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Sample gallery: Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 DG DN for Sony E-mount

05 Mar

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Sigma’s 24-70mm F2.8 DG DN is a fast and versatile zoom for Sony full-frame E-mount (as well as Leica/Sigma/Panasonic L-mount). It’s well-constructed, with extensive weather-sealing, and reasonably fast to focus. Output appears nice and sharp, corner-to-corner, and aberrations/ghosting are fairly well-controlled. Take a look for yourself.

See our Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 DG DN
sample gallery

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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A Photographer’s Guide to Buying a Drone – Getting it Right the First Time

05 Mar

The post A Photographer’s Guide to Buying a Drone – Getting it Right the First Time appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Matt Murray.

In this photographer’s guide to buying a drone, I’ll share with you some invaluable tips for buying a drone for the first time.

Seven years ago, my employer wanted a photo of a local lighthouse from an elevated viewpoint. It sounds ridiculous now, but very early on a winter’s morning, I was loaded into a cherry picker with two cameras and hoisted 15 meters in the air to take photos. I’m a little bit scared of heights, so I really had to concentrate on getting the images and not looking down!

With the introduction in the last few years of many relatively low-cost good quality drones (also known as UAVs – unmanned aerial vehicles), that whole scenario seems laughable.

So why should you think about buying a drone if you haven’t already?

Here are some of the key considerations.

Image: By chance, I saw this boat sailing past when I was taking aerial images of fishing boats in Y...

By chance, I saw this boat sailing past when I was taking aerial images of fishing boats in Yamba. Taken with the DJI Mavic.

A photographer’s guide to buying a drone

Why buy a drone?

The main reason for buying a drone is the unique viewpoints that it will bring to your photography that you couldn’t achieve easily otherwise.

Sure, you can take elevated images from buildings, planes, helicopters – or even a cherry picker. However, those options are unlikely to be suitable or cost-efficient, depending on what you’d like to photograph. Having a drone in your kit opens up new possibilities and viewpoints like never before.

How else would you be able to take images from viewpoints like this? Boats at the seaside taken with the DJI Mavic Pro 2.

What kind of photographers would benefit from having a drone?

The short answer is – all kinds of photographers. I’ve seen or heard of aerial images from UAVs used in many industries.

Travel

Aerial images have been a stable of Instagram travel accounts for years now. Many Instagrammers take a compact drone with them on their travels to add to the range of shots they can take at a destination. They can use the images for both posting on social media or as deliverables for clients.

These images are often featured by large national and regional travel accounts to showcase destinations.

A Photographer's Guide to Buying a Drone

Real estate photographers

Drones are widely used amongst real estate photographers and seem to be essential kits these days.

Aerial images are common on many listings here in Australia to show the boundaries and layout of a property and its location to nearby landmarks and amenities.

Fine art

This is a small but very well paid niche. Some photographers make thousands of dollars for breathtaking fine art aerial images taken with UAVs.

Stock photographers

There’s been an increasing number of aerial images and videos sold on stock photography sites recently. Using a drone is one way to add to the range of images you have for sale in your portfolio.

A Photographer's Guide to Buying a Drone

A stock photography library I shoot for had a call out for images to illustrate bad parking. This is an image I sold them for the campaign.

Wedding and portrait photography

Aerial images are becoming increasingly popular for weddings, engagement shoots, and portrait sessions.

Images for your family archive

When I’m out and about taking photos for stock or travel, my family often accompanies me. I love taking aerial images of them; it certainly makes for a different type of shot in the family photo archive.

Tips before buying a drone

If you’re thinking about buying a drone, it pays to do your research first. Take a look at photos taken by drones on Instagram using hashtags such as #dronephotography, #dronestagram, and #droneoftheday.

Which make and model of UAV took these images? Looking at the photos will give you a good indication of the quality you can expect from each model.

Join some drone-related Facebook groups. Have a read through the discussions and ask questions. People will often be happy to share how they took a photo, what equipment they used, and what post-processing they did on the image.

My daughter taking her board out for a surf in northern New South Wales, Australia.

Try before you buy

Do you know a friend who has a drone? Ask if you can go along with them next time they fly it and learn the basics. You could also see if a local drone Facebook Group has meetups where you can learn the ropes. Maybe you’ll love it, but maybe you’ll hate it. Handy to know before you shell out for such a high cost.

Buy cheap, buy twice

I’ve heard many people buy a cheap toy drone to see if they’ll like it. The truth is, many of those cheaper drones are a complete nightmare to fly, and people are put off when it crashes. Typically, the more expensive a UAV, the easier it is to fly.

I’d recommend the “try before you buy” approach over this.

Which drone should I buy?

Ultimately, this is down to two different factors: the first is your budget, the second is what you want to do with your aerial images.

If you want to sell your images for stock, weddings, or fine art, go with the drone with the best image quality. However, if you want to travel with your drone, take family photos or only post to social media, perhaps you’d value a compact, lighter offering.

Pros and cons of some popular drone models

Below are some of the pros and cons of popular drones.

The Mavic Pro

The Mavic Pro is one of the best-selling drones of all time. It’s capable of taking photos in both horizontal and landscape orientations, which I found very handy when I owned it. The 12-megapixel camera has a fixed f/2.2 aperture, which compared to newer offerings, is a bit limiting. The good news is, you should be able to pick up one for a good price secondhand.

DJI Mavic Pro

Mavic Pro 2

I sold my Mavic Pro when they released the Mavic Pro 2. It has a significantly better 20-megapixel camera with a 1-inch sensor, which suited me better for taking larger images for stock libraries.

It also has an f/2.8-11 variable aperture, which gives you the potential to be more creative with your aerial images.

The one potential downside is that when facing the horizon, the gimbal doesn’t rotate the camera so you can capture vertical images like you can with the Mavic.

Read a full review of the Mavic Pro 2 here.

The Mavic 2 drone.

Mavic 2 Zoom

The Mavic 2 Zoom came out at the same time as the Mavic Pro. Its main advantage over the Pro 2 is the ability to zoom the camera. Combined with movement, you can use this to achieve the dolly zoom effect. The downside is that its camera is only 12-megapixel, and the aperture is f2.8-3.8.

Read a review of the Mavic 2 Zoom here.

DJI Mavic 2 Zoom

Mavic Mini

The Mavic Mini is a very small and light drone with impressive specifications. The Mavic Mini is the cheapest I’ve covered and would be ideal for many people wanting to take aerial images as they travel. It has a 12-megapixel camera. Unlike the others listed, it is only capable of taking images in JPG format for stills.

DJI Mavic Mini

Also, read a review of the DJI Spark here, and the Mavic Air here.

What else do I need to consider?

Is your device up to scratch? To fly a DJI drone, you’ll need the DJI GO app on your smartphone or on a tablet.

Is your device good enough to support the latest app? You’ll need to look into this before you get started.

Make sure your phone or tablet is powerful enough to run the drone app.

How will you edit your image?

If you’re a dPS regular reader, no doubt you’ll know all about the various ways you can post-process your images. I use Adobe Lightroom and occasionally Adobe Photoshop to edit my JPG and DNG drone images.

Insurance

UAVs are an expensive investment. Make sure that your camera insurance or home contents insurance adequately covers your new kit.

DJI have their own insurance product – DJI care. Whichever option you go for, make sure you understand the limits of the policies, so you don’t get caught out.

Flying legally

This is very important. You don’t want to find yourself on the wrong side of the law, especially if you take your drone overseas.

It’s good to learn all the rules when you’re considering buying one or while you’re waiting for it to arrive.

Rules differ from country to country, region to region, so always make sure you know the correct laws to fly at your destination.

For example, in Australia, you’ll need permission to fly a drone in a National Park in the state of New South Wales, but over the border in Queensland, you do not.

Early morning view of South Stradbroke Island, Queensland. DJI Mavic.

Flying safely

Investing time learning the rules and regulations is just one part of things. You also need to learn to fly safely.

A major part of this is learning to identify hazards, whether they be trees, powerlines, buildings, weather, or as I found out once, a swooping bird in my local park.

It’s always a good idea to have a pre-flight and post-flight-check routine in place.

Conclusion

Buying a drone is a fantastic way of adding new viewpoints to your photography. The latest offerings from companies such as DJI have given photographers the ability to capture scenes that were not possible a few years ago without chartering a plane or helicopter.

However, there are many things to consider before you dive in. Consider what you want to use the images for, which model to buy, and how to edit your images. You also need to learn how to fly safely and legally.

I hope this photographer’s guide to buying a drone has been helpful if you are currently looking at adding a drone to your photography kit.

What other considerations do you think are important when considering buying a drone? Tell us below.

The post A Photographer’s Guide to Buying a Drone – Getting it Right the First Time appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Matt Murray.

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DPReview TV: Scan film negatives with the Nikon ES-2

04 Mar

Nikon’s ES-2 film digitizing adapter promises to be an easy way of scanning slides and negatives. We tested it with a bunch of different film stocks and discovered that it works pretty well!

Subscribe to our YouTube channel to get new episodes of DPReview TV every week.

Introduction
What's included?
The scanning process
Sample images
Who's it for?

Sample gallery from this episode

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Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Free Tools to Easily Remove a Background in Photos

04 Mar

The post Free Tools to Easily Remove a Background in Photos appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Ana Mireles.

Whether you’re replacing a dull sky, cutting-out a product or creating a collage, sooner or later you’ll need to remove a background in photos. Professionals and amateurs alike need an efficient tool for this task. Fortunately, there are some free alternatives in the market for all levels of expertise. Here, I’ll show you some of them.

remove a background in photos

Removing the background is usually very meticulous and tedious work. It is, however, one of the most needed edits. Because of this, developers have come up with different solutions. I’ll show you some of the free tools available, so you can choose what’s best for you.

Source Image

It’s easier to remove a background when your image is well exposed and when the subject has defined edges and a contrasting background. To better test the tools, I’ll use an image with these characteristics, but also one that doesn’t.

The second image will be a simple snapshot with a slightly underexposed subject, some hot points, and a busier background. Let’s see how each tool behaves in both situations.

Image 1 (left): 1/1000; f8; ISO 200. Image 2 (right): Snapshot in auto mode.

Edit Photos for Free

Edit Photos For Free is a website where you can remove the background. It’s free, without having to register for an account and without previous training or knowledge. You just draw the border, then indicate what is the foreground and the background; the program will do the rest.

remove a background in photos

Pros

It really is free, you won’t be asked to register or upgrade during the process, nor at the end of your work. No tricks as far as I can see.
You can download the final version without losing resolution.
You don’t need to have previous knowledge or skills – it is very user-friendly.
When the source image is well-exposed and has a contrasting background, it will do a very good job drawing the border automatically. Just by adjusting the tolerance value, I didn’t need to do any further adjustments for image number one.

remove a background with edit photos for free

Cons

It wouldn’t allow me to rotate image number two.
You can’t replace the background, you either leave the transparency or color it.
If the image foreground is not super clear, you will have to draw the edges yourself. I had to do this for image number two and refining the selection was not very intuitive.
The shadow and feather options didn’t do any noticeable changes.

review to remove a background in photos

Background Burner

Background Burner is free to use, however, you do need to register. As soon as you upload the image, it automatically runs the first selection.

remove a background in photos with background burner

Cons

I start with the cons because it’s the first impression I got. It’s free if you register, which means you are paying with your data. It’s not super invasive as it only asks for email and country. But still, it’s not ideal.
You can’t replace the background or color it. You’ll need to use another program if you want to do that. If you save it as JPG, though, it will automatically fill the background with white.
The automatic selection is not very intuitive. Here you can see how it did in both of my images. In this case, image number two was better, and it even gave me some choices to pick from.

remove a background in photos with background burner

Pros

The tools for fine-tuning the first selection are better than the previous website. It has the basic tools for refining easier things and pixel tools to go into details.
You can download the final version without losing resolution. You can even choose between JPG or PNG. Remember that to keep the transparency you need the PNG.
You don’t need to have previous knowledge or skills – it is very user-friendly.
It has the option to upgrade into a paid service if you need more accuracy and tools.

Background burner selection tools

Photoscissors

Photoscissors is one of the most popular and known choices out there to remove a background in photos.

It’s one of the most complete tools. They even tell you that on the first page: “Remove a background and replace it with a transparency, solid color, or background image.” So, it already gives you more options than the past two websites.

photoscissors

Pros

The auto-selection didn’t do an amazing job, but the touch up is easier because of the slider that gives you more control over the brush size. It also has a good feathering system.
It allows you to easily replace the background with another image or color.
You can also create a shadow and control opacity and blur.

remove a background in photos

Cons

It’s free to use even without registering, but you can only download a low-resolution version. This is not very evident when you start working on your image, so you might end up losing your work or be forced to pay the upgrade. Unless a low-resolution is enough for your needs.

Photoscissors down side

Extra

It has a hair selector that is very accurate. If you do many portraits, it may be worth considering a subscription.

GIMP

Gimp is a free and open-source editing program.

remove a background in photos using GIMP

Pros

It has many selection tools that you can use and combine for selecting your background in a controlled and precise manner.

For Image 1 (left), I used the Fozzy selection tool and the Rectangle tool for details. For image 2 (right), I used the Scissors selection tool and the Free select for the details.

You can keep your background, shadow, and foreground in different layers to work independently and non-destructively.
You can do your entire project in it. Adjustments, collages, etc. without the need to use any other website or software.

remove background from images for collages

Cons

You need to download the program onto your computer – you can’t work online.
It does require a learning curve, and it’s not the friendliest of interfaces.

Conclusion

To remove a background in photos has become easier and more accessible with technology, but there are no magic tricks. You do need patience, skills and good software, which often costs.

If you’re going to let the algorithm do most of the work, try different ones to see which one ‘reads’ your image better and saves you more time. If you’re ready to dive in and take charge, go with GIMP. The time you spend learning it becomes a skill that will save you time in a future project.

Do you have any other websites or tools to remove a background in photos? Let me know in the comments section.

The post Free Tools to Easily Remove a Background in Photos appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Ana Mireles.

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Opinion: Film photography has found its feet again

04 Mar

Photo: Hamish Gill

Film photography is not what it used to be. It’s changed – or more, it’s evolved. For the better, too. But I bet there are a lot of people who haven’t even noticed!

Photography just seems to be one of those pastimes that has the potential to get under people’s skin. There are so many ways to take part that it’s no wonder we find ourselves in camps, adopting one or a couple of methodologies, approaches, processes or even brands, and taking ownership of them as if they belong to us.

In doing so though, it’s all too easy to fall into the trap of forgetting that our approaches and whims are just a product of our own choices, and therefore simply right for us. Instead, it appears to me that a large majority of photographers get into the habit of thinking they have made the ‘best’ choices and that everyone else who doesn’t follow suit is somehow wrong, deficient or missing out.

Film photography in 2020 is what it is – not because of a battle with digital, but because of how it has integrated with and into it

Unfortunately, in our world of social media and websites and forums and blogs and YouTube and ‘influencers’, it feels a little bit like the views and opinions held by the majority can leave little room for the views and opinions held by everyone else.

So what’s all this got to do with my opening gambit?

Well, it’s my view that because of all this, many photographers who have committed wholly to digital photography might not have noticed a real change in the film photography landscape.

The pixl-latr is a product I launched on Kickstarter as a low cost and effective solution for digitizing negatives.
Photo: Joe Handley

Now, please don’t think I’m about to start waffling on about growth in film sales and increased interest in more traditional photography mediums as a whole. It is true that there has been quite significant growth, but to my mind, the growth is at least in part a byproduct of a change in attitudes toward film photography. Attitudes that I have seen perpetuated through some of the hundreds of thousands of words I’ve published by the many photographers who have written for my website, 35mmc.

It’s true that I still see the occasional ‘film vs. digital – which is better?’ YouTube video pop up, but it has long been my view that these conversations are behind the curve. It actually strikes me that this argument is dead, and this seems to be an opinion shared by an increasing amount of people. Not because one side won or lost, but because the sides have joined forces.

Film photography in 2020 is what it is – not because of a battle with digital, but because of how it has integrated with and into it. Digital has changed film photography for the better, and I feel quite strongly that the opposite is true too.

The FIlmomat is an updated automatic film processor, launching soon!
Photo: Lukas Fritz

To begin with, the simple way people are using digital cameras and the advancements in both software and hardware for the digitization of film are examples of how the technology has advanced in favor or supporting film photography. But digital has also helped democratize film photography. The barriers to entry are less, and not just when it comes to amateur-level kit.

Film photography has influenced digital technology too. As most readers here will be aware, some of the bigger brands have taken inspiration from film cameras. Fujifilm is probably the most notable with their retro-aesthetic digital cameras and built-in film simulations. The way film looks, or at least the way people think film looks has – for better or worse – influenced digital photographic styles.

The ways photographers approach image creation seems to have been cross-fertilized between the worlds of film and digital

And that’s all even before we consider people’s workflows and attitudes toward creating images. The creative ways photographers approach image creation as a whole seems to have been cross-fertilized between the worlds of film and digital. So for example, in the last few years, we’ve seen a huge increase in the use of ‘vintage’ lenses – something that I’m pretty certain is attributable to an increase in photographers seeking something of a more film-era-like ‘feel’ to their work. And then there’s how digital workflows such as the use of Lightroom has for some people sped up or aided in the process of using film and other traditional mediums as a starting point to a final image.

The Cameradactyl OG is an affordable 3D-printed 4×5 camera.
by John Whitmore

In short, film and digital workflows, technologies and creative approaches have merged. The narratives around which is ‘better’ have – for many at least – fallen by the wayside. The questions of how they can be combined for the benefit of an increased range of possibility and potential have come to the surface instead.

But, while all this is true, there’s no drama in a draw – neither side won the battle, so the story has had few attention-grabbing headlines. There’s less of an angle to hang opinion off in the gray area. Nuanced opinions, fence-sitting and happy mediums don’t get clicks, views, upvotes, likes or shares so readily.

Film and digital workflows, technologies and creative approaches have merged

I had to pose a combative opening gambit just to get a lot of you to read this article, I’m sure. But really, I didn’t want to… well, if I’m honest, I sort of did, because I quite enjoy the argument. But my argument is not one of trying to convince people to think one way or another about how to create or take part in photography. I prefer instead to try and highlight the fact that the arguments themselves are often quite pointless.

In short, there is no one true path! In fact, one of the most beautiful things about photography is in the wealth of choices it provides us with.

Which is ultimately why film photography has found its feet again. Not as I say because it’s won any battles, but instead, that for all the objective differences and subjective reasons why people might choose to shoot it; despite what the majority might think and say about it, it’s still an option that’s available to people. And moreover, in 2020 it’s an option that quite readily fits into our modern digital world if and when required or desired.

Hamish Gill is the publisher of 35mmc.com and a moderator in our Film Photography forum.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Tiffen is now shipping their DJI Mavic Mini ND filter kits

04 Mar

At the end of 2019, Tiffen, a leading manufacturer of imaging accessories, announced 2 neutral density (ND) Filter Kits for the DJI Mavic Mini drone. Originally forecast for January 2020, the company revealed that their 3 filter and 6 filter kits of ND and ND polarizers are now shipping.

The Mavic Mini Filter Kits, which include a compact carrying case, are:

3 Filter Kit – $ 59.99

ND4/PL, ND8/PL, ND16/PL

6 Filter Kit – $ 89.99

ND4, ND8, ND16, ND4/PL, ND8/PL, ND16/PL

Each filter features multilayer and hydrophobic coating. Surfaces are waterproof and boast scratch prevention technology, according to Tiffen. The company states that beginners and professionals, alike, will be able to capture higher-quality in-flight content.

The 3 Filter and 6 Filter Kits are now available on tiffen.com and through their network of authorized retailers. Tiffen filter kits are also available for the DJI Mavic 2 Pro, Mavic 2 Zoom, Inspire 2, and Phantom 4 Pro.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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5 Ways to Shoot Architecture More Creatively

04 Mar

The post 5 Ways to Shoot Architecture More Creatively appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jeremy Flint.

Architecture photography is an enjoyable genre of photography that can be photographed almost anywhere. With the expansion of the built environment globally, opportunities for photographing urban scenes have increased significantly. This makes architecture photography an attractive proposition. Buildings can make very rewarding photography subjects, especially as they are generally designed to be attractive to the eye. As buildings are a permanent part of our urban landscapes, you have as much time as you like to photograph the architecture. So, it is just a case of finding different ways to shoot architecture more creatively.

Read on to discover some useful techniques to help you with your architecture photography.

1. Shoot from afar

A popular choice for shooting architecture is from directly in front of it. Once you have captured architecture from nearby, try and find another viewpoint further away.

Shooting from afar is one of the best ways to shoot architecture more creatively. If you position yourself at a distance from the building, you will be able to get more of the structure in your scene and some of the surroundings. Is the building near a waterfront? If so, capture the reflection of the building in the water or take photos of the boats going by the building.

Alternatively, you may want to capture the bustle of the crowds around the building too.

You can capture an epic angle from a distance just by walking a bit further away and changing your perspective.

ways to shoot architecture more creatively

2. Find a higher vantage point

When looking for other ways to shoot architecture more creatively, try finding a higher vantage point for an alternative point of view. Buildings can look great shot from above.

Climbing up a flight of stairs or jumping in a lift can lead to other great vantage points to photograph structures from. From up high, buildings can look fascinating where you can be innovative with your shots and do justice to the people who designed the building.

Aim to fill the frame with your chosen subject and reveal some of its details. Alternatively, capture the structure as part of the wider cityscape.

5 Ways to Shoot Architecture More Creatively

3. Go inside

Not only is architecture designed to look beautiful on the outside, but their structures can also be just as great on the inside.

There are places all over the world that have great interior structures. Places like castles, cathedrals or famous landmarks can look great on the inside. Windsor Castle, Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London in England, for example. Other structures can have attractive stairwells, whilst some will house ornate rooms with decorative features.

The lighting inside buildings can also add to the drama of a place. This can either be from lanterns placed inside a building, interior lights or external light shining through providing shadows that transform the area.

You may need to learn more about capturing ambient lighting. See an article here.

ways to shoot architecture more creatively

4. Look for interesting patterns

Another brilliant way to shoot architecture more creatively is to explore the different aspects of a building and look for interesting patterns.

Look for leading lines, geometry, structures, and shapes. Walk around and change your viewpoint to convey the various features and reveal something different.

Shooting centerpieces or components on a wall are great ways to shoot architecture more creatively. Try to find a good angle from which to present the building and show it in a unique way that is not the same as the familiar-looking, regularly-captured shots.

5 Ways to Shoot Architecture More Creatively

5. Shoot the old and new

Whether you like to capture the latest structural designs or traditional buildings, both modern and ancient architecture can be beautiful.

To create an interesting image of a modern masterpiece or an ancient structure, you will need to interpret the building pleasingly.

You can achieve this with a good composition that draws on your own creative vision. Look up and capture its expanse, for example, to photograph the building uniquely.

Alternatively, look out for appealing surfaces and take a photo of something unusual. Original structures can be more rustic-looking, whilst newer buildings provide more modern and decorative aspects of architecture.

ways to shoot architecture more creatively

Photographing old and new architecture on bright sunny days is one of the best ways to shoot architecture more creatively. The play of light can be great for photographing strong shadows and deep contrasts.

The intensified shapes that result from the contrasting light are ideal for showing up form, bringing out texture and giving strong color. Sunlight can, therefore, enliven an image and make it more impressive.

Conclusion

In summary, architecture photography is becoming a popular genre of photography especially with the expansion of urban developments.

Some of the best ways to shoot architecture more creatively include photographing from afar, shooting inside as well as outside and capturing interesting patterns such as unusual geometry and shapes.

Finally, shoot old and new structures in an interesting way with your unique vision.

Do you have any further suggestions to shoot architecture more creatively? Share your comments and pictures with us below.

The post 5 Ways to Shoot Architecture More Creatively appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jeremy Flint.

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Capture One Pro 20 update adds support for 7 new camera bodies, 6 new lenses

04 Mar

Capture One has announced an update that adds support for seven new camera bodies from Fujifilm, Nikon, Canon and Olympus as well as six new lenses from Sony, Nikon and Pentax. A handful of bugs have also been squashed along the way.

As for new camera body support, Capture One version 20.0.3 now supports the Fujifilm X-T4, Fujifilm X100V, Nikon D780, Nikon D3500, Canon EOS M100, Canon EOS M200 and the Olympus TG-6. Capture One emphasizes in its press release (embedded below) the new support for the Fujfilm X-T4, saying it is the first company to offer ‘official support’ for Fujifilm’s newest APS-C camera system.

Below is a list of the lenses the update adds support for:

Sony FE 24mm F1.4 GM (SEL24F14GM)
Sony FE 600mm F4 GM OSS (SEL600F40GM) + 1.4X Teleconverter (SEL14TC)
Sony FE 600mm F4 GM OSS (SEL600F40GM) + 2X Teleconverter (SEL20TC)
Nikon AF NIKKOR 24mm f/2.8D
Nikon AF-S DX Micro-NIKKOR 40mm f/2.8G
Pentax D FA 150–450mm F4.5–5.6 ED DC AW

In addition to new camera and lens support, Capture Pro One 20 also addresses a number of smaller bug fixes across both the macOS and WIndows versions. You can find a full list of the fixes within Capture One’s release notes.

Capture One version 20.0.3 for macOS and Windows is now available in multiple versions. Capture One Pro 20 can be purchased with a perpetual license for $ 299 or as a subscription starting at $ 20.99 per month. Capture One Pro (for Sony) and Capture One Pro Fujifilm are available to purchase with a perpetual license for $ 129 or as a subscription starting at $ 9.99 per month.

Capture One has a complete list of supported cameras and lenses on its website. You can download a free 30-day trial of any version of Capture One Pro if you want to take it for a spin before buying or subscribing.

Capture One update brings first Fujifilm X-T4 support

Fujifilm’s newest flagship APS-C camera is now officially supported by Capture One 20 in a release that also brings further fixes & hardware support

COPENHAGEN, March 3rd, 2020: Capture One, the leading name in photo editing software, celebrates the release of Capture One version 20.0.3 which sees the company offer the first official support to the Fujifilm X-T4 – plus support for additional new cameras and lenses from other brands. Since 2018, Capture One and Fujifilm have enjoyed a unique collaborative relationship; working together to further develop the software, and to enable Fujifilm users to get the most out of the X-Trans sensors. This service release also includes bug fixes for Capture One 20.

Capture One offers Fujifilm photographers a suite of tools unmatched by other photo editing software, including the ability to utilize Fujifilm’s critically acclaimed and globally beloved Film Simulations such as Acros, Provia, and Classic Chrome. With Capture One, these Film Simulations are not restricted to JPEGs, but can be used with RAW files, allowing for the most powerful and flexible image processing ability, and one that is distinctly Fujifilm.

The collaboration also allows Capture One and Fujifilm to support the photographic community by providing full tailored support to Fujifilm’s newest cameras upon launch. From the moment it is released, X-T4 owners can rely on Capture One 20’s industry-leading image quality, tethering, and precise lens correction.

Unlike other RAW processors, Capture One’s camera profiles are individually measured, a process that requires the use of the camera in and out of the controlled lab in Copenhagen, where a team of specialists engage the camera in numerous different scenarios. The team then evaluates performance parameters such as color, sharpness, and noise across hundreds of images and uses that data and experience to provide a truly tailored profile, ultimately providing the best post-processing experience possible, and one that is distinctly Fujifilm.

New camera and lens support

New camera support:

Fujifilm X-T4
Fujifilm X100V
Nikon D780
Nikon D3500
Canon EOS M100
Canon EOS M200
Olympus TG-6

New lens support:

Sony FE 24mm F1.4 GM (SEL24F14GM)
Sony FE 600mm F4 GM OSS (SEL600F40GM) + 1.4X Teleconverter (SEL14TC)
Sony FE 600mm F4 GM OSS (SEL600F40GM) + 2X Teleconverter (SEL20TC)
Nikon AF NIKKOR 24mm f/2.8D
Nikon AF-S DX Micro-NIKKOR 40mm f/2.8G
Pentax D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6 ED DC AW

For a complete list supported cameras, please go to: www.captureone.com/features/supported-cameras

Pricing and Availability

Capture One 20.0.3 for Mac and Windows is now available in several versions and free to current Capture One Pro 20 customers.

For new customers Capture One is committed to providing customers a choice when it comes to how they acquire their software, so Capture One Pro 20 is available for purchase, or via subscription. The perpetual license for Capture One Pro 20 is available for $ 299, with upgrade pricing from previous versions starting at [add correct price]. Capture One Pro (for Sony) and Capture One Pro Fujifilm are available for $ 129.

For those who prefer subscription models, Capture One Pro 20 is available for plans as low as $ 20.99 per month, and Capture One Pro (for Sony) and Capture One Pro Fujifilm subscription plans start at $ 9.99 a month.

For a complete list of all products and licensing options, please visit: www.captureone.com/store to learn more.

A 30-day fully-featured free trial of Capture One 20 is available. Download the trial here: www.captureone.com/download

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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The Sigma fp will get new features, functionality in major 2.0 firmware update due out ‘Summer 2020’

03 Mar

Sigma has announced it will be publishing a major firmware update for the Sigma fp in ‘Summer 2020’ that will bring along a number of new features and functionality.

According to the announcement, the update will add CinemaDNG 120/100 fps (FHD 8-bit) shooting, cinemagraph functionality, still capture during live view and movie shooting in Cine mode, HDR shooting, a Director’s Viewfinder recording function and Sigma’s software development kit (SDK), which should open up a realm of possibilities for developers to access certain functions of the camera.

In the meantime, Sigma says it’s also developing firmware version 1.02 (the latest firmware currently available for the Sigma fp is version 1.01), which will correct card errors when using specific SD cards and adds in-camera lens aberration correction processing. Firmware version 1.02 will be released on March 18, 2020, according to Sigma.

The current version 1.01 firmware and future firmware releases can be downloaded from the Sigma fp support page.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Canon May Release an R APS-C Mirrorless Camera (Plus APS-C RF Lenses)

03 Mar

The post Canon May Release an R APS-C Mirrorless Camera (Plus APS-C RF Lenses) appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.

According to Canon Watch, a new rumor suggests that Canon may be developing a new R-series camera:

A body with an APS-C sensor.

As Canon fans will know, Canon currently offers two mirrorless camera lines:

The EOS M series, with options such as the Canon EOS M50, the Canon EOS M6 Mark II, and the Canon EOS M5, uses only APS-C sensors;
and the EOS R series, which currently only features the Canon EOS R, the Canon EOS RP, and the Canon EOS Ra, has thus far been composed of full-frame bodies.

Note that a fourth Canon EOS R body, the R5, is also on the way, and will continue the full-frame tradition.

But it seems that Canon’s lineups may be changing.

According to Canon Watch, the rumor indicates that the new APS-C camera (dubbed the EOS R7) will debut in 2021, along with three APS-C RF lenses.

And Canon Watch goes on to discuss the possibility that the EOS R7 will be a successor to the much-loved Canon 7D Mark II, which dropped way back in 2014. Interestingly, the Canon 7D Mark II is only slightly overdue for an upgrade, given that it was announced five years after its predecessor, the Canon 7D.

If the Canon EOS R7 were a spiritual successor to the 7D Mark II, then we could expect a camera designed for sports and wildlife shooters, packing a fast continuous shooting rate and a top-of-the-line AF system.

But the question remains:

Is Canon even interested in creating an APS-C R camera?

There are reasons to think that Canon might be considering this possibility. For one, the success of Fujifilm’s X-series, as well as Sony’s higher-end a6000 offerings, suggests that there’s a real market for higher-level mirrorless APS-C cameras.

That said, you do have to wonder whether a 7D Mark III would make sense as Canon’s first EOS R APS-C camera, especially when plenty of action shooters are going for a Canon 1D X Mark III over alternatives such as the Sony a9 Mark II due to the perceived inadequacy of mirrorless cameras. Sure, the 7D Mark II is due an update, but I’m not sure that mirrorless technology (and viewfinders in particular) have matured enough to fully convert the 7D Mark III’s intended audience.

Regardless, Canon has been focusing heavily on its RF lenses and R-series lineup, and this is a trend that should continue over 2020. It’s plausible that Canon will decide to consolidate its mirrorless systems for the sake of efficient development, especially as Canon also continues to produce DSLR cameras.

So keep an eye out for more news regarding this APS-C camera; if there is any truth to this rumor, there will undoubtedly be more talk down the line.

The post Canon May Release an R APS-C Mirrorless Camera (Plus APS-C RF Lenses) appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.

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