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Canon 1D X: Still Life lab shots posted, added to Comparometer!
We've just posted our Still Life series of lab shots from the flagship Canon EOS-1D X professional SLR, and have added them to our Comparometer(tm) tool, so you can see for yourself how image quality compares to other cameras we've tested.
Be sure to visit our Canon 1D X test shots page for all the lab images we've shot so far, including links to select .CR2 raw files,...
Sigma fans, the wait is over: DP1 Merrill delivery imminent
Last February, Sigma Corp. announced two new fixed-lens cameras that promise mighty resolution in a relatively compact package, a great pairing for street shooters. The Sigma DP1 Merrill and DP2 Merrill are both based around the same full-color Foveon image sensor seen previously in the Sigma SD1 digital SLR. They also share the name of Foveon co-founder Dick Merrill, who...
One digital camera accessory you should never be without

The other day my iPhone rang and when I took it out of my camera bag, to my shock and dismay, there on the screen was a telltale row of white lines and a starburst spot. Somehow, something had hit the phone's screen hard enough to shatter it. Quickly I took out my DSLR and breathed a sigh of relief when I saw it...
Keep this in your camera bag: NYPD memo addresses rights of street photographers and videographers

In July, we told you about a potentially landmark general order from the Chief of Police in Washington, DC that seemingly protected the rights of photographers to shoot stills or video in public without being arrested. Now, an "operations order" from the New...
Photo Tutorial: How to shoot a tasty bottle of beer for a Heineken ad

What's the best type of photography? Beer photography. Or at least that's how photographer Aaron Nace of Phlearn sees it in this photo tutorial on how to shoot a Heineken beer ad.
Though it may seem easy, Nace walks you through some of the tricky lighting set-ups you'll need to capture a thirst-enducing beer...
The Camera Bag: Beam stealth photos of wildlife to your phone with this cellular trail camera

Most wild animals are shy and cagey creatures, which is what makes photographing them so darn difficult. The new Scoutguard SG580M cellular trail camera though, gives you a leg up on these elusive critters by surreptitiously snapping images in the wild and then beaming them back to your cell phone.
As long as...
Save big on Pentax SLR and mirrorless cameras, even medium format!
Fancy picking up a new camera or lens from Pentax, and live in the United States? If so, you're in luck! The company has just announced a series of price cuts and instant rebates that will stretch your buying dollars quite a bit further, whether you're buying pro gear or an entry-level model. All told, there are savings of up to US$2,600 on offer; in the real-world it'd be...
Sony treads on GoPro’s turf with WiFi-capable Action Cam series
Last month, we told you about Sony's plans to launch a rival to action cameras like Woodman Labs' GoPro. At the time we didn't have a name for the camera--or cameras plural, as it turns out--but it wouldn't have been hard to guess. Today Sony has launched its new cameras under the entirely logical Action Cam brandname. Neither the Sony Action Cam HDR-AS10 and HDR-AS15...
Out of this world? Samsung Galaxy Camera promises Android 4.1 speed, 4G connectivity
In a long-awaited but curiously timed move, Samsung announced it was finally bringing its Android OS expertise to a digital camera, a 16-megapixel, 21x optical touch zoom that runs on Google's latest and greatest platform. Dubbed the Samsung Galaxy Camera--and thus building on the branding of Samsung's popular smartphones and tablets--the device takes advantage of the speed...
Sony NEX-5R has fast phase-detect focusing, in-camera apps, WiFi (previewed)
Now in its third iteration, the very popular Sony NEX-5R doesn't get the usual updates people have come to expect. Like the NEX-5N before it, the NEX-5R still has a 16.1-megapixel sensor, a 3-inch tilting LCD, and is about the same shape and size. But there are a few new features that many will find compelling, including a fast hybrid autofocus system with 99...
Canon EOS-1D X firmware fixes focus, startup issues
New firmware for the flagship Canon EOS-1D X digital SLR today corrects several issues related to focus adjustment, as well as a bug that could prevent the pro-oriented camera powering on correctly in some circumstances, among other improvements.
Canon 1D X firmware v1.0.6 is available for download immediately. According to the company, the full list of changes in the...
Lens Review: Pentax 50mm f/1.8 DA

The Pentax 50mm f/1.8 DA has recently hit store shelves, offering Pentax shooters an inexpensive portrait lens for their APS-C camera bodies. Made predominantly of plastic, we've put this lightweight lens through its paces in our test lab: click here to read our full review of the Pentax 50mm f/1.8 DA.
...More cameras, less bugs: Adobe offers release candidate trio
It's that time again, fans of the bleeding edge: Adobe has just issued release candidate versions of Camera Raw 7.2, DNG Converter 7.2, and Lightroom 4.2. All three share support for much the same raft of brand-new cameras and camera backs. The release candidates of Lightroom and Camera Raw also fix a variety of bugs found in their previous incarnations, and the latter adds...
ACDSee Pro 5 does the job

When we last took a look at ACDSee Pro in 2007 we lauded its affordability and capabilities but complained that it had remained a bitmap editor in an age of non-destructive editing. That isn't an issue any more. And the good news doesn't stop there.
We cover the latest advances and report the modest system...
Nikon 1-series lens firmware enables smarter shutdown for J2 mirrorless
When the Nikon 1 J2 compact system camera ships next month, it will bring with it a change in operation that makes it subtly more intuitive than its predecessors, the J1 and V1. Unlike those models, the J2 can be powered off simply by locking the lens barrel of the attached zoom lens.
By contrast, while the earlier cameras could be powered on with the locking button when...
Canon firmware fixes 40mm focus failure
A few weeks ago, we told readers about an issue with Canon's EF 40mm f/2.8 STM lens, which only recently began shipping. According to the company, pressing on the lens barrel while the lens was mounted to a camera could cause autofocus to stop working.
As a temporary workaround, the issue could be resolved simply by reseating either the lens, or the attached camera body's...
Friday Photo Tip: How to improve your rainy day photos

It really was “a dark and a stormy night” as we drove through the English Midlands, in a cold, autumn rain. It was my first trip to the UK and I was loaded for photographs. However, with the morning, I could only stare at the BBC weather lady talking about at least a week of lousy weather.
My expectations for...
The Camera Bag: Instagram-friendly square photo frame appears; Facebook’s takeover gets FTC nod
Just a couple of months shy of its second birthday, photo app Instagram has become incredibly popular, incredibly quickly. Last April, we reported that social networking giant Facebook planned to purchase Instagram for a staggering one billion dollars. (The US Federal Trade Commission has now officially given that deal the nod, closing its nonpublic investigation without...
Mirrorless, Mirrorless on the Wall: Part II
And Now Some Meaningless Speculation...
These are simply my observations and speculations. I have absolutely no real information about any manufacturer’s plans. If I did, I would have to sign a non-disclosure agreement, and couldn’t write this stuff. But I like to speculate. It’s sort of like playing Fantasy Football with camera manufacturers.
I’m going to split this up...
Adobe Releases Revel 1.5

The cloud is not enough, Revel Product Manager Sumner Paine told us in July.
With our photos scattered across our phones, tablets and multiple computers, a lot of companies want you to store your collection in their cloud. But they're missing an essential ingredient, Paine said.
That's a great photo app that...