The Digital Photography Review Newsletter

How are your New Year’s resolutions coming along? Hopefully better than mine, because we’re less than two weeks in and already I’ve given up on drinking only decaf coffee.

The good news is, due to the return to caffeine (mostly homemade Americanos for you curious coffee aficionados), I have the willpower to bring you this week’s roundup of DPReview stories and videos, including DPReview TV’s analysis on what the S5 II means for the future of Panasonic cameras, the first-round winners of the Readers’ Choice Awards and the release of Sigma’s crazy new 60–600mm F4.5–6.3 super zoom for E-mount and L-mount cameras.

What does the S5 II mean for future Panasonic cameras?

Chris and Jordan sat down to discuss what Panasonic’s S5 II full-frame camera and its phase detect autofocus system means for the future of Panasonic’s Lumix cameras, including the company’s popular GH series lineup. Check out the 10-minute video to see what our friends north of the border have to say.

Readers’ Choice Awards first-round winners (and 2022 POTY vote)

Over the holidays, we had a variety of polls asking you, the readers, what your favorite camera and lens releases of 2022 were. Well, we’ve compiled the results and have narrowed it down to the winners and runner-ups for each of the categories. Now, it’s your time to have the final say in what you believe the 2022 Product of the Year was. Head on over the our gallery to see the winners from each category and cast your vote in your 2022 Readers’ Choice Product of the Year.

Finer Points: It's time to add some AI to manual focus. Here's a way to do it

In his first byline for DPReview, copy editor Matt Waller takes a look at manual focus and the potential it’s missing out on in the day and age of AI-powered autofocus. In the column, which is part of a longer ‘Finer Points’ series we’ll be putting out through the year, Waller highlights what camera manufacturers are making strides in improving manual focus in their mirrorless cameras and throws out a few ideas they could implement down the road to better improve the experience for the autofocus luddites.

Sigma announces $1999 60–600mm F4.5–6.3 telephoto zoom

Sigma’s Bigma returns in the form of a 60–600mm F4.5–6.3 DG DN OS super zoom for E-mount and L-mount mirrorless cameras. The 10x zoom will be available in mid-February 2023 for $1999. Thankfully for you, DPReview TV has already gotten its hands on one and taken it for a spin to see how it performs. Check out the video to see what Chris has to say about Sigma’s latest offering.

Fujifilm's X-H2S gets new drone, insect AF modes and more in 3.00 firmware update

Fujifilm's high-end X-H2S APS-C mirrorless camera gets even better with a new 3.00 firmware update that brings new drone and insect subject-detection autofocus modes. Additionally, Fujifilm says it's improved autofocus performance across an array of shooting situations. Read through our full writeup to get all of the details.

News updates

Fujifilm's X-H2S gets new drone, insect AF modes and more with firmware version 3.00

Published Thursday, January 12, 2023 9:25:00 PM GMT

Fujifilm has added new insect and drone subject-detection autofocus modes (and more) to its high-end X-H2S APS-C mirrorless camera system with a new 3.00 firmware update.

DPReview TV: Sigma 60-600mm F4.5-6.3 DG DN OS Sport Review

Published Thursday, January 12, 2023 12:30:00 PM GMT

The Sigma 60-600mm F4.5-6.3 DG DN OS Sport is a very versatile super telephoto lens, and we've got some impressions.

Sigma announces $1999 60-600mm F4.5-6.3 DG DN OS super zoom for E-mount, L-mount cameras

Published Thursday, January 12, 2023 12:30:00 PM GMT

Sigma calls its new 60-600mm F4.5-6.3 DG DN OS lens the world's first – and only – 10x ultra-telephoto zoom for mirrorless cameras. It will retail for $1999 when it starts shipping mid-February 2023.

LEDCard is a DIY credit card-sized macro ring light for smartphone photography

Published Wednesday, January 11, 2023 7:47:00 PM GMT

Helge Wurst has designed and built an open-source DIY LED ring light known as LEDCard. It's about the size of a credit card and works alongside a smartphone to capture better-quality close-up photos. We spoke with Wurst to learn more about his project.

DxO Labs adds nearly 1,700 new Optics Modules to its suite of editing programs

Published Wednesday, January 11, 2023 5:17:00 PM GMT

Each of the 1,693 Optics Modules added in DxO Lab's latest update are designed to get optimal image quality from various camera and lens combinations when editing within the company's editing applications.

DJI's new RS 3 Mini gimbal offers big features in a compact form factor

Published Tuesday, January 10, 2023 9:00:00 PM GMT

DJI has announced a 'Mini' version of its RS 3 gimbal, promising more portability and better ease of use than previous Ronin stabilizers. Despite its smaller design, the RS 3 Mini can still support full-frame mirrorless camera systems and many popular pro-level lenses.

Finer Points: It's time to add some AI to manual focus. Here's a way to do it

Published Tuesday, January 10, 2023 3:00:00 PM GMT

With every new camera we learn of new advancements in autofocus, including AI-driven autofocus. DPReview's Matt Waller wants to know what it's going to take to get some love and innovation for manual focus.

Techart’s new compact Leica M to Nikon Z adapter has video AF compatibility

Published Tuesday, January 10, 2023 3:00:00 PM GMT

Techart's new TZM-02 adapter allows users to attach manual focus M-mount lenses to their Nikon Z cameras and achieve full autofocus performance, including for video applications.

Ricoh launches new GR III 'Diary Edition' with exclusive case and wrist strap

Published Monday, January 9, 2023 10:00:00 PM GMT

The GR III 'Diary Edition' is limited to 2,000 units and will be available starting 'late January 2023' for $1149.95.

Raspberry Pi's new 12MP Camera Module 3 now has autofocus, HDR capture and more

Published Monday, January 9, 2023 4:41:00 PM GMT

The updated camera module, designed for use with Raspberry Pi's compact DIY computers, now has autofocus for the first time ever, and is available in both normal and wide field-of-view (FOV) variants.

Have your say: Best gear of 2022 - Readers' Choice Award winners and final vote!

Published Monday, January 9, 2023 3:00:00 PM GMT

For the past few weeks, our readers have been voting on their favorite cameras and lenses released last year. 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 2022.

DPReview TV: What the S5 II means for the future of Panasonic cameras

Published Saturday, January 7, 2023 3:00:00 PM GMT

The introduction of phase detect autofocus in the Panasonic S5 II is a huge deal. What does it mean for the future of Lumix cameras?

Panasonic adds new prime lens, zoom lens to S series L-mount lens roadmap

Published Friday, January 6, 2023 4:30:00 PM GMT

Based on the new lens roadmap graphic, Panasonic has a new 100mm macro lens in the work, as well as a variable aperture lens that appears to be a 28-200mm zoom lens.

Film Friday: Meet Luminar 100, a new 35mm color film stock made from Kodak Aerocolor IV aerial film

Published Friday, January 6, 2023 2:52:00 PM GMT

Luminar 100 is a new ISO 100 35mm film stock from Popho Camera Company that's respooled Kodak Aerocolor IV 2460 film. It can be developed in standard C-41 chemicals and will start shipping in mid-January.