360Photography

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  • Logitech’s new Craft keyboard includes a dial for photo and video editors

    Computer accessory maker Logitech has introduced a new keyboard designed specifically for ‘creators.’ It’s called the Craft keyboard, and it features a dial that will hopefully make life a little easier for stills and video editors.

    The Crown dial on the Craft keyboard offers three-way touch, tap and turn functions that can tune-in to the tools of editing applications and allow mouse-free adjustments and selections. The company suggests using the Craft keyboard with Adobe’s Photoshop, for example, so the dial can be used to adjust brush sizes, turn saturation up or down, or to scroll through tool settings quickly and with greater accuracy.

    But you’re not limited to Photoshop. A software package called Logitech Options will allow custom profiles to be installed that are specifically designed for individual applications, and which extends the range of controls that can be accessed. The Crown can also be used with Microsoft Office applications, and you can use it to take control of standard PC functions such as screen navigation as well.

    The Logitech Craft is expected to go on sale in October priced $ 200/£170. For more information, check out the video below and visit the Logitech website.

    Press Release:

    Logitech CRAFT Advanced Keyboard with Creative Input Dial Sets New Standard for Desktop Control

    Flagship Keyboard Improves Creativity and Productivity

    “The creative input dial gives you instant access to the functions you need, the moment you need them, allowing you to increase your productivity by simply touching the dial. CRAFT puts you in your creative element – every time you sit at the desk.”

    Today Logitech (SIX: LOGN) (NASDAQ: LOGI) announced CRAFT, an advanced keyboard with a creative input dial, setting a new standard for computer keyboards. CRAFT looks and feels better than anything you have typed on and offers a whole new way to immediately access context-specific computing tools with a smart aluminum dial. For example, with a touch, tap or turn you can adjust image brightness, contrast and saturation in Adobe Photoshop, or create and adjust charts in Microsoft Excel®. The creative input dial gives you the ultimate control and input at your desk for precision, efficiency and uninterrupted creative flow.

    “Our new flagship Logitech CRAFT keyboard is for all creators who spend a lot of time designing and creating – who want to work with greater precision and feel connected to their work,” said Art O’Gnimh, global head of keyboards at Logitech. “The creative input dial gives you instant access to the functions you need, the moment you need them, allowing you to increase your productivity by simply touching the dial. CRAFT puts you in your creative element – every time you sit at the desk.”

    The touch-sensitive aluminum creative input dial, called the Crown, recognizes the apps you are using and gives instant access to the tools you need. With a slight touch of the Crown you can instantly access context-specific functions — like brush size, brightness, chart type, font size — tap to change the function and turn to change the selected function’s value. Installing custom profiles in Logitech Options™ Software maximizes the creative process when working with Adobe Photoshop CC, Adobe Illustrator CC, Adobe Premiere Pro CC, Adobe InDesign CC and Microsoft PowerPoint®, Excel® and Word® (Microsoft functionalities work on PC only at this time). The Crown brings comfort, immediacy and convenience to your creative process and allows for increased two-handed interactions. You can also have access to global controls – giving you the ability to change desktops, navigate between apps, or adjust volume – and assign one additional Crown function in each of your favorite apps.

    CRAFT also features smart illumination with backlighting that detects your hands and adjusts lighting automatically depending on the room conditions. The keys are crafted for comfort, in a full-size familiar layout, with each individual key engineered for stability and precision. CRAFT looks great alongside other premium desktop accessories by Logitech, such as the Logitech MX Sound, Logitech Spotlight Presentation Remote and Logitech MX Master 2S.

    Additionally with the touch of an Easy-Switch™ button, you can easily switch between – and type on – any three connected devices, whether you are using a Windows® PC or Mac®. Select from either a Logitech Unifying™ USB or Bluetooth® Low Energy technology to connect to your computer.

    Pricing and Availability

    The Logitech CRAFT Advanced Keyboard is expected to be available in October 2017 at Logitech.com and select retail stores for a suggested retail price of $ 199.99. For more information, please visit Logitech.com, our blog or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Watch a real-time 4K close-up video of the solar eclipse at totality

    You might be getting sick of all the solar eclipse articles, but in the aftermath of last month’s phenomenon we keep running across incredible new vantage points—from this amazing (and viral) climber photo to this footage shot from a weather balloon in the stratosphere. Here is one more jaw-dropping capture.

    Photographer JunHo Oh shot this 4K close-up of totality from Warm Springs, Oregon using a Panasonic GX85 attached to a 2160mm f/12 telescope and a RainbowAstro RST-150H Harmonic Drive robotic mount.

    In the video above you get to watch the eclipse reach totality up close before tracing the corona in all of its solar flare-fueled glory. In the zoomed out version below you can watch the full eclipse at once. Both are worth 3 minutes of your time… and a healthy shot of awe.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Photographer caught using someone else’s public domain photo to win awards

    Swiss photographer Madeleine Josephine Fierz has been stripped of two photography awards after it was revealed that she’d won them using someone else’s photo.

    The contest-winning image, seen above, was taken by Thai photographer Sasin Tipchai, who had uploaded it under a CC0 license to stock photography website Pixabay. Fierz submitted the image as her own, ultimately receiving first place in the Moscow International Foto Awards (MIFA) and second place in the Fine Art Photo Awards.

    The deception was discovered after Sasin posted on Facebook about Fierz’s use of his images, and someone else shared it with the Moscow International Foto Awards’ Facebook page. That brought it to the attention of officials who, after looking into the matter, revoked Fierz’s award and removed the image from its website. The image has also been removed from the Fine Art Photo Awards website.

    In a statement to Khaosod English, MIFA jury member Hossein Farmani commented on the matter, saying:

    [Fierz] claimed since she bought these photos, she thought that she could manipulate it a little and claim it as her art. As a jury of MIFA we take these allegation very seriously and we investigate and delete images in question as soon as we can verify the facts. It’s almost impossible for us to know which images belong to whom unless photographers let us know, like you did.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Rotolight unveils the Neo 2: A portable LED HSS flash that doubles as a modeling light

    Rotolight has announced the launch of Neo 2, an “industry first” high speed sync-capable LED flash that doubles as a continuous light source and boasts no recycle time.

    The company says it designed the Neo 2 specifically for videographers and portrait photographers, and that it collaborated with Elinchrom to build its Skyport 2.4GHz HSS wireless flash receiver into the model. That Skyport receiver, in conjunction with the Rotolight HSS transmitter, enables photographers to wirelessly control up to four groups of 10 lights at ranges up to 656ft / 200m.

    The Neo 2 light itself is powered by AA batteries and is capable of 85,000 full-power flashes on a single charge. This model’s shutter sync can be set at fast as 1/8000th of a second, and it offers 500% flash output.

    Compared to the original model, the Neo 2 is 85% brighter when used as a continuous light, and there’s a built-in kelvin display for adjusting both flash and continuous light color temperature. Rotolight used its AccuColour LED tech with the Neo 2, the result being “perfect color rendering,” according to the company.

    The Neo 2 is available now in a £250 (~$ 325 USD) bundle that includes a single light, the power supply, an accessory shoe, belt pouch, and a 4-piece filter pack. Rotolight is also offering a £1,125.00 (~$ 1,465 USD) bundle that features three lights, stands, balls heads, and a hard flight case.

    Press Release

    ROTOLIGHT UNVEILS NEO 2

    A revolutionary all-in-one High Speed Sync flash and continuous light for photographers and filmmakers

    The dawn of a new age of on-camera lighting

    Pinewood Studios, London, 4th September 2017: Rotolight, award-winning British LED lighting manufacturer, has announced the launch of an industry-first, all in one High Speed Sync (HSS) Flash and continuous on-camera LED lighting innovation, NEO 2. Unlike traditional on-camera flash, NEO 2 has no recycle time, which ensures users never miss a shot, making it the perfect light choice for today’s modern high-frame-rate-capable cameras.

    NEO 2 can be simultaneously a continuous ‘modelling light’ and HSS flash, allowing the photographer to easily acquire focus in dimly lit situations and optimise composition. Designed for portrait photographers and videographers on the go, NEO 2 provides the ‘shoot what you see’ benefits of continuous light, and the flexibility of HSS flash (1/8000th sec.) with 500% flash output, whenever users need more power or to freeze action. HSS also enables users to shoot with wider apertures to create beautiful separation between subject and backgrounds.

    Rotolight has collaborated with Elinchrom to integrate its ‘Skyport’ 2.4Ghz HSS wireless flash receiver into NEO 2, eliminating the need to purchase a standalone flash receiver, whilst providing rock-solid reliability, range, flexibility and control for multiple off camera lighting setups. Skyport enables users to wirelessly control up to 10 lights, in four groups at up to 200m(656ft) with the new Rotolight HSS transmitter, optimised for Rotolight by Elinchrom. It is available on launch for Canon, Nikon, Sony, Olympus, Panasonic, and, shortly, Fuji camera systems, and compatible with all other Elinchrom Skyport devices.

    “The NEO 2 is going to revolutionise how people use light, and eliminate the need for external flash. If you have those moments that you just cannot afford to miss, this is an incredible light for you. You’ll never miss a shot,” says Jason Lanier, a Sony Artisan of Imagery and professional photographer.

    “I tested NEO 2 on a Sony A6500 at 11 frames per second,” explains Lanier. “It fired every single time. There’s genuinely no recycle time, no light loss, no power loss. That is just a game-changer, there is no other light in the world that can do that.”

    Featuring electronically adjustable colour temperature in both flash and continuous modes, with a built in kelvin display, NEO 2 enables photographers to easily adjust white balance or match ambient light settings to create more natural looking shots.

    Lightweight and portable, NEO 2 can be mounted both on or off camera for ultimate creative control. Delivering the longest battery life of any speedlight or flash, ever made, NEO 2 provides 85,000 full power flashes on a single set of rechargeable AA batteries, compared to the 200 flashes of a typical speedlight. Now 85% brighter in continuous mode than its predecessor, NEO 2 is a small light that delivers big results.

    “It enables photographers to spend more time composing the perfect shot, rather than spending time on cumbersome lighting setups. For those shooting both stills and video, it entirely eliminates the need for two separate purchases,” says Rod Aaron Gammons, managing director of Rotolight.

    Packed with innovative features for video users, NEO 2 is ideal for interviews and filmmaking. It includes an updated suite of CineSFX™ effects, Rotolight’s award-winning feature set for video productions/ filmmaking, (fire, lightning, TV, gunshot, paparazzi and others), as well as Designer Fade mode for custom in-camera fade FX.

    NEO 2 also features Rotolight’s AccuColour ™ LED technology that delivers outstanding colour rendering for perfect skin tones. The unique circular shape provides a naturally soft, flattering light output, with Rotolight’s signature catchlight effect.

    Rotolight NEO 2 is available as a single light, including a belt pouch, accessory shoe, power supply and four-piece filter pack including diffusion, skin tone and magenta, or as a three-light kit with hard flight case, stands and ball heads. Optional accessories include softboxes, raincovers, and 10-piece colour filter pack.

    For more information visit www.rotolight.com

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • This interactive fall foliage prediction map helps photographers plan for the season

    Believe it or not, it’s already September. In 16 short days and some change, autumn will officially begin in the Northern Hemisphere, and photographers across the US (and the world) will go hunting for the perfect orange-and-red peppered photograph of the season. Well, if you’re in the United States, you’re in luck: there’s an interactive map available that will help you plan your trip to capture the best possible colors.

    It’s called the Fall Foliage Prediction Map, and the 2017 version is officially live on SmokyMountains.com.

    Using the map is straightforward: simply go to this link, drag the slider to your desired date and watch as the interactive map of the United States changes color to reveal when any particular area will be at No Change, Minimal, Patchy, Partial, Near Peak, Peak, and Past Peak fall foliage conditions.

    The map isn’t perfect, of course, but SmokyMountains.com has been putting this resource together for several years now and many photographers swear by it. To check it out for yourself, click here.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Ohio photographer shot by police officer who mistook camera for gun

    New Carlisle News photojournalist Andy Grimm was shot by Sheriff’s Deputy Jake Shaw on Monday after the officer mistook Grimm’s camera and tripod for a gun, according to the news organization.

    Per New Carlisle News—a local news organization in New Carlisle, Ohio—and Grimm’s statements about the incident, Grimm had left the company’s office around 10PM to photograph lightning. At some point after this, Grimm witnessed a traffic stop being performed by Shaw, which he decided to photograph. Grimm says he pulled his vehicle into the parking lot of a restaurant near the traffic stop, where he began setting up his tripod and camera “in full view of the deputy.”

    Despite this, Grimm said, “I turned around towards the cars and then ‘pop, pop,’” referencing the gunfire he heard before being shot in the side.

    The photographer underwent surgery and is expected to recover. Grimm states that he knows the deputy who shot him and that he doesn’t want him to lose his job; however, he says Shaw failed to give him any sort of warning before opening fire. New Carlisle News says that the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is now looking into the incident.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Video: Olympus OM-D E-M10 III 4K sample reel

    The Olympus OM-D E-M10 III made its debut last week, introducing 4K video capture to Olympus’ entry-level OM-D series. And there’s more good news: you can use a combination of 5-axis mechanical and digital image stabilization while shooting 4K. This makes for some seriously stable footage on the fly, as demonstrated by the sample reel above – all shot handheld. Check out the footage, and keep your eyes peeled for our full review very soon.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Capturing the same sunset, 2 years apart

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    This is an interesting exercise / study on photography and post processing.

    I took both of these photos from exactly the same spot (slightly different focal length 16mm vs 17mm), in the middle of the winter, at the same time of the day, but two years apart. The big difference in the landscape appearance is that two years ago we could hardly see any snow, but this year it was frozen solid from the middle of November until the very end of March.

    Canada. Montreal. Lachine | Location: 45.42907, -73.68791

    I also used two very different processing methods for each photograph. For this year’s photo I used an HDR Photography workflow, using Lightroom, Photomatix and Photoshop. As you can see, I processed it heavily in Photomatix: the colors are vibrant, and the details in foreground are prominent.

    For the older photo, I used an “old school” single RAW Lightroom processing technique. To achieve the warm, softer look I used the Split Toning feature in Lightroom. At this point I am not sure which one I like better. They look very different, but I kind of like them both.

    It’s an interesting experiment in how taste and technique (and two years time…) can make the same scene look totally different.

    Viktor Elizarov is a travel photographer based in Montreal, Canada. He’s also the man behind PhotoTraces, a travel photography blog and community of over 60,000 photographers. Visit Tutorials section of his blog for free tutorials and free Lightroom presets.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Venus Optics Laowa 15mm F2 FE Zero-D gallery and user impressions

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    Venus Optics, a Chinese lens manufacturer established in 2013, has released several interesting manual focus lenses, but perhaps none as intriguing as the Laowa 15mm F2 FE Zero-D. This lens, for Sony Full Frame E-mount cameras, strikes a unique balance with its small size, wide field of view (110 degrees) and fast aperture. Even more impressive is its promise of almost zero distortion. Venus Optics claims that it is ‘the world’s fastest 15mm rectilinear lens for full-frame.’

    See our Laowa 15mm F2 FE Zero-D gallery

    At $ 850 MSRP, it’s also priced competitively. So how does it hold up in the field? Read on.

    Handling

    The build quality of this lens is very good. At 500 g (17.6 oz) it’s not too heavy but has some heft to balance out the weight of the camera (I shot mostly with a Sony a7R II). The body and lens mount are all made of metal, as is the accessory lens hood. In hand, it has a reassuringly dense and sturdy feel to it.

    ‘It has a reassuringly dense and sturdy feel to it.’

    The focus ring is slightly stiffer than I’d expected, but still rotates smoothly. Perhaps with a little use, it will loosen up. A focus scale is helpful for hyperfocal focusing, but for absolute accuracy you’ll want to use the camera’s focus magnifier. I programed a button on our a7R II to this function. The focus rings turns slightly past infinity but on our copy, infinity lined up pretty closely with the center of the infinity symbol on the lens.

    The Venus 15mm F2 is a nice complimentary size and weight to the a7r II.

    The Venus 15mm F2 has a 72mm filter thread, which is a nice feature, especially for videographers who might want to attach a neutral density filter. Speaking of video, the lens has a toggle switch to turn on/off the click stops on the aperture ring.

    Only full stop apertures are marked on the ring and there are no click stops for third stops. However, you can still set the aperture in between the full stops. One major drawback of this lens is the lack of electronic contacts, meaning no EXIF data is communicated to the camera. Whereas some manual focus lenses will automatically bring up focus assist when the ring is turned, this 15mm will not.

    Image quality

    Distortion is very well-controlled.

    As the name would suggest, distortion on this lens is VERY well controlled, though not quite ‘zero’ as there is a tiny bit of barrel distortion. Still, this is an excellent choice for architectural or interior photography. It also focuses quite close: 15cm (6 in).

    Even when shooting wide open, this lens is impressively sharp dead center. And by F4-5.6 it’s sharp throughout the whole field of view. In general, I found it to offer the best results between F4-8 ; as we’d expect, diffraction becomes an issue at F11 and beyond.

    The 7-blade aperture results in sun stars like the one above.

    Flare is well controlled and while lateral chromatic aberration is present in some of the sample photos, it’s easily correctable. The Venus 15mm uses a 7-blade aperture resulting in sun stars that look pretty good – see the example above.

    If you’re planning to use this lens predominantly for landscape work, it’s worth noting there is moderate vignetting throughout the aperture range. You can see an example of this in our aperture progression at the end of the sample gallery.

    As well as stills work, this is an excellent lens for videographers, thanks again to its almost non-existent barrel distortion and the versatility of its fast maximum aperture of F2.

    Takeaway

    The Venus Laowa 15mm F2 FE Zero-D is a great lens for a variety of applications, if you don’t mind manual focus and the lack of electronic communication with your camera. Sharp, fast, light and wide, it is capable of outstanding results, especially once stopped down a little.

    What I like:

    • Distortion is very well controlled
    • Fast, wide and reasonably small
    • Good build quality
    • Sharp, even wide open
    • 15cm (6 in) minimum focus distance
    • 72mm filter thread

    What I don’t:

    • No electronic communication so no EXIF info
    • Vignettes moderately throughout aperture range

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Behind the scenes: Mountain bike self-portrait under the Milky Way

    Here in Marlborough, New Zealand, I’ve been able to indulge two of my passions: night sky photography and mountain biking. But my time in this part of the world is almost up, and lately I’ve been wondering how I can combine these. So a couple of weeks ago I did a bit of location scoping around the outlying hills. I jogged to the top of the mountain bike park, and ended up at a spot that I might be able to make something of.

    Back in front of the PC I consulted the planetarium software, Stellarium, and checked the moon phases. Conditions looked OK in just a couple of days, but would the forecast cloud cover hold off?

    On the day I set my internal alarm and had a glance outside, almost hoping there would be cloud so I could retreat under the covers. Not to be, so I leapt on the bike and put the hammer down to get up the hills in time. I really had to shift it as the galactic arc was dropping rapidly—anything too long after 3:30am would be too late. After a brutal hill climb in subzero conditions (and the odd wrong turn in the dark) I made it to the spot. Time: 3:31am.

    I allowed myself a minute to catch my breath and then set up the equipment for the panorama. The idea was to radio trigger the flashgun and position it on the fence line, but with frozen fingers and a lack of time I decided to keep the strobe in the hotshoe instead. To get myself into the frame I simply used the self-timer.

    A number of attempts were needed to position myself and then get the flash output on point. Because I had decided to shed my heavy jacket for the shoot, there was a degree of urgency before I froze solid. Finally I was satisfied, and then there was the dicey descent back to civilization.

    The great thing about night sky photography is the surprise that awaits back at the PC when you stitch the images together. Not bad, I thought. It would have been nice to have a bit more moonlight on the singletrack, and the arc a bit higher, but for a first time Milky Way Mountain Bike Self Portrait… I’ll take it. Thanks Marlborough.

    Sarnim Dean is a photographer and loyal DPReview reader who has been featured previously in a reader showcase here on DPR. To see more of his work, be sure to visit his website.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)