In a year so very different from others, little has changed on the photography gear rental front. Canon takes 7 of the top 10 spots, with Sony taking the remaining three, and Nikon overtakes Sigma for third place.
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November 2020
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January 2021
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December 2020 news and reviews
December 31
Attempting a road trip in the middle of a pandemic offers plenty of opportunities for things to go awry. Good thing the Sony a9 II proved to be about as reliable as the vehicle it was traveling in.
We've taken a look back at our year of Instagram posts to the @DPReview account and compiled the 10 most popular cameras of 2020, based on most 'likes' to a single post.
As this tumultuous year comes to an end, we thought we'd round up some of the biggest news stories of the past 12 months. Join us in taking a look at the highs – and lows – of 2020 in the world of photography.
December 30
A series of patent applications from Canon showcase a unique pan/tilt mirrorless camera designed with video in mind. Although the device bears a resemblance to DJI Ronin-style gimbals, it's a different kind of device altogether.
It's time for our annual predictions episode! Chris and Jordan tell us what to expect from each camera company in 2021. And like true Canadians, they do it while ice fishing.
December 29
On Monday, December 28th, the FAA released its long-awaited ruling on Remote Identification (Remote ID) for drones along with a final rule on flights over people and at night.
The Zeiss ZX1 is a unique compact camera, dominated by a large touchscreen. It comes with Adobe Lightroom Mobile installed - but how does it work? In this video, Reviews Editor Carey Rose explains all.
December 28
In the current full-frame mirrorless marketplace, the Canon EOS R6 and Nikon Z6 II are the midrange models to beat. But which is right for you?
December 27
When choosing a high-priced camera, build quality, resolution and autofocus performance are of primary importance. We combed through the best cameras priced between $2500 and $4000, and Canon's do-everything EOS R5 came out on top.
December 26
A Philadelphia-based remote pilot managed to accrue $182,000 in fines from the FAA. Renowned aviation attorney Jonathan Rupprecht says it's the second largest fine he knows of, to date, and explains how it happened.
Did Santa leave a new Sony camera in your Christmas stocking? If so, your first step should be to enable Sony's 'real-time' autofocus tracking. In this video, we show you how to set up this useful feature.
December 24
What is field curvature, and why should you care? In this article – the first of two – professional optics geek Roger Cicala explains all.
December 23
This ultra-compact 35mm pancake lens features a fixed F5.6 aperture but manages to squeeze a manual focus mechanism inside.
As we press on with our full review, we've analyzed just how the Zeiss ZX1 stacks up in front of our standard studio test scene. See for yourself how it performs.
SkyPixel has announced their 6th annual drone photography and videography competition.
A new firmware update adds bird detection autofocus to the E-M1X and, oh boy, it finds all the birds. The E-M1X and E-M1 Mark III also get ProRes Raw video recording, but does it meet Jordan's standards?
December 22
The DJI GO 4 app recently added local data mode on iOS. This keeps your flight data strictly on your phone instead of being sent to servers.
Considering the FX6 effectively uses the same core components as the Sony a7S III, it goes to show just how much video power is inside Sony’s full-frame mirrorless cameras if you don’t need all the extra production-level inputs and outputs.
MiNT Cameras has launched a Kickstarter campaign for its InstantKon SF70 instant film camera. It uses Fujifilm Instax square format film and includes manual and automatic functionality. MiNT hopes the SF70 captures the spirit of the classic Polaroid SX-70 while introducing improved modern functionality.
Tamron's 70-180mm F2.8 is a high-quality telephoto lens for Sony E-mount that won't break your back or the bank. Read about why it's been one of Dan's personal favorites this year.
The adapter, which offers full support for Nikon’s phase-detection autofocus system, is technically a Leica M mount to Nikon Z mount autofocus adapter, but since you can stack other adapters on top, the options are almost limitless.
Nikon's new Z 50mm F1.2 S is a fast, versatile prime lens for the full-frame Z-series. It's a seriously big, seriously pricey lens, but does its performance justify its cost? Take a look at our samples gallery to find out.
December 21
This new global partnership will see the two companies work together to research and develop co-engineered imaging systems for Vivo smartphones, starting with the new X60 series.
The public betas, which have known issues and won't work with all third-party add-ons, are the first to natively run on Apple's new M1-powered computers.
Nick Brandreth of the George Eastman Museum is back with a new episode of 'Darkroom Magic'. The new episode shows how to make your own paper developer.
We've just finished processing our Zeiss ZX1 studio scene, and holy cow, that lens looks amazing. Click through to see for yourself.
The Hubble Space Telescope has captured many beautiful, important images over its first 30 years in orbit. To celebrate the milestone, NASA published 30 new images, all highlighting Caldwell objects, celestial objects amateur astronomers around the world can view for themselves.
For the past few weeks, our readers have been voting on their favorite photographic gear released in the past year in a wide range of categories. Now that the first round of voting is over, it's time to reveal the first-round winners and pick the best overall product of 2020.
Japanese publication AERAdot has reported that Nikon is ceasing camera production at its Sendai ‘Mother’ Factory and moving operations to its Thai factories as a cost-saving measure.
December 20
Dale's favorite camera this year is one of the most interesting and distinctive mirrorless ILCs on the market - the ultra-traditional, rangefinder-styled Fujifilm X-Pro 3.
Please, no more ugly camera straps, cheesy how-to books, useless smartphone accessories or lens-shaped mugs (emphasis on that last one). Here's what we photographers actually want this year for the holidays...
December 19
Looking for an awesome last-minute gift idea? Consider an instant camera! We tested every Instax model on the market and picked our favorite two. Snag either for under $100. [Originally published October 2020]
What would the Sony a7S III look like if it were a cinema camera? Spoiler: it would look like the Sony FX6. This week, Jordan reviews the FX6 to see how it compares with the a7S III. Which one would he pick? You might be surprised.
December 18
The U.S. government has added Chinese drone maker DJI to its economic blacklist.
While we may be hunkered down at home for a while longer, that doesn't mean you can't plan for future travel when it's safe! Earlier this year we reviewed four popular compact travel tripod options, here's our favorite. [originally published July 2020]
Sotheby's of New York recently completed the auction of 'A Grand Vision: The David H. Arrington Collection of Ansel Adams Masterworks'. The 123-lot collection earned a total of $6.4M USD, with 94% of lots selling. An iconic image set a record, selling for $988,000, the highest total ever for an Ansel Adams print.
The lens joins the 7.5mm F2 Zero-D MFT lens from Venus Optics, making it the second 'Zero-Distortion' MFT lens in Venus Optics' lineup.
The fully-manual lens costs just $98 and is available for Canon M, Fujifilm X, Micro Four Thirds and Sony E mount camera systems.
If you're looking to expand your 35mm camera collection for the holidays, here are five(ish) film cameras you can find at stocking-stuffer prices.
Canon Japan says the RF 70-200mm F4, which was set to be released this month, is being pushed back to a March release due to ‘ insufficient supply for the launch.’
December 17
Firmware version 3.20 for both the Nikon Z6 and Z7 adds the ability to record Blackmagic RAW footage to Assist 5” 12G HDR and Video Assist 7” 12G HDR monitors/recorders if you've purchased Nikon's Raw video upgrade.
Aside from being the first Micro Four Thirds camera on the list, it's easily the most affordable. This also means Panasonic now has two prosumer-grade cameras on the list, as the S1H was added last year.
Texas Monthly has shared an article detailing how one high-risk photographer was exposed and eventually tested positive for COVID-19 after the party hid that the groom had tested positive ahead of the event.
Fujifilm's latest X-S10 is a likeable mirrorless camera with some of the company's best tech packed inside, and it doesn't cost the earth. We think it could be a good fit for photographers of all kinds – find out more in our full review.
Syrp is well-known for its motion control and camera slider products. Its latest offering is the Genie Micro, a small camera remote you attach to your camera via its hot shoe and USB port.
While a student at the University of Hertfordshire in 2012, Regina Valkenborgh constructed a pinhole camera using duct tape and a beer can. She set the camera up and forgot about it. It was finally discovered this year, after exposing upwards of 2,953 days.
Our team at DPReview TV just wrapped up their review of the new Leica SL2-S. Check out this gallery of images captured along the way, shot entirely with Leica glass.
December 16
Ricoh Imaging has been teasing the Pentax K-3 Mark III APS-C camera for months. Although the camera isn't due to ship until early next year, recent FCC filings by Ricoh Imaging show the camera without its outer shell, further expanding our knowledge of the upcoming digital SLR.
Ben Sandofsky, a developer at Lux Optics, the company behind the Halide camera app, has shared an incredibly detailed breakdown of Apple's new ProRAW technology and explains how the company plans to make the most of it in the Halide app.
The Nikon Z7 II is here, bringing improved speed and twin card slots. But does the addition of a second processing engine make any difference to image quality? Take a look at our gallery of samples to find out.
The compact point-and-shoot film camera is a tribute of sorts to the original Sprite 35 released back in the 1960s. It doesn't offer any manual controls or even a variable shutter speed, but at only $35, what do you expect?
After spending a solid week living with the new Leica SL2-S, Chris and Jordan have some opinions. Find out what they like about the camera and who they think it's for.
December 15
Skylum has released Luminar AI, its newest AI-powered photo editor. New features include Templates, Sky AI, Atmosphere AI, Skin AI and much more.
Elinchrom’s new app, which is available for both iPhones and iPads, works with the Elinchrom Bridge to add the ability to remotely control compatible Elinchrom lights.
The Nikon Z6 II builds on the well-rounded stills and video features of its predecessor, with the addition of dual processors, two card slots and the option to add a full battery grip. It's a subtle evolution but enough to keep the $2000 Z model competitive.
Curved image sensors have been discussed and showed off for years, but the French firm Curve is the first to prepare its curved CMOS image sensor for mass production.
The next anamorphic lens from Sirui will offer a wider angle of view, and will come direct in a wider range of lens mounts than the previous 35mm.
We've updated our initial Olympus 150-400mm F4.5 TC1.25x sample gallery with additional images taken throughout the focal range.
December 14
The George Eastman museum explains what goes into a salt print and how you can make one at home.
The new format should allow iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max users to get the most of their images by leveraging Apple’s Deep Fusion and HDR technologies in combination with the flexibility of a Raw (DNG) image.
You can now enjoy your brew, be it coffee or beer, from one of Canon Japan’s new drink ware, made to look like various Canon EF and RF lenses.
Google has shared a deep dive into how it developed the underlying technologies that power its Portrait Light feature found on Pixel smartphones.
We've got our hands on a full production version of Fujifilm's image-stabilized X-S10, and have been doing plenty of shooting with it as we polish off our final review. Check out what it can do.
December 13
Leica's SL2-S might not look like it breaks any ground at a casual glance, but on the inside, its 24MP sensor promises better video performance than its higher resolution sister model. Find out what it's like to handle in our hands-on look.
December 12
If — and that’s a big if — such a teleconverter ever becomes a reality, you may one day be able to turn prime lenses into ‘zoom’ lenses and bring image stabilization to lenses that lack it.
Chris and Jordan have been shooting with the Z6 II for a little while up in the frozen wastes of Alberta. Watch their video review to find out how they got on. The first thing we need to know is how should we pronounce 'Z'?
DPReview TV's Chris and Jordan have been shooting with the new Nikon Z6 II for a little while, and have created a gallery of samples alongside their full review. Check them out!
December 11
Litchi, a third-party app that is compatible with DJI drones, recently announced a new update. Notably, Mavic Mini users can now track and follow subjects.
Now, when you 'like' an image in the iOS Photos app, the same image (assuming it's been uploaded to Google Photos), will be 'starred' in your Google Photos library.
The former head of the Office of Technical Services and Chief of Disguise of the CIA reveals some of the cameras spies were supplied with to record what the enemy was up to during the Cold War. She says that while technology has changed in the intervening years spying methods haven't.
Mathieu Stern is back with another unusual lens. This time he has adapted a Canon 65mm F0.75 X-Ray lens for use with his Sony camera. The lens is rare, very difficult to use and captures unusual-looking images.
Can a single piece of gear define one's photographic style? For Fernando Martins, the answer is 'yes.' He primarily works with a Nikon 20mm F3.5 lens and leans into its unique characteristics brilliantly, producing beautiful and haunting images.
December 10
The plate, which is manufactured in the United States using US-based materials, weighs just 13g (.5oz) and is built-to-order for $95.
The mostly-still photography mobile app intends to expand its video offering by integrating the features of Trash, a mobile video app that makes editing easier
The 'Henri' Cinematographer's handle comes in two models — L-PL and L-LPL — and features a foldable grip that has built-in buttons for controlling recording right from the handle.
The new 85mm F1.8 prime lens features full autofocus compatibility, including support for Nikon’s Eye-AF technology. The lens is available to purchase for just $399.
The SL2-S marks Leica's entry into the stills/video hybrid market. At this point it's very much a cheaper SL2, though its future looks bright, as you'll learn in our initial review.
We've been shooting with a pre-production Leica SL2-S for a few days, to see what it can do. Check out our gallery of samples to see how it performs.
Leica's SL2-S is a companion model to the existing SL2, coming in with more modest resolution but more robust burst shooting and video recording features.
December 9
The organizers have pushed back the Las Vegas event amidst concerns surrounding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
DxO PhotoLab 4.0 launched in October. After a couple minor updates, version 4.1 has been released. It includes additional camera support, fixes, improvements and Apple M1 compatibility.
Here are a few of the 380 nominated images from photographers, of all nationalities, based in the United Kingdom.
Updated Lens availability is a critical part of choosing a camera system. We have a look at the four full-frame mirrorless mounts to see how their lineups and technologies currently compare.
You've probably heard of lens, or focus, breathing. Videographers love to talk about it, but it can be important to still photographers as well. So what is it? In this video we explain what 'breathing' is and why it matters.
CIPA has announced CP+2021 will be an online-only event due to concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.
December 8
These first real-world examples, captured on an unnamed Qualcomm-powered smartphone, show what the CAI standard experience is like when viewing the images online.
Copy That is free to download with an in-app purchase that makes it possible to 'verify' your copies to ensure every bit of media gets transferred without issue.
New software development kits (SDK) may not be the most buzzworthy announcements, but Sony's new camera automation SDK could be very interesting to product photographers.
2020 was no ordinary year, but a lot of new cameras were released nonetheless. This is your chance to have a say in which of this year's products was the best. Vote now in our 2020 readers' poll.
Zooms are great. but every year, some of the most impressive lenses that come across our desks are primes. And 2020 was no different, with several excellent fixed focal length options released. Vote now for your favorites.
The year 2020 might have offered us fewer chances to get out and photograph the things we love, but that didn't stop manufacturers from bringing a ton of excellent new lenses to market. Vote now to have your say on which was best.
We've added our studio test scene and video stills widget to our Sony a7S III initial review. This lets you compare its resolution capture and its low-light performance.
Capture One 21 has been released. The latest version of the popular photo editor includes new features and improved performance, including Speed Edit and a new ProStandard profile.
The latest version of Adobe Lightroom adds native support for Apple M1-powered computers, as well as Qualcomm Snapdragon-powered Windows 10 Arm devices.
December 7
Sentons' ultrasonic technology has been used in features such as the Air Triggers in the Asus ROG Phone 3. Sentons is pushing this technology further with CameraBar, tech it anticipates will be utilized in smartphones next year.
Smartphone leaker Ice Universe has shared a leaked slide from a Samsung Semiconductor presentation that shows the company is looking into the possibility of developing a massive 600MP smartphone sensor.
The factory produces an array of audio components, including analog-to-digital converters, which Inside Imaging claims are used by various Japanese camera manufacturers.
The conversion of these low-cost lenses means S35 and almost-full frame anamorphic shooting no longer needs to cost quite so much money. MTF Services is selling already-converted lenses at the moment but plans to offer a conversion service for existing lenses next year.
In this interview, wedding photographer Vanessa Joy talks about her favorite gear, the challenges of shooting a product video during a pandemic and why communication is key to successful portraiture.
Photography books never go out of style and can also serve as inspiration for years to come. These were some of our favorite titles from 2020.
December 6
As a neat little diffuser that has a gigantic impact on the quality of the light from a hotshoe flash unit, the Hähnel Lantern creates a dramatically wide spread of soft illumination.
Chris and Jordan from DPReview TV have been handing out their 'best and worst' camera awards since 2013, with the 2020 awards announced yesterday on YouTube. In this article, Jordan reviews the winners and provides more detail on why they were selected.
December 5
The daguerreotype was the first commercially viable photographic process when it was introduced to the world in 1839. With a handful of safe ingredients and chemicals, you can try it out for yourself at home using a 35mm film camera.
We've updated our 'best cameras for travel' buying guide for those looking for a camera to bring on their next adventure, once it's safe to do so. The best camera for family trips is the compact Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII, while our choice for travel photography is the Sony a7C.
It's the episode you've been waiting for all year! Chris and Jordan reveal their picks for the best and worst camera gear of 2020 while playing their newest drinking game. What could go wrong?
December 4
Marques Brownlee published his third annual 'Blind Smartphone Camera Test' video and the results are surprising. It's not necessarily the most feature-packed or expensive smartphones that move.
The new 33mm F1.4 and 56mm F1.4 APS-C lenses are roughly equivalent to 50mm and 85mm lenses, respectively, on full-frame cameras. You can purchase the 56mm F1.4 now, while the 33mm F1.4 lens is available to pre-order.
The sample-collecting probe filmed the Moon from close up and then captured its own landing, but the best bit is the color stitched panorama that's 15,000 pixels wide.
In this week's Film Friday we join up with a group of Soviet climbers, prepping to summit Mount Everest. The year is 1982 and to document the expedition, the team decides to bring along five plastic Smena Symbol viewfinder cameras. A humble, simple-to-use unit, it proves to be the perfect companion for the trip.
December 3
Users have lamented the absence of a camera in the Apple Watch. A new product, Wristcam, aims to change this by incorporating a pair of cameras in an Apple Watch band.
The Canon R5 has many noteworthy features, not the least of which is 8K video recording. However, the camera's video performance is hindered by overheating issues. Matt, from YouTube channel DIY Perks, has shared how he managed to get more from the camera, first through watercooling his R5, then through more conventional means.
Monogram's Creative Console allows you to build out a customized set of physical controls to speed up your editing workflow. Find out if it'll make your life easier in our detailed review.
These firmware updates, which were first announced back in February 2019, allow Nikon D500, D850 and D5 owners to use CFexpress Type B cards in addition to XQD cards in their Nikon DSLR camera systems.
The 35mm F2 DG DN is the standard prime in the group of new Sigma I-series lenses. We threw one onto the Sony a7R IV and went out shooting.
Tamron has announced its 17-70mm F2.8 Di III-A VC RXD lens for Sony APS-C bodies. The lens, with a 35mm-equivalent of 25.5-105mm, will be available in mid-January for $799.
December 2
CIPA's latest report for global camera shipments shows the camera industry is gaining pace once again in a year marred by the COVID-19 pandemic atop a market already in decline.
Since its release in late 2019, users have been unable to recalibrate or fine-tune their Apple Pro Display XDR. With the new Pro Display XDR Calibrator and accompanying firmware update, users can now recalibrate their Pro Display XDR monitors.
Natural History Museum's Wildlife Photographer of the Year has selected 25 photos for its People's Choice Award. Here are some of our favorites.
Earlier this week we published our samples from the new Sigma 65mm F2 DG DN when mounted on a Sony body. Chris and Jordan from DPReview TV also shot a gallery with the lens, but on Panasonic bodies. Have a look.
Today, at its Snapdragon Tech Summit, Qualcomm revealed the details of its new Snapdragon 888 system on a chip (SoC) that, amongst performance and battery improvements, offers an array of impressive photographer features, should Android smartphone manufacturers choose to make the most of them.
Aiming to save photographers carrying a cable and a charger for every battery they use, this device handles up to four batteries at the same time and can charge at home, in the car and via a USB power bank
December 1
For now, the app is in beta and limited to a handful of Samsung Galaxy smartphones, but as development continues, it's safe to assume support for other Android devices is on the way.
Sony's new Visual Story app for iOS promises event and wedding photographers a variety of useful tools, designed to simplify their workflow and enhance their business. The app includes automatic image transfer, gallery creation, editing tools and more.
Yongnuo, makers of lenses, cameras and other photo accessories, has filed a patent for a modular mirrorless camera system.
Sigma's new primes promise very good performance and light weight, when paired with L-mount and Sony E-mount mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras. Take a closer look.
Chris and Jordan take a look at the new Sigma 35mm F2 and 65mm F2. Depending on which system you're in and what your needs are, they might just be the compact, well-priced and impressively sharp little primes you've been looking for.
The Sigma 65mm F2 DG DN is for the photographer who wants a focal length that falls squarely between 50mm and 85mm. Have a look at our initial sample gallery taken on a full-frame Sony body.
While they were out shooting their video about Sigma's new lenses, Chris and Jordan filled up a memory card with photos from the 35mm F2 DG DN using Panasonic bodies.
Sigma has introduced its new 'I series' of compact, premium full-frame lenses for E and L mounts. The 24mm F3.5, 35mm F2 and 65mm F2 DG DN share similar designs and have weather-sealed metal bodies.
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| Autumn Light by F5Nikon from 2020 | Boston Sunrise Reflections by Charles Pfeil from Old tech | De Goede Reede during a september sunset. by patrickvanos from Almost Overprocessed -- An Editing Challenge | Christmas-0929 by vbuhay from Christmas. | 919 at speed. by 1AllanR from Alphabet soup II. Letter Z for “Zoom Zoom" (sports cars) |
