 |
It was a quiet year for some manufacturers, and a year of milestones for others. We’ve tested loads of equipment, both in our studio and out, and have voiced our opinions on many of the year’s notable cameras and lenses. Now it’s your turn! Vote for your favorite gear of the past year in four categories, and stay tuned for the final showdown between the winners in each category.
Vote now! 2015 DPReview Readers’ Choice Awards
Adobe has today launched version 2.1 of Lightroom for mobile for Apple iOS devices. The update comes with a number of new features, some of which take advantage of new hardware in the Apple iPad Pro and the new iPhone models 6s and 6s Plus. Read more
 |
The Federal Aviation Administration has officially launched the drone registration program first reported in October. Drone operators are required to register their UAVs with the Unmanned Aircraft System registry starting December 21. Failure to register could result in criminal and civil penalties.
Under the new system, all aircraft must be registered with the FAA including those ‘operated by modelers and hobbyists.’ Once registered, drone operators must carry the registration certificate during operation. This new system only applies to drones weighing more than 0.55lbs/250g and less than 55lbs/25kg. The only exception to the registration requirement is indoor drone flights.
Required registration information includes a mailing address and physical address, email address, and full names; however, no information on the drone’s make, model, or serial number is required from recreational users. Non-recreational users will need to provide drone information, including serial number, when that particular registration system goes live.
Failure to register could result in civil penalties up to $ 27,500, or criminal penalties up to 3 years in prison and $ 250,000. A $ 5 registration charge is applied, but will be refunded to those who register before January 20. The registration certificate is sent in an email to be printed at home.
 |
If they’re young enough, your kids have always known a world in which smartphones are the most popular devices for taking photos. That’s too bad. To ensure that the next wave of young photographers understand the performance and ergonomic advantages of using a real camera, you’ll need to get one into their hands as soon as possible.
But wait! Before you sneak a Nikon D810 into your baby’s basket of toys, you’ll need to consider choking hazards and the fact that some children are a lot more careful than others when it comes to handling expensive electronics. If you want to buy a camera specifically for your child – or a camera that your entire family can share without worrying too much – durability and ease of use are just as important, if not more, as image quality and features.
And, of course, much of that depends on the age and maturity level of your child. We wouldn’t trust any toddler or the vast majority of 10-year-old boys with an advanced point-and-shoot, but for a teenager or pre-teen that’s wise beyond their years and genuinely interested in photography, a compact with a lot of zoom and manual controls to grow into might be a great fit.
So here’s a selection of some of what we think are the best camera options for your kids. Most of these models aren’t specifically for kids, and all of the obvious caveats apply. Batteries aren’t edible, memory cards are choke hazards, cameras can hurt when they’re thrown at people, etc. All prices are approximate street prices, correct at time of publication, and if you think we’ve missed a model that deserves consideration, let us know in the comments!
If you’re shopping for kids 6 and under, you probably don’t want to spend a lot of money, and durability is likely to be important. You want something lightweight that won’t break the first time it gets dropped, and the simpler the operation the better.
1.3MP sensor | 4X digital zoom | 1.8″ LCD | 320 x 240 video | 128MB built-in memory | uses AA batteries
 |
Baby’s first piece of kit should be tough and inexpensive, and the VTech KidiZoom fits the bill. This durable 1.3-megapixel camera/toy comes has a fixed lens with 4X digital zoom, 128MB of internal memory (with an option for MicroSD memory card expansion), a 1.8″ LCD and 320 x 240 video. There are even three photo-related games to keep your kids entertained.
13.2MP CMOS sensor | 30-90mm equiv. lens | Waterproof to 32ft | Shockproof from 5ft | Full HD video
 |
Full specifications, sample images, user reviews and more
Cameras do get bumped and dropped (or worse), making Nikon’s inexpensive waterproof, shockproof and freezeproof Coolpix S33 worth a look. It features an easy-to-use interface and dedicated one-touch buttons for simple shooting. Although it’s 13.2 megapixel CMOS sensor is roughly the size of what’s in your smartphone, it can capture decent quality images. Its lens has a focal range of of 30-90mm – adequate for most purposes. A dedicated movie record button allows users to quickly shoot Full HD video clips. The S33 offers sixteen creative styles and effects options (including Underwater Face Detection) and an option to shoot videos with a miniature effect.
Makes card-sized instant prints | 60mm equiv. fixed lens | Uses AA batteries | Comes in several colors
 |
Now your kids can relive the days of instant prints with the Fujifilm instax mini 8, one of several models available from the company. It’s definitely not rugged, but the thrill of getting a 2.4 x 1.8 inch print in about 2-3 minutes will excite both kids and adults alike. The mini 8 is a very basic camera, with a small optical viewfinder (and no LCD), dial-in exposure, and a flash that always fires. One important thing to know is that instax cameras are a bit of a money pit, with a ten pack of film priced at around $ 8.50, so your little photographers will need to be pretty selective before pressing that shutter release button.
DIY pinhole camera | Accepts 35mm or medium-format film | Available in four colors
 |
For the creative kid with a do-it-yourself attitude, the VIDDY is a pinhole camera kit made from tough, durable recycled cardboard in four colors: green, black, blue or red. It accepts both medium format and 35mm film. Bonus: it’s a perfect project between parent and child. Pop out VIDDY’s screen printed parts and assemble in 30 minutes.
6MP sensor | 35mm lens w/124° angle-of-view | Weatherproof | Full HD video | Numerous mounts available
 |
The latest HD action camera from Polaroid combines a 6MP sensor with a lens with an impressive 124° field-of-view and puts it into a weatherproof body measuring just 35mm on each side. The camera has can record Full HD video onto an optional microSD card, and a 90 minute battery allows extended recording for every bike ride and beach adventure. Just like more expensive GoPros, there are numerous mounts available for the Cube, plus an underwater housing. And a magnet in the camera’s base opens up even more potentially interesting vantage points.
For those seeking Wi-Fi capabilities, the Cube+ offers that for $ 149.
Durability may be less important in a camera for this age group, but it really depends on the child. In our selection we’re assuming that you’re buying for a kid who’s learned not to throw precious things around, and most of the models we’ve chosen offer a little room for your child to grow away from the strictly auto-everything snap-shooting if they get more confident.
16MP BSI CMOS sensor | 25-100mm equiv. lens | Waterproof to 50ft | Full HD video | Wi-Fi + GPS
 |
Full specifications, sample images, user reviews and more
For kids that are on the go – or have the tendency to drop expensive pieces of electronics, the Olympus TG-4 is a good choice. It’s well built, responsive, full-featured and produces excellent quality images for a small-sensor camera. It offers automatic shooting modes but opens up the world of manual exposure for older children ready to get their feet wet (no pun intended) in more serious photography. Other features include numerous ‘art filters’, Full HD video recording, and support for fisheye and telephoto conversion lenses. It has very good battery life as well, so it can make it through the day with ease.
The TG-4 is waterproof to 50ft, shockproof from 7ft, crushproof to 220lbf and freeze proof to +14F, so it can take a beating. Wi-Fi is built-in for easy photo sharing, and the GPS receiver will let young photographers check a map to see where a photo was taken.
12MP BSI CMOS sensor | 24-720mm equiv. lens | Electronic viewfinder | Full HD video | Wi-Fi
 |
For the child you trust with more fragile cameras, might we suggest the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50. It’s a great camera to take on vacation, thanks to its long 24-720mm (30X) zoom lens and ultra-compact body. It offers speedy focusing and continuous shooting, and photos can be composed on either a 3″ LCD or a small (but still useful) electronic viewfinder. The camera can record Full HD video with ‘hybrid’ image stabilization to reduce severe camera shake.
The ZS50 offers more advanced manual controls than the TG-4 above, so if you want to teach your budding photographer about aperture and shutter speed or how to manual focus, the ZS50 is a camera which can do it.
Full-featured smart device | 8MP BSI CMOS sensor | F2.4, 29mm equiv. lens | 4″ Retina display | Full HD video
 |
While it may be too early in their lives to buy your kids an iPhone, you might as well prepare for the inevitable by picking up an iPod Touch (2015). It’s essentially an iPhone without the phone, meaning that you get access to hundreds of thousands of apps, many photo-related, easy photo sharing over Wi-Fi, and all of the other things that have made iPhones a smash hit.
On the photo side, the iPod Touch sports a 8MP BSI CMOS sensor and an F2.4, 29mm equivalent lens, plus a lower resolution front-facing camera for selfies. It has the usual features you’d expect to see on a ‘regular’ camera, plus impressive Auto HDR and panorama features. The iPod Touch can also record Full HD video, with slo-mo and time-lapse options. You couldn’t ask for a better screen on which to compose photos, either, as the 4″ Retina display truly shines. You can even add extra lenses from companies like Olloclip for more flexibility.
 |
Sigma has created an all-new protective filter, the Sigma Water Repellent (WR) Ceramic Protector, using Clear Glass Ceramic with water and oil repellent coating. This is the first filter to use such a material in its construction. It promises both lighter weight and higher strength than normal protective filters with minimal effects on transmittance and sharpness.
It will be available in common filter thread sizes between 67mm and 105mm. See the press release below for more info, or take a look at it on their website at: http://www.sigmaphoto.com/wr-ceramic/
New scratch- and shock-resistant material provides protection for investment
RONKONKOMA, NY — December 16, 2015 – Sigma Corporation of America, a leading DSLR lens and camera manufacturer, today announced the new Sigma Water Repellent (WR) Ceramic Protector, a lens filter that features new Clear Glass Ceramic material and provides enhanced protective qualities. Pricing and availability is not yet available.
This shock- and scratch-resistant Clear Glass Ceramic was developed specifically for Sigma in partnership with a glass manufacturer. Made with a special heat treatment that evenly precipitates microcrystalline spinel throughout the materials, the Clear Glass Ceramic is 10 times stronger than a conventional protective filter and three times the strength of a chemically strengthened filter. The lens protector also contains WR coating, which repels water, dust and oil, and allows fingerprints to be easily removed. This enhanced protection helps to preserve the lens and ensure long-term, top-notch image quality.
“The Sigma WR Ceramic Protector is the latest example of Sigma’s dedication to innovative and first-to-market photography equipment,” said Mark Amir-Hamzeh, president of Sigma Corporation of America. “The new Clear Glass Ceramic protector is the first of its kind and the strongest material used in the industry. It will enable photographers to safeguard their lenses, while maintaining the impressive sharpness offered by high-quality glass, like our Global Vision line of lenses.”
Key features of the Ceramic Protector include:
This filter is offered in the most popular filter thread sizes, and is compatible with all Sigma lenses and other lenses that accept front filter threads that are 67mm-105mm diameters. Compatible lenses in Sigma’s Art line include: 35mm F1.4 DG HSM, 30mm F1.4 DC HSM, 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM, 24-35mm F2 DG HSM, 24-105mm F4 DG OS HSM, 50mm F1.4 DG HSM, 24mm F1.4 DG HSM, 19mm F2.8 DN, 30mm F2.8 DN and 60mm F2.8 DN. Compatible lenses in the Sports line include the 120-300mm F2.8 DG OS HSM and 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM. Compatible lenses in the Contemporary line include the 17-70mm F2.8-4.0 DC OS HSM, 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM, 18-300mm F3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM and the 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM. As with all of Sigma’s lenses, the filter is checked with Sigma’s own Modulation Transfer Function (MTF) measuring system, “A1,” in the company’s factory in Japan.
For information about Sigma, go to www.sigmaphoto.com or follow the company on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
 |
Casio’s TR series of Exilim compacts has propelled the Japanese company to record profitability this year after the cameras caught a firm grasp of the massive Chinese selfie market. According to a report from Nikkei Asian Review, Casio is on-track to make a $ 403 million profit this year, and a good part of that has come from the sale of its unusually shaped EX-TR compact cameras that the company has designed to appeal to female selfie shooters.
Just after the launch of the first TR – the Exilim TRYX EX-TR100 – in 2011, Casio’s photography business was in such trouble that it pulled distribution in the majority of territories it operated in. At the time Casio concentrated on the ‘cool’ looks of the camera and its ART modes that created HDR and painting-effect images, but since 2013 the TR cameras have proved such a hit with the Chinese that its imaging division expects to make a ¥4.2bn (about $ 34.5 million) operating profit. That comes after four years of losses, up to 2012.
The secret of the camera’s success has been a combination of a growing fashion-conscious design and the product’s suitability for shooting selfies. With a hinged frame the TR models can support themselves standing upright so are ideal for placing on a table facing the subject. They also have a number of ways to trip the shutter including squeezing the frame, using a ‘selfie pad’ on the side of the body, using a count-down-display self-timer, by the camera detecting the subject putting his/her hand in a certain part of the frame and by touching the 3″ LCD. The 921,600-dot LCD also acts as a digital mirror so the subject can check hair and make-up before the picture is taken – as the camera lens and the LCD face in the same direction.
 |
It has become common to feature digital retouch shooting modes in compact cameras, but Casio’s Exilim TR models go a step further with make-up modes that offer up to 12 levels of skin smoothness as well as skin tone adjustments to suit the way you want to look. A step beyond that even is make-up mode bracketing that provides three images with smoothness levels either side of the setting you chose yourself. In the latest model, the EX-TR70, make-up mode is now available when shooting movies too.
 |
For those not sure of their best side, pose bracketing gives you five chances to look good as the camera’s voice guidance counts down three-two-one between pictures so you have the opportunity to ruffle your hair, bend a knee or pout a little bit more.
All of the EX-TR models use a lens with an angle of view equivalent to a 21mm on a 35mm system. Such a focal length would seem excessively wide for general purpose photography, but when holding a camera at a short-arm’s length it has proved perfect for getting you and your friend in the frame. Instead of a flash the cameras are equipped with an LED light that’s positioned very close to the lens axis to create soft and shadowless lighting – and the LED is round to form an attractive circular catch-light in the eyes. Genius.
 |
The cameras have proved so popular in China that Casio has opened three stores that sell only TR series models. The stores are designed like make-up boutiques, to set the products apart from other cameras in the market. At up to ¥100,000 (about $ 800) a pop these are not low-cost novelties priced for the mass market, so clearly Casio has been doing something very right indeed.
For more information on the Casio Exilim TR series see the Casio digital camera website.
Like much of the DPReview staff, editor Barney Britton is a self-proclaimed super-fan of the 35mm focal length. The Sony Cyber-shot RX1R II has the same permanently affixed 35mm F2 lens as its predecessor, but it is backed up by almost completely new internals, including the same 42MP full-frame sensor and autofocus system as the Sony a7R II. Barney’s put the RX1R II through its paces in a wide variety of shooting scenarios, and shares his thoughts about what’s new, what isn’t, and more importantly, whether or not the Mark II version is worth the upgrade. For more sample images, click the link below.
Take a look at our Sony Cyber-shot RX1R II Sample Gallery
 |
Leica has announced a firmware update for its SL (Typ 601) full-frame mirrorless camera. The company says that firmware v1.2 improves low ISO performance, the quality of the image on the electronic viewfinder, and makes entering Wi-FI passwords easier.
It also corrects an issue with using the Leica Log Gamma curve (L-Log) with internal 8-bit recording, which was previously only capturing the bright tones from the scene. The update has lowered the offset to zero, which will allow the files to incorporate darker tones.
Finally, there’s now an image magnification tool for use with Leica M and R lenses, which is activated by the AE Lock button. The update also ensures that the correct EXIF information is recorded when using R lenses via their adapter.
The update is now available for download and can be installed at a local Leica store.
Press release:
Leica Firmware Update 1.2 Optimizes Picture Quality and Improves Handling
December 14, 2015 – Leica Camera today announced a new firmware update 1.2 for the Leica SL, which includes several fundamental improvements in the camera’s picture quality and handling. To access the firmware update, registered camera users can log into the Leica owner’s area of the Leica website and download the firmware version at: https://owners.leica-camera.com. Leica users can also take their camera to a Leica store and take advantage of the free update installation service.
The new firmware update 1.2 includes optimization of picture quality at ISO values from 50 to 400, improvements to the image in the electronic viewfinder and greater flexibility when entering WLAN passwords.
When shooting with Leica M and R lenses, camera users will find that the new firmware update 1.2 activates a loupe (magnifying) function with the auto exposure lock button (AE Lock) to allow fast manual focusing. Additionally, the firmware update guarantees the correct indication of the R-Adapter-M and the R-Lens used in the EXIF data of image files.
Finally, the firmware update offers an improvement in the Leica Log Gamma curve (L-Log) for video, enabling its use for in-camera 8-bit recording. The reduction of the offset will now allow recordings to appear considerably darker. Subsequently, videos recorded with L-Log must be corrected with a gamma correction in an external video editing program. The use of L-Log enables greater leeway for post-production color grading of videos recorded on the Leica SL.
Leica SL owners can also find a regularly updated and expanded overview of all SD cards compatible for use with their camera at sl.leica-camera.com.
For more information about the Leica SL Firmware Update 1.2 or Leica visit www.leica-camera.com, or follow the brand on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
About Leica Camera
Passion for creating perfect pictures. Leica represents a union of craftsmanship, design and experience. It is a beautiful collision of art and engineering, and the future of form and functionality. Leica Camera is an internationally operating, premium-segment manufacturer of cameras and sport optics products. The legendary status of the Leica brand is founded on a long tradition of excellence in the supreme quality and performance of cameras and lenses, and the iconic images that artists and photojournalists everywhere captured with them. Leica Camera AG is headquartered in Wetzlar, Germany.
 |
Italian accessory manufacturer Manfrotto has released a new app for its Digital Director iPad cradle that allows users to wirelessly control Manfrotto Lykos and Litepanels Astra LED lights. The 2.0 app is capable of handling up to 13 panels via a Bluetooth connection, so brightness levels can be controlled from the camera position. The app can switch the lights on and off as well, and when the BiColor models are in use color temperature can be adjusted between daylight and tungsten settings. Lights can be controlled individually, or in groups, though some models will need a Bluetooth dongle to make them compatible with the system.
The update also brings zebra patterning to the live view display, showing when areas of the image to be captured will be over- or under-exposed, and focus peaking can now be customized with different colors and strengths. In review mode the app can now crop images, either freely or with set proportions, and pictures can be rated in the gallery with stars that are compatible with other desktop software programs.
For more information visit the Manfrotto website, and you can read our review of the Manfrotto Digital Director here.
Press release:
Upper Saddle River, N.J. (December 10, 2015) – Manfrotto, a leading global innovator and manufacturer of premium photo, video and lighting support products and accessories, has launched the Digital Director App 2.0, the updated App for Manfrotto’s Digital Director, which brings new enhancements to professional and enthusiast photographers and videographers who wish to make shooting much smarter.
The Digital Director App 2.0, now available in the App Store on Apple iPads, includes new and improved features, in particular:
REMOTE CONTROL OF LIGHTS
The new Digital Director App 2.0 not only controls all Nikon and Canon DSLR key camera functions, but turns the iPad into an innovative interface, enabling total remote control of Manfrotto LYKOS and Litepanels ASTRA LED lights (up to 13 lights!) via Bluetooth®. Lights can be controlled remotely: you can turn lights on/off, adjust dimming level and color temperature, set up groups and configure multiple scenes directly from the iPad.
FOCUS PEAKING & ZEBRA FILTER
From the Digital Director App 2.0’s general settings, in the Digital Director Options, it’s possible to set up new features. The implemented Focus Peaking Filter presents new options: the possibility to adjust the intensity of the filter and to select the desired color for the peaking (red, blue, green, yellow). In addition, the new Zebra Filter helps to adjust exposure through striped patterns that indicate the overexposed and/or underexposed areas of the image.
INTUITIVE POST PRODUCTION IMAGE ADJUSTMENT
The new App 2.0 offers new tools for post production: cropping free or with proportion, blur and saturation. Together with the existing functions (rotate, contrast, light, checking histogram and EXIF information), it may also allow you to make final adjustments on the image in just a single touch of your finger on the iPad screen.
The App 2.0 integrates new and improved features such as control of new Manfrotto LYKOS LED lights and Litepanels ASTRA, new Focus Peaking settings, Zebra filter, new post-processing tools, gallery photo sorting and image rating that is included in the .jpeg file shared from Digital Director via FTP and email. With these upgrades, Digital Director can better help professional and enthusiast image makers make their shooting workflow more effective and intuitive.
DIGITAL DIRECTOR
Manfrotto Digital Director is the only Apple certified (MFi – Made for iPad Certification) electronic device that connects your camera and iPad, via USB cable, to help manage the photo and video workflow from the setting of your camera (Canon and Nikon DSLR) to sharing your pictures. It features a built-in Apple microchip that works with the 600MHz 256MB DRAM ARM® Cortex®-A8 microprocessor, simultaneously, in order to ensure the perfect communication between the iPad and the camera. The result is perfect control of all shooting parameters of different DSLR cameras, a smooth and consistent video streaming between devices with extremely low latency time, and an ultra-fast, high-quality image download onto the iPad.
 |
Panasonic has released firmware updates for five Lumix G lenses, adding support for the maker’s Dual IS technology. The feature was introduced in the Lumix DMC-GX8 camera; with this update, a total of eleven lenses are compatible with that model’s Dual IS system, including the Leica DG Macro-Elmarit 24mm F2.8 Macro and collapsible Lumix G Vario 12-32mm F3.5-5.6.
Panasonic’s Dual I.S system uses both the GX8’s body I.S and lens I.S together for improved image stabilization, ‘achieving a more powerful handshake correction,’ according to Panasonic. The new firmware is available for the following five lenses:
The updated firmware is available for download from Panasonic’s website.