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Posts Tagged ‘quietly’

Sony quietly updates the a7R III, a7R IV with improved LCD displays

07 Apr
One of our product photos of the original a7R IV.

Sony has, rather quietly, released updated versions of its a7R III and a7R IV cameras that bring small improvements to the full-frame mirrorless cameras. The updated cameras now have an ‘a’ appended to their model numbers to differentiate them from their original predecessors.

According to the update product specifications, both the a7R III (model: ILCE-7RM3A) and a7R IV (model: ILCE-7RM4A) have improved rear LCD panels, up to 2.36 million dots compared to the 1.44 million dots in the original models. Sony notes in the the battery life of the updated cameras has dropped slightly (10 shots) when using the LCD panel. Also, based on the product photos on Sony’s website, the a7R IV (model: ILCE-7RM4A) no longer has the Sony logo under the LCD monitor. Aside from those details, it’s not clear what else, if anything, has changed.

Note the ‘Sony’ underneath the LCD panel on this product image of the original a7R IV. Note The lack of the ‘Sony’ logo under the LCD panel of the newly-updated a7R IV ‘a’

Sony’s updated product pages don’t show whether or not the price has changed and, as of publication, Sony’s site isn’t linking out to any retailers with the new models in stock. Neither Adorama or B&H Photo have the new models listed as of publication. This, combined with the fact Sony hasn’t actually changed the more general name of the cameras will likely lead to some confusion for buyers, so you might want to hold off if you’re hoping to get one of these updated cameras until more information is available.

We have contacted Sony for more details and will update this article accordingly when we receive a response.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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DJI Studio quietly releases new STORM drone

11 Jun

When it comes to new releases, DJI isn’t exactly known for being quiet. Unplanned leaks typically surface in various online communities a few days ahead of every official announcement. Even with speculation leading up to an event in the form of photos and product descriptions, the world’s top drone manufacturer hosts glitzy, high-end affairs for media and industry insiders to introduce its new products. The Osmo Pocket, for example, launched last December at ‘Good Morning America’s’ New York-based television studio in front of a live audience.

This is why it’s surprising that DJI chose to officially introduce a new professional-grade drone, through a provider, at Cine Gear Expo in Los Angeles. The four-day event, which took place from May 30th to June 2nd, attracted top-tier creators in the technology, entertainment, and media industries. What’s even more perplexing is that the video announcing the release of the STORM was uploaded to DJI’s YouTube channel back in January and remained under the radar until DroneDJ first discovered it.

Why has DJI been relatively silent about STORM, along with its DJI Pro service which was released last December after being available in Asia for close to two years? To start, the STORM is not for sale. The Verge recently confirmed that one company outside of China, Helinet Aviation, based in the U.S., claims to own one and is testing it out.

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On display in the Helinet booth at Cine Gear will be the DJI STORM – the X8 drone made by DJI to seamlessly carry the industry standard DJI RONIN 2 gimbal. This drone is the only one in America. Cine Gear will be your chance to see this beast in person and grab some photos! @djiglobal @djipro BOOTH B106 in the B-Tank ?: @robgluckman_photography Helinet Aviation is the worldwide leader in aerial camera movement with solutions including Helicopter, Cinejet, Learjet, Moviehawk and Drone platforms led by world renowned Aerial Coordinator Kevin LaRosa II @k2_larosa Helinet Production Group: @k2_larosa @chad_daring @broby_thimpson @jfburton2 @aexandraalejandro @michaelfitzmaurice @fad2blk @dronepilotmike @cameronfitzmaurice @jaredslater @scherbas @bruno_04cl7 @airborneimages @bentonward @joe.kocsis @paddymoynahan @robgluckman_photography @jip_01 @steve_koster @insdangraming @tj.millard @mrsteelefpv @stingersswarm @helinetaviation @helinetmoviehawk @cinejet #philpastuhov #jasonlafargo

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How does a production company obtain access to this new-and-improved rig that can carry the heaviest, most advanced payload yet? It appears that DJI may be planning to offer the STORM for rent, packaged with the DJI Studio Custom Aerial Cinematography Service that includes a van and and professional crew. Comparable heavy-lift drones in its class, such as the xFold Dragon X12 start at $ 30,000.

Some STORM specs:

  • Comes equipped with eight propellers
  • Max speed: 49.7 mph (Sport mode) / 37.2 mph (GPS mode)
  • Operating temp: -10°C/14°F to 40°C/104°F
  • Flight time: 8-15 minutes
  • Max Payload: 40.8 pounds

Compared with DJI’s professional-grade Matrice 600, which starts at $ 5,000 and can carry a payload of around 5.9kg (13lbs), the STORM can handle up to 18.5kg (40.8lbs). This allows cinematographers to place and easily maneuver more sophisticated cameras on its DJI Ronin 2 PTZ gimbal including Arri and RED models.

U.S. representatives for DJI have not confirmed if more STORM models will be made available in the near future, stating they will have to check with Shenzen, China-based headquarters.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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RED quietly removes mention of Hydrogen One modules from website

13 Mar

Initial reviews of RED’s Hydrogen One smartphone weren’t too favorable but at the time of the device launch one important component of the Hydrogen One eco-system had not been available yet: additional modules that would attach to the back of the device via pogo pins and offer expanded user experiences and features, such as extra battery life, additional storage space, and most importantly, a camera module with lens mount.

However, it now looks like we might have been waiting for the release of those modules in vain as RED has quietly removed all mention of them from its website. This change was spotted on Reddit by user u/ReipasTietokonePoju and kicked off a forum discussion between owners of the device.

Removed section of the RED website

RED eventually issued an official update saying ‘We are currently in the middle of radically changing the Hydrogen program.’ According to company founder Jim Jannard, ‘A series of obstacles and then new discoveries have given us the opportunity to significantly improve the entire program, not only for Hydrogen but also for RED.

Those changes include a change of leadership – the RED team, lead by Jarred Land, will now be fully in charge of the professional image capture program for Hydrogen – but otherwise the company provides very little detail. More information is promised ‘soon,’ however.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Canon quietly released firmware update for the EOS R

13 Feb

It appears Canon has managed to sneak one past us here at DPReview with the quiet release of firmware version 1.1.0 for its Canon EOS R full-frame mirrorless camera on January 25th, 2019.

The first firmware update for its first full-frame Mirrorless Camera, firmware version 1.1.0 is a rather insignificant one with only a few bug fixes and minor tweaks and changes.

The only addition in firmware version 1.1.0 is the inclusion of silent shutter mode when using continuous shooting. Aside from that, the firmware simply corrects the following issues seen in version 1.0.0:

  • Corrects a phenomenon in which an error may occur if there is a large number of files in a specific format on the memory card.
  • Corrects a phenomenon in which an error may occur when silent shutter has been enabled.
  • Corrects a phenomenon in which horizontal linear noise may occur when using specific lenses together with certain recording image quality settings.
  • Corrects a phenomenon in which the information displayed in the viewfinder may become abnormal.

The firmware is available to download here. Once downloaded, the ZIP file includes the firmware file, as well as a folder with installation instructions in English, French, Japanese, Spanish and Chinese.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Nikon quietly announces Coolpix B600, A1000 compact cameras

19 Jan

Nikon has quietly announced the upcoming availability of two new compact cameras, the Coolpix B600 and the Coolpix A1000. The B600 fills a gap between Nikon’s current Coolpix B500 and B700 cameras while the A1000 is a lower-resolution successor to Nikon’s A900.

Nikon Coolpix B600

The Coolpix B600 is a bridge-style camera with a 60x optical zoom lens with an equivalent focal length range between 24-1440mm. The lens features Nikon’s Hybrid Vibration Reduction (VR) technology — rated for three stops of compensation — and offers a dedicated macro mode.

Full specs for the B600 are yet to be released, but from what’s known so far, the B600 houses a 16-megapixel sensor that’s also capable of shooting 1080p30 video. The B600 also features Nikon’s Active D-Lighting, which is designed to reduce the loss of detail in highlights and shadows of high-contrast scenes.

On the rear of the camera is a 3-inch 921k-dot LCD monitor with an anti-reflective coating. Like its P600 counterpart, the B600 includes target-finding AF and multiple creative modes for both photos and videos.

Nikon Coolpix A1000

The Coolpix A1000, an apparent successor to the A900, is a compact camera with a 35x optical zoom lens with an equivalent focal length range between 24-840mm. Like the B600, it too uses Nikon’s Hybrid VR technology and Active D-Lighting.

Inside the A1000 is a 1/2.3-inch 16-megapxiel backside illuminated CMOS sensor — a drop from the 20-megapixel sensor inside the A900 — with a standard sensitivity range of ISO 100-6400. The A1000 has Raw photo capture in Nikon’s NRW format and is capable of recording 4K30 video.

The A1000 features 1166k-dot equivalent electronic viewfinder and a 3-inch tilting 1036k-dot touchscreen LCD display on the rear of the camera. Nikon has also included its SnapBridge technology, meaning the A1000 can be paired via its built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth with supported smartphones and tablets to review and transfer photos on the go.

Pricing and availability

The Nikon Coolpix B600 and A1000 are currently available for pre-order at Wex Photo and Video for £329 / €359 and £409 / €449, respectively.

Nikon hasn’t mentioned whether or not the B600 and A1000 will be available in the U.S. market. DPReview has contacted Nikon for details on the exact availability and will update this article accordingly if and when it gets a response.


Press releases:

Nikon releases the high-power zoom COOLPIX B600

A versatile camera that covers wide-angle to super-telephoto shooting for imaging experiences simply not possible with a smartphone

TOKYO – Nikon Corporation (Nikon) is pleased to announce the release of the COOLPIX B600, a compact digital camera equipped with a high-performance 60x optical zoom NIKKOR lens.

The COOLPIX B600 employs a 60x optical zoom NIKKOR lens that covers a range of equivalent focal lengths beginning at wide-angle 24 mm*1 and ending at super-telephoto 1440 mm*1 (Dynamic Fine Zoom further expands the zoom ratio to 120x*2), making it possible for users to enjoy super-telephoto photography without compromising sharp and clear resolution.

The camera has an effective pixel count of 16.0 megapixels and supports a maximum sensitivity of ISO 6400. Its combination of backside illumination CMOS sensor and EXPEED high-performance image-processing engine captures superior still and video quality, even at high sensitivities. The COOLPIX B600 is also equipped with a variety of functions that enable a diverse power of expression, including 19 scene modes, as well as a Creative mode that offers a total of 36 different effects.

The camera also features functions that make it easier to use as a high-power zoom model and ensure increased operability, such as a Snap-back zoom button and Side zoom control, as well as a shooting mode dial that enables immediate switching between frequently used shooting modes. It is also SnapBridge compatible, so high-quality images can be automatically downloaded to a smart device*3 for easy sharing.

  • *1 Equivalent focal length in 35mm [135] format.
  • *2 At the maximum image size. The maximum zoom ratio varies by image size. Dynamic Fine Zoom refers to the area in which the camera can zoom while maintaining resolution from the maximum zoom position, and is the combined ratio of optical zoom from the maximum wide-angle position and digital zoom.
  • *3 iPhone®, iPad®, iPod touch® and Android™ devices to which the SnapBridge app has been installed can be used. The SnapBridge app can be downloaded free of charge from the App Store® and Google Play™. See Nikon’s website for further information.

Primary features

  • 1. A compact body equipped with a 60x optical zoom lens that covers a wide range of focal lengths from wide-angle to super-telephoto

    The COOLPIX B600 employs a high-performance 60x optical zoom NIKKOR lens that covers the wide-angle 24 mm to super-telephoto 1440 mm*1 range of focal lengths. Sharpness is preserved throughout the digital zoom range, which is expandable to 120x*2, or a focal length equivalent to approximately 2880 mm*1, with Digital Fine Zoom realizing sharp and clear rendering even when shooting in super-telephoto mode. The COOLPIX B600 is also equipped with Macro mode, which allows users to enjoy macro photography with shooting as close as 1 cm (0.4 in.) to the lens at the maximum wide-angle position.

    • *1Equivalent focal length in 35mm [135] format.
    • *2At the maximum image size setting.
  • 2. Superior image quality that enables recording of beautiful stills and movies

    The combination of the backside illumination CMOS sensor and high-performance image processing engine EXPEED makes the most of the superior resolution of the high-performance NIKKOR lens, and enables recording of photos and movies with excellent image and picture quality, even at high sensitivities. The COOLPIX B600 is also equipped with a Vibration Reduction (VR) mechanism capable of reducing the effects of camera shake to the same degree as would a 3.0-stop* increase in shutter speed with still-image photography, and 4-axis Hybrid VR that effectively reduces blur with movie recording. This allows users to capture sharp photos and movies with noticeably less blur, even at the maximum telephoto position and in dark or dimly lit surroundings.

    • *Measured in accordance with CIPA Standards; at approx. 350 mm (equivalent focal length in 35mm [135] format).
  • 3. Diverse power of expression that is easy to achieve

    The COOLPIX B600 is equipped with a variety of functions that enable diverse power of expression, including 19 scene modes, with which the user simply selects the most appropriate mode for the scene, while the camera automatically applies the appropriate settings, as well as Creative mode with its 36 effects offering the optimal combinations of exposure, contrast, and color reproduction, making it easy for users to express themselves as intended.

  • 4. Superior operability that pursues user friendliness as a high-power zoom model

    The COOLPIX B600 is also equipped with a Snap-back zoom button that temporarily expands the visible area (angle of view) a certain degree while it is held down so that the subject may be reacquired. In addition, the Side zoom control enables smooth zooming even while recording movies.

  • 5. SnapBridge support for automatic transfer of photos captured with the camera to a smart device

    A constant connection between the camera and a smart device is possible using the SnapBridge app, built-in Wi-Fi®, and Bluetooth® technology. Not only can images recorded with the camera be transferred to a smart device automatically*1, they can also be automatically uploaded to Nikon’s photo sharing service, NIKON IMAGE SPACE*2. The SnapBridge app supports a number of other features as well, including the ability to add copyright information and comments, such as exposure information to images, and to automatically synchronize camera date/time and location information with that of the smart device. SnapBridge also makes remote shooting of still images possible with real-time display of the view through the camera’s lens in the smart device screen.

    • *1 Images are resized to 2 megapixels (2 million pixels) with automatic transfer. The transfer of original JPEG images and movies is not supported. Transfer of RAW (NRW) images is not supported.
    • *2 There is no limit on the number or size (volume) of JPEG thumbnail images (2 megapixels) that can be automatically uploaded from the SnapBridge app. Storage for original JPEG images is limited to 20 GB. A Nikon ID must be registered to take advantage of this feature.
  • 6. Additional features
    • A mode dial that allows users to easily apply one of the ten most frequently used shooting modes by simply rotating the dial to the appropriate icon
    • A Pre-focus function that is effective with zooming and shooting in dark or dimly lit surroundings due to the camera always focusing automatically
    • Target finding AF, where the user simply points the camera at the intended subject and the camera automatically predicts and focuses on it
    • Recording of 1080/60i (50i) and 1080/30p Full HD movies with stereo sound
    • Short movie show that allows users to easily create a movie up to 30 seconds in length from multiple movie clips
    • Support for the ML-L7 Remote Control, which is capable of a variety of operations over a Bluetooth® connection to the camera
    • Adoption of the EN-EL12 Rechargeable Li-ion Battery, which can be charged while inserted in the camera, over a USB connection

Nikon releases the COOLPIX A1000

A stylish and compact high-power zoom model with a built-in electronic viewfinder providing superior image quality and operability

Nikon Corporation (Nikon) is pleased to announce the release of the COOLPIX A1000, a stylish compact digital camera equipped with an electronic viewfinder that supports 35x optical zoom.

The COOLPIX A1000 boasts a compact size for ease of portability, and comes equipped with a 35x optical zoom lens that covers a range of equivalent focal lengths — from the wide-angle 24 mm*1 to the super-telephoto 840 mm*1 (Dynamic Fine Zoom further expands the zoom ratio to 70x*2). This allows users to easily enjoy super-telephoto photography that delivers images with sharp and clear resolution.

The COOLPIX A1000 supports a maximum sensitivity of ISO 6400. The camera is also equipped with a lens-shift vibration reduction (VR) function for still-image shooting, and hybrid vibration reduction (VR) for movie recording that is effective even when recording 4K UHD movies. The camera’s Active D-Lighting function reduces the loss of details in highlights and shadows in high-contrast situations such as backlit scenes. The function can be applied to both still images and movies. Additionally, photos can be captured in RAW (NRW) format, which allows users to process and edit images according to their own artistic preferences and intent without compromising image quality.

The COOLPIX A1000 is also equipped with a number of features designed to make this high-power zoom model easier to use. These include an approximately 1166k-dot equivalent electronic viewfinder with an eye sensor, a 3-inch, approximately 1036k-dot, tilting TFT LCD monitor with a touch screen, Snap-back zoom button and Side zoom control, as well as four exposure modes (P/S/A/M). The camera is also compatible with SnapBridge, an application that provides support for the automatic download and sharing of high-quality images using smart devices*3.

  • *1 Equivalent focal length in 35mm [135] format.
  • *2 At the maximum image size. The maximum zoom ratio varies by image size. Dynamic Fine Zoom refers to the area in which the camera can zoom while maintaining resolution from the maximum zoom position, and is the combined ratio of optical zoom from the maximum wide-angle position and digital zoom.
  • *3 iPhone®, iPad®, iPod touch®, and Android™ devices to which the SnapBridge app has been installed can be used. The SnapBridge app can be downloaded free of charge from the App Store® and Google Play™. See Nikon’s website for further information.

Primary features

  • 1. A stylish body equipped with a 35x optical zoom lens that covers a wide range of focal lengths – from wide-angle to super-telephoto

    The stylish COOLPIX A1000 is equipped with a high-performance 35x optical zoom NIKKOR lens that covers the wide-angle 24 mm to super-telephoto 840 mm range of focal lengths (equivalent focal lengths in 35mm [135] format). With Dynamic Fine Zoom, sharpness is preserved throughout the digital zoom range, which can be expanded up to 70x*, or a focal length equivalent to approximately 1680 mm (in 35mm [135] format), ensuring sharp and clear rendering even with super-telephoto shooting. Additionally, the A1000 is equipped with a macro close-up mode that allows users to enjoy macro photography when shooting as close as 1 cm (0.4 in.) to the lens at the maximum wide-angle position.

    • *At the maximum image size setting.
  • 2. Superior image quality that is sharp and clear, even when shooting at high sensitivities, and support for RAW (NRW) recording

    The COOLPIX A1000 has an effective pixel count of 16.0 megapixels. Its backside illumination CMOS sensor is capable of collecting sufficient light, even in dimly lit or dark surroundings, to capture a wide variety of scenes with superior image quality. It supports a higher maximum sensitivity, with a range of standard sensitivities of ISO 100-6400. The camera is also equipped with a lens-shift vibration reduction (VR) function. This ensures that images are sharp and clear, even in dark or dimly lit scenes. Further, support for RAW (NRW) recording has been added, allowing users of the COOLPIX A1000 to use Capture NX-D, Nikon’s RAW processing software, to create beautiful photographic works without compromising image quality.

  • 3. 4K UHD movie recording that supports vibration reduction (VR), and Active D-Lighting which prevents loss of detail in highlights and shadows

    The COOLPIX A1000 captures the finest details with its ability to record high-resolution 4K UHD (3840 x 2160 pixels) movies. The camera’s hybrid vibration reduction (VR) system, which combines lens-shift VR with electronic VR, can also be used with 4K UHD recording, enabling smoother and clearer hand-held and telephoto zoom recording. In addition, the Active D-Lighting function, which effectively reduces the loss of details in highlights and shadows in scenes exhibiting great contrast, such as those that are backlit, can also be applied during movie recording*.

    • *Cannot be used with HS 1080/4x (1920 x 1080) recording.
  • 4. Superior operability with enhanced user friendliness as a high-power zoom model

    The COOLPIX A1000 is equipped with an approximately 1166k-dot equivalent electronic viewfinder. The electronic viewfinder has an eye sensor that automatically switches the display between viewfinder and camera monitor as the camera is lowered or raised to the eye. Not only does viewfinder shooting achieve a steadier shooting stance that helps reduce camera shake – by making only the recordable angle of view visible – it also allows the user to concentrate on the intended subject, aiding the process of composing shots.

    The camera is also equipped with a 3-inch tilting monitor for which a touch panel has been newly adopted. The tilting mechanism makes shooting from high and low angles easier, and the approximately 1036k-dot LCD monitor, which supports a high-definition display and intuitive touch operation, enables smooth camera operations from shooting to image playback. In addition, the monitor uses an anti-reflection coating that makes viewing under strong lighting easier, ensuring better visibility even when outdoors in harsh lighting.

    The COOLPIX A1000 is also equipped with a Snap-back zoom button that temporarily shifts zoom position to the wide-angle side to some degree for easy framing when shooting fast-moving subjects or during super-telephoto shooting. Side zoom control that enables smooth zooming even while recording movies has also been added on the side of the lens. Other functions, including aperture, ISO sensitivity, exposure compensation, or white balance setting can also be assigned to the Side zoom control.

  • 5. SnapBridge support for automatic transfer of photos captured to a smart device

    A constant connection between the camera and a smart device is possible using the SnapBridge app, built-in Wi-Fi®, and Bluetooth® technology. Not only can images captured with the camera be transferred to a smart device automatically*1, they can also be automatically uploaded to Nikon’s photo sharing service, NIKON IMAGE SPACE*2. The SnapBridge app supports a number of other features as well, including the ability to add copyright information and comments to images, and to automatically synchronize camera date/time and location information with that of the smart device. SnapBridge also makes remote shooting of still images possible with real-time display of the view through the camera’s lens on the smart device screen.

    • *1 Images (JPEG) reduced to 2-megapixel equivalent can be transferred automatically. Automatic transfer of original JPEG images and movies is not supported. Transfer of RAW (NRW) images is not supported.
    • *2 There is no limit on the number or size (volume) of JPEG thumbnail images (2 megapixels) that can be automatically uploaded from the SnapBridge app. Storage for original JPEG images is limited to 20 GB. A Nikon ID must be registered to take advantage of this feature.
  • 6. Additional features
    • An MF peaking function that highlights areas in focus to make manual focusing easier (for still-image photography)
    • 20 creative modes support the application of preferred effects to photos (for still-image photography)

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Apple is quietly introducing new features, improved support for RAW photos in iOS 12

08 Jun

It wasn’t one of the standout details featured on stage at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) earlier this week, but improved RAW photo support is coming to the next version of Apple’s mobile operating system, iOS 12.

Apple doesn’t seem to have many details on what new features or functionality will be included in the final version of iOS 12, set to be released later this year. But with a little digging through the iOS 12 developers beta on a 12.9” iPad Pro, we’ve been able to discover a handful of improvements.

As of iOS 12 Beta 1, most of the changes appear to be related to the import workflow.

Now, when you plug in Apple’s SD card to Lightning adapter (or camera connection kit), the Photos app will show up as an overlay on whatever app you’re using. This comes as a much less invasive method than previously used in iOS 11, wherein whatever app you were in would be switched over to the full-screen Photos app for importing. It also means you can multitask more efficiently, importing photos while getting other stuff done.

As for the import module, at surface level it doesn’t appear as though much has changed. But thanks to a few UI changes, importing photos and videos has become a lot easier and has taken out a lot of the guesswork previously required.

Now, when photos are detected on a card, iOS 12 will automatically sort through the content and determine if any of the photos have already been imported. If they have, they will be put in a separate area so you don’t accidentally import duplicates. Another new feature is a counter on the top of the screen that lasts you know how many photos are being displayed and how much space they take up on the memory card. This should help alleviate the guesswork involved when trying to determine whether or not you have enough storage on your iOS device.

The importing progress bar can be seen in the upper-right-hand corner of the screen.

There’s also a new progress circle that appears when importing. If you tap it as photos are being imported, you’ll get a counter that shows how many photos have been importing out of the number you’ve selected.

One of the most welcomed new features we’ve come across is the ability to preview your photos full-screen. Before iOS 12, you could only see small thumbnails of photos when importing, which made it all but impossible to select a particular image in a sequence if there wasn’t much visual difference. Now, you can pinch out on a thumbnail and see a full-size preview.

The full-screen preview makes it easier to choose between similar images.

The last improvement we noticed was in importing speed. In testing, we noticed a rather drastic improvement in how fast photos transferred from an SD card to the iPad Pro. Based off 25MB RAW files, imported using Apple’s latest SD card to Lightning adapter, the transfer rate jumped from 1.2 seconds per photo on iOS 11 to approximately 0.8 seconds per photo on iOS 12 Beta 1. We’re not sure what particular magic is going on here, but that’s a 33% improvement.

As future iOS 12 betas are launched, it’s inevitable more features will be brought to light. If we come across anything else in the meantime, we’ll update this article accordingly. If you notice something we missed, be sure to let us know in the comments below.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Adobe has quietly added support for Sony’s .ARQ Pixel Shift files to Lightroom

17 Apr

Files recorded using the Pixel Shift mode in the Sony a7R lll can now be opened in Lightroom Classic CC after the latest update released on April 8th, although you wouldn’t know it by looking at the update’s release notes. Marc Alhadeff of Sony Alpha Blog spotted the update, which adds support for the ARQ files that are produced once the original a7R III files have passed through Sony’s own Imaging Edge software.

Note: Imaging Edge is still needed to combine the four ARW raw files into a single image, which it outputs as a raw ARQ file.

While we’d still recommend giving the third-party SonyPixelShift2DNG software a go if you’re working with these files extensively, this additional support is definitely a step in the right direction for Adobe. Previously, ARQ files would need to be converted to DNGs in order to be edited in any of the Adobe products. But now, with Lightroom Classic CC 7.3, the ARQ file can be read without conversion.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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4 Photography “Tricks” That Should Be Quietly Retired

04 Jun

If you’ve ever felt the temptation to “improve” some of your photos with some special tricks, then you’re not alone. Many people with a passing interest in photography employ all manner of “extras” to give their photo some added visual interest. Most of these tricks, however, are ham-fisted affectations that can not only ruin your photos, but mark you as Continue Reading

The post 4 Photography “Tricks” That Should Be Quietly Retired appeared first on Photodoto.


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Olympus quietly unveils SZ-11 and VG-145 compact cameras

08 Aug

Olympus has announced the SZ-11 and VG-15 14MP compact cameras. The SZ-11 is a compact superzoom that manages to squeeze a 20X wide-angle zoom (25-500mm equiv.) into a relatively compact body. Despite the numbering, it appears to have more in common with the SZ-30H than the SZ-10, seemingly using a shorter version of the SZ-30’s lens. This means a maximum aperture of F3.0-6.9, rather than the SZ-10’s rather more impressive F3.3-4.4. The SZ-11 also has 10 Art Filters, rather than the eight offered by existing SZ models. Meanwhile the VG-15 is a budget compact with a 26-130mm equiv. unstabilized zoom lens. It has the same 14MP sensor as the SZ-11 and includes a 3.0" 230k dot LCD, rather than the SZ-11’s 460k dot panel.
News: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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