Animated flipbooks have been around for nearly 145 years. With just a little thumb action, these books allowed you to view a few seconds worth of animation. Now, a new concept camera known as the GIFTY allows you to record video and print a flipbook instantly. The only problem: you can't buy one yet. 

If you've ever wondered who to thank (or blame) for those 8-bit animated graphics that remain prelevant even on today's high-bandwidth Internet, Steve Wilhite is your man. He was honored for that achievement at this year's Webby Awards and took the opportunity to once again remind us how 'GIF' should be pronounced. (via New York Times)

We've just posted our review of the The Olympus PEN Mini E-PM2. The E-PM2 is an entry-level Micro Four Thirds system camera, with a 16MP CMOS sensor and full 1080 HD video. It's one of the smallest mirrorless cameras on the market and boasts 8 frames per second continuous shooting. This second generation 'Mini' is effectively the image quality 'guts' of the OM-D in a compact, lightweight, novice-friendly form. Click through to find out what we think of it.

When homes are damaged, often the most important items cannot be replaced. For victims of fire, floods and other natural disasters, family photos are among the worst things to lose. Operation Photo Rescue brings together victims with professional photo editors to turn damaged images back into clear memories. Learn more on connect.dpreview.com.

Just posted: Our review of the Tamron SP 24-70mm F/2.8 Di VC USD. In our latest lens review produced in collaboration with DxOMark, we look at Tamron's fast standard zoom for full frame cameras - the first in its class to include optical stabilisation. With its Ultrasonic Drive focus motor and drip-proof construction, it looks like a very tempting option for full frame shooters, especially as it costs rather less than its counterparts from Canon, Nikon or Sony. But is this all too good to be true? Click through to read our review and find out.

Our friends and collaborators over at DxOMark have recently been looking into how lenses score on specific cameras, and the latest model they've examined is the Nikon D600. In a three-part article published at the end of last week, they investigate how 70 lenses from Carl Zeiss, Nikon, Samyang, Sigma, Tamron and Tokina measure up on the D600's 24MP sensor.  The article also compares how given lenses score on the D600 compared to the 36MP D800 and 24MP D3X. Click through for links to the three parts of the article.    

Flickr fans may find the lure of a free terabyte attractive, but they might be put off by the accompanying advertisements that support Flickr's new free account model. A major update to the photo sharing service has completely revamped the look of accounts and restructured the way users may pay for Flickr in the future. We take a look at the changes on connect.dpreview.com.

A cover image in the latest issue of the New York Times' monthly style magazine, T, has led to an interesting discussion about the newspaper's policy on photo retouching. While editors forbid any image manipulation beyond, 'minor color-toning and brightness' in news stories, retouches and removal of blemishes are allowed in the style magazine's fashion photography. Does a newspaper risk credibility by allowing retouching on editorially-branded content? Click to read more and share your thoughts.

Lindsay Adler and Erik Valind, both working professionals and educators, have written a beginner’s guide to photographic lighting with an unusual conceit at its core. By structuring a book around a list of common challenges - what they call the 'top ten worst situations' - they've created a digestible, useful 'lighting 101' guide. In this short review, Adam Koplan takes a look at their book 'Shooting in Sh**ty Light: The Top Ten Worst Photography Lighting Situations and How to Conquer Them'.

At last week's I/O developer conference Google announced a number of upgrades to the photo section of its Google+ social network, including features such as 'Auto-Highlight', 'Auto-Enhance' and 'Auto'-Awesome'. To make the same experience available on its mobile platform the search giant has released an upgraded Google+ app for Android. Click through to Connect to find out more.

Adobe Photoshop has become ubiquitous since its introduction more than 20 years ago, but it isn't the only game in town. In this article, we've selected 10 photo editing programs that aren't all as well-known as Photoshop, but which are well worth investigating if you're looking for other options. Click through for a link to the full article. 

We've been fans of Aaron Johnson's comic strip 'What the Duck' for years. 'WTD' is one of the best satirical comic strips in the world, and we're pleased to announce that we'll be publishing it weekly on dpreview.com, starting today. Click through for the first in what we hope will be a long series!

At its I/O developers conference a couple of days ago Google introduced various updates to its Google+ social networking platform, many of which will be of interest to photographers. As well as changes to layout, images can be 'auto-enhanced', made into panoramas and animations, and the system can also select the best facial expressions in group shots. Click through for more details on connect.dpreview.com.

We've just posted our 20-page review of the Nikon D5200. Nikon's 'advanced beginner' APS-C DSLR offers several features that should also appeal to enthusiasts, such as a 24MP CMOS sensor, a 39-point AF system inherited from the D7000 and an Auto ISO system linked to the focal length of the lens. Add an articulated rear LCD and the ability to output uncompressed video and you've got the makings of a very promising camera. Does the D5200 live up to its potential in real-world use? Click through to read our in-depth review.

Adobe has issued a 'release candidates' of Adobe Camera Raw 8.1 and DNG Converter 8.1 on its Adobe Labs site. The release is the first version of ACR designed to work with Photoshop CC but, as promised, is also compatible with Photoshop CS6. CS6 users will only gain camera compatibility, not any of the functions added in ACR 8 (and Lightroom 5), such as the perspective-correcting 'Upright' tool or the advanced healing brush. The latest version brings support for 7 additional cameras along with 16 lens profiles.

The XiStera smartphone tool is one of the more interesting Kickstarter projects we've seen lately. It is an all-in-one device that promises to do just about everything the mobile photographer on the go might require. XiStera serves as a lens adapter, phone stand, tripod mount, headphone wrap and stylus for your iPhone 5. It also works as a bottle opener and key chain, and can attach an optional LED light to your phone. Click through to Connect for more details.

According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, Olympus is to cease production of its cheapest V-series point-and-shoot compact digital cameras. This follows a financial report this week which showed a group net profit of 8.02 billion Yen in 2012, driven by the company's medical instrument business, but a loss of 23.07 billion yen for its imaging business. In response, the company has slashed its sales targets for compact cameras from 5.1 million units in 2012 to 2.7 million for the current business year. Click through for more details.

A patent filed by Apple in 2011 and discovered this week by appleinsider.com seems to hint at a 'social camera flash' system, allowing multiple iOS devices to be connected and used as secondary strobes for impromptu flash setups. The patent is filed as an 'illumination system' and describes 'initiating a master-slave relationship between the image capture device and at least one secondary device'. Click through for more details.

The BBC's Technology Correspondant, Rory Cellan-Jones, has been getting to grips with the new camera module for Raspberry Pi - the low-cost DIY computer. The camera board was announced earlier this year, and opens up enormous potential for applications including robotics and high risk aerial/underwater use. Cellan-Jones got hold of one of the new camera boards and has written a short article in which he details the 'nightmarish complexity' of making it work. Click through for a link to the full article.

Adobe Product Manager Tom Hogarty stressed that Adobe has, 'no plans to make Lightroom subscription-only at any point in the future.' The statement, made in light of the overwhelming response to Adobe's Creative Cloud announcement last week, was made during a Google+ Hangout today in which both Hogarty and Lightroom PM Sharad Mangalick responded to audience questions. Click through for their further statements on Lightroom features and availability.

Following Nokia's launch of the the Lumia 925 in London yesterday, we had a chance to get our hands on the new device, which features a camera with a 6-element lens, try it out and take some pictures. We also spoke to Juha Alarkuu, the head of Nokia's imaging department in Finland, and Samuli Hanninen, vice president of Software Program Management for Nokia, about the 925's new imaging technology and what it means for mobile photographers. Click through for the full story on connect.dpreview.com.

Sony's RX1 fixed 35mm full frame compact has received the prestigious Camera Grand Prix 2013 title, while Sigma's 35mm F1.4 DG HSM was named lens of the year. The awards, organized by the Japanese Camera Journal Press Club have a history of recognizing what prove to be historically significant cameras. Meanwhile, the Editors Awards were given to the Canon EOS 6D and Sigma's DP Merrill series of compacts.

DxO Labs has released version 8.1.6 of its DxO Optics Pro software. Both the Elite and Standard versions gain support for the Canon EOS 700D / Rebel T5i, Nikon Coolpix A and Coolpix P330, Pentax MX-1, and Sony NEX-3N. The Elite version also gains support for the Leica M. The update also adds 267 lens and cameras combinations to its library, with a list of over 12,000 combinations now available. Click through for the download link.

Panasonic has issued a firmware update for its Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm F2.8 ASPH Power OIS fast standard zoom for Micro Four Thirds cameras (H-HS12035). Version 1.2 improves the stability of the optical image stabilisation during movie recording. It's available to download now from the LUMIX customer support site - click through for the link.

Nikon has introduced the 1 Nikkor 32mm f/1.2 portrait lens for its 1 System of mirrorless cameras. It will provide the angle of view and depth of field control of an 86mm F3.2 lens for a full-frame system, making it the most enthusiast-friendly optic yet released for the 1 System. The lens, whose development was announced in October 2012, is also the first to use a silent wave motor for focus and to incorporate the company's 'nano crystal coat.' Consistent with these loftier ambitions, Nikon will ask around $900 for the 32mm f/1.2 when it becomes available in June.

Canon has introduced the EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x - a top-end telephoto zoom with a built-in switchable teleconverter, whose development was first announced back in February 2011. Simply flicking a lever at the rear of the barrel converts it to a 280-560mm f/5.6 lens. Designed for professional sports and wildlife photographers, it includes an array of top-end features such as Power Focus for movie shooting, and IS 'mode 3' that only applies stabilisation at the point of exposure, aiding panning. It also offers weathersealed construction, 4-stop image stabilisation, and a minimum focus distance of 2m. It will go on sale on 29th May, at an RRP of £11999.99 / €11800.

Canon has created a 'Video Camera X-series look' Picture Style for its EOS cameras, specifically designed for movie work. As its name suggests, it's designed to match the colour look of the company's X-series professional camcorders. It produces low contrast, low saturation footage that's better suited to post-production grading processes than the cameras' existing options. It's downloadable now from Canon's website and can be installed on almost any Canon EOS model, from the movie-optimized EOS-1D C to the mirrorless EOS M.   

BlackBerry is offering up the first major update to its new operating system. The update brings a more restrictive work-only setting, better visualization of device information and an HDR camera mode for users of the Z10 handset. The smartphone maker also debuted a new phone today: the Q5 includes a Qwerty keyboard as well as two BlackBerry capture features, TimeShift and StoryMaker. Read more at connect.dpreview.com.

While the Lumia 925 Nokia announced today may not offer the stunning specs of the 808's PureView technology, the device does hold promise for mobile photography fans. Its six-element lens design promises improved detail in good light and better quality in low light, and the sensitivity includes a new ISO 3200 setting. An aluminum-edge body with polycarbonate back, integrated antenna and wireless charging are also new, along with the Nokia Smart Camera app which offers some interesting shooting modes, including the unique Motion Focus. See sample images on connect.dpreview.com.

Developer Duka Istvan has created a release candidate of digiCamControl - free, open-source software that allows Nikon DSLRs (and a small but growing number from other brands) to be remotely controlled via computer. digiCamControl is Windows PC software and allows you to see your camera's live view image on your computer screen, as well as trigger a tethered DSLR remotely, either directly or using a programmable timer. Multiple cameras can be connected at the same time. Click through for more details on connect.dpreview.com.

Camera feature modifier Magic Lantern has developed a version of its software enabling 24fps Raw video output from the Canon EOS 5D Mark III. This news has grabbed videographers' attention as it allows for individual frames of 14 bit output, yielding a much wider dynamic range than you'd get from standard 8 bit video files. EOSHD's Andrew Reid has had his hands on the latest version and discusses its implications. Click through for his accounts of this potentially game-changing capability.

Just Posted: Our detailed, hands-on Olympus PEN E-P5 preview. We've been using a pre-production E-P5 for the last few days and have had a dig beyond the specifications to discover how the latest range-topping PEN behaves. We investigate the camera's latest features, including its easy-connect Wi-Fi, its degree of customization and its '2x2' dial behavior. We also take a look at how it compares to the E-P3 and OM-D E-M5, and how the high resolution VF-4 handles on the E-P5 and existing models.

The Samsung Galaxy S4 has no doubt been one of the most high-profile smartphone launches of the year. We're digging into its camera capabilities for our full review of Samsung's newest flagship phone, first playing with some of the more innovative capture features from its Dual Shot to Drama mode. We offer our first thoughts on the S4's camera today on connect.dpreview.com.

Olympus has announced the PEN E-P5, the fourth in its range of enthusiast-targeted, rangefinder-style Micro Four Thirds cameras. The E-P5 takes the 16MP sensor that has appeared in the company's other models and adds a five-axis image stabilization system and shutter capable of shooting at 1/8000th of a second amongst a host of tweaks and feature improvements. The camera will available from May at around $1,000/£900/€1000 body only. The company has also announced black versions of its 17mm, 45mm and 75mm F1.8 prime lenses, priced the same as their silver counterparts. There is also a 2.4M dot LCD electronic viewfinder, the VF-4.

The 2013 National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest is accepting submissions. Now in its 25th year, this photo contest offers a top prize that includes a 10-day expedition to the Galapagos Islands and publication of the winning image in the upcoming December/January edition of National Geographic Traveler magazine. The entry fee is $15 per image and contestants can submit as many images as they wish. Submissions must be received by June 30. Click through for more entry information and a look at some of the current submissions.

Olympus has announced the PEN Lite E-PL6 on its Global Website - an update to the E-PL5 that appears destined for the Asian market only. It adds in several of the features from the E-P5 announced at the same time, including an ISO 100-equivalent LOW setting, short release lag shutter mode, intervalometer and time-lapse movie shooting, and full compatibility with the VF-4 viewfinder. It also gains a dual-axis electronic level. It will come body only, in a kit with the 14-42mm 1:3.5-5.6 II R, or in a twin-lens kit also adding the 40-150mm 1:4-5.6 R. It's set to be available at the end of June. 

Nokia surprised everyone today by announcing its new Lumia 928 in advance of next week's big launch event in London. The Lumia 928 comes equipped with an 8.7-megapixel camera on a 1/3.2" sensor, xenon flash, optical image stabilization and a f/2.0, 26mm-equivalent Carl Zeiss lens. These specs mean it's only a relatively minor upgrade to the current Nokia flagship Windows Phone but still good news for mobile photographers: see why on connect.dpreview.com.

How do you balance the demands of aesthetics and documentary truth? Image manipulation of documentary photographs is nothing new, but it is certainly much easier now than ever before. DW Akadamie has published a feature examining the challenges faced by photojournalists and picture editors in creating attractive and atmospheric images, without compromising their authenticity. Click through for extracts from the article, images and a link to the full feature at www.dw.de.com.

Stephan Schulz, the Head of Professional Photo at Leica Camera AG has given an interview to Forbes.com in which he explains the opportunities - and challenges - of moving into the professional digital medium-format marketplace. Traditionally identified with 35mm (film and latterly 'full frame' digital), Leica announced the creation of the S2 back in 2009, and followed it with the 37MP late last year. Click through for some extracts, and a link to the full interview at Forbes.com.

Adobe's decision to move to a subscription-based model for its professional creative software has prompted probably  the most impassioned response we've ever seen to a news story on dpreview.com. There's a risk that the sheer volume of comments might prevent a clear message being heard, so we've prepared a poll of the most common complaints, to help establish what your biggest concerns are.

The UK Intellectual Property Office has issued a 'myth-busting' document about the effect on photographers of a newly-introduced law. The law includes new rules regulating the use of 'orphan works' - intellectual property whose copyright holder cannot be identified. This has led to concern that the changes will allow UK companies to use copyright material from anywhere in the world without the approval of the copyright holder.

When you think about Apple products, the pictures that come to mind of gleaming glass and aluminium are likely the work of a photographer you've never heard of - until now. In an interview with The Verge, industrial photographer Peter Belanger offers an insight into his painstaking processes, including his complex lighting schemes and choice of camera equipment. Learn more on connect.dpreview.com.

Yesterday's announcement by Adobe that it will cease 'perpetual license' sales of Photoshop and its Creative Suite counterparts has generated considerable backlash here on dpreview and across the web. With such a significant change in store, we spoke today with Adobe VP of Creative Solutions, Winston Hendrickson for his response to the uproar.

As smartphone cameras continuously improve, we can't help but wonder what's in store for both the future of such devices and the way we use them as photographers. Will the constant upgrade cycle and users' desire for new features make for smartphones with super cameras? Or maybe they'll evolve to become companion gadgets to dedicated cameras, rather than attempting to do it all themselves. In this article, we'll be looking current technology, and what's currently rumored to be in the works, in an attempt to predict what the future of such connected cameras - and photography - might look like. Click through to read more on connect.dpreview.com.

DPReview reader Eric Lew is a keen wildlife photographer, and recently returned from a trip to Antarctica. He shared some recollections, advice and photographs in a post on our forums, but we thought what he wrote was so good it deserved a wider audience. Click through for Eric's 2-page article 'Flying Penguins: Photography in Antactica' and find out how you too can publish articles like this on dpreview.

After our recent Smartphone Super Shootout we are working full steam ahead toward our comprehensive camera review of the HTC One, the Taiwanese manufacturer's new flagship smartphone which features a 4 'ultrapixel' sensor, a fast F2.0 lens and optical image stabilization. Unti then, we offer up a close look at the new phone's imaging features.

While the sketch comedy television show Saturday Night Live mocked the awkwardness of Google Glass wearers this week, the Wall Street Journal offered up an etiquette guide for Glass wearers. Even Google's Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt has warned we will have 'develop some new social etiquette' to accommodate the new technology. WSJ's advice covers when and where to don the wearable tech, and more tips for early adopters. Read on at connect.dpreview.com. 

Adobe has said it will no longer be developing its Creative Suite range of software, leaving its subscription and cloud-based Creative Cloud as the only way of accessing the latest version of Photoshop. Adobe has been trying to encourage users away from the traditional one-off payment licenses and on to a monthly payment model, with features such as online storage and syncing between devices. This latest move ups the ante by making it the only option for future versions of the software.

Falling into the interesting photo experiments category, Patrick Letourneau adapted a Kodak Aero Ektar 178mm F2.5 lens, a surplus lens originally used during World War II in bomber-mounted cameras, to use with his Panasonic GH2. A Thorium-oxide coating was used on the Aero Ektar's rear element to improve its refraction index, a fact that adds a sense of intrigue to the unique project. Click through for more details, and pictures. 

Adobe has updated its suite of Creative Cloud software, with the latest versions rebranded with the appendage 'CC'. Adobe Photoshop CC highlights include the Camera Shake Reduction tool that Adobe demoed earlier this year, and the ability to apply Camera Raw as a filter to any raster, vector or video layer. Creative Cloud members can now sync their Photoshop preferences across multiple devices. Click to read about these and other Photoshop CC features.