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  • Teardown reveals Sony image sensors in iPhone 7

    Patent and technology consultancy Chipworks has published its iPhone 7 teardown and reveals that front and rear image sensors on the new Apple models are supplied by market leader Sony. This is not too much of a surprise as earlier iPhone models used Sony sensors as well. In its report Chipworks doesn’t say which exact sensor model has been deployed in the rear camera but we know the 12MP chip uses the Exmor RS technology platform, a Bayer RGB color filter array and on-sensor phase detection. Its die size is 5.16 mm x 6.25 mm (32.3 mm2) as measured from the edges of the die stack. 

    On the FaceTime front camera the resolution has been increased to 7MP. The Sensor is also a second generation Sony Exmor RS model and measures 5.05 mm x 3.72 mm (18.8 mm2). Chipworks has not treated the larger iPhone 7 Plus model with its dual-camera to the teardown procedure yet, but we would expect both sensors in the dual-camera to come from Sony as well. For now you can find more technical detail in the iPhone 7 teardown on the Chipworks blog.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Photokina 2016: Olympus E-M1 Mark II overview video

    With the Mark II version, Olympus’ new flagship comes with some big improvements despite remaining relatively compact. Between its impressive speed, autofocus system and video capabilities, almost every core specification has been bumped up a notch (or three). We sat down with Olympus’ Eric Gensel to go through some of those changes in more detail, from continuous shooting (and what its mechanical shutter sounds like at 15 fps) to just how effective Olympus’ image stabilization has become.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Photokina 2016: Talking medium format mirrorless with Fujifilm

    Toshihisa Iida, Fujifilm’s General Manager of the Sales and Marketing Group talks us through the new GFX medium format mirrorless camera, who it’s for and why it features a Bayer sensor.

    We’ll be publishing details of a more in-depth interview conducted without the camera running, next week.

    Click here to read a transcript of this video interview

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Throwback Thursday: Photokina’s greatest hits

    Photokina’s Greatest Hits

    Every two years, all eyes in the photography world are focused on Cologne, Germany for the biennial Photokina tradeshow. The first Photokina was in 1950, and it moved into the giant Koelnmesse convention hall 16 years later. DPReview has been going to the show since 2000 and in this edition of Throwback Thursday, we’ll take a look back at some of the most interesting things Phil Askey and the growing DPR team saw in Cologne.

    Photokina’s Greatest Hits

    Way back in the year 2000 we saw the debut of the Canon PowerShot G1, which was truly one of the first enthusiast cameras on the market. It featured a 3.3MP CCD, 34-102mm equivalent lens, fully articulating 1.8″ LCD and, of course, an optical viewfinder. It had full manual controls, Raw support, and could capture QVGA (that’s 320 x 240) video. Heck, it even supported the IBM Microdrive.

    Photokina’s Greatest Hits

    One ‘lengendary’ camera shown at Photokina 2000 was the full-frame Pentax DSLR. Featuring a 6MP Philips-designed CCD, 6-point AF system, 2″ LCD and dual memory card slots, this un-named camera was a serious beast for that time period. But as Pentaxians know, this camera was not to be, and it would be another 16 years before the company finally shipped a full-frame DSLR.

    Photokina’s Greatest Hits

    There were a couple of interesting cameras at Photokina 2002, including the Canon EOS-1Ds as well as this beauty: the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1. What made the FZ1 so impressive was not just its ‘Leica’ 35-420mm equivalent lens, but the fact that it had a constant F2.8 aperture. This 2MP camera had an electronic viewfinder and a fully articulating 1.5″ LCD. It captured QVGA video until you filled up your memory card, which took just 35 seconds with the included 8MB SD card.

    Photokina’s Greatest Hits

    One of the biggest draws at Photokina 2004 was the Konica Minolta Maxxum 7D. Most of its features were similar to what you’d find on other DSLRs of that era; the 6.1MP CCD, 9-pt AF system, and small (2.5″) LCD without live view. But it did have one big trick up its sleeve. The 7D was the first DSLR to have in-body image stabilization, a feature that continues to this day on Sony’s Alpha-mount cameras. While not quite as robust as modern IBIS systems, the sensor-shift IS system could still give you 2-3 stops of shake reduction.

    Photokina’s Greatest Hits

    Photokina 2006 was the largest show yet, with estimates of 160,000 visitors. Despite some tough competition from Nikon with its D80, the 10 Megapixel Pentax K10D turned a lot of heads. The K10D illustrates something about Pentax cameras  that continues to this day: they offer a lot of bang for the buck. The K10D’s body was fully weather-sealed (unlike its similarly priced peers) and it offered sensor-shift image stabilization, unique sensitivity and aperture+shutter priority modes and even in-camera Raw conversion. Not a bad deal for $ 899 body only.

    Photokina’s Greatest Hits

    2008 was a massive year for camera announcements in Cologne. It saw the debut of the video-capable Canon EOS 5D Mark II and Nikon D90, but the real game-changer was the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 and the Micro Four Thirds mirrorless system. As with Phil (and, by this stage, his team), I — as editor of DCResource.com — too was able to see the G1 before the show and was blown away. The G1 was compact, extremely responsive and its live view was way beyond what DSLRs offered at the time. The G1 used a 12MP Four Thirds sensor and had a fully articulating LCD and high-res electronic viewfinder. The one thing it couldn’t do: record video. That was for the G2.

    Photokina’s Greatest Hits

    The 2010 edition of Photokina was hyped as the ‘the year of 3D,’ and we all know how well that worked out. The show had some huge launches from Canon (EOS 60D), Nikon (D7000) and Olympus (E-5), but the most talked-about camera was the Fujifilm X100 concept. With its classic rangefinder styling, one-of-a-kind hybrid viewfinder, 12MP APS-C-size sensor and 35mm-equivalent lens, the X100 was hard to ignore. The X100 didn’t ship at the show, instead hitting store shelves until the following March.

    Photokina’s Greatest Hits

    There were a ton of new products at the 2012 show, so it’s hard to pick just one standout. Something we did see from both Canon and Nikon were budget-friendly full-frame DSLRs (and I use the term ‘budget-friendly’ loosely). Canon offered up the EOS 6D (which is still for sale), a smaller, lighter, cheaper version of the 5D Mark III. The Nikon D600, pictured above, was a more robust camera, with weather-sealing, dual card slots, and 100% viewfinder coverage.

    Photokina’s Greatest Hits

    That brings us to 2014 — our final stop on memory lane. Photokina 2014 delivered numerous exciting cameras, from mirrorless to DSLR to enthusiast compact. The three products that got the most buzz were the Samsung NX1 (gone, but not forgotten), Nikon D750 and Canon EOS 7D Mark II. Let’s not forget Panasonic’s Lumix DMC-LX100, which combined a Four Thirds sensor and fast lens, and the PowerShot G7 X, which marked Canon’s entry into the enthusiast compact.

    We hope you’ve enjoyed a look at Photokinas past. For everything about this year’s show, head over to our Photokina 2016 hub.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Instagram officially launches ‘save draft’ feature

    Instagram has finally launched a ‘save draft’ feature following months of testing. With the feature, a post-in-progress can be saved as a draft when the user hits the back button, making it available for continued edits and eventual posting later on. Such functionality is common on many platforms, including Twitter, and has been requested by Instagram users for years.

    Saving a draft is simple. Once the post creation process has started (a filter has been added to a photo, for example), hitting the back arrow in the upper left corner of the screen will pull up a “Save Draft” prompt. Tapping that prompt saves the draft, which can then be reopened later on within ‘Library’ under the ‘Drafts’ designation.

    Via: Twitter (1), (2)

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Phottix introduces Canon RT version of its battery-powered Indra500 TTL studio flash head

    Flash and accessory manufacturer Phottix has announced a new version of its Indra500 studio head that has a built-in TTL radio receiver for Canon’s RT flash system. The new head can be controlled directly from a Canon RT radio Speedlite in the hotshoe of a compatible camera or by using a Canon ST-E3 or Phottix Laso transmitter instead. The head can be used in flash networks alongside 600EX ll-RT and 430EX lll-RT radio-controlled Speedlites as well as non-RT flash guns that are fitted with a Laso receiver. The Laso receiver converts optically-triggered flashguns so that they can be controlled via 2.4GHz radio signals.

    In all other ways the Indra500 LC TTL head is the same as Phottix’s standard Indra500 heads that offer TTL control with Canon, Nikon and Sony cameras via the Phottix Odin radio communication system. The heads have a maximum output of 500W/s and provide high speed sync options as well as manual output control across eight stops from 1/128th power. The heads take Bowens S-mount accessories and can be powered by the Phottix Indra 500mAh li-ion battery pack or via a mains adapter.

    The company hasn’t announced a price for the Indra500LC TTL but the existing heads retail for $ 1419 including the battery, battery cable, a 5in reflector and a carry case.

    For more information see the Phottix website.

    Press release

    Another Phottix First: Phottix Indra500LC TTL Studio Light compatible with the Canon RT System

    Phottix presents the first studio light system compatible with Canon’s radio flash system. The Indra500 TTL, introduced in 2014, was the next generation of Phottix’s innovative TTL products – the Indra500LC takes that one step further – incorporating the radio control and triggering of the Canon RT and the Phottix Laso triggering systems. The Indra500LC gives photographers 500W/s of TTL power, opening up new possibilities and allowing photographers to shoot in shutter and aperture priority modes with incredible power.

    High Speed Sync
    With the Phottix Indra500LC TTL’s High Speed Sync function photographers can shoot at higher sync speeds* allowing wider apertures while still being able to control ambient light. In manual mode the Indra500LC offers 8 stops of power adjustments – from full power to 1/128 in 1/3rd stop increments. With Stroboscopic Mode, the Phottix Indra can be used for special effect and creative shooting with flash frequencies of 1-100HZ and flash counts of 1-100 times.

    Built-in Triggering
    The Phottix Indra500LC TTL has the power and control of the Canon RT and Phottix Laso triggering systems built-in. Switch between TTL and Manual modes, adjust EV and manual power levels and use high speed sync, all from the Canon ST-E3, compatible Canon RT Speedlites and the Phottix Laso Transmitter – no extra hardware is needed.

    Canon non-RT Flashes
    One of the best things of the Phottix Laso Triggering system is its ability to incorporate older non-radio Canon flashes into a photographer’s workflow. There’s no need to set aside older non-RT flashes such as the venerable 580 EXII – add a Phottix Laso Receiver and gain the ability to control and trigger it. Add legacy flashes, Canon RT-enabled flashes – and the Phottix Indra500 LC for a complete lighting solution.

    “This the next logical step for the Indra series,” said Phottix CEO Steve Peer. “Canon users can now build on their current lighting system and retain the amazing functionality that system offers”

    The Indra500LC comes with a Li-Ion battery, cables, charger, carrying bag and a new, smaller 5” reflector to make the Indra500 LC easier to pack and take on location.

    *On compatible cameras.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Blackmagic Design shows off Video Assist monitor/recorders

    We dropped in on indie/pro video camera and grading software maker, Blackmagic Design and were impressed by their Video Assist monitor/recorders.

    Alongside demos of various cameras (which now range from Micro Four Thirds mount drone-ready cameras up to the PL-mount, 4.6K global shutter Super 35 URSA) and the latest version of its DaVinci Resolve grading software, Blackmagic Design has a display of its Video Assist models.

    The Video Assist and Video Assist 4K are external monitors (HD and 4K respectively) that can be mounted on DSLR and mirrorless cameras to boost their video features and make them easier to work with.

    The touchscreen panels are connected via HDMI or SDI connectors (with the option to then output the signal over either connection) and add zebra warnings and focus peaking, regardless of whether that feature is offered by the host camera. With the recently-announced firmware, they also add false color overlays for an alternative means of judging expose.

    The units also act as external recorders, meaning you can capture your camera’s HDMI output to SD cards (UHS-II in the case of the 4K model) in more sophisticated codecs than most cameras can, including Apple ProRes 422 HQ or LT, or Avid DNxHD and DNxHR.

    At a cost of €549/$ 495 and €979/$ 895 respectively, we think they make an interesting option for the videographer looking to expand beyond their camera’s immediate limitations. We’re hoping to get hold of a sample to see the results, as soon as we can.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Photokina 2016: Canon EOS M5 quick look video

    The Canon EOS M5 launches the M line of mirrorless cameras into greater significance than ever before. With abundant external controls, a mature touchscreen interface and extremely impressive Dual Pixel autofocus, it’s a camera we can’t help but like, even if we wish it had turned up to the mirrorless party a little earlier. And sure, it may not have headline features like 4K or high frame rate video, but Canon clearly knows how to make a camera that is both comfortable to hold and pleasing to use.

    We stopped by Canon’s stand at Photokina 2016 and talked with Canon product specialist Hin Pang to talk a little more about what makes the EOS M5 so likeable.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Getty Images and Instagram announce grant winners

    Getty Images Instagram Grant Winners Announced

    Photo by Girma Berta, @gboxcreative, Getty Images Instagram Grant Recipient 2016

    Getty Images and Instagram have announced the winners of the second annual Getty Images Instagram Grant, a program founded to support photographers using Instagram to document stories from underrepresented communities around the world.

    The three winners will receive grants of $ 10,000 and will also have their work exhibited at the Photoville photography festival in New York from September 21-25. Click through to learn about the recipients and to see their winning images.

    Christian Rodriguez

    Photo by Christian Rodriguez, @christian_foto, Getty Images Instagram Grant Recipient 2016

    Christian Rodriguez, a documentary photographer from Uruguay, received a grant for his project Teen Mom, which depicts teen pregnancy in Latin America. Directly impacted by teenage motherhood, Christian hopes to raise awareness of the issue and highlight its impact on local communities. He finds inspiration in the literary trend of magical realism and considers Instagram a powerful tool to gain feedback and information about the realities many teenagers are faced with.

    Christian Rodriguez

    Photo by Christian Rodriguez, @christian_foto, Getty Images Instagram Grant Recipient 2016

    Portrait of Graciela (13) , Norma (8) and Lupita (7) hiding behind their house in a small village called Ocotal Grande in Veracruz. They belong to the popoluca community. Popoluca is a Nahuatl term (meaning “gibberish, unintelligible speech”) given to various indigenous communities of southeastern Veracruz.

    Christian Rodriguez

    Photo by Christian Rodriguez, @christian_foto, Getty Images Instagram Grant Recipient 2016

    Gloria (13) belongs to the Mixe Community of Maluco, a small village in the north of the “Itsmo de Tehuantepec”, Oaxaca. She lives with her mother and 8 of her 10 siblings, who are between 4 and 20 years old. Gloria became mother at the age of 12, consequence of the constant sexual abuse of her father who has also attacked two of her sisters, aged 8 and 16.

    Christian Rodriguez

    Photo by Christian Rodriguez, @christian_foto, Getty Images Instagram Grant Recipient 2016

    Angela Mieres (15) hugs her sister Patricia during labor. Her boyfriend and father of the baby was shot dead 20 days before birth.

    Christian Rodriguez

    Photo by Christian Rodriguez, @christian_foto, Getty Images Instagram Grant Recipient 2016

    Micaela and her son, Franco. Micaela’s mother was, like her, a teenage mother.

    Ronny Sen

    Photo by Ronny Sen, @ronnysen, @whatdoestheendoftimelooklike, Getty Images Instagram Grant Recipient 2016

    Children wait for their parents to return from work, both of whom are coal pickers inside a coal mine in Jharia.

    Ronny Sen, from India, received a grant for his work documenting the fires that have burned for just over one hundred years in mineral-rich Jharia. A documentary photographer compelled to visually document his immediate reality, Ronny’s work uses both photography and videography to spotlight the plight of people who have been affected by big corporations and depicts survival in an apocalyptic-like landscape.

    Ronny Sen

    Photo by Ronny Sen, @ronnysen, @whatdoestheendoftimelooklike, Getty Images Instagram Grant Recipient 2016

    The wall of a broken temple in a village near a coal mine in Jharia. Due to the blasting and the underground fire lots of the buildings and houses in nearby villages are being destroyed.

    Ronny Sen

    Photo by Ronny Sen, @ronnysen, @whatdoestheendoftimelooklike, Getty Images Instagram Grant Recipient 2016

    A contractual labour inside one of the coal mines in Jharia. He will make two dollars after loading almost five trucks with coal in Jharia.

    Ronny Sen

    Photo by Ronny Sen, @ronnysen, @whatdoestheendoftimelooklike, Getty Images Instagram Grant Recipient 2016

    Coal scavengers work very early in the morning before the mine officials come inside the mines in Jharia.

    Girma Berta

    Photo by Girma Berta, @gboxcreative, Getty Images Instagram Grant Recipient 2016

    Girma Berta resides in Addis Ababa and uses his iPhone to capture the vibrant color and grunge of street life in the capital of Ethiopia. Girma uses his background in graphics and painting as a guide for lighting and composition, playing with colors and infusing street photography with fine art. Girma’s project, Moving Shadows, showcases local street scenes against backdrops of color. A member of @everydayafrica, he uses Instagram as a platform for self-expression and to share his work with the rest of the world. 

    Girma Berta

    Photo by Girma Berta, @gboxcreative, Getty Images Instagram Grant Recipient 2016

    Girma Berta

    Photo by Girma Berta, @gboxcreative, Getty Images Instagram Grant Recipient 2016

    Girma Berta

    Photo by Girma Berta, @gboxcreative, Getty Images Instagram Grant Recipient 2016

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Foolography’s Unleashed is a tiny Bluetooth DSLR controller

    German company Foolography has launched a Kickstarter campaign for its latest product, the Unleashed smartphone DSLR remote control, and is showing a prototype device at its booth in Hall 4.1 at Photokina. The Unleashed is a tiny Bluetooth module that plugs into the USB and HDMI ports of your DSLR and allows you, via a dedicated app, to change camera settings, capture photos, record videos or create timelapses. You can also embed location information from the smartphone or an external GPS receiver in your images. 

    The Unleashed’s Bluetooth LE technology uses minimal power from the camera and does not require any charging. It automatically reconnects to the smartphone and, unlike Wi-Fi connected competitors, is always ready to be used. Its small dimensions mean that the camera hot shoe can be kept free and the Unleashed can stay on the camera at any time, even when in a bag or case.

    On the downside, Bluetooth LE does not provide enough bandwidth for the transmission of a live view image. However, the Unleashed extracts low resolution thumbnails that allow for basic checks of exposure and composition. The Foolography Unleashed Kickstarter campaign has already reached its funding goal but you can still pledge $ 129 to secure a device. Shipping is planned for June 2017. 

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)