Sony has announced, via a teaser on its website, it will be holding an ‘Imagination in Motion’ launch event for its forthcoming a7S III camera on July 28 at 10am EDT (-4 UTC).
Confirmation of the a7S III’s existence was confirmed just over two weeks ago in an exclusive interview with DPReview wherein Kenji Tanaka, VP and Senior General Manager of Sony’s Digital Imaging Group, shared the news that an a7S II successor would be announced ‘later this summer.’
Sony doesn’t divulge any new details of the a7S III in the teaser, but we know from our interview the camera will be ‘a complete redesign of the whole system,’ complete with a new sensor.
Canon UK has confirmed it will be hosting a livestream event for what it calls its ‘biggest product launch yet.
According to the microsite on Canon UK’s website, the ‘Reimagine’ event will take place at 14:00 CEST on July 9. In addition to the vague ‘product launch’ teaser, Canon Ambassadors and experts will also be hosting a Q&A during the event to talk about ‘Canon’s latest additions to its product range.’
The sign-up form, which appears as a pop-up dialog box on Canon UK’s microsite for the event.
The event will be livestreamed on YouTube, where Canon suggests it will be taking questions from the live comments feed. You can sign up to be notified of the event on Canon UK’s microsite.
The post The Nikon Z5 Will Be Announced on July 21st appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.
If you’ve been hoping for a more affordable full-frame mirrorless option from Nikon, you don’t have long to wait.
According to Nikon Rumors, we will likely see the launch of the new Nikon Z5 on July 21st, a camera that will be positioned beneath both of Nikon’s current mirrorless models, the Nikon Z6 and the Nikon Z7.
Any new Z-mount camera would be a welcome addition to the Nikon mirrorless lineup, which currently consists of two full-frame bodies (the Z6 and Z7), as well as the APS-C Z50. And while all three of these cameras are worthy of praise, the lineup still contains quite a few gaps, such as an action-centric “professional” body, a true entry-level APS-C body, and a more affordable full-frame model.
Enter the Nikon Z5, a camera with the potential to energize Nikon fans, especially shooters that are on the fence about switching to mirrorless.
What can you expect from the Z5?
While there is no official word from Nikon on the camera, rumors suggest that the Z5 will offer a lot of the same features as the Z6, including:
A 3.69M-dot electronic viewfinder
In-body image stabilization
An identical autofocus system
A 24 MP sensor
Interestingly, it’s looking like the Z5 will also offer dual SD card slots, perhaps in response to the criticism Nikon took over the lack of dual slots in the Z6 and the Z7.
Of course, for the Z5 to stay reasonably priced, Nikon will be making some cuts, including continuous shooting speed (expect 6 frames per second, rather than the 12 fps you get with the Z6), the loss of full-frame 4K video (there will likely be a substantial crop), as well as no top LCD.
But the Z5 is still looking to be an impressive camera, even if it’s not as action-capable as the Z6.
What’ll be interesting to see is how Nikon’s new camera stacks up against the Canon EOS R6, which will debut just weeks before the Z5, and will be positioned below the Canon EOS R5, as well as (likely) the EOS R. There’s also still the Canon EOS RP, which is very much a lower-priced full-frame option, even if it may become far less interesting after the launch of the R6.
Bottom line:
If you’re a photographer hoping to go full-frame, or you’re already a Nikon full-frame photographer seeking a mirrorless option, then keep an eye out for the Z5 announcement; if the rumors are true, then it’ll be one very impressive camera!
Now over to you:
What do you think about the upcoming Z5? What do you expect it’ll offer? What do you hope it will offer? Share your thoughts in the comments!
The post The Nikon Z5 Will Be Announced on July 21st appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.
Fujifilm has announced that its GF 30mm F3.5 R WR wide-angle lens will ship in late July or early August for $ 1699. The lens, which has been on the G-mount roadmap for several months, is equivalent to a 24mm lens when mounted on a GFX body.
The GF 30mm F3.5 has a total of 16 elements, including aspherical and extra-low dispersion glass. Focusing is internal and the lens has been designed to minimize focus breathing. It’s lightweight and compact (relatively speaking), weighing in at 0.5kg (1.1lbs). The ‘WR’ in the product name indicates weather-resistance, and Fujifilm says that the lens can operate at temperatures as low is -10°C (+14°F).
View our GF 30mm F3.5 sample gallery
Press release
Fujifilm Launches FUJINON GF30mmF3.5 R WR Lightweight, High Resolution Lens
Valhalla, N.Y., June 30, 2020 – FUJIFILM North America Corporation today announced the launch of the FUJINON GF30mmF3.5 R WR (GF30mmF3.5 R WR), a wide-angle prime lens with a focal length equivalent of 24mm (in the 35mm film format) for the FUJIFILM GFX System of large format*1 digital cameras.
With its dust and weather-resistant design, the GF30mmF3.5 R WR caters to a variety of shooting styles including landscapes, architecture, as well as casual snapshots on the move. “This lens is a great compliment to our existing series of GF lenses and gives image-makers a great wide-angle option for landscapes, architecture, or wide environmental portraits,” said Victor Ha, senior director, marketing and product management with the Electronic Imaging Division of FUJIFILM North America Corporation. “We are really excited to see the images our community will make with this lens.”
Main product features:
Image quality
The lens consists of thirteen lens elements in ten groups, including two aspherical elements and two extra-low dispersion (ED) elements. The high-performance lens groups are positioned to control various aberrations, especially distortion to which wide- angle lenses are prone, to achieve edge-to-edge sharpness. The lens is able to resolve an impressive amount of detail, compatible with 100MP sensors — “enabling the photographer to re-create the atmosphere of each scene with a sense of visual honesty and feeling,” said Ha.
Portability
This compact lens weighs approximately 18 ounces (510g) and measures 3.9 inches (99.4mm) with a maximum diameter of 3.3 inches (84mm). In addition, the slim design balances well on a GFX System camera, making it a perfect lens to carry on-the-go.
Performance
The new GF30mmF3.5 R WR lens uses an internal focusing system, offering fast and quiet autofocus (AF). Focus breathing is just 0.05%, making it a great lens for recording video. Like all of Fujifilm’s lenses in the GF family, the GF30mmF3.5 R WR incorporates Fujifilm’s optical design and production technology processes to achieve a sub-micron level precision lens surface. This allows the lens to bring out the full potential of the FUJIFILM GFX 50S and GFX 50R mirrorless digital cameras, as well as the 100MP image sensor of the FUJIFILM GFX 100.
Durability
The lens is sealed at nine locations to make it dust and weather-resistant. It can also be used in temperatures as low as 14°F (-10°C), offering photographers peace-of-mind when shooting in inclement weather or dusty environments.
The GF30mmF3.5 R WR lens will be available in late July or early August in the U.S. and Canada for a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of USD $ 1699.95 and CAD $ 2299.00. For more information, visit https://fujifilm-x.com/en- us/products/lenses/gf30mmf35-r-wr/ .
*1 Fujifilm’s large-format GFX System digital cameras include an image sensor that measures 55mm diagonally (43.8mm x 32.9mm), with an area approx. 1.7 times that of a full-frame 35mm sensor.
The post Canon to Announce Two Cameras, 5 RF Lenses on July 9 appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.
For months, we’ve waited for the Canon EOS R5 and R6.
And for months, it’s felt like neither camera would ever actually appear.
But now we have a date to report:
July 9th.
That’s the when the EOS R5 and EOS R6 will officially launch.
While the full details of the two cameras have yet to be revealed, we do know quite a lot thanks to leaks, as well as Canon’s EOS R5 teaser.
So here’s what we can confidently say about the EOS R5:
8K video
20 fps with the electronic shutter
12 fps with the mechanical shutter
IBIS
Dual card slots
Canon has stayed surprisingly quiet regarding the megapixel count, only revealing that “the EOS R5 is set to raise the bar in high level still and video capture empowered by [a] new CMOS sensor and the new DIGIC processor.”
But given the 8K video resolution, you can expect at least 35 MP or so, and previous rumors have offered a plausible figure of around 45 MP.
Note that a 45 MP full-frame sensor at the heart of the EOS R5 would put this camera on the map in essentially every way; the fast continuous shooting, the 8K video, the dual card slots, the IBIS, plus a 45 MP sensor will make this a professional body through-and-through.
That said, the EOS R6 is also shaping up to be a powerful camera in its own right.
And while Canon has confirmed nothing regarding the R6, the ever-reliable Canon Rumors has offered a set of likely specs:
20 MP full-frame sensor
20 fps with the electronic shutter
12 fps with the mechanical shutter
4K/60p (oversampled from 5K)
IBIS
Dual card slots
A 5M-dot EVF
The same AF system as the EOS R5
Assuming these rumors turn out to be true, then the EOS R6 will be positioned a step above both the Canon EOS R and RP, Canon’s two current full-frame mirrorless bodies. The one exception is in resolution, where the EOS R6 falls short (the EOS RP packs a 26 MP sensor, and the EOS R reaches just over 30 MP). But while it’s possible that the EOS R6 will turn out to have a sensor size in the 24-26 MP range, we may be looking at a camera designed for low-light shooting, one that sacrifices pixel count for better high-ISO performance.
Unfortunately, it may be some time before we’re able to do any hands-on comparisons. According to Canon Rumors, the EOS R6 won’t ship until August, with the EOS R5 shipping around a month later (thanks to COVID-related delays).
Also note that the July 9th announcement won’t just cover these two cameras; we’ll also see the release of a number of exciting RF lenses, including:
A 50mm f/1.8 (a nifty fifty!)
A 70-200mm f/4L IS lens
An 85mm f/2 macro lens
A 100-500mm f/4-7.1 IS super-telephoto zoom
A 600mm f/11 DO IS lens
An 800mm f/11 DO IS lens
A 1.4x teleconverter
A 2x teleconverter
Personally, I’m most interested to see the 50mm f/1.8, which should offer an affordable way to break into Canon’s mirrorless lineup. But the macro lens (with an f/2 aperture!) and the 100-500mm super-telephoto lens should be exciting, as well.
If you’re interested in any of this equipment, you don’t have long to wait. July 9th is almost here, so prepare yourself for a lot of new options.
Now over to you:
What do you think of these new cameras and lenses? Which piece of gear are you most excited for? Do you plan to buy any of these as soon as they’re released? Share your thoughts in the comments!
The post Canon to Announce Two Cameras, 5 RF Lenses on July 9 appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.
Tamron has announced pricing for its 17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD lens for full-frame Sony mirrorless cameras.
The 17-28 is marketed as the ideal companion to Tamron’s excellent 28-75mm lens, adding a useful wideangle range. The 17-28 is 9cm (3.9″) long and weighs in at 420g (14.8oz.). And, since the zoom and focus are internal, it never gets any longer. The lens is sealed against dust and moisture.
The lens has a total of 13 elements, including two low-dispersion and one extra-low-dispersion element. It has a BBAR coating to reduce ghosting and flare and a fluorine coating to resist fingerprints and moisture. It has a minimum working distance of 19cm (7.5″) and maximum magnification of 0.19x. The lens is threaded for 67mm filters, just like the 28-75.
The Tamron 17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD will ship in late July for $ 900.
Tamron Announces Launch of Large Aperture, Ultra Wide-Angle Zoom Lens for Sony E-Mount Cameras that is Extremely Compact and Lightweight with a Filter Diameter of 67mm
June 28, 2019, Commack, NY – Tamron announces the launch of the 17-28mm F/2.8 Di III RXD (Model A046), a large aperture, ultra-wide-angle lens for Sony E-mount full-frame mirrorless cameras. The Model A046 features a filter diameter of Ø67mm (astonishingly small for a full-frame, large aperture, ultra-wide-angle zoom lens) as well as an unprecedented light weight of 14.8 oz. and diminutive length of 3.9 in. The compact size provides excellent balance on the small profile mirrorless cameras and is easy to carry. The lens will be available July 25 at approximately $ 899 at authorized Tamron USA retailers.
The Model A046 offers a large F/2.8 aperture throughout the entire zoom range and delivers high-resolution and contrast edge-to-edge. The combination of ultra-wide-angle focal length, large constant F/2.8 aperture and an MOD (Minimum Object Distance) of 7.5 in. at the wide-angle end encourages richly expressive and creative photography in a multitude of scenarios.
The new 17-28mm zoom’s AF drive system is powered by the RXD (Rapid eXtra-silent stepping Drive) stepping motor unit that enables it to deliver high-speed, high-precision and superbly quiet operation, making it suitable for shooting virtually noise-free video as well as still photographs.
In addition, the new zoom lens features Moisture-Resistant Construction and a hydrophobic Fluorine Coating that repels fingerprints and dirt. Plus, the Model A046 is fully compatible with various camera-specific features including Fast Hybrid AF and Eye AF. High performance, combined with exceptional portability, make the 17-28mm zoom ideal for daily use.
PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS
Companion model to the compact, popular Tamron 28-75mm F/2.8 Di III RXD (Model A036) zoom
Sharing the same development concept as the highly esteemed Model A036 that launched in May 2018, the 17-28mm zoom (Model A046) was designed with the top priority of high optical performance in a form factor that is light and compact. Tamron engineers have achieved an unrivaled small size (3.9 in) and light weight (14.8 oz) for a zoom range of 17-28mm. The overall length does not change when zoomed or during focus, thereby creating stable, well balanced operation and excellent mobility. In addition, Model A046 features a filter diameter of just 67mm, very small for an ultra-wide-angle zoom lens. It has the same filter size as its sister lens the Model A036 allowing the use of the same lens cap and filters. The two zooms together create an extremely compact system that covers 17 to 75mm and weighs less than 35.3 oz.
Superb high-resolution performance
The 17-28mm zoom’s optical design consists of 13 lenses in 11 groups, including three aspherical lens elements, two LD (Low Dispersion) lens elements and one XLD (eXtra Low Dispersion) lens element that has properties close to those of fluorite. Together they efficiently suppress chromatic and other aberrations. Additionally, Tamron’s legendary BBAR (Broad-Brand Anti-Reflection) Coating effectively reduces ghosting and flare. Leveraging camera functions*, it provides excellent optical performance matching the latest high-resolution image sensors from edge-to-edge throughout the entire zoom range. The combination of compact size and light weight plus high-resolution performance lets users capture a wide variety of genre including landscapes, architecture and casual snapshot photography.
*When shooting with the camera’s lens correction function enabled.
Extreme close-up capability enables versatile creative expression with ultra-wide-angle zoom
The 17-28mm zoom focuses close. The MOD at the 17mm wide position is 7.5 in (same as Model A036) and the maximum magnification ratio is 1?5.2. At the 28mm end, it achieves the maximum magnification ratio of 1:6 while reaching the MOD of 10.2 in This remarkable performance allows users to create compositions that emphasize perspective (the closer subject is larger and the more distant one is smaller) and that are unique to wide-angle lenses.
The RXD stepping motor unit is exceptionally quiet
The AF drive incorporates a sensor that accurately detects the position of the lens while the RXD motor unit delivers optimized AF control. This achieves very fast and accurate autofocus operation, allowing users to maintain pin-sharp focus on continually moving subjects or when filming video. The exceedingly quiet operation is an important advantage because it virtually eliminates extraneous sounds during video recording. In addition, the compact configuration of the RXD AF drive system contributes to the unprecedented size and weight reduction.
Moisture-Resistant Construction and Fluorine Coating
Environmental seals are located at the lens mount area and other critical locations to prevent infiltration of moisture and/or rain drops and afford Moisture-Resistant construction. This feature provides an additional layer of protection when shooting outdoors under adverse weather conditions. Also, the front surface of the lens element is coated with a protective fluorine compound that has excellent water- and oil-repellant qualities. The lens surface is easier to wipe clean and is less vulnerable to the damaging effects of dirt, moisture or oily fingerprints, allowing for much easier maintenance.
Consistent design and operation throughout all Tamron lenses for full-frame mirrorless cameras
Similar to the 28-75mm (Model A036), the 17-28mm (Model A046) has a zoom ring at the front and a focus ring at the rear. Zooming, focusing and other functions are identical in this series to ensure consistent operation. The design is not only beautiful, it is functional as well and features an outer housing hugging the smooth contours of the lens body, deftly worked Luminous Gold brand ring and the precise, rigid metal lens mount. The Luminous Gold brand ring solidifies the characteristic look of a Tamron-branded lens whether on its own or attached to a camera body.
Versatile, exciting combination when paired with the 28-75mm F/2.8 Di III RXD (Model A036)
Two high-performance partners, the 17-28mm combined with the 28-75mm, cover the super-broad range from 17mm ultra wide-angle to 75mm medium telephoto, and maintain excellent speed with an open aperture of F/2.8. The total weight of the two lenses is 34.2 oz, less than 1kg. This compact but potent combo makes the most of the mobility of mirrorless cameras. In addition, both models have a filter diameter of 67mm, so the same filters such as PL (Polarizer) and ND (Neutral Density) may be used with both models, and lens caps are interchangeable.
Compatible with main camera-specific features and functions
Tamron’s new 17-28mm zoom is compatible with many of the advanced features that are specific to certain mirrorless cameras. This includes the following:
Panasonic has announced that its Leica DG Vario-Summilux 10-25mm F1.7 ASPH lens – first teased at Photokina 2018 – will be available for purchase in July. Panasonic is marketing the 10-25mm, which in full-frame terms is equivalent to 20-50mm on a Micro Four Thirds body, as a single lens that covers five commonly used equivalent focal lengths: 20, 24, 28, 35 and 50mm.
The lens features a total of 17 elements, including aspherical, ED and UHR glass. The lens uses a stepping motor to provide fast, quiet focus. It has a nine-blade aperture and minimum focus distance of 28cm (11″). The lens isn’t as large or as heavy as one would expect, and is very well-built and fully weather-sealed. It’s the first Panasonic Micro Four Thirds lens with a focus clutch and a clickless aperture ring is also provided.
The 10-25mm was very much designed with video in mind, with minimal focus breathing, ‘seamless’ iris control for smooth exposure changes and linear focus response.
The Panasonic Leica DG 10-25mm F1.7 ASPH will be available in July for $ 1799/£1799.
Panasonic Introduces The World’s First* Standard Zoom Lens Achieving Full-range F1.7
*As a digital interchangeable lens for a mirrorless camera, as of May 31, 2019
Newark, NJ (May 31, 2019) – Panasonic is proud to introduce a new standard zoom digital interchangeable lens, the LEICA DG VARIO-SUMMILUX 10-25mm / F1.7 ASPH.
(H-X1025), which boasts a large F1.7 aperture throughout the entire 20-50mm (35mm camera equivalent) zoom range and exceptionally high optical performance, clearing the stringent LEICA standards. The LEICA DG VARIO-SUMMILUX 10-25mm / F1.7 ASPH. is suitable not only for stills shooting, but also for video recording, to satisfy both professional photographers and videographers.
The full-range F1.7 ASPH. high-speed aperture provides beautiful bokeh and high descriptiveness. Covering a focusing distance from wide angle to standard zoom range, the LEICA DG VARIO-SUMMILUX 10-25mm / F1.7 ASPH. functions as a multiple fixed focal-length lens, providing the same or higher level of descriptiveness than a fixed focal-length lens can offer. It is suitable for a variety of daily shooting situations, from dynamic landscapes to portraits–even in low-lit scenes– eliminating the need to change lenses between variations in environment.
Comprising 17 elements in 12 groups, the lens system features three aspherical lenses and four ED (Extra-low Dispersion) lenses that effectively suppress the axial chromatic aberration and chromatic aberration of magnification. Spherical aberration and distortion are also corrected by the aspherical lenses for stunningly high resolution. The use of aspherical lenses coupled with the optimum design of the lens system, results in a compact size and light weight, while maintaining its outstanding optical performance.
Compatibility with a maximum 240-fps high-speed sensor drive realizes high-speed and high-precision auto focusing. Notably, the new lens excels in video recording performance. In addition to the silent operation achieved by the inner focus drive system, the stepless aperture ring and micro-step drive system in the aperture control section help the camera smoothly catch up to brightness changes when zooming or panning. The optical design achieves exceptional barycentric stability to minimize image shifts during zooming. Adoption of a focus clutch mechanism enables instant AF/MF switching and accurate manual focusing. The LEICA DG VARIO-SUMMILUX 10-25mm / F1.7 ASPH. also excels in video recording performance with a mechanism that suppresses focus breathing, which was previously a fatal problem of all interchangeable lenses designed for still image photography.
The rugged dust/splash-resistant* design withstands use under harsh conditions even at -10 degrees Centigrade for high mobility. Nine blades give the aperture a rounded shape that produces an attractively smooth defocus effect in out-of-focus areas when shooting at larger aperture settings. Filter diameter is in 77mm. A highly reliable metal mount endures long time use.
Panasonic is committed to expanding the of Micro Four Thirds lineup through its LUMIX G series of cameras and lenses.
*Dust and Splash Resistant does not guarantee that damage will not occur if this lens is subjected to direct contact with dust and water.
Design and specifications are subject to change without notice.
Back when Panasonic announced its DC-S1 full-frame mirrorless camera the company said that a paid upgrade that would add some significant new video features was coming in the future. Today, the company said that videophiles will be able to purchase the upgrade this July, at a price to be determined later.
The features that the update brings are:
4:2:2 10-bit 4K 24p/30p internal video recording
4:2:2 10-bit 4K 60p HDMI output
Full V-Log recording
Prior to this upgrade, V-Log was only available on professional Panasonic video cameras, such as the EVA1. V-Log provides an extra 2-stops of dynamic range compared to V-Log L found on the GH5/GH5S, which should result in improved highlight retention in high dynamic range scenes.
As mentioned above, pricing has yet to be determined, though Panasonic says that it will be announced sooner than July.
Press Release
Panasonic Releases the Software Upgrade Program for LUMIX S1 in July 2019 to Expand Its Video Performance
Newark, NJ (March 28, 2019) – Panasonic has announced that the company will release a software upgrade key for the full-frame mirrorless camera LUMIX S1 in July 2019. As scheduled, this paid firmware upgrade is to further expand the video performance of the LUMIX S1 for advanced video recording. The optional Software Update Key will be available for purchase from authorized Panasonic dealers.
Functions available with the upgrade program are as follows.
– 4:2:2 10-bit 4K 24p/30p internal video recording
– 4:2:2 10-bit 4K 60p HDMI output
– Full V-Log recording
?Design and specifications are subject to change without notice.
To learn more about Panasonic’s line of LUMIX Digital Cameras and other consumer electronic products, please visit www.shop.panasonic.com and www.lumixlounge.com. You can also follow Panasonic on Twitter (@mypanasonicNA) and Facebook.
5oopx, the photo sharing service owned by Visual China Group (VCG), the world’s third-largest visual content provider, has posted a security notice on its support site today, revealing that the platform suffered a security breach that exposed user data and profile information.
The breach was discovered by 500px engineers only a few days ago on February 8, but actually happened all the way back on July 5, 2018. The company says all users who signed up on or before that day are affected by the breach which exposed users’ first and last names, usernames, email addresses, a hash of their passwords and dates of birth.
If at signing up users decided to provide gender and location information this data will be compromised as well. The good news is that 500px has found no signs of unauthorized entry into any of the affected user accounts. Payment information was not compromised either.
In its announcement 500px says it will upgrade its security measures and examine its source code in order to avoid similar issues in the future. The company is also asking all users to change passwords.
CIPA, the Japanese Camera & Imaging Products Association, has released its numbers for July and things don’t look terribly rosy. The summer months are generally a slower time of the year for most retail sectors, but in terms of camera shipments this past July has been much worse than in 2017.
Compared to last year, shipments of all digital cameras are down 33%, dropping from 1,942,192 to 1,496,604. Things look only slightly better in the interchangeable lens segment where we have seen a smaller drop from 973,651 to 820,893 units (down 16%).
The numbers look particularly bad in part because summer shipments in 2017 were strong – or at least, didn’t dip as dramatically as they have in 2016 and this year. And on the plus side, the industry can now look forward to the traditionally stronger autumn months and the holiday season. The recent high-profile product launches from Nikon, Fujifilm and Panasonic, plus any new products that might be announced at the upcoming Photokina trade show, will likely have a positive impact on shipments for the remainder of the year.
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