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The Digital Photography Review Newsletter
The most popular weekly photography newsletter, with over 400,000 subscribers
Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Welcome to the 671st Digital Photography Review newsletter.

The smoke has finally cleared so we're able to go out shooting again. The interregnum has seen our pile of lenses build up and we've got... oh, sorry, apparently I'm not allowed to tell you about that. But we've got plenty to bring you over the next few weeks, let's put it like that.

Canon EOS SL2 Shooting Experience

The EOS SL2 (200D outside North America) is the company's latest miniature DSLR. Given its apparent targeting at a beginner audience, Jeff Keller went out shooting with it in Auto mode, to see how it behaved and what it was like to shoot with. Join him on his trip to Seattle's Woodland Park Zoo.

Read our Canon EOS SL2 shooting experience.

They killed the compact camera, now smartphones are after entry level ILCs

Computational photography and clever processing are constantly improving what smartphone cameras can achieve. As they reach the level of 'good enough' should camera makers start to worry about their mass market cash cows?

Allison Johnson says that day isn't as far away as you might think.

Sony shares the shock of Kumamoto

Sony has shared images, experiences and a video detailing the damage caused to its factory in Kumamoto, last April. Thankfully a smaller foreshock enabled the company to evacuate the plant before the main quake struck but the damage to one of the world's key sensor supply factories was significant. Have a look behind the scenes at the damage and the response of the factory workers during the cleanup.

See our slideshow and video about the Kumamoto Earthquake.

Why you should consider adding a drone to your photo kit

More than just about anything else you can buy, a drone can help lend a new perspective to your photography. Professional photographer Reza Malayeri discusses the creative possibilities he's discovered by getting airborne.

Take your photography up, up and away with a drone

In the light of the 6D II review, should I upgrade?

Our review of the Canon EOS 6D Mark II was somewhat mixed but, even if it doesn't stand-out against its immediate rivals, is it worth upgrading from the 80D?

Our slideshow talks through the benefits you get from the big-sensor Canon

Richard

News updates
Published Tuesday, August 15, 2017 7:26:00 PM GMT

You don't need a fancy studio or tons of gear to capture the kind of classic product photography you see in magazines. In this video, Dustin Dolby shows you how to do it with just a couple of speedlights and some know-how.

Published Tuesday, August 15, 2017 6:11:00 PM GMT

The life-logging camera is trying to make a comeback. Say hello to FrontRow, a live-streaming enabled life-logging camera from Ubiquiti that hangs on a necklace like a pendant.

Published Tuesday, August 15, 2017 4:26:00 PM GMT

Samsung just revealed a blazing-fast new Solid State Drive capable of data transfer speeds of up to 540MB/s.

Published Tuesday, August 15, 2017 3:24:00 PM GMT

DJI has developed a 'Local Data Mode' that lets pilots fly without being connected to the Internet. The mode should calm recent fears over data privacy and security when flying DJI drones.

Published Tuesday, August 15, 2017 2:42:00 PM GMT

After 1.7 million downloads on Apple computers since the launch in November 2015, Aurora HDR will be available for Windows PCs for the first time with the 2018 release.

Published Tuesday, August 15, 2017 2:36:00 PM GMT

The company behind the new Meyer Optik Goerlitz lens manufacturing business has formed a new brand to bring back the Biotar 75mm F1.5 that was made by Carl Zeiss Jena in the 1940s and 50s.

Published Tuesday, August 15, 2017 1:40:00 PM GMT

The updated Qualcomm Spectra system is a dual-camera setup that is capable of sensing depth and motion in real time.

Published Tuesday, August 15, 2017 1:00:00 PM GMT

A sizable swath of the United States will be treated to a total eclipse of the heart – er, sun – in just under a week. Here are a few excellent guides to help you photograph this rare occasion.

Published Monday, August 14, 2017 7:42:00 PM GMT

f11 Magazine—an ad-supported, free magazine for 'photographers and aficionados' that focused on photos rather than gear—is suspending publication due to financial troubles.

Published Monday, August 14, 2017 6:52:00 PM GMT

The Minolta MC Rokkor-X 40-80mm F2.8 is unlike any zoom lens you've probably ever seen. Instead of a helicoid, it uses a gearbox, and because of this it's still one of the sharpest zoom lenses out there.

Published Monday, August 14, 2017 6:08:00 PM GMT

If you're looking to switch to Sony, the company's new limited-time "α trade up" promotion can snag you up to $500 + trade-in value towards a brand new a9, a7 II, a7R II, or a7S II when you hand over your DSLR or mirrorless camera.

Published Monday, August 14, 2017 5:26:00 PM GMT

The Google Camera app exclusive to the company's own Pixel phone has been unofficially ported to other Android devices. If you're willing to take the risk of installing, you can now use features like HDR+ on the Galaxy S8, LG G6, OnePlus 5, and more.

Published Monday, August 14, 2017 4:46:00 PM GMT

49-year-old David Hilos is known by the Singapore photography community as the 'camera whisperer.' When a service center says a camera is beyond repair, Hilos can usually coax it back to life.

Published Monday, August 14, 2017 3:10:00 PM GMT

Data storage manufacturer Synology has added a new, lower-cost NAS to its DiskStation j line that has a maximum capacity of 40TB, and which is aimed at home users and photography enthusiasts.

Published Monday, August 14, 2017 1:00:00 PM GMT

We hate to be the bearer of bad news, but here it is: the $500 interchangeable lens camera is about to go the way of the $200 compact.

Published Monday, August 14, 2017 11:00:00 AM GMT

On April 16, 2016 disaster struck in Kumamoto in the form of an unprecedented 7.0 magnitude earthquake. Here is the public's first look at Sony's sensor factory during the quake, the resulting damage and the efforts to restore operations.

Published Sunday, August 13, 2017 4:00:00 PM GMT

Last August, travel photographer and Resource Travel editor Michael Bonocore escaped to the island of Tahiti for a month of cool adventures and amazing photography.

Published Sunday, August 13, 2017 2:00:00 PM GMT

Curious just how tough Nikon's KeyMission 360 action camera really is? This one got chewed on by a tiger for several minutes and recorded the whole thing.

Published Sunday, August 13, 2017 10:00:00 AM GMT

The EOS 6D Mark II is essentially a full frame version of the EOS 80D. However, we weren't exactly bowled-over by it, when we reviewed it. Does that mean it's not worth the cost of upgrading? Let us walk you through the differences.

Published Saturday, August 12, 2017 4:00:00 PM GMT

Hiker and amateur photographer Ben Bauermeister talks about his experience taking an Olympus PEN-F on an ultralight backpacking trip. When every ounce counts, adding 2.8lbs to your pack is a serious decision.

Published Saturday, August 12, 2017 2:00:00 PM GMT

Sean Tucker tells the story behind these two portraits of the Himba people he captured for a personal project in Namibia.

Published Saturday, August 12, 2017 10:00:00 AM GMT

Xiaomi's newest phablet boasts a monster battery and a sleek metal uni-body that's not typical of its mid-range class. It packs a decent camera too, but is let down by a flawed video mode and worse-than-average low light image quality.

Published Friday, August 11, 2017 6:12:00 PM GMT

If you want to speed up your Lightroom workflow, one of the best tools you can buy might be a wireless PlayStation controller. Photographer Ben Stewart shows you why in this neat video tutorial.

Published Friday, August 11, 2017 5:31:00 PM GMT

Renowned photographer Bill Frakes has been let go as a visiting professor at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln after a sexual harassment complaint filed against him was judged by the university to be credible.

Published Friday, August 11, 2017 4:38:00 PM GMT

On July 17th, NASA's Mars Curiosity Rover pointed its Navcam up at the sky to capture a rare sight: wispy, cirrus-like clouds floating across the Martian horizon.

Published Friday, August 11, 2017 2:21:00 PM GMT

Compared to the standard Phantom 3, the SE model offers a vision positioning system, 4K video and an improved video transmission range of up to 2.5 miles.

Published Friday, August 11, 2017 1:00:00 PM GMT

Photographers take great care in choosing the right gear for a trip. Why not make sure your iPhone is well equipped for photography too? These apps offer features a bit more advanced than the stock camera app.

Published Thursday, August 10, 2017 7:41:00 PM GMT

Photographer and writer Murilee Martin recently photographed a racing event using an... unusual choice for a camera. A 91-year-old Kodak Brownie No. 2.

Published Thursday, August 10, 2017 7:00:00 PM GMT

If you use Sigma lenses and you own the Canon 6D Mark II, 77D, Rebel SL2 or the Rebel T7i, listen up. Your Sigma lenses might malfunction if you have "Lens aberration correction" turned on.

Published Thursday, August 10, 2017 4:21:00 PM GMT

Starting January 1st, 2018, the NPPA will raise its membership dues for the first time in 11 years. You have until the end of the year to re-up or join at the current rates.

Published Thursday, August 10, 2017 3:31:00 PM GMT

Consumer Reports has removed its coveted 'Recommended' label from Microsoft's Surface devices after a survey of over 90,000 Surface owners showed 25% ran into reliability issues like freezing and touchscreen issues.

Published Thursday, August 10, 2017 3:18:00 PM GMT

The new Edelkrone SurfaceONE is controlled via a mobile app and allows for different types of movements and timelapse shooting.

Published Thursday, August 10, 2017 2:45:00 PM GMT

Manfrotto has launched a new range of bases, booms, heads and dollys aimed at Virtual Reality content creators. The company claims to be the first to produce "dedicated products designed to support [VR] professionals and enthusiasts."

Published Thursday, August 10, 2017 2:10:00 PM GMT

LG's upcoming V30 flagship smartphone hasn't yet launched, but the company has already revealed some juicy details about the phone's camera. Namely, that it will have the fastest aperture in a smartphone yet.

Published Thursday, August 10, 2017 2:01:00 PM GMT

If you've been dying to try out drone photography or VR but can't justify buying the gear yet, there's good news. Lensrentals is expanding their repertoire to include drones, VR and 360° photo and video gear.

Published Thursday, August 10, 2017 1:00:00 PM GMT

Peak Design has re-worked its Leash and Cuff straps, which use the company's brilliant Anchor Link system. While they both inspire confidence and make switching out straps a cinch, we think the Leash could still use some refinement.

Published Thursday, August 10, 2017 12:00:00 PM GMT

The EOS Rebel SL2 (also known as the EOS 200D) is one of Canon's entry-level DSLRs and impressively compact. To recreate what a new photographer who just picked up the SL2 would experience, we put the camera into auto mode and headed to the zoo.

Published Thursday, August 10, 2017 12:00:00 PM GMT

Canon's EOS Rebel SL2 takes the sensor from its EOS 77D and Rebel T7i cousins and shoehorns it into one of the most compact DSLR bodies you can get. From the zoo to a barbecue, check out how it performs in our sample gallery.

Published Thursday, August 10, 2017 10:00:00 AM GMT

It was by no means the first smartphone with a camera, but with an updated 8MP unit dubbed 'iSight,' the iPhone 4S took a significant step forward in the world of mobile imaging.

Published Wednesday, August 9, 2017 8:56:00 PM GMT

A photography ban in a Los Angeles public park during a series free concerts has been branded ‘unconstitutional’ by city and national media and public liberties groups.

Published Wednesday, August 9, 2017 7:49:00 PM GMT

Believe it or not, there is a piece of Iceland you probably haven't seen photographed ad nauseam. It's called the "Cape": a geological gem the likes of which I've never seen before or since.

Published Wednesday, August 9, 2017 5:43:00 PM GMT

Travel guide publisher Lonely Planet just released a new Instagram-like app called Trips. The app lets you share photos from your adventures and, if you're interested, create travel guides of your own.

Published Wednesday, August 9, 2017 3:38:00 PM GMT

If you've ever felt down, defeated, unmotivated, uncertain and unsure whether you should go on being a photographer, then this video is for you. In other words: this video is for all of us.

Published Wednesday, August 9, 2017 2:47:00 PM GMT

Corel's PaintShop Pro 2018 comes with an expanded feature set and is available as a bundle with the company's video editing package.

Published Wednesday, August 9, 2017 2:39:00 PM GMT

Registering your photos with the US Copyright Office can be a huge pain... or it used to be. A new service offered by the website Binded lets you do it in one click without charging any additional fees!

Published Wednesday, August 9, 2017 1:00:00 PM GMT

Have you thought about adding a drone to your collection of cameras? Photographer Reza Malayeri thinks that you should probably consider it, and that if you're a pro, it may even be necessary to remain competitive.