the obvious (one has GPS and a front-facing display, one doesn't) the WG-4 is waterproof to 14m/45 feet, freezeproof to -10° C/14° F and shockproof to 2m/6.6 feet. Take a look at our real-world samples. See gallery Read full story → Olympus Tough TG-3 real-world samples gallery Published on Wednesday, June 11, 2014 8:00:00 AM GMT The Olympus Tough TG-3 is a slightly more enthusiast-focused rugged compact, offering a 25-100mm equiv. F2.0-4.9 lens, 16 megapixel sensor, built-in GPS and Wi-Fi. It's waterproof to 15m/50 ft, shockproof to 2.1m/7 ft and freezeproof to -10° C/14° F. Like its peers it records 1080p HD video. We put its waterproof claims to the test - find out how it did in the real-world. See gallery Read full story → Alien Skin Software's Exposure 6 now available Published on Wednesday, June 11, 2014 5:06:03 PM GMT Alien Skin Software has launched an update to its popular photography effects software, Exposure. Announced in April, Exposure 6 has a new processing engine for instant image effect previews, a new user interface for a faster workflow and tools for 'Bokeh.' It's available for download now at $149 for new users and as a $69 upgrade for existing users. Read more Read full story → Adobe teases new 'Focus masks' feature Published on Wednesday, June 11, 2014 6:43:43 PM GMT Adobe has released a video sneak-peek of a new feature due to be introduced into Creative Cloud which the company is calling 'Focus masks'. In the video, Zorana Gee, senior Photoshop product manager explains that with focus masks, Adobe is 'adding a new way to make an automatic selection based [on] pixels that are in focus versus out of focus'. Click through to watch the video and learn more.  Read full story → Lytro Launches Web Viewer; 500px to Host Living Pictures Gallery Published on Wednesday, June 11, 2014 10:48:00 PM GMT As Lytro prepares for the launch of its second generation light field camera, the Lytro Illum, the company faces a challenge: how does one easily display and share the 'living pictures' their cameras produce? Today the company announced plans to open-source its Living Picture Player - a viewer for its light field images. The WebGL-based player can be integrated into any website or social media platform, thereby allowing for easy sharing of Lytro's living pictures. 500px will be the first to host an image gallery based on this player. Read full story → Super Sized: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000 First Impressions Review Published on Thursday, June 12, 2014 4:00:00 AM GMT Up until now, the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 was the only game in town for those seeking a big zoom camera with a larger-than-average sensor. Panasonic has thrown its hat into the ring with the Lumix DMC-FZ1000, which offers a 1"-type, 20.1MP CMOS sensor, plus a longer (but slightly slower) zoom lens. The FZ1000 is also the first compact camera to support 4K video recording. Perhaps the biggest story is the price: $899. We've gotten our mitts on a product model and have some initial thoughts to share. Find out more Read full story → Panasonic announces Lumix DMC-FZ1000 with 1" sensor and fast lens Published on Thursday, June 12, 2014 4:00:00 AM GMT Panasonic has announced its Lumix DMC-FZ1000 superzoom camera, which features a 1"-type CMOS sensor and F2.8-4.0, 25-400mm equivalent lens. The sensor is not only the same size as on Sony's Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 - it's also the same resolution (20.1MP). The FZ1000 features both a fully articulating LCD as well as a high resolution OLED viewfinder. The FZ1000 is also capable of recording 4K video at a bit rate of 100Mbps, from which 8MP stills can be grabbed. The camera will be priced at $899 / £749.99. Read full story → Opinion: Why the FZ1000 isn't just another superzoom... Published on Thursday, June 12, 2014 7:00:00 AM GMT Superzoom cameras offer DSLR-style ergonomics and enormous zoom ranges, which make them very popular among novice photographers and enthusiasts looking for a 'take everywhere' option for travel and day-to-day shooting. They have not, traditionally, impressed us with their image quality. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000 is a very different beast though, and has impressed us with its specification, performance and price. In this short article, editor Barnaby Britton explains why the FZ1000 is definitely not 'just another superzoom'. Read more Read full story → Hands-on with the Panasonic Lumix FZ1000 Published on Thursday, June 12, 2014 7:55:00 AM GMT Since its arrival in our office, the Panasonic Lumix FZ1000 has hardly had a moment's rest. The superzoom with a 25-400mm equivalent lens and 1"-type sensor is truly one-of-a-kind. We've put it through the paces of a first impressions review and taken it outside in some very un-Seattle-like weather for extensive shooting. In the process, we've assembled some hands-on photos of the camera so you can get better acquainted with the FZ1000. See slideshow Read full story → Sigma UK gives pricing and availability for dp2 Quattro + Specs Published on Thursday, June 12, 2014 1:55:00 PM GMT Sigma UK has revealed pricing and availability for its dp2 Quattro, along with much more information about the camera than we got when it was announced in February. The latest, 45mm-equivalent, model features dramatic styling and a fundamental re-think of the company's Foveon multi-layer sensor design. It will be available in early July with a suggested retail price of £899.99 including VAT. In the USA availability is estimated as early August and the street price will be $999. Learn more Read full story → Sigma announces US pricing and availability of dp2 Quattro Published on Thursday, June 12, 2014 2:54:00 PM GMT Sigma has announced US pricing and availability for its latest camera the dp2 Quattro. Featuring a newly-developed ~19.6 million pixel APS-C Foveon sensor and a completely new body design, the dp2 Quattro has a 30mm F2.8 lens (45mm equivalent) and will be available in the USA in early August at a street price of $999. Click through for the press release. Read full story → DxOMark Mobile report: Samsung Galaxy S5 shares top spot Published on Thursday, June 12, 2014 5:59:35 PM GMT The Galaxy S5 is Samsung's latest flagship smartphone and successor to the Galaxy S4. It comes with a 16MP BSI CMOS sensor, an F2.2 maximum aperture, 4K video capture and phase detection AF, but has to make do without an optical image stabilization system. That doesn't hold it back much - DxOMark's Mobile report gives its image quality full marks, making it a joint leader in their rankings with the Sony Xperia Z2. Learn more Read full story → Deep Dive: Inside Benjamin Von Wong's shipwreck photo shoot Published on Friday, June 13, 2014 10:00:00 AM GMT Benjamin Von Wong isn't afraid of a little drama. His work incorporates elements of fantasy, turning models into otherworldly creatures and fire-breathers. So who else might you expect to find at the helm of an underwater shoot with two models, a team of divers and a shipwreck? Yep, he went there. Take a look at some of the photos and watch a behind the scenes video to see how he pulled it off. See gallery Read full story → Nikon AF-S Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G lab test report Published on Friday, June 13, 2014 3:10:00 PM GMT The AF-S Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G is Nikon's latest moderate wideangle prime, designed for full frame SLRs like the D610. It sits in the lineup between the budget, DX-only AF-S Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G and the premium, half-stop faster AF-S Nikkor 35mm f/1.4G. It also faces stiff competition from the highly-regarded Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM. So how does it measure up in terms of optical quality? See the lens test data and our analysis Read full story → Samsung reveals super-thin and high-resolution Galaxy S tablets Published on Friday, June 13, 2014 3:40:30 PM GMT Samsung has launched two new high-end tablets. The Galaxy Tab S 8.4 and 10.5 have very similar specifications and mainly differ in screen size. Both devices offer high-resolution SuperAMOLED displays with 2560x1600 pixels. Samsung's earlier Tab Pro models came with the same resolution, but this is the first time Samsung combines such dense displays with SuperAMOLED technology. Learn more at connect.dpreview.com Read full story → Video: Canon REALLY wants you to look after your camera gear Published on Friday, June 13, 2014 7:03:55 PM GMT Canon USA has released a video explaining how to take care of your camera gear. In the video, hosted by Holly Groder of Canon's call center, Canon gives a series of recommendations for things to avoid, and things to get into the habit of doing, to keep your gear clean and fully functional. If you mentally delete the word 'Canon' from every other sentence there's plenty of sensible advice for caring for your gear - whatever the manufacturer. Click through to see the video. Read full story → Leica T Unboxing! (you won't believe what happens at the end...) Published on Friday, June 13, 2014 11:37:00 PM GMT With the T (Typ 701) Leica debuted a brand new mirrorless lens mount. Built around a 16MP APS-C CMOS sensor, the T has an ISO range of 100-12500 and offers 5fps continuous shooting and Full HD movie recording with stereo sound. We've been waiting for a Leica T to arrive in the dpreview office since it was announced back in April, and today our wish finally came true. To mark the grand occasion (and to immortalize the characteristically lavish packaging) we've created an unboxing slideshow. Click through to feast your eyes. And yes - since you ask, it is a slow news day. Read full story → In Photos: Sebastian Luczywo's unconventional family portraits Published on Saturday, June 14, 2014 12:00:00 PM GMT Polish photographer Sebastian Luczywo takes an unusual approach to family photos. His clever and mood-filled photos depict his wife, their two children and family pets in the countryside, often with a touch of the surreal. The resulting images are anything but your standard family portraits. Take a look at his work. See gallery Read full story → DPReview Reader Showcase: Underwater photography Published on Sunday, June 15, 2014 11:00:00 AM GMT With our yearly waterproof compact group test nearing completion, and we put out a call on our new underwater photography forum asking readers to showcase their best photos from the deep. The responses were impressive - take a look at a few of our favorites. And if you're inspired to dive in and take some photos of your own, rest assured our waterproof group test is just around the corner. See gallery Read full story → 2014 iPhone Photography Awards winners announced Published on Sunday, June 15, 2014 11:00:00 AM GMT The iPhone Photography Awards (IPPAWARDS) has announced the winners of its 7th annual Photographers of the Year contest, along with top photos in many individual categories. Entries to the 2014 competition came from photographers in in seventeen countries, and naturally, all were taken with an Apple iPhone, iPod or iPad. Click through to take a look at the winning photos. See gallery Read full story → Fujifilm launches weather-resistant XF 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR Published on Monday, June 16, 2014 5:00:00 AM GMT Fujifilm has announced its first weather-resistant lens, the Fujinon XF 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR, which is designed to match the high-end X-T1 mirrorless camera. Offering a versatile 27-200mm equivalent zoom range, the lens claims to have the world's most advanced image stabilisation system, which uses high precision gyro sensors to give a claimed 5 stop benefit. It also has an air ventilation system to help prevent dust being sucked into the lens by the zoom operation. It'll be available in July for £749.99 / $899.95. Read full story → Olympus Stylus SP-100EE Real-world Samples Published on Monday, June 16, 2014 7:10:00 AM GMT The Olympus Stylus SP-100 EE is a superzoom camera with a built-in dot-sight that enables you to easily track moving subjects while the lens is zoomed in. The dot-sight pops up just above the high-resolution electronic viewfinder. To make long zoom focusing easier, the SP-100 also features a focus limiter, which lets the user choose what distances the camera searches. The SP-100 combines a 16MP BSI CMOS sensor with a 24-1200mm 50x optical zoom that captures 1080/60p HD video. We've been playing with it for a couple of weeks, to see how well it performs. See gallery Read full story → Canon Japan announces Digital Photo Professional and EOS Utility updates Published on Monday, June 16, 2014 9:04:02 PM GMT A press release that appeared on Canon Japan's website today indicates that Canon will be upgrading its Digital Photo Professional and EOS Utility applications. According to a translation of the release, DPP will be a 'significant' upgrade and will be available free as of June 26th. Read more Read full story → Dive in: Waterproof compact group test posted Published on Tuesday, June 17, 2014 6:26:00 AM GMT For those of us here in the Northern Hemisphere summer is upon us. We're celebrating the arrival of longer days and seaside vacations with our annual waterproof compact group test. This year's test includes the Canon PowerShot D30, Nikon Coolpix AW120, Olympus Tough TG-3, and Ricoh WG-4 GPS. See which of these rugged compacts came out on top. Read full story → ThinkTank introduces new 'Airport Roller Derby' bag Published on Tuesday, June 17, 2014 5:07:12 PM GMT If you want to bring the intensity of a full contact sport to the way you transport your camera gear, ThinkTank's new Airport Roller Derby bag may interest you. It's a large rolling bag built to accommodate a 15-inch laptop, up to two standard DSLRs with lenses attached and six to seven standard zoom lenses or strobes. With four dual wheels it will roll upright, tilted back or on its side. Read more Read full story → New Fujifilm X-series firmware adds direct instax printing Published on Tuesday, June 17, 2014 8:59:44 PM GMT Fujifilm has announced a firmware update for three of its X-Series camera, allowing them to print images instantly from the instax Share SP-1 printer. The Fujifilm XQ1, X-M1 and X-A1 cameras updated with the new firmware will be able to send photos directly to the compact instax printer, rather than by way of mobile device as is currently the case. The firmware should be available in late June, and Fujifilm plans to add the feature to more cameras. Learn more Read full story → Canon UK announces EF-M 55-200mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM for EOS M Published on Tuesday, June 17, 2014 9:00:43 PM GMT Canon UK has announced the EF-M 55-200mm f/4-6.3 IS STM, a compact telephoto zoom for the EOS M mirrorless system. Canon claims the new lens offers high-end optical performance, a 'near-silent' stepping motor and a 3.5-stop optical image stabilization system. Providing an 88-320mm equivalent range on the EOS M, it's the fourth lens in the series, priced at €389.99/£329.99 with availability (at least in Europe) in July. Read full story →
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