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Posts Tagged ‘Debut’

Luminar Neo to Offer Advanced AI Photo Editing (and Debut This Winter)

17 Sep

The post Luminar Neo to Offer Advanced AI Photo Editing (and Debut This Winter) appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.

Luminar Neo to debut this winter

Skylum has announced yet another eye-catching photo-editing program, Luminar Neo, billing the software as “a creative image editor driven by AI technologies of the future.”

As the company behind Luminar 4 and Luminar AI – programs that debuted innovative, AI-based tools such as AI Sky Replacement and Composition AI – Skylum is no stranger to success in the AI photo editing market. And Luminar Neo aims to improve upon the Skylum formula, offering amateur photographers an AI route to pro-level edits, along with higher-level control for advanced shooters.

Yet Luminar Neo isn’t a simple Luminar AI iteration. According to Skylum, Luminar Neo “is a quintessence of all [the company’s] applications released to date,” and “will retain almost all of Luminar AI’s features” but add “all-new, cutting-edge, AI-powered tools.” 

For current Luminar AI users wondering whether it makes sense to upgrade, Skylum spells out the difference between Luminar AI and Luminar Neo:

“Luminar AI is the easiest-to-use image editor fully powered by artificial intelligence for those who prefer a time-saving, Template-driven workflow for quick results…Luminar Neo is for those who want more editing options and more creative control.”

In other words, while anyone – including complete beginners – will feel at home in Luminar AI, the new Luminar Neo pushes in the direction of programs like Luminar 4 and Adobe Lightroom Classic, both offering a slew of tools for enthusiasts and pros alike.

Skylum has already teased a handful of new Luminar Neo tools, including a powerful photo relighting option, intelligent background switching, sensor dust removal, power line removal, and some form of AI masking, but we’ll have to wait to learn precisely how these features work and who they’re for.

Luminar Neo has no release date – the promotional materials merely claim a “winter” launch – though you can expect an announcement sometime in the next few months. An early December release would make sense, given the upcoming holiday season. And if you know you want Luminar Neo, you can preorder a one-time license for $ 54 USD.

So who should think about buying Luminar Neo? The new program should suit serious hobbyists all the way up through advanced amateurs (and potentially even pros). If you like the idea of creative AI effects but still want to be in control, Neo is likely a better pick than Luminar AI. On the other hand, if you’re looking for an ultra-easy, no-effort-necessary editor, Luminar AI is the better option.

Now over to you:

What do you think of Luminar Neo? Will you purchase it? Does it sound good? Bad? Are you disappointed? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

The post Luminar Neo to Offer Advanced AI Photo Editing (and Debut This Winter) appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.


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The Sony a6900 Will Debut Before the Month Is Out: Here’s What We Know

15 May

The post The Sony a6900 Will Debut Before the Month Is Out: Here’s What We Know appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.

Sony a6900 to debut before the month is out

For weeks, SonyAlphaRumors has been dropping information regarding the so-called Sony a6900, which will debut in “late May” as an a6600 successor. 

While the “a6900” moniker is not yet confirmed, a “trusted” SonyAlphaRumors source has said that the new camera “will not be named ‘a6700,’” with another SAR source offering the a6900 label.

So what do we know about this new a6900?

SonyAlphaRumors confidently states that the a6900 will replace the a6600, but will feature an APS-C sensor and a body similar to the full-frame a7C. It will “be branded as [a] ‘vlogger’ camera,” which suggests several blogging-friendly specs: a fully articulating screen, for one, but also impressive video capabilities (at least 4K/30p plus mic/headphone jacks) and a compact design.

Sony a6900 release
The Sony a6900 will look much like the compact a7C.

Indeed, various rumors suggest that the a6900 will feature 4K/60p video, a notable upgrade over the 4K/30p offered by the a6600. Interestingly, rumors also point to a new high-resolution sensor – several SonyAlphaRumors sources have suggested 32 MP – in a surprising break from Sony’s string of 24 MP APS-C models. 

Here are additional specs suggested by (unconfirmed) SAR sources:

  • Improved rolling shutter performance
  • 20 frames-per-second continuous shooting
  • 2.36M-dot EVF
  • The “same tilt screen” as the a7C
  • Upgraded in-body image stabilization (compared to the a7C)
  • A7C-like price ($ 1798 USD)

Most of these items seem pretty standard and don’t offer any major improvements over the a6600. The exception is the 20 fps continuous shooting rate, and I’ll admit that I’m skeptical; after all, it’s a feature matched only by Sony’s highest-level full-frame models and is wholly unnecessary for vloggers.

Of course, you can also expect Sony’s standard autofocusing capabilities, including its vaunted Real-time Eye AF, plus outstanding subject tracking and generally speedy focusing, all of which will appeal to vloggers and still shooters alike.

So be sure to keep an eye out for further Sony a6900 news, especially if you’re interested in a compact, vlogging-focused camera; we should get an official release before the month is out.

Now over to you:

What do you think of the Sony a6900? If the rumored specifications are right, would you be interested? Are there any key features that the camera is missing? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

The post The Sony a6900 Will Debut Before the Month Is Out: Here’s What We Know appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.


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Two Autofocusing Tilt-Shift Lenses From Canon May Debut Next Year

08 May

The post Two Autofocusing Tilt-Shift Lenses From Canon May Debut Next Year appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.

two autofocusing tilt-shift lenses may debut next year

Canon will release its first RF-mount tilt-shift lenses within the next year, claims Canon Rumors. What’s more, these will “be the first tilt-shift lenses with autofocus.”

At the time of writing, Canon offers a number of tilt-shift lenses for its DSLR lineup, including the 17mm f/4L, the 24mm f/3.5L II, and the 90mm f/2.8L Macro. But all of Canon’s TS lenses are manual focus only, and Canon has not yet produced a tilt-shift option for mirrorless shooters. 

If the rumors are right, Canon will release two wide-angle TS lenses:

  • A 14mm f/4L lens
  • A 24mm f/3.5L lens

The 14mm f/4L lens should be perfect for ultra-wide landscape photography; with a 14mm focal length, you gain the expansive field of view that’s especially popular among pro landscape photographers. It’s a perspective that cannot be matched by Canon’s current tilt-shift offerings (Canon’s widest TS lens is the aforementioned 17mm f/4L, followed by the 24mm f/3.5L II).

The 24mm f/3.5L, while perhaps less groundbreaking, offers a “standard” wide-angle perspective. It’ll undoubtedly excel when shooting landscapes, architecture, and even environmental portraits, either as a conventional lens or with the tilt-shift effects applied. 

But what’s the value of a tilt-shift lens?

Lenses featuring tilt-shift capabilities allow you to address certain problems posed by architecture and landscape photography (though the TS effect is also just cool!). Specifically, tilting the lens adjusts the plane of focus. You can use this to produce a “miniature” effect, where all the elements look small and human-made – or you can use it to keep certain elements in focus while blurring out other elements. 

So a landscape photographer might use the tilt effect to keep an entire scene in focus from front to back, even with a shallow depth of field. And a portrait photographer might use the tilt effect to creatively blur out all but the subject’s face.

You can also shift the lens; this essentially lets you choose a vantage point off to the side of your camera, but without having to move the camera body. It’s invaluable for architectural photography, where shifting the lens upward prevents unwanted distortion. You can also use the shift effect when capturing panoramas in landscape photography (it makes for beautiful, easily stitched results!).

Currently, Canon’s tilt-shift lenses are relatively expensive, and I doubt this RF-mount glass will break the mold, especially given the added autofocus capabilities. But we’ll ultimately have to wait and see; Canon Rumors suggests a “first half of 2022” announcement (one that should, incidentally, come “alongside a high-megapixel camera”).

So keep an eye out for more information. And if you’re thinking about purchasing a tilt-shift lens, you might want to hold off until these RF-mount options have been unveiled.

Now over to you:

What do you think of Canon’s potential tilt-shift lenses? Would you be interested? What draws you toward tilt-shift glass? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

The post Two Autofocusing Tilt-Shift Lenses From Canon May Debut Next Year appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.


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The World’s First Completely AI-Powered Photo Editor Will Debut Before the Year Is Out

26 Oct

The post The World’s First Completely AI-Powered Photo Editor Will Debut Before the Year Is Out appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.

Skylum’s Luminar AI, billed as “the first image editor fully powered by artificial intelligence,” will come available before the year is out.

Luminar AI is the world's first completely AI-powered photo editor

Already, the image editor has created controversy among photographers thanks to its automated, AI-based approach to image editing, with some claiming that Luminar AI’s easy, no-experience-necessary approach is problematic – or even cheating.

And while we don’t know exactly how the program works, Skylum has released several videos showing off some of Luminar AI’s standout features.

world's first AI-powered photo editor

Highlights include:

  • Composition AI, which automatically straightens your images and suggests cropping based on compositional guidelines and feedback from professional photographers
  • Face AI and Skin AI, which automatically retouch your subjects’ faces for improved teeth, lips, skin, and much more
  • Sky AI, which allows you to instantly swap skies while automatically adjusting for changes in lighting and color
  • Atmosphere AI, which lets you enhance your images with weather effects (such as haze, steam, drizzle, fog, and mist)

To see some of these AI effects in action, check out Skylum’s latest video:

While Luminar AI will be offered as a standalone editing program, Skylum’s most up-to-date software, Luminar 4, already packs some AI-based features (including a popular sky-replacement option). But Luminar AI promises to take AI editing to the next level, opening up advanced post-processing effects to a much larger audience.

Will Luminar AI do everything for you?

It doesn’t seem like it. As Skylum explains, you have to make creative choices; Luminar AI will do a lot of editing work for you, but you’ll remain at the helm.

world's first AI-powered photo editor

As for the Luminar AI release:

The date is currently unknown, but Skylum promises a “holiday season” release. I’d expect an early December debut, though mid-December or late November certainly isn’t out of the question.

In terms of price, you can currently preorder Luminar AI for a discounted rate:

$ 74 USD for a standard copy of Luminar AI, or $ 139 USD to download both Luminar AI and Luminar 4.

So if Luminar AI’s simple approach to editing appeals to you, make sure you take a look while the discount still lasts! You can view the software here.

Now over to you:

What do you think about Luminar AI? Do you like the idea of AI-based editing? Or does it feel like cheating? And will you purchase the program? Share your thoughts in the comments!

The post The World’s First Completely AI-Powered Photo Editor Will Debut Before the Year Is Out appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.


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Two New Canon EOS M Cameras Will Debut Before the Year is Out

17 Apr

The post Two New Canon EOS M Cameras Will Debut Before the Year is Out appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.

Gear News - New Canon EOS M Cameras

While the camera industry has slowed in recent months, Canon continues to push forward.

New rumors indicate that Canon will be releasing two EOS M cameras by the end of 2020. While the details of these cameras are uncertain, they come as a welcome promise for a (hopefully) post-coronavirus world.

Prior to coronavirus concerns, discussion of two full-frame mirrorless models dominated the internet:

The Canon EOS R5, poised as a mirrorless-style 5D and packing true 8K video, along with in-body image stabilization and 20 frames-per-second continuous shooting.

And the Canon EOS R6, a camera that Canon has been fairly quiet about (but is rumored to have 20 MP sensor, 20 fps shooting, and 4K/60p video).

While coronavirus will potentially delay the release of these two bodies, the original plan was for them to both debut this summer, leaving the fall open for other Canon announcements.

Now we have an idea of what those announcements might be.

Note that we haven’t heard much about Canon EOS M models since the fall of 2019, when the Canon EOS M6 Mark II and the Canon EOS M200 debuted.

The EOS M line offers mirrorless APS-C bodies geared toward entry-level shooters. While some of these bodies offer advanced features such as electronic viewfinders, EOS M cameras are more compact than their full-frame counterparts and come at significantly lower prices.

EOS M cameras are designed to work with Canon’s EF-M lenses. But an optional adapter will allow you to combine EOS M bodies with Canon EF and EF-S lenses, making Canon EOS M cameras an excellent option for Canon DSLR users seeking a switch to mirrorless.

Rumors also suggest that we’ll see several new EF-M lenses debut before the year is out, which is a welcome development given the relative scantiness of the EOS M lens lineup.

So if you’re a Canon shooter looking to switch to mirrorless, or you’re planning to upgrade an existing EOS M body, keep an eye out for further news!

Now over to you:

Are you excited about new EOS M cameras? Which models do you think Canon will announce? Share your thoughts in the comments!

The post Two New Canon EOS M Cameras Will Debut Before the Year is Out appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.


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The Canon 1D X Mark III Will Debut With 20 FPS and Enhanced Autofocus

31 Oct

The post The Canon 1D X Mark III Will Debut With 20 FPS and Enhanced Autofocus appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.

 

Canon-1D-X-Mark-III-debutJust last week, Canon announced the long-awaited 1D X Mark III, a flagship DSLR tailored to action and wildlife photographers. The new camera comes as a successor to the Canon 1D X Mark II, which set the tone for sports photographers everywhere.

But what can you expect from the Canon 1D X Mark III? Is it a camera worth purchasing?

First, the Canon 1D X Mark III is a professional action photographer’s camera. So while it will undoubtedly offer the latest and greatest technology, this will come at a price that most enthusiast photographers will be unwilling to pay. The Canon 1D X Mark II debuted at an MSRP of $ 5999, so you can expect something similar (if not more) for the Canon 1D X Mark III.

That said, for those who can afford it, the Canon 1D X Mark III is looking to be one of the best action cameras money can buy. Let’s check out its specifications:

Specifications

According to the Canon press release, the 1D X Mark III will offer incredible autofocus capabilities. This includes “exceptional precision, reliability, high-performance…and subject tracking.” For any photographer who shoots moving subjects, the Canon 1D X Mark III’s tracking is bound to be better than any previous Canon DSLR.

And these capabilities extend into Live View, where the 1D X Mark III’s Dual Pixel autofocus features 525 AF areas for lightning-fast focusing and accuracy.

Of course, no action camera is complete without a high continuous shooting rate. Here, the Canon 1D X Mark III won’t disappoint; using the optical viewfinder, you can expect up to 16 frames per second of continuous shooting. In Live View, you can shoot up to an incredible 20 frames per second.

Also, the 1D X Mark III promises “more than five times the RAW burst depth of its predecessor,” thanks to a new DIGIC processor and dual CFexpress card slots. Considering the deep buffer of the 1D X Mark II, you can expect extraordinary capabilities that will please any action photographer.

Unfortunately, Canon has not yet announced the sensor details on the Canon 1D X Mark III. We don’t know its resolution (though rumors indicate it may be around 28 megapixels). However, Canon has announced the addition of the HEIF file format, which should allow for better colors and enhanced dynamic range over JPEGs.

Finally, the Canon 1D X Mark III is designed for high-speed transfers and flexibility in the field. The camera features Wi-Fi and Bluetooth LE, as well as a built-in Ethernet connection and an optional wireless file transmitter. This is a nice set of features for pros who need to quickly transfer photos.

There is currently no set release date for the Canon 1D X Mark III. However, you can expect it sometime before mid-2020, and possibly as early as February (if it mirrors the path of the Canon 1D X Mark II, which debuted in February of 2016).

That should give you plenty of time to decide if the camera is right for you.

What do you think about the Canon 1D X Mark III? Does it meet your expectations? Will you be purchasing it? Share your thoughts in the comments!

The post The Canon 1D X Mark III Will Debut With 20 FPS and Enhanced Autofocus appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.


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GoPro Fusion makes official debut, captures 5.2K spherical video

29 Sep

GoPro’s pro-grade spherical camera has been in the works for a while now, but today Fusion gets its official debut today. It’s capable of 5.2K/30p and 3K/60p spherical video capture, in addition to 18MP spherical stills. It touts gimbal-like stabilization without a gimbal, and provides a feature GoPro calls OverCapture to create tradition fixed perspective video from 360-degree footage.

It’s not quite as rugged as its Hero siblings, but Fusion is waterproof to 5m/16ft. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity are included and the camera is compatible with the existing GoPro app. It’s up for pre-order now to US, UK, European and Canadian customers for $ 700.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Yi 4K+ action camera and Carbon Fiber Drone announced ahead of CES 2017 debut

29 Dec

Chinese company YI Technology, maker of the Yi Action Camera, and the YI M1, which we reviewed earlier this year, has announced the YI 4K+, an update to the company’s previous YI 4K model. This is the third action camera in YI Technology’s lineup, and it improves upon the previous model with 4K recording at 60fps rather than 30fps. Yi plans to unveil the camera at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2017 next month.

In addition to the YI 4K+ unveiling, YI Technology also plans to demonstrate its YI Erida smart drone at CES, marking the model’s first demonstration in the U.S.

The YI Erida is described as a full-carbon ‘smart drone’ with a three-rotor design and support for the Yi 4K action camera. This drone has a top speed up to 75MPH and flight time rated up to 40 minutes per charge.

Via: BusinessWire

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Leica Sofort instant camera officially announced ahead of Photokina debut

16 Sep

Following speculation that such an announcement was imminent, Leica has taken the wraps off its new Sofort instant camera, something photographers can use to ‘create small, haptic works of art and lasting memories,’ according to the company. The Leica Sofort features a fixed 60mm (34mm equivalent) lens with an F12.7 aperture, an integrated flash, eight operation modes, 1/8 to 1/400s mechanical shutter and a rear optical 0.37x viewfinder. In other words, it’s more than likely to be a re-badged Fujifilm Instax Mini 90.

The Sofort, which is set to make its first public debut at Photokina, will be available in mint, white, and orange colors. Users have eight operation modes to choose from: Automatic, Selfie, People & Party, Action & Sport, Bulb, Macro, Self-Timer, and Double Exposure. The integrated electronic flash includes the following four modes: Auto, Forced On, Forced Off, and Forced On w/Red-Eye Reduction.

The Sofort will launch this upcoming November alongside three different instant film pack options: a color film pack with 10 exposures, a color film double pack with 20 exposures, and a monochrome film pack with 10 exposures. The camera will also accept Fujifilm’s Instax mini film.

Several accessories will also be offered, including a range of carrying straps in black & white, mint, and orange colors; soft carrying cases in brown or black; the Sofort Photo Presenter for presenting photographs; Sofort Postcards 3-packs with support for attaching pictures; the Sofort Photo Album; and, finally, the Sofort Storage Boxes, which will be offered in sets of three with the following color combinations: white & black, orange & black, and mint & black.

Pricing information hasn’t yet been revealed.

Source: Leica

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Ricoh teases spring 2016 full-frame Pentax DSLR debut

19 Sep

Ricoh has launched a teaser website promoting the introduction of its Pentax full-frame DSLR in spring of 2016. The news of a full-frame K-mount camera came in February when we also got a glimpse of an early mockup at CP+. Read more

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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