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Posts Tagged ‘Camera’

Moment Pro Camera for Android discontinued over platform difficulties

03 Mar

Moment has revealed it’s discontinued the Android version of its Pro Camera mobile app. The reason, according to a statement shared on Moment’s help website, is the difficulty involved in supporting a wide variety of Android devices from different manufacturers, otherwise referred to as fragmentation.

A number of issues compelled Moment to discontinue Pro Camera for Android, the company said in a statement. ‘The short is that phone makers like to create their own flavor of Android, each with different amounts of access to select camera features,’ Moment said. ‘The result has been a random compatibility list where each phone has different features in the app by phone model.’

Moment explains that it repeatedly asked phone manufacturers to make their camera features available to the developer and to share the list of the changes they made to the devices. On top of that, each new Android update released by these companies ‘breaks these custom modifications,’ making things more difficult for developers.

Ultimately, Moment says that it does not have ‘the engineering bandwidth’ to continue supporting this app, but that it will continue to make it available in the Google Play Store, where it is sold for $ 4. The app currently has a low rating of 2.4 out of 5 stars, with users complaining about bugs and missing features.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Nikon Z8 60 MP Mirrorless Camera Rumored, Along With D850 Successor

02 Mar

The post Nikon Z8 60 MP Mirrorless Camera Rumored, Along With D850 Successor appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.

nikon-z8-rumor

In the wake of so many major Canon mirrorless rumors and announcements, it’d be excusable if you had started to shift attention away from Nikon’s mirrorless program, especially since it’s been over a year since Nikon put out a full-frame mirrorless camera.

But no more.

We have a new Nikon rumor to report, one that offers a truly exciting prospect for Nikon mirrorless shooters:

A so-called Nikon Z8, which will supposedly have a whopping 60 MP sensor, along with dual card slots (one CF and one SD). Nikon Rumors reports that the camera will also feature a “vertical grip option, pro body” and a “higher price tag.”

Apparently, we should also expect a Nikon D850 replacement “maybe” in 2021, which will also have a 60 MP sensor.

This is excellent news for Nikon fans, especially those who were critical of Nikon’s decision to put a single card slot in its Z6 and Z7 bodies. Photographers who felt unable to make the switch to mirrorless due to a need for redundancy will be free to choose between the Z8 and Nikon’s professional DSLR bodies such as the Nikon D5, the Nikon D6, the Nikon D850, and the D850’s successor.

Nikon Z8 60 MP Mirrorless Camera Rumored, Along With D850 Successor

 

Clearly, Nikon is planning to go toe-to-toe with Sony’s A7R series, which currently features a 61 MP flagship model and is a favorite among photographers requiring top-of-the-line resolution, such as landscape, commercial, and product shooters. The Z8 will potentially also compete with the upcoming Canon R5, which is rumored to offer a 45 MP sensor and may be positioned as a mirrorless 5D Mark IV successor, potentially packing the low-light capabilities of the 5D Mark IV but adding mirrorless features such as ultra-fast shooting speeds and in-body image stabilization.

Of course, resolution isn’t everything, and it remains to be seen whether Nikon will manage to produce a camera that can go beyond the impressive Z6 and Z7.

But at least Nikon shooters will have something to hang on to over the coming months.

The post Nikon Z8 60 MP Mirrorless Camera Rumored, Along With D850 Successor appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.


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Some Galaxy S20 Ultra smartphone reviewers report multiple camera issues

02 Mar

The Galaxy S20 Ultra, the highest-end model in Samsung’s newly unveiled S20 smartphone family, features multiple cameras, including a 108MP sensor, forming what the company refers to as a ‘groundbreaking’ mobile camera system. The phone is only available for preorder at this time, but a number of units have been shipped to tech reviewers, some of whom are reporting various camera issues ranging from autofocus problems to excessive skin smoothing.

The Verge and PC Mag are among the reviewers to describe some issues with the Galaxy S20 Ultra’s camera system, including times where it hunts for autofocus, sometimes failing to lock on to the subject. As well, the camera is said to excessively soften skin and faces, producing a heavily processed appearance. PC Mag in particular reports that the Ultra’s 100x zoom ‘isn’t that usable’ due to producing a tight and shaky picture with focus issues.

Android Central‘s Hayato Huseman shared a video recorded with the Ultra, which shows it struggling to focus for around the first five seconds of the recording:

In response to complaints, Samsung told The Verge that as part of its effort to ‘optimize performance to deliver the best experience,’ it is ‘working on a future update to improve the camera experience’ offered by the S20 Ultra. That statement is quite vague, however, raising questions over whether these problems will be fixed before the phone arrives for consumers.

Michael Fisher of Mr. Mobile argued in a recent tweet thread that S20 Ultra reviews should proceed despite the promised update because, among other things, Samsung didn’t specify what its update will fix and when it will be made available. He also points out that the S20 Ultra is quite expensive (it costs $ 1400) and that ‘consumers deserve to know whether it’s worth that premium.’

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Vivo’s latest concept phone comes with ‘gimbal-like’ main camera stabilization

29 Feb

Chinese smartphone maker Vivo uses its APEX line of concept phones to showcase the latest mobile technologies and has just presented its latest version, the 5G-enabled APEX 2020 which puts a lot of focus on the cameras and display.

The first highlight is a 16MP periscopic tele camera on the back which, according to Vivo, offers an optical zoom range of 5x to 7.5x, more than the currently longest smartphone teles.

It’s not quite clear at this point how the ‘optical’ zoom is achieved but it’s fair to assume computational imaging methods will be used to achieve the upper end of the reach. In any case, performance should at least be on at least a similar level as the Huawei P30 Pro or Oppo Reno 10x Zoom which both offer a 5x optical tele lens.

Despite the impressive zoom reach the camera module is only 6.2mm thick, allowing for a slim design and only minimal camera hump.

The main main camera comes with a 48MP Quad-Bayer sensor and a stabilization system that goes way beyond what we’re seeing on current phones. The entire camera appears to be hinged in a gimbal-like structure that is capable of counteracting much more severe device motion than conventional systems. Vivo claims the new system extends the stabilization angle by 200 percent and says the design was inspired by the eyeballs of a chameleon, which freely rotates in its socket, allowing the animal to observe its prey.

The 16MP camera at the front works in similar was as we’ve already seen from Oppo and Xiaomi, and is hidden under the display which turns transparent as soon as the shutter is triggered, allowing incoming light to hit the lens. The area right above the camera also features six times larger display pixels to allow for better light transmittance. Like on the main camera, 4-in-1 pixel-binning is used to decrease image noise and increase dynamic range.

The camera also has the ability to remove passers-by in the background in real time and a ‘Voice Tracking Auto-Focus’. The latter uses audio data from the microphones and visual data from the camera to ‘focus’ audio recording on a scene’s main subject, minimizing background sounds, similar to Samsung’s ‘Zoom-in Mic’.

Other features include a ‘120-degree FullView Edgeless Display’ which measures 6.45 inches and offers a 2,330 x 1,080 resolution in its AMOLED panel which wraps around both edges at 120 degrees. This means bezels are invisible when the device is viewed form the front. There’s also Vivo’s third-generation Screen SoundCasting technology, which casts sound through the screen, eliminating the need for speaker holes and allowing for better environmental protection.

As it is appropriate for a showscase device such as the APEX, the 2020 version is powered by Qualcomm’s top-tier chipset Snapdragon 865 and runs the latest Android version 10.

We won’t find out how the APEX 2020 performs given it is unlikely to ever hit the market in its current form, but we hope some of the features of the concept phone, especially the camera elements, will make it to one of Vivo’s production devices in the near future.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Video: Mathieu Stern says LomoMod No.1 is the ‘worst camera’ he’s ever tested

24 Feb

Photographer Mathieu Stern, the creator of the Weird Lens Museum and unique DIY lenses like the ice lens, has published a review of Lomography’s LomoMod No.1 featuring the Liquid Lens. The review is not kind, with Stern stating bluntly that LomoMod No.1 is the ‘worst camera’ he has ever tested.

The LomoMod No.1 is a build-it-yourself medium format cardboard camera that features a unique liquid-filled lens. Photographers can inject their own preferred liquid into the lens, such as tea, in order to create the effects they’re seeking. The DIY nature of the camera makes it seem like it would be a good fit for Stern given his lens projects.

Stern explains that though he likes to create his own lenses, building the LomoMod No.1 was ‘not a fun moment,’ and that the entire process took around two hours because some of the pieces didn’t fit properly. Among other issues, Stern shows in the video that his cardboard camera’s back wouldn’t close properly.

He had more luck assembling a second camera kit but encountered other issues. In addition to producing poor image quality, the film advance wheel — which is made of cardboard — broke, leaving him unable to use the device. ‘I was really p*ssed for spending two hours building a camera and only [getting] 10 minutes [to use] it,’ Stern explains in the video.

The reviewer was able to replace the broken wheel with the wheel from the first camera kit, but it, too, broke in a short period of time. Ultimately, Stern explains that while he liked some of the images shot with the liquid lens, the camera itself was ‘one of the worst things I [have] ever used.’

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Sony reportedly cuts planned mirrorless camera features in response to DRAM shortage

21 Feb

Update: This story originally stated that Bloomberg’s sources alleged that PS5 production was given preference over mirrorless features that would require scarce components. Bloomberg’s story only points out that both mirrorless cameras and Playstation divisions are suffering due to the scarcity of DRAM and NAND; our story has been updated to reflect this.

Sources recently speaking to Bloomberg allege that Sony has nixed some features it had planned for an unnamed future mirrorless camera model due to the scarcity of certain hardware, namely DRAM and NAND flash memory.

The current demand for NAND and DRAM is high among smartphone manufacturers, according to Bloomberg, which reports that Sony is struggling to keep down the cost of its upcoming PS5 console. The article makes reference to high DRAM prices having an impact on other parts of the company, with cameras in particular being called out.

According to the article: ‘Sony has already canceled some previously planned features for a new mirrorless camera due this year owing to the constrained DRAM supply, several people with knowledge of the matter said.’

The report doesn’t specify which camera model will suffer as a result of this alleged decision nor which features were eliminated, though it does claim that Sony plans to release the camera this year.

The wording is interesting, in that it suggests the camera will still be delivered, shorn of the capabilities that fast DRAM memory would have provided. It could be that Sony planned to expand the use of stacked DRAM image sensors beyond the a9 and newer RX100 models, but will instead proceed with a more conventional CMOS sensor.

Given the current state of Sony’s lineup, the a7 III replacement seems a likely candidate. Or maybe the technology was meant to underpin the long hoped for NEX-7 high-end APS-C successor or an update to the a7S series.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Lomography releases Simple Use Camera preloaded with LomoChrome Metropolis film

20 Feb

Lomography’s latest Simple Use Camera, the LomoChrome Metropolis, is now available to purchase from the company’s online store. The camera is loaded with Lomography’s LomoChrome Metropolis ISO 100-400 film, operates off a single AA battery and features a built-in flash. The Simple Use Camera is reloadable, as well.

According to Lomography, its Simple Use Camera loaded with LomoChrome Metropolis film can be used to capture ‘grungy shots with muted colors and distinctive shadows.’ The camera includes three Color Gel flash filters (yellow, magenta and cyan), a built-in frame counter, direct optical viewfinder, 31mm F9 lens and 1/120 shutter speed.

In addition to the LomoChrome Metropolis ISO 100 – 400 film, the Simple Use Camera is also available with Black & White ISO 400, LomoChrome Purple ISO 400 and Color Negative ISO 400 film. The camera is available from Lomography now for $ 22.90 each.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Sony reportedly cuts planned mirrorless camera features to free up hardware for PS5

20 Feb

Sources recently speaking to Bloomberg allege that Sony has nixed some features it had planned for an unnamed future mirrorless camera model due to the scarcity of certain hardware, namely DRAM and NAND flash memory. The decision was reportedly made in order to reserve the limited hardware for the upcoming fifth-generation PlayStation console, which is expected to launch this holiday season.

The current demand for NAND and DRAM is high among smartphone manufacturers, according to Bloomberg, which reports that Sony is struggling to keep down the cost of its upcoming PS5 console. Assuming sources are correct, the PS5 will cost around $ 450 to manufacture, meaning that even with thin margins, consumers could be facing a unit price of $ 470 or more for the next-gen gaming console.

The sources claim that the coronavirus outbreak hasn’t had any sort of impact on the PS5 at this time, but that limited DRAM availability prompted the company to cancel some mirrorless camera features it had planned. Sony will reportedly prioritize the DRAM for its PS5 console, the final price of which hasn’t been revealed.

The report doesn’t specify which camera model will suffer as a result of this alleged decision nor which features were eliminated, though it does claim that Sony plans to release the camera this year. Assuming the claim is true, Sony may have decided to remove a planned stacked DRAM image sensor from an upcoming model, but the company has not commented on the report, leaving little more than speculation at this time.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Samsung details the 108MP camera sensor tech packed in the Galaxy S20 Ultra smartphone

15 Feb

Samsung has published technical details on the 108MP ISOCELL Bright HM1 ‘Nonacell’ image sensor found in its newly launched Galaxy S20 Ultra smartphone. The image sensor features 108-million 0.8?m pixels and a 1/1.33in size, as well as Smart-ISO and Nonacell technologies to produce what Samsung claims are ‘crystal-clear’ and ‘vivid’ 8K videos and high-resolution images.

Nonacell builds upon the Tetracell technology Samsung unveiled in 2017; rather than featuring a 2×2 array like the older tech, the Nonacell features a 3×3 arrays of the same color filter. This allows chunks of nine 0.8?m pixels to be merged into what is essentially a single 2.4?m pixel. This results in more than double the light absorption offered by the Tetracell tech, according to the company.

The downside is that there is a larger gap between pixels recording different colors, meaning that the ‘re-mosaic’ algorithm, that tries to reconstruct what a conventional 1×1 Bayer sensor would have captured, faces a more difficult challenge. So you won’t ever get the lever of color resolution that a conventional 108MP sensor would give.

Other ‘advanced pixel technologies’ like Smart-ISO help produce what Samsung calls ‘ultimate results under any lighting condition,’ including particularly challenging mixed-light environments. The camera’s HDR tech involves assigning exposure lengths to each and every pixel for multiple simultaneous exposures, enabling real-time HDR previews.

Rather than using a mobile processor, Samsung says its sensor directly converts pixels via ‘an embedded hardware IP.’ Other features include electronic image stabilization that uses gyroscope hardware, Super-PD phase-detection tech and up to 3x lossless 12MP zoom that doesn’t require upscaling.

The use of ISOCELL Plus tech, meanwhile, deals with the color interference that would otherwise arise from the Nonacell system, according to Samsung:

As the number of adjoined cells increase, so does color interference, making pixel-binning technologies more challenging, While such difficulties had limited Nonacell to a theory, the HM1 was able to realize the method by adopting Samsung’s ISOCELL Plus technology, which dramatically reduces crosstalk and minimizes optical loss as well as light reflection.

In addition to the 108MP sensor, the Galaxy S20 Ultra model features a 12MP wide-angle camera and a 48MP telephoto camera, 10x Hybrid Optic Zoom and ‘Super Resolution Zoom’ that uses AI for up to 100x zoom. The model’s ‘selfie’ camera, meanwhile, features a 40MP sensor with the ability to ‘shift’ to 10MP with larger pixels for higher quality images captured in low-light settings.

The S20 and S20+ models feature lesser specs with 12MP wide-angle and telephoto cameras, as well as a 64MP telephoto camera. A full breakdown of the camera hardware found in these three smartphone models is available on Samsung’s website.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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News: When to Expect Sigma’s Full-Frame Foveon Camera

14 Feb

The post News: When to Expect Sigma’s Full-Frame Foveon Camera appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.

sigma-full-frame-fovean-camera

Back in 2018, Sigma announced it would be creating a new kind of camera: an L-mount, full-frame mirrorless body with a Foveon sensor.

In 2019, Sigma gave an update, indicating that the Foveon full-frame body would debut in 2020.

And then, just days ago, Sigma announced that the full-frame Foveon wasn’t even close to production-ready:

As a result of careful and rigorous testing based on the latest development information, however, it has become clear that the launch of such a camera would be infeasible within this year. Still at this point, we cannot say for certain when the full-frame Foveon X3 sensor will be put into mass production.

Unfortunately, it looks like we won’t be seeing the Foveon sensor in a full-frame camera for quite a while, though it’s encouraging that Sigma hasn’t scrapped the project entirely. Of course, only time will tell whether the company meets its end goal of a full-frame Foveon option.

Sigma has created a number of cameras with Foveon technology in the past, including two recent mirrorless bodies that separately feature APS-C and APS-H size sensors (note that APS-H sensors sit between the smaller APS-C and the larger full-frame, 35mm sensors). But Sigma’s only current full-frame digital camera, and only current Sigma full-frame camera to use an L-mount, uses a standard imagining sensor, not the Foveon tech that gets consumers excited.

What is it about the Foveon sensor that’s so special?

To understand this you should also be familiar with standard (Bayer) sensors, which dedicate a single RGB color to each pixel/photosite. Light hits the Bayer sensor, and is filtered into the corresponding photosites: red light enters into red photosites, blue light enters into blue photosites, and green light enters into green photosites.

Then, through a process called demosaicing, the full-sized color image is determined based on the already-existing color data.

Foveon sensors, on the other hand, toss this out the window. Instead of dedicating a single photosite to each color, Foveon sensors capture data for three colors per photosite, resulting in more information captured per pixel and better sharpness overall.

Note that the full-frame Foveon is planned to incorporate the L-mount, and will, therefore, handle L-mount lenses that are produced by Panasonic and Leica, in addition to Sigma’s own L-mount glass.

For now, I recommend keeping an eye out for news regarding Sigma’s new camera. And, if we’re lucky, we’ll have some information before the year is out.

Are you excited about this camera technology? Will you be buying this camera when it is finally released? Share with us in the comments section.

The post News: When to Expect Sigma’s Full-Frame Foveon Camera appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.


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