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Posts Tagged ‘faster’

Photo software Exposure X6 brings 3x faster processing and a host of new auto adjustments

08 Oct

The Exposure photo editing software application, that was formerly Alien Skin, has been updated with enhanced GPU optimization that allows some oft-used functions to run at three times the speed. Exposure X6 also introduces a collection of new automated adjustments that aim to make image processing simpler and to save photographers time.

Available as a standalone application or a plug-in for Adobe’s Photoshop and Lightroom, Exposure X6 introduces Auto White Balance, Auto Exposure, Auto Haze Level, Auto Dynamic Contrast and Auto Tone for creating one-click fixes for common problems. Tonal and contrast adjustments are said to avoid shifts in color saturation and hue, and the Auto White Balance adjustment is based on camera metadata. The sensor used is also taken into account in the new noise reduction feature, along with information about the ISO setting and an estimate of likely electronic noise.

Before and after examples of the new Color Editor tool that allows colors to be selected and replaced. Changes can be saved as a preset to apply to further images

A new Color Editor allows users to select and replace specific selected colors, and to make multiple color changes within the same image. These changes can be mapped and saved as presets to be used in further images so sets of pictures can have consistent adjustments made.

Exposure X6 is available for download now, and costs $ 119. If you bought Exposure X5 on or after July 15th 2020 your upgrade will be free, and those who bought it before that, and users of previous versions, can upgrade for $ 89. For more information, and a free 30-day trial, visit the Exposure website.

Press release

Exposure Software Announces Exposure X6, Image Editing Software for Creative Photographers

Exposure X6 features dramatic speed improvement, one-click automatic adjustments, advanced color replacement, innovative shadow/highlight and noise reduction processing, and more

Exposure Software, formerly known as Alien Skin Software, today announced the release of Exposure X6, the newest version of their award-winning RAW photo editor for creative photographers. Exposure is a standalone image editor that handles a full photography workflow. It includes plug-in support that enables Exposure’s advanced editing and creative effects in Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom.

New in Exposure X6 is advanced GPU optimization, which dramatically speeds up image processing. GPU support works in concert with Exposure’s existing multi-core optimization to enable Exposure to leverage the full power of modern computer hardware. Many frequently used editing operations have been sped up by a factor of three on typical GPU hardware. This improved performance enables editing at greatly improved speeds, reducing distraction so photographers can focus on creativity.

“The introduction of GPU support in Exposure X6 enabled us to achieve amazing speed and image processing quality improvements,” said Finley Lee, CEO of Exposure Software. “This further advances our goal of making Exposure the best available image editor for creative photography.”

New automatic adjustments select optimized values for the most frequently used controls in a single click, freeing time for creative editing. They can even be applied in batch to significantly ease the time spent editing large photoshoots. Exposure’s new automatic adjustments include the following:

  • Auto White Balance adjusts white balance based on camera metadata. Corrects for tungsten, artificial, shade, and sunlight illuminant scenes.
  • Auto Exposure sets image exposure for both under and overexposed images.
  • Auto Haze Level changes the level of atmospheric haze present in the image. This is particularly useful for backlit subjects and images shot into the sun.
  • Auto Dynamic Contrast lowers and raises the overall image contrast without changing saturation or hue.
  • Auto Tone sets values for Blacks, Shadows, Highlights, and Whites sliders that affect overall image tone.

Using an innovative tonal-zone approach, Exposure’s redesigned shadows and highlights controls are more reliable, consistent, and accurate. These intuitive controls are particularly adept at recovering lost details in the highlight and shadow areas. The adjustments are applied intelligently to prevent unwanted color casts or hue shifts. They are exceptionally well-suited in preserving high or low key scenes.

Exposure’s new profile guided noise reduction capability reduces noise based on camera sensor characteristics, ISO, and estimated electronic noise. Luminance and chrominance noise can be reduced independently. The smoothing option applies an adaptive noise-sensitive algorithm which preserves sharp edges while further reducing noise.

The new Advanced Color Editor builds on Exposure’s innovative 3D color masking to enable vastly greater control of color modifications. For example, a model’s blue dress can be changed to red in just a few clicks. Photographers can select source and target colors based on luminance, hue, and saturation attributes. It is even possible to select multiple color replacement mappings and save them as a preset to be reused.

  • Additional enhancements to Exposure include the following:
  • Updated user interface provides a refined, modern aesthetic
  • New haze level slider, for counteracting the decrease in contrast caused by atmospheric haze. It can also add haze as a creative effect.
  • Customization of the hue and opacity of the selection mask overlay.
  • Optional black background for the mask to view selected pixels without distraction.
  • Optional luminance or saturation background for the selection mask, which helps visualize the mask region when adjusting luminance or saturation constraints.
  • DNG converter integration enables conversion of RAW photos to DNG format using Adobe’s DNG Converter software. Conversion can be performed automatically when copying photos from a camera card, or manually invoked from a photo’s thumbnail view.

About Exposure
Exposure began in 2005 as a film simulation plug-in for Photoshop, and was immediately embraced by digital photographers of all genres seeking to recapture the organic look of film. Over the years, Exposure became a legend among plug-ins, and evolved into a standalone full-featured editing and organizing solution for creative photographers.

Pricing and Availability
Exposure X6 is available now from https://exposure.software for $ 119. Upgrade pricing is available to owners of previous versions of Exposure for $ 89. Additionally, anyone who purchased Exposure X5 on or after July 15, 2020 will automatically receive a free upgrade to Exposure X6.

Exposure X6 is also available in the Exposure X6 Bundle. This integrated collection combines Exposure with Exposure Software’s award-winning Blow Up and Snap Art tools to add high-quality upsizing and natural media special effects. It is available for $ 149. Owners of one or more of the current apps in the Exposure X6 Bundle can purchase for $ 99.

A 30-day fully-featured free trial of Exposure is available. Visit https://exposure.software to learn more and download the trial.

Host Requirements
Exposure X6 may be used as a standalone program or as a set of plug-ins. When used as a set of plug-ins, it requires one of the following host applications:
* Adobe Photoshop CS6 or Adobe Photoshop CC 2015 or newer
* Adobe Lightroom 6 or Adobe Lightroom CC 2015 or newer

System Requirements

Mac
* OS X 10.11 El Capitan or newer
* Intel Core 2 processor or newer
* Monitor with 1280 x 768 resolution or greater
* 8GB RAM minimum, 16GB recommended
* For GPU support, a recent (2015 or later) Metal compatible GPU with 2GB RAM is recommended

Windows
* Windows 10 64-bit or newer
* Intel Core 2 processor or newer
* Monitor with 1280 x 768 resolution or greater
* 8GB RAM minimum, 16GB recommended
* For GPU support, a recent (2015 or later) OpenCL compatible GPU with 2GB RAM is recommended

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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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.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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A mysterious firmware update turns the Viltrox 85mm F1.8 lens into an even faster F1.6 prime

07 Aug

The $ 400 Viltrox 85mm F1.8 lens is a popular choice for Sony E and Fujifilm X users due to its compelling blend of performance and value. Owners have remarked that the lens delivers sharp image quality even when shot wide open. It now appears that wide open can be made even wider with a firmware update allowing the lens to become an F1.6 prime.

Photographer Stefan Malloch has published a video tutorial, seen below, which shows how to use the USB port on the lens to update the lens. This update allows the lens to open its aperture wider, changing the maximum aperture from F1.8 to F1.6. With a simple firmware update, you can get an extra one-third of a stop of light gathering capability.

As PetaPixel notes, there are conflicting reports as to the origin of the firmware. Sony Addict reported that the firmware was released officially in China. FujiRumors, on the other hand, reached out to Viltrox and was told that firmware to turn the F1.8 lens into an F1.6 lens had not been released. All this is to say that installing (possibly unofficial) firmware into your lens is a risk with unknown consequences.

Supposing you still want to update your lens using Malloch’s video above, what can you expect from the Viltrox 85mm F1.6 lens? Malloch also published an overview video of the lens, including sample images.

As mentioned earlier, the Viltrox 85mm F1.8 (or F1.6) lens is available as a full-frame lens for Sony E mount or for the APS-C Fujifilm X system. The fast, autofocus-capable prime lens can focus as closely as 2.62′ (0.8m). The lens includes 10 elements across 7 groups, including 1 ED lens element and 4 ‘short-wavelength and high-transparency’ lens elements. The lens has a 72mm filter thread and weighs 636g (1.4 lbs.). You can learn more about the lens on Viltrox’s website.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Disney Research Studios demonstrates automatic face swapping with faster, cheaper AI

21 Jul

Disney Research Studios and ETH Zurich have published a study detailing a new algorithm that is able to swap faces from one subject to another in high-resolution photos and videos. Of note, this system is able to fully automate the face-swapping process, presenting the first instance of megapixel-resolution machine-generated imagery that is ‘temporally coherent’ and photo-realistic.

The new algorithm involves taking the face of a subject and modifying it using the face of another person, blending the two so that the face from one person is presented with the expressions and movements of another.

The system involves a multi-way comb network trained with images of multiple people, as well as a blending method that preserves contrast and lighting. ‘We also show that while progressive training enables generation of high-resolution images,’ the researchers say, ‘extending the architecture and training data beyond two people allows us to achieve higher fidelity in generated expressions.’

Key to the high level of quality is the ‘landmark stabilization algorithm,’ which Disney researchers describe as a ‘crucial’ aspect of dealing with high-resolution content. Though this isn’t the first instance of face-swapping in footage, the study points out that existing methods used to generate characters like the young Carrie Fisher in Rogue One are both time-intensive and quite expensive.

Artificial intelligence has the potential to change this, ultimately enabling creators to rapidly generate computer characters using live-action footage and input images of the target. Generating realistic faces remains a big problem, however, producing what is referred to as the ‘uncanny valley’ look that limits the use of this tech.

This makes Disney’s new technology particularly exciting, teasing a future in which creators will be able to generate photo-realistic, high-resolution, temporally-stable face swaps between two people. The researchers explain:

As our system is also capable of multi-way swaps — allowing any pair of performances and appearances in our data to be swapped — the possible benefits to visual effects are extensive, all at a fraction of the time and expense required using more traditional methods.

The study compares the face-swapping results from this new method to the results from existing algorithms, including DeepFaceLab and DeepFakes. Though the other algorithms were able to produce casually convincing results, they were unable to pass scrutiny and, in some cases, were either excessively blended or outright bizarre and uncanny.

This batch represents instances of failed face swapping

In comparison, the face swaps generated using the new method were realistic and maintained a high level of sharpness and detail at a 1024 x 1024 resolution, bypassing the soft, blurry results often seen when using DeepFakes. As well, the researchers note that DeepFakes has such heavy processing requirements that it was only able to generate a resolution of 128 x 128 pixels using an 11GB GPU.

When using morphable models, the researchers were able to increase the resolution to 500 x 500 pixels, but the results were typically unrealistic. Beyond that, the researchers were forced to train the conventional models for each pair of face swaps whereas the new algorithm could be simultaneously trained for all of the people used for the various face swaps.

However, the study points out that the new algorithm presents one big limitation also experienced by other, more conventional methods: the original head shape is maintained. Though the face swap may be very realistic, the face itself may not match the head shape properly, resulting in a generated character that looks a bit ‘off’ from what is expected.

Future research may result in a method for transferring the subject’s head shape in addition to their face, producing not only photo-realistic results, but also the correct overall appearance for a digitally-recreated actor. The biggest obvious use for this technology is in film and television, enabling studios to quickly and cheaply (relatively speaking) create 3D models of aging or deceased actors.

This technology joins a growing body of research on face-swapping and model-generating algorithms that focus on still images rather than videos. NVIDIA, for example, published a study in late 2018 that demonstrated the generation of photo-realistic portraits of AI models that involved source and target images of real people.

Around a year later, the same company published new research that performed a similar face swap, but one involving dogs instead of humans. We’ve already seen the use of these various AI technologies reach the consumer level — Let’s Enhance 2.0, for example, recently introduced a new feature that utilizes machine learning to reconstruct the faces of subjects in low-resolution images.

As for the new study from Disney Research Studios and ETH Zurich, the full paper (PDF) can be found on Disney’s website here.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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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.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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How to Arrange Your Photoshop Workspace for Faster Editing

13 May

The post How to Arrange Your Photoshop Workspace for Faster Editing appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Darina Kopcok.

tips for aranging photoshop workspace

The key to quick and painless retouching is creating a workflow that works for you. Photoshop has a highly customizable workspace that you can set up in a way that best suits your needs. Here are some tips on how to declutter your Photoshop workspace for a seamless and efficient workflow.

photoshop workspace

Photoshop workspace preferences

A workflow that’s effective for one photographer may not be as helpful for another.

Your Photoshop workflow has to be built around your preferences and your most-used tools and windows. For example, the tools that I use most for my food photography may not be as useful for wedding photography or street photography.

For this reason, you may want to have multiple workspaces set up for different applications, especially if you shoot in more than one genre.

You may want to have a workspace for black and white photography only, and another you use for color retouching. It’s up to you if you want to have multiple workspaces and how you organize them.

The important thing is that you arrange your workspace in a way that you’re best prepared for the type of retouching that you want to do. This will keep distractions to a minimum and make the process of retouching go faster.

Photoshop comes with some pre-configured workspaces, depending on what you use the program for. You’ll find these, as well as your various options to set your preferences, under the Window tab at the top of the Photoshop workspace. The panels that show up in your workspace are denoted with a checkmark. Click them on or off accordingly.

Choose the default Photography workspace as a base and customize it from there.

When setting up your workspace, I recommend always showing your Layers and Histogram panels to keep you on track while retouching. I also like to sometimes have my History and Actions visible.

photoshop workspace

Rename your workspace in a way that will help you quickly differentiate it from other workspaces, if you have them. I personally only use one workspace because I mostly shoot in one genre – food photography.

Creating a new workspace

To create a new photoshop workspace:

go to > Window
navigate to > Workspace
choose > New Workspace
Give your workspace a name
Hit >Save

photoshop workspace
photoshop workspace

Toolbar and windows

The toolbar and various menus in the Photoshop workspace can be easily dragged to where you want them. In the default workspace, you can find the toolbar on the left-hand side. However, you can drag it to the right-hand side of your workspace, so you have all your tools and menus on one side. This can make the workspace cleaner and more effective because everything you need to access will be consolidated in one area, and your eyes won’t be bouncing around, looking for things.

Make sure that your most important windows are visible, and that you hide or collapse any that are unused, or rarely used.

Observe which windows and tools you use the most and make sure that they are prominent and easy to navigate to.

You can make your menus larger or smaller in relation to the rest of your workspace, depending on your preference. If you have a large screen, you might feel comfortable having several wide menus.

photoshop workspace

In my Photoshop workspace, I want to see my Histogram and Navigator panels at the top, where I’m used to seeing them in my RAW editor.

Below that, I have my Adjustments and Actions, which I access regularly.

I also always have my Layers panel open so I can see them all and know exactly which one I’m working on.

You can minimize a given window and have it noted by an icon. For example, I have minimized my History panel to a small icon because I want it accessible in case I need to step back in my retouching process, but it’s not a panel that I constantly use, therefore I don’t need to expand it.

photoshop workspace
History panel denoted with an icon.

When you move your panels around, note that they will be saved as such in the organization of the current workspace. If you go to another workspace and then come back, all your panels will be found in their most recent arrangement.

Floating menus

Any of the individual panels can be moved onto the screen. They can be moved outside the Photoshop window, or even onto other monitors, if you use a double or multiple monitor set-up.

Some photographers like to work this way, while others find floating panels annoying and intrusive.

photoshop workspace

Docking panels

You can dock panels with other panels to create panel groups.

To do this, you hover the pointer of the mouse over the boundary of another panel. A blue outline will show you where the panel will be docked.

photoshop workspace
Two panels docked together.

You can also dock several panels into columns, as I did with my History panel. Again, you probably want to do this with the panels that you need but use less often.

photoshop workspace
photoshop workspace
Shot at 38mm on a 24-70 f.2.8 zoom lens at ISO 100, shutter speed 1/160th.

Conclusion

An organized workspace is one of the most important factors in working effectively in Photoshop. Arrange your tools and panels in a way that makes sense for you.

This might mean:

  • creating multiple workspaces with various preferences for different applications
  • consolidating your toolbar and panels on one side of the screen
  • hiding unused menus and collapsing those that are used less often
  • docking floating panels and tools together or using floating panels on another monitor
  • minimizing the number of panels in your workspace to avoid distractions

At the end of the day, your retouching process has to make sense for you. Hopefully these tips will help you declutter your Photoshop workspace for a faster and efficient retouching workflow.

If you have any other tips for decluttering your Photoshop workspace, let us know in the comments.

The post How to Arrange Your Photoshop Workspace for Faster Editing appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Darina Kopcok.


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Apple’s new 13-inch MacBook Pro features faster CPU options, latest Intel Iris Graphics configurations and updated keyboard

04 May

Apple has announced its new 13-inch MacBook Pro, bringing modest performances improvements and one physical improvement that should make keyboard warriors around the world much happier.

We’ll get to the specs in a minute, but first the most important update—the keyboard. Apple has eschewed its troubled ‘butterfly’ keyboard for its Magic Keyboard with this new 13-inch MacBook Pro. For nearly five years, Apple’s ‘butterfly mechanism’ keyboard has caused issues for MacBook owners, with individual keys sometimes becoming entirely non-functioning, causing all sorts of issues while typing. This transition means the ‘butterfly’ keyboard is no longer present in any of Apple’s laptops.

The physical ‘esc’ key is a welcomed change also.

In addition to the changes underneath the keys, Apple has also added a physical ‘Escape’ (esc) key to the left of the Touch Bar. On previous models, the ‘esc’ key was digital, located within the Touch Bar, a design decision that could wreak havoc if the Touch Bar glitched out or broke.

The updated 13-inch model is powered by Intel quad-core chips, with optional upgrades to configure the MacBook Pro with Intel’s 10th-gen CPUs that offer up to 2.3GHz per core and TurboBoost speeds up to 4.1GHz. Apple has also added the option to configure the 13-inch MacBook Pro with up to 32GB of 3733MHz LPDDR4X RAM and has doubled the base model storage to 256GB (with optional upgrades to increase it to 4TB).

If you upgrade to the $ 1,799 model, you’ll also get the latest Intel Iris Plus Graphics, which Apple claims will offer an 80% performance increase over the previous-generation dual-core MacBook Pros. In addition to improving overall graphic performance, models with Intel’s Iris Plus graphics will be able to power Apple’s Pro Display XDR at its full 6K resolution.

As for the laptop’s own display, the 13-inch screen supports P3 wide color gamut, offers a maximum 500 nits brightness and includes Apple’s ‘True Tone’ technology that automatically adjusts the screen’s white balance based on the ambient environment.

The base model starts at $ 1,299 and includes a 1.4GHz quad-core 9th-gen Intel Core i5 CPU, 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. However, if you’re planning on using this for editing photos or video though, we’d suggest you jump up to the $ 1,799 base model, which offers Intel’s 10-gen CPUs with the newer Intel Iris Plus graphics and 16GB of RAM. Further upgrades can be configured for additional costs, as usual.

You can find out more information about the latest 13-inch MacBook Pro models and browse through the different configurations on Apple’s website.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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ProGrade Digital’s new microSDXC cards offer faster speeds at lower prices

30 Apr

ProGrade Digital has released an updated line of UHS-II microSDXC cards that offer improved read and write speeds at a lower cost than ProGrade’s previous microSDXC lineup.

The new microSDXC UHS-II V60 memory cards feature read and burst write speeds up to 250MB/s and 130MB/s, respectively, a 50MB/s increase in both departments compared to their predecessors. Sustained, the cards only guarantee 60MB/s write speeds, as denoted by the V60 label. Despite the increased performance, the lineup, which now includes a 256GB option will retail for much less than the cards they’re replacing.

The 64GB, 128GB and 256GB cards retail for $ 34.99, $ 54.99 and $ 99.99, respectively; that’s $ 15 and $ 45 less than the previously available 64GB and 128GB cards, respectively. In addition to a three-year warranty, all cards will come with a UHS-II SD adapter and ProGrade’s Refresh Pro software for keeping tabs on the health of the cards.

It doesn’t appear as though other retails have listed the new cards yet, but both the 64GB and 128GB versions are available to purchase on ProGrade Digital’s website. The 256GB option will be available sometime in the second quarter of 2020, according to ProGrade Digital.

The old 200MB/s microSDXC cards The newer 250MB/s microSDXC cards

Something worth keeping in mind when looking for these cards is to make sure you’re getting these new, updated cards, rather than the old cards. The design on the cards is effectively identical with the only noticeable difference being the read speeds printed on the cards. The old cards will read ‘200MB/s’ while the new cards will read ‘250MB/s.’

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Fujifilm X-T200 is lighter, faster, offers 4K/30p and costs $800

26 Jan

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Fujifilm has announced the X-T200, boasting a wide range of improvements over its X-T100 predecessor. The X-T200 uses a 24MP Bayer sensor like the T100 did, but uses copper rather than aluminum wiring, which provides 3.5x faster readout and had allowed Fujifilm to extend the high ISO by one stop, to 25600.

The X-T200 is an altogether lighter camera than the X-T100, weighing in at 370g / 0.8lb. Where the T100 offered very little in the way of a grip, the X-T200 provides a prominent, protruding grip for more comfortable hand-holding. The T200’s touchscreen is larger (3.5″ vs. 3″) and inherits a more touch-friendly menu from the X-A7.

Another welcome improvement is the ability to shoot un-cropped 4K video at 29.97 and 24p

Fujifilm promises autofocus improvements as well, including the latest eye detection algorithms. The X-T200 offers more phase-detect pixels (140k versus 16k), better PDAF coverage (across the whole sensor, rather than a central 25%) and more selectable autofocus points (425 vs. 91) than its predecessor. Burst shooting is improved to 8 fps (compared to 6 fps).

Another welcome improvement is the ability to shoot un-cropped 4K video at 29.97 and 24p, compared to the T100’s 4K/15p. Slow motion 1080/120p is also now an option, and a video setting has been added to the mode dial.

The Fujifilm X-T200 will ship in late February for $ 700 body-only or $ 800 with XC 15-45mm F3.5-5.6 OIS PZ kit lens.

Press release

INTRODUCING THE X-T200 MIRRORLESS DIGITAL CAMERA: A FULLY-FEATURED CAMERA TO DOCUMENT THOSE DAY-TO-DAY MOMENTS

Valhalla, New York – January 23, 2020 – FUJIFILM North America Corporation is pleased to announce FUJIFILM Corporation’s launch of its “FUJIFILM X-T200” (hereinafter “X-T200”) mirrorless digital camera.

The X-T200 provides content creators of all levels with a new, light-weight and compact mirrorless camera body that features a newly designed EVF, quick face detection AF, and a new sensor and processor combination that can create 24.2MP stills at 8 FPS and record 4K UHD video at 30fps.

An ideal camera for creative individuals who want to make high-quality imagery anywhere, the X-T200’s HDR functions for still and video make this easier in high- contrast environments. It can also record Full-HD 120p video, making it a great tool to use for scenes needing super slow motion. Additionally, the new Digital Gimbal Function can now be used to smoothly record video in-camera by mitigating camera shake through new gyro sensors in the camera body. This enhances image quality even further beyond what normal Smartphones can provide comparatively.

Incredible Image Quality for any Situation
X-T200 combines innovation, design, and technology to provide image makers of all levels with a complete solution to unlock limitless creative possibilities. Weighing 13.05oz (370g), X-T200 is about 2.82oz (80g) lighter than its predecessor (the X-T100) and is equipped with a new vari-angle touch-screen, a high-speed APS-C 24.2 Megapixel CMOS sensor which uses copper wiring for optimal performance, and an intuitive user interface that provides professional quality with the ease and familiarity of a Smartphone. Able to process data 3.5 times faster than the X-T100, rolling shutter is reduced with the X-T200, while AF performance in the X-T200 is dramatically enhanced through the use of phase detection autofocus pixels across the sensor.

Touch Your Way to the Perfect Image
X-T200 is equipped with a vari-angle 3.5-inch, 16:9 Aspect Ratio widescreen LCD touch- screen that can be opened and closed between 0 to 180 degrees and rotated between – 90 to +180 degrees. It also provides an intuitive and responsive control over the camera’s features and functionality and can be used to adjust a variety of settings, like brightness, background blur, film simulation effects, and image aspect ratios.

Focus on the Faces and the Moment
The use of on-sensor phase detection pixels across the sensor and a new AF algorithm means focus can be achieved quickly and in a variety of conditions. The updated Face/Eye Detection AF makes focusing on individuals or groups of people quick and easy. This is even possible when the camera’s LCD monitor is flipped out and you want to take a selfie. Automated functions, like Main Subject Recognition, allow the camera to be set to recognize and track a main subject within the frame. These features, combined with a burst mode of 8fps, allow you to see, frame, and make images of those important moments with those important people.

Legendary Color Science
Fujifilm’s history in color science has given it world renowned status among image- makers across the world. With over 85 years of experience in the industry, Fujifilm has been responsible for some of the most iconic photographic films in history and this exceptional knowledge has been poured into the 11 digital film simulation modes installed into X-T200. Images made with these film simulations carry the look and feel of the actual films that inspired them, which are a great building block to sparking creativity in image- making. In addition, 20 advanced filters, which includes the new, “Clear Filter”, give even more creative possibilities to image-makers as they seek to express themselves artistically.

When Stills Just Aren’t Enough
The new Electronic Stabilization and HDR Video modes, along with the X-T200’s basic internal editing functions, helps X-T200 do more than just produce beautiful 4K Video– it ensures that videos are stable, crisp, and properly trimmed so they can be easily shared with family and friends. A gyro sensor sits at the heart of the new Electronic Stabilization Mode and assists in reducing the effects of camera shake when recording video footage. The new HDR Video function makes recording footage in high contrast situations much easier and more practical, while its in-camera video editing functions allow for clips to be trimmed and right-sized before they are shared. This means creators can share the perfect section of a super-slow motion clip or the best part of their 4K footage right from the camera to their Smartphone without ever needing to open a computer!

Pick Your Favorite Color and add a Fast Prime Lens
X-T200 will be available as a standalone body and as a kit with the XC15-45mmF3.5-5.6 OIS PZ Lens in three colors (Silver, Dark Silver, and Champagne).

For those interested in expanding their X-T200 tool kit, the new FUJINON XC35mmF2 lens gives an equivalent to 52mm field of view on 35mm format. Weighing just 130g and measuring 46.5mm in length, this new prime lens has nine elements, including two aspherical lens elements in six groups, which work to produce sharp and crisp images with creamy bokeh. AF operation is quick and near silent thanks to the use of an internal focus system and a stepping motor, which is used to drive the focusing elements quickly and accurately.

X-T200 is expected to be available for sale in late February 2020 at manufacturer’s suggested retail pricing as follows:

  • X-T200 camera body only: $ 699.95 USD ($ 899.99 CAD)
  • X-T200 kit including camera body and XC15-45mm45mmF3.5-5.6 OIS PZ lens: $ 799.95 ($ 1,049.99 CAD)
  • XC35mmF2 lens: $ 199 USD ($ 259.99 CAD)

For more information, please visit https://fujifilm-x.com/en-us/products/cameras/x-t200/.

Fujifilm X-T200 specifications

Price
MSRP $ 699 (body), $ 799 (w/15-45mm lens)
Body type
Body type SLR-style mirrorless
Body material Metal, composite
Sensor
Max resolution 6000 x 4000
Image ratio w:h 4:3, 3:2, 16:9
Effective pixels 24 megapixels
Sensor size APS-C (23.5 x 15.7 mm)
Sensor type CMOS
Color space sRGB, Adobe RGB
Color filter array Primary color filter
Image
ISO Auto, ISO 200-12800 (expands to 100-51200)
Boosted ISO (minimum) 100
Boosted ISO (maximum) 51200
Custom white balance Yes
Image stabilization No
Uncompressed format RAW
JPEG quality levels Fine, normal
File format
  • JPEG (Exif v2.3)
  • Raw (Fujifilm RAF format)
Optics & Focus
Autofocus
  • Contrast Detect (sensor)
  • Phase Detect
  • Multi-area
  • Center
  • Selective single-point
  • Tracking
  • Single
  • Continuous
  • Touch
  • Face Detection
  • Live View
Autofocus assist lamp Yes
Digital zoom Yes
Manual focus Yes
Number of focus points 425
Lens mount Fujifilm X
Focal length multiplier 1.5×
Screen / viewfinder
Articulated LCD Fully articulated
Screen size 3.5″
Screen dots 2,780,000
Touch screen Yes
Screen type TFT LCD
Live view Yes
Viewfinder type Electronic
Viewfinder coverage 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.93× (0.62× 35mm equiv.)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360,000
Photography features
Minimum shutter speed 4 sec
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 sec
Maximum shutter speed (electronic) 1/32000 sec
Exposure modes
  • Program
  • Aperture priority
  • Shutter priority
  • Manual
Scene modes
  • Portrait
  • Night
  • Fireworks
  • Sunset
  • Snow
  • Beach
  • Party
  • Flower
  • Text
  • Multiple Exposure
  • Light Trail
Built-in flash Yes
Flash range 7.00 m (at ISO 200)
External flash Yes (via hot shoe)
Flash X sync speed 1/180 sec
Continuous drive 8.0 fps
Self-timer Yes
Metering modes
  • Multi
  • Average
  • Spot
Exposure compensation ±5 (at 1/3 EV steps)
Videography features
Format MPEG-4, H.264
Modes
  • 3840 x 2160 @ 30p, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
  • 3840 x 2160 @ 25p, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
  • 3840 x 2160 @ 24p, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
  • 3840 x 2160 @ 23.98p, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
  • 1920 x 1080 @ 120p, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
  • 1920 x 1080 @ 60p, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
  • 1920 x 1080 @ 50p, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
  • 1920 x 1080 @ 25p, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
  • 1920 x 1080 @ 24p, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
  • 1920 x 1080 @ 23.98p, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Microphone Stereo
Speaker Mono
Storage
Storage types SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I supported)
Connectivity
USB USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec)
USB charging Yes
HDMI Yes (micro HDMI)
Microphone port Yes
Headphone port Yes
Wireless Built-In
Wireless notes 802.11b/g/n + Bluetooth
Remote control Yes (via smartphone)
Physical
Environmentally sealed No
Battery Battery Pack
Battery description NP-W126S lithium-ion battery & carger
Battery Life (CIPA) 270
Weight (inc. batteries) 370 g (0.82 lb / 13.05 oz)
Dimensions 121 x 84 x 55 mm (4.76 x 3.31 x 2.17″)
Other features
Orientation sensor Yes
GPS None

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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CamRanger 2 brings faster speeds, increased compatibility and more

03 Dec

When launched in 2013, the original CamRanger was one of the first devices that let you wirelessly control a DSLR via a smartphone phone app. Since then the company launched the CamRanger mini which mainly focused on offering CamRanger capability in a smaller package.

Now the CamRanger 2 has been released and the updated version is larger than the original but supports more camera models, is faster and comes with additional features.

The original CamRanger could be used with Canon and Nikon DSLRs. Compatibility has now been expanded to Sony Fujifilm mirrorless models, opening up new customer groups to the device. A full list of compatible cameras can be found on the CamRanger website.

There are now also a new standard tripod mount that opens up new attachment options and a for multiple camera attachment options and a SD/SDHC/SDXC memory card slot which should be useful for use with cameras with only a single card slot.

Despite a larger capacity rechargeable battery (3300mAh vs 1800mAh on the original), according to CamRanger battery life has decreased from approximately six to five hours, though.

On the plus side the new model now supports 5Ghz wireless networking in addition to the 2.4Ghz of the original. The range has been doubled from 250 feet to 500 feet (152m) as well.

New features include a ‘quick RAW’ viewing mode which uses an embedded JPG-image for faster reviewing, advanced image rating, video viewing and downloading, saving to SD-card, editing, croppind and more.

For more information head over to the CamRanger website where you’ll also be able to order the device for $ 350.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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