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Published Mar 27, 2021 | dpreview staff The Sigma fp L may have some quirks, but its 60MP sensor is capable of producing beautiful images. Check out these sample photos, captured using a pre-production camera, by our team at DPReview TV. View the Sigma fp L pre-production sample gallery Gear in this story The Sigma fp L is a high-resolution development of the company’s compact full-frame interchangeable lens camera. It gains a 61MP BSI-CMOS sensor, providing a more stills-focused platform than the original fp 24MP L-mount mirrorless camera. Learn more about it in our initial review....
The Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) collaboration has published a new view of the black hole at the center of the M87 galaxy. The EHT published the first-ever image of a black hole in 2019. This time, the image shows the black hole in polarized light, which shows the magnetic field surrounding the black hole. This marks the first time astronomers have been able to measure polarization this close to the edge of a black hole. Polarization is a signature of magnetic fields, and being able to observe the magnetic fields provides scientists important new information and helps explain how the M87...
A new patent application from Canon has revealed the company is working to develop a trio of ultra-wide lenses for its RF mount mirrorless cameras. First seen by Canon News, the patent application details the optical designs for a 12mm F2.8 lens, a 14mm F2.8 lens and a 20mm F2.8 lens. Typically, these patent applications show off multiple optical designs that don’t always make it to market, but Canon has both a 14mm F2.8 and 20mm F2.8 lens for its EF mount cameras, so it’d make sense to carry those two options over to its mirrorless mount. Below are illustrations and technical breakdown of...
Earlier this week, OnePlus announced its new OnePlus 9 and 9 Pro smartphones, co-developed with Hasselblad. Huawei has Leica branding on their high-end cameras, as well. Vivo is getting in on the action with its new X60 flagship series, which incorporates a Zeiss-branded camera system. The Vivo X60 series comprises the X60 Pro Plus, X60 Pro and X60. The Vivo X60 series originally launched in China, but the new models, set for global release, are considerably different. One of the biggest differences is the new partnership Vivo has formed with Zeiss. The new X60 series models include...
If you’re lucky enough to have some free hours in these uncertain times, there are a lot of ways you could spend them. How about learning how to develop your own film? Or maybe developing film is an activity you tried long ago and one you’d like to jump back into. After all, the smell of fixer singeing the nostrils can be quite an intoxicating/nostalgic aroma (Please do not smell the fixer). What follows is a quick and easy home developing guide that’ll cover everything from supplies, to chemistry dilutions, to proper cleanup. So turn down your record player and grab a good...
Sigma has just announced the fp L, a high-resolution sister model to the original fp, released in 2019. With a 61MP full-frame sensor, it’s intended to be more stills-oriented than the original camera, with which it shares its design and control philosophy. That makes both of these cameras tied for the title of ‘smallest full-frame interchangeable lens camera’. At least, without the new optional electronic viewfinder, dubbed EVF-11, attached. So, if you’re familiar with the fp, there’s not much new here, though we will take a more in-depth look at the electronic...
[embedded content] Smartphone manufacturer Xiaomi has shared a teaser on its YouTube page confirming its forthcoming Mi Mix smartphone will feature a liquid lens — the first of its kind in a smartphone — that’s capable of changing focus and focal length by altering the shape of the liquid element. According to Xiaomi’s pair (1, 2)Weibo posts, the liquid lens will enable a single camera module on its upcoming smartphone to effectively replace multiple camera modules by offering everything from macro to telephoto capabilities. Liquid lenses aren’t necessarily new, but they aren’t necessarily...
As we reported last December, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released its final rule for the Remote Identification (Remote ID) of Unmanned Aircraft. The document included a plan to offer a Remote ID recurrent exam for Part 107-certified commercial remote pilots. Testing was supposed to commence on March 1st, but was pushed back to March 16th before experiencing another delay. The Drone Girl recently confirmed with the FAA the exam will now be available to the public starting April 6th. The new Remote ID recurrent exam will make it easier for Part 107-certified commercial remote...
NASA has announced that it is preparing to launch its Ingenuity Mars Helicopter no earlier than April 8. Ingenuity’s maiden flight will mark the first attempt at a powered, controlled flight of an aircraft on another planet. Before Ingenuity can lift off, the team must meet numerous challenging milestones. The Mars Perseverance Rover landed on Mars on February 18. Since then, the rover has been sending important images and data back to Earth while the team goes through different instrument checks and testing procedures. Since then, the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter has remained attached to...
Back in February, Ricoh announced its Theta Z1 360-degree camera had been sold out ‘due to its popularity’ and suggested more units weren’t being produced due to supply chain issues and ‘compliance with new [Japanese] laws and regulations.’ Now, a month later, Ricoh has announced the Ricoh Z1 51GB, a newer version of the Z1 that keeps all of the same specifications, but more than doubles the internal storage. In its original announcement, Ricoh said it was ‘urgently preparing to deliver products that comply with [the new] laws and regulations as soon as possible.’ Specifically, Ricoh said it...
First launched in early 2004 under the name Optics Pro, DxO rebranded its raw processor as PhotoLab back in 2017. The latest version is DxO PhotoLab 4, and if you’re curious about what it does, and how it performs, click through to read our full review.
Product shots by Dan Bracaglia The Sigma fp L is a high-resolution development of the company’s compact full-frame interchangeable lens camera. It gains a 61MP BSI CMOS sensor, providing a more stills-focused platform than the original fp 24MP L-mount mirrorless camera. Rather than looking at existing categories of cameras, Sigma says it’s aimed to make a user-oriented camera that’s designed to be flexible, adaptable and fun to use. The fp L certainly isn’t readily comparable to other existing models, but it is the smallest and lightest full-frame interchangeable lens...
Published Mar 25, 2021 | dpreview staff Sigma’s new fp L is the smallest and highest-resolution full-frame camera on the market. With 61 million pixels at its disposal, it’s capable of capturing an incredible amount of detail. Visit our initial sample gallery to see what you can expect from the new fp L. View our Sigma fp L sample gallery Gear in this story The Sigma fp L is a high-resolution development of the company’s compact full-frame interchangeable lens camera. It gains a 61MP BSI-CMOS sensor, providing a more stills-focused platform than the original fp 24MP L-mount...
Published Mar 25, 2021 | dpreview staff Sigma has announced a high-resolution version of its ultra-compact, full-frame fp, known as the fp L. This new model adds a 61 Megapixel full-frame sensor (almost certainly based on the sensor used in the Sony a7R IV), a hybrid autofocus system, true 24p video capture and support for USB Power Delivery. There’s also an optional new electronic viewfinder that screws onto the side of the camera. It uses the USB and HDMI ports on that side of the camera, with the USB port offering a pass-through (HDMI does not). The EVF adds a headphone socket...
The correct maneuver to perform when you see someone in public you don’t want to talk to. Springtails are small organisms that move so quickly that the human eye can’t perceive their motion. They’re very common and easy to find but challenging to observe and even harder to understand. Cameras, at least typical ones, are unable to keep up with the small, speedy hexapods. Dr. Adrian Smith, head of the Evolutionary Biology and Behavior Research Lab at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and North Carolina State University, recorded springtails at 73,000 frames per second...
The World Nature Photography Awards (WNPAs) recently announced the winners and runners up for their 2020 competition. Thomas Vijayan, from Canada, was awarded a $1,000 cash prize for his photo of an endangered Bornean orangutan using a tree to cross over to another island. ‘We’ve been thrilled with the quality of work that was entered into the awards. It was such a privilege to see the competition’s philosophy come to life – our photographers really are shining a spotlight on the wonders of the natural world in a way that reminds us to do everything we can to protect the future of our...
Nikon’s Sendai factory. It’s been a rough few years for Nikon, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. Or, so we’re being led to believe based on an interview Nikon’s CFO Muneaki Tokunari gave to Nikkei, wherein he says he expects Nikon to once again reach profitability by the end of its 2022 fiscal year. In the interview (behind a partial paywall), Tokunari reiterates what Nikon has revealed in its recent financial results—that the company is expecting to post a total loss of more than ¥42B ($387M) by the end of its 2021 fiscal year, which ends on March 31, due to ‘impairment loss on...
Published Mar 24, 2021 | dpreview staff Sony announced three new high-quality, compact primes for full-frame E-mount this week; the widest of which is the 24mm F2.8 G. Optically it’s comprised of 8 elements in 7 groups, with three aspherical elements that help the lens achieve high resolving power as well as combat common aberrations, and one ED element to reduce chromatic aberrations. To help keep the lens small, distortion is corrected digitally which, given the significant magnitude of correction, can have an impact on edge and corner sharpness. Have a look through our samples to...
Published Mar 24, 2021 | dpreview staff Sony’s trio of new ‘G’-series prime lenses are aimed at enthusiast photographer that want high quality and good manual control without the bigger size and higher cost of faster-aperture lenses. So how do the new FE 24mm, 40mm and 50mm lenses perform? Chris and Jordan have been shooting with all three, up in Canada. Check out their sample gallery from the shoot and watch their video review here. View the Sony 24mm, 40mm and 50mm DPRTV samples gallery Gear in this story Sony has announced a trio of compact full-frame lenses: the 24mm...
OnePlus has announced a pair of new smartphones co-developed with Hasselblad. The OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro smartphones incorporate Hasselblad Camera for Mobile, promising significantly improved photographic capabilities. The OnePlus 9 Pro is the company’s new flagship smartphone, and its new camera specs are accordingly impressive. Thanks to Natural Color Calibration, the exclusive Hasselblad Camera for Mobile promises strong performance, especially when considering color, thanks to Natural Color Calibration. OnePlus writes, ‘The ultra-flagship camera blends the technological...
[embedded content] Jared Polin, better known as Fro Knows Photo in the online world, has revealed the details of a ‘super secret project’ he’s been teasing over the past few weeks. In a video posted to his YouTube channel, Polin shares that he’s giving away more than $92,000 in camera gear as part of a campaign he’s created called ‘Fund a Photographer.’ In Polin’s own words: ‘[Fund a Photographer is] something I’ve had an idea [of doing] for close to ten years where I get a bunch of camera kits that include cameras, lenses, education—everything someone would need to get started as a...
Sony’s FE 40mm F2.5 G is one of three compact, budget-oriented prime lenses that the company just announced for its full-frame mirrorless E-mount. Sharp, lightweight and quite nicely built, the 40mm focal length is perfect for casual shooting and street photography. Check out our samples. View our Sony FE 40mm F2.5 G sample gallery Gear in this story With dual processors, dual card slots and more, Nikon’s Z7 Mark II is a more capable camera than its predecessor in every way. But we have a few remaining qualms: find out just what we make of the Z7 II. First launched in early 2004...
Published Mar 23, 2021 | dpreview staff Sony has introduced a set of compact full-frame E-mount prime lenses: the 24mm F2.8 G, 40mm F2.5 G and 50mm F2.5 G. All three lenses are the same size, almost the same weight, and the same price ($599). The lenses all measure 64 x 45mm (2.5 x 1.8 in.) and weigh between 162-174 grams (5.7-6.1 ounces). They all use aspherical elements to maintain high resolution and reduce various aberrations, while the 24mm and 50mm lenses additionally use ED (extra-low dispersion) glass to reduce chromatic aberrations and fringing. The focus groups are driven by dual...
Published Mar 23, 2021 | dpreview staff [embedded content] In this episode of DPReview TV, Chris and Jordan go hands-on with Sony’s new trio of lenses: the 24mm F2.8 G, 40mm F2.5 G and 50mm F2.5 G. Find out how they perform, and whether having both 40mm and 50mm options is overkill. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to get new episodes of DPReview TV every week. Sample images from this episode Gear in this story With dual processors, dual card slots and more, Nikon’s Z7 Mark II is a more capable camera than its predecessor in every way. But we have a few remaining qualms: find out...
Published Mar 23, 2021 | dpreview staff The FE 50mm F2.5 G has the longest reach of the three lenses Sony announced today, yet it maintains the compact size and weight of the other two. This lens may also appeal to owners of Sony’s APS-C bodies, with a 75mm equiv. focal length ideal for portraits. Check out how it performs in our sample gallery. View our Sony FE 50mm F2.5 G sample gallery Gear in this story With dual processors, dual card slots and more, Nikon’s Z7 Mark II is a more capable camera than its predecessor in every way. But we have a few remaining qualms: find out...
Intrepid has announced its most compact darkroom enlarger yet. The Intrepid Enlarger has been launched on Kickstarter, where the new product has eclipsed its project goal of under $30,000 USD by more than $100,000. Intrepid writes that the Intrepid Enlarger ‘is a total rethink of the traditional darkroom enlarger. A super compact, simple and fun to use kit for making prints from your color and B&W film at home (from 35mm to 6×9), simply mount it on a tripod or copy stand!’ The company goes on to say that the new enlarger can ‘even be used to make scans of your...
[embedded content] In a short video posted to its website, ON1 has teased a new feature coming to the next update to Photo RAW 2021, customizable keyboard shortcuts. In the minute-and-a-half video, Dan Harlacher from ON1 shows how you will be able to customize your own keyboard shortcuts and hot keys using the new ‘Edit Keyboard Shortcut’ dialog box coming to Photo RAW 2021 version 2021.5. As Harlacher explains in the video, setting specific keys or key combinations to perform a specific action is as simple as searching for the action you want a hotkey for, tapping it, and pressing the...
I am very excited to announce Photography Life’s 2021 and 2022 Workshops! Without a doubt, this past year has been pretty rough for many of us. With all the lockdowns and closures in place, it was quite hard to do anything travel-related for our team, let alone run a photography workshop! Thankfully, the situation is finally starting to improve, and with the vaccine getting more and more available for the masses, we should be getting back to normal life fairly soon. This also means we can start to think about some shooting and photography education! We will kick off this year with our...
[embedded content] A series of earthquakes caused the Fagradalsfjall volcano, located near Reykjavik, Iceland, to erupt for the first time in over 800 years. FPV pilot and local resident Bjorn Steinbekk took the opportunity to push his DJI FPV drone to the limits. Miraculously, the drone not only survived the extreme conditions (lava can reach temperatures up to 1,250° Celsius), he also managed to maneuver his unmanned aerial vehicle so that it dodged spurts of molten lava spewing from the crater. Steinbekk also confirmed to DPReview that the drone survived. ‘The drone is fine, not a...
With its competitive price-tag and compact form-factor, the Fujifilm GFX 100S brings ultra high-resolution medium format imaging to the enthusiast camera market for the first time. We’ve been shooting with a final sample for a little while, and with official Raw support now available from Adobe, we’ve updated our sample gallery with several new images taken on the Washington coast. View our gallery of samples from the Fujifilm GFX 100S Gear in this story Our team at DPReview TV recently published its first impressions review of the new Fujifilm GFX 100S. This sample gallery...
Published Mar 22, 2021 | This is sponsored content, created with the support of Amazon and Nikon [embedded content] The Nikon Z7 II is a powerful enthusiast-level full-frame mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, offering 45MP resolution and a competitive feature set for both stills and video work. Weather-sealed and sporting twin card slots, the Z7 II is tough and versatile, making it ideal for work in challenging conditions. In this video, photographer Mike Mezeul II takes the Nikon Z7 II to Hawaii to explore the Big Island’s volcanic past – and present. Sample Gallery: Gear...
Sony World Photography Awards, in partnership with the World Photography Organisation, announced the top 130 images for their Shortlist and Open competition. Photographers from all over the world submitted standalone images to the following categories: Architecture, Creative, Landscape, Lifestyle, Motion, Natural World & Wildlife, Object, Portraiture, Street Photography, and Travel. We’ve rounded up some of our favorite picks from the Open and Shortlist categories. Photographer of the Year will be announced on April...
The NiSi 15mm F4 ‘Sunstar’ is an all-manual ultra-wide prime lens for Canon RF, Fujifilm X, Nikon Z and Sony E mount cameras. While NiSi has been known as a filter manufacturer for quite some time; the 15mm F4 is the first lens the company has released, and it looks to be a good one. Our gallery shows that this lens is capable of outstanding sharpness across the frame, and exhibits little in the way of distortion or unwanted aberrations. It’s fairly resistant to flare, and produces its namesake 10-pointed sunstars. Handling-wise, it conveys a feel of real quality. The lens...
Published Mar 20, 2021 | dpreview staff [embedded content] In the latest episode of DPRTV, Chris and Jordan have been out and about shooting with Fujifilm’s latest APS-C format mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, the X-E4. Is it just an X100V with an interchangeable lens mount? Spoiler – not quite. Watch the video to find out why. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to get new episodes of DPReview TV every week. Sample images from this episode Gear in this story In the latest episode of DPRTV, Chris and Jordan have been out shooting with Fujifilm’s latest APS-C format...
Published Mar 20, 2021 | dpreview staff Fujfilm’s latest APS-C offering, the X-E4, is also the brand’s smallest interchangeable X-mount camera to date. Despite its compact dimensions, the X-E4 sports the same outstanding 26MP APS-C sensor with X-Trans color filter array as the flagship X-T4 (but without in-body stabilization). The DPRTV team has been hard at work putting this sleek little body through its paces – watch their full Fujifilm X-E4 video review for the key takeaways. And jump into the sample gallery for a true sense of its image quality. View our Fujifilm X-E4 sample...
Photographer and friend of DPReview Michael Clark has been trying out Adobe’s new Super Resolution feature, and he’s been impressed by what it can do. In this post (originally published on Michael’s blog and reproduced here by kind permission) he goes into detail about what the new technology can do – no pun intended. On March 10, 2021 Adobe dropped its latest software updates via the Creative Cloud and among those updates is a new feature in Adobe Camera Raw (ACR) called “Super Resolution.” You can mark this day down as a major shift in the photo industry. The new...
Samyang, also known as Rokinon and Bower depending on your region and retailer, has announced its VDSLR MK2 cine lens series is now available for Canon RF mount camera systems. The VDSLR MK2 series was first released back in the middle of 2020 and offers manual cine lenses: a 14mm T3.1, 24mm T1.5, 35mm T1.5, 50mm T1.5 and 85mm T1.5. In addition to being sold individually, the lenses are also offered in three-lens and five-lens kits. [embedded content] Aside from slightly different dimensions to account for the decrease flange distance on the EOS RF mount, the lenses are identical to their...
Published Mar 19, 2021 | dpreview staff In their recent review of the Sony 50mm F1.2 GM, Chris and Jordan from DPReview TV described the lens as ‘optically ideal with few compromises’. Check out the photos they shot to see if you agree with them. View the Sony 50mm F1.2 GM sample gallery Gear in this story With dual processors, dual card slots and more, Nikon’s Z7 Mark II is a more capable camera than its predecessor in every way. But we have a few remaining qualms: find out just what we make of the Z7 II. First launched in early 2004 under the name Optics Pro, DxO...
Published Mar 19, 2021 | Aaron Gold No light meter? No problem. With the ‘Sunny 16’ rule you’ll never have to second-guess exposures again, even when photographing tricky scenes like sunsets. All photos: Dan Bracaglia The purpose of our Absolute beginner’s guide to film photography series is to help demystify the joys of shooting analog. And while we try not to dabble too much in specifics, there is one (sort-of) hard-and-fast analog-era rule we think every film (and digital) shooter should know: the ‘Sunny 16’ rule. What is Sunny 16 and why is it important for...
Founded in 2014, SkyPixel currently boasts over six million members in its aerial photography and videography community. Partnering with DJI, the platform announced a call for entries this past December for its 6th annual Aerial Storytelling Contest. Earlier this morning, they announced the winners and finalists for their photography and videography categories. Over 26,000 submissions were received from 136 countries for categories including travel, sports, nature, architecture, and portrait. Ellis Van Jason won the video category for his FPV shots taken on the island of Madiera. 25-year-old...
What would happen if you were to combine a dummy camera battery and a memory card adapter? You’d get the Zitay CFast 2.0 to MSATA SSD adapter. As its less-than-original name suggests, this little gadget lets you use MSATA SSDs in lieu of CFast cards through a clever dummy CFast 2.0 card that plugs into your camera’s memory card slot. This isn’t the first of its kind, but it is a newer product that works with a wide range of cameras, thanks to its flat cable that still allows the memory card cover to be closed on most supported cameras. Zitay says its CFast 2.0 Dummy Card Adapter supports the...
A camera repair company in Finland is recruiting new technicians for a forthcoming training school that will teach students how to repair, preserve and create parts for discontinued film cameras. The training program will be run by CameraMakers for the Camera Rescue project, and will enroll eight people on a four month course that will show them the basics of camera servicing, testing and maintenance. Those with an ‘almost unhealthy interest in technical gadgets’ will be able to continue with an additional two year course to become a camera mechanic, the company says. As the course will be...
We just got our hands on Leica’s new APO-Summicron-SL 28mm F2 ASPH lens for full-frame L-mount cameras and, as you might expect, it’s an impressive piece of glass. We shot it on the Leica’s SL2 and found a lot to like, including outstanding sharpness throughout the aperture range and across the frame, great distortion control, little CA, nice sunstars and lovely out-of-focus areas. Have a look for yourself. View our Leica APO-Summicron-SL 28mm F2 ASPH lens sample gallery Gear in this story With dual processors, dual card slots and more, Nikon’s Z7 Mark II is a more...
[embedded content] All footage shot using the Sony a1 with Sony 16-35mm F2.8 GM and Sony 50mm F1.2 GM lenses. Most shooting conducted using a DJI Ronin-S gimbal. The Sony a1 is the second 8K-capable camera to come into our studio, so we took advantage of some rare spring sunshine to put together a sample reel. All the footage in the video was recorded using the camera’s internal 10-bit 4:2:0 XAVC HS capture mode. It was all shot using the S-Log3/S-Gamut3.Cine profile, to maximize the available dynamic range on a shoot that regularly crosses from sunshine into shade. Most footage was...
Correction (March 17, 2021 at 11:29pm ET): The original headline and version of this article stated the S1 would receive Blackmagic RAW capture over HDMI. That is incorrect. Only the S1H will receive the 5.9K Blackmagic RAW capture over HDMI when used with a Blackmagic Video Assist 12G HDR. Panasonic has announced the release of new firmware updates for three of its Lumix S Series full-frame mirrorless cameras as well as its BGH1 box-style camera, bringing 5.9K Blackmagic RAW recording and more. Since each camera will be receiving slightly different features with each of the updates, we’ve...
China’s Tianwen-1 probe has spent nearly a month orbiting Mars, and now we have stunning images from the voyage. The China National Space Administration (CNSA) released three images earlier this month, two in black and white and one in color. They’re the first high-definition images from the Tianwen-1 mission. Between CNSA and NASA, we have been spoiled with amazing Mars imagery lately. Last month, when NASA’s Perseverance rover landed on the red planet we got a glimpse at images shot with impressive new tech. Shortly after Perseverance landed, NASA shared a 360° photo from...
GoPro has refreshed its Quik app for iOS and Android devices. GoPro writes, ‘[Quik] makes it quick and easy to get the most out of your favorite photos and videos no matter what camera or phone you’re using. In addition to powerful editing tools, Quik simplifies keeping track of your favorite photos and videos…’ When you boot up the refreshed app, the home screen showcases a ‘Mural.’ This is a private feed of your favorite photos and videos. When you capture a photo or video you like, you can post it to your Mural to ensure you never lose track of it. If you...
Canon has announced it’s releasing a collection of webcam accessory start kits for select Canon DSLR and mirrorless camera systems. The kits, which are meant to be used alongside Canon’s Webcam Utility software, start at $89.99 and include a selection of adapters and cables for turning your Canon camera into a high-quality webcam. As it stands, Canon has three separate versions of its webcam kits: One for its EOS RP mirrorless camera; one for its EOS Rebel T3, T5, T6 and T7 DSLR cameras; and one for its EOS M50, M50 Mark II and M200 mirrorless cameras. While the exact components in each kit...
It seems that every camera company is flexing its optical muscles these days to churn out F1.2 lenses. Sony, not one to be left behind, just released its first F1.2 prime, the FE 50mm F1.2 GM. One can’t help but ponder if Sony made this lens, at least in part, to dispel the myth that the smaller lens mount diameter – compared to its mirrorless peers – makes such fast lenses impossible (Sony claims F0.63 E-mount lenses can be made, but don’t make business sense). Either way, while the Planar T* FE 50mm F1.4 ZA optic was impressive in its own right, offering a very flat field of...
Leica has announced it will be increasing the price of its products starting April 1, 2021. And before you ask—no, this is not a joke. ‘Over the past year, the relationship between the US Dollar and Euro has suffered and we have absorbed these costs,’ says Leica Camera in its press release announcing the increase. ’However, as this continues, we need to adjust our pricing in order to ensure pricing integrity across all Leica subsidiaries and to continue delivering the highest quality of products.’ Leica says the price increase will vary by product, ‘but overall will generally reflect on...
Published Mar 17, 2021 | This is sponsored content, created with the support of Amazon and Nikon [embedded content] With a 24MP full-frame sensor and 4K video capture, the Nikon Z6 II is a versatile stills and video-capable camera, which offers a powerful feature set for photographers and filmmakers alike. The Z6 II also offers user-friendly ergonomics and extensive weather-sealing, making it a perfect camera for travel and use in tough environments. In this video, photographer Taylor Jackson takes the Nikon Z6 II deep into the mountains of Washington State to see what it can do. Sample...
Skylum today released Luminar AI Update 2, a free update to Luminar AI focused on improving sky replacement, simplifying workflows and more. Of the update to the AI-powered photo editor, Skylum CEO Alex Tsepko said, ‘Too often, complexity is the enemy of creativity. It adds time and frustration to a process we think should be fun, even joyful. With Luminar AI, our goal is to strip out that complexity. Update 2 builds on this work and offers more creative tools. I am excited to see what people make with it.’ Image credit: Imaginechina Luminar AI Update 2 includes many...
Computer accessory manufacturer Kensingston has announced the availability of the StudioDock, an all-in-one docking solution for turning your iPad Pr or iPad Air into a desktop-style workstation. First shown off at CES 2021, the StudioDock is a desktop docking station that adds an array of ports and other functionality to iPad Pro (2018 or later) and iPad Air (2020 or later) tablets. [embedded content] In addition to being a magnetic stand that charges a connected iPad Pro/Air at 37.5W, the StudioDock also adds an extra USB-C port, three USB-A (3.1 Gen1) ports, a 3.5mm audio port, a Gigabit...
Nominees were recently announced for the 64th annual World Press Photo Contest. The list includes contenders for the World Press Photo of the Year, World Press Photo Story of the Year, and World Press Photo Interactive of the Year. “The nominated images, stories, and productions we introduce today present different perspectives of one of the most important years in recent history, marked by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the social rights movements around the world. Amongst the nominees are remarkable stories of hope, resilience, and social change. I would like to thank the...
Adobe has announced updates for Lightroom, Lightroom for mobile and Lightroom Classic. Lightroom desktop (version 4.2) and Lightroom for mobile (version 6.2) include numerous new features, Apple ProRaw support and additional enhancements. Meanwhile, improved performance is the primary update to Lightroom Classic (version 10.2). Looking first at Lightroom desktop (4.2), the software features a new personalized feed. The ‘For you’ tab in the ‘Learn’ and ‘Discover’ sections now feature in the desktop version of Lightroom. From here, users can access guided...
Published Mar 16, 2021 | dpreview staff [embedded content] It’s rare that Chris and Jordan review a lens with almost no faults, but the Sony 50mm F1.2 GM hits the mark. Watch their review to find out just how good it is. Also, tell us in the comments if we should launch a new show called ‘Story Time with Jordan’, in which Jordan dramatically reads excerpts from your favorite camera manuals and MTF charts. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to get new episodes of DPReview TV every week. Sample photos from this episode Gear in this story With dual processors, dual card slots...
Published Mar 16, 2021 | dpreview staff Sony’s new FE 50mm F1.2 GM lens features the company’s latest and greatest optical technology, but does the image quality live up to its billing? Have a look at our sample gallery and decide for yourself. View our Sony FE 50mm F1.2 GM sample gallery With dual processors, dual card slots and more, Nikon’s Z7 Mark II is a more capable camera than its predecessor in every way. But we have a few remaining qualms: find out just what we make of the Z7 II. First launched in early 2004 under the name Optics Pro, DxO rebranded its raw...
Published Mar 16, 2021 | dpreview staff Sony has announced its FE 50mm F1.2 GM (G Master) lens. The lens gives photographers an extra 1/2-stop of light in a body the same size and weight as the Planar T* 50mm F1.4 ZA that has been on the market for several years. The optical construction comprises 14 elements in 10 groups, and includes three ‘extreme aspherical’ (XA) elements that minimize aberrations while allowing for high resolving power across the frame wide open. The ‘Nano AR II’ coating helps to reduce flare and ghosting. Two floating focus groups allow for...
I suppose it must be a bit annoying to listen to English speakers ruining your language and heritage by making up their own way of pronouncing the names of companies and products from your native country – let alone place names. But it is so common-place that some foreign speakers use English pronunciations of their own words when addressing an English speaking audience. [embedded content] German Maximillian Heinrich from Analog Insights was pulled up recently by a Mitdeutscher in comments on YouTube for exactly that – pronouncing the names of German photographic manufacturers using the...
Introduction Product shots: Dan Bracaglia Late last year, Nikon announced the Z7 II, the second iteration of its (for now) range topping high-resolution full-frame mirrorless camera. As the name implies, this is a refinement rather than a reimagining; and while the updates may not knock your socks off, we really enjoyed the original Z7 and this new model builds on an already successful formula. Jump to: What’s new | Body and handling | Image quality | Autofocus | Video |Conclusion | Samples | Specifications The Z7 II still has a 45.7MP full-frame BSI sensor, but it’s now backed...
Meyer Optik Görlitz has announced the release of the Primoplan 58mm F1.9 II lens for an array of full frame and crop camera systems. As with Meyer Optik Görlitz’s other second-generation lenses — denoted by the ‘II’ in the name — the Primoplan 58mm F1.9 II will offer the same visual characteristics of its first-generation counterpart, but will use higher-quality materials and a better production process. ‘The initial Primoplan 58 f1.9 was developed by the brilliant Meyer-Optik designer Paul Schäfter 80 years ago,’ says Meyer Optik Görlitz. ‘Its light intensity of 1:1.9, which was considered...
Most of us have gotten rather used to our homes over the past year. And most photographers, including me, have had a harder time finding interesting subjects and inspiration as a result. But one of the best things about macro photography is that you can do it anywhere, including indoors, with a bit of creativity. This article compiles some of my favorite DIY-type ideas for macro photography at home – try them out yourself! I’ll mention before we start that I’m not the first photographer to think of most of these ideas, and I wouldn’t be surprised if you’ve seen some of them before. But that...
Introduction First launched in early 2004 under the name Optics Pro, DxO rebranded its Raw processor as PhotoLab back in 2017 to better reflect that its capabilities now go far beyond just lens corrections, and simultaneously absorbed the popular Nik Collection plugins from Google for integration into its own software. It has also shuttered its nascent hardware business altogether, and spun off its DxOMark camera, lens and smartphone testing lab as a separate company in 2017. Now entirely focused on software development, DxO has nevertheless stayed the course with a perpetual licensing model...
Photography sharing website 500px has introduced a new service that allows Pro members to build a gallery website that shows off their pictures outside of the 500px website. The new Portfolio feature offers a number of templates dedicated to displaying photographs, and the company says it takes just a few minutes to set up and requires no web-building knowledge or experience. [embedded content] The idea is that members are able to create their own website that can stand alone on a custom web address or become a part of an existing personal website. This will allow users to share their work...
Published Mar 13, 2021 | dpreview staff [embedded content] Modern cameras have some amazing features, but they’re not always turned on by default. This week, Chris and Jordan share their recommended setup for two popular models: the Canon EOS R5 and R6. Want to see us do similar episodes for other cameras? Tell us what models you’d like us to include in the comments. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to get new episodes of DPReview TV every week. Gear in this story After two rounds of voting, DPReview readers have decided on their favorite product (and runners-up) of 2020. Find...
As part of his video series, ‘We’re the People,’ filmmaker Myles Matsuno highlights different people, their stories and their passions. One of Matsuno’s subjects is photographer Terry Fouche. In the video below, Fouche explains why he loves photography, and much of what he says is very relatable. In the video, Fouche says he first started photography by playing with his grandfather’s camera as a kid. Fouche was never skilled with drawing or painting, but he wanted to have a creative outlet, so photography was a natural choice. ‘I began to realize that if...
Atomos has announced it’s working alongside Sony to bring ProRes RAW recording to its Ninja V monitor/recorder when connected to Sony’s new FX3 Cinema Line camera over HDMI. Although only in development at this point, the update will enable Atomos’ Ninja V monitor/recorder to record the 16-bit Raw output of Sony’s new FX3 Cinema Line camera at 4K60p. There is one caveat, however. While the FX3 is capable of ouputting 16-bit Raw video over its HDMI port, the Ninja V can only record ProRes RAW at 12-bit, meaning any ProRes RAW footage recorded on the Ninja V will be limited to 12-bit. That...
An early engineering model of the autofocus-capable Praktica BY60.Photo: Praktica Collector During much of the Cold War, Praktica-brand cameras – manufactured in the East German city of Dresden by camera conglomerate Pentacon – were ubiquitous among Soviet photography enthusiasts and budget-conscious western hobbyists. But as the 1980’s rolled around, one key feature that Prakticas noticeably lacked was autofocus. All that was set to change by the late 1980’s, with the planned introduction of the Praktica BY60, the first East German-made AF-capable SLR. With millions spent in...
tourtrophy: Focus is on the spot, no question there. Let me reformulate the question. I’m shooting with 5dIII and sigma 35mm which is a very sharp lens. I stop it to f8, and manually focus at infinity. The camera is on the tripod, so no motion blur there. When I pixel peep that photo at full size, why it isn’t 100% sharp even in the center? Why does a detailed object, like a bush for example still look a bit mushy? That’s what I want to...
Photos Members Group Since Old canon DSLRs -Photos never 100% sharp Điđi says: Just realized this. So far I was using 1000d, 40d, 5d and 5d III What I noticed is that photos, especially detailed landscapes are never absolutely sharp when looking at full size. Even when using very sharp primes well stopped down. I always convert raws in lightroom, using it’s default sharpening. Is that because of low pass filter? Did newer cameras solve that problem? 12:25AM, 12 March 2021 PST (permalink) tourtrophy says: Lots of variables here. Lens, motion blur, depth of field, focus adjustment, post...
OPPO has launched its latest smartphone in its Find X Series, the Find X3 Pro. The flagship Android device is the first to feature a camera that can capture, process and display one billion colors with OPPO’s proprietary Full-path 10-bit Colour Management System. For comparison, most smartphone screens display 16.7 million colors. It also comes equipped with a Dual-flagship camera that can zoom in up to 60x for microscopic photography. ‘We have taken inspiration from the depths of the cosmos, from the future, and the past, to deliver OPPO Find X3 Pro, created to fit seamlessly in your...
Blackmagic Design has launched DaVinci Resolve 17.1 and Fusion 17.1. The update adds native support for Apple’s M1 Macs. The public release follows months of public beta testing. The announcement also comes just a day after Adobe announced that Photoshop for M1 Macs is now available. The software choices for creatives hoping to get the most out of their new Apple silicon computers are readily expanding. DaVinci Resolve 17 was first announced as a public beta last November and added more than 300 new features and improvements. The full public launch of Resolve 17 occurred just last...
Leica has announced the release of the D-Lux 7 Street Kit, an all-in-one offering Leica pitches as the ‘perfect choice for spontaneous street photography’ At the core of the new Street Kit is a black-finish Leica D-Lux 7. As with its non-street counterpart, which is effectively a rebranded Panasonic LUMIX LX100 II, the Street Kit D-Lux 7 offers a 17MP Four Thirds sensor with a Leica DC Vario-Summilux 10.9–34mm F1.7–2.8 ASPH lens in front (24 – 75mm full-frame equivalent). Aside from the new black paint job, the Street Kit also throws in a matching hand grip, a black paracord camera strap...
Previous 1 Introduction 2 Next Product photos by Dan Bracaglia The Panasonic S5 is a 24MP full-frame mirrorless camera built around the same sensor as the Panasonic S1, but in a smaller, more affordable body. In fact, despite having a full-frame sensor, the S5 is smaller in every dimension than its Micro Four Thirds sibling, the GH5. Aiming to appeal to both photographers and videographers, it includes updates to Panasonic’s DFD autofocus system, new creative photo modes, and video features that come close to matching both the GH5 and the much more expensive S1H. Key specifications:...
Published Mar 11, 2021 | dpreview staff The Fujifilm GFX 100S packs an image-stabilized 100MP medium format sensor into a body about the size a typical full-frame camera. It delivers great image quality in a walk around camera, and also includes a new film simulation: Nostalgic neg. Take a look into our sample gallery to judge image quality for yourself. And for a more in-depth analysis, watch DPReview’s Fujifilm GFX 100S first impressions review. View our Fujifilm GFX 100S sample gallery Gear in this story Coming (relatively) hot on the heels of the groundbreaking GFX 100,...
With the big shift of camera manufacturers from DSLRs to mirrorless technology, it was a matter of time until we see truly robust, action-oriented mirrorless cameras. First was Canon with its EOS R5 and R6, then Sony released its impressive A1, and now it is Nikon’s turn to bring its best offering in the shape of the Z9. And looks like we are in for a real treat because Nikon says this camera is going to be better than the Nikon D6 in every way… While this is only a “development” announcement, Nikon has already given us a glimpse of what we can expect from this beast. First of all, unlike...
Adobe has announced that a new version of Photoshop is now available, allowing the popular photo editing software to run natively on Macs with Apple’s M1 chip. This news comes nearly five months after Adobe announced that native versions were coming soon and after months of internal and public beta testing. The new version of Photoshop for Apple Silicon includes nearly all features of Photoshop, more on that in a bit. It promises faster selections and filters among overall performance boosts. Adobe writes, ‘Our internal tests show that Photoshop delivers significant performance...
[embedded content] Tracking shots are difficult to pull off. Single takes, such as the nightclub entrance from the movie ‘Goodfellas,’ are legendary for a reason. Add in the skill set needed to maneuver an FPV drone through tight spaces, and it’s that much easier to appreciate Jay Byrd Christensen’s ‘Right Up Our Alley’ video. The clip takes place at Bryant Lake Bowl & Theater in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Christensen, who runs Rally Studios, used a Cinewhoop drone to squeeze through tight areas and fly in close proximity to patrons in the complex. While...
Published Mar 10, 2021 | dpreview staff [embedded content] One of the most common questions Chris and Jordan get from viewers is, “What camera would you buy under $1000?” This week, they shop with their own money and give us the answers. The results may surprise you. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to get new episodes of DPReview TV every week. Gear in this story This year, despite the disruption, plenty of amazing cameras, lenses, accessories and other products came through our doors. Now, as the year winds down, we’re highlighting some of our standout products of the...
Last July, Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported that he expected Apple to use a periscope-style camera module in its 2022 iPhones. While we’re yet to see if that prediction comes to fruition, Kuo is back with a new research note that once again claims Apple will put a periscope-style camera module in it’s iPhone devices. But this time he suggests we won’t see the folded optic design until the 2023 iPhone launch. There are already a number of smartphones on the market with periscope-style zoom camera modules inside, including Huawei’s P30 Pro, Samsung’s Galaxy S20 Ultra, OPPO’s...
Following confirmation last week that it was working on a professional mirrorless Z-series camera, Nikon has officially announced the development of the Z9. Scheduled for release some time this year, the Z9 will use a ‘newly developed’ stacked CMOS sensor and processing engine. The image accompanying the announcement shows a camera larger than the Z6/Z7 II, with what appears to be an integrated vertical grip. At present, no other images are available but we will update our coverage with additional assets as and when they’re made public. Confirmation of support for 8K video...
Insta360 has launched GO 2, a stabilized action camera that weighs less than an ounce (27g). Insta360 states that the GO 2 incorporates flagship performance and power into the world’s smallest action camera. GO 2’s ultra-light body allows for high-resolution hands-free recording without any of the bulk of traditional action cameras. The GO 2 includes waterproofing and has a replaceable protective lens. Users can swap out the protective lens for ND filters (sold separately). Insta360 writes, ‘GO 2’s unrivaled combination of size, stabilization and performance allow it...
Samsung has announced its new line of SSD 980 NVMe M.2 drives, bringing improved write speeds, better sustained performance and less power consumption at reasonable prices. The new SSD 980 NVMe M.2 drives are Samsung’s entry-level offering and a successor the company’s popular 970 Evo drive. The updated drives feature the same maximum sequential read speeds of 3,500MB/s, but bump the maximum write speeds up to 3,000MB/s (up from the 2,500MB/s in the 970 Evo line). The drives also offer improved sustained performance through a larger buffer, 36% less power consumption and better cooling for...
Photo by Dan Bracaglia The Sony Alpha 1 introduces the next generation of full-frame stacked CMOS from Sony Semiconductor. It’s the second chip of its type following the one in the a9, and with it comes improved readout speeds on the order of 5ms or faster, enabling flash sync speeds of 1/200s with electronic shutter as well as decreased rolling shutter and risk of banding under artificial light, and focus and exposure calculations at 120 times per second. This silent electronic shutter underpins the camera’s 20 and 30 frames-per-second (fps) burst modes. With our in-depth review...
[embedded content] Sony has announced the release of a new wireless microphone and lavalier microphone designed specifically for use with its most recent mirrorless cameras. The ECM-W2BT is a new wireless microphone ‘that supports a Digital Audio Interface via a Multi Interface (MI) Shoe.’ That means when connected to a supported camera the receiver will be able to transmit audio from the microphone directly through the MI Shoe without the need for external cables. Sony hasn’t revealed what cameras in particular fully support the new protocol, but do link out to a support...
Capture One 21 was released this past December and its first major update is now available. Capture One 21 (14.1.0) is a feature release that contains new functionality, new camera and lens support and bug fixes. New features added to Capture One 21 include new Style Brushes, an improved Import Viewer, additional ProStandard profiles and improvements to Live-View when shooting tethered with supported Leica cameras. Style Brushes are a new way to work with brushes and layers. Style Brushes are designed to be more accessible and make powerful editing tools instantly available to users....
Specialists in 360-degree images, Vecnos, has launched SphereFlow, a new feature for its IQUISPIN smartphone app that enables users to more easily navigate and browse their 360-degree images and videos. SphereFlow comes with the updated version of the IQUISPIN app and features a scroll bar at the bottom of the interface that can be swiped to view the next picture or video without having to return to a gallery. Another addition to the app is a ‘share’ button that makes it easy to post 360-degree content to social media sites. [embedded content] The company hopes the improved navigation will...
Published Mar 9, 2021 | dpreview staff Tamron’s 70-300 F4.5-6.3 is among the smallest and lightest full-frame telephoto zooms for Sony mirrorless E-mount. And priced at $550, this lens provides good sharpness and focal length versatility for the buck. Jump into our sample gallery to see the optical qualities yourself. And for a more in-depth analysis, watch DPReview TV’s Tamron 70-300 F4.5-6.3 review. Also, check out their gallery, after the jump. View our Tamron 70–300mm F4.5–6.3 Di III RXD sample gallery DReview TV: Tamron 70-300mm F4.5-6.3 sample gallery Gear in this story...
The color version (left) and black and white version (right) of the IMX661 sensor line. Sony has revealed the details of the IMX661, a new 127.68-megapixel ‘large format’ sensor with a global shutter. Details are scarce on the exact specifications of the sensor, which Sony says has been designed for industrial use in mind, but we do know it measures 56.73mm across, which is only slightly different than the sensor inside Fujifilm’s GFX 100, whose sensor measures 54.78mm diagonally. The IMX661 features Sony’s Pregius global shutter technology, which enables the ‘capture of motion...
Belamy Hunt, better known as Japan Camera Hunter, ventured to the Nikon Museum in Tokyo earlier this year and recorded the experience. It looks like a wonderful museum and a must-see for any photographer visiting Tokyo. The Nikon Museum is a showcase of Nikon’s history, its products and the technology of the company’s various businesses. The museum includes a pair of theaters, a special display about Nikon’s first century, a lens laboratory, an imaging section and much more. [embedded content] The imaging section is of particular interest to photographers. It includes more...
[embedded content] Smartphone manufacturer OnePlus has announced it’s partnering with Swedish camera manufacturer Hasselblad to ‘co-develop the next generation of smartphone camera systems’ inside OnePlus’ mobile devices, including the new OnePlus 9 Series, which will launch on March 23. The partnership is a three-year deal that will see Hasselblad work alongside OnePlus to improve the camera technology inside its flagship smartphones. OnePlus says the partnership will start ‘with software improvements including color tuning and sensor calibration, and extending to more dimensions in the...
In an interview with DPReview, Nikon announced its next pro sports camera will be mirrorless. That in itself isn’t much of a surprise, perhaps, given how much investment has clearly been made in the Z-mount system. But the detail we didn’t expect to be revealed was that the camera will be based around a Stacked CMOS sensor. What is Stacked CMOS? Stacked CMOS chips are the next generation of chip designs after BSI (backside-illuminated) and provide the designers with greater flexibility, which in turn allows greater capability. BSI sensors are made by fabricating the sensor, then...
Donna Ferrato has spent her career documenting women and sees it as her duty to ‘cut out the noise and listen’. She’s photographed everyone from survivors of domestic abuse to swingers – and throughout the course of her career she’s learned that all women are part of what she describes as a holy trinity: the mother, the daughter and the other. The individual pictures in her new book, Holy can often be difficult to look at, but they are crucial. When viewed as a whole they capture all the rage and joy and complex truth of what it means to be a woman. Ferrato is angry, but she also...
Apple has confirmed it will be discontinuing its iMac Pro lineup. On Friday, March 5, Mac Rumors noticed Apple had added a ‘while supplies last’ notice to its iMac Pro product page and removed all optional upgrade options. In the past, Apple has done this in advance of a product or product line is being discontinued. Mac Rumors then published a follow-up article yesterday, March 6, to say it’s since confirmed with Apple the iMac Pro lineup will no longer be available once the current supply runs out. Mac Rumors didn’t specifically quote the Apple representative it spoke with, but did have...
Staff of Fujifilm’s Optical Device & Electronic Imaging Products Division, pictured (clockwise from top left): Jun Watanabe, Product Planning Manager, Makoto Oishi, Product Planning Manager, Masato ‘Mark’ Yamamoto, General Manager and Shinichiro ‘Shin’ Udono, Senior Manager. As the global COVID-19 pandemic continues to make international travel impossible (or at least inadvisable) we’re beginning 2021 with a series of interviews conducted remotely. This week, we sat down (virtually) with senior executives of Fujifilm, to learn more about the...
With companies like SpaceX launching more and more rockets into space, it’s easier than ever to get some interesting rocket launch photos. I saw and photographed my first launches earlier this year, and this article has my takeaways. Since I’ve only photographed two launches so far, I’m hardly an expert, but this article should still be useful if you’re new to rocket launch photography. It’s not the type of subject that lets you take your time or try out a lot of variations, unless you live near a launchpad. Even then, you may be limited to capturing just one photo per launch. So, it’s...
Published Mar 6, 2021 | dpreview staff [embedded content] We compare two popular APS-C cameras: the Fujifilm X-S10 and the Sony a6400. In a bizarre twist, Chris is left to argue with himself (literally). Meanwhile, Jordan is stuck in Pentax K-01 video purgatory. It’s enough to make your head spin. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to get new episodes of DPReview TV every week. Gear in this story The inclusion of in-body stabilization in Fujifilm’s X-S10 means it’s able to offer a lot of the features of the flagship X-T4. So, price aside, what are the differences between the...
Published Mar 6, 2021 | dpreview staff Designed for portraiture, everyday photography and moderate closeup work, the Canon RF 85mm F2 Macro IS is among the most versatile of Canon’s RF prime lenses for its full-frame mirrorless system. We’ve been out and about with it for a few days recently, to flesh out our previously published gallery of samples. Click the images above (or the link below) to see some new images, fresh from sunny (occasionally) Seattle, in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. View our updated Canon RF 85mm F2 Macro IS sample gallery Gear in this story Nikon’s...
Adobe has announced the dates and details for its 2021 Adobe MAX conference, which will once again be all-virtual and free for anyone who wants to tune in from October 26–28, 2021. Last year’s Adobe MAX conference was the first time it was both virtual and free for all users, due to extensive travel and quarantine restrictions in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the past, Adobe MAX events took place in Los Angeles, California, United States and as of the 2019, a single, full-conference ticket cost $1,895. The free, all-digital 2020 Adobe MAX conference brought in over 21 million video...
Published Mar 5, 2021 | dpreview staff [embedded content] In an exclusive interview with DPReview, Nikon revealed that it expects to deliver a Z series flagship camera in 2021. Chris and Jordan share their reaction to the news and what they expect to see in the new camera. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to get new episodes of DPReview TV every week. We’re working hard to finish our full review of the new Sony a1, and we’ve just added our studio image quality analysis. Click through to see how the a1’s newly-developed sensor performs. DJI has officially entered the world...
Apple has this week made it easier for iPhone, iPad and Mac users to transfer their iCloud Photos to Google Photos. Engadget reports that Apple has launched a new service that allows iCloud Photos users to transfer the photos and videos stored on iCloud to be transferred to Google Photos without needing to download the entire collection of files. There are requirements users must consider before requesting a file transfer. A user’s Apple ID must be using two-factor authentication. You must already have a Google account, which is required to use Google Photos. Your Google account must...
Street Candy Film writes that they make ‘the tastiest black and white films around.’ It offers even more black and white film now with the addition of Street Candy Film MTN100 to its catalog, joining its previous film, ATM400. MTN100 is a black and white ISO 100 film. The film is taken from a Motion Picture Film and promises to take your ‘black and white photography to the next level with a classic cinematic look and fine details.’ MTN100 is a panchromatic film ideal for outdoor and indoor photography. You can process it as a normal black and white negative or with a...
The Rollei 35SE is a pint-sized, fixed-lens camera with a super-sharp 40mm Sonnar lens and a set of controls often described as ‘fiddly’. Fiddly or not, for photographer Trevor Hughes, it was the ideal camera to document the ‘golden age’ of Toronto’s bike messenger culture. His series of images – appropriately called ‘The bike messengers‘ – were captured between 1992 and 1998. Collectively, they paint a mesmerizing portrait of an era not-too-long gone, when strong-legged humans were still relied upon as the safest means to transfer important...
Keiji Oishi – Department Manager of Nikon’s Imaging Business Unit, UX Planning Department. With the global pandemic still restricting travel, in place of our normal sit-down chats we’ve been conducting virtual interviews with executives from major manufacturers. This week we spoke to Keiji Oishi, Department Manager of Nikon’s Imaging Business Unit, UX Planning Department. As well as providing us with exclusive details about a major development announcement, Mr. Oishi also shared insights around Nikon’s recent consolidation of camera manufacturing in Thailand,...
Published Mar 4, 2021 | dpreview staff Leica has announced the release of the APO-Summicron-M 35mm F2 ASPH. The compact 35mm F2 is the closest-focusing M-mount lens, with a minimum focus distance of just 30cm (11.8″). You’ll need to be in live view mode to focus accurately between 0.7-0.3m though, since the rangefinder coupling mechanisms of M-series cameras can’t index in that range. The optical formula of the 35mm F2 includes 10 elements in 5 groups, with 4 aspherical surfaces. Six elements use anomalous partial dispersion glass to help reduce chromatic aberration. The...
Nikon has released NX Studio, a new all-in-one image management and editing program for macOS and Windows computers. The new program is designed to view, process and edit still photos and video. As Mike Tomkins detailed in our review, NX Studio is effectively the homologation of Nikon’s ViewNX-I and Capture ND-D programs, merging the organizational abilities of the former with the post-processing capabilities of the later. Click to enlarge. The overall user interface is similar to ViewNX-I and Capture ND-D, but does improve the menu structure into a more Lightroom- or Capture One-inspired...
[embedded content] We’ve already seen how DOOM can be played on a Kodak digital camera from 1998. It appears though that’s not the only gaming software that can be played on a digital camera. In a recent YouTube video, a programmer that goes under the pseudonym Turtius shows it’s possible to run a Minecraft server on a Canon EOS SL2 (200D) with a clever bit of reverse engineering. The project started as a means of learning to reverse engineer the networking processor Canon uses in its EOS SL2 (200D). After Turtius managed to reverse engineer the network module, he was able to install...
The Nikon Z 24-200m F4-6.3 is an impressively capable travel zoom for the company’s full-frame and APS-C Z-mount cameras. It doesn’t have a super-fast maximum aperture (it’d be the size of a bazooka if it did, after all), but it turns in really sharp images courtesy of its optical formula and vibration-reduction system that works in-tandem with the stabilizers in the company’s full-frame models. What do you use a travel zoom for? Well, a little bit of everything, from portraits of people and dogs to landscapes and travel. Take a look at what this lens can do in our...
Introduction Nikon NX Studio version 1.0.0’s user interface. A few weeks ago, we published an article comparing Nikon’s free ViewNX-i and Capture NX-D utilities with their dominant payware alternative, Adobe Camera Raw, which also underlies the popular Adobe Lightroom Classic. In summary, I found both ViewNX-i and Capture NX-D to offer pretty decent image quality and good performance. But one of my primary complaints with this duo was that neither app offered a complete feature set. ViewNX-i’s Raw processing capabilities were rather more limited in the interests of...
[embedded content] Peak Design has taken to YouTube to call out Amazon for what it claims is a ‘knockoff’ version of its Everyday Sling that appears in the company’s Basics range. In lighthearted video entitled ‘A Tale of Two Slings’, Peak Design highlights similarities between the $21 Amazon Basics Everyday Sling Bag and the company’s $80 Everyday Sling Bag, which was first released in 2017. The San Francisco-based company refrains from directly attacking Amazon, opting instead to highlight – in rather a tongue-in-cheek way – the difference in materials, workmanship,...
Format, a leading website-building platform for photographers, has announced a new feature, Workflow. Designed to help photographers streamline their business operations, Workflow offers features such as password-protected client galleries, branded file transfers and more. New branded, password-protected Client Galleries make it easy to showcase your images and collaborate with clients. Clients can then select their favorite images directly in the gallery or share them with others. With Workflow, photographers can also share a branded zip file of images directly with clients. You can...
Italian accessories manufacturer Gitzo has introduced a crowdfunding campaign for a new tripod that it says will last a lifetime, as it comes with an unlimited warranty and a free replacement parts service. The Legende carbon fiber travel tripod is designed to counteract ‘throwaway culture’ according to Gitzo, as most parts can be easily replaced by the user from an endless supply of components should anything go wrong. The company says the tripod is constructed using 170 parts, all of which can be repaired in the event of a fault or damage occurring, so the tripod can always be mended...
When working on an image in Adobe Photoshop, it’s inevitable that you’re going to need to undo something you have done within your image. Whether it’s because you’ve made a mistake, changed your mind, or simply need to fine-tune adjustments you have already made, knowing how to go back and undo is essential. On the surface undoing changes in Photoshop might seem simple, but there are a number of different ways you can undo, go back and update changes you’ve made to your image. Today we’re going to look at the different undo options in Photoshop and we’re also going to look at how to plan...
Vision Research, maker of high-speed cameras, has announced the Phantom TMX series. The TMX series consists of two cameras, the TMX 7510 and TMX 6410, and they are the first high-speed cameras to use back-side illuminated (BSI) image sensors. The BSI sensors allow for speeds up to 75 Gpx/sec in addition to improved light sensitivity. [embedded content] The Phantom TMX 7510 can shoot at 76,000 frames per second at 1MP resolution (1280 x 800). If you need even more speed, by reducing resolution to 1280 x 192, the camera can record more than 300,000 fps. Faster still, at lower resolution, the...
Published Mar 3, 2021 | dpreview staff [embedded content] The Fujifilm XF 70-300 F4-5.6 R LM OIS WR is a long tele-zoom lens for X-mount cameras. How does it stack up for optical quality? Chris and Jordan put it to the test to find out. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to get new episodes of DPReview TV every week. Sample photos from this episode Gear in this story Pre-order now Alongside the announcement of the new GFX 100S and X-E4 cameras, Fujifilm released a trio of lenses. Click through to learn more about the new GF 80mm F1.7 and XF 70-300 F4-5.6, and the updated XF 27mm F2.8....
Published Mar 3, 2021 | dpreview staff Chris and Jordan just wrapped up their review of the Fujifilm XF 70-300mm F4-5.6. Check out this gallery of images they shot while testing the lens, including samples captured with 1.4x and 2x teleconverters, and judge its image quality for yourself. View the Fujifilm XF 70-300mm F4-5.6 sample gallery Gear in this story Pre-order now Alongside the announcement of the new GFX 100S and X-E4 cameras, Fujifilm released a trio of lenses. Click through to learn more about the new GF 80mm F1.7 and XF 70-300 F4-5.6, and the updated XF 27mm F2.8....
Image quality The Sony a1 offers really sensational image quality for almost any type of photography you might be interested in. Processed in Adobe Camera Raw.ISO 100 | 1/800 sec | F1.4 | Sony FE 35mm F1.4 GMPhoto by Rishi Sanyal Key takeaways: JPEGs retain very high levels of detail at both low and high ISOs Noise reduction strikes a slightly different balance compared to the a7R IV, opting to reduce more luminance noise at the slight cost of fine detail as light levels drop Colors are improved: richer yellows, less magenta-tainted blues, warmer greens Class-leading Raw dynamic range...
DJI has officially entered the FPV (first-person-view) drone market. Typically, remote pilots interested in the type of immersive flight experience FPV drones provide, including the ability to maneuver through tight spaces and in close proximity to objects, all while performing aerobatics such as flips and rolls, had to also master an entirely different set of skills. Soldering, understanding how to configure an RC controller specifically for a drone, learning how frequencies work, and installing the right motors are just a few disciplines a would-be FPV pilot must undertake to create a safe...
A Carl Zeiss Apo Sonnar 135mm F2.8 lens attached to a Sony mirrorless camera. Kenko Tokina has announced a new business alliance with Carl Zeiss that will see Kenko Tokina take over sales and repair services for Carl Zeiss products in Japan, including interchangeable photo lenses. In the announcement, made on Kenko Tokina’s website (translated), the Japanese company says the partnership will start on April 1, 2021. From that point forward, Kenko Tokina will handle the sales and repairs of Carl Zeiss products. We won’t know until April 1 what particular products will be handled by Kenko...
Venus Optics has announced the release of five new manual Laowa lenses, including three for full-frame camera systems, one for APS-C camera systems and one for Micro Four Thirds (MFT) camera systems. Venus Optics hasn’t shared pricing or availability information these lenses at this time, but we do know the specifications. Laowa 25mm F0.95 MFT The Laowa 25mm F0.95 MFT lens is constructed of 11 elements in 8 groups, including one aspherical element, one low-dispersion element and three high-refractive elements. It features an aperture range from F0.95 through F16, uses a nine-blade aperture...
DJI has launched a new type of FPV drone. A hybrid of a traditional first-person-view immersive flight experience from a traditional rig and a cinematic camera drone, their latest release also offers GPS, obstacle avoidance sensors, the ability to hover in place, brake in an emergency, and return home. An ADS-B receiver system is also included to alert pilots of manned aircraft nearby. The DJI FPV drone is ready to fly out of the box. [embedded content] ‘DJI has been redefining what drones can do since our company began in 2006, and as we celebrate our 15-year anniversary this year, we...
BenQ has announced the SW271C 4K 27″ monitor. The new 4K display builds upon the foundation laid by its predecessor, the SW271, in 2017. The SW271C promises accurate colors, improved workflow tools and better features than the SW271. The SW271C retains the same 3840 x 2160 resolution as its predecessor and this time supports HLG in addition to HDR10. In terms of color space performance, the SW271C displays 100% of sRGB, 99% of AdobeRGB and 90% of P3. The SW271C can easily be rotated between landscape and portrait orientations. The display features BenQ’s proprietary AQCOLOR color...
Flash manufacturer Profoto has introduced a new version of its Pro flash pack that includes its smartphone-connected wireless control system. The new Pro-11 is nearly identical to the existing five-year-old Pro-10 but comes with the company’s AirX wireless module built-in that allows remote operation via a smartphone app. [embedded content] The company says the inclusion of AirX will help to prepare the flash pack for the future rather than deliver its maximum benefits now, hinting that there is more to come from this system. AirX will allow users to control the pack and the lights attached...
The online genealogy company MyHeritage has launched a new AI-powered service, Deep Nostalgia. This new service animates family photos (or other photos, as we’ll see) to allow users to ‘experience your family history like never before.’ Deep Nostalgia uses AI licensed from D-ID to turn still images into animated photos like the Live Photos feature in iOS portraits in the ‘Harry Potter’ films. Deep Nostalgia relies upon videos of facial animations, which the AI then applies to a still image. For example, an old black and white portrait of a man looking off-camera...
The annual Mobile Photography Awards (MPA) organizers have announced the winners and runners-up of their 10th annual competition. MPA is the longest-running international competition that recognizes and rewards photography captured on mobile phones or tablets. Over 5,700 images were submitted from 75 countries. Participants entered their work into a broad range of 20 categories including Transportation, Street Photography, Photojournalism, Black & White, and Digital Fine Art. Dan Liu, a mobile photographer from China, won the title of MPA Photographer of the Year and a grand prize of...
Introduction The Panasonic Lumix S 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 Macro O.I.S. is a moderately sized, moderately far-reaching and optically stabilized telephoto zoom lens for full-frame or APS-C L-mount cameras. Aimed at wildlife, sports, aircraft and vehicle photography as well as portraiture, it helps you tightly frame more distant subjects when you can’t get up close on foot. It also offers impressive close-focusing capabilities, and so can serve double-duty for light macro use. Available from April 2021, it carries list price of $1249. Jump to: Handling | Autofocus and focus breathing | Image...
Published Mar 1, 2021 | dpreview staff Chris and Jordan shot this colorful sample gallery with the Sigma 28-70mm F2.8 DG DN while filming their review of the lens for DPReview TV. Check it out and judge image quality for yourself. When viewing this gallery, please note that Chris shot these sample photos using a Sony a7R III. Currently, it seems that regardless of how the camera is set up, distortion correction information for this lens is not applied in Adobe Camera Raw. As such, you will see distortion in some of these images (which Chris called out in the DPRTV review). In contrast, the...
If you do any macro or close-up photography, you’ll likely come across the term “magnification.” Even outside of macro photography, most camera lenses include their maximum magnification in the list of specs. So, what is magnification, and why is it so important in photography? This article covers everything you need to know. NIKON D7000 + 105mm f/2.8 @ 105mm, ISO 280, 1/400, f/4.0 Table of Contents Magnification Definition Magnification, also known as reproduction ratio, is a property of a camera lens which describes how closely you’ve focused. Specifically, magnification is the ratio...
Did you receive a brand-new Olympus camera over the holidays? If so, chances are good that the next addition to your photographic toolbox will be a Raw processor from the likes of Adobe, Capture One, DxO or one of their many rivals. But is payware or even subscriptionware software really necessary, when Olympus provides its own software free of charge with your camera purchase? Olympus Workspace version 1.4’s user interface. In this article, we’ll compare the company’s Olympus Workspace Raw processing application with its well-entrenched payware rival, Adobe Camera Raw,...
Published Feb 28, 2021 | dpreview staff The Sony FE 28-60mm F4-5.6 is a compact, retractable full-frame zoom lens that’s bundled with the a7C and is also available separately for $500. When mounted to one of Sony’s APS-C cameras, it’s equivalent to a rather unconventional focal length of 42-90mm. Check our sample gallery to see what kind of image quality you can expect. View our gallery of samples from the Sony FE 28-60mm F4-5.6 Gear in this story Available to ship in 1-2 days. When Olympus released the E-M1X sports camera in late 2019, the company also released a modern...
Published Feb 27, 2021 | dpreview staff [embedded content] Last week we published a video about the Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro 12K, and comments came swiftly. We heard your feedback and re-shot the episode to replace some questionable footage. Here’s our new and improved version, with Jordan at the helm. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to get new episodes of DPReview TV every week. Being cooped up inside doesn’t mean you have to take a break from photography. If you’ve got negatives from way back when, what’s the best software around to scan them? Check out our...
Pentax has launched a quartet of recolored versions of its K-1 Mark II DSLR, which was first released in 2018 and is currently the company’s flagship K Series camera. The K-1 Mark II J Limited 01 DSLR seems to be available only in Japan, which was also the case for the company’s previous J Limited camera. The Pentax KP J Limited in 2019 was well-received, so Pentax has opted to develop J Limited as a formal factory brand. The K-1 II J Limited 01 will be built on a made-to-order basis and comes with numerous changes compared to the mass-produced K-1 II. The Limited version must be...
FiLMiC has patented a new high-efficiency image remapping technology, Cubiform. The newly-patented Cubiform is ‘an approach to applying a remap to each pixel in an image.’ Cubiform generates color look-up tables (C-LUTs) using a dynamic set of parameters, which can then be modified by users in real-time. By using C-LUTs rather than directly modifying images, a stream of C-LUTs can be applied to an image, or series of images, without placing high demand upon the CPU or GPU. FiLMiC says that by eschewing per-pixel processing for chrominance and luminance modifications, Cubiform...
[embedded content] Earlier today, Sigma broadcasted a livestream wherein it gave updates on its mirrorless lens development efforts. The 30-minute detailed covered a number of topics regarding its ongoing efforts to develop more lenses for mirrorless camera systems, but one of the most interesting bits was a little tease of a forthcoming ‘DG DN Sports’ zoom lens at the 25:25 time mark. Yasuhiro Osone, General Manager of the Product Planning Department at Sigma, didn’t reveal any specifications or even ranges for focal length for the unannounced lens, but did say there was more on the horizon...
Published Feb 26, 2021 | Aaron Gold A 1960’s magazine ad for Kodak’s various lines of slide film. Image courtesy of Nesster Slide film, otherwise known as positive, reversal or transparency film (and occasionally as ‘E-6’ for its development process), was the choice of ‘pro’ shooters back in the pre-digital film photography days. What’s the difference between slide and print film? Simply, print film produces a negative image, while slide film produces a positive image. Individual frames of developed slide film can be mounted in sealed sleeves and projected...
Nikon’s Z7 II has a 45MP sensor in a fantastically solid and well-sealed body, so when the snow started coming down across western Washington State, it seemed like the perfect camera to document our first major snow event in two years. Thankfully, the controls are pretty easy to operate with gloves, too. So, as we tend to the final bits of our long-awaited Nikon Z7 II review, come with us for a little tour of North Seattle under a blanket of fresh powder. You’ll find a blizzard of new images (see what we did there) scattered throughout this gallery. Check out our updated gallery...
[embedded content] Leica has announced its latest limited special edition camera, the Leica Q2 Daniel Craig x Greg Williams. The limited special edition camera is limited to just 750 units and was created ‘in close collaboration with award-winning actor Daniel Craig and and Greg Williams, one of Britain’s most renowned photographers.’ Leica says ‘Both Craig and Williams have a common passion in photography and are both avid fans of the Leica brand, making this a perfect collaboration for the pair.’ As with Leica’s past limited special edition cameras, the Daniel Craig x Greg Williams Q2...
Earlier this week, Sony Nordic accidentally sent out a newsletter with details of the next firmware update for its a7S III mirrorless camera. Now, firmware version 2.00 for the a7S III is live and ready to download for all. As mentioned in our initial coverage, firmware version 2.00 now includes Sony’s S-Cinetone color profile, first seen in its F6X Cinema Line camera and ‘inspired by the color science used in Sony’s flagship VENICE cinema camera.’ The color profile, which Sony says ‘delivers natural mid-tones, plus soft colors and gorgeous highlights’ can be used for monitoring only or as a...
The second-generation Nikon Z6 II is a general-purpose camera aimed for portraiture, event, action, and everyday photography needs. While the Z6 II shares the body and ergonomics of its predecessor, there are numerous internal changes that have been implemented to make it a very compelling choice among mirrorless cameras today. Although the base specifications of the camera stayed the same (same 24.5 MP sensor, IBIS, etc), Nikon significantly improved the processing power of the camera by using dual EXPEED 6 processors, improved viewfinder blackout, significantly increased the camera buffer,...
Billed by Sigma as ‘a more compact alternative to the existing 24-70mm F2.8 DG DN | Art’, the new 28-70mm F2.8 DG DN is indeed considerably smaller and 365 g (almost a pound) lighter than it’s ‘Art’ series counterpart. Despite the considerable size and weight (and cost) saving compared to the 24-70mm ‘Art’, Sigma claims that the design of its newest zoom is based on that of the higher-end lens, and should deliver excellent results across its zoom and aperture range. Click through for a closer look at the new Sigma 28-70mm F2.8 DG...
Digital formats have often ended up mimicking the dimensions of film formats, simply because the lenses for those formats already existed. But the higher performance and more steeply rising cost of fabricating ever larger expanses of silicon mean that the image quality gains from slavishly matching film formats becomes uneconomic beyond a certain point. In short, the possible image-quality gain of a ‘6×9’ digital sensor simply isn’t worth the fabulous cost it would entail. But this brings us to the sensor in the Phase One XF IQ4 150MP system, which measures an...
Ricoh has announced the release of three HD Pentax-FA Limited lenses for K-mount DSLR cameras: the HD Pentax-FA 31mm F1.8 Limited, HD Pentax-FA 43mm F1.9 Limited and HD Pentax-FA 77mm F1.8 Limited. These three lenses feature the same optical construction as their respective non-HD predecessors, while bringing a number of new and improved features. The first notable change is the addition of Ricoh’s High-Definition (HD) coating on the lenses. Ricoh says the HD coating ‘assures higher light transmittance and lower reflectance to deliver sharp, clear images free of flare and ghost images,...
Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS With all the recent excitement surrounding NASA’s Perseverance rover landing on Mars and new images, we’ve got space on the brain. This month, NASA published a beautiful image of the gas giant Jupiter that its Juno spacecraft captured in late 2020. NASA’s Juno spacecraft has been orbiting Jupiter since July 5, 2016. The spacecraft was launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on August 5, 2011. The latest image, seen below, was captured on December 30, 2020, during Juno’s 31st close flyby of Jupiter. ‘Citizen...
Published Feb 24, 2021 | This is sponsored content, created with the support of Amazon and Sony [embedded content] The ongoing global pandemic has wrought havoc on everyone’s lives in some way, and one experience that has been common across the country and the globe is that of students losing the in person experience of school. Whether it’s high-schoolers losing their prom, college freshmen losing their first year on campus or graduates missing out a graduation ceremony. Isaac Lowe-Anker, younger brother of photographer Max Lowe graduated from Western Washington University in...
Samsung has announced the details of the ISOCELL GN2, its second-generation 50MP smartphone image sensor that features 1.4μm pixels, improved autofocus capabilities, better HDR capture and more. The 1/1.12″-type (11.4 x 8.6mm) GN2 slightly increases the pixel size to 1.4μm, up from 1.2μm in its GN1 predecessor. For low-light scenes, the sensor can use four-pixel-binning that should simulate the light-sensitivity of 2.8μm pixels, albeit at the cost of resolution. If you’re looking for higher resolution, the GN2 has a new 100MP mode that uses an on-chip re-mosaic algorithm that combines...
Published Feb 24, 2021 | dpreview staff [embedded content] The Sigma 28-70mm F2.8 DG DN is small, but how does it perform optically? Chris has the answers. Meanwhile, Jordan begins his stint filming episodes with the Pentax K-01. Let the fun begin. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to get new episodes of DPReview TV every week. Sample photos from this episode Gear in this story Being cooped up inside doesn’t mean you have to take a break from photography. If you’ve got negatives from way back when, what’s the best software around to scan them? Check out our in-depth...
Published Feb 24, 2021 | dpreview staff The Sigma 28-70mm F2.8 DG DN is a compact standard zoom for full-frame L- and E-mount bodies, designed from he beginning for mirrorless digital imaging. Potentially a highly attractive ‘step-up’ lens for mirrorless shooters, Sigma promises that image quality from this compact zoom will be comparable to the Art-series 24-70mm F2.8. We’ve had the new lens for a few days, and we’ve been shooting with it on the Panasonic S1R so you can get a first look at its image quality. Check out our initial samples from the Sigma 28-70mm F2.8...
Sigma has announced its new 28-70mm F2.8 DG DN Contemporary lens for L and E mounts. The company says that its design is based on that of the 24-70mm F2.8 Art, and makes the bold claim that image quality will be comparable. As of now, the 28-70 is the smallest and lightest lens in its class, according to Sigma: it’s just 102mm (4″) long and weighs in at 470g (1lb). It has a total of 16 elements, which include 2 FLD, 2 SLD and 3 aspherical elements. The special elements, combined with Super Multi-Layer and Nano Porous coatings, help reduce flare and ghosting. The minimum focus...
On February 18, NASA’s Perseverance rover landed on Mars and sent back to Earth its first images. Since then, NASA’s Perseverance team has been busy exploring the Jezero Crater area. NASA has followed up its initial images with a high-quality, detailed 360° interactive image. The video below, which has on-screen controls when viewed in a compatible browser on desktop or the YouTube app on mobile devices, shows a 360° view from Perseverance’s landing site on Mars. [embedded content] The images above were captured using Perseverance’s onboard color Navigation Cameras,...
Australian audio experts Rode has announced the Wireless Go II, its second-generation dual channel wireless microphone system. The new system consists of the same basic form factor as its Wireless Go predecessor, but adds the ability to record two sound sources at once, improved device compatibility and onboard storage. Unlike the original Rode Wireless Go, which came with only one transmitter and one receiver unit, the Wireless Go II kit comes with three units: two transmitters and one dual channel receiver. This is because the new kit can record not just one, but two sound sources at once...
The much-leaked Sony FX3 has finally been publicly announced. As expected, it’s an E-mount full-frame video camera that sits at the bottom of Sony’s ‘Cinema Line’ and bridges the gap between the portability of the a7S III and the capability of the FX6. To a large extent, it can be seen as an a7S III in a more filmmaker-friendly form. So let’s have a look at what that really...
Published Feb 23, 2021 | dpreview staff Sony has formally announced the much-leaked FX3 full-frame video camera. The FX3 marks the entry point to the Cinema Line of video cameras, and wears Alpha branding, setting it between the FX6 and the a7S III. It’s built around the same 12MP full-frame BSI-CMOS sensor as the a7S III and promises the same UHD 4K capabilities, including 60p capture from the full sensor width and 4K/120p with a slight crop. It offers the same choice of bitrates and codecs as the a7S III, meaning 10-bit 4:2:2 in a choice of XAVC HS (H.265) or XAVC S (H.264) with...
Masaaki Oshima, Deputy Senior General Manager, Camera System Business Division, at Sony Imaging Products & Solutions. Pictured holding the new Sony Alpha 1. Following the launch of Sony’s new Alpha 1 (a1) full-frame mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, we sat down (virtually) with Masaaki Oshima, Deputy Senior Manager of Sony’s Camera division. As well as discussing how the Alpha 1 came into being, we also discussed the changing camera market, and how Sony intends to meet the needs of a new generation of photographers. This interview has been edited lightly for clarity and...
Sony Nordic, in an email that appears to have been sent out too soon, has confirmed Sony is bringing S-Cinetone to the Sony a7S III in a version 2.00 firmware update. According to the email, which Sony Alpha Rumors is reporting as having been accidentally sent out early to newsletter subscribers, Sony Nordic says the a7S III will receive the S-Cinetone picture profile first seen in its FX9 Cinema Line camera, as well as the ability to use Steady Shot during recording with S&Q frame rate. A gradient graph from Sony showing where S-Cinetone falls between STD5 (R709) and s709 in terms of...
Foldable phones are becoming more commonplace. Competing against the Samsung Galaxy Fold, Huawei’s new Mate X2 builds upon Huawei’s two previous foldable phones while incorporating a refreshed design. The Mate X2 opens from the inside rather than the outside, and Huawei claims that the phone’s hinge is practically imperceptible. When folded, the Mate X2 looks quite like a traditional smartphone. The outside of the device includes a 6.45″ OLED screen with a 2700×1160 pixel resolution, 456 ppi. When you open the folding device, you see its 8″ inner display....
Editor’s Note: (Monday, February 22, 2021 at 1:43 PM): The original version of this article stated the Canon RF version of the Laowa 11mm lens was $699. That is incorrect and we have updated it to the correct price, $799. Venus Optics has announced it’s adding new mount support for two of its Laowa lenses. The Laowa 11mm F4.5 FF RL (full-frame rectilinear) lens is now available for Canon RF mount camera systems and the Laowa 65mm F2.8 2x Ultra-Macro APO is now available for Nikon Z mount camera systems. The Laowa 11mm F4.5 FF RL lens is a manual lens constructed of 14 elements in 10 groups...
A good photography book an enjoyable way to pass the afternoon, and it’s often the perfect antidote to a creative rut. Whether you’ve been photographing for years or you’re a beginner looking to take your work to the next level we’re going to take a look at the best photography books for everyone. When I started this post, it was my intention to create a top 10 list. Something like “The 10 best books for photographers”. But honestly, I couldn’t narrow down the list to just those few. And the best books for portrait photographers are not the same as the best books for landscape and nature...
Published Feb 22, 2021 | This is sponsored content, created in partnership with Olympus Rufous hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus) Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II, M.Zuiko 40-150mm F2.8 PRO (@284mm equiv.) Professional wildlife photographer and Olympus Visionary Scott Bourne is one of the best-known names in bird photography. In this interview, he explains how he got started, why he made the switch from DSLRs to Olympus Micro Four Thirds cameras and lenses, and what he thinks of the new M.Zuiko 150-400mm F4.5 TC1.25x IS PRO lens. The following interview has been edited for clarity and flow. What’s...
Published Feb 22, 2021 | dpreview staff With 50MP to play with, the Sony a1 offers plenty of resolution and speed for just about any purpose. While one of those purposes is sports (which there isn’t much of due to the pandemic), as we press on with our full review we’ve added some portraits of humans and birds as well as some Raw conversions to our gallery update. Check out our updated Sony a1 gallery Gear in this story The Sony Alpha 1 is Sony’s flagship mirrorless camera for, well, just about anything. With a 50MP sensor, it gives you tons of resolution, but it also lets...
Hasselblad has launched a new video series, ‘Hasselblad’s Home,’ that gives viewers a behind-the-scenes look at Hasselblad’s headquarters in Gothenburg, Sweden. The series shares insight from designers and engineers regarding the development of Hasselblad’s medium format cameras and the philosophies that underpin how the company brings ‘Scandinavian design and craftsmanship to creators around the world.’ The first episode, seen below, is focused on the design philosophy behind creating the X System. The highly compact X System currently includes the...
Published Feb 21, 2021 | dpreview staff Our intrepid DPRTV team up in Canada has been braving the below-freezing conditions to bring us a gallery of images from the new Panasonic S 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 Macro OIS. Click through the images above to see how they got on. View DPRTV’s samples from the Panasonic S 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 Macro OIS Gear in this story Pre-order now Released on Apr 18, 2021 Being cooped up inside doesn’t mean you have to take a break from photography. If you’ve got negatives from way back when, what’s the best software around to scan them? Check out...
Published Feb 20, 2021 | dpreview staff [embedded content] As its name implies, the Blackmagic Ursa Pro 12K shoots 12K video. But it also includes features that mirrorless camera makers could learn from. Jordan shows us what he likes about Blackmagic’s design – and what it’s like to shoot in 12K. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to get new episodes of DPReview TV every week. Being cooped up inside doesn’t mean you have to take a break from photography. If you’ve got negatives from way back when, what’s the best software around to scan them? Check out our...
Cropping is one of the first steps in most post-processing workflows. In fact, most photographers apply some level of cropping to their images while editing. Reasons to crop an image go way beyond just getting closer to the subject. It could be for image stacking, panorama, straightening, or changing the aspect ratio of the photograph. In this article, I will take you through all the options that Photoshop offers with respect to cropping. Before I guide you through the steps to crop an image using Photoshop, there are a few points that are worth pointing out: Cropping too much into an image...
The Perseverance rover gets lowered down to the Martian surface, seen in one of the first high-resolution images sent back to Earth. Image credit: NASA Update: (Friday, February 19, 2021 at 2:46 PM): Since first publishing this article, NASA has shared new, high-resolution images of the Perseverance rover, including one taken from its ‘jetpack’ that lowered the rover down to the Martian surface. On July 30, 2020, NASA launched its Mars Perseverance Rover on an Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Yesterday, February 18, 2021, Perseverance landed successfully on...
A new version of CYME’s Avalanche application that converts image catalogs from one software brand to another has been introduced. This latest version now allows Aperture and Lightroom users to translate their current image collections for compatibility with Skylum’s Luminar AI. [embedded content] The company says that V1.3 of Avalanche will import not only the original images themselves but also all the edits, versions, albums and organizational tags applied to them. Luminar 4 image catalogs can also be migrated to Luminar AI along with all the effects attached to them. The application...
The Lumix S 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 Macro OIS is a tele-zoom lens designed for Panasonic’s full-frame mirrorless cameras. It brings a useful focal range to telephoto shooters with a bit more reach, and at a lower price point, than the company’s constant aperture tele-zoom options. Panasonic says the lens was designed with professional photographers in mind, though it doesn’t carry the ‘Pro’ moniker found on some of its pricier optics. On the next few slides we’ll take a look at the various features packed into this...
© Paolo Barretta / Portrait of Humanity Artist Statement: I never faced something like a pandemic. It’s been hard to stop completely our life in order to stay safe. This is my best friend and his boyfriend after three months of distance because of the quarantine. There are so many reasons why I consider this picture so important to me. It’s not just portraying someone’s kissing. This is the story of people who fight, people who resist, people who stay together against this crazy world. Covid-19 supposed to bring people together, but it has shown me how mean and indifferent we can be to each...
The interchangeable lens Mamiya 7 and fixed / collapsible lens Plaubel Makina 67 are titans of the medium format world, and both still command quite high prices on today’s used market. But rarely are they directly compared to one another, until now. 35mmc’s Hamish Gill had the unusual opportunity to shoot with both back-to-back, and crown a personal favorite. Ultimately, for Hamish’s shooting style, the Makina came out on top. But he found a lot to like about the Mamiya, including an easier-to-see rangefinder patch and slightly shaper lenses. But the Makina won him over...
Google Pixel devices have been well-regarded for their photographic capabilities. However, are the devices plagued with unreliability? Android Police is reporting that the Google Camera app has been hit with more frequent 1-star reviews in the past year, with many users complaining that their cameras suddenly stopped working. Ars Technica has written about the topic as well. Users are encountering issues ranging from black screens in camera apps to framerate drops when recording videos, error messages and more. The issue appears to be hardware-related, as both first- and third-party apps are...
Nikon USA has announced it will release pair of firmware updates for its Z6 II and Z7 II mirrorless camera systems on February 25. The updates add, amongst bug fixes and other improvements, the ability to shoot 4K video at 60 frame per second (fps), Blackmagic Raw recording and improved Eye-AF performance. Firmware version 1.10 for both the Z6 II and Z7 II will bring 4K UHD video recording at up to 60 fps. Unfortunately, this shooting mode is limited to Nikon’s cropped DX-based recoding format at ‘Normal’ movie quality mode. Performance of the Eye-Detection AF features on both cameras has...
Published Feb 18, 2021 | dpreview staff Leica has introduced the APO-Summicron-SL 28mm F2 ASPH lens for full-frame L-mount bodies. It features 13 elements, 6 of which are aspherical; several of the elements are of the anomalous partial dispersion type to reduce chromatic aberration. The lens can focus as close as 24cm (9.5″) and the maximum magnification is 0.2X. The focus group is driven by a stepping motor that Leica calls ‘Dual Syncro Drive’. The 28mm F2 has a newly designed manual focus ring that uses magnetic fields to improve responsiveness and precision. The 28mm F2...
Published Feb 18, 2021 | dpreview staff [embedded content] Chris made it out of quarantine in time to review the new Panasonic 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 lens for L-mount. The temperature may be -20ºC, but in Calgary that’s almost shirtsleeve weather. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to get new episodes of DPReview TV every week. Sample photos from this episode Gear in this story The Sony Alpha 1 is Sony’s flagship mirrorless camera for, well, just about anything. With a 50MP sensor, it gives you tons of resolution, but it also lets you fire off burst images at 30 fps for fast action...
Right about the time we got our hands on the new Panasonic S 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 Macro OIS zoom lens, Seattle got hit with a rare winter snow storm that provided a great backdrop for our pre-production sample gallery. Check out the images to see how it performs. View our Panasonic S 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 pre-production sample gallery Gear in this story The Sony Alpha 1 is Sony’s flagship mirrorless camera for, well, just about anything. With a 50MP sensor, it gives you tons of resolution, but it also lets you fire off burst images at 30 fps for fast action sports. Add in 8K video capture and...
Published Feb 18, 2021 | dpreview staff Panasonic has announced the Lumix S 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 Macro OIS for full-frame (and APS-C) L-mount bodies. The onboard image stabilizer reduces shake by up to 5.5 stops when used with a Dual IS-equipped body. The lens has 17 elements, including ultra extra low-dispersion, extra low-dispersion and ultra high-refractive index glass. Its focus group is driven by a linear motor, and the company claims that focus breathing is minimal. The 70-300 has a minimum focus distance of 54cm (21″) at wide-angle and can capture half life-size macro images at...
Published Feb 18, 2021 | dpreview staff [embedded content] Chris made it out of quarantine in time to review the new Panasonic 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 lens for L-mount. The temperature may be -20ºC, but in Calgary that’s almost shirtsleeve weather. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to get new episodes of DPReview TV every week. Sample photos from this episode Gear in this story Pre-order now Released on Apr 18, 2021 The Sony Alpha 1 is Sony’s flagship mirrorless camera for, well, just about anything. With a 50MP sensor, it gives you tons of resolution, but it also lets you fire off...
Right about the time we got our hands on the new Panasonic S 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 Macro OIS zoom lens, Seattle got hit with a rare winter snow storm that provided a great backdrop for our pre-production sample gallery. Check out the images to see how it performs. View our Panasonic S 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 pre-production sample gallery Gear in this story Pre-order now Released on Apr 18, 2021 The Sony Alpha 1 is Sony’s flagship mirrorless camera for, well, just about anything. With a 50MP sensor, it gives you tons of resolution, but it also lets you fire off burst images at 30 fps for fast...
Ricoh has released a development update for its Pentax K-3 Mark III APS-C DSLR camera system, announcing its release has been delayed due to supply chain issues. Originally announced on October 27, 2020, the Pentax K-3 Mark III was set for a release during CP+ 2021, which is scheduled to take place from February 25 through 28. That is no longer the case though, as Ricoh has run into issues with supplying parts for its APS-C DSLR: ‘As some of the product parts are delayed, and we have determined that development will require a greater amount of time for us to achieve the exceptional...
For sure with using a 2X teleconverter, you need to accept some compromises in terms of aperture and shutter speed required, especially when fully zoomed. However, presumably you are looking for a teleconverter because you want to extend your focal length. In that sense, getting a small magnification is just a different compromise. I have had a Nikon AF-S Teleconverter TC-20E III for the past several months that I have been using with my NIKON AF-S 70-200mm F/2.8E FL ED VR lens, and have been very pleased with it. I need to make sure that I use at least f8, and normally I need to stay at or...
Blackmagic Design has announced the latest camera in its Pocket Cinema Camera lineup, the Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pro (BMPCC6KP), an EF-mount Super 35mm cinema camera with a tilting touchscreen LCD display, built-in ND filter and more. The announcement, which you can view in its entirety below (the BMPCC6KP announcement starts about 80 minutes in), shows off a familiar form factor with a number of improvements Blackmagic customers have been asking for. Most significantly, the BMPCC6KP now has a 5″ tilting touchscreen LCD display (1920 x 1080 pixels) on the rear of the camera that puts...
Nikon Japan has announced (machine-translated) it’s developed a 17.84-megapixel 1”-type stacked CMOS image sensor that can capture high dynamic range video at up to 1,000 frames per second. Nikon is known to use Sony sensors in a number of its imaging products, but it also develops its own sensor technology. Case in point is this new 1”-type stacked CMOS sensor, which offers high-speed capture with impressive dynamic range in a square capture format. The sensor uses 17.84 million 2.7μm pixels (4224×4224 pixels) to capture video at up to 1,000 frames per second with 110dB dynamic range. If...
Introduction A difficult 2020 that has blended into a difficult 2021 has made it harder for many of us to get outside and shoot, but that doesn’t mean you have to neglect your photography. If you’re like me, you probably still have years’ worth of unscanned slides and negatives waiting to be tended to some rainy day, and a COVID lockdown gives you a golden opportunity. But are you better off using the software that came with your scanner, or should you shell out for a third-party alternative to get the best results? Before I rolled up my sleeves and started scanning, I...
Editor’s Note: (Wednesday, February 17, 2021 at 11:00 AM): It appears there are multiple times being cited by Sony in various regions that don’t align with one another when accounting for timezones. We have contacted a Sony representative and will clarify the article with more information when we receive a response. Editor’s Note: (Wednesday, February 17, 2021 at 3:45 PM): Corrected the pricing estimate in USD, which at first didn’t take into account the VAT included in the EU pricing. Sony Japan has brought live a new page on its website teasing a new cinema camera. The website, which...
In this review of the Canon EOS R6, we will take a closer look at this mirrorless camera and compare it to others, such as the EOS R, EOS R5, and Nikon Z6 II. It is no secret that Canon’s launch of its first full-frame mirrorless camera, the EOS R, had a very mixed reception. While it demonstrated excellent image quality when paired with the new RF mount lenses, there wasn’t really anything about this camera that stood out, especially when compared to Sony’s top offerings. Featuring a single SD memory card slot, no in-body image stabilization, and a touch bar that most people ended up...
Sensor manufacturer OmniVision has announced the specifications for the OV50A, a new 50MP 1/1.5″ smartphone camera sensor that offers 100% phase detection autofocus (PDAF) coverage. The OV50A is built using OmniVision’s PureCel Plus-S stacked die technology and offers 50MP resolution with one micron pixel size, selective conversion gain, on-chip remosaic and quad phase detection (QPD) autofocus. OmniVision explains in its press release the benefits of its QPD autofocus technology, which it claims offers ‘DSLR level’ autofocus performance: ‘QPD enables 2×2 phase detection autofocus...
Gav with The Slow Mo Guys wanted to check out how a 16mm motion picture camera works in crisp slow motion. Using a Phantom Flex4K, he recorded at a blazing-fast 1,000 frames per second. The Phantom Flex4K is an incredible feat of engineering and modern technology, but today the focus is on an older Russian 16mm motion picture camera. For viewers who haven’t seen how a 16mm motion camera operates, it’s neat to see the camera’s internals and how the film is loaded. With the film loaded, it’s time to set the frame rate, which is controlled via a dial on the outside of...
Published Feb 16, 2021 | This is sponsored content, made possible with the support of Amazon and DJI [embedded content] The DJI RS 2 is a gimbal designed for medium-size DSLR and mirrorless cameras. Made of strong, lightweight carbon fiber, the RS2 can support a payload of up to 10 lbs (4.5 kg), allowing for the use of professional cameras and lenses. With features like a color touchscreen, quick and easy single-handed controls, and highly advanced stabilization, the RS 2 is a powerful, portable solution for filmmakers. In this video, the team at Via Films takes the RS 2 along on a shoot in...
Commercial film director Nate Townsend has a very personal connection to the Leica brand. Last year, Townsend’s father, Tom, died of cancer only two weeks after receiving an unexpected diagnosis. In addition to countless lessons and influence, Tom Townsend also left his son a Leica M4 35mm rangefinder camera. Shortly after his father’s passing, Nate took an impromptu road trip to his father’s hometown of Jacksonville, Florida. He used the heirloom M4 to document the journey, which ultimately inspired him to create a short film, ‘Do it Justice,’ which you can...
Cosina has announced three new manual Voigtlander 35mm F2 lenses, including two for Leica M mount camera systems and one for Sony E mount camera systems. Voigtlander Ultron Vintage Line 35mm F2 Aspherical Type II VM First up is the Voigtlander Ultron Vintage Line 35mm F2 Aspherical Type II VM (really, Cosina?). This lens is an update to the current Voigtlander Ultron 35mm F2 Aspherical Lens, which itself was inspired by classic mid-century Voigtlander lenses. The lens is constructed of eight elements in five groups. It has an aperture range from F2 through F16, uses a 10-blade aperture...
Ricoh has announced the release of the GR III ‘GRowING’ ING Edition Special Limited Kit, a nature-inspired set that adds green accents to the compact camera as well as a collection of matching accessories. The GR III ‘GRowING’ ING Edition Special Limited Kit is available only in China and isn’t set to hit shelves until November 2021. The kit sees the standard GR III camera get a green wrap around the grip of the camera, as well as a matching ring around the lens and shutter button. In the machine-translated press release, Ricoh says green was selected as a means of ‘symbolizing new life in...
Test scene Our test scene is designed to simulate a variety of textures, colors and detail types you’ll encounter in the real world. It also has two illumination modes to see the effect of different lighting conditions. The 50MP, ‘stacked’ BSI-CMOS sensor in the Sony a1 is among the most advanced imaging sensors you can find today. It’s capable of incredibly fast read-out despite that massive resolution, and we were curious how it compares against other options on the market. Take a tour of our studio scene above; we’ll have our own thorough analysis once we...
Fujifilm’s new XF 27mm F2.8 R WR is so nice, we decided to keep shooting with it and fill out our gallery with more samples. Optically identical to Fujfilm’s other 27mm F2.8, this version adds an aperture ring and weather sealing. It’s also sharp, small and lightweight, making it the perfect lens for walking around; we especially enjoyed it paired with the X-Pro3. View our Fujfilm XF 27mm R WR pre-production sample gallery Because our XF 27mm F2.8 R WR is a pre-production copy, Fujifilm has requested that only JPEGs be uploaded. The Sony Alpha 1 is Sony’s flagship...
Lens adapter gurus MonsterAdapter has announced the details of the LA-FE1, a new adapter that brings autofocus to Nikon AF-I, AF-S and AF-P lenses when used with select Sony mirrorless cameras. MonsterAdapter claims in its announcement that it’s already developed a Nikon to Sony autofocus adapter in the past, but it was sold under an unspecified brand name. MonsterAdapter said this version, which will bear the company’s logo, is ‘greatly improved both in firmware and hardware.’ In its current form, the adapter all give autofocus capabilities to Nikon AF-I, AF-S and AF-P lenses. For lenses...
External recorders such as the Atomos Ninja V shown here can encode a Raw video stream into a formats such as Apple’s ProRes RAW. Raw video has become something of a talking point as more and more cameras have provided a way of capturing or outputting Raw video data streams. But, for a couple of reasons, Raw video doesn’t offer the same benefits that photographers are used to enjoying, when they shoot stills. Raw video formats There are multiple types of Raw available and the experience of using each will differ somewhat, but the underlying benefits are broadly similar. RED and...
I was consumed by the technical aspects of photography during the early days of my career in photography. Getting a sharp image was all that I had in mind. “Which shutter speed should I use to capture birds in flight? Which ISO will give me images with less noise? What aperture will give me a creamy background with a sharp subject? What are the recommended auto-focus settings?”. These cliché questions were the only ones running through my mind most of the time. Little did I know then that the art of photography was much more than sharp subjects and creamy backgrounds. I don’t mean to say...
Published Feb 13, 2021 | dpreview staff [embedded content] The Sony a7 III and Fujifilm X-T4 aren’t cameras we would normally compare head-to-head. Yet, they’re two of the most popular enthusiast models available today. Watch Chris and Jordan duke it out over which one is best. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to get new episodes of DPReview TV every week. Gear in this story After two rounds of voting, DPReview readers have decided on their favorite product (and runners-up) of 2020. Find out which cameras and lenses topped the list! We’ve taken a look back at our year of...
Image credits: Screenshots in this article are from the original Tech Buff PH video. Click to enlarge. In a video that’s since been hidden, YouTuber Tech Buff PH shared a hands-on review of what appears to be a new Xiaomi device with one of the larger — and most unusual — camera arrays we’ve seen on a smartphone. Xiaomi was one of the first manufacturers to release a smartphone with Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 888 chipset inside in its Mi 11 device. At launch, the Mi 11 was only available in China. But earlier this week, Xiaomi announced availability in Europe as well. Now, a new hands-on...
UK-based photographer Brendan Barry has used his lockdown to grow closer to nature. He’s been taking regular neighborhood walks with his daughter and learning more about the area surrounding their home in Exeter and the city’s surprising nature. They have regularly picked wildflowers on the journey, which Barry has been photographing using a color reversal process he has been developing over the last few years. Barry’s process is ‘long and laborious and the photographs hard to achieve.’ He tells us that it can take up to eight hours to create a successful...
Late conservation activist Steve Irwin would be proud of this particular accomplishment. His son, Robert, won Wildlife Photographer of the Year’s People’s Choice Award for his top-down drone image. A wildfire ripped through a forest near the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve in Queensland, Australia, and Irwin captured it at the right moment. The perfect 50/50 split displays the damage inflicted on one side while the other remained preserved. ‘I am incredibly excited to win the Wildlife Photographer of The Year People’s Choice Award. For me, nature photography is about telling a story...
In many regards, the Voigtlander Bessaflex TM is the perfect fully mechanical film SLR (batteries are only needed for the meter): it’s small and light, sports a bright viewfinder and is incredibly straightforward to shoot with. Unfortunately, it debuted at the start of the digital revolution and was far from a commercial success. But what if it had debuted a decade or more later, when folks were rediscovering the joys of shooting film? Cosina, who manufactured the ‘TM’ starting in 2003 (licensing the Voigtlander name), has a long history building cameras in a variety of...
When you have many photos on your smartphone, like hundreds or even thousands, it can be challenging trying to locate images and keep your files organized. Different companies are working on using AI technologies to help identify, organize and even cull images. Canon is the latest to join the fray with its new Photo Culling app for iOS. Underpinning the app is Canon’s computer-vision artificial intelligence engine, PHIL. PHIL is an abbreviation for Photography Intelligence Learning. The Photo Culling app helps users pick out their best images by evaluating photos based on sharpness,...
Sigma fp L sample gallery (DPReview TV)
Posted by Chris Roubis on 27th, Mar, 2021 |
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Published Mar 27, 2021 | dpreview staff The Sigma fp L may have some quirks, but its 60MP sensor is capable of producing beautiful images. Check out these sample photos, captured using a pre-production camera, by our team at DPReview TV. View the Sigma fp L pre-production sample gallery Gear in this story The Sigma fp L is a high-resolution development of the company’s compact full-frame interchangeable lens camera. It gains a 61MP BSI-CMOS sensor, providing a more stills-focused platform than the original fp 24MP L-mount mirrorless camera. Learn more about it in our initial review....
Incredible new image shows the magnetic fields at the edge of the M87 black hole
Posted by Chris Roubis on 26th, Mar, 2021 |
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The Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) collaboration has published a new view of the black hole at the center of the M87 galaxy. The EHT published the first-ever image of a black hole in 2019. This time, the image shows the black hole in polarized light, which shows the magnetic field surrounding the black hole. This marks the first time astronomers have been able to measure polarization this close to the edge of a black hole. Polarization is a signature of magnetic fields, and being able to observe the magnetic fields provides scientists important new information and helps explain how the M87...
Canon patent application reveals optical designs for three F2.8 ultra-wide RF mount lenses
Posted by Chris Roubis on 26th, Mar, 2021 |
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A new patent application from Canon has revealed the company is working to develop a trio of ultra-wide lenses for its RF mount mirrorless cameras. First seen by Canon News, the patent application details the optical designs for a 12mm F2.8 lens, a 14mm F2.8 lens and a 20mm F2.8 lens. Typically, these patent applications show off multiple optical designs that don’t always make it to market, but Canon has both a 14mm F2.8 and 20mm F2.8 lens for its EF mount cameras, so it’d make sense to carry those two options over to its mirrorless mount. Below are illustrations and technical breakdown of...
Vivo’s new X60 smartphone lineup features Zeiss-branded camera modules
Posted by Chris Roubis on 26th, Mar, 2021 |
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Earlier this week, OnePlus announced its new OnePlus 9 and 9 Pro smartphones, co-developed with Hasselblad. Huawei has Leica branding on their high-end cameras, as well. Vivo is getting in on the action with its new X60 flagship series, which incorporates a Zeiss-branded camera system. The Vivo X60 series comprises the X60 Pro Plus, X60 Pro and X60. The Vivo X60 series originally launched in China, but the new models, set for global release, are considerably different. One of the biggest differences is the new partnership Vivo has formed with Zeiss. The new X60 series models include...
Film Fridays: Developing film at home – everything you need to know to get started
Posted by Chris Roubis on 26th, Mar, 2021 |
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If you’re lucky enough to have some free hours in these uncertain times, there are a lot of ways you could spend them. How about learning how to develop your own film? Or maybe developing film is an activity you tried long ago and one you’d like to jump back into. After all, the smell of fixer singeing the nostrils can be quite an intoxicating/nostalgic aroma (Please do not smell the fixer). What follows is a quick and easy home developing guide that’ll cover everything from supplies, to chemistry dilutions, to proper cleanup. So turn down your record player and grab a good...
Hands-on with the Sigma fp L and its new viewfinder
Posted by Chris Roubis on 26th, Mar, 2021 |
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Sigma has just announced the fp L, a high-resolution sister model to the original fp, released in 2019. With a 61MP full-frame sensor, it’s intended to be more stills-oriented than the original camera, with which it shares its design and control philosophy. That makes both of these cameras tied for the title of ‘smallest full-frame interchangeable lens camera’. At least, without the new optional electronic viewfinder, dubbed EVF-11, attached. So, if you’re familiar with the fp, there’s not much new here, though we will take a more in-depth look at the electronic...
Xiaomi’s Mi Mix smartphone will be the first in the world to use a liquid lens
Posted by Chris Roubis on 25th, Mar, 2021 |
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[embedded content] Smartphone manufacturer Xiaomi has shared a teaser on its YouTube page confirming its forthcoming Mi Mix smartphone will feature a liquid lens — the first of its kind in a smartphone — that’s capable of changing focus and focal length by altering the shape of the liquid element. According to Xiaomi’s pair (1, 2)Weibo posts, the liquid lens will enable a single camera module on its upcoming smartphone to effectively replace multiple camera modules by offering everything from macro to telephoto capabilities. Liquid lenses aren’t necessarily new, but they aren’t necessarily...
FAA confirms you will be able to complete your Remote ID training online starting April 6th
Posted by Chris Roubis on 25th, Mar, 2021 |
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As we reported last December, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released its final rule for the Remote Identification (Remote ID) of Unmanned Aircraft. The document included a plan to offer a Remote ID recurrent exam for Part 107-certified commercial remote pilots. Testing was supposed to commence on March 1st, but was pushed back to March 16th before experiencing another delay. The Drone Girl recently confirmed with the FAA the exam will now be available to the public starting April 6th. The new Remote ID recurrent exam will make it easier for Part 107-certified commercial remote...
NASA Ingenuity helicopter prepares for the first powered, controlled flight on another planet
Posted by Chris Roubis on 25th, Mar, 2021 |
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NASA has announced that it is preparing to launch its Ingenuity Mars Helicopter no earlier than April 8. Ingenuity’s maiden flight will mark the first attempt at a powered, controlled flight of an aircraft on another planet. Before Ingenuity can lift off, the team must meet numerous challenging milestones. The Mars Perseverance Rover landed on Mars on February 18. Since then, the rover has been sending important images and data back to Earth while the team goes through different instrument checks and testing procedures. Since then, the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter has remained attached to...
Ricoh’s ‘new’ Theta Z1 51GB is just a Theta Z1 with extra storage
Posted by Chris Roubis on 25th, Mar, 2021 |
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Back in February, Ricoh announced its Theta Z1 360-degree camera had been sold out ‘due to its popularity’ and suggested more units weren’t being produced due to supply chain issues and ‘compliance with new [Japanese] laws and regulations.’ Now, a month later, Ricoh has announced the Ricoh Z1 51GB, a newer version of the Z1 that keeps all of the same specifications, but more than doubles the internal storage. In its original announcement, Ricoh said it was ‘urgently preparing to deliver products that comply with [the new] laws and regulations as soon as possible.’ Specifically, Ricoh said it...
Hands-on with Sony’s compact 24mm, 40mm, and 50mm G prime lenses
Posted by Chris Roubis on 25th, Mar, 2021 |
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First launched in early 2004 under the name Optics Pro, DxO rebranded its raw processor as PhotoLab back in 2017. The latest version is DxO PhotoLab 4, and if you’re curious about what it does, and how it performs, click through to read our full review.
Sigma fp L initial review
Posted by Chris Roubis on 25th, Mar, 2021 |
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Product shots by Dan Bracaglia The Sigma fp L is a high-resolution development of the company’s compact full-frame interchangeable lens camera. It gains a 61MP BSI CMOS sensor, providing a more stills-focused platform than the original fp 24MP L-mount mirrorless camera. Rather than looking at existing categories of cameras, Sigma says it’s aimed to make a user-oriented camera that’s designed to be flexible, adaptable and fun to use. The fp L certainly isn’t readily comparable to other existing models, but it is the smallest and lightest full-frame interchangeable lens...
Sigma fp L sample gallery
Posted by Chris Roubis on 25th, Mar, 2021 |
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Published Mar 25, 2021 | dpreview staff Sigma’s new fp L is the smallest and highest-resolution full-frame camera on the market. With 61 million pixels at its disposal, it’s capable of capturing an incredible amount of detail. Visit our initial sample gallery to see what you can expect from the new fp L. View our Sigma fp L sample gallery Gear in this story The Sigma fp L is a high-resolution development of the company’s compact full-frame interchangeable lens camera. It gains a 61MP BSI-CMOS sensor, providing a more stills-focused platform than the original fp 24MP L-mount...
Sigma’s new 61MP fp L adds more resolution and optional EVF to original fp
Posted by Chris Roubis on 25th, Mar, 2021 |
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Published Mar 25, 2021 | dpreview staff Sigma has announced a high-resolution version of its ultra-compact, full-frame fp, known as the fp L. This new model adds a 61 Megapixel full-frame sensor (almost certainly based on the sensor used in the Sony a7R IV), a hybrid autofocus system, true 24p video capture and support for USB Power Delivery. There’s also an optional new electronic viewfinder that screws onto the side of the camera. It uses the USB and HDMI ports on that side of the camera, with the USB port offering a pass-through (HDMI does not). The EVF adds a headphone socket...
Video: Recording bouncy bugs with a Phantom camera at 73,000 fps to see how they move
Posted by Chris Roubis on 24th, Mar, 2021 |
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The correct maneuver to perform when you see someone in public you don’t want to talk to. Springtails are small organisms that move so quickly that the human eye can’t perceive their motion. They’re very common and easy to find but challenging to observe and even harder to understand. Cameras, at least typical ones, are unable to keep up with the small, speedy hexapods. Dr. Adrian Smith, head of the Evolutionary Biology and Behavior Research Lab at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and North Carolina State University, recorded springtails at 73,000 frames per second...
Slideshow: Winners of the 2020 World Nature Photography Awards
Posted by Chris Roubis on 24th, Mar, 2021 |
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The World Nature Photography Awards (WNPAs) recently announced the winners and runners up for their 2020 competition. Thomas Vijayan, from Canada, was awarded a $1,000 cash prize for his photo of an endangered Bornean orangutan using a tree to cross over to another island. ‘We’ve been thrilled with the quality of work that was entered into the awards. It was such a privilege to see the competition’s philosophy come to life – our photographers really are shining a spotlight on the wonders of the natural world in a way that reminds us to do everything we can to protect the future of our...
Nikon expects profitability and plans to release more Z mount lenses by 2022
Posted by Chris Roubis on 24th, Mar, 2021 |
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Nikon’s Sendai factory. It’s been a rough few years for Nikon, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. Or, so we’re being led to believe based on an interview Nikon’s CFO Muneaki Tokunari gave to Nikkei, wherein he says he expects Nikon to once again reach profitability by the end of its 2022 fiscal year. In the interview (behind a partial paywall), Tokunari reiterates what Nikon has revealed in its recent financial results—that the company is expecting to post a total loss of more than ¥42B ($387M) by the end of its 2021 fiscal year, which ends on March 31, due to ‘impairment loss on...
Sony FE 24mm F2.8 G sample gallery
Posted by Chris Roubis on 24th, Mar, 2021 |
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Published Mar 24, 2021 | dpreview staff Sony announced three new high-quality, compact primes for full-frame E-mount this week; the widest of which is the 24mm F2.8 G. Optically it’s comprised of 8 elements in 7 groups, with three aspherical elements that help the lens achieve high resolving power as well as combat common aberrations, and one ED element to reduce chromatic aberrations. To help keep the lens small, distortion is corrected digitally which, given the significant magnitude of correction, can have an impact on edge and corner sharpness. Have a look through our samples to...
DPRTV: Sony FE 24mm, 40mm and 50mm primes sample gallery
Posted by Chris Roubis on 24th, Mar, 2021 |
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Published Mar 24, 2021 | dpreview staff Sony’s trio of new ‘G’-series prime lenses are aimed at enthusiast photographer that want high quality and good manual control without the bigger size and higher cost of faster-aperture lenses. So how do the new FE 24mm, 40mm and 50mm lenses perform? Chris and Jordan have been shooting with all three, up in Canada. Check out their sample gallery from the shoot and watch their video review here. View the Sony 24mm, 40mm and 50mm DPRTV samples gallery Gear in this story Sony has announced a trio of compact full-frame lenses: the 24mm...
OnePlus teams up with Hasselblad to launch OnePlus 9 and 9 Pro smartphones
Posted by Chris Roubis on 23rd, Mar, 2021 |
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OnePlus has announced a pair of new smartphones co-developed with Hasselblad. The OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro smartphones incorporate Hasselblad Camera for Mobile, promising significantly improved photographic capabilities. The OnePlus 9 Pro is the company’s new flagship smartphone, and its new camera specs are accordingly impressive. Thanks to Natural Color Calibration, the exclusive Hasselblad Camera for Mobile promises strong performance, especially when considering color, thanks to Natural Color Calibration. OnePlus writes, ‘The ultra-flagship camera blends the technological...
Jared Polin is giving away over $92K in photo gear to kick off his ‘Fund a Photographer’ project
Posted by Chris Roubis on 23rd, Mar, 2021 |
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[embedded content] Jared Polin, better known as Fro Knows Photo in the online world, has revealed the details of a ‘super secret project’ he’s been teasing over the past few weeks. In a video posted to his YouTube channel, Polin shares that he’s giving away more than $92,000 in camera gear as part of a campaign he’s created called ‘Fund a Photographer.’ In Polin’s own words: ‘[Fund a Photographer is] something I’ve had an idea [of doing] for close to ten years where I get a bunch of camera kits that include cameras, lenses, education—everything someone would need to get started as a...
Sony FE 40mm F2.5 G sample gallery
Posted by Chris Roubis on 23rd, Mar, 2021 |
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Sony’s FE 40mm F2.5 G is one of three compact, budget-oriented prime lenses that the company just announced for its full-frame mirrorless E-mount. Sharp, lightweight and quite nicely built, the 40mm focal length is perfect for casual shooting and street photography. Check out our samples. View our Sony FE 40mm F2.5 G sample gallery Gear in this story With dual processors, dual card slots and more, Nikon’s Z7 Mark II is a more capable camera than its predecessor in every way. But we have a few remaining qualms: find out just what we make of the Z7 II. First launched in early 2004...
Sony announces compact 24mm, 40mm and 50mm full-frame primes
Posted by Chris Roubis on 23rd, Mar, 2021 |
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Published Mar 23, 2021 | dpreview staff Sony has introduced a set of compact full-frame E-mount prime lenses: the 24mm F2.8 G, 40mm F2.5 G and 50mm F2.5 G. All three lenses are the same size, almost the same weight, and the same price ($599). The lenses all measure 64 x 45mm (2.5 x 1.8 in.) and weigh between 162-174 grams (5.7-6.1 ounces). They all use aspherical elements to maintain high resolution and reduce various aberrations, while the 24mm and 50mm lenses additionally use ED (extra-low dispersion) glass to reduce chromatic aberrations and fringing. The focus groups are driven by dual...
DPReview TV: Sony 24mm F2.8, 40mm F2.5, 50mm F2.5 review
Posted by Chris Roubis on 23rd, Mar, 2021 |
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Published Mar 23, 2021 | dpreview staff [embedded content] In this episode of DPReview TV, Chris and Jordan go hands-on with Sony’s new trio of lenses: the 24mm F2.8 G, 40mm F2.5 G and 50mm F2.5 G. Find out how they perform, and whether having both 40mm and 50mm options is overkill. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to get new episodes of DPReview TV every week. Sample images from this episode Gear in this story With dual processors, dual card slots and more, Nikon’s Z7 Mark II is a more capable camera than its predecessor in every way. But we have a few remaining qualms: find out...
Sony FE 50mm F2.5 G sample gallery
Posted by Chris Roubis on 23rd, Mar, 2021 |
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Published Mar 23, 2021 | dpreview staff The FE 50mm F2.5 G has the longest reach of the three lenses Sony announced today, yet it maintains the compact size and weight of the other two. This lens may also appeal to owners of Sony’s APS-C bodies, with a 75mm equiv. focal length ideal for portraits. Check out how it performs in our sample gallery. View our Sony FE 50mm F2.5 G sample gallery Gear in this story With dual processors, dual card slots and more, Nikon’s Z7 Mark II is a more capable camera than its predecessor in every way. But we have a few remaining qualms: find out...
Intrepid launches new compact Enlarger on Kickstarter for 35mm and 120 film
Posted by Chris Roubis on 22nd, Mar, 2021 |
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Intrepid has announced its most compact darkroom enlarger yet. The Intrepid Enlarger has been launched on Kickstarter, where the new product has eclipsed its project goal of under $30,000 USD by more than $100,000. Intrepid writes that the Intrepid Enlarger ‘is a total rethink of the traditional darkroom enlarger. A super compact, simple and fun to use kit for making prints from your color and B&W film at home (from 35mm to 6×9), simply mount it on a tripod or copy stand!’ The company goes on to say that the new enlarger can ‘even be used to make scans of your...
ON1 teases new custom keyboard shortcut feature coming to Photo RAW 2021.5
Posted by Chris Roubis on 22nd, Mar, 2021 |
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[embedded content] In a short video posted to its website, ON1 has teased a new feature coming to the next update to Photo RAW 2021, customizable keyboard shortcuts. In the minute-and-a-half video, Dan Harlacher from ON1 shows how you will be able to customize your own keyboard shortcuts and hot keys using the new ‘Edit Keyboard Shortcut’ dialog box coming to Photo RAW 2021 version 2021.5. As Harlacher explains in the video, setting specific keys or key combinations to perform a specific action is as simple as searching for the action you want a hotkey for, tapping it, and pressing the...
Photography Life 2021-2022 Workshop Announcements
Posted by Chris Roubis on 22nd, Mar, 2021 |
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I am very excited to announce Photography Life’s 2021 and 2022 Workshops! Without a doubt, this past year has been pretty rough for many of us. With all the lockdowns and closures in place, it was quite hard to do anything travel-related for our team, let alone run a photography workshop! Thankfully, the situation is finally starting to improve, and with the vaccine getting more and more available for the masses, we should be getting back to normal life fairly soon. This also means we can start to think about some shooting and photography education! We will kick off this year with our...
Video: Incredible footage of a drone flying over an erupting volcano in Iceland
Posted by Chris Roubis on 22nd, Mar, 2021 |
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[embedded content] A series of earthquakes caused the Fagradalsfjall volcano, located near Reykjavik, Iceland, to erupt for the first time in over 800 years. FPV pilot and local resident Bjorn Steinbekk took the opportunity to push his DJI FPV drone to the limits. Miraculously, the drone not only survived the extreme conditions (lava can reach temperatures up to 1,250° Celsius), he also managed to maneuver his unmanned aerial vehicle so that it dodged spurts of molten lava spewing from the crater. Steinbekk also confirmed to DPReview that the drone survived. ‘The drone is fine, not a...
There’s nothing like a Pacific sunset: New Raw conversions added to our Fujifilm GFX 100S gallery
Posted by Chris Roubis on 22nd, Mar, 2021 |
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With its competitive price-tag and compact form-factor, the Fujifilm GFX 100S brings ultra high-resolution medium format imaging to the enthusiast camera market for the first time. We’ve been shooting with a final sample for a little while, and with official Raw support now available from Adobe, we’ve updated our sample gallery with several new images taken on the Washington coast. View our gallery of samples from the Fujifilm GFX 100S Gear in this story Our team at DPReview TV recently published its first impressions review of the new Fujifilm GFX 100S. This sample gallery...
Video: A journey into Hawaii’s volcanic past (and present) with Mike Mezeul II and the Nikon Z7 II
Posted by Chris Roubis on 22nd, Mar, 2021 |
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Published Mar 22, 2021 | This is sponsored content, created with the support of Amazon and Nikon [embedded content] The Nikon Z7 II is a powerful enthusiast-level full-frame mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, offering 45MP resolution and a competitive feature set for both stills and video work. Weather-sealed and sporting twin card slots, the Z7 II is tough and versatile, making it ideal for work in challenging conditions. In this video, photographer Mike Mezeul II takes the Nikon Z7 II to Hawaii to explore the Big Island’s volcanic past – and present. Sample Gallery: Gear...
Slideshow: Open Shortlist and Category winners for the Sony World Photography Awards
Posted by Chris Roubis on 21st, Mar, 2021 |
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Sony World Photography Awards, in partnership with the World Photography Organisation, announced the top 130 images for their Shortlist and Open competition. Photographers from all over the world submitted standalone images to the following categories: Architecture, Creative, Landscape, Lifestyle, Motion, Natural World & Wildlife, Object, Portraiture, Street Photography, and Travel. We’ve rounded up some of our favorite picks from the Open and Shortlist categories. Photographer of the Year will be announced on April...
Ultra-wide and ultra-sharp: NiSi 15mm F4 ‘Sunstar’ sample gallery
Posted by Chris Roubis on 21st, Mar, 2021 |
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The NiSi 15mm F4 ‘Sunstar’ is an all-manual ultra-wide prime lens for Canon RF, Fujifilm X, Nikon Z and Sony E mount cameras. While NiSi has been known as a filter manufacturer for quite some time; the 15mm F4 is the first lens the company has released, and it looks to be a good one. Our gallery shows that this lens is capable of outstanding sharpness across the frame, and exhibits little in the way of distortion or unwanted aberrations. It’s fairly resistant to flare, and produces its namesake 10-pointed sunstars. Handling-wise, it conveys a feel of real quality. The lens...
DPReview TV: Fujifilm X-E4 review
Posted by Chris Roubis on 20th, Mar, 2021 |
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Published Mar 20, 2021 | dpreview staff [embedded content] In the latest episode of DPRTV, Chris and Jordan have been out and about shooting with Fujifilm’s latest APS-C format mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, the X-E4. Is it just an X100V with an interchangeable lens mount? Spoiler – not quite. Watch the video to find out why. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to get new episodes of DPReview TV every week. Sample images from this episode Gear in this story In the latest episode of DPRTV, Chris and Jordan have been out shooting with Fujifilm’s latest APS-C format...
Fujifilm X-E4 Sample Gallery (DPReview TV)
Posted by Chris Roubis on 20th, Mar, 2021 |
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Published Mar 20, 2021 | dpreview staff Fujfilm’s latest APS-C offering, the X-E4, is also the brand’s smallest interchangeable X-mount camera to date. Despite its compact dimensions, the X-E4 sports the same outstanding 26MP APS-C sensor with X-Trans color filter array as the flagship X-T4 (but without in-body stabilization). The DPRTV team has been hard at work putting this sleek little body through its paces – watch their full Fujifilm X-E4 video review for the key takeaways. And jump into the sample gallery for a true sense of its image quality. View our Fujifilm X-E4 sample...
Photographer Michael Clark on Adobe Super Resolution: ‘An incredible new tool’
Posted by Chris Roubis on 19th, Mar, 2021 |
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Photographer and friend of DPReview Michael Clark has been trying out Adobe’s new Super Resolution feature, and he’s been impressed by what it can do. In this post (originally published on Michael’s blog and reproduced here by kind permission) he goes into detail about what the new technology can do – no pun intended. On March 10, 2021 Adobe dropped its latest software updates via the Creative Cloud and among those updates is a new feature in Adobe Camera Raw (ACR) called “Super Resolution.” You can mark this day down as a major shift in the photo industry. The new...
Samyang releases RF mount versions of its VDSLR MK II cine lens lineup
Posted by Chris Roubis on 19th, Mar, 2021 |
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Samyang, also known as Rokinon and Bower depending on your region and retailer, has announced its VDSLR MK2 cine lens series is now available for Canon RF mount camera systems. The VDSLR MK2 series was first released back in the middle of 2020 and offers manual cine lenses: a 14mm T3.1, 24mm T1.5, 35mm T1.5, 50mm T1.5 and 85mm T1.5. In addition to being sold individually, the lenses are also offered in three-lens and five-lens kits. [embedded content] Aside from slightly different dimensions to account for the decrease flange distance on the EOS RF mount, the lenses are identical to their...
Sony 50mm F1.2 GM sample gallery (DPReview TV)
Posted by Chris Roubis on 19th, Mar, 2021 |
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Published Mar 19, 2021 | dpreview staff In their recent review of the Sony 50mm F1.2 GM, Chris and Jordan from DPReview TV described the lens as ‘optically ideal with few compromises’. Check out the photos they shot to see if you agree with them. View the Sony 50mm F1.2 GM sample gallery Gear in this story With dual processors, dual card slots and more, Nikon’s Z7 Mark II is a more capable camera than its predecessor in every way. But we have a few remaining qualms: find out just what we make of the Z7 II. First launched in early 2004 under the name Optics Pro, DxO...
The absolute beginner’s guide to film photography: the ‘Sunny 16’ rule or how-to expose with no meter
Posted by Chris Roubis on 19th, Mar, 2021 |
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Published Mar 19, 2021 | Aaron Gold No light meter? No problem. With the ‘Sunny 16’ rule you’ll never have to second-guess exposures again, even when photographing tricky scenes like sunsets. All photos: Dan Bracaglia The purpose of our Absolute beginner’s guide to film photography series is to help demystify the joys of shooting analog. And while we try not to dabble too much in specifics, there is one (sort-of) hard-and-fast analog-era rule we think every film (and digital) shooter should know: the ‘Sunny 16’ rule. What is Sunny 16 and why is it important for...
Slideshow: Winners for SkyPixel’s 2020 Aerial Storytelling Contest
Posted by Chris Roubis on 18th, Mar, 2021 |
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Founded in 2014, SkyPixel currently boasts over six million members in its aerial photography and videography community. Partnering with DJI, the platform announced a call for entries this past December for its 6th annual Aerial Storytelling Contest. Earlier this morning, they announced the winners and finalists for their photography and videography categories. Over 26,000 submissions were received from 136 countries for categories including travel, sports, nature, architecture, and portrait. Ellis Van Jason won the video category for his FPV shots taken on the island of Madiera. 25-year-old...
This dummy CFast 2.0 adapter lets you use MSATA SSDs in place of CFast 2.0 cards
Posted by Chris Roubis on 18th, Mar, 2021 |
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What would happen if you were to combine a dummy camera battery and a memory card adapter? You’d get the Zitay CFast 2.0 to MSATA SSD adapter. As its less-than-original name suggests, this little gadget lets you use MSATA SSDs in lieu of CFast cards through a clever dummy CFast 2.0 card that plugs into your camera’s memory card slot. This isn’t the first of its kind, but it is a newer product that works with a wide range of cameras, thanks to its flat cable that still allows the memory card cover to be closed on most supported cameras. Zitay says its CFast 2.0 Dummy Card Adapter supports the...
Camera Rescue opens repair school in bid to fix world’s film cameras
Posted by Chris Roubis on 18th, Mar, 2021 |
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A camera repair company in Finland is recruiting new technicians for a forthcoming training school that will teach students how to repair, preserve and create parts for discontinued film cameras. The training program will be run by CameraMakers for the Camera Rescue project, and will enroll eight people on a four month course that will show them the basics of camera servicing, testing and maintenance. Those with an ‘almost unhealthy interest in technical gadgets’ will be able to continue with an additional two year course to become a camera mechanic, the company says. As the course will be...
Leica APO-Summicron-SL 28mm F2 ASPH lens samples
Posted by Chris Roubis on 18th, Mar, 2021 |
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We just got our hands on Leica’s new APO-Summicron-SL 28mm F2 ASPH lens for full-frame L-mount cameras and, as you might expect, it’s an impressive piece of glass. We shot it on the Leica’s SL2 and found a lot to like, including outstanding sharpness throughout the aperture range and across the frame, great distortion control, little CA, nice sunstars and lovely out-of-focus areas. Have a look for yourself. View our Leica APO-Summicron-SL 28mm F2 ASPH lens sample gallery Gear in this story With dual processors, dual card slots and more, Nikon’s Z7 Mark II is a more...
All about the Kei: a 4K video from the Sony a1’s 8K capture
Posted by Chris Roubis on 18th, Mar, 2021 |
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Panasonic to bring 5.9K Blackmagic Raw recording to the S1H, other features S1, S1R, S5 and BGH1 via firmware updates
Posted by Chris Roubis on 18th, Mar, 2021 |
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Correction (March 17, 2021 at 11:29pm ET): The original headline and version of this article stated the S1 would receive Blackmagic RAW capture over HDMI. That is incorrect. Only the S1H will receive the 5.9K Blackmagic RAW capture over HDMI when used with a Blackmagic Video Assist 12G HDR. Panasonic has announced the release of new firmware updates for three of its Lumix S Series full-frame mirrorless cameras as well as its BGH1 box-style camera, bringing 5.9K Blackmagic RAW recording and more. Since each camera will be receiving slightly different features with each of the updates, we’ve...
China’s Tianwen-1 probe captures incredible HD images of Mars
Posted by Chris Roubis on 17th, Mar, 2021 |
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China’s Tianwen-1 probe has spent nearly a month orbiting Mars, and now we have stunning images from the voyage. The China National Space Administration (CNSA) released three images earlier this month, two in black and white and one in color. They’re the first high-definition images from the Tianwen-1 mission. Between CNSA and NASA, we have been spoiled with amazing Mars imagery lately. Last month, when NASA’s Perseverance rover landed on the red planet we got a glimpse at images shot with impressive new tech. Shortly after Perseverance landed, NASA shared a 360° photo from...
GoPro releases a redesigned Quik app for iOS and Android
Posted by Chris Roubis on 17th, Mar, 2021 |
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GoPro has refreshed its Quik app for iOS and Android devices. GoPro writes, ‘[Quik] makes it quick and easy to get the most out of your favorite photos and videos no matter what camera or phone you’re using. In addition to powerful editing tools, Quik simplifies keeping track of your favorite photos and videos…’ When you boot up the refreshed app, the home screen showcases a ‘Mural.’ This is a private feed of your favorite photos and videos. When you capture a photo or video you like, you can post it to your Mural to ensure you never lose track of it. If you...
Canon releases webcam accessory kits for some of its DSLR, mirrorless camera systems
Posted by Chris Roubis on 17th, Mar, 2021 |
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Canon has announced it’s releasing a collection of webcam accessory start kits for select Canon DSLR and mirrorless camera systems. The kits, which are meant to be used alongside Canon’s Webcam Utility software, start at $89.99 and include a selection of adapters and cables for turning your Canon camera into a high-quality webcam. As it stands, Canon has three separate versions of its webcam kits: One for its EOS RP mirrorless camera; one for its EOS Rebel T3, T5, T6 and T7 DSLR cameras; and one for its EOS M50, M50 Mark II and M200 mirrorless cameras. While the exact components in each kit...
First impressions of the Sony 50mm F1.2 GM
Posted by Chris Roubis on 17th, Mar, 2021 |
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It seems that every camera company is flexing its optical muscles these days to churn out F1.2 lenses. Sony, not one to be left behind, just released its first F1.2 prime, the FE 50mm F1.2 GM. One can’t help but ponder if Sony made this lens, at least in part, to dispel the myth that the smaller lens mount diameter – compared to its mirrorless peers – makes such fast lenses impossible (Sony claims F0.63 E-mount lenses can be made, but don’t make business sense). Either way, while the Planar T* FE 50mm F1.4 ZA optic was impressive in its own right, offering a very flat field of...
Leica will increase prices across nearly its entire product lineup starting April 1—no joke
Posted by Chris Roubis on 17th, Mar, 2021 |
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Leica has announced it will be increasing the price of its products starting April 1, 2021. And before you ask—no, this is not a joke. ‘Over the past year, the relationship between the US Dollar and Euro has suffered and we have absorbed these costs,’ says Leica Camera in its press release announcing the increase. ’However, as this continues, we need to adjust our pricing in order to ensure pricing integrity across all Leica subsidiaries and to continue delivering the highest quality of products.’ Leica says the price increase will vary by product, ‘but overall will generally reflect on...
Video: Into the snow with Taylor Jackson and the Nikon Z6 II
Posted by Chris Roubis on 17th, Mar, 2021 |
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Published Mar 17, 2021 | This is sponsored content, created with the support of Amazon and Nikon [embedded content] With a 24MP full-frame sensor and 4K video capture, the Nikon Z6 II is a versatile stills and video-capable camera, which offers a powerful feature set for photographers and filmmakers alike. The Z6 II also offers user-friendly ergonomics and extensive weather-sealing, making it a perfect camera for travel and use in tough environments. In this video, photographer Taylor Jackson takes the Nikon Z6 II deep into the mountains of Washington State to see what it can do. Sample...
Luminar AI Update 2 available now, includes significant updates to Sky AI
Posted by Chris Roubis on 16th, Mar, 2021 |
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Skylum today released Luminar AI Update 2, a free update to Luminar AI focused on improving sky replacement, simplifying workflows and more. Of the update to the AI-powered photo editor, Skylum CEO Alex Tsepko said, ‘Too often, complexity is the enemy of creativity. It adds time and frustration to a process we think should be fun, even joyful. With Luminar AI, our goal is to strip out that complexity. Update 2 builds on this work and offers more creative tools. I am excited to see what people make with it.’ Image credit: Imaginechina Luminar AI Update 2 includes many...
Kensington’s new StudioDock hub wants to turn your iPad into an iMac Mini
Posted by Chris Roubis on 16th, Mar, 2021 |
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Computer accessory manufacturer Kensingston has announced the availability of the StudioDock, an all-in-one docking solution for turning your iPad Pr or iPad Air into a desktop-style workstation. First shown off at CES 2021, the StudioDock is a desktop docking station that adds an array of ports and other functionality to iPad Pro (2018 or later) and iPad Air (2020 or later) tablets. [embedded content] In addition to being a magnetic stand that charges a connected iPad Pro/Air at 37.5W, the StudioDock also adds an extra USB-C port, three USB-A (3.1 Gen1) ports, a 3.5mm audio port, a Gigabit...
Slideshow: Nominees for the 2021 World Press Photo Contest
Posted by Chris Roubis on 16th, Mar, 2021 |
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Nominees were recently announced for the 64th annual World Press Photo Contest. The list includes contenders for the World Press Photo of the Year, World Press Photo Story of the Year, and World Press Photo Interactive of the Year. “The nominated images, stories, and productions we introduce today present different perspectives of one of the most important years in recent history, marked by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the social rights movements around the world. Amongst the nominees are remarkable stories of hope, resilience, and social change. I would like to thank the...
Adobe releases Lightroom updates offering new features and improved performance
Posted by Chris Roubis on 16th, Mar, 2021 |
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Adobe has announced updates for Lightroom, Lightroom for mobile and Lightroom Classic. Lightroom desktop (version 4.2) and Lightroom for mobile (version 6.2) include numerous new features, Apple ProRaw support and additional enhancements. Meanwhile, improved performance is the primary update to Lightroom Classic (version 10.2). Looking first at Lightroom desktop (4.2), the software features a new personalized feed. The ‘For you’ tab in the ‘Learn’ and ‘Discover’ sections now feature in the desktop version of Lightroom. From here, users can access guided...
DPReview TV: Sony 50mm F1.2 GM review
Posted by Chris Roubis on 16th, Mar, 2021 |
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Published Mar 16, 2021 | dpreview staff [embedded content] It’s rare that Chris and Jordan review a lens with almost no faults, but the Sony 50mm F1.2 GM hits the mark. Watch their review to find out just how good it is. Also, tell us in the comments if we should launch a new show called ‘Story Time with Jordan’, in which Jordan dramatically reads excerpts from your favorite camera manuals and MTF charts. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to get new episodes of DPReview TV every week. Sample photos from this episode Gear in this story With dual processors, dual card slots...
Sony FE 50mm F1.2 GM sample gallery
Posted by Chris Roubis on 16th, Mar, 2021 |
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Published Mar 16, 2021 | dpreview staff Sony’s new FE 50mm F1.2 GM lens features the company’s latest and greatest optical technology, but does the image quality live up to its billing? Have a look at our sample gallery and decide for yourself. View our Sony FE 50mm F1.2 GM sample gallery With dual processors, dual card slots and more, Nikon’s Z7 Mark II is a more capable camera than its predecessor in every way. But we have a few remaining qualms: find out just what we make of the Z7 II. First launched in early 2004 under the name Optics Pro, DxO rebranded its raw...
Sony announces new ultra-fast FE 50mm F1.2 GM lens
Posted by Chris Roubis on 16th, Mar, 2021 |
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Published Mar 16, 2021 | dpreview staff Sony has announced its FE 50mm F1.2 GM (G Master) lens. The lens gives photographers an extra 1/2-stop of light in a body the same size and weight as the Planar T* 50mm F1.4 ZA that has been on the market for several years. The optical construction comprises 14 elements in 10 groups, and includes three ‘extreme aspherical’ (XA) elements that minimize aberrations while allowing for high resolving power across the frame wide open. The ‘Nano AR II’ coating helps to reduce flare and ghosting. Two floating focus groups allow for...
Video: How to correctly pronounce the names of German camera companies, products
Posted by Chris Roubis on 15th, Mar, 2021 |
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I suppose it must be a bit annoying to listen to English speakers ruining your language and heritage by making up their own way of pronouncing the names of companies and products from your native country – let alone place names. But it is so common-place that some foreign speakers use English pronunciations of their own words when addressing an English speaking audience. [embedded content] German Maximillian Heinrich from Analog Insights was pulled up recently by a Mitdeutscher in comments on YouTube for exactly that – pronouncing the names of German photographic manufacturers using the...
Nikon Z7 II review
Posted by Chris Roubis on 15th, Mar, 2021 |
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Introduction Product shots: Dan Bracaglia Late last year, Nikon announced the Z7 II, the second iteration of its (for now) range topping high-resolution full-frame mirrorless camera. As the name implies, this is a refinement rather than a reimagining; and while the updates may not knock your socks off, we really enjoyed the original Z7 and this new model builds on an already successful formula. Jump to: What’s new | Body and handling | Image quality | Autofocus | Video |Conclusion | Samples | Specifications The Z7 II still has a 45.7MP full-frame BSI sensor, but it’s now backed...
Meyer Optik Görlitz announces the Primoplan 58mm F1.9 II lens for $899
Posted by Chris Roubis on 15th, Mar, 2021 |
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Meyer Optik Görlitz has announced the release of the Primoplan 58mm F1.9 II lens for an array of full frame and crop camera systems. As with Meyer Optik Görlitz’s other second-generation lenses — denoted by the ‘II’ in the name — the Primoplan 58mm F1.9 II will offer the same visual characteristics of its first-generation counterpart, but will use higher-quality materials and a better production process. ‘The initial Primoplan 58 f1.9 was developed by the brilliant Meyer-Optik designer Paul Schäfter 80 years ago,’ says Meyer Optik Görlitz. ‘Its light intensity of 1:1.9, which was considered...
Macro Photography Ideas to Try at Home
Posted by Chris Roubis on 15th, Mar, 2021 |
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Most of us have gotten rather used to our homes over the past year. And most photographers, including me, have had a harder time finding interesting subjects and inspiration as a result. But one of the best things about macro photography is that you can do it anywhere, including indoors, with a bit of creativity. This article compiles some of my favorite DIY-type ideas for macro photography at home – try them out yourself! I’ll mention before we start that I’m not the first photographer to think of most of these ideas, and I wouldn’t be surprised if you’ve seen some of them before. But that...
Software review: DxO PhotoLab 4 brings several small improvements – and one big one
Posted by Chris Roubis on 14th, Mar, 2021 |
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Introduction First launched in early 2004 under the name Optics Pro, DxO rebranded its Raw processor as PhotoLab back in 2017 to better reflect that its capabilities now go far beyond just lens corrections, and simultaneously absorbed the popular Nik Collection plugins from Google for integration into its own software. It has also shuttered its nascent hardware business altogether, and spun off its DxOMark camera, lens and smartphone testing lab as a separate company in 2017. Now entirely focused on software development, DxO has nevertheless stayed the course with a perpetual licensing model...
500px launches portfolio website service for Pro account members
Posted by Chris Roubis on 13th, Mar, 2021 |
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Photography sharing website 500px has introduced a new service that allows Pro members to build a gallery website that shows off their pictures outside of the 500px website. The new Portfolio feature offers a number of templates dedicated to displaying photographs, and the company says it takes just a few minutes to set up and requires no web-building knowledge or experience. [embedded content] The idea is that members are able to create their own website that can stand alone on a custom web address or become a part of an existing personal website. This will allow users to share their work...
DPReview TV: How to set up your Canon EOS R5 or R6
Posted by Chris Roubis on 13th, Mar, 2021 |
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Published Mar 13, 2021 | dpreview staff [embedded content] Modern cameras have some amazing features, but they’re not always turned on by default. This week, Chris and Jordan share their recommended setup for two popular models: the Canon EOS R5 and R6. Want to see us do similar episodes for other cameras? Tell us what models you’d like us to include in the comments. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to get new episodes of DPReview TV every week. Gear in this story After two rounds of voting, DPReview readers have decided on their favorite product (and runners-up) of 2020. Find...
Video: The reasons why Terry Fouche loves photography are inspiring and relatable
Posted by Chris Roubis on 12th, Mar, 2021 |
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As part of his video series, ‘We’re the People,’ filmmaker Myles Matsuno highlights different people, their stories and their passions. One of Matsuno’s subjects is photographer Terry Fouche. In the video below, Fouche explains why he loves photography, and much of what he says is very relatable. In the video, Fouche says he first started photography by playing with his grandfather’s camera as a kid. Fouche was never skilled with drawing or painting, but he wanted to have a creative outlet, so photography was a natural choice. ‘I began to realize that if...
Atomos working on Ninja V update for recording ProRes RAW video from Sony’s FX3
Posted by Chris Roubis on 12th, Mar, 2021 |
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Atomos has announced it’s working alongside Sony to bring ProRes RAW recording to its Ninja V monitor/recorder when connected to Sony’s new FX3 Cinema Line camera over HDMI. Although only in development at this point, the update will enable Atomos’ Ninja V monitor/recorder to record the 16-bit Raw output of Sony’s new FX3 Cinema Line camera at 4K60p. There is one caveat, however. While the FX3 is capable of ouputting 16-bit Raw video over its HDMI port, the Ninja V can only record ProRes RAW at 12-bit, meaning any ProRes RAW footage recorded on the Ninja V will be limited to 12-bit. That...
Film Fridays: The Space Age-looking East German autofocus SLR that nearly was
Posted by Chris Roubis on 12th, Mar, 2021 |
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An early engineering model of the autofocus-capable Praktica BY60.Photo: Praktica Collector During much of the Cold War, Praktica-brand cameras – manufactured in the East German city of Dresden by camera conglomerate Pentacon – were ubiquitous among Soviet photography enthusiasts and budget-conscious western hobbyists. But as the 1980’s rolled around, one key feature that Prakticas noticeably lacked was autofocus. All that was set to change by the late 1980’s, with the planned introduction of the Praktica BY60, the first East German-made AF-capable SLR. With millions spent in...
Reply to Old canon DSLRs -Photos never 100% sharp
Posted by Chris Roubis on 12th, Mar, 2021 |
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tourtrophy: Focus is on the spot, no question there. Let me reformulate the question. I’m shooting with 5dIII and sigma 35mm which is a very sharp lens. I stop it to f8, and manually focus at infinity. The camera is on the tripod, so no motion blur there. When I pixel peep that photo at full size, why it isn’t 100% sharp even in the center? Why does a detailed object, like a bush for example still look a bit mushy? That’s what I want to...
Old canon DSLRs -Photos never 100% sharp
Posted by Chris Roubis on 12th, Mar, 2021 |
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Photos Members Group Since Old canon DSLRs -Photos never 100% sharp Điđi says: Just realized this. So far I was using 1000d, 40d, 5d and 5d III What I noticed is that photos, especially detailed landscapes are never absolutely sharp when looking at full size. Even when using very sharp primes well stopped down. I always convert raws in lightroom, using it’s default sharpening. Is that because of low pass filter? Did newer cameras solve that problem? 12:25AM, 12 March 2021 PST (permalink) tourtrophy says: Lots of variables here. Lens, motion blur, depth of field, focus adjustment, post...
OPPO launches Find X3 Pro featuring 50MP ultra-wide camera and billion-color capture
Posted by Chris Roubis on 11th, Mar, 2021 |
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OPPO has launched its latest smartphone in its Find X Series, the Find X3 Pro. The flagship Android device is the first to feature a camera that can capture, process and display one billion colors with OPPO’s proprietary Full-path 10-bit Colour Management System. For comparison, most smartphone screens display 16.7 million colors. It also comes equipped with a Dual-flagship camera that can zoom in up to 60x for microscopic photography. ‘We have taken inspiration from the depths of the cosmos, from the future, and the past, to deliver OPPO Find X3 Pro, created to fit seamlessly in your...
Blackmagic Design adds Apple M1 support to DaVinci Resolve 17 and Fusion 17 apps
Posted by Chris Roubis on 11th, Mar, 2021 |
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Blackmagic Design has launched DaVinci Resolve 17.1 and Fusion 17.1. The update adds native support for Apple’s M1 Macs. The public release follows months of public beta testing. The announcement also comes just a day after Adobe announced that Photoshop for M1 Macs is now available. The software choices for creatives hoping to get the most out of their new Apple silicon computers are readily expanding. DaVinci Resolve 17 was first announced as a public beta last November and added more than 300 new features and improvements. The full public launch of Resolve 17 occurred just last...
Leica announces a new D-Lux 7 ‘Street Kit’
Posted by Chris Roubis on 11th, Mar, 2021 |
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Leica has announced the release of the D-Lux 7 Street Kit, an all-in-one offering Leica pitches as the ‘perfect choice for spontaneous street photography’ At the core of the new Street Kit is a black-finish Leica D-Lux 7. As with its non-street counterpart, which is effectively a rebranded Panasonic LUMIX LX100 II, the Street Kit D-Lux 7 offers a 17MP Four Thirds sensor with a Leica DC Vario-Summilux 10.9–34mm F1.7–2.8 ASPH lens in front (24 – 75mm full-frame equivalent). Aside from the new black paint job, the Street Kit also throws in a matching hand grip, a black paracord camera strap...
Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 review
Posted by Chris Roubis on 11th, Mar, 2021 |
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Previous 1 Introduction 2 Next Product photos by Dan Bracaglia The Panasonic S5 is a 24MP full-frame mirrorless camera built around the same sensor as the Panasonic S1, but in a smaller, more affordable body. In fact, despite having a full-frame sensor, the S5 is smaller in every dimension than its Micro Four Thirds sibling, the GH5. Aiming to appeal to both photographers and videographers, it includes updates to Panasonic’s DFD autofocus system, new creative photo modes, and video features that come close to matching both the GH5 and the much more expensive S1H. Key specifications:...
Fujifilm GFX 100S sample gallery
Posted by Chris Roubis on 11th, Mar, 2021 |
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Published Mar 11, 2021 | dpreview staff The Fujifilm GFX 100S packs an image-stabilized 100MP medium format sensor into a body about the size a typical full-frame camera. It delivers great image quality in a walk around camera, and also includes a new film simulation: Nostalgic neg. Take a look into our sample gallery to judge image quality for yourself. And for a more in-depth analysis, watch DPReview’s Fujifilm GFX 100S first impressions review. View our Fujifilm GFX 100S sample gallery Gear in this story Coming (relatively) hot on the heels of the groundbreaking GFX 100,...
Nikon Z9 Development Announcement
Posted by Chris Roubis on 11th, Mar, 2021 |
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With the big shift of camera manufacturers from DSLRs to mirrorless technology, it was a matter of time until we see truly robust, action-oriented mirrorless cameras. First was Canon with its EOS R5 and R6, then Sony released its impressive A1, and now it is Nikon’s turn to bring its best offering in the shape of the Z9. And looks like we are in for a real treat because Nikon says this camera is going to be better than the Nikon D6 in every way… While this is only a “development” announcement, Nikon has already given us a glimpse of what we can expect from this beast. First of all, unlike...
Adobe releases Photoshop for M1 Macs and introduces Super Resolution in ACR
Posted by Chris Roubis on 10th, Mar, 2021 |
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Adobe has announced that a new version of Photoshop is now available, allowing the popular photo editing software to run natively on Macs with Apple’s M1 chip. This news comes nearly five months after Adobe announced that native versions were coming soon and after months of internal and public beta testing. The new version of Photoshop for Apple Silicon includes nearly all features of Photoshop, more on that in a bit. It promises faster selections and filters among overall performance boosts. Adobe writes, ‘Our internal tests show that Photoshop delivers significant performance...
Video: FPV drone takes you through a bowling alley in spectacular tracking shot
Posted by Chris Roubis on 10th, Mar, 2021 |
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[embedded content] Tracking shots are difficult to pull off. Single takes, such as the nightclub entrance from the movie ‘Goodfellas,’ are legendary for a reason. Add in the skill set needed to maneuver an FPV drone through tight spaces, and it’s that much easier to appreciate Jay Byrd Christensen’s ‘Right Up Our Alley’ video. The clip takes place at Bryant Lake Bowl & Theater in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Christensen, who runs Rally Studios, used a Cinewhoop drone to squeeze through tight areas and fly in close proximity to patrons in the complex. While...
DPReview TV: Our favorite $1000 camera kits
Posted by Chris Roubis on 10th, Mar, 2021 |
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Published Mar 10, 2021 | dpreview staff [embedded content] One of the most common questions Chris and Jordan get from viewers is, “What camera would you buy under $1000?” This week, they shop with their own money and give us the answers. The results may surprise you. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to get new episodes of DPReview TV every week. Gear in this story This year, despite the disruption, plenty of amazing cameras, lenses, accessories and other products came through our doors. Now, as the year winds down, we’re highlighting some of our standout products of the...
Report: Apple analyst says periscope-style optical zoom coming to iPhone in 2023 models
Posted by Chris Roubis on 10th, Mar, 2021 |
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Last July, Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported that he expected Apple to use a periscope-style camera module in its 2022 iPhones. While we’re yet to see if that prediction comes to fruition, Kuo is back with a new research note that once again claims Apple will put a periscope-style camera module in it’s iPhone devices. But this time he suggests we won’t see the folded optic design until the 2023 iPhone launch. There are already a number of smartphones on the market with periscope-style zoom camera modules inside, including Huawei’s P30 Pro, Samsung’s Galaxy S20 Ultra, OPPO’s...
It’s official: Nikon announces development of flagship mirrorless Z9
Posted by Chris Roubis on 10th, Mar, 2021 |
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Following confirmation last week that it was working on a professional mirrorless Z-series camera, Nikon has officially announced the development of the Z9. Scheduled for release some time this year, the Z9 will use a ‘newly developed’ stacked CMOS sensor and processing engine. The image accompanying the announcement shows a camera larger than the Z6/Z7 II, with what appears to be an integrated vertical grip. At present, no other images are available but we will update our coverage with additional assets as and when they’re made public. Confirmation of support for 8K video...
Insta360 announces GO 2, an ultra-compact action camera that weighs less than an ounce
Posted by Chris Roubis on 9th, Mar, 2021 |
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Insta360 has launched GO 2, a stabilized action camera that weighs less than an ounce (27g). Insta360 states that the GO 2 incorporates flagship performance and power into the world’s smallest action camera. GO 2’s ultra-light body allows for high-resolution hands-free recording without any of the bulk of traditional action cameras. The GO 2 includes waterproofing and has a replaceable protective lens. Users can swap out the protective lens for ND filters (sold separately). Insta360 writes, ‘GO 2’s unrivaled combination of size, stabilization and performance allow it...
Samsung’s new 980 NVMe SSDs offer 3,500MB/s sequential read speeds starting at just $50 for 250GB
Posted by Chris Roubis on 9th, Mar, 2021 |
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Samsung has announced its new line of SSD 980 NVMe M.2 drives, bringing improved write speeds, better sustained performance and less power consumption at reasonable prices. The new SSD 980 NVMe M.2 drives are Samsung’s entry-level offering and a successor the company’s popular 970 Evo drive. The updated drives feature the same maximum sequential read speeds of 3,500MB/s, but bump the maximum write speeds up to 3,000MB/s (up from the 2,500MB/s in the 970 Evo line). The drives also offer improved sustained performance through a larger buffer, 36% less power consumption and better cooling for...
Analysis: New Sony a1 sensor offers class-leading dynamic range, along with high-speed and high-resolution
Posted by Chris Roubis on 9th, Mar, 2021 |
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Photo by Dan Bracaglia The Sony Alpha 1 introduces the next generation of full-frame stacked CMOS from Sony Semiconductor. It’s the second chip of its type following the one in the a9, and with it comes improved readout speeds on the order of 5ms or faster, enabling flash sync speeds of 1/200s with electronic shutter as well as decreased rolling shutter and risk of banding under artificial light, and focus and exposure calculations at 120 times per second. This silent electronic shutter underpins the camera’s 20 and 30 frames-per-second (fps) burst modes. With our in-depth review...
Sony’s new ECM-W2BT wireless microphone uses its Digital Multi Interface shoe for cable-free audio
Posted by Chris Roubis on 9th, Mar, 2021 |
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[embedded content] Sony has announced the release of a new wireless microphone and lavalier microphone designed specifically for use with its most recent mirrorless cameras. The ECM-W2BT is a new wireless microphone ‘that supports a Digital Audio Interface via a Multi Interface (MI) Shoe.’ That means when connected to a supported camera the receiver will be able to transmit audio from the microphone directly through the MI Shoe without the need for external cables. Sony hasn’t revealed what cameras in particular fully support the new protocol, but do link out to a support...
Capture One 21 (14.1.0) released, includes Style Brushes, improved importing and more
Posted by Chris Roubis on 9th, Mar, 2021 |
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Capture One 21 was released this past December and its first major update is now available. Capture One 21 (14.1.0) is a feature release that contains new functionality, new camera and lens support and bug fixes. New features added to Capture One 21 include new Style Brushes, an improved Import Viewer, additional ProStandard profiles and improvements to Live-View when shooting tethered with supported Leica cameras. Style Brushes are a new way to work with brushes and layers. Style Brushes are designed to be more accessible and make powerful editing tools instantly available to users....
SphereFlow makes browsing and sharing 360 degree images easier
Posted by Chris Roubis on 9th, Mar, 2021 |
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Specialists in 360-degree images, Vecnos, has launched SphereFlow, a new feature for its IQUISPIN smartphone app that enables users to more easily navigate and browse their 360-degree images and videos. SphereFlow comes with the updated version of the IQUISPIN app and features a scroll bar at the bottom of the interface that can be swiped to view the next picture or video without having to return to a gallery. Another addition to the app is a ‘share’ button that makes it easy to post 360-degree content to social media sites. [embedded content] The company hopes the improved navigation will...
Tamron 70–300mm F4.5–6.3 Di III RXD sample gallery
Posted by Chris Roubis on 9th, Mar, 2021 |
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Published Mar 9, 2021 | dpreview staff Tamron’s 70-300 F4.5-6.3 is among the smallest and lightest full-frame telephoto zooms for Sony mirrorless E-mount. And priced at $550, this lens provides good sharpness and focal length versatility for the buck. Jump into our sample gallery to see the optical qualities yourself. And for a more in-depth analysis, watch DPReview TV’s Tamron 70-300 F4.5-6.3 review. Also, check out their gallery, after the jump. View our Tamron 70–300mm F4.5–6.3 Di III RXD sample gallery DReview TV: Tamron 70-300mm F4.5-6.3 sample gallery Gear in this story...
Sony’s new 127MP ‘large format’ sensor features a global shutter, but it’s not for consumer cameras
Posted by Chris Roubis on 9th, Mar, 2021 |
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The color version (left) and black and white version (right) of the IMX661 sensor line. Sony has revealed the details of the IMX661, a new 127.68-megapixel ‘large format’ sensor with a global shutter. Details are scarce on the exact specifications of the sensor, which Sony says has been designed for industrial use in mind, but we do know it measures 56.73mm across, which is only slightly different than the sensor inside Fujifilm’s GFX 100, whose sensor measures 54.78mm diagonally. The IMX661 features Sony’s Pregius global shutter technology, which enables the ‘capture of motion...
Video: Japan Camera Hunter tours Nikon’s incredible Tokyo museum
Posted by Chris Roubis on 8th, Mar, 2021 |
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Belamy Hunt, better known as Japan Camera Hunter, ventured to the Nikon Museum in Tokyo earlier this year and recorded the experience. It looks like a wonderful museum and a must-see for any photographer visiting Tokyo. The Nikon Museum is a showcase of Nikon’s history, its products and the technology of the company’s various businesses. The museum includes a pair of theaters, a special display about Nikon’s first century, a lens laboratory, an imaging section and much more. [embedded content] The imaging section is of particular interest to photographers. It includes more...
OnePlus announces 3-year partnership with Hasselblad, reveals 9 Series smartphone launch details
Posted by Chris Roubis on 8th, Mar, 2021 |
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[embedded content] Smartphone manufacturer OnePlus has announced it’s partnering with Swedish camera manufacturer Hasselblad to ‘co-develop the next generation of smartphone camera systems’ inside OnePlus’ mobile devices, including the new OnePlus 9 Series, which will launch on March 23. The partnership is a three-year deal that will see Hasselblad work alongside OnePlus to improve the camera technology inside its flagship smartphones. OnePlus says the partnership will start ‘with software improvements including color tuning and sensor calibration, and extending to more dimensions in the...
Why the speed of Stacked CMOS is key to Nikon’s pro mirrorless camera
Posted by Chris Roubis on 8th, Mar, 2021 |
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In an interview with DPReview, Nikon announced its next pro sports camera will be mirrorless. That in itself isn’t much of a surprise, perhaps, given how much investment has clearly been made in the Z-mount system. But the detail we didn’t expect to be revealed was that the camera will be based around a Stacked CMOS sensor. What is Stacked CMOS? Stacked CMOS chips are the next generation of chip designs after BSI (backside-illuminated) and provide the designers with greater flexibility, which in turn allows greater capability. BSI sensors are made by fabricating the sensor, then...
Interview: Donna Ferrato on 50 years of photographing women
Posted by Chris Roubis on 8th, Mar, 2021 |
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Donna Ferrato has spent her career documenting women and sees it as her duty to ‘cut out the noise and listen’. She’s photographed everyone from survivors of domestic abuse to swingers – and throughout the course of her career she’s learned that all women are part of what she describes as a holy trinity: the mother, the daughter and the other. The individual pictures in her new book, Holy can often be difficult to look at, but they are crucial. When viewed as a whole they capture all the rage and joy and complex truth of what it means to be a woman. Ferrato is angry, but she also...
Apple confirms it’s discontinuing its iMac Pro lineup
Posted by Chris Roubis on 7th, Mar, 2021 |
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Apple has confirmed it will be discontinuing its iMac Pro lineup. On Friday, March 5, Mac Rumors noticed Apple had added a ‘while supplies last’ notice to its iMac Pro product page and removed all optional upgrade options. In the past, Apple has done this in advance of a product or product line is being discontinued. Mac Rumors then published a follow-up article yesterday, March 6, to say it’s since confirmed with Apple the iMac Pro lineup will no longer be available once the current supply runs out. Mac Rumors didn’t specifically quote the Apple representative it spoke with, but did have...
Interview – Fujifilm: “We are not just a camera company, we are an imaging company”
Posted by Chris Roubis on 7th, Mar, 2021 |
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Staff of Fujifilm’s Optical Device & Electronic Imaging Products Division, pictured (clockwise from top left): Jun Watanabe, Product Planning Manager, Makoto Oishi, Product Planning Manager, Masato ‘Mark’ Yamamoto, General Manager and Shinichiro ‘Shin’ Udono, Senior Manager. As the global COVID-19 pandemic continues to make international travel impossible (or at least inadvisable) we’re beginning 2021 with a series of interviews conducted remotely. This week, we sat down (virtually) with senior executives of Fujifilm, to learn more about the...
How to Photograph a Rocket Launch at Night
Posted by Chris Roubis on 7th, Mar, 2021 |
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With companies like SpaceX launching more and more rockets into space, it’s easier than ever to get some interesting rocket launch photos. I saw and photographed my first launches earlier this year, and this article has my takeaways. Since I’ve only photographed two launches so far, I’m hardly an expert, but this article should still be useful if you’re new to rocket launch photography. It’s not the type of subject that lets you take your time or try out a lot of variations, unless you live near a launchpad. Even then, you may be limited to capturing just one photo per launch. So, it’s...
DPReview TV: Fujifilm X-S10 vs Sony a6400 – two great cameras with different superpowers
Posted by Chris Roubis on 6th, Mar, 2021 |
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Published Mar 6, 2021 | dpreview staff [embedded content] We compare two popular APS-C cameras: the Fujifilm X-S10 and the Sony a6400. In a bizarre twist, Chris is left to argue with himself (literally). Meanwhile, Jordan is stuck in Pentax K-01 video purgatory. It’s enough to make your head spin. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to get new episodes of DPReview TV every week. Gear in this story The inclusion of in-body stabilization in Fujifilm’s X-S10 means it’s able to offer a lot of the features of the flagship X-T4. So, price aside, what are the differences between the...
Canon RF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM gallery update
Posted by Chris Roubis on 6th, Mar, 2021 |
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Published Mar 6, 2021 | dpreview staff Designed for portraiture, everyday photography and moderate closeup work, the Canon RF 85mm F2 Macro IS is among the most versatile of Canon’s RF prime lenses for its full-frame mirrorless system. We’ve been out and about with it for a few days recently, to flesh out our previously published gallery of samples. Click the images above (or the link below) to see some new images, fresh from sunny (occasionally) Seattle, in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. View our updated Canon RF 85mm F2 Macro IS sample gallery Gear in this story Nikon’s...
Adobe MAX 2021 will once again be virtual and free for all
Posted by Chris Roubis on 5th, Mar, 2021 |
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Adobe has announced the dates and details for its 2021 Adobe MAX conference, which will once again be all-virtual and free for anyone who wants to tune in from October 26–28, 2021. Last year’s Adobe MAX conference was the first time it was both virtual and free for all users, due to extensive travel and quarantine restrictions in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the past, Adobe MAX events took place in Los Angeles, California, United States and as of the 2019, a single, full-conference ticket cost $1,895. The free, all-digital 2020 Adobe MAX conference brought in over 21 million video...
DPReview TV: Chris and Jordan discuss Nikon’s mirrorless flagship announcement
Posted by Chris Roubis on 5th, Mar, 2021 |
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Published Mar 5, 2021 | dpreview staff [embedded content] In an exclusive interview with DPReview, Nikon revealed that it expects to deliver a Z series flagship camera in 2021. Chris and Jordan share their reaction to the news and what they expect to see in the new camera. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to get new episodes of DPReview TV every week. We’re working hard to finish our full review of the new Sony a1, and we’ve just added our studio image quality analysis. Click through to see how the a1’s newly-developed sensor performs. DJI has officially entered the world...
Apple launches new transfer service to copy iCloud Photos library to Google Photos
Posted by Chris Roubis on 5th, Mar, 2021 |
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Apple has this week made it easier for iPhone, iPad and Mac users to transfer their iCloud Photos to Google Photos. Engadget reports that Apple has launched a new service that allows iCloud Photos users to transfer the photos and videos stored on iCloud to be transferred to Google Photos without needing to download the entire collection of files. There are requirements users must consider before requesting a file transfer. A user’s Apple ID must be using two-factor authentication. You must already have a Google account, which is required to use Google Photos. Your Google account must...
Street Candy Film announces new MTN100 black and white 35mm film
Posted by Chris Roubis on 5th, Mar, 2021 |
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Street Candy Film writes that they make ‘the tastiest black and white films around.’ It offers even more black and white film now with the addition of Street Candy Film MTN100 to its catalog, joining its previous film, ATM400. MTN100 is a black and white ISO 100 film. The film is taken from a Motion Picture Film and promises to take your ‘black and white photography to the next level with a classic cinematic look and fine details.’ MTN100 is a panchromatic film ideal for outdoor and indoor photography. You can process it as a normal black and white negative or with a...
Film Friday: A look back at the ‘golden age’ of biker messengers – as shot on a Rollei 35SE
Posted by Chris Roubis on 5th, Mar, 2021 |
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The Rollei 35SE is a pint-sized, fixed-lens camera with a super-sharp 40mm Sonnar lens and a set of controls often described as ‘fiddly’. Fiddly or not, for photographer Trevor Hughes, it was the ideal camera to document the ‘golden age’ of Toronto’s bike messenger culture. His series of images – appropriately called ‘The bike messengers‘ – were captured between 1992 and 1998. Collectively, they paint a mesmerizing portrait of an era not-too-long gone, when strong-legged humans were still relied upon as the safest means to transfer important...
Interview: Nikon – “A flagship Nikon Z series mirrorless camera can be expected within the year”
Posted by Chris Roubis on 5th, Mar, 2021 |
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Keiji Oishi – Department Manager of Nikon’s Imaging Business Unit, UX Planning Department. With the global pandemic still restricting travel, in place of our normal sit-down chats we’ve been conducting virtual interviews with executives from major manufacturers. This week we spoke to Keiji Oishi, Department Manager of Nikon’s Imaging Business Unit, UX Planning Department. As well as providing us with exclusive details about a major development announcement, Mr. Oishi also shared insights around Nikon’s recent consolidation of camera manufacturing in Thailand,...
Leica announces APO-Summicron-M 35mm F2 ASPH
Posted by Chris Roubis on 4th, Mar, 2021 |
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Published Mar 4, 2021 | dpreview staff Leica has announced the release of the APO-Summicron-M 35mm F2 ASPH. The compact 35mm F2 is the closest-focusing M-mount lens, with a minimum focus distance of just 30cm (11.8″). You’ll need to be in live view mode to focus accurately between 0.7-0.3m though, since the rangefinder coupling mechanisms of M-series cameras can’t index in that range. The optical formula of the 35mm F2 includes 10 elements in 5 groups, with 4 aspherical surfaces. Six elements use anomalous partial dispersion glass to help reduce chromatic aberration. The...
Nikon NX Studio hopes to be a free Lightroom alternative for Nikon users
Posted by Chris Roubis on 4th, Mar, 2021 |
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Nikon has released NX Studio, a new all-in-one image management and editing program for macOS and Windows computers. The new program is designed to view, process and edit still photos and video. As Mike Tomkins detailed in our review, NX Studio is effectively the homologation of Nikon’s ViewNX-I and Capture ND-D programs, merging the organizational abilities of the former with the post-processing capabilities of the later. Click to enlarge. The overall user interface is similar to ViewNX-I and Capture ND-D, but does improve the menu structure into a more Lightroom- or Capture One-inspired...
Video: Programmer shows it’s possible to run a Minecraft server on a Canon EOS SL2 (200D) DSLR
Posted by Chris Roubis on 4th, Mar, 2021 |
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[embedded content] We’ve already seen how DOOM can be played on a Kodak digital camera from 1998. It appears though that’s not the only gaming software that can be played on a digital camera. In a recent YouTube video, a programmer that goes under the pseudonym Turtius shows it’s possible to run a Minecraft server on a Canon EOS SL2 (200D) with a clever bit of reverse engineering. The project started as a means of learning to reverse engineer the networking processor Canon uses in its EOS SL2 (200D). After Turtius managed to reverse engineer the network module, he was able to install...
A little bit of everything: Nikon Z 24-200mm F4-6.3 gallery update
Posted by Chris Roubis on 4th, Mar, 2021 |
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The Nikon Z 24-200m F4-6.3 is an impressively capable travel zoom for the company’s full-frame and APS-C Z-mount cameras. It doesn’t have a super-fast maximum aperture (it’d be the size of a bazooka if it did, after all), but it turns in really sharp images courtesy of its optical formula and vibration-reduction system that works in-tandem with the stabilizers in the company’s full-frame models. What do you use a travel zoom for? Well, a little bit of everything, from portraits of people and dogs to landscapes and travel. Take a look at what this lens can do in our...
Review: Nikon NX Studio answers our plea for a free, all-in-one editing app
Posted by Chris Roubis on 4th, Mar, 2021 |
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Introduction Nikon NX Studio version 1.0.0’s user interface. A few weeks ago, we published an article comparing Nikon’s free ViewNX-i and Capture NX-D utilities with their dominant payware alternative, Adobe Camera Raw, which also underlies the popular Adobe Lightroom Classic. In summary, I found both ViewNX-i and Capture NX-D to offer pretty decent image quality and good performance. But one of my primary complaints with this duo was that neither app offered a complete feature set. ViewNX-i’s Raw processing capabilities were rather more limited in the interests of...
Peak Design calls out Amazon for making a ‘copycat’ of its Everyday Sling
Posted by Chris Roubis on 3rd, Mar, 2021 |
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[embedded content] Peak Design has taken to YouTube to call out Amazon for what it claims is a ‘knockoff’ version of its Everyday Sling that appears in the company’s Basics range. In lighthearted video entitled ‘A Tale of Two Slings’, Peak Design highlights similarities between the $21 Amazon Basics Everyday Sling Bag and the company’s $80 Everyday Sling Bag, which was first released in 2017. The San Francisco-based company refrains from directly attacking Amazon, opting instead to highlight – in rather a tongue-in-cheek way – the difference in materials, workmanship,...
Format announces Workflow, a service to help photographers manage their business
Posted by Chris Roubis on 3rd, Mar, 2021 |
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Format, a leading website-building platform for photographers, has announced a new feature, Workflow. Designed to help photographers streamline their business operations, Workflow offers features such as password-protected client galleries, branded file transfers and more. New branded, password-protected Client Galleries make it easy to showcase your images and collaborate with clients. Clients can then select their favorite images directly in the gallery or share them with others. With Workflow, photographers can also share a branded zip file of images directly with clients. You can...
Gitzo creates ever-lasting Légende tripod with unlimited warranty
Posted by Chris Roubis on 3rd, Mar, 2021 |
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Italian accessories manufacturer Gitzo has introduced a crowdfunding campaign for a new tripod that it says will last a lifetime, as it comes with an unlimited warranty and a free replacement parts service. The Legende carbon fiber travel tripod is designed to counteract ‘throwaway culture’ according to Gitzo, as most parts can be easily replaced by the user from an endless supply of components should anything go wrong. The company says the tripod is constructed using 170 parts, all of which can be repaired in the event of a fault or damage occurring, so the tripod can always be mended...
How To Undo and Redo In Adobe Photoshop
Posted by Chris Roubis on 3rd, Mar, 2021 |
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When working on an image in Adobe Photoshop, it’s inevitable that you’re going to need to undo something you have done within your image. Whether it’s because you’ve made a mistake, changed your mind, or simply need to fine-tune adjustments you have already made, knowing how to go back and undo is essential. On the surface undoing changes in Photoshop might seem simple, but there are a number of different ways you can undo, go back and update changes you’ve made to your image. Today we’re going to look at the different undo options in Photoshop and we’re also going to look at how to plan...
New Phantom TMX high-speed cameras can record at up to 1.75M fps
Posted by Chris Roubis on 3rd, Mar, 2021 |
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Vision Research, maker of high-speed cameras, has announced the Phantom TMX series. The TMX series consists of two cameras, the TMX 7510 and TMX 6410, and they are the first high-speed cameras to use back-side illuminated (BSI) image sensors. The BSI sensors allow for speeds up to 75 Gpx/sec in addition to improved light sensitivity. [embedded content] The Phantom TMX 7510 can shoot at 76,000 frames per second at 1MP resolution (1280 x 800). If you need even more speed, by reducing resolution to 1280 x 192, the camera can record more than 300,000 fps. Faster still, at lower resolution, the...
DPReview TV: Fujifilm XF 70-300mm F4-5.6 review
Posted by Chris Roubis on 3rd, Mar, 2021 |
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Published Mar 3, 2021 | dpreview staff [embedded content] The Fujifilm XF 70-300 F4-5.6 R LM OIS WR is a long tele-zoom lens for X-mount cameras. How does it stack up for optical quality? Chris and Jordan put it to the test to find out. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to get new episodes of DPReview TV every week. Sample photos from this episode Gear in this story Pre-order now Alongside the announcement of the new GFX 100S and X-E4 cameras, Fujifilm released a trio of lenses. Click through to learn more about the new GF 80mm F1.7 and XF 70-300 F4-5.6, and the updated XF 27mm F2.8....
Fujifilm XF 70-300mm F4-5.6 sample gallery (DPReview TV)
Posted by Chris Roubis on 3rd, Mar, 2021 |
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Published Mar 3, 2021 | dpreview staff Chris and Jordan just wrapped up their review of the Fujifilm XF 70-300mm F4-5.6. Check out this gallery of images they shot while testing the lens, including samples captured with 1.4x and 2x teleconverters, and judge its image quality for yourself. View the Fujifilm XF 70-300mm F4-5.6 sample gallery Gear in this story Pre-order now Alongside the announcement of the new GFX 100S and X-E4 cameras, Fujifilm released a trio of lenses. Click through to learn more about the new GF 80mm F1.7 and XF 70-300 F4-5.6, and the updated XF 27mm F2.8....
Sony a1 review updated with image quality analysis
Posted by Chris Roubis on 3rd, Mar, 2021 |
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Image quality The Sony a1 offers really sensational image quality for almost any type of photography you might be interested in. Processed in Adobe Camera Raw.ISO 100 | 1/800 sec | F1.4 | Sony FE 35mm F1.4 GMPhoto by Rishi Sanyal Key takeaways: JPEGs retain very high levels of detail at both low and high ISOs Noise reduction strikes a slightly different balance compared to the a7R IV, opting to reduce more luminance noise at the slight cost of fine detail as light levels drop Colors are improved: richer yellows, less magenta-tainted blues, warmer greens Class-leading Raw dynamic range...
Review: DJI’s FPV drone combines DJI features with the fun of a racing drone
Posted by Chris Roubis on 2nd, Mar, 2021 |
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DJI has officially entered the FPV (first-person-view) drone market. Typically, remote pilots interested in the type of immersive flight experience FPV drones provide, including the ability to maneuver through tight spaces and in close proximity to objects, all while performing aerobatics such as flips and rolls, had to also master an entirely different set of skills. Soldering, understanding how to configure an RC controller specifically for a drone, learning how frequencies work, and installing the right motors are just a few disciplines a would-be FPV pilot must undertake to create a safe...
Kenko Tokina forms alliance with Carl Zeiss to be its distributor for lenses and more in Japan
Posted by Chris Roubis on 2nd, Mar, 2021 |
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A Carl Zeiss Apo Sonnar 135mm F2.8 lens attached to a Sony mirrorless camera. Kenko Tokina has announced a new business alliance with Carl Zeiss that will see Kenko Tokina take over sales and repair services for Carl Zeiss products in Japan, including interchangeable photo lenses. In the announcement, made on Kenko Tokina’s website (translated), the Japanese company says the partnership will start on April 1, 2021. From that point forward, Kenko Tokina will handle the sales and repairs of Carl Zeiss products. We won’t know until April 1 what particular products will be handled by Kenko...
Laowa announces five new manual lenses: three full-frame, one APS-C and one MFT
Posted by Chris Roubis on 2nd, Mar, 2021 |
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Venus Optics has announced the release of five new manual Laowa lenses, including three for full-frame camera systems, one for APS-C camera systems and one for Micro Four Thirds (MFT) camera systems. Venus Optics hasn’t shared pricing or availability information these lenses at this time, but we do know the specifications. Laowa 25mm F0.95 MFT The Laowa 25mm F0.95 MFT lens is constructed of 11 elements in 8 groups, including one aspherical element, one low-dispersion element and three high-refractive elements. It features an aperture range from F0.95 through F16, uses a nine-blade aperture...
The DJI FPV is an all-in-one solution to first-person-view drones
Posted by Chris Roubis on 2nd, Mar, 2021 |
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DJI has launched a new type of FPV drone. A hybrid of a traditional first-person-view immersive flight experience from a traditional rig and a cinematic camera drone, their latest release also offers GPS, obstacle avoidance sensors, the ability to hover in place, brake in an emergency, and return home. An ADS-B receiver system is also included to alert pilots of manned aircraft nearby. The DJI FPV drone is ready to fly out of the box. [embedded content] ‘DJI has been redefining what drones can do since our company began in 2006, and as we celebrate our 15-year anniversary this year, we...
BenQ announces pro-level SW271C 27″ 4K monitor aimed at photo and video users
Posted by Chris Roubis on 1st, Mar, 2021 |
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BenQ has announced the SW271C 4K 27″ monitor. The new 4K display builds upon the foundation laid by its predecessor, the SW271, in 2017. The SW271C promises accurate colors, improved workflow tools and better features than the SW271. The SW271C retains the same 3840 x 2160 resolution as its predecessor and this time supports HLG in addition to HDR10. In terms of color space performance, the SW271C displays 100% of sRGB, 99% of AdobeRGB and 90% of P3. The SW271C can easily be rotated between landscape and portrait orientations. The display features BenQ’s proprietary AQCOLOR color...
Profoto’s $17K Pro-11 flash pack gets AirX connectivity
Posted by Chris Roubis on 1st, Mar, 2021 |
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Flash manufacturer Profoto has introduced a new version of its Pro flash pack that includes its smartphone-connected wireless control system. The new Pro-11 is nearly identical to the existing five-year-old Pro-10 but comes with the company’s AirX wireless module built-in that allows remote operation via a smartphone app. [embedded content] The company says the inclusion of AirX will help to prepare the flash pack for the future rather than deliver its maximum benefits now, hinting that there is more to come from this system. AirX will allow users to control the pack and the lights attached...
‘Deep Nostalgia’ AI tech animates old photos and brings them to life
Posted by Chris Roubis on 1st, Mar, 2021 |
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The online genealogy company MyHeritage has launched a new AI-powered service, Deep Nostalgia. This new service animates family photos (or other photos, as we’ll see) to allow users to ‘experience your family history like never before.’ Deep Nostalgia uses AI licensed from D-ID to turn still images into animated photos like the Live Photos feature in iOS portraits in the ‘Harry Potter’ films. Deep Nostalgia relies upon videos of facial animations, which the AI then applies to a still image. For example, an old black and white portrait of a man looking off-camera...
Slideshow: Winners of the 10th Annual Mobile Photography Awards
Posted by Chris Roubis on 1st, Mar, 2021 |
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The annual Mobile Photography Awards (MPA) organizers have announced the winners and runners-up of their 10th annual competition. MPA is the longest-running international competition that recognizes and rewards photography captured on mobile phones or tablets. Over 5,700 images were submitted from 75 countries. Participants entered their work into a broad range of 20 categories including Transportation, Street Photography, Photojournalism, Black & White, and Digital Fine Art. Dan Liu, a mobile photographer from China, won the title of MPA Photographer of the Year and a grand prize of...
Field review: Panasonic S 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 Macro OIS
Posted by Chris Roubis on 1st, Mar, 2021 |
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Introduction The Panasonic Lumix S 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 Macro O.I.S. is a moderately sized, moderately far-reaching and optically stabilized telephoto zoom lens for full-frame or APS-C L-mount cameras. Aimed at wildlife, sports, aircraft and vehicle photography as well as portraiture, it helps you tightly frame more distant subjects when you can’t get up close on foot. It also offers impressive close-focusing capabilities, and so can serve double-duty for light macro use. Available from April 2021, it carries list price of $1249. Jump to: Handling | Autofocus and focus breathing | Image...
Sigma 28-70mm F2.8 DG DN sample gallery (DPReview TV)
Posted by Chris Roubis on 1st, Mar, 2021 |
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Published Mar 1, 2021 | dpreview staff Chris and Jordan shot this colorful sample gallery with the Sigma 28-70mm F2.8 DG DN while filming their review of the lens for DPReview TV. Check it out and judge image quality for yourself. When viewing this gallery, please note that Chris shot these sample photos using a Sony a7R III. Currently, it seems that regardless of how the camera is set up, distortion correction information for this lens is not applied in Adobe Camera Raw. As such, you will see distortion in some of these images (which Chris called out in the DPRTV review). In contrast, the...
What Is Magnification in Photography?
Posted by Chris Roubis on 1st, Mar, 2021 |
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If you do any macro or close-up photography, you’ll likely come across the term “magnification.” Even outside of macro photography, most camera lenses include their maximum magnification in the list of specs. So, what is magnification, and why is it so important in photography? This article covers everything you need to know. NIKON D7000 + 105mm f/2.8 @ 105mm, ISO 280, 1/400, f/4.0 Table of Contents Magnification Definition Magnification, also known as reproduction ratio, is a property of a camera lens which describes how closely you’ve focused. Specifically, magnification is the ratio...
Adobe Camera Raw vs. Olympus Workspace: Which app should you use?
Posted by Chris Roubis on 28th, Feb, 2021 |
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Did you receive a brand-new Olympus camera over the holidays? If so, chances are good that the next addition to your photographic toolbox will be a Raw processor from the likes of Adobe, Capture One, DxO or one of their many rivals. But is payware or even subscriptionware software really necessary, when Olympus provides its own software free of charge with your camera purchase? Olympus Workspace version 1.4’s user interface. In this article, we’ll compare the company’s Olympus Workspace Raw processing application with its well-entrenched payware rival, Adobe Camera Raw,...
Sony FE 28-60mm F4-5.6 sample gallery
Posted by Chris Roubis on 28th, Feb, 2021 |
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Published Feb 28, 2021 | dpreview staff The Sony FE 28-60mm F4-5.6 is a compact, retractable full-frame zoom lens that’s bundled with the a7C and is also available separately for $500. When mounted to one of Sony’s APS-C cameras, it’s equivalent to a rather unconventional focal length of 42-90mm. Check our sample gallery to see what kind of image quality you can expect. View our gallery of samples from the Sony FE 28-60mm F4-5.6 Gear in this story Available to ship in 1-2 days. When Olympus released the E-M1X sports camera in late 2019, the company also released a modern...
DPReview TV: The Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro 12K redux
Posted by Chris Roubis on 27th, Feb, 2021 |
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Published Feb 27, 2021 | dpreview staff [embedded content] Last week we published a video about the Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro 12K, and comments came swiftly. We heard your feedback and re-shot the episode to replace some questionable footage. Here’s our new and improved version, with Jordan at the helm. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to get new episodes of DPReview TV every week. Being cooped up inside doesn’t mean you have to take a break from photography. If you’ve got negatives from way back when, what’s the best software around to scan them? Check out our...
Pentax announces K-1 II J Limited 01 DSLR in four colors for the Japanese market
Posted by Chris Roubis on 26th, Feb, 2021 |
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Pentax has launched a quartet of recolored versions of its K-1 Mark II DSLR, which was first released in 2018 and is currently the company’s flagship K Series camera. The K-1 Mark II J Limited 01 DSLR seems to be available only in Japan, which was also the case for the company’s previous J Limited camera. The Pentax KP J Limited in 2019 was well-received, so Pentax has opted to develop J Limited as a formal factory brand. The K-1 II J Limited 01 will be built on a made-to-order basis and comes with numerous changes compared to the mass-produced K-1 II. The Limited version must be...
FiLMiC patents image remapping technology promising nearly 5x faster performance
Posted by Chris Roubis on 26th, Feb, 2021 |
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FiLMiC has patented a new high-efficiency image remapping technology, Cubiform. The newly-patented Cubiform is ‘an approach to applying a remap to each pixel in an image.’ Cubiform generates color look-up tables (C-LUTs) using a dynamic set of parameters, which can then be modified by users in real-time. By using C-LUTs rather than directly modifying images, a stream of C-LUTs can be applied to an image, or series of images, without placing high demand upon the CPU or GPU. FiLMiC says that by eschewing per-pixel processing for chrominance and luminance modifications, Cubiform...
Sigma GM reveals a new DG DN Sports zoom lens is being developed
Posted by Chris Roubis on 26th, Feb, 2021 |
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[embedded content] Earlier today, Sigma broadcasted a livestream wherein it gave updates on its mirrorless lens development efforts. The 30-minute detailed covered a number of topics regarding its ongoing efforts to develop more lenses for mirrorless camera systems, but one of the most interesting bits was a little tease of a forthcoming ‘DG DN Sports’ zoom lens at the 25:25 time mark. Yasuhiro Osone, General Manager of the Product Planning Department at Sigma, didn’t reveal any specifications or even ranges for focal length for the unannounced lens, but did say there was more on the horizon...
The absolute beginner’s guide to film photography: Color slide film
Posted by Chris Roubis on 26th, Feb, 2021 |
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Published Feb 26, 2021 | Aaron Gold A 1960’s magazine ad for Kodak’s various lines of slide film. Image courtesy of Nesster Slide film, otherwise known as positive, reversal or transparency film (and occasionally as ‘E-6’ for its development process), was the choice of ‘pro’ shooters back in the pre-digital film photography days. What’s the difference between slide and print film? Simply, print film produces a negative image, while slide film produces a positive image. Individual frames of developed slide film can be mounted in sealed sleeves and projected...
Nikon Z7 II sample gallery update
Posted by Chris Roubis on 26th, Feb, 2021 |
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Nikon’s Z7 II has a 45MP sensor in a fantastically solid and well-sealed body, so when the snow started coming down across western Washington State, it seemed like the perfect camera to document our first major snow event in two years. Thankfully, the controls are pretty easy to operate with gloves, too. So, as we tend to the final bits of our long-awaited Nikon Z7 II review, come with us for a little tour of North Seattle under a blanket of fresh powder. You’ll find a blizzard of new images (see what we did there) scattered throughout this gallery. Check out our updated gallery...
Leica’s latest limited-edition camera is a black and gold Daniel Craig x Greg Williams collab
Posted by Chris Roubis on 25th, Feb, 2021 |
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[embedded content] Leica has announced its latest limited special edition camera, the Leica Q2 Daniel Craig x Greg Williams. The limited special edition camera is limited to just 750 units and was created ‘in close collaboration with award-winning actor Daniel Craig and and Greg Williams, one of Britain’s most renowned photographers.’ Leica says ‘Both Craig and Williams have a common passion in photography and are both avid fans of the Leica brand, making this a perfect collaboration for the pair.’ As with Leica’s past limited special edition cameras, the Daniel Craig x Greg Williams Q2...
Sony a7S III gets S-Cinetone color profile with new 2.00 firmware update
Posted by Chris Roubis on 25th, Feb, 2021 |
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Earlier this week, Sony Nordic accidentally sent out a newsletter with details of the next firmware update for its a7S III mirrorless camera. Now, firmware version 2.00 for the a7S III is live and ready to download for all. As mentioned in our initial coverage, firmware version 2.00 now includes Sony’s S-Cinetone color profile, first seen in its F6X Cinema Line camera and ‘inspired by the color science used in Sony’s flagship VENICE cinema camera.’ The color profile, which Sony says ‘delivers natural mid-tones, plus soft colors and gorgeous highlights’ can be used for monitoring only or as a...
Recommended Nikon Z6 II Settings
Posted by Chris Roubis on 25th, Feb, 2021 |
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The second-generation Nikon Z6 II is a general-purpose camera aimed for portraiture, event, action, and everyday photography needs. While the Z6 II shares the body and ergonomics of its predecessor, there are numerous internal changes that have been implemented to make it a very compelling choice among mirrorless cameras today. Although the base specifications of the camera stayed the same (same 24.5 MP sensor, IBIS, etc), Nikon significantly improved the processing power of the camera by using dual EXPEED 6 processors, improved viewfinder blackout, significantly increased the camera buffer,...
What you need to know about new Sigma 28-70mm F2.8 DG DN
Posted by Chris Roubis on 25th, Feb, 2021 |
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Billed by Sigma as ‘a more compact alternative to the existing 24-70mm F2.8 DG DN | Art’, the new 28-70mm F2.8 DG DN is indeed considerably smaller and 365 g (almost a pound) lighter than it’s ‘Art’ series counterpart. Despite the considerable size and weight (and cost) saving compared to the 24-70mm ‘Art’, Sigma claims that the design of its newest zoom is based on that of the higher-end lens, and should deliver excellent results across its zoom and aperture range. Click through for a closer look at the new Sigma 28-70mm F2.8 DG...
Our new reference camera: Phase One XF IQ4 150MP added to studio test scene
Posted by Chris Roubis on 25th, Feb, 2021 |
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Digital formats have often ended up mimicking the dimensions of film formats, simply because the lenses for those formats already existed. But the higher performance and more steeply rising cost of fabricating ever larger expanses of silicon mean that the image quality gains from slavishly matching film formats becomes uneconomic beyond a certain point. In short, the possible image-quality gain of a ‘6×9’ digital sensor simply isn’t worth the fabulous cost it would entail. But this brings us to the sensor in the Phase One XF IQ4 150MP system, which measures an...
Ricoh updates Pentax 31mm F1.8, 43mm F1.9 and 77mm F1.8 Limited lenses
Posted by Chris Roubis on 24th, Feb, 2021 |
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Ricoh has announced the release of three HD Pentax-FA Limited lenses for K-mount DSLR cameras: the HD Pentax-FA 31mm F1.8 Limited, HD Pentax-FA 43mm F1.9 Limited and HD Pentax-FA 77mm F1.8 Limited. These three lenses feature the same optical construction as their respective non-HD predecessors, while bringing a number of new and improved features. The first notable change is the addition of Ricoh’s High-Definition (HD) coating on the lenses. Ricoh says the HD coating ‘assures higher light transmittance and lower reflectance to deliver sharp, clear images free of flare and ghost images,...
NASA’s Juno spacecraft recently captured a stunning image of Jupiter
Posted by Chris Roubis on 24th, Feb, 2021 |
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Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS With all the recent excitement surrounding NASA’s Perseverance rover landing on Mars and new images, we’ve got space on the brain. This month, NASA published a beautiful image of the gas giant Jupiter that its Juno spacecraft captured in late 2020. NASA’s Juno spacecraft has been orbiting Jupiter since July 5, 2016. The spacecraft was launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on August 5, 2011. The latest image, seen below, was captured on December 30, 2020, during Juno’s 31st close flyby of Jupiter. ‘Citizen...
Video: A brothers’ road-trip around Washington State in ‘Return to Western’
Posted by Chris Roubis on 24th, Feb, 2021 |
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Published Feb 24, 2021 | This is sponsored content, created with the support of Amazon and Sony [embedded content] The ongoing global pandemic has wrought havoc on everyone’s lives in some way, and one experience that has been common across the country and the globe is that of students losing the in person experience of school. Whether it’s high-schoolers losing their prom, college freshmen losing their first year on campus or graduates missing out a graduation ceremony. Isaac Lowe-Anker, younger brother of photographer Max Lowe graduated from Western Washington University in...
Samsung unveils 50MP ISOCELL GN2 smartphone sensor with Dual Pixel Pro, Smart ISO Pro and more
Posted by Chris Roubis on 24th, Feb, 2021 |
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Samsung has announced the details of the ISOCELL GN2, its second-generation 50MP smartphone image sensor that features 1.4μm pixels, improved autofocus capabilities, better HDR capture and more. The 1/1.12″-type (11.4 x 8.6mm) GN2 slightly increases the pixel size to 1.4μm, up from 1.2μm in its GN1 predecessor. For low-light scenes, the sensor can use four-pixel-binning that should simulate the light-sensitivity of 2.8μm pixels, albeit at the cost of resolution. If you’re looking for higher resolution, the GN2 has a new 100MP mode that uses an on-chip re-mosaic algorithm that combines...
DPReview TV: Sigma 28-70mm F2.8 review
Posted by Chris Roubis on 24th, Feb, 2021 |
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Published Feb 24, 2021 | dpreview staff [embedded content] The Sigma 28-70mm F2.8 DG DN is small, but how does it perform optically? Chris has the answers. Meanwhile, Jordan begins his stint filming episodes with the Pentax K-01. Let the fun begin. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to get new episodes of DPReview TV every week. Sample photos from this episode Gear in this story Being cooped up inside doesn’t mean you have to take a break from photography. If you’ve got negatives from way back when, what’s the best software around to scan them? Check out our in-depth...
Sigma 28-70mm F2.8 DG DN sample gallery
Posted by Chris Roubis on 24th, Feb, 2021 |
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Published Feb 24, 2021 | dpreview staff The Sigma 28-70mm F2.8 DG DN is a compact standard zoom for full-frame L- and E-mount bodies, designed from he beginning for mirrorless digital imaging. Potentially a highly attractive ‘step-up’ lens for mirrorless shooters, Sigma promises that image quality from this compact zoom will be comparable to the Art-series 24-70mm F2.8. We’ve had the new lens for a few days, and we’ve been shooting with it on the Panasonic S1R so you can get a first look at its image quality. Check out our initial samples from the Sigma 28-70mm F2.8...
Sigma announces 28-70mm F2.8 DG DN Contemporary for L and E mounts
Posted by Chris Roubis on 24th, Feb, 2021 |
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Sigma has announced its new 28-70mm F2.8 DG DN Contemporary lens for L and E mounts. The company says that its design is based on that of the 24-70mm F2.8 Art, and makes the bold claim that image quality will be comparable. As of now, the 28-70 is the smallest and lightest lens in its class, according to Sigma: it’s just 102mm (4″) long and weighs in at 470g (1lb). It has a total of 16 elements, which include 2 FLD, 2 SLD and 3 aspherical elements. The special elements, combined with Super Multi-Layer and Nano Porous coatings, help reduce flare and ghosting. The minimum focus...
NASA shares Perseverance’s first 360° view of Mars
Posted by Chris Roubis on 23rd, Feb, 2021 |
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On February 18, NASA’s Perseverance rover landed on Mars and sent back to Earth its first images. Since then, NASA’s Perseverance team has been busy exploring the Jezero Crater area. NASA has followed up its initial images with a high-quality, detailed 360° interactive image. The video below, which has on-screen controls when viewed in a compatible browser on desktop or the YouTube app on mobile devices, shows a 360° view from Perseverance’s landing site on Mars. [embedded content] The images above were captured using Perseverance’s onboard color Navigation Cameras,...
Rode’s new Wireless Go II system now offers dual channel recording, onboard storage and more
Posted by Chris Roubis on 23rd, Feb, 2021 |
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Australian audio experts Rode has announced the Wireless Go II, its second-generation dual channel wireless microphone system. The new system consists of the same basic form factor as its Wireless Go predecessor, but adds the ability to record two sound sources at once, improved device compatibility and onboard storage. Unlike the original Rode Wireless Go, which came with only one transmitter and one receiver unit, the Wireless Go II kit comes with three units: two transmitters and one dual channel receiver. This is because the new kit can record not just one, but two sound sources at once...
A closer look at Sony’s FX3 ‘compact cinematography’ camera
Posted by Chris Roubis on 23rd, Feb, 2021 |
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The much-leaked Sony FX3 has finally been publicly announced. As expected, it’s an E-mount full-frame video camera that sits at the bottom of Sony’s ‘Cinema Line’ and bridges the gap between the portability of the a7S III and the capability of the FX6. To a large extent, it can be seen as an a7S III in a more filmmaker-friendly form. So let’s have a look at what that really...
Sony adds compact full-frame FX3 to Cinema Line
Posted by Chris Roubis on 23rd, Feb, 2021 |
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Published Feb 23, 2021 | dpreview staff Sony has formally announced the much-leaked FX3 full-frame video camera. The FX3 marks the entry point to the Cinema Line of video cameras, and wears Alpha branding, setting it between the FX6 and the a7S III. It’s built around the same 12MP full-frame BSI-CMOS sensor as the a7S III and promises the same UHD 4K capabilities, including 60p capture from the full sensor width and 4K/120p with a slight crop. It offers the same choice of bitrates and codecs as the a7S III, meaning 10-bit 4:2:2 in a choice of XAVC HS (H.265) or XAVC S (H.264) with...
Interview: Sony’s Masaaki Oshima – “The Alpha 1 is the first step towards the next decade”
Posted by Chris Roubis on 23rd, Feb, 2021 |
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Masaaki Oshima, Deputy Senior General Manager, Camera System Business Division, at Sony Imaging Products & Solutions. Pictured holding the new Sony Alpha 1. Following the launch of Sony’s new Alpha 1 (a1) full-frame mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, we sat down (virtually) with Masaaki Oshima, Deputy Senior Manager of Sony’s Camera division. As well as discussing how the Alpha 1 came into being, we also discussed the changing camera market, and how Sony intends to meet the needs of a new generation of photographers. This interview has been edited lightly for clarity and...
Sony Nordic reveals the a7S III is getting S-Cinetone color profile with its 2.00 firmware update
Posted by Chris Roubis on 22nd, Feb, 2021 |
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Sony Nordic, in an email that appears to have been sent out too soon, has confirmed Sony is bringing S-Cinetone to the Sony a7S III in a version 2.00 firmware update. According to the email, which Sony Alpha Rumors is reporting as having been accidentally sent out early to newsletter subscribers, Sony Nordic says the a7S III will receive the S-Cinetone picture profile first seen in its FX9 Cinema Line camera, as well as the ability to use Steady Shot during recording with S&Q frame rate. A gradient graph from Sony showing where S-Cinetone falls between STD5 (R709) and s709 in terms of...
Huawei announces foldable Mate X2 smartphone with Leica-branded cameras
Posted by Chris Roubis on 22nd, Feb, 2021 |
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Foldable phones are becoming more commonplace. Competing against the Samsung Galaxy Fold, Huawei’s new Mate X2 builds upon Huawei’s two previous foldable phones while incorporating a refreshed design. The Mate X2 opens from the inside rather than the outside, and Huawei claims that the phone’s hinge is practically imperceptible. When folded, the Mate X2 looks quite like a traditional smartphone. The outside of the device includes a 6.45″ OLED screen with a 2700×1160 pixel resolution, 456 ppi. When you open the folding device, you see its 8″ inner display....
Venus Optics launches Laowa 11mm F4.5 lens for Canon RF mount, 65mm F2.8 2X Macro lens for Nikon Z mount
Posted by Chris Roubis on 22nd, Feb, 2021 |
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Editor’s Note: (Monday, February 22, 2021 at 1:43 PM): The original version of this article stated the Canon RF version of the Laowa 11mm lens was $699. That is incorrect and we have updated it to the correct price, $799. Venus Optics has announced it’s adding new mount support for two of its Laowa lenses. The Laowa 11mm F4.5 FF RL (full-frame rectilinear) lens is now available for Canon RF mount camera systems and the Laowa 65mm F2.8 2x Ultra-Macro APO is now available for Nikon Z mount camera systems. The Laowa 11mm F4.5 FF RL lens is a manual lens constructed of 14 elements in 10 groups...
The Best Photography Books You Should Read in 2021
Posted by Chris Roubis on 22nd, Feb, 2021 |
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A good photography book an enjoyable way to pass the afternoon, and it’s often the perfect antidote to a creative rut. Whether you’ve been photographing for years or you’re a beginner looking to take your work to the next level we’re going to take a look at the best photography books for everyone. When I started this post, it was my intention to create a top 10 list. Something like “The 10 best books for photographers”. But honestly, I couldn’t narrow down the list to just those few. And the best books for portrait photographers are not the same as the best books for landscape and nature...
Interview: Scott Bourne on new Olympus 150-400mm PRO lens – ‘when I first heard about it, it blew my mind’
Posted by Chris Roubis on 22nd, Feb, 2021 |
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Published Feb 22, 2021 | This is sponsored content, created in partnership with Olympus Rufous hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus) Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II, M.Zuiko 40-150mm F2.8 PRO (@284mm equiv.) Professional wildlife photographer and Olympus Visionary Scott Bourne is one of the best-known names in bird photography. In this interview, he explains how he got started, why he made the switch from DSLRs to Olympus Micro Four Thirds cameras and lenses, and what he thinks of the new M.Zuiko 150-400mm F4.5 TC1.25x IS PRO lens. The following interview has been edited for clarity and flow. What’s...
We’ve updated our gallery of samples from the new Sony a1
Posted by Chris Roubis on 22nd, Feb, 2021 |
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Published Feb 22, 2021 | dpreview staff With 50MP to play with, the Sony a1 offers plenty of resolution and speed for just about any purpose. While one of those purposes is sports (which there isn’t much of due to the pandemic), as we press on with our full review we’ve added some portraits of humans and birds as well as some Raw conversions to our gallery update. Check out our updated Sony a1 gallery Gear in this story The Sony Alpha 1 is Sony’s flagship mirrorless camera for, well, just about anything. With a 50MP sensor, it gives you tons of resolution, but it also lets...
Video: Hasselblad discusses its design philosophy for the X System
Posted by Chris Roubis on 21st, Feb, 2021 |
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Hasselblad has launched a new video series, ‘Hasselblad’s Home,’ that gives viewers a behind-the-scenes look at Hasselblad’s headquarters in Gothenburg, Sweden. The series shares insight from designers and engineers regarding the development of Hasselblad’s medium format cameras and the philosophies that underpin how the company brings ‘Scandinavian design and craftsmanship to creators around the world.’ The first episode, seen below, is focused on the design philosophy behind creating the X System. The highly compact X System currently includes the...
Panasonic S 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 Macro OIS sample gallery (DPReview TV)
Posted by Chris Roubis on 21st, Feb, 2021 |
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Published Feb 21, 2021 | dpreview staff Our intrepid DPRTV team up in Canada has been braving the below-freezing conditions to bring us a gallery of images from the new Panasonic S 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 Macro OIS. Click through the images above to see how they got on. View DPRTV’s samples from the Panasonic S 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 Macro OIS Gear in this story Pre-order now Released on Apr 18, 2021 Being cooped up inside doesn’t mean you have to take a break from photography. If you’ve got negatives from way back when, what’s the best software around to scan them? Check out...
DPReview TV: The Blackmagic Ursa Mini Pro 12K could teach mirrorless cameras a few things
Posted by Chris Roubis on 20th, Feb, 2021 |
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Published Feb 20, 2021 | dpreview staff [embedded content] As its name implies, the Blackmagic Ursa Pro 12K shoots 12K video. But it also includes features that mirrorless camera makers could learn from. Jordan shows us what he likes about Blackmagic’s design – and what it’s like to shoot in 12K. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to get new episodes of DPReview TV every week. Being cooped up inside doesn’t mean you have to take a break from photography. If you’ve got negatives from way back when, what’s the best software around to scan them? Check out our...
How to Crop Images in Photoshop
Posted by Chris Roubis on 19th, Feb, 2021 |
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Cropping is one of the first steps in most post-processing workflows. In fact, most photographers apply some level of cropping to their images while editing. Reasons to crop an image go way beyond just getting closer to the subject. It could be for image stacking, panorama, straightening, or changing the aspect ratio of the photograph. In this article, I will take you through all the options that Photoshop offers with respect to cropping. Before I guide you through the steps to crop an image using Photoshop, there are a few points that are worth pointing out: Cropping too much into an image...
Update: NASA’s ambitious Perseverance rover lands on Mars and sends back its first images
Posted by Chris Roubis on 19th, Feb, 2021 |
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The Perseverance rover gets lowered down to the Martian surface, seen in one of the first high-resolution images sent back to Earth. Image credit: NASA Update: (Friday, February 19, 2021 at 2:46 PM): Since first publishing this article, NASA has shared new, high-resolution images of the Perseverance rover, including one taken from its ‘jetpack’ that lowered the rover down to the Martian surface. On July 30, 2020, NASA launched its Mars Perseverance Rover on an Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Yesterday, February 18, 2021, Perseverance landed successfully on...
Avalanche can now convert Aperture, Lightroom catalogs for use with Luminar AI
Posted by Chris Roubis on 19th, Feb, 2021 |
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A new version of CYME’s Avalanche application that converts image catalogs from one software brand to another has been introduced. This latest version now allows Aperture and Lightroom users to translate their current image collections for compatibility with Skylum’s Luminar AI. [embedded content] The company says that V1.3 of Avalanche will import not only the original images themselves but also all the edits, versions, albums and organizational tags applied to them. Luminar 4 image catalogs can also be migrated to Luminar AI along with all the effects attached to them. The application...
Hands-on with Panasonic’s new 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 for L-mount
Posted by Chris Roubis on 19th, Feb, 2021 |
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The Lumix S 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 Macro OIS is a tele-zoom lens designed for Panasonic’s full-frame mirrorless cameras. It brings a useful focal range to telephoto shooters with a bit more reach, and at a lower price point, than the company’s constant aperture tele-zoom options. Panasonic says the lens was designed with professional photographers in mind, though it doesn’t carry the ‘Pro’ moniker found on some of its pricier optics. On the next few slides we’ll take a look at the various features packed into this...
Slideshow: Winners of the 2021 Portraits of Humanity competition
Posted by Chris Roubis on 19th, Feb, 2021 |
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© Paolo Barretta / Portrait of Humanity Artist Statement: I never faced something like a pandemic. It’s been hard to stop completely our life in order to stay safe. This is my best friend and his boyfriend after three months of distance because of the quarantine. There are so many reasons why I consider this picture so important to me. It’s not just portraying someone’s kissing. This is the story of people who fight, people who resist, people who stay together against this crazy world. Covid-19 supposed to bring people together, but it has shown me how mean and indifferent we can be to each...
Film Fridays: battle of two Medium Format titans – Mamiya 7 vs. Makina 67
Posted by Chris Roubis on 19th, Feb, 2021 |
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The interchangeable lens Mamiya 7 and fixed / collapsible lens Plaubel Makina 67 are titans of the medium format world, and both still command quite high prices on today’s used market. But rarely are they directly compared to one another, until now. 35mmc’s Hamish Gill had the unusual opportunity to shoot with both back-to-back, and crown a personal favorite. Ultimately, for Hamish’s shooting style, the Makina came out on top. But he found a lot to like about the Mamiya, including an easier-to-see rangefinder patch and slightly shaper lenses. But the Makina won him over...
Is something going on with Google Pixel cameras? Reports of failure are on the rise
Posted by Chris Roubis on 18th, Feb, 2021 |
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Google Pixel devices have been well-regarded for their photographic capabilities. However, are the devices plagued with unreliability? Android Police is reporting that the Google Camera app has been hit with more frequent 1-star reviews in the past year, with many users complaining that their cameras suddenly stopped working. Ars Technica has written about the topic as well. Users are encountering issues ranging from black screens in camera apps to framerate drops when recording videos, error messages and more. The issue appears to be hardware-related, as both first- and third-party apps are...
Nikon’s Z6 II, Z7 II are getting 1.10 firmware update with 4K60p shooting, improved Eye AF and Blackmagic Raw
Posted by Chris Roubis on 18th, Feb, 2021 |
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Nikon USA has announced it will release pair of firmware updates for its Z6 II and Z7 II mirrorless camera systems on February 25. The updates add, amongst bug fixes and other improvements, the ability to shoot 4K video at 60 frame per second (fps), Blackmagic Raw recording and improved Eye-AF performance. Firmware version 1.10 for both the Z6 II and Z7 II will bring 4K UHD video recording at up to 60 fps. Unfortunately, this shooting mode is limited to Nikon’s cropped DX-based recoding format at ‘Normal’ movie quality mode. Performance of the Eye-Detection AF features on both cameras has...
Leica introduces APO-Summicron-SL 28mm F2 L-mount lens
Posted by Chris Roubis on 18th, Feb, 2021 |
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Published Feb 18, 2021 | dpreview staff Leica has introduced the APO-Summicron-SL 28mm F2 ASPH lens for full-frame L-mount bodies. It features 13 elements, 6 of which are aspherical; several of the elements are of the anomalous partial dispersion type to reduce chromatic aberration. The lens can focus as close as 24cm (9.5″) and the maximum magnification is 0.2X. The focus group is driven by a stepping motor that Leica calls ‘Dual Syncro Drive’. The 28mm F2 has a newly designed manual focus ring that uses magnetic fields to improve responsiveness and precision. The 28mm F2...
DPReview TV: Panasonic 70-300 F4.5-5.6 first impressions review
Posted by Chris Roubis on 18th, Feb, 2021 |
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Published Feb 18, 2021 | dpreview staff [embedded content] Chris made it out of quarantine in time to review the new Panasonic 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 lens for L-mount. The temperature may be -20ºC, but in Calgary that’s almost shirtsleeve weather. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to get new episodes of DPReview TV every week. Sample photos from this episode Gear in this story The Sony Alpha 1 is Sony’s flagship mirrorless camera for, well, just about anything. With a 50MP sensor, it gives you tons of resolution, but it also lets you fire off burst images at 30 fps for fast action...
Panasonic Lumix S 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 pre-production sample gallery
Posted by Chris Roubis on 18th, Feb, 2021 |
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Right about the time we got our hands on the new Panasonic S 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 Macro OIS zoom lens, Seattle got hit with a rare winter snow storm that provided a great backdrop for our pre-production sample gallery. Check out the images to see how it performs. View our Panasonic S 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 pre-production sample gallery Gear in this story The Sony Alpha 1 is Sony’s flagship mirrorless camera for, well, just about anything. With a 50MP sensor, it gives you tons of resolution, but it also lets you fire off burst images at 30 fps for fast action sports. Add in 8K video capture and...
Panasonic announces Lumix S 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 Macro for L-mount
Posted by Chris Roubis on 18th, Feb, 2021 |
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Published Feb 18, 2021 | dpreview staff Panasonic has announced the Lumix S 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 Macro OIS for full-frame (and APS-C) L-mount bodies. The onboard image stabilizer reduces shake by up to 5.5 stops when used with a Dual IS-equipped body. The lens has 17 elements, including ultra extra low-dispersion, extra low-dispersion and ultra high-refractive index glass. Its focus group is driven by a linear motor, and the company claims that focus breathing is minimal. The 70-300 has a minimum focus distance of 54cm (21″) at wide-angle and can capture half life-size macro images at...
DPReview TV: Panasonic 70-300 F4.5-5.6 review
Posted by Chris Roubis on 18th, Feb, 2021 |
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Published Feb 18, 2021 | dpreview staff [embedded content] Chris made it out of quarantine in time to review the new Panasonic 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 lens for L-mount. The temperature may be -20ºC, but in Calgary that’s almost shirtsleeve weather. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to get new episodes of DPReview TV every week. Sample photos from this episode Gear in this story Pre-order now Released on Apr 18, 2021 The Sony Alpha 1 is Sony’s flagship mirrorless camera for, well, just about anything. With a 50MP sensor, it gives you tons of resolution, but it also lets you fire off...
Panasonic Lumix S 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 sample gallery
Posted by Chris Roubis on 18th, Feb, 2021 |
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Right about the time we got our hands on the new Panasonic S 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 Macro OIS zoom lens, Seattle got hit with a rare winter snow storm that provided a great backdrop for our pre-production sample gallery. Check out the images to see how it performs. View our Panasonic S 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 pre-production sample gallery Gear in this story Pre-order now Released on Apr 18, 2021 The Sony Alpha 1 is Sony’s flagship mirrorless camera for, well, just about anything. With a 50MP sensor, it gives you tons of resolution, but it also lets you fire off burst images at 30 fps for fast...
Ricoh announces its Pentax K-3 Mark III APS-C DSLR has been delayed
Posted by Chris Roubis on 18th, Feb, 2021 |
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Ricoh has released a development update for its Pentax K-3 Mark III APS-C DSLR camera system, announcing its release has been delayed due to supply chain issues. Originally announced on October 27, 2020, the Pentax K-3 Mark III was set for a release during CP+ 2021, which is scheduled to take place from February 25 through 28. That is no longer the case though, as Ricoh has run into issues with supplying parts for its APS-C DSLR: ‘As some of the product parts are delayed, and we have determined that development will require a greater amount of time for us to achieve the exceptional...
Reply to Looking for Nikon Teleconverter for Nikon 70-200mm lens.
Posted by Chris Roubis on 17th, Feb, 2021 |
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For sure with using a 2X teleconverter, you need to accept some compromises in terms of aperture and shutter speed required, especially when fully zoomed. However, presumably you are looking for a teleconverter because you want to extend your focal length. In that sense, getting a small magnification is just a different compromise. I have had a Nikon AF-S Teleconverter TC-20E III for the past several months that I have been using with my NIKON AF-S 70-200mm F/2.8E FL ED VR lens, and have been very pleased with it. I need to make sure that I use at least f8, and normally I need to stay at or...
Blackmagic Design’s new Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pro is a Super 35 camera with tilting screen, built-in ND filters and more
Posted by Chris Roubis on 17th, Feb, 2021 |
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Blackmagic Design has announced the latest camera in its Pocket Cinema Camera lineup, the Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pro (BMPCC6KP), an EF-mount Super 35mm cinema camera with a tilting touchscreen LCD display, built-in ND filter and more. The announcement, which you can view in its entirety below (the BMPCC6KP announcement starts about 80 minutes in), shows off a familiar form factor with a number of improvements Blackmagic customers have been asking for. Most significantly, the BMPCC6KP now has a 5″ tilting touchscreen LCD display (1920 x 1080 pixels) on the rear of the camera that puts...
Nikon develops 1″-type square CMOS sensor that can capture HDR video at 1,000 fps
Posted by Chris Roubis on 17th, Feb, 2021 |
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Nikon Japan has announced (machine-translated) it’s developed a 17.84-megapixel 1”-type stacked CMOS image sensor that can capture high dynamic range video at up to 1,000 frames per second. Nikon is known to use Sony sensors in a number of its imaging products, but it also develops its own sensor technology. Case in point is this new 1”-type stacked CMOS sensor, which offers high-speed capture with impressive dynamic range in a square capture format. The sensor uses 17.84 million 2.7μm pixels (4224×4224 pixels) to capture video at up to 1,000 frames per second with 110dB dynamic range. If...
Comparison Review: Can VueScan or SilverFast archive your film better?
Posted by Chris Roubis on 17th, Feb, 2021 |
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Introduction A difficult 2020 that has blended into a difficult 2021 has made it harder for many of us to get outside and shoot, but that doesn’t mean you have to neglect your photography. If you’re like me, you probably still have years’ worth of unscanned slides and negatives waiting to be tended to some rainy day, and a COVID lockdown gives you a golden opportunity. But are you better off using the software that came with your scanner, or should you shell out for a third-party alternative to get the best results? Before I rolled up my sleeves and started scanning, I...
Sony Japan teases new compact cinema camera release on February 24
Posted by Chris Roubis on 17th, Feb, 2021 |
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Editor’s Note: (Wednesday, February 17, 2021 at 11:00 AM): It appears there are multiple times being cited by Sony in various regions that don’t align with one another when accounting for timezones. We have contacted a Sony representative and will clarify the article with more information when we receive a response. Editor’s Note: (Wednesday, February 17, 2021 at 3:45 PM): Corrected the pricing estimate in USD, which at first didn’t take into account the VAT included in the EU pricing. Sony Japan has brought live a new page on its website teasing a new cinema camera. The website, which...
Canon EOS R6 Review
Posted by Chris Roubis on 17th, Feb, 2021 |
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In this review of the Canon EOS R6, we will take a closer look at this mirrorless camera and compare it to others, such as the EOS R, EOS R5, and Nikon Z6 II. It is no secret that Canon’s launch of its first full-frame mirrorless camera, the EOS R, had a very mixed reception. While it demonstrated excellent image quality when paired with the new RF mount lenses, there wasn’t really anything about this camera that stood out, especially when compared to Sony’s top offerings. Featuring a single SD memory card slot, no in-body image stabilization, and a touch bar that most people ended up...
OmniVision’s new 50MP OV50A smartphone sensor promises ‘DSLR level’ phase detection autofocus performance
Posted by Chris Roubis on 16th, Feb, 2021 |
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Sensor manufacturer OmniVision has announced the specifications for the OV50A, a new 50MP 1/1.5″ smartphone camera sensor that offers 100% phase detection autofocus (PDAF) coverage. The OV50A is built using OmniVision’s PureCel Plus-S stacked die technology and offers 50MP resolution with one micron pixel size, selective conversion gain, on-chip remosaic and quad phase detection (QPD) autofocus. OmniVision explains in its press release the benefits of its QPD autofocus technology, which it claims offers ‘DSLR level’ autofocus performance: ‘QPD enables 2×2 phase detection autofocus...
Video: A 1000 fps look at how a 16mm motion picture camera works
Posted by Chris Roubis on 16th, Feb, 2021 |
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Gav with The Slow Mo Guys wanted to check out how a 16mm motion picture camera works in crisp slow motion. Using a Phantom Flex4K, he recorded at a blazing-fast 1,000 frames per second. The Phantom Flex4K is an incredible feat of engineering and modern technology, but today the focus is on an older Russian 16mm motion picture camera. For viewers who haven’t seen how a 16mm motion camera operates, it’s neat to see the camera’s internals and how the film is loaded. With the film loaded, it’s time to set the frame rate, which is controlled via a dial on the outside of...
Watch as Via films shoots with the DJI RS 2 gimbal in Portland, Oregon
Posted by Chris Roubis on 16th, Feb, 2021 |
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Published Feb 16, 2021 | This is sponsored content, made possible with the support of Amazon and DJI [embedded content] The DJI RS 2 is a gimbal designed for medium-size DSLR and mirrorless cameras. Made of strong, lightweight carbon fiber, the RS2 can support a payload of up to 10 lbs (4.5 kg), allowing for the use of professional cameras and lenses. With features like a color touchscreen, quick and easy single-handed controls, and highly advanced stabilization, the RS 2 is a powerful, portable solution for filmmakers. In this video, the team at Via Films takes the RS 2 along on a shoot in...
Video: Leica short film ‘Do It Justice’ shows the importance of capturing moments
Posted by Chris Roubis on 15th, Feb, 2021 |
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Commercial film director Nate Townsend has a very personal connection to the Leica brand. Last year, Townsend’s father, Tom, died of cancer only two weeks after receiving an unexpected diagnosis. In addition to countless lessons and influence, Tom Townsend also left his son a Leica M4 35mm rangefinder camera. Shortly after his father’s passing, Nate took an impromptu road trip to his father’s hometown of Jacksonville, Florida. He used the heirloom M4 to document the journey, which ultimately inspired him to create a short film, ‘Do it Justice,’ which you can...
Cosina releases three new 35mm F2 lenses for Leica M, Sony E mount
Posted by Chris Roubis on 15th, Feb, 2021 |
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Cosina has announced three new manual Voigtlander 35mm F2 lenses, including two for Leica M mount camera systems and one for Sony E mount camera systems. Voigtlander Ultron Vintage Line 35mm F2 Aspherical Type II VM First up is the Voigtlander Ultron Vintage Line 35mm F2 Aspherical Type II VM (really, Cosina?). This lens is an update to the current Voigtlander Ultron 35mm F2 Aspherical Lens, which itself was inspired by classic mid-century Voigtlander lenses. The lens is constructed of eight elements in five groups. It has an aperture range from F2 through F16, uses a 10-blade aperture...
Ricoh launches limited-edition GR III ‘GRowING’ kit in China, with green accents and accessories
Posted by Chris Roubis on 15th, Feb, 2021 |
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Ricoh has announced the release of the GR III ‘GRowING’ ING Edition Special Limited Kit, a nature-inspired set that adds green accents to the compact camera as well as a collection of matching accessories. The GR III ‘GRowING’ ING Edition Special Limited Kit is available only in China and isn’t set to hit shelves until November 2021. The kit sees the standard GR III camera get a green wrap around the grip of the camera, as well as a matching ring around the lens and shutter button. In the machine-translated press release, Ricoh says green was selected as a means of ‘symbolizing new life in...
Sony a1 added to studio test scene for stills and video
Posted by Chris Roubis on 15th, Feb, 2021 |
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Test scene Our test scene is designed to simulate a variety of textures, colors and detail types you’ll encounter in the real world. It also has two illumination modes to see the effect of different lighting conditions. The 50MP, ‘stacked’ BSI-CMOS sensor in the Sony a1 is among the most advanced imaging sensors you can find today. It’s capable of incredibly fast read-out despite that massive resolution, and we were curious how it compares against other options on the market. Take a tour of our studio scene above; we’ll have our own thorough analysis once we...
Gallery update: Fujifilm XF 27mm F2.8 R WR
Posted by Chris Roubis on 15th, Feb, 2021 |
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Fujifilm’s new XF 27mm F2.8 R WR is so nice, we decided to keep shooting with it and fill out our gallery with more samples. Optically identical to Fujfilm’s other 27mm F2.8, this version adds an aperture ring and weather sealing. It’s also sharp, small and lightweight, making it the perfect lens for walking around; we especially enjoyed it paired with the X-Pro3. View our Fujfilm XF 27mm R WR pre-production sample gallery Because our XF 27mm F2.8 R WR is a pre-production copy, Fujifilm has requested that only JPEGs be uploaded. The Sony Alpha 1 is Sony’s flagship...
MonsterAdapter’s new LA-FE1 adds AF support to Nikon AF-I, AF-P and AF-S lenses on select Sony cameras
Posted by Chris Roubis on 14th, Feb, 2021 |
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Lens adapter gurus MonsterAdapter has announced the details of the LA-FE1, a new adapter that brings autofocus to Nikon AF-I, AF-S and AF-P lenses when used with select Sony mirrorless cameras. MonsterAdapter claims in its announcement that it’s already developed a Nikon to Sony autofocus adapter in the past, but it was sold under an unspecified brand name. MonsterAdapter said this version, which will bear the company’s logo, is ‘greatly improved both in firmware and hardware.’ In its current form, the adapter all give autofocus capabilities to Nikon AF-I, AF-S and AF-P lenses. For lenses...
Why Raw video might not be the game-changer you expect
Posted by Chris Roubis on 14th, Feb, 2021 |
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External recorders such as the Atomos Ninja V shown here can encode a Raw video stream into a formats such as Apple’s ProRes RAW. Raw video has become something of a talking point as more and more cameras have provided a way of capturing or outputting Raw video data streams. But, for a couple of reasons, Raw video doesn’t offer the same benefits that photographers are used to enjoying, when they shoot stills. Raw video formats There are multiple types of Raw available and the experience of using each will differ somewhat, but the underlying benefits are broadly similar. RED and...
The Elements of Photography
Posted by Chris Roubis on 13th, Feb, 2021 |
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I was consumed by the technical aspects of photography during the early days of my career in photography. Getting a sharp image was all that I had in mind. “Which shutter speed should I use to capture birds in flight? Which ISO will give me images with less noise? What aperture will give me a creamy background with a sharp subject? What are the recommended auto-focus settings?”. These cliché questions were the only ones running through my mind most of the time. Little did I know then that the art of photography was much more than sharp subjects and creamy backgrounds. I don’t mean to say...
DPReview TV: Sony a7 III vs. Fujifilm X-T4 – who’s the king of enthusiast cameras?
Posted by Chris Roubis on 13th, Feb, 2021 |
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Published Feb 13, 2021 | dpreview staff [embedded content] The Sony a7 III and Fujifilm X-T4 aren’t cameras we would normally compare head-to-head. Yet, they’re two of the most popular enthusiast models available today. Watch Chris and Jordan duke it out over which one is best. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to get new episodes of DPReview TV every week. Gear in this story After two rounds of voting, DPReview readers have decided on their favorite product (and runners-up) of 2020. Find out which cameras and lenses topped the list! We’ve taken a look back at our year of...
Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra hands-on video shows off massive camera bump with 3-camera array, built-in screen
Posted by Chris Roubis on 12th, Feb, 2021 |
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Image credits: Screenshots in this article are from the original Tech Buff PH video. Click to enlarge. In a video that’s since been hidden, YouTuber Tech Buff PH shared a hands-on review of what appears to be a new Xiaomi device with one of the larger — and most unusual — camera arrays we’ve seen on a smartphone. Xiaomi was one of the first manufacturers to release a smartphone with Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 888 chipset inside in its Mi 11 device. At launch, the Mi 11 was only available in China. But earlier this week, Xiaomi announced availability in Europe as well. Now, a new hands-on...
Video: Brendan Barry makes 20″ x 24″ wildflower image using camera obscura and color reversal process
Posted by Chris Roubis on 12th, Feb, 2021 |
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UK-based photographer Brendan Barry has used his lockdown to grow closer to nature. He’s been taking regular neighborhood walks with his daughter and learning more about the area surrounding their home in Exeter and the city’s surprising nature. They have regularly picked wildflowers on the journey, which Barry has been photographing using a color reversal process he has been developing over the last few years. Barry’s process is ‘long and laborious and the photographs hard to achieve.’ He tells us that it can take up to eight hours to create a successful...
Slideshow: Wildlife Photographer of the Year People’s Choice Award winners
Posted by Chris Roubis on 12th, Feb, 2021 |
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Late conservation activist Steve Irwin would be proud of this particular accomplishment. His son, Robert, won Wildlife Photographer of the Year’s People’s Choice Award for his top-down drone image. A wildfire ripped through a forest near the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve in Queensland, Australia, and Irwin captured it at the right moment. The perfect 50/50 split displays the damage inflicted on one side while the other remained preserved. ‘I am incredibly excited to win the Wildlife Photographer of The Year People’s Choice Award. For me, nature photography is about telling a story...
Film Friday: Voigtlander Bessaflex TM – the film SLR way ahead of its time
Posted by Chris Roubis on 12th, Feb, 2021 |
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In many regards, the Voigtlander Bessaflex TM is the perfect fully mechanical film SLR (batteries are only needed for the meter): it’s small and light, sports a bright viewfinder and is incredibly straightforward to shoot with. Unfortunately, it debuted at the start of the digital revolution and was far from a commercial success. But what if it had debuted a decade or more later, when folks were rediscovering the joys of shooting film? Cosina, who manufactured the ‘TM’ starting in 2003 (licensing the Voigtlander name), has a long history building cameras in a variety of...
Canon Photo Culling is a new iOS app that uses artificial intelligence to evaluate your photos
Posted by Chris Roubis on 11th, Feb, 2021 |
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When you have many photos on your smartphone, like hundreds or even thousands, it can be challenging trying to locate images and keep your files organized. Different companies are working on using AI technologies to help identify, organize and even cull images. Canon is the latest to join the fray with its new Photo Culling app for iOS. Underpinning the app is Canon’s computer-vision artificial intelligence engine, PHIL. PHIL is an abbreviation for Photography Intelligence Learning. The Photo Culling app helps users pick out their best images by evaluating photos based on sharpness,...
Started out doing photography at the age of 6 using an uncle's old 1940 kodak brownie box camera. At 15 years of age, I decided to buy my very own 1975 Praktica SLR camera. I now shoot with a Nikon D850. I do unpaid TFP and commercial paid work.