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Camera-friendly Canadian airport cuts holes in perimeter fence for aviation photographers

23 May

Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport, often shortened to Jean Lesage International Airport, has made camera holes in a range of locations around its perimeter fence to allow photographers an unhindered view of planes taking off, landing and moving along its runways and taxi areas.

The airport has propelled itself to the number one spot for aviation photographers with the project. Metal frames surround the holes to prevent wire scratching lenses and accompanying signs to clarify the area is reserved for photographers.

The airport got together with local plane-spotting group YQB Aviation to identify the best angles for photographers and then created a total of 10 sites all around the airport that provide views of exactly what photographers want to shoot, seen in the image below:

Jean Lesage International Airport which recently won awards for its environmental practices and as an outstanding workplace, and which carried almost 1.8 million passengers in 2018, also hosted a 5km run on its runways earlier this month to offer locals a different view of the airport.


Photo credit: Images by Jean-Lesage International airport, used with permission.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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DJI AirSense will add aircraft detection to DJI drones starting next year

23 May

This morning, DJI hosted a panel of experts in the aviation field, including the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Jay Merkel and AUVSI’s Tracy Lamb, to discuss the implementation of airplane and helicopter detectors in its new consumer drones starting January 1, 2020. Every drone model weighing over 250 grams will have AirSense Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) receivers installed.

AirSense technology, which is a product of over 30,000 hours of development efforts by DJI engineers on all security measures, works by receiving ADS-B signals from nearby airplanes and helicopters. It allows drone pilots to detect and avoid traditional aircraft nearby. ‘I was an F-18 pilot years ago, and when you’re going that fast, it’s really hard to see anything. … ADS-B is certainly one of those things that for all pilots, and for controllers as well, becomes a situational awareness tool’ said Houston Mills of UPS Airlines, at the panel.

AirSense is currently embedded in some of DJI’s enterprise-level drones including the Mavic 2 Enterprise. The manufacturer now aims to make the same level of safety and security available to consumers. Instead of relying on sound or sight, ADS-B can identify planes and helicopters from miles away, and display the location on the screen of the remote.

Along with the announcement, DJI has released a comprehensive 37-page ‘Elevating Safety’ white paper outlining efforts they have taken to ensure that drones and their operators remain compliant. One significant burden to innovation in improving safety measures has been the media’s numerous inaccurate portrayals of reckless drone use. Most claims, including the incidents at Gatwick and Newark airports, are still unfounded.

DJI stands by the fact that existing data on drone safety is inaccurate. However, they understand they need to continually focus on research, development, education, and advocacy for solutions that will improve safety. They’ve outlined their intentions with the following 10 points:

1. DJI will install ADS-B receivers in all new drones above 250 grams.
2. DJI will develop a new automatic warning for drone pilots flying at extended distances.
3. DJI will establish an internal Safety Standards Group to meet regulatory and customer expectations.
4. Aviation industry groups must develop standards for reporting drone incidents.
5. All drone manufacturers should install geofencing and remote identification.
6. Governments must require remote identification.
7. Governments must require a user-friendly knowledge test for new drone pilots.
8. Governments must clearly designate sensitive restriction areas.
9. Local authorities must be allowed to respond to drone threats that are clear and serious.
10. Governments must increase enforcement of laws against unsafe drone operation.

These 10 steps are DJI’s proactive plan for addressing the continual growth in the drone industry. It divides responsibility between the government, remote pilots, and the company to ensure drones continue to safely integrate into airspace.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Olympus’s TG-6 waterproof camera is a modest update to its predecessor

22 May

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Olympus’s Tough TG-5 is one of our favorite underwater cameras, and the company today introduced its replacement, the TG-6. The TG-6 is a modest update to its predecessor, with the majority of its changes related to macro and underwater shooting. The company also added an anti-reflective coating to the glass surrounding the sensor, to reduce flare and ghosting.

The TG-6 has the same design as its predecessor, though it’s LCD now has 1.04 million dots, compared to 460k dots on the TG-5. Unfortunately, we found that the display scratches just as easily as before: disappointing for a ‘tough’ camera. Its rugged credentials are unchanged: The camera is waterproof to 15m (50ft), shockproof from 2.4m (7ft), crushproof to 100kgf (220lbf) and freezeproof to -10°C/+14°F.

As before, the TG-6 has a GPS with a compass, manometer, thermometer and accelerometer. A tracking feature associates the location a photo with the data captured with above sensors (via an app).

The TG-5’s microscope mode has been improved upon on the TG-6, with the ability to enlarge the subject by over 44x while at its minimum focus distance of 1cm (0.2″). Microscope mode can be now used in program and aperture priority mode, unlike on the TG-5. The camera offers both focus stacking (now with a selectable range of shots) and focus bracketing.

The complete underwater system for the TG-6

On the underwater side, there are new underwater microscope modes, along with new white balance options for shallow, midrange and deep water shooting. As before, the TG-6 has a full system of underwater accessories available, including housings and flashes.

Accessories for the TG-6

Lastly, there’s accessories. The TG-6 continues to support the LG-1 light guide (ring light) and FD-1 flash diffuser, as well as the TCON-01 1.7x telephoto and FCON-T01 fisheye conversion lenses. New accessories include the FCON-T02 fisheye lens, which can switch from circular to diagonal views by adjusting the focal length. There’s also a new lens barrier (LB-T01) that you’d normally find on a point-and-shoot camera.

The Tough TG-6 will be available in your choice of red or black, and will be priced at $ 449 when it ships in late June. Prices for the numerous accessories are listed in the press release below.

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Press Release:

OLYMPUS TOUGH TG-6® RUGGED COMPACT DIGITAL CAMERA

Perfect for Outdoor Shooting with Tough Performance, Macro Functions and a Newly Developed Circular Fisheye Converter

CENTER VALLEY, Pa., May 22, 2019 – Olympus expands rugged and underwater shooting capabilities with the new Olympus Tough TG-6, a compact digital camera with reliable Tough performance for shooting anytime and anywhere. It features a blazing fast, wide-angle f/2.01 lens, back-lit high-speed CMOS sensor and powerful TruePicTM VIII image processor, providing the ability to capture stills and video with brilliant color and stunning detail. The Tough TG-6 is waterproof to a depth of 50 feet (15m)2, dustproof3, shockproof to 7 feet (2.4m)4, crushproof to 100 kgf5, freezeproof to 14oF (-10°C)6, and features a dual-pane protective glass construction for superb anti-fogging performance. Its Variable Macro System goes beyond the limits of the eye with ultra-close-up shooting up to 1cm from the front of the lens7. Full- featured underwater shooting modes and a new fisheye converter lens that supports circular fisheye photography are available for the Tough TG-6, along with a full lineup of other accessories for expanded shooting possibilities, making this truly the strongest field camera available.

Tough Performance for Shooting Anytime

Sealing throughout the entire camera body and double-lock construction on the camera battery cover are designed to provide waterproof performance to a depth of 50 feet for underwater shooting and excellent dustproof capabilities for use in dirty and dusty locations. Its floating construction protects the inside of the camera, clearing drop tests up to seven feet, and the reinforced body withstands loads up to 100 kgf. The Tough TG-6 is also freezeproof down to 14oF, and the nitrogen-filled, hermetically sealed dual-pane protective glass construction prevents condensation and fogging for reliable shooting even in locations with severe temperature fluctuations.

High-Quality Images

The Olympus Tough TG-6 is equipped with a high resolution, high-speed f/2.0 zoom lens and a high- speed back-lit CMOS image sensor, offering excellent high-sensitivity performance and allowing you to capture bright, richly detailed images in low-light settings, ideal for shooting fast moving subjects. Anti- reflective (AR) coating incorporated in the image sensor’s sealing glass minimizes ghosting and flares. The TruePicTM VIII image processor, found in the award-winning Olympus OM-D E-M1X® professional model, is featured on this model, reducing noise levels and improving resolution in low contrast areas. RAW data can be recorded and then edited in post-production using the Olympus Workspace image editing software.

Variable Macro System

Conquer macro photography and creatively capture intricate detail using any of the four shooting modes, opening a new world of macro shooting. This close-up shooting performance allows high-quality image capture of the microscopic world that the human eye cannot see. A closest focusing distance of 1cm is possible for close-up shots even in Program and Aperture modes for more flexible photography.

The Flash Diffuser FD-1 (sold separately) uses the in-camera flash to illuminate the subject, offering a significant increase in the amount of light. This increase in light allows for usage of lower ISO settings and faster shutter speeds, as well as an increased working distance. The FD-1 can also be utilized under water.

Microscope Mode

With Microscope Mode, users can capture high-quality, detailed images of tiny subjects that are difficult to see with the naked eye, such as the antennae and feet of insects, the veins of a leaf on a tree, snowflakes, etc. A maximum shooting magnification of 7x8 is possible when the optical zoom is set to the telephoto end and the subject is 1 cm away from the front of the lens, delivering magnified shots similar to using a microscope.

Microscope Control Mode

Switch display magnification ratios with the press of a single button similar to switching microscope objective lenses for observing and photographing subjects at 1x, 2x, and 4x. When the subject is 1 cm from the front of the lens while using this mode, the image on the rear LCD monitor can zoom in up to 44.4x.

Focus Stacking Mode9

Focus stacking mode captures multiple shots while automatically shifting the focus from the foreground to the background. Only the areas in focus are extracted and merged, resulting in a full pixel photo with a deep depth of focus. This is particularly effective for macro shooting when shots have a shallow depth of field and a narrow range of focus. Between 3 and 10 shots can be set on the Tough TG-6 so users can fine tune settings for different subjects and precision in their finished image.

Focus Bracketing Mode

With a single shot, this function captures up to 30 images while shifting the focus from the foreground to the background. Three levels of focal shift and number of shots can be selected to perfectly match the subject and shooting conditions. This feature is convenient for instantly setting the focal position when shooting flower petals or the wings of insects, etc.

The LED Light Guide, LG-1 (sold separately) uses the LED on the front of the camera to evenly illuminate the subject while the image is being taken. The LG-1 also assists with composing the image, acting as a constant light source to illuminate the subject.

Dive Deep Into Underwater Photography

To expand the possibilities of underwater shooting ever further, the Tough TG-6 is equipped with five underwater shooting modes optimized for various situations, allowing the user to capture sharp, colorful underwater photos at all depths. The popular Underwater White Balance mode now offers three options, providing appropriate color adjustment for deep water shooting. The new Fisheye Converter FCON-T02 (sold separately), for circular fisheye photography is now available, offering a versatile lineup of accessories to further expand shooting creativity.

Five Underwater Modes

  • Underwater Wide: Optimized for shooting in dim underwater conditions and capable of shooting in deeper water.

  • Underwater Snapshot: Records subjects using the natural lighting in pools and other shallow water for natural-looking photos.

  • Underwater Macro: Perfect for close-up shots of small subjects such as little fish.

  • Underwater Microscope: Captures even smaller subjects up to 1 cm from the front of the lens.

  • Underwater HDR: Dramatically recreates the scene without losing details in dark areas.

Three Underwater White Balance Modes10

  • Underwater Shallow: Recommended for use in water depths up to approximately 10 feet deep to improve the red tones that tend to occur in shallow water.

  • Underwater Mid-Range: Optimally tunes the color for general use in water from 10-50 feet deep.

  • Underwater Deep: For use with the new Underwater Case PT-059 (sold separately) in water deeper than 50 feet, particularly for improving the blue tones in photos.

Fisheye Converter, FCON-T02

The new Fisheye Converter FCON-T02 (sold separately) delivers both circular fisheye photography and diagonal fisheye photography via zooming control. It can function even underwater for zoomed-in shots. The Converter Adapter CLA-T01 (sold separately) is required to attach this lens. FCON-T02 is only compatible with the Tough TG-6.

Advanced Video Functions

The Olympus Tough TG-6 is equipped with Ultra HD 4K Movie, ideal for recording beautiful scenery in amazing detail. Full HD 120fps High-Speed Movie is also included to capture high quality split-second moments with playback in stunning slow motion.

Field Sensor System

The Olympus Tough TG-6 is equipped with a Field Sensor System, using tracking information obtained from various sensors in the camera to record data, including the GPS11, manometer, temperature sensor, and compass. Data can then be synced to photos and video and viewed in the free Olympus Image Track (OI.Track) smartphone app. Simply press the INFO button, even when the camera is off, to display data.

Pro Capture Mode

Never miss a shot! Pro Capture Mode shoots sequentially at 10 frames-per-second (fps) for 0.5 seconds before the shutter button is pressed fully, making it perfect for capturing shots where timing may be difficult, such as an insect in flight or a drop of liquid splashing.

High Definition LCD monitor

The new rear LCD monitor now features a 1.04 million-pixel high-definition resolution for improved visibility. The brightness and color saturation are optimally tuned for use outdoors.

Date Imprint

It is now possible to embed the date and time of capture into still images for convenience and reference later. Users can turn this feature on and off to best fit their needs.

Lens Barrier, LB-T01

The new lens barrier LB-T0112 protects the lens surface from scratches and dirt. The barrier opens and closes easily for smooth operation, even while wearing gloves.

Silicone Jacket, CSCH-127

This accessory protects the surface of the camera body from scratches. It also provides a solid grip on the camera when shooting during winter sports and water sports. LED Light Guide LG-1 and Flash Diffuser FD-1 can function with the silicone jacket attached to the camera.

Underwater Case, PT-05913

Designed exclusively for the Tough TG-6, this case can function down to a depth of 148 feet. The camera control dial is operable even when the camera is stored in the case for easy exposure compensation control underwater. Two external flash units for underwater photography (UFL-3) are compatible for multi- unit flash photography in a compact system.

Lithium Ion Battery Charger, UC-92

This new, compact battery charger can fully charge the Lithium Ion Battery LI-92B using a USB port in approximately 2 hours.

Pricing and Availability

The Olympus Tough TG-6 will be available in red and black beginning in late June 2019, with suggested retail prices of $ 449.99 USD and $ 579.99 CAD.

Accessory Pricing

PT-059 Underwater Housing: $ 299.99 USD; $ 329.99 CAD Lens Barrier LB-T01: $ 49.99 USD; $ 59.99 CAD
Flash Diffuser FD-1: $ 51.99 USD; $ 64.99 CAD
LED Light Guide LG-1: $ 40.99 USD; $ 40.99 CAD

Circular Fisheye Converter FCON-T02 & Adapter CLA-T01 Tough Pack Kit: $ 224.99 USD; $ 292.99 CAD Fisheye Converter FCON-T01 & Adapter CLA-T01 Tough Pack Kit: $ 139.98 USD; $ 139.98 CAD Teleconverter TCON-T01 & Adapter CLA-T01 Tough Pack Kit: $ 129.98 USD; $ 129.98 CAD
CLA-T01 Adapter: $ 19.99 USD; $ 19.99 CAD

Lens Cap LC-40.5 (fits on CLA-T01 Adapter): $ 7.49 USD; $ 9.99 CAD Lens Filter PRF-D40.5 PRO: $ 51.99 USD; $ 51.99 CAD

  1. At the wide-angle end of 25mm (35mm equivalent)
  2. Waterproof performance is JIS/IEC protection class 8 (IPX8) equivalent. All measurements are according to Olympus testing conditions, and do not guarantee protection from damage or malfunction under all conditions
  3. Dustproof performance is JIS/IEC protection class 6 (IP6X) equivalent. All measurements are according to Olympus testing conditions, and do not guarantee protection from damage or malfunction under all conditions.
  4. Compliant with MIL-STD810F. This model cleared drop tests under Olympus in-house testing conditions; however, Olympus does not guarantee protection from damage or malfunction under all conditions. Olympus in-house shockproof testing conditions: Drop height: 2.1 m, Drop surface: Plywood (lauan laminate), Drop orientation: 26 directions for each surface, each side, and each corner. Drop test was performed once for each direction.
  5. Kilogram force (kgf) is the unit for measuring force exerted on an object. All measurements are according to Olympus testing conditions, and do not guarantee protection from damage or malfunction under all conditions.
  6. The number of recordable still images is reduced at low temperatures.
  7. Super Macro setting required
  8. 35mm equivalent.
  9. Use of a tripod is recommended. Processing may take longer than usual.
  10. White balance can also be changed manually.
  11. GPS: Global Positioning System. To use GPS Assist data, information must be updated via the internet. A PC or smartphone with an internet connection is required. GPS Assist Data must be updated every 2 weeks. Depending on the country/region of use, different laws and regulations may be applicable regarding the use of the GPS function. Be sure to follow local laws and regulations.
  12. Cannot be used together with Silicone Jacket CSCH-127.
  13. The Field Sensor System will not operate properly when the camera is stored in the underwater case. Make sure to set the Log Lever to the off position when using the case. Use together with silica gel for best results.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Peak Design’s Travel Tripod is a re-imagination of one of photography’s basic tools

22 May

Peak Design is back at it again. This time, however, their crowdfunding campaign doesn’t involve a clever clip system or a new camera bag—it’s a tripod.

The Peak Design Travel Tripod has been eleven years in the making, according to Peak Design CEO Peter Dering. Tired of conventional tripod designs, Dering set out to rethink the tripod from the ground up, but following through on the dream would prove far more difficult than he imagined.

The goal of the Travel Tripod, which will come in both aluminum and carbon fiber variations, was to design a tripod that removed all of the empty, negative space found in conventional tripod designs, and they managed to achieve just that. DPReview was sent a pre-production sample to take product photos of for this article and as you can see in the images, not a single bit of space was wasted throughout the tripod’s design.

The legs are contoured to the triangular center column, the cams to unlock the legs are stacked and can all be opened at once, and the cleverly thought out ballhead fits inside the contours of the legs to fold up into a unit that’s no larger in diameter than a Nalgene water bottle and shorter than two Nalgenes stacked on top of one another. The aluminum and carbon fiber versions weigh 1554g (3.43lbs) and 1210g (2.67lbs), respectively. When packed, the tripod measures just 6.35cm (2.5in) in diameter and 39.37cm (15.5in).

The Peak Design tripod folded up next to a folded up Manfrotto 190XB with a trigger-style ballhead.

The head itself, which can support up to 9.1kg (20lbs) and reach a maximum height of 152.4cm (60in) with the legs and center column completely extended, uses a rotating dial around the edge to loosen and lock the head in position. Cameras are mounted onto the head using Peak Design’s Capture Clip mount and snap into place with a quick latch that’s secure on its own, but can also be locked using a secondary rotating dial.

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In addition to the tripod, the kit includes a Capture Camera Clip and dedicated carrying case that has a little pocket with an included hex key for tightening and loosening various elements of the tripod.

For a full run-down of the tripod and its specs, head on over to out our more thorough hands-on and to crowdfund the tripod, visit the Kickstarter campaign. A pledge of $ 289 will get you the aluminum version and a pledge of $ 479 will get you the carbon fiber version. The first tripods are expected to ship December 2019.


Disclaimer: Remember to do your research with any crowdfunding project. DPReview does its best to share only the projects that look legitimate and come from reliable creators, but as with any crowdfunded campaign, there’s always the risk of the product or service never coming to fruition.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Honor 20 Pro launches with F1.4 aperture and dedicated macro camera

22 May

Huawei sub-brand Honor has launched its new flagship smartphone and, as rumored, the Honor 20 Pro is the first smartphone to come with an F1.4 aperture in its primary camera. But that’s not the only news. The new model also comes with a dedicated 2MP macro camera that has been optimized for image capture at a subject distance of only 1.5 inches (4cm) and uses a F2.2 aperture.

The primary camera features a 48MP Sony IMX586 1/2″ Quad-Bayer sensor that produces 12MP image output. The lens is optically stabilized.

The tele lens has an equivalent focal length of approximately 80mm and an F2.4 aperture. It also comes with OIS. Finally, there’s a 16MP ultra wide-angle camera with a 117-degree field of view and F2.2 aperture.

A AIS Super Night Mode captures several frames in quick succession, discard the blurry or otherwise unusable ones, and merges the rest into one high-quality low-light image. The 48MP AI Ultra Clarity Mode uses similar methods for additional detail in bright light.

The front camera offers a 32MP pixel count and is located inside a hole in the 6.26” 1080p+ LCD display. The device is powered by the same Kirin 980 chipset as the Huawei P30 Pro and comes with 8GB of RAM and 256GB storage. The 4,000mAh battery can be charged from flat to 50% in 30 minutes.

The Honor 20 Pro will be available soon at a price point that makes it look like an attractive alternative to some more established competitors. The device will cost you €600 ($ 670) in Europe. No pricing information for other regions has been released yet.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Godox announces redesigned X2T with Bluetooth and better handling

22 May

Chinese flash manufacturer Godox has released details of an updated trigger that will have a redesigned button layout, a larger display panel and Bluetooth to allow flashes to be controlled from a smartphone.

The Godox X2T has the same hotshoe for shoot-through flash as the X1T, but now has individual buttons for each flash group on the top panel to make selection and adjustment quicker and easier. The control dial has also been moved to the base of the unit, to make it accessible to the photographer’s left hand.

Other new features include a wider display panel with a new and clearer user interface, as well as a quick-lock for the foot instead of the old locking wheel. A scanning setting automatically detects the most secure channel, and Bluetooth support allows users to control and trigger their flash units using the GodoxPhoto app on Android and iOS smartphones and tablets.

As before, the trigger will be compatible with Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm, Olympus/Panasonic and Pentax cameras and their respective TTL systems. The X2T uses 2.4GH for a wireless control range of up to 100m, and can operate across 32 channels with 99 wireless ID settings. It has a USB socket for firmware updates and is powered by two AA batteries.

The company has yet to reveal pricing or when it intends to begin shipping, but you can find more information on the Godox website.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Video: A curated collection of street photography from 1838 to 2019

22 May

YouTuber Guy Jones, who specializes in sharing historical images, footage, and audio, has uploaded a new video highlighting street photography from 1838 to 2019. The video provides viewers with a curated look at street photography from past generations, including images of New York City, London, Paris, Philadelphia, St. Louis, San Francisco, and other destinations.

According to a note on the video, all of the images have been remastered and color adjusted. A full list of audio accompanying the images can be found in the video’s description. Viewers interested in seeing other similar content can find a huge catalog of historical images through the Library of Congress website.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Easter Island tourists put iconic statues at risk to get nose-picking selfies

21 May

The remote volcanic island Rapa Nui, also called Easter Island, is under threat from tourists seeking a particular variety of images taken with the island’s iconic oversized head statues (moai): nose-picking. The trend is one of multiple types of disrespectful actions taken by tourists who are increasingly violating visitor guidelines, putting the statues at risk.

Easter Island has been a World Heritage Site for more than 20 years and is home to the Rapa Nui National Park. According to UCLA archaeologist Jo Anne Van Tilburg, who has been studying the island for almost 40 years, the number of tourists visiting Easter Island has skyrocketed over the past couple of decades.

Van Tilburg said to Newsweek, ‘In 1981 there were only about 2,500 to 3,000 people living on the island, and the yearly count of visitors was about that number. Today, the island hosts over 150,000 tourists per year.’

Many tourists have engaged in disrespectful behavior toward both the island and its residents, including walking over protected land, on top of graves, and climbing the statues. Some tourists violate these rules to get a picture of themselves picking the nose of one the head statues.

The influx of tourists is described as having ‘a hugely negative impact’ on the island’s natural resources and sense of community. Many tourists have engaged in disrespectful behavior toward both the island and its residents, including walking over protected land, on top of graves, and climbing the statues. Some tourists violate these rules to get a picture of themselves picking the nose of one the head statues.

Van Tilburg has called for greater efforts to protect the island and its history, telling Newsweek:

We all need to step up, whether scientist or tourist, and do our fair share to preserve the past. Tourists can study and learn before they travel to the island. They can show proper respect for others. They can remove their egos—and their selfie sticks—from the landscape and learn to appreciate the past.

Sadly, other popular protected destinations also face damage and destruction from tourists, particularly those seeking images to post on Instagram. Last year, for example, New Zealand officials revealed plans to place warning signs around the iconic Lake Wanaka Tree due to the damage it has suffered from people climbing on it.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Hands-on with the new Peak Design Travel Tripod

21 May

Peak Design Travel Tripod

Peak Design announced a new Travel Tripod on Kickstarter today and we were lucky enough to get our hands on a prototype prior to launch. But before we dive into some initial impressions, here’s the nitty gritty: the tripod will be available in aluminum for $ 350 and carbon fiber for $ 600 – both prices include a ball head – however you can score the tripod for much less by backing it on Kickstarter now.

The Travel Tripod series sits in a pricing bracket of its own, toward the upper end of the market. It’s more than double the cost of a lot of other popular entry-level travel tripods, like Manfrotto’s Be Free line and MeFOTO’s RoadTrip tripods, but still much less expensive than the upper-echelon of the market in the Gitzo Traveler tripods (when factoring in the cost of both legs and head).

Overall design

The Peak Design Travel Tripod (center) is 2.5″ / 6.35 cm in diameter from top to bottom, making it considerably more streamlined and less bulky than the Manfrotto Be Free (left), MeFOTO RoadTrip (right) and Gitzo Traveler (not shown). Peak Design told us removing unnecessary bulk to save space was the primary goal of developing this tripod. To that regard, they seem to have been successful.

However, just because it’s slimmer doesn’t mean it’s any lighter than the competition. In fact both the aluminum and carbon fiber versions weight about the same as their Manfrotto and MeFOTO counterparts. And Peak Design’s collapsed length of 15.5″ / 39 cm is also about the same as the aforementioned tripods.

The ball head

Like most Peak Design products, the ball head accepts Arca Swiss-compatible plates – the two pins on either side can be removed (using an included tool) if you happen to have an Arca plate that is wider than the standard Peak Design-issued one. And a dual-locking mechanism offers piece of mind that your precious gear won’t take a tumble.

The top of the plate has a small bubble level that I found generally ends up covered when a camera’s attached, but it is useful for leveling prior. Users loosen and tighten down the ball head by turning the lower ring. I was pleased with the throw of this ring, you only need to turn it about 90-degrees to go from fully-locked down, to loose enough to adjust the camera’s framing.

Stability

Historically, I haven’t been terribly impressed by the level of stability most travel-oriented tripods offer, especially when using cameras with front-heavy lenses. For instance, when trying to photograph the moon with a Nikon P1000 mounted on a Manfrotto Be Free, the camera was prone to sagging forward with the lens fully-extended.

But Peak Design assured me their new tripod is up to the challenge of locking down even the heaviest rigs. To test their claims I went to our gear closet and brought out one of the heaviest setups I could find: a Nikon D5 with a 70-200mm F2.8 lens. To my surprise, I had no issue locking it down. Even with the front-heavy lens pointed up toward the sky, I witnessed no sag.

The legs and other features

The Peak Design’s Travel Tripod’s locking levers are easy to open and close thanks to a long throw. This makes it very easy to set up or break down in an instant, something I can definitely appreciate. A hex tool is also included to tighten and loosen the lock joints. This tripod can reach a maximum height of about 60″ / 152 cm with its legs and center column fully extended. It also offers a ‘low mode’ that get you to about 5″ / 13 cm off the ground and an ‘Inverted Mode’ for when you want to shoot straight down.

Peak Design loves including secret little features in their products and the Travel Tripod is no exception. A hook at the bottom of the center column can be used to weigh down the tripod, but turning it also reveals a secret Arca-compatible cellphone mount, tucked away in the column.

Initial impressions

It’s encouraging to see brands jumping into new product categories and genuinely trying to innovate and improve. With the Peak Design Travel Tripod, there’s no doubt the price alone will have people turning up their noses. But innovation and research doesn’t come cheap. And more importantly, even in the little bit of time I used a prototype of this tripod, I found it to be more compact and more stable than what’s offered on the lower end of the travel market.

Ultimately, we’re looking forward to getting a final version in and taking a proper look at how it compares not only to the ManFrotto and MeFOTO travel tripods, but travel tripods with a similar price, likes those from Benro, as well as the higher-end models from Gitzo.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Leica Q2 review

21 May

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Gold Award

84%
Overall score

The Leica Q2 is a fixed-lens, full-frame camera sporting a new 47.3MP sensor and a sharp, stabilized 28mm F1.7 Summilux lens. It’s styled like a traditional Leica M rangefinder and replaces the hugely popular original Leica Q (Typ 116), launched in 2015.

The Q2 looks essentially the same as its predecessor, but under the hood notable improvements have been made including the addition of weather-sealing, better battery life, a new processor and a much-improved electronic viewfinder. Pixel count has also nearly doubled.

Key Specifications:

  • 47.3MP full-frame sensor
  • 28mm F1.7 Summilux stabilized lens
  • 3.68MP OLED EVF with 0.76x magnification
  • 3″ fixed touchscreen LCD with 1.04 million dots
  • Fast autofocus and smoothly damped manual focus ring
  • Native ISO range of 50-50,000
  • 4K video capture
  • Leaf shutter up to 1/2000 sec
  • E-shutter up to 1/40,000 sec
  • IP52 rated dust and water resistant
  • Magnesium-alloy body
  • Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
  • Improved battery life

While the Q2 replaces the original Q in Leica’s lineup, the Leica Q-P – a ‘stealthy’ version of the Leica Q – will remain available. The Leica Q2 sells for a recommended price of $ 4995 / £4250 / €3990.

Raw photo processed in Adobe Camera Raw.
ISO 250 | 1/80 sec | F2.8

What’s new and how it compares

The Q2 and original Q look pretty similar, but there are a lot of upgrades under the hood. Here’s the nitty gritty.

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Body and controls

How’s it feel in hand? How’s the new electronic viewfinder? Find out here.

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First impressions

We’ve been shooting around with the Leica Q2 – here are our initial thoughts based on that time.

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Image Quality

The sensor in the Leica Q2 looks pretty impressive, but we’re still not fans of the low-contrast, low-saturation JPEGs.

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Lens performance

The Q2’s lens includes digital corrections as part of its design. We found little to worry about: the lens is as wide and sharp as the JPEGs make it look.

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Autofocus and Video

The Q2 has surprisingly good video specs, but the lack of control holds it back a little. Autofocus is fit for purpose.

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Conclusion

The sheer cost makes it difficult to be completely objective about the Q2. But by Leica’s standards, we think it’s a comparatively rational choice.

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Sample gallery

Puppies and landscapes and portraits, oh my! Check out our full sample image gallery for out-of-camera JPEGs and Raw conversions.

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Is the Leica Q2 right for you? [Separate Article]

We take a closer examination at how well-suited the Q2 is for a variety of common photography use cases.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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