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Posts Tagged ‘Costs’

Really Right Stuff is moving from California to Utah to escape rising costs

22 Feb

Camera accessories company Really Right Stuff (RRS) has announced that it will be moving both its headquarters and its manufacturing operations to Lehi, Utah, where it will have access to a building that is 2.5 times larger than its current location. The company points toward increasing costs in California, where it is presently located, as the reason for the move.

“We love beautiful San Luis Obispo, but our employees can’t afford to buy a home,” RRS CEO Joseph M. Johnson explained in a statement on the company’s website. Most of RRS’s employees will be making the move to the new Utah location, which is 35 minutes from Salt Lake City.

This is good news for customers who will ultimately benefit from the location change. Speaking to Fstoppers, RRS Assistant Product Manager Nathanael Brookshire said the new building will open the door for a larger workforce and expanded production: “The move comes with expansion on every level.”

Press Release

RRS Is Moving To Lehi, Utah

San Luis Obispo, CA, 16 February 2018 – Really Right Stuff, LLC (RRS) is pleased to announce it is moving its manufacturing operations and headquarters to Lehi, Utah by the end of summer 2018. The move to a new, 2 ½ times larger building enables continued growth and allows RRS to better serve its customers.

CEO Joseph M. Johnson, Sr. commented, “Continually rising costs in California make it tough for a small business to compete in the global economy. We love beautiful San Luis Obispo, but our employees can’t afford to buy a home. The business-friendly environment and low cost of living in Lehi, Utah made it a clear choice for us to best serve our customers and employees long-term. I’m happy to see most of our employees coming with us, keeping our RRS family largely intact.”

Located 35 minutes south of Salt Lake City along the Wasatch Front of the Rocky Mountains, Lehi is an ideal location for Really Right Stuff. It is the fifth fastest growing city in the country at the center of the high tech “Silicon Slopes.” Lehi’s beautiful natural surroundings provide easy access to hiking, mountain biking, fishing, camping, skiing, hunting, and, of course, excellent outdoor photography that spurred the birth of RRS. Six national parks are within a 4-5 hour drive from Lehi, including Yellowstone and Zion.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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The VEGAS Pro video editor is now available by subscription, costs $17 per month

26 Jan

In an attempt to attract new videographers and video editors, Magix is making its VEGAS Pro video editing software available on a subscription basis. The program, which Magix bought from Sony in 2016, costs $ 600 (£500) to buy outright, but the subscription model gets you access from just $ 16.67 (£12.42) per month under the moniker VEGAS Pro 365.

The company is offering the new VEGAS Pro 365 application on a 3-month or 12-month subscription contract, with access to all the features of VEGAS Pro 15 and SOUND FORGE Audio Studio 12—the company’s latest audio editing application. The VEGAS Pro 365 model also comes with access to online educational materials, to help newcomers understand how the program works.

Magix says that the 365 version won’t replace its perpetual license option—imagine the uproar if it were—but is simply a way to make the application more accessible to a wider range of videographers. A 12-month commitment will get you the $ 16.67 per month price quoted above, while a 3-month subscription works out to $ 20 (£15.00) per month.

For more information, read the full press release below or visit the Vegas software website.

Press Release

VEGAS Pro 365 subscription now available: Get started with professional video editing at only $ 16.67/month

January 18th – VEGAS Creative Software adds a first-of-its-kind video and audio production package to the award-winning VEGAS Pro product line. The subscription-based-offering VEGAS Pro 365 is priced from $ 16.67/month.

Focused on the first-time users, this new version offers a complete video and audio editing solution with all the features of VEGAS Pro 15 and SOUND FORGE Audio Studio 12, along with online training courses to learn VEGAS Pro.

The existing versions and 30-day trial version of VEGAS Pro continue to exist.

“With VEGAS Pro 365, we want to make it easier for aspiring video creators and enthusiasts to access professional video and audio production software. With flexible terms and additional services, we seek to fulfil a long-standing demand of our VEGAS Pro fan base” says Gary Rebholz, Product Owner.

For video editors, the new software package includes all the latest features of VEGAS Pro with high-end plug-ins and online training courses to learn to use VEGAS Pro. Users now also have full access to the audio editor SOUND FORGE Audio Studio to add high quality sound to their projects. Video projects can be edited offline within the subscription just like with the perpetual license. Projects also remain fully accessible to users even after expiration and can be easily imported and edited by other versions of VEGAS Pro. All components of the package stay up-to-date with the latest feature and product updates.

After taking over the video editing software VEGAS Pro from Sony Creative Software in 2016, MAGIX has since then released two new versions, VEGAS Pro 14 and 15. The additional offer of VEGAS Pro 365 now makes the product even more accessible. “We will continue to offer and update perpetual licenses of VEGAS Pro. What we want is an additional complete package customized to the needs of first-time users” says Rebholz.

More detailed information can be downloaded here:
http://www.vegascreativesoftware.com/gb/vegas-pro-365/

About VEGAS Pro:

In May, 2016, MAGIX acquired the VEGAS Pro product line, along with other video and audio products. The choice of video and audio professionals the world over, VEGAS Pro continues to provide the essential tools needed to edit and composite video, record, edit and mix multi-channel audio, and render and convert to a variety of formats for streaming or delivery via a DVD or Blu-ray disc. From independent filmmakers, to YouTube artist and broadcast video producers, VEGAS Pro stands ready to be your creative partner.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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This 32-inch QHD Philips monitor with 99% Adobe RGB only costs $500

05 Dec

Bargain hunters looking for a high quality monitor for designer work or photo editing, there’s a new panel in town that you will want to consider. Meet the Philips 328P6AUBREB P-line display, a 32-inch Quad HD (2560 x 1440) monitor with 100% sRGB coverage, 99% Adobe RGB coverage, and HDR technology.

This monitor is essentially Philips response to BenQ’s 27-inch SW2700PT, which retails for $ 600 and features nearly identical specs, albeit in a slightly smaller screen. Depending on your needs, you might actually prefer the higher PPI of the smaller BenQ monitor, but the ability to get a slightly higher contrast ratio—1,200:1 on the Philips vs 1,000:1 on the BenQ—and a bit more screen real estate for $ 100 less is definitely tempting.

Regarding the ‘HDR technology’ mentioned above, HDR viewing will definitely benefit from the relatively bright (for computer monitors, anyway) 450 nits typical brightness, and the wide color gamut support. However, the low contrast typically associated with IPS displays means you won’t want to use this as a primary HDR viewing or grading monitor.

Finally, before you put it on your wish list, there is one more thing to consider. Despite diving into the user manual, we couldn’t find any mention of direct access to the 12-bit internal LUTs for color calibration on the Philips monitor.

The BenQ monitors, by comparison, come with calibration software that directly addresses the 14-bit internal LUTs to calibrate your monitor without sacrificing the overall bit-depth of the display, minimizing the risk of banding. The color calibration solution BenQ provides, while of course requiring the purchase of a separate colorimeter or spectrophotometer, is definitely an advantage of its lineup.

The Philips 328P6AUBREB P-line display will officially go on sale in January for £439 / 499 EUR/ 499 USD, and if you’re like some of the folks at our office, you’re seriously tempted by this display… at this price.

Press Release

New Philips Adobe RGB, QHD, docking USB-C monitor

  • USB-C docking for simplicity and single-cable peripherals docking
  • Designed for professionals whose work demands a maximum of quality

Amsterdam, 30 November 2017 – MMD, the leading technology company and brand license partner for Philips monitors, is rolling out a new Philips Brilliance QHD docking USB-C monitor with High Dynamic Range (HDR). The 32-inch 328P6AUBREB delivers great image quality and one-cable docking for enhanced productivity and effortless convenience.

Connectivity made simple

The 328P6AUBREB is equipped with the extremely versatile connectivity of the latest-generation USB 3.1 Type C technology. Featuring a slim, reversible connector, USB-C enables users to charge, transfer audio and video signal, and connect to the Internet – all with one single cable. Hence, the monitor instantly becomes a hub and serves as a docking station, just without using that extra space on the desk. It also enables easy linking of multiple monitors, which is useful for graphic designers for example. Consequently, USB-C extends the limited connectivity of notebooks and allows users to transfer data securely at ultra-fast speeds. USB 3.1 is 20 times faster than USB 2.0, making data transfer a breeze. And, for those whose devices seem to always be running low on battery, USB-C with power delivery can even charge notebooks.

An unparalleled visual experience

Explaining the display’s positioning, Artem Khomenko, Product Manager Philips Monitors Europe at MMD, says: “The P-line monitors are designed to deliver precise, accurate and colour-critical colour performance. We are proud to bring this new model to the market, and to meet the high standards of professionals. This model is the perfect fit for graphic designers, CAD engineers, photographers, video editors and other professionals who rely on an outstanding on-screen reproduction of fine details.”

With Quad HD, you will enjoy an excellent viewing experience with high-resolution visuals. HDR technology ensures exceptional brightness and contrast, as well as a rich palette of captivating new colours never before seen on a display. The 10-bit display offers 1.074 billion of them, supported by 12-bit internal processing for natural colours and smooth gradients. With 99% Adobe RGB and 100% sRGB (CIE 1973), the 328P6AUBREB offers professional colour standards and 2560 x 1440 pixels deliver crystal-clear images and make graphics come alive. Thanks to IPS technology, the monitor can be viewed from an angle of 178° without losing any of the colour accuracy or consistent brightness that professional applications demand.

An extra dose of convenience

Beyond its connectivity and stunning visuals, this 32-inch QHD display boasts many of the standout features that have earned Philips monitors their reputation: the SmartErgoBase ergonomic adjustable stand enables users to tilt, swivel and raise the display for maximum viewing comfort. It also features Philips LowBlue Mode which reduces potentially harmful shortwave blue light. Flicker-free technology regulates brightness and reduces flicker for even more comfortable viewing; built-in stereo speakers provide excellent audio reproduction while eliminating the need for peripheral speakers; and what is more, with 65% post-consumer recycled plastics, this monitor is a good choice for eco-friendly users.

The Philips 328P6AUBREB P-line display, with an RRP of £439, will be available in January 2018.

Technical Specifications:

Specification
  • Philips 328P6AUBREB P-line display

LCD panel type
  • IPS technology

Backlighting technology
  • W-LED

Panel size
  • 31.5 inch / 80.1 cm

Aspect ratio
  • 16:9

Optimum resolution
  • 2560 x 1440 @ 60Hz

Effective viewing area
  • 698.11 (H) x 392.69 (V)

Viewing angle
  • 178° (H) / 178° (V), @ C/R > 10

Brightness
  • 450 cd/m²

Display colours
  • 1.07 billion

Colour gamut
  • 99% Adobe RGB (CIE 1973); HDR400

SmartContrast
  • 50,000,000 :1

USB Connectivity
  • USB-C (upstream), USB 3.0×2 (downstream, w/fast charging)

Connectivity
  • Signal Input: VGA (Analog ), DisplayPort 1.2, HDMI 2.0 x 1, USB-C (DP Alt mode, PD, data)
  • Sync Input: Separate Sync, Sync on Green
  • Audio (In/Out): PC audio-in, Headphone out
  • RJ45

Convenience
  • Built-in speakers: 3 W x 2
  • SmartImage, Input, Brightness Menu, Power On/Off
  • Control Software: Smart Control
  • Kensington lock, VESA mount (100 x 100 mm)
  • Plug & Play Compatibility: DDC/CI, Mac OS X, sRGB, Windows 10 / 8.1 / 8 / 7

Stand
  • Height adjustment: 180 mm
  • Pivot: 90 degree
  • Swivel: -170/170 degree
  • Tilt: -5/20 degree

Sustainability
  • Environmental and energy: EnergyStar 7.0, EPEAT Gold, RoHS
  • Recyclable packaging material: 100 %
  • Post-consumer recycled plastic: 65%
  • Specific Substances: PVC / BFR free housing, Mercury free, Lead free

Compliance and standards

Regulatory Approvals: CE Mark, FCC Class B,
VCCI, RDM, BSMI, ICES-003, J-MOSS, cETLus, EPA, PSB, CU-EAC, SEMKO, SASO, KUCAS, UKRAINIAN, PSE, CECP, WEEE, TUV Ergo, TUV/GS

Cabinet
  • Front bezel, rear cover and foot: Black
  • Finish: Texture

What’s in the box
  • Monitor with stand
  • Cables: D-Sub cable, DP cable, HDMI cable, USB-C to USB-C cable, USB-C to USB-A cable, Power cable, Audio cable
  • User Documentation

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Leica’s ‘new’ Thambar-M 90mm F2.2 costs $325 per aperture blade

28 Oct

Hands-on with Leica’s new classic 90mm Thambar

Leica’s newest lens is actually one of its oldest. The Leica Thambar-M 90mm F2.2 is a (slightly) modernized recreation of a classic 1930s design, famed for decades thanks to its unique soft focus rendering for portraits. At $ 6500 it costs a pretty penny too, which for our own amusement we figured works out to $ 325 for each of its 20 aperture blades.

We’re at the Photo Plus Expo show in New York, where we just got our hands on Leica’s latest crazy diamond. Click through for a closer look.

Hands-on with Leica’s new classic 90mm Thambar

Cosmetically, the new Thambar is virtually identical to the original. The biggest difference is that now, it’s designed natively for the M-mount rather than the original screw-mount (and 6-bit coded). As such, it can be used on modern rangefinders (like the M10 pictured above) without adaptation.

Sorry about the weird color balance in this image by the way. I have no excuse.

Hands-on with Leica’s new classic 90mm Thambar

Yes, that is a 20-bladed aperture. The optical construction of the new lens is the same as the original – four elements in three groups – but in a concession to the needs of 20th Century photographers, the elements are now single-coated.

Hands-on with Leica’s new classic 90mm Thambar

There are two reasons the original Thambar is famed among Leica collectors. One is its scarcity, and the other is its unique rendering. ‘Soft-focus’ would be a bit of an oversimplification – its more of an ethereal glow. I can’t describe the appearance very well in words, but people who love it really love it. The effect can be varied by stopping down the aperture. There are some sample images at the end of this writeup.

Note the twin stepless aperture scales – that will be explained a minute.

Hands-on with Leica’s new classic 90mm Thambar

The white aperture ring refers to the effective aperture when the special ‘center-spot’ filter is attached. This filter allows photographers to modify the unique rendition of the Thambar.

Hands-on with Leica’s new classic 90mm Thambar

A dedicated screw-in hood can be reversed on the lens for storage. Without the hood or filter, the new Thambar weighs in at a respectable 500g (1.1lb) and is available now, for $ 6500.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Google Clips is an AI-enabled hands-free camera that costs $250

05 Oct

Meet Google Clips

After some expected hardware update announcements, Google’s “one more thing” turned out to be Clips, a tiny, hands-free camera designed to automatically capture everyday moments.

Meet Google Clips

Small and lightweight, Clips is sold with a case that, uh, clips to things. Demo objects included toys and books. Point it at you and your loved ones, and Clips will do its thing without you ever needing to push the shutter button (although you can still push the shutter button if you want).

Meet Google Clips

Clips uses AI to identify and remember frequent subjects. When it detects a familiar subject smiling, for example, it will capture a burst of images. What’s more, Google says that it gets smarter over time, capturing more of the moments you want and fewer moments you’ll ultimately throw away.

Meet Google Clips

Clips works with the Pixel 2, naturally, but a rep we talked to said it will also work with an iOS app. It captures bursts of images from which videos (without audio) or stills can be extracted. Clips can be trimmed in the accompanying app, and they can be exported as GIFs as well.

Meet Google Clips

Clips will sell for $ 250, and eager customers can join a pre-order ‘waitlist’ now.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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GoPro’s 5.2K 360-degree Fusion camera officially launched, costs $700

01 Oct

The GoPro Hero6 was the big news to come out of GoPro’s launch event yesterday, but it’s not the only thing the company revealed. CEO Nick Woodman also officially launched the previously-announced and still somewhat-mysterious GoPro Fusion—the company’s 360° 5.2K action camera.

The GoPro Fusion was first teased at CES in 2016 and revealed in April of this year, but other than its ability to shoot 5.2K spherical video at 30fps, we really didn’t know much about it. Official release date was set for “Fall” and people mostly forgot about it… until yesterday, that is. We found out a lot more about Fusion the launch event.

In addition to that video spec, the Fusion uses its two lenses to shoot 18MP spherical photos, captures 360° sound, is waterproof to 16feet (5 meters) without any external case, and features ‘gimbal-like stabilization’ that is achieved using the built-in accelerometer, gyroscope, and compass. Additional features include time lapse video and photo modes, night lapse and burst modes, voice control in 10 languages, and built-in GPS, WiFi and Bluetooth.

Here are a few video breakdowns of the different features built into the camera, like that gimbal-like stabilization and something called ‘OverCapture’:

The GoPro Fusion is already up for pre-order on the GoPro website. It will cost you $ 700 and GoPro plans to ship the Fusion later this month. Click here to find out more or pre-order yours now.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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GoPro Hero6 leaked again: Shoots 4K at 60fps, 1080p at 240fps, and costs $500

22 Sep
Newly leaked photos of the GoPro Hero6 form a Best Buy in Canada. Photo credit: The Verge

Days after the first photo of the upcoming GoPro Hero6 action camera leaked online, showing that the little cam will finally be able to shoot 4K at 60fps, another set of images has appeared after the camera was put up (by mistake, we assume) at a Best Buy in Canada. The photos were sent to tech site The Verge by a tipster who got to see that camera, and the leak reveals two more tantalizing details about the Hero6.

In addition to confirming the 4K 60fps news, the photo shows that the Hero6 will also be able to shoot FullHD 1080p video at 240fps slow motion, and the camera will sell for $ 650 CAD, or approximately $ 500 USD when it’s released.

The Verge is also reporting that GoPro will no longer use an Ambarella processor from the Hero6 onwards. Instead, the new camera will reportedly contain a custom-built processor known at GoPro as the “GP1,” leaving many to hope that this new chip will translate into better battery life and higher performance from GoPro’s future models.

Finally, the last piece of the puzzle is a release date, which was also leaked today. According to Twitter user Konrad Iturbe, who was able to gain access to GoPro’s staging website, the announcement/release date is set for September 28th.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Godox A1 smartphone flash trigger officially released, costs $70

17 Aug

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The Godox A1 smartphone flash trigger is finally official. After being announced unofficially over Facebook and teased further with some studio portrait samples, the phone flash and 2.4GHz flash trigger is now available for pre-order.

Chinese company Godox is a rising star in the lighting world thanks to a growing repertoire of affordable, surprisingly versatile and often innovative speedlight and monolight options. The Godox A1 arguably falls into that last “innovative” category: a trigger and flash designed specifically for use with smartphones.

The unit itself features a 1W ‘modeling lamp’ and a daylight-balanced 8W flash with 5 different power settings between 1/1 and 1/16, but chances are good photographers won’t be using those two options much. What’s more interesting is the 2.4GHz trigger built into the unit, which allows you to control Godox’ own X system gear wirelessly using an iPhone app.

Capturing professional-looking, artificial light portraits with a smartphone seems a bit more feasible now.

The flash trigger costs $ 70 and is available for pre-order starting today. Out of the box, the Godox A1 will be compatible with iPhone 6s and newer Apple phones, but Android support is coming soon, starting with Huawei and Samsung phones in September (which might be before the flash arrives on anybody’s doorstep anyhow).

To learn more about the Godox A1, or if you want to pre-order your own, head over to the Godox website by clicking here. And be sure to keep an eye out for a review of the Godox A1 in the coming month: a test unit is winging its way to the DPReview offices as I type this.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Nikon cancels DL compact series citing high development costs

14 Feb

Nikon has officially put an end to the DL series. Announced just under a year ago, the three DL compacts would have had 1″ sensors. Nikon missed its June target ship date, citing problems related to the image processor. Now, Nikon says that the development costs had become too great to continue. A statement released today also mentions the company’s concern that it wouldn’t sell enough units to make up for the increased costs, due to a slow down in the market.

That wasn’t the only piece of bad news from Nikon this morning. The company released its third quarter financial results and due to costs of a ‘voluntary retirement’ program it initiated last year and semiconductor inventory write-offs, has announced an ‘extraordinary loss’ from April to December of 2016. The impact of this is reflected in an updated forecast for the financial year ending in March, lowering predictions of net sales and operating income. The statement acknowledges a ‘sluggish and shrinking’ market for digital cameras.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Relonch is a camera and photo editing service that costs $99 per month

14 Dec

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No screen, no flash, no settings, no SD card: Relonch, a $ 99-per-month APS-C fixed lens camera and photo editing service currently in beta, sounds like a whole lot of nope right off the bat. But its creators think they’ve found a way to bring better photography to the masses.

If Relonch sounds familiar, you might be remembering the prototype iPhone case that held an APS-C image sensor that the company unveiled at Photokina 2014. What became a photo editing app fed into the latest concept, a ‘camera as a service.’ 

That camera is the Relonch 291, a 20MP APS-C camera ‘based on Samsung Galaxy NX technology’ with a fixed prime lens. It offers just one shooting mode, and button: the shutter release. There’s no way to save photos directly from the camera – what Relonch does offer is a 4G connection to automatically transfer captured images to its server and uses AI to select what it deems to be the best images and processes them. Edited images are transferred back to the user via a mobile app the next day.

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The company hopes to make Relonch available globally in 2018. Until then, the service is in beta testing as its processing algorithms are refined. In the meantime, if you’re in Palo Alto you can visit their showroom to try one out for three days. If you like what you see, you can ‘reserve’ Relonch now for $ 99 (fully refundable), but you’ll be looking at a wait until at least mid 2018.

Fast Company’s Emily Price took one for a spin and found some aspects of the experience appealing, but was ultimately disappointed when photos didn’t meet Relonch’s AI’s quality standards. There’s also an argument to be made about cost – over the course of a year Relonch will cost its user $ 1200. For that kind of money, you can be the proud owner of a really nice APS-C camera. But that may be beside the point for Relonch’s target audience.

Is this something you would consider recommending to your friends and family who find ‘professional’ cameras too intimidating? Let us know what you think.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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