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Posts Tagged ‘first’

NASA’s ambitious Perseverance rover lands on Mars and sends back its first images

19 Feb
The first image sent back to Earth from Perseverance following its successful landing on Mars. You can see Perseverance’s shadow in the foreground. Image credit: NASA

On July 30, 2020, NASA launched its Mars Perseverance Rover on an Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Yesterday, February 18, 2021, Perseverance landed successfully on the red planet.

The 2,260-pound (1,025kg) rover touched down with precision at an ancient river delta site in Jezero Crater. Perseverance is exploring an area where a lake existed nearly 4 billion years ago. The Perseverance mission has numerous objectives, including exploring its geologically diverse landing site, assessing ancient habitability, seeking signs of ancient life, gathering rock and soil samples, and demonstrating technology for future exploration by robots and humans alike.

Map showing Perseverance’s landing site at the Jezero Crater on Mars. Image credit: NASA

In the video below, you can see mission control react when Perseverance landed on Mars. Mission control was recorded using an Insta360 Pro 2 camera. When using a compatible browser, you can rotate the camera around mission control. The moment of elation is around the 1:46:00 mark. It’s an emotional moment for the team, and it’s cool to see it captured in 360 degrees.

Perseverance will spend at least one Martian year (about two Earth years) exploring the landing site region. Onboard are seven instruments, including the MastCam-Z, SuperCam, Planetary Instrument for X-ray Lithochemistry (PIXL), and Scanning Habitable Environments with Raman and Luminescence for Organics and Chemicals (SHERLOC). The Mastcam-Z is an advanced camera system with panoramic and stereoscopic imaging capabilities. The camera, which can zoom, will analyze the minerals of the Martian surface. SuperCam is provides imaging, chemical composition analysis, and mineralogy at a distance.

Engineers working on Perseverance. Image credit: NASA

PIXL is an X-ray fluorescence spectrometer and high-resolution imager. PIXL will map the elemental composition of surface materials. SHERLOC provides fine-scale imaging and uses an ultraviolet laser to map mineralogy and organic compounds. SHERLOC is the first UV Raman spectrometer to land on Mars. SHERLOC also includes a high-res color camera for microscopic imaging of Mars’ surface.

Mission control. Image credit: NASA

It’s difficult to overstate what an accomplishment it is to land not only NASA’s most ambitious Mars rover yet, but also to do so during a pandemic. As Chelsea Gohd writes for Space.com, ‘This mission didn’t just propel technology and science forward, it demonstrated the incredible Perseverance of the human spirit. Despite everything, the teams at NASA were able to accomplish this incredible feat, which, even in ‘normal times,’ would have been difficult.’ Matt Wallace of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) shared a similar sentiment following Perseverance’s successful landing, ‘It’s been a tough year. It’s been tough to do this mission in this environment. But the team, like they have with every other challenge, has stepped up to it…’

An illustration of the Perseverance rover. Image credit: NASA

If NASA had been forced to delay the launch from last July, the launch window would have been pushed back 26 months due to planetary alignment. Perseverance is a $ 2.7B mission, so a more than two-year delay is a tough pill to swallow. Instead, NASA was swift to enact COVID protocols, which came with unique challenges and ultimately allowed the mission to continue as scheduled.

This is the first image Perseverance sent back to Earth following its successful landing on Mars. Image credit: NASA

Back to yesterday’s historic landing. Perseverance, or ‘Percy’ as some at mission control call the rover, landed at 3:55 p.m. ET. The landing went smoothly, and Percy wasted no time sending its first image back to Earth. Perseverance then sent a second image, showing the view from the rear of the spacecraft. Both images were captured using onboard ‘hazard cameras,’ and the protective covers were still in place. Future images will be more detailed and impressive, but these are nonetheless important photos. The images will be used to help the team very precisely locate Perseverance’s landing site on the Martian surface.

The second image shows the view from the rear of Perseverance. Image credit: NASA

For Perseverance, the next few days on Mars will be spent exploring the area. Its handlers will come to grips with the area and stabilize the rover’s onboard systems, including communications systems that will allow specialized software to be uploaded from Earth.

A 3D-printed model of MastCam-Z. Image credit: NASA

Per Space.com, ‘Perservance’s head-like, instrument-laden mast will also be deployed in these first few sols, allowing capture of great new imagery. For example, the rover’s MastCam-Z camera system is scheduled to take its first color panorama on sol 3.’ Mars 2020 deputy project manager Jennifer Trosper says that NASA will do about four days transitioning to new software before digging its teeth into planned scientific endeavors. It’s taken a considerable amount of time, money, and work to get to this point so that the team won’t rush anything.

As you can see in this diagram, Perseverance includes a lot of onboard instruments and equipment. Among other objectives, the rover will use its instruments to analyze and gather information on the chemical and mineral composition of the Martian surface. Image credit: NASA

Perseverance includes an onboard helicopter, Ingenuity. The four-pound helicopter will drop from the rover soon and, if all goes well, become the blueprint for future extraterrestrial exploration.

An illustration of NASA’s new Mars helicopter, Ingenuity. Its maiden flight will mark the first powered flight on another world. Image credit: NASA

If you want to take part in the celebration of Perseverance’s successful landing, NASA has set up a Mars Photo Booth. You can upload a selfie and place yourself on Mars, in mission control, or in front of a handful of other backgrounds.

There’s a lot to look forward to over the next Martian year (and hopefully longer). Perseverance includes 23 cameras, so we should be treated to some amazing imagery throughout 2021 and beyond.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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10 Tips for Doing Your First Family Portrait Session

30 Jan

The post 10 Tips for Doing Your First Family Portrait Session appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Louise Downham.

family portrait tips

Photographs from a good family portrait session will be treasured for many years to come. It’s an incredibly rewarding area of photography, but it can also be a little daunting for new photographers. You need to build a rapport with the family, keep the children on board, and meet the parents’ expectations with gorgeous photographs.

Family portrait family group

So where do you start? Which camera settings should you choose?

Here are some important pointers to make your first session go smoothly, and to help you take great family portraits every time!

1. Get down on their level

If you’re photographing children, get down on their eye level. This will lead to far more engaging photographs, and will also help you interact better with the child.

Family portrait girl with flowers

2. Use the center AF point to focus

Different focus settings suit different photographers, but using the center point to focus tends to be the most useful for family portraits. As you take more and more family images, you’ll get a feeling for whether this setting suits you.

But it’s a great starting point for your first session.

3. Choose an appropriate aperture

Your aperture settings will be influenced by the style of photography you prefer.

As a starting point, many lifestyle family photographers choose to shoot wide open for individual portraits (f/2.2 works really well if you’re after beautiful background bokeh), and around f/5.6 for group shots to ensure everyone is in focus.

Here’s an example of the effect you get with a wide aperture:

girl in the park family portrait
This image was shot at f/2.2.

And here’s what you get when shooting at f/5.6:

Family portrait dad and son black and white
This image was taken at f/5.6.

4. Choose a fast shutter speed

Children move fast, and sometimes unpredictably.

That’s why you generally want a faster shutter speed, at least compared to your average portrait settings. A good place to start is 1/250s, which will still deliver sharp photos, even if children are rolling over or waving.

If you have a situation where someone is moving very fast, such as a child jumping or racing off into the distance, choose a much faster shutter speed (such as 1/800s).

family portrait baby held up high
To capture a sharp shot of this child being tossed in the air, I shot at 1/800s.

5. Use Auto ISO

While you’re familiarizing yourself with the apertures and shutter speeds that work for family portrait sessions, consider setting your ISO to Auto. The results are usually satisfactory, and it’s one less thing to think about when shooting.

As you gain experience and confidence, you can start to select the ISO manually.

6. Experiment with metering modes

Certain metering options suit some photographers better than others. As you take more family portraits, you’ll soon see which mode works best for you.

To start with, try using Spot metering for individual portraits, and Evaluative metering (also known as Matrix metering) for group shots.

family portrait mother and baby
This photo was taken using Evaluative metering mode.

7. Shoot in RAW format

If you shoot in RAW, you’ll have a far greater range of colors and details in your images – which you can then use for stunning edits in Lightroom.

8. Use Auto White Balance

Set your white balance to Auto if you’re doing a location shoot.

Why?

Because you’ll be working with a variety of scenes with different lighting, and you won’t have much time to change the white balance as you go.

Plus, correcting white balance is an easy edit in Lightroom, so you’d be better off spending the time engaging with the family you’re photographing.

9. Choose your lenses carefully

Carefully consider which lenses to take to the family portrait session.

If you don’t have several lenses, consider renting some. This can be surprisingly economical, and it’ll give you the opportunity to try out different focal lengths to see which suit your style of shooting.

Family portrait baby at 85mm
This baby photo was taken with an 85mm lens.

Using several lenses in a family portrait session will also help you vary your compositions, and it’ll ensure you can cope with most locations. A zoom lens like a 24-70mm will give you lots of flexibility, while a popular prime lens for family portraits is an 85mm lens (it creates very flattering photos!). A wide lens, such as a 35mm prime, will help you set the scene.

As you gain experience photographing families, you’ll develop a sense of which lenses work best for your style. And once you know what you like, I recommend you invest in the highest-quality lenses you can afford.

family portrait siblings at 35mm
This sibling photo was taken with a 35mm lens.

10. Set limits

Limit yourself to capturing five versions of each scene. This will train your eye to look for the details and expressions you want to capture, and will teach you to include everything you need in a single photograph.

Family portrait photography tips: Conclusion

So there you have it – family portraits in a nutshell!

Practice makes perfect, though, so be prepared to work hard and hone your camera skills. Above all, a friendly and professional attitude combined with careful preparation for each family portrait shoot should make for happy clients and repeat business.

Do you have any family portrait photos you’re proud of? Share them in the comments below!

The post 10 Tips for Doing Your First Family Portrait Session appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Louise Downham.


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Step aside, Intel: Apple shows off its first Macs powered by its new M1 chipset

11 Nov

Apple today unveiled its first Mac computers powered by its new M1 chipset, ushering in a new era for Apple hardware as it leaves behind Intel in favor of its own silicon.

Apple M1 Chipset

Behind all of the new computers Apple showcased at today’s event is its new M1 chipset, the first chip designed specifically for Mac. Unlike past Mac computers, which required multiple chips from multiple suppliers, Apple’s new M1 chip puts all of them into a single system on a chip (SoC) design. This includes the CPU, GPU, I/O, security and memory.

The new chip uses a 5nm process, which helps to fit more than 16 billion transistors onto the M1. The M1 features eight cores—four high-performance cores and four high-efficiency cores—that work together to provide better performance with lower power consumption. Apple claims the new M1 chip offers 2x the total CPU and GPU performance of the leading commercially-available PC chip and matches the peak CPU/GPU performance of the same chip using just 25% and 33% of the power, respectively.

One of the greatest advantages of the SoC design is the ability to use unified memory. Now, with the unified memory architecture (UMA), the M1 allows all of the individual technologies inside the M1 to access the same data without having to copy it between multiple memory pools. This should open up plenty of memory bandwidth for improved performance across the board. Apple specifically notes both video and image processing will see a major performance boost with the M1 chip compared to similar Intel-powered computers.

Apple also claims 15x the machine-learning performance compared to its previous-generation Intel-powered computers with the ability to perform up to 11 trillion operations per second.

Of course, one of the main benefits of Apple’s new silicon is battery performance. As we’ll detail below, the new M1 chip enables up to 17 hours of web browsing and 20 hours of video playback on the new MacBook Pro 13”, while the new MacBook Air offers up to 15 hours and 18 hours of web browsing and video playback, respectively.

With the brain out of the way, let’s get onto the new machines using it.

The New MacBook Air

The new MacBook Air may look like its predecessors, but beneath the unibody frame is Apple’s new M1 chip, making it the first Apple computer with Apple silicon packed inside. Thanks to the new M1 chip inside, Apple says the new MacBook Air is 3.5 times faster than its Intel-powered predecessor, with 5x faster graphics performance and 9x better machine learning performance.

The new MacBook Air comes with a 13.3” retina display with P3 wide color gamut support, up to 16GB of memory and up to 2TB of storage. Other features include two Thunderbolt 3/USB 4 ports, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, a 720p FaceTime HD camera (really, Apple?) and Touch ID.

Apple claims the new MacBook Air can power up to 15 hours of web browsing and 18 hours of video playback on its 50Wh LiPo battery. It comes with a 30W USB-C Power Adapter for charging.

The new MacBook Air starts at $ 999 with the standard M1 chip, 8GB RAM and 256GB of SSD storage. There’s also a version of the new MacBook Air that starts at $ 1249 and offers an M1 chip with an 8-core GPU over the standard seven-core GPU; this upgraded version also starts with 512GB of SSD storage over the 256GB of the $ 999 MacBook Air. A full-maxed-out MacBook Air with the upgraded M1 chip, 16GB RAM and 2TB of SSD storage will set you back $ 2,050.

Mac Mini

Much like the new MacBook Air, the new Mac Mini looks identical to its Intel-powered predecessor on the outside but packs Apple’s new M1 chip on the inside.

Apple didn’t lay out the exact specifications of the M1 chip inside the new Mac Mini, opting instead to compare it to its Intel-power predecessor. Based on that comparison, Apple says the new Mac Mini offers 3x faster processing performance, 6x faster graphics performance and 15x faster machine learning performance, all while consuming 60% less energy.

Features include Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0 and Gigabit Ethernet.Ports include two Thunderbolt 3/USB 4 ports, an HDMI 2.0 port, two USB-A ports and a 3.5mm headphone jack. When using the thunderbolt 3 port, you can drive Apple’s Pro Display XDR at a full 6K resolution in addition to a secondary 4K display.

The new Mac Minis start at $ 699 ($ 100 less than the previous generation), which includes the eight-core M1 chip, 8GB RAM and 256GB of SSD storage. A maxed-out model, complete with 16GB RAM and 2TB of SSD storage will set you back $ 1,500.

13″ MacBook Pro

The third and final computer to receive the M1 treatment today is the new 13″ MacBook Pro. As with the two previous computers, there is effectively zero external differences between this computer and its Intel-powered predecessors. Inside, though, it’s a different story.

As with the Mac Mini, Apple refrains from spouting the frequencies of the new M1 chip inside the 13″ MacBook Pro, opting instead to gauge its performance based on its Intel-powered predecessor. Based on that, Apple claims the new 13″ MacBook Pro offers 2.8x faster processor performance, 5x the graphics performance and 11x the machine learning performance. Unlike the new MacBook Air, which relies exclusively on passive cooling, the new 13″ MacBook Pro keeps its fans, which means you should be able to push the performance of the M1 chip even further when battery life isn’t an issue.

Speaking of battery life, Apple says the new 12″ MacBook Pro offers up to 17 hours of web browsing and 20 hours of video playback on a single charge—that’s roughly 10 hours more than Apple’s previous Intel-powered MacBook Pros.

Other specifications include Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, Touch ID, a 720p FaceTime camera (again, really, Apple?), P3 wide color gamut support and an upgraded three-microphone array. Ports include two Thunderbolt 3/USB 4 ports and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Like the Mac Mini, the new 13″ MacBook Pro can power Apple’s Pro Display XDR at its full 6k resolution.

The new 13″ MacBook Pro starts at $ 1,300 with the eight-core M1 chip, 8GB RAM and 256GB of SSD storage. A maxed-out model with 16GB RAM and 2TB of SSD storage will set you back $ 2,300.

It’s worth noting that both the Mac Mini and 13″ MacBook Pro can still be purchased with Intel processors, if you’re not ready to make the jump to Apple silicon yet. The MacBook Air, however, is now exclusively powered by Apple’s M1 SoC.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Baron Wolman, Rolling Stone’s first staff photographer, dies at 83

08 Nov
Image credit: Wikipedia media, used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Baron Wolman, Rolling Stone’s first staff photographer, passed away at age 83 after battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) – better known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. His longtime representative, Dianne Duenzl, confirmed the news to Rolling Stone this past Monday night. ‘Baron’s pictures gave us a rare, comprehensive, and accurate reflection of that time executed by a gifted artist whose visual intelligence is unsurpassed,’ Duenzl stated.

Wolman was born on June 25, 1937, in Columbus, Ohio, and studied philosophy at Chicago’s Northwestern University. He learned to speak German at the Defense Language School in Monterey, California, before touring with the Army military intelligence in West Berlin. This is where he began his career in photography. He sold his first photo essay, documenting life behind the newly-constructed Berlin Wall, to a print publication.

He returned to Monterey shortly after to pursue a career as a photojournalist. In the mid-1960s, he lived in San Francisco’s Haight Ashbury district and worked as a freelance photographer. One of his clients, Oakland’s Mills College, invited him to cover their weekend seminar on the pop music industry. Also in attendance: Jann S. Wenner and Ralph Gleason.

Wenner and Gleason were working on plans for a new music publication. They initially asked Wolman if he had $ 10,000 to invest in Rolling Stone. He didn’t. Instead, he offered to work for free if the magazine would cover the costs of film and the development of his photos. In a smart business move, Wolman also requested he retain the rights to all of his images.

Wolman went on to shoot the the premiere issue’s cover, featuring the Grateful Dead. Later on, he captured a rare image of their eccentric lead singer, Jerry Garcia, when he raised his hand and revealed a partially missing middle finger. Artists trusted Wolman and opened up to him in an era before handlers carefully constructed their public personas.

Artists trusted Wolman and opened up to him in an era before handlers carefully constructed their public personas.

He not only captured artists performing live, and their fans in the moment at events such as Woodstock, Wolman was also granted backstage access. His most memorable images contain intimate moments with some of rock’s more interesting personalities including Janis Joplin, Jimmy Hendrix, and Frank Zappa.

Wolman left Rolling Stone in 1970 and went on to capture images for advertising companies, the NFL, government agencies, universities, and more. His work appeared in leading print publications including Esquire, Vogue, Playboy, and Newsweek. Besides the Berlin Wall, he also documented Israel in flux. Many of these events are documented in his numerous books.

Baron is survived by his sister, Susan, and his brother, Richard. His longtime motto? ‘Mixing business with pleasure since 1965.’

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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The World’s First Completely AI-Powered Photo Editor Will Debut Before the Year Is Out

26 Oct

The post The World’s First Completely AI-Powered Photo Editor Will Debut Before the Year Is Out appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.

Skylum’s Luminar AI, billed as “the first image editor fully powered by artificial intelligence,” will come available before the year is out.

Luminar AI is the world's first completely AI-powered photo editor

Already, the image editor has created controversy among photographers thanks to its automated, AI-based approach to image editing, with some claiming that Luminar AI’s easy, no-experience-necessary approach is problematic – or even cheating.

And while we don’t know exactly how the program works, Skylum has released several videos showing off some of Luminar AI’s standout features.

world's first AI-powered photo editor

Highlights include:

  • Composition AI, which automatically straightens your images and suggests cropping based on compositional guidelines and feedback from professional photographers
  • Face AI and Skin AI, which automatically retouch your subjects’ faces for improved teeth, lips, skin, and much more
  • Sky AI, which allows you to instantly swap skies while automatically adjusting for changes in lighting and color
  • Atmosphere AI, which lets you enhance your images with weather effects (such as haze, steam, drizzle, fog, and mist)

To see some of these AI effects in action, check out Skylum’s latest video:

While Luminar AI will be offered as a standalone editing program, Skylum’s most up-to-date software, Luminar 4, already packs some AI-based features (including a popular sky-replacement option). But Luminar AI promises to take AI editing to the next level, opening up advanced post-processing effects to a much larger audience.

Will Luminar AI do everything for you?

It doesn’t seem like it. As Skylum explains, you have to make creative choices; Luminar AI will do a lot of editing work for you, but you’ll remain at the helm.

world's first AI-powered photo editor

As for the Luminar AI release:

The date is currently unknown, but Skylum promises a “holiday season” release. I’d expect an early December debut, though mid-December or late November certainly isn’t out of the question.

In terms of price, you can currently preorder Luminar AI for a discounted rate:

$ 74 USD for a standard copy of Luminar AI, or $ 139 USD to download both Luminar AI and Luminar 4.

So if Luminar AI’s simple approach to editing appeals to you, make sure you take a look while the discount still lasts! You can view the software here.

Now over to you:

What do you think about Luminar AI? Do you like the idea of AI-based editing? Or does it feel like cheating? And will you purchase the program? Share your thoughts in the comments!

The post The World’s First Completely AI-Powered Photo Editor Will Debut Before the Year Is Out appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.


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DPReview TV: Fujifilm X-S10 first impressions review

16 Oct

The Fujifilm X-S10 may have a less retro design than some of its siblings, but it’s a very capable camera for both stills and video. Watch our review to find out why Chris and Jordan think this camera hits the sweet spot.

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

  • Introduction
  • Complaining about the weather
  • Sample images
  • Controls
  • Stabilization
  • Grip
  • AF-on placement
  • Displays
  • Film simulations
  • Burst shooting and autofocus
  • Video capabilities
  • Video overheating test
  • Video autofocus and stabilization
  • Waterfalls!
  • Who's it for?

Sample images from this episode

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Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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MIT and UMass researchers develop world’s first flat ultra-wide-angle fisheye lens

21 Sep

Researchers with the University of Massachusetts at Lowell and MIT have developed a new type of fisheye lens that is flat and crafted from a single piece of glass. The lens is round, according to the researchers, and it is capable of capturing sharp 180-degree panoramas. This is the first flat fisheye lens made from a single piece of glass, which measures 1mm thick.

Ordinary spherical fisheye lenses are made from multiple pieces of glass designed to bend the light in such a way that it produces circular wide-angle images. The newly developed flat lens instead captures wide-angle panoramas by utilizing ‘tiny structures’ that scatter light in place of the curved glass elements in more costly spherical fisheye lenses.

The version of the lense introduced by the researchers is made for infrared photography, but the team says that it could be modified for use as a regular visible spectrum lens, as well. The flat design is ultimately more compact and less expensive to produce than spherical multi-element lenses.

The researchers envision a variety of uses for their lens design beyond interchangeable lenses. The thin, flat nature of the design would make it possible to implement the fisheye into smartphones, for example, eliminating the need to use a third-party lens add-on. Similar implementation could be used with laptops, VR headsets and even devices like medical imaging equipment.

MIT associate professor Juejun Hu, one of the researchers on the project, explained:

This design comes as somewhat of a surprise, because some have thought it would be impossible to make a metalens with an ultra-wide-field view. The fact that this can actually realize fisheye images is completely outside expectation. This isn’t just light-bending — it’s mind-bending.

Metalens refers to a flat lens that has tiny structures for focusing light. While wide-angle metalenses aren’t new, the researchers note that a single piece of glass without any extra optics have been limited to 60-degrees. The newly published study details how the team got around these restrictions to develop an ultra-wide-angle lens capable of capturing 180-degree panoramas without extra components.

This 180-degree fisheye metalens features a single piece of transparent glass made from calcium fluoride with a lead telluride film on one side. A pattern of ‘optical structures’ called meta-atoms was carved into the film using lithographic techniques, the result of which were many ‘nanoscale geometries’ used to bend the light in specific, precise ways.

The carved structures can introduce phase delays into the scattering of the light — depending on their shape — to imitate the natural phase delays produced by the curved glass elements in spherical fisheye lenses. The light passes from the carved structures on the back of the lens through an optical aperture on the front of the lens.

Study co-author Mikhail Shalaginov said:

When light comes in through this aperture, it will refract at the first surface of the glass, and then will get angularly dispersed. The light will then hit different parts of the backside, from different and yet continuous angles. As long as you design the back side properly, you can be sure to achieve high-quality imaging across the entire panoramic view.

The study was partially funded by DARPA through its EXTREME program, which tasks experts with developing optical tools ‘to enable new functionality and/or vastly improve size, weight, and power characteristics of traditional optical systems.’ The agency goes on to explain that EXTREME will ‘explore this optical design space and aims to understand the trade-offs, and harness the possibilities, afforded’ by Engineered Optical Materials (EnMats).

Via: MIT

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Breakthrough announces first third-party EF to RF Drop-In Filter Adapter

19 Sep

San Francisco-based Breakthrough Filters has announced an all-new EF to RF filter adapter. This is the first EF to RF drop-in filter adapter released not made by Canon.

Breakthrough’s EF to RF Drop-In Filter Adapter is loaded with a variety of hardware improvements. The adapter has an all-metal aluminum alloy construction and includes dust and water resistance. The weather-sealed adapter has rubber gaskets around both the filter and rear mounts. The adapter includes a detachable tripod food and accepts mounting plates for ballheads, arca plates and more. Further, the interior has been blacked out to reduce specular reflections.

In terms of compatibility, Breakthrough states that you can mount your EF lenses to RF mounts on cameras such as the Canon EOS R, R5 and R6 cameras and the RED Komodo. The adapter supports autofocus, image stabilization and EXIF data recording.

The Breakthrough EF to RF Drop-In Filter Adapter includes numerous features, such as an all-metal construction, weather sealing and more. Click to enlarge. Image credit: Breakthrough

You can use either Canon’s own drop-in filters or filters from Breakthrough. Breakthrough Photography announced many drop-in filters in August, you can learn more about them by reading our coverage.

The Breakthrough EF to RF Drop-In Filter Adapter is available for preorder for $ 199 USD. The first 500 orders will also ship with a free Breakthrough XF Clear drop-in filter. Shipping is expected to begin on November 16.

Breakthrough offers many drop-in filters for their new filter adapter and for the existing Canon EF-EOS R drop-in filter adapter. Image credit: Breakthrough

This is a sizable discount when compared to Canon’s own EF-EOS R Drop-In Filter Mount Adapter. The version that comes with a circular polarizing filter costs $ 300 and the version that includes a drop-in variable ND filter is $ 400. If you already own a Canon Adapter and want to purchase Breakthrough’s new EF to RF drop-in filter adapter, Breakthrough is offering a buyback program.

After your new filter arrives, you can use an included pre-paid return label to ship your Canon unit back for a refund on your transaction with Breakthrough. Sending a regular Canon EF to RF adapter nets you a $ 69 refund and Canon’s Drop-In Filter Adapter is worth $ 149.

Breakthrough is offering a Canon Adapter Buyback program for purchasers of the new Breakthrough filter adapter. Click to enlarge. Image credit: Breakthrough

To learn more about the new Breakthrough EF to RF Drop-In Filter Adapter, head to Breakthrough’s website.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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DPReview TV: Panasonic Lumix S5 first impressions

05 Sep

Is the Panasonic S5 a camera for still photographers or videographers? Chris and Jordan answer this burning question with a resounding, “Yes.” Okay, that’s not really an answer. But after spending some time with a nearly-final S5, they’ve come to the conclusion that this is a highly versatile hybrid camera at an attractive price point.

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

  • Introduction
  • Build quality and design
  • Sample images
  • Displays
  • Battery
  • Stabilization
  • Drive speed and buffer
  • Autofocus
  • Video specs
  • Video autofocus
  • Video overheating
  • Slow motion
  • Audio
  • Compared to the S1H
  • Upcoming firmware
  • Video conclusion
  • Image quality
  • Who's it for?

Sample images from this episode

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Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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ZTE reveals the Axon 20 5G, the first smartphone with selfie camera hidden under the display

03 Sep

After multiple promises to release such a device, Chinese company ZTE has officially unveiled the Axon 20 5G, the first smartphone to feature a selfie camera located beneath the display. The mid-range handset, which is otherwise unremarkable, was introduced by the company on Tuesday, but questions on availability remain.

The Axon 20 5G is the first smartphone brought to market that features a front-facing camera under the display, something ZTE says was made possible using a variety of ‘high transparency material that includes new organic and inorganic films’ in addition to image software, The Verge reports.

Quite obviously, this design means the Axon 20 5G does not feature a visible selfie camera, rather presenting users with a clean, uninterrupted display free of notches, hole punches and thick camera-packing bezels. The actual quality of images produced by the hidden camera remains unclear, however, due to the current lack of reviews and sample photos.

The camera located beneath the display packs 32MP; it is joined by a 64MP primary rear camera alongside an 8MP ultra-wide and 2MP depth/macro cameras. The primary camera supports video recording at up to 4K/60fps with real-time HDR and real-time subtitles.

Novelty aside, the Axon 20 5G is a solidly mid-range device packing a 6.92in 20.5:9 FDH+ OLED display with 10-bit 1.07B color and 100% DCI-P3, as well as a 90Hz refresh rate. Circling back to the unique hidden camera, ZTE’s website explains that this unit features high-transparency micron-level material, a ‘special pixel matrix,’ triple selfie algorithm, an integrated circuit and an independent driver chip.

The light sensor, sound system and fingerprint sensor are likewise hidden beneath the display, according to ZTE, which has packed a Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G processor and Adreno 629 GPU under the hood. Other features include an ‘AI performance engine,’ smart power-saving mode, ‘liquid cooling circulation,’ carbon nanofiber thermal pad and nano-level textured design.

Buyers will have two models to choose from, one featuring 128GB of storage and 6GB of RAM, the other featuring 256GB of storage and 8GB of RAM. Both variants will feature a microSD card slot, 4220mAh battery and support for 5G. At this point in time, ZTE is only offering the Axon 20 5G model in China for the equivalent of around $ 320 starting price. It’s unclear whether the model will get an international release.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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