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Posts Tagged ‘Popular’

Lensrentals’ most popular gear: Canon once again dominates with Sony, Nikon far behind

01 Jan

It’s the end of the year and that means Lensrentals has once again rounded up a list of the most popular camera bodies, lenses and accessories rented from Lensrentals and LensProToGo customers in 2020. Although this year has been, shall we say, different than most, the macro-level look at the most popular rental gear hasn’t changed much. That said, there are a few interesting trends emerging based on the 2020 data.

As it has been since 2017, the Canon 24–70mm F2.8L II lens takes the top spot of the most popular item to fly off Lensrentals’ shelves. Following it is the Canon 5D Mark IV, Canon 70–200mm F2.8L IS II, Sony a7 III and Canon 70–200mm F2.8L IS III. It isn’t until sixth place that we see a change of places. Instead of the Ronin-S, Canon’s 35mm F1.4L II lens snatches up sixth place.

A list of the most popular individual pieces of gear for 2020. Click to enlarge.

As has been the case for a number of years now, Canon absolutely dominates the list of most-rented gear. Canon holds 7 of the top 10 (70%) items and 13 of the top 20 (65%). Lensrentals also note Canon easily took the top spot for new releases in 2020, suggesting people seem more comfortable renting newer Canon gear compared to new offerings from other brands. To that end, Lensrentals’ data also shows that RF mount lenses rent at eight times the rate of Nikon Z mount lenses—a rather staggering statistic considering the new mirrorless mounts were released at the same time and have roughly the same number of lenses available for both mounts.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise, but there’s been significant growth in mirrorless camera and lens rentals. This backs up essentially all other data showing the migration away from DSLRs is undoubtedly happening. Another interesting trend is third-party lenses, such as those offered by Sigma and Tamron, are on the rise.

An ordered list of the most popular brands by rental market share. Click to enlarge.

All in all, across the board, the top five rental brands are Canon, Sony, Nikon, Sigma and Blackmagic, respectively. The only change in the top five compared to 2019 is Blackmagic, which overtook Panasonic for the final spot.

The full blog post from Lensrentals is a great read, so be sure to visit via the link below to ingest all the data there is to offer.

The Top Rented Photo and Video Products of 2020

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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DPReview TV: We review six popular photo backpacks

22 Aug

We compare six of the most popular camera backpacks on the market: the Wandrd Prvke, the Peak Design Travel Backpack, the Shimoda Explore, the Manfrotto Manhattan Mover, the CosySpeed PhotoHiker and the Atlas Athlete.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel to get new episodes of DPReview TV every week.

  • Introduction
  • Meet the backpacks
  • How much can you pack?
  • Comfort and features
  • The rain test
  • Standing water test
  • Which pack is right for you?

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Venus Optics is now offering six of its most popular Laowa lenses for L-mount cameras

25 Jul

Venus Optics has announced it’s now offering six of its most popular Laowa lenses for L-mount camera systems. The new lenses feature the same optical designs as their respective DSLR and mirrorless equivalents but are designed specifically for use with Leica CL, Leica SL, Panasonic S1 and Sigma fp cameras.

The six ‘new’ L-mount lenses are as follows:

  • Laowa 10-18mm F4.5-5.6
  • Laowa 12mm F2.8 Zero-D
  • Laowa 15mm F2 Zero-D
  • Laowa 15mm F4 Wide Angle Macro
  • Laowa 65mm F2.8 2X Ultra-Macro
  • Laowa 100mm F2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO

Aside from dimensions and weight, which vary only slightly, the specifications for each of the lenses are the same as the other mirrorless-mount versions of each lens. As a refresher though, Venus Optics has provided the following specification overview chart.

As noted in the above chart, each lens retails for the same price as their other mirrorless mount equivalents. You can find out more about each of the lenses by going to Venus Optics’ website.

Press release

Press Release

Venus Optics add L-mount options on 6 of their Laowa Lenses

Anhui China, Jun 24, 2020 – Venus Optics, the manufacturer specialized in making unique photo and cinema lenses, add the L-mount option on six of their existing Laowa wide angle & macro lenses. These L-mount lenses can currently be used on Panasonic S1 series , Sigma FP and Leica SL/CL cameras.

Wide Angle

  • Laowa 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6
  • Laowa 12mm f/2.8 Zero-D
  • Laowa 15mm f/2 Zero-D

Macro

  • Laowa 15mm f/4 Wide Angle Macro
  • Laowa 65mm f/2.8 2X Ultra-Macro
  • Laowa 100mm f/2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO

Laowa 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6

Laowa 10-18mm is currently the widest rectilinear zoom lens available in the market for full frame cameras. With the small form factor, the lens is extremely handy for landscape and travel photographers. A rear filter slot is designed for using ND filters.

Laowa 12mm f/2.8 Zero-D

Laowa 12mm is the flagship model of Venus Optics and is currently the widest rectilinear f/2.8 lens in the market for full frame cameras. The lens features a close- to-zero distortion as well as a ultra-fast aperture. It is extremely popular among astro and landscape photographers.

Laowa 15mm f/2 Zero-D

Laowa 15mm f/2 Zero-D lens is another flagship model of Venus Optics and it features an extremely fast f/2 aperture. Unlike other wide angle lenses with bulgy front element, the 72mm filter thread is an extremely convenient feature for landscape and astro photographers. The lens is good for both photographers and videographers. Similar to the 12mm f/2.8, this 15mm can also cover the full frame sensor as well as having a close-to-zero distortion.

Laowa 15mm f/4 Wide Angle Macro

Laowa 15mm f/4 lens is currently the widest 1:1 macro lens in the market. The combination of deep depth of field and 1:1 magnification enables photographers to take photos like nobody else. Not only can small subjects appear huge in the photos, its background information (e.g. habitat) can also be visible in the photos. This lens can cover full frame sensor and is equipped with a simple +/- 6mm shift mechanism.

Laowa 65mm f/2.8 2X Ultra-Macro

Laowa 65mm f/2.8 2X Ultra-Macro is a 2:1 macro lens that Venus Optics have designed specially for mirrorless APS-C cameras. The extended macro range is extremely welcomed by macro photographers who was having difficulty in shooting small subjects. The compact and lightweight lens body matches balance with the camera really well.

Laowa 100mm f/2.8 2X Ultra-Macro APO

The award winning 100mm macro lens is one of the flagship macro lens offered by Venus Optics. Apart from the 2:1 magnification, the lens also features an extremely good control of chromatic aberrations control. The lens is able to focus from 2:1 magnification till infinity focus and cover full frame sensor.

Pricing & Availability

The new L-mount lenses are currently available to order in Venus Optics official webstore and their authorized resellers. Pricing is the same as the other available mounts and they vary in different countries. Shipping will start from August onwards.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Cascade Pro Webcam can turn more than 100 popular cameras into webcams on macOS

16 Jul

While the likes of Canon, Fujifilm, Panasonic and others have released firmware updates or dedicated apps to turn cameras into webcams, not every camera owner is lucky enough to have their camera’s manufacturer release such utilities. Thankfully, there are third-party developers stepping up to the plate to help bring webcam functionality to many more cameras.

One of the latest attempts is from Cascable, a development team known for making wireless remote, tethering and transferring solutions for iOS and macOS devices. The team’s newest creation is Cascable Pro Webcam, a new macOS app that will turn compatible Canon, Fujifilm, Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic and Sony cameras into a webcam for popular video conferencing and streaming programs.

Over 100 cameras are supported by Cascable Pro Webcam, with some even offering wireless connectivity if the camera has built-in WiFi. Cascable has a full list of compatible cameras on its website. Note that in order for the camera to be supported, it must have a checkmark under the ‘Control & Automation’ column on the linked page.

The highlighted (red) column is what determines whether or not your camera is compatible with Cascade Pro Webcam.

As for the video conferencing and streaming apps it supports, the Cascade team says it’s specifically tested it with Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Microsoft Teams, OBS Studio, Quicktime Player, Skype (8.59 or later), Twitch Studio and Zoom (5.0.5 or later).

Cascable Webcam Pro is available to download for free to try out. The free trial doesn’t limit how many times you can use it, but not all features will be available and streams will show an overlay when they last more than five minutes. Cascable Pro Webcam will retail for $ 40, but until July 24, it’s just $ 30 as part of a ‘launch sale.’ You can download the free trial and purchase a license on the Cascable website. You need to be running macOS 10.14.4 or higher.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Datacolor’s new SpyderX Photo Kit bundles 3 of its popular calibration tools at a $180 discount

15 Jun

Datacolor has released its new ‘SpyderX Photo Kit’ that comes with three of its most popular photo and monitor calibration tools at a dramatic discount compared to purchasing the items individually.

The Datacolor SpyderX Photo Kit comes with a SpyderX Elite monitor calibration tool, a Spyder Checkr 24 and the SpyderCube, a die-shaped grey card for getting the white balance just right in post-production. The kit is currently listed at an ‘anniversary special’ price of $ 200 on its website ‘while supplies last.’ That’s $ 180 less than if you purchase each piece individually, plus it all comes in a hard carrying case.

Strangely enough, though, Datacolor says the kit will eventually retail for $ 400 (it’— which is $ 20 more than what it’d cost to buy everything on its own. Maybe Datacolor is taking the carrying case into account? Who knows. Regardless, at its current price, it’s a solid steal considering the SpyderX Elite retails for $ 240 on its own.

The SpyderX Photo Kit joins Datacolor’s SpyderX Studio and SpyderX Capture Pro kits, which also bundle various calibration tools together at a discount. You can find out more information on the kit and each of the products on Datacolor’s product page.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Samyang releases updated ‘MK2’ versions of its popular 14mm F2.8, 85mm F1.4 lenses

26 May

Samyang, which is also sold under the brand name Rokinon, has released updated versions of two of its best-selling lenses: the MF 14mm F2.8 MK2 and the MF 85mm F1.4 MK2.

The updated manual focus lenses feature the same optical designs as their respective predecessors but add new features to provide a more seamless and robust user experience. In particular, both lenses now have weather-sealing, an updated focus ring for better grip and a switch for de-clicking the aperture without the need to tear it apart. The 14mm F2.8 MK2 also has a new focus lock switch for ensuring the focus doesn’t get bumped out of place during operation.

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Both lenses are available for Canon EF, Nikon F, Sony E, Fujifilm X, Canon M and MFT mount camera systems. As of writing this article, no pricing information is available for the lenses and no online retailer appears to have a product page up. We have contacted Samyang for additional information and will update accordingly when we receive a response.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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CamFi update adds wireless tethering support to Fujifilm’s most popular cameras

09 Apr

CamFi has announced the latest version of its application now supports wireless tethering for some of Fujifilm’s most popular camera systems.

The app update supports the following Fujifilm cameras: X-T2, X-T3, X-H1, GFX 50R, GFX 50S and GFX 100, and will work with the CamFi’s CF 101, CF 102, CamFi Pro and CamFi Pro Plus units. In addition to nearly instantaneous image transfers to laptops or mobile devices over Wi-Fi, the update also supports live view mode, remote capture, time-lapse, HDR and focus stacking modes.

CamFi has also added the ability to save a Raw image to the camera’s SD card while remotely transferring over the JPEG to the connected device, allowing for quicker transfers while still getting an image preview. A new USB connector for Fujifilm cameras has also been released, which CamFi says will extend the battery life of the CamFi unit’s battery from one hour to three hours.

The CamFi mobile app update is available to download in the Google Play Store and iOS App Store, where it’s rated 3.4 stars and 2.9 stars, respectively. The macOS and Windows desktop apps are available to download on CamFi’s website.

CamFi app update adds wireless tethering support for popular Fujifilm cameras

Guangdong, CHINA—April 8, 2020—CamFi, maker of wireless camera controllers, today announced that the new version of its app adds wireless tethering support for Fujifilm cameras. This feature allows the photographer to transmit photos from a Fujifilm camera to a laptop or a mobile phone via Wi-Fi automatically during a photo shoot.

“It is not very convenient to review the photos on a mobile device or a Mac while shooting by Fujifilm camera,” explained Mark Ma, CEO of CamFi. “The built-in Wi-Fi is too slow. Our new feature changes all that. Now, our device and app will speed up the workflow of photographers who use Fujifilm cameras.”

The new version of the app delivers a great deal of convenience to Fujifilm photographers. It supports the most popular Fujifilm cameras that are available after this update, including X-T2, X-T3, X-H1, GFX 50R, GFX 50S and GFX 100. The new version of the app also supports live view, remote capture, time lapse, HDR and focus stacking. Furthermore, this version allows photographers to save an image’s RAW file on the camera’s SD card and transfer the JPG file to the client device only. This capability can shorten the time required to review the photo.

All existing users of CamFi CF 101, CF 102, CamFi Pro and CamFi Pro Plus can upgrade their firmware with this version. Windows, Mac, iOS and Android platforms are all supported.

To prevent draining the battery of the CamFi device, CamFi also released a new USB connector for Fujifilm cameras. It will extend the work time of CamFi’s battery from 1 hour to 3 hours.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Nikon has Announced the D780, an Update to the Hugely Popular D750

09 Jan

The post Nikon has Announced the D780, an Update to the Hugely Popular D750 appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.

nikon-d780-announced

If you’re an enthusiast photographer wedded to your Nikon DSLR, then you’re in luck.

Because Nikon has just announced a new DSLR, dropping at the end of January:

The D780.

The Nikon D780 comes as a long-awaited upgrade to the Nikon D750, a powerhouse camera that packed a full-frame sensor into an affordable body. The D750 offered full HD video at 60p, excellent low light performance, impressive autofocus, dual card slots, and a tilting LCD, features that won over a slew of photographers back in 2014.

But can the Nikon D780 build off of the D750’s success? And what can a new midrange DSLR offer in a world where DSLRs are becoming less and less valued?

In some ways, the D780 doesn’t seem like a big step up from the D750; it offers a full-frame sensor with 24.5 megapixels (compared to the D750’s 24.3-megapixel sensor), a 51-point AF system with 15 cross-type points (specs that are identical to the D750’s AF system, though the D780 packs the D5’s focusing algorithm), and 7 frames-per-second shooting (compared to the 6.5 fps on the D750).

But in other ways, the D780 more than lives up to expectations. While the megapixel count is nearly identical to the D750’s, the sensor itself is borrowed from the Z6, one of Nikon’s two full-frame mirrorless offerings, and an impressive camera in its own right. This means we can expect a jump in ISO performance, which should excite Nikonians who often find themselves shooting in low light.

We can also expect significantly improved Live View autofocus, given that Nikon has imported the D780’s 278-point Live View AF straight from the Z6.

Nikon has Announced the D780, an Update to the Hugely Popular D750

Not to mention the enhanced video performance on the D780: with 4K video at 30p with a full pixel readout, full HD video at 120p and 60p, and features such as focus peaking, this is the most powerful Nikon DSLR for videographers to date.

So if you’re an enthusiast photographer who is looking to upgrade to full-frame, or you’re simply looking for a great full-frame option, then the Nikon D780 is worth a look.

It will begin shipping at the end of January for $ 2300 USD (or $ 2800 with a Nikkor 24-120mm f/4G lens).

The post Nikon has Announced the D780, an Update to the Hugely Popular D750 appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.


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Try our most popular photography training resource for just $13

24 Dec

The post Try our most popular photography training resource for just $ 13 appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Darren Rowse.

dPS Deal 12

Day 12 of dPS Holiday Deals gives you a taste of our most popular course of all time, for just $ 13! Try the 31 Days to Becoming a Better Photographer Printable Guides + Assignments and you can credit your purchase towards the full course starting on the 27th of January.

Save 55% now

We all want to take stunning photos like you see in galleries or magazines and other places. But the question is: how do you get there? How do you learn the skills and master the techniques to take amazing photos?

Instructor Jim Hamel has condensed key learnings from each day of our most popular course into one-page printable cards. Take the tips into the field with you, either printed out or on your device.

31 Printable Course Cards and Assignments

And there’s 31 detailed field assignments to help you consolidate what you have learned by putting theory into practice, getting out there and achieving results you may not have thought possible.

(Not included: Access to the course videos, Full downloadable course notes for each day, Access to the private Facebook Group and Instructor)

Usually $ 29, you can now grab the set of all 31 printable guides and assignments for just $ 13 USD. And if you love it you can credit your purchase towards the full course starting in January.

Check it out before the next deal arrives in less than 24 hours.

Best wishes,

Darren and the team at dPS

PS – You can still grab yesterday’s deal today and save $ 100 on Portrait Fundamentals by Digital Photo Mentor. Check it out here.

The post Try our most popular photography training resource for just $ 13 appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Darren Rowse.


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Venus Optics adds Canon RF, Nikon Z mount options to three of its most popular lenses

04 Dec

Venus Optics has announced it’s adding Canon RF and Nikon Z variants to three of its existing Laowa lenses.

The Laowa 12mm F2.8 Zero-D, 25mm F2.8 2.5-5X Ultra Macro and 100mm F2.8 2X Ultra Macro have all been altered so they can now work on Canon and Nikon’s full-frame mirrorless systems. Aside from the mount alterations, the lenses remain unchanged from their counterparts.

You can find our previous coverage of the lenses below:

  • Laowa 12mm F2.8 Zero-D
  • Laowa 25mm F2.8 2.5-5X Ultra Macro
  • Laowa 100mm F2.8 2X Ultra Macro

The new Canon RF and Nikon Z mount versions of the Laowa 12mm F2.8 Zero-D ($ 949), 25mm F2.8 2.5-5X Ultra Macro ($ 399) and 100mm F2.8 2X Ultra Macro ($ 449) are available to purchase on the Venus Optics website.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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