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The Digital Photography Review Newsletter
The most popular weekly photography newsletter, with over 400,000 subscribers
Tuesday, November 21, 2017

Welcome to the 687th Digital Photography Review newsletter.

With Thanksgiving almost upon us, we've been racing to finish our seasonal buying guides and product roundups, and I'm pleased (and relieved) to provide links to all of them below. It was a lot of work, and I hope you find it to be a useful resource. In the middle of all that, Leica announced a new mirrorless camera - the APS-C format CL. The forth in the L-mount lineup, the CL offers a more conventional handling experience than the T/L and TL2, while still retaining the touch features of those earlier models. I've been shooting with it for a little while, and I've prepared a small gallery and first-impressions review.

You'll find links to all of this in-depth content below.

2017 Camera Buying Guides and Gift Ideas

There's never been a better time to shop for a new camera, but the number of options available can be overwhelming. In this series of buying guides we've provided customized recommendations for several use cases and budget levels. We've also selected some great holiday gifts and provided recommendations for the best drones and smartphones currently on the market.

Check out our full suite of buying guides

Leica CL: Full launch content

While it shares a name with one of Leica's most popular and affordable cameras of the 1970s, the new CL is separated from its namesake by more than just years. It's digital for starters, and shares a lot of its core specification with the 24MP TL2, while offering a more conventional handling experience and a built-in viewfinder, in a body similar in size to the X2.

Check out our full launch content on the Leica CL

Analysis: The Sony a7R III is still a star eater

Despite reports to the contrary, analysis of DPReview images by our friend Jim Kasson confirms a disappointing fact: The Sony a7R III is still a Star Eater. Should you worry?

Read more about using the the Sony a7R III for astrophotography

 

Behind the scenes: Shooting a cinematic short film with the iPhone X

Photographer Ryan Earl and filmmaker Nick Arcivos of AmnesiArt recently created an extremely impressive cinematic short film. Impressive not only because the shots were gorgeous, well-planned, and well-executed... but also because the entire thing was shot on an iPhone X.

Read more about using the iPhone X as a cine camera

Is the future of beginner photography a bright orange camera with no buttons?

A Bay Area startup offering a pay-by-the-photo camera service cleverly addresses the pain points photographers experience when they pick up their first DSLR. But can it survive the smartphone?

Read more about Relonch

Barney

News updates
Published Monday, November 20, 2017 8:35:00 PM GMT

Sigma is discounting 13 different high-performance 'Art' series lenses from today until November 30th. The company is calling it an 'unprecedented' sale.

Published Monday, November 20, 2017 7:55:00 PM GMT

See DJI's 'AeroScope' drone-tracking technology in action. This is the system that DJI says can help law enforcement and airport (among others) track and identify rogue drones.

Published Monday, November 20, 2017 6:12:00 PM GMT

iPhone X owners can already accessorize their new phone with high-quality smartphone photography lenses courtesy of Moment's new lineup.

Published Monday, November 20, 2017 5:52:00 PM GMT

Considering buying Sigma's exciting new 16mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary lens for crop-sensor E-Mount and M43? Check out these official full-res samples first!

Published Monday, November 20, 2017 5:15:00 PM GMT

Vimeo has just added support for 8K HDR 10-bit content, making it possible to show up to 75% of the colors the human eye can perceive vs the usual 35%. Take THAT YouTube.

Published Monday, November 20, 2017 2:00:00 PM GMT

The holidays are coming, but your gear isn't cutting it? It's time to treat yourself!

Published Monday, November 20, 2017 12:00:00 PM GMT

We're counting down our top 10 most popular sample galleries of 2017, and sitting pretty at #5 is the Fujifilm X-T20.

Published Sunday, November 19, 2017 3:00:00 PM GMT

See some of the most iconic black-and-white photographs throughout history brought to life by a community of colorization enthusiasts and professional retouchers in the new book Retrographic.

Published Sunday, November 19, 2017 2:00:00 PM GMT

Shopping for a photographer? Whether you are one yourself or not, chances are you could use some ideas. From stocking stuffers on up, we've got some photography gift suggestions for every budget.

Published Sunday, November 19, 2017 12:00:00 PM GMT

We're counting down our top 10 most popular sample galleries of 2017. Drum roll please... the #6 spot belongs to none other than the Sigma 85mm F1.4 DH HSM Art.

Published Saturday, November 18, 2017 6:53:00 PM GMT

Read the story behind this gorgeous wedding photo captured at Trolltunga in Norway by husband and wife duo Priscila Valentina Photography. The 14 hour hike in the rain that preceded this shot was TOTALLY worth it.

Published Saturday, November 18, 2017 5:00:00 PM GMT

Go behind the scenes with filmmaker Nick Arcivos, who recently created a beautiful cinematic short film in Paris using only the iPhone X, a couple of gimbals, and a few lights. The results are very impressive.

Published Saturday, November 18, 2017 2:00:00 PM GMT

A Bay Area startup offering a pay-by-the-photo camera service cleverly addresses the pain points photographers experience when they pick up their first DSLR. But can it survive the smartphone?

Published Saturday, November 18, 2017 2:00:00 PM GMT

It's been a big year for software innovations, dual cameras and huge displays. Take a look at our picks for the top smartphone cameras and why we think they stand out.

Published Saturday, November 18, 2017 12:00:00 PM GMT

We're counting down our top 10 most popular sample galleries of 2017. At the #7 spot is the ready-for-any-weather Olympus Tough TG-5.

Published Friday, November 17, 2017 11:18:00 PM GMT

By combining his skills as a time-lapse filmmaker and an engineer, Julian Tryba created this out-of-this-world creative 'layer-lapse' of New York City that alternates between night and day in time with the music.

Published Friday, November 17, 2017 7:53:00 PM GMT

Canon Japan's new lineup of novelty camera-themed gifts was just revealed online, including a lens mug and lens thermos, two retro camera-themed USB drives, and a picnic mat.

Published Friday, November 17, 2017 2:54:00 PM GMT

Fujifilm has asked a US district court to clear it of any wrongdoing, after allegedly being threatened with trademark litigation by Polaroid.

Published Friday, November 17, 2017 1:00:00 PM GMT

While a couple of our reviewers are out testing the Sony a7R III in Arizona, back in Seattle we slapped the camera in front of our studio scene to get a close look at its image quality. See how it stacks up against the competition.

Published Friday, November 17, 2017 12:00:00 PM GMT

We're counting down our top 10 most popular sample galleries of 2017, and the #8 ranking belongs to the Nikon D7500.

Published Thursday, November 16, 2017 10:07:00 PM GMT

8K video is coming a lot faster than you think, and Blackmagic is ready for it. Meet the DeckLink 8K Pro, a new high performance PCI-E capture and playback card built to handle 'real time high resolution 8K workflows.'

Published Thursday, November 16, 2017 8:56:00 PM GMT

Former Apple Aperture lead developer Nik Bhatt has designed an iOS app called RAW Power that lets you edit raw photos from your professional camera using your phone and tablet.... color us intrigued.

Published Thursday, November 16, 2017 8:04:00 PM GMT

Advertising photographer Blair Bunting got his hands on the new Microsoft Surface Book 2, and it blew him away. Bye bye MacBook Pro...

Published Thursday, November 16, 2017 6:09:00 PM GMT

The OnePlus 5T retains many of the 5's features and specs, but comes with an edge-to-edge display and a dual-camera that is optimized for low light.

Published Thursday, November 16, 2017 4:37:00 PM GMT

Sony's recently announced IMX461 backside illuminated medium format sensor will bring 100MP resolution and almost 2x the speed to the next-gen Fuji GFX and Hasselblad X1D.

Published Thursday, November 16, 2017 3:30:00 PM GMT

With the ‘Rent a Hasselblad’ camera equipment renting program, the camera makers is aiming to give enthusiast and professional photographers easier access to its medium-format photography products.

Published Thursday, November 16, 2017 2:00:00 PM GMT

They say seeing is believing, and that's exactly what happened when one DPR staffer took the Google Pixel 2 out for an afternoon shooting under challenging conditions.

Published Thursday, November 16, 2017 12:00:00 PM GMT

We're counting down our top 10 most popular sample galleries of 2017. At the #9 spot we have the Fujifilm GFX 50S, a medium-format camera that took CP+ 2017 by storm.

Published Wednesday, November 15, 2017 10:51:00 PM GMT

Despite the gigantic volume of second hand film bodies in existence, it seems there is still a demand for new 35mm SLRs with a retro feel. The latest is a remake of the Ihagee Elbaflex from the 1960s, but with a Nikon F mount.

Published Wednesday, November 15, 2017 9:45:00 PM GMT

The Polaroid Insta-Share Moto Mod straps an instant printer directly to your Moto Z smartphone, so you can print your photos as soon as you've captured them.

Published Wednesday, November 15, 2017 9:01:00 PM GMT

The Mitakon Speedmaster 135mm F1.4 lens is being relaunched in 7 different mounts, including: Sony A, Sony E, Canon EF, Nikon F, Fujifilm G, Pentax K, and Leica L. Got an extra three grand lying around?

Published Wednesday, November 15, 2017 8:53:00 PM GMT

In January, Kodak announced it would bring back the beloved slide film Ektachrome. The timeline has been pushed back a bit, but Kodak says you can expect to purchase Ektachrome again in 2018.

Published Wednesday, November 15, 2017 7:21:00 PM GMT

You’d have to be pretty brave to immerse your $50K RED cinema camera underwater. But if you've got the guts, Gates just released a new housing you can be pretty sure won't wreck your unbelievably expensive toy.

Published Wednesday, November 15, 2017 7:01:00 PM GMT

Adobe has released a 'Lightroom Downloader' app for Windows 10 and macOS High Sierra that allows you to download all of your images from the Adobe Cloud, all at once.

Published Wednesday, November 15, 2017 6:41:00 PM GMT

After releasing a popular 4K action cam and an affordable mirrorless M43 camera, Chinese camera maker YI is diving into yet another market: 360° VR. Meet the YI 360 VR: a powerful little two-lens camera that can shoot and stream in 4K.

Published Wednesday, November 15, 2017 2:00:00 PM GMT

The DJI Spark has received a lot of attention thanks to its diminutive size, but how does it stack up? In our review, we take a look at what it's like to fly this pint-sized drone, as well as what's in it for photographers.

Published Wednesday, November 15, 2017 12:00:00 PM GMT

Between now and the end of the year we'll be counting down our top 10 most popular sample galleries of 2017. Coming in at #10 is a fast wide prime and part of the highly-acclaimed Sigma Art series.

Published Tuesday, November 14, 2017 8:03:00 PM GMT

DxOMark has awarded the Pentax 645Z 101 points, making it the second-highest scoring medium format camera it's tested (or the highest scoring from 2015 to now, based on the originally published results).

Published Tuesday, November 14, 2017 3:35:00 PM GMT

A small explosion that sounded like a gunshot caused a panic and 24 flight cancellations at Orlando International Airport last Friday. As it turns out, it was a camera battery that exploded inside a traveler's bag.

Published Tuesday, November 14, 2017 2:46:00 PM GMT

At last, a premium superzoom bridge camera with phase detect autofocus. Is this the best all-in-one camera ever made? Read on.

Published Tuesday, November 14, 2017 2:32:00 PM GMT

Unlike most smartphone cameras, the new Google Pixel 2 devices combine optical and electronic image stabilization for a smooth video experience. Here's how it works.