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The Digital Photography Review Newsletter
The most popular weekly photography newsletter, with over 400,000 subscribers
Tuesday, April 17, 2018

Welcome to the 707th DPReview Newsletter!

This week we've been putting the final touches to our full review of the Sony a7 III (watch this space!) and updating our buying guides following the completion of our Canon EOS M50 review. The sun has been hiding for a while now, but in the rare breaks from the rain we also got out and shot some sample images with the Rokinon AF 14mm F2.8 FE. You can find links to all of this content below.

Canon EOS M50 review: Good photos, bad 4K

Canon's new EOS M50 mirrorless camera offers 4K video capture, expanded Dual Pixel AF coverage and improved connectivity. We've taken a closer look at these features and more in our in-depth review.

Read our in-depth review of the Canon EOS M50

Opinion: the Sony a7 III could be the new Nikon D750

For a few years now we've been recommending the Nikon D750 to enthusiasts and semi professionals needing the most reliable camera for the money. But it might finally be time to change that recommendation...

Read more about why we think the Sony a7 III could supplant the Nikon D750

Don't buy the phone with the 'best camera,' buy the phone you like as a phone

Just because a phone has the current 'best camera' doesn't mean it'll be the best for you. The differences between the top three smartphones are slim at this point – you probably won't notice camera shortcomings as much as you'll notice that you hate your operating system.

Read more

Budget wide: Rokinon AF 14mm F2.8 FE sample gallery

When it was announced in 2016, the Rokinon AF 14mm F2.8 FE was among the first full-frame autofocus lenses for Sony's a7-series mirrorless cameras. We wanted to see how this affordable wideangle prime performs on Sony's latest a7R III.

Check out our gallery of samples from the Rokinon AF 14mm F2.8 FE

Thanks for reading!

News updates
Published Tuesday, April 17, 2018 7:07:00 PM GMT

The large-format digital LargeSense LS911 is the "world's first 8x10 digital single shot camera for sale." The camera features a 12-megapixel 9x11-inch monochrome CMOS sensor, which translates into massive 75 micron pixels.

Published Tuesday, April 17, 2018 4:41:00 PM GMT

Pricing and availability have been announced for Tokina's high-end Fírin 20mm F2 FE AF autofocus lens for Sony E-Mount. If you're curious about this lens, you'll be able to pick up your own starting in June for $950 USD.

Published Tuesday, April 17, 2018 3:13:00 PM GMT

It's the copyright lawsuit that refuses to die. In September 2017, PETA finally settled its monkey selfie lawsuit with photographer David Slater, but the request to dismiss the case has since been rejected by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Published Tuesday, April 17, 2018 2:58:00 PM GMT

As part of his ongoing ‘Good Light’ YouTube series, London-based photographer Sean Tucker has created a simple tutorial on how to find good natural light for portraits.

Published Tuesday, April 17, 2018 1:50:00 PM GMT

The 2018 Pulitzer Prizes were announced yesterday, with the photography awards going to photojournalist Ryan Kelly for image of a car plowing into protesters in Virginia, and the entire Reuters photo staff for a series on Rohinga refugees fleeing persecution.

Published Tuesday, April 17, 2018 12:00:00 PM GMT

When it was announced in 2016, the Rokinon AF 14mm F2.8 FE was among the first full-frame autofocus lenses for Sony's a7-series mirrorless cameras. We wanted to see how this affordable wideangle prime performs on Sony's latest a7R III.

Published Monday, April 16, 2018 10:00:00 PM GMT

ARQ files shot using the Pixel Shift mode in the Sony a7R lll—and processed using Sony's own Imaging Edge software—can now be opened and edited in Lightroom Classic CC after the latest update.

Published Monday, April 16, 2018 6:39:00 PM GMT

If you look at the cameras used to shoot the winning photos in the prestigious World Press Photo 2018 competition, you'll see that DSLRs dominated over mirrorless, and Nikon dominated over everyone.

Published Monday, April 16, 2018 6:10:00 PM GMT

The MindShift Gear BackLight 18L daypack joins the 26L and 36L versions, providing users the same heavy-duty build and convenient rear-panel access in a more portable form factor.

Published Monday, April 16, 2018 2:55:00 PM GMT

You think you know everything there is to know about Lightroom? Think again. Photographer and YouTuber Jamie Windsor thinks he can still teach you a thing or two.

Published Monday, April 16, 2018 2:02:00 PM GMT

Skylum Software has released the latest update to its image processing software Luminar. The update improves speed across Windows and MacOS, and brings new features including automatic image distortion correction and a new Raw conversion engine.

Published Monday, April 16, 2018 1:00:00 PM GMT

With the Canon EOS M50 review wrapped up, we've revisited our Best Cameras for Parents Buying Guide – and have some new recommendations in the category.

Published Monday, April 16, 2018 12:55:00 PM GMT

The Xperia XZ2 Premium's dual-camera system is designed for low-light performance. It's also the first phone capable of recording 4K HDR footage.

Published Sunday, April 15, 2018 1:00:00 PM GMT

For a few years now we've been recommending the Nikon D750 to enthusiasts and semi professionals needing the most reliable camera for the money. But it might finally be time to change that recommendation...

Published Saturday, April 14, 2018 1:00:00 PM GMT

Just because a phone has the current 'best camera' doesn't mean it'll be the best for you. The differences between the top 3 smartphones are slim at this point – you won't notice camera shortcomings as much as you'll notice that you hate your operating system.

Published Friday, April 13, 2018 8:12:00 PM GMT

Timelapse filmmakers Gavin Heffernan and Harun Mehmedinovic created this surreal composite timelapse that combines the pristine skies over Death Valley and The Grand Canyon with the bustling streets of New York City.

Published Friday, April 13, 2018 5:06:00 PM GMT

Details on the potential buy-out are sparse at this point, but a report claims the deal could be worth as much as $1 billion. GoPro has been struggling lately, so no surprise the company's stock price spiked 8.8 percent on this news.

Published Friday, April 13, 2018 4:13:00 PM GMT

DigiBoom can be used with a wide range of cameras, but Redrock Micro recommends the Blackmagic Video Assist and Micro Studio Camera 4K recorder and camera for best performance.

Published Friday, April 13, 2018 2:00:00 PM GMT

A harrowing image from a violent clash with police during a protest in Venezuela has been awarded 2018 World Press Photo of the Year.

Published Friday, April 13, 2018 1:00:00 PM GMT

NYC-based filmmaker Casey Neistat recently compared a $35 clip-on smartphone lens with a $7,000 DSLR and superzoom lens. Not surprisingly, the smartphone lens doesn't look great – but Neistat points out it actually sort of works.

Published Thursday, April 12, 2018 7:06:00 PM GMT

A previously-announced firmware update for the Fujifilm X-T20 is now available for download. The most notable improvement is that AF tracking algorithms have been refined, with the company claiming that it can track a moving subject twice as fast.

Published Thursday, April 12, 2018 6:11:00 PM GMT

University of Michigan engineers Euisik Yoon and Sung-Yun Park have developed a nearly microscopic image sensor that doesn't require an external source of power.

Published Thursday, April 12, 2018 2:15:00 PM GMT

London-based photographer and YouTuber Jamie Windsor explains how a phenomenon known as the Dunning-Kruger Effect can hinder your growth as a photographer.

Published Thursday, April 12, 2018 5:00:00 AM GMT

The longest telephoto lens in Fujifilm's medium format lineup has arrived with the introduction of the GF 250mm F4 R LM OIS WR. The lens features image stabilization, a linear AF motor and a weather-sealed body. It will be available in late May for $3299.

Published Thursday, April 12, 2018 5:00:00 AM GMT

Fujifilm will be releasing firmware updates for six cameras in April in May. The cameras include the GFX 50S, X-H1, X-T2, X-Pro2, X-E3 and X100F, with the X-T2 gaining the most features, such as focus bracketing, high speed video recording and improved phase detect AF performance.

Published Thursday, April 12, 2018 5:00:00 AM GMT

Fujifilm is set to ship three new lens accessories for its GF medium format system. The 1.4x teleconverter is designed for use with the new 250mm F4 lens, while the two extension tubes allow for higher magnification ratios with any GF lens.

Published Wednesday, April 11, 2018 6:56:00 PM GMT

MindShift Gear, the sister company of ThinkTank Photo, has taken a break from releasing backpacks to launched an all-new line of messenger bags purpose built to handle inclement weather.

Published Wednesday, April 11, 2018 6:31:00 PM GMT

Shenzhen-based Cinematics International Company Ltd. brought something a little crazy to NAB: a lens adapter that lets you attach huge cinema lenses to your smartphone. It's not the most practical gadget we've seen, but it certainly catches your eye.

Published Wednesday, April 11, 2018 4:12:00 PM GMT

Version 39 of the Instagram app on both Android and iOS brings a background-blurring portrait or depth mode, similar to what we've seen on many recent smartphones, except that it works for single-camera phones.

Published Wednesday, April 11, 2018 4:03:00 PM GMT

NiSi surprised everyone by releasing a set of cinema primes at NAB this year, and Cinema 5D was able to pass by the company's booth and ask some questions about the NiSi F3 lineup. Watch to find out what makes these lenses stand out.

Published Wednesday, April 11, 2018 2:27:00 PM GMT

Canon's new EOS M50 mirrorless camera offers 4K video capture, expanded Dual Pixel AF coverage and improved connectivity. We've taken a closer look at these features and more in our in-depth review.

Published Wednesday, April 11, 2018 1:52:00 PM GMT

Stepping beyond the realms of smartphones and drones, PolarPro is making its first foray into the professional lens filter market. Its all-new QuartzLine Camera Filters are made of 99.9% pure fused quartz wrapped inside a brass frame.