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The Pictar Pro gives your smartphone physical dials, add-on viewfinder

05 Oct

Miggo has launched the latest in its line of camera grips for smartphones with the Pictar Pro, a model that offers users enhanced handling and access to hidden features of their phones, as well as an optional viewfinder for shooting in bright conditions. The company promises that this next generation Pictar makes it easier to control the camera functions of your iOS or Android phone through new larger dials and buttons, as well as a rocker switch that can control the camera’s zoom.

The Pictar Pro clamps around the smartphone and connects to it via high frequency sound waves, leaving Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and physical ports free for other functions. The device recognizes the type and model of phone automatically by communicating with the Pictar App that users need to install. The Pictar Pro also comes with an optional built-in power supply that can roughly double the time the phone operates between charges.

The new larger press/turn dials control the app in the camera and give access to features many native camera apps don’t include. Users can control the shutter speed of their phone’s camera, as well as dial in exposure compensation, use focus and exposure lock, access different flash modes and work in ISO or Shutter priority exposure modes.

The highlight for me though is the optional viewfinder that plugs into the Pictar Pro to let the app know it is in use. When the app detects the collapsible viewfinder the phone’s display screen shrinks to the size of the viewfinder so that the whole screen can be seen through the eye piece. This allows better stability for longer exposures as well as giving users a clearer view of what they are shooting in bright conditions. It makes the phone feel much more like a ‘real’ camera.

The free Pictar App gives users a choice of RAW, TIF and JPEG file formats, advanced white balance settings, a histogram display and options for aspect ratios. A cold shoe lets accessories, such as video lights, be mounted on the top of the grip, and the base is fitted with a standard tripod thread.

Kickstarter backers will be able to get the Pictar Pro for between $ 129 and $ 189. The estimated price once the campaign finishes is $ 250 for a kit including the viewfinder and accessories.

For more information see the Miggo website, or the Pictar Pro Kickstarter campaign page.

Miggo Returns to Kickstarter and Goes Pro with the New Pictar Pro, the World’s Most Advanced Camera Grip for iPhones and Androids

Pictar Pro unlocks possibilities on the smartphone camera to take control and get the best quality video and photography

Offers 12 incredible camera features to create a highly capable DSLR camera and mobile studio with advanced video features

Miggo is further enhancing the mobile photography and video experience with the introduction of Pictar Pro exclusively on Kickstarter the same community-driven platform that helped launch its original breakthrough smartphone camera grip concept worldwide a year and a half ago. Pictar Pro unlocks smartphone possibilities (for both iPhones and Androids) to enjoy remarkable camera control and creativity not possible with the smartphone camera by itself. Starting August 28, 2018, anyone can back the development of Pictar Pro on Kickstarter at http://crwd.ly/pictar_pro1

Smartphone cameras’ potential aren’t fully realized. Despite the fact that Apple and Android smartphone makers invest tens of millions of dollars yearly in optical lens development, most users don’t take full advantage of their smartphone’s photography tools. And controlling the smartphone’s camera is done through menus, which isn’t very convenient.

“Photography is about capturing the moment, not digging around menus to figure out the best way to capture the moment,” said Guy Sprukt of Miggo. “Pictar Pro helps take control of your photography along with the best-quality video not possible with the smartphone camera alone.”

Feels like a Real Camera and Shoots like a Real Camera

Pictar Pro takes all the exciting features that made Pictar One a world-class success, and upgrades them further, offering unmatched control over the phone’s camera with four improved external camera control buttons, a ‘shark-skin’ ergonomic grip, Qi wireless charging to keep the smartphone charged for continuous shooting, a unique viewfinder for shooting on bright days, advanced video capabilities and more. And the new Pro version is designed to be more like a Leica camera with a classic solid satin-finish brass body used in traditional cameras to offer a more substantial feel.

The heart of the system and the engine that drives Pictar Pro is Pictar App, a powerful advanced photo application for iPhones and Androids with pro-level features and user-friendly interface – which allows unmatched control over a variety of photo options.

A lot of intelligence is built inside, from recognizing which device is being used (i.e.: iPhone vs Samsung Galaxy, vs Sony) to intelligently adjusting the camera for macro shots to uniquely connecting the viewfinder that automatically shrinks the image down on the phone to the size of the viewfinder via proprietary technology. And the Pictar Pro is simple as plug and play. Simply slide the phone in and start using it with the Pictar App. No need to attach anything or rely on connecting to Bluetooth nor the lightening port.

Turn your smartphone into a powerful video camera. Whether recording a family event or vlogging on YouTube, Pictar Pro offers advanced video capabilities and allows for professional accessories to be connected such as a tripod, microphone, LED lighting and external lenses.

12 Incredible Camera features not available with smartphones by itself – but only with Pictar Pro.

These include:

  • New classic satin-finish brass body with sturdy camera grip that provides the feeling of a real camera and allows for one-handed shooting.
  • Four external larger control wheels and buttons for easy one hand and one-touch use with better control over the camera’s features for sharper pictures.
  • Exposure compensation wheel for superior control over the exposure and darkness or brightness of the image.
  • Multi-state Shutter Release button offers two modes: a half-press to lock the focus and exposure, and a full click to shoot.
  • Rocker Zoom Switch for ease of use and continuous smooth motion of the zoom, even in video shooting. And depress it to change from front-to-back camera for fun selfies.
  • Smart Wheel – Rotate the wheel left and right to switch between 9 different shooting modes: Auto, Shutter Priority, ISO Priority, Manual, Macro, Video, Selfie, Sport and Filters
  • Press the wheel to switch between the different flash modes. The button can be easily programmed to change its function via the application.
  • Viewfinder, which easily connects to see the smartphone’s screen even on a very bright day.
  • Qi wireless charging via an internal battery to keep smartphone going to never miss a great shot.
  • Shutter speed control for “freezing” or blurring the image.
  • ISO control for “cleaner” pictures.
  • Larger zoom range over iPhone to get even closer to the object.
  • Advanced image formats: jpeg / tiff / raw for larger and more detailed files.
  • Multi-featured camera app (free) for better performance and many more options.
  • Tripod attachment great for night photography, long exposures and family selfies.
  • “Cold shoe” connector designed for a microphone or lighting accessories for adding light to any dark scene. Designated side-window allows cord connection
  • Breakthrough wireless connectivity to connect to Pictar Pro to the Pictar App, transferring commands from the various buttons using patented technology of high frequency sound waves.

Pictar Pro fits all sizes of iPhones (from 6 to X, including all Plus models), and a wide range of selected Android and is future proofed for new iPhone models that will be launched soon. Included are a hand strap and neck strap made from a stylish parachute cord with real leather elements, and a premium quality fabric pouch for keeping the Pro when not in use.

Rewards
Miggo has four successful crowdfunding campaigns under its belt with all products delivered to its backers. Miggo chose to bring back Pictar Pro to its loyal Kickstarter community and will be providing special offers including an early-bird price starting at $ 119 (limited availability). Rewards will be range from $ 129 to $ 189. Pictar Pro is estimated to retail for $ 245, which includes the Pictar Pro unit, carrying case, neck strap, wrist strap, viewfinder, charging cable, and Pictar app. It is now available for pre-order on http://crwd.ly/pictar_pro1. Delivery estimates of the Pictar Pro are for the beginning of 2019.

About Miggo
Miggo was established five years ago to bring photography lovers innovative and fun products that make the photography experience more enjoyable and successful. With decades of experience in product development in the field of photography, Miggo develops and markets breakthrough products for smartphones, DSLR cameras, drones and action cameras. The company headquarters are located in Israel and its development center is located in the UK.
Website: myMiggo.com

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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The LG V40 ThinQ is the first smartphone with wide, standard, and telephoto cameras

04 Oct

We’ve already had a sneak peek at some of the LG V40 ThinQ’s triple-camera specifications but now the device has been officially announced and comes with a total of five cameras.

Three of those can be found on the phone’s back. The 12MP “standard” camera features an equivalent focal length of 27mm, a fast F1.5 aperture and a 1.4?m pixel size. Next to it you’ll find a 16MP super-wide-angle with 16mm equivalent focal length, F1.9 aperture and 1.0?m pixels. The 12MP tele-camera features a 52mm equivalent focal length, a F2.4 aperture and a 1.0?m pixel size.

There’s no tele option at the front but you can choose between a 5MP 21mm equivalent wide-angle (F2.2/1.12?m) and an 8MP 26mm “standard” camera (F1.9/1.12?m)

40 percent larger (compared to the V30) pixels on the main camera and the fast aperture should make for decent low light capabilities and LG says the PDAF system is 50 percent faster than before. An “advanced HDR” feature analyzes the scene in order to maximize dynamic range.

There is also a new AI Composition feature that recommends alternative framing to the shot taken by the user, presumably using a crop. The white balance and exposure systems are also AI-powered and can adjust color temperature across different lighting situations or automatically adjust shutter speeds for fast moving scenes.

Other specifications are in line with current Android flagship devices. The Android OS is powered by a Snapdragon 845 chipset and 6GB of RAM. Users can choose between 64GB or 128GB of internal memory and can also make use of a microSD card slot. Images can be composed, edited and viewed on a 6.4-inch OLED display with HDD+ resolution (3120 x 1440 pixels).

The V40 ThinQ isn’t the first triple-camera phone, but it is the first to offer three different focal length and, at least on paper, looks like a real contender in the high-end bracket of the market. We are hoping to get a test unit into our hands sometime soon. It’s worth mentioning that Samsung’s next flagship phone is expected to come with a similar camera setup but you’ll have to wait until next year to buy one.

Key specifications:

  • Triple camera
  • 16MP Super Wide (F1.9 / 1.0?m / 107°)
  • 12MP Standard (F1.5 / 1.4?m / 78°)
  • 12MP Telephoto (F2.4 / 1.0?m / 45°)
  • Dual front-camera with 8MP Standard (F1.9 / 1.12?m / 80°) and
    5MP Wide (F2.2 / 1.12?m / 90°)
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset
  • 6.4-inch QHD+ OLED display (3120 x 1440 pixels)
  • 6GB RAM / 64GB or 128GB internal memory / microSD slot
  • 3300mAh battery

LG DELIVERS ULTIMATE FIVE CAMERA SMARTPHONE WITH LG V40 THINQ

A Truly All-Encompassing Smartphone Camera Experience to Capture Every Perspective

SEOUL, Oct. 4, 2018 — LG Electronics (LG) today unveiled its newest premium smartphone featuring a total of five cameras to redefine the standard of smartphone photography. The latest iteration of the company’s acclaimed V series, the LG V40 ThinQ is an uncompromising multimedia powerhouse device designed for today’s generation of storytellers that prefer to communicate with visuals and videos, especially on social media.

The LG V40 ThinQ retains the V series design philosophy with an improved 6.4-inch FullVision OLED display and even slimmer bezels than before. Powered by the Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 845 Mobile Platform paired with 6GB of RAM and 64GB or 128GB of internal storage, the LG V40 ThinQ again delivers the innovations that has made the LG V series a favorite among power users.

Seeing the Light with Five Cameras

In order to deliver a standout smartphone for today’s content-creating social generation, LG designed the LG V40 ThinQ from the ground up to deliver a truly all-encompassing smartphone camera experience. The LG V40 ThinQ features a rear camera module with three different lenses: 16MP super wide-angle, 12MP standard angle and 12MP telephoto. The three lenses allow for shutterbugs to frame different shots without changing position relative to the subject. The 107-degree super wide-angle lens captures subjects with more of the background with ease, while the telephoto with 2x optical zoom (or 3.2x the zoom of the wide-angle lens) takes clear shots from distance without a loss in image quality. The Triple Shot feature stitches together the images captured with each of the three lenses into a short video file for easy sharing.

The front camera module features a 5MP wide-angle lens and 8MP standard angle that work in tandem to create the perfect bokeh effect with an on-screen slider to adjust the amount of background blur. Other features allow selfie lovers to personalize their photos even more with unique lighting and special effects.

The pixel size of the main rear camera sensor has been improved by about 40 percent compared to the LG V30, increasing from 1?m to 1.4?m, while the image sensor is more than 18 percent larger than in the LG V30. In additdion to delivering the sharpest and brightest images of any LG smartphone camera, the F1.5 aperture of the main camera delivers greater depth of field, half the shutter lag and significantly faster burst mode compared to the LG V30.

What’s more, Dual PDAF (Phase Detection Auto Focus) delivers automatic focusing that is 50 percent faster, about twice as fast as the industry average. The advanced HDR feature analyzes and determines the right exposure settings to create perfectly lit shots, eliminating overexposed backgrounds or underexposed subjects. Subjects are always in perfect focus because the camera checks sharpness continuously until the shutter button is depressed.

LG upgraded the camera in the LG V40 ThinQ to be even more powerful and intuitive than ever to deliver the best color, composition, white balance and shutter speed. The AI CAM’s new AI Composition feature taps into the phone’s intelligence to frame, capture and recommend an alternative shot to the one taken by the user. AI Auto White Balance (AI AWB) automatically adjusts the color temperature across different lighting situations while AI Shutter selects the right shutter speed, especially useful when trying to capture fast-moving subjects.

Other new features such as Cine Shot, 3D Light Effect, Makeup Pro, Custom Backdrop, My Avatar and AR Emoji make photography on the LG V40 ThinQ a whole new experience. Cine Shot makes creating cinemagraphs – images with animation – incredibly easy and fun. Simply shoot a short video with any of the phone’s three rear cameras and “paint” the area to be animated with a finger and the result will be sure to amaze. 3D Light Effect changes the tone of a photo with professional-looking lighting, touch up any selfie with different looks using Makeup Pro or entirely change the background of a selfie with Custom Backdrop. For those who love all things augmented reality, create and share personalized emojis with My Avatar and AR Emoji using one’s own face or one of the provided characters.

Immersive Sight and Sound

The LG V40 ThinQ sports a new and improved 6.4-inch QHD+ (3120 x 1440) OLED FullVision display and a bottom bezel that is 1.6mm thinner than its predecessor. The new plastic OLED display is designed to deliver more accurate colors and better luminance consistency. The 4.5 million pixels delivered by the OLED display is the most of any QHD+ smartphone on the market today and allows for the enjoyment of immersive, vivid and vibrant content that only an LG OLED display can deliver.

LG has always prioritized high fidelity audio in its smartphones and the LG V40 ThinQ is no exception, being the first LG phone to carry the Audio Tuned by Meridian label. The 32-bit Hi-Fi Quad DAC produces a balanced sound signature that comes extremely close to the quality of an original recording. And Boombox Speaker, originally introduced on the LG G7 ThinQ, doubles the bass of conventional smartphone speakers by utilizing the internal space of the device as a resonance chamber. When placed on a solid surface or hollow box, the LG V40 ThinQ acts like a woofer to amplify the bass even more.

Minimalist Design Built to Last

The clean lines and sophisticated colors emphasizes the three main design elements of the LG V40 ThinQ: smooth touch, unique color and seamless form. With the objective to create a design that will stand the test of time, the simple yet beautiful exterior is the perfect complement to the wealth of innovative technologies found on the LG V40 ThinQ.

LG’s proprietary Silky BlastTM process etches the tempered glass back with microscopic pits to create a smoother matte finish which feels extremely comfortable in the hand without being slippery. In addition to its more premium appearance, the matte glass is more practical due to its higher resistance to fingerprints and stains. The phone will be available in the charming colors of New Aurora Black, New Platinum Gray, New Moroccan Blue and eye-catching Carmine Red.

The LG V40 ThinQ retains the slim and light design heritage of the V series, weighing only 169g and measuring a svelte 7.7mm in thickness. Like its predecessor, the LG V40 ThinQ meets the U.S. Department of Defense requirements for durability, passing 14 MIL-STD 810G Transit Drop Test categories for suitability in military operations and is IP68 rated.

“The LG V40 ThinQ was designed with the main goal to deliver an uncompromised experience for users to create, consume and share high quality content,” said Hwang Jeong-hwan, president of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “The versatility of the camera and the proven V series platform makes the LG V40 ThinQ a serious option for customers looking for a premium smartphone that does it all.”

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Canon EOS R First Impressions Review

04 Oct

The Canon EOS R is the first full frame mirrorless camera to use the new RF mount. It’s built around the same 30 megapixel Dual Pixel CMOS sensor as 2016’s EOS 5D Mark IV but is designed for a new series of RF lenses. Canon says the shorter RF lens mount will allow them to design better or smaller lenses than they can for the existing EF mount.

Being the first RF-mount camera, it’s not surprising that the EOS R occupies a unique new position in Canon’s lineup. In essence, you’re getting image and video quality from the 5D Mark IV at around the price point of the 6D Mark II with a healthy dose of control philosophy from both of those cameras as well as the EOS M series.

Key Specifications:

  • 30MP full frame Dual Pixel CMOS sensor
  • 3.69M dot OLED viewfinder
  • Fully articulated rear LCD
  • Autofocus rated down to -6EV (with F1.2 lens)
  • Up to 8 fps shooting (5 fps with continuous AF, 3 fps ‘Tracking Priority mode’)
  • UHD 4K 30p video from a 1.83x crop of the sensor
  • Canon Log (10-bit 4:2:2 over HDMI or 8-bit 4:2:0 internal)
  • USB charging (only using optional Canon charger)
Converted from Raw using ACR 11 and the Camera ‘Standard’ profile.
ISO 100 | 1/100 sec | F1.2 | Canon RF 50mm F1.2L
Photo by Wenmei Hill

The EOS R was announced less than two weeks after Nikon’s Z7, which itself is Nikon’s first full-frame mirrorless camera and is also designed around a new mount. Where Nikon makes a big deal about how immediately familiar the Z7 will be to existing Nikon shooters, Canon is incorporating some more radical ergonomic innovations on the EOS R – it handles unlike any existing Canon camera. Let’s take a closer look at what exactly those innovations are and how they work.

The Canon EOS R will be available from October 2018 at a cost of around $ 2,299 or $ 3,399 with the RF 24-105mm F4L IS lens.

What’s new and how it compares

The EOS R comes with a lot more than just a new mount. Read about the new features included on the EOS R.

Read more

Body and handling

The EOS R is Canon’s lightest full-frame camera, but remains weather sealed and has a full-size grip. Read about all of the EOS R’s ergonomic updates here.

Read more

First impressions

The EOS R comes with some surprising ergonomic updates that aren’t to everyone’s tastes, but its still capable of great image quality.

Read more

Sample gallery

View a variety of sample images from our final production EOS R.

Read more

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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DPReview TV: Fujifilm X-T3 review

04 Oct

This week, Chris and Jordan share their assessment of a final-production Fujifilm X-T3 from the National Music Centre in Calgary. Find out what they think of Fujifilm’s latest X-Trans addition – and get a glimpse of the world’s largest analog synthesizer as a bonus.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel to get new episodes of DPReview TV every week.

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Samsung Galaxy S10 to come with ultra-wide-angle, regular and tele-cameras

04 Oct

Huawei started the trend only a few months ago with the P20 Pro, but it seems as though triple-camera setups on smartphones will be the norm in the very near future. We learned recently that LG’s upcoming flagship V40 ThinQ will come with both an ultra-wide-angle and a tele-camera next to its “standard” lens.

Now it appears Samsung will be the next major manufacturer to follow suit. We have heard rumors about a Galaxy S10 triple-cam before but a newly leaked specs table has revealed what’s suspected to be the complete camera specification.

The main camera looks unchanged from the Galaxy S9+, with a 12MP sensor (1.4µm pixels) and Samsung’s F1.5 / F2.4 dual aperture. The tele-camera comes with a slightly increased pixel count (13MP vs 12Mp on the S9+) but retains the F2.4 aperture and 1.0µm pixel size. Both lenses are optically stabilized.

The ultra wide camera is completely new, however, and according to the leak will offer a 123° field of view and feature a 16MP sensor and F1.9 aperture. “Beyond” is Samsung’s internal code name for the S10 of which three models are expected to be announced in the first quarter 2019. The camera specification above is likely reserved for the top-end model.

The S10 won’t be Samsung’s first triple-camera, however. The Korean manufacturer has already released the Galaxy A7. The mid-ranger has to make do without a tele-camera, though, and instead reserves one of its camera for depth-sensing for a simulated bokeh-effect.

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Microsoft unveils Surface Pro 6, Surface Laptop 2, and Surface Studio 2

04 Oct

At a small press event in New York yesterday, Microsoft unveiled its latest generation of Surface products: the Surface Studio 2, Surface Laptop 2, and the Surface Pro 6. The trio of devices offer upgrades over the previous models, with Microsoft boasting that the Surface Pro 6 is its “most powerful Surface Pro yet.” Similarly, the company claims the new Surface Studio 2 is the “most powerful” Surface device it offers.

The new Surface Pro 6 features the 8th-generation Intel Quad Core processor, boasting 67% faster speeds than the 5th-gen Surface Pro 2017 model. According to Microsoft, it worked to strike a balance between portability and performance, the end result being all-day battery life (up to 13.5 hours) combined with a high level of versatility.

The Surface Pro 6 features a 12.3-inch PixelSense touch display with a 2736 x 1824 267ppi resolution, SSD storage options ranging from 128GB to 1TB, Intel UHD Graphics 620, and 8GB/16GB RAM options. The model starts at $ 899 USD with an October 16 availability date for US customers.

The Surface Laptop 2 likewise offers the newest 8th-generation Intel Quad Core processor, that giving it a speed boost of 85% versus the original model. The Surface Laptop 2 features a 13.5-inch PixelSense touch display with a 2256 x 1504 201ppi resolution, as well as up to 14.5 hours of battery life. This model features the same RAM, storage, and graphics options as the Surface Pro 6.

The Surface Laptop 2 starts at $ 999 USD with an October 16 shipment date in the US.

Finally, Microsoft unveiled the Surface Studio 2, its “most powerful Surface ever.” This model sports next-gen Pascal graphics and a 50% GPU speed increase over the previous model. The 28-inch PixelSense touch display on the latest Studio model is 38% brighter than the original, bringing 22% greater contrast and a 4500 x 3000 192ppi resolution.

The Studio 2 offers Vivid, sRGB, and DCI-P3 color settings, support for up to two 4K Ultra HD 30Hz or one 4K UHD 60Hz external displays, and two NVIDIA graphics options: the GeForce GTX 1060 6GB and the GeForce GTX 1070 8GB. Other features include the 7th-generation Intel Core i7-7820HQ processor, support for Windows Hello authentication, and Xbox Wireless built-in.

The Surface Studio 2 starts at $ 3,499 USD with a November 15 shipment start date in the US.

According to Microsoft, preorders are available now in “select” markets; the products are expected to launch in other regions some time next year.

Via: Microsoft

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DJI can now enable drone operation in controlled areas

03 Oct

Drone maker DJI has been approved by the The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to authorize drone flights in controlled airspace around airports as part of the Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC) program.

LAANC was established earlier this year by the FAA to facilitate drone operation for professional pilots near approximately 500 airports where commercial drone flights generally require prior authorization. Pilots will be able to receive near-real-time authorization instead of going through a more long-winded and slower process.

The program designates locations within the restricted airspace that can be used safely up to approved altitudes, and monitors temporary flight restrictions and other limits that could affect flight permissions. Drone pilots can use LAANC to check those limits, plan flights and file applications. Applications are processed instantly and LAANC provides flight information to FAA Air Traffic.

“Before LAANC, using drones for productive work near many airports required detailed applications and up to months of waiting, even when the benefits were clear and safety was prioritized. Now, LAANC allows easy drone use in more than 2,000 square miles near airports, including many populated areas that can benefit tremendously from drone operations,” said Brandon Montellato, DJI Program Manager – Enterprise Solutions. “More than 100,000 Part 107-certified drone pilots will now be able to perform valuable work – from inspections and surveys to filming and photography – with near-instant approval.”

DJI is one of 9 new companies and organisations that have been authorized by the FAA after a rigorous testing and validation process. The others are Aeronyde, Airbus, AiRXOS, Altitude Angel, Converge, KittyHawk, UASidekick, and Unifly.

Thanks to the approval DJI can now allow customers to apply for LAANC approvals via their DJI accounts to plan flights. The company says it will provide more information on how the process will be integrated into its products lineup in the near future.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Camera app developer says there’s no ‘beauty filter’ being applied on the iPhone XS, XS Max

03 Oct

Yesterday we learned that at least a handful of iPhone XS and XS Max users are unhappy with their new devices’ front camera image quality, with some early adopters reporting over-excessive skin smoothening and beautification effects when taking self-portraits.

Software developer Sebastiaan de With, the man behind the Halide camera app, has had a closer look at the new iPhone models’ camera processing and says there isn’t any beautification applied to the front camera images. Instead, he says, it’s Apple’s new approach to image processing that can result in soft textures and smoothening.

Both the front and rear cameras in the iPhone XS and XS Max are applying computational photography methods, merging multiple frames into one to optimize image quality across the image. Frames are captured at different exposures, with the image processor picking the best elements of each frame and combining them into the final image output.

In his blog post de Wit says that this method results in a “whole new look” that’s quite different from previous iPhone cameras. The frame merging reduces the brightness of the bright areas and the darkness of the shadow areas, resulting in textures with lower levels of contrast. All the detail is still there but the viewer perceives those areas as softer and less sharp. This is also why the skin in selfie images looks softer.

Additionally, the new iPhone models are applying more aggressive noise reduction — something Apple was already known for going heavy on in the past. This is necessary because the iPhone XS tends to user faster shutter speeds and higher ISO values than previous versions, presumably to keep motion blur to a minimum. Getting rid of the noise inevitably also eliminates some fine detail.

The reduction in detail is particularly true for the front camera where a smaller image sensor comes with higher noise levels to start with. On the plus side, dynamic range is increased which is particularly useful for high-contrast scenes, where highlight-clipping is reduced and more shadow detail visible.

De With also says all these software parameters can be tweaked by Apple. So, if it turns out the “new look” isn’t too popular with consumers the Apple engineers could pretty easily revert to a more “traditional” look via a software update.

De With’s Halide app will soon receive a new Smart RAW feature that “deactivates” Apple’s Smart HDR algorithm to reduce noise reduction and reveal more image detail and fine textures. For more information head over to Sebastiaan’s complete article on the Halide blog.

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Skylum teases Luminar DAM module, synchronized edits in new videos

03 Oct

Skylum has released multiple teaser videos revealing aspects of its digital asset manager (DAM) for Luminar. The videos detail the DAM’s speed in a pair of speed tests and edit sync feature in a third.

Last month, Skylum CEO Alex Tsepko stated the Luminar Digital Asset Manager update would be available by the end of 2018. Tsepko likewise confirmed plans to provide the DAM for free to existing Luminar 2018 customers, saying:

We know that hundreds of thousands, if not millions of people are waiting for this update. But mainly because there are so many people who need this tool, we wanted to take just enough time to make everything right.

We promise we will ship the DAM this year. I know it has been a long wait, but we don’t want to ship a product that we would not use ourselves. The new Luminar (with DAM) will bring you great speed and the most incredible user experience available. Your photos will play the main role. Our software aims to get out of the way.

The update will be free for everyone who has Luminar 2018.

In past updates, Skylum indicated that the DAM will take its Luminar product “in a new direction,” bringing with it customized workspaces, a cleaner interface, speedier workflows, and more.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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NYA-EVO launches Kickstarter for its new Fjord 60-C expandable camera backpack

02 Oct

Photography bag manufacturer NYA-EVO has launched a Kickstarter campaign for its new camera backpack, the Fjord 60-C.

Designed to be a larger version of NYA-EVO’s Fjord 36, the Fjord 60-C is an expandable backpack that fits 60 liters worth of gear in full ‘Expedition mode’ while packing up to a more manageable carry-on size of 44 liters (the ‘C’ in Fjord 60-C stands for carry-on).

Specifically, the Fjord 60-C features three different size configurations that can be adjusted using zippers and the expandable top compartment: Carry-on, Adventure mode and Expedition mode. They offer 44 liters, 52 liters and 60 liters of storage space, respectively.

Like the Fjord 36 backpack, the Fjord 60-C will use NYA-EVO’s removable camera inserts that come in small, medium, and large. The Fjord 60-C will also come in the same colors as the Fjord 36: Midnight Blue, Powder White, Pine Green and Graphite Black.

The backpack is constructed of nylon 210 denier fabric with a water-repellant coating, features YKK aqua guard zippers and has an aluminum internal frame to help keep its shape. The shoulder straps have three adjustable configurations for a more precise fit and there’s a new waist belt to help distribute the weight when the pack is full.

The Kickstarter campaign started today, so there’s plenty of time to secure your pledge. €280 (approximately $ 324) will get you a single Fjord 60-C without any removable camera unites, while a €350 (approximately $ 405) pledge will secure you a single Fjord 60-C with all three removable camera unites.

To find out more and make a pledge, head on over to the Kickstarter campaign. As with all crowdfunded campaigns, proceed with caution. Although NYA-EVO has proven in the past that it’s capable of shipping a Kickstarter project, there’s always the risk of unforeseen circumstances from happening.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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