Flash manufacturer Cactus has updated firmware for its V6 wireless flash transceiver to include profiles for top end guns from Olympus and Panasonic's Micro Four Thirds and Four Thirds systems. Firmware 1.1.004 makes the V6 transmitter/receiver units compatible specifically with Olympus FL-50R, FL-36R and Panasonic FL-500R and FL-360R. Read more
December 1
An inventor from Bristol in the UK is developing an LED-based light source for high speed photography, promising to produce a burst of flash with a duration short enough to freeze a bullet. The Vela One, which will be priced at a similar level to standard hotshoe flashguns, uses nine LEDs arranged in a bank that generates a million lumens and is powered by just four AA cells that the inventor claims will last a full day’s shooting. Learn more
The Canon EOS 7D Mark II is the long-awaited replacement to the 7D, which was launched in 2009. It features a 20.2MP APS-C CMOS sensor and dual DIGIC 6 image processors. It has a new 65-point, all cross-type autofocus system as well as an updated version of Canon's Dual Pixel CMOS AF system that provides continuous phase detect focusing during video recording. We've just updated our first impressions review with analysis of the camera's performance in our studio scene. See how it compares
November 28
Even for photographers who would not even think about taking pictures with a smartphone camera, with the right accessories your phone can be a very useful photographic tool. The Lumu light meter is a great example - it plugs into the headphone socket of a smartphone and, with the help of the dedicated Lumu app, turns your smartphone into a fully-fledged light meter that can help enhance your understanding of a scene's lighting situation. Click through to read more
Lensbaby has announced its Circular Fisheye 5.8mm f/3.5 lens is now available with new mount options. Launched in April for Canon and Nikon DSLRs, the Circular Fisheye will soon be offered with Micro Four Thirds, Nikon F, Sony A and E, Samsung NX, Canon EF, and Pentax K mounts. Read more
November 27
The enthusiast camera category is small, but mighty. These cameras offer more high-end features and controls than their consumer-level counterparts, many doubling as excellent video and still cameras. Expect fast burst rates, strong image quality, solid AF performance and in several cases, 4k video capture. Read our 2014 enthusiast mirrorless roundup and see how the cameras in this category compare
Optical zooms with fast glass, the ability to capture in Raw, large sensors (compared to those in smartphones), and even EVFs are finding their way into this class of camera. And while they may lack the controls of bulkier enthusiast compacts, many of them offer comparable image quality in a sleeker package 2014 Enthusiast Pocketable Compact Roundup
There's a lot of action in the enthusiast DSLR segment at the moment, and this category in our seasonal roundup includes the top-performing APS-C DSLRs from each manufacturers. These cameras may not have full frame sensors, but what they do have is pro-level controls and features, borrowed from their high-end cousins. Read more in our 2014 enthusiast DSLR roundup
2014 saw the addition of numerous consumer-oriented mirrorless cameras, many borrowing high-end features from their enthusiast-level counterparts. These cameras make for excellent second cameras to a DSLR and great standalone cameras for anyone craving controls, good image quality and a compact size. Find out which we recommend in our 2014 Mid-level mirrorless roundup
As often as we can, we like to put the cameras that we test into the hands of working photographers to find out what they think. Recently we gave the Samsung NX1 to Jordan Stead, staff photographer at SeattlePI.com, and ventured out to nearby Carkeek Park to photograph the salmon run. A seasoned shooter accustomed to pro camera bodies, Jordan gave the NX1's hybrid AF system and 28.2MP BSI-CMOS sensor a try. See the video
November 26
Sony announced the Alpha 7 II last week relatively quietly, introducing a new member to its full-frame mirrorless family. The a7 II brings 5-axis in-body stabilization to a full-frame camera for the first time, claiming 4.5 stops in shake reduction. Other updates include improved ergonomics - you can see these for yourself in our hands-on overview of the a7 II. Here's what you need to know about Sony's newest Alpha camera. Read more
The Samsung NX mini is truly tiny, offering a 20MP 1" sensor inside a highly compact body which features a 180-degree tilting LCD and extensive connectivity features. The mini's touch-sensitive display is the camera's primary interface for changing shooting settings, and an interchangeable lens mount should make this the ideal combination of versatility and point-and-shoot simplicity. Read our review to find out how it compares
Despite the emergence of the mirrorless class, the market is still dominated by conventional DSLRs. Large sensors, optical viewfinders, and sizable grips make them comfortable choices for many aspiring photographers. We cover seven consumer and mid-level models in this roundup. Find out which we recommend. Read more
Sony Electronics has announced US pricing and availability for its recently announced Alpha 7 II camera. The a7 II is the world's first full-frame mirrorless camera with in-body image stabilization (5-axis, no less), and also offers improved controls, focusing performance, and video specs. It will be available on December 9th for $1700 body only and $2000 with the 28-70mm F3.5-5.6 FE lens. We'll be getting our hands on a beta version shortly and will post samples as soon as possible. Read more
Among all of the excitement around the a7 II, Sony quietly announced a new A-mount lens last week. The 70-300mm F4.5 – F5.6 G SSM II lens for A-mount offers faster AF tracking, a new Nano AR coating, and weatherproofing, and will be available in February for $1150. The company also announced the development of Vario-Sonnar T* 24-70mm F2.8 ZA SSM II and 16-35mm F2.8 ZA SSM II A-mount lenses, which will arrive next Spring with similar improvements. Read more
We're updating our 'What to buy and why' camera roundups to include new models introduced in 2014, and first up is the enthusiast compact camera class. These cameras may be a bit too big to fit in your pocket but most are compact enough to be considered appealing alternatives to heavier, bulkier, interchangeable lens camera systems. Read more
November 25
Hasselblad has announced the Stellar II, an enthusiast compact 'not intended to be judged against other cameras'. According to Hasselbad. the Stellar II has been 'conceived and crafted exclusively for aficionados, collectors, and connoisseurs'. Like other recent Hasselblads, the Stellar II is essentially a rebadged Sony camera - the Cyber-shot RX100 II in this case. Available grip finishes include olive, walnut, padouk, and carbon fiber. You can pick one up for yourself at an MSRP of $2395/€1650. Click through to feast your eyes (just don't judge)
The Nikon D750 is a full-frame DSLR that mates features from the D810 with a 24MP sensor, providing a faster frame-rate than any non-pro full-frame Nikon DSLR since the D700. Its comprehensive still and video photography specifications are aimed directly at enthusiasts and full-frame upgraders. We've made a significant update to our D750 first impressions review including a shooting experience and studio scene analysis. Read more
November 24
Panasonic has announced that its DMC-CM1 'compact camera with smartphone technology' will be sold in the UK. Originally the company had marked out France and Germany as the only countries to get the device, but citing 'high demand' it has included a limited number of UK stores to stock it. Read more
November 23
DPReview members are a talented group and we've been highlighting their photography in a series of readers' showcases. Recently we asked the Portrait & People Photography forum to share their favorite shots. They responded with excellent work both in and out of the studio, and we've picked a few of our favorites to share. See gallery
November 22
Flickr Wall Art now allows users to order prints from more than 50 million photographs, the service has announced. This follows Wall Art's arrival in October, and moves to include all applicable freely-licensed Creative Commons images, licensed artists images, and a curated selection of content from NASA. Read more
In this article, nature photographer Erez Marom shares the story of his panoramic shot 'Clouds over Skagsanden', taken earlier this year in the Lofoten Islands in Arctic Norway. His article covers everything from preparing to shoot at the location, to the shoot itself through to final post-processing of the resulting image. Click through to read Erez Marom's article 'Behind the Shot: Clouds over Skagsanden'
November 21
The Nexus 6 is Google's showcase phone for Android 5.0 'Lollipop' and the first Nexus device made by Motorola. It comes with a dual-LED ring flash, a 13MP sensor with a fast F2.0 aperture, optical image stabilization and 4K video recording. DxOMark Mobile put the Nexus 6 through its image quality tests and has just published the results. Read more
Canon's successor to the EOS 7D was a long time coming, but the 7D Mark II appears to have all the makings of a DSLR worth the wait. Offering a 20.2MP APS-C CMOS sensor, Dual Pixel AF with 65 phase-detect points and more robust weather-resistance, the 7D II is a formidable follow-up indeed. Our full review is well underway and we've just updated our first impressions with a detailed shooting experience. Read more
November 20
German television and photographic equipment maker Metz has filed for insolvency according to German media. Metz is known for producing high-end lighting equipment including flash units, studio flashes, and video lights. Approximately 600 jobs will be affected by the company's financial situation. Read more
Sony has announced its Alpha 7 II, which the company has managed to keep very close to its vest. The big story on this 24MP full-frame mirrorless is its 5-axis sensor-shift image stabilization - the first that we've seen in a full-frame camera. Sony claims that this IS system can reduce shake by 4.5 stops using the CIPA standard. The Hybrid AF system has also been improved upon, offering 30% faster speeds and a 1.5X improvement in tracking. The a7 II also sports a larger grip, new front dial, and sensibly relocated shutter release. Read more
Fujifilm has unveiled two macro extension tubes for its X-series interchangeable lens cameras, as well as a launch date for the previously-promised Fujifilm X-T1 firmware. More firmware updates are also announced for the X-E2, X-E1, X-Pro1 and X-30, as well as the introduction of tethering software for PC. Read more
Just announced by a company of the same name, the Lume Cube is an off-camera lighting option that can be used with a smartphone or GoPro Hero action camera. Thanks to its silicone shell it is water resistant and a 1/4-inch thread makes it mountable on a tripod or other camera support. Additionally, it can be attached to most surfaces magnetically or using a suction-cup. Lume Cube is controlled via an Android or iOS smartphone app. Read more
November 19
Panasonic has announced another firmware update for the Lumix DMC-GH4, this one following closely after the update it pushed out in September enabling tethering and 4K photo mode. The software is scheduled to release on an unspecified day in December, and will bring with it changes revolving around video output options. Read more
Adobe has launched Adobe Camera Raw v8.7 and Lightroom v5.7, adding support for the Canon EOS 7D Mark II, Samsung NX1, Fujifilm X100T, Canon G7 X, Panasonic LX100 and a host of other recent cameras. An update to DNG Converter allows files to be adapted for use with older versions of Adobe's software. The latest downloads are available through the software update feature or the links provided. Learn more
Google is working on an image identification technology at its Research Labs in Mountain View, California. The latest complex algorithm from the search engine giant is able to systematically 'produce captions to accurately describe images the first time it sees them', creating coherent sentences rather than individual tags. Read more
Casio Japan has unveiled the Exilim EX-FC500S, a 16.1MP point-and-shoot designed to aid golfers in improving their skills. The EX-FC500S offers this by way of 240fps slow-motion video recording, intelligent automatic video editing to isolate the swing, and Wi-Fi connectivity for analysis on a mobile device. Read more
November 18
Panasonic's Lumix DMC-LX100 turned a lot of heads when it was introduced at Photokina 2014. That might be because its spec sheet reads like an enthusiast's wish list of compact camera features - a 16MP Four Thirds sensor (albeit a multi-aspect design using 12.7MP), fast 24-75mm equiv. F1.7-2.8 lens, built-in EVF, 4K video recording and Wi-Fi with NFC. The large sensor zoom compact has become an intensely competitive field in recent year, read the review to see how the LX100 compares.
Blocks Camera of California has introduced its Blocks+ multi-functional camera. The Blocks+ features a modular design allowing photographers to swap in components, referred to as 'blocks', for various types of recording like 3D and 360-degree video. The blocks also include battery modules that can be added for extra battery life. Learn more
November 17
Nikon Japan has announced a limited edition version of its Df DSLR with gold embellishments where the standard version has bare metal. Produced as a limited edition to mark the first anniversary of the Df's launch, the gold model will come in two forms – body only, or paired with a gold-ringed AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G. There will be 600 units of the body-only form, and 1000 of the kit with the lens. Read more
Sony has unveiled a new stacked CMOS image sensor for use in smartphones. Called the IMX230, it features 21 effective megapixels, on-chip phase detection AF and 4K video recording. The chip is a 1/2.4-inch type with square pixels measuring 1.12um x 1.12um each. Video of up to 4K (4096 x 2160) resolution is available with HDR function (also available in stills mode). Read more
Ricoh's Pentax 645Z offers a level of consumer-friendliness previously unseen in its class. The 50MP CMOS medium format sensor is complemented by a number of features from the K-3 DSLR, including a 27-point AF system with 25 cross-type points. We've added it to our studio scene tool so you can compare its results to the likes of the Nikon D810. Read more
November 16
We're accepting submissions for our latest Readers' Showcase and we want to see your best portraits! Stop by the Portrait & People Photography forum and show us your best shots. Our favorite images will be included in a showcase article on the homepage. We're accepting photos through the end of the week, so dust off your hard drive and submit some of your favorites from your portfolio. Read more
November 15
The winners of the UK’s Take a View 2014 competition have been announced. Taking the title Landscape Photographer of the Year and a £10,000 prize, photographer Mark Littlejohn beat around 20,000 entries with his picture of a temporary stream created by heavy rain tumbling down the side of a Glencoe mountain, in Scotland. See gallery
Rumors have surfaced that the Olympus E-M5 has reached the end of its production. According to 4/3rumors, retailers in US and Europe have received notice from Olympus that it has stopped production of the camera. Olympus hasn't made an official announcement yet. Read more
November 14
American professional camera dealer Digital Transitions has announced that it will host a preview event of a new Phase One medium format digital camera system that doesn’t use a reflex mirror system. Although Phase One has yet to comment, it appears that the A-Series will comprise three configurations which use different Phase One backs. The Phase One A250 will feature the IQ250’s 50MP CMOS sensor, while the A260 and A280 systems will use the IQ260 and IQ280 CCD sensors of 60 and 80 million pixels respectively. Read more
A collection of photos taken in 1862 during the Prince of Wales' tour of the Middle East, showing historical figures and sites, has gone on display at Buckingham Palace in London. Taken by Francis Bedford, who was the first photographer to ever accompany a royal tour, the show comprises almost 100 original prints and documents the progress of the party as they travelled from London to Egypt, Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, Turkey and Greece. See gallery
Samsung is showing off a prototype camera that captures 360-degree 3D images in an effort to provide content for its virtually reality headset, the Samsung Gear VR. Using cameras arranged into 8 stereoscopic pairs around the device's perimeter, the prototype (called Project Beyond) can capture 3D still panoramas, with single frames measuring 35MP. Learn more
November 13
DJI has launched its latest drone, the Inspire 1, equipped with a new camera unit capable of 12MP stills and 4K video recording. The latest addition to DJI’s arsenal also includes a newly developed gimbal that can be removed and potentially upgraded in the future. Read more
JVC has introduced the GY-LS300 4KCAM Handheld S35mm camcorder, a relatively compact Micro Four Thirds model featuring Ultra HD-resolution 4K recording. JVC has incorporated a Super 35mm CMOS sensor alongside the MFT lens mount, with the maker promising full native angle of view via its proprietary Variable Scan Mapping tech. Read more
The Leica X (Typ 113) is the company's latest fixed-lens APS-C camera. While the X continues to use a 16MP APS-C sensor and a 35mm equivalent lens, at F1.7 it boasts a considerably faster aperture than the F2.8 of its forebear the X-2. We've spent some time with the new X, and we've added it to our studio comparison database. Click through to see how it compares
November 12
Phottix has unveiled Sony versions of its Mitros and Mitros+ TTL flash units for that manufacturer's multi-interface hotshoe. The Mitros+ offers remote radio flash control, with built in Phottix Odin and Strato II receivers. Both flash units provide a guide number of 58, with 180° rotation and tilt by 97°. Learn more
Samsung's NX1 is the first serious attempt by the Korean manufacturer to target high-end enthusiast and semi-pro photographers. Featuring a 28MP sensor, 15fps shooting capability, 4K video mode and an advanced AF system, the NX1 has features to spare. We've been shooting with a pre-production camera for a few days, in combination with the NX 16-50mm F2.0-2.8 S ED OIS and new 50-150mm F2.8 S. Click through for some sample images
November 11
*Updated* It appears that Hasselblad has closed its Treviso design center in northern Italy. The facility was responsible for Hasselblad's Lunar, Stellar and HV cameras, all re-badged Sony products aimed at 'amateur photo-enthusiasts who demand the ultimate in both style and performance'. Read more
creativeLIVE is hosting two days of 'instruction and inspiration' from renowned nature and wildlife photographer Frans Lanting. His class includes presentations about creative ideas and technical skills, and also features landscape and wildlife photography instruction during special field workshop sessions at prime photographic destinations along the California coast. Click through for a link
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