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Fujifilm GFX 100 added to studio test scene

04 Jun

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Fujifilm’s GFX 100 is equipped with an all-new, 100MP backside-illuminated CMOS sensor with dual-gain architecture. Not only does this sensor offer outstanding resolution, it also promises to exceed the capabilities of today’s best full-frame cameras when it comes to high ISO image quality and Raw dynamic range.

We’ve been shooting with a pre-production GFX 100 with near-final firmware for a while now, and as part of our ongoing review we’ve updated our studio scene database so you can see how it compares. Please note that these images may be replaced when we have access to final firmware and / or a final shipping sample of the GFX 100 in the coming weeks.

Images shot using a pre-production Fujifilm GFX 100 and published with permission. Image quality may not exactly represent exactly the output from final shipping cameras but is likely to be extremely close.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Apple’s new Mac Pro and 32″ 6K Retina display are a match made in media heaven

04 Jun

Apple unveiled more than software at its World Wide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2019 today. In addition to iOS 13, iPadOS and macOS Catalina, the Cupertino-based company also announced the Mac Pro and the Pro Display XDR.

Mac Pro

Six years after Apple announced its barely-upgradeable cylindrical Mac Pro, aptly dubbed the ‘trash can,’ Apple took WWDC 2019 as an opportunity to unveil its most powerful, modular Mac Pro to date.

While undoubtedly new, the overall design is reminiscent of Apple’s original Mac Pro, complete with the ‘cheese grater’ vents, which are specifically machined to allow maximum airflow through the tower. However, unlike the original Mac Pro, this modular monster can shed its shell to offer complete 360-degree access to the internals, which are mounted on what Apple calls a ‘stainless steel space frame’ that serves not only as the skeletal structure of the computer but also as the handles and feet when the aluminum enclosure is slipped over it.

At the core of the Mac Pro is Intel’s new Xeon processor with up to 28 cores, a dedicated 300W power supply and robust cooling that keeps to the computer running ‘unconstrained at full power at all times’ when required to do so. Apple has included eight PCI Express slots (four double-wide and four single-wide), twelve six-channel memory slots for a maximum 1.5TB of RAM and a slew of various USB ports, including two USB-A ports and two USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 ports on the rear of the tower with two addition USB-C ports on the top of the case for easier access.

In addition to the tower itself, Apple has also created three modules that are specifically designed to interface with the Mac Pro: the MPX Module, the ‘Afterburner’ video card and an I/O module.

The MPX Module is a quad-wide PCIx card that houses two AMD Radeon Pro Vega 2 or Radeon Pro Vega 2 Duo GPUS, its own heat sink and a Thunderbolt 3 connector that plugs directly into the motherboard for maximum speed. If maxed out with the two Radeon Pro Vega 2 Duo cards, the MPX Module alone could provide up to 128GB of High Bandwidth Memory (HBM2) from the GPUs inside.

Apple’s ‘Afterburner’ module

Apple’s new ‘Afterburner’ is a hardware accelerator card with a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) or a Programmable Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC). Apple claims the ‘Afterburner’ card can process up to 6.3 billion pixels per second and is capable of handling up to three streams of 8K ProRes RAW or 12 streams of 4K ProRes RAW at 30fps. As Apple puts it, ‘Proxy workflows, RIP.’ The last one is an I/O module that adds two additional USB-C / Thunderbolt 3 ports, two USB-A ports and a 3.5mm audio jack.

Apple has fitted the Mac Pro with a 1.4kW power supply and a specialized fan arrangement that actively cools the components using three fans at the front of the tower and a blower at the rear to push up to 300 cubic feet of air per minute through the 3D lattice grills on the front and rear of the tower.

The updated Mac Pro is set to launch this fall starting at $ 5,999, which will get you the eight core Intel Xeon CPU, Radeon Pro 580X GPU, 32GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. Apple hasn’t specified what a fully maxed-out Mac Pro would cost, but based on a brief analysis from The Verge, it’s looking like it could top out at around $ 50,000 going by the current market price of the various components.

Pro Display XDR

Of course, what would a powerful desktop computer be without a beautiful screen to compose, create and review your work on it with? Years after leaving the display market, Apple is back—and it’s created a display that’s just as (if not more) crazy than its Mac Pro counterpart.

It’s called the Pro Display XDR and it’s a 32in 6K Retina (6016px x 3384px, 218ppi) HDR display that brings the best features of high-end reference monitors and manages to pack said features into a more compact, affordable (comparatively speaking) frame that offers the convenience of more traditional monitors.

The Pro Display XDR features 10-bit color depth, P3 wide color gamut, 576 zones of full-array local dimming and 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio on a screen that has sustained 1000-nits brightness (with the ability to achieve 1600-nits at its peak). This is done with the help of an in-factory calibration that custom defines algorithms to achieve the most accurate color rendering possible.

An illustration from Apple’s keynote showing the layers that go into making the Pro Display XDR.

To keep the monitor cool, Apple took the same 3D grill from the Mac Pro and effectively turned the entire rear of the display into a giant heat sink for maximum heat dissipation.

Every Pro Display XDR comes with an ‘extremely low reflectivity’ screen, but Apple has also created a new matte option that uses ‘nano-texture glass’ to further scatter and light and reduce glare. In Apple’s own words:

‘Typical matte displays have a coating added to their surface that scatters light. However, these coatings lower contrast while producing unwanted haze and sparkle. The nano-texture on Pro Display XDR is actually etched into the glass at the nanometer level.’

Other features of the display include integrated reference modes—HDR video (P3-ST 2084), Digital Cinema (P3-DCI) and Photography (P3-D65)—and Apple’s True Tone technology to adjust the monitor depending on the ambient lighting conditions.

Apple has paired the Pro Display XDR with the optional Pro Stand, a dedicated stand for the display that uses a specialized hinge mechanism to make raising, lowering, tilting and rotating the screen easy enough to do with one hand. The monitor snaps on using a magnetic connection on the back and can easily be swapped out with a VESA mount adapter for more customized mounting options.

In case that new house wasn’t looking as enticing as you would hope, you could go ahead and drop what was going to be your downpayment on six Pro Display XDR monitors.

The Pro Display XDR relies on a Thunderbolt 3 cable to connect with the new Mac Pro, which can drive up to six of these things for a mind-numbing 120 million combined pixels.

The standard Pro Display XDR is expected to ship this fall for $ 4,999, with the nano-glass version costing $ 1,000 more at $ 5,999. The optional Pro Stand will set you back another $ 1,000, while the VESA mount adapter will be a slightly more reasonable $ 199.

While the pricing seems ridiculous, the display itself is on par—if not more capable—than many professional reference monitors that retail for five times the price. The stand feels like a bit of a money grab at $ 1,000, but the $ 199 VESA mount is a much more reasonable option and should yield more flexibility in the long run anyway.

For more information on the Pro Display XDR visit Apple’s product page.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Vazen launches “world’s first” anamorphic lenses for Micro Four Thirds

04 Jun

Vazen, a Chinese optics manufacturer, is set to launch a trio of anamorphic lenses for Micro Four Thirds cameras. Showing at the Cine Gear Expo and spotted by Newsshooter, the company will be offering 28mm, 40mm and 65mm focal lengths with a 1.8x anamorphic effect.

The lens on show at Cine Gear is a 40mm T2 that will be shipping at the end of this month. When used on Micro Four Thirds cameras, such as the Lumix GH5/s, Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera or Z-cam E2, it will produce 2.39:1 aspect ratio images. Vazen claims the lenses will provide ‘buttery smooth oval bokeh, signature blue horizontal flare and the widescreen cinematic look’ as well as a minimum focus distance of 0.82m (2.7ft) for the 40mm example. The focus and aperture rings are fitted with gears and the front filter thread measures 110mm.

Below is sample footage captured with the 40mm T2 lens:

The 40mm version weighs 1.8kg (3.97lbs), is 110mm x 175mm (4.33in x 6.89in), and will cost $ 3,250. Users will have to wait until much later in the year for the 28mm and 65mm models. For more information see the Vazen website.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Fujifilm GFX 100 sample gallery with Raw conversions

04 Jun

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We’ve been out shooting with the Fujifilm GFX 100 as much as possible, and while it’s running not-quite-final firmware, we’re able to share some converted Raw files in our latest batch of sample images. Image quality is unlikely to change significantly with the final firmware version, but bear in mind that it is still subject to change as you take a look through some fresh out-of-camera JPEGs and Raw conversions.

And goodness, a hundred megapixels of resolution is nothing to sneeze at.

See our Fujifilm GFX 100 sample gallery (non-final firmware)

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Apple announces new photo features and tools in iOS 13, macOS and iPadOS updates

04 Jun

Today, at its World Wide Developer Conference (WWDC) 2019, Apple unveiled a collection of new photo-oriented features and tools inside its upcoming iOS 13 and macOS operating systems, as well as its new iPadOS, a spin-off of iOS designed specifically to utilize the larger, more powerful tablets from Apple.

Below we’ve rounded up and summarized the best photo-related features from each of the three operating systems. Additional details will be added over time as we gather more information and details.

iOS 13

The main feature changes in iOS 13 are new and improved features inside the Camera and Photos applications.

On the Camera app front, Apple has added a new Portrait Mode setting it calls High Key Mono. As its name suggests, the new AI-powered filter will create a high key black and white image when captured with Portrait Mode in the Camera app.

A collection of Portrait Mode images showing the five different lighting filters available.

Also new to Portrait Mode is the ability to adjust the intensity of the lighting. Apple says its new feature is designed to simulate the light source moving closer to or further away from the subject and even accounts for the higher intensity light being softer, as would be the case with a physical light source. And like before, each adjustment is made individually to images using AI to achieve the most accurate results.

Screenshots provided by Apple showing the ‘Years,’ ‘Months’ and ‘Days’ tabs, respectively.

Moving onto the Photos app on iOS, Apple has switched up the interface a little to add a new tab at the bottom that will automatically sort images into ‘Years,’ ‘Months,’ ‘Days’ and ‘All Photos.’ In addition to the new ‘Pinch’ gesture that can be used to zoom in and out of large numbers of photos, these tabs make it easier to chronological sort through images and the tabs are even contextual, so if, say, it’s your child’s birthday and their information is in your phone, the ‘Year’ tab will show photos of your child on the thumbnails of each year.

Another UI change in the Photos app is in the photo editing section. The interface now uses buttons, akin to what you see in Instagram and other third-party photo editing applications. Apple has also added the ability to edit video directly in the Photos app, just as you would photos. Now, videos can be rotated, adjusted and have filters added to them just as you would with a still image.

You can read more about iOS 13 on Apple’s dedicated preview page.

iPadOS

You might’ve noticed the lack of any mention of the iPad. That’s because Apple has finally given the iPad an operating system of its own, iPadOS. Unsurprisingly, the operating system is effectively a more powerful version of iOS, complete with a number of features photographers around the world have been asking for.

First up is support for external drives. Now, the Files app supports browsing, editing, sorting and transferring content from hard drives, solid state drives, USB drives, SD cards and even direct import from cameras. We haven’t found any additional details, but Apple CEO Tim Cook specifically mentioned the ability to import images directly into Lightroom CC from an SD card or connected camera, bypassing the need to first import images into your Camera Roll.

The first iteration of iPadOS also brings the aforementioned changes found in the iOS 13 version of the Camera and Photos apps.

Apple has also managed to further decrease the response time when using the Apple Pencil with an iPad. Apple already leads the industry with a 20ms response time, but in iPadOS that’s been further reduced to 9ms, thanks to improved algorithms.

You can read more about iPadOS on Apple’s dedicated preview page.

macOS Catalina

The newest version of Apple’s desktop operating system, macOS, has strayed from the desert theme and has officially been deemed macOS Catalina. Of all the changes, one change, in particular, stands out for photographers—Sidecar.

Until now, it’s required third-party hardware and software to use your iPad as a secondary display for your macOS computer. Now, the functionality is baked directly into macOS Catalina via Sidecar.

Sidecar works both wired and wirelessly, and supports the Apple Pencil, effectively turning your iPad into a dedicated drawing tablet that’s connected directly to your macOS computer. Sidecar will support gesture inputs and will display various Touch Bar functions on the bottom of the iPad display, even if you don’t have the Touch Bar MacBook Pro.

Apple has shared a list of supported apps, which include Affinity Photo, Adobe After Effects, Adobe Premiere Pro, Cinema 4D, Final Cut Pro, Maya and others. However, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Lightroom, Capture One and other photo-related apps are noticeably absent from the list for the time being.

A list of apps Apple has specifically mentioned as supported by Sidecar for the time being.

By adding this functionality, Apple has more or less pulled the rug out from underneath third-party software and hardware options including Astropad and Duet Display. However, until iPadOS and macOS Catalina are available for public use, third-party options are the only means of using your iPad as a secondary display.

You can read more about macOS Catalina on Apple’s dedicated preview page.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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OPPO and Xiaomi demo under-display front cameras

04 Jun
Xiaomi Mi 9 prototype with under-display front camera (left)

Front cameras are an essential component in mobile devices and used for a range of tasks, including selfie captures, video calls and face-unlocking. However, they can stand in the way of clean device design, taking up space on the front of the phone and requiring bulky top-bezels, display holes or a front camera ‘notch’.

Recently several manufacturers have come up with creative design solutions that ensure an uninterrupted almost bezel-less display. Pop-up and rotating cameras are mechanical solutions, however, that are subject to wear and tear. Now it looks like Chinese manufacturer OPPO has found a solution that does not require any moving parts: a camera that is hidden under the display.

OPPO VP Brian Shen shared a video clip on the social network Weibo, showing what appears to be a smartphone without any visible front camera holes or notches on a desk. When the camera app is launched a live preview of the room’s ceiling is displayed. The demonstrator also moves their finger over the area where the camera appears to hidden.

Rival Xiaomi did not take long to respond to the OPPO video, posting its own under-display camera demo. Company’s president Lin Bin shared a video clip in which an under-display camera was added to a Xiaomi Mi 9 prototype.

In contrast to mechanical solutions users of an under-display camera would not have to worry about wear and tear but in a follow-up post to the demo, Shen says that the technology is still in an early development phase. ‘At this stage, it’s difficult for under-display cameras to match the same results as normal cameras, there’s bound to be some loss in optical quality,’ Shen writes. ‘But, no new technology jumps to perfection right away.’ Neither OPPO nor Xiaomi have said when the new technology will be released.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Sony’s US-only ‘Step up to Sony’ sales event is offering up to $1K off cameras, kits and lenses

03 Jun

Sony is currently running its ‘Step Up To Sony’ sales event, a summer sales event for U.S. customers that’s heavily discounting some of Sony’s most popular cameras, lenses and kits. The ‘Step Up To Sony’ event runs through Jun 22, 2019. We’ve rounded up some of the best deals from the sales event and have listed them below.

Cameras and kits

Sony a7R III (Adorama, B&H): $ 2,598 ($ 600 instant rebate)

Sony a9 (Adorama, B&H): $ 3,498 ($ 1000 instant rebate)

Sony a7R II (Adorama, B&H): $ 1,498 ($ 500 instant rebate)

Sony A7 II (Adorama, B&H): Body only for $ 898 ($ 500 instant rebate), kit for $ 1000 ($ 600 instant rebate)

Sony RX100 V (B&H): $ 898 ($ 100 instant rebate)

Sony RX10 IV (Adorama, B&H): $ 1,598.00 ($ 100 instant rebate)

Lenses

Sony FE 12-24mm F4 G (Adorama, B&H): $ 1,598 ($ 100 instant rebate)

Sony FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS (Adorama, B&H): $ 1,398 ($ 100 instant rebate)

Sony Planar T* FE 50mm F1.4 ZA (Adorama, B&H): $ 1,398 ($ 100 instant rebate)

Sony Distagon T FE 35mm F1.4 ZA (Adorama, B&H): $ 1,498 ($ 100 instant rebate)

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Samsung Galaxy S10+ sample gallery

02 Jun

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Samsung’s Galaxy S10+ is one of a few flagship phones to offer a triple-camera array, providing a wide-angle lens in addition to the usual standard and telephoto lenses. It may not be the lens you’ll want to use for most of your shooting, but it sure came in handy a few times as we were out shooting with the device. See for yourself how the phone handles a variety of scenes (and a couple of furry creatures for good measure).

See our Samsung Galaxy S10+
sample gallery

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Sony releases promotional videos to highlight Xperia 1 pro-oriented video features

02 Jun

The Sony Xperia 1 was announced back in February but has become available to buy in the shops only this week. It’s Sony’s first triple-camera phone and comes with a range of enticing imaging features, including a 21:9 OLED display with 4K resolution, 4K HDR video as well as ultra-wide and tele-cameras.

In order to highlight the camera’s video capabilities Sony has now released several promotional videos, explaining some of the more advanced new features.

Cinema Pro is a set of features aimed at mobile videographers. Users can choose from a range of color presets and footage can be recorded at a cine-compatible 24 frames per second and 21:9 aspect ratio. You can also shoot with any of three lenses and select manual shutter speeds.

Optical Steady Shot is another highlighted video feature. It combines electronic and optical image stabilization for smooth and shake-free footage. The results in the sample clip below look pretty impressive but we have seen similar results on other high-end devices. That said, Sony claims the Xperia 1 comes closest to ‘cinema-grade’ results.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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1.4x and 2x teleconverters on the way for Panasonic S-series

02 Jun

Two teleconverters will be making their way into Panasonic’s full-frame S-system this July. The 1.4x and 2x teleconverters will be compatible with the current S Pro 70-200mm F4 OIS, as well as the 70-200mm F2.8 arriving later this year. The 1.4x converter will give each lens approximately a 100-280mm range, and the 2x converter will likewise extend the zoom range to 140-400mm.

The 1.4x converter comprises 7 lenses in 4 groups, and includes 2 Ultra High Refractive Index Lenses (UHR). The 2x converter is composed of 8 lenses (2 UHR) in 4 groups. Both teleconverters are dust and splash-resistant, and will go on sale in July, priced at $ 499 and $ 599, respectively.

Press release:

Panasonic Announces New Teleconverters for LUMIX S Series Telephoto Zoom Lenses

1.4x Teleconverter DMW-STC14 and 2x Teleconverter DMW-STC20

Newark, NJ (May 31, 2019) – Panasonic today announced new teleconverters for the LUMIX S Series telephoto zoom lenses – a 1.4x Teleconverter DMW-STC14 and a 2x Teleconverter DMW-STC20– available in July . The latest teleconverters can be attached to the LUMIX S PRO 70-200mm F4 O.I.S. (S-R70200)*1, turning the lens into a super telephoto lens with extended zoom range of maximum 400mm with high-speed and high-precision AF. The rugged and dust/splash-resistant*2 design withstands use under harsh conditions, even in -10 degrees Centigrade for high mobility.

Both teleconverters DMW-STC14 and DMW-STC20 will also be compatible with the new 70-200mm / F2.8 S Series lens, to be introduced later in 2019.

Specifications:
DMW-STC14
Lens Composition 7 lenses including 2 UHR (Ultra High Refractive Index Lens) lenses in 4 groups

DMW-STC20
Lens Composition 8 lenses including 2 UHR (Ultra High Refractive Index Lens) lenses in 4 groups

*1 The firmware needs to be updated to its latest version.
*2 Dust and Splash Resistant does not guarantee that damage will not occur if this lens is subjected to direct contact with dust and water.

?Design and specifications are subject to change without notice.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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