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Posts Tagged ‘Camera’

NAB 2018: Watch these high-speed camera robots ‘dance’ at the Nikon booth

11 Apr

Nikon-owned Mark Roberts Motion Control (aka MRMC) brought its high-speed Bolt and Bolt Junior ‘cinebot’ camera robots to NAB this year. And in a fit of “just because we can, probably means we should,” the company decided to choreograph a little dance number for the two robots on the showroom floor.

DPReview decided to skip NAB this year, but friend of the site Jim Goldstein graciously allowed us to share his two videos of the bots in action. To quote Jim, it seems it’s “Out with ‘booth babes’ at NAB and in with ‘booth bots’.” We 100% support this change.

You can see the full routine from two angles in the video above and below.

Videos by Jim M. Goldstein and used with permission.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Choosing the Right Camera Bag for Outdoor and Wildlife Photography

11 Apr

Choosing a camera bag as a photographer can seem like a never-ending task, with no single model ever seeming to fit perfectly for all types of occasions. As wildlife and nature photographers, we are outdoor people. So predominately a backpack certainly makes the most sense in terms of getting our gear to the location, in a safe and comfortable manner, while also freeing up our hands for shooting or negotiating tough terrain.

Of course, a decent bag is essential when carrying and transporting heavy and expensive equipment. Protection is a key consideration, not only for the expensive gear, of course, but also for your back! Poorly designed packs that lack adequate padding and harnesses can be real torture on a long hike. If fitted wrong, long term that can manifest as back problems, something none of us want to increase our risks of getting. So picking a good camera bag is certainly worth spending some time on.

Wildlife photography camera bag

Load Capacity

One of the first questions you need to ask yourself when choosing a camera bag or backpack is about the load capacity. How much photographic gear will you take, how much personal stuff do you need, do you need a laptop, or other items as well as your main kit? These are all considerations to think about.

Camera bag layout 24 wildlife

A good way to gauge the size of bag that you need is to lay out your camera gear as if it is going to be in a bag.How would you like it to fit, what cameras would you want to kit up in which combinations? Laid out on the floor, it will give you a good representation of the size of camera bag you’re going to require and what sort of size main compartment you’ll be in need of to house your core gear.

If you use long telephoto prime lenses, often you’ll find you need the largest of packs in order to fit them all. Especially if carrying additional lenses and back up bodies is something you require.

Strong durable materials

Strong durable materials.

Customize the Inside

Of course, for those of us who work with a variety of kits, from large lenses to smaller landscape packs, customization is also a factor. If a bag is solely focused on telephoto shooting, and maximizing on camera gear, it can seem cumbersome on days when you only require a single camera and pair of short lenses. To handle this issue, bags that have flexible inserts can be a great feature. They have the ability to swap out camera gear for personal gear, or just strip down the bag for a smaller load.

Internal dividers help organization - camera bag

In regards to the internal compartment’s design, most camera bags offer movable, custom dividers. These allow you to make sections within the main pack for housing and organizing your gear while protecting it from knocking and banging around while in transit.

In some models, the dividers are thinner to maximize gear space, with others offering more protection. However, I often find that due to the fact most companies use a velcro system (hook and loop) for repositioning the dividers, you can mix and match to get that perfect setup across bags. Yes, this is because you’ll probably end up buying a few camera bags.

Padded inserts camera bag

Travel-Friendly

In addition to simply considering the capacity of a new camera bag for your gear, it’s also important to consider the size for travel. If you’re planning to use the pack when flying, be sure to check that it falls within the airline’s maximum allowance for carry-on luggage. There’s nothing worse than potentially having your bag gate checked because it’s too large.

Companies such as ThinkTank have a range of options for those who fly regularly, but for wildlife photographers, they are less practical for field work, once at your destination.

Another great option from the F-stop range of packs is removable inserts which then allow you to check the main bag, taking out the photography gear within the insert and safely storing it on board. A great best of both worlds solution. However, in my experience, camera bags with a noted reference to airline carry-on compatibility are rarely a problem.

Side access camera bag

Wildlife photography camera bags 22

Harness System

The carrying system is one area I can’t stress the importance of enough. When you are carrying heavy loads (my pack can often be over 20kg / 44lbs) having a comfortable and supportive back system is key to aiding in comfort and protecting your back!

With heavy loads, a padded waist belt is a must. When carrying a fully loaded kit, you’ll want the weight to be taken by your hips and not your shoulders. Waist belts can range in padding from thick to thin, with the former being great for longer hikes and heavy loads. However, the latter is better when traveling and pushing your bag into an overhead locker on a flight.

Good systems will have a strong buckle. Some even feature pockets on the waist belt that are handy for fast-access gear, such as a compact camera, trail snack, or a spare battery.

In regards to the shoulder straps, padding is less of a problem as long as they fit well (as the weight should be taken by the hips). Personally, I find straps that are too wide with too much padding uncomfortable. So I prefer the thinner, hiking-style designs of the more outdoor geared packs.

Companies such as F-Stop and LowePro offer good options. However, they are still not up to the perfection of true outdoor packs such as Osprey. In addition, some packs offer the customization of the back length. That is key to getting a perfect fit, adjustable heights in the back system means less stress pulling over the shoulders, again reducing fatigue on the trail.

If you hike a long way, these added features really make a difference. When testing the harness systems you’ll need to do it in person. So take your gear to your local camera store, load the bag up with weight, and get it fitted properly. Adjust the length of the back (if you can) to your height, so the waist belt is just above your hips and the shoulder straps come neatly over without pulling upwards, keeping tight, but not strained to your frame. Adjusting the sternum strap will keep them in position and aid in fit.

Extras

Pockets for accessories

In addition to the main compartment and harness, there are also a number of extra features to look out for.

Rain Cover

Rain covers are great for working in the elements as they add extra protection, from rain dust and sand, as well as also being handy to pull out and use as a dry/clean place to set your bag down on the ground. I prefer the type that is sewn into the pack, as they are less likely to be lost or forgotten and also are always there when you need them!

Camera bag rain cover

Outer Pockets

Of course, in addition to camera gear, we photographers also need personal supplies. External pockets are important for additions like spare layers, coats, as well as food and water to keep us going.

Personal storage

Tripod Carrier

Of course, you most likely haul a tripod on location, so having a decent attachment system on your pack is extremely handy for carrying your three-legged friends any extended distances. Lots of packs have options to carry a tripod on the side or back of the bag, depending on your preference. Having this ability to free up your hands when hiking is brilliant.

Laptop Sleeve

If you work on your laptop or travel a lot, a compartment to store or protect a laptop is an important addition for when you’re on the road. Some bags include padded sections designed for a laptop at the front or rear of the bag. Those that have them close to the harness area can make bags seem stiff and uncomfortable for any length of hiking, so are best used only when getting through an airport.

Hydration Pack Compatibility

For an extended hike, a hydration bladder is extremely handy for re-hydrating on the go. Packs that feature sleeves to keep the bladders separate often have them water sealed to help protect your gear from leaks. However, I always place mine in an additional dry bag for added precaution.

Custom Bags

Sometimes no matter how hard you try, you just can’t find the perfect camera bag or one that suits your style, needs and fit. In that case, another option to think about is that of customizing a regular bag for use with cameras.

Take a well-designed hiking bag with many of the features you need (good harness, lightweight, the right size, and ruggedness) and team it up with a way pod protecting your camera gear inside. This could be through the use of an insert, such as those made by F-stop bags or Tenba, or through the use of simply wrapping gear individually in padded camera wraps, to store your gear safely.

This is a super option for when you want a high volume of personal gear for hiking, traveling, and exploring but still want to carry a DSLR with a number of lenses safely. I’d also recommend looking into a small organizer case as well for organizing any miscellaneous items such as batteries and memory cards.

Custom bag

Conclusion

Overall, choosing a camera bag for wildlife photography can be tough. With so many options and requirements, in many ways, there will never be one perfect bag. However, by working through the list above, deciding on your most important and specific needs, you’ll certainly find a great option. One that suits you and keeps your gear safe on location for all your photography adventures.

A backpack is a simple essential for wildlife and nature photography. Spending time to make the right decision choosing a camera bag will be something you’ll certainly be glad you made the effort to do!

The post Choosing the Right Camera Bag for Outdoor and Wildlife Photography appeared first on Digital Photography School.


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Sony unveils FS5 II Super 35mm camera with 4K HDR and 120fps RAW

10 Apr

Sony has announced the latest member of its professional Super 35mm lineup, the FS5 II. Similar in looks and functionality to its predecessor, the upgrades to the FS5 II are mostly features that were available to its predecessor through paid updates—only now they’re ‘free’.

Inside, the Super 35 Exmor CMOS sensor remains untouched. Likewise, the E-mount body of the camera remains identical aside from the updated nameplate and a different color neutral density dial. Where the camera gets the biggest changes is in its color science, Raw shooting modes, and high frame rate functionality.

The stand-out feature of the FS5 II is the updated color science that’s gone into it. Sony says it’s taken everything it’s learned from developing the 6K Venice camera and brought it into the much more compact (and affordable) FS5 II. The changes are said to yield ‘rich mid-range colours, alluring facial tones, and a softer tonal look’. Also added are nine color profiles, including a few designed specifically for S-Log2 and S-Log3.

Here’s a closer look at the new camcorder:

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Also present in the FS5 II is Sony’s ‘Instant HDR’ workflow. This is one of the features available for the FS5 via a paid update, but it comes standard on the FS5 II. The Instant HDR workflow eliminates the need for color grading footage. This effectively means HDR video can be streamed straight from the camera when shot in HLG/BT.2020 mode.

Finally, the FS5 II features dual SD card slots that can internally record video up to 4K/30p and Full HD video at 1080/120p. For higher-resolution and RAW video, an external recorder is needed; however, if you are using an external recorder, the FS5 II can output 4K/60p video and even RAW 4K/120p, but only in four second bursts. At 2K, the FS5 II can output continuous RAW footage at 240fps.

The FS5 II is expected to launch in June 2018 for $ 4,750 USD body-only. For more details, check out the overview video at the top or head over to the Sony Pro website.

Sony Introduces FS5 II with 4K HDR, 120fps RAW and New Color Science

Sony’s Popular Super 35 mm handheld Camcorder Adds New Functionality Based on User Demand

Sony’s new Large Format Sensor lineup is expanding with the introduction of the FS5 II (Body: PXW-FS5M2, Lens Kit: PXW-FS5M2K). Complete with stunning 4096 x 2160 4K HDR and 120fps performance at 60Hz mode (and 100fps at 50Hz mode), as well as RAW capabilities, the new Super 35 mm camcorder marries outstanding image quality with an ergonomic modular frame, offering content creators ultimate creative flexibility.

In addition to S-Log 2/3, the FS5 II offers Instant HDR Workflow to produce HDR content, when shooting in HLG/BT.2020 mode, for quick post-production without the need for grading.

The FS5 II interchangeable lens, E-mount camcorder offers flexibility for applications including web commercials, music video production, dramas, corporate and event videography and documentaries.

Designed to meet the requirements of today’s content creators, the FS5 II features an all-new look with a refined picture tone to capture natural highlights, subtle, alluring and well rendered facial tones and a softer tonal look, for capturing lifelike portrayals. Using the accumulated expertise of Sony’s digital cinematography camera VENICE, the FS5 II promises a fresh and vivid look while still retaining plenty of creative options in post-production, as a result of its high performance 4K Super 35 Exmor® CMOS sensor.

Takuro Ema, product manager for Sony Professional Solutions Americas explains, “When Sony develops new camera technologies we gather feedback from all ends of the production chain – from DOPs to post production professionals. This camera was no exception. We’ve evolved and developed our hugely popular FS5 with default shooting capabilities and the FS5 II is now a powerful addition to the Large Format Sensor line-up which promises even more flexibility and creative choices.”

The FS5 II builds on Sony’s heritage for image quality, delivering stunning High Frame rate shots supporting four seconds of 120fps in 4K and continuous 240fps at 60Hz mode and 200fps at 50Hz mode in 2K (2048X1080) RAW output when used in conjunction with a compatible external recorder. Continuous 4K 60fps RAW output at 59.94p is fully supported, with 50fps supported at 50Hz mode.

The camcorder also offers High Frame Rate (HFR) recording to an internal SD card at Full HD 10bit 4:2:2 image quality and a frame rate of up to 240 fps of 8-second cache recording, allowing up to 10 x slow motion and capturing 239.76fps at HD or 2K, and playback at 23.98p. Continuous recording of 120fps in Full HD is also supported.

With an Instant HDR Workflow users can now reduce time in post-production and produce high-quality HDR content quickly without the need of grading. For productions of longer lead-times, S-Log 2/3 allows the HDR image to be fine-tuned via color grading.

Lightweight but robust, theFS5 II’s well balanced 0.8kg body, adaptability and creative features make it a perfect fit for movie shooting, while its modular design makes it easy to reconfigure for any application including mounting on a gimbal or drone. Sony’s unique Electronic Variable ND filter with Auto ND function covers a wide range of exposure adjustment, as well as creating a wide range of shallow Depth of Field control.

Now with ten Picture Profile settings, the FS5 II allows users to instantly and easily configure the camera for different shooting styles, such as cinematic and online content creation.

The FS5 II is planned to be available in June, with expected pricing as follows:

  • PXW-FS5M2, body only — $ 4,750 USD and $ 5,940 CAD
  • PXW-FS5M2K, with lens — $ 5,250 USD and $ 6,560 CAD

For further information, please visit www.sony.com/pro.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Blackmagic Design announces Pocket Cinema Camera 4K

10 Apr

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Way back in 2013, Blackmagic Design introduced the Pocket Cinema Camera, a compact camera with a Super 16 sensor that promised cinema recording quality in a body about the size of a Sony a6500. While it delivered high quality footage, many users acknowledged that it felt like a version 1 product, including frustrating issues like fussy behavior, short battery life, and inelegant ergonomics and controls.

At NAB in Las Vegas, Blackmagic finally announced the sequel many were waiting for, the Pocket Cinema Camera 4K. Video shooters will be happy to know that it’s a significant upgrade at a very aggressive price point.

The Pocket Cinema Camera 4K is built around a Micro Four Thirds sensor with dual native ISO and a native DCI 4K (4096×2160) resolution. Although we don’t have any technical information on the sensor, this sounds suspiciously similar to the one used in Panasonic’s GH5S. Blackmagic claims the sensor can capture 13 stops of dynamic range.

Blackmagic finally announced the sequel many were waiting for, the Pocket Cinema Camera 4K. Video shooters will be happy to know that it’s a significant upgrade at a very aggressive price point.

The camera will be able to record DCI 4K at 60 fps and windowed HD (a native 1080 crop) at up to 120 fps in either 10-bit ProRes or 12-bit Raw formats. Various internal recording media are supported including standard SD cards, UHS-II cards, and CFast 2.0 cards.

What’s potentially more interesting, however, is the option to record externally using the camera’s USB-C port. Blackmagic claims it’s the first camera that will let users connect media, like an SSD, directly to the camera’s USB-C port for direct external recording. This means it should be possible to go directly from shooting to working on your computer without transferring data from cards. It seems like a brilliant, if not obvious, use for the USB port.

The Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K. Image courtesy of Blackmagic Design

In addition to the USB-C port, there’s also a full sized HDMI port that can output clean 10-bit video, a mini XLR input with 48v phantom power for audio, 3.5mm audio input, and a headphone jack. Power comes from a standard Canon LP-E6 type battery, and there’s a locking DC power connector that protects the camera from being accidentally unplugged.

The camera’s body is made from a carbon fiber polycarbonate composite to keep it both sturdy and light. It has a substantial grip and a top button layout similar to what’s found on many mirrorless cameras, which should improve handling over the original.

Blackmagic claims it’s the first camera that will let users connect media, like an SSD, directly to the camera’s USB-C port for direct external recording.

On the rear is a large 5″ touchscreen for composition, viewing exposure parameters, and useful tools such as a histogram and focus peaking. Notably, Blackmagic doesn’t mention support for waveform displays or vectorscopes.

The camera can capture still photos, though Blackmagic hardly mentions it. Since this camera is clearly aimed at videographers we don’t expect a deep feature set for regular photography.

What may be most impressive about the camera is the price. The Pocket Cinema Camera 4K will sell for $ 1295 and be available later this year. We definitely look forward to getting our hands on this camera and testing it out.

Press release:

Blackmagic Design Announces Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K

Next generation 4K camera features dual native ISO, full 4/3 HDR sensor, 13 stops of dynamic range, and ProRes or RAW recording to internal SD/UHS-II and CFast cards, or even external USB?C drives!

NAB 2018, Las Vegas, USA – April 9, 2018 – Blackmagic Design today announced the all new Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K, a handheld digital film camera with full 4/3 HDR sensor, dual native ISO with up to 25600 ISO for incredible low light performance as well as 13 stops of dynamic range. It also eliminates expensive external recorders, as it features a unique new USB-C Expansion Port, which allows customers to record using the internal SD/UHS-II and CFast recorders or directly to the same external disks they will use for editing and color correction. The Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K will be available from Blackmagic Design resellers worldwide later this year for only US$ 1,295.

The Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K will be demonstrated on the Blackmagic Design NAB 2018 booth at #SL216.

The revolutionary new Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K is the handheld digital film camera that customers have been asking for. It packs incredibly high end imaging and professional features into a portable and affordable design that can be used anywhere. The compact body style is perfect for shooting independent films and documentaries, fashion shows, travel blogs, web videos, weddings, corporate video, sports and much more.

The Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K features a full size 4/3 HDR sensor with native 4096 x 2160 resolution and 13 stops of dynamic range for true digital film quality. The full size of the 4/3 sensor is designed to perfectly match MFT lenses so the crop factor is greatly reduced, giving customers a wider field of view. It also features dual native ISO with up to 25600 ISO for incredible low light performance.

The Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K is packed with features such as a MFT lens mount, large 5 inch touchscreen monitor, 10-bit ProRes and 12-bit RAW recording, 3D LUTs, 4 built in microphones, mini XLR audio input with phantom power, Bluetooth wireless camera control, HDMI on set monitoring output and more. The latest Blackmagic Design color science lets customers shoot images that are far better than DSLR cameras and even better than professional digital film cameras costing tens of thousands more.

Designed using a space age carbon fiber polycarbonate composite, the body of the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K is extremely strong and light. The carbon composite material consists of a high strength polymer that’s reinforced with carbon fibers. This gives the camera body incredible strength and rigidity to help protect it from accidental knocks and drops which can often result in damage. The handheld design features a multi function grip which has logically placed buttons and dials that allow super fast access to essential shooting functions such as recording start/stop, still photos, ISO, shutter, aperture, white balance, power and more.

Fourth generation Blackmagic Design color science lets customers shoot HDR images in film, video and new extended video modes. The new extended mode combines the latitude of digital film with an optimized video file. This gives customers working on fast turnaround projects an ideal solution for shooting great looking images that don’t need a lot of color correction or post production work.

Images can be recorded onto standard SD cards, faster UHS-II cards or CFast 2.0 cards in either ProRes or RAW formats. The Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K can record 4K images at up to 60 frames per second and windowed HD at up to 120 frames per second. It’s also the first camera that lets customers record directly onto the same exact external USB-C media drives they use for editing and color correction. That means customers can turn projects around much more quickly because they don’t have to transfer files. All they need to do is unplug the USB-C drive and then connect it to their computer to start editing.

The Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K uses the same MFT (Micro Four Thirds) lens mount as the original Pocket Cinema Camera so customers can use the investment in lenses they already own. The MFT mount is extremely flexible and allows for different lens adapters so customers can also use PL, C, EF and other types of lenses from manufacturers such as Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Leica and even Panavision.

The rear of the camera features a large bright 5 inch touchscreen that makes it easy to frame shots and accurately focus. It also uses the same Blackmagic OS as URSA Mini so customers can use simple tap and swipe gestures to adjust settings, add metadata and view recording status. On screen overlays make it easy to see recording parameters, status, histogram, focus and peaking indicators, and playback controls. In addition, 3D LUTs can be applied for both monitoring and recording.

For audio, the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K features multiple built in microphones with an extremely low noise floor, a mini XLR input with 48 volts of phantom power to connect professional lapel and boom mics, and a 3.5mm stereo audio jack for connecting different types of video camera microphones. The high quality built in audio recording means customers don’t have to carry around a separate recorder.

The Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K also includes a full size HDMI connector which can output HDR video as well as a clean 10-bit video feed with optional on screen overlays. There’s also an innovative high speed USB-C Expansion Port for adding external accessories such as flash drives and an SSD for external recording. The camera uses standard LP-E6 batteries and can be charged via USB-C or the locking DC power connector, which protects the camera from being accidentally unplugged during a shoot.

“Customers love the original Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera and have been asking us for a 4K version,” said Grant Petty, Blackmagic Design CEO. “We’ve listened and built a camera that combines all of our newest ideas and customer feedback from the previous model! The new Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K is exciting because it packs so much technology into an incredibly small design. We feel it will go well beyond what customers expected. It’s perfect for anyone that needs a truly professional ultra compact digital film camera. This is not a consumer camera that’s trying to do high end work, it’s a true high end camera designed for high end work.”

Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K Features

  • Full size 4/3 sized sensor with native 4096 x 2160 resolution sized sensor.
  • Compatible with extremely high quality Micro Four Thirds lenses.
  • Super wide 13 stops of dynamic range allows capture for high end feature film look.
  • Up to 25600 ISO for incredible low light performance.
  • Carbon fiber polycarbonate composite body which makes it lightweight, portable and durable.
  • Multi function grip for quick access to recording start/stop, still photos, ISO, shutter, aperture,white balance, power and more.
  • Built in SD, UHS-II and CFast card recorders.
  • USB-C expansion port allows longer duration recording directly to an external SSD or flash disk.
  • Standard open file formats compatible with popular NLE software such as 10-bit ProRes and 12 bit RAW.
  • Features full size HDMI output for monitoring with camera status graphic overlay.
  • Professional mini XLR input with 48 volts of phantom power for connecting to pro microphones.
  • 3.5mm audio jack, headphone jack, and locking DC 12 volt power connection.
  • Built in 5” LCD touchscreen allows accurate focus when shooting 4K.
  • LCD supports on screen overlays including status, histogram, focus peaking, and transport controls.
  • Records 4K images at up to 60 frames per second and windowed HD at up to 120 frames per second.
  • 3D LUTs can be applied for both monitoring and recording.
  • Blackmagic OS as used in URSA Mini and URSA Broadcast cameras.
  • 4th generation Blackmagic color science.
  • Supports remote camera control via Bluetooth.
  • Includes full license for DaVinci Resolve Studio editing, color, visual effects and audio post production.

Availability and Price

Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K will be available later this year for US$ 1,295 from Blackmagic Design resellers worldwide.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Upgrading Your Camera – New Camera Body or a New Lens?

07 Apr

A point of contention amongst photographers everywhere who are budgeting for their new gear is one question, “What should I invest most in when upgrading my photography equipment, the camera body or the lens?” This can be a rather complicated answer, as it does depend on the type of photography that you’re interested in doing.

However, for the sake of a thoughtful article, we will be speaking in generalizations. To break it down, the image quality and ease comes from the lens but the capability comes from the camera body. Here is why.

Upgrading Your Camera - New Camera Body or a New Lens? featured image

dogs 2 - Upgrading Your Camera - New Camera Body or a New Lens?

The Camera Body

The body of the camera contains all of the controls necessary to record digital pictures. The camera is basically a container to house the sensor and the lens along with the electronics and controls. Camera bodies come in all shapes, sizes, and weights. The sensor can be a full-frame or a crop which affects how your images are sized and cropped.

Upgrading Your Camera - New Camera Body or a New Lens? - photo of a dog

The camera body you use will affect the dynamic range of your images, amount of noise in low light, a significant part of the autofocus, the frames-per-second, and the megapixel count (among many other things, but the aforementioned are the most commonly referenced). The camera body is what influences the number of pixels in a photograph and how fast you can shoot. It is also an integral part of the autofocus system.

From a physical standpoint, the camera body is what you’ll hold most in your hands and its comfort is very important when shooting for long hours. Higher end cameras also have better weather sealing than lower end cameras. From a logistics perspective, different camera bodies allow you to control more or fewer aspects of the picture taking process.

people in dark clothes - Upgrading Your Camera - New Camera Body or a New Lens?

The Lens

In laymen’s terms, lenses gather and focus light. Light strikes the front surface of the lens and passes through the glass element. Keeping this in mind, the difference between a good lens and a bad lens is that the former does a much better job at producing properly illuminated and sharp images. Lenses vary in focal length, aperture, type of glass, and so much more.

Upgrading Your Camera - New Camera Body or a New Lens? - portrait of a guy

The lens will make the biggest impact on the final outcome of an image. In regards to the artistic look of a shot, the lens will be in far more control than the camera body. This is because aperture, focal length (the perspective achieved due to the focal length), and sharpness are all dictated by the lens.

Lenses with a wide aperture are considered “fast” lenses because they can achieve the same exposure with a faster shutter speed.

Bonus question: What influences the autofocus, the camera or the lens? The electronic autofocus system is basically a motor. The motor housed inside of the lens will generally provide the greatest performance and highest accuracy. However, the focus motor in the lens is only one part of the process.

The camera body is what drives the motor. In addition to the mechanical components, the firmware in the camera body is what operates the autofocus system. The reason the lens is still the go-to even for autofocus is that it controls the accuracy, and the accuracy tends to be more important!

dog running - Upgrading Your Camera - New Camera Body or a New Lens?

Which Will Last You Longer?

Everyone will outgrow their equipment eventually, whether it be due to an improvement in skill, a desire for something better, or equipment dating itself too much. Essentially, interest in upgrading equipment comes from someone’s image-quality criteria.

Keeping this in mind, on the grand scale most camera bodies won’t differ in overall image quality unless you are shooting in difficult situations such as low light (in which case higher-end cameras have lower noise levels than others, as an example). The lens will make a significant impact on the final image result.

A good example of this is pairing a high-end lens with a low-end body and a high-end body with a kit lens. You will find that the audience will gravitate towards the photograph produced with the high-end lens / low-end body combination versus the opposite because the lens will impact the shot that significantly.

You’ll likely never be able to figure out what body is used in a shot, but you can often pick out the quality of the lens.

Which is the Better Investment When Upgrading - a New Camera Body or a New Lens?

A good lens will withstand the test of time as you try many different camera bodies (so long as it is compatible). The lens will travel with you from camera to camera. The lens will also help you create your specific style of shooting, as the aperture and perspective will mold to your personal preference.

Are you someone that prefers a shallow depth of field? Wide-angle fisheye? What about epic action shots with a tight zoom? All of the aforementioned are thanks to the lens, not the body.

Which is the Better Investment When Upgrading - a New Camera Body or a New Lens?

The Lens is a Better Investment

In my opinion, in regard to financial investment, a good lens is the better choice because it’ll last you much longer than the body (as you’ll generally be changing camera bodies faster than lenses). The lens also opens the door for you to create the images you dream of making.

That being said, the camera does determine if you’re capable of photographing what you want to photograph – but you can work around many limitations with an excellent lens. Cheap, low-quality lenses will affect both your shooting experience and the final product far more than the camera body will. This is because cheaper lenses tend to be slow, which results in a harder time capturing low-light scenes or achieving a super shallow depth of field.

Which is the Better Investment When Upgrading - a New Camera Body or a New Lens?

The lens will also retain more of its value (both from a monetary and photography standpoint) than the camera body when talking about resale value. This is because camera bodies are upgrading and advancing at a far faster rate, thusly, older bodies become obsolete quickly.

The same lenses, on the other hand, will likely still be used five to 10 years from now (if not even longer).

The best investment is the lens that lets you capture all of the pictures you want. You’ll find ways to work around body limitations, I guarantee it! Though when you do upgrade that camera body, you’ll appreciate the ease even more as you’ll no longer have to work around previous limits.

Which is the Better Investment When Upgrading - a New Camera Body or a New Lens?

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Quick Video Review – What is the Best Camera Bag or Way to Carry Your Gear?

07 Apr

There are many ways to carry around your precious camera gear – so which is the best? Well, that is a very subjective question, that only you can answer. In this video from the Camera Store, Jordan demonstrates some of the pros and cons of the most popular options.

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Here is a list of all the camera carrying bags, straps and other options mentioned in the video and a few extras.

List of camera straps mentioned:

  • Op/Tech Pro Loop Neoprene neck strap
  • BlackRapid Curve Strap Ultra Padded
  • Cotton Carrier Camera System
  • Lowepro S&F Technical vest system
  • Lowepro S&F Technical Belt
Video Quick Review - What is the Best Camera Bag or Way to Carry Your Gear?

Holdfast Moneymaker dual camera strap system

Photography backpacks:

  • Pro Trekker 650 AW Camera Backpack
  • Manfrotto Pro Light camera backpack RedBee-210
  • Lowepro Tahoe BP 150 backpack
  • Lowepro Slingshot Edge 250 AW
Video Quick Review - What is the Best Camera Bag or Way to Carry Your Gear?

Agua Versa 90 backpack

Other kinds of bags:

  • Domke Journalist Chronicle Shoulder Bag
  • Kelly Moore Luna fashion bag
  • Ona makes stylish designer leather bags
  • Jill-e Designs also make fashionable bags
  • Filson makes stylish unisex bags

OR read this to avoid having a bag collection in your closets like I do – 5 Camera Bag Hacks to Help You Curb the Temptation of Buying More.

Others options not mentioned:

  • Wrist straps
  • Holster systems (like the Cotton Carrier G3 Strapshot Holster)

What do you use?

So of all those options, which do you use to carry your gear? Are their other options we’ve missed? Please tell us in the comments below.

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Snapchat’s first TV commercial calls the app ‘a new kind of camera’

05 Apr

If you’re over the age of 30 (and I’m being generous here) Snapchat probably isn’t one of your go-to apps. In fact, you might not even know what it is. Is it a social network? Is it like Instagram? Isn’t it that app that Instagram copied a bunch of features from after the company refused to sell to Facebook for billions of dollars?

In this order: sort of, sort of, and yes.

But if you asked Snap, Inc. CEO Evan Spiegel what Snapchat is, he’d probably point you to the video above. It’s the company’s very first TV commercial and an attempt to re-brand the app as “a new kind of camera.”

The commercial is the latest in a series of attempts by Snapchat to fight off Facebook—who has been shamelessly copying the app’s features into Instagram—and position itself as something better than a social network: a camera. Better yet, a camera “where how you feel matters more than how you look.”

In a way, it feels like Snapchat is trying to become the digital photography version of Lomography: where capturing snapshots is more important that proper photography—don’t think, just shoot. It’s point & shoot photography reborn, except as point & shoot & share… but maybe add a puppy dog mask or flower crown first because why not.

Maybe Snapchat—with its app and its wearable Spectacles—will become the digital Lomo LC-A or Diana: an imperfect outlet for imperfect pictures that takes some of the pressure out of photography. Not what I would call “a new kind of camera” exactly, but not a terrible idea either.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Behind the scenes with some incredible camera robots

05 Apr

Tech YouTuber Marques Brownlee of MKBHD recently took a trip to Portland, OR to meet up with the team behind Motorized Precision and show off some of the incredible camera robots they’ve built. The resulting behind the scenes videos show you why these robots exist, and the kinds of shots they’re able to get that are just plain impossible for a human to recreate with the tools we currently have available.

Forget stabilizers and dollies and tracks and sliders, a human would have a very hard time capturing a shot like this:

Which was done like this:

You might recognize this robot and its CGI-like moves from the commercial that introduced Microsoft’s Surface Studio to the world. Anything that wasn’t CGI or visual effects in that commercial was shot using the KIRA robot:

Brownlee and the team at Motorized Precision set up several example shots using both the KIRA—MP’s most powerful and capable robot—and the smaller MIA. Both of these are controlled by a piece of software called MP Studio, which also allows you to manipulate the robot using an XBox controller, something Brownlee also demos.

Check out the full ‘Dope Tech’ video at the top to see more interesting behind-the-scenes shots.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Bellus3D uses the iPhone X’s TrueDepth camera to 3D scan your face

05 Apr

Bellus3D, a Silicon Valley startup that last year launched a 3D face scanning accessory camera for Android smartphones, today unveiled its FaceApp iPhone X application. The app does pretty much the same thing as the accessory camera but does not require any additional hardware as it is making use of the iPhone X’s front-facing TrueDepth camera, which Apple uses for Face ID.

FaceApp captures more than 250,000 3D data points on a face in 10 seconds while the user slowly turns their head in front of the camera. The app then reconstructs a virtual high-resolution version of the face that can be rotated, zoomed and viewed in three dimensions. Additionally, the face model can be viewed with interactive lighting, using the device’s gyro to control viewing angles.

The resulting 3D selfie videos can be saved, shared or posted on Facebook.

The app is not all about 3D selfies though. Bellus3D imagines the technology being used in a range of consumer applications, including: mobile gaming, custom eyeglass design, virtual make-up sessions, medical applications and custom dolls.

“We are thrilled to be introducing this exciting breakthrough to Apple iPhone X users,” said Eric Chen, co-founder and CEO of Bellus3D. “Our FaceApp takes full advantage of the TrueDepth camera to bring easy-to-use and professional quality face scanning capability to millions of users and will inject an entirely new level of personal presence into our daily use of digital media.”

Bellus3D is launching a public beta program today, and version 1.0 of FaceApp will be available at no charge. Future releases will allow file export in industry standard 3D formats and the company will also release a Face SDK for iOS to enable third party developers to use the technology.

If you are interested in the beta trial, you can sign up on the Bellus3D Facebook page, and developers can register to receive notifications about the SDK on the Bellus3D website. Check out the video above to see the system in action, and then head over to Facebook for some 3D sample scans.

Press Release

Bellus3D Announces High-Resolution 3D Face Scanning App for Apple iPhone X Utilizing Built-In TrueDepth Camera.

Bellus3D FaceApp for iPhone X is first to utilize the Apple TrueDepth Face ID Camera to capture and reproduce high-resolution lifelike 3D selfies.

Los Gatos, Ca. April 4, 2018 – Bellus3D, Inc. a Silicon Valley startup formed by leading computer vision experts, announced today the Bellus3D FaceApp iPhone X application, a remarkable advancement in face scanning technology. The company is the first to utilize the built-in TrueDepth camera incorporated in the Apple iPhone X smartphone to scan 3D faces in high resolution with a lifelike quality that was only previously available with expensive professional 3D scanners.

Bellus3D FaceApp for iPhone X is an easy-to-use, high-resolution, 3D face scanning application that captures over 250,000 3D data points on a user’s face in 10 seconds while the user turns their head in front of the smartphone camera. Immediately after the scanning, the user’s face is virtually reconstructed in 3D with lifelike detail and can be rotated, zoomed and viewed in three dimensions on the screen of the iPhone X.

The app allows: the 3D face to be viewed with interactive lighting; the use of the smartphone’s built-in gyro to control viewing and; the ability to save a 3D selfie video to their camera roll photo album to share with others. Users will also have the ability to immediately post their 3D selfie as a 3D post on Facebook.

Bellus3D is the first to use the iPhone X TrueDepth camera for high-resolution 3D face scanning and the company is already seeing many new uses that will impact millions of people. Consumer applications incorporating 3D faces include mobile gaming, custom eyeglass design, virtual 3D make-up sessions, medical applications, 3D selfies, custom dolls, and emerging 3D augmented and virtual reality experiences.

Bellus3D is starting a public beta program in April to enable early adopters and third-party developers to test the application as the company finalizes its formal release. Version 1.0 of Bellus3D FaceApp will be free and will include posting of 3D selfies to Facebook. A subsequent release of the app will allow users to export their 3D faces in industry standard 3D file formats to other applications and AR/VR digital environments. Bellus3D will also release a Face SDK for iOS to enable third party developers to add high-resolution 3D face-scanning capabilities to their own iPhone X apps.

“We are thrilled to be introducing this exciting breakthrough to Apple iPhone X users,” said Eric Chen, co-founder and CEO of Bellus3D. “Our FaceApp takes full advantage of the TrueDepth camera to bring easy-to-use and professional quality face scanning capability to millions of users and will inject an entirely new level of personal presence into our daily use of digital media.”

In addition to FaceApp for iPhone X, Bellus3D currently ships the Face Camera Pro USB accessory camera for Android & Windows platforms. The accessory camera captures up to 500,000 3D data points and is targeted for professional markets such as orthodontics and custom eyewear design. The Face Camera Pro is currently available and will continue to be offered for Android and Windows platforms.

Interested users can participate in the beta trial of the Bellus3D FaceApp for iPhone X by signing up at: www.Bellus3D.com/FaceApp.

Third party software and hardware developers can register to be notified of the availability of Face SDK for iOS by filling out an inquiry form at: www.Bellus3D.com/FaceSDKiOS.
To see examples of 3D Face Posts on the Bellus3D Facebook page, visit: https://www.Facebook.com/bellus3d/

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Japan’s NHK will demo an 8K camera that can shoot 240fps slow motion at NAB 2018

04 Apr
NHK Fukuoka Broadcasting Bureau. Credit: Soramimi

Japan’s national public broadcasting organization NHK is developing an 8K slow-motion camera capable of recording ultra-high-definition content at 240fps. The technology was announced in a press release (partially translated here), and will be showcased at NAB 2018 in Las Vegas next week. Though 8K monitors and televisions are still in their infancy, the broadcaster is pioneering 8K technologies in anticipation of future demand.

To that end, NHK also plans to showcase a new 8K VR display during NAB 2018. The display is designed to eliminate the pixelated look common to current VR headsets.

NHK’s 8K 240fps camera

Finally, future 8K broadcasts may benefit from the NHK’s new transmitter technology, which reduces an 8K broadcast from a huge 40Gbps to a more manageable (but still huge) 8Gbps. The transmitter then converts the content into an IP-based signal for live broadcasting, a process that allegedly happens in “tens of microseconds.”

According to AV Watch, NHK anticipates using its new 8K technology for sports broadcasts (think Tokyo 2020 Olympics) and other content featuring fast-moving objects starting later this year. Unlike existing solutions, the NHK system is said to offer better compression and transmission for a very low delay while maintaining 8K quality for live shows.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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