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Final Cut Pro X 10.4 adds HDR support, VR video editing, and (finally!) curves

15 Dec

Apple has released a Final Cut Pro X update that adds a slew of new features and expanded support to its video-editing software, most notable among those features being support for 360-degree and VR video. This is a major update for the software, which has been optimized to fully leverage the greater processing power of the new iMac Pro desktop systems.

In version 10.4, Final Cut Pro supports editing 360-degree videos and viewing them in real time using an HTC Vive VR headset. According to Apple, the software supports importing, editing, and delivering these VR videos, with available edits including “immersive effects,” removing camera rigs, straightening the horizon, and adding standard videos/images to VR projects.

In addition to its new 360/VR capabilities, Final Cut Pro 10.4 adds support for high dynamic range (HDR) videos in Rec. 2020 HDR10 and Rec. 2020 Hybrid Log Gamma formats, as well as new advanced color grading tools, including color wheels with controls for adjusting brightness, saturation, and hue.

The latest version of Final Cut Pro also offers color curves with multiple control points, enabling users to make “ultra-fine color adjustments,” according to Apple. Or, as our Senior Reviewer Richard Butler put it: “Curves! Curves! At long bloody last, Curves!”

Users have both manual white balance and eye dropper color sampling options, as well as the ability to apply custom lookup tables (LUTs) from Color Grading Central, PremiumBeat, and select other color grading apps. The latest version of Final Cut Pro combined with the new iMac Pro desktops also marks the first time a Mac can be used to edit full 8K-resolution videos.

Apple lists the following additional features as arriving in Final Cut Pro 10.4:

Easily import iMovie projects from iPhone and iPad into Final Cut Pro for advanced editing, audio work, motion graphics and color grading.
HEVC and HEIF support for importing and editing high efficiency video and photo formats from Apple devices.
Updated audio effects plug-ins from Logic Pro X with redesigned, resizable interfaces.
Faster, higher quality optical flow analysis built on Metal, Apple’s advanced graphics technology.

The Final Cut Pro 10.4 update is available for free to existing Final Cut Pro owners, while new users will need to pay $ 300 USD for the application. Apple has also released Motion 5.4 and Compressor 4.4 for free to existing users, and at $ 50 USD each for new users.

To learn more or pick up a copy for yourself, head over to the Final Cut Pro website.

Press Release

Final Cut Pro X introduces 360-degree VR video editing

Apple’s Pro Video Editing App Also Adds Advanced Color Grading, HDR Support and More

Cupertino, California — Apple today announced a major update to its professional video editing app, Final Cut Pro X, with new features including 360-degree VR video editing, advanced color grading tools and support for High Dynamic Range (HDR) video.

Optimized to take full advantage of the incredible performance capabilities of the all-new iMac Pro, Final Cut Pro users can now edit full-resolution 8K video for the first time on a Mac. Apple is also extending 360-degree VR video support to Final Cut Pro companion apps, Motion and Compressor.

Today, with more than 2 million seats, Final Cut Pro X is the most popular version of the software ever and is used by professional video editors to create incredible works of art, from award-winning Hollywood feature films and commercials, to international broadcasts and the world’s most popular YouTube videos.

“With new features like 360-degree VR editing and motion graphics, advanced color grading and HDR support, Final Cut Pro gives video editors the tools to create stunning, next-generation content,” said Susan Prescott, Apple’s vice president of Apps Product Marketing. “When combined with the performance of Mac hardware, including the all-new iMac Pro, Final Cut Pro provides an incredibly powerful post-production studio to millions of video editors around the world.”

Final Cut Pro lets professional editors create VR content with the ability to import, edit and deliver 360-degree video and view the project in real time through a connected HTC VIVE headset with SteamVR. Users can easily add 360-degree titles in 2D or 3D; apply blurs, glows and other immersive effects; and use visual controls to straighten horizons or remove camera rigs from equirectangular videos. Standard photos and videos can also be added to VR projects and 360-degree video can be shared directly to popular websites including YouTube, Facebook and Vimeo.

The update also includes powerful tools for professional color grading. Unique color wheels feature built-in controls to adjust hue, saturation and brightness. Color curves allow for ultra-fine color adjustments with multiple control points to target specific color ranges, and eye droppers let users sample specific colors and apply manual white balance. Users can also apply custom lookup tables (LUTs) from popular color grading apps like DaVinci Resolve and websites including PremiumBeat, Color Grading Central and more.

With support for the most popular HDR formats, Final Cut Pro gains access to an expanded range of brightness levels to deliver incredibly realistic images. Editors can output video to HDR monitors using I/O devices from AJA and Blackmagic with brightness levels up to 10,000 nits. The new color grading tools support both HDR and Standard Dynamic Range (SDR) video, and with tone mapping, users can easily change HDR to SDR output for broadcast.

Additional Features in Final Cut Pro 10.4:

Easily import iMovie projects from iPhone and iPad into Final Cut Pro for advanced editing, audio work, motion graphics and color grading.
HEVC and HEIF support for importing and editing high efficiency video and photo formats from Apple devices.
Updated audio effects plug-ins from Logic Pro X with redesigned, resizable interfaces.
Faster, higher quality optical flow analysis built on Metal, Apple’s advanced graphics technology.

Motion 5.4 enables users to create immersive 360-degree VR titles and effects that can be instantly accessed in Final Cut Pro. The update also makes it easy to convert between any type of Motion project at any time, create realistic spring-loaded animations with the new Overshoot behavior and apply photographic-inspired looks with new filters. Compressor 4.4 lets users deliver 360-degree video with industry-standard spherical metadata. Compressor also lets users export HEVC and HDR video, while adding a range of new options for delivering MXF files.

Pricing and Availability

Final Cut Pro 10.4 is available as a free update today for existing users, and for $ 299.99(US) for new users on the Mac App Store. Motion 5.4 and Compressor 4.4 are also available as a free update today for existing users, and for $ 49.99 (US) each for new users on the Mac App Store. Education customers can purchase the Pro Apps Bundle for Education for $ 199.99 (US). For more information, please visit: apple.com/final-cut-pro.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Google finally activates ‘Visual Core’ imaging chip inside Pixel 2 smartphone

29 Nov

The finalized version of Google’s Android 8.1 operating system is expected to be released in December, but today the company has announced the availability of the last Developer Preview which, among other things, activates the formerly dormant Visual Core chipset in the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL smartphones.

The custom-built system-on-a-chip (SOC) is designed to power and accelerate the Pixel 2 phones’ HDR+ function that achieves better dynamic range and reduced noise levels through computational imaging. The feature is already incredibly powerful, so we can’t wait to see how it gets even better with this additional hardware boost applied.

HDR+ photo captured with the Pixel 2 for our Sample Gallery. Credit: Allison Johnson

The latest Pixel smartphone generation comes with the chip built in, but it appears Google ran out of time before the Pixel 2 launch to fully optimize Visual Core implementation in the device, and therefore decided to not activate it. With the new software version, Visual Core can can now be turned on through an option in the Developer menu.

In addition to souping up the Pixel 2’s native camera app, this update also allows third-party apps using Android Camera API to capture HDR+ shots. Previously, this function has been exclusive to the Google Camera app.

There is a wide selection of third-party apps for all types of mobile photographers available in the Google Play Store. It’s no doubt a positive move by Google to make the capability of using HDR+ available to all of them. To install the Android Developer Preview, your Pixel 2 device needs to be registered in the Android Beta Program. Or you could just wait for the official Android 8.1 launch in December.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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This free app finally lets you post to Instagram from your computer

12 Oct

Photographer and programmer Felix Sun has designed an app called Windowed that finally allows you to post images to your Instagram account straight from your computer—no tablet, smartphone, or strange loophole workaround required.

Instagram is a great way to build an audience and even earn yourself a commission or two, but the app’s mobile-only upload has been a thorn in every professional photographer’s side from the very beginning. Most of us don’t shoot our best photos on our phones, and many camera brands don’t have the best systems (read: some downright suck) in place for getting those photos off of your main camera and onto your smartphone.

Enter Windowed, a simple app that allows you to upload images straight to Instagram from your Mac or PC. And best of all, the application is open source and “100% free.”

The app is able to provide this functionality thanks to a semi-recent update to Instagram that allows you to post photos from a mobile browser. Under normal circumstances, you’re unable to access this functionality from your Mac or PC; Windowed pretends to be a mobile browser to get around this limitation.

There have been workarounds posted online for ages that make it possible to post to Instagram from your desktop, but this is the first implementation we’ve seen that’s truly easy. In fact, it’s no different than posting to IG using Chrome or Safari on your smartphone.

To learn more about Windowed, see the source code, or download it for yourself, head over to the app’s website by clicking here.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Venus Optics’ long-awaited Laowa 15mm F2 for Sony FE is finally available

20 Aug

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Venus Optics has finally announced the price and delivery date of the second lens to join its Zero-D line up: the 15mm F2 for Sony’s E-mount that was first announced last September, and which the company has called “the world’s fastest 15mm rectilinear lens for full-frame.” The lens is due to ship at the end of August or early September, and will cost $ 850. First orders will include UV, ND1000 and polarizing filters for free.

The Zero-D in the name denotes the company’s claim that even though these lenses are very wide-angled, they exhibit almost no curvilinear distortion – or barreling. And at its angle of view of 110°, Venus Optics claims the new 15mm is the widest available rectilinear F2 lens for the Sony E system.

Here are a few official sample shots captured with the new lens:

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The manual focus lens is constructed using 12 elements in nine groups, with three extra-low dispersion elements and two aspherical lenses.

Venus Optics says that it has tried to keep the design compact and lightweight, achieving dimensions of 66x88mm and a weight of just 500g/1.1lbs. Unusually for such a wide lens, a filter thread (72mm) is actually built-in, and the lens’ closest focus distance is just 15cm. The nine-bladed aperture runs to F22, and users have the choice to operate with or without clicked stops.

For more information or to pre-order the long-awaited lens check out our hands on with the Laowa 15mm F2 FE from its debut last September, or visit the Venus Optics website.

Press Release

Venus Optics announces the Laowa 15mm f/2 FE Zero-D, the world’s widest f/2 native lens for Sony full frame E-mount cameras

Featuring a 110° Angle of View, Ultra-fast f/2 aperture, 72mm filter thread, Super light & compact & close-to-zero distortion

Venus Optics, the camera lenses manufacturer who had previously launched a number of unique Laowa camera lenses, is proud to announce the world’s widest rectilinear f/2 native lens for Sony Full Frame E-mount cameras, Laowa 15mm f/2 FE Zero-D.

Super Light & Compact
The Laowa 15mm f/2 FE Zero-D is currently the widest f/2 rectilinear lens in the market which comes with a native E mount (i.e. Does not require additional adapters). It is an ultra-wide & ultra-fast prime lens which covers both 35mm full-frame & APS-C sensors. Despite the extreme specifications, Venus Optics has successfully minimized the weight of the lens to around 500g (~1.1 pounds) and 8cm long. This compact and light lens comprises of 12 elements in 9 groups with 2 pcs of aspherical elements and 3 pcs of Extra-low dispersion elements. The patented optical design successfully minimizes the distortion and chromatic aberrations to its lowest but at the same time, delivers a superb optical performance from corners to corners.

72mm Filter Thread
Ultra-wide & fast lenses in the market tend to be huge and have a dome-shaped front element. It is a headache for landscape photographers who need to use filters very often. Venus Optics understand their needs and manage to design a flat front surface and include a 72mm filter thread into the lens. 72mm screw-on filters can be used and no more investment on bulky filter holder is required.

Ultra Wide & Fast
The extreme 110° angle of view and ultra-fast f/2 aperture allow photographers to create impressive astro-photography shots with ease. It also gives photographers a fast and wide-angle option for landscape photography and low-light shooting.

Close focusing distance
Photographers can take advantage of the super close focusing distance (i.e. 15cm) and the f/2 aperture to create some bokeh shots and wide angle close-up shots.

Close-to-Zero Distortion
The Laowa 15mm f/2 FE Zero-D is the second member of the Close-to-Zero distortion line-up from Venus Optics, followed the launch of 12mm f/2.8 Zero-D last year. The lens is specially designed to remove the optical distortion commonly exist in wide angle lenses at infinity focus. Any straight lines will be retained.

Added feature for videographers
The new Laowa 15mm f/2 FE Zero-D is specially designed with an aperture switch which allows users to quickly switch between click-less and clicked aperture. This added feature will be extremely useful for videographers.

Availability
The Laowa 15mm f/2 FE Zero-D is currently available to pre-order in the official website of Venus Optics (http://www.venuslens.net/) and their authorized resellers..
Recommended Retail Price in US (without tax) is USD 849/pc. Pricing may vary in different countries. Shipping will start from late Aug/early Sept.

Supplementary Information

Flickr gallery with full size sample images

Video Introduction of Laowa 15mm f/2

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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That crazy 16-module Light L16 camera is finally shipping today

15 Jul

The Light L16 boasts a crazy 16 total camera modules, creating images by blending photos taken with all 16 simultaneously. Photo: Light.co

It took four years, but Light.co’s L16 computational photography camera is officially shipping to pre-order customers. The 16-module camera is about the size of a regular smartphone, but by using 16 cameras at once, it claims to shoot the kinds of photos we’re used to seeing from DSLRs.

The announcement dropped just a couple of hours ago on the Light.co website, where the company seemed to go to great lengths to justify the last 4 years.

“We’ll admit, bringing this breakthrough computational camera to market hasn’t been easy,” reads the blog post. “You see, Light is not just building a camera. Or an app. Or an algorithm, as most other startups do. We’re building all of these things and then combining them to create something radically different.”

Creating this crazy camera has involved a wide variety of engineering feats: designing camera-modules, building new chipsets, creating proprietary computational-imaging software, building out an e-commerce platform, and putting it all into a mobile device.

The camera that came out the other end is allegedly, “something the world has never seen before.”

Light.co Director of Hardware Engineering, Brian Gilbert, holding the first ‘lunch box’ model of the L16 Photo: Light.co

“Like any other new invention, revolutionizing the camera has taken some time. For years, we’ve been maniacally focused on producing the highest-quality images possible,” continues the announcement. “Our standards are extreme—they have to be if we are truly reinventing the camera—and we hope you can understand why it’s taken so long for the L16 to reach the high bar we’ve set for ourselves.”

With words like that, the real deal had better be something spectacular. Fortunately, we won’t have to wait long to find out.

Light.co is determined not to rush things, or send out an unfinished product, but the first pre-orders shipped today and the company is working hard to get the rest “in the mail as soon as [they’re] ready—but not any sooner.” For our part, we’ll be reaching out and hoping to get an L16 into the DPReview studio ASAP.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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MUJI Huts: $27,000 Japanese Timber Micro-Homes Finally for Sale this Fall

11 May

[ By WebUrbanist in Architecture & Houses & Residential. ]

Japanese makers of minimalist household goods and apparel at MUJI began designing and developing a series of small prefab homes a few years back, one of which is now slated to hit the market later this year.

At just under 100 square feet, the first model to hit the sales floor is a simple but elegant module wrapped in charred timber with floor-to-ceiling fenestration on one side. This traditional blackened-wood cladding technique helps finish the wood, protecting it from fire and decay.

Inside, bright wood paneling and solid walls on three sides make for a cozy interior and flexibility to situate the structure facing choice scenery. The smooth floor is designed to be easily cleaned for those trekking in and out. Outside, a small covered deck extends the space.

The relatively low cost (around $ 27K USD) includes both materials and labor (construction) costs. The structure is intended to serve any function needed, from weekend getaway or supplemental room to autonomous housing unit for fans of simple homes and small-space living.

“It’s not as dramatic as owning a house or a vacation home, but it’s not as basic as going on a trip,” explains MUJI. “Put it in the mountains, near the ocean, or in a garden, and it immediately blends in with the surroundings, inviting you to a whole new life.”

[ By WebUrbanist in Architecture & Houses & Residential. ]

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Finally! Sony NPA-MQZ1K Multi-Battery Adaptor Kit provides power for E-mount users

20 Apr

Announced alongside the a9 is an accessory that should excite existing E-mount camera owners, particularly videographers: the NPA-MQZ1K Multi-Battery Adaptor Kit. It comes with two of the new NP-FZ100 batteries and has space for another two. The kit not only works as a charging station for up to four Z type batteries, but also has a dummy battery that allows it to be used as an external power pack.

The unit is compatible not only with the a9 but also with the a7, a7R, a7S, a7 II, a7R II, a7S II, a6000, a6300, a6500, a5000, a5100 and RX10 III, providing up to 8x their current battery capacity. It includes tripod-style mounting sockets for attachment to a video rig.

The dummy battery is the same shape as the a9’s new ‘Z type’ battery but has an outer shell that can be removed, revealing a ‘W type’ adapter, which can slot into cameras that use the NP-FW50 battery.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Instagram carousel-style posts are finally here for everyone

23 Feb

Instagram has started rolling out a new feature to all accounts: an option to include multiple photos and videos in a single post. Starting with version 10.9 for iOS and Android, users can now select up to ten photos and videos to assemble slideshow-style posts.

Creating slideshows is simple. Start a new post and instead of choosing one image, tap the ‘select multiple’ option to begin selecting images. You’ll be able to drag and drop to re-order images before finalizing the post. In your Instagram feed, blue dots on the bottom of the post are your cue that a post is flippable.

Around town with the Panasonic GX850.

A post shared by Allison (@allisonjo1) on Feb 22, 2017 at 1:16pm PST

Instagram users will recognize slideshows, since they’ve been an option for advertisers for a couple of years. It wasn’t clear until recently whether Instagram would offer the feature to regular schmoes like us, but here we are. One gripe photographers may have though is that the feature forces the 1:1 crop on all slideshow content, unlike individual photo posts.

Are you looking forward to using multiple-photo posts on Instagram? Let us know in the comments.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Luuv video camera stabilizers finally make it to the market

22 Feb

Three years after launching its Indiegogo funding campaign German start-up Luuv has announced it is ready to begin open sales of its video camera stabilization devices. The company has serviced all its backers and is now selling its solidLuuv, ultraLuuv Action and Action Gimbal to the public.

Designed for filmmakers using small cameras such as GoPro action cams and smartphones, the ultraLuuv Action combines the company’s solidLuuv and Action Gimbal to provide both mechanical and electronic stabilization. Luuv says the setup offers 2x 3-axis stabilization, with the 3-axis mechanical stabilization of the solidLuuv alongside the 3-axis electronic stabilization produced by the rechargeable-battery powered Action Gimbal. The gimbal has four modes that allow panning actions, panning and tilting and for the head to be locked or inverted.

On its own the Action Gimbal can only cope with 150g weight, so the ultraLuuv Action is limited in the same way, but the solidLuuv can deal with kit weighing up to 500g.

The ultraLuuv Action is priced €599 (about $ 630), while the solidLuuv is €349 (about $ 370) and the Action Gimbal is €269 (about $ 280). For more information see the Luuv website. Shipping is free within Germany, but looks like an additional €35 (about $ 37) to the US.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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It’s finally here: Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG HSM Art sample gallery

15 Nov

The Sigma 85mm F1.4 Art is finally here, with units of the $ 1199 lens shipping now. The big question, almost as big as the lens itself: is it worth the wait? And, is it worth the weight? To find out, we wasted no time taking it out to shoot some portraits. Lots and lots of portraits.

See our Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG HSM Art Sample Gallery

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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360Photography

Posts Tagged ‘Finally’

Final Cut Pro X 10.4 adds HDR support, VR video editing, and (finally!) curves

Final Cut Pro X introduces 360-degree VR video editing

Google finally activates ‘Visual Core’ imaging chip inside Pixel 2 smartphone

This free app finally lets you post to Instagram from your computer

Venus Optics’ long-awaited Laowa 15mm F2 for Sony FE is finally available

Venus Optics announces the Laowa 15mm f/2 FE Zero-D, the world’s widest f/2 native lens for Sony full frame E-mount cameras

Featuring a 110° Angle of View, Ultra-fast f/2 aperture, 72mm filter thread, Super light & compact & close-to-zero distortion

That crazy 16-module Light L16 camera is finally shipping today

MUJI Huts: $27,000 Japanese Timber Micro-Homes Finally for Sale this Fall

Finally! Sony NPA-MQZ1K Multi-Battery Adaptor Kit provides power for E-mount users

Instagram carousel-style posts are finally here for everyone

Luuv video camera stabilizers finally make it to the market

It’s finally here: Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG HSM Art sample gallery

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