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Posts Tagged ‘Announces’

Facebook announces support for 360 degree photos

13 May

Only a few years ago capturing a 360 degree sphere was quite an involved and lengthy process, even more so when recording moving images. In 2016, 360 degree imaging has made it to the consumer level, with affordable 360 degree cameras such as the Ricoh Theta, Samsung Gear 360 or LG 360 Cam available in abundance. Clearly the web’s largest social network does not want to miss out on the trend – after integrating 360 degree videos in its news feed last year, Facebook will now the support of 360 degree photos on mobile and web.

The feature, called ‘360 Photos,’ is expected to arrive within the next few weeks and will allow users to upload and view 360 degree photos in their news feed. Users will be able to view the content by dragging the image with their finger on a mobile screen or by using the mouse on a desktop web browser. Of course there’s also the option to use a virtual reality headset, such as the Samsung Gear VR or Facebook’s own Oculus Rift, and get an even more immersive experience. 

Facebook supporting the new technology could be an important moment for 360 degree imaging. The ability to share spherical images and videos straight from capture should make this new type of imaging even more popular than it already is. Keep an eye on your news feeds; it’s only a matter of time before your friends and contacts will post the first 360 degree photos.

Via: The Verge

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Feature Shoot announces Emerging Photography Award winners

04 May

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Feature Shoot has announced five winners in its 2016 Emerging Photographer Awards. Now in its second year, the awards hope to help jumpstart the careers of budding photographers, and entries are accepted from around the world. The five winners’ photos will be exhibited at United Photo Industries in Brooklyn next month. Each winning photographer also receives $ 500 cash, a Lomo’Instant Montenegro Camera and a Cecilia camera strap.

Take a look at some of the winning images above, and learn more about the competition at emergingphotographyawards.com.

Press release:

Developed: Five Emerging Photographers
Opening: June 2, 2016? 6:00-9:00 PM
United Photo Industries
16 Main St, #B, DUMBO, Brooklyn, New York

Spanning the globe and various genres within the medium, Developed: Five Emerging Photographers highlights some of the most surprising and excellent work produced by rising stars within the photographic world.

New York – April 28, 2016 Feature Shoot is proud to present the Second Annual Feature Shoot Emerging Photography Awards exhibition, showcasing the work of five diverse and exceptional fine art, documentary, and portrait photographers from around the world.

The Feature Shoot Emerging Photography Awards are given annually to a set of photographers whose voices are unique. The prize and subsequent exhibition, featuring five artworks from each winning artist, are geared not only towards jumpstarting the careers of promising new photographers but also towards contributing to fresh and forwardthinking discourse within the international photographic community.

This year, our jury of leading industry experts – Jessie Wender, Senior Photo Editor at National Geographic Magazine? Sarah Sudhoff, photographer and Director/Owner at Capsule Gallery? Kevin Wy Lee, photographer and Founder of Invisible Photographer Asia (IPA)? Liz Lapp, curator and Content Manager at Yahoo – selected five photographers from an estimated 1,000 submissions. The exhibiting photographers will be Marlena Waldthausen, Camille Michel, Mariya Kozhanova, Lissa Rivera, and Kimberly Witham.

Marlena Waldthausen was chosen for her intimate series Brothers, chronicling the lives and close relationship between two deaf twins, one of whom is also entirely blind, living in Germany. 

Camille Michel‘s series The Last Men tells the ancient tale of the Inuit fishermen of Uummannaq, Greenland, who are gradually losing their ties to the land in an increasingly globalized community. 

Mariya Kozhanova focuses her lens on Russian youth, who in a precarious political climate, have clung to and become a part of the Japanese subculture of anime cosplay.

Lissa Rivera was selected for Beautiful Boy, a series confronting gender roles and aesthetics, made in collaboration with her romantic partner after he told her about his habit of donning women’s clothes in college.

Kimberly Witham’s winning project On Ripeness and Rot takes inspiration from Dutch Golden Age paintings, incorporating fresh fruit and roadkill to create beautiful and disarming still lifes that speak to mortality, loss, and rebirth.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Samyang announces 14mm F2.8 and 50mm F1.4 autofocus FE lenses

04 May

Samyang Optics has announced its first autofocus lenses. The 14mm F2.8 ED AS IF UMC and 50mm F1.4 AS IF UMC will be offered in Sony’s E-mount and are designed to cover a full-frame sensor. With a robust metal housing, each lens will be able to utilize phase detection AF as well as contrast detection, and will offer 67mm filter threads.

The 14mm F2.8 and 50mm F1.4 will be available in July 2016; no price is given yet. Keep an eye on Samyang’s Facebook page and website for more information.

Press release:

May 3rd, 2016, Seoul, Korea – The global optics brand, Samyang Optics (http://www.samyanglensglobal.com) today announced the long-awaited launch of two autofocus lenses: 14mm F2.8 and 50mm F1.4 lenses for Sony E mount Mirrorless cameras with full frame sensor size. The new 14mm and 50mm are the widest and brightest lenses in their class and offer superb quality images to photographers. This launching expands the boundaries of Samyang Optics photo lens line-up from manual focus only, to now include autofocus lenses.

Optimised Optical Design as Full Frame Mirrorless Camera Lens

Both 14mm F2.8 ED AS IF UMC and 50mm F1.4 AS IF UMC are specifically designed to work in harmony with full frame mirrorless cameras in Sony E mount. The flow of light is devised based on the uniqueness of the distance from glass to sensor in mirrorless cameras to create optimal performance. Along with portability of mirrorless lenses, the 14mm F2.8 and 50mm F1.4 are compatible with full frame sensors to deliver the wideness and sharpness of image to photographers.

The 67mm filter diameter brings the maximum amount of light into the lens to create the best work of light in photography. The 14mm F2.8 is the widest angle available in the market and the F1.4 of 50mm and F2.8 of 14mm apertures are by far the brightest of full frame mirrorless lenses, offering a beautiful bokeh effect and the best quality images under various exposure conditions.

Based on Samyang Optics’ exceptional optical technology, aspherical lenses have been included in both lenses to minimise aberration and unnecessary light dispersion, delivering high resolution from the centre to the corners of the image.

AF Performance and Ergonomic Design Based on Class-Leading Technology

These new products will be the first autofocus lenses in over 40 years of Samyang’s class-leading core optics technologies. Samyang has captured the essence of world leading image technology with their manual focus lenses and reinterpreted it into autofocus lenses. Photographers now can enjoy the prime manual lens image quality and autofocus lens. These new 14mm F2.8 and 50mm F1.4 are compatible with both phase detect and contrast detect sensors to operate fast and accurate focus detection.

The 67mm filter diameter is also the result of years of R&D for best handling, by adding stability to the photo-taking experience. Also the minimal and sleek design and metal-housing solidify the build quality with the internal focus system.

These two new autofocus lenses from Samyang Optics will be exhibited at the Photo & Imaging 2016 Show in Seoul, South Korea. The lenses will be globally available from July 2016. Further details, pricing and availability will follow.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Nikon announces delays for DL-series and other compacts

21 Apr

Nikon has announced delays of some recently announced compacts, including the DL-series compacts, the Coolpix A300/A900, B500/B700 and the KeyMission 360. In a statement issued today, Nikon also indicates that its part suppliers in the Kumamoto Prefecture affected by recent earthquakes are experiencing delays which will have an inevitable impact on production across much of its product range, but it’s unclear to what degree the revised shipping dates are related. Sony appears to be one of those affected suppliers, as its sensor production is currently shut down, and a Fujifilm subsidiary that produces LCD components may also have a trickle-down effect. 

The Nikon DL18-50, DL24-85 and DL24-500 1″-sensor compacts were originally scheduled for a June release, and a new shipping date has yet to be determined. Nikon cites ‘serious issues with the integrated circuit for image processing’ as the cause for the delay.

According to Nikon, the Coolpix A300 and B500 will be delayed until May 2016, and the Coolpix A900 and B700 are pushed back until July 2016. All four were originally scheduled for an April release. The news is worse for the KeyMission 360 action cam. Originally expected this spring, it won’t ship until October 2016.

Press release:

Update on digital camera release

April 20, 2016 TOKYO – Nikon Corporation announced today delays in the release of new digital cameras and the effects of the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes.

Delays in the release of new digital cameras

The new Nikon compact digital cameras, COOLPIX A300 and B500 will be available in May 2016, the COOLPIX A900 and B700 will arrive in July 2016 and the Nikon KeyMission 360 action camera will be available in October 2016 as more time is required for software adjustment.

The new COOLPIX products were originally scheduled for release in April and the KeyMission 360 action camera was announced for a spring 2016 release.

In addition, the premium compact cameras, Nikon DL18-50 f/1.8-2.8, DL24-85 f/1.8-2.8, and DL24-500 f/2.8-5.6, will be delayed due to the serious issues with the integrated circuit for image processing built into the three new premium compact cameras, originally scheduled for a June 2016 release.

The new release date has yet to be determined and we will announce the information as soon as it is decided.

The effects of the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes

The suppliers of parts for Nikon products such as digital cameras with interchangeable lenses, interchangeable lenses, and compact digital cameras, which include those mentioned above, were affected by the series of earthquakes that started on April 14 in Kumamoto Prefecture in Japan, and this will inevitably impact our production and sales.

We are currently investigating the situation, and we will announce the details as soon as they are confirmed.

We sincerely apologize to our customers, business partners and all those who have expressed interest in these models for the delays. We are making every effort to bring these models to market at the earliest possible date without compromising on our standards and the total Nikon product experience.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Adobe announces updates to Creative Cloud video-oriented applications

14 Apr
With Adobe’s upcoming version of Premiere Pro CC, users can start editing video files immediately, even while still importing, and can switch between native and proxy formats as well.

Ahead of next week’s NAB Show in Las Vegas, Adobe has announced new features to its Creative Cloud software applications for video editing, motion graphics, and audio, including Premiere Pro, After Effects, Audition and Media Encoder.

Of particular interest to video editors, Premiere Pro users will now be able to start editing video files immediately, even while ingesting clips. Additionally, editors can now work natively with high resolution video formats up to 8K. New proxy workflows facilitate quick switching between native video and proxy formats while editing, which should be helpful to those working on older machines or laptops.

Premiere Pro also introduces virtual reality (VR) editing capabilities, making it possible to work with imported stitched video, including the ability to show field-of-view so it’s possible to see what the viewer will be seeing in any direction, and tagging of VR files so that VR-capable video players, such as YouTube, will automatically recognize VR footage.

Other noteworthy features enhanced Lumetri Color tools, improved captioning and titling options, and initial support for Apple Metal for improved performance on Apple devices.

The updated applications should be available in ‘early summer.’

Press release:

Adobe Unveils Breakthroughs in Video and Film Production

Virtual Reality, Character Animation, Sound Innovation Comes To Creative Cloud

SAN JOSE, Calif. — April 13, 2016 — The way consumers access and view content has undergone sweeping changes. Media and entertainment companies, along with creative professionals, are under increasing pressure to find new ways to create, deliver and monetize content. They must also adapt to rapidly evolving technology advancements, including high resolution capture, new delivery formats and virtual reality to name a few.  Also, enterprises are dealing with an explosion of content demands from constituencies and need to integrate high-impact content types, like video, into their communications strategies. 

Ahead of the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Show next week, Adobe (Nasdaq:ADBE) has revealed new features across its Creative Cloud tools for video editing, motion graphics, audio and collaboration. Media and entertainment companies are combining these advanced content creation capabilities with Adobe Primetime to help deliver TV and video content across screens. With Adobe’s digital marketing tools TV networks and pay-TV providers can drive viewer acquisition, engagement and monetization as audiences embrace “over the top” (OTT) content via connected devices such as Apple TV, Sony PlayStation, Roku and Microsoft Xbox. At NAB, Adobe will demonstrate the updated tools and new workflows at booth #SL3910, South Hall (lower) in the Las Vegas Convention Center and at over 120 partner booths from April 18-21.

Adobe Creative Cloud video tools are becoming the go-to source for film editors of both award-winning Hollywood and indie films. The most recent example is Deadpool, the 20th Century FOX blockbuster which shattered box office records. The post-production team from Deadpool will discuss their state-of-the-art workflows and why they chose Adobe Premiere Pro CC in a Creative Master Series panel at NAB on April 19 from 4:15–5 p.m. PT. 

Upcoming productions using Premiere Pro CC include Mindhunter, David Fincher’s new series for Netflix, and 6 Below directed by Scott Waugh and starring Josh Hartnett, which is currently shooting in 6K RED and will be edited natively in Premiere Pro.

Creative Cloud video tools are also powering a new generation of content delivered via social channels like YouTube, Facebook and Instagram.

“The videos we make at RocketJump are pure entertainment,” said Freddie Wong, Founder of RocketJump, the hybrid studio/production company behind the popular RocketJump YouTube channel with nearly 8 million subscribers and 1.3 billion views. “We’ve been users of Adobe’s Creative Cloud for years and love the new features coming soon. In addition to editing native footage in Premiere Pro and creating awesome visual effects in After Effects, we use Photoshop for graphics, Audition to sweeten audio, Media Encoder to export content, and now Creative Cloud Libraries to share assets.” 

Immerse Yourself In Creativity 

Adobe continues to deliver technology that opens unimagined creative opportunities for video and film production, and now, immersive experiences. In the next release of Creative Cloud –- available in early summer — Premiere Pro CC will add new virtual reality capabilities, including “field of view” mode for spherical stitched media.  In addition, thanks to Adobe Stock integration into CC apps, customers are already experiencing productivity increases of 10 times, when adding stock content into creative projects, including video*. In the upcoming release, Adobe Stock will have enhanced connections with CC apps and new workflows will enable Adobe Bridge and Lightroom users to contribute to the Adobe Stock marketplace directly from within the application.

Other feature highlights coming soon to Creative Cloud include:

  • Edit immediately during ingest allows Premiere Pro CC users to get straight to work, while importing their video and audio files in the background.
  • Powerful proxy workflows in Premiere Pro CC and Adobe Media Encoder CC enable users to easily work with heavy 8K, HDR and HFR media, so editors can switch between native and proxy formats freely – even on lightweight machines. 
  • Enhanced Lumetri™ Color tools within Premiere Pro CC adds HSL Secondaries to expand the editor’s toolkit for making color correction and adjustment easier for all filmmakers. 
  • New video and audio preview engine in After Effects CC delivers superior playback of cached frames for a smooth experience. 
  • Easier and more efficient Character Animator includes a simplified puppet creation process that enables users to easily tag puppet layers easily and record multiple takes of a character’s movement. Users can animate puppets to respond to motion and trigger animation accordingly. 
  • New Essential Sound panel in Audition CC enables anyone to mix audio content with professional results. 
  • Quickly find Adobe Stock assets with new filtered search in Creative Cloud Libraries. Licensed assets in your library are now badged for easy identification, videos are displayed with duration and format information, and saved videos are linked to video previews on the Adobe Stock site. 

“There’s rapid change happening in the digital landscape with video now the fastest growing media type across social media platforms and OTT shaking up broadcast and film,” said Bryan Lamkin, executive vice president and general manager, Digital Media at Adobe. “Adobe is transforming the industry with Creative Cloud and Primetime by helping customers create beautiful content to engage viewers and technologies that monetize content that audiences care about.”

Pricing and Availability

At NAB, Adobe is previewing the next major updates to Creative Cloud. These updates are expected to ship in the coming months. The company is offering Adobe Creative Cloud for US $ 49.99 a month. For more information, visit http://www.adobe.com/go/video.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Canon announces firmware updates for XC10 and Cinema EOS cameras

13 Apr

With the annual NAB (National Association of Broadcasters) Show just around the corner, Canon has announced numerous firmware updates for its video-oriented cameras and display systems.

A new firmware update for the XC10 camcorder adds MP4 recording capability for HD video, improved AF speed and shutter speed options to reduce flicker. You can read our recent review of the XC10 camera here.

Additional products receiving firmware updates include the Cinema EOS C100 Mark II camera, the Cinema EOS C300 Mark II camera (including Canon Log3), the XA30/35 and XF300/305 series of professional camcorders, the VIXIA HF G40 camcorder, the CINE-SERVO 17-120mm lens, and two reference displays.

Press release:

Canon U.S.A. announces a host of product firmware updates at NAB 2016

New Updates Include Canon Log3 for the EOS C300 Mark II Camera and Support of ARRI Log C and Metadata for Canon’s DP-V2410 4K Reference Display 

MELVILLE, N.Y., April 13, 2016 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, today announced firmware updates to several products being showcased at NAB 2016. These firmware updates support a number of feature updates for users including improvement of workflow, ease of use, focusing and lens corrections, color space, and creative flexibility for products in the Cinema EOS, HD Video, and 4K Reference Display lines. 

Firmware updates are as follows: 

  • The EOS C300 Mark II Digital Cinema Camera updates will allow various functions such as shooting in new Canon Log3, viewfinder magnification during recording, focus guide with EF Cinema Prime lenses, Push Auto Iris and Zoom function on the grip joystick with New COMPACT-SERVO and CINE-SERVO series lenses, Canon Dual Pixel CMOS AF (DAF) with COMPACT-SERVO 18-80mm and CINE-SERVO 17-120mm lenses, ACES 1.0 output, peripheral illumination correction updates and overall image improvements such as noise level reduction in low-light for Canon Log2.
  • The EOS C100 Mark II Digital Cinema Camera update will allow various functions such as Push Auto Iris and Zoom function on the grip joystick with the new COMPACT-SERVO and CINE-SERVO series lenses,  Canon DAF with COMPACT-SERVO 18-80mm and CINE-SERVO 17-120mm lenses, and peripheral illumination correction updates and selectable disabling of the microphone.
  • The DP-V2410 4K Reference Display firmware will be updated to support ARRI Log C and ARRI metadata; improve display contrast and dynamic range; add support for Canon Log3 and Hybrid Log Gamma; and display of SMPTE 2084 input signal on the waveform monitor.
  • The DP-V3010 4K Reference Display firmware will be updated to improve display contrast and dynamic range; add support for Canon Log3 and Hybrid Log Gamma; and display of SMPTE 2084 input signal on the waveform monitor.
  • The CINE-SERVO 17-120mm Lens will be updated to be compatible with Canon’s DAF function in the EOS C300 Mark II and EOS C100 Mark II Cameras.
  • The update for the ME20F-SH Camera will include lens support for an additional 19 EF and CINE lenses allowing for more creative choices in a wider variety of shooting applications including television and film production.
  • The XA35 and XA30 Professional Camcorders and VIXIA HF G40 Camcorder updates include a new file format making it easier to integrate into third party software systems that are used for athletic coaching applications.
  • The firmware updates for the XF305 and XF300 Professional Camcorders include new shooting modes allowing for greater creative flexibility, Wide DR Gamma (600 percent) Mode, Highlight Priority Mode, and Signal/Noise priority mode.   
  • The XC10 4K Camcorder firmware will be updated to include a new file format MP4 in HD mode (35 Mbps only), improved AF speed, and shutter speed options for flicker reduction. 

To see these products mentioned above at NAB 2016, visit Canon U.S.A., Inc. in the Central Hall, Booth C4325. Follow Canon throughout the show on Instagram at @CanonUSA and Twitter at @CanonUSApro. To learn more about the firmware updates and their availability, please visit www.usa.canon.com/NAB2016Firmware. 

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Beastgrip expands into UK and Japanese markets, announces plans for high quality lenses from Kenko Tokina

13 Apr

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US mobile phone rig and lens mount manufacturer Beastgrip has started distribution of its Beastgrip Pro smartphone grip in the UK and Japan, and announced it is working on new ‘high quality’ lenses with Kenko Tokina. The Beastgrip Pro is an adaptable smartphone housing that uses adjustable clamps and a sliding lens mount assembly to fit conversion lenses over the camera of any model – Beastgrip claims.

The system uses a 37mm threaded lens mount that accepts conversion lenses from Beastgrip’s own collection as well as those from independent manufacturers. The company also offers what is calls a DOF (depth-of-field) adapter that allows Canon EF-mount lenses to be used on the rig in front of the smartphone lens to achieve a shallow depth of field.

The rig also features a cold shoe and tripod thread for attaching accessories such as microphones and lights, as well as a number of mounting threads.

While the company offers its own wide, ultra-wide and fisheye conversion lenses the partnership with Kenko Tokina promises some extra interesting lenses. Kenko’s own line of smartphone conversion lenses includes a 7x telephoto lens that would convert most smartphone focal lengths to 196mm – but that’s not to say it would be also produced to fit the Beastgrip Pro.

The system will be distributed by Kenko Tokina in Japan and Intro2020 in the UK. The price of the rig on its own is $ 139.99/£139.99, and kits are available that include wide and fisheye conversion lenses. For more information visit the Beastgrip website.

Press release:

Beastgrip Pro – the world’s first universal lens adapter and camera rig for smartphones

With immediate effect, Intro 2020 has been appointed sole UK distributor of BEASTGRIP PRO.

Beastgrip Pro is the world’s first universal lens adapter and camera rig system for smartphones. It is the ultimate tool for photographers, videographers and the rapidly growing live streaming market.

The Beastgrip Rig features an adjustable lens mount with spring loaded clamps to ensure a secure grip and perfect fit with virtually any smartphone on the market. It is a modular rig system with a removable lens mount assembly and handle that allows the user to modify the Beastgrip Pro to their own personal preference. It comes with industry-standard photography mounts and an ergonomic grip, allowing you to attach all kinds of photography gear and take a better shot.

There are 3 kits in the product range, including 2 with lenses, as follows:

Beastgrip Pro Rig
Universal/adjustable and works with virtually any camera phone on the market. It is simple and convenient to use and works with or without a protective phone case. It features a standard 37mm threaded lens/filter mount and is compatible with wide variety of conversion lenses and filters. It also features a cold shoe mount for attaching LED lights, microphones, and other accessories plus comes with five standard ¼”-20 threaded mounts for attaching to supportive photo/video gear such as tripods, stabilizers, sliders and other accessories.

Beastgrip Pro Rig plus Wide Angle Lens
This set includes a 37mm 0.43x Extreme Wide-Angle lens, which nearly doubles the field-of-view in your photo/video, letting the user see much more in the frame than a standard phone camera. It’s perfect for shooting large scenes like landscapes, concerts, sports, family photos etc.

Beastgrip Pro rig plus Wide Angle and Fish-eye lenses
Includes the Beastgrip 37mm 0.43x Extreme Wide-Angle lens and an ultra wide-angle lens that produces strong visual distortion, i.e. the classic “fisheye” circle, and an immersive 180° field-of-view. It’s perfect for action sports like skateboarding, biking, snowboarding/skis, etc.

SUGGESTED RETAIL PRICES:
•    Beastgrip Pro Rig £139.99 including VAT
•    Beastgrip Pro Rig plus Wide Angle Lens £169.99 including VAT
•    Beastgrip Pro Rig plus Wide Angle & Fisheye Lenses £199.99 including VAT

All units are available immediately.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Swirly bokeh: Lensbaby announces Twist 60 lens

12 Apr

Lensbaby has announced the Twist 60, a new lens for creative photography. From what we can see, the Twist 60 is all about bokeh. The 12 aperture blades and a maximum aperture of F2.5 should give a soft, well-rounded bokeh with good separation of the subject from the background, but the real ‘twist’ is just that – the twist. Specifically the twisty, swirly bokeh. Lensbaby claims the lens is modeled after Joseph Petzval’s Classic 19th-century design, giving photographers the ability to introduce and control that distinctive circular bokeh that is unique to Petzval-type lenses.  

We are interested to see how this lens performs, as it is almost half the price of similar lenses recently announced and it is available (via the Lensbaby Optic Swap System) in a wide variety of mounts.

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The Twist 60 is available for pre-order starting April 12, 2016 and is currently offered in Canon, Nikon, and Sony E mounts. It is priced at $ 279.95/£196 for the full lens or $ 179.95/£126 for the Twist 60 Optic (for use with other Lensbaby Optic Swap System lenses).

Press release:

Lensbaby’s New Twist 60 Lens Exudes Pure Magic of Vintage Photography

Company’s love of old lenses inspires new creativity with classic image elements optimized for full frame photographers
 
Portland, OR – April 12th, 2016 – Lensbaby, makers of award-winning creative effects lenses, optics and accessories, today announced the availability of the Twist 60 lens. Twist 60 helps creative photographers find their visual voice by seeing the world differently.
 
This metal-bodied 60mm f/2.5 lens with gold anodized accents creates powerful portraits, spotlighting subjects by freeing them from their background and surrounding them with swirly blur and enhanced vignette. The brighter the aperture, the greater the swirl and the greater the vignette.
 
“Twist 60 embodies our love of old lenses and their unique ways of helping photographers discover creative possibilities,” said Craig Strong, Lensbaby Co-Founder & Chief Creative Officer. “True to an 1840 design by Joseph Petzval, this lens reveals striking separation between subjects and their background, a quality that modern lens designs lack.”
 
Twist 60 Lens specs:
? 12 blade f/2.5-22 aperture
? 60mm focal length
? Twisty, swirly blur
? Recommended for use on full frame cameras
? Available in Canon EF, Nikon F, and Sony E mounts
? 4 elements in 3 groups
? Filter threads: 46mm
? Black anodized body with gold anodized aperture ring
? Minimum focus distance – 18”
 
Availability
Twist 60 lens retails for $ 279.95 and is available via pre-order beginning April 12, 2016 (shipping May 5th, 2016). Twist 60 Optic will also be sold separately for use with other Lensbaby Optic Swap System-compatible lenses. It retails for $ 179.95. For best results, when using it in a tilting Lensbaby such as the Composer Pro, photographers should shoot with Twist 60 pointed straight ahead. Lensbaby products are available at lensbaby.com, B&H, Adorama, and from select specialty photo stores worldwide.
 
About Lensbaby
For over a decade, photographers have relied on Portland, Oregon based Lensbaby to help them break free of routine, tinker, and open themselves up to unexpected results – dancing, playing and delighting in what’s possible with a creative lens and their imagination.

Lensbaby makes award-winning creative effects lenses, optics and accessories that follow this philosophy, including the Velvet 56, a versatile portrait and macro lens; their unique Optic Swap System, which lets photographers swap their optic and tilt their lens for limitless effects; and mobile lenses that transform everyday smartphone photography. Lensbaby products are sold and distributed worldwide. For more information, visit www.lensbaby.com

Lensbaby Twist 60 specifications

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Lee announces very hard neutral density grads for seascapes

08 Apr
Before and after with the Lee Filters Very Hard ND graduated filter

Lee Filters has announced a new range of neutral density graduated filters that have an extra hard transition from dark to clear, making them suitable for shooting seascapes and scenes in which the horizon is very flat. Along with these new ‘very hard’ graduates, the company has launched another range that has a ‘medium’ strength transition that sits between the traditional ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ grades.

Both of the new grades are available in half-stop incremental strengths from one to four stops, and in sizes compatible with the Seven5, 100mm and SW150 systems.
For more information visit the Lee Filters website.

Pricing

Seven5 medium grad (single filter 0.3ND to 0.9ND) RRP £51.88 (excl VAT)
Seven5 medium grad (single filter 1.2 ND) RRP £77.82 (excl VAT)
Seven5 medium grad set (0.3ND, 0.6ND & 0.9ND) RRP £138.35 (excl VAT)
100mm very hard & medium grad (single filter 0.3ND to 0.9ND) RRP £71.86 (excl VAT)
100mm very hard & medium grad (single filter 1.2 ND) RRP £108.86 (excl VAT)
100mm very hard and medium grad sets (0.3ND, 0.6ND & 0.9ND) RRP £179.66 (excl VAT)
SW150 very hard & medium grad (single filter 0.3ND to 0.9ND) RRP £79.70 (excl VAT)
SW150 very hard & medium grad (single filter 1.2 ND) RRP £119.55 (excl VAT)
SW150 very hard & medium grad sets (0.3ND, 0.6ND & 0.9ND) RRP £215.00 (excl VAT)

Press release:

LEE Filters introduces very hard and medium neutral-density graduated filters to its systems

Traditionally, neutral-density graduated filters have been available exclusively in hard and soft versions. However, because all neutral-density grads in the LEE Filters range are made by hand, it is possible to be extremely precise with the depth of the transition between the coated and clear sections of the filter. As a result, LEE Filters has the capabilities to manufacture ND grads in medium and very hard versions. In the past, these were available exclusively as custom-made filters for professional photographers. Now, however, they have been made available to all those who use the Seven5, 100mm and SW150 systems.

The medium and very hard grads not only expand a photographer’s creative options, they also allow for even more exact control when balancing lighter and darker areas of the frame. The very hard grad (available for the 100mm & SW150 systems) is perfect for seascapes that feature a completely flat horizon line, while the medium grad (available for the Seven5, 100mm and SW150 systems) is that perfect ‘in-between’ strength that is ideal for any scene in which an element of the composition – a mountain or a building, for example – protrudes into the sky.

Both ND grads are available in 0.3ND (1 stop), 0.45ND (1½ stops), 0.6ND (2 stops), 0.75ND (2½ stops), 0.9ND (3 stops) and 1.2ND (4 stops) strengths.

For further information, contact LEE Filters on 01264 366245; sales@leefilters.com; www.leefilters.com

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Hasselblad announces 100MP H6D-100c capable of 4K, H6D-50c 50MP option

08 Apr

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Hasselblad has added the H6D range to its medium-format lineup, offering the H6D-100c with 100MP CMOS sensor and 4K video along with the H6D-50c with 50MP CMOS sensor. The H6D system offers a new, faster processor, a 3″ 920k-dot touchscreen monitor, dual card slots, built-in Wi-Fi and USB 3.0 connectivity. Both cameras offer 1080/30p HD shooting in the H.264 format, and include mini HDMI and audio I/O ports. Hasselblad has updated its H series of lenses to support a top 1/2000sec shutter speed when used with the H6D system.

The H6D-100c includes 4K/UHD video recording in a proprietary Hasselblad Raw format, which can be ingested and converted by Phocus 3.0. The 100MP variant also provides a higher ISO range up to 12800, continuous shooting at 1.5 fps and claims 15 stops of dynamic range. With 50MP the H6D-50c claims 14 stops of dynamic range and is capable of 2.5 fps continuous shooting. 

The Hasselblad H6D-50c will cost $ 25,995/€22,900; the H6D-100c is priced at $ 32,995/€28,900.

Press release:

Hasselblad launches an all new medium format camera

75 years at the forefront of imagery, Hasselblad continues to innovate

Hasselblad began its journey when founder, Victor Hasselblad, refused to simply copy an aerial surveillance camera at the request of the Swedish government who asked him if he had the skills to produce a camera identical to one that had been captured. He famously said: ‘No, but I can make a better one’. The camera maker has once again, followed Victor’s philosophy and applied it to the award winning H medium format camera – launching the all new H6D.

Rather than an improvement on the existing medium format H Cameras, the H6D range has been completely rebuilt with new technical components and an all new electronic platform. The pioneering range retains the modularity appreciated by medium format enthusiasts along with iconic design elements and Swedish handmade quality for which Hasselblad is renowned.

The H6D range introduces the H6D-100c with CMOS sensor, a 100MP option and the H6D-50c with a 50MP CMOS sensor. A wider range of shutter speeds from 60 minutes to 1/2000th of a second, increased ISO range and a faster shooting rate along with USB 3.0 Type-C connector that delivers exceptionally fast file transfer. The H lens range is fully compatible and, with the choice of a faster shutter speed, can be further leveraged than with previous ranges.

The H6D-100c brings 4K video capability to medium format. The high-definition rear touchscreen LCD delivers a pin sharp live view experience and Wi-Fi as standard, a HDMI connector, for external monitor connectivity, completes the tool set.

Built-in dual card slots allow enhanced media capability; a CFast slot allows for high-speed capture and an SD card slot enables maximum compatibility. The all new platform is capable of handling the largest file throughput with speed and ease using optimised algorithms for matchless quality les.

Hasselblad’s image processing software, Phocus, has been enhanced with the new 3.0 version delivering additional features that allow you to apply local adjustments in the image and a new graphical interface that improves work flow and user experience.

Commenting on the launch Perry Oosting, Hasselblad CEO noted: “The launch of the H6D range is the beginning of a year of celebration for Hasselblad. It’s fitting that we have returned to our pinnacle medium format camera to showcase the innovation and passion that have been present in every one of our first 75 years. Our obsessive approach to optical quality and precision hand building in Sweden is at the heart of this camera.

We have retained the best and introduced the most relevant – delivering a medium format camera which we believe the Hasselblad user will fall in love with all over again.”

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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