Week in Review: One for the history books
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It was a Wednesday like any other Wednesday. The sun rose in the East. The DPReview staff made their morning coffee run. They sat down at their desks. And then they wrote. They wrote. For unlike another Wednesday, this Wednesday would see the introduction of a historic camera: the Pentax K-1. Memories of Pentax’s first promise of a full-frame DSLR were all but a distant memory, but Pentax would finally step into the world of full-frame digital photography.
To say it was a busy week is an understatement. The world didn’t only get full-frame Pentax this week, it got so many more things: a Canon EOS 80D! A kit lens with a strange detachable power zoom accessory! A Panasonic GF-series update made just for selfies!
Just to be sure you didn’t miss anything, you better take a look back with us.
It’s all gonna be O-K
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After years of promises and months of teasing, this week Ricoh finally unveiled the Pentax K-1, a 36.4MP full-frame DSLR built around the K lens mount. At a very enticing body-only MSRP of $ 1800, the K-1 offers 5-axis IS, built-in Wi-Fi and 4.4 fps burst shooting. We took a look back at the long and winding road Pentax has taken to full-frame, and while the K-1 shows a lot of promise, we think Ricoh still has a tough road ahead.
Read our full Pentax K-1 launch coverage
Subtle video upgrades
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Just hours after the K-1 announcement, Canon swooped in and dropped the EOS 80D, G7 X Mark II, an updated 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 and a couple of interesting accessories (more on that in a second).
The 80D is a fairly incremental update to the 70D, but it does offer updated Dual Pixel AF with continuous focus as well as an upgraded 45-point all cross-type AF system. Subtle enhancements in the video department, like the addition of 1080/60p recording and a headphone socket, nudge the camera 80D toward video enthusiasts, but don’t hoist it into the ranks of video-centric cameras like the Sony A7S and Panasonic GH4. Still, it should offer plenty to help a non-pro get good results.
Read our full Canon EOS 80D launch coverage
Smooth move
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In this week’s unusual innovations we saw Canon introduce the PZ-EI Power Zoom adapter, the first OEM-branded accessory of its kind, specifically built for its new 18-135mm. For just an extra $ 150, prospective 80D owners who are interested in shooting video with their new kit can pick up a PZ-E1 and gain control over zoom speed by way of physical controls or Canon’s Smart Utility app. It’s a neat solution and relatively inexpensive solution for video shooters, rather than building power zoom functionality into the lens and raising the cost (and weight of the lens) for everybody.
Read more about the EF-S 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 IS USM and PZ-EI Power Zoom adapter
Know thy selfie
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Speaking of long and winding roads, the introduction of the selfie-tastic Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8 this week underscored just how far that series has wandered from where it started. The GF8’s brightly colored accents (or ‘unisex’ silver and brown, if you prefer), beauty re-touch features and 180-degree articulated selfie-friendly LCD are all a far cry from the pioneering little GF1. That camera’s enthusiast features long ago drifted and evolved into the GX-series, while Panasonic seems to be making a Casio-esque play with its entry-level GF-series to capitalize on shoppers interested in selfie-centric features in some Asian countries. To each his own, right?
Learn more about the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8
Two good?
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It’s easy to get excited about the Sony RX1R II‘s potential. A compact 42MP full-frame camera with updated AF and a Zeiss 35mm F2 lens has that effect. But it’s also easy to suffer a case of sticker shock when you realize it’s $ 3300. Our full review, published this week, digs into the camera’s performance to see if the problems that plagued the RX1R persist, and whether it’s a $ 3300 well spent. There’s just one way to find out…
Read our Sony Cyber-shot RX1R II review
Go wide
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Yeah, we’ve heard it before: a 75-100mm focal length is more flattering for portraits than wide-angle lenses. But what if we all stepped away from our 85mm portrait primes for a minute and embraced a different perspective? Tech Editor Rishi Sanyal does just that in our lens technique video. Using the Sigma 24-35mm F2 Art to make his case, he captured some environmental portraits at sunset in Seattle’s gorgeous Discovery Park (the nice part, not the bit by the sewage treatment plant).
Lens Technique: Wide-angle portraiture with the Sigma 24-35mm F2 Art
Rumor has it
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Rumors of new lenses are coming fast and furious, including this rumored Sigma 50-100mm F1.8 Art for APS-C. It would seem that the timing is right, too, what with CP+ starting next week. We’ll be in Yokohama covering the show, so tune in next week as we separate rumors, fact and fiction.
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)