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Posts Tagged ‘Modular’

Review: Palette modular photo editing system

21 Jul

Palette System
$ 250-$ 550 | PaletteGear.com

The Palette system uses physical controls to manipulate software features in Lightroom Classic, Photoshop, and other applications.

Image editing applications are full of controls that mimic physical interactions. We could adjust a photo in Lightroom using nothing but numbers, but we’re conditioned to drag virtual sliders to see how the change affects the image. What we’re actually doing is repetitively positioning the mouse pointer over specific locations to work those controls.

Palette is a set of modular hardware pieces that can be assigned individual tasks and features.

If you’re tired of hitting those tiny targets or want to potentially speed up your editing workflow, perhaps you should consider the real-life physical controls of the Palette system. Palette is a set of modular hardware pieces that can be assigned individual tasks and features. Think of a sound-mixing board, but for editing photos (although Palette can also work with some audio and video software, too).

Key Features

  • Three physical controls: buttons, dials, and sliders
  • USB-powered
  • Controls many features of Adobe (and other) software
  • Modular controls snap together with strong magnets
  • Machined aluminum modules
  • Rubberized base so modules don’t shift during use
  • Mac and Windows compatible

Buying options

The modules can be like a mini puzzle: make sure the pins connect to pads so that power and data are distributed throughout the connected pieces.

The Palette system is sold in three kits:

  • Starter Kit ($ 249.98) includes the core, two buttons, one dial, and one slider.
  • Expert Kit ($ 349.98) includes the core, two buttons, three dials, and two sliders.
  • Professional Kit ($ 549.98) includes the core, four buttons, six dials, and four sliders.

The components are also available as separate add-ons: $ 29.99 for the button, or $ 49.99 each for the slider or dial.

Design

The system is based around a single Palette Core unit, which is 45mm (1.8in) square and connects to the computer via a Micro USB port. The core includes the processor and software for running the system, plus an OLED screen that indicates which mode it’s currently running. (It’s not a touchscreen, though; my smartphone-trained fingers kept tapping the display at first, expecting something to happen.)

At times I wish the controls offered some physical feedback, such as a dial that ticks as you turn it

The rest of the components connect to the core and to each other via strong magnets, with one side sporting spring-loaded pins to make data and power connections. There’s an arcade-style button, a dial that spins smoothly and can also be pressed like a button, and a slider. At times I wish the controls offered some physical feedback, such as a dial with detents that clicks as you turn it instead of just spinning smoothly; perhaps the company could offer such a module in the future.

Each piece includes an illuminated “halo” that can change color, which is helpful for visually identifying which application or feature you’re working with. Rubberized bases give the components a good grip so they don’t slip around while you’re working.

In use

I’ve used the Palette system and the PaletteApp software primarily with Lightroom Classic CC; it also supports Lightroom 6 and Lightroom CC 2015, but notably does not work with the newest Lightroom CC (which doesn’t offer the same hooks for other applications that the classic versions do).

It’s not a Lightroom-only tool, however. Adobe’s apps are well represented, with support for CC versions of Photoshop, Premiere Pro, After Effects, Illustrator, InDesign, and Audition. The software knows a few other applications, too, such as Final Cut Pro X, iTunes, Spotify, VLC, WMP, and Google Chrome. If PaletteApp can access the menu systems of other software, you can also set up some custom controls, although in my testing those weren’t as snappy as the interaction with supported apps. PaletteApp requires macOS 10.9, Mavericks, and higher, or Windows 7 and higher.

The software knows a few other applications, too, such as Final Cut Pro X, iTunes, Spotify, VLC, WMP, and Google Chrome

When you first begin using the Palette system, expect a lot of experimentation as you figure out which control layouts work for you. PaletteApp includes several pre-made profiles to get started, so as you snap modules together, functions are already assigned to them. You can also import downloaded profiles created by other Palette owners. That’s helpful, although I found myself wanting examples of physical layouts as starting points. I’d like to see recommendations of how other people work: do they use dials or sliders for controls like Exposure, for instance, and how are the modules arranged? I appreciate the freedom to piece modules together the way I want, but it’s almost too open-ended until you figure out what works for you.

Built-in profiles get you started.

The system’s modularity does have the advantage that one layout isn’t trying to accomplish everything; in Lightroom, for example, you can set up controls for reviewing and culling images, and then switch to a profile with controls for performing basic edits or even, say, landscape-specific editing tasks.

I’ve set up this profile and layout for reviewing and culling images after importing them in Lightroom Classic CC. Here’s the same layout with a profile designed to apply basic and frequently-used Lightroom Develop controls.

Of course, you can manually assign features to each module and in some cases, fine tune their performance. Depending on the control, dials and sliders may include a Sensitivity or Range value (or both) to set upper and lower limits to how much a control is applied. For example, pushing a white balance tint slider all the way to the right can max out at +50 instead of +100, since you’d probably never crank the setting that high toward purple.

Manually set a module’s task, and adjust aspects like sensitivity depending on which type of control it is.

One of the best features of the Palette system is how responsive it is—not just in tracking a control’s physical movement with its onscreen setting, but switching between tools and modules. Activating a module switches to that editing control, regardless of where you were in Lightroom. For example, to straighten a photo, you could turn a dial assigned to Crop Angle. That switches to the Develop module if it’s not already active, selects the Crop Overlay tool, and starts rotating the image as you turn the dial.

At times the responsiveness can be jarring, though. A physical slider’s position dictates the software slider; imagine that the module for Exposure is set a quarter distance from the left following an edit in another application, but the Exposure slider in Lightroom is at the zero midpoint. As soon as you nudge the module’s slider, the Exposure value jumps down to –2.5 to match.

When you first begin using the Palette system, expect a lot of experimentation as you figure out which control layouts work for you.

There’s a preference called Optimize for Performance which, when turned off, shows the live status of the controls in the PaletteApp window. That can be helpful when the app is visible and you don’t want to take your eyes away from the screen, and it has the added benefit of including notches on the virtual dials that don’t exist on the physical ones. However, those notches are ultimately arbitrary: if you reset a control (by pressing the dial button), the notch doesn’t snap back to the center, so the next time you turn the dial, it starts from the last position.

One clever feature of the Palette system is the ability to rotate your setup in 90-degree increments. By repositioning the connected block of physical modules for other tasks, you can train your muscle memory to work in two different applications, for instance, and not take apart the layout you’ve set up and put it together into a new one each time.

The bottom line

If you spend a lot of time editing in Lightroom and Photoshop, and you have the desk space to dedicate to it, Palette is a good investment. That’s particularly true if your work involves processing hundreds of images and manipulating several key controls, such as editing batches of wedding photos.

That really gets to the whole point of using a system like this: to be able to let your hands take over while your attention is focused on the image you’re editing, not having to dart around the screen selecting every control using a mouse or touchpad.

What we like:

  • Build quality is exceptional
  • Color accents help differentiate tasks
  • Modularity lets you set up the controls how you like
  • Compatible with many applications
  • Granular sensitivity for the controls
  • Ability to rotate layout in 90-degree increments

What we don’t:

  • Open-endedness of layout options can be daunting until you find a layout you like
  • Expensive, especially to buy extra individual components
  • No physical feedback, such as clicks as you turn dials, which would sometimes be helpful

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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MIOPS Capture360 is a modular, pocket-sized motion control box

14 Jun

Meet the newest member of the MIOPS family, the Capture360. Deemed the ‘most versatile motion box ever created’ by its creators, the Capture360 is a pocket-sized motion device currently being funded on Kickstarter that works with any camera or smartphone.

What sets Capture360 apart from the rest of MIOPS’ lineup is that it can be be as simple or robust as your filming needs demand.

Out of the box, a single Capture360 only captures one range of motion—panning. But, when paired with MIOPS’ optional L-bracket, that single unit can also be used for tilting. Combine two units and you get a rig that can both pan and tilt, all without the need for wires—the Capture360 devices will automatically determine which one is for panning and which one is for tilting.

MIOPS is also offering a Capsule Slider accessory that will let you add yet another range of motion to your shots.

Like MIOPS’ other systems, the speed and direction of the motion is controlled using MIOPS smartphone app for iOS and Android. The app, which connects via Bluetooth, is used to program the motion path of the device.

In addition to manual configuration, the app can also work to keep track of a subject with both object tracking and face tracking. The app is also capable of controlling the camera settings to account for bulb ramping, interval ramping, long exposures, and high dynamic range (HDR).

If you purchase an optional turntable accessory, you can also program the app to capture 360-degree product photos.

The Capsule360 features a built-in rechargeable battery that can work for eight hours straight of continuous use or up to one week long in time-lapse mode. There’s also an option to attach a USB battery pack to extend the battery life.

As with all of MIOP’s previous devices, the Capture360 is currently being crowdfunded on Kickstarter with an expected ship date of December 2018. As of publishing this article, it’s already surpassed its $ 75,000 goal with 28 days to go. A single standalone Capsule360 starts at $ 200 and depending on the accessories and add-ons you want, prices go up from there.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Novoflex’s new TrioPod PRO75 modular tripod can handle ‘immense load’

15 Mar

Novoflex has announced an expansion of its TrioPod tripod product line with the launch of the TrioPod PRO75 model. This is a high-capacity advanced spider tripod, according to Novoflex, which claims that the PRO75 model can be used “for even the heaviest photo and video equipment.”

Novoflex explains that its new PRO75 tripod is constructed with 8-layered carbon fiber legs alongside reinforced components. Buyers have a choice between three or four-section carbon fiber legs, as well as a pair of mini legs. The PRO75 model also supports existing TrioPod legs.

The PRO base by itself will run you over $ 880 USD.

The TrioPod PRO75 model can support a maximum load of 65kg / 143lbs and has a total of seven leg lock positions at 23-, 43-, 45-, 65-, 87-, 155-, and 180-degrees. The tripod is made with a high level of versatility in mind, offering support for most 75mm accessories and both 1/4″ and 3/8″ connections, a removable base plate for using a leveling ball, and a self-locking geared center column.

Of course, all of these capabilities are going to cost you a pretty penny. The TrioPod PRO75 base alone, without legs, costs a whopping $ 885.28. Add 3-section carbon fibre legs (plus 2 mini legs) to the kit and you’re looking at $ 1,476.64, while a set of 4-section legs by themselves will run you $ 663.52.

To find out more about the TrioPod PRO75 lineup or order some bits and pieces for yourself, head over to the Novoflex website.

Press Release

Introducing the NOVOFLEX TrioPod PRO75

The new Modular Tripod of choice for discerning professionals looking for the sturdiest, modular support solution.

For almost four years, the NOVOFLEX TrioPod tripod collection has been lauded as the most innovative tripod system on the market. The Product Innovation Team at NOVOFLEX is proud to announce the expansion of this tripod series with a modular, high-capacity tripod system, the TrioPod PRO75.

Exceptionally stable and modular with immense load capacity.

The basis for the all-new TrioPod PRO75 is the advanced tripod spider, which offers exceptional stability and immense load capacity. Thanks to the reinforced design of the individual components and new 8-layered carbon fiber legs, this modular tripod can be used for even the heaviest photo and video equipment.

The system can be purchased with 3 or 4 section carbon fiber legs plus two mini legs for maximum versatility.

In addition to the recommended new tripod legs C3930 and C3940, existing TrioPod legs can also be used with the new TrioPod PRO75 as well. With the optionally available carbon leg extensions, a total height of 79 in./2.0 m is possible. Short 2-segment carbon fiber legs C2820 are also available allowing you to achieve completely new perspectives and are even compatible with the existing TrioPod and QuadroPod Systems.

Features

Maximum Load Capacity – 143 lbs/65 kg – Maximum holding capacity for maximum protection.

Removable Base Plate – A new feature of the tripod spider is the removable base plate that easily be detached and replaced with the optional leveling ball (MBAL-PRO75) or a geared center column (TRIO-CC-PRO75).

Unmatched Versatility – To build your tripod to meet the needs of any job the PRO75 can fit most 75mm accessories, even from other manufacturers. The optional leveling ball (MBAL-PRO75) can also be used with any other tripod you may have with a ¼” & 3/8” connection.

Self-Locking Geared Center Column – The innovative 3/8” studs on both ends of the geared center column provide an extra measure of security and compatibility by taking the load off the ¼” threads. The column itself can be adjusted by 19 in./48 cm.

7 Leg Lock Positions for Any Situation – For shoots on level surfaces, the TrioPod PRO75 spider allows the legs to be set at 23°, 45°, 65°, and 87°. Should you find yourself in a more confined space, a further locking position of 155° enables you to support the tripod against vertical surfaces. Particularly innovative is a new 43° angle that allows the tripod to flip upside down quickly for ground-level work, eliminating the need to reverse the center column and/or tripod head. For easy packaging, the legs can also be folded up at 180°.

Ground Level Work

Easy Packaging

The TrioPod PRO75 is available in two kits:

  • TRIOPROC3930 – consisting of TrioPod PRO75 tripod spider, (3x) C3930 3-segment carbon fiber legs, (2x) A1010 mini-legs, a tripod bag and multi-tool.

  • TRIOPROC3940 – consisting of TrioPod PRO75 tripod spider, (3x) C3940 4-segment carbon fiber legs, (2x) A1010 mini-legs, a tripod bag and multi-tool.

The two QLEG-A1010 mini-legs that are part of the kits can be screwed into the accessory thread creating limitless possibilities: Add one leg to smooth your workflow by attaching your camera bag, keeping your tripod weighted and giving you quick access to your equipment. Alternatively, replace two legs to create a “leaning pod” and achieve a new variety of creative perspectives for your boundless imagination.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Modular PITTA camera transforms into drone, action, and security cameras

04 Jan

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PITTA, a modular ball-shaped 13MP camera that transforms into a drone, is currently blasting its way through a campaign on Kickstarter. The small, sphere-shaped modular camera launched on the crowdfunding platform with a $ 50K goal, but as of this writing it has already raised well over a quarter million dollars.

Eyedea, the company behind PITTA, describes its product as a multi-purpose device:

It’s not just aerial, not just handheld, not just wearable or mountable, it’s all of these. It’s a complete system packed into a single device.

Here’s a quick intro video from the company’s Kickstarter:

In its most basic form, PITTA looks like a simple black sphere, which is the 200g/7oz camera body. The sphere-shaped body features a 13MP sensor, support for 4K/30fps recording, and “software image stabilization.” Additionally, the body contains various sensors including GPS/GLONASS, gyroscope, accelerometer, barometer, magnetometer, object detection and visual tracking hardware, and optical flow positioning sensors.

Joining that is an Action Cam Module, Charging Cradle, and Drone Module. When docked in the Charging Cradle, PITTA can be used as a stationary security camera or livestreaming camera.

When used with the Action Module, PITTA can be attached to a tripod or other mount and used as an action camera that supports burst shot, 60fps slow-motion recording, livestreaming, and time lapse, as well as direct sharing to the major social media platforms.

The Drone Module, meanwhile, transforms the camera sphere into a drone via a snap and twist-to-lock design. The resulting camera drone is controlled using a smartphone and companion app, which itself offers several operation modes. PITTA as a drone supports taking panoramas, hovering in place, orbiting around the operator, auto-following the operator, as well as a “Come Back Home” function, terrain awareness, auto-landing, and GPS. The slow-motion and time lapse functions aren’t available in drone mode.

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PITTA is being offered to Kickstarter backers who pledge $ 290 for a Kickstarter Exclusive Basic Kit or $ 320 for a Kickstarter Exclusive Full Package, though other pledge packages are also available. Shipments to backers are expected to start in May 2018, though as with any crowdfunding campaign, plans could change, so proceed with caution.

To learn more or pledge for your own, head over to Kickstarter by clicking here.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Reflex modular SLR unveiled: The first new manual 35mm SLR design in decades

08 Nov

Reflex has just launched the Reflex I: the first newly-designed manual 35mm SLR system to see the light of day in more than 25 years. The camera pairs a classic look with a modular design that enables personalization, including an interchangeable film back and lens mount. Reflex I supports legacy lenses, as well as both personally designed 3D-printed components and third-party accessories.

To help fuel the customization options, Reflex plans to freely release most of the camera’s electronic and hardware designs once the camera officially hits shelves. Notable among the modular design is Reflex’s I-Plate and included universal M42 lens mount; the company says buyers can also use alternative mounts compatible with Nikon F, Olympus OM, Canon FD, and Pentax PK lenses.

Loading film, meanwhile, has been simplified via the modular I-Back, an interchangeable back piece that enables photographers to pre-load film for rapidly swapping to a different film during a shoot. Other modern features hope to join these two modular components, though their inclusion will partly depend on how successful the Reflex’s Kickstarter funding campaign is.

The Reflex I features an integrated flash and continuous LED light source, a first for analog cameras, according to the company. Photographers can select between three different LED intensities, plus the flash.

Assuming the Kickstarter campaign reaches at least £150k in funding, the company plans to integrate the Reflex I with a companion mobile app that will log the settings for each film and shot, enabling photographers to note the settings used to capture their favorite photos.

Reflex is offering the Reflex I camera body early bird units to backers who pledge at least £350 / $ 458 on Kickstarter. Deliveries to those backers are estimated to begin in August 2018. The Kickstarter campaign also offers other rewards for different backing tiers, such as a bundle with just the I-Back and I-Mount, a prime lens, “Analogue Pack,” and more.

Check out the campaign page for more details.

Camera Specifications:

  • Type: Single Lens Reflex Camera
  • Format: 135 film, 35mm/FF
  • System: Reflex RM
  • Lens Mount: Reflex I-Plate (in M42, Nikon F, Canon FD, Olympus OM, Pentax PK)
  • Focus: Manual
  • Film Loading: Reflex I-Back
  • Film Advance/Rewind: Manual
  • Exposure: Manual – Aperture Priority (+ 4 stops EV)
  • DOF inverted preview
  • Shutter Speeds: 1s – 1/4000th, Time and Bulb
  • Metering: AV + Spot + 4 stops EV
  • ISO: 25-6400
  • Controller: Arduino based modular design
  • Connectivity: Bluetooth (BLE) enabled
  • Body: Magnesium Alloy
  • Weight: 490g
  • Dimensions: 134mm x 74.5mm x 34mm
  • Electronic system: 5v Ion Lithium rechargeable via USB-C
  • Resolution: Zero Megapixels

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Review of the new Spekular Modular LED Light System

01 Oct

I was fortunate enough to get hold of the new Spekular Modular LED kit from the people at Spiffy Gear a little bit earlier than most. So I’ve been using it for a couple of months now on everything from a personal portrait project to a product shoot of a whole load of shoes, and lots of other things in between.

In the box with the Spekular Modular LED kit

The kit comes in a handy carry case that keeps all of the gear together. You get four of the Spekular LED bars (I’m just going to call them bars, you might want to call them something else) and clips to join them together, along with a mounting connector that has a metal 1/4″-20 thread. This allows you to screw it onto a light stand, or as I’ve been doing, onto a tripod base-plate and using it on top of a tripod, which allows me to move the light where I need it. You get a multi-voltage power supply and a bit of documentation in the box, too.

Review of the new Spekular Modular LED Light System

The kit ships with a regular power supply and plugs in and is controlled very easily on one of the light bar units, with the power running from what would be 0% to 100% in step-less increments. There is also an external battery kit that you can pick up if you’re looking to use Spekular away from a power outlet.

Setting it up

Review of the new Spekular Modular LED Light System

The mounting bracket that is included simply slips along the back of any of the light bar units. You can adjust exactly where you’d like it to be connected to the unit, and then you simply connect it to a light stand or via a tripod plate or any other stand/magic arm with a 1/4″-20 connector.

Review of the new Spekular Modular LED Light System

Let us move swiftly on! Take a look at how the unit works and what it can do, according to the Spiffy Gear video below, and then we’ll get on with how well it worked for me in real-world situations!

Using Spekular in the real world

I’ve read a little of what others are saying around the web, a few people mentioned that they don’t like the specular highlights the kit gives, to which I’d say, “So set it up differently!”

You can set the unit up as something that resembles a traditional rectangular LED panel, or you can set two kits up as a crazy epic star-like looking thing! As with any art/photography, the resultant look you’re after is subjective, and that’s fine! You can get seriously creative with this Spekular Modular LED kit, and that flexibility really impressed me.

Review of the new Spekular Modular LED Light System

Spekular for portraits

The first shoot I took the Spekular kit along to was one of my own. It’s a portrait series that I’m working on, based on men’s mental health. The Spekular kit was on a Kupo Click light stand slightly above and forward of my camera position.

It was only a test, but I was very happy with the results! (Yes, that’s a self-portrait below, I’m taking the photograph using Sony’s Play Memories with my A7R II).

Review of the new Spekular Modular LED Light System

Spekular for product shoots

The other main use I’ve had with the Spekular kit was on a spur of the moment product shoot for a friend. I needed to photograph 20 pairs of shoes for a website. This is something I’ve not done much of, but I was very interested to try out the kit and see if it could provide the results that were needed for this job.

The thing I found about using the Spekular kit was that it provided a really great quality of even light when positioned correctly. I used a Kupo C-Stand and positioned Spekular, set up in a square format, over the top and slightly forward of the product. This really cut down on shadows!

Review of the new Spekular Modular LED Light System

Yes, these shoes have wings!

Review of the new Spekular Modular LED Light System

Great, even light for products.

Review of the new Spekular Modular LED Light System

The shoes were photographed for a web-store, my friend was very happy – yay.

Each light bar puts out 14.5W of light which is kinda similar to a 150W halogen light. The lights have a 94+ CRI (CR-What? Read What CRI is here)

So, what’s the verdict?

Still not convinced? Here’s another video showing the Spekular LED light in use.

What did I like about the Spekular Modular LED light system? In two words, almost everything. The build quality is great, the unit stays level when attached from one side, it doesn’t twist like plastic units tend to do. I’d love to start using the kit with a battery pack to make it a little more portable.

One of the things I need to work on, but fixed very easily with Rosco Cinefoil ($ 34 for 25′ of the stuff) was the light spread. Naturally LED lights don’t tend to be super focused, so you need to find a way to shape them if that is the look you’re after. I found it very simple to do using flags or Cinefoil kind of shaped like barn-doors.

In my opinion, the Spekular kit is very good value compared to other options on the market considering what you get, how well it appears to be built (keep in mind I’ve only had the kit since July 5th), and how well it works.

Spiffy suggests that Spekular is “the Swiss army knife of LED lighting,” and I’d tend to agree! Well done!

Five Stars, Spiffy Gear, Five stars!

The post Review of the new Spekular Modular LED Light System by Sime appeared first on Digital Photography School.


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Swiss Army Bed: The Ultimate Modular & Multifunctional Furniture Design

16 Sep

[ By WebUrbanist in Design & Furniture & Decor. ]

It’s hard to imagine a more flexible and functional piece of furniture to spend a third of your life in than this one from Singapore, featuring an array of creature comforts and high-tech customizations.

USB ports and plugs tie into charging and speaker systems for lounging around with tunes and devices, while an optional massage chair can help relax the restless before sleep.

An array of benches and loungers lets users lay down or sit up in any number of positions, while a fold-out desk attachment allow for laptop use as well. Storage options include a linen-and-pillow trunk beneath the bottom-of-bed bench and a built-in safe for valuables, plus a bunch of shelves and cabinets.

Perhaps the best part: all of these features can be swapped out because the modules around the bed itself are not permanently fixed. Buyers can choose which ones they want to prioritize then surround themselves with choice luxuries accordingly.

At $ 500 to $ 1000 depending on options, materials and finishes, they are pretty reasonably priced, too, though be sure to check the measurements: they are designed for the Asian market and shorter individuals, so tall people may want to consider them inspiration rather than potential purchases.

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Two very similar designs with somewhat different audiences, Multiplo emphasizes their kit-of-parts approach as a means toward making convertible adult furniture, while Gogo Blocks are presented …

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[ By WebUrbanist in Design & Furniture & Decor. ]

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Spekular is a modular LED lighting system you can reshape to suit your needs

01 Sep

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Spiffy Gear, the company behind the Light Blaster strobe projector, is back with another accessory for photographers and videographers who want a lighting solution that can conform to every shooting situation. It’s called Spekular, and Spiffy is calling it “the Swiss army knife of LED lighting.”

Spekular consists of four ultra-bright, color-accurate LED strips that can be arranged in whatever configuration suits your shooting needs. Each of the four LED lights boasts a dimmable, flicker-free 14.5 watts of power (~150W halogen) with color accuracy guaranteed (94+ CRI and 96+ TLCI).

Here’s a quick intro video so you can see the lights in action:

And here are a few sample shots, all captured with the Spekular arranged in one of its various configurations (Note: the star shape requires an additional four-light ‘expansion kit’ and star adapter):

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Spiffy is branding the Spekular as ‘the only light you need,’ and while we’re always a bit skeptical of grand claims, the modular design and attention to technical detail certainly make it a unique lighting option.

You can find out more about Spekular on the Spiffy Gear website, where you can order the standard 4-light kit for $ 650, the 4-light extension for $ 130, a battery adapter (in case the power goes) also for $ 130, and that Star Adapter for, you guessed it, $ 130.

Press Release

Spekular from Spiffy Gear is the Swiss army knife of LED lighting for photo and video.

SUMMARY: Spekular is a modular LED lighting system for videographers and photographers. It is a collection of light bars with high brightness and unparalelled color accuracy. The system drastically reduces the number of accessories needed to create professional lighting setups.

31 August 2017 – Today, Spiffy Gear launches the $ 650 Spekular, a flexible, modular LED lighting system for videographers and photographers. Spekular adapts into different lighting modifiers, such as light strips, soft boxes or shaped lights for creative effects.. This reduces the amount of gear needed to be carried to shoots. Spekular can be configured as a ring, a square, a strip, a star, a “standard” panel, and many more configurations.

Using the attachment options in the Spekular kit, discerning lighting artists can configure the light into different shapes to create different looks, adapt to different situations, and add flair to portraits by adding eye-catching catch lights.

Spekular is extremely bright. Each of the LEDs sections provides 14.5W of light (the equivalent of around 150W of halogen light). And there are four of them. This kit delivers as much power as four “standard” LED panels, so you have to carry less to light more.

Spekular is fully dimmable for further lighting flexibility, without any of the flickering typically associated with dimmable LED light sources. The LED bars do all of this while maintaining a perfect color rendition to save you time in post-production. (94+ CRI and 96+ TLCI).

The kit is extremely sturdy and hard-wearing. It can withstand the hard, unrelenting abuse of a typical professional photo or video shoot. Its aluminum sections and tough ABS connectors will keep going, day after grueling day.

“Spekular will enable photographers and videographers to tell their stories while paying less, carrying less and having more lighting options, says Udi Tirosh, CEO at Spiffy Gear.

The Spekular Ecosystem

At launch, Spekular is part of an extendable kit, with accessories to add even more flexibility.

The Spekular kit is the core kit to get you started with Spekular. It consists of four LED light sections, four hinged connectors and mounting gear, all packed in a handy carrying case. This kit provides more than 5,000 luminous flux of light.

The optional Spekular Star Adapter enables you to configure the Spekular kit into an eight-section star with a hole in the middle. The hole is big enough to shoot through, making some creative lighting options possible.

The optional Spekular Extension Kit unlocks even more ways to use Spekular. It enables using one kit as a three points lighting system, create complex lighting schemes, and create long seamless strips.

The Spekular Battery Adapter makes the Spekular kit usable anywhere in the world. Use any DTAP-enabled battery to power the kit – no need to be plugged into a wall socket. The battery adapter includes a mounting bag that connects to a light stands for easy access.

Pricing and Availability

Spekular is available starting today at http://www.spekular.com/ and at selected photography retailers.

  • Spekular kit: $ 650
  • Spekular Star Adapter: $ 130
  • Spekular Extension Kit: $ 130
  • Spekular Battery Adapter: $ 130

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Video: First hands-on with the modular RED Hydrogen One holographic smartphone

06 Aug

The $ 1,200 RED Hydrogen One smartphone with its holographic display and modular design wowed the world when it was announced last month. And that wow-factor only increased when people stumbled across RED’s patents for this intense little camera phone. Unfortunately, the initial render, press release, and those patents was all we had to go off of … until now.

Well-known YouTuber Marques Brownlee was given an exclusive first-look at RED’s prototypes of the Hydrogen One, and he’s sharing that first look with the world in the video above.

The RED Hydrogen One prototype next to an iPhone 7 Plus and an OnePlus 5. As you can see, it’s anything but small.

Brownlee got to look at three prototypes: a non-functional ‘fit-and-finish’ prototype that looks exactly as RED intends the final version to look (above), a prototype of the holographic display that he was not allowed to show on camera, and a prototype of the phone with a ‘Triplet’ lens mount module attached.

The first prototype was really all about the looks, and Brownlee had an interesting take on that. “It looks kind of like a Moto Z had a baby with a tractor,” he says. “It’s this part rugged, part modern look.” A look Brownlee actually quite liked.

The second prototype he wasn’t allowed to share on camera, but it’s the third prototype we’re most interested in, anyway. This is where things get really interesting for photo and video enthusiasts curious about how capable and modular this phone will really be. The third prototype features an attachment that adds a ‘sensor and lens mount’ to the smartphone.

Adding a sensor and lens mount to the phone makes it much thicker, but also has the potential to supercharge the Hydrogen One’s camera capabilities.

According to Brownlee, RED believes, “this can and will be the future of small form-factor cinema [cameras].” In fact, the company says the smartphone’s image quality “should only be surpassed by RED’s bigger cameras,” beating out mirrorless cameras and DSLRs if RED has their way with this phone.

At $ 1,200 for the phone by itself, and who knows how much for all of the modules and attachments required to get the RED Hydrogen One up to that caliber of image quality, it’s likely you’ll spend about the same amount of money on a cinema-capable Hydrogen One as you would on a cinema-capable DSLR setup… if not more. But if the quality is on par or better, why not get a really intense modular smartphone in the bargain?

I guess we’ll just have to wait and see how this phone evolves from prototype to full-fledged product. Speaking of which: RED expects to have their next prototype—a fit-and-finish version with the holographic display built in—ready in the next 30-45 days. They’re not dragging their feet.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Red patent shows plans for insanely modular Hydrogen One smartphone system

12 Jul

Last week, camera company Red unveiled its own upcoming Android smartphone: the VR/AR/3D/’4D’-capable Hydrogen One. But while the company did reveal some details about the model—such as the fact that it will be sold unlocked and that it is modular—a bunch of questions remain unanswered.

Red’s greater plans, though, may be revealed in a patent application it filed, in which the company describes a modular camera system that revolves around a smartphone.

The patent application, filed with the USPTO, describes a ‘Modular Digital Camera and Cellular Phone,’ explaining that the modular camera systems could include both still and motion products. While Motorola has already launched a modular phone system with the Moto Z, the patent indicates that Red’s version of a modular phone will be far more capable.

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As you can see from the diagrams above, rectangular modules can be attached to the phone detailed in the patent, each stacked on the other to form an increasingly robust product. These modules may include high-quality cameras, larger batteries, mechanical controls, a camera grip, EVF, and more.

The illustrations even show the modular phone being transformed, via modules, into a DSLR-like still camera and a cinema-like motion camera.

The cost of assembling something like a DSLR or cinema camera using a phone like the Hydrogen One and these modules is unclear, but given the phone’s starting price of $ 1,195 there’s little doubt a fully assembled modular camera system would be very pricey.

For whatever upsides a consumer may get from this system, there would also be some notable downsides: losing access to your phone while it is part of the camera, having to assemble and disassemble the camera system frequently, and having to store/transport many small modules.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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