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Posts Tagged ‘Comes’

Samsung Galaxy Fold comes with foldable display and six cameras

21 Feb

Samsung wasted no time unveiling the Galaxy Fold at its Unpacked event today – a foldable device with a 4.6″ display when folded, and 7.3″ display when unfolded. The device contains a total of six cameras – three on the back, two inside and one front-facing camera.

The company’s live presentation includes few camera details – but we’ve preliminarily gathered the following specs for the cameras included on the Galaxy Fold below (subject to change):

Location Full-frame equiv. FOV Aperture Autofocus Optical Image Stabilization
12MP ‘main’ camera Rear 27mm F1.5 / F2.4 Dual-Pixel Yes
12MP telephoto Rear 52mm F2.4 Phase-Detect Yes

16MP wide-angle
(fixed-focus)

 Rear 12mm F2.2 No No
10MP selfie camera Inside 26mm F1.9 Dual-Pixel No

8MP RGB depth-sensing camera

 Inside 22mm F2.2 Autofocus (unspecified) No
10MP selfie camera Front 26mm F1.9 Dual-Pixel No

Other technical specs known at this point are that it will offer 12GB of RAM, and uses two batteries for a 4380mAh combined capacity.

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Multi-tasking is a big focus of the device, and Samsung demonstrated the device’s ability to maintain continuity within an app as you switch between displays, as well as its ability to run three apps on the larger screen simultaneously.

Black, silver, green or blue color choices with personalized hinge color options will be offered. The Galaxy Fold will start at a steep $ 1980.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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OnePlus 6T comes with new Nightscape and Studio Lighting modes

29 Oct

OnePlus announced the OnePlus 6T, its latest high-end Android device, at an event in New York City today. On paper the 6T camera hardware looks identical to the OnePlus 6 which was launched earlier this year. However, the new model comes with a few improvements in the imaging software.

The 6T’s dual-camera has a 16Mp primary camera that uses a 1/2.55? sensor and F1.7 aperture. It also features optical image stabilization. The 20Mp secondary cam offers the same 25mm equivalent focal length as the primary but features a smaller 1/2.8? sensor and a non-stabilized F1.7 lens. The camera focuses using a PDAF system.

Like on the OnePlus 6, the device uses the secondary high-resolution sensor for optimizing noise and dynamic range, high-quality digital zoom and a simulated bokeh effect.

In terms of software features a new Nightscape mode promises night shots with better detail, reduced noise levels, better color rendering and a wider dynamic range than the default shooting mode.

The Studio Lighting feature looks very similar to Apple’s Portrait Lighting and modifies brightness and tonality on faces to simulate similar effects you could achieve with professional lighting equipment. In addition OnePlus says bokeh and HDR modes have been improved over the versions found in the 6.

In video mode the OnePlus 6T is capable of recording 4K footage at 60 frames per second. In Super Slow Motion mode you can shoot 1080p video at 240fps or 720p/480fps.

Non-camera specs are worthy of a high-end smartphone as well. The Android OS is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset and up to 8GB of RAM. According to OnePlus the 3,700mAh battery delivers a 20 percent better battery life than the OnePlus 6 and a new on-screen fingerprint reader is on board as well. The 6.41-inch AMOLED display comes with a 19.5:9 aspect ratio and 2340 x 1080 resolution.

The OnePlus 6T will be available from November 1, starting at $ 549.

Key Specifications:

  • Dual-camera
  • Main camera with 16Mp Sony IMX 519 1/2.55? sensor with 1.22 ?m pixels, F1.7 aperture, OIS
  • Secondary camera with 20Mp Sony IMX 376K 1/2.8? sensor with 1.0 ?m pixels, F2.0 aperture
  • 25mm equivalent focal length
  • PDAF
  • Dual-LED flash
  • 4K video at 30/60fps
  • 16Mp front camera with F2.0 aperture

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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ADOX HR-50 is a new monochrome film stock that comes in 135, 120, and 4×5 formats

07 Oct

ADOX has announced HR-50, a new monochrome film stock that will be available in 135, 120, and 4×5 formats.

According to ADOX, the HR-50 film stock is “based on an emulsion commonly available for technical purposes.” It features “an ultrafine grain” and uses “super panchromatic sensitization,” meaning it’s sensitive to all wavelengths of visible light.

ADOX says HR-50 is particularly well-suited for street and landscape photography, but also works for portraits, although they do recommend using its own HR-50 developer. In the event you don’t want to buy another developer to keep in the darkroom, ADOX says the “gamma [of HR-50 has been] reduced so it becomes perfectly usable for pictorial photography in regular developers.”

According to the press release, ADOX HR-50 also works as an infrared film and handles the use of filters “extremely well.”

Below are a few sample photos provided by ADOX.

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There’s no mention of an exact release date or expected price. We have contacted ADOX regarding this information and will update the article accordingly if we hear back.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Google Pixel 3 leaks, comes with single camera and updated camera app

24 Aug

We are very much used to information about new products being leaked before the launch date, and especially so in the case of smartphones and other tech. However, the case of the upcoming Google Pixel 3 device is somewhat special.

It looks like several pre-production units were stolen from Google and are being sold on the black market. One device made its way to Russian tech site Mobile Review, which produced a fully-fledged hands-on review – of a device that hasn’t even been launched yet.

Google Pixel 3 camera options, image: Mobile Review

Thanks to leak and article we now know the Pixel 3 will come with a 12.2MP single-camera – at a time when most direct rivals feature dual-camera setups and, in the case of the Huawei P20 Pro, even a triple camera. There is also an 8MP dual front-camera.

Camera performance on previous Pixel model was excellent, thanks to Google’s outstanding software processing, and we should again expect class-leading detail and dynamic range from the new Google device. However, without a secondary tele-lens the Pixel is likely going to struggle against some competitors in the zoom department.

Google Pixel 3 camera user interface, image: Mobile Review

The camera user interface shown in the Mobile Review article is also different to the current version. Shooting modes are now listed above the shutter button instead of in a menu. You can cycle through Panorama, Portrait, Camera, and Video modes. You can also access Google Lens, Slow Motion video, and Photo Sphere through a More icon.

“Beautification” in Portrait mode can now be set to Natural and Soft face-retouching in addition to switching it off altogether and there is a new “Google Lens suggestions” mode.

The Mobile Review article is in Russian but you’ll find plenty of product images and even camera samples on the page, if you’d like to check image quality yourself. The final device is expected to be launched some time in October.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Samsung Galaxy Note 9 comes with dual-aperture 12MP dual-cam

10 Aug

At a high-profile launch event in New York, Samsung took the wraps off its much-leaked, next-generation Note device. The Galaxy Note 9 borrows the S9+’s 12MP dual-aperture dual-cam, with OIS in both rear cameras and an emphasis on AI-enhanced shooting modes. It’s roughly the same size as its predecessor, though its 6.4″ Super AMOLED “Infinity Display” is a touch larger than the Note 8’s.

Both rear cameras offer 12MP resolution – a wide-angle camera with F1.5/2.4 variable aperture, and a telephoto camera with F2.4 fixed aperture. An 8MP F1.7 front-facing camera is also on board.

The camera will also alert the user with a notification if it detects that a “flawed” image has been taken

Samsung’s camera app uses an AI-powered Scene Optimizer to identify subjects and sort images into one of 20 categories. The camera will also alert the user with a notification if it detects that a “flawed” image has been taken – too blurry, backlit or marred by a smudged lens.

One of the Note 9’s headline features is the option for massive built-in storage capacity: either 128GB or 512GB. Both options are expandable via MicroSD. The S Pen stylus also gets a revamp, with Bluetooth Low-Energy support which allows it to act as a remote shutter for the camera. A 4000 mAh battery claims all-day performance, with a “Water Carbon Cooling system” and real-time performance adjustments to prevent… well, we know what can happen.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 goes on sale August 24th – a 128GB model will cost $ 1000 and the 512GB version will sell for $ 1250.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Sony IMX586 smartphone sensor comes with 48MP and Quad Bayer design

24 Jul

Sony has introduced a new smartphone image sensor today and, looking at the IMX586’s impressive spec sheet, the new chip could help boost smartphone camera performance further in the next generation of high-end devices.

The sensor combines two key technologies: very high resolution and a ‘Quad Bayer’ color filter pattern to offer a series of clever processing modes.

According to Sony, low light performance is comparable to large 1.6?m pixels

With its 1/2″ format (6.4 x 4.8 mm) the stacked sensor is at the large end of the spectrum for smartphone cameras: nearly twice the size of a typical 1/3″-type chip. This allows it to squeeze 48MP onto its surface, but still requites a comparatively small pixel size of 0.8 ?m.

The IMX586 is not just about pixel count, however. It comes with a Quad Bayer color filter array in which every 2×2 pixel array has the same color filter. This allows it to offer several ways to process its data, depending on the conditions.

In low light image data from the four pixels in such an array is merged and processed as one single pixel, resulting in a reduced 12MP image resolution. According to Sony, low light performance is comparable to large 1.6?m pixels.

In bright light the image signal processor can make full use of the sensor’s 48MP pixel count, however, and capture high-resolution images or use the abundance of captured image data for high-quality digital zooming. This requires processing to convert the ‘Quad Bayer’ data into an approximation of what a 48MP Bayer sensor would have captured. It’ll be interesting to see how well this does.

Sony’s write-up seems to allude to a third way of using the data. It talks about the sensor being able to display up to four times the dynamic range of conventional products. We suspect this uses the system Sony uses on its IMX294 chip, where alternate pixels are switched off, mid exposure, protecting highlight capture while still recording full shadow detail. The Quad Bayer pattern would lend itself particularly well to this.

This three-mode approach… may remind some readers of Fujifilm’s Super CCD EXR technology

This three-mode approach to offering better performance in low light, higher DR in high contrast situations or high resolution when there’s plenty of light may remind some readers of Fujifilm’s Super CCD EXR technology, with which there are some obvious parallels.

As usual we don’t know when the new sensor will see the light of day in a production smartphone, but the Sony Xperia XZ3 which is expected to be launched at IFA in September looks like a good candidate. Given Sony is the biggest sensor provider to the smartphone industry we should sooner or later see the IMX586 in non-Sony smartphones as well.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Waiting to Photograph Sunrise – What to do Before the Sun Comes Up

28 Jun

A beautiful sunrise is, hands down, one of the best photography subjects and most beloved by photography viewers and photographers alike. They differ from sunset in the amount of pre-planning that aids a successful shoot. It’s no wonder that sunsets are easier to prepare for, as it is light out and you’re awake. So what do you need to do to photography sunrise?

Waiting to Photograph Sunrise – What to do Before the Sun Comes Up - dramatic sky

It’s a good idea to break down the pre-planning for a sunset shoot into three separate task groups:

  • The day before you shoot
  • The night before your shoot
  • Day of the shoot

The Day Before

Planning for a sunrise shoot starts well before the sun goes down the day before. You can’t change the weather, but providence favors the prepared soul.

Seattle at sunrise - Waiting to Photograph Sunrise

Seattle and Mount Rainier Before The Sun Comes Up

Scout

The most important part of planning a sunrise shoot is pre-visualization. This is the act of looking at a scene and imagining it at the time of sunrise. There are a number of apps to help with pre-visualization, such as The Photographer’s Ephemeris and LightTrac. They can point directly to where the sun will rise and help you decide camera angles and compositions.

These apps often let you mark your favorite locations to help you find them quickly the next day. So don’t guess! Go, scout.

Talk to Locals

If you are in a new location, ask around about great locations for sunrise. You don’t have to state you are a photographer, you can be just another tourist (even if you are in a town next door). Restaurants and bars are a good bet for easy places to start a conversation. You might be amazed at how easy it is to get people talking; everyone enjoys a nice sunrise.

Waiting to Photograph Sunrise - planning tips

Front side and back side of Delicate Arch in Utah

Some other local options and organizations to try:

  • Camera clubs
  • Audubon Society or birding groups
  • Outdoor gear and apparel stores
  • The local Chamber of Commerce

Other Odds and Ends

I suggest taking care of other odds and ends the day before, like packing a snack for the morning. If you’re not used to getting up before the sun, you’re going to be fairly hungry by the time you’re done shooting.

Also, fill your gas tank the day before if you are going to be driving. Anything you can do to reduce the odds of something simple going wrong will help you have a successful photo shoot.

prayer flags Nepal - Waiting to Photograph Sunrise

Prayer flags before Ama Dablam in the Himalayas of Nepal

The Night Before

Charge Batteries

More than once I have hit the field with only 25% battery power because my Canon doesn’t shut off the GPS when the camera powers down. It’s frustrating to have to ration something that can easily be topped off the night before. It’s a good habit to get into charging all your batteries ahead of time.

Waiting to Photograph Sunrise - sunrise in Hawaii from a cruise ship

Opportune sunrise over Maui, Hawaii on UnCruise Endeavour.

Clean your gear and wipe your cards

It’s the little things that matter most. Who hasn’t taken a few choice photos only to find dust spots or streaks that need to be sometimes painfully removed in post-processing? Take care of those things the night before. Clean your sensor, clean your gear and make sure it is all working perfectly.

Also, organize your cards and make sure you have fresh, empty memory cards before heading to bed. If you’re on a trip of multiple days, ensure your cards are backed up or at least have enough space available for your anticipated shoot the next morning.

Remember, sunrise scenes are aided by bracketing your images, so they tend to require more space than normal.

Waiting to Photograph Sunrise - colorful sunrise shot

Organize

Put on a blindfold or close your eyes right now and point to where everything is in your camera bag. Can you do it? Do you know where your spare batteries and cards are? Your second lens or the Allen wrench you need to adjust your tripod? What about your filters?

Being well organized and knowing your bag front to back by touch is valuable when the sun hasn’t yet risen. Depending on your latitude and cloud cover, it may be quite dark until just before sunrise so it is important to not be fumbling with gear or hunting for your flashlight.

Pack it all up the night before and set your bag by the door, ready to go in the morning without another thought.

Waiting to Photograph Sunrise - sand dunes at sunrise

Dunes at sunrise

The Day of Your Shoot

Arrive Early

I can’t stress this enough.

ARRIVE EARLY!

Often the best show of colors comes before the sun breaches the horizon if you have decent cloud cover. Arriving 30 minutes before sunrise might mean you miss this colorful show or are scrambling to get set up and shoot before the colors are dashed.

My rule of thumb is to show up an hour before the actual sunrise time. Maybe you can arrive a little later than that in places with deep valleys, like the Himalayas. The reverse is also true if you are on a mountaintop. With a little time on your hands, you can let your eyes adjust to the growing light and look for opportunities and compositions you might have missed on the previous day’s scouting mission.

Waiting to Photograph Sunrise -Taj Mahal at sunrise

Good timing at the Taj Mahal, Agra, India

Setting Up

Tripods are a big help for sunrise shoots and it’s best to set up early. Getting your camera out and mounted on a tripod can also help it acclimate in colder weather. Plus getting set up before the sun arrives gives you time for last minute scouting of the area.

If the weather is cold, it’s also a good time to bring out any filters you may need, such as graduated neutral density filters. I prefer to keep filters in a nice wallet, like the Tiffen Belt Holder so they stay secure and clean while acclimating.

Waiting to Photograph Sunrise - canyon in Utah at sunrise

Canyonlands National Park as seen from Dead Horse Point State Park, Utah

The Shoot

We have a number of excellent articles here on Digital Photography School to help you with shooting sunrises. Here are some of my favorites:

  • 8 Simple Guidelines for Capturing Spectacular Sunrise and Sunset Images
  • How to Shoot Stunning Photos at Sunrise and Sunset
  • 5 Reasons Why Your Sunrise or Sunset Photos Don’t Look So Stunning
Waiting to Photograph Sunrise - ferry in Washington state at sunrise

Washington State Ferry Chelan in front of Mt. Baker, Washington

Editing Those Wonderful Shots

DPS also has many beneficial articles on processing your sunrise photos (the same techniques are used for sunrise and sunset).

  • Lightroom Workflow – from Setup to Finished Sunrise Photo
  • How I Shot And Edited It – Mesa Arch At Sunrise
  • 4 Tips for Post-Processing Images on the Road
Waiting to Photograph Sunrise - mountains in Nepal

Spindrift catching the morning’s rays on the Himalayas, Lobuche, Nepal

Conclusion

Being prepared and planning ahead is a great way to enjoy sunrise photography without the rush. Take the time to scout and plan ahead by having your gear ready. The tips listed here will help you take your sunrise photography from accidental to purposefully beautiful art.

The post Waiting to Photograph Sunrise – What to do Before the Sun Comes Up appeared first on Digital Photography School.


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Camera Plus 2 comes with overhauled UI and new features

30 May

Camera+ was launched almost eight years ago and since then has become one of the most popular third-party camera apps for iPhone and iPad. Now its makers have given the app a complete overhaul and launched Camera+ 2.

Camera+ 2 is a universal app and as such provides the same user experience across all compatible iPhone and iPad models. Unlike on the original app, all features and tools are included from the start, without the need to acquire some function via in-app purchase.

The redesigned interface includes manual controls, raw shooting and editing, depth capture, and other advanced features. In shooting modes parameters such as shutter speed, ISO or white balance are controlled via on-screen dials. Owners of dual-camera devices can switch between wide angle and macro lenses. If you prefer things simpler, many settings can also be hidden.

When shooting in depth capture mode, depth information is saved alongside the image, allowing for the application of depth effects in the editor. In addition a range of filters can be adjusted in terms of strength and layered for customized effects.

There are also a few new shooting modes. Smile mode triggers automatically once a smile is detected on your subjects. Stabilizer mode triggers when the camera is held steadily enough for a sharp picture and a slow shutter mode allows for long exposures, even in bright light.

On the editing side of things, Camera+ 2 now offers full Photo Library integration with editing support. If you are the owner of an iOS device running version 11 or later of the mobile OS, you can download and install Camera+ 2 from the App Store for $ 2.99.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Leica M7 film camera comes to an end

30 May

Leica has discontinued its M7 film camera after 16 years of service. According to the Red Dot Forum, which is run by the Miami Leica store, the last of the M7 standard and ‘a la Carte’ bodies has been built and no more will be made. The Miami store lists the camera as ‘Out of Stock’ but models will remain in circulation elsewhere until they are sold through. The UK Leica stores have stock listed at £3900 and New York at $ 4795 – the same price as the Leica MP and £/$ 100 more than the M-A film bodies.

The M7 caused a bit of a stir when it arrived with features that required battery power to operate – particularly the electronic shutter. Without power users are restricted to shutter speeds of 1/60sec and 1/125sec, whereas models before the M7 had used an entirely mechanical shutter and could therefore continue working in the event of a flat battery- or no battery.

The M7 also brought aperture priority to the M range, a feature that has found a place in a number of M bodies, but not all, since, and it was the first M to feature a DX code reader to automatically set the ISO for the internal metering system by ‘reading’ a code printed on the film cassette.

Ironically, while the slightly modern M7 will descend in to history with its new-fangled electro-wizardry, two perhaps less helpful film models will continue the previous traditions of fully mechanical shutters and all-manual operation. The MP and the M-A remain on the product list, though the MP seems to be widely listed as Out-of-Stock in official Leica stores.

For more information see the Red Dot Forum and the Leica website.

Red Dot statement

Leica M7 Film Camera Discontinued

Today marks the passing of a legend, the venerable Leica M7. First introduced in 2002 as the follow-up to the M6, the Leica M7 brought a more modern aperture priority mode and electronically-controlled shutter to a classic mechanical M design. The M7 was also the first M camera with a built-in DX code reader for ISO detection. The camera has been well-loved for over 15 years, but all good things must come to an end.

Effective immediately, Leica will no longer produce any more new M7 cameras, in black or silver. There still might be a handful in stock at various dealers, but once sold out, no more will be coming from Wetzlar. The same goes for the a la Carte program. No M7-based configurations will be accepted or built for customers wanting a custom camera.

While this is certainly sad news for analog lovers, fear not. The Leica MP and Leica M-A film cameras remain current items in the catalog and will continue to be produced.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Sharp’s new AQUOS R2 smartphone comes with a dedicated video camera

08 May

Sharp probably isn’t the first brand that springs to mind when thinking about high-end smartphones, but over the years the Japanese manufacturer has released a few quirky devices. The newly announced AQUOS R2 falls squarely into that category, being the only smartphone—as far as we are aware—that comes with a dedicated video camera.

The new Sharp comes with a dual-camera setup on the back (so far, so normal) but instead of using it for improved low-light image quality or zoom capabilities, the AQUOS R2 reserves a 16.3MP unit exclusively for video recording. Stills capture, meanwhile, is performed by the 22.6MP camera on board.

The video module records 4K footage with an ultra-wide angle lens that features a 135° field of view. Electronic video stabilization reduces the viewing angle somewhat, but the camera still produces a nice cinematic look, as you can see in the sample video below.

An AI-powered function automatically captures still images during video recording, and on the front there is a 16.3MP front-facing sensor for selfies and video-calls.

All other specs are truly flagship smartphone worthy. The device features a 6.0-inch “notched” display with 19:9 aspect ratio and 1440 x 3040 pixels resolution, the OS and apps are powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset and 4GB of RAM, 64GB of internal storage can be expanded up to 400GB via a microSD card slot, and all components are wrapped up in a IPX5/IPX8/IP6X body.

If it delivers in terms of image quality, with its super-wide-angle video camera, the AQUOS R2 can be an interesting option for vloggers and other amateur video shooters.

The LG G6 and V30 are, at least currently, pretty much the only other native super-wide smartphone camera options out there, but the image quality of the super-wide camera lags noticeably behind the main module. We’ll be curious to see how the AQUOS R2 stacks up.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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