360Photography

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  • Fujifilm launches professional support program for GFX system in the US

    Starting in May Fujifilm will provide a professional support program for its GFX medium format system. Photographers who want to take advantage of the Fujifilm Professional Services (GFX FPS) program have to own the GFX camera and at least one GFX lens. You also have to sign up within 30 days of purchase of a GFX product and be based in the continental United States.

    The cost of the program is $ 499 per year which buys you the following goods and services:

    • Welcome kit
    • Personalized FPS Card confirming exclusive access to dedicated hotline technician telephone and email support
    • 30% discount on non-warranty repairs for Covered GFX System products
    • Expedited two business day turnaround time for repairs with free 2-day express shipping to and from the repair facility
    • 4 Check & Clean program service vouchers
    • 50% discount on additional Check & Clean program services and 2 business day turnaround for check and clean services with complimentary 2-day express return shipping for all service
    • GFX system product loaners for covered equipment in repair may also be available upon request if repair is expected to exceed two business days

    If you are Fujifilm GFX owner and thinking the program might be useful to you, you can find more information and register to become a member on the Fujifilm website. 

    Press Release:

    FUJIFILM PROVIDES EXCLUSIVE SUPPORT FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS WITH NEW GFX PROFESSIONAL SERVICES IN THE U.S.

    Valhalla, N.Y., April 24, 2017 – FUJIFILM North America Corporation, as the leader in innovation for photographers, announced the new Fujifilm Professional Services (FPS) in the U.S. beginning in May 2017. This service is designed to provide exceptional support for photographers currently using the newFUJIFILM GFX system, Fujifilm’s first medium format mirrorless digital camera. The innovative GFX system utilizes a Fujifilm exclusive 43.8 x 32.9mm (FUJIFILM G Format) 51.4MP CMOS sensor that delivers ultra-high image quality. The GFX 50S combines the heritage of over 80 years of imaging and theaward-winning functional design for a relentless pursuit of perfect image quality.

    GFX FPS Program Puts Photographers First

    Members of the new GFX FPS Program will receive extensive benefits to ensure the utmost support for photographers utilizing the new FUJIFILM GFX System, including:

    • Welcome kit
    • Personalized FPS Card confirming exclusive access to dedicated hotline technician telephone and email support
    • 30% discount on non-warranty repairs for Covered GFX System products
    • Expedited two business day turnaround time for repairs with free 2-day express shipping to and from the repair facility
    • 4 Check & Clean program service vouchers (voucher limitations, terms & conditions apply, terms here)
    • 50% discount on additional Check & Clean program services and 2 business day turnaround for check and clean services with complimentary 2-day express return shipping for all service
    • GFX system product loaners for covered equipment in repair may also be available upon request if repair is expected to exceed two business days

    GFX FPS Program benefits are intended to put photographers first by providing service and convenience for an optimal photographic experience.

    Program Requirements, Availability and Pricing

    The GFX Professional Services begins on May 1, 2017 for an annual membership fee of USD $ 499.Photographers can become a member of the GFX FPS Program by registering online. For full details on the GFX Professional Services program requirements, please see the GFX digital camera and GF lens purchase requirements and other eligibility requirements here.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Canon boosts 2017 profit forecast following strong Q1 financial results

    Canon’s recent acquisition of Toshiba’s medical equipment unit has helped spur strong first fiscal quarterly financial results for the camera company, and as a result it has increased its full 2017 operating profit forecast. In January, Canon estimated that it would see a yearly profit of 255 billion Yen; following the favorable Q1 2017 results, the company now estimates the profits will be higher at 270 billion Yen. However, the company’s outlook on 2017 camera unit sales are gloomier, with ILC unit sales dropping 7% and compacts down 13%, working out to -9% overall.

    Overall, the company saw a year-on-year Q1 operating profit increase of nearly 89%, rising from 40.09 billion Yen in Q1 2016 to 76.67 billion Yen this past first quarter. According to Reuters, Canon Executive VP and CFO Toshiz Tanaka stated during the company’s earnings conference that mirrorless cameras are helping drive the company’s camera sales. The company’s financial report notes that ‘healthy demand’ for Canon’s EOS 5D Mark IV has helped drive the company’s interchangeable lens camera sales. First quarter revenue from camera sales were up over 7%, though unit sales were unchanged since Q1 2016.

    Canon likewise saw its compact-system cameras’ sales increase in Europe and Asia (6% globally), and though overall digital compact camera sales volume dropped in the last quarter, Canon says the PowerShot G-Series and other ‘high-value-added models’ experienced ‘solid demand.’ Things aren’t looking great for the digital compact camera market overall, where Canon sees sustained market contraction for its budget-tier models (-6% globally). However, developed countries’ decreased demand for interchangeable lens digital cameras is ‘decelerating steadily,’ the company says. 

    Canon also touched on the topic of last year’s Kumamoto earthquake damage, saying that the resolution of the shortages caused by the earthquake have resulted in ‘temporary moderate growth’ for interchange lens digital cameras. 

    Via: Reuters, Canon 1, 2

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • New Zeiss CP.3 XD Cine lens line stores metadata, is aimed at budget filmmakers

    Zeiss announced a new family of cinema primes geared toward ‘low budget’ productions at the NAB 2017 show in Las Vegas. The CP.3 XD Cine line includes a total of ten lenses that cover full frame. Meant to replace the CP.2 line, these new lenses are more compact than their predecessors.

    The ‘XD’ in the name stands for ‘eXtended Data’, which refers to the lenses’ ability to store metadata like distortion and shading info when shooting – info that can greatly aide a visual effects artist in post. You can read more about it here. According to Zeiss production manager Christophe Casenave:

    “Cine lenses that provide metadata are relatively expensive and, up until now, distortion and shading had to be manually measured – a time-consuming and expensive process. With ZEISS eXtended Data, we are offering Hollywood technology for everyone, providing small film teams with new creative opportunities.”

    While this lens line is aimed toward the cost-conscience filmmaker, to the average consumer, prices will likely still seem expensive – each XD lens will likely cost between $ 5000 and $ 8000. However Zeiss is also offering non-XD versions of the CP.3 line for slightly less cash.

    Several of the non-XD lenses will be available as soon as June and July, while the eXtended Data versions will ship in the fall.

    Press release:

    New ZEISS CP.3 XD Cine Lens Family: “Hollywood Technology for Everyone”

    The ten compact prime lenses provide metadata and enable the correction of distortion and shading. For the first time, even low-budget productions can employ visual effects.

    OBERKOCHEN/Germany, 24/04/2017.

    No matter if it is Star Wars, Harry Potter or Avatar: these days, just about every film features special effects. For many small film productions, having visual effects in their movie would be a dream come true. Unfortunately, making the image fit the look of the footage has required expensive tools – until now. At the NAB Show in Las Vegas, ZEISS presented new metadata technology that makes this possible: the company has equipped its new ZEISS CP.3 XD compact lens family with ZEISS eXtended Data.

    ZEISS eXtended Data supports and enhances /i-Technology

    What exactly is this? “ZEISS eXtended Data is the first metadata technology which stores the lens distortion and shading – for every single frame,” explains Christophe Casenave, Product Manager at ZEISS. “Moreover, all /i-Technology metadata are recorded, including the focus distance, aperture value and depth of field, which is supported by most cameras.” This makes the technology ideal for working with visual effects: by using the metadata, it just takes a few clicks to modify the image generated on the computer to fit the lens characteristics, and to then splice it together with the footage to create a realistic image. Distortion and shading can be corrected or even amplified in post-production.

    “It used to be that only big blockbusters could take this approach,” says Casenave. “Cine lenses that provide metadata are relatively expensive and, up until now, distortion and shading had to be manually measured – a time-consuming and expensive process.” However, since ZEISS has incorporated the technology into its compact CP.3 XD cine lens family, low-budget productions can now take the same approach to creating their own special effects. “With ZEISS eXtended Data, we are offering Hollywood technology for everyone, providing small film teams with new creative opportunities.”

    An end-to-end solution: cooperation with Ambient and Pomfort

    With the ZEISS CP.3 XD, ZEISS not only offers the lenses with metadata, but has also given thought to storage and processing. It has teamed up with partners in the industry: the company Ambient has developed the MasterLockit Plus system together with ZEISS. It records all metadata along with a time code in case the technology is not supported by the camera. “This way truly everyone can work with ZEISS eXtended Data, no matter what equipment they use,” says Casenave.

    Thanks to the cooperation with the software developer Pomfort, distortion and shading can be modified on the set in real-time using the Pomfort tool LiveGrade Pro. The film crew already gets a sense of what the final look will be during the shoot. The film clips and lens data can be consolidated and organized with Silverstack, Pomfort’s file manager.

    ZEISS plans to further expand the new metadata technology in the future. “Our customers will then be able to upgrade to the new version, making the CP.3 XD a long-term investment,” says Casenave.

    Compact and light-weight

    In addition to the metadata, filmmakers have even more reasons to get excited about the new lens family: the ten prime lenses between 15 and 135 millimeters cover full-frame. As is typical for ZEISS, the image has a clean, crisp look, and ZEISS says the image quality is excellent. “These lenses deliver outstanding results, even in light situations with a large dynamic range, i.e. highlights and shadows within the same scene,” says Casenave. The maximum speed of the seven focal lengths between 25 and 135 millimeters is T2.1, the 15, 18 and 21 millimeter lenses have a speed of T2.9. With a front diameter of 95 millimeters, the lenses are light-weight and compact. They are particularly well-suited for hand-held filming or shooting with gimbals, Steadicam or drones. ZEISS has also improved focusing: the manual focus is now noticeably smoother. According to ZEISS, it is comparable with the ZEISS Master Primes and can also be operated with a small motor. The focus rotation angle is 300°. The lenses are equipped with an interchangeable mount so that they can be used on almost any camera. In addition to the ZEISS CP.3 XD, there is also a version available without metadata: the ZEISS CP.3.

    Price and availability

    Initially, a limited number of ZEISS CP.3 XD and CP.3 lenses will be available at dealers.

    ZEISS CP.3 XD

    Focal length Recommended retail price (EUR/USD) Available from
    15mm/T2.9 XD 6,400 Euro / 7,490 USD September
    18mm/T2.9 XD 5,800 Euro / 6,690 USD September
    21mm/T2.9 XD 5,000 Euro / 5,790 USD September
    25mm/T2.1 XD 5,000 Euro / 5,790 USD September
    28mm/T2.1 XD 5,000 Euro / 5,790 USD October
    35mm/T2.1 XD 5,000 Euro / 5,790 USD September
    50mm/T2.1 XD 5,000 Euro / 5,790 USD September
    85mm/T2.1 XD 5,000 Euro / 5,790 USD September
    100mm/T2.1 XD 5,800 Euro / 6,690 USD September
    135mm/T2.1 XD 6,400 Euro / 7,490 USD September

    ZEISS CP.3

    Focal length Recommended retail price (EUR/USD) Available from
    15mm/T2.9 4,900 Euro / 6,090 USD September
    18mm/T2.9 4,300 Euro / 5,290 USD July
    21mm/T2.9 3,500 Euro / 4,390 USD June
    25mm/T2,1 3,500 Euro / 4,390 USD June
    28mm/T2.1 3,500 Euro / 4,390 USD October
    35mm/T2.1 3,500 Euro / 4,390 USD June
    50mm/T2.1 3,500 Euro / 4,390 USD June
    85mm/T2.1 3.500 Euro / 4.390 USD June
    100mm/T2.1 4,300 Euro / 5,290 USD September
    135mm/T2.1 4,900 Euro / 6,090 USD September

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Google software engineer shows what’s possible with smartphone cameras in low light

    Image: Florian Kainz/Google

    On a full moon night last year, Google software engineer Florian Kainz took a photo of the Golden Gate bridge and the City of San Francisco in the background with professional camera equipment: a Canon EOS-1D X and a Zeiss Otus 28mm F1.4 ZE lens. 

    When he showed the results to his colleagues at Google Gcam, a team that focuses on computational photography, they challenged him to re-take the same shot with a smartphone camera. Google’s HDR+ camera mode on the Google Nexus and Pixel phones is one of Gcam’s most interesting products. It allows for decent image quality at low light levels by shooting a burst of up to ten short exposures and averaging them them into a single image, reducing blur while capturing enough total light for a good exposure. 

    However, Florian being an engineer, wanted to find out what smartphone camera can do when taken to the current limits of technology and wrote an Android camera app with manual control over exposure time, ISO and focus distance. When the shutter button is pressed the app waits a few seconds and then records up to 64 frames with the selected settings. The app saves DNG raw files which can then be downloaded for processing on a PC. 

    He used the app to capture several night scenes, including an image of the night sky, with a Nexus 6P smartphone, which is capable of shutter speeds up to 2 seconds at high ISOs. On each occasion he shot an additional burst of black frames after covering the camera lens with opaque adhesive tape. Back at the office the frames were combined in Photoshop. Individual images were, as you would expect, very noisy, but computing the mean of all 32 frames cleaned up most of the grain, and subtracting the mean of the 32 black frames removed faint grid-like patterns caused by local variations in the sensor’s black level.

    The results are very impressive indeed. At 9 to 10MP the images are smaller than the output of most current DSLRs but the photos are sharp across the frame, there is little noise and dynamic range is surprisingly good. Getting to those results took a lot of post-processing work but with smartphone processing becoming even more powerful it should only be a question of time before the sort of complex processing that Florian did manually in Photoshop can be done on the device. You can see all the image results in full resolution and read Florian’s detailed description of his capture and editing workflow on the Google Research Blog.

     Image: Florian Kainz/Google

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • World’s first 100-million-pixel drone launched by DJI and Hasselblad

    Chinese drone manufacturer DJI has announced that it is to launch a new drone later this year that will be fitted with a 100-million-pixel Hasselblad H6D-100c camera. The DJI M600 Pro will be aimed at those who need precise and detailed aerial pictures, as it will not only produce extremely high resolution images but users will be able to position the drone with what the company describes as ‘centimeter-level’ accuracy using the D-RTK GNSS navigation system.

    The H6D-100c will be attached to DJI’s Ronin-MX gimbal and will be carried by the M600 drone’s six-rotors, with images streaming back to Earth via the Lightbridge 2 system. The drone is set for release in the third quarter of the year, with a price no doubt as spectacular as the promised image quality.

    For more information see the DJI website.

    Press release:

    DJI And Hasselblad Introduce World’s First 100-Megapixel Integrated Aerial Photography Platform

    DJI M600 Pro Drone, Ronin-MX Gimbal And Hasselblad H6D-100c Camera Combine For Unparalleled Aerial Imaging Package

    DJI, the world’s leader in civilian drones and aerial imaging technology, and Hasselblad, the leader in high-quality professional medium format cameras, Tuesday marked the start of the next era of aerial photography by introducing the first 100-megapixel integrated drone imaging platform.

    The DJI M600 Pro drone, the Ronin-MX gimbal and the Hasselblad H6D-100c camera combine each company’s unparalleled technological expertise to create an unprecedented tool for precise, detailed and accurate aerial imaging. Professional drone users can continuously control camera operations in flight using the DJI GO app, in order to provide rich imagery for landscape and fine-art photography, robust data for surveying and mapmaking, and endless possibilities for future professional endeavors.

    The flight platform for the combination is the DJI M600 Pro drone, an advanced and adaptable six-rotor flight platform equipped with the powerful Lightbridge 2 transmission system, a dustproof propulsion system and six Intelligent Flight Batteries. The M600 Pro can be guided by the D-RTK GNSS navigation system, which can withstand strong magnetic interference to provide highly precise centimeter-level 3D positioning. This enhanced accuracy over typical barometer, compass and GPS systems makes it ideal for exacting commercial, industrial and scientific applications.

    The Hasselblad H6D-100c camera is a triumph of camera technology, with a large 53.4 mm x 40.0 mm sensor that offers outstanding detail, color reproduction and tonal range even in poor lighting conditions using the HC and HCD lens family. The camera mounts on the drone through the Ronin-MX three-axis stabilized gimbal, which uses powerful motors and inertial measurement units to resist high G-forces, maintain stability and hold the horizon.

    The M600/Ronin-MX/H6D-100c platform is the latest product collaboration since DJI assumed a stake in Hasselblad in late 2015, allowing the companies to explore fruitful collaborations on their advanced technology. Their first joint product, released in July 2016, combined the M600 drone platform with the A5D medium format camera. Hasselblad remains the only medium format camera company collaborating with DJI to bring unprecedented quality to drone photography.

    The M600/Ronin-MX/H6D-100c platform is on display through April 27 at the NAB Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, in DJI booth #C2807 in the Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center. The combination will be released in the third quarter of 2017 at a price to be announced later.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • More videos added to product overviews and getting started guides

    Are you shopping for a new camera? Or just looking for some advice about how to use your current favorite model? We’ve just added several new informational videos to our range of product overviews and getting started guides, including guides to how to get started with the Fujifilm X-T20 and Nikon D3400.

    You can find all of our recent overview and getting started guide videos from the links below, and subscribe to our YouTube channel to ensure you never miss a new video!

    Watch our series of product overview videos

    Watch our new ‘Getting Started Guides’ 

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Alpha-better: Sony a9 versus a7R II

    Sony a9 versus a7R II

    The Sony a9 is a masterpiece of technology. Even if you have no intention of ever dropping $ 4500 to buy one, you have to admit that its key specifications are impressive. Aimed squarely at action photographers, it’s much faster than the a7R II, with a more sophisticated AF system, but it can’t match the older camera for sheer resolution.

    In this article, we’ll be comparing the a9 and a7R II directly, looking in detail at exactly where their differences lie. For some photographers, the a9 might meet their needs admirably, whereas for others, the older a7R II might be just as good – or better. Read on to decide for yourself. 

    Resolution

    Perhaps the most fundamental difference between these two cameras is their sensors. The a9 offers a resolution of 24MP, putting it in the middle of the pack in terms of full-frame cameras’ pixel-count.

    On the other hand, the 42MP sensor inside the 7R II offers the highest resolution of any Sony Alpha. In the entire full-frame market, it is second only to the Canon EOS 5DS/R when it comes to nominal resolution.

    Having so many pixels at your disposal is great for certain kinds of photography, like landscape and studio work, but of course it comes at the expense of large file sizes, and reduced operational speed.

    Our verdict: If you need the pixels, save some cash and buy an a7R II. If you need speed, read on…

    Speed

    The a9, on the other hand, features a significantly lower-resolution 24MP sensor, but one that’s been optimized for speed, rather than pure resolution. A maximum frame rate of 20 fps makes the a7R II look prehistoric, and 60 fps live view is available even during burst shooting. You don’t need that kind of performance for landscapes, but for sports and action, it’s extremely appealing. You can thank a stacked CMOS design, with built-in buffer memory for these tricks. In the image above, the sensor (1) sends data the signal processing circuitry (2) and on to a buffer (3) before pushing this data to the Bionz processor (4).

    But of course, a fast frame rate isn’t useful without…

    Autofocus

    …a decent autofocus system.

    The a7R II impressed us when it was released, offering probably the best all-around AF performance of any full-frame mirrorless camera. Its 399-point on-sensor PDAF system is very capable, and allowed for very good autofocus with adapted Canon EF lenses, as well as lenses from Sony’s own A-mount line. 

    The a9 takes things to a whole new level, offering 693 phase-detection points (represented above). Sony claims that autofocus acquisition has been improved by 25%, and eye and face-detection rates have improved by 30% compared to the a7R II.

    Autofocus

    We’ve yet to formally test the a9, but impressions from our initial shooting are extremely favorable. While it’s too early to say whether Canon and Nikon sports photographers will be tempted to make the switch, it certainly looks like the a9 can hold its own when it comes to capturing fast action.

    For Sony shooters though, if autofocus performance is a priority, the a9 is a clear winner.

    Ergonomics

    In terms of body design and handling, the a9 is a mixed bag when compared to the a7R II. Cosmetically, the two cameras are similar, but the a9 feels heftier and a little more substantial (it’s barely any larger, but it is slightly heavier). The most important changes are in how the controls work and feel, and the addition of a much more streamlined GUI. 

    For starters, the buttons and dials on the a9 just feel nicer than they do on the a7R II. Less mushy, more ‘clicky’. This, coupled with the reduced lagginess in control response makes the a9 feel more responsive than the a7R II even before you’ve taken a picture. The addition of an AF positioning joystick is another welcome improvement over the a7R II, which will be appreciated by all photographers – not just sports and action shooters.

    The a9’s menu system is vastly improved compared to the a7R II – a long overdue change that we’re very pleased to (finally) see.

    Viewfinder

    The a7R II’s viewfinder is really nice, but the a9’s is better. It offers greater resolution (3.7 million dots as opposed to 2.3M) and a higher framerate of 120 fps. This drops to 60 fps during continuous shooting, but a 60 fps refresh rate during 20fps shooting is nothing to sneeze at.

    LCD

    The a9’s rear LCD may sound like it only offers only a modest increase in resolution compared to the a7R II (1.44M dots compared to 1.23M) but there’s been a move from a 640 x 480 pixels to 800 x 600, which should be appreciable. The difference is that the previous panel had red, green, blue and white dots at each position, whereas the new screen uses three dots per pixel (red, green and blue, with some green positions replaced by white).

    Furthermore, the addition of touch-sensitivity is a welcome (and again, overdue) upgrade compared to the older camera. Finally, it seems, Sony is getting the message that all the features in the world can’t make up for a poor user experience.

    PC sync socket

    Well now, this is interesting… the action-oriented a9 has an ethernet socket, which makes sense for pro sports photographers, but it also has a PC sync socket, while Sony’s high-resolution flagship studio camera, the a7R II doesn’t?

    We’d be pretty confident that few, if any a9 buyers will ever use their camera’s PC sync socket. Many won’t use the Ethernet port either, but at least it’s an indication of the intended user-base. To us, the addition of a PC sync socket is a pretty good indication that a higher-resolution sister model is on its way. The a9 represents the third ergonomic iteration of the full-frame Alpha series, so it makes sense that physically, any future a9-series models will share the same basic chassis. Is there a higher resolution a9R in the works? If Sony’s past release schedules are any guide, we’d say it’s a near-certainty.

    Video

    As well as being highly capable stills cameras, the a9 and a7R II both offer advanced 4K video specifications. In terms of sheer output quality, the a9 is likely to offer the best-looking footage, thanks to 2.4X oversampling from 6K with no pixel-binning, no line-skipping, and no crop factor. The incredibly fast readout speed of the new sensor means that there’s little or no impact from rolling shutter, too.

    Both cameras offer headphone and microphone ports, plus HDMI and USB (the a9 is pictured above), although it’s a shame that even the a9 is still limited to an old-style micr USB 2 port. Despite the incredible speed of the camera, we’ll have to wait for a super-high-speed USB 3.0 interface.

    No S-Log

    Oddly though, the a9 lacks S-Log, and does not feature any of the Picture Profiles found on previous a7-series cameras (an example of what ungraded S-Log footage looks like is shown above). This limits its usefulness as part of a professional video rig, because it reduces the potential for grading footage in video editing software. Sony says this is because the a9 is offered primarily at stills photographers, but then why add 2.4X oversampled 4K video at all?

    Whatever the explanation, we’re hoping that S-Log will be added via firmware. Unless, of course, its exclusion leave room for an a9S or some other, more video-centric model?

    Our verdict: If you can live without S-Log, the a9 will capture better full-frame 4K video. Oh, and there’s something else it has to offer, too…

    Card slots

    The a9 offers twin card slots, one of which supports UHS-II media. This is an obvious improvement over the a7R II’s single slot, and one that might prove to be a big deal depending on the kind of photography you do. Having two slots is always useful for redundancy if nothing else, and for mixed stills and video shooters, it’s handy to be able to record movies to one card, and stills to the other. 

    We wish the a9 offered support for the much faster XQD card format, but we suspect that if it comes at all, XQD will arrive in the next generation of Alpha bodies. For now, two slots of any kind are definitely better than one. 

    New battery

    Oh happy day – we had almost given up hope. One of our perennial complaints about the a7-series was battery life. The weedy little FW50 inside the a7R II provides enough endurance for a couple of hundred stills, but for video work its low capacity of 7.7Wh meant frequent battery swapping during a typical day of filming.

    The a9 is introduced with a new NP-FZ100 battery, providing more than twice the capacity (16.4Wh). The boosted battery capacity, and a claimed 40% general reduction in power consumption compared to the a7R II should mean that the new camera will last a lot longer on a single charge.

    The introduction of a separate external 4-battery power pack, aimed at videographers and compatible with the a9 and all previous a7-series bodies is good to see, too.

    Final verdict

    The a9 is faster in all respects than the a7R II. Judging by our initial impressions, it should be a very capable tool for sports and action photography, certainly compared to its predecessor. Whether it can compete against the likes of Canon’s EOS-1D X Mark II and the Nikon D5 is another matter of course, and we’ll be testing that soon enough.

    From a more general user experience point of view the a9 is improved, too. Finally, a full-frame Sony camera with a menu system that doesn’t make us want to scream, and a touch-screen! Wonders will never cease… 

    Is there anything the a7R II can do that the a9 can’t? Not much, but the differences are important.

    Having almost 20 million more pixels means the a7R II can produce bigger prints, which might be a big deal for landscape and studio photographers. The a7R II’s autofocus system isn’t as good as the a9’s, but it’s still very good, and 5 fps is enough for most everyday shooting. For general photography (and more specialized high-resolution work) the a7R II will do the job admirably, for a lot less money than the a9. For now at least, the option of shooting in S-Log might make the a7R II a more attractive camera for video professionals too, despite the better resolution offered by the a9’s oversampled footage. Its lower capacity battery life is still a limitation, but the release of the NPA-MQZ1K Multi-Battery Adaptor Kit will definitely help.

    Ultimately, for Sony shooters that really need speed, the a9 is clearly a better camera than the a7R II. The option of 20 fps continuous shooting with a 60 fps live view feed should prove addictive for anyone shooting fast action. The a9 also looks like a better camera for 4K video, thanks to 2.4X oversampling from 6K, and a new – larger – battery. 

    What do you think of the new a9? Let us know in the comments.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Speedmaster 65mm and 85mm fast primes for Fujifilm GFX on the way

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    Chinese manufacturer Zhong Yi Optics has shown of a pair of manual focus prime lenses for Fujifilm’s medium format GFX 50S at a tradeshow at Beijing. The lenses are currently the fastest yet announced for GF mount.

    The new lens is a Speedmaster 65mm F1.4, which is exclusively designed for the GFX system. Details are scarce, other than what can be seen from photos of the lens. It has manual aperture and focus rings and supports 77mm filters. Mounted on the Fujifilm it will be equivalent to a 51mm F1.1 lens on a full frame body.

    The second lens already exists and is being made available for the G-mount. The Speedmaster 85mm F1.2 is equivalent to 67mm F0.95 and features ED, HRI and low-dispersion elements. The lens has a minimum focus distance is 1 meter and 11 aperture blades. It too accepts 77mm filters.

    This pair of lenses will ship sometime in 2017 at prices to be announced later.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • YI Technology announces consumer-level 360 live VR camera

    YI Technology today announced the YI 360 VR consumer-level live VR camera. The new model is capable of capturing 360-degree spheric video footage at 5.7K resolution and 30 frames per second. It also offers 4K instant in-device stitching and 2.5K live-streaming.

    The camera weighs only six ounces and can be controlled via basic on-device controls or a mobile app. It uses a pair of 220-degree lenses and 12MP Sony IMX377 CMOS sensors to record video footage or 5.7K 360-degree still images.

    “Virtual reality is exciting. It promises a whole new range of opportunities for creating and sharing truly immersive experiences,” said Sean Da, CEO of YI Technology, “but it can also be really intimidating. For VR to truly take off it has to be easy and fun. At YI Technology, we challenge ourselves to bring the most innovative technologies together in a way that is simple, enjoyable and useful for anyone, from kids to professionals. VR is no exception. Too many of today’s solutions are exciting in theory but really complicated in practice. That is why we worked so hard to perfect YI 360 VR. Using the best components, rigorous industrial design and many years of testing, we eliminated the cables, confusing interfaces and bulky components and added 5.7K fidelity, 4K in-device stitching and 2.5K live-streaming, all in a handy, affordable package so everyone can share exciting moments live, from any angle.”

    The camera is available for pre-order from today at $ 399. Delivery is scheduled for June 2017. The Yi 360 VR will also be on display at this week’s NAB 2017 show in Las Vegas.

    Press Release:

    YI Technology Announces YI 360 VR™, First High-end, Live VR Camera for Any Consumer

    Newest pocket-sized, camera combining 360-Degree 5.7K VR capture, 4K instant in-device stitching, and 2.5K live-streaming debuts at NAB 2017 today and releases in June

    LAS VEGAS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–NAB Show – YI Technology, the leading, international provider of advanced, intelligent imaging technologies, today announced the new YI 360 VR™, a major step in making truly high-end virtual reality video easy and accessible to anyone who wants to create and share content. Scheduled to be released in June 2017, the YI 360 VR™ is available for early ordering now and will be on display at this week’s National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) show in Las Vegas, NV.

    With a simple, handheld and mountable camera design, the YI 360 VR™ is the first VR camera to combine high-fidelity, 360-degree video capture, mobile application for easy use along with 4K instant, in-device stitching and 2.5K live-streaming to any sharing channel. With these innovations, the YI 360 VR™ provides a complete solution for anyone to create immersive, 360-degree video experiences easily, quickly and anywhere.

    “Virtual reality is exciting. It promises a whole new range of opportunities for creating and sharing truly immersive experiences,” said Sean Da, CEO of YI Technology, “but it can also be really intimidating. For VR to truly take off it has to be easy and fun. At YI Technology, we challenge ourselves to bring the most innovative technologies together in a way that is simple, enjoyable and useful for anyone, from kids to professionals. VR is no exception. Too many of today’s solutions are exciting in theory but really complicated in practice. That is why we worked so hard to perfect YI 360 VR. Using the best components, rigorous industrial design and many years of testing, we eliminated the cables, confusing interfaces and bulky components and added 5.7K fidelity, 4K in-device stitching and 2.5K live-streaming, all in a handy, affordable package so everyone can share exciting moments live, from any angle.”

    YI 360 VR™ CAMERA HIGHLIGHTS:

    VIVID: The camera delivers stunning video and images – in 360. YI 360 VR™ features professional-grade video quality at up to 5.7K/30fps in 360 degrees for post-production work, thanks to Ambarella’s virtual reality SOC H2V95 chip and a pair of sharp 220-degree lenses mated to a pair of 12MP SONY IMX377 CMOS sensors. It also captures 5.7K 360-degree still photos. Most other multi-lens VR cameras give you clunky, choppy video images and require streams to be stitched together on a computer. The YI 360 VR™ offers seamless in-device stitching without added software so anyone can make high-quality 4K, 360-degree VR videos instantly.

    EASY: YI 360 VR™ is lightweight and compact. At only six ounces and easily mountable wherever you put an action camera, it can go anywhere you go. Simple controls are on the device or the companion YI 360 VR™ mobile app allows you to control the camera, preview, playback, edit and share 360-degree videos from any smartphone. Record for over an hour on one battery charge (AC power also included) the YI 360 VR™ connects with WiFi so you can view, edit and share instantly and continuously right in the app.

    LIVE: YI 360 VR™ features up to 100Mbps high-speed WiFi (Dual-band Wi-Fi 2.4GHz & 5GHz) to enable users to live-stream 2.5K/30fps 360-degree videos or download photos and videos from camera to smartphone. Connect with a WiFi network and you can start live-streaming everything around you to Facebook, YouTube, and more at 2.5K in 360 Degrees. The high-speed WiFi makes photo auto-sync possible and video download extremely fast. Photos taken by the camera can be automatically synchronized to any smartphone instantly so manual download is no longer needed. Use the app to easily post photos or videos with one click to all your favorite social networks.

    Pricing & Availability

    At $ 399 MSRP, YI 360 VR™ will be available for early ordering beginning today, with scheduled delivery for limited release in June 2017. https://yitechnology.com/yi-360-vr-camera

    YI 360 VR™ is only one of YI Technology’s advanced 360-degree video solutions unveiled today at NAB 2017. The company also announced today the YI HALO™, the newest professional-grade 360-degree, stereoscopic camera for the Jump platform from Google.

    See and experience YI Technology’s two new products, YI 360 VR™ and YI HALO™, at NAB 2017 in the Virtual & Augmented Reality Pavilion, Booth N1121VR. Visit www.yitechnology.com for more information.

    Note, the company will also present its products at the Sixteenth Annual Las Vegas SuperMeet on Tuesday, April 25, 2017 from 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm in the Brasila Ballroom at the Rio Hotel.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Dell announces 4K HDR10 monitor

    At NAB Dell announced its new UP2718Q UltraSharp 27 4K monitor, which is the company’s first HDR10 display. This 27″ monitor, which has earned UHD Alliance Premium Certification, has a peak brightness of 1000 nits (a unit for luminance). It covers 100% of the sRGB, Adobe RGB and REC 709 color spaces, plus 97.7% of DCI-P3 and 76.9% of REC2020.

    Dell says that each monitor is individually calibrated at the factory and, naturally, users can create their own color lookup tables using included software and an optical colorimeter.

    The UP2718Q will be available on May 23rd for a price of $ 1999.99.

    Press Release:

    Dell Reinforces End-to-End Technology for Creative Professionals with New HDR10 Monitor with UHD Premium Alliance Certification

    Date : 4/20/2017

    Las Vegas, Nevada

    • World’s No. 1 monitor brand¹ introduces additional UltraSharp displays at the National Association for Broadcasters 2017 conference
    • Dell uses NAB 2017 to showcase a spectrum of technology for media and entertainment from devices to storage
    • Dell Precision 5720 All-in-One gives creators UltraSharp 4K touch display, 100% Adobe color and full workstation power with VR capabilities

    To celebrate its first appearance at the National Association of Broadcasters conference as part of a combined company, Dell announces new solutions to improve its powerful ecosystem for media and entertainment professionals. The company proudly unveils the latest additions to its innovative, industry-leading monitor portfolio, including the company’s first HDR monitor that meets HDR10 standard and two new premium UltraSharp monitors with InfinityEdge displays. Joining these new monitors will be the new Dell Precision all-in-one workstation, virtual reality (VR) creation powerhouse towers and notebooks, and the innovative Dell Canvas smart workspace. The new monitors and workstation PCs are among the broad lineup of solutions designed for creative professionals in visual effects and filmmaking, post-production, broadcast and photography.

    The Dell UltraSharp 27 4K HDR Monitor (UP2718Q), the company’s first HDR10 display with UHD Alliance Premium Certification, boasts an Ultra HD 4K display, with four times more detail than full HD and the depth of 1.07 billion colors. This monitor allows creative professionals to view and edit HDR10 content to create incredibly realistic images. With a peak brightness of 1,000 nits, the UP2718Q produces the deepest blacks and brightest whites and the REC2020 color coverage makes it an ideal choice for video editors working on color-critical post production. The UP2718Q also offers a broad, brilliant color spectrum with Dell PremierColor – 100 percent Adobe RGB, 100 percent sRGB, 100 percent REC 709, 97.7 percent DCI-P3 and 76.9 percent REC2020. For exceptional color reproduction, each monitor is individually factory-calibrated and users can customize the color parameters using the custom color mode, or make adjustments by storing the preferred color parameters onto the internal Look-Up Table using Dell UltraSharp Calibration software with an optional colorimeter.

    “As the No. 1 monitor brand¹ in the world, we deliver the latest, most innovative display technology to our customers to meet and exceed their expectations, whether that’s at work or at home,” said Bert Park, senior vice president and general manager, Dell Software & Peripherals. “At NAB 2017, we’re proud to continue Dell’s tradition of world-class innovation – our first HDR monitor that meets HDR10 standard – by providing creators with the most strikingly accurate images and lifelike, unparalleled color performance.”

    To provide a full spectrum of displays to meet the needs of customers in media and entertainment, finance, and oil and gas, Dell also is excited to announce the Dell UltraSharp 27 4K Monitor (U2718Q) and Dell UltraSharp 25 Monitor (U2518D), two new monitors from its premium UltraSharp line that feature Dell’s innovative InfinityEdge display. With Dell HDR², visuals are true-to-life with stunning color, terrific contrast and great detail. Both monitors allow industry professionals to push the limits of productivity with an edge-to-edge viewing experience and optimized eye comfort with a flicker-free screen featuring ComfortView. Announced to much acclaim earlier this year, the Dell UltraSharp 32 8K Monitor is now available, raising the visual bar even higher for creative professionals.

    At NAB, Dell is celebrating the recent availability of the Dell Precision 5720 All-in-One workstation for digital content creators, like video editors, animators, designers and sound engineers. The 5720 features Dell’s innovative InfinityEdge display around a beautiful 27-inch 4K 100 percent Adobe color screen. The addition of Jack Joseph Puig Signature Series Audio powered by Waves MaxxAudio® Pro delivers studio-quality production, editing, and play back in one sleek and powerful workstation device. This sets an all new standard of built-in audio visual quality unlike any other all-in-one workstation in the market today.

    The Precision 5720 delivers ISV certifications to optimize the hardware for major creative applications and the latest gen, responsive AMD Radeon™ Pro graphics allow it to keep pace with even the most demanding rendering and graphics-intensive tasks. The Xeon® or 7th Gen Intel® Core™ processors, Thunderbolt™ 3 technology and the exclusive Dell Precision Optimizer automatically tunes the workstation to run specific programs at the fastest speeds possible. The Precision 5720 All-in-One joins the Dell’s leading lineup of VR-ready solutions and is the first all-in-one workstation to boast VR performance.

    Dell will be also be showcasing the Dell Canvas, an all-new smart workspace with touch, totem and pen capabilities that expands creative productivity for content developers and designers. Since its introduction earlier this year, leading partners and customers have been testing and delivering new application support for Canvas. Most recently, Adobe has developed totem functionality for intuitive timeline scrubbing in Premiere Pro for a Canvas environment. Dell is now expanding this early evaluation program to work with more partners and customers in preparation for global availability this summer.

    “With the emergence of industry-shifting technology, we’re at an inflection point for building innovative products that empower creators to do what they do best – create!,” said Rahul Tikoo, vice president and general manager, Dell Precision. “At Dell, we’re working hard with our partners to provide the right solutions that will help revolutionize industries and we’re committed to delivering innovative solutions that will allow creators to do their best work yet.” 

    Pricing and Availability

    • Dell UltraSharp 32 8K Monitor (UP3218K) is available on Dell.com in the U.S. for $ 4,999.99.
    • Dell UltraSharp 27 4K HDR Monitor (UP2718Q) will be available May 23 on Dell.com in the U.S. for $ 1,999.99.
    • Dell UltraSharp 27 4K Monitor (U2718Q) will be available mid-July on Dell.com in the U.S. for $ 699.99.
    • Dell UltraSharp 25 Monitor (U2518D) will be available mid-July on Dell.com in the U.S. for $ 499.99.
    • Dell Precision 5720 All-in-One is available on Dell.com starting at $ 1699.
    • Dell Canvas will be available in early July on Dell.com in the U.S. for $ 1799.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)