Digital Photography Review Newsletter: Wednesday, 2 July 2014

	Digital Photography Review Newsletter Wednesday, 2 July 2014 The most popular weekly photography newsletter, with over 300,000 subscribers
Welcome to the 516th Digital Photography Review newsletter. As July 4th comes around the corner (as a Brit I have mixed feelings about this, but I am looking forward to a day off!) we're working hard to get as much content out across the rest of the summer as we can. Photokina is looming and with it, no doubt a period of pretty frantic activity towards the end of August. Last week's big story was Nikon's new full-frame DSLR, the D810 but we've also been doing a lot of work on the company's flagship 1-series camera the 1 V3 and I've been out shooting with the Leica T (and not enjoying it all that much - a story for another time). For now, here are a few content highlights from the past few days: A Little Bit Better: Nikon D810 First-impressions Review The Nikon D810 replaces both the D800 and D800E, and the changes that Nikon has made in the new DSLR are significant. There's no OLPF to get in the way of resolution, and as well as a lower base and higher maximum ISO sensitivity the D810 is 25% faster than its forebears, offers a slightly improved AF system and boasts 1080/60p video with built-in stereo recording. We had a chance to get our hands on a pre-production D810 recently, and we've prepared a detailed look at its key features. Click here to read our detailed first-impressions review of the Nikon D810 One of a Kind? Nikon 1 V3 First-impressions Review The Nikon 1 V3 offers an 18.4 megapixel 1"-type CMOS sensor, a significant gain in resolution over its 14.2 megapixel V2 predecessor. It also offers impressive 20 fps burst shooting with continuous AF and a Hybrid AF system using 171 contrast-detect and 105 phase-detect points. The V3 might just be the most promising mirrorless camera Nikon has offered enthusiasts yet, and our full review is well underway. In the meantime, take a look at our first impressions and shooting experience. Read our detailed first-impressions review of the Nikon 1 V3 Side-by-side shootout: Panasonic FZ1000 vs. Sony RX10 The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000 offers an impressive combination of image quality, zoom range and video capability in a convenient all-in-one package. But doesn't that sound a bit familiar? We grabbed Sony's DSC-RX10, which offers a similar specification, and shot them alongside one another, to see which would come out on top. Whether you're a stills shooter or a videographer, we think you'll find something interesting in our side-by-side comparison. See what we found when we put the FZ1000 up against the RX10 Nikon D810: What you Need to Know Nikon's new D810 replaces two models, the D800 and D800E. It brings a number of refinements, some of which are minor, but some that are potentially very significant. The D810's specification sheet is enormous and it's easy to miss things - in this article we're cutting through the PR jargon and breaking out the D810's main selling points. Click here to read our article 'Nikon D810: What you Need to Know' Tamron SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD lab test report The Tamron SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD is one of a select group of supertelephoto zooms for full frame SLRs that reaches or exceeds 400mm focal length, while still being reasonably portable. Its trump card over its closest competition lies in its longer focal length - at 600mm full zoom, it'll let you get your subjects that bit larger in the frame. But does this result in an unacceptable compromise in optical quality? Click here to see read our Tamron SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD lab test report What's coming up? We'll have a big update to our gallery of real-world samples on the Leica T in a few days, and we're also close to completing a full 'lab report' on the Nikon 1 V3. In addition, work continues on the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 and FZ1000. See you next week, and for our US readers, we hope you enjoy the long weekend. Take lots of pictures! Barney WTD #1464   GearShop update - a message from the team Now shipping: The Sony DSC-RX100 III continues to prove itself in the arena of large sensor compacts. With a faster lens, new electronic viewfinder, and inclusion of a built-in ND filter, this camera has taken quite a leap forward from its predecessors. After reading up on the new full review of this little charmer, you will find yours available for immediate purchase and 2-day delivery here. Nikon is still offering great instant savings on up to 7 different lenses when purchased with select DSLRs, and $100 off the Coolpix P530 superzoom. Until next week - the GearShop Team
News updates Lee introduces filter system for GoPro cameras Published on Tuesday, July 1, 2014 5:22:00 PM GMT Camera filter and lighting gel manufacturer Lee Filters has introduced a range of filters and filter holders aimed at extreme sports fans using GoPro action cams. The Lee Bug is available in two forms - the Lee Bug 3 and the Lee Bug 3+ - which are compatible with GoPro Hero 3 and Hero 3+ cameras. Read more Read full story → Sigma offers 'Try before you buy' program for DP2 Quattro Published on Tuesday, July 1, 2014 4:35:00 PM GMT Photographers looking to try out a Sigma dp2 Quattro compact digital camera before making a purchase (and given its radical design, that's a really good idea) can now take advantage of the Sigma 'Try Before You Buy' loaner program, launched today. Under the new program, photographers are invited to test the new camera before it begins shipping. Learn more Read full story → Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000 compared to Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 Published on Tuesday, July 1, 2014 2:00:00 PM GMT When it was introduced last year, the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 was peerless. It was the first superzoom to offer a 1"-type sensor, much larger than the 1/2.3"-type chips commonly found in that class. It paired that with an impressive F2.8 constant 24-200mm equivalent zoom. Now the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000 has joined the RX10 in this newly-minted category, boasting almost certainly the same sensor and a 25-400mm equivalent F2.8-4 lens. They line up nicely for a head-to-head comparison - and that's exactly what we've done. Read more Read full story → DPReview Reader Showcase: The beautiful game Published on Tuesday, July 1, 2014 7:00:00 AM GMT In honor of one of the World Cup, underway in Brazil right now, we asked DPReview forum members to share their best football shots (or soccer, as it's known in this corner of the world). We suspect more than a few devoted fans are spending time at the pub and not in front of their computers, but a faithful few submitted some of their favorite photos. They capture the spirit of the sport beautifully, from youth games to pros going toe-to-toe. Take a look at some of their work. See gallery Read full story → Metz flash units now available for Sony Multi Interface Shoe Published on Monday, June 30, 2014 10:18:00 PM GMT Owners of Sony SLT, NEX and R-series cameras with Multi Interface Shoes now have a couple more flash options. Two flash units offered by Metz, the mecablitz 44 AF-1 digital and 52 AF-1 digital, are now available for the Sony Multi Interface shoe. Read more Read full story → Leica M firmware 2.0.1.5 released Published on Monday, June 30, 2014 7:14:00 PM GMT Leica has released a firmware update for its M Typ 240 camera with a huge list of improvements and bug fixes. Firmware 2.0.1.5 adds a few new interesting features such as expanded Auto ISO options and the ability to use live view with any lens. The new firmware is available now. Read more Read full story → One of a kind? Nikon 1 V3 First Impressions Review Published on Monday, June 30, 2014 4:00:00 PM GMT The Nikon 1 V3 offers an 18.4 megapixel 1"-type CMOS sensor, a significant gain in resolution over its 14.2 megapixel V2 predecessor. It also offers impressive 20 fps burst shooting with continuous AF and a Hybrid AF system using 171 contrast-detect and 105 phase-detect points. The V3 might just be the most promising mirrorless camera Nikon has offered enthusiasts yet, and our full review is well underway. In the meantime, take a look at our first impressions and shooting experience. Read more Read full story → Surf's Up: Clark Little's incredible wave photography Published on Sunday, June 29, 2014 9:00:00 AM GMT Anyone who has attempted surfing can testify to the amazing force generated by even small-seeming ocean waves. That's part of what makes Clark Little's photography so impressive. Formerly a surfer himself, Little specializes in capturing shorebreaks - large waves that break on the shoreline. It requires impeccable timing and the dangers are real, but the payoff is evident in his breathtaking photos. Take a look at some of Little's work. See gallery Read full story → Making a splash: Photos capture colorful liquids frozen in time Published on Saturday, June 28, 2014 7:00:00 AM GMT Jeremy Floto and Cassandra Warner are the husband-and-wife duo behind Floto+Warner, a New York-based photo studio. Their aptly titled 'Colourant' series features Western and Midwestern US landscapes with - literally - a splash of color. Fast shutter speeds freeze the action and give them the appearance of sculptures, suspended in time for only a moment. They answered some questions about the series - see more of their work and find out how it came together. See gallery Read full story → What The Duck #1464 Published on Friday, June 27, 2014 10:09:00 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 → Fujifilm issues firmware update for X-series and fixed lens cameras Published on Friday, June 27, 2014 9:37:00 PM GMT Fujifilm has announced firmware updates for a number of X-series and FinePix cameras. Full details of the firmware updates were announced on the company’s blog, and the new firmware versions are now available for download from the global Fujifilm site. Included in this round of updates are the X-T1, X-Pro 1, X-E1, X-E2, X-M1, X-A1, XQ1, FinePix S1, FinePix XP70 and FinePix XP200. Read more Read full story → Opinion: Why Small Changes Make a Big Difference to Nikon's D810 Published on Friday, June 27, 2014 6:44:00 PM GMT The Nikon D810 might seem like an incremental update to the older D800 and D800E but under the hood there are some significant new features. In this article, contributing writer Damien Demolder tells us why the numerous small changes that Nikon has made in the D810 add up to a big difference in the final product. Click through to read his opinion piece. Read full story → Apple to cease development of Aperture Published on Friday, June 27, 2014 5:42:00 PM GMT Apple has announced that it is ceasing development of its Aperture photo editing application. The company will instead be focusing on the upcoming Photos for OS X software, which will be included in the next version of Mac OS X (Yosemite). Apple will ensure compatibility with the next version of OS X and will allow you to import your Aperture library into the new Photos app. This certainly bodes well for Adobe, since even more Aperture will be defecting to Lightroom. Read full story → Nikon D810: What You Need to Know Published on Friday, June 27, 2014 6:00:00 AM GMT Nikon's new D810 replaces two models, the D800 and D800E. It brings a number of refinements, some of which are minor, but some that are potentially very significant. The D810's specification sheet is enormous and it's easy to miss things - in this article we're cutting through the PR jargon and breaking out the D810's main selling points. Click through to read more Read full story → EyeEm updates its Android app for clutter-free viewing Published on Friday, June 27, 2014 12:49:00 AM GMT The image sharing platform and marketplace EyeEm has released an update to its mobile app for Android devices. The new version includes some modifications under the hood to improve performance and make future upgrades easier, but it's the cleaner, redesigned interface that most users will notice first. Read more Read full story → Tamron lens profiles added to Adobe Camera Raw Published on Friday, June 27, 2014 12:28:00 AM GMT Tamron has announced the addition of profiles for two of its lenses to Adobe Camera Raw. The Tamron SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD for Nikon mount and the 16-300mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD Macro for both Canon and Nikon mount have been profiled for use with Adobe's tools for lens aberration correction for users of Adobe Photoshop CC, Adobe Photoshop CS6, Adobe Camera Raw and Lightroom 5. Read full story → Olympus debuts 'Anywhere Classroom' video series Published on Thursday, June 26, 2014 5:00:00 PM GMT Olympus US has announced a new video series. Titled 'Anywhere Classroom', the videos provide beginners with tips for a variety of shooting scenarios. The first three videos launch today, featuring Olympus Visionary Jay Dickman offering tips for outdoor photography and demonstrating with the OM-D E-M1. A second season is planned for fall 2014 featuring advice for light painting and night shooting. See video Read full story → A little bit better: Nikon D810 First Impressions Review Published on Thursday, June 26, 2014 4:01:00 AM GMT The Nikon D810 replaces both the D800 and D800E, and the changes that Nikon has made in the new DSLR are significant. There's no OLPF to get in the way of resolution, and as well as a lower base and higher maximum ISO sensitivity the D810 is 25% faster than its forebears, offers a slightly improved AF system and boasts 1080/60p video with built-in stereo recording. We had a chance to get our hands on a pre-production D810 recently, and we've prepared a detailed look at its key features. Click through to read our First Impressions Review Read full story → Nikon announces full-frame D810 with no OLPF Published on Thursday, June 26, 2014 4:01:00 AM GMT Nikon has announced its latest midrange FX-format digital SLR: the D810. The camera replaces both the D800 and D800E, and features a 36.3MP CMOS sensor with no low-pass filter. The EXPEED 4 engine from the D4s has been incorporated, allowing for a wider ISO range, improved image quality and metering as well as faster burst shooting. Nikon has also redesigned the mirror mechanism and introduced an electronic first-curtain shutter option to reduce the risk of 'shutter shake' reducing resolution. Click through to read more Read full story → Blackmagic releases firmware 1.8 for all cinema cameras Published on Wednesday, June 25, 2014 8:43:00 PM GMT Blackmagic Design, maker of a range of high-end compact cinema cameras, has announced a firmware update for all of their models. Available today, the new firmware provides an entirely new code base for the Blackmagic cameras and will enable the company to roll out new features to their devices. The new update claims to provide improved performance and introduces a new user interface. Learn more Read full story → Tamron SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD lab test report Published on Wednesday, June 25, 2014 6:22:16 PM GMT The Tamron SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD is one of a select group of supertelephoto zooms for full frame SLRs that reaches or exceeds 400mm focal length, while still being reasonably portable. Its trump card over its closest competition lies in its longer focal length - at 600mm full zoom, it'll let you get your subjects that bit larger in the frame. But does this result in an unacceptable compromise in optical quality? See the lens test data and our analysis Read full story → Tamrac brand and assets acquired by Gura Gear Published on Wednesday, June 25, 2014 5:15:00 PM GMT Camera bag maker Tamrac has been acquired by the Ogden, Utah-based Gura Gear. Tamrac, under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection since January, will see its brand and assets handed over when the acquisition is finalized later this month. At that point Tamrac's assets will be relocated to Gura Gear's Utah headquarters. Read full story → Reader showcase: Using a Sony NEX as a digital back on an antique camera Published on Wednesday, June 25, 2014 9:00:00 AM GMT Our DIY forum isn't a month old and we've already seen it fill with interesting projects. Some solve a problem, while others are pure fun. Decidedly in the latter category, dpreview forum member vkphoto has put a Sony NEX-F3 'digital back' on a vintage ICA Toska camera from the early 1900s and a Carl Zeiss Tessar 135mm 1:6.3. See how he brought new life to an antique with a $15 modification. Learn more Read full story → Huawei announces octa-core Honor 6 with 13MP camera Published on Wednesday, June 25, 2014 12:01:00 AM GMT Chinese smartphone maker Huawei has announced the Honor 6, a high-end model that is squarely aimed at the the competition's flagship devices such as the Apple iPhone 5s and Samsung Galaxy S5. Though not necessarily groundbreaking, the camera specs are decent with a 13MP 1/3-inch BSI CMOS sensor that we've also seen on the OnePlus One. The lens offers a fast F2.0 aperture but there is no talk of an optical image stabilization system. Learn more Read full story →
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