February « 2019 « 360Photography

RSS

Archive for February, 2019

Review: Alien Skin Exposure X4 Software

24 Feb

The post Review: Alien Skin Exposure X4 Software appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Peter West Carey.

Alien Skin Exposure X4 is a photo editor providing direct competition to Adobe Lightroom, but with a few extra tricks up its sleeve. While it is a cataloging software, it doesn’t require a catalog like Lightroom. There is no importing to be done. It has a host of features and over 500 presets to help get you started with edits.

Who is it for?

Exposure X4 is aimed at a wide variety of users. From novices just getting started who want a little help via presets, to advanced photographers possibly tired of the subscription model Adobe keeps pushing for its programs.

As a professional myself, I don’t find any show-stopping limits within the program as I’ve seen from Lightroom competitors in the past. You’ll notice the word “robust” used a number of times in this article and I don’t use it without warrant. It’s a very serious competitor to Lightroom.

Highlighted Features

No catalog

At its core, Exposure X4 is built to edit photos quickly, dynamically and then to help you get the finished product out to the world, be it in print or online. Exposure X4 uses non-destructive edits, much like Lightroom, and does this without a catalog. Instead, Exposure X4 drops another folder inside of any folder you are editing as in the screenshot below.

Some may like this system because without a catalog there is no catalog to corrupt. While not a widespread problem in Lightroom, it can happen if you don’t close the program properly or if your computer crashes. Uniquely, it also allows for a limited amount of shared editing.

As the program only looks to individual edit information files (those ending in .exposurex4 in the screenshot above), it is conceivable to run the program on two computers sharing the same files, such as with a Network Attached Storage or other file sharing services (Dropbox, iCloud, OneDrive, etc…). There’s also no need to pack up or export a catalog before moving files as the folder with edits will travel with the master folder.

File copy from cards

Instead of importing files, Exposure X4 uses a simple copy and bookmark feature to handle raw images.

The copy feature lets you copy from a card, or from a hard drive or network resource if you want to move files. This is a separate process than simply bookmarking an existing folder to bring its contents into Exposure X4.

The copy feature is pretty robust, with the ability to change file names, make backup copies, add metadata, including keywords and copyright. It can also apply presets (from the over 500 included or ones you create yourself).

The file naming convention is also robust with all kinds of variables you would expect. Below is an example of all the date related options you have.

As a long time Lightroom user, I was happy with the selections included.

Bookmarks instead of Imports

Lightroom requires you to run an import function to bring any images you want to edit into its catalog. Exposure X4 accomplishes this, in my opinion, in a more elegant way.

Simply click the plus sign on the Folders pane and select which folder you want including in the program.

The program also has the ability to monitor folders, so when new images show up (if you are importing with another program, for instance, or shooting tethered) the program will automatically bring those images in.

Layers

For those familiar with Photoshop, the Layers technique of editing will see standard practice. Using features like Brushes (for masks) and gradients will create a new layer for each desired effect.

In this case, I added some clarity to the mountains and a slight gradient. The array of presets is decent and you can modify any mask/edit to your liking.

Each layer can be turned on or off, which is very helpful when you want to see what effect each has without having to step back through the History.

Lastly, as you would expect, layers can be copied, named and deleted.

All the other edits

Exposure X4 has a vast array of editing options as you can see from this collapsed panel below.

While featuring every single item is beyond the scope of this review, I will mention the IR (infrared) and Focus.

For instance, take this shot of photographers in front of Cho Oyu, the 6th highest mountain in the world, shot from the Nepal side.

With a quick swipe of the adjustment brush on a new layer mask then a few slider moves as such:

Bingo! We have selective focus.

Further editing needs to be done, but this is a nice start to helping the photographers stand out.

Presets galore

If you love presets, you’re going to love what Exposure X4 packs into its programming. Here’s a quick screenshot of the categories:

If you want to see what is behind each of those headings, take a look at their website.

One downside I can see is there aren’t many third parties making presets for this program, at least not that I was able to find.

However, you are able to create your own with no limits.

Lightroom Migration Tool

Now the crux of it!

When you install Exposure X4 on a computer with Lightroom, it will add a Migration Tool as an add-on within Lightroom.

So what does it do?

It’s fairly basic and, for the most part, tells Exposure X4 where to find all your files from the Lightroom catalog as well as bring over keywords and collections.

Does it work?

Yes and no. You need to know what to expect.

First off, it’s not going to bring over the entire history for a photo with all your edits just as they are in Lightroom.

You have two options: 1) Simply point Exposure X4 to the RAW file and then start from scratch or 2) Export each file that you have edited as either a JPG, TIFF or PSD file.

The second option works well when I had it create new PSD files. Keywords, star ratings, color coding, and all the metadata came right along into Exposure X4. The one annoying thing is it renames each file and appends it with “_migrated.psd”. This can easily be cleaned up with Exposure X4’s renaming feature.

Here’s an example of a small catalog brought into Exposure X4.

More info on the tool can be found on their site.

Show me more

There really is way too much to talk about in this one post. Luckily they have a great Features page that lists the plethora of features you may be looking for.

What Could Use Work

I found a few issues with the program while testing it. I left out the items I would describe as “That’s not the same as Lightroom!” where I blurted out that phrase because it’s not exactly the same.

No preview on import

I admit that import is the wrong name for it. Mentioned above, I’m talking about the “Copy From Card” feature to move items from a card to a local hard drive and also include them in Exposure X4.

When running this feature, there’s no ability to preview the images. This also means there is no ability to choose individual images when copying from a card.

Hopefully, this will be addressed in a future version. But I can see why they left it this way; because Exposure X4 is supposed to look at all images in a folder. If you don’t want to see them, they shouldn’t be there! It does cut down on the need to synchronize things as Lightroom can.

Not all profiles are present

The camera profile for my drone, a Mavic 2 Pro, was not included. At least that’s what I thought.

While it did have the profile for the Mavic Pro, it was not automatically recognized and applied in the Lens Correction pane. This may be a temporary thing, but the Mavic 2 Pro has been out since last summer.

Two finger rotation

This will seems like a little thing, but it really annoyed me. Rotating images is accomplished by holding down Command/Ctrl and the left and right arrow keys. Using the arrow keys make sense, because they point the way of rotation, but I want it quick and easy, not with the added Command key.

I know, it’s a little thing.

Lack of Add-Ons and Plug-Ins

Because it is not Adobe, Alien Skins doesn’t have a huge pile of developers pumping out plug-ins and add-ons for Exposure X4. It tries to make up for this fact by offering a robust program from the start, but I use the Lightroom tethering abilities often and not having that feature in Exposure X4 is hampering.

Conclusion

Alien Skin Exposure X4 can do almost all of what Lightroom can do. It’s worthy competition that deserves a close look if you are getting fed up with Lightroom and Adobe’s current path.

It offers a number of creative features you won’t find in Lightroom, like the adding sun streaks or other lighting effects to your photos.

It’s a fun and different approach than Lightroom. It can export to Photoshop and has a decent migration tool if you are already using Lightroom.

It’s not compatible with Lightroom, though. Using both programs on the same images will not work, so you need to choose one or the other. In my mind, it’s worth giving it a try and really diving into the keyboard shortcuts (“-” is used to reject a photo and “+” is used to flag it, while either shortcut can be used to toggle off the flag. No more trying to find “U” (to unmark!) to see if it is the right program for you.

Have you used this software? What are your thoughts?

The post Review: Alien Skin Exposure X4 Software appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Peter West Carey.

Digital Photography School

Comments Off

Posted in Photography

Sony is hiring engineers to help strengthen its image sensor business

24 Feb

Reuters reports that Sony is planning to deploy 40 percent of its new engineer hires in Japan at its chip business which also includes the manufacturing of image sensors. The company is hoping to grow the division with more demand coming from a range of sectors, including mobile and automotive.

Overall Sony is projecting to hire 320 new engineers in Japan in 2019 and the same number again the next year, which is an increase of 70 from 2018. These numbers are Japan-only, so don’t take into account new engineering positions at international locations.

The hiring plans align with Sony’s investment of approximately $ 5.4 billion into its image sensor business over the next three years, which accounts for half of of the group’s planned capital expenditures.

Sony is already the market leader for image sensors by quite some margin, controlling more than half of the imaging sensor market for smartphones. The division is also an important contributor to profit within Sony, despite the company cutting its annual profit outlook for imaging sensors this month to 130 billion yen due to weakening global demand for smartphones. This figure still accounts for 15 percent of the Sony group’s overall profit.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

Comments Off

Posted in Uncategorized

How to Make Dramatic Photos with Backlight

24 Feb

The post How to Make Dramatic Photos with Backlight appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Mat Coker.

Most people don’t notice light. But visual artists do. Light is one of the essential ingredients in your photographs.

Light can be tricky to deal with until you understand camera settings. But once you’re familiar with your camera, light is wonderful to play with in your photos.

Personally, I love backlight. It adds a sense of drama and beauty to your photography.

I’ll show you examples of backlight with food, landscape, and portrait photography (studio and outdoors).

In order to achieve backlight in your photo, have the main light source behind your subject coming toward your camera. In this photo, you can actually see the warm setting sun as the source of backlight.

What is backlight good for?

I love backlight because it adds depth and drama to an otherwise flat, two-dimensional photo.

Backlight helps to bring out the texture of objects that you photograph (sidelight is good for this as well). Texture is created through a combination of highlights and shadows. Since photographs are two dimensional, texture adds depth to your photo.

A strong burst of backlight adds drama to your photo. Think about the bursts of light at a rock concert or other performances. The temperature of the backlight (warm or cool) adds to the drama of the photo.

The backlight source might be in your photo along with your subject (as with the sunset photo above). Or the light source can be outside of the frame (as long as it illuminates your subject).

Any source of backlight can be used creatively, but sunlight, windows, and strobes are among the most popular.

The principals of backlight are the same no matter what camera you’re using, even your phone.

This ice-covered tree is backlit by the sun. Without backlight shining through the branches, this tree would not have stood out so much.

Food

It’s great to begin practicing backlight with food. Backlight can be used to illuminate steam and bring out the texture of the food.

While any light source will work, many photographers love using window light to illuminate food.

The light source is not visible in this photo, but there is a window backlighting the food and making the steam visible.

This food was photographed while still in the oven. The warm backlight is coming from the oven light.

This is an example of soft backlight produced by a large window. I wanted to bring out the texture in the cookies. An iPhone 4s was used to capture the image and Lightroom was used to process it.

Your food photos will be less flat and have more pop to them when you use back (or side) light. Just look for a window or any other light source. Get creative and use the light from fridges, stoves, and lamps.

The great thing about practicing backlight with food is that if you can’t reposition the light source, you can easily reposition yourself and the food.

Landscape and Nature

Once you get the hang of backlight with food, use it to add drama to your landscape photos. In most cases, you won’t be able to reposition your backlight source since it will likely be the sun. However, you can always reposition yourself in relation to the sun and your subject.

I saw this scene as I looked in the rearview mirror. I couldn’t resist pulling over to take a photo. The setting sun is the light source for this scene. You can’t see it in the frame but it’s behind the trees to the left. Notice how the electricity wires are shining and standing out from the dark trees in the background.

The setting sun behind this crab apple tree caught my eye during a walk. I came back with my camera and found a perspective where the sun was visible filtering through the tree. An aperture of f/11 was used to create the starburst effect.

A combination of backlight and water droplets on the lens created this special effect. I don’t recommend letting your lens get wet, I was using a waterproof case. The case was still wet from using my camera underwater.

Portraits

I love to incorporate backlight into portraits to accent the emotion. Beautiful or intense moments are brought out even more with the use of backlight.

Studio

The best part about backlight in a studio is that you can position your light source any way you like.

Two off camera flashes were used to produce this dramatic backlight.

Superheros are dramatic characters by nature. Using harsh backlight instead of soft front light is better for bringing out the nature of the subject.

Natural light

When using natural light, you’ll have to position yourself and your subject according to the light source.

This little guy is backlit by the setting sun, while the big open sky in front of him illuminates his face.

Troubleshooting

One of the biggest problems about backlight is that your photo may turn out as a silhouette when you don’t want it to.

You’re likely using a semi-automatic setting such as aperture or shutter priority. Your camera sees the bright backlight and meters itself accordingly. You can use exposure compensation to help you avoid unwanted silhouettes. Try setting your exposure compensation to +1 or +2. You’ll need to experiment according to the light conditions.

If you’re experienced then manual mode might be the best option for you.

The main light source is the sky in the background. The sun has not risen over the horizon yet.

Practice backlight with everything

Once you get the hang of it, you can introduce backlight into all sorts of situations. Use it to bring out texture and to heighten dramatic moments.

Concerts are a wonderful place to have fun with backlight. The rapidly changing lights will create a challenge for you. Take lots of photos and be happy with the few that work out.

I love how golden hour can add a nostalgic feel to photos.

Use a combination of low angles and backlight to make your photo more exciting.

I always wait until evening to visit the beach. That way the sun isn’t shining straight down onto the sand. Instead it shines down at a lower angle, creating texture through shadow and highlight.

I love my little guy’s hair. There is a window just above him as the source of backlight.

The post How to Make Dramatic Photos with Backlight appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Mat Coker.

Digital Photography School

Comments Off

Posted in Photography

Panasonic S1R sample gallery updated with Raw conversions

23 Feb

$ (document).ready(function() { SampleGalleryV2({“containerId”:”embeddedSampleGallery_9045823839″,”galleryId”:”9045823839″,”isEmbeddedWidget”:true,”selectedImageIndex”:0,”isMobile”:false}) });

We’ve had a little more time to shoot around with Panasonic’s high-resolution full-framer and thus, top off our sample gallery. We’ve also had the chance to add a whole lot of Raw conversions, which should give a better idea of image quality compared to the out-of-camera JPEGs. So have a peek and let us know what you think.

See our Panasonic S1R gallery

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

Comments Off

Posted in Uncategorized

Ricoh announces rugged WG-6 and industrial-strength G900 cameras

23 Feb

The WG-6 is Ricoh’s latest ‘top-of-the-line’ waterproof camera, offering a 20MP, 1/2.3″ BSI-CMOS sensor, 28-140mm F3.5-5.5 lens and a built-in macro ring light. The WG-6 is waterproof to 20m/65ft, shockproof from 2.1m/6.5ft and functional down to -10°C/+14°F.

The WG-6 has a built-in GPS and electronic compass, a 3″ (non-touch) LCD, remote control receivers on the front and back and a USB-C socket. It’s also capable of capturing 4K/30 video. The WG-6 does not have optical image stabilization, and wireless connectivity is only available by using optional FlashAir SD cards.

The camera will be on the market shortly for $ 399. Available colors include orange and black.

The G900 is a more rugged version of the WG-6 and is designed for industrial applications. In addition to being water, dust, and drop-resistant, it’s also crushproof to 100kgf/220lbf and chemical-resistant (to which ones, we do not know).

It also adds text and voice memos, password protection and barcode scanning. The G900 has a whopping 6.5GB of internal memory, as well.

The G900 will be priced at $ 799.

Press Release

Ricoh Imaging introduces top-of-the-line model in its WG series of ultra-rugged digital compact cameras

Waterproof, shockproof RICOH WG-6 camera packs 20 megapixels and 4K-resolution video functionality in a small and durable package

WEST CALDWELL, NJ, February 21, 2019-Ricoh Imaging Americas Corporation today announced the RICOH WG-6, a compact, waterproof and shockproof digital camera that produces super high-resolution photos and 4K video. Equipped with a 5x optical zoom lens with 28mm wide-angle coverage and a large, wide-frame LCD monitor, the new, top-of-the- line model in the rugged WG series makes it easy to capture a range of images – from eye- catching close-ups to sweeping landscapes – in the most extreme conditions.

The RICOH WG-6 adds a host of newly designed features including a multi-application ring light ideal for macro-photography and the most dependable waterproof body in WG-series history, capable of shooting to a depth of 65 feet, for up to two continuous hours. The WG-6 body is shockproof against a fall from heights of 6.5 feet and operational in temperatures as low as -10°C.

Equipped with a state-of-the-art back-illuminated CMOS image sensor with approximately 20 effective megapixels and a high-performance imaging engine, the RICOH WG-6 delivers super-high-resolution still images and 4K-resolution video clips. In addition to the conventional Movie SR (Shake Reduction) mode, it features a new Movie SR+ mode to assure high-quality shooting with more active, fast-action outdoor activities.

A six-LED ring light unit positioned around the lens allows use of a faster shutter speed to minimize camera shake and subject shake in macro and close-up photography. This feature also allows the photographer to choose specific LEDs to illuminate a subject more three- dimensionally and emphasize its delicate contours.

Additional outdoor-friendly features include a GPS module to record position data and travel log data onto captured images; an electronic compass; and the innovative Handheld Night Snap mode, which automatically captures several images of the same nighttime scene and produces a single blur-free composite image of them.

| Pricing and Availability |

The RICOH WG-6 will be available for pre-sale at www.us.ricoh-imaging.com and retail outlets nationwide for a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $ 399.95.

Ricoh Imaging announces heavy-duty industrial digital camera ideal for construction, civil engineering and disaster relief

Resistant to water, dust, shock and chemicals, the new RICOH G900 produces high- resolution images in the most challenging conditions

WEST CALDWELL, NJ, February 21, 2019-Ricoh Imaging Americas Corporation today announced the RICOH G900, a heavy-duty, compact digital camera designed for capturing high- quality images and 4K video in demanding industrial environments. Waterproof, dustproof, shock- and chemical-resistant, the G900 is optimized for use in challenging conditions subject to water, rain, dust and dirt, and in industries such as construction, civil engineering, disaster relief and healthcare.

The successor to the RICOH G800, the RICOH G900 offers a new, back-illuminated CMOS image sensor with approximately 20 effective megapixels that captures high-resolution images even in low-light conditions. It features a 5X optical zoom (equivalent to 28-140mm in 35mm format), and a six-LED ring light unit positioned around the lens that allows use of a faster shutter speed to minimize camera shake and subject shake in macro and close-up photography.

Approximately 26 percent more compact than its predecessor, the rugged RICOH G900 is waterproof to a depth of 65 feet for up to two hours of continuous operation, and its enhanced shock-resistant body is capable of withstanding a fall from 6.5 feet.

The camera offers an array of features designed to facilitate shooting in industrial environments, including an advanced GPS system and an electronic compass that records accurate position and direction data; easily accessible controls; a comfortable, contoured grip; and the wide neck strap of its predecessor, which enables two-point, cross-shoulder suspension to make the RICOH G900 easy to carry and handle at worksites.

The RICOH G900’s unique, enhanced camera memo function mode greatly reduces the workload needed for post-shooting data management. Previously created text or audio can be easily attached to a captured image, and reference images such as plans or blueprints can be browsed on the camera’s 3-inch LCD monitor. A transparency guide allows the user to recall a previously captured image on the monitor to compare images side-by-side and measure progress of work that has been completed. Additional features include a barcode scanning function, password- protected camera lock, 6.5GB of built-in memory and an electronic level.

| Pricing and Availability |

The RICOH G900 will be available for pre-sale at www.us.ricoh-imaging.com and retail outlets nationwide for a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $ 799.95.

Ricoh WG-6 / G900 specifications

	Ricoh WG-6	Ricoh G900
Price
MSRP	$ 399	$ 799
Body type
Body type	Compact
Body material	Composite
Sensor
Max resolution	5184 x 3888
Image ratio w:h	1:1, 4:3, 3:2
Effective pixels	20 megapixels
Sensor size	1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm)
Sensor type	BSI-CMOS
Color space	sRGB
Color filter array	Primary color filter
Image
White balance presets	8
Custom white balance	Yes
Image stabilization	Digital only
Uncompressed format	No
File format	JPEG
Optics & Focus
Focal length (equiv.)	28–140 mm
Optical zoom	5×
Maximum aperture	F3.5–5.5
Autofocus	Contrast Detect (sensor) Center Tracking Single Continuous Face Detection Live View
Autofocus assist lamp	Yes
Digital zoom	Yes (8.1X)
Manual focus	Yes
Normal focus range	50 cm (19.69″)
Macro focus range	1 cm (0.39″)
Number of focus points	9
Screen / viewfinder
Articulated LCD	Fixed
Screen size	3″
Screen dots	1,040,000
Touch screen	No
Screen type	TFT LCD
Live view	Yes
Viewfinder type	None
Photography features
Minimum shutter speed	4 sec	1/4 sec
Maximum shutter speed	1/4000 sec
Exposure modes	Program
Scene modes	Auto Picture Program HDR Handheld Night Snap Movie High Speed Movie Digital Microscope Landscape Flower Portrait Underwater Underwater Movie Interval Shot Interval Movie Surf & Snow Kids Pet Sport Night Scene Fireworks Digital SR Report Green Depth of field composition	Auto Picture Program HDR Movie High Speed Movie Digital Microscope Interval Shot Interval Movie Surf & Snow Digital SR Report watermark Firefighting Skew Correct Text Zoom Macro Haze removal Depth of field composition
Built-in flash	Yes
Flash range	5.50 m (with Auto ISO)
External flash	No
Flash modes	Flash on, flash off
Drive modes	One-shot Self-timer Continuous Burst M continuous S continuous Remote control Auto bracketing
Self-timer	Yes
Metering modes	Multi Center-weighted Spot
Exposure compensation	±2 (at 1/3 EV steps)
AE Bracketing	±2 (3 frames at 1/3 EV steps)
WB Bracketing	No
Videography features
Format	MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone	Stereo
Speaker	Mono
Storage
Storage types	Internal + SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Storage included	27MB	6.5GB
Connectivity
USB	USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
USB charging	Yes
HDMI	Yes (micro-HDMI)
Microphone port	No
Headphone port	No
Wireless notes	Supports FlashAir SD cards
Remote control	Yes (Receivers on front and back)	Yes
Physical
Environmentally sealed	Yes
Durability	Waterproof, Shockproof
Battery	Battery Pack
Battery description	DB-110 lithium-ion battery & USB charger
Battery Life (CIPA)	340
Weight (inc. batteries)	246 g (0.54 lb / 8.68 oz)	247 g (0.54 lb / 8.71 oz)
Dimensions	118 x 66 x 33 mm (4.65 x 2.6 x 1.3″)
Other features
Orientation sensor	Yes
Timelapse recording	Yes
GPS	Built-in
GPS notes	Includes e-Compass

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

Comments Off

Posted in Uncategorized

Ricoh GR III sample gallery

23 Feb

$ (document).ready(function() { SampleGalleryV2({“containerId”:”embeddedSampleGallery_9930153897″,”galleryId”:”9930153897″,”isEmbeddedWidget”:true,”selectedImageIndex”:0,”isMobile”:false}) });

The Ricoh GR III made its official debut today, and DPR contributor Damien Demolder got his hands on the camera for a quick photo walk through London. Take a look at the JPEG output from the GR III as well as a few converted DNGs.

See our Ricoh GR III sample gallery

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

Comments Off

Posted in Uncategorized

Tokina releases 16-28mm wide zoom with constant F2.8 aperture

23 Feb

Lens manufacturer Tokina has officially released details, price and on-sale dates for the Opera 16-28mm F2.8 lens it first showcased at Photokina last September. Expected to ship mid-March the full-frame wide angle zoom will cost $ 699 and will be available in two versions for Canon EF and Nikon F DSLR mounts.

The lens joins the previously-released 50mm F1.4 in the Opera series. Tokina says it used the Opera name as it hopes these lenses will help photographers to create works of art. The company also says that these lenses are not designed to be small and lightweight but with image quality as a priority.

Using 15 elements in 13 groups the Opera 16-28mm F2.8 weighs 940g (~2lb) and measures 89 x 133.5mm. It also offers a nine-bladed iris for improved rendering of out-of-focus highlights and an upgraded AF system that is claimed to be both faster and more accurate than the original AT-X 16-28mm F2.8 PRO FX.

See the Tokina website for more information, and B&H Photo for sample shots taken with the lens and a first impressions review.

Press Release

New Tokina opera 16-28mm F2.8 FF

Inspired by the focal length and aperture of the widely acknowledged Tokina AT-X 16-28mm F2.8 PRO FX lens, Tokina opera 16-28mm F2.8 FF has been developed with the same concept as the already released opera 50mm F1.4 FF, to offer the photographers another contemporary tool for professional photography.

Super wide angle, superior resolving ability coupled with high contrast and beautiful bokeh rendering, fast f/2.8 constant aperture throughout the zoom range and accurate AF drive system make this lens attractive for photographers who specialize in landscape, interior architect, documentary, environmental style portrait and night sky/time lapse photography genres.

Sales start date worldwide: March 15th, 2019

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

Comments Off

Posted in Uncategorized

Hands-on with the Ricoh GR III

23 Feb

The wait is over

Fans of the Ricoh GR, which was announced way back in 2013 (and preceded by both smaller-sensored and film GRs,) have been waiting a long time for an updated model. Sure, there was the GR II in 2015, but the biggest new feature on that model was Wi-Fi.

Four years later, the true replacement of the GR is here, in the Ricoh GR III. It has a higher-res sensor, a redesigned lens, in-body image stabilization and a hybrid AF system, to name just a few things. And Ricoh did all that without increasing the size of the camera, a favorite of street photographers.

New 24MP sensor and in-body stabilization

The GR III now has a 24MP APS-C CMOS sensor, up from 16MP on its predecessors. It offers an ISO range of 100 – 102,400 and uses 14-bit DNG as its Raw format.

Probably the most significant addition to the GR III is in-body image stabilization. By shifting its sensor, the GR III is able to provide up to four stops of shake reduction, according to Ricoh.

While the new 24MP sensor has no anti-aliasing filter, the GR III can take advantage of its shake reduction system to simulate one. If this sounds familiar, it’s because Pentax DSLRs have had this feature for many years.

Ricoh has also made an effort to keep dust off of the sensor, which was an issue for some owners of previous GR models. Like modern DSLR and mirrorless cameras, it uses ultrasonic vibrations to literally shake the dust away.

Redesigned lens and on-sensor phase detection

While it maintains the same 28mm equivalent focal length and F2.8 maximum aperture of the previous GR models, the GR III’s lens has been totally redesigned. It has six elements in four groups, with two of the elements being aspherical.

The lens has a built-in two-stop neutral density filter, which can now be set to engage automatically, meaning you can keep using the maximum aperture in bright light. The maximum shutter speed on the GR III, which continues to use a leaf shutter, is 1/4000 sec.

However, because it’s a leaf shutter, it can’t maintain this maximum speed when shooting at F2.8. Instead the maximum shutter speed tops out at 1/2500 sec at F2.8 (1/3EV improved, compared with the GR II). This, combined with the 2-stop ND and near-silent operation should mean you’ll rarely find yourself limited by the absence of a full-electronic shutter mode.

As you can see from the above photo, the lens ring can be removed so the optional GW-4 wide-angle lens can be attached. This brings the focal length of the lens down to 21mm equiv. and it’s a new optic designed to match the GR III’s new lens – so sorry, if you own the wide adapter for the GR or GR II, it won’t work on the new camera.

Another big feature on the GR III is on-sensor phase detection autofocus. We don’t know much about the system at this point, such as the number of points or frame coverage, but we hope that the combination of the updated AF system and new lens will give the GR III’s focus speeds a boost.

Touchscreen and rear controls

The back of GR III has been significantly redesigned. It includes a 3″ touchscreen LCD for the first time in the series’ history. This make selecting an AF point quicker and easier than on GRs past. Touch operation is responsive, but menu navigation can be a little awkward as the GUI isn’t designed for fingers.

Long time fans of the GR might miss the auto exposure/focus lock and vertical rocker switch from previous models. But we can assure you the camera has a familiar form factor, size and weight. The familiar rocker control is still directly under your thumb for applying exposure compensation.

Top plate controls and missing pop-up flash

The top of the GR III is nearly unchanged from recent models. It retains the iconic pill-shaped shutter release. Top plate controls, including the vertical dial, on/off switch and mode dial, are also unchanged.

We’d come to know and love the small tilt-up flash found on previous GR models, sadly it did not find its way into the GR III. Good thing the hot shoe did.

Another small change: TAv mode has been removed as an option from the mode dial. Fortunately, the basic premise of TAv should be achievable using Auto ISO in Manual exposure mode. Anyone familiar with the Pre-APS-C GR Digital models probably won’t notice this absence.

Video and connectivity

The GR III offers modest video specs, with the ability to capture 1080/60p footage. Recording is capped at 25 mins or 4GB of footage. The camera includes a built-in stereo mic, but not microphone or headphone sockets.

While the GR II had Wi-Fi, Ricoh has given the GR III Bluetooth, as well. This should make pairing a bit quicker while allowing for a constant connection between camera and smartphone.

Battery and charging

The GR III’s battery life has taken a serious nosedive, dropping 38% over the GR II. It offers a CIPA-rated 200 shots per charge which isn’t great. Our first attempt shooting with this new model gave us less than an hour-and-a-half of shooting time, so that’s something we’ll keep a close eye on when we get our hands on a camera running final firmware.

Since the new DB-110 battery is more powerful than the one on the GR II, it’s likely that the IBIS system is the main culprit for the drop.

On a more positive note, the GR I/II’s proprietary charging port has been replaced by USB-C. I supports USB-PD which allows it to be powered by external power banks.

Limited edition GR III and accessories

The GR III will be shipping in mid-March for $ 899 / £799 ($ 100/£200 more than the previous version). In some regions, that snazzy blue lens ring pictured above will be included.

Accessories include the WG-4 wide-angle conversion lens, the GV-1 and GV-2 optical viewfinders and the usual assortment of cases and straps.

First impressions

There was some concern when Ricoh first unveiled mockups of the GR III, with long-time fans of the series concerned about the impact of the control changes that have been introduced.

Our first impressions are that the main command dial and rear jog control are just where you expect them, so the shooting experience isn’t too significantly changed. The loss of dedicated buttons will take some getting used to, but we found we still had access to the things we change most.

The touchscreen makes it much easier to quickly position the AF point than on previous GRs. At least for now there’s a considerable lag if you use the rear screen for touch shutter. Even with the new focus system, there’s still a noticeable pause even if you’ve placed the AF point and use the shutter button to fire. We’ll see whether responsiveness picks up with final firmware.

Of course the alternative is to use Snap Focus to keep the lens focused at a predetermined point. Which, if you’ve used an GR before, may already be your preferred way of working.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

Comments Off

Posted in Uncategorized

Weekly Photography Challenge – Transport

23 Feb

The post Weekly Photography Challenge – Transport appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Caz Nowaczyk.

This week’s photography challenge topic is TRANSPORT!

Tuktuk Panning Using a Slow Shutter Speed to a Create Sense of Motion

Your photos can include anything includes transport. It could be old decaying transport, trains, buses, scooters, bikes, cars etc. You may want to do some panning or long exposures. They can be color, black and white, moody or bright. You get the picture. Have fun, and I look forward to seeing what you come up with!

Some Inst-piration from some Instagrammers:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by David Covell (@covell.photos) on Feb 9, 2019 at 11:58am PST

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ron Mautner (@ron_mautner) on Feb 13, 2019 at 8:12am PST

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Rust Never Sleeps (@jerrylofarorust) on Jan 6, 2019 at 7:14am PST

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Leif Egil Olsen (@leo2048) on Feb 13, 2019 at 2:14pm PST

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ricardo Heir (@heir_richard) on Feb 13, 2019 at 12:54pm PST

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by ENO (@eeeeeeeno) on Dec 31, 2018 at 2:58am PST

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by ENO (@eeeeeeeno) on Oct 4, 2018 at 5:40am PDT

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Battles (@argosyodyssey) on Feb 13, 2019 at 1:51pm PST

Check out some of the articles below that give you tips on this week’s challenge.

Tips for Shooting TRANSPORT

Panning and Other Tips for Adding Motion to Your Street Photography

6 Tips to Master Panning Photography

6 Tips for Shooting Long Exposure Night Photographs

10 Common Mistakes in Long Exposure photography

6 Ways to Improve your Cityscape Photography

How to Use Framing in an Urban Environment

How to Improve the Impact of Your Urban Images Using Lines

Weekly Photography Challenge – TRANSPORT

Simply upload your shot into the comment field (look for the little camera icon in the Disqus comments section) and they’ll get embedded for us all to see or if you’d prefer, upload them to your favorite photo-sharing site and leave the link to them. Show me your best images in this week’s challenge.

Share in the dPS Facebook Group

You can also share your images in the dPS Facebook group as the challenge is posted there each week as well.

If you tag your photos on Flickr, Instagram, Twitter or other sites – tag them as #DPStransport to help others find them. Linking back to this page might also help others know what you’re doing so that they can share in the fun.

The post Weekly Photography Challenge – Transport appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Caz Nowaczyk.

Digital Photography School

Comments Off

Posted in Photography

InukTech will launch Inuk, a carbon fiber tripod alternative, on Kickstarter next month

23 Feb

On March 1st, InukTech will launch a Kickstarter campaign for Inuk, a portable folding camera tripod alternative. Unlike traditional tripods, Inuk features flat carbon fiber arms and legs joined by reinforced technopolymer hinges and soft rubber feet. The rig’s three legs and two arms can be folded flat against the device’s carbon fiber plate for compact storage.

Inuk supports payload weights up to 1.5kg / 3.3lbs and features a ¼” -20 universal screw for connecting cameras and mounts. In addition to supporting cameras and smartphones, Inuk can accommodate accessories like microphones, flashes, and lights.

Though the support can be used like a tripod, Inuk’s legs can also be folded for uneven surfaces, and accessories will be available for connecting the support to different structures. At this time, InukTech says its connection accessories include a magnet, suction cups, super suction cups, straps, and clamps.

When folded, Inuk measures 17 x 9 x 2.5cm / 6.7 x 3.5 x 0.98in and weighs 160g / 0.35lbs. The model can extend up to 12cm / 4.3in in height with a 30cm / 11.8in footprint and 42cm / 16.5in arm width.

InukTech hasn’t revealed any other information about the model, but plans to officially launch it on Kickstarter next month. Consumers will have the opportunity to ‘pre-order’ the camera support at up to 50% off the expected retail price with prices starting at $ 39.95 for the basic ‘Starter Kit’ and going up to $ 56.95 for the ‘Video Maniac’ kit.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

Comments Off

Posted in Uncategorized