Digital Photography Review Newsletter: Tuesday, 9 June 2015

	Digital Photography Review Newsletter Tuesday, 9 June 2015 The most popular weekly photography newsletter, with over 300,000 subscribers
Welcome to the 564th Digital Photography Review newsletter. We're in another of those transitional periods, here in Seattle: the weather is getting warmer and the sunshine more consistent, meaning summer must very nearly be here. It's a similar story in the office, with Rebel reviews and a detailed superzoom roundup just a matter of days away. Despite this, we've had more than a light drizzle of interesting stories in the meantime. Here are some selected highlights from amongst them: Tamron SP 150-600mm F5.0-6.3 Di VC USD field test The Tamron 150-600mm is one of the most affordable super-tele zooms on the market, providing one of the most accessible routes to a world of long-distance shooting. Dan Carr has taken the big Tamron out into the Canadian wilds to give a real-world perspective of using the lens on his Canon EOS 7D Mark II. Click here to follow him into the far distant wilderness. Panasonic Lumix DMC-G7 gallery extended We've been shooting with Panasonic's latest diminutive DSLR-like mirrorless model for the past few weeks and have just expanded our samples gallery. We've used a mixture of lenses and added a combination of full-resolution images and 8MP grabs from the camera's 4K Photo mode. Click through to see what this little camera can do. Nikon 1 J5 and Samsung NX500 studio test samples published In addition to working on our forthcoming reviews, we've been adding further cameras to our studio test scenes. The latest additions are Nikon's 1 J5, a more enthusiast-friendly addition to Nikon's 1 system, and Samsung's scaled-down APS-C mirrorless camera, the NX500. Click to see how these two rapid mirrorless cameras compare What else is coming up? We're putting the finishing touches to our Rebel T6s / EOS 760D review, ready for publication before the next newsletter, but there's also a strange, hushed whispering noise in the office that suggests we're going to have a very busy week. Keep refreshing your browser over the next couple of days to find out what the hell I'm definitely not alluding to. Richard
News updates Metabones introduces Speed Booster XL 0.64x for Panasonic GH4 Published on Monday, June 8, 2015 9:43:57 PM GMT Metabones has announced a new Speed Booster designed for the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4. The Speed Booster XL 0.64x is designed to reduce the camera's 2x crop factor by 0.64x, meaning that in 4K video mode the GH4's 2.34x crop factor becomes 1.50x - Super 35 cine format. Read more Tric is a wireless flash trigger for the iPhone Published on Monday, June 8, 2015 6:52:14 PM GMT The LED flash units in smartphones are usually poor performers compared to the Xenon flashes in dedicated cameras or even external flashguns. If you feel your iPhone photography has been held back by your Apple device's underpowered LED light, Tric's new Kickstarter project might just be what you've been waiting for. The team behind Tric is looking to fund the final development and mass production of a wireless trigger unit for the iPhone. Read more TTRobotix introduces TTR-SB Seawolf submarine for GoPro cameras Published on Monday, June 8, 2015 6:16:02 PM GMT Swedish company TTRobotix has introduced the TTR-SB Seawolf, a remote controlled submarine that includes a forward-facing mount for the GoPro HERO3 and HERO4 cameras. Seawolf allows video footage and still images to be captured underwater in depths up to 8m/26ft while an operator remotely controls the vessel; live streaming is also available. Read more Nikon 1 J5 and Samsung NX500 added to studio test scene Published on Monday, June 8, 2015 12:00:00 PM GMT We've just added a pair of compact mirrorless cameras to our studio test scene - the Nikon 1 J5 and Samsung NX500. The J5 brings a 1"-type 20.8MP BSI-CMOS sensor to Nikon's entry-level mirrorless lineup. The NX500 is Samsung's scaled down version of its flagship NX1, using the same 28MP APS-C BSI-CMOS sensor. See how each camera performs in our studio scene. Read more Readers' Showcase: Alexander Jikharev Published on Sunday, June 7, 2015 12:00:00 PM GMT DPReview regular Alexander Jikharev counts Henri Cartier-Bresson among his photography heroes. When asked why, he quotes his understanding of photography as 'recognition, in real life, of a rhythm of surfaces, lines, and values.' That rhythm is alive and well in Jikharev's photography. Take a look at a few of his images here and find out more about him in our Q&A. See gallery Get your photos featured in an upcoming Readers' Showcase Published on Saturday, June 6, 2015 12:00:00 PM GMT We see the work of our talented readers every day when they post their images to our galleries, forums and challenges. Lately we've been showing off some of our favorite reader portfolios in a weekly showcase. If you'd like your photos to be considered for a future Readers' Showcase, just drop us a line. Read more Photographer creates picture of 100-man orchestra… with the same person playing each instrument Published on Friday, June 5, 2015 7:49:57 PM GMT An Oslo musician and photographer has created a photo stitched together using 400 images, showing an entire orchestra with every instrument played by the same person. Violinist Alexander Light created the 200MP picture by shooting percussionist Heming ValebjØrg in every seat on a stage while he played the appropriate instrument for that position. Read more Marwell Wildlife Photographer of the Year contest now accepting entries Published on Friday, June 5, 2015 6:02:55 PM GMT The sixth Marwell Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition is now accepting entries. This is an annual contest open to wildlife photographers residing in the UK, with a top prize that includes an eight day photography trip in Estonia via Wildlife Worldwide (valued at £1,795/$2,740). Read more Nikon D3200 firmware C 1.04 available Published on Friday, June 5, 2015 6:00:06 PM GMT Nikon has released firmware 1.04 for the D3200. This update addresses an issue with the camera's memory card slot, causing the access lamp to light for too long or the camera to give an error while accessing the memory card. Read more Miggo Agua IPX3 storm-proof camera bags launch on Kickstarter Published on Thursday, June 4, 2015 10:06:00 PM GMT Miggo, maker of non-traditional camera straps that convert into wraps, announced in April that it would launch its new 'storm-proof' camera bag Agua on Kickstarter in early June. That crowd-funding campaign is now live. The Miggo Agua bag has an IPX3-standard rating, which means it can protect gear from pouring rain and similar types of water exposure. Read more Hasselblad returns to roots with new aerial camera series, this time with no moving parts Published on Thursday, June 4, 2015 7:33:35 PM GMT Hasselblad has announced a new aerial camera that it says provides the 'ultimate' in image quality for aerial photographers. The camera, the Hasselblad A5D, has no moving parts and as such avoids unintentional internal mechanical movements that aircraft vibrations can cause. Read more Sony rides wave of US Mirrorless sales surge Published on Thursday, June 4, 2015 10:00:00 AM GMT Mirrorless sales in the USA are rising, with sales values up 16.5% over the past year, says market researcher NPD Group. Sony highlighted the figures while celebrating its own success: with the success of the a7 series helping it generate 66% more revenue from mirrorless sales over the last twelve months. Sony also points out that the Consumer Electronics Association has recently chosen 'Mirrorless' as its approved term for the class of cameras. Read more SLR Magic unveils HyperPrime Cine 50mm T0.95 lens and Magic-Rangefinder Cine Adapter Published on Wednesday, June 3, 2015 8:03:21 PM GMT SLR Magic has introduced its HyperPrime Cine 50mm T0.95 standard lens for Micro Four Thirds cameras. The HyperPrime Lens gives a 100mm equivalent focal length and offers a T0.95 maximum aperture, black anodized finish and weighs 620g/1.4lb. Also introduced is the SLR Magic-Rangefinder Cine Adapter with an integrated focus ring. Read more Shortlisted images from Environmental Photographer of the Year 2015 to go on display Published on Wednesday, June 3, 2015 7:17:48 PM GMT London's Royal Geographical Society is set to play host to an exhibition of the shortlisted entries of the 2015 Environmental Photographer of the Year competition. The exhibition, which opens for three weeks on June 22nd, will feature 111 of the best images as selected by the competition's five judges. The ultimate winners will be announced at a ceremony on 25th June. Read more Enthusiast stalwart: Nikon D7200 in-depth review Published on Wednesday, June 3, 2015 5:13:00 PM GMT Following up the success of Nikon's D7100 is no easy task, but the D7200 promises some notable feature upgrades. Its 24.2MP APS-C sensor is complemented by an updated 51-point AF system that claims sensitivity down to -3EV. Other enhancements include an increased buffer depth, 1080/60p video, built-in Wi-Fi with NFC and improved battery life. We've put Nikon's claims to the test in our in-depth review. Read more DPReview recommends: Best smartphone cameras [UPDATED] Published on Wednesday, June 3, 2015 4:23:00 PM GMT In many users' pockets consumer-level digital compact cameras have been replaced by smartphones. The cameras of the latter don't usually have zoom lenses or xenon flashes but image sensor technology has been rapidly improving, making smartphones important photographic tools for many. We've made a list in no particular order our current favorite smartphone cameras for those who are looking to buy their first smartphone or upgrade their current device. UPDATED TO INCLUDE PANASONIC CM1 Read more World's highest resolution panoramic photo is stitched from 70,000 images Published on Tuesday, June 2, 2015 7:02:00 PM GMT A team of five photographers has created what they describe as the world's highest resolution panoramic photograph by stitching 70,000 digital images together to create a 365 gigapixel photograph. Recorded using a Canon EOS 70D with the EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens on a 2x converter, the picture took 35 hours of shooting over the course of 15 days just to capture. Read more Opinion: Is the M Monochrom Typ 246 an anachronism or a modern marvel? Published on Tuesday, June 2, 2015 6:35:54 PM GMT Before the popularization of color film, most cameras shot exclusively in black and white. Leica's M Monochrom (Typ 246) and its predecessor, the M Monochrom, are remarkable not only because they shoot in black and white, but because they offer no option for recording in color. Is the black-and-white-only digital camera a radical concept, or a costly novelty? We ponder its existence. Read more Canon EF 50mm F1.8 STM real-world samples gallery Published on Tuesday, June 2, 2015 12:00:00 PM GMT The EF 50mm F1.8 STM is Canon's newest iteration of its classic 'nifty fifty' lens. It's a fast, inexpensive normal lens on a full frame DSLR, but also functions as an 80mm equivalent lens on Canon's APS-C bodies. How does it perform in real-world use?  We've been using the lens for a few days and put together a gallery of samples. We took quite a few shots at wide apertures to see how the lens performed, but have also included photos taken at smaller apertures. See photos Phase One XF medium format camera system offers new AF system and touchscreen interface Published on Tuesday, June 2, 2015 11:00:00 AM GMT Phase One has announced its new modular medium format XF camera system. The body features a new 'Honeybee' autofocus platform (created 'in-house'), touchscreen interface, and your choice of optical viewfinders. It supports the company's IQ1 and new IQ3 digital backs, with the latter supporting resolutions of up to 80MP. Also announced today are a pair of Schneider lenses and an updated version of Capture One software. Read more Lensbaby expands offerings to Fujifilm X mount Published on Tuesday, June 2, 2015 1:09:52 AM GMT Lensbaby has announced availability of several of its most popular lenses for Fujifilm's X mount. The Composer Pro with Sweet 35 Optic, Composer Pro with Sweet 50 Optic, Circular Fisheye and Velvet 56 are all now available for Fujifilm's mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras. Read more
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