Last October, Funleader started a Kickstarter campaign to help raise funds to produce its ridiculously small 18mm F8 pancake lens for Sony E mount and Leica L mount camera systems. As promised in its campaign, it started shipping to global backers in December 2019 and now, nine months later, the lens is available to purchase by the general public in three additional lens mounts.
The pancake lens is constructed of six multi-coated elements in four groups, has a 100º field of view on a full-frame camera and is made of aluminum. The lens measures just 15mm (.59in) and weighs only 80g (2.8oz), making it only marginally larger than the lens cap you probably keep on your camera to keep the mirror and sensor protected.
Funleader designed the lens around its hyperfocal distance, ensuring everything from 80cm (2.6ft) to infinity is in focus at its F8 aperture.
Below is a sample gallery of images taken with the lens and various cameras:
The Funleader 18mm F8 cap lens is available for Canon RF, Fujifilm X, Leica L, Nikon Z and Sony E mount camera systems. Funleader has it available on its website for $ 150 with free worldwide shipping.
A newly launched NASA project called Satellite Streak Watcher aims to assess the night sky light pollution caused by low-Earth orbit satellites using images captured by the public. On its SciStarter project page, NASA asks anyone interested in participating to ‘Photographically record satellite streaks across the night sky to monitor this form of sky pollution.’
The space agency explains its concerns related to the satellites, stating, ‘As more satellites are placed into orbit, they will become an increasing problem to astronomers on the ground.’ Participants can use the Heavens-Above website to determine when and where satellites will pass over their local sky; images are uploaded and shared on the project’s website.
The new public science project follows announcements from a number of companies that have launched — or plan to launch — large numbers of small satellites into low-Earth orbit.
The most notable example of this comes from SpaceX, which has spent the past few years working on its Starlink mission. The private space company expects to ultimately launch thousands of small satellites into very-low Earth orbit (VLEO) in order to provide Internet access around the world. As of March 1, 2020, the company has delivered 302 of these satellites into space with plans to launch more throughout the year.
Critics have expressed concerns that Starlink and other projects like it will have a negative impact on the night sky, introducing light pollution that will disrupt astronomy. These satellites also impact astrophotography by adding thin, bright streaks of light to long-exposure images, prompting complaints from photographers who increasingly struggle to deal with light pollution.
DPReview reader Guido Forrier shared the below image in our Astrophotography forum, showing a series of fifteen Starlink satellites flying across the sky in one of his night sky photographs. When we asked what his thoughts on the matter, he said ‘I am surprised and incensed that apart from the already high light pollution, those satellites [have] also come to disturb. [There’s] a lot of rubbish is already flying in space and I see it regularly burning in the atmosphere.’
Photograph by Guido Forrier, shared with permission.
Until now, most efforts to combat light pollution have focused on the ground, not the sky. Light produced by street lamps, billboards, parking lot lights and more is reflected in the night sky, making it hard to see and photograph stars, particularly in regions close to big cities. The problem has spurred the creation of a number of Dark Sky Reserves throughout the world; these are regions of public and private land with ample natural darkness and starkly visible stars.
However, experts have expressed concerns over light pollution that results from satellites launched into low-Earth orbit, as well as more ridiculous future concepts like an artificial moon and space billboards. Because this type of light pollution comes from the sky rather than the planet’s surface, traveling to Dark Sky Reserves won’t help photographers avoid the issue.
According to Astronomy.com, the Starlink satellites are particularly disruptive to the night sky due to their shallow orbit, which is necessary for delivering Internet service to people on Earth. More than 40,000 of these small satellites may eventually be launched under the Starlink mission, and though SpaceX is experimenting with anti-reflective coating on the satellites, it is unclear whether that will be sufficient for reducing the disruption caused by the spacecraft.
MIT Technology Review points out that satellites depend on their reflective nature to help keep them cool; the experimental anti-reflective coating may cause thermal issues for the Starlink satellites. SpaceX applied the coating to the bottom of one of the 60 satellites it launched in December 2019 in order to test its potential impact on performance.
Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics astronomer Jonathan McDowell had told Technology Review at the time that while the reflective coating is ‘worth a try,’ he fears it ‘will be offset by the fact that they are moving the constellation to a lower orbit.’
NASA anticipates its Satellite Streak Watcher operating as a long-term project in order to gather data on satellite light pollution over time. The project currently has 136 members and 20 images, which include shots ranging from bright dots on the night sky to several long streaks of light bunched together. Though NASA says citizen scientists can use a basic tripod and most newer smartphones to capture the images, astrophotographers who have more capable camera systems are also welcomed to share their images.
The world’s largest museum and research complex, the Smithsonian, has unveiled Open Access, a new portal to more than 2.8 million 2D and 3D images. The Smithsonian refers to Open Access as a ‘vast and diverse digital resource’ for the public, one that contains images of historic artifacts, classic paintings and some of the world’s oldest photographs.
The images are free to browse and download, marking the first time the Smithsonian has offered a resource like this. The content was sourced from all 19 Smithsonian museums, as well as its research centers and other facilities. Because these images are all in the public domain, the Smithsonian notes that anyone can use them for ‘just about anything,’ including printing them and putting them on other products.
Another 200,000 images will be added to the collection throughout 2020, according to the institution, which plans to add even more in the future as it continues to digitize its vast collection. Though other institutions around the world have started sharing digitized versions of their content, the size and scope of the Smithsonian’s new digital cache is described as ‘unprecedented.’
King’s College London expert Simon Tanner who served as an advisor for the initiative said:
The sheer scale of this interdisciplinary dataset is astonishing. It opens up a much wider scope of content that crosses science and culture, space and time, in a way that no other collection out there has done, or could possibly even do. This is a staggering contribution to human knowledge.
All 2.8 million 2D and 3D images are listed under the Creative Commons Zero (CC0) license.
Following a successful Indiegogo campaign, Canon has publically launched its IVY REC clippable camera made for snapping images and recording videos in risky environments. As its name suggests, this model features a clip for directly attaching the camera to strap, loop, belt or similar item; the same clip also functions as a viewfinder, according to Canon.
The IVY REC Outdoor camera features a 13MP sensor, support for capturing 1:1 and 4:3 JPEG images in resolutions up to 3104 x 3104 and 4160 x 3120, video recording at 720p/30fps through 1080p/60fps in MP4 format, and a fixed 25.4mm F2.2 lens.
In addition to electronic image stabilization, the camera features a mono microphone, a memory card slot for saving content, a 660mAh rechargeable battery, and micro USB connectivity. IVY REC likewise features Bluetooth 4.2 and WiFi 802.11b/g/n, as well as support for the Canon Mini Cam, which provides access to image and video settings, battery life info, and remaining storage capacity.
The Canon Mini Cam app offers a live viewfinder mode and remote shutter with timer, plus there’s the ability to wirelessly transfer images from the camera to a mobile device. As indicated by Canon’s marketing, the model is also durable with a shockproof/waterproof design and support for operating temperatures from -10C to 40C (14F to 104F). The camera measures 110.5mm x 45.2mm x 18.5mm (4.4in x 1.8in x 0.7in).
The IVY REC Outdoor Camera will be available from Canon in Avocado (green), Riptide (blue), and Dragon Fruit (pink) colors starting next month for $ 129.99.
Press release:
The World Is Your Oyster and Now You Can “REC” It With New Canon IVY REC Clippable Outdoor Camera
MELVILLE, NY, October 10, 2019 – Your activity of choice should not limit you on your quest to #RECtheWorld – from jumping on a trampoline, biking down a mountainside, screaming on a roller coaster or feeling the beat at a music festival. Down for just about anything, Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, is excited to announce the IVY REC Clippable Outdoor Camera. Made to go anywhere while capturing those larger-than-life moments – this new camera is made for adventure.
IVY REC Specs
Great for the outdoors, the clippable and wearable design allows users to wear it on a belt or bag and the clip doubles as a viewfinder – eliminating the potential to crack a screen. Simple to use with one click capture for both photos and videos, the IVY REC pairs with the optional Canon Mini Cam app1. When paired with a compatible mobile device2 such as a smartphone, you can keep informed about important settings including battery life of the IVY REC camera, remaining image capacity for the MicroSD card, video recording resolution (720p or 1080p)3, and image size. You can also use the app as a live viewfinder to capture photos and videos, and even use it as a remote shutter with a timer. For photos and videos, the app lets you wirelessly transfer them to your compatible mobile device to print and share. The go-anywhere camera is also waterproof4, shockproof5 and lightweight.
“We have learned a lot about the IVY customer since we launched our first IVY product over a year ago –their unique shopping habits and what’s important to them when it comes to consumer technology products,” said Kazuto Ogawa, president and chief operating officer, Canon U.S.A., Inc. “We’ve worked tirelessly to implement this knowledge into the next generation of IVY products, the IVY REC, offering the younger generation consumer the opportunity to go where the moment takes them and capture them in an instant.”
The Canon IVY REC comes in three colors: Riptide (Blue), Avocado (Green) and Dragon Fruit (Pink) and is scheduled to be available in October 2019 at an estimated retail price of $ 129.99*. For more information, please visit usa.canon.com.
About Canon U.S.A., Inc.
Canon U.S.A., Inc., is a leading provider of consumer, business-to-business, and industrial digital imaging solutions to the United States and to Latin America and the Caribbean markets. With approximately $ 36 billion in global revenue, its parent company, Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ), ranks third overall in U.S. patents granted in 2018† and was named one of Fortune Magazine’s World’s Most Admired Companies in 2019. Canon U.S.A. is dedicated to its Kyosei philosophy of social and environmental responsibility. To keep apprised of the latest news from Canon U.S.A., sign up for the Company’s RSS news feed by visiting www.usa.canon.com/rss and follow us on Twitter @CanonUSA.
†Based on weekly patent counts issued by United States Patent and Trademark Office.
1 Use of the optional Canon Mini Cam app requires compatible device to be connected to the Canon IVY REC via Bluetooth® and Wi-Fi®. The Canon Mini Cam app is available for free on the App Store and at Google Play. Data charges may apply with the download of the free Canon Mini Cam app. Compatible with mobile devices running iOS 11 or later, and Android devices running Android 5.1 or later.
2 Transfer of photos and videos requires Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to connect and pair with a compatible smart device, along with the use of the free Canon Mini Cam app, available on the App Store or Play. Compatible with iOS® versions 11 or above, Android™ smartphone and tablet versions 5.1 or above. Data charges may apply with the download of the free Canon Mini Cam app. This app helps enable you to upload images to social media services. Please note that image files may contain personally identifiable information that may implicate privacy laws. Canon disclaims and has no responsibility for your use of such images. Canon does not obtain, collect or use such images or any information included in such images through this app.
#Additional faceplates will be available later in 2019.
3 Default video setting is 720p at 30fps. Setting can be changed to 1080p through the Canon Mini Cam app. Note: 1080p video is not supported for Live View. Maximum continuous video length is 10 minutes.
4 Waterproof to 2m/6.6 ft. for up to 30 minutes, based on IP68 testing. Tested in freshwater only. If exposed to non-freshwater, rinsing immediately with freshwater is recommended.
5 Shockproof up to 6.6 ft./2m. The shock resistant testing methods are unique to this product and do not guarantee against damage or malfunction of the product.
*Availability, price and specifications are subject to change without notice. Actual prices are set by individual dealers and may vary.
ON1 has taken the wraps off its upcoming ON1 Photo RAW 2020. The software arrived as a public beta today, introducing the first offering in ON1’s recently announced new line of creative products. Photo RAW 2020 is a layered editor, raw processor, and image organizer that ON1 claims offers ‘everything you need in one photography application.’
Photo RAW 2020 brings new AI-powered tools including AI Match, a feature that processes raw images to appear the way they looked ‘on the back of the camera,’ as well as AI Auto Tone, which brings a new algorithm that was trained using thousands of photos.
In addition to the new AI tools, Photo RAW 2020 brings numerous performance updates that enable the software to open raw files up to two times faster than before. The performance updates also resulted in smoother brushing, something that persists even on devices that feature integrated graphics cards.
Users can also expect improved noise reduction, new map view and timeline albums, several new filters (weather, color balance, channel mixer, and sun flare), plus a new print module, focus mask overlay, more than 100 new presets, SmugMug integration, and custom camera profiles made possible by a partnership with X-Rite.
ON1 says it will release a list of newly added camera and lens support soon. Photo RAW 2020 supports raw image files from more than 800 camera models, as well as expected formats like DNG, JPEG, TIF, PNG, PSD, and PSB.
Below is a sneak peek On1 shared earlier today:
The public beta is available to download now from ON1’s website. Photo RAW 2020 can be preordered at $ 79.99 USD for existing ON1 product owners and $ 99.99 USD for everyone else. The company is bundling a 100 pack of presets for a limited time as a preorder bonus. The product is scheduled to release for everyone by the end of October 2019.
The post Street Photographer Attacked on Social Media for Taking Photos in Public appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.
Joshua Rosenthal’s Instagram feed.
Are you a street photographer?
Have you considered what might go wrong in your line of work?
Most street photographers don’t.
But maybe they should.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Josh Rosenthal (@two_stops_ahead) on
Joshua Rosenthal is your average street photographer. He goes out with his camera, photographs people in public places, and posts the photos on his website and Instagram. He does no harm, and nobody is bothered.
Until this past week, when Rosenthal’s actions attracted a lot of attention – and not in a good way.
Rosenthal journeyed to the Ventura County Fair in California. He walked around, taking photos of fairgoers. People noticed, became suspicious, and the police questioned Rosenthal. But doing photography in a public place is not a crime, and so nothing came of it.
According to the police department:
“The subject was contacted by police officers at the Fair on that date and has been contacted again today for questioning. No crime occurred during this incident.”
Rosenthal probably thought that being questioned at the county fair was the end of things; after all, he hadn’t broken the law.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Josh Rosenthal (@two_stops_ahead) on
So it was most likely a huge surprise when he awoke the next morning to find his name plastered all over social media alongside accusations of pedophilia and of predatory behavior.
As it turned out, a number of fairgoers took videos and photos of Rosenthal at the fair, which depicted Rosenthal snapping images of a young girl. These videos and photos were promptly distributed on social media, capturing intense attention.
One poster writes “Hey moms and dads, beware of this P.O.S. at the fair. He’s going around taking pictures of…little girls, in dresses.”
Another poster compared Rosenthal’s actions to child traffickers, while a third wondered whether he is a “perv.”
Rosenthal was questioned once again by the police but was not arrested. We can be confident that no legal action will be taken against Rosenthal.
Rosenthal has plans, however. He will be reaching out to the ACLU, which deals with civil liberty cases. He explains, “This is more about the First Amendment and doxing than it is about me.” He also apologized to the parents of the girl he was seen photographing.
For all the street photographers out there:
How would you handle this scenario? And how do you handle taking photos of children?
One way to prevent this kind of thing is to ask permission before photographing children. The parents might refuse, and that’s okay; there are plenty of people to photograph in the world!
Another way to protect yourself is to avoid photographing children entirely. As Rosenthal found out, parents are often extremely uncomfortable with their children being photographed, and for good reason. While there are plenty of harmless photographers out there, dedicated street photographers aren’t the only people taking photos of children.
What do you think? Do you have any tips for avoiding these difficult situations? Do you feel comfortable photographing children?
Leave a comment below!
The post Street Photographer Attacked on Social Media for Taking Photos in Public appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.
Time is running out to weigh in on important polices that will impact the future of drone operations in the U.S. This Monday, April 15th at 11:59 PM, Eastern Standard Time, marks the final deadline for the public to submit comments on two separate Notices of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) issued by the Federal Aviation Administation (FAA).
An NPRM is issued, by law, from one of the government’s independent agencies when they wish to add, remove, or change a rule or regulation. The FAA, in this case, is subsequently required to review every single comment submitted over the 60-day period, respond appropriately to concerns raised, and either make or alter regulations.
To date, the Advanced NPRM for Safe and Secure Operations of Small Unmanned Aircraft, which includes guidelines for implementing payload and flying beyond visual line of sight, has received over 1,400 comments. DJI, a leader in civilian drones and aerial imaging technology, recently released an official statement on the alarming lack of commentary regarding the other NPRM, Operations of Small Aircraft Over People.
At the time the statement was published, less than 100 people weighed in on the latter NPRM. Since then, over 200 comments have been submitted regarding operations at night and over people. Since the FAA takes the public’s input into consideration when making its final decision, it is important to read through the entire regulation and provide thoughtful, fact-based responses to each issue posed.
‘Drone professionals know society has barely tapped the potential of this transformative technology, and we appreciate the FAA’s willingness to listen to the voices of people who use drones every day as they craft these necessary rules,’ said Brendan Schulman, DJI’s Vice President of Policy & Legal Affairs. ‘Given how vital these rules are for every professional drone pilot in America, it is surprising to see how few comments have been received. We strongly encourage professional drone operators and fleet operators to read the FAA’s proposals and submit their perspectives on how to ensure drones can handle expanded responsibilities safely.’
DJI plans to contribute comments to each of these NPRMs. Anyone and everyone can make a difference.
CixxFive Concepts, a digital marketing company based in Dallas, Texas, has filed a class action lawsuit against Getty Images over its alleged licensing of public domain images. The complaint, which was first reported by TechDirt, accuses Getty of violating RICO and the Washington Consumer Protection Act, among ‘other claims.’
The lawsuit, embedded below, alleges Getty Images has been…
…fraudulently claiming ownership of copyrights in public domain images (which no one owns) and selling fictitious copyright licenses for public domain images (which no one can legally sell), including operating an enterprise of third-party contributors to perpetrate this egregious scheme.
Though CixxFive acknowledges that it is not illegal to sell public domain images, the company alleges that Getty’s ‘conduct goes much further than this,’ claiming it has utilized ‘a number of different deceptive techniques’ in order to ‘mislead’ its customers — and potential future customers — into thinking the company owns the copyrights of all images it sells.
The alleged actions, the lawsuit claims, ‘purport to restrict the use of the public domain images to a limited time, place, and/or purpose, and purport to guarantee exclusivity in the use of public domain images.’ The lawsuit also claims Getty has created ‘a hostile environment for lawful users of public domain images’ by allegedly sending them letters, via its License Compliance Services (LCS) subsidiary, accusing them of copyright infringement.
In listing examples of Getty’s allegedly deceptive actions, the lawsuit states:
CixxFive claims it has licensed public domain images from Getty, pointing to two images specifically that are available for free from the Library of Congress and NASA. The lawsuit claims that Getty’s licensing of public domain images has ‘injured CixxFive and the public, and will continue to do so unless brought to a halt by this court.’
It’s doubtful CixxFive will prevail in its lawsuit against Getty, as it’s legally allowed to sell public domain images, as unethical as it may be. Getty has previously won two past lawsuits related to image licensing: one from photographer Carol Highsmith filed in July 2016 and another from press agency and wire service Zuma in August 2016.
A view of the ‘Saved’ post section of the iOS Instagram app, also known as ‘Collections.’
Two years ago, Instagram released a feature called Collections that enables users to privately group posts together for organized safekeeping. The company now appears to be testing a new setting that would allow these users to make their Collections public. The discovery was made by software engineer Jane Manchun Wong, who has an excellent history with uncovering unannounced features in mobile apps.
The new public setting for Collections is not available to users, but Wong recently published a screenshot of what the feature currently looks like. Instagram told TechCrunch that it is not testing the feature, which indicates it is still in development. It’s possible the new option may appear for some users in the future when (if) public testing starts.
Instagram is testing public saved collections pic.twitter.com/vqjQdn7o7J
— Jane Manchun Wong (@wongmjane) February 22, 2019
With the public option, Instagram users would be able to create curated Collections featuring a variety of content from different Instagram users. Based on the above screenshot, it appears Instagram would enable users to add contributors to their public Collections.
Public Collections would help address the issue of unauthorized content sharing via screenshots, as well as offering an alternative to Pinterest ‘boards.’ As with any unannounced feature, it’s possible the final product will differ from the version still in development. Likewise, Instagram may scrap the project and never release the ‘public’ Collections setting.
The head of iPhone manufacturer Foxconn has said that the company is working with RED Digital Cinema to build top quality video cameras at a third of current prices. Speaking at a company party at the weekend, Chairman Terry Gou announced that the two companies are already in talks with the aim of producing cameras:
…that will shoot professional-quality films in 8K resolution but at only a third of current prices and a third of current camera sizes.
Foxconn assembles over 70% of Apple’s iPhones, which accounts for 50% of its business, but the company wants to diversify into areas with a better profit margin, according to a report from Nikki Asian Review. Its acquisition of Sharp’s semiconductor business will give Foxconn the chance to manufacture critical components for digital cameras and displays, including chip technologies that go into image sensors.
The company already has a working relationship with RED, and builds and assembles ASIC/front-end LSI circuits for the movie camera maker, according to EOSHD.
Within a few years we might see this powerful combination challenging Panasonic and Sony for space in the enthusiast-level 8K handheld video camera market. It’s still a ways out, but that would be interesting!
DJI urges public to submit comments on proposed FAA rules
Time is running out to weigh in on important polices that will impact the future of drone operations in the U.S. This Monday, April 15th at 11:59 PM, Eastern Standard Time, marks the final deadline for the public to submit comments on two separate Notices of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) issued by the Federal Aviation Administation (FAA).
An NPRM is issued, by law, from one of the government’s independent agencies when they wish to add, remove, or change a rule or regulation. The FAA, in this case, is subsequently required to review every single comment submitted over the 60-day period, respond appropriately to concerns raised, and either make or alter regulations.
To date, the Advanced NPRM for Safe and Secure Operations of Small Unmanned Aircraft, which includes guidelines for implementing payload and flying beyond visual line of sight, has received over 1,400 comments. DJI, a leader in civilian drones and aerial imaging technology, recently released an official statement on the alarming lack of commentary regarding the other NPRM, Operations of Small Aircraft Over People.
At the time the statement was published, less than 100 people weighed in on the latter NPRM. Since then, over 200 comments have been submitted regarding operations at night and over people. Since the FAA takes the public’s input into consideration when making its final decision, it is important to read through the entire regulation and provide thoughtful, fact-based responses to each issue posed.
‘Drone professionals know society has barely tapped the potential of this transformative technology, and we appreciate the FAA’s willingness to listen to the voices of people who use drones every day as they craft these necessary rules,’ said Brendan Schulman, DJI’s Vice President of Policy & Legal Affairs. ‘Given how vital these rules are for every professional drone pilot in America, it is surprising to see how few comments have been received. We strongly encourage professional drone operators and fleet operators to read the FAA’s proposals and submit their perspectives on how to ensure drones can handle expanded responsibilities safely.’
DJI plans to contribute comments to each of these NPRMs. Anyone and everyone can make a difference.
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
Posted in Uncategorized