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The Digital Photography Review Newsletter
The most popular weekly photography newsletter, with over 400,000 subscribers
Thursday, January 14, 2021

Welcome to the 844th DPReview newsletter!

It's been another rainy week here in Seattle (but what else is new?), but nature did manage to provide about a day's worth of sunshine, which got the entire editorial staff outdoors to fill out our sample galleries. We published a number of gallery updates this week, and there are more to come later this month. Weather permitting, of course.

There was also an announcement this week regarding a lens that more than a few of us on staff were excited about.

Jeff


Hands-on with the Sony FE 35mm F1.4 GM

The big announcement of the week was Sony's relatively compact 35mm F1.4 GM lens. We've highlighted its most important features, and provided some initial thoughts on image quality, in our hands-on look of this intriguing new lens.

Read our Sony FE 35mm F1.4 GM hands-on

Sony FE 35mm F1.4 GM sample gallery

But wait, there's more: we also published 50 images from the Sony FE 35mm F1.4 GM, featuring sunsets, boats and a lot of dogs (especially DPR mascot Belvedere). Don't miss the separate gallery from the guys at DPReview TV, either! 

View our Sony FE 35mm F1.4 GM gallery


DPReview TV: Nikon Z7 II review

While not a revolutionary update to its predecessor, the second iteration of the Nikon Z7 is still an impressive high-end mirrorless camera. See what Chris and Jordan from DPReview TV thought about the Z7 II in their latest review.

Watch DPReview TV's Nikon Z7 II review

Fujifilm GF 120mm F4 Macro sample gallery update

Like close-up photography? So do we! We put Fujifilm's GF 120mm F4 R LM OIS WR Macro onto the 100 Megapixel GFX 100, and the results are pretty amazing.

See our Fujifilm GF 120mm F4 Macro sample gallery

 

News updates
Published Wednesday, January 13, 2021 7:07:00 PM GMT

Costco has informed U.S. and Canadian customers that all in-store camera departments will be shut down on February 14, 2021. Costco’s online printing services will still be available.

Published Wednesday, January 13, 2021 6:00:00 PM GMT

It's been a long time coming, but Sony has finally announced a G Master series 35mm lens for its full-frame mirrorless system. This compact alternative to the Zeiss version has some impressive spec: click through to learn more.

Published Wednesday, January 13, 2021 5:21:00 PM GMT

Dora Goodman got her start customizing existing analog cameras. Since then, she and her team launched a company offering open-source designs for 3D printing cameras and selling customers 3D printed parts and fully assembled cameras.

Published Wednesday, January 13, 2021 3:00:00 PM GMT

We've been busy shooting around with Sony's brand-new, compact and lightweight FE 35mm F1.4 G Master lens and initial impressions are quite positive: It's extremely sharp wide open across the frame, and controls ghosting, flaring and chromatic aberration with ease.

Published Wednesday, January 13, 2021 3:00:00 PM GMT

The 35mm F1.4 GM brings one of photography's classic focal lengths to Sony's G Master series of lenses. How does it perform? According to Chris and Jordan, it's pretty darn good.

Published Wednesday, January 13, 2021 3:00:00 PM GMT

Sony has just announced their 39th full-frame E-mount lens, the FE 35mm F1.4 GM. It comes with a complex optical formula and fancy autofocus motor technology, but it's among the lightest fast 35mm lenses on the market.

Published Tuesday, January 12, 2021 10:07:00 PM GMT

In an article published by ICAN Management Review, Sigma CEO Kazuto Yamaki speaks to the future of the company, including the possibility of RF/Z mount Sigma lenses, future camera systems and more.

Published Tuesday, January 12, 2021 7:21:00 PM GMT

ViewSonic has announced new ColorPro monitors at CES. The monitors, available in 27" and 32" sizes, range from 2K to 8K resolution and have been designed for color-critical applications including photography and video editing.

Published Tuesday, January 12, 2021 4:20:00 PM GMT

BCN Retail, which tracks online and in-person sales of digital cameras in the Japanese market, has shared its end-of-year data, showing the COVID-19 pandemic further compounded the already-shrinking camera market in Japan.

Published Tuesday, January 12, 2021 2:00:00 PM GMT

Fujifilm's main macro lens for its GFX system is the 120mm F4 Macro – a lens we've been playing around with for some time. We got the opportunity to update our gallery using the GFX 100, and we jumped at the chance to see what this lens can really do.

Published Monday, January 11, 2021 11:55:00 PM GMT

On day one of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Sony has released a few more details about its forthcoming Airpeak drone – expected in Spring 2021.

Published Monday, January 11, 2021 9:04:00 PM GMT

A new license or upgrade for Capture One for Fujifilm, Nikon and Sony used to cost $129 USD. A newly-instituted price hike has increased the cost to $199 (or $149 for an upgrade). Alongside the price change, Capture One has added a seat to new license purchases. Subscription costs have also increased.

Published Monday, January 11, 2021 7:38:00 PM GMT

The OWC Envoy Pro FX is constructed of an aluminum closure that’s IP67 rated to ensure your photos and videos are protected from the elements (and clumsiness)

Published Monday, January 11, 2021 3:56:00 PM GMT

The new CV5 system on a chip can encode 8K video at up to 60 fps, while also providing enough overhead for AI-powered features and capture modes, such as face-detection in action cameras and collision avoidance in drones.

Published Monday, January 11, 2021 3:00:00 PM GMT

What is field curvature, and why should you care? In this article – the second of two – professional optics geek Roger Cicala goes even deeper into the subject. Warning: many swirly graphs ahead.

Published Sunday, January 10, 2021 3:00:00 PM GMT

Exposure X6 is the latest Adobe Lightroom competitor from Exposure Software. With great image quality, impressive speed and powerful features, it's a compelling option that doesn't require a monthly subscription.

Published Saturday, January 9, 2021 9:09:00 PM GMT

Researchers at the University of Arizona have used NASA's HiRISE camera, which is onboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, to capture high-resolution images of the Valles Marineris canyon on Mars. The new images shed light on how the canyon formed and help better our understanding of Mars.

Published Saturday, January 9, 2021 8:00:00 AM GMT

The Nikon Z7 II has the same great ergonomics as its predecessor, but has more processing power, dual card slots, 4K/60p video, improved autofocus and more. Chris and Jordan tell us why it's a solid choice for many shooters.

Published Saturday, January 9, 2021 8:00:00 AM GMT

Our team at DPReview TV just wrapped up its review of the Nikon Z7 II. Check out the photos they took along the way and judge the image quality for yourself!

Published Friday, January 8, 2021 4:43:00 PM GMT

Nikon cites 'differences in regional laws and safety standards' for the change, which will see its comprehensive international warranty transition to more region-specific warranties by the end of the month.

Published Friday, January 8, 2021 3:41:00 PM GMT

NiSi is well known for its filters and accessories, but this $579 15mm F4 lens marks the first time the company has dipped its toes into the world of lenses.

Published Friday, January 8, 2021 3:00:00 PM GMT

How does one take the plunge into analog photography? This edition of the 'Absolute beginner’s guide to film photography' will cover the bare necessities – what you need to get started.

Published Friday, January 8, 2021 2:00:00 PM GMT

Fujifilm's GF 63mm F2.8 R WR was the first lens to come out for the medium format GFX system, but we've slapped it on a GFX 100 to see how it stands up to 100MP of resolution. Check it out.

Published Thursday, January 7, 2021 8:21:00 PM GMT

The 40MP 1/1.7” sensor is likely destined for mid-range smartphones. It's capable of capturing 40MP stills at up to 30fps, 4K video at up to 60fps and 1080p video at up to 240fps.

Published Thursday, January 7, 2021 3:39:00 PM GMT

It's all a bit primitive, but Jay P. Morgan's wooden mounting system allows him to successfully make pictures through a large format movie projection lens.

Published Thursday, January 7, 2021 2:31:00 PM GMT

Film-enthusiast website Studio C-41 takes us on a tour of the Kodak film plant in Rochester NY, with some behind-the-scenes footage of how film is made.

Published Thursday, January 7, 2021 2:00:00 PM GMT

The Canon Powershot Zoom is a product in a class of its own: part camera and part digital monocular. Can it successfully merge the two? Chris and Jordan show you how it works.

Published Thursday, January 7, 2021 2:00:00 PM GMT

The Powershot Zoom can't compete with pro cameras for image quality, though it sure does fit in your pocket. But are the photos good enough for casual use? Check out our sample gallery and decide for yourself.