Just posted! Our lens review of Panasonic's ultra-wideangle zoom for Micro Four Thirds, the Lumix G Vario 7-14mm F4 ASPH. This lens takes advantage of the downsizing possibilities offered by the mirrorless format to deliver a huge angle of view in a body that's scarcely larger than a typical DSLR kit zoom. But this comes at a pretty steep price, so with the Olympus M Zuiko Digital 9-18mm F4-5.6 now available as a lower-cost alternative, we look to see what extra the 7-14mm has on offer to tempt the wideangle enthusiast.
Pentax and Nikon have released firmware updates for the Optio H90, I-10, W90, X90 and Coolpix S230 compact cameras. The updates to version 1.0.1 for all Pentax compacts offer additional settings while using Eye-Fi wireless memory cards. The firmware v1.1 for the Nikon S230 fixes a minor bug. The latest versions are available for immediate download from the Pentax and Nikon websites.
Just posted: our look behind the scenes of in-camera lens corrections. It's become increasingly common for manufacturers to design cameras that perform some degree of lens correction. So what are manufacturers playing at? Why are they releasing lenses with distortion, what effect does it have, and should dpreview review the distorted or the corrected output? We spoke to a series of leading camera and lens makers, as well as the creators of leading RAW converters to find out just what's going on.
Sony has detailed the double-layer microlens technology it used to maintain imaging performance in its chip featuring the industry's smallest pixel size. Its latest Semiconductor and Components online newsletter explains the structure of the ICX681SQW 14.2 MP 1/2.3" type CCD sensor that adds convex lenses beneath the existing microlenses to improve optical condensing (the process of directing more light onto the photodiode). The chip is used in the Cybershot H55 and several recent W Series compacts. The newsletter also gives details of the company's 3:2 aspect ratio, 1.03 million dot LED-lit LCD panel that sounds a lot like the one used in Canon's Rebel T2i.
Sigma has released firmware updates for its DP2 and DP2s large-sensor digital compact cameras. Both updates promise improved image quality at ISO 400. Version 1.05 for the DP2 and firmware v1.01 for the DP2s are available for immediate download from Sigma's website.
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