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Posts Tagged ‘sets’

Leica CL ‘Edition Paul Smith’ brings a unique colorful style to 900 limited-edition sets

15 Nov

Leica is back with another special edition product, this one featuring its Leica CL model launched in collaboration with British designer Paul Smith. The new Leica CL ‘Edition Paul Smith’ model’s tech specs are identical to that of the regular production model. Unique to the special edition, however, are ‘one-of-a-kind’ design elements inspired by Smith’s work.

According to Leica, this is the second special edition camera launched in collaboration with Smith. The designer’s handwriting is used as the font for the phrase ‘Look and see’ located on the back of the special edition camera, joining a ‘bold blue’ top plate and the use of ‘vibrant accent colors’ on the top buttons.

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Rounding out the special design is a large eye illustration on the viewfinder and stripes along the camera’s bottom edge. Leica has limited the production of its Edition Paul Smith variant to 900 sets globally; they’re shipped with the Elmarit-TL 18mm F2.8 ASPH lens and a neon rope strap featuring both Leica and Smith branding.

The Leica CL ‘Edition Paul Smith’ set can be purchased from Paul Smith retailers, Leica Stores, and Boutiques for $ 3,995 USD.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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iPhone 11’s Portrait Mode sets a high bar for the Pixel 4

12 Oct
Taken with iPhone 11 ISO 500 | 1/30 sec | F1.8

The bokeh-imitation effect that’s all over your Instagram feed is a few generations old, but it’s still a relatively young technology. Portrait Mode, as Apple calls it, is a computational feature that mimics the shallow depth of field closely associated with professional portrait photography. The latest iteration in the iPhone 11 is a great leap forward and, when compared with Google’s Pixel 3, shows that the search-engine giant is going to have to do something pretty special with the forthcoming Pixel 4.

Just to make sure you’re caught up – phone sensors and the lenses they are coupled with are quite small, and inherently limited in their ability to create a blurry background behind a subject. Hence, portrait mode was born (Portrait Mode is Apple’s proprietary name, but for the sake of simplicity I’ll use it throughout this article to refer to all such modes).

Compared side-by-side with results from the iPhone 11, the Pixel 3 has been surpassed in many respects

Like so many first-generation technologies, portrait mode was a bit dodgy at first – subjects poorly separated from their backgrounds and results that were decent but not quite convincing. But no matter where you stand on its current state from “It’s so terrible it’s an insult to photographers” to “Eh, it’s passable,” there’s no denying that it has steadily improved with each generation.

Apple, like most manufacturers, introduced Portrait Mode when it brought dual cameras to its devices. However, Google chose to offer it with a single camera, relying on dual pixel depth data, machine learning, and up-sampling to create that fake bokeh look. The results looked fine until, well, about now.

Compared side-by-side with results from the iPhone 11, the Pixel 3 has been surpassed in many respects. Here are the areas in which the iPhone 11 pulls clearly ahead of the Pixel – and where Google needs to do some catching up in the Pixel 4.

The nitty gritty details

Google achieves its portrait mode by digitally zooming in to mimic a longer focal length and creating a depth map by using dual pixels along with a learning-based algorithm to judge distance to a subject and separate it from its background, up-sampling the final result to a full 12MP resolution. Apple (and Samsung, Huawei, among others) instead use their telephoto camera, calculating depth with the help of the perspective offset between the telephoto and wide cameras – no cropping or up-sampling needed.

The images below demonstrate the difference – note that to match the subject’s size in the frame using the two different focal lengths, the 3a image was taken from about a meter farther back than the iPhone 11.

Pixel 3 – 100% crop

iPhone 11 – 100% crop

Of course the vast majority of portrait mode images will be viewed on a phone or computer screen, where the difference in detail is much harder to spot. Still, looking at the images above at even a 50% crop shows a vast difference in the level of detail captured, and all things being equal we’d much rather have more detail than less.

Backlit subjects

We’ve previously noted the Pixel 3’s fantastic ability to render high-contrast scenes, but one place this falls flat is with backlit portrait subjects. The camera’s tendency to preserve highlight detail and push up shadows is normally what we’d prefer, but it doesn’t work well when the shadows are your main subject.

Pixel 3a iPhone 11

The resulting image shows that the Pixel does a poor job of rendering the cat’s orange fur, giving him an overall ‘crunchy’ look in comparison to the more pleasing rendering by the iPhone. In our testing, the Pixel 3 has consistently shown this tendency to expose for highlights, even when it might do better to choose an exposure better suited to your human or feline subject, at the cost of highlight detail. Even tapping the subject’s face doesn’t adjust the exposure as much as we’d like.

Skin tones

The most sophisticated depth mapping in the world won’t save an image from bad-looking skin tones, and this is one area where Google really needs to catch up. The subject below is lit by window light that’s much cooler than the yellow lights of the kitchen behind him. It’s a tricky situation for sure, but the iPhone has clearly made the right call to warm up the subject’s skin tone rather than preserve the cool cast of the window light.

Pixel 3a iPhone 11

To be fair, both of these phones are susceptible to producing noticeably different colors based on slight shifts in framing, or using a different camera mode like Night Sight. But over the course of much use, we’ve seen that the Pixel 3’s standard camera mode renders skin tones particularly poorly by comparison.

Apple’s face smoothing and skin tone rendering has a tendency to go too far in some situations, and there are times when we prefer the more faithful color rendering of the Pixel. It’s also pretty easy to correct the Pixel’s skin tone rendering in the phone’s own Photos app, but we’re betting that most people don’t want to (and won’t) take the time to color correct every portrait that they take.

Focal length flexibility for portrait mode

Taken with iPhone 11 | ISO 200 | 1/60 sec | F1.8

Apple’s XR introduced wide-angle portrait mode to the iPhone, but the 11 and 11 Pro improve on it with more accurate depth maps thanks to the availability of the ultra-wide lens. Thus, the 11 offers a very good wide Portrait mode via its standard lens, and the 11 Pro offers both telephoto and wide portrait options.

Whether you prefer the look of a telephoto or wide portrait is of course a personal preference, and I tend to prefer the wide portrait mode on the iPhone 11. I like an across-the-table environmental portrait, which usually requires backing up if I’m using the telephoto lens or the crop imposed by the Pixel 3.

Whether or not you like the crop, it being forced on you makes it less flexible and, in my book, I’d rather have that wide-angle – and I’m sure I’m not alone.

Your move, Google

To be fair, there are things we prefer about the Pixel 3’s portrait mode. We find it’s much less prone to obvious errors in cutting around human subjects than the iPhone 11. I also far prefer using Google Photos to Apple’s iCloud, so the seamless integration with my photo archive is a big plus.

Healthy competition between two big tech companies keeps pushing phone camera technology forward at a rapid pace

We can also say with some certainty based on leaks and rumors that the Pixel 4 will address some of these shortcomings. We know that the device will offer more cameras, which will likely improve portrait mode. Whether we’ll see improvements to skin tones or better handling of backlit subjects is less certain, though encouragingly, leaked photos do show better rendering of skin tones. All will be revealed soon, but one thing is for sure – healthy competition between two big tech companies keeps pushing phone camera technology forward at a rapid pace, and that’s nothing but good news for the photo-taking public.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Tamron sets up ‘VIP Club’ for users with four or more registered lenses

28 Dec

Loyal Tamron users who own four or more lenses made by the third party lens maker might qualify to be a part of the company’s new VIP Club in 2018. Announced yesterday, the program creates three “membership” tiers that offer a variety of perks like free T-shirts, lens rebates, non-warranty repair discounts, an invitation to participate in a VIP-exclusive contest, and much more.

Anybody who has purchased and registered four or more Tamron lenses between May of 2011 and January 18th of 2018 is eligible for one of the tiers. Four lenses purchased and registered between those days will earn you a Silver membership, five earns you a Gold membership, and six or more earns you a Platinum membership.

You can read all about the perks available to the various tiers below, but remember: you must register your lens purchases to qualify. So if you’ve bought four more more lenses in the past 6 years but never registered them, you’ll want to get on that at the Tamron website.

Membership Perks

If you’ve purchased and registered four lenses between May 2011 and January 15th, 2018, you’re a Silver member, which entitles you to:

  • Welcome gift
  • Tamron magazine mailed three times per year
  • $ 50 bonus rebate towards any Tamron lens
  • 50% off of one Tamron event ticket (excludes summit)
  • 10% discount on non-warranty repair
  • Invitation to participate in VIP Member contest
  • Membership Card with lanyard

If you’ve purchased and registered five lenses between May 2011 and January 15th, 2018, you’re a Gold member, which entitles you to:

  • Welcome gift
  • Tamron t-shirt
  • Tamron magazine mailed three times per year
  • $ 75 bonus rebate towards any Tamron lens
  • 50% off of two Tamron event tickets (excludes summit)
  • Free pass to one Tamron event (excludes summit)
  • 15% discount on non-warranty repair
  • Invitation to participate in VIP Member contest
  • Membership Card with lanyard

And, finally, if you’ve purchased and registered six or more lenses between May 2011 and January 15th, 2018, you’re a Platinum member, which entitles you to:

  • Welcome gift
  • Tamron t-shirt
  • Tamron LL Bean vest
  • Tamron magazine mailed three times per year
  • $ 100 bonus rebate towards any Tamron lens
  • 50% off of three Tamron event tickets (excludes summit)
  • Free passes to two Tamron events (excludes summit)
  • 20% discount on non-warranty repair
  • Lifetime Limited Warranty on any new lens purchase from year of Club induction
  • Free shipping on repairs (Tamron USA will send a pre-paid shipping label to receive your lens)
  • Free 2-week lens loaners (if available, with signed loaner agreement)
  • Exclusive Tamron Photo Tips Hotline for questions about photo techniques and tips on how to use your lens and camera
  • Invitation to a Tamron Workshop Summit
  • Invitation for chance to be profiled on website
  • Invitation to participate in VIP Member contest
  • Membership Card with lanyard

For more details, check out the full press release below or head over to the Tamron VIP Club website by clicking here.

Press Release

Tamron USA Announces the Launch in 2018 of New VIP Club for Owners of Multiple Registered Tamron Lenses

December 26, 2017, Commack, New York – Tamron USA announced the development of a new VIP Club for registered owners of multiple Tamron lenses. To be launched in 2018, the VIP Club will include select users who have registered their Tamron lenses through the company’s online warranty registration system since May 2011 through January 15, 2018 (certain exclusions apply, see website for rules and details). There are three VIP Club levels: Silver for those having registered four purchased lenses; Gold for those having registered five purchased lenses; and Platinum for those having registered six or more purchased lenses. Club membership will be evaluated each year to include new members who qualify and to increase the level of existing members if applicable. The VIP Club will be in effect February 15, 2018 and 2018 members will be notified by email. Complete rules and details of the program are available at www.tamron-usa.com/vipclub.

2018 Silver Level Benefits (Four Registered Lenses)

Tamron owners who have purchased and registered four lenses during the time-frame of May 2011 and January 15, 2018 are eligible for these 2018 membership perks: Welcome gift; $ 50 bonus rebate each year of Silver status towards any Tamron lens; 50% off one Tamron event ticket each year of Silver status; 10% discount on non-warranty repairs; invitation to participate in the Tamron VIP Member contest; and three issues of the new Tamron magazine mailed to the member’s home.

2018 Gold Level Benefits (Five Registered Lenses)

Tamron owners who have purchased and registered five lenses during the time-frame are eligible for these 2018 membership perks: Welcome gift; T-shirt; $ 75 bonus rebate each year of Gold status towards any Tamron lens; 50% off two Tamron event tickets each year of Gold status; free pass to one event per year of Gold status; 15% discount on non-warranty repairs; invitation to participate in Tamron’s VIP Member contest; and three issues of the new Tamron magazine mailed to the member’s home.

2018 Platinum Level Benefits (Six or More Registered Lenses)

Tamron owners who have purchased and registered six or more lenses during the time-frame are eligible for these 2018 membership perks: Welcome gift; T-shirt; Tamron apparel; $ 100 bonus rebate each year of Platinum status towards any Tamron lens; 50% off three Tamron event tickets each year of Platinum status; two free passes to any Tamron event per year if available (excludes Summit); 20% discount on non-warranty repairs; lifetime limited warranty on any new Tamron lens purchased and registered within two years of Club induction at Platinum level; free shipping on any lens sent in for repair; exclusive Tamron Photo Tips Hotline; free 2-week lens loaners, if available; invitation to a 4-day workshop (The Workshop Summit, details below) if qualified; invitation to participate in the Tamron VIP Member contest; invitation for chance to be profiled on the Tamron website; and three issues of the new Tamron magazine mailed to the member’s home.

The Workshop Summit

Members of the Tamron VIP Club Platinum level whose latest lens purchase and lens registration was within the past two years as of January 15, 2018, will be invited to a 4-day/3-night Workshop Summit scheduled for Fall 2018. The Workshop Summit is limited to 25 participants, first-come/first-serve. Invitations will be sent to qualifying Platinum Level members in Spring 2018 by priority mail. The Workshop Summit includes three nights hotel, meals, transportation to/from hotel/airport in destination city, workshop transportation, workshop and loaner lenses. Airfare, home airport transportation, and other incidentals are not included. The Workshop Summit will be offered each year, and Platinum level members may participate in one Workshop Summit during the life of the program.

Tamron VIP Program Rules and Details

Complete rules and details are at www.tamron-usa.com/vipclub.

Registering Tamron Lenses

Tamron lens owners are encouraged to register their new purchase at www.tamron-usa.com (click link to go to registration page). Registration is quick and easy and owners enjoy these benefits: Instant serial number verification to ensure that a Tamron USA imported lens with 6-Year Limited USA Warranty and eligible for any qualifying rebate has been purchased; access to product information in the event of loss or theft; custom support if service is ever required; priority contact in the rare event we discover an issue with the registered product; and if subscribe is selected, invitations to local workshops, seminars and sales events, subscription to the Tamron e-newsletter and exclusive promotional offers. And now, registration has the benefit of becoming a Tamron VIP Club Member when membership level requirements are met.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Nature Sets the Scene in Hot River, Iceland

27 Sep

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Italian Nikon distributor sets world record for largest human camera

27 Jun

Nikon is keeping the 100th anniversary party going with a new one-of-a-kind feat: assembling the world’s largest ‘human camera’. Italian distributor Nital and Media Italia put on the event, and over a thousand volunteers answered the call to don black, grey, white and red t-shirts. On June 17th, the human camera components were assembled into the unmistakable shape of a Nikon DSLR.

In case there was any doubt, a judge from the Guinness World Records was on hand to declare that it was indeed the largest human camera ever created. In any case, it seems like about a thousand people had a decent time and got a free t-shirt and hat out of the deal.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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UHD Alliance sets ‘premium’ standards that could prompt higher-quality 4K cameras

07 Jan

As the industry starts to set quality standards, camera manufacturers may be pushed towards offering higher-quality 10-bit 4K recording. The UHD Alliance, a group made up from leading producers, distributors and device makers has defined the Ultra HD Premium brand that requires certain minimum specifications to be met for content production, streaming and replay.

The most interesting detail is the requirement for 10-bit capture, distribution and playback, meaning cameras must be able to record 10-bit footage to meet the standard. We’re hoping this will mean higher bit-depth recording from 4K-capable cameras to allow their use in productions hoping to carry the Ultra HD Premium branding.

At present, most cameras we encounter can only capture 8-bit files, limiting dynamic range and flexibility at the color grading stage.

Press Release:

UHD Alliance Defines Premium Home Entertainment Experience

Unveils Consumer-Facing “ULTRA HD PREMIUM” Logo and Begins Certification, Licensing Establishes First Cross-Industry-Developed Quality Criteria for HDR across Displays, Content and Distribution

LAS VEGAS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Enjoying a premium, full-featured Ultra High Definition in-home experience has been simplified for consumers as the UHD Alliance (UHDA), the inter-industry group charged with fostering the Ultra HD ecosystem and promoting the benefits of Ultra HD entertainment technology, today unveiled a consumer-facing logo to identify devices, content and services capable of delivering a premium experience to an exploding Ultra HD market that is expected to grow eightfold by 2019. The UHDA also announced the start of licensing of its ULTRA HD PREMIUM logo.

Developed through the collaborative efforts of leading film studios, consumer electronics manufacturers, content distributors and technology companies, the Ultra HD Premium specifications reflect collective expertise from across the Ultra HD ecosystem, as well as significant input gleaned from experiential consumer testing.

The UHDA’s ULTRA HD PREMIUM logo is reserved for products and services that comply with performance metrics for resolution, high dynamic range (HDR), peak luminance, black levels and wide color gamut among others. The specifications also make recommendations for immersive audio and other features. These advances in resolution, contrast, brightness, color and audio will enable certified displays and content to replicate the richness of life’s sights and sounds and allow in-home viewers to more fully and accurately experience the content creator’s vision.

“The diverse group of UHDA companies agreed that to realize the full potential of Ultra HD the specs need to go beyond resolution and address enhancements like HDR, expanded color and ultimately even immersive audio. Consumer testing confirmed this,” said UHD Alliance President Hanno Basse. “The criteria established by this broad cross section of the Ultra HD ecosystem enables the delivery of a revolutionary in-home experience, and the ULTRA HD PREMIUM logo gives consumers a single, identifying mark to seek out so they can purchase with confidence.”

To ensure products bearing the ULTRA HD PREMIUM logo are certified and conform to the organization’s specifications, the UHDA has designated multiple, independent centers around the globe to handle testing. Companies throughout the ecosystem will work directly with these centers to have their products tested and certified.

The UHDA’s new ULTRA HD PREMIUM specifications cover multiple display technologies and reference established industry standards and recommended practices from the Consumer Technology Association, the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, the International Telecommunications Union and others.

“Ever-rising consumer adoption of Ultra HD TV sets will fuel strong growth for the entire Ultra HD ecosystem over the next few years,” noted Paul Erickson, senior analyst at IHS Technology. “Annual worldwide shipments of Ultra HD TVs are expected to grow nearly 719% over the next several years according to IHS’ forecasts, from nearly 12 million in 2014 to nearly 96 million in 2019, with over 300 million in use by the end of 2019. For the many mainstream consumers looking to make sense of the various terminologies, acronyms and feature descriptions at retail, standardization efforts such as the UHDA’s “ULTRA HD PREMIUM” can reduce consumer confusion and help ensure consistency of both buyer expectations and the delivery of the end experience – benefiting not only consumers, but also the industry as a whole.”

Founded in January, 2015, the UHDA, has grown to more than 35 companies in two membership categories – Board and Contributor. In 2016, the UHDA will add a third member category, Adopter, for those who wish to license the Ultra HD Premium specifications. Collectively, the UHDA member companies will continue to lead the charge into this new era of home entertainment through advances in resolution, brightness, contrast, dynamic range, color and audio.

Companies interested in the UHDA specification and the associated licensing terms can obtain the UHDA Information Agreement and/or licensing terms by going through: http://www.uhdalliance.org/contact-us/.

ABOUT THE UHD ALLIANCE:

The UHD Alliance (UHDA), comprising more than 35 member companies, is a global coalition of leading film studios, consumer electronics manufacturers, content distributors and technology companies aligned to foster the creation of an ecosystem that fully realizes and promotes the next generation premium in-home entertainment platform. Key characteristics of a robust next generation experience should offer 4K resolution as well as a mix of other features that include high dynamic range, wide color gamut, high frame rate and immersive audio, among other features. UHDA Board members are executives from: The DIRECTV Group Inc, Dolby Laboratories, LG Electronics, Netflix, Panasonic Corporation, Samsung Electronics, Sony Corporation, Technicolor, The Walt Disney Studios, Twentieth Century Fox, Universal Pictures and Warner Bros. Entertainment. To learn more about the UHD Alliance, please visit: www.uhdalliance.org

“ULTRA HD PREMIUM” Logo
“ULTRA HD PREMIUM” logo is trademark of the UHD Alliance, Inc.

UHD Alliance Technical Specifications Overview

The UHD Alliance has developed three specifications to support the next-generation premium home entertainment experience. The three specifications cover the entertainment ecosystem in the following categories:

  • Devices (currently, television displays, with other devices under consideration)
  • Distribution
  • Content

A high level overview of each technical specification can be found below. Please join the UHD Alliance for full access to all technical and test specifications.

Devices

The UHD Alliance supports various display technologies and consequently, have defined combinations of parameters to ensure a premium experience across a wide range of devices. In order to receive the UHD Alliance Premium Logo, the device must meet or exceed the following specifications:

  • Image Resolution: 3840×2160
  • Color Bit Depth: 10-bit signal
  • Color Palette (Wide Color Gamut)
    • Signal Input: BT.2020 color representation
    • Display Reproduction: More than 90% of P3 colors
  • High Dynamic Range
    • SMPTE ST2084 EOTF
    • A combination of peak brightness and black level either:
      • More than 1000 nits peak brightness and less than 0.05 nits black levelOR
      • More than 540 nits peak brightness and less than 0.0005 nits black level

Distribution

Any distribution channel delivering the UHD Alliance content must support

  • Image Resolution: 3840×2160
  • Color Bit Depth: Minimum 10-bit signal
  • Color: BT.2020 color representation
  • High Dynamic Range: SMPTE ST2084 EOTF

Content Master

  • The UHD Alliance Content Master must meet the following requirements:
  • Image Resolution: 3840×2160
  • Color Bit Depth: Minimum 10-bit signal
  • Color: BT.2020 color representation
  • High Dynamic Range: SMPTE ST2084 EOTF

The UHD Alliance recommends the following mastering display specifications:

  • Display Reproduction: Minimum 100% of P3 colors
  • Peak Brightness: More than 1000 nits
  • Black Level: Less than 0.03 nits

The UHD Alliance technical specifications prioritize image quality and recommend support for next-generation audio.

UHDA Member Companies

Company

Membership Level
The DIRECTV Group, Inc. Board Member Company
Dolby Laboratories, Inc. Board Member Company
LG Electronics Board Member Company
Netflix, Inc. Board Member Company
Panasonic Corporation Board Member Company
Samsung Electronics Corporation Board Member Company
Sony Corporation Board Member Company
Technicolor Board Member Company
The Walt Disney Studios Board Member Company
Twentieth Century Fox Board Member Company
Universal Pictures Board Member Company
Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Board Member Company
 
Amazon.com Contributor
ARRI, Inc. Contributor
Dreamworks Contributor
DTS Contributor
Fraunhofer Gesellschaft Contributor
Hisense Contributor
HiSilicon Technologies Contributor
Intel Corporation Contributor
Koninklijke Philips N.V. Contributor
MStar Semiconductor, Inc. Contributor
Nanosys Inc. Contributor
Novatek Contributor
NVIDIA Contributor
Orange Contributor
Realtek Semiconductor Corp. Contributor
Rogers Communications Contributor
Sharp Corporation Contributor
Shenzhen TCL New Technology Co., Ltd. Contributor
Sky UK Ltd Contributor
THX Ltd Contributor
Toshiba Lifestyle Products & Services Corporation Contributor
TP Vision Europe B.V. Contributor

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Smart Style for Small Spaces: 12 Compact Sets & Modules

31 Aug

[ By Steph in Design & Fixtures & Interiors. ]

compact apartment accordion shelves

City dwellers are making do with smaller and smaller spaces these days, but that doesn’t mean we have to sacrifice style and function. From bathroom fittings that clamp onto a towel bar to luggage-like portable kitchens and even furniture that folds down as small as a notebook, these 12 clever designs for compact spaces make the most of the limited square footage that tiny apartments have to offer.

Bathroom in a Box

compact apartment bathroom in a box

compact apartment bathroom in a box 2

Inspired by the cabins on ships, this wooden all-in-one bathroom design looks like a wardrobe when it’s closed, but opens to reveal a sink, mirror, towel holders, drawers and shelves for all of your toiletries. It’s small enough to fit inside most standard bathrooms, so the only other items you need are a toilet and shower.

Simplify: Flexible Bathroom Fittings

compact apartment bathroom set 2

compact apartmetn bathroom set

A space-saving set that’s easy to adapt to virtually any existing bathroom, the ‘Simplify’ set by Groupworks slots small accessories onto a special towel bar to keep them up out of the way. There’s a soap dish, a vessel for small items like rings, and a larger box that can hold toothbrushes and combs.

Make the Most of Balcony Space

compact apartments balcony set

compact apartments balcony set 2 compact apartments balcony set 3

Even apartment dwellers who are lucky enough to get access to a balcony usually don’t have enough space for tables and chairs, planters and clothes drying racks all at once. The ’Sigh’ set by Spanish designer Pola Clapés is made specifically for such small outdoor spaces and includes tables in three sizes, a three-tier hanging planter and a clothesline, all of which easily hook onto a standard railing.

Luggage-Like Modular Kitchen Set

compact apartment modular kitchen

compact apartment modular kitchen 2

Literally any space with plumbing and a bathroom can become a studio apartment with the addition of the ‘Gali’ module by designer Ana Arana, which makes most basic kitchen functions portable. Four luggage-like modules come together to offer an induction cooktop, refrigerator, sink, drawers and a combination prep/dining table. The idea is that single people who do minimal cooking can just take their kitchen with them from one living space to another, and don’t have to sacrifice precious square footage for functions they don’t need.

Next Page – Click Below to Read More:
Smart Style For Small Spaces 12 Compact Sets Modules

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Adult Erector Sets: Toymaker Now Sells DIY Furniture Part Kits

24 Apr

[ By WebUrbanist in Design & Furniture & Decor. ]

home furniture erector set

Combining elements of IKEA ingenuity and their own classic line of modular toys, Meccano (makers of Erector Sets) is now offering a new type of do-it-yourself furniture modeled on their own miniature for-kids equivalents.

resizing furniture animation

home furniture building kit

home furnishing table lamp

Made in France, the Meccano Home furniture series involves the same sorts of struts, surfaces, connectors and bolts found at smaller scale in their toy line, a kit-of-parts approach letting you build then rework any domestic object you desire, reusing pieces along the way.

home furniture wall table

home furniture red white

Currently sold in sets, you can start out with a single piece then use the modules to make something entirely new or combine elements from other packages. Twenty different pieces help create sufficient consistency while also providing variety – there are a lot of options but no risk of losing a ‘rare’ part that could be more difficult to replace.

home furniture modular pieces

home furniture diy objects

home furniture design series

Flashy colors and a nostalgic aesthetic aside, the bigger picture here is a powerful one: a world in which we no longer scrap or sell our used furniture, but instead cannibalize the parts, storing them for future use or re-purposing them on the spot into new furnishings.

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LEGO Architecture: 12 Sets Explore Buildings Brick by Brick

21 Aug

[ By Steph in Art & Sculpture & Craft. ]

LEGO Architecture Main

Whether official or fan-created, LEGO architecture sets enable wannabe builders to understand just how some of the world’s most iconic structures come together in terms of architectural elements, form and lines. The brand has created an architecture series exploring “the fascinating worlds of architecture, engineering and construction,” and LEGO enthusiasts – including architects – have come up with a few of their own.

Monochromatic Architecture Studio Set

LEGO Architecture Monochromatic 1

LEGO Architecture monochromatic 3

LEGO Architecture Monochromatic 2

Luring in architects with its monochromatic color scheme that enables the focus to be on form and shape, the LEGO Architecture Studio set is an all-white series containing over 1,200 pieces. An accompanying 268-page book includes the work of famous architecture firms like Sou Fujimoto, MAD Architects and Safdie Architects and covers principles like modules and repetition, creating surfaces, working in context and symmetry. Not only can it strengthen design skills in an average person, it can actually be used by working architects to create 3D models.

Limited Edition Marina Bay Sands Hotel

LEGO Architecture Marina Bay Sands

Rumored to be set for release only in Asia, the limited edition Marina Bay Sands Hotel set recreates Singapore’s striking cantilevered resort. It’s unclear exactly when this set, which was teased in the back of a LEGO instruction booklet, might be available to the public. Marina Bay Sands is the world’s most expensive building and contains a hotel, convention and exhibition facilities, theaters, restaurants and a 150-meter infinity pool on the roof (which is replicated with translucent blue bricks in this set.)

LEGO Towers by Bjarke Ingels Group

LEGO Architecture Bjarke Ingels 1

LEGO Architecture Bjarke Ingels 2

An architecture concept that was inspired by LEGOs is fittingly rendered in the little plastic bricks with this model from Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG.) The model uses conventional LEGO bricks to show off the design for LEGO Towers, a proposal for a residential, retail and hotel development in Copenhagen. It’s at 1:50 scale, uses 250,000 bricks and took five weeks to build.

Fallingwater

LEGO Architecture Fallingwater LEGO Architecture Fallingwater 2

Perhaps the most well-known private residence in America created by an iconic architect, Fallingwater seems like it was made to be recreated in LEGOs, with its blocky stacked silhouette. Frank Lloyd Wright’s most famous design was completed in 1937 and is considered a feat of engineering, its cantilevered floors jutting out over a waterfall.

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Lego Architecture 12 Sets Explore Buildings Brick By Brick

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Nikon sets aside 1.8 billion yen to cover D600 warranty repairs

03 Jun

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Nikon has revealed that it allocated ¥1.8bn (~ $ 17.6m / £10.5m) to cover the cost of warranty repairs and replacements for its D600 SLR in the last financial year. The camera has been plagued since its launch by a tendency to accumulate oil spots on its sensor, resulting in Nikon offering to replace the shutter mechanism or even the entire camera for free if necessary. In an investor relations statement on its website, the company says that it is taking the matter very seriously, and ‘will be taking steps to restore confidence in the Nikon brand’.

News: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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