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Posts Tagged ‘unveils’

Canon Unveils a Dual Fisheye Virtual Reality Lens, the RF 5.2mm f/2.8L

08 Oct

The post Canon Unveils a Dual Fisheye Virtual Reality Lens, the RF 5.2mm f/2.8L appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.

Canon unveils a dual fisheye VR lens

Canon has announced a one-of-a-kind lens for EOS R cameras: the RF 5.2mm f/2.8L Dual Fisheye lens, which looks exactly as strange as it sounds:

RF 5.2mm Dual Fisheye lens side view

And check out the lens again, this time mounted to the Canon EOS R5:

virtual reality lens mounted to a Canon EOS R5

So what is this bizarre new lens? What’s it’s purpose? 

The RF 5.2mm f/2.8L is designed for virtual reality (VR) recording; it’s “the world’s first digital interchangeable dual fisheye lens capable of shooting stereoscopic 3D 180° VR imagery to a single image sensor.” In other words, the twin fisheye lenses offer two frames covering a huge field of view in total; when processed, this footage turns into a single, 180-degree image, and with the proper equipment (the press release mentions the Oculus Quest 2), viewers can feel truly present in the scene.

It seems that, when the RF 5.2mm f/2.8L debuts, it will be available solely for EOS R5 cameras, though this could change once the lens hits the market. Such a unique lens is bound to turn heads, and Canon has certainly been hard at work, offering a product with an outstanding form factor – for filmmakers who record on the go or who simply prefer to minimize kit size – along with weather resistance, a very nice f/2.8 maximum aperture, and most importantly, Canon’s in-built filter system. The latter allows you to use neutral density (ND) filters when recording, essential for serious videographers.

Unfortunately, processing dual fisheye images isn’t done with standard editing software. Instead, Canon is developing several (paid) programs capable of handling VR footage: a Premiere Pro plugin, and a “VR Utility.” The company explains, “With the EOS VR Plug-In for Adobe Premiere Pro, creators will be able to automatically convert footage to equirectangular, and cut, color, and add new dimension to stories with Adobe Creative Cloud apps, including Premiere Pro,” while “Canon’s EOS VR Utility will offer the ability to convert clips from dual fisheye image to equirectangular and make quick edits.”

So who should think about purchasing this new lens? It’s a good question, and one without an easy answer. Canon’s decision to bring out a dedicated VR lens suggests a growing interest in creating VR content. But the day when most video is viewed through VR technology seems a long way off, at least from where I’m sitting. 

That said, if VR recording sounds interesting, you should at least check out this nifty new lens. Canon suggests a December release date with a $ 1999 USD price tag, and you can expect Canon’s VR post-processing software around the same time.

Now over to you:

Are you interested in this new lens? Do you do (or hope to do) any VR recording? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

The post Canon Unveils a Dual Fisheye Virtual Reality Lens, the RF 5.2mm f/2.8L appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.


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Tamron Unveils the 28-75mm f/2.8 G2 for Sony, With Enhanced Image Quality and AF

06 Aug

The post Tamron Unveils the 28-75mm f/2.8 G2 for Sony, With Enhanced Image Quality and AF appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.

Tamron unveils the 28-75mm f/2.8 G2 with enhanced IQ and AF

Three years ago, Tamron announced the 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III RXD for Sony, a powerful lens that made its way into the bags of many photographers – and now the company is back for more. This week, Tamron revealed the 28-75mm f/2.8’s successor: the 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2, which packs several significant upgrades, along with all the features that made the first 28-75mm f/2.8 such a hit.

And the original 28-75mm f/2.8 certainly was well-received. According to many a reviewer, the lens combined a compact build, a wide maximum aperture, speedy autofocus, and stellar image quality, not to mention a focal length range that performed well in pretty much every scenario, from portraits and landscapes to events and more. And then, of course, was the price; at well under $ 1000, the 28-75mm positioned itself as the affordable alternative to Sony’s 24-70mm f/2.8 GM lens and even undercut Sigma’s low(ish)-cost 24-70mm f/2.8 Art lens for Sony.

So what does the upcoming 28-75mm f/2.8 offer over its predecessor?

Mainly optical and autofocus upgrades. According to Tamron, you can expect “significantly improved optical and autofocus performance” – specifically, the 28-75mm will likely offer enhanced sharpness thanks to an optical redesign, and Tamron promises “higher autofocus speed with greater precision,” perfect for photographers who tackle sports and other action subjects.

The lens will also feature an increased maximum magnification (from 1:2.94 to 1:2.7), helpful for the occasional detail shot. And Tamron hints at “a new design in the pursuit of enhanced operability and ergonomic texture,” though the company also makes clear that the 28-75mm f/2.8 will offer “the well-received compact size of its predecessor.” In other words: better ergonomics, but in the same small package.

While we don’t yet know the price of the new 28-75mm, expect it to match or only slightly exceed that of the original lens – a bargain, giving the lens’s undoubtedly outstanding optical performance, speed, and low-light capabilities. 

Tamron also emphasizes the lens’s integration “with [a] new ‘Tamron Lens Utility’ software” for “personal customization [that] gives flexible shooting options to match the shooting situation.” For instance, the Lens Utility software will let you adjust the aperture via the focus ring, focus at predetermined positions, and more. 

If you’re after a budget f/2.8 lens for Sony, one that spans from wide-angle to standard telephoto and punches far above its weight in optics and autofocus, then keep an eye out for the 28-75mm f/2.8 G2. Tamron suggests a 2021 release date, so you shouldn’t have long to wait!

Now over to you:

What do you think of the new 28-75mm f/2.8 for Sony? Have you used the original? Are there any upgrades you would like to see that are missing from the updated version? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

The post Tamron Unveils the 28-75mm f/2.8 G2 for Sony, With Enhanced Image Quality and AF appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.


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Laowa unveils $499 14mm F4 Zero-D lens for EF, F mount camera systems

16 Jul

Venus Optics has announced the release of the Laowa 14mm F4 Zero-D lens for Canon and Nikon DSLR camera systems.

The lens is constructed of 13 elements in 10 elements, including two extra-low dispersion ale nets and two aspherical elements. Like other Laowa ‘Zero-D’ lenses, the lens features near-zero distortion, despite its wide angle of view.

It’s also the first lens to get what Venus Optics called a focusing scale adjustment system, which allows you to calibrate the infinity point of the lens to ensure it’s exactly at the infinity mark based on the specific camera model you’re using it on. Venus Optics has shared the below tutorial showing owners what the calibration process looks like:

The lens features an integrated CPU for electronic control of the aperture with Canon EF mount camera bodies and an aperture coupling for Nikon F mount camera bodies. Other features includ a minimum focusing distance of 14.5cm (5.7″), uses a five-blade aperture diaphragm and uses a 67mm front filter thread.

Below is a gallery of sample images, provided by Venus Optics from a range of photographers:

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As for measurements, the lens comes in at 72.5mm (2.85″) in diameter for both the EF and F mount versions. The Canon EF mount version measures 75mm (2.95″) long while the Nikon F mount version is 73mm (2.87″) long, while weighing 320g (11.3oz) and 360g (12.7oz), respectively.

The lens is available to order on Venus Optics’ website for $ 499.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Panasonic Unveils the GH5 II, With Wireless Live Streaming and Improved IBIS

28 May

The post Panasonic Unveils the GH5 II, With Wireless Live Streaming and Improved IBIS appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.

Panasonic Lumix GH5 II released

Panasonic has announced its latest Micro Four Thirds mirrorless camera: The Lumix GH5 II, an update to the much-loved GH5, which debuted back in 2017.

While the GH5 II retains many of the capabilities that made the GH5 such a praiseworthy camera, it also features several upgrades – particularly to its videography and streaming options, though also for action photography, low-light photography, and more.

Let’s take a closer look.

Panasonic Lumix GH5 II: What does it offer?

The Lumix GH5 II is a Micro Four Thirds camera combining significant photography and videography capabilities; as such, it should appeal to both enthusiast and professional hybrid shooters, though it can certainly perform well as a standalone photography or videography option.

Here are the key features that are identical (or nearly identical) to those on the GH5:

  • The GH5 II packs the same build as the GH5, including solid construction and weather resistance. The GH5 II is perfect for the outdoor photographer or videographer, though heavier than hobbyist alternatives.
  • The sensor is the 20 MP MFT technology used in the GH5, but Panasonic has added a new anti-reflective coating for better backlit shooting.
  • Like the GH5, the GH5 II features dual SD card slots, useful for professionals who require redundancy in their work.
  • 12 frames-per-second continuous shooting (in AF-S) and 9 frames-per-second continuous shooting (in AF-C) promise decent action performance.
  • The electronic viewfinder remains a respectable 3.68M dots.

And here’s what you get from the GH5 II over the GH5:

  • 10-bit 4:2:0 DCI 4K/60p; pre-installed V-Log L for improved dynamic range; simultaneous external 10-bit 4:2:2 4K and internal 10-bit 4:2:0 4K recording.
  • The GH5 II supports wireless live streaming. As Panasonic explains, with the GH5 II, “high-quality live streaming is possible with minimum equipment – only the camera and a smartphone are required…in either an indoor or outdoor environment.”
  • Improved autofocus performance. Panasonic claims that the GH5 II “features high-speed and high-precision AF” that “detects eyes and faces at a 2x faster recognition-cycle speed than the GH5.” The camera also packs “enhanced AF-C, which…enables users to keep tracking small or fast-moving subjects.”
  • An improved buffer for action photography (108+ RAWs, 999+ JPEGs).
  • 6.5 stops of in-body image stabilization versus the 5 stops of IBIS on the GH5 – a small but useful upgrade for low-light photography (and handheld videography).
  • (Slightly) increased resolution on the fully articulating touchscreen, though with a subtle decrease in size.

On the whole, upgrades for photographers are relatively minor. If you’re primarily a stills shooter, these enhancements probably won’t justify shelling out for the GH5 II over the GH5 (and you may be better off considering a different Panasonic camera).

But for hybrid shooters and videographers requiring top-notch recording and/or streaming capabilities, the GH5 II is certainly an appealing package.

Panasonic Lumix GH5 II: Price and release date

You can preorder the Panasonic Lumix GH5 II for a reasonable $ 1699 USD ($ 2299 when bundled with the Leica 12-60mm f/2.8-4 lens). Orders will begin shipping in late June.

So if the GH5 II’s new features appeal to you, I highly recommend you check it out (though you should also keep an eye out for news regarding the just-announced Lumix GH6).

Now over to you:

What do you think of the Panasonic Lumix GH5 II? Are you disappointed by the lack of upgrades? Or pleased by what the GH5 II does include? Would you consider buying it? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

The post Panasonic Unveils the GH5 II, With Wireless Live Streaming and Improved IBIS appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.


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New York Times unveils prototype system aimed at inspiring confidence in photojournalism

10 May

Misinformation is a big issue online, especially with how quickly false stories are shared. The New York Times R&D team has worked with the Content Authenticity Initiative (CAI) on a prototype system ‘exploring tools to give readers transparency into the source and veracity of news visuals.’ If a picture is worth a thousand words, the picture must be verifiably truthful to its viewers.

As CAI points out, it used to be a given that a ‘photograph never lies.’ However, that hasn’t been true for a long time. It’s easy for an image to be manipulated and tell a story far from the truth. It’s hard to tell fact from fiction, and a fake or doctored image can make the rounds so quickly that you see it many times on your feed before you ever see the original image. That is if you ever see the real image at all. A study by Adobe found that there’s a lack of trust in images and that people are concerned about seeing doctored content. The study also found that photographers are concerned with image theft and plagiarism.

The NYT R&T team shows their ‘secure sourcing’ prototype visualization.

For photographers, it’s not just about the honesty of an image, it’s about credit. Someone can screengrab a photographer’s image and spread it around the web before the photographer ever has the opportunity to demand the financial compensation they deserve. After the image has been seen all over the internet, the value of their work has already been irreparably damaged. Santiago Lyon, Head of Advocacy & Education at CAI, writes, ‘Regardless of source, images are plucked out of the traditional and social media streams, quickly screen-grabbed, sometimes altered, posted and reposted extensively online, usually without payment or acknowledgment and often lacking the original contextual information that might help us identify the source, frame our interpretation. and add to our understanding.’

Scott Lowenstein of NYT R&D says, ‘The more people are able to understand the true origin of their media, the less room there is for ‘fake news’ and other deceitful information. Allowing everyone to provide and access media origins will protect against manipulated, deceptive, or out-of-context online media.’

Along with Adobe and Twitter, The New York Times Co. is a founding member of the CAI. The CAI and its partners ‘are working to develop an open industry standard that will allow for more confidence in the authenticity of photographs (and then video and other file types). We are creating a community of trust, to help viewers know if they can believe what they see.’ To this end, the new prototype outlines a ‘secure sourcing’ workflow, which will preserve metadata with secure signatures at each step as an image is captured, edited in Adobe Photoshop, and published. As an image is published, links to an original image will be attached and signed by a social media platform.

Photograph by Niko Koppel for the NYT R&D project, integrated with CAI Content Credentials.

Lyon writes, ‘This important work demonstrates how a well-respected news outlet like the NYT is experimenting with CAI technology, giving us a hint of what’s possible at scale. This aligns with our goal of displaying a CAI logo next to images published in traditional or social media that gives the consumer more information about the provenance of the imagery, such as where and when it was first created and how it might have been altered or edited.’

Lyon continues, ‘This will bolster trust in content among both consumers and capture partners (such as Qualcomm and Truepic), editing partners (in this case, our colleagues at Adobe Photoshop), and publishers, such as the New York Times and others.’

Eventually, the hope is that CAI logos can be placed next to images on traditional publishing and social media platforms, inspiring confidence in the provenance of images and explaining how an image was edited before being published. Ideally, viewers would be able to click on the CAI logo and find out about the image creator and see all the edits that have been made.

For the initiative and the NYT R&D prototype to work, widespread adoption is necessary. The overall distrust in the news and images will require considerable work to improve. Reliable, secure, and accessible records of image creation and edits will go a long way toward inspiring confidence in images.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Sony Unveils Three Compact Prime Lenses for E-Mount Cameras

02 Apr

The post Sony Unveils Three Compact Prime Lenses for E-Mount Cameras appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.

Sony unveils three prime lenses for E-mount cameras

Last week, Sony announced three E-mount lenses:

The FE 24mm f/2.8 G, the FE 40mm f/2.5 G, and the FE 50mm f/2.5 G; all promise to deliver excellent optics in a compact form.

The three lenses will launch this May. Designed as a set, they offer a beautifully wide field of view on the 24mm end for scenic shots and environmental portraits, plus a standard perspective at the 40mm and 50mm focal lengths, perfect for portraits, street photography, and even detail shots.

Sony unveils three prime lenses woman with camera

Sony explains, “The lenses were designed for a wide range of photo and video uses including portraiture, landscape, street photography, and more…With these three dynamic lenses, our customers can capture a wide range of perspectives with the excellent resolution and beautiful bokeh that Sony’s G lenses are known for.”

And while we can’t currently confirm the resolution of these lenses with a hands-on review of our own, sample images look very nice, and Sony’s own tests show tack-sharp results especially when stopped down to f/8. If you’re an APS-C shooter who demands the highest optical quality, or you’re working full frame and want some compact-yet-capable prime lenses, the 24mm f/2.8, 40mm f/2.5, and 50mm f/2.5 will deliver.

Plus, all three lenses offer fast maximum apertures, which translates to lovely bokeh – especially on the 50mm f/2.5, but also on the 40mm f/2.5 and even the 24mm f/2.8 when shooting close-ups.

Of course, f/2.5 and f/2.8 maximum apertures will get you more than just creamy backgrounds. With a wide aperture, you can shoot indoors or at twilight while still maintaining a reasonable ISO, so you can photograph events and night portraits – or record low-light video – and come away with clean results.

Sony also promises “fast, precise AF with excellent tracking performance” and top-notch build quality (all three lenses are dust and moisture resistant).

But while strong build quality, image quality, and focusing do make for a powerful package, even more impressive are the lenses’ compact builds. Travel photographers, street photographers, and videographers will love the pocket-sized design, perfect for on-the-go shooting, long hours behind the camera, and international travel. In fact, all three lenses are identical in size, so you can pack them all without sacrificing weight or space. Check out the lenses next to one another:

Sony unveils three prime lenses

And the prices are surprisingly reasonable. You can grab each lens for just $ 600 USD – not bad at all, given the optics, build quality, and AF capabilities.

So if you’re a Sony shooter in need of a new lens (or two, or three) for travel photography, portrait photography, street photography, or handheld videography, I highly recommend you take a closer look at these options. You can currently preorder the 40mm f/2.5 G here, the 50mm f/2.5 G here, and the 24mm f/2.8 G here.

Sony unveils three prime lenses

Now over to you:

What do you think of Sony’s new bundle of prime lenses? Are you impressed? Are there any features that you wish Sony would’ve included? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

The post Sony Unveils Three Compact Prime Lenses for E-Mount Cameras appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.


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Canon unveils AI-powered automatic camera, the PowerShot PICK

01 Feb

Canon has launched a campaign on the Japanese crowdfunding site Makuake for an AI-powered camera, the PowerShot PICK. The campaign has proven to be highly successful, attracting nearly ¥100,000,000 in support. The goal was ¥1,000,000.

The experimental PowerShot PICK camera can analyze a scene, identify people, track their faces and then, using artificial intelligence, determine the ideal moment to capture a photo. In a rough translation, Canon refers to the PICK as an ‘automatic shooting camera.’ The PowerShot PICK combines Canon’s optical, video processing, and artificial intelligence technology.

In terms of design, the PowerShot PICK is a compact, modern-looking device. It has been designed to blend in, while Canon has also considered ways to give the PICK some character. You can also take the PICK with you when you leave the house, such as when going to a family gathering or an event. You can place the PICK on a tripod as well, and Canon is offering special Velbon tripods as part of the campaign.

The PowerShot PICK uses a 1/2.3-inch 12MP CMOS image sensor. The sensor is paired with a 19-57mm equivalent zoom lens with a maximum aperture of F2.8. The PICK includes built-in image stabilization. The PICK pans 170° in both directions and can tilt 110°. The PICK records to a microSD card and weighs a mere 170g. As you can see in the video above, the PICK is small, with a height of about 3.5″ (90mm) tall.

The Canon PowerShot PICK is a compact device. It has a 360° field of view and incorporates a 12MP image sensor. Image credit: Canon on Masuake

While the PICK is designed to take photos automatically in the background, which Canon believes will result in more authentic images and better mementos, the PowerShot PICK can also be manually controlled using keywords. A user says, ‘Hello PICK,’ followed by commands to take a photo, record video, change subjects and stop capturing.

The PICK will launch alongside a dedicated smartphone app, allowing you to view and share photos and videos captured by PICK. The app automatically recommends the best photos, although you can view all images.

The setup process promises to be easy. After pairing with your smartphone, which is required, you simply power on PICK and place it somewhere, depending on the situation. You could place it on a table at the center of a family meal, on a tripod near an event, on a bookshelf, etc. As mentioned, although PICK can operate automatically, it can be controlled using voice or by using the smartphone app.

The Canon PowerShot PICK is currently available only to backers on Makuake. The price for the PICK works out to just under $ 400. Given the campaign’s success, the only remaining units are for the PICK and charging cable. The tripod bundle has sold out. Canon intends to ship the PICK to backers this July. Canon hasn’t announced global or public release plans, so it’s unclear if the PowerShot PICK will be available outside of Japan. You can learn more about the PowerShot PICK by visiting Makuake.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Viltrox unveils 33mm F1.4, 56mm F1.4 APS-C prime AF lenses for Sony APS-C camera systems

04 Dec

Viltrox has announced the release of its new AF 33mm F1.4 and 56mm F1.4 APS-C prime lenses for Sony E-mount camera systems.

The new 33mm F1.4 (50mm full-frame equivalent) features an all-metal construction and is comprised of 10 elements in 9 groups, including one extra-low dispersion element and one high refractive index element. It features the option to manually or automatically control the aperture, a minimum focusing distance of 40cm (15.75″), offers a built-in micro USB port for updating the firmware and is compatible with Sony’s Eye AF technology thanks to its onboard stepping motor (STM) driving the autofocus.

The lens measures in at 72mm long, 65mm diameter and weighs 270g (9.5oz). Viltrox has a full list of compatible Sony cameras on the 33mm F1.4 product page, where you can also buy the lens today for $ 259.

Moving onto the 56mm F1.4 (85mm full-frame equivalent), it too features an all-metal construction and is comprised of 10 element in 9 groups, including an extra-low dispersion element and a high fraction index lens. Interestingly, unlike the 33mm F1.4 lens, the 56mm F1.4 lens appears to be identical in optical design and features to the 56mm F1.4 lens Viltrox released for Fujifilm X-mount systems back in September.

The 56mm F1.4 also supports Sony Eye AF technology, has a built-in micro USB port for updating the lens’ firmware and uses an STM motor for driving autofocus. The lens measures in at 72mm long, 65mm diameter and weighs 290g (10.2oz).

You can find a full compatibility list on Viltrox’s 56mm F1.4 product page, where you can also pre-order the lens for $ 299.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Qualcomm unveils new Snapdragon 888 SoC with 3 ISPs capable of 8K video, 120fps still shooting, 960fps slo-mo and more

02 Dec

Today, Qualcomm revealed details of the Snapdragon 888, its next-generation flagship mobile chipset, showing what kind of features, functionality and performance we can expect to see in flagship Android mobile devices in the coming year.

The Snapdragon 888 is a System on a Chip (SoC) that consists of multiple processors atop a single substrate. These include multiple CPU and GPU cores, as well as additional mobile and AI components for powering all of the features we’ve come to expect from flagship mobile devices.

At the heart of the Snapdragon 888 is Qualcomm’s Kryo 680 CPU, which is the first to use ARM’s new Cortex-X1 architecture for its 2.84GHz core, alongside three Cortex A78 performance cores (2.4GHz) and four A55 efficiency cores (1.8GHz). Qualcomm claims the Snapdragon 888 performs 25% better while using 25% less power, compared to its predecessor, the Snapdragon 865.

For the GPU, Qualcomm is using its new Adreno 660 GPU, which it says offers 35% faster graphics rendering performance while using 20% less power. This new chip is said to be the best increase in year-over-year performance and should pave the way for better display technology, including better support for 120Hz screens and improved OLED display uniformity.

On the photography front, Qualcommm has made drastic improvements to the image signal processors (ISPs) seen onboard previous Snapdragon chips. The Snapdragon 888 will feature three separate Spectra 580 ISPs. Now, with these three individual ISPs, Android smartphones that offer three cameras — most often a standard, ultra-wide and telephoto — will be able to capture full-resolution photos and video (up to 28MP per camera for stills and 4K HDR video per camera for video), with a maximum bandwidth of 2.7 Gigapixels per second.

Beyond using up to three cameras at the same time, this triple-ISP array also allows for a number of firsts in Android smartphones. If not limited by onboard storage and caching, the Snapdragon 888 technically enables 12MP photo capture at up to 120 fps, as well as a maximum single-image capture of up to 200MP.

The chip can also be able to capture 10-bit HEIF stills, capture 4K HDR10 video (while simultaneously capturing 64MP stills), support 8K video capture and feature no-limit slow-mo video capture at up to 960 fps. 4K video will also be able to be captured and played back at 120 fps on the same device.

Moving onto connectivity, the Snapdragon 888 will feature Wi-Fi 6 speeds up to 3.6Gbps, Bluetooth 5.2 (dual antennas), and Qualcomm’s new X60 5G MOdem-RF system. This new 5G modem supports both sub-6Ghz 5G with carrier aggregation as well as mmWave 5G with speeds up to 7.5Gbps. Battery performance while using its 5G capabilities should also be improved thanks to its new integrated design.

Other features include a new Hexagon 780 processor for AI and computational performance, as well an on-device Qualcomm Secure Processing unit. In addition to improved security within the operating system, this new Secure Processing unit also creates cryptographically sealed photos making it the first Content Authenticity Initiative (CAI) compliant smartphone camera for ensuring image integrity in a world of increasing misinformation and deepfakes. If this sounds familiar, it’s because Qualcomm is working with Truepic, who is a CAI partner alongside Adobe, Twitter The New York Times and others.

You can watch the full Snapdragon 888 unveil on Qualcomm’s Day 2 Keynote from its Snapdragon Tech Summit, below:

Qualcomm hasn’t set a specific date for when the Snapdragon 888 will be available, but it expects the first devices with it at their core to be released in Q1 2021, with commitments from Oppo, Motorola and others having already been made.

As we’ve seen with past Snapdragon SoCs and the smartphones that use them, it’s possible not all of these features will be seen in a single device. Some flagship smartphones that use the new Snapdragon 888 might choose to make the most of certain photo and video features, based on the accompanying hardware they put inside their device. While Snapdragon is offering plenty of computational functionality, it’s ultimately up to the smartphone manufacturers to extract the most from it with equally-capable storage, camera systems and more.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Tokina unveils 23mm and 33mm F1.4 atx-m series lenses for Fujifilm X-mount camera systems

20 Nov

Tokina has announced the release of two new prime lenses for Fujifilm X-mount camera systems: the atx-m 23mm F1.4 and the atx-m 33mm F1.4.

The 23mm F1.4 and 33mm F1.4 feature 35mm and 50mm full-frame equivalent focal lengths, respectively, and both feature near-silent autofocus thanks to their ST-M motors. Both lenses feature clickless aperture rings, nine-blade aperture diaphragms, aperture ranges of F1.4 through F16, have 52mm front filter threads and are the same size: 72mm (2.83”) long and 65mm (2.56”) in diameter. The 23mm F1.4 weighs 276g (9.74oz), while the 33mm F1.4 weighs 285g (10.5oz).

The Tokina 23mm F1.4 and 33mm F1.4 lenses will retail for $ 479 and $ 429, respectively, when they become available to purchase on December 11.

It’s worth noting both of these lenses appear to be identical in aesthetics and specifications to the Viltrox 23mm F1.4 and 33mm F1.4 lenses that retail for $ 325 and $ 279, respectively.

Press release:

Tokina announces release of new Fuji X-mount prime lenses

23mm and 33mm atx-m series f/1.4 lenses for Fuji X-mount cameras offer versatility for amateurs and professionals.

Huntington Beach, CA, November 20, 2020: Tokina introduces compact, lightweight prime lenses for Fuji X-mount cameras.

The Tokina atx-m 23mm f/1.4 prime lens features an angle of view equivalent to 35mm in full frame cameras. It is an ideal tool for street scenes, environmental portraits and landscapes. The atx-m 33mm features an angle of view equivalent to 50mm in full frame cameras. This standard angle lens is highly versatile for amateurs and professionals. The ultra-fast f/1.4 aperture is excellent for low-light situations and the minimum focal distance allows beautiful, creamy front and back bokeh. Both lenses feature color balance tuning to match film simulation modes within Fujifilm cameras. The silent autofocus is realized by the ST-M focus motor for easy and reliable focus.

The ATX-M 23mm and 33mm prime lenses feature:

  • Compact and lightweight – compatible with Fujifilm X-mount mirrorless cameras
  • f/1.4 aperture – creamy front and back bokeh, exceptional in low light conditions
  • fast, silent autofocus
  • communicable with camera body to support 5-axis in-body image stabilization
  • click-less aperture ring to smoothly control aperture in video mode
  • color balance tuning to fit film simulation modes of Fujifilm camera

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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