Category: Uncategorized

  • Olympus EyeTrek smart glasses pack a tiny 2.4MP camera into an AR wearable

    Olympus has launched a wearable, augmented reality system that positions a tiny screen and camera near the wearer’s eye. Called EyeTrek Insight, this open source device resembles Google Glass, but is larger and intended for enterprise applications rather than general consumer use. The wearable features a 2.4MP forward-facing camera and the maker’s own Pupil-Division Optical System.

    EyeTrek Insight is designed to attach to the ear pieces of a pair of glasses, whether they’re prescription frames or safety glasses. The unit has an integrated touch bar enabling users to control the device using their finger, as well as an optional microphone attachment for issuing voice commands. Both WiFi and Bluetooth enable EyeTrek to connect with various networks and devices, and while the device has only a 1hr run time per charge, Olympus has an optional adapter for plugging the smart glasses into a USB power source.

    The integrated camera is fairly low resolution, capable of capturing content at up to 1992 x 1216, though the device’s tiny OLED display has a 640 x 400 resolution. Olympus describes the display, which is semi-transparent, as measuring half the width of a human pupil. Despite its small size, the maker says its display offers clear images even in outdoor and otherwise bright environments.

    While Olympus markets its wearable toward industries where employees could benefit from visual access to data, the unit runs Android and provides development tools for devs and businesses to create their own applications, leaving the door open to a wide range of potential abilities and uses. The EyeTrek Insight is listed on Olympus’s website as a ‘Developers Edition,’ though it is unclear whether the company plans to offer a different edition in the future.

    The EyeTrek Insight EI-10 is listed as available to purchase on Olympus’s website for $ 1,500 USD. The optional microphone attachment is $ 90 and the power adapter is $ 110; some other select accessories are also available, such as safety glasses, a larger battery pack, and a battery wall charger.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Leica Thambar-M 90mm F2.2 sample gallery

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    The Leica Thambar 90mm F2.2 is an M-mount version of a classic portrait lens known for its unique soft rendering. We had our hands on a loaner unit for a little while, and put it right to work on the subject matter it’s designed for. See what this modern take on a vintage design can do.

    See our Leica Thambar 90mm F2.2
    sample gallery

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Canon EOS M100 review

    Introduction

    The EOS M100 is Canon’s newest entry-level mirrorless ILC model. Despite being appreciably smaller (and cheaper) than its higher-end M5 and M6 siblings, it comes with the same 24MP APS-C sensor equipped with excellent Dual Pixel autofocus. It also has Canon’s latest DIGIC 7 processor, as well as Wi-Fi with NFC and Bluetooth for connectivity.

    The M100 is aimed squarely at smartphone photographers looking to get their first ‘real’ camera, and its polished touch-centric control scheme reflects this. It’s small, it’s light, and because of the large APS-C sensor, is almost always capable of better photos than any smartphone.

    Appropriately given the target audience, there’s even a dedicated ‘Wireless’ button to make it as easy as possible to get your images from the M100 to the wilds of Facebook and Instagram.

    Key Features:

    • 24MP APS-C CMOS sensor
    • Dual Pixel autofocus for stills and video
    • DIGIC 7 processor
    • 3″ tilting LCD
    • 6fps burst shooting (4fps with continuous AF)
    • 1080/60p video with digital IS
    • Wi-Fi and NFC with Bluetooth
    • 295 shot-per-charge battery live (via CIPA)

    Although smartphones have largely decimated the compact camera segment, the EOS M100 is not without competition from other interchangeable lens cameras, all of which offer image quality above and beyond the typical smartphone camera. Users shopping based on price are likely to also consider the Panasonic Lumix GX850, Olympus PEN E-PL8, Fujifilm X-A3 and even the venerable Sony a6000.

    Canon’s color output is a perennial crowd pleaser at the DPR offices. Out-of-camera JPEG. Canon EF 50mm F1.8 STM.
    ISO 200 | F5.6 | 1/800 sec

    The EOS M100 is among the least intimidating cameras in this group, for new users. It’s got the fewest physical controls, and tapping to focus and manipulate settings on-screen in Auto mode is likely to come naturally to just about anyone who hasn’t been under a rock since the first iPhone came out.

    Compared to…

    Canon M100 Panasonic GX850 Olympus
    E-PL8
    Sony a6000 Fujifilm X-A3
    Resolution 24MP 16MP 16MP 24MP 24MP
    Sensor size APS-C Four Thirds Four Thirds APS-C APS-C
    Image stab. Lens-based Lens-based In-camera Lens-based Lens-based
    AF system (live view) Dual Pixel Contrast-detect Contrast-detect Hybrid Contrast-detect
    LCD 3″ tilting 3″ tilting 3″ tilting 3″ tilting 3″ tilting
    Touchscreen Yes Yes Yes No Yes
    Burst speed (AF locked) 6.1 fps 10 fps 8 fps 11 fps 6 fps
    Video 1080/60p 4K/30p 1080/30p 1080/60p 1080/60p
    Wireless Wi-Fi + NFC + BT Wi-Fi Wi-Fi Wi-Fi + NFC Wi-Fi
    Battery life 295 shots 210 shots 350 shots 360 shots 410 shots
    Dimensions (mm) 108x67x35 107x65x33 115x67x38 120x67x45 117x67x40
    Weight 302 g 269 g 357 g 344 g 339g
    Typical price w/lens
    (11/2017)
    $ 599 $ 549 $ 649 $ 548 $ 549

    Based on the above table, it’s clear that in the mirrorless interchangeable lens market, this price bracket is getting pretty crowded. There are several different philosophies represented in here. The Sony a6000 has been around for a while but it continues to be a great value proposition. The GX850 is the only camera here to shoot 4K, and is slightly smaller than the M100, but comes with a smaller M43 sensor, which has an impact on still image quality at medium and high ISO sensitivity settings.

    Overall, then, is the image quality and user experience of Canon’s most compact ILC enough to make it stand out in this crowd? Let’s find out.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Peak Design unveils redesigned ‘Greatest Hits’: All new Clip, Slide and Slide Lite

    Peak Design—the makers of top rated and much loved camera accessories that have raised nearly $ 15 million on Kickstarter since their first got into crowdfunding—have just launched a special ‘greatest hits’ 5-day Kickstarter campaign to fund their latest products: a totally redesigned Capture Camera Clip and revamped Slide and Slide Lite camera straps.

    The campaign launched this morning, and already Peak Design is racing towards its funding goal at record speed—which was, after all, the point.

    “We wanted to bring these redesigned products back to Kickstarter because our backer community brought them to life in the first place,” says Adam Saraceno, Peak Design’s Marketing Director. “We also wanted to get gear into folks’ hands before the end of the year. These are busy times so we opted to keep our Kickstarter short and sweet.”

    Here’s the company’s Kickstarter video, to give you an overview of the new products:

    Capture Camera Clip

    First up, the one that started it all: The Peak Design Capture Camera Clip. The first product Peak Design launched on Kickstarter, the Capture clip is a staple in many a photographers’ camera bag (or rather ON their camera bag), but the original design needed some love.

    Enter former Apple design engineer Max Maloney, who took some time to show us the improvements they’ve made on the Clip at PhotoPlus this year.

    The clip has been totally redesigned to be smaller, sleeker, and more functional all at the same time. It now features an all aluminum built (no plastic parts in sight), a lighter and smaller build that should still fit on almost any belt or backpack strap out there, an embeddable grip on the backplate so you don’t have to tighten the thing so much for it to stay in place, and a much sleeker profile that’s less likely to snag on clothing or gear.

    Here’s a closer look at the new Clip, including a side-by-side with the old version:

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    The new Capture v3 will cost you a $ 55 pledge (MSRP $ 70). Find out more on Kickstarter.

    Slide and Slide Lite

    The Capture v3 is probably the most exciting ‘Greatest Hits’ release, but for those of you who love Peak Design’s camera straps, the Slide and Slide Lite revamp is definitely worth looking into.

    The Slide (meant for DSLRs) and Slide Lite (meant for mirrorless cameras) are some of Peak Design’s most popular camera straps, and now they’ve been upgraded with updated dual adjusters that keep a lower profile, a new anchor mount for ‘low-profile connection point to bottom of camera’, smooth and durable nylon webbing for easier adjustment, and updated anchor connectors for easier one-handed use.

    Here’s a closer look:

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    The Slide and Slide Lite will MSRP for $ 65 and $ 50, respectively, when they hit store shelves, but if you contribute to the Greatest Hits Kickstarter you’ll be able to get them for $ 50 and $ 35. Click here to learn more.


    To see check out either of the new products for yourself or contribute to the campaign—which has already raised nearly $ 50,000 in funding in just a couple of hours!—click here. Estimated delivery for all of the new products is December of 2017.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Market report provides interesting insights into camera module industry

    Graph: Yole Développement

    Market research & strategy consulting company Yole Développement has just released its “Camera Module Industry Market and Technology Trends 2017″ report, and the document includes a number of interesting findings and forecasts that photographers, specially those interested in smartphone photography, should pay attention to.

    According to the report, the market for cameras in mobile devices is still the main driver of the camera module industry that reached $ 23.4 Billion in 2016 and is projected to reach $ 46.8 Billion by 2022.

    The researchers at Yole Développement also found the manufacturers of autofocus and optical image stabilization systems had to adapt to the large production volumes and low cost requirements of the smartphone makers. This has resulted in a restructuring effort and a move of production capacity from Japan and Korea to China and Vietnam. Companies like New Shiko and TDK have been able to benefit the most from these developments.

    In the sub-markets for image sensors and lens sets, the quasi-monopolies of Sony and Largan are about to end as the competition is quickly catching up in terms of technology. Module makers, like market leaders LG Innotek, are hugely dependent on customer loyalty as the loss of a large customer could potentially result in a collapse of the company.

    The report also finds that the average cost for mobile camera modules has remained relatively constant. However, with high-end AF- and stabilization systems and and active alignment now being much more commonplace, complexity has increased disproportionally. The current total cost of camera module per phone is pretty much proportional to the number of cameras installed—two cameras cost the manufacturers $ 16, three cameras around $ 24, and those implementing four cameras in their devices have to calculate with a cost of more than $ 30 per handset.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Nikon will shut down all sales operations in Brazil at the end of 2017

    Just last week, we learned that Nikon was shutting down operations in China, including closing a factory responsible for producing some of the company’s compact cameras and DSLR lenses. But if you thought that was going to be the only closure in the Nikon portfolio this month, think again.

    Announced earlier today, Nikon has decided to cease all e-commerce operations in Brazil, where the company ONLY sells its wares via e-commerce. Translation: Nikon will no longer sell cameras, lenses or accessories in the country. Brazilians’ only option will be gray market gear.

    The news was announced in a press release that is linked prominently at the top of the Nikon Brazil website. It reads (Google translated and edited for clarity):

    As of December 31st, 2017, Nikon do Brasil Ltda. will end the sale of cameras, lenses and photographic accessories in the Brazilian market, currently marketed exclusively through its e-commerce arm, the Nikon Store. The company’s other business segments, including customer service and technical assistance, will continue to operate normally.

    The change is part of ‘global scale restructuring’ of the company’s R&D, Sales and Manufacturing, and at least appears to be the first step in pulling out of Brazil entirely. For now, products under warranty and those purchased through the Nikon Brazil Store before December 31st will continue to have access to warranty services and customer service.

    Owners of out-of-warranty gear will receive service “where possible” and “based on costs approved by the owners.”

    Press Release

    Nikon do Brasil Ltda. announces the closure of e-commerce in Brazil

    Nikon Corporation is optimizing R & D, Sales and Manufacturing structures in a global scale restructuring.

    As part of this process Nikon do Brasil Ltda.—as of December 31st, 2017—will end the sale of cameras, lenses and photographic accessories in the Brazilian market, currently marketed exclusively through its e-commerce arm, the Nikon Store. The company’s other business segments, including customer service and technical assistance, will continue to operate normally.

    Products under warranty, including those marketed by Nikon Brazil’s e-commerce through December 31st, 2017, will continue to honor the warranty periods. For out-of-warranty products, where possible, technical assistance will be provided based on costs approved by the owners.

    São Paulo, November 6, 2017.

    Auster Nascimento
    President – Nikon do Brasil

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Video: Shooting with a $63,000 100MP monochrome medium format camera

    Ted Forbes—photographer and inspirational educator behind The Art of Photography—recently got a chance to try out the Phase One IQ3 100MP Achromatic digital back, and man did it ever leave an impression. In his short video overview above, he dives into the images he captured with this bayer filter-free, monochromatic medium format beast, explaining why he feels this camera is a true ‘gamechanger.’

    If that word triggers your gag reflex, you’re not alone, but Forbes isn’t one to throw hyperbole around and he gives good reason (and plenty of examples) for why he believes this digital back is something special. Pay particular attention to what Forbes is able to do using filters and the sensor’s ability to pick up light outside of the visible spectrum.

    Check out the full video above to see the camera in action and dive into some sample images, but don’t forget to watch it at the highest possible resolution YouTube and your monitor can handle. You’ll need every available pixel at your disposal.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Canon EF-M 22mm F2 STM sample gallery

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    The Canon EF-M 22mm F2 is by no means a new lens. But it’s a lens we find ourselves returning to again and again as we test Canon’s mirrorless cameras. It’s matched perfectly to small, mirrorless camera bodies; put it on an M100 and you’ve got an extremely compact and lightweight combination that’s ideal for everyday situations.

    We’ve collected some of our sample images with this handy little lens from years past into a single gallery – take a look.

    See our Canon EF-M 22mm F2 STM
    sample gallery

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • iFixit tears down the iPhone X, gives it 6 out of 10 on ‘repairability’

    Image: Ifixit

    The brand new Apple iPhone X just got a complete teardown from iFixit.com, which rates the device a 6 out of 10 on its repairability scale, putting it on the same level as the iPhone 8 Plus and Google Pixel 2 XL. It’s easier to repair than a Samsung Galaxy Note 8 though, which scored only 4 points.

    The iFixit team were particularly impressed with the repairability of battery and display; the latter, for example, can be replaced without removing the biometric Face ID hardware. On the downside, the analysis found that unrelated components are tied together by cables, turning them into complex assemblies that are difficult and expensive to replace.

    The teardown also gets us a good look at the iPhone X Dual 12 MP cameras—wide-angle and telephoto, with F1.8 and F2.4 apertures and OIS—and the 7 MP TrueDepth front camera with F2.2 aperture, 1080p HD video recording, and Face ID. Head over the ifixit.com for the full report and lots of detail images of iPhone X innards.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Photo story of the week: Fire and Ice

    ?A striking 2 a.m. sunrise in Disko Bay, Greenland

    This photograph was taken at 2AM on Disko Bay in Greenland. I had been sailing for several hours between immense icebergs, and the clouds were building in such a way that it was becoming clear that the sunrise was going to be something special.

    Upon approaching a patterned iceberg floating between smaller pieces of ice, the light struck it from the side in a way that accentuated its texture. The smaller ice pieces provided the foreground, and it all really came together wonderfully.

    The image won a gold medal on the 2015 Arctic Awards.

    Photo taken with a Canon 5D Mark III and Canon 16-35mm f/4L IS.


    Erez Marom is a professional nature photographer, photography guide and traveler based in Israel. You can follow Erez’s work on Instagram, Facebook and 500px, and subscribe to his mailing list for updates. Erez offers photo workshops worldwide.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)