360Photography

Tag: Camera

  • DPReview TV: ‘Wooden Niccolls’ with the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K

    A ‘Wooden Niccolls’ is an episode in which Chris and Jordan bring together a film crew to recreate a scene from a Hollywood movie, all while testing a piece of gear. In the first Wooden Niccolls for DPReview TV, their team used the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K (BMPCC 4K) to recreate a scene from Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

    But wait – there’s more! You’ll go behind the scenes to see how the scene was shot, meet members of the crew, and learn a bit about rigging the BMPCC 4K. Will Chris win the Oscar for his portrayal of Kate Winslet in a dramatic role? Will Jordan’s touching performance bring you to tears? We look forward to critics’ reviews.

    If there’s a movie episode you’d like to see our dynamic duo recreate, tell us in the comments!

    Get new episodes of DPReview TV every week by subscribing to our YouTube channel!

    • Introduction
    • Blackmagic Raw
    • Interview with camera owner Phil Bowen
    • Meet Director Chris Dowsett
    • Location
    • Costumes
    • Shooting for post-production
    • Editing in DaVinci Resolve
    • The overhead shot
    • Disclaimer
    • The scene
    • Wrap-up

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Video: Strange, amusing and bizarre camera commercials from the ’80s and ’90s

    Editor’s note: There is a slight bit of profanity in this video, so if you’re in a work environment proceed with caution.

    Canadian photographer and YouTuber Azriel Knight has published a humorous commentary video that features five old camera commercials from multiple manufacturers, giving the public a brief look at some of the marketing campaigns that hawked cameras to consumers in the 1980s and 1990s.

    The advertisements include a high-energy 1991 Canon Rebel commercial featuring tennis professional Andre Agassi, a voyeuristic Japanese commercial for the Minolta X7, and a bizarre, somewhat psychedelic Nikon commercial advertising a point-and-shoot camera’s red eye correction feature.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Sony merges mobile, camera divisions under new ‘Electronics Products and Solutions’ unit

    Sony Mobile has until now been an independent division within the Sony organisation, but this is about to change. The company has announced it will combine Mobile with its TV, audio and camera divisions and call the new unit Electronics Products and Solutions.

    Officially, this is a move to increase synergies between product lines. Some of this has already been going on, with some Sony Alpha camera and Bravia TV technologies being implemented on high-end smartphone models, but apparently there is room for improvement.

    Sony Mobile has been a weak spot in the Sony empire in recent years. With only 13.5 million units sold in 2017 and a decrease to an estimated 7 million in 2018 the division generated substantial losses of more than $ 913 million during the last four quarters. The camera division is doing much better, with an $ 804 million profit during the same period. TVs generated an operating profit of $ 714 million. So some investors fear the reorganization could be a move designed to hide the poor performance of Mobile behind the success of other units.

    That said, the company has set a target to reduce costs in order minimize losses and hopes to be back to profitability with Mobile by 2021. The new triple-camera Xperia 1 could be a first step into that direction.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • DJI releases $39 mic adapter for its Osmo Pocket camera

    DJI’s Osmo Pocket is an impressive little camera that punches well above its size and size. The video from it has proven impressive, but the one area it lacks is in the sound department.

    The onboard microphone aren’t necessarily terrible, but it could use a little improvement, and up until now that wasn’t possible. After many hints that one was on its way, DJI has finally released a 3.5mm microphone adapter for the Oslo Pocket that plugs directly into the camera’s USB Type-C port.

    The adapter works with TRS 3.5mm connectors, meaning it supports stereo audio when used with stereo microphones in addition to mono audio. If it’s being used with a TRRS microphone, an additional TRRS to TRS adapter will be needed.

    The DJI Oslo Pocket 3.5mm Adapter is available now at B&H and the DJI Store for $ 39.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • ZTE’s next flagship phone might come with a sideways-sliding camera

    Image: Notebook Italia

    Last year we witnessed the appearance of upwards-sliding mechanisms and hole-punch displays on smartphones, both technologies designed to conceal the front camera and maximize the screen-to-body ratio.

    Now it looks like Chinese manufacturer ZTE has come up with a modified version of the sliding mechanism. If the images posted by Italian publication Notebook Italia are genuine, the company’s upcoming high-end model Axon S will feature a sideways-sliding mechanism that hides both front and rear cameras.

    Image: Notebook Italia

    The advantages of the latter aren’t quite clear (as no additional display surface is freed up) but the feature definitely results in a design that makes the Axon S stand out from the crowd.

    Labels on the device indicate the three cameras on the rear will include a 48MP primary unit and a 19MP secondary tele lens with 5x optical zoom. The primary camera will have an adjustable (F1.7-2.4) aperture and the tele camera module comes with an F3.8 aperture. The specifications of the third camera aren’t quite clear.

    Image: Notebook Italia

    We don’t know if or when the Axon S will be released or how much it will cost, but the device could be something to look forward to, both from a design and camera specification point of view.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Meet the Insta360 EVO, a foldable camera that shoots 3D 180º video and 360º 5.7K video

    Insta360 has launched EVO, a cube-style camera that shoots 360-degree and stereoscopic 3D 180-degree video footage and stills thanks to its unique folding design.

    The camera features the same 5.7K video resolution and 18-megapixel still resolution as the Insta360 One X, as well as Insta360’s six-axis FlowState stabilization technology. In fact, the camera as a whole has similar specs to the One X as a whole, including F2.2 apertures on both lenses, various exposure modes in video and stills, Bluetooth 4.0, 5Ghz Wi-Fi and a microSD card slot with a maximum storage of 128GB.

    But the internal specs are where the similarities end. Unlike the One X, the EVO doesn’t have any integrated LCD display. Instead, the camera features a hinged design that enables the cameras to capture a full 360-degree image when the lenses are facing opposite directions or stereoscopic 3D 180-degree images when the EVO is folded out with the lenses facing the same direction.

    The camera itself has only a few buttons and ports on it, including a power button and a button for switching between various shooting modes and settings. On the side of the camera is the microSD card slot and a micro USB slot (unusual Insta360 didn’t opt for a USB Type-C port instead).

    Since the EVO doesn’t have a screen of its own, the camera is dependent on an Insta360 EVO app to compose the images, change the settings and overall control the camera with more finesse than the limited on-device controls. The app will be available in the iOS App Store and Google Play Store.

    The EVO is currently available for order on Insta360’s website and B&H for $ 419.99.

    Insta360 has also announced Insta360 VR, a new app for Oculus Go, HTC Vive Focus and Samsung Gear VR that will allow users to connect an EVO camera to a headset for simple wireless playback of the stereoscopic 3D 180-degree video or 360-degree video.

    For phones that don’t have stereoscopic playback capabilities, Insta360 has also announced Holoframe, a specialized phone display cover that will enable standard smartphones to view photos and videos in 3D with the naked eye. In its press release, Insta360 says ‘It’s simple, mind-blowing and feels like magic.’

    The HoloFrame is available for iPhone X/Xs, iPhone X Max and iPhone XR for $ 29.99 from Insta360’s online shop.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • PSA: Don’t film laser tattoo removals unless you too want to fry a $2,200 camera

    Laser systems used at concerts and even self-driving cars are known for damaging camera sensors, but now there’s one more thing to add to the list — tattoo laser removal lasers, even when the laser isn’t being pointed directly at the camera.

    As unfortunately demonstrated in the 37-second video above, Andy Boyd destroyed the sensors inside his $ 2,200 Sony a7S II when he was filming a laser tattoo removal.

    In the video description, he writes:

    ‘Hot tip: Don’t record laser tattoo removal on…anything. You can see with each pulse the sensor shows new damage. The repair cost was about as much as a new camera so try to avoid this. Club lasers can do this too but we’d never seen the reflection of a laser beam do damage, only when the beam itself hits the sensor.’

    Hopefully you’re never in a situation where you’re asked to film a tattoo removal — especially one that reads ‘I am juicy’ with a strawberry next to it — but in the event you are, either use a camera you don’t mind destroying or pass up the opportunity as a whole.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Yongnuo shares more details about its upcoming YN450 Android-powered mirrorless camera

    Last October, Yongnuo teased the impending launch of a 16-megapixel Android-based mirrorless camera it called the YN450. Since then, not much has been heard about the device, but Yongnuo made an appearance at CP+ and brought along the unreleased device to show off in more detail.

    In the video above, Cinema5D takes a closer look at the unreleased device to see just what Yongnuo has managed to pack inside the YN450 and what their goal is with the unique device.

    The camera uses a 4/3 sensor and relies on a Canon EF mount for lenses. It’s powered by Android 7.1, features an 8-core Qualcomm processor and includes a 5-inch 1080p multi-touch display. The secret weapon, however, is an integrated 4G SIM card slot that will ensure the camera is as connected as a smartphone would be, with Wi-Fi and GPS to boot.

    Based on the current information available, the camera will have 32GB of internal memory as well as a MicroSD card slot. However, Cinema5D believes that slot could be limited to 32GB cards and won’t support SDXC cards.

    In addition to 16MP stills, the camera will shoot 4K/30p video, but details on the codec and other information are still unannounced. There’s also a front-facing 8MP camera that’s hidden next to the display. The device will feature a removable 4,00 may battery that’s said to power the camera for up to 4 hours of continuous use.

    Photos by Cinema5D shared with permission

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K gets Raw and URSA Mini 4.6K gets 2nd-gen update

    Blackmagic has announced its new Camera 6.2 update, adding Blackmagic RAW codec support for the Pocket Cinema Camera 4K. Upon updating, BMPCC 4K owners will be able to use the camera to record in Blackmagic RAW with 3:1, 5:1, 8:1, and 12:1 constant bit-rate encoding and constant quality Q0 and Q5 recording options.

    Blackmagic RAW was introduced in September 2018, but was only available for the URSA Mini Pro at that time. The format’s arrival on BMPCC 4K gives users the option to prioritize image quality or file size, depending on need, including recording at the highest settings while keeping file size to a relative minimum.

    According to the company, users can record more than two hours of footage in 4K ‘full cinematic quality’ via Blackmagic RAW on a 256GB SD UHS-II card. These same inexpensive cards can now also be used when recording 4K DCI images using Blackmagic RAW 12:1. On the flip side, Blackmagic has removed the CinemaDNG formats.

    Joining the Blackmagic Camera 6.2 update is the URSA Mini Pro 4.6K G2, a second-generation update to the URSA Mini Pro. The new G2 model offers ‘dramatic enhancement’ over the original, according to Blackmagic, bringing a new Super 35mm 4.6K sensor with 15 stops of dynamic range and all-new electronics for faster processing.

    The URSA Mini Pro 4.6K G2 captures 4.6K images at up to 120fps and 1080p video at up to 300fps. It’s also capable of recording Blackmagic Raw. As with the first-generation URSA Mini Pro 4.6K, the G2 model features interchangeable lens mounts and ships standard with Canon’s EF mount. Blackmagic has also added a USB-C expansion port for recording to external disks. Full details can be found on Blackmagic’s website.

    The Blackmagic Camera 6.2 update is available to download for free. The URSA Mini Pro G2 camera is now available to purchase for $ 5,995 USD from the company’s global resellers.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Jason Momoa, AKA Aquaman and Khal Drogo, is quite the Leica camera collector

    Jason Momoa, better known as Aquaman and Khal Drogo from HBO’s Game of Thrones, is apparently an avid Leica camera collector and working alongside Leica and Red Digital for an upcoming project.

    On his Instagram page, under the username prideofgypsies, Momoa shared the below post highlighting a ‘new project and film’ he’s working on. He doesn’t dive into the details of it, but says video is being shot on Red Digital cameras with Leica glass attached while stills are being shot with Leica cameras.

    View this post on Instagram

    Excited to start a new project and film. Shooting movies on the @reddigitalcinema @leitzcine and photos on @leicacamerausa #LeicaSummicronM. #M10. living on set I have learned from so many wonderful artists I want to thank Zack Synder @cruelfilms and @wfmft for starting my Leica obsession than @nicholasdominictalvola for always informing me and inspiring and @dennydenn @candytman for setting the bar. @lennykravitz always killing it. @johnson167 best gear. @kiran.karnani for making my dreams come true. Can’t wait to show everyone It’s gonna be a great couple years filled with art #theduneadventures. #pastandpresent #theroots #leicalover. Aloha j

    A post shared by Jason Momoa (@prideofgypsies) on

    Based on Momoa’s post, he owns numerous Leicas, new and old, including a 1958 M2 and a newer M10-D with a limited-edition Noctilux lens.

    View this post on Instagram

    @leicacamerausa. @leitzcinewetzlar @on_the_roam LOVES YOU #mywifescoolwithit #hallpass #leicaohana mahalo @sethemmons aloha j

    A post shared by Jason Momoa (@prideofgypsies) on

    In addition to his post, Leica has shared a number of posts on its various Instagram profiles across the globe highlighting Momoa shooting with Leica cameras. We’ve rounded up a few of them below:

    View this post on Instagram

    Happy birthday to our favorite Aquaman, @prideofgypsies! Photo: @dennydenn

    A post shared by Leica Camera USA (@leicacamerausa) on

    View this post on Instagram

    On the field with Frontier actor Jason Momoa and the Leica M Typ 240. In the frame: Jason Momoa (@prideofgypsies) Photo by @dennydenn with #LeicaSL #LeicaCameraUSA @cinematicpix @frontier_book #LeicaSL #Leica #JasonMomoa #Photography

    A post shared by Leica Camera USA (@leicacamerausa) on

    View this post on Instagram

    Behind the scene fun with actor Jason Momoa and the Leica SL Photo: @dennydenn In the Frame: Jason Momoa (@prideofgypsies) Project: Shooting for the upcoming #FRONTIER coffee table book from @cinematicpix #LeicaCameraUSA #LeicaSL #Leica #JasonMomoa #Photography

    A post shared by Leica Camera USA (@leicacamerausa) on

    He also gives a few shoutout to fellow artists for informing and inspiring him along the way, including musician Lenny Kravitz, Nicholas Dominic Talvola and others.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)