DSLR News

Tough Customer
Outdoor and travel photographers take note. The compact and rugged Pentax KP DSLR is a lot of camera in a tough, portable package, making it an ideal traveling companion. The 24-megapixel KP features a dustproof and weatherproof camera body with 67 points of sealing yet it weighs only 1.4 pounds and is small enough to fit into a laptop bag. This APS-C-sensor-based DSLR also features five-axis in-camera shake reduction, a top sensitivity of ISO 819,200, and high-speed continuous shooting at up to 7 frames per second. Best of all, if you like shooting outdoors even when the weather outside is less than optimal, the Pentax KP is designed to shoot in temperatures as low as 14 degrees F. You may freeze but your camera won’t.

Pentax KP
$1,099
us.ricoh-imaging.com

Sky Pilot
If you want to cause a big stir with your aerial photography you might as well conjure up a tornado. And the Yuneec Tornado H920 Plus hexacopter does just that. Featuring a modular design that includes carbon-laminated, quick-release propellers that can be removed and attached without tools at the push of a button, the Tornado H920 Plus is powerful but portable. Contributing to the unit’s compact, modular design are folding arms that significantly reduce its size while traveling. Yuneec is also offering a new CG04 camera with the hexacopter, which is compatible with three lenses from Olympus: the M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm f/2.0, the M.Zuiko Digital 45mm f/1.8, and the M.Zuiko Digital ED 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 EZ. The Yuneec CG04 camera delivers 4K video and 16-megapixel still photographs.

Yuneec Tornado H920 Plus
$3,499
yuneec.com

Nice Signature
We love this photo bag’s classic style. Or “signature” style, as it were. The Signature Series shoulder bags from Think Tank Photo may look old school but they’re made with modern materials so they’re durable and versatile. Constructed with hand sewn, weatherproof, nylon/poly blend fabrics that feel like fine wool but are water resistant, the bags look refined but also protect your photo gear from the elements. There’s leather detail and metal hardware on the straps so they will look good while taking a beating. The boss bags are available in two sizes: the Signature 10, which fits a DSLR or a mirrorless camera system with several lenses plus a 10-inch tablet computer, and the Signature 13, which basically fits the same camera sizes plus slightly larger lenses and a 13-inch laptop.

Think Tank Photo Signature Series
$249 (Signature 10); $279 (Signature 13)
thinktankphoto.com

Luscious Lens
We got to shoot with the Sony FE 100mm F2.8 STF GM OSS lens right when it came out and we loved it. (See our first look web review with test images here at: http://bit.ly/2lr1qph.) This G Master prime lens for Sony’s E-mount mirrorless cameras excels at portraits thanks to its 11-bladed circular aperture and the unique apodization lens element. (This apodization element is similar to a neutral density filter that gets progressively darker from the center toward the edges, helping to produce smooth and luscious bokeh, aka blurred backgrounds.) The lens also contains one aspheric element, one ED element, and uses Sony’s direct drive SSM focus system, which is fast and super-silent. Of course, it also has Optical SteadyShot Image Stabilization to keep your images sharp.

Sony FE 100mm F2.8 STF GM OSS
$1,500
sony.com

The Goods spotlights the hottest premium photo gear out there. If you have a product you’d like considered for The Goods, e-mail images and info to editorial@shutterbug.com.