Digital Photography Review Newsletter: Tuesday, March 15, 2016

The Digital Photography Review Newsletter for Tuesday, March 15, 2016

The Digital Photography Review Newsletter The most popular weekly photography newsletter, with over 400,000 subscribers Tuesday, March 15, 2016

Welcome to the 604th Digital Photography Review newsletter. Well, it's still raining here in Seattle and although the clocks went forward this weekend it doesn't feel like we're much closer to spring. Hopefully things will brighten up here soon but in the meantime we've been keeping busy writing reviews, shooting reports and taking pictures. You'll see the fruits of our labor at the links below. And please remember to give us feedback if you've got any questions, suggestions or requests. We love to hear from you. Retro through-and-through: Fujifilm X-Pro2 Review The Fujifilm X-Pro2 is a radical reworking of the first X-Series mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. It may look essentially the same as the X-Pro1 but just about every aspect of the camera has been refreshed, extended and enhanced. Read our full review to find out what these changes amount to. Click here to read our review of the Fujifilm X-Pro2 On assignment: the Leica Q at a Portland wedding Portland, OR is also known as 'Bridgetown' for its many crisscrossing bridges slicing through the urban landscape. Rather appropriately, then, the Leica Q is a bridge of sorts for writer Carey Rose, as it is the first mirrorless camera he's used alongside DSLRs while shooting a wedding. So, can the Q replace a full-frame DSLR and wide-angle lens? Click here to read about our experience shooting a wedding with the Leica Q Accessory Review: Tenba Cooper Messenger bag Over the past few years, Tenba has gained a reputation for its solid line of messenger-style shoulder bags. The Cooper line, introduced in late 2015, promises the same reliability with luxury materials like full grain leather accents. Suitable for mirrorless and DSLR kits, we took a look at the Cooper 13 Slim and Cooper 15. Read our review of the Tenba Cooper Messenger bag From another planet: Venus LAOWA 15mm F4 Wide Angle Macro quick review A full-frame, ultra-wide angle macro lens from a very new brand provides a unique option for users of many different systems and lens mounts. Combining a 1:1 macro, wide angle of view and shift lens into a single body, the Venus LAOWA 15mm F4 is a lens with more than a few tricks up its sleeve. This article explores those abilities and provides some real world samples from both full-frame and APS-C cameras. Click here to read our review of the Venus LAOWA 15mm F4 Thanks for reading! Barney Collaborations for Cause 2016 Are you in Seattle this spring? Come down to the Seattle Downtown Public Library, on Friday April 15th and Saturday April 16th 9 AM-4 PM, and join our friends the Blue Earth Alliance for Collaborations for Cause 2016. Innovations in Visual Storytelling for Impact. Harnessing the power of new technology, platforms and distribution channels opens up the potential to reach millions of people. But thriving partnerships are critical. No one can do everything well. Content creators and cause-driven organizations recognize the importance of compelling visual storytelling. Images have impact. They can ignite movements to preserve and protect our world. They may well save us as a species. This year’s Collaborations for Cause theme is “Innovations in Visual Storytelling for Impact.” It’s a rare opportunity for visual storytellers, writers, funders, non-profits, corporations and public agencies to join together as peers: to learn new strategies, tools and ideas to leverage the power of story and affect social change. Click here to learn more about Collaborations for Cause 2016

News updates Sigma claims new firmware makes 150-600mm F5-6.3 AF up to 50% faster Published Monday, March 14, 2016 10:06:00 PM GMT Sigma has announced new firmware for its 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM lenses, claiming that it makes the autofocusing system up to 50% faster. The firmware applies to lenses fitted for Canon EOS and Nikon F cameras, and can be installed via the company’s USB dock and the Optimization Pro software program. Read more Nissin adds radio receiver unit to Air system for branded flash units Published Monday, March 14, 2016 8:15:00 PM GMT Flash manufacturer Nissin has announced it has produced a receiver unit for its NAS wireless flash communication system that allows flash units from Canon, Nikon and Sony to be used within its radio command structure. Read more Retro through-and-through: Fujifilm X-Pro2 Review Published Monday, March 14, 2016 4:58:00 PM GMT The Fujifilm X-Pro2 is a radical reworking of the first X-Series mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. It may look essentially the same but just about every aspect of the camera has been refreshed, extended and enhanced. Read our full review to find out what these changes amount to. From another planet: Venus LAOWA 15mm F4 Wide Angle Macro quick review Published Sunday, March 13, 2016 12:00:00 PM GMT A full-frame, ultra-wide angle macro lens from a very new brand provides a unique option for users of many different systems and lens mounts. Combining a 1:1 macro, wide angle of view and shift lens into a single body, the Venus LAOWA 15mm F4 is a lens with more than a few tricks up its sleeve. This article explores those abilities and provides some real world samples from both full-frame and APS-C cameras. Read more Quick Look: Parallelism in Landscape Photography Published Saturday, March 12, 2016 1:00:00 PM GMT Part of what can make an image both visually appealing and conceptually interesting is the connection between its different parts. An image is a whole made of different elements, which can either be separate or have a variety of relations between them. Seasoned landscape photographer Erez Marom takes a quick look at some examples of parallelism in action. Read more Kodak Alaris launches revamped Moments app Published Friday, March 11, 2016 7:00:00 PM GMT Kodak Alaris has announced a major update to its Moments image sharing app, which allows for direct printing to Kodak Picture Kiosks and online ordering of print products. The company has added to the app what it calls visual storytelling capabilities. Read more Venus Optics launches Laowa 105mm F2 with apodization element Published Friday, March 11, 2016 5:47:00 PM GMT Chinese lens manufacturer Venus Optics has announced the Loawa 105mm F2, a portrait lens that uses an apodization element and dual diaphragms in an effort to produce better looking out-of-focus highlights. Read more On assignment: the Leica Q at a Portland wedding Published Friday, March 11, 2016 1:00:00 PM GMT Portland, OR is also known as 'Bridgetown' for its many crisscrossing bridges slicing through the urban landscape. Rather appropriately, then, the Leica Q is a bridge of sorts for one DPReview staffer, as it is the first mirrorless camera he's used alongside DSLRs while shooting a wedding. So, can the Q replace a full-frame DSLR and wide-angle lens? Read more Accessory Review: Tenba Cooper Messenger bag Published Friday, March 11, 2016 12:59:00 PM GMT Over the past few years, Tenba has gained a reputation for its solid line of messenger-style shoulder bags. The Cooper line, introduced in late 2015, promises the same reliability with luxury materials like full grain leather accents. Suitable for mirrorless and DSLR kits, we took a look at the Cooper 13 Slim and Cooper 15. Read more DxO ONE update enables framing assist via the camera's OLED monitor Published Thursday, March 10, 2016 8:20:00 PM GMT A recent update for the DxO ONE has introduced a live image preview via the camera's built-in OLED when the device is used in standalone shooting mode. The camera is also offered at a lower $499 price point, without software bundled. Read more Crowd pleaser: Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM real world images Published Thursday, March 10, 2016 5:00:00 PM GMT Sony's new FE 24-70mm F2.8 G Master lens is as pro-level as pro lenses come. It offers some of the fastest AF speeds we've seen, especially when paired with the Sony a7R II, and impressive sharpness throughout its focal range, even wide open. Read more Seriously sharp: Sony FE 85mm F1.4 GM samples Published Thursday, March 10, 2016 5:00:00 PM GMT We knew that Sony's FE 85mm F1.4 G Master lens was sharp, but after spending some quality time with it in Miami last week, we're even more impressed with its quality. See more Canon announces budget-friendly EOS Rebel T6 (1300D) Published Thursday, March 10, 2016 12:00:00 PM GMT Canon has announced its latest entry-level DSLR, the Rebel T6 (also known as the EOS 1300D). While the T6 shares many features with its predecessor (the T5/1200D), it has a faster Digic 4+ processor, higher resolution LCD, new 'white priority' white balance mode, and Wi-Fi with NFC. Read more Cream of the crop: Sigma 50-100mm F1.8 real-world samples Published Thursday, March 10, 2016 1:21:00 AM GMT The Sigma 50-100mm F1.8 is a bit of a rarity. It's a fast telezoom designed specifically for Canon, Nikon and Sigma APS-C bodies, providing 75-150mm equivalent range. We were lucky enough to get our hands on a pre-production model while we were in Japan for CP+ 2016. Read more Samsung announces in-house 12MP dual-pixel sensor Published Wednesday, March 9, 2016 10:19:00 PM GMT Samsung has announced a new smartphone image sensor that offers 12MP resolution, 1.4μm-pixel-size and Dual Pixel technology for fast focusing. Interestingly, those are very similar specifications to that of the Sony IMX260 sensor that has been found to be used in Samsung's new flagship smartphones S7 and S7 edge. Read more Flickr makes Auto-Uploadr tool a Pro-account exclusive Published Wednesday, March 9, 2016 6:51:00 PM GMT Flickr’s desktop Auto-Uploadr, a tool that automatically and privately uploads photos to a user’s account, is now only available to paying 'Pro' customers. Read more Action packed: Shooting the Sony a6300 in Miami Published Wednesday, March 9, 2016 1:00:00 PM GMT Sony invited us to come out to Miami and field test the company's new a6300 mirrorless camera. With 4K video capabilities, an overhauled AF system and new sensor, we were more than eager to put it to the test. Read more Sigma 30mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary real-world sample gallery Published Wednesday, March 9, 2016 12:28:00 AM GMT Among all its releases at CP+ 2016, Sigma's 30mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary lens is the smallest in size, but its wide aperture should help it pack an image quality punch. We were fortunate enough to have a chance to try out a pre-production model outside Sigma's factory in snowy Aizu, Japan. Click through to see how it did. Read more Canon launches a pair of new large format printers aimed at the professional market Published Tuesday, March 8, 2016 8:28:00 PM GMT Canon has announced two new large format imagePrograf Pro series printers. The Pro-2000 and Pro-4000 both use 12-color Lucia pigment ink systems and produce either 24in or 44in prints. With their black bodies and 'accentuated red line' the printers are designed to link visually with Canon's pro camera bodies and lenses. Read more Samsung NX500 shown as discontinued Published Tuesday, March 8, 2016 8:06:00 PM GMT The Samsung NX500, which launched in the U.S. early last year, is shown as discontinued on B&H Photo, which may indicate that the camera is no longer being manufactured. Read more Great Eight: Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX8 review Published Tuesday, March 8, 2016 4:17:00 PM GMT At first glance, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX8 looks like just another rangefinder-style mirrorless camera. But flip it around and you quickly notice it's unique tilting electronic viewfinder, one of several features that make this camera stand out from the crowd. We've put the GX8 through some rigorous testing. Read more Ona launches Clifton leather backpack Published Tuesday, March 8, 2016 2:00:00 PM GMT Luxury camera bag manufacturer Ona has launched a new leather backpack that is its first bag to feature a completely removable insert as well as removable dividers. The Clifton is designed to hold a DSLR with a lens attached along with up to six other lenses or accessories, as well as a laptop or tablet of up to 13in. Read more

You received this email because you subscribed to the Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com) weekly newsletter. To unsubscribe, visit the newsletter homepage (http://www.dpreview.com/newsletter), enter your email address into the Your email address box, then click on Unsubscribe. © 2016 dpreview.com Digital Photography Review, all rights reserved. DPReview, 207 Boren Ave. N, Seattle, WA 98109, USA