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Posts Tagged ‘Announces’

Entaniya announces 220-degree PL-mount fisheye for Super 35, full frame cameras

06 Aug

Japanese fisheye specialist Entaniya has introduced a new fisheye lens in a PL mount that’s aimed at large format video camera users, and which can offer a range of effective focal lengths using different sized spacers. The Entaniya Fisheye HAL 220 is designed to cover Super 35mm and full frame sensors and can provide focal lengths between 6.14mm and 8.03mm through 15 increments via the included set of zoom spacers.

The lens has a maximum aperture of T2.9 and uses 17 elements in 12 groups to provide a maximum angle of view of 220°. The depth of the spacer used has an impact on the size of the covering circle of the lens, so when the thinner spacers are used—or no spacer—the lens has a smaller covering circle. This is useful for those who want a circular image, but doesn’t leave out those needing the whole recording area covered.

No pricing or availability details have been released so far. For more information and to see how the lens covers different formats go to the Entaniya website.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Sony Announces New Compact Camera With Amazing Features

01 Aug

The post Sony Announces New Compact Camera With Amazing Features appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.

Are you searching for a pocket-sized camera that packs a big punch?

Look no further than the just-announced Sony Cybershot RX100 VII, which is an all-around amazing camera, from its small size to its impressive zoom to its powerful optics.

First, take a look at its lengthy zoom lens, which goes from 24mm to 200mm in moments. This is perfect for capturing wider landscapes, then zooming in to emphasize a few compelling details.

The Sony RX100 VII also promises stellar image quality, with a ZEISS lens and a 20.1-megapixel sensor.

But where the Sony RX100 VII really shines is in the thick of the action. The RX100 VII shoots at 20 frames-per-second, which is far faster than most competitors on the market. And the autofocus is especially notable, with 357 AF points.

Sony-RX100-VII

If you’ve worked with mirrorless or DSLR cameras before, then you’ll appreciate the electronic viewfinder on the RX100 VII. This is useful for shooting in bright conditions, or when you’re struggling to see the (touchscreen!) LCD.

Oh, and did I mention the 4K video capabilities? If you want a camera that will get you good images and beautiful videos while remaining nicely compact, the RX100 VII may be the way to go.

Who is the Sony RX100 VII for?

The RX100 VII should appeal to a few groups of people.

First, the RX100 VII is a good camera for beginner photographers looking to buy something a bit more long-term, but who doesn’t want to deal with the complexities or price of a DSLR or mirrorless camera.

And for those of you who have been using your smartphones as a primary camera, the RX100 VII will take your photos up a notch – without requiring much in the way of advanced settings or know-how.

Finally, the Sony RX100 VII is ideal for more serious photographers who want a second, more portable camera body. If you often get frustrated carrying around a DSLR or mirrorless camera/lens combo while traveling, then the Sony RX100 VII may be exactly what you need.

Are you excited about the release of the Sony RX100 VII? What is your favorite new feature? Let me know in the comments!

You may also find the following helpful:

  • Which Crop Sensor Sony a6000 Series Camera Should You Buy?
  • Hands-On with the new Sony RX100 VI Compact Camera
  • Why This Pro is (sort of) Switching from Canon to Sony
  • Sony a6300 Mirrorless Camera – Thoughts and Field Test

The post Sony Announces New Compact Camera With Amazing Features appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.


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Sony Announces Incredible 61-Megapixel Full-Frame Camera: The A7R IV

18 Jul

The post Sony Announces Incredible 61-Megapixel Full-Frame Camera: The A7R IV appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.

sony a7r iv

Sony just recently announced its latest mirrorless camera:

The Sony A7R IV, which has already generated a massive amount of anticipation, excitement, and discussion.

Note that the A7R is the latest mirrorless body in Sony’s immensely popular A7 series, which includes the likes of the A7R III (which is no slouch when it comes to professional-quality shooting!). The A7R IV is also going up against several big competitors, including the Nikon Z7 and the Canon EOS R.

So what makes the Sony A7R IV so special?

While the A7R IV is clearly an excellent camera, there’s one thing that immediately captures attention:

The resolution.

The Sony A7R IV features an amazing 61-megapixel sensor, which will be the highest pixel count on a full-frame mirrorless camera that the world has ever seen. Note that this 61-megapixel offering is over a dozen megapixels more than the previous record-holder for full-frame resolution, the Panasonic S1R, at 47.3 MP. Also, this is nearly a 20 MP upgrade over the Sony A7R III.

What does this mean for photographers?

First and foremost, you’re going to capture high amounts of detail, and this leaves an amazing amount of room for work in post-processing, such as cropping.

(Note that the Sony A7R IV has a cropped-sensor mode, which still gives you 26 MP images.)

Now, the huge megapixel count results in huge file sizes, and it should have correspondingly slow frame rates and a very limited buffer. Except that Sony has pulled out all the stops so that the A7R will shoot at 10 frames-per-second for up to 7 seconds.

This means that this professional-level camera may appeal to both landscape and sports photographers, something that happens very rarely on high-end camera markets.

Autofocus is guaranteed to be strong, with 567 phase-detect autofocus points, plus Sony’s built-in eye-tracking.

Other features in the A7R IV include:

  • A 15-stop dynamic range, for photos that span the spectrum of tones
  • 4K movie, though only at 30p
  • 5-axis image stabilization, promising over 5 stops of increased sharpness
  • An improved electronic viewfinder
  • Dual card slots

If this isn’t a beast of a camera, I don’t know what is. It’ll come out in September; as expected, it’ll have a sizable price tag: $ 3500USD.

So, I’d love if you could tell me in the comments:

  • What do you think about the Sony A7R IV? Could you see yourself using it?
  • Would you like a 61 MP camera? Or would you prefer to stick to lower resolutions with smaller file sizes?
  • Is there anything missing from this camera?

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post’s poll.

The post Sony Announces Incredible 61-Megapixel Full-Frame Camera: The A7R IV appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.


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Sony announces a new RX100 III Video Creator Kit with grip, SD card and additional battery

02 Jul

Sony has announced its new RX100 III Video Creator Kit, a product bundle that combines the RX100 III with Sony’s VCT-SGR1 grip, a 64GB SD card and an additional NP-BX1 battery.

Like most video creator kits, the RX100 III Video Creator Kit is designed to be an all-in-one solution for creators looking to get their foot in the door with a simple Full HD video setup.

At the heart of the RX100 III is Sony’s Exmor R CMOS sensor and BIONZ X processor, capable of recording 50Mbps 1080 / 60p video through the F1.8-2.8 Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 24-70mm lens. Combine those specs with the 3-inch tilting screen and the ability to control both image capture and zoom with the VCT-SGR1 Shooting Grip and you have yourself a solid vlogging setup.

Sony says the RX100 III Video Creator Kit will retail for $ 799.99 and will begin shipping July 2019. However, the kit is currently available to pre-order at Adorama for $ 798 and is listed as available at B&H for $ 699.99.

Press release:

Sony Launches RX100 III Video Creator Kit

The RX100 III Video Creator Kit Provides the Perfect Video Setup for the Run-and-Gun Creator

SAN DIEGO — July 1, 2019 — Sony Electronics, Inc. today introduced a powerful new tool for vloggers and video creators with the launch of the RX100 III Video Creator Kit. Based around the award-winning compact camera, the Cyber-shot RX100 III, the Video Creator Kit provides an all-in-one kit for video creators.

The Kit features the RX1000 III, with a 180º tiltable LCD screen, 1” Exmor R sensor, BIONZ X processor and 24-70mm F1.8-2.8 ZEISS Lens. The bundle also includes an innovative remote grip that doubles as a mini tripod, a 64GB SD Memory Card and an extra NP-BX1 battery to keep you shooting longer. The RX100 III’s video creator kit has everything you need to take your content on the move.

“Empowering creators is critically important to Sony,” said Neal Manowitz, deputy president for Imaging Products and Solutions Americas at Sony Electronics.“We want to make it as easy as possible for them to realize their vision, to capture content in new and different ways.”Manowitz added, “An excellent all-in-one solution, the new Video Creator Kit is a convenient tool that will encourage many aspiring creators to go out and shoot.”

Fast, Sharp Lens

The DSC-RX100 III sports a fast, sharp F1.8-2.8 Carl Zeiss® Vario-Sonnar T* lens with 24-70mm zoom. With such a versatile range of perspectives between wide-angle and medium-telephoto, it’s perfect for all kinds of videography with beautifully defocused, high-bokeh backgrounds. A premium multi-layered T* coating also dramatically reduces ghost and flare caused by light reflection.

Full HD Video Recording

The DSC-RX100 III records HD movies in the XAVC S format and saves files as MP4, allowing for extensive record times. With 50Mbps Full HD (1920×1080) up to 60p high-quality video recording, XAVC S* enables beautiful video recording with minimal compression noise even in scenes with a lot of movement. The RX100 III also records in AVCHD and easily shareable MP4 HD video.

Versatile Shooting Grip

For the ultimate creative freedom, the RX100 III Video Creator Kit includes the VCT-SGR1 Shooting Grip, which allows control of capture and zoom functions directly from the grip and integrates with the RX100 III for ease of use and dynamic filming styles. The ergonomic design is comfortable for both left- and right-handed use, and the pop-out legs convert it into a mini-tripod.

Innovative Design

With a fully-tiltable 3” (1,229K dots) Xtra Fine™ LCD Display it’s possible to check and monitor composition and settings during the entire shoot, thanks to the ability to flip the screen 180º to face the subject, perfect for selfie-style shooting of both still images and video. WhiteMagic™ technology dramatically increases on-screen visibility in bright daylight. The large display delivers brilliant-quality still images and movies while enabling easy focusing operation.

The pop-up EVF viewfinder features an OLED Tru-Finder with a ZEISS T* coating, designed to dramatically reduce reflections that can interfere with composing and viewing stills and videos.

Performance and Image Quality

The backside illuminated Exmor R CMOS sensor, advanced BIONZ X processor and fast-F1.8-2.8 aperture lens combine to allow for incredible speed and low light versatility for stills as well as beautiful HD video.

The RX100 III features a large 1.0” Exmor R® CMOS image sensor. The back-illuminated technology doubles light sensitivity — a great help when shooting in dimly lit environments. Enjoy reduced noise in your videos and photos, even when capturing night landscapes or indoor scenes.

Full HD Video Capture

The RX100 III captures video in HD in the XAVC S format, allowing full HD recording at a data rate of 50 mbps with low compression, resulting in excellent video quality. The RX100 III can also capture 120fps at 720p, and a dual-video-recording capability allows the camera to record in XAVC S/AVCHD along with MP4 files.

The RX100 also features Intelligent Active Mode, which uses Sony’s frame rate analysis technology and 5-axis image stabilization to dramatically reduce the effects of camera shake when capturing video.

Connections and Sharing

Connect the RX100 III to an external monitor/recorder via HDMI® simultaneously for a bigger view of what you’re recording. The shooting info display can be turned off for an even cleaner view and to capture uncompressed video at much higher bitrates (depending on external recorder and settings). Frame rates include 24p, 60p and 60i.

Connectivity with smartphones for One-touch sharing/One-touch remote has been simplified with Wi-Fi®/NFC control. Easily and instantly transfer videos and photos to your smartphone for sharing with friends and family on social media. In addition, the camera can be controlled remotely using the free Imaging Edge app giving you greater creative freedom.

Pricing and Availability

The RX100 III Video Creator Kit will begin shipping in July 2019 for approximately $ 799.99. It will be sold at a variety of Sony’s authorized dealers throughout North America.

Exclusive stories and exciting content shot with the RX100 III can be found at alphauniverse.com, a site created to educate and inspire all fans and customers of Sony’s Alpha™ brand.

Images taken with the RX100 III can be found at the Sony Photo Gallery and footage from the camera at the Sony Camera Channel on YouTube. For detailed product information, please visit Sony’s Compact Camera information page.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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X-Rite announces new ColorChecker sizes

21 Jun

Color calibration specialist X-Rite has announced a range of new sizes in its line of ColorChecker reference targets for photographers and videographers, including Nano, Mini, XL and MEGA.

With the expansion of the line-up X-Rite is now aiming to target a much larger spectrum of photographic applications than previously. Here is an overview of the new options:

  • ColorChecker Classic Nano: 24mm x 40mm (1 x 1.75″) – for macro or close up photography.
  • ColorChecker Classic Mini: 6.4 x 11cm (2.5 x 4.25″) – for archival photography
  • ColorChecker Classic XL: 37 x 53cm (21 x 14.75″) – for photographers working in large studios, doing long distance photography or camera/lighting testing.
  • ColorChecker Classic Mega: 100 x 152cm (40 x 60″) – for photographers working on large sets and doing extreme distance photography or camera/lighting testing.
  • ColorChecker Video Mega: 100 x 152cm (40 x 60″) – for filmmakers working on large sets and doing extreme distance filmmaking or camera/lighting testing.

All ColorChecker Classic targets show an array of 24 natural object, chromatic, primary and greyscale colors, arranged in four rows. During capture or when editing it can be used to create custom DNG or ICC camera profiles, color grade video footage or visually compare, measure and analyze differences in color reproduction.

The ColorChecker Video was developed specifically for the filmmaker and includes chromatic color chips, skin tone chips and grey reference chips, allowing filmmakers to adjust exposure, match multiple cameras and speed up color grading. More information is available on the X-Rite website.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Olympus announces 2X teleconverter for 40-150mm F2.8 and 300mm F4 Pro lenses

19 Jun

Olympus has announced a 2X teleconverter, the MC-20, which is compatible with the company’s 40-150 F2.8 and 300mm F4 IS Pro lenses, along with the 150-400mm F4.5 TC1.25x IS Pro currently under development. On the 300mm F4 in particular, the MC-20 brings the maximum magnification up to 0.96x.

The teleconverter is weather-sealed and has nine elements, one of which is ‘HR’ to suppress aberrations. The ‘ZERO’ coating reduces ghosting and flare. Olympus says that there’s ‘virtually no loss’ in AF performance when using the MC-20.

The MC-20 is now available for $ 429.

Official sample photos

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Press Release

OLYMPUS M.ZUIKO® DIGITAL 2x TELECONVERTER MC-20

Expand the Field of Photography with Portability and Superb Image Quality of the Master Lens

CENTER VALLEY, Pa., June 19, 2019 – Olympus is pleased to announce the M.Zuiko Digital 2x Teleconverter MC-20. This teleconverter doubles the focal length of the master lens, and features dustproof, splashproof and freezeproof (-10°C) professional weatherproof construction for outstanding optical performance ideal for even the most severe environmental conditions. By doubling the maximum shooting magnification of the master lens, this teleconverter further expands the field of photography in super telephoto macro shooting. This product is compatible with the M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm F2.8 PRO and M.Zuiko Digital ED 300mm F4.0 IS PRO, as well as the M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-400mm F4.5 TC1.25x IS PRO, which is currently under development.

Super Telephoto and Super Telephoto Macro Shooting

Just like the M.Zuiko Digital 1.4x Teleconverter MC-14, the M.Zuiko Digital 2x Teleconverter MC-20 maintains the excellent imaging performance of the master lens while doubling the focal length, making it possible to capture intense shots of subjects that are usually difficult to approach, including small birds and animals. When attached to the M.Zuiko Digital ED 300mm F4.0 IS PRO, handheld super telephoto shooting at 1200mm equivalent (35mm equivalent) is possible.

When attached to the M.Zuiko Digital ED 300mm F4.0 IS PRO, the MC-20 allows the user to shoot near actual size at 0.96x (35mm equivalent) from the maximum shooting magnification of 0.48x. With performance like this, the photographer can capture close-up photos from far away without disturbing subjects that are sensitive to people, such as insects. Utilizing Focus Stacking results in photos that are in focus across the entire image, even on super telephoto lenses, which tend to have a shallow depth of field.

Outstanding Optical Performance

A 9-element, 4-group lens construction with an HR lens helps suppress various types of aberrations including chromatic aberration while maintaining the excellent optical performance of the master lens to double the focal length. The design also helps prevent ghosts and flares for superb image performance, thanks to ZERO coating.

Reliability to Capture the Moment

The master lens is designed to deliver excellent performance and dependable reliability, even when an Olympus teleconverter is attached. Virtually no loss in autofocus speed makes it possible to capture split-second photo opportunities using FAST AF performance. The dustproof, splashproof, and freezeproof professional weatherproof construction, coupled with powerful 5-axis image stabilization and FAST AF ensures that the user captures their shot even in the most severe environments.

Compatible Lenses

  • Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm F2.8 PRO
  • Zuiko Digital ED 300mm F4.0 IS PRO
  • Zuiko Digital ED 150-400mm F4.5 TC1.25x IS PRO (under development-planned for launch in 2020)

Pricing and Availability

The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 2x Teleconverter MC-20 ships with the body cap BC-3, lens cap LR-2 and lens case LSC-0603 and is available now with suggested retail prices of $ 429.99 USD and $ 559.99 CAD.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Datacolor announces two new SpyderX Tool Kits for an all-in-one color correction workflow

19 Jun

Datacolor has launched two new kits that bundle together some of its most popular color correction tools to simplify the color workflow of photographers from capture to print.

SpyderX Capture Pro tool suite

The SpyderX Capture Pro is a bundle designed to offer the most essential components in a color workflow. It includes Datacolor’s Spyder LensCal, Spyder Cube, Spyder Checkr and SpyderX Elite, each of which are designed to play an integral role in the image capture and editing process.

SpyderX Studio tool suite

The SpyderX Studio bundle, on the other hand, includes tools not only for calibrating your camera and monitor, but also your printer. It includes the Spyder Cube, SpyderX Elite and Spyder Print.

If the items in these bundles were purchased on their own, the SpyderX Capture Pro tool suite would cost around $ 370 and the SpyderX Studio around $ 675, based on the retail price of the individual components. Through July 14, 2019, Datacolor is selling the SpyderX Capture Pro bundle through its website and authorized retailers for $ 320 and the SpyderX Studio bundle for $ 400 as part of an introductory offer. After that, the prices will increase to $ 400 and $ 500, respectively.

Press release:

Datacolor Launches SpyderX Tool Kits for Digital Photographers

Lawrenceville, New Jersey, USA, June 18, 2019 – Datacolor®, a global leader in color management solutions, announced the launch of two new product bundles for photographers to manage their color workflow: SpyderX Capture Pro and SpyderX Studio. Both include the recently launched SpyderX color calibrator for monitors – the most accurate, fastest (4X faster) and easiest-to-use Spyder, ever.

SpyderX Capture Pro provides all the essentials needed to precisely manage color from image capture through editing, and includes:

  • Spyder LensCal – Calibrate cameras, lenses and DSLR components.
  • Spyder Cube – Set white balance and RAW conversion.
  • Spyder Checkr – Next-level camera color calibration.
  • SpyderX Elite – Professional monitor calibration.

SpyderX Studio is the essential all-in-one photographic workflow solution for precision control from capture, to editing to print, and includes:

  • Spyder Cube – Set white balance and RAW conversion.
  • SpyderX Elite– Professional monitor calibration.
  • Spyder Print – Printer profiling for any printer/ink/paper combination.

Datacolor is kicking off the launch of these two products with a special 20% savings introductory offer. From June 18 through July 14, 2019, you can purchase the SpyderX Capture Pro for $ 319.99 (reg. $ 399.99) or the SpyderX Studio for $ 399.99 (reg. $ 499.99).

SpyderX Capture Pro and SpyderX Studio can be purchased at spyderx.datacolor.com, Amazon or with authorized resellers.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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National Geographic announces winners of its 2019 Travel Photographer of the Year contest

15 Jun

2019 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year winners

Cities 1st place – and Grand Prize winner
Photo and Caption by Weimin Chu / National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest | GREENLANDIC WINTER

National Geographic has revealed the Grand Prize winner of this year’s Travel Photographer of the Year contest. Photographer Weimin Chu has taken home the Grand Prize award—as well as 1st place in the Cities category—with a moody image from a small fishing village in West Greenland. The caption of the winning photo reads:

Upernavik is a fishing village on a tiny island in west Greenland. Historically, Greenlandic buildings were painted different colors to indicate different functions, from red storefronts to blue fishermen’s homes—a useful distinction when the landscape is blanketed in snow.

In addition to Chu’s winning photograph, National Geographic has announced the winners, runner-ups and honorable mentions in three other categories: Cities, Nature and People.

The above gallery takes a look at the final photographs from each of the categories alongside the photographer, title and caption of each image. In addition to a full gallery of images on its own site—which allow you to download the winning photographs as wallpapers—National Geographic has a feature on the winning image and the photographer behind the camera.

Photo credit: images used with permission from National Geographic

2019 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year winners

Cities 2nd Place
Photo and Caption by Jassen Todorov / National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest | IN THE AGE OF AVIATION

There are four runways at San Francisco’s International Airport (SFO). This is a rare look at the approach end of runways 28 left and right. I had dreams of documenting the motion at SFO and [arranged] permission to fly directly overhead. What a windy day it was. Winds atSFO were 35-45 miles per hour, which meant a bumpy flight, and itwas much harder to control the plane while photographing. The flight was challenging, but it was also so thrilling that I couldn’t sleep for several days afterward.

2019 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year winners

Cities 3rd Place
Photo and Caption by Sandipani Chattopadhyay / National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest | STREETS OF DHAKA

People pray on the street in Dhaka, Bangladesh during Ijtema. Bishwa Ijtemais one of the major Islamic religious gatherings which is [observed] annually in Dhaka and millions of Muslims visit [during this time]. Dedicated prayer grounds are not [large] enough to handle this huge number of people, so large numbers of people come to [Tongi], the main street of Dhaka. All the ground transportation and [pedestrian crossings] are suspended during that time.

2019 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year winners

Nature 1st Place
Photo and Caption by Tamara Blazquez Haik / National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest | TENDER EYES

A gorgeous griffon vulture is seen soaring the skies in Monfragüe National Park in Spain. How can anyone say vultures bring bad omens when looking at such tenderness in this griffon vulture’s eyes? Vultures are important members of the environment, as they take care of recycling dead matter. Vultures are noble and majestic animals—kings of the skies. When looking at them flying, we should feel humbled and admire them.

2019 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year winners

Nature 2nd Place
Photo and Caption by Danny Sepkowski / National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest | Geometry of the Sun

What happens before a wave breaks? That question has been my assignment this past year. On this particular day, I decided to shoot the sunset on the east side of Oahu, Hawaii. About 100 photographers were out in the morning, but I had the evening to myself. The textures from the trade winds [created] subtle colors from the west and blended well using my 100mm lens. I had to look into my viewfinder while this wave was breaking. Not an easy task when a wave is about to crush you.

2019 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year winners

Nature 3rd Place
Photo and Caption by Scott Portelli / National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest | DUSKY

Dusky dolphins often travel together in great numbers in the deep canyons of the Kaikoura, New Zealand in search of food. They glide through the ocean effortlessly, coming up only to breathe. Dusky dolphins are fast and will often keep pace with a speeding boat. I waited on the bow of the boat as the Dusky dolphin almost broke [through the surface]. Their elegance and streamlined bodies are built for speed and maneuverability—accentuated by the smooth, clear water of the New Zealand coastline.

2019 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year winners

Nature Honorable Mention
Photo and Caption by Jonas Schafer / National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest | KING OF THE ALPS

A herd of ibexes in Switzerland’s Bernese Oberland cross a ridge above Lake Brienz. Their powerful and impressive horns show who the king of the Alps are. Ibexes are ideally adapted to live at dizzying heights. The continuing ridge path and the rising fog show the natural habitat of these animals. After a few hours of observing the animals, I spotted the ibex herd on one side of the ridge. Several ibexes stopped at the transition [to view the world around them].

2019 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year winners

People 1st Place
Photo and Caption by Huaifeng Li / National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest | SHOWTIME

Actors prepare for an evening opera performance in Licheng County, China. I spent the whole day with these actors from makeup to [stage]. I’m a freelance photographer, and the series “Cave Life” is a long-term project of mine. In China’s Loess Plateau, local residents dig holes in the loess layer [to create cave living spaces, known as yaodongs] and use the heat preservation properties to survive cold winters. This series mainly records the life, entertainment, belief, labor, and other [daily] scenes of the people living in the caves.

2019 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year winners

People 2nd Place
Photo and Caption by Yoshiki Fujiwara / National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest | DAILY ROUTINE

This photo was taken at a public park at Choi Hung House in Hong Kong. When I visited during the afternoon, it was very crowded with many young people taking pictures and playing basketball. But when I visited at sunrise, it was quiet and a different place. [The area] is [designated] for neighborhood residents in the early morning, and there was a sacred atmosphere. I felt divinity when I saw an old man doing tai chi in the sun.

2019 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year winners

People 3rd Place
Photo and Caption by José Antonio Zamora / National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest | HORSES

Every year on the feast of Saint Anthony the ceremony of the purification of animals, called Las Luminarias, is celebrated in Spain. In the province of Avila, horses and horsemen jump over bonfires in the ritual that has been maintained since the 18th century. The animals [are not hurt], and it is a ritual that is repeated every year. To make the photo, I moved from Seville to San Bartolomé de Pinares because I am very interested in photographing ancestral rites.

2019 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year winners

People Honorable Mention
Photo and Caption by Navin Vatsa / National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest | MOOD

I captured this layered moment during sunrise along the banks of the Yamuna River in Delhi, India. This boy was thinking silently, and visitors were enjoying the loud musical chirping of thousands of seagulls. The early morning golden light from the east mixed with the western blue light, creating a [ethereal atmosphere]. I am a regular visitor [here] and have photographed this place for the past three years. Now, many national and international photographers have begun visiting [too].

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Apple announces new photo features and tools in iOS 13, macOS and iPadOS updates

04 Jun

Today, at its World Wide Developer Conference (WWDC) 2019, Apple unveiled a collection of new photo-oriented features and tools inside its upcoming iOS 13 and macOS operating systems, as well as its new iPadOS, a spin-off of iOS designed specifically to utilize the larger, more powerful tablets from Apple.

Below we’ve rounded up and summarized the best photo-related features from each of the three operating systems. Additional details will be added over time as we gather more information and details.

iOS 13

The main feature changes in iOS 13 are new and improved features inside the Camera and Photos applications.

On the Camera app front, Apple has added a new Portrait Mode setting it calls High Key Mono. As its name suggests, the new AI-powered filter will create a high key black and white image when captured with Portrait Mode in the Camera app.

A collection of Portrait Mode images showing the five different lighting filters available.

Also new to Portrait Mode is the ability to adjust the intensity of the lighting. Apple says its new feature is designed to simulate the light source moving closer to or further away from the subject and even accounts for the higher intensity light being softer, as would be the case with a physical light source. And like before, each adjustment is made individually to images using AI to achieve the most accurate results.

Screenshots provided by Apple showing the ‘Years,’ ‘Months’ and ‘Days’ tabs, respectively.

Moving onto the Photos app on iOS, Apple has switched up the interface a little to add a new tab at the bottom that will automatically sort images into ‘Years,’ ‘Months,’ ‘Days’ and ‘All Photos.’ In addition to the new ‘Pinch’ gesture that can be used to zoom in and out of large numbers of photos, these tabs make it easier to chronological sort through images and the tabs are even contextual, so if, say, it’s your child’s birthday and their information is in your phone, the ‘Year’ tab will show photos of your child on the thumbnails of each year.

Another UI change in the Photos app is in the photo editing section. The interface now uses buttons, akin to what you see in Instagram and other third-party photo editing applications. Apple has also added the ability to edit video directly in the Photos app, just as you would photos. Now, videos can be rotated, adjusted and have filters added to them just as you would with a still image.

You can read more about iOS 13 on Apple’s dedicated preview page.

iPadOS

You might’ve noticed the lack of any mention of the iPad. That’s because Apple has finally given the iPad an operating system of its own, iPadOS. Unsurprisingly, the operating system is effectively a more powerful version of iOS, complete with a number of features photographers around the world have been asking for.

First up is support for external drives. Now, the Files app supports browsing, editing, sorting and transferring content from hard drives, solid state drives, USB drives, SD cards and even direct import from cameras. We haven’t found any additional details, but Apple CEO Tim Cook specifically mentioned the ability to import images directly into Lightroom CC from an SD card or connected camera, bypassing the need to first import images into your Camera Roll.

The first iteration of iPadOS also brings the aforementioned changes found in the iOS 13 version of the Camera and Photos apps.

Apple has also managed to further decrease the response time when using the Apple Pencil with an iPad. Apple already leads the industry with a 20ms response time, but in iPadOS that’s been further reduced to 9ms, thanks to improved algorithms.

You can read more about iPadOS on Apple’s dedicated preview page.

macOS Catalina

The newest version of Apple’s desktop operating system, macOS, has strayed from the desert theme and has officially been deemed macOS Catalina. Of all the changes, one change, in particular, stands out for photographers—Sidecar.

Until now, it’s required third-party hardware and software to use your iPad as a secondary display for your macOS computer. Now, the functionality is baked directly into macOS Catalina via Sidecar.

Sidecar works both wired and wirelessly, and supports the Apple Pencil, effectively turning your iPad into a dedicated drawing tablet that’s connected directly to your macOS computer. Sidecar will support gesture inputs and will display various Touch Bar functions on the bottom of the iPad display, even if you don’t have the Touch Bar MacBook Pro.

Apple has shared a list of supported apps, which include Affinity Photo, Adobe After Effects, Adobe Premiere Pro, Cinema 4D, Final Cut Pro, Maya and others. However, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Lightroom, Capture One and other photo-related apps are noticeably absent from the list for the time being.

A list of apps Apple has specifically mentioned as supported by Sidecar for the time being.

By adding this functionality, Apple has more or less pulled the rug out from underneath third-party software and hardware options including Astropad and Duet Display. However, until iPadOS and macOS Catalina are available for public use, third-party options are the only means of using your iPad as a secondary display.

You can read more about macOS Catalina on Apple’s dedicated preview page.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Ricoh announces minor 1.11 firmware update for its GR III camera system

30 May

Ricoh has released firmware version 1.11 for its GR III camera. It’s not a major update, but if you own a GR III, it’s still worth your time to update it.

According to the changelog, firmware version 1.11, an upgrade from 1.10, corrects an issue where playing back a movie on the camera caused the frame rate to drop, as well as an issue where the incorrect firmware was displayed when the GR III was plugged into a macOS computer. Additionally, the update smooths out a number of under-the-hood problems for improved stability.

To update the firmware on your GR III, follow the following steps, as shared by Ricoh:

[1] Provide a formatted SD memory card for the update software. The download file is self-extracting. The following file is extracted. fwdc239b.bin: This is the updated firmware Copy the above Firmware file [fwdc239b.bin] to the root directory in the SD card.
[2] Insert the battery into the camera and confirm the battery is full by battery level indicator then turn the camera off.
[3] Insert the update SD card (prepared in step 1) into the camera and close card cover.
[4] Turn the camera power on while pressing [Menu] button.
[5] [Update the camera firmware] is displayed Select [Execute] by 4-way button and press [OK] button.
[6] The firmware update will start and [Updating] is displayed. *Do not turn OFF the camera while updating.
[7] When update is completed, “Update completed” will be displayed
[8] Turn OFF the camera and remove the SD card from camera. *Confirm the version of firmware with above [How to check version].
[Caution] When updating is finished, the update SD card still contains the Firmware file. If you want to use this card to take pictures, format the card by the camera to delete firmware file first.

You can download the firmware update (28MB) for macOS and Windows computers on the Ricoh GR III download page.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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