While the rest of the photography world is determined to double down on mirrorless camera systems, Pentax has announced its dedication to SLR cameras. In the above video a new microsite dedicated to the new ‘Pentax Brand Vision,’ the Japanese manufacturer emphasizes its dedication to ‘the future of SLR Photography.’
A product photo of Pentax’s upcoming APS-C DSLR, which is yet to be named.
‘When you take a picture with a single-lens reflex (SLR) camera, the light passes through the lens, and in turn the optical viewfinder,’ reads a manifesto of sorts on the microsite. ‘You view the image directly with your eyes, and feel it with your heart.’
The microsite notes Pentax was the first Japanese manufacturer to build an SLR and says the company ‘is committed to the future of SLR photography through the continued development of camera technology, making it more fun and exciting than ever before for all PENTAX users.’ From there, under numerous headlines, Pentax explains a number of benefits it believes SLR cameras offer over other camera systems.
Pentax ends its SLR tribute page with ‘The Five Principles of Pentax,’ seen in the screenshot below:
Pentax has also shared a 30-minute video wherein Ricoh Imaging President, Shinobu Takahashi, explains the company’s vision and what it values most in future camera releases:
This kind of dedication to SLR cameras is surprising in a market that’s hellbent on ridding the photography world of mirrors, but it doesn’t necessarily come as a surprise considering how much effort Pentax put into emphasizing its optical viewfinder technology during the development livestream of its forthcoming APS-C DSLR.
Editor’s note: Skip to just under 30 minutes again to avoid the static intro image.
Blackmagic Design has taken the wraps off its new Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro 12K digital film camera with support for recording video at up to 12K/60fps with 80MP per frame. The model is joined by a pair of new off-camera monitors from the company, the Blackmagic Video Assist 3G in 5″ and 7″ sizes.
Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro 12K
The Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro 12K is a digital film camera offering advanced options combined with a 12288 x 6480 Super 35 image sensor. This is the company’s third-generation model, one offering 14 stops of dynamic range, 4K/220fps Super 16 and 8K/110fps options in addition to 12K, an interchangeable lens mount and a SuperSpeed USB-C expansion port.
Blackmagic Design has packed a number of other notable features into its new pro-grade digital film camera, including built-in ND filters, an interchangeable PL mount and UHS-II SD and CFast card recorders. The company says that the Super 35 sensor found in this model is ‘optimized for images at multiple resolutions’ and that it features a unique (non-bayer) design with an equal number of RGB pixels. We’ve contact Blackmagic Design for further information on the sensor and will update with additional information when it becomes available.
Blackmagic Design has also streamlined its entire workflow to be more efficient, going so far as to demo that with the help of Apple’s Metal graphics architecture, it’s possible to edit 12K Blackmagic Raw footage directly on a MacBook Pro.
The Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro 12K is aimed at professional productions, including use with television and movies. Videos shot in 12K Blackmagic RAW can be tweaked with multiple constant bitrate encoding and quality options. The 12K sensor enables oversampling so that users get sharp, highly detailed 4K and 8K images, giving creators a bit more freedom during post-production.
This is joined by a new film curve feature for Blackmagic Generation 5 Color Science that takes advantage of the 12K sensor color data. According to Blackmagic, this will ensure that highly saturated colors are better rendered and that skin tones are particularly ‘pleasing.’ The camera is compatible with PL cinema lenses, as well as EF and F mount lenses.
Talking about the new model is Blackmagic Design CEO Grant Petty, who said:
With Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro 12K we have advanced imaging technology into a new generation where new styles of shooting will be possible. It’s not just the 12K sensor, but there is so many other innovations in this camera. From the Generation 5 Color Science, the in sensor scaling, new symmetrical color pattern, full RGB quality and of course the 12K resolution, it’s going to be exciting to see what DOPs do creatively with this technology!
Blackmagic Design is launching the URSA Mini Pro 12K this month at $ 9,995.
Blackmagic Video Assist 3G
Joining the new digital film camera is the Blackmagic Video Assist 3G, an off-camera monitor offered in 5in and 7in sizes. According to the company, Video Assist 3G is a touchscreen model offered at a lower price point than the company’s other options; it features HDMI and 3G-SDI with support for all Standard and High Definition video formats.
Likewise, Video Assist 3G has upgraded batteries compared to past models, as well as built-in scopes, a rear tally light, headphone jack and front panel speaker. Both size options feature standard SD and UHS-II SD card support — the larger model has two SD card slots so that a full card can be swapped out while recording to the second card continues.
As well, the Video Assist 3G utilizes Sony L-Series batteries and features two battery slots so that one can be swapped out with a charged battery while recording. The obvious benefit to the Video Assist 3G is that it offers a larger display than the often small screens built into cameras, giving users considerably more control over their work.
Likewise, the Video Assist has an integrated pro-grade audio recorder, exceeding the quality of many cameras while eliminating the need to tote around audio gear, though it is also possible to attach microphones to the 7-inch model via a pair of XLR inputs. In addition to the monitor’s many other features, Blackmagic has included support for several languages, including English, Spanish, German, Chinese, Russian, Japanese and more.
Blackmagic Design is now offering the Video Assist 3G monitors starting at $ 495.
How far would you go to profess to the world your love for photography? Would you live inside a house that looks like a camera or name your children after popular camera brands? If you’re 49-year-old Indian photographer Ravi Hongal, the answer to both of those questions is ‘yes.’
Detailed in this short video from Caters Clips, Hongal spent over £75,000 (roughly $ 95,000) turning his family’s home into a photography tribute. The house features a window lens, a film strip balcony railing, an oversized SD card and even a speedlight that doubles as a security lamp. Although not shown in the video, Hongal has also adorned the inside of the house with camera-inspired rooms.
As if the house wasn’t enough, Hongal and his wife also named their three sons Canon, Nikon and Epson. If that’s not dedication, we’re not sure what is.
Blackmagic Design has announced it will be hosting a ‘Camera Update’ livestream on YouTube at 12pm EDT (UTC -4) on July 29 (roughly 27 hours after this article is published).
No additional information about the event has been shared at this time, but if past Blackmagic Design ‘Update’ livestreams are anything to go by, there will likely be new and/or improved hardware on display. Click through to YouTube using the above video embed and sign up to be notified so you don’t miss the announcement.
What would you like to see from Blackmagic Design, tomorrow?
Fujifilm has released its Fujifilm X Webcam utility for macOS, making it possible to use compatible Fujifilm cameras as webcams on Apple computers.
As with the Windows version, the macOS version of Fujifilm X Webcam makes it so you can use the following cameras as webcams in compatible video conferencing and live broadcasting apps when plugged into your Apple computer via USB:
GFX 100
GFX 50S
GFX 50R
X-H1
X-Pro2
X-Pro3
X-T2
X-T3
X-T4
Fuji X Webcam version 1.0.0 is compatible with macOS 10.12 (Sierra) or later and is free to download on Fujifilm’s website. Fujifilm has published a user guide to help you get up and running.
There’s no shortage of lighting accessories available for smartphones, ranging from small LED lights to more sophisticated Xenon-flash solutions like the Godox A1 or the Profoto C1. However, all those solutions are more or less designed for maximum portability and amateur use. If you needed professional-level studio lighting that is fully compatible with smartphone cameras, you were pretty much out of luck…until now.
Profoto has announced it’s made its B10 flash series compatible with Apple’s iPhone cameras. The B10 and B10 Plus are compact studio flash heads and have a powerful continuous light source for videographers as well. They come with removable lithium-ion battery and have output control via the company’s AirTTL system. The B10 is a 250Ws unit while the slightly larger and heavier B10 Plus doubles the output.
‘This is a revolutionary innovation, said Profoto CEO Anders Hedebark. ‘Making professional flash available to smartphones has the potential to be ground-breaking, just like how the transition from analog to digital cameras once changed everything. We believe freedom with connectivity is the next step for professional photography. No matter what kind of photographer you are, it’s all about the light. And we want to offer image creators to work with great light, regardless of what capturing device you chose to use.‘
Shot on iPhone with B10 series flash by Andrea Belluso
Profoto says it has been able to make the B10 series units work with the iPhone by using ‘a range of advanced technologies.’ The company’s AirX technology has been key to the project as it allows users to clock synchronize Bluetooth devices. The flash unit has to fire at exactly the right point in time, and for the right length of time. Using Bluetooth-sync iPhone photographers who use the B10 series can capture images at 1/25.000 sec exposure time and still sync the full power.
‘One challenge when working with smartphone cameras is that they require much more flexible flash-length on different shutter speeds than for instance DSLR or MILC. This has forced us to refine our methods with PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) flashes into long, or extremely short, pulses with an exact and controlled intensity‘, explained Göran Marén, Product Manager at Profoto.
Most serious photographers who are happy to lug a portable flash system like the B10 around will almost certainly also carry a DSLR or mirrorless camera. However, this is still very good news from Profoto as it simply gives you the option to shoot with an iPhone on those occasions when you have to work with a flash but absolutely have to or want to minimize the bulk you carry. It also makes the iPhone a potential backup device should your main camera fail on a studio shoot.
Shot on iPhone with B10 series flash by Profoto product manager mobile Marko Pirc
iPhone connectivity for the Profoto B10 flash series is available from today. Profoto B10 users will have to update the flash firmware for the new feature to work which can be done through the Profoto app. The feature requires iOS 11.0 or later and works with the iPhone 7 and newer models.
The Profoto app also allows you to control B10 and B10 Plus strobes from both iPhones and Android devices when shooting with a ‘real’ camera.
The post The Five Key Features on any Street Photography Camera appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.
Are you struggling to choose the perfect street photography camera?
You’ve come to the right place.
Because while picking the perfect camera for street photography can be tough, it doesn’t have to be.
In fact, there are five basic features you’re going to want with any street photography body. While finding them all in a single camera can be tough, depending on your current lens lineup and preferred system, I’d recommend getting a camera that offers as many as possible.
And if you can find a camera that includes all of these features, you know it’s going to be a great street shooting option.
Let’s dive right in:
50mm | f/1.8 | 1/320s | ISO 200
1. A compact body
When you look for a street photography camera, the very first aspect you’ll want to consider is size.
Because here’s the thing about street photography:
The less that people notice your camera, the better.
50mm | f/2.8 | 1/320s | ISO 200
As soon as people start to see your camera, they get nervous, you get nervous, and photography becomes uncomfortable.
And while it’s inevitable that your camera will be seen, the smaller it is, the less this will happen.
That’s why I recommend you get the most compact camera you can find. Or, at least, a camera that offers a small form factor.
One option is a higher-end point-and-shoot camera, such as the Fujifilm X100V. That camera is tiny but still manages to offer excellent image quality.
But if you’re a fan of interchangeable lens cameras, you have other options. Some APS-C mirrorless cameras are designed to be near pocket-sized, including models such as Sony’s a6000 series, or the Fujifilm X-T200. Same with quite a few Micro-Four-Thirds cameras, such as the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III.
These bodies are light, they’re compact, and they’re some of the most inconspicuous cameras I’ve ever come across.
(Another advantage of a compact body is that they’re easy to carry around. You can take a Fujifilm X-T100 with you wherever you go, so that you never miss a shot!)
So start your search by looking for a small body, and only then should you consider the rest of the features on this list.
If you want to capture close-up candid shots of people, I recommend a compact street photography camera. 50mm | f/3.5 | 1/200s | ISO 200
By the way:
It’s not just the camera that should be small; you’ll want small lenses, as well. One of the best ways to ensure you have plenty of small lenses to choose from is by working with a Micro-Four-Thirds camera (offered by both Panasonic and Olympus).
These systems have unusually compact lenses, thanks to their smaller sensor size.
2. A high continuous shooting speed
If you’re planning on doing lots of street photography, then you’re going to need a camera that shoots fast.
Why?
Because the best street photos tend to involve a convergence of elements. Three people are perfectly aligned with a building, a person makes a sudden strange expression, or a biker passes in front of an interesting facade.
The ability to shoot frame after frame is key when shooting images like this. 50mm | f/2.8 | 1/200s | ISO 250
And you’re going to miss out on these moments…
…unless your camera can fire off a burst of shots in quick succession.
I’d recommend a continuous shooting speed of at least five frames per second, and more is better. For me, the 8-10 range is ideal, which you can find on quite a few cameras these days.
And honestly, anything more than 10 fps is overkill for most street photography purposes. You’ll run through your memory cards ridiculously fast, and end up with a huge amount of unnecessary shots.
You’ll also want to get a camera with a decent buffer. There’s no use in being able to shoot at 10 fps if you can only capture 15 frames. So I recommend you look for a camera with a buffer of at least 25 RAW files (and more is better!).
50mm | f/3.5 | 1/160s | ISO 320
3. Excellent autofocus with strong eye detection
As I said above, street photography happens fast.
And you’re often reacting to moments that come and go instantly.
24mm | f/8 | 1/200s | ISO 320
That’s why the best street photography cameras have lightning-fast autofocus and, ideally, face/eye detection.
I’m talking about systems that can nail focus instantly, as well as track a subject through a complex array of objects without losing focus.
For this latter requirement, a great option is any of the more recent Sony a6000 models (including the a6100, the a6400, and the a6600). These cameras offer fantastic tracking, great AF speeds, and amazing Eye AF.
A camera with fast autofocus will allow you to seize the moment and grab shots like this! f/3.5 | 1/640s| ISO 320
Now, it is possible to do street photography with a less AF-adept camera. But you’ll frequently struggle, especially when trying to lock focus for spur-of-the-moment shots.
You’ll also want good AF for situations when you’re shooting from your LCD or from the hip. If your camera can grab focus with ease, you’ll end up with quite a few keepers, even if you’re firing the shutter without looking!
4. A silent shooting mode
Getting a camera that can shoot in silence was a real game-changer for my street photography.
Finally, I could shoot without people realizing, and it made me feel so much less anxious.
f/2.8 | 1/640s | ISO 200
And the truth is that most street photographers feel anxious at one time or another, and a loud shutter sound just made that anxiety worse.
(If you’re a street photographer that never feels uncomfortable, please share your secret in the comments!)
In fact, I almost quit street photography. It was only once I had a camera that could do true silent shooting that I was able to resume and feel better about what I was doing.
That’s why I recommend you get a street photography camera that has some sort of silent shooting mode. Ideally, it has an electronic shutter, one that allows you to shoot in total silence (though any silent shooting mode is better than nothing at all).
You’ll want to be careful, though:
Some cameras can be restricted when using a silent shutter. For instance, my Sony a6300 can only shoot bursts at about 3 frames per second when silent, and this can be extremely frustrating. So, I’d suggest looking for a camera that can maintain both silence and fast continuous shooting speeds.
That way, you can capture bursts of action without dealing with the chatter of a camera shutter!
5. A tilting screen
This feature is a bit more optional, but it’s still useful in quite a few situations.
You see, there will be times when you want to shoot from the hip (i.e., keep your camera held down low and fire off some shots).
50mm | f/4 | 1/800s | ISO 200
I do this while walking past people on busy streets because I don’t want to bother them with the sight of my camera. And I also like the low-angle look that it creates!
Of course, you can do this blindly, and you’ll end up with some keepers.
But if you have a tilting screen…
…you can look down at the camera while you walk, in order to ensure perfect focus and composition!
Note that you don’t need a fully articulating screen, as you won’t need to shoot from ultra-strange angles. A screen that tilts up 90 degrees will do just fine.
And since we’re talking about screens, I’ll mention that a touchscreen can be pretty useful in these situations, too. If you can tap to set focus, you can quickly choose a subject while looking down at your LCD, then fire off shots as they come closer.
Make sense?
The five key features on any street photography camera: Conclusion
Choosing a camera for street shooting doesn’t have to be hard.
Just make sure it has as many of these characteristics as possible, and you’ll be capturing stunning shots in no time!
That’s the power of a great street photography camera.
50mm | f/2.8 | 1/160s | ISO 400
The post The Five Key Features on any Street Photography Camera appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.
Two weeks ago, we reported on Canon’s CE-SAT-IB satellite camera, which was set to be launched alongside six other satellites aboard Rocket Labs’ Electron vehicle as part of its ‘Pics or It Didn’t Happen Mission.’ And, well, whoever chose the mission’s name might want to choose something a little less ominous next time, as in keeping with the theme of 2020, it’s been reported all payloads were destroyed during ascent due to a rocket failure.
According to Rocket Lab, its Electron vehicle, which housed Canon’s Earth-imaging camera and six other satellites, failed late in its journey after taking off from Mahia Peninsula on North Island, New Zealand (Te Ika-a-M?ui)
The optical imaging system inside the CE-SAT-1B (pictured) is based on Canon’s EOS 5D Mark III design. Image via Canon
In a Twitter post shared on July 4, Rocket Lab CEO Peter Beck apologized to Rocket Lab customers, saying ‘I am incredibly sorry that we failed to deliver our customers’ satellites today. Rest assured we will find the issue, correct it and be back on the pad soon.’
No specific cause for the issue has been shared at this time, but the launch video, which was live-streamed for the world to see (and embedded below), shows the video feed from the Electron rocket cutting out just shy of six minutes into its flight. Not long after, you can hear a Rocket Lab team member say the less-than-inspiring phrase ‘initiating mishap response plan.’
In a press release, Rocket Lab further elaborated on the incident saying ‘Today’s anomaly is a reminder that space launch can be unforgiving […] The launch team operated with professionalism and expertise to implement systems and procedures that ensured the anomaly was managed safely.’
Rocket Lab is already in the process of getting future missions in place and Canon already has its CE-SAT-IIB satellite ready for a Rocket Lab mission later this year. We have contacted Canon for comment on the incident and will update this article accordingly if we receive a response.
They’re may not necessarily be aimed at you (except as demonstrated here), but the recently released vlogging cameras from Panasonic and Sony could yet have an impact on your next camera.
The past two months have seen both Panasonic and Sony introduce cameras explicitly aimed at vloggers. This may seem to have come from nowhere, but if two large companies independently decide there’s a market there, it’s a pretty sure sign that there’s demand for devices tailored to self-videoing. The question now is: what, if anything, does it mean for your next camera?
The answer might be “nothing”: we’ve seen niche camera types such as Flip pocket video cameras come and go, and fads such as 3D fizzle when the public’s interest didn’t come close to matching the manufacturers’ enthusiasm.
Vlogging cameras are likely to prove a little more durable though, partly because the demand is consumer-led: Chris and Jordan of DPRTV constantly tell us how often they encountered customers asking for cameras that were good for vlogging, back when they worked in retail. Enough years have now passed since that point for manufacturers to have developed these specific vlogging cameras (rather than simply adding vlogging-friendly features, such as video streaming, to their existing models).
Canon’s most recent G7 X model had some features added to make it more vlogging friendly, but it was an adaptation of an existing model, rather than being redesigned primarily with vlogging in mind.
The source of that demand is also likely to be long-lived, since any fall in interest in YouTube is only likely to come from the rise in popularity of other video-based platforms, whether that be TikTok or something we’ve not yet heard of. The big question is probably whether a dedicated camera turns out to be the best tool for the job. Or, perhaps, so much better that it overcomes the immediate convenience of a smartphone.
Only the beginning
In terms of the models we’ve seen so far, they’re just the beginning. There’s every chance we’ll see others, if Sony and Panasonic both concluded there’s a need for them, but what we’ve seen of this first generation seems a little cautious.
Both the ZV-1 and G100 are recognizable adaptations of existing technology. Sony appears to have spotted the market need and recognized that its very good face/eye detection technology would be a powerful proposition for those users. It’s a company with a solid history in audio technology, which might explain the three capsule mic setup but beyond this, the ZV-1 is essentially a modified RX100 VII.
The G100 contains some interesting new ideas but it’s primarily made from familiar components.
It looks like a similar story with the G100: Panasonic knows how to make very good video cameras and how to make very small cameras, and it presumably saw Nokia’s OZO directional sound technology as an effective way to stand out to vloggers. Again, beyond the flip-out screen and the more sophisticated mic setup, the G100 is broadly made from a series of familiar components. All of which gives the feel of toes being dipped in the water.
Stand out or blend in
At which point, this could go either way: they could evolve into a completely different devices or their features could simply be adopted across to more models.
For instance, there’s no reason a vlogging camera has to even resemble a traditional camera, if it’s primarily (or even regularly) used at arms length, pointing back at the user. Why should hand grips and control points resemble conventional cameras, if they’re awkward to reach, from the bright side of the lens? This could lead to the diverging from the recognizable camera form altogether.
Could be see some sort of strange, convergent evolution, with vlogging cameras coming to resemble early, innovative digital cameras, but with differing motivations?
The alternative is that features such as sophisticated mics and selfie-focused focusing could become so popular that they become standard features across much of the industry.
This second option may sound horrifying if you want a camera whose sensor is the only thing separating it from mechanical SLRs. But for most people, some vlogging features could probably be introduced without detracting too much from the everyday experience. And, once you’ve become accustomed to the idea, would improved audio capture be a bad thing?
Beyond this, many of the underlying capabilities that would make a good vlogging camera – fast, quiet and reliable face detection, decent battery life and attractive output – are things that are desirable on any type of camera.
Either way, it’s extremely unlikely that the ZV-1 and G100 are the last vlogging cameras we’ll see. And my money would be on there being at least some crossover into your camera bag in the future. Perhaps it’s a point I can make more convincingly if I try to show you the things I’m talking about, over on YouTube.
DigiMedia Tech, LLC, has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against yet another camera company, this time going after Nikon over its alleged infringement of three different US patents. This lawsuit follows similar infringement cases brought against Olympus, Fujifilm and JK Imaging, all of them also over the alleged infringement of digital camera technology patents.
DigiMedia Tech is a non-practicing entity (NPE) of IPInvestments Group, which received many US patents from Intellectual Ventures LLC in November 2019. Following the patent acquisition, DigiMedia Tech has filed lawsuits against several companies over their alleged infringement of these patents — in the latest one involving Nikon, the company claims infringement of US patents No. 6,914,635, No. 7,715,476 and No. 6,545,706.
The ‘635 patent was first filed in 2001 by Nokia Mobile Phones; it involves a microminiature zoom system designed for digital cameras. The ‘476 patent was first filed in 1999 and then again in 2005; it covers a ‘system, method and article of manufacture’ related to a digital camera’s ability to track a subject’s head. The third and final patent in the lawsuit, ‘706, was filed in 1999 and likewise covers head-tracking camera technology.
The infringement lawsuit specifically names Nikon’s Coolpix A1000 as a model that allegedly infringes the ‘635 patent and the Nikon P900RM ‘and similar products’ as allegedly infringing the ‘706 and ‘476 patents. Among other things, the DigiMedia Tech lawsuit wants Nikon to pay ‘damages in an amount to be determined at trial for Defendants’ infringement, which amount cannot be less than a reasonable royalty.’
It’s unclear how much this could amount to, financially speaking. Likewise, Nikon hasn’t yet commented on the infringement lawsuit.
DigiMedia Tech’s decision to sue Nikon isn’t surprising in light of its recent activity. On May 29, the NPE filed patent infringement lawsuits against Fujifilm and Olympus, alleging that both have used digital camera technologies in select camera models that infringe on its US patents. Following that, DigiMedia Tech filed the Nikon lawsuit referenced above, then a similar complaint against JK Imaging, the company behind Kodak PIXPRO cameras, on June 24 in California Central District Court.
A full list of DigiMedia Tech’s lawsuits, including related documents, can be found through the Unified Patents portal.
A summary of each of the lawsuits DigiMedia Tech, LLC currently has against a number of camera manufacturers.
The NPE practice of exploiting acquired patents has been heavily criticized for years. These companies oftentimes don’t actually practice the invention detailed by the patent and usually don’t sell processes or products related to them. These non-practicing entities instead enforce the patent rights against companies allegedly infringing them, doing so to obtain licensing payments or some other type of revenue, such as royalties or damages, on the acquired patents.
Though not all NPEs exploit acquired patents, there are those that do. Ones that operate aggressively and file large numbers of lawsuits in order to cast a wide net to see what they catch are colloquially referred to as ‘patent trolls.’
In 2011, the Hastings Science and Technology Law Journal published a large PDF document titled ‘Indirect Exploitation of Intellectual Property Rights by Corporations and Investors’ that details NPEs and the ways they may be used. The discussion is extensive and ideal for understanding the reasoning behind these lawsuits, stating in part that patent infringement lawsuits from NPEs may be, among other things, used by:
…a sponsoring entity against a competitor to achieve a corporate goal of the sponsor. A corporation or investor, by serving as the sponsor for an IP privateering engagement, can employ third-party IPRs as competitive tools. The privateer, a specialized form of non-practicing entity (NPE), asserts the IPRs against target companies selected by the sponsor. The sponsor’s benefits do not typically arise directly from the third party’s case against a target, but arise consequentially from the changed competitive environment brought about by the third party’s IPR assertion.
Of course, DigiMedia Tech’s own reasons for filing suits against these camera companies are unclear and it’s impossible to say whether there would be an indirect benefit for a competing company as a result of these allegations. As these cases are only days and weeks old, the outcome of each lawsuit is yet to be seen.
