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Posts Tagged ‘Announced’

Adobe Photoshop Elements and Premiere Elements 2022 announced with new Sensei-powered technology

07 Oct

Adobe has announced the 2022 versions of its Photoshop Elements and Premiere Elements software. The applications are designed to make creative photo and video editing accessible and fun.

To that end, Photoshop Elements and Premiere Elements include what Adobe calls ‘Guided Edits.’ These are step-by-step interactive tutorials you can use on your photos and videos to achieve specific editing tasks. The new applications add four new Guided Edits, bringing the total to 87.

There’s a new Guided Edit in Photoshop Elements 2022 for editing pet photos. Credit: Adobe

The four new Guided Edits include a couple in Photoshop Elements, and the other two are in Premiere Elements. In Photoshop Elements, you can use a new Guided Edit to edit pet photos and extend photo backgrounds. For pet photos, you can adjust color and lighting, select and refine detailed edges like fur, remove collars and leashes and more. In the Guided Edit for extending photo backgrounds, you can use Content-Aware Fill technology to extend your image beyond its original crop, either to change an aspect ratio or just change up the framing.

Using Content-Aware Fill, you can extend the background of your photo. Credit: Adobe

In Premiere Elements, there’s a new Guided Edit to add animated overlays to your videos, such as fun butterfly animations. The other new Guided Edit shows you how to adjust shadows and highlights in your video, allowing you to bring out additional details.

Looking now at just Photoshop Elements 2022, the new software uses more Adobe Sensei AI technology than last year’s release. You can use Adobe Sensei to transform your photographs into painting-inspired images. You can select from different artistic effects inspired by famous artwork and other popular styles.

Credit: Adobe

Another Sensei-powered feature is the ability to warp photos to fit any shape. You can place one photo inside another by wrapping it around an object, like a mug, or fit the image into shapes, like the sunglasses example above.

Within Photoshop Elements 2022, you can combine still and motion photography with animated frames. You can place different moving overlays like snowflakes, hearts and sparkles to your still photos and then export the motion image as an .MP4 to share on social media.

Adobe Photoshop Elements 2022 also includes new slideshow styles, a revised Organizer that lets you view GIFs in motion, and automatic software updates.

Premiere Elements 2022 includes animated overlays. Credit: Adobe

Adobe Premiere Elements 2022 includes new aspect ratio options. Many users share videos on social media, which sometimes includes vertical video and square aspect ratios. In Premiere Elements, you can edit and export videos in social-friendly formats without losing content. You can also add motion titles, mattes and backgrounds designed for vertical videos.

Premiere Elements 2022 includes new aspect ratio options for editing and exporting. Using these ratios doesn’t affect your original video file. Credit: Adobe

Another new tool is Sensei-powered auto-reframe. This tool allows the software to automatically re-frame your subject to ‘keep the most important part of the action in the frame.’

Premiere Elements 2022 includes a slider for video compression. If you’re editing and exporting a video for social media, you probably don’t need it to be a high-quality 4K video. Instead, you can use a compression slider in Premiere Elements to reduce the size of your movies, making them more suitable for uploading to the web or social media or sending to friends and family in a message.

Auto-reframe is powered by Adobe Sensei AI technology and keeps your subject front and center in different aspect ratios. Credit: Adobe

Adobe Photoshop Elements 2022 and Premiere Elements 2022 are available now. The applications are available for macOS and Windows and can be purchased standalone or in a bundle. Standalone versions are $ 99.99 for new users and $ 79.99 to upgrade. The bundle is $ 149.99 or $ 119.99 for eligible upgrades. Education pricing is also available. For the full details and to purchase the software, click here.

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Canon XF605 professional 4K camcorder and new 8K broadcast lens announced

18 Aug

Canon has unveiled a new professional 4K camcorder and a new 8K-suitable pro BCTV zoom lens. The Canon XF605 is a ‘compact’ 4K camcorder designed for solo shooters. The XF605 is 10% smaller and 600g lighter than the Canon XF705. The new lens is the 10×16 KAS S, an addition to Canon’s 1.25″ 8K broadcast camera lens lineup that includes 10x optical zoom from 16mm to 160mm.

Looking first at the XF605 camcorder, it includes a 1″-type CMOS image sensor paired with Canon’s DIGIC DV7 processor. The camera records 4K UHD video at up to 60p. The XF605 records 4:2:2 10-bit in XF-AVC and MP4 formats. FHD video can be recorded at up to 120p. The camera includes Canon Log 3 and HDR.

The XF605 includes a built-in 4K L-series 15x optical zoom lens with 30x Advanced Zoom (digital zoom) in FHD resolution. The lens has a 35mm equivalent range of 25.5mm to 382.5mm. Its minimum focus distance is 10mm at the wide end and 60cm across the zooming range. Its maximum aperture is F2.8, and it accepts 58mm filters. The lens also includes optical image stabilization.

Autofocus is provided via Canon’s Dual Pixel CMOS AF technology. The XF605 offers Eye Detection AF and provides intelligent head tracking. Focus is controlled via a lens ring and using the camera’s 3.45″ touchscreen, which has a resolution of 2.76M dots. There is a peaking assist function for manual focus. You can customize AF speed, response and frame size, plus you can use AF to assist with manual focusing.

The XF605 records to a pair of SD card slots and Class U3 V90 cards are recommended. The camera records externally via HDMI or 12G-SDI, and simultaneous recording is possible. When using the XF-AVC format and the maximum bitrate of 410Mbps, the camera can record for 39 minutes. By dropping bitrate down to 260Mbps, recording time increases to 100 minutes. Using MP4 and H.265 codec, you can record up to 118 minutes. In H.264 at 8Mbps, you can record for 2,006 minutes. Full recording time, framerate and quality information can be viewed on the XF605 specifications page.

In addition to the touchscreen, the XF605 includes a 0.36″-type EVF with 1.77M dots. The camera’s full offering of inputs and outputs includes two XLR 3-pin jacks with 48V phantom power, line and mic. The camera includes a 3.5mm mic input jack with 2.4V DC supply voltage. The camera includes a built-in mic as well. For audio monitoring, there’s a 3.5mm stereo mini jack. Plus, the camcorder includes a built-in speaker. There’s a full-size HDMI Type A port and a pair of USB ports, one Type A and the other Type C. As mentioned, there’s a 12G-SDI output with BNC connector. The camcorder also includes LAN, a remote controller terminal and 3.4mm DC input. The XF605 includes built-in Wi-Fi, too.

The camcorder includes a total of 11 assignable buttons which can be used for over 100 assignable functions. Also, there’s a custom dial that includes Av, Tv, M, AGC Limit, exposure compensation, and more. The camera includes auto ISO and auto gain control functionality. The ISO range is 200-12,800, and the gain range is -6.0dB to 21.0dB. The shutter speed can go up to 1/2000s, and the shutter angle goes from 360° to 11.25°. The XF605 includes a built-in neutral density filter.

For the full details on the XF605, visit Canon. The XF605 is available for preorder now and has a suggested retail price of $ 4,500.

The Canon 10×16 KAS S adds a telephoto lens to Canon’s 8K broadcast series, complementing the 7×10.7 KAS S. It’s targeted at broadcasters of major sporting events. The 10x zoom lens has a constant F2.8 aperture from 16mm to 160mm. It offers the same operability as Canon’s 4K portable lens line while adding 8K camera compatibility.

The lens includes special elements such as fluorite, Hi-UD lenses and wide-diameter aspherical lenses. The specialized glass elements reduce chromatic aberrations, spherical aberrations and other image quality defects. The lens weighs 2.94kg, which is reasonably lightweight for an 8K zoom lens. It’s designed for handheld 8K broadcasts. Pricing varies by dealer, but it’s reasonable to expect the lens to be costly.

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Pixelmator Pro 2 announced, featuring all-new interface and Apple M1 support

17 Nov

Pixelmator has announced Pixelmator Pro 2.0. Pixelmator calls it ‘the biggest update to Pixelmator Pro yet,’ and it includes an all-new design, support for Macs using Apple’s new M1 chip, full compatibility with the upcoming macOS Big Sur (macOS 11.0) and much more. Further, the update is free for all existing Pixelmator Pro users.

Pixelmator Pro’s editing engine is underpinned by Metal code, allowing the team to take full advantage of the unified memory architecture of the Apple M1 chip. The result is ‘much speedier and much more responsive image editing.’ Tasks relying upon machine learning, such as ML Super Resolution, are up to 15 times faster on the new Macs equipped with the M1 chip. Pixelmator Pro 2.0 remains a Universal app, meaning it runs natively on both M1 and Intel-based Apple devices.

Regarding the all-new design, Pixelmator has worked hard to make Pixelmator Pro 2.0 a more intuitive application and has given it a modern makeover. The team states that ‘almost every tool, every menu, and every button has been updated to make the app more intuitive and more fun to use…’ Further, users can customize the Pixelmator Pro interface, including the app’s list of tools and its toolbar. There are also four new workspace presets to choose from, including photography, design, illustration and painting.

You can see the new ‘Photography’ workspace in Pixelmator Pro 2 here. Image credit: Pixelmator. Click to enlarge.

In terms of tools, Pixelmator Pro 2.0 includes a new Effects Browser, a new Presets Browser (including over 200 new presets) and more. There are seven new color adjustment preset collections and eight new effect preset collections. You can read the full list of updates by clicking here.

Pixelmator Pro 2.0 will be available on November 19. For existing Pixelmator Pro users, the update will be free. For new customers, Pixelmator Pro is available for $ 39.99 USD. You can purchase the app now in the Mac App Store and receive the major update at no additional charge on November 19. To learn more about Pixelmator Pro, click here.

Image credit: Pixelmator. Click to enlarge.

While you do not need a Mac with the M1 chip to take advantage of the new features in Pixelmator Pro 2.0, the software does especially benefit from the performance gains granted by the M1 chip. You can learn more about the M1 chip and the new Macs by checking out our coverage.

Via 9to5Mac

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DaVinci Resolve 17 announced, includes over 300 new features and improvements

10 Nov

Blackmagic Design has announced DaVinci Resolve 17, the latest major release of its flagship video and audio editing software. DaVinci Resolve is ‘the world’s only solution that combines editing, color correction, visual effects, motion graphics and audio post-production all in one software tool.’

DaVinci Resolve 17’s primary new features include HDR grading tools, redesigned primary color controls, an AI-based magic mask, a next-generation Fairlight audio engine and much more. Blackmagic states that in total there are over 100 new features and 200 improvements to existing features.

The new HDR grading feature is accessible within the software’s color page. Users can create new color wheels with ‘custom roll-off for specific tonal ranges,’ resulting in additional creative control when making fine adjustments. The new wheels include control over exposure and saturation within each zone and are color space aware, allowing for uniform results.

Additional improvements to colorwork include mesh-based warping tools. You can adjust hue and saturation or chroma and luma. Adjustments are performed by dragging control points and Blackmagic Design promises ‘clean, natural-looking adjustments.’ Primary color controls have also been redesigned in the software. With respect to color space, DaVinci wide gamut and DaVinci intermediate are new timeline color space and gamma settings which deliver a universal working color space. Blackmagic states that ‘it’s larger than what cameras can capture’ and that ‘customers will never lose image data, no matter where it comes from.’

DaVinci Resolve 17 includes numerous improvements to color work, such as HDR Color Wheels, Custom Curves and more. Image credit: Blackmagic Design. Click to enlarge.

The Fairlight Audio Core in DaVinci Resolve 17 has undergone major changes. Blackmagic says it is ‘the world’s fastest and highest quality solution for audio post-production.’ Fairlight Audio Core is a low latency, next-gen audio engine that intelligently manages CPU cores and threads in your computer. With the new Fairlight Audio Core, you can work with up to 2,000 tracks at a time with fully supported real-time effects, EQ and dynamics processing. DaVinci Resolve 17 promises ‘sample-accurate editing tools’, ADR, Foley and Fairlight FX (like reverb, de-esser, hum remover and more). You can mix and master stereo audio, 5.1, 7.1 and 3D audio formats. For improved performance, you can also utilize an optional Fairlight Audio Accelerator Card. Further, with the software’s multiple user collaboration feature, multiple sound editors can work on the entire project at the same time.

A new transient analysis tool has been added. This tool automatically detects individual words, beats or sound effects. Transient markers are displayed in the waveform as vertical lines and can be navigated by users via the arrow keys. Blackmagic states that these markers make it easier to identify specific parts of a sound when editing audio. You can also now see larger audio waveforms while trimming.

Image credit: Blackmagic Design. Click to enlarge.

The DaVinci Neural Engine allows for automatic mask creation for an entire person or for specific features such as a face or arms. Further, ‘customers get matte finesse tools, the ability to add and remove strokes and automatic tracking.’ When editing in 16:9 HD or Ultra HD, you can now quickly create square or vertical versions for publishing to platforms such as Instagram. The Neural Engine helps here as well by automatically identifying faces and repositioning them inside the new frame, thus saving time.

Additional time-saving features include the new multi-column view for viewing effects, transitions and titles. The new workspace includes description icons, plus you can cover the cursor over an item to see a live preview in the viewer. The edit page includes ‘dozens’ of time-saving new features as well. These include the ability to manage independent proxy media, more easily synchronize multicam clips, create a sync map, generate render files for any portion of the timeline, make source side adjustments and much more.

Doubling back to multi-user collaboration, this feature is now included in the free version of DaVinci Resolve 17. This means that multiple free users can collaborate on the same project, across multiple devices, simultaneously. Of course, the free version doesn’t include all new features, but it includes a lot. A quick note that it appears that a much-requested feature, ProRes RAW support, doesn’t appear to be coming in DaVinci Resolve 17.

Image credit: Blackmagic Design. Click to enlarge.

Of DaVinci Resolve 17, Blackmagic Design CEO, Grant Petty, said, ‘This is a massive update and it has amazing new technology and features for colorists, audio engineers, editors and visual effects artists. While the new color science, HDR grading and improvements and Fairlight usability are the most noticeable features, what I am most proud of are the thousands of small improvements that customers will notice every day!’

There are many features and improvements in DaVinci Resolve 17 that are beyond the scope of this article, so let’s quickly summarize the primary features of DaVinci Resolve 17:

  • Next generation HDR color correction with customizable wheels and tonal zones.
  • Mesh and grid based color warper delivers an entirely new way to transform color.
  • Magic mask automatic object isolation powered by the DaVinci Neural Engine.
  • Improved color management with tone mapping and color space aware tools.
  • Massive DaVinci wide gamut color space for higher quality image processing.
  • High speed audio editing with new keyboard and mouse context-sensitive tools.
  • Fairlight Audio Core engine with auto load balancing and support for 2,000 tracks.
  • Revolutionary FlexBus architecture for audio routing without limitations.
  • Automatic transient detection for beats, words, and sound effects.
  • Support for massive audio projects with thousands of tracks on a single system.
  • Metadata based card view in media pool on cut page.
  • Precision audio trimming on the cut page timeline and graphical trimmer.
  • Smart reframe powered by the DaVinci Neural Engine on cut and edit pages.
  • Live effect, title, and transition previews on cut and edit pages.
  • Import and edit projects from ATEM Mini Pro ISO.
  • Proxy media workflows up to 1/16th resolution in H.264, H.265, ProRes or DNxHR.
  • Timeline based clip syncing to create multicam and compound clips.
  • Alpha support for keying and compositing on cut and edit pages.
  • Render in place command for effects heavy clips on cut and edit timelines.
  • Make source side adjustments before editing clips into the timeline.
  • Portable timeline and bin files for easy sharing.
  • Native interlace processing and realtime 3:2 pulldown removal.
  • Node tree bookmarks, customizable Fusion toolbar, and vertical node layouts.
  • Support for growing files in media pool.
  • Support for frame based metadata for BRAW, ARRI, RED, Sony and EXR.
  • Workflow integration API and third party encoder API.
Image credit: Blackmagic Design

DaVinci Resolve 17 is available now as a public beta. You can download the software by clicking here. DaVinci Resolve is available as a free download. For all the new features, including the DaVinci Neural Engine, stereoscopic 3D tools, additional Resove FX filters, Fairlight FX audio plugins, HDR grading and more, you must purchase DaVinci Resolve Studio. When the public release of DaVinci Resolve 17 Studio is available, it will cost $ 299 USD.

In addition to DaVinci Resolve 17, Blackmagic Design has also announced additional products. The DaVinci Resolve Speed Editor, $ 295 USD, is a new keyboard for DaVinci Resolve’s cut page and ‘allows a new and dramatically faster editing solution that’s a combination of integrated hardware and software.’ For a limited time, every customer who purchases DaVinci Resolve Studio from a Blackmagic Design reseller will get the Speed Editor free of charge.

DaVinci Resolve Speed Editor. Image credit: Blackmagic Design.

On the Fairlight side of things, a new Fairlight Desktop Console will be available this December for $ 3,495. This is a complete audio mixing control surface for mixing multiple tracks at once, automating various parameters and plug-in settings and more. Blackmagic has also announced the Fairlight HDMI Monitor Interface. This allows customers to use any HDMI or SDI television or monitor with large Fairlight Studio Consoles. This product will cost $ 259 and you can learn more about it here.

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ACDSee Photo Studio Ultimate 2021 announced, promising faster performance and new features

23 Sep

ACD Systems International has launched ACDSee Photo Studio Ultimate 2021. This is the newest version of the company’s flagship photo editing software. The new version is focused on providing improved performance. ACD Systems International states that Photo Studio Ultimate 2021’s performance enhancements are up to 100 percent faster and RAW decoding is up to 20 percent faster.

Frank Lin, CTO & COO of ACD Systems International, says, ‘This product is everything you need to optimize your digital asset management, your photography workflow, your editing process and your work as a photographer. We’re pleased to have focused on responding to customer feedback to make this the best product for today’s photographers.’

New features in ACDSee Photo Studio Ultimate 2021 include:

  • New Color Wheels and Tone Wheels – These wheels allow users to more precisely adjust colors, highlights, midtones and shadows.
  • Text on paths and text in a frame – You can now customize your text, including its path.
  • Refine Selection – In the new version, you can shift or soften edges, allowing for better use of included tools such as Smart Erase.
  • New and improved batch rename and resize functionality – You can now create your own templates and presets to speed up batch processes.
  • New optimized user interface and panes – New UI and panes are designed to streamline the editing process, allow the user to capture snapshots and view a full edit history for a file.
  • Improved Quick Search – Finding images in large databases is much faster.
  • Improved crop and watermarking – You can crop multiple images to custom sizes and add watermarks using anchor points.
  • Easier migration from Lightroom and Picasa – You can import face data in three clicks.
This screenshot shows the new Color Wheel in ACDSee Photo Studio Ultimate 2021. Image credit: ACDSee

ACDSee Photo Studio Ultimate 2021 is available now. You can purchase a perpetual license for $ 149.99 or purchase the software via subscription for $ 69 per year. You can learn more about ACDSee Photo Studio Ultimate 2021 and evaluate your purchasing options by clicking here. Photo Studio is also available in Professional and Home versions as well for $ 100 and $ 60 respectively. These versions have fewer features than Ultimate in exchange for a lower price.

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Sony countdown timer teases a ‘new concept’ set to be announced next week

08 Sep

Prepare your calendars (and your wallets), because Sony has unveiled a countdown for its next product, a ‘new concept’ that’s due to be announced within the next week.

While a still image of the countdown was first shared on the Sony Japan website, the official Sony Camera YouTube channel has since created a countdown video, embedded below, that points to an announcement being made at 9pm EDT / 6pm PDT on September 14.

No further information is being shared at this time about what exactly is being announced, but you can set a reminder on the Youtube countdown to be notified in advance of the virtual event.

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The Nikon Z5 Will Be Announced on July 21st

02 Jul

The post The Nikon Z5 Will Be Announced on July 21st appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.

nikon z5 announced news

If you’ve been hoping for a more affordable full-frame mirrorless option from Nikon, you don’t have long to wait.

According to Nikon Rumors, we will likely see the launch of the new Nikon Z5 on July 21st, a camera that will be positioned beneath both of Nikon’s current mirrorless models, the Nikon Z6 and the Nikon Z7.

Any new Z-mount camera would be a welcome addition to the Nikon mirrorless lineup, which currently consists of two full-frame bodies (the Z6 and Z7), as well as the APS-C Z50. And while all three of these cameras are worthy of praise, the lineup still contains quite a few gaps, such as an action-centric “professional” body, a true entry-level APS-C body, and a more affordable full-frame model.

Enter the Nikon Z5, a camera with the potential to energize Nikon fans, especially shooters that are on the fence about switching to mirrorless.

What can you expect from the Z5?

Nikon to release Z5

While there is no official word from Nikon on the camera, rumors suggest that the Z5 will offer a lot of the same features as the Z6, including:

  • A 3.69M-dot electronic viewfinder
  • In-body image stabilization
  • An identical autofocus system
  • A 24 MP sensor

Interestingly, it’s looking like the Z5 will also offer dual SD card slots, perhaps in response to the criticism Nikon took over the lack of dual slots in the Z6 and the Z7.

Of course, for the Z5 to stay reasonably priced, Nikon will be making some cuts, including continuous shooting speed (expect 6 frames per second, rather than the 12 fps you get with the Z6), the loss of full-frame 4K video (there will likely be a substantial crop), as well as no top LCD.

But the Z5 is still looking to be an impressive camera, even if it’s not as action-capable as the Z6.

What’ll be interesting to see is how Nikon’s new camera stacks up against the Canon EOS R6, which will debut just weeks before the Z5, and will be positioned below the Canon EOS R5, as well as (likely) the EOS R. There’s also still the Canon EOS RP, which is very much a lower-priced full-frame option, even if it may become far less interesting after the launch of the R6.

Bottom line:

If you’re a photographer hoping to go full-frame, or you’re already a Nikon full-frame photographer seeking a mirrorless option, then keep an eye out for the Z5 announcement; if the rumors are true, then it’ll be one very impressive camera!

Now over to you:

What do you think about the upcoming Z5? What do you expect it’ll offer? What do you hope it will offer? Share your thoughts in the comments!

The post The Nikon Z5 Will Be Announced on July 21st appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.


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Nik Collection 3 by DxO announced: Includes new Perspective Efex, faster workflow & more

03 Jun

DxO has announced the Nik Collection 3, the latest version its popular plugin suite that brings multiple new features and an entirely new plugin, Perspective Efex.

The new Perspective Efex fixes geometric distortion in your images via automatic corrections or manually placed reference lines. Perspective Efex can correct distortions such as keystone distortion in architecture images and is able to address lens distortions such as barrel, pincushion and fisheye distortion.

The new Perspective Efex plugin allows users to fix distortion in their images and adjust perspective. This example shows before (left) and after (right) when using Perspective Efex to fix distortion. Distortion correction can be applied automatically by the software or manually by the user through the use of placed reference lines. Image credit: DxO

In addition to being used to fix issues with distortion, Perspective Efex also includes a Miniature Effect tool, which allows you to control shallow depth-of-field effects. This allows you to replicate the effect of using a tilt-shift lens just with only software.

Nik Collection 3 includes a revised Nik Selective Tool. This tool allows the user to quickly access the suite of plugins within Nik Collection 3 from inside Adobe Photoshop. The redesigned Selective Tool lets you select favorite filter presets or revisit a prior edit, which DxO promises will result in a faster and more efficient workflow.

Speaking of workflow improvements, Nik Collection 3 introduces a non-destructive workflow option when working with Adobe Lightroom Classic. After you have made edits to your raw image in Lightroom Classic, you can export images as TIFF files from LR Classic into Nik Collection 3 and adjust plugin edits indefinitely while maintaining a completely reversible editing process.

In total, Nik Collection 3 by DxO includes eight plugins: Color Efex Pro, Viveza, Silver Efex Pro, Dfine 2, Sharpener Pro, Analog Efex Pro, HDR Efex Pro and Perspective Efex. Between all the plugins, you can perform tasks such as preset application, localized editing, black and white conversions, noise reduction, sharpening, film emulation, HDR creation and perspective adjustments. The local editing tools in Nik Collection by DxO are particularly popular with users due to Nik’s famous U-Point editing technology, which was a primary reason for DxO purchasing Nik from Google in late 2017.

This screenshot shows Color Efex Pro in Nik Collection 3 by DxO. This popular plugin allows users to add and adjust various filters to their images. You can adjust the individual application of filters and their strengths through the Nik Collection’s U-Point technology. Image credit: DxO

Nik Collection 3 by DxO is sold as a lifetime license. For a limited time, users can purchase Nik Collection 3 for $ 100 USD. Existing Nik Collection by DxO owners can purchase Nik Collection 3 at a reduced price. A free trial is also available, which you can download here. Nik Collection is compatible with DxO PhotoLab, Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Lightroom Classic.

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SD Express 8.0 announced, promising speeds up 4GB/s and improved performance

21 May

The SD Association (SDA) has announced the SD Express 8.0 (SD8.0) specification, promising up to transfer speed of up to 4GB/s (2GB/s per lane up to two lanes). The SD8.0 spec is built on the PCIe 4.0 standard and uses NVM Express (NVMe) technology.

It builds on the previous 7.0 specification that used PCIe 3.0, which powers the rival CFexpress format. The newest format can either deliver up to 2GB/s transfers with the PCIe 4.0 standard over a single lane using the familiar SD card format with two rows of pins (a combination denoted as PCIe G4L1 in the diagram below), or using PCIe 3.0 across two lanes (PCIe G3L2) which will add a third row of connection pins. The 4GB/s transfer speeds will be delivered by PCIe G4L2 cards using PCIe 4.0 transfer across two lanes (and three rows of pins).

SD Express speed comparison chart. Click to enlarge. Image credit: SD Association

The SDA, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, believes the new SD Express standard will create additional variety in the market and allows manufacturers to make the most of the increased speeds of SD Express to produce more storage choices for consumers. Additionally, the SDA states that SD 8.0 ‘may open even more opportunities for extra high-performance solutions using removable memory cards.’ Importantly, as with all SDA advancements, the SD 8.0 specification maintains backward compatibility across previous generations.

SD8.0 is arriving nearly two years after the SD 7.0 (SD7.0) spec was released in July 2018. The SD7.0 specification introduced PCIe 3.1 and NVMe architecture to SD cards. In February 2019, the SDA introduced the microSD Express 7.1 specification.

Camera and card makers haven’t yet made use of the UHS-III format set out in the older SD6.0 specification

Notably, camera and card makers haven’t yet made use of the UHS-III format set out in the older SD6.0 specification. Memory card manufacturer Sandisk has already shown mockups of SD Express (SD7.0) cards, which raises the possibility that the industry will skip the UHS-III specification entirely.

An alternative memory card format, the CFexpress standard, has been increasing in adoption due to its impressive speeds and performance. CFexpress cards can utilize up to four lanes and currently can deliver 1GB/s speeds per lane. However, the current CFexpress 2.0 standard, announced in February 2019, promised comparable speeds using four PCIe 3.0 lanes to the ones that SD 8.0 will get from two v4.0 lanes

It will be interesting to see when CFExpress standards adopt a PCIe 4.0 interface, as the SDA and CFA continue to be in a memory card arms race. If history has proven anything, it’s that it will take some time before the new standards, and the accompanying performance increases, are commonplace in consumer products. However, the new SD8.0 spec lays impressive groundwork technology for faster cameras and improved workflows for photographers and videographers.

For additional information on SD8.0, the SDA has launched a ‘virtual trade show.’ You can explore it by clicking here.

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The Sony a7S III May Be Announced in Late June

08 May

The post The Sony a7S III May Be Announced in Late June appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.

dps-sony-a7s-iii-news

Over the past several weeks, rumors of a new Sony full-frame camera have been on the rise.

And, taken together, it looks like we may have a Sony a7S II successor before the summer is out.

One rumor, originally reported by Sony Alpha Rumors, suggests that a Sony full-frame camera (and a full-frame lens) will debut at the end of June.

Another rumor, also revealed by Sony Alpha Rumors, tells of a Sony a7S II successor in “late June.”

Sony a7S II successor may debut soon

According to this second report, the a7S III should be launched toward the end of next month, with the camera “scheduled to be on the market by late Summer,” assuming that coronavirus doesn’t cause further, unexpected issues.

Put these two reports together, and an a7S III seems very likely, though it is possible that we’ll be surprised with an a7 IV.

An a7S II successor is long overdue; the a7S II launched way back in 2015, and since then much has changed in the camera industry. Note that the a7S III would be part of Sony’s video-centric stills lineup, which focuses on high-quality video over features such as huge megapixel counts and insanely good autofocus tracking.

So what can we expect from this new Sony snapper?

First, the a7S III should feature at least 4K/60p (the old a7S II offers 4K/30p), but there’s also a possibility for a jump in resolution to 6K or even 8K.

A June-announced 8K camera would be poised to compete with the upcoming Canon EOS R5, which will leapfrog over other mirrorless bodies to offer 8K/30p recording. Personally, I’m doubtful as to whether Sony could pull this off; it’s far more likely that we’ll get 4K/60p, or maybe 6K.

We should also see some standard Sony features: touchscreen capabilities, IBIS, faster AF, and a relatively compact body. The a7S II was (and is) a powerful low-light shooter, so the a7S III may take that even further, offering top-of-the-line high-ISO performance.

As for the price:

The Sony a7S II is currently available for around $ 2000 USD, but it debuted with an MSRP of $ 3000 USD; we can expect that the a7S III will start at this mark, though it’s possible we’ll see a higher price if the camera offers some unexpected features (such as 8K video).

So if you’re a hybrid shooter looking for your next camera, keep an eye out for updates over the next couple of months!

Now over to you:

Are you excited about the potential release of the a7S III? What do you think the camera will offer in terms of video and stills capability? Share your thoughts in the comments!

The post The Sony a7S III May Be Announced in Late June appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.


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