360Photography

Category: Uncategorized

  • Olympus OM-D E-M10 III Shooting Experience

    The Olympus OM-D E-M10 III is a 16MP Micro Four Thirds mirrorless camera. It looks like a slightly prettier version of its predecessor and the main changes are to the user interface (UI) and menus, in an aim to make the camera more accessible to relative newcomers to photography.

    From a hardware point of view, it’s a fairly minor update to the Mark II but the improved ergonomics and UI all have a part to play in making the camera nicer to shoot with and in making some of its smarter features easier to get at.

    Beyond the attempts to make the E-M10 III and its more specialized photographic modes easier to use, a more powerful processor brings 4K video shooting. Impressively, the camera is able to offer a combination of mechanical and digital stabilization in 4K mode (most cameras can only digitally stabilize 1080), giving uncannily smooth footage, even when moving the camera around.

    Beyond this, the camera’s Auto mode has also been reworked so that it attempts to detect movement in the scene, to help it better select the right settings for shooting. Overall it’s a subtle update, but calling it the OM-D E-M10 II Mark II would be silly, even for Olympus.

    Rivals and Peers

    Although the E-M10 III is the entry level to the OM-D series, it’s a distinctly mid-level camera. Its profusion of direct controls make it a camera with plenty of space to grow into and, even with the work done to ease access to its full set of features, it still feels like a camera aimed at people who want to do a lot more than just point and shoot.

    As such, it falls somewhere between Sony’s a5100 and a6000 models (offering the touch-screen ease-of-use of the former with the hands-on control of the latter). Its pricing also puts it squarely into competition with Canon’s EOS T7i / 700D and Nikon’s D5600. Panasonic’s GX85 is its closest Micro Four Thirds peer, and the only other 4K-capable camera in this class.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • LG launches V30 with super-wide-angle and advanced video features

    LG has launched its V30 flagship phone at IFA in Berlin and like its predecessors in the V-series the V30 puts a lot of emphasis on camera and video features and performance. LG goes as far as to promise a “whole-new video experience”.

    Like on most recent LG models, the V30 dual-camera combines a main camera with a 71 degrees angle of view with a secondary 120 degree super-wide angle. On the main camera a Sony IMX 351 1/3.1 sensor is coupled with a very fast F1.6 lens.

    One of the six lens elements is made from glass rather than plastic which, according to LG, results in a 4% increase in light transmission and consequently better low light performance. The company also claims an increase in dynamic range which is mainly achieved in the shadow areas.

    The super-wide-angle comes with a smaller Samsung sensor that features a 13MP resolution and 1.0um pixel size. There is an F1.9 aperture but no OIS which is easier to live without on a super-wide-angle.

    Manual mode offers a full range of manual controls including shutter speeds up to 30 seconds but it is its video mode features where the V30 really stands apart. There is manual control over video shutter speed and sound recording levels among many other parameters.

    You can also choose from 15 new Cine Effect color presets that are based on film genres, such as ‘romantic’ or ‘film noir’ to give your footage a certain look and the Point Zoom mode allows for stable zooming into a target in the frame rather than the center. The feature also comes with controllable zoom speed and looked quite impressive in a demo we were given at a launch event at IFA. In addition LG says color grading based on LG Cine-Log results in expanded dynamic range and a wider color gamut.

    Sound recording is performed by two high-preformance mics that offer 24-bit high-definition audio with a high dynamic range and very little distortion. According to the LG engineers LG says this results in much improved sound recording in very loud environments.

    Images and videos can be viewed on a 6″ QHD+ OLED FullVision display with a 18:9 aspect ratio that occupies almost the entire front of the device. HDR10 is supported as well. With the Snapdragon 835 the V30 offers Qualcomm’s latest top-end chipset and all components are wrapped up in Gorilla Glass 5-covered metal body that is sealed against dust and water.

    We have our hands on a test unit and it’s fair to say the V30 comes with a very attractive industrial design and reassuring build quality. Despite its 6″ display the overall dimensions feel surprisingly compact, thanks to the FullVision design. We are planning to get our full review started as soon as possible.

    Key specifications:

    • Dual-camera with 70 degree main camera and 120 degree super wide angle
    • Main camera: 16MP 1/3.1″ Sony IMX351 CMOS sensor, F1.6 aperture, OIS
    • Super-wide-angle: 13MP Samsung sensor with 1.0um pixel size, F1.9 aperture
    • 4K video
    • 5MP F2.2 front camera
    • 6″ QHD+ OLED FullVision display
    • Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chipset
    • 64/128GB storage, 4GB RAM
    • microSD card slot
    • 3,300mAh battery with quick charging

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Olympus OM-D E-M10 III offers 4K video, bigger dials and beginner-friendly UI adjustments

    $ (document).ready(function() { SampleGalleryV2({“containerId”:”embeddedSampleGallery_1279730804″,”galleryId”:”1279730804″,”isEmbeddedWidget”:true,”standalone”:false,”selectedImageIndex”:0,”startInCommentsView”:false,”isMobile”:false}) });

    Olympus has announced the OM-D E-M10 Mark III, a subtle update to its entry-level OM-D body. The addition of a TruePic VIII processor brings 4K video capture at 30/25/24p, and an ergonomic update introduces bigger dials and a curved handgrip to the still-diminutive camera.

    The E-M10 III continues to use its predecessor’s 16MP Micro Four Thirds sensor, meaning image quality is largely unchanged, though you will be able to apply a new Bleach Bypass Art Filter to your images. The E-M10 II’s 81 autofocus points have been upped to 121 points, and burst shooting gets a smidgen faster: up to 8.6 fps compared to 8.5 fps.

    Maintained from the previous model is 5-axis in-body stabilization, which can be used in conjunction with digital stabilization for videos – even while recording at 4K resolution. Also consistent with its predecessor are a 2.36M-dot OLED viewfinder and a tilting 3″ 1.04M-dot touchscreen.

    The rest of this model’s updates center around usability, specifically for a beginner. Auto mode has been updated with more intelligent scene and subject recognition, and modes for more specialized use-cases (such as focus bracketing and Live Time) are now organized under an Advanced Photo mode on the dial. A new shortcut button offers access to relevant settings based on the camera mode in use.

    The Olympus OM-D E-M10 III is expected to ship in late September for $ 650 body only and $ 800 bundled with an M.Zuiko 14–42mm EZ lens.

    Press release

    NO PHONING IT IN: OLYMPUS OM-D E-M10® MARK III HELPS TAKE YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY TO THE NEXT LEVEL

    Compact Interchangeable Lens Camera with New Touch Screen Interface Effortlessly Captures and Shares Blur-Free, High-Quality Images in Any Scene

    CENTER VALLEY, Pa., August 31, 2017 — Olympus’ new OM-D E-M10 Mark III is a compact, lightweight, easy-to-use interchangeable lens camera that offers the performance and image quality of the OM-D® lineup to the snapshooter looking to expand their photography. The OM-D E-M10 Mark III includes best-in-class image stabilization compensation performance and the same TruePic VIII Image Processor used in Olympus’ acclaimed flagship OM-D E-M1 Mark II camera. This combination delivers high-quality images even in situations when camera shake typically causes blur, such as night scenes or handheld telephoto shooting.

    Consumers looking to step up from their smartphone camera to an interchangeable lens system will instantly benefit from the OM-D E-M10 Mark III’s 5-Axis Image Stabilization. With an image stabilization system built into the camera body, it can provide blur-free images no matter which lens is attached, and can also record crisp, shake-free handheld 4K videos in cinemalike quality.

    The camera is compact and lightweight to easily be taken anywhere to capture and share standout, like-worthy images on social media. Designed for ease of use, both in form and functionality, the grip rests nicely in the hand, and buttons and dials are thoughtfully positioned for effortless operation. The body is equipped with a variety of features for different shooting styles and situations, including a high-resolution electronic viewfinder, a tilting rear LCD monitor with touch controls similar to a smartphone and a built-in flash.

    First-time interchangeable lens camera users benefit from four shooting assist modes to capture brilliant images right out of the box. The intelligent AUTO Mode detects the shooting scene, subject, camera movement and light transmitted through the lens, then automatically chooses the optimal settings. The other assist modes include Scene Mode (SCN), Advanced Photo Mode (AP), and Art Filter Mode (ART), each of which appear on the mode dial alongside AUTO Mode for easy access.

    The Touch AF shutter, which now takes advantage of 121 autofocus points, allows users to choose the precise area of focus and trip the shutter simply by touching the LCD screen. Continuous AF (C-AF) Mode maintains focus on moving subjects when the shutter is pressed halfway.

    The OM-D E-M10 Mark III is equipped with built-in Wi-Fi®, which can be used in conjunction with the Olympus Image Share (OI.Share®) app to easily connect to a smart device and wirelessly transfer images for quick editing and uploading to social media.

    Pricing and Availability
    The Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III will be available in a black and silver body or black body beginning in late September with an estimated street price of $ 649.99 USD/$ 799.99 CAD (body only) and $ 799.99 USD/$ 999.99 CAD (M.Zuiko 14–42mm EZ Lens kit). For a complete list of specifications, visit the Olympus website: http://getolympus.com/digitalcameras/omd/e-m10-mark-iii.html.

    Olympus OM-D E-M10 II Specifications

    Price
    MSRP $ 649 (body only), $ 799 (w/14-42mm PZ lens)
    Body type
    Body type SLR-style mirrorless
    Body material Metal, Composite
    Sensor
    Max resolution 4608 x 3456
    Image ratio w:h 4:3
    Effective pixels 16 megapixels
    Sensor photo detectors 17 megapixels
    Sensor size Four Thirds (17.4 x 13 mm)
    Sensor type CMOS
    Processor TruePic VIII
    Color space sRGB, Adobe RGB
    Color filter array Primary color filter
    Image
    ISO Auto, 200-25600 (expands to 100-25600)
    Boosted ISO (minimum) 100
    White balance presets 6
    Custom white balance Yes (4 slots)
    Image stabilization Sensor-shift
    Image stabilization notes 5-axis
    Uncompressed format RAW
    JPEG quality levels Fine, normal
    File format
    • JPEG (Exif v2.3)
    • Raw (Olympus 12-bit lossless compressed)
    Optics & Focus
    Autofocus
    • Contrast Detect (sensor)
    • Multi-area
    • Center
    • Selective single-point
    • Tracking
    • Single
    • Continuous
    • Touch
    • Face Detection
    • Live View
    Autofocus assist lamp Yes
    Manual focus Yes
    Number of focus points 121
    Lens mount Micro Four Thirds
    Focal length multiplier 2×
    Screen / viewfinder
    Articulated LCD Tilting
    Screen size 3″
    Screen dots 1,040,000
    Touch screen Yes
    Screen type TFT LCD
    Live view Yes
    Viewfinder type Electronic
    Viewfinder coverage 100%
    Viewfinder magnification 0.62×
    Viewfinder resolution 2,360,000
    Photography features
    Minimum shutter speed 60 sec
    Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 sec
    Maximum shutter speed (electronic) 1/16000 sec
    Exposure modes
    • Auto
    • Program
    • Aperture priority
    • Shutter priority
    • Manual
    Scene modes
    • Portrait
    • e-Portrait
    • Landscape + Portrait
    • Night + Portrait
    • Children
    • Night scene
    • Sport
    • Hand-held Starlight
    • Fireworks
    • Light trails
    • Sports
    • Panning
    • Landscape
    • Sunset
    • Beach & Snow
    • Backlight HDR
    • Candlelight
    • Silent
    • Macro
    • Nature Macro
    • Documents
    • Multi Focus Shot
    Built-in flash Yes
    Flash range 5.80 m (at ISO 100)
    External flash Yes (via hot shoe)
    Flash modes Auto, redeye, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, redeye slow sync, fill-in, manual, off
    Flash X sync speed 1/250 sec
    Drive modes
    • Single
    • Anti-shock
    • Sequential high
    • Sequential low
    • Anti-shock sequential low
    • 12 sec self-timer
    • 12 sec anti-shock self-timer
    • 2 sec self-timer
    • 2 sec anti-shock self-timer
    • Custom self-timer
    • Custom anti-shock self-timer
    Continuous drive 8.6 fps
    Self-timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom)
    Metering modes
    • Multi
    • Center-weighted
    • Spot
    Exposure compensation ±5 (at 1/3 EV steps)
    AE Bracketing ±5 (3, 5 frames at 2/3 EV, 1 EV steps)
    WB Bracketing No
    Videography features
    Format MPEG-4, H.264
    Modes
    • 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
    • 3840 x 2160 @ 25p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
    • 3840 x 2160 @ 24p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
    • 1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 52 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
    • 1920 x 1080 @ 50p / 52 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
    • 1920 x 1080 @ 30p / 52 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
    • 1920 x 1080 @ 25p / 52 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
    • 1920 x 1080 @ 24p / 52 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
    • 1280 x 720 @ 120p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
    • 1280 x 720 @ 30p / 14 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
    • 1280 x 720 @ 25p / 14 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
    • 1280 x 720 @ 24p / 14 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
    Microphone Stereo
    Speaker Mono
    Storage
    Storage types SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I/II supported)
    Connectivity
    USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
    HDMI Yes (micro HDMI)
    Microphone port No
    Headphone port No
    Wireless Built-In
    Wireless notes 802.11b/g/n
    Remote control Yes (via smartphone)
    Physical
    Environmentally sealed No
    Battery Battery Pack
    Battery description BLS-50 lithium-ion battery & charger
    Battery Life (CIPA) 330
    Weight (inc. batteries) 410 g (0.90 lb / 14.46 oz)
    Dimensions 122 x 84 x 50 mm (4.8 x 3.31 x 1.97″)
    Other features
    Orientation sensor Yes
    Timelapse recording Yes
    GPS None

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Instagram adds portrait and landscape support for multi-photo posts

    Instagram has expanded format support for its multi-image posts, letting users create these posts using portrait or landscape images or videos in addition to square format content. The change gives users more flexibility in choosing which content is shared on the social network, Instagram explains, although it is still limited: only one format (portrait or landscape) can be used per multi-photo post.

    The restriction is in place to ensure users get a ‘smooth and consistent’ experience when viewing multi-content posts, says Instagram. As such, users can create a multi-image post using only portrait format, only landscape format, or only square format, but not a mixture of two or three.

    The updated feature arrives today in the Instagram version 12 update for Android and iOS.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Western Digital unveils My Cloud Home wireless drives with up to 16TB of storage

    Western Digital has taken the wraps off a set of new wireless backup drives called My Cloud Home at IFA 2017. Building upon its previous My Cloud wireless drive, the new Home product combines an updated design with a better app experience that promises to make it easy to manage content from anywhere with an Internet connection.

    WD is also offering a My Cloud Home Duo option that automatically duplicates content onto a secondary backup drive.

    As the product’s name suggests, the Western Digital My Cloud Home is designed to function similar to traditional cloud backup services, though the consumer owns and controls the physical drive onto which their data is stored. Data can be synced to the My Cloud Home drive from a variety of sources—including phones, USB drives, and social media accounts—and the companion mobile app lets you remotely access and share the stuff you’ve stored.

    From an aesthetic perspective, the updated wireless drives shed the previous models’ rounded, somewhat clinical look and replace it with an angular, more artistically inclined design that’s more “art deco” than “ar[n’]t you going to hide this somewhere?” With the aforementioned Home Duo option, a pair of drives are configured in Mirror Mode RAID 1 for duplication, ensuring there is a copy of the data should one of the drives fail.

    The My Cloud Home is available now in capacities ranging from 2TB to 8TB, and the My Cloud Home Duo in capacities from 4TB to 16TB. Prices are listed below.

    My Cloud Home

    • 2TB: $ 160
    • 3TB: $ 180
    • 4TB: $ 200
    • 6TB: $ 260
    • 8TB: $ 320

    My Cloud Home Duo

    • 4TB: $ 310
    • 8TB: $ 400
    • 12TB: $ 550
    • 16TB: $ 700

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • DJI offering up to $30,000 ‘bounty’ to anyone who finds a critical software vulnerability

    DJI is offering cash rewards to anyone who finds a significant bug in its software. The new bug bounty program offers financial incentives ranging from $ 100 to $ 30,000 in the hopes that researchers and users alike may find problems related to software security, flight safety, and app stability. This, following a leaked military memo that ordered the US Army to cease their use of DJI products over unspecified ‘cyber vulnerabilities.’

    The alleged vulnerabilities cited by the military memo were found by the U.S. Army Research Lab and U.S. Navy, which ordered the U.S. Army to stop using ‘all DJI products,’ and news of the order stirred concerns in the private sector over whether DJI’s software was adequately protecting customers’ data. Around the same time, DJI introduced an offline mode that allows operators to limit a drone’s communications to just its controller.

    DJI will soon launch a dedicated bug bounty website with a standardized form through which bug discoveries can be submitted. Until that time, the company advises individuals who have found a bug to report it to the ‘bugbounty@dji.com’ email address. Only qualified bugs will result in rewards, and specific terms will be detailed on the upcoming bug bounty website.

    Press Release

    DJI To Offer ‘Bug Bounty’ Rewards For Reporting Software Issues

    Threat Identification Reward Program Will Address Software Concerns

    August 28, 2017 – DJI, the world’s leader in civilian drones and aerial imaging technology, is establishing a “bug bounty” program to reward people who discover security issues with DJI software. The DJI Threat Identification Reward Program is part of an expanded commitment to work with researchers and others to responsibly discover, disclose and remediate issues that could affect the security of DJI’s software.

    “Security researchers, academic scholars and independent experts often provide a valuable service by analyzing the code in DJI’s apps and other software products and bringing concerns to public attention,” said DJI Director of Technical Standards Walter Stockwell. “DJI wants to learn from their experiences as we constantly strive to improve our products, and we are willing to pay rewards for the discoveries they make.”

    The DJI Threat Identification Reward Program aims to gather insights from researchers and others who discover issues that may create threats to the integrity of our users’ private data, such as their personal information or details of the photos, videos and flight logs they create. The program is also seeking issues that may cause app crashes or affect flight safety, such as DJI’s geofencing restrictions, flight altitude limits and power warnings.

    Rewards for qualifying bugs will range from $ 100 to $ 30,000, depending on the potential impact of the threat. DJI is developing a website with full program terms and a standardized form for reporting potential threats related to DJI’s servers, apps or hardware. Starting today, bug reports can be sent to bugbounty@dji.com for review by technical experts.

    The DJI Threat Identification Reward Program is part of a renewed focus on addressing concerns about DJI product security, including new efforts to partner with security researchers and academics who have a common goal of trying to improve the security and stability of DJI products. DJI is also implementing a new multi-step internal approval process to review and evaluate new app software before it is released to ensure its security, reliability and stability.

    DJI has not previously offered formal lines of communication about software issues to security researchers, many of whom have raised their concerns on social media or other forums when they could not determine how best to bring these issues to DJI’s attention.

    “We want to engage with the research community and respond to their reasonable concerns with a common goal of cooperation and improvement,” Stockwell said. “We value input from researchers into our products who believe in our mission to enable customers to use DJI products that are stable, reliable and trustworthy.”

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Film reversal: How to turn a black-and-white negative into a direct positive

    If you need a fun film photography experiment to try out this week/weekend, how about giving black-and-white film reversal a shot? The folks at Branco Ottico decided to give this process a shot—turning multiple black-and-white negatives into rich, direct positive transparencies… just because.

    Branco Ottico’s Davide Rossi detailed the whole process in a dual-language blog post and the video above. But if your first question is less “how” and more “why,” he covers that as well:

    Why reverse a black and white film to get a positive one?

    Because it is the way to create a direct positve original by the extraordinary richness of detail, because it is unique and made alive by light, because you can make a backlight reveal the shape of an object.

    It’s really a very detailed photograph, with fascinating nuances and deep densities, they take your eyes wondering marvelous.

    Rossi promises that these direct positive transparencies look “alive” in a way that an inverted scan on a computer screen simply can’t. “This is what I see when I shed my eyes in front of a slide created by a big 20x25cm camera,” he writes. “Faces that live their own light with such a detailed skin roughness to make you smile because it does not even look alive with the your own eyes.”

    Rossi was kind enough to share some behind the scenes and final images with us. Check them out for yourself in the galleries below:

    $ (document).ready(function() { SampleGalleryV2({“containerId”:”embeddedSampleGallery_0759939532″,”galleryId”:”0759939532″,”isEmbeddedWidget”:true,”standalone”:false,”selectedImageIndex”:0,”startInCommentsView”:false,”isMobile”:false}) });

    $ (document).ready(function() { SampleGalleryV2({“containerId”:”embeddedSampleGallery_8196077358″,”galleryId”:”8196077358″,”isEmbeddedWidget”:true,”standalone”:false,”selectedImageIndex”:0,”startInCommentsView”:false,”isMobile”:false}) });

    Mind you, the process is no walk in the park. Even if you purchase a dedicated black-and-white film reversal kit online, each different film requires a different approach—then again, isn’t that what makes this an experiment worthy of the name?

    For Rossi, it took 4 days of trial and error to figure out an easy-to-reproduce three-step process that he will soon publish as a followup to this video.

    If you want to give the experiment a shot for yourself, check out the video and blog post for yourself, stock your homebrew darkroom, and give it a go this weekend. If you want a bit more guidance, keep an eye on the Branco Ottico site for a detailed breakdown of Rossi’s three-step process.

    All photos by Davide Rossi/Branco Ottico and used with permission.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Humor: Sports reporter tries to pass off iPhone calculator as ‘light meter’

    You can’t make this stuff up… the website Deadspin stumbled across this on-field report from a cricket commentator, who tries to pass off his iPhone calculator as a “light meter.”

    The question he’s trying to answer is whether or not it’s getting too dark to continue the test match between New Zealand and South Africa. According to his “light meter” there’s only 6.5 EV of light left to work with, which in his words is, “getting a little dodgy.”

    Don’t worry though, the refs will take their own reading before they stop the match…

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Panasonic issues promised GH5 firmware update with a host of unexpected extras

    Panasonic has revealed the full extent of its planned feature-boosting firmware update. In addition to the enhancements announced at the camera’s launch, it will also add a range of extra features and performance improvements not previously expected. The update is free and will be available at ‘the end of September.’

    The firmware update gives access to the full range of features set out at the camera’s launch as well as making some changes in response to user feedback.

    As originally promised, the update adds the following features:

    • 400Mbps All-I compression options in 4K (200Mbps in 1080)*
    • Higher resolution 4:3 video capture for shooting with anamorphic lenses
    • Hybrid Log Gamma shooting mode (HDR TV-ready Log shooting)

    Further to these, the company has also added these features:

    • More responsive autofocus, especially in 24p video shooting
    • USB-based tethered shooting option with free Mac/Win software
    • Additional Stabilization mode steadier hand-held video
    • Improvements to 6K and 4K Photo modes*
    • Additional wireless function
    • Bug fixes and minor feature tweaks

    The features marked * are the first time a manufacturer has recommended the use of V60 and V90 speed class cards, as their testing suggests even the fastest U3 cards can result in pauses and dropped recording.

    We got our hands on an early version of the firmware, and we’ve updated our full GH5 review with an in-depth look at all of the changes.

    For more details about these changes, see our breakdown of the f/w V2.0 features

    Press Release

    GH5 Firmware Update Version 2.0

    Exceptional New Enhancements, Performance and Functionality

    Newark, NJ (August 30, 2017) Panasonic today announced the new firmware update Verion.2.0 for DC-GH5 to further enhance its performance. Many enhancements were previously planned but additional modifications were suggested by end users that specialize in both photography and cinematography. This updates is an exceptional upgrade in camera performance to satisfy professional GH5 users.

    The new firmware includes following upgrades:

    1. Compatibility with “LUMIX Tether” PC software

    This new firmware enables GH5 tethered shooting via USB, using “LUMIX Tether” PC software. Users can control the camera by connecting it to a PC via USB. It lets you view the image on a large PC screen while shooting, which is helpful in commercial photoshoots of portraits, products and so on, where continuous confirmation is required. You can use [6K PHOTO] [4K PHOTO] and start and stop video recording with the tethered shooting. It is also possible to choose the folder to save the image files in the PC.

    2. Improved auto focus performance

    -Auto focus performance for subjects with low contrast in photo shooting is improved.

    -Tracking auto focus performance in video recording is improved.

    -The customized AF area can be continuously displayed in [Multi AF] and [Custom Multi AF] during live-view.

    -The AF area in [Multi AF] can be moved to the other edge (side, top or bottom) when it reaches one edge.

    -The start point of AF lock can be set on the live view screen in advance in [AF Tracking].

    -The AF area can be moved while the shutter button is half-pressed or while recording in [Burst Mode], [6K PHOTO] and [4K PHOTO].

    3. Improved performance in [6K PHOTO] and [4K PHOTO]

    -The waiting time to start the next burst shooting sequence after [6K Burst] and [4K Burst] is shortened to less than half the time.

    -[Loop Rec] is available in [6K PHOTO]

    •Use of Panasonic SD Memory Card with Video Speed Class 90 is recommended for [Loop Rec] of [6K PHOTO].

    4. An additional ALL-Intra Video Recording mode

    -4:2:2,10-bit ALL-Intra video recording mode is added to 4K/FHD video recording.

    •Use of SD Memory Card with Video Speed Class 60 or higher is recommended for 4K ALL-Intra video recording. Operation is confirmed with Panasonic SD Memory Card with Video Speed Class 90.??

    New 4:2:2,10-bit ALL-Intra Recording Mode

    Item

    System Frequency

    Size

    Frame Rate

    Bit Rate

    YUV/bit

    Image Compression

    C4K/ALL-I/400M/24p

    59.94Hz

    (NTSC)

    4096×2160

    23.98p

    400 Mbps

    4:2:2/10 bit

    ALL-Intra

    4K/ALL-I/400M/30p

    3840×2160

    29.97p

    400 Mbps

    4:2:2/10 bit

    ALL-Intra

    4K/ALL-I/400M/24p

    3840×2160

    23.98p

    400 Mbps

    4:2:2/10 bit

    ALL-Intra

    FHD/ALL-I/200M/60p

    1920×1080

    59.94p

    200 Mbps

    4:2:2/10 bit

    ALL-Intra

    FHD/ALL-I/200M/30p

    1920×1080

    29.97p

    200 Mbps

    4:2:2/10 bit

    ALL-Intra

    FHD/ALL-I/200M/24p

    1920×1080

    23.98p

    200 Mbps

    4:2:2/10 bit

    ALL-Intra

    4K/ALL-I/400M/25p

    50.00Hz

    (PAL)

    3840×2160

    25.00p

    400 Mbps

    4:2:2/10 bit

    ALL-Intra

    FHD/ALL-I/200M/50p

    1920×1080

    50.00p

    200 Mbps

    4:2:2/10 bit

    ALL-Intra

    FHD/ALL-I/200M/25p

    1920×1080

    25.00p

    200 Mbps

    4:2:2/10 bit

    ALL-Intra

    C4K/ALL-I/400M/24p

    24.00Hz

    (CINEMA)

    4096×2160

    24.00p

    400 Mbps

    4:2:2/10 bit

    ALL-Intra

    4K/ALL-I/400M/24p

    3840×2160

    24.00p

    400 Mbps

    4:2:2/10 bit

    ALL-Intra

    FHD/ALL-I/200M/24p

    1920×1080

    24.00p

    200 Mbps

    4:2:2/10 bit

    ALL-Intra

    5. 4K HDR video recording

    -[HLG] (Hybrid Log Gamma) is added to [Photo Style]. HDR (High Dynamic Range) is a mode to reproduce both the brightest and darkest part in an image, making it look just as human eyes see. The camera records video with a designated gamma curve compatible with ITU-R BT.2100, and you can now choose Hybrid Log Gamma (HLG) in [Photo Style].

    -A low-bit-rate recording mode 4K HEVC for HLG was added. This enables playback on AV equipment compatible with the HEVC compression format, such as Panasonic 4K HDR TVs.

    6.Enhancement of the Anamorphic video recording mode

    -High-Resolution Anamorphic mode, which enables video recording in 18-mega effective pixels, is added. *Recorded in HEVC

    New High-Resolution Anamorphic Mode

    *1 “High Resolution Anamorphic Mode” records motion picture with an aspect ratio suited for an anamorphic lens,4:3. The effective picture size for this mode is equivalent to the number of pixels produced by 6K (approx. 6,000 (horizontal) x 3,000 (vertical)) images (approx. 18 megapixels).

    Item

    System Frequency

    Size

    Frame Rate

    Bit Rate

    YUV/bit

    Image Compression

    6K/A/200M/30p*2

    59.94Hz

    (NTSC)

    4992×3744

    29.97p

    200 Mbps

    4:2:0/10 bit

    Long GOP

    6K/A/200M/24p*2

    4992×3744

    23.98p

    200 Mbps

    4:2:0/10 bit

    Long GOP

    4K/A/400M/30p

    3328×2496

    23.98p

    400 Mbps

    4:2:2/10 bit

    ALL-Intra

    4K/A/400M/24p

    3328×2496

    23.98p

    400 Mbps

    4:2:2/10 bit

    ALL-Intra

    6K/A/200M/25p*2

    50.00Hz

    (PAL)

    4992×3744

    25.00p

    200 Mbps

    4:2:0/10 bit

    Long GOP

    4K/A/400M/25p

    3328×2496

    25.00p

    400 Mbps

    4:2:2/10 bit

    ALL-Intra

    6K/A/200M/24p*2

    24.00Hz

    (CINEMA)

    4992×3744

    24.00p

    200 Mbps

    4:2:0/10 bit

    Long GOP

    4K/A/400M/24p

    3328×2496

    24.00p

    400 Mbps

    4:2:2/10 bit

    All-Intra

    *2 High resolution Anamorphic mode

    -[Anamorphic Desqueeze Display] was added, which lets you view an enlarged image in Cinescope size while recording with 2.0x and 1.33x Anamorphic lens.

    -[Video Guide Line] is added to display the image in a variety of aspects, such as 2.39:1, 2.35:1, 16:9, and 1:1 while recording video. This can be used not only in Anamorphic mode but also in other video recording modes.

    7.Enhancement of Body I.S. (Image Stabilizer)

    -[I.S. Lock(video)] is added. This powerfully compensates for handshake when the viewing angle is fixed.

    -A new handshake correction mode is added, which provides optimum correction when using 2.0x and 1.33x Anamorphic lens.

    8.Correction of white balance setting

    -When the K (Kelvin) value was changed after adjusting the color temperature with 2-axis white balance compensation, the setting was reset. This bug has been fixed.

    9.Improved usability of Time Lapse Shot

    -The time to finish shooting and the number of recordable pictures are displayed on the stand-by screen.

    10.Improved usability of Power Save LVF

    -Power Save LVF can now be used during all stand-by display options.

    11.Wireless functions

    -The Bluetooth Remote Control function can be used with Image App, which will also be updated at the same timing with the GH5 firmware release.

    -If the camera has not completed image transmission when it is turned off, it restarts transmission when it is turned on with the [Auto Transfer] function.

    12.Other improvements

    -A rating function using a Fn button is available in Playback Zoom and Multi Playback.

    -The following functions can be assigned to Fn buttons – [Constant Preview] [6K/4K PHOTO Bulk Saving] [Min. Shtr Speed] [RAW Processing] [Rec/Playback Switch] [Destination Slot] and [Mic Level Adj.].

    -The DISP.Button can be locked.

    -In Relay Rec, there were cases where the video file number was not able to be reset. This bug has been fixed.

    -In Relay Rec, there were cases where the video file number was reset after formatting the SD Memory Card. This bug has been fixed.

    -In Backup Rec, there were cases where the file number was not reset even after applying resetting. This bug has been fixed.

    -The image quality when applying the following settings is improved: Extended low ISO, [i.Dynamic] (Intelligent D-range Control) and Highlight Shadow.

    The new DC-GH5 firmware Version 2.0 is scheduled to be released at the end of September 2017 at the following LUMIX Customer Support website.

    LUMIX DC-GH5 Firmware Ver.2.0

    http://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/dsc/

    • “6K PHOTO” is a high-speed burst shooting function that cuts a still image out of a 4:3 or 3:2 video footage with 18-megapixel (approx. 6000 x 3000 effective pixel count) that the 6K image manages.
    • Specifications are subject to change without notice.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Challenge: Shooting portraits using just an iPhone, a flashlight, and a Big Mac box

    Great gear can make a big difference when it comes to the quality of your photographs, but we all know that good gear does not a great photographer make. What’s more, a great photographer can do amazing things using really mediocre equipment.

    Case in point: watch portrait photographer Philippe Echaroux take on what he’s calling “Big Mac Portrait Challenge.”

    Usually Echaroux uses Hasselblad digital cameras, Elinchrom lights and other expensive (for a reason) equipment to capture his professional portrait work. But he was recently asked to make due without any of that; instead, he would be using an iPhone for shooting and retouching, a small flashlight, and a Big Mac box from McDonald’s. Yeah… seriously.

    The final shots benefit from a lot of post-processing, of course. In all, Echaroux used VSCO, Photoshop Fix, and Lightroom Mobile to tease out something that looks a lot more professional than you’d expect from his meager setup. But The basic gear and lighting was all the same: iPhone, flashlight, Big Mac box.

    Whether you’re shooting an astronaut in a darkened Soyuz capsule with a 10-year-old DSLR and an iPhone flashlight, or taking the so-called Big Mac Portrait Challenge, don’t let lack of gear intimidate you. If nothing else, it might lead to a cool story or creative video.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)