Friday, February 16, 2024 It's time once again for our weekly round-up of everything interesting, novel and curious happening in the world of cameras. This week, we added the Lumix DC-S5 II to our studio scene tool. We also compared it to the Nikon Zf to see which one is the better buy. We're also packing our bags and passports as we prepare to travel to Japan for the CP+ Expo in Yokohama. We'll be at the trade show to see all the latest products from Japanese manufacturers. What should we keep an eye out for? What do you want to see from the show? Let us know by answering the Question of the Week further down. Then, catch next week's newsletter to see what we found. But before you scroll down to share your thoughts, please take a moment to fill out this short newsletter preferences survey.
— Shaminder |
|
|
 | | Panasonic's Lumix DC-S5 II and Nikon's Zf are two very different answers to the question: "what's the best enthusiast full-frame camera for $2000." They share more than you might expect, but with different areas of appeal. Discover the difference. |
|
 | | As we complete our Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 II review, we've added it to our studio test scene so you can see how it performs. |
|
 | | The Nikon Zf is a 24MP full-frame mirrorless camera with classic looks that brings significant improvements to Nikon's mid-price cameras. We just shot a sample reel to get a better feel for its video features and have added our impressions to the review. |
|
| This $250 electronic lens adapter is perfect for Nikon Z-mount curious Sony shooters — shhh, we won’t tell anyone. |
|
|
| Nikon's NX Tether 2.0 is out and gives owners of its higher-end mirrorless cameras (plus the D780) a host of new controls. Users can now capture video, get full-coverage live view (wirelessly on the Z8/Z9), adjust numerous shooting settings, and more. |
|
|
| Reader question of the week
Do you have a question you'd like to see in this section? Email me.
Last week, we asked you what camera manufacturers owe us in terms of firmware and here's what you had to say:
- "I believe they do. I can't see how keeping those updates would be a real tax on a company's storage ... at some point they would be justified in not supporting future firmware upgrades, but the last upgrade they did make should be available forever. If someone bought an older camera and the original owner did not keep up with the updates, the new owner should be able to update it."
- "You buy a camera for what it does, not what a model higher up the food chain can do. If there are bugs, then these should be fixed with a firmware 'upgrade.' But it would be wrong of me to expect to be able to get a free upgrade of capabilities in my EOS R8 to turn it into an R3. If I want that functionality, I should buy the R3!"
- "Manufacturers don't 'owe' us anything, but it is in their long-term interest to provide support beyond their warranties. Doing so goes a long way to creating goodwill with us and building brand loyalty."
- "They owe us a camera which has been brought to its best before it is marketed. Updates are an indication the camera was not thought-through."
On a related note, I sincerely hope we don't see "Day 1" patches become the norm in cameras one day. - Shaminder
- "Yes, they owe us software updates... A camera may be a lifetime investment but free firmware updates for five years would be fair to all of us.
Several of you wrote in to suggest a promise of updates for 3-5 years. I think this runs the risk of buyers expecting updates, but otherwise an interesting idea. - Shaminder
Here's our next question of the week: DPReview is attending CP+ next week. What should we keep an eye out for, what do you want to know?
|
|
|
| Why is it called an F-stop? How does a flash work? What is the oldest camera in history? No question is too big or too small. What do you wonder about photography, video, history, culture, gear or creating? Submit your questions to our survey and we'll investigate the answers in upcoming articles! |
|
|
| Want to take the plunge into film photography? Here are all the very basics you need to get started. |
|
|
| Sony updates the ZV-1, giving the vlog-centric compact camera a 18-50mm equivalent F1.8-4.0 lens that's now wide enough for less cramped selfie mode videos. |
|
|
|
|
|
