Nikon Blog
The Content Authenticity Initiative shows its first real-world samples of CAI-attributed images
[embedded content] The Content Authenticity Initiative (CAI) has released the first images captured with CAI attribution using both hardware and software from partners implementing CAI’s standards. Until now, the CAI standard was nothing more than words on a page. Now, thanks to Adobe, Truepic and Qualcomm, we get to see what the process actually looks like, from beginning to end. As demonstrated when the standard was first announced, the ‘new attribution standard allows anyone to access verifiable information about visual content.’...
read moreOWC’s new Copy That app makes it easy to backup photos from your iPhone, iPad
Other World Computing, also known as OWC, has released Copy That, a new app for iOS and iPadOS devices that makes it easy to copy photos and video from your Apple mobile devices directly to external storage devices, such as HDDs, RAID arrays, network-attached storage (NAS) units and more. The process works by using the Files app built into iOS and iPadOS. Once Copy That is downloaded to your device, you’re asked what you want to copy, where you want to copy and how you want to copy the media onboard your Apple device. You can choose to copy...
read moreSony announces new SDK for camera automation aimed at product photography
Sony has announced a small but significant update to the Sony Software Development Kit (SDK). This update allows users to craft custom imaging solutions using Sony cameras. The new camera automation software SDK has been created with product photographers in mind and is designed to streamline a product photography imaging workflow using Sony cameras. Sony writes, ‘It’s especially useful for large e-commerce businesses, allowing them to simplify, speed up and standardize product photography.’ This streamlining is achieved by...
read moreHave your say: Vote now for best camera of 2020
Best camera of 2020 2020 has been a thoroughly odd year, by any standard. But despite the emergence of Covid, the postponement and cancellation of events big and small, some really excellent cameras were released. We had our say already, in our annual DPReview Awards, but which was your favorite? This your chance to let us know. And if you think we missed something, please leave a comment. Voting in three categories (cameras, prime and zoom lenses) runs through December 20th, and once the vote has closed we’ll run a fourth and final...
read moreHave your say: Vote now for best prime lens of 2020
Best prime lens of 2020 Ah, prime lenses. Historically lauded as being less expensive, less bulky and generally sharper than average zooms, there were more than a few primes released over the course of 2020 that will challenge some of those long-held assumptions. We had our say already, in our annual DPReview Awards, but which lens was your favorite? This your chance to let us know. And if you think we missed something, please leave a comment. So get ready to zoom with your feet and cast your vote for the best prime lens of 2020. Voting in...
read moreHave your say: Vote now for best zoom lens of 2020
Best zoom lens of 2020 The year 2020 might have offered us fewer chances to get out and photograph the things we love, but that didn’t stop manufacturers from bringing a ton of excellent new lenses to market. We’ve had the chance to shoot with most of these lenses this year, which was in itself a challenge (someone has finally commented on a certain motorcycle that’s appeared in many different sample galleries), but playing with new gear is always a joy. We had our say already, in our annual DPReview Awards, but which lens...
read moreStudio test scene added to Sony a7S III initial review
4 Previous 5 Stills and video studio scene 6 Next Studio Stills 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. Video stills Our video stills grabs make it possible to assess the resolution and sampling method used to capture it. Prev page Next page TABLE OF CONTENTS Gear in this story It’s the episode you’ve been waiting for all year! Chris and Jordan reveal their...
read moreCapture One 21 released, includes new editing tools, features and improved performance
Capture One has announced the release of Capture One 21. The newest version of its photo editor includes numerous new features and improvements designed to not only improve the photo editing process but also to make it faster and smarter. The improvements to Capture One 21 are evident as soon as you begin importing new images into the software. The improved importer offers better selection tools, high-resolution thumbnails, faster importing, and the ability to import images from different folders at once. Within the importer, it is quicker to...
read moreAdobe Lightroom is now native for both Apple M1, Windows Arm platforms
Adobe, today, released an update for its line of Lightroom apps, bringing native support for Apple’s M1-powered computers and Qualcomm Snapdragon-powered Windows Arm devices, as well as support for Apple’s new ProRAW image format and more. In addition to native support for M1-powered Apple computers and Qualcomm Snapdragon-powered Windows 10 Arm devices, Lightroom version 4.1 also adds support for Apple’s ProRAW format, making it possible to import and edit images captured using Apple’s new image format. For iPadOS and...
read moreSentons CameraBar uses ultrasonic tech to add virtual buttons to smartphones
Sentons is developing ultrasonic tech users can expect in numerous new smartphones next year. By utilizing Sentons’ new CameraBar, smartphones will be able to incorporate nearly invisible virtual buttons on the side of the smartphone, allowing you to use the smartphone like a point and shoot camera without any physical controls. The virtual buttons utilize ultrasonic technology. The technology is already implemented as Air Triggers in the Asus ROG Phone 3. As Digital Trends writes, ‘The Air Triggers…provide customizable virtual...
read moreLeaked ISOCELL presentation slide suggests Samsung entertaining the idea of a 600MP smartphone sensor
A promotional image for Samsung Semiconductors’ 108MP ISOCELL Bright HMX mobile camera sensor. Known smartphone leaker Ice Universe has shared a leaked slide from Samsung Semiconductor presentation that suggests the company is looking to push the boundaries of its ISOCELL image sensor technology, going so far as to question the possibility of putting a 600MP sensor inside a mobile device. The leaked slide from Ice Universe. Click to enlarge. While Samsung Semiconductor has already revealed its 108MP ISOCELL Bright HMX mobile camera...
read moreReport: Japanese camera makers could see supply chain constraints due to supplier factory fire
An overview of the aftermath at AKM Semiconductor factory following a three-day fire, captured by Nikogorio and used with permission. Australian imaging publication, Inside Imaging, is reporting that some camera manufacturers could see supply chain issues following an October fire at an AKM Semiconductor audio chip factory in Nobeoka, Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan. According to the report, the fire started on October 20 and burned uncontrolled for three days, effectively destroying the entire factory, which products various audio chip components...
read moreConverted Sirui lenses offer low-cost anamorphic options for L and RF mount users
Mount adapter manufacturer MTF Services is targeting videographers using L and RF mount cameras with a pair of low-cost anamorphic lenses. The company is converting the Sirui Micro Four Thirds 35mm and 50mm F1.8 1.33x anamorphic lenses to work with Leica L and Canon RF mount cameras. These lenses have an imaging circle wider than the APS-C format, so they work with Super35 sensor areas and even with full-frame recording with a 1.35x crop. With the Sirui 50mm F1.8 costing just under $700/£600 and the 35mm F1.8 costing less than $800/£770,...
read moreInterview: Wedding photographer Vanessa Joy on communication, Covid and ‘speed-posing’
Vanessa Joy is one of the best–known names in wedding photography in the US. In this interview, Vanessa talks about her favorite gear, what makes the new Canon EOS R6 so useful, the challenges of shooting a product video during a pandemic, and why communication is key to successful portraiture. How did you get started in wedding photography? My mother was a wedding photographer. So naturally I hated it and didn’t want anything to do with it! But when I was picking out my electives for classes at high school I decided to take it. It was...
read moreGift guide: 2020’s best photo books for photographers
Photographers can be quite difficult to shop for. We’re particular about our gear, accessories tend to cater to niche audiences, and we certainly don’t need any more lens shaped coffee mugs. Luckily, photography books never go out of style and can also serve as inspiration for years to come. There’s just something special about cracking open a nicely bound photo book and taking in the images, one at a time. And so we’re pleased to share some of our favorite titles from 2020, all of which make great...
read moreNikon Z5 Review
The Nikon Z5 is a budget-friendly full-frame mirrorless camera that was introduced in July of 2020. Despite its $1,399 retail price tag (at the time of introduction), the Z5 is a very capable camera that has most of the functionality of its higher-end sibling, the Nikon Z6. Sporting a 24 MP CMOS sensor, EXPEED 6 image processor, 273-point autofocus system, dual UHS-II SD memory card slots, a lightweight magnesium alloy body, and a robust list of camera features, the Nikon Z5 has a lot to like about. I had a chance to test the Nikon Z5 for the...
read moreHähnel launches lantern diffuser speedlite accessory
Lantern Diffuser Hähnel recently launched the Lantern Diffuser, a new speedlight diffuser that creates an exceptionally wide-angle spread of illumination in a very compact form factor by using a clever folding design. This new lighting accessory is just one part of Hähnel’s modular flash system and is designed to attach to hotshoe flash units via one of the company’s magnetic accessory clamps. Jump to: What is it? | How it works | What the light looks like | Conclusion Key features: Compact, folding design Comes with six color gels...
read moreDPReview TV ‘best and worst’ awards in pictures
Since 2013, Chris and I have been taking a look at the best and worst cameras of the year while playing a drinking game. This year required a very different format than usual, shooting outside for hours on end with a socially distanced crew. Given the circumstances, without even factoring in the alcohol we consumed, some details were bound to be lost. Here we present our reasoning for the products we chose as the best and worst of the year. Watch our Best and Worst of 2020 video to see all the...
read moreVideo: How to safely make a 35mm daguerreotype at home
In the latest episode of ‘Darkroom Magic,’the George Eastman Museum’s historic photographic process specialist, Nick Brandreth, teaches viewers how to make a 35mm daguerreotype at home without the use of dangerous or expensive chemicals. The daguerreotype gets its namesake from its creator, Louis Daguerre. The daguerreotype was introduced to the masses in 1839, becoming the first commercially viable photographic process. Although it fell out of favor about a decade later, the process has distinct characteristics that made it...
read moreThe Sony RX100 VII and a7C are the best cameras for travel
Published Dec 3, 2020 | dpreview staff Previous 1 Introduction 2 Next Whether you’re piling the family into the minivan for a trip to Disneyland or backpacking through Southeast Asia, you’ll probably want a camera that has a larger-than-average sensor, a versatile lens and wireless features for beaming your images back home. We’ve split our selections into two categories: one for people who want to capture memories on their trip, and the other for whom photography is the main reason for their trip. For the former,...
read moreDPReview TV: The best and worst cameras and lenses of 2020
Published Dec 5, 2020 | dpreview staff [embedded content] It’s the episode you’ve been waiting for all year! Chris and Jordan reveal their picks for the best and worst camera gear of 2020 while playing their newest drinking game. What could go wrong? Subscribe to our YouTube channel to get new episodes of DPReview TV every week. Fun trivia about the other camera YouTubers mentioned in this episode While recording our annual Best and Worst episode for DPReview TV, Chris and I decided to add a twist to our drinking game. We wanted...
read moreVideo: Blind smartphone camera test highlights what qualities people value in smartphone photos
[embedded content] Nearly every smartphone manufacturer claims their newest device takes the best photos. They’ll cite different qualities, such as resolution, low light performance, autofocus, stabilization, and lens zoom. To help cut through the noise, popular YouTuber Marques Brownlee has published his third annual ‘Blind Smartphone Camera Test.’ While the test is not wholly scientific, and it’s not aiming to be, it does help shed light on what real-world users care about when it comes to smartphone cameras. The...
read moreViltrox unveils 33mm F1.4, 56mm F1.4 APS-C prime AF lenses for Sony APS-C camera systems
Viltrox has announced the release of its new AF 33mm F1.4 and 56mm F1.4 APS-C prime lenses for Sony E-mount camera systems. The new 33mm F1.4 (50mm full-frame equivalent) features all-metal construction and comprises 10 elements in 9 groups, including one extra-low dispersion element and one high refractive index element. It features the option to manually or automatically control the aperture, a minimum focusing distance of 40cm (15.75″), offers a built-in micro USB port for updating the firmware and is compatible with Sony’s Eye AF...
read moreChina’s Chang’e-5 probe beams high-res color panoramic of the Moon’s surface
[embedded content] China’s National Space Administration has released color video footage from its Luna probe approaching and landing on the surface of the Moon. The Chang’e-5 craft filmed its own touch-down at the beginning of a two-day mission to collect samples of rock and soil on and 2m below the surface of the moon before rejoining the a re-entry module that is orbiting 200km above it. This is the 15,000 pixel wide stitched panoramic taken by the Chang’e-5’s on-board camera. Click to enlarge. As well as the video of...
read moreFilm Fridays: The humble, plastic Soviet-era cameras that summited Mount Everest
Published Dec 4, 2020 | dpreview staff Russian climber Valentin Ivanov using a Smena Symbol. Photo: Technointorg In this week’s Film Friday, from our pals at Kosmo Foto, we join up with a group of Soviet climbers prepping to summit Mount Everest. The year is 1982 and to document the expedition, the team decides to bring along five plastic Smena Symbol viewfinder cameras. A humble, simple-to-use unit – intended more for family-use than mountaineering – the Symbol proves to be the perfect companion for the trip. Its lack of...
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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.