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  • The Polaroid LED Macro Flexi is an affordable macro light

    Lighting your subjects in macro photography can be tricky (and expensive) business, and Polaroid wants to help. The instant photography icon has announced a new lighting accessory that aims to make your macro lighting easier without breaking the bank: The Polaroid LED Macro Flash Flexi light.

    This insect-like camera appendage features twin LED-antennas and, according to its makers, is ideal for subject distances between five centimeters and two meters (two inches to six feet). What’s more, the arms are bendable and can be independently controlled, giving photographers control over light fill, intensity and direction.

    The Flexi flash offers a large range of set up options, including continuous lighting, LED support flash, pilot light and more, and an LCD display shows a range of settings and parameters, including battery life and light intensity.

    The Polaroid LED Macro Flash Flexi light ships with two interchangeable hot shoe bases to provide mounting compatibility with multiple camera systems. It is available now on Amazon for $ 40.

    Press Release

    Polaroid Perfects the Art of Macro Photography with Flexible Twin Flash Lights

    Ultra-adjustable Polaroid LED macro flash flexi light creates perfect light fill and shadow control for larger-than-life photo shoots

    Edison, NJ – August 23, 2017 – The Polaroid LED macro flash flexi light with twin antennas makes it easy for photographers to capture the intricate details of macro photography from beautifully designed jewelry on online marketplaces, to mouth-watering images captured by food bloggers, to the flowers freshly in bloom. Ideal for distances of five centimeters to two meters (two inches to six feet), the macro flash flexi light’s two bendable, independently controlled arms give photographers precise control over light fill, intensity and direction, as well as near endless set up options for their macro photo shoots.

    The Polaroid LED macro flash flexi light lets photographers combine or isolate light effects to best compliment the size of their subject and balance out the surrounding environmental light. They can also easily adjust the vast array of light settings including continuous lighting, LED support flash, pilot and more to help pinpoint the perfect exposure for their macro shoot every time.

    Simple to set up and easy to use, the Polaroid LED macro flash flexi light features a large, intuitive LCD display that shows an arrangement of indicator levels including battery life and light intensity. With key lighting information at their fingertips, photographers can adjust the Polaroid macro flash flexi light source to perfect their shot. The flexi light ships with two hot shoe bases, providing simple mounting for a variety of camera systems.

    The Polaroid LED macro flash flexi light with twin antennas is available now on Amazon for $ 39.99 USD.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • The D850 should dismiss the idea that Nikon is on the ropes

    To be clear, I’ve not done much more than handle the D850 so far. Until we’ve spent a lot more time testing the camera, we won’t know whether it’s as good as its specs suggest it should be. But if it can deliver on a significant proportion of this promise, it’ll be one hell of a camera. That would make Nikon look like a company fresh for the next round, rather than unsteady on its feet and heading for the canvas.

    The Nikon DL 18-50: so much promise, unfulfilled.

    True enough, it’s been a difficult couple of years for Nikon. The company’s mirrorless 1 System seem to have found its audience, at least not based on the limited US and European sales figures I’ve seen. The company has had an awkward run of very public recalls and apparent lapses in quality assurance and control: from oil spots in the D600, to battery recalls and faulty shutters on some D750s. To compound these woes, the company generated a lot of excitement with the announcement of the DL series: a trio of 1″ sensor compacts that got as far as the company’s paid pros before Nikon was forced to cancel the project due to problems with the processors.

    These setbacks and Sony’s announcement that it’s captured (and apparently retained) the #2 sales spot for full frame in the US might give the impression of a slow-moving or even complacent company. A company on the verge of ruin, according to some.

    It’s a perspective I’d politely characterize as myopic balderdash.

    All things to all shooters…

    For those people wanting something futuristic, the D850 might be a let-down. It doesn’t include the kind of hybrid viewfinder that was on some of the more fanciful wishlists. And it’s true that the D850 isn’t as radically, perhaps even sexily, innovative as Sony’s barnstorming mirrorless a9, but from what I’ve seen, it could be the most versatile DSLR ever released.

    Yes, it’s a fairly conventional DSLR. But what a DSLR.

    To be clear, I’m not expecting it to be a great video camera. Sure, 4K UHD from the full width of the sensor is a pretty impressive spec, but I have my concerns about the seemingly pixel-binned footage and quite significant-looking rolling shutter. (And that’s before you even consider the wobbly and often noisy video AF). Not that these things would completely negate the feature: it may still look good if shot carefully, especially when downscaled to 1080 resolution. But my lack of concern is because video has nothing to do with what makes me think the D850 looks so impressive.

    Throughout the history of high-end digital, you’ve generally had to make a choice: do I need high resolution or high speed? If the D850 delivers on its promise, you can now have both, in a way that only the a99 II has tried to offer before.

    Wedding photographers will get a camera that can cope with whatever’s thrown at them

    This has a radical effect on who the camera works for. Seven frame per second shooting is more than enough for a really wide range of shooting, especially if the camera is able to autofocus like a D5 (probably the best autofocus performance we’ve ever tested). For anybody that needs more than this, they can add the battery grip and D5 battery, and boost the output to 9 fps. This combination will still cost less than the D5 and retain the option to remove the grip when you don’t want to lug a twin-grip camera around.

    That’s likely to be enough capability to satisfy all but the most demanding sports shooters and photojournalists. But, significantly, it promises to do this with the kind of resolution that’ll satisfy the more committed landscape or studio shooter. Consequently, it’ll bring improved resolution and improved speed to everybody in between, such as wedding shooters who’ll benefit from both by getting a camera that can cope with whatever’s thrown at them.

    …in all lighting?

    Whatever its provenance, the D850’s BSI sensor promises high DR at low ISO and high performance at high ISO.

    But speed and resolution isn’t the only apparent contradiction the D850 could end up resolving. If it’s up to contemporary standards, the D850’s BSI sensor design should be more efficient than the chips used in the D810 and D750, so perform better (or at least as well) in low light and high ISO, when compared at the same size. And, if its ISO 64 mode can match the dynamic range of the D810, that’ll put it on a par with the likes of the Fujifilm GFX 50S in terms of absolute dynamic range. Though, it should be pointed out, there’s never really been a good reason to think the two factors were in conflict.

    So, while the D850 may look like just another DSLR, its specs suggest something a bit more than that. And the recent turbulence shouldn’t make us forget that Nikon really does know how to build a DSLR.

    Not just competent DSLRs

    But Nikon’s progressive innovation extends beyond DSLRs. It may have seemed unsure who the 1 System and its lenses were actually for, but there was some undeniably interesting technology underpinning them. They were some of the first cameras to feature extensive on-sensor PDAF, and they were capable of no-blackout live view burst shooting many years in advance of Sony’s a9.

    Having already created what could be the pinnacle of DSLR design thus far, bear in mind Nikon has also applied to patent some of the technology required to create vertical and horizontal-sensitive split pixel AF (what could be essentially a cross-type variant of Canon’s Dual Pixel AF). It has also, despite the embarrassment of the DL U-turn, publicly announced its intention to build a mirrorless camera consistent with the company’s reputation.

    So if you’re looking at the online doom and gloom, worrying ‘what about video’ and interpreting the D850 as a sign that Nikon is on the ropes, I’d argue you’re not really paying attention. It’s not yet the final round and Nikon is up and swinging.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Nikon D850 First Impressions Review

    Nikon D850 preview

    The Nikon D850 is Nikon’s latest high resolution full-frame DSLR, boasting a 46MP backside-illuminated CMOS sensor. But, in a fairly radical departure for the series, it is also one of the company’s fastest-shooting DSLRs. This combination of properties should significantly widen the camera’s appeal to high-end enthusiasts as well as a broad range of professional photographers.

    Key Specifications:

    • 45.7MP BSI CMOS sensor
    • 7 fps continuous shooting with AE/AF (9 with battery grip and EN-EL18b battery)
    • 153-point AF system linked to 180,000-pixel metering system
    • UHD 4K video capture at up to 30p from full sensor width
    • 1080 video at up to 120p, recorded as roughly 1/4 or 1/5th speed slow-mo
    • 4:2:2 8-bit UHD uncompressed output while recording to card
    • 1 XQD slot and 1 UHS II-compliant SD slot
    • Battery life rated at 1840 shots
    • 3.2″ tilting touchscreen with 2.36M-dot (1024×768 pixel) LCD
    • Illuminated controls
    • 19.4MP DX crop (or 8.6MP at 30fps for up to 3 sec)
    • SnapBridge full-time Bluetooth LE connection system with Wi-Fi
    • Advanced time-lapse options (including in-camera 4K video creation)

    High resolution

    The use of a backside illuminated (BSI) sensor means that the light collecting elements of the sensor are closer to the surface of the chip. This should not only increase the efficiency of the sensor (improving low light performance) but should also be expected to make the pixels near the edges of the sensor better able to accept light approaching with high angles of incidence, improving peripheral image quality.

    Like the D810 before it, the D850 continues to offer an ISO 64 mode, that allows it to tolerate more light in bright conditions. We will be testing whether this gives the D850 the same dynamic range advantage as the D810, as soon as a production version arrives but our initial quick looks suggests it does, meaning it should be able to compete with the medium format sensors used in the likes of the Fujifilm GFX 50S and Pentax 645Z.

    A BSI sensor with ISO 64 setting should be able to match the D810’s low ISO DR while also offering improved performance in at high ISOs.

    And, while the D850 still hasn’t got an electronic first curtain option to ensure stable shooting when using the viewfinder (you need to use live view or Mirror-up mode). However, presumably thanks to a redesigned shutter and mirror mechanism, our quick check with a pre-production model suggests shutter shock may not be an issue, even without it.

    The D850 has no anti-aliasing filter, which should allow for slightly finer detail capture but with added risk of moiré, if any of your lenses are sharp enough to out-resolve a 45.7MP full-frame sensor. There’s still no sign of the clever design Nikon patented so, unlike the Pentax K-1 or Sony RX1R II, you can’t engage an anti-aliasing effect if you do find false color appearing in densely patterned areas.

    High Speed

    In addition to the increased speed, the D850 also gains the full AF capabilities of the company’s flagship sports camera: the D5. This includes all the hardware: AF module, metering sensor and dedicated AF processor, as well as the full range of AF modes and configuration options, which should translate to comparable focus performance combined with high resolution.

    Given the D5 possessed one of the best AF systems we’ve ever seen and could continue to offer that performance in a wide range of conditions and shooting scenarios with minimal need for configuration, this is an exciting prospect.

    As part of this system, the D850 gains the automated system for setting an AF Fine Tune value. It only calibrates the lens based on the central AF point and for a single distance, but it’s a simple way to ensure you’re getting closer to your lenses’ full capabilities, which is handy given you’ll now be able to scrutinize their performance with 46MP of detail.

    Add the optional MB-D18 battery grip and an EN-EL18b battery, and the D850 will shoot at 9 frames per second.

    Impressively, the D850 can shoot at nine frames per second if you add the optional MB-D18 battery grip and buy an EN-EL18b battery, as used in the D5. As well as increasing the camera’s burst rate, this combination also ups the battery life to a staggering 5140 shots per charge. You don’t get this same boost in speed or endurance if you use a second EN-EL15a in the grip, though.

    An MB-D18 plus an EN-EL18b is likely to set you back over $ 580 over and above the cost of the camera body ($ 399 for the grip, around $ 149 for the battery, $ 30 for the BL-6 battery chamber cover plus the cost of a charger).

    The D850 also includes a sufficiently deep buffer to allow fifty-one 14-bit losslessly compressed Raw files, meaning the majority of photographers are unlikely to hit its limits.

    Video capabilities

    In terms of video the D850 becomes the first Nikon DSLR to capture 4K video from the full width of its sensor. The camera can shoot at 30, 25 or 24p, at a bitrate of around 144 Mbps. It can simultaneously output uncompressed 4:2:2 8-bit UHD to an external recorder while recording to the card. Our initial impression is that the video is pixel-binned, rather than being resolved then downsampled (oversampling), but we’ll be checking on this as part of the review process. This risks lowering the level of detail capture and increases the risk of moiré, though it’s a better solution than line-skipping. There also seemed to be a fair amount of rolling shutter, but again these are only first impressions from a camera running non-final firmware.

    At 1080 resolution, the camera can shoot at up to 60p, with a slow-mo mode that can capture at 120 frames per second before outputting at either 25 or 24p. The 1080 mode also offers focus peaking and digital stabilization, neither of which are available for 4K shooting.

    The D850’s tilting rear screen will make video shooting easier, though we doubt many will use its contrast-detection tap-to-focus system when they do.

    The D850 doesn’t have any Log gamma options for high-end videographers, but it does have the ‘Flat’ Picture Profile to squeeze a little extra dynamic range into its footage, without adding too much to the complexity of grading. It also offers full Auto ISO with exposure compensation when shooting in manual exposure mode, meaning you can set your aperture value and shutter speed, and let the camera try to maintain that brightness by varying the sensitivity.

    As you’d expect from a camera at this level, the D850 also includes the Power Aperture feature that allows the camera to open and close the lens iris smoothly when in live view mode. There’s also an ‘Attenuator’ mode for the camera’s audio capture, that rolls-off any loud noises to avoid unpleasant clipping sounds.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Hasseblad X1D gets electronic shutter and resizable AF points via firmware update

    Swedish medium format camera maker Hasselblad has added electronic shutter and resizable AF points to its X1D mirrorless camera via a new firmware update: Version 1.17.2.

    The newly added electronic shutter can operate between 68 minutes and 1/10,000sec—extending the short exposure range of the camera from 1/2000sec. It also takes away the vibrations of a mechanical shutter, which should reduce the risk of shutter shock in moderate exposures, and the silent nature of the electronic shutter makes it possible to shoot without disturbing your subject.

    These benefits don’t come without some drawbacks, though.

    Hasselblad acknowledges that the 300ms it takes the sensor to read from top to bottom could have an impact on the way moving subjects are recorded, and might lead to banding under flickering light sources. ISO will be limited to 3200, and image quality will be slightly lower than in exposures recorded with the mechanical shutter. Finally, continuous drive mode is disabled when using the electronic shutter, as is flash and the camera’s True Exposure feature (as the lens shutter won’t be in use).

    In addition to the electronic shutter, the new firmware also adds resizable AF points to the mirrorless medium format X1D—there are now three AF point sizes selectable instead of the single size of the original firmware. The new points measure 4mm, 2.8mm and 2mm, and there are 35 of the largest, 63 of the mid-sized points and 117 of the smallest available to you.

    The new firmware is available to download from the Hasselblad website.

    Manufacturer Information

    Hasselblad X1D Firmware Update 1.17.2

    Firmware release 1.17.2 for the Hasselblad X1D-50c adds two important features that extend the shooting envelope of the camera: resizable autofocus points, and an electronic shutter function.

    By popular demand, three sizes may now be selected offering 35, 63 or 117 points by holding down the AF/MF button and pressing the display [] button to cycle through them. The focus point may be reset to center easily by pressing the X button.

    The electronic shutter allows for shutter speeds up to 1/10,000s and is silent, allowing use of the X1D-50c under conditions that require absolute discretion or completely zero vibration. It allows the production of images with extremely high quality in situations that might have previously been challenging – both when silence is needed such as during live performances, or when working handheld in extremely low light conditions. Furthermore, this opens up the possibility to produce adapters for an extended range of lenses beyond the already wide range of native Hasselblad XCD and HC offerings should you have an extremely specific requirement.

    User Guide version 1.6 for X1D contains further information for these new functions.

    Please note that the electronic shutter has some limitations due to the nature of the current generation of medium format sensors: rolling shutter effects may be present during camera or subject motion; sensor read time is 300ms. Furthermore, under phased light sources (fluorescent, LED) some striping may occur at higher shutter speeds as these sources are not truly continuous.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • The Nikon D850 can scan film using the new ES-2 digitizing adapter

    There’s a neat trick baked into the new Nikon D850 that you may not have noticed yet. Hidden away among the many features broken down in the D850 announcement is this line:

    Negative/Positive Scanning: With the optional ES-2 Film Digitizing Adapter and compatible Micro-NIKKOR lens, the camera enables super high-resolution digitizing of 35mm slides or negatives and converts them in-camera to positives

    For Nikon shooters who occasionally get their film photography on, this is actually a pretty interesting and useful feature. Basically, the D850 allows you to eschew the film scanner, pop a Nikkor macro lens onto your DSLR—Nikon recommends the AF-S Micro NIKKOR 60mm f/2.8G ED—and take pictures of your negatives or slides using the FH-4 Strip Film Holder or FH-5 Slide Mount Holder.

    The camera will then convert these into positives in-camera and save them as JPEGs. Sure, you’ll still want to use some sort of light table or flash to light the film up for the shot, but it’s quite convenient and definitely quicker than scanning.

    The ES-2 was announced quietly alongside the D850 last night, will retail for $ 150, and is already available for pre-order on the Nikon website.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Think Tank’s new Spectral shoulder bags are inconspicuous for on-the-go photographers

    Think Tank Photo has just debuted a new set of Spectral shoulder bags: the Spectral 8, Spectral 10, and Spectral 15. All three camera bags are designed to give photographers an inconspicuous way to carry around their camera gear, helping protect their equipment from both unsavory environmental conditions and thieves.

    The bags feature a Fidlock magnetic clasp that allows users to access their camera gear with one hand and automatically locks when the flap is closed. The Spectral bags also feature an extra zippered closure that Think Tank says ‘can be tucked away when actively shooting.’

    All three bags are made with 420D velocity nylon, heavy-duty nylon tarpaulin, YKK RC Fuse zippers, 350G 3D air mesh, antique plated metal hardware, and 3-ply bonded nylon thread.

    All three bags contain a tablet compartment—the Spectral 8 can accommodate a tablet measuring up to 8″, while the other two can handle tablets ranging up to 10″—and a dedicated smartphone pocket. There are also straps and attachment points for a tripod, a pass-through slot for a luggage handle, internal pockets for small items like card wallets and batteries, plus a seam-sealed rain cover for protecting the bag’s contents.

    In addition, the Spectral 15 model has a compartment for a laptop measuring up to 15-inches.

    The Spectral 8, the smallest of the three bags, has enough room to accommodate a single standard-sized DSLR body plus a detached 24–70mm F2.8 lens, one attached short zoom or wide lens, plus a couple small lenses or one additional larger lens. The Spectral 10 is similar, although it boasts room for up to three extra lenses plus a detached 70-200mm lens and an attached 24-70mm lens. The largest of the bunch, meanwhile, can accommodate the same, but with up to four additional lenses, plus a tablet and a laptop at the same time.

    All three bags are available from Think Tank now for $ 100, $ 120 and $ 140 for the Spectral 8, Spectral 10 and Spectral 10, respectively.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • LukiLink turns your smartphone into an external HDMI display for a DSLR

    A new device called the LukiLink just popped up on Kickstarter, and it promises to transform your smartphone into an external HDMI displays for your DSLR.

    LukiLink is very simple to use: just connect it to a DSLR camera via an HDMI cable on one side, and a smartphone/tablet via a USB cable on the other. Live video from the camera is then output to the smartphone via the LukiLink mobile app (Android and iOS). The system supports a maximum input/output resolution of 1080/60p.

    The team behind the LukiLink, which resembles a simple dongle, explains that the system can be used to view live video from the camera with the smartphone serving as an ordinary external monitor. The system can also be used to livestream footage from the camera on platforms like YouTube, and to transform the smartphone (or tablet) into an external recorder.

    LukiLink promises support for NTSC, PAL, and PAL-60 video format inputs, bitrates ranging from 3Mbps to “about 18Mbps,” as well as a maximum recording resolution of 1080/30p. Latency, meanwhile, is said to “usually” fall between 200ms and 300ms, though the exact rate will depend on the smartphone used.

    The team behind the product is currently seeking funding on Kickstarter, where they have raised a little over $ 40k of their approximate $ 106k goal. Interested buyers can claim a unit by pledging at least €90 (~$ 105 USD), which is a €40 discount over the anticipated retail price. Assuming the LukiLink is funded, global shipments are scheduled to begin this upcoming October.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Nikon D850: First full-res sample images

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    Nikon Japan has released the first set of official sample images captured with the new Nikon D850. Unfortunately there aren’t RAWs, but they are full-resolution JPEGs shot in 14-bit RAW and converted to JPEG using Capture NX-D.

    Given the D850’s beast of a 45.7MP sensor, even in JPEG the files are anything but small, ranging in size from 18MB all the way to 25.4MB. We can’t wait to get our hands on a production model and shoot our own sample gallery, but in the meantime these photos should give you a good idea of what the new full-frame camera can do in the real world.

    And if you want to find out more about how the D850 camera handles, check out our hands on:

    Hands On with the Nikon D850

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Humans of New York is turning into a TV series on Facebook, debuts next week

    Brandon Stanton, the photographer behind the wildly successful website-turned Facebook page-turned Best Selling Book “Humans of New York” surprised everyone today with a bombshell announcement. For the past 4 years, he’s been quietly filming over 1,200 personal interviews with his portrait subjects, and he’s turning those interviews into a HONY TV series starting next week.

    The series was created in conjunction with cinematographer Michael Crommett, and the official announcement and trailer went live just 20 minutes ago on the Humans of New York Facebook Page.

    “Early on I realized that video would add a deeper layer to Humans of New York. At the heart of all these posts are the conversations themselves,” writes Stanton. “I’m often deeply moved by the people I meet. Or they make me laugh. Or they make me think. And I always do my best to recreate the experience through photos and words. But I always knew that video would provide the closest thing to ‘actually being there.’”

    Inspired by this realization, he began filming interviews… many many interviews. But instead of posting them one day at a time as he has been doing with his photos, he held onto them in the hopes of creating something special down the line. Down the line has finally arrived.

    “My goal was not to make a television show based on Humans of New York. I wanted the television show to *be* Humans of New York,” explains Stanton. “I think I came pretty close. And I think/hope you will love it.”

    Watch the trailer for Humans of New York (The Series) at the top of this article, and then head over to the HONY Facebook Page for more info. The Series premiers next week on Facebook Watch.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Ricoh launches Pentax K-1 Limited Silver Edition

    Pentax has made a tradition of launching silver-colored limited edition models of its DSLR line-up, and today parent company Ricoh has done just that, announcing a special edition of the Pentax K-1 36MP full-frame DSLR.

    The silver K-1 is limited to 2,000 units worldwide, and features a high-grade silver-color coating on the camera body and battery grip to match the lineup of silver Pentax FA Limited lenses. There is also a limited edition metal hot shoe cover with logo, and the package includes a battery grip and two batteries. All the pieces come wrapped up in an exclusively designed product box.

    The Pentax K-1 Limited Silver Edition will be available in mid-September. In the UK the recommended retail price is £2,150 (approximately $ 2755); no information on US pricing has been released yet.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)