RSS
 

Archive for June, 2016

Facebook adds 360 photo viewing to iOS and Android apps

10 Jun

Facebook has rolled out the ability to upload and view 360-degree images on its iOS and Android apps. These images can be taken via a phone’s panorama function or with a 360 capture device, such as the Samsung Gear 360.

Once uploaded, any user can click on the image and move through the scene by moving their phone in space or just scrolling with a finger. Owners of Samsung cameras which support the company’s Gear VR headset can view the 360s by tapping a button in the Facebook app.

The updated version of the Facebook app will be available for iOS and Android tomorrow, June 10th.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
Comments Off on Facebook adds 360 photo viewing to iOS and Android apps

Posted in Uncategorized

 

Getty Images launches ‘Virtual Reality Group’, adds 12,000 360° images

10 Jun

Getty Images has announced the launch of the Getty Images Virtual Reality Group – a new business division ‘dedicated to the creation and global distribution’ of VR content. At launch, the new group offers a library of more than 12,000 360-degree VR images, as well as ultra high-resolution ‘Gigapixel’ imagery from major events. 

Getty Images has announced the creation of a dedicated Virtual Reality Group, which will offer more than 12,000 360-degree and ‘Gigapixel’ images at launch.

According to Dawn Airey, CEO of Getty Images: ‘The technology is still in its infancy – as are the business models addressing how to use it – but […] we are only on the cusp of what will be a tectonic plate shift in VR’.

Although Getty Images started adding VR and Gigapixel imagery to its collection several years ago, the launch of a dedicated business division is the latest sign that the photography industry is taking VR very seriously indeed. What do you think? Let us know. 

Press Release:

The launch of the Getty Images Virtual Reality Group brings high quality VR and 360 content to everyone, satisfying the growing appetite for immersive content

Getty Images, the world leader in visual communication, has today announced the launch of the Getty Images Virtual Reality Group, a new business dedicated to the creation and global distribution of virtual reality (VR) content.

The Getty Images Virtual Reality Group brings the very latest in photographic and video technology together with Getty Images’ 21 years of experience in visual storytelling, to offer exceptional content for existing and future VR platforms. The Group provides a comprehensive offering of over 12,000 premium 360 images with new content added daily, as well as high res gigapixel content from key events and venues. High quality VR production is also being offered through Getty Images Assignments.

Quick to adapt to new image technologies, Getty images began building its collection of 360 and gigapixel imagery four years ago, pioneering the use of these techniques in its role as the Official Photographic Agency for the International Olympic Committee at the 2012 London Olympics. Fast track to today, and every Getty Images photographer at the upcoming Rio Olympic Games, will be equipped with a 360 camera. This is just one example of how Getty Images is utilizing its expertise, its access to over 130,000 annual news, sport and entertainment events and its unique relationships to generate high-end VR content, and feed the growing demand for a more immersive visual experience.

“The technology is still in its infancy – as are the business models addressing how to use it – but we can expect to see VR become a leading tool for visual storytelling. It is anticipated that over 14 million consoles will sell this year alone (TrendForce), and we are only on the cusp of what will be a tectonic plate shift in VR” said Dawn Airey, Chief Executive Officer of Getty Images.

Airey continues: “With the launch of the Getty Images Virtual Reality Group, we are embedding VR content technologies into the core of our business and ensuring that, as use of VR continues to grow, its users are further enhancing their experience with access to the world’s best imagery.”

“The diverse range of 360 degree content that we produce – from the red carpet to the stadiums of the world’s biggest sporting events and the frontline of conflict – allows people to access information and experiences that were previously off limits,” said Hugh Pinney, Vice President of Editorial Content at Getty Images. “Virtual Reality is completely transforming the way we view and experience world events.”

The Group will continue to build on Getty Images existing VR content offering, which includes 360 content captured by its award-winning news, sport and entertainment photographers as well as geo-located, interactive panoramic images from its content partner 360cities.net.

Last month, Getty Images and Google announced their latest partnership, which sees Getty Images supplying hi-res VR content from current events around the world for Google Expeditions. Getty Images partnered with Oculus Rift in June 2015 to make its 360 imagery available for users of the Oculus platform via its 360° View by Getty Images collection.

For more information, visit http://wherewestand.gettyimages.com/virtualrealitygroup.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
Comments Off on Getty Images launches ‘Virtual Reality Group’, adds 12,000 360° images

Posted in Uncategorized

 

Design Copyright Debate: Cheap Replica Eames Chairs Sold for 90% Less

09 Jun

[ By WebUrbanist in Design & Furniture & Decor. ]

discount famous chair design

Seated at the center of a new design-related copyright conversation, a series of Eiffel chairs sold by discount superstore Aldi has designers arguing on both sides.

The chairs in question look significantly like the DSW Eames Plastic Chair (designed by Charles and Ray Eames in 1950), currently made by copyright holders Vitra in Switzerland.

eiffel eames chair copy

Critics point out that Aldi has been caught doing this before, selling things like Mies van der Rohe’s Barcelona Chair on countries where it can avoid copyright entanglements, either because the copyrights have expired or replicas are permitted by law.

Defenders of the discount retailer argue that the entire point of these plastic chairs was to create something cheap, comfortable and easy to mass produce. In other words: the fact that replicas sell for 40 GBP and licensed remakes sell for ten times that goes against the intent of the designers.

Either way, Aldi seems to way to stay out of the fray, perhaps planning to hide behind slight design differences when it comes to the structure, materials and details of the seats.

eamges moled chair original

In some places, like the United Kingdom, changes to laws have been proposed or are in the works, which may provide additional protections for rights holders now and into the future.

There is a larger question at work here though too: how close do designs have to be for them to risk creating intellectual property controversies? There are, after all, only so many ways to plan, design and construct a chair for a human occupant. These days, so many 3D models of seats have been uploaded to programs like SketchUp and it is easier than ever to simply cut, paste and print a copy of one’s own on a 3D printer.

Comfy to Crazy: 20 Creative Chairs and Chair Designs …
Roaringly Realistic Animal Chairs by Maximo Riera …
Team Eames: New Movie Shows Off Timeless Architect & Painter …

Share on Facebook



[ By WebUrbanist in Design & Furniture & Decor. ]

[ WebUrbanist | Archives | Galleries | Privacy | TOS ]


WebUrbanist

 
Comments Off on Design Copyright Debate: Cheap Replica Eames Chairs Sold for 90% Less

Posted in Creativity

 

OOWA smartphone lenses use ‘free-form’ tech for improved image quality

09 Jun

DynaOptics, an optical engineering company that has previously looked at bringing zoom lenses to smartphones, has launched a Kickstarter campaign for its OOWA smartphone add-on lenses. 

The lenses, a 2.5x tele-lens with an equivalent focal length of 75mm and a 15mm equivalent super-wide-angle, use DynaOptics’ patented free-form system design methodology which promises improved edge-to-edge sharpness, minimal distortion, no chromatic aberrations and no vignetting, compared to conventional optical designs. This is achieved through a rotationally asymmetric design that optimizes image quality in a rectangular shape (i.e, the shape of an imaging sensor). In contrast, conventional rotationally symmetric lenses optimize image quality in a circle.

Both lenses attach to iPhone 6-series models via an included protective case. The tele-lens has 5 elements, one made from glass and 4 made out of plastic. The wide-angle has three plastic elements and one glass element. 

You can currently secure either lens by pledging $ 65 on the OOWA Kickstarter page, or $ 120 for the kit. If you like the idea behind the lenses but don’t currently own an iPhone you can also help OOWA select the next devices that it will make lenses available for. Samples and comparison shots can be be found on the DynaOptics website.

Press Release:

Palo Alto, CA and Singapore – June 8, 2016 – DynaOptics, an innovator in optics technology, entered the mobile photography market today with OOWA, a suite of iPhone lens attachments powered by free-form lenses. OOWA’s high-quality wide-angle and telephoto lenses, together with protective phone cases, are available for pre-order on Kickstarter now.

“The introduction of OOWA lenses marks a true innovation in the world of optics: for the first time, a free-form lens is incorporated into a camera lens,” said Li Han Chan, DynaOptics CEO and co-founder. “OOWA’s precision-crafted lens attachments are now available for the iPhone 6 series. Our technology empowers these users to see the world from a fresh perspective — with unprecedented clarity — zero chromatic aberration (no color bleeding) and zero vignetting (no dark corners).”

Photographs taken by OOWA can be found on Instagram at #madewithoowa.

OOWA’s suite of products includes:

  • a 2.5X zoom telephoto lens,
  • a 110 degree diagonal field-of-view wide-angle lens, and
  • a phone case that allows for lens attachment with ease and precision while protecting the phone

A Single Lens Kit (telephoto or wide-angle lens) comes with the selected lens and a phone case, a lens cap, and a carrying pouch. The Pro Kit comes with both lenses, two lens caps, two carrying pouches, and a phone case. OOWA’s Kickstarter supporters can purchase lens kits at early-bird prices (Single Lens Kit at $ 65; Pro Kit at $ 120) during the first three days of the campaign. After which, the kits will be offered at regular reward levels of $ 79 and $ 139 respectively.

As mobile phones capture an ever-increasing share of the world’s photos, the pressure is on for cell phone technology to compete with the image quality of DSLR cameras. Market research firm InfoTrends estimates that more than one trillion photos will be taken by mobile phone users in 2017, up from 0.14 trillion in 20101.

OOWA’s products address this insatiable demand for ever-improving image quality and technology in today’s mobile camera world. Visit OOWA’s press page here for more information on OOWA’s free-form technology, product specifications, lab and field image quality results, and a prototype review by a professional photographer. 

OOWA products are available today for pre-order on KICKSTARTER. OOWA lenses are compatible with the iPhone 6, 6S, 6+ and 6S+ (other phone users — watch this space!), and with screen protectors. The products are expected to ship in November 2016.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
Comments Off on OOWA smartphone lenses use ‘free-form’ tech for improved image quality

Posted in Uncategorized

 

Yo Daddio:It’s a Father’s Day Gift Guide

09 Jun

It’s time to celebrate all the Father’s out there.

Say thanks for the life lessons, the games of catch, and most of all the jokes!

Save 10% on your order with the code Dad10. Be sure to order by this Monday 6/13 with Priority Mail for Father’s Day delivery.

Read along to see gifts your Pop really wants (hint: no ties).

(…)
Read the rest of Yo Daddio:
It’s a Father’s Day Gift Guide (0 words)

© laurel for Photojojo, 2016. |
Permalink |
No comment |
Add to
It’s a Father’s Day Gift Guide”>del.icio.us

Post tags:


Photojojo

 
Comments Off on Yo Daddio:It’s a Father’s Day Gift Guide

Posted in Equipment

 

Adobe Lightroom CC 2015.6, Lightroom 6.6, and Camera Raw 9.6 now available

09 Jun

Adobe has released Lightroom CC 2015.6, Lightroom 6.6, and Camera Raw 9.6, primarily fixing bugs and adding camera profiles as well as Raw support. Lightroom CC and Camera Raw 9.6 users, however, also get a new feature called Guided Upright that reduces/eliminates keystone effects in buildings, straightens images and fixes horizons.

Guided Upright adds a semi-automated function to an existing feature, using guides drawn by the user to apply perspective corrections. It’s found within a new ‘Transform’ panel, which also houses manual perspective correction sliders. Users manually draw 2 to 4 guide lines on the photo, which the software uses to transform the image via Upright. Those manual perspective correction sliders can be used to ‘fine tune’ the resulting image when necessary. 

Lightroom CC 2015.6 / 6.6 and Camera Raw 9.6 have added support for the following cameras:

  • Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II
  • Leica M-D (Typ 262)
  • Nikon COOLPIX B700
  • Panasonic DMC-GX85/GX80/GX7MK2

The software has also added camera matching color profiles for the Pentax K-3 II, K-1, and 645Z cameras. Both versions of Lightroom also received tethered camera support for the Canon EOS-1D X Mark II, Canon EOS 80D, and Canon EOS 1300D / Canon Rebel T6.

The full list of new lens profile support in Lightroom 2015.6 / 6.6 is available here, and the list for Camera Raw 9.6 lens profile support is available here.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
Comments Off on Adobe Lightroom CC 2015.6, Lightroom 6.6, and Camera Raw 9.6 now available

Posted in Uncategorized

 

Tokina AT-X 11-16 Pro DX II Review: Best Value from Wide Angle

09 Jun

Tokina 11-16mm f2.8 is an ultra wide angle lens for crop sensor camera bodies (DX) with a moderately fast constant aperture of f2.8. It is Tokina’s top of the line lens (AT-X) with an internal focusing (IF) and Super-low Dispersion glass (SD). It is available in Canon, Nikon and Sony A mounts. Due to its focal length and fast aperture, Continue Reading

The post Tokina AT-X 11-16 Pro DX II Review: Best Value from Wide Angle appeared first on Photodoto.


Photodoto

 
Comments Off on Tokina AT-X 11-16 Pro DX II Review: Best Value from Wide Angle

Posted in Photography

 

5 Tips to Help Get Yourself Out of a Photography Rut

09 Jun

Shootthroughyourrut 01

Are you in a photography rut?

Tell me if this sounds familiar – you’re the person who almost always has a camera with you. Maybe it’s in a backpack or purse, in your trunk, or strapped right to your hip – you’re always seeking that next level. Yet on the flip side, you also find it excruciating when you hit a rut. You know that terrible feeling when you look at your recent work and feel like it’s the endless blip of a scratched record, when you don’t feel inspired, creative, or excited by your own work.

Friend, when it gets to this point, you’ve officially hit a rut. Ruts are the curse of the artist. but fear not — if you handle this wisely, you’ll come out the other side on the next level. Here are a few tricks that have gotten me through my creative plateaus.

Shootthroughyourrut 02

Tip #1 – put the camera away for a while

First, put that camera down. It’s unsettling, isn’t it? You see the world in a series of beautifully composed photos, and not having a camera feels like you’re missing a limb. Sit in that discomfort. Force yourself to look at your surroundings with a fresh eye — no lens between you and the world — and new frames, new light, new ways of capturing this crazy planet will all slowly unveil themselves to you.

If you keep going in a rush to capture it all before it disappears, you’ll never see it properly. Start slow. Look carefully. Don’t take any photos. Keep things captured in your mind just for yourself. When you do pick up your camera again, it’ll feel like a whole new world of opportunity, because you’ve refreshed your own gaze. In the spirit of always keeping your gaze fresh, is the next point.

Shootthroughyourrut 03

Tip #2 – look for new inspiration close to home or online

Find new sources of inspiration. During one of my “leave the camera at home” phases last month, I was hungrily soaking up inspiration from everywhere and everything BUT photography. I sat in slack-jawed wonder at Kehinde Wiley paintings, examined the brush strokes in Japanese calligraphy, studied ancient mapmaking techniques and short shadowy films, and the impeccable detail on the Manus x Machina gowns at the Met Museum.

You don’t have to travel to new countries to find a street you’ve never walked down. This absorption of every art besides photography reminded me over and over that this world is rife with creativity that bursts from its very pores, in a hundred different manifestations. I felt so small, so unimportant, and so refreshed by the many ways of creativity that humans are capable of, that aren’t my piddly little photography efforts. It’s good to feel small, while also being inspired to be bigger. That being said, we come to the next tip.

Shootthroughyourrut 04

Tip #3 – stop comparing yourself to others

Stop absorbing other people’s work. Seriously, give yourself a break from the comparison game, because no one wins. Either you end up in a fetal position in defeat, after a depressing Instagram session in which you realize you’re a talentless hack, or you’re left with that icky smug feeling when you look at someone’s work who isn’t as good as yours. Either way, the comparison game doesn’t improve your art, nor does it improve the world either. Take an Instagram break, stop looking at how other photographers are doing it, and keep working on your own vision. It’s a smarter use of your time, and will take you further (now if only I could figure out how to actually implement this one).

Shootthroughyourrut 05

Tip #4 – take advantage or your own strengths and skills

Take the photo that only you can take. This is the crux of it. Instead of imitating other photographers’ techniques and subjects, have a good hard think about the photo that literally can only be taken by YOU. What communities are you a part of that others would kill to break into? What skill sets do you have, that will open doors that otherwise would stay latched shut? There are so many little components of you that make you unique — so don’t waste your time trying to recreate your current photography idol’s recent shoot.

Shootthroughyourrut 06

Tip #5 – just get some rest

If all else fails – take a nap. Seriously, sometimes I’m just so damn tired that I can’t come up with a fresh idea to save my life. Have a good lie down, and know that the world will still be there, waiting to be captured when you wake up.

In a rut? Leave your techniques for working through it in the comments section below, I can’t wait to hear how you handle it!

googletag.cmd.push(function() {
tablet_slots.push( googletag.defineSlot( “/1005424/_dPSv4_tab-all-article-bottom_(300×250)”, [300, 250], “pb-ad-78623” ).addService( googletag.pubads() ) ); } );

googletag.cmd.push(function() {
mobile_slots.push( googletag.defineSlot( “/1005424/_dPSv4_mob-all-article-bottom_(300×250)”, [300, 250], “pb-ad-78158” ).addService( googletag.pubads() ) ); } );

The post 5 Tips to Help Get Yourself Out of a Photography Rut by Laura Sullivan appeared first on Digital Photography School.


Digital Photography School

 
Comments Off on 5 Tips to Help Get Yourself Out of a Photography Rut

Posted in Photography

 

2016 Roundup: $1200-2000 part 2: Full-Frame Interchangeable Lens Cameras

09 Jun

For those wanting to step up from entry-level to midrange ILCs, there are many things to consider, including the choice between a DSLR or mirrorless camera, what sensor size suits you best, how important video is to you, and of course the lens system.

While full-frame cameras typically offer superior low light image quality and more control over depth-of-field, crop-sensor cameras are extremely capable in their own right – and (usually) more compact and less costly.

We’ve split the $ 1200-2000 ILC marketplace into two segments – full-frame sensor cameras (discussed in this roundup) and crop-sensor (APS-C/Four Thirds) covered here.

This group of full-frame cameras is split right down the middle, with three DSLRs and three mirrorless models. Sony is, by far, the major player in the full-frame mirrorless market, with most of the other manufacturers sticking with DSLRs.

Here are the cameras we’ll cover in this enthusiast full-frame roundup: 

  • Canon EOS 6D
  • Nikon D610
  • Pentax K-1
  • Sony Alpha a7
  • Sony Alpha a7 II
  • Sony Alpha a7R

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
Comments Off on 2016 Roundup: $1200-2000 part 2: Full-Frame Interchangeable Lens Cameras

Posted in Uncategorized

 

Affordable reach: Ricoh announces Pentax 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 lens

09 Jun

$ (document).ready(function() { SampleGalleryV2({“containerId”:”embeddedSampleGallery_5380945682″,”galleryId”:”5380945682″,”isEmbeddedWidget”:true,”standalone”:false,”selectedImageIndex”:0,”startInCommentsView”:false,”isMobile”:false}) });

Ricoh Imaging has announced the HD Pentax-DA 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE lens. The new version builds in some new features and sheds some weight compared to the company’s previous 55-300mm F4-5.8 ED WR lens, but at the expense of a slightly smaller maximum aperture range.

Namely, this new lens features a pulse motor (PLM) and adopts a ‘rear-focus’ system – both of these changes result in faster autofocus acquisition times (8.3x at wide angle and 1.7x at telephoto), as well as quieter overall autofocus performance when compared to its predecessor. Ricoh also claims that, when the lens is mounted on the new K-70 DSLR, a new autofocus algorithm ensures greater precision and faster operation with dimly lit subjects.

The lens is 10% lighter than the old 55-300mm, is fully weather-sealed and focuses down to 0.95m/3.1ft Rounding out the key specs and changes is an electromagnetic diaphragm control system, which, according to Ricoh, will provide smoother aperture control during video recording.

The HD Pentax-DA 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE lens will retail for $ 399.95/£399.99 when it becomes available – Ricoh will make an availability announcement in July.

Press release:

Ricoh Imaging announces compact, lightweight and weather-resistant HD PENTAX-DA 55-300mm F4.5-6.3ED PLM WR RE lens

Advanced-design telephoto zoom lens delivers high-speed, quiet autofocus and outstanding optical performance in an extremely portable package

DENVER, Colo. June 8, 2016 – Ricoh Imaging Americas Corporation today announced the
HD PENTAX-DA 55-300mm F4.5-6.3ED PLM WR RE lens. Designed for use with PENTAX K-mount digital single-lens reflex (SLR) cameras, this new, weather-resistant 5.5X telephoto zoom lens provides enhanced autofocus (AF) and outstanding optical performance in a compact and lightweight package.

The lens provides effective focal lengths between 84.5mm and 460mm when mounted on a PENTAX APS-C format digital SLR, including the new PENTAX K-70 announced today (see separate news release). Its design enables quiet, high-speed AF operation in still-image shooting, as well as smooth and quiet AF tracking operation during video recording, with minimal mechanical noise created by focus and aperture shifts.

PENTAX HD (high-definition) coated optics deliver sharp, bright, high-contrast images free of flare and ghosting. The HD PENTAX-DA 55-300mm F4.5-6.3ED PLM WR RE lens offers a minimum focusing distance of 37.4 inches (0.95 meters) to further expand the range of photographic applications. With a fully retractable design, the lens measures only 3.5 inches (89 millimeters) long when retracted, and weighs less than one pound (442 grams), making it easy to carry around, even for casual shooting.

Fully weather-sealed, this lens is a durable and dependable companion for outdoor shooting—even in rain, snow or other wet conditions—when used with any of the many weather-resistant PENTAX DSLRs, such as the new K-70.

| Pricing and Availability |

Availability of the HD PENTAX-DA 55-300mm F4.5-6.3ED PLM WR RE lens will be announced in early July. When available, it can be purchased at www.ricohimaging.com for $ 399.95, as well as at Ricoh Imaging-authorized retail outlets throughout North America.

Main Features

1. High-speed AF operation

With the adoption of a rear-focus system, the lens is almost 10 percent lighter than the PENTAX’s previous 55-300m lens—the HD PENTAX-DA 55-300mm F4-5.8ED WR. By driving this focusing lens using a pulse motor (PLM), which is directly linked to a lead screw, this zoom lens also operates faster — approximately 8.3 times at its wide-angle end and approximately 1.7 times at its telephoto end —and quieter than its predecessor. When mounted on the new PENTAX K-70 digital SLR camera body (also announced today), it assures smoother, faster AF operation with dimly lit subjects, thanks to an improved AF algorithm that exchanges AF data between the camera body and the lens with greater precision. Operability of its power-assisted focus system during manual-focus operation has also been improved. Since its distance ring is designed to accurately detect the angle of rotation and swiftly react to a change of angle, this zoom lens can shift its focusing lens smoothly in response to distance ring operation.

2. Quiet AF operation and electromagnetic diaphragm control, perfect for video recording

This is the first K-mount lens to feature an electromagnetic diaphragm control system.* When mounted on the new PENTAX K-70 digital SLR or other compatible camera body, it assures smooth, high-precision aperture control during video recording. This state-of-the-art system shifts the aperture setting automatically and smoothly to result in more natural, true-to-life videos, even when the brightness level of the subject changes drastically, such as a live theater performance or a sunlight- streaked forest scene, or with active subjects such as athletes and animals. Coupled with the PLM mechanism, the system also assures smooth AF tracking operation and exposure control, while minimizing the intrusion of focus- and aperture-shift noises during video recording.

* NOTE: This lens’ KAF4 mount is compatible with an electromagnetic diaphragm control system. In order to use this lens, the camera’s firmware must be upgraded to the latest version (except for the PENTAX K-70). Cameras compatible with this system are: K-1, K-3 II, K-S2 and K-S1. If this lens is mounted on a camera without proper firmware upgrade, its diaphragm control mechanism becomes inactive, making it impossible to obtain correct exposure.

3. High-quality images, with a minimum focusing distance of 37.4 inches (0.95 meters)

With focal lengths from 84.5mm to 460mm (in the 35mm format), this telephoto zoom lens provides approximately 5.5-times zoom coverage from medium- to super-telephoto ranges. Its 14-element, 11- group optics include an ED (Extra-low Dispersion) optical element to effectively minimize spherical and chromatic aberrations, while delivering high-resolution, finely detailed images with rich contrast from the image’s center to its edges and minimal color bleeding at any focal length setting. In addition to a short minimal focusing distance of 0.95 meters, made possible by the rear-focus system, the lens barrel has also been designed to be free of extension during AF operation.

4. Compact telephoto zoom lens

Thanks to its retractable structure, the lens is only 3.5 inches (89 millimeters) long and weighs less than one pound (442 grams).

5. Weather-resistant construction

The lens features dependable, weather-resistant construction with 11 sealed parts to effectively prevent the intrusion of water into the lens interior. When paired with a weather-resistant PENTAX digital SLR camera body, the result is a durable, dependable digital imaging system that performs superbly in demanding shooting settings.

6. HD Coating to optimize image description

The lens is treated with high-grade, multi-layer HD (high definition) Coating. Compared with conventional multi-layer coatings, this PENTAX-original coating assures higher light transmittance and less reflection to deliver bright, high-contrast images free of flare and ghost images, even under demanding lighting conditions.

7. Other features

?Quick-Shift Focus System allows the user to instantly switch to manual-focus operation, even when the camera’s AF system is in operation.

?SP (Super Protect) Coating applied to the front surface of the lens to effectively repel water and grease.

?Rounded diaphragm with nine blades to produce a smooth, beautiful bokeh (defocus) effect. Designs and specifications are subject to change without notice.

Pentax 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE lens specifications

Principal specifications
Lens type Zoom lens
Max Format size APS-C / DX
Focal length 55–300 mm
Image stabilisation No
Lens mount Pentax KAF3
Aperture
Maximum aperture F4.5–6.3
Minimum aperture F22–32
Aperture ring No
Number of diaphragm blades 9
Aperture notes Rounded blades
Optics
Elements 14
Groups 11
Special elements / coatings ED elements + HD and SP coatings
Focus
Minimum focus 0.95 m (37.4″)
Maximum magnification 0.3×
Autofocus Yes
Motor type Stepper motor
Full time manual Yes
Focus method Extending front
Distance scale No
DoF scale No
Focus distance limiter No
Physical
Weight 471 g (1.04 lb)
Diameter 77 mm (3.01″)
Length 89 mm (3.5″)
Sealing Yes
Colour Black
Zoom method Rotary (extending)
Power zoom No
Filter thread 58.0 mm
Hood supplied Yes
Hood product code PH-RBK58
Tripod collar No

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
Comments Off on Affordable reach: Ricoh announces Pentax 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 lens

Posted in Uncategorized

 
« Older Entries
Newer Entries »