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Underwater housing manufacturer Nauticam hasn’t taken long to create a new unit designed for owners of Nikon’s new full frame mirrorless cameras. The Nauticam NA-Z7 can accommodate either the Z7 or Z6, and enables users to take them down to 100m/330ft beneath the waves.
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The housing accepts cameras mounted with the new Z lenses, but as most users will have a collection of F mount lenses these can also be used via the FTZ adapter. Two lens release buttons have been incorporated into the design so both kinds of lens can be switched without the camera needing to be removed from the housing. If you want to take the adapter off, or indeed fit it, the camera will need to be removed.
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While the button layout of the new Z cameras is somewhat different to that of models like the D850, Nauticam has worked hard to ensure users of this new housing won’t struggle to adapt. The company has managed to keep the main controls in the same locations on the housing even though the buttons they give access to have moved. For example, the magnify controls have been kept on the right of the housing, where users of the N120 series housings would expect to find them, despite the fact that the actual buttons on the camera are now on the right of the LCD.
The Nauticam NA-Z7 is available now and costs $ 3450. For more information visit the Nauticam website.
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
Cinematographer Martin Lisius has detailed the creation of a 16K 15,985 x 5792 pixels HDR video titled “Prairie Wind.” The video was published on Vimeo, though the online version of the video is limited to 8K. According to Lisius, the project involved two Canon EOS 5DS cameras with Sigma 35mm F1.4 Art lenses and a custom-built calibrated mount.
“Prairie Wind” showcases weather over America’s Great Plains, according Lisius, who explains in the video description, “I’m fortunate to have grown up on the Great Plains of America where I can touch the sky often. A storm there can transform you … Finding new ways to convey this experience to others is important to me.”
The project involved four months of shooting footage across six Great Plains states and another three months of processing. Lisius estimates “Prairie Wind” contains around 6,100 16K images that were stitched using an 8-core Mac Pro workstation. “Making this short film taught me Jedi-like patience,” Lisius said.
Full details on the creation process can be found in the video’s description on Vimeo. Samples of the full 16K resolution are available to download for free through file-sharing site WeTransfer and licensing is available through Storm Stock.
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
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Cinemartin has announced the launch of Fran LT, Fran (STD), and Fran Plus, three new 8K camera models offered at introductory prices until December 31, 2019. The company also plans to start shipping a new line of ultra-high brightness 2500 nit 7″ HDMI+SDI monitors by the end of the month.
The Fran LT is the lineup’s introductory model, featuring a 24MP sensor, maximum 7920 x 3024 resolution, and aluminum chassis. The mid-tier Fran (STD) is more advanced with a 32MP sensor, maximum 7920 x 4096 resolution, and mixed aluminum and carbon fiber chassis. The line’s most advanced model, the Fran Plus, has a 47.7MP sensor, maximum 7920 x 6024 resolution, and fully carbon fiber body.
All three models feature an 8K global shutter with support for shooting raw, though only the two higher-end models support both compressed and uncompressed raw. The Fran (STD) and Fran Plus both support 8K/30p maximum frame rates, while the Fran LT maxes out at 8K/24p. Unlike the Fran LT model, the Fran (STD) and Fran Plus feature a removable lens mount, PL mount, Thunderbolt 3, stabilization, and modular design. All three support removable m.2 NVME SSD drives.
The Fran Plus is the only model of the three that is programmable, which according to Cinemartin, means users can utilize OpenCV-based code for new features. One provided example is using a plugin to identify an on-screen car’s shape and color in order to automatically present the driver’s name on the display. The company includes sample code with the camera.
Cinemartin is offering the three new models at discounted introductory prices until December 31 or when inventory runs out, whichever happens first. Buyers can order the camera through the Fran 8K website or via Cinemartin’s authorized resellers. An initial deposit must be paid to reserve the cameras, which will be available in two to four months depending on model.
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
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Shimoda has launched its new Explore 30 Daypack, a multi-use backpack for photographers, filmmakers, and others. The bag features the same gear carrying capacity as the original Explore 40 pack despite a shorter profile, according to the company. As well, the Explore 30 backpack has a new removable belt system and the ability to use Shimoda’s lineup of Core Units, the modular storage compartments that house camera gear.
The Shimoda Explore 30 features a main compartment that is accessible while carrying the bag, as well as a wrap-around zippered opening for access while the bag is positioned facing the wearer. The backpack has a dedicated zippered smartphone pocket, stretchable side pocket, padded shoulder straps, a removable waist belt, and a top carrying handle.
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The Explore 30 is weather-resistant and can be used with a separate rain cover for additional protection. Photographers can utilize the Mirrorless Medium Core unit for transporting mirrorless and rangefinder cameras and lenses, or the Large DSLR Core Unit for transporting longer telephoto lenses and DSLRs.
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Accessory webbing straps enable users to attach accessories to the bag’s front and side panels; there’s also a multi-use accessory pouch that can be used with the webbing straps to transport larger items, such as a tripod. Shimoda is also offering a multi-section SD card wallet, a divider kit for the DSLR Core Unit, a Belt Booster that transfers some pack weight to the wearer’s waist, three mesh Stuff Sacks, and extra webbing straps with gate hooks.
The Shimoda Explore 30 backpack is available to preorder from B&H Photo and Adorama for $ 259.95 USD.
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
Not everybody wants or needs a full frame sensor, but that doesn’t mean you have to give up pro-level performance on your camera. In this episode, Chris and Jordan compare four of the top performing APS-C and Micro Four Thirds models currently on the market: the Fujifilm X-T3, Nikon D500, Panasonic G9, and Olympus E-M1 Mark II.
Whether your priority is landscapes, portraits, sports and wildlife, or street photography, we’ll help you figure out which of these models is right for you. Want more information? Check out our in-depth reviews and sample galleries for each of these cameras.
Also, make sure to get new episodes of DPReview TV every week by subscribing to our YouTube channel!
Fujifilm X-T3 review
Nikon D500 review
Panasonic G9 review
Olympus E-M1 II review
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Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
Pinhole photography might be one of the most primitive forms of photography, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be improved with the help of a little innovation. Pinhole camera company ONDU is back at it again with a new collection of third-generation pinhole cameras, including 135, 120, medium format, and large format options.
The pinhole camera collection, which consists of 19 individual cameras and is officially named the ONDU Mark III series, manages to pack in a slew of features and add-ons to take pinhole photography to the next level.
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The cameras are constructed of precision milled parts, the most important of which are CNC milled. “The parts where most wear and tear happen are made either of CNC milled aluminium or steel,” says ONDU on its campaign page. The overall build quality has improved and the winding knobs in particular have become more robust and easier to turn.
The shutter on the ONDU Mark III series cameras has been completely redesigned as well. Deemed “the perfect shutter” by ONDU, the magnetic shutter has a smooth, shake-free sliding mechanism that makes it easy to capture quick exposures when needed. It even has a built-in clicking sound “for fidgeting sake.” A secondary shutter has also been added to the 120 format version so you can use the 135 converter kit to shoot 35mm film inside the medium format version, complete with sprocket exposure.
The most impressive feature is the integrated filter option. ONDU said it was one of the most requested features from past ONDU users and now it’s available. By integrating magnets inside the camera itself, ONDU has managed to create a simple snap-on filter that works with ND filters, IR film and color filters for black and white photography.
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As previously mentioned, there are 19 different cameras that are part of the ONDU Mark III series. Pledges start at $ 98 for the basic 135 pocket version and go up to $ 250 for the incredible 6×17 120 format camera. To find out more information and to make your pledge, head on over to the Kickstarter campaign. There are 25 days to go and the campaign has already more than doubled its $ 20,000 goal.
Disclaimer: Remember to do your research with any crowdfunding project. DPReview does its best to share only the projects that look legitimate and come from reliable creators, but as with any crowdfunded campaign, there’s always the risk of the product or service never coming to fruition.
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
It’s odd how some ideas seem to cascade once our minds start churning.
I recently wrote about the weird fascination we have with constantly chasing the latest cameras and gear, where I investigated the uncanny rise of full-frame mirrorless cameras. And with the newly announced full-frame mirrorless offerings from Nikon’s (the Z6 and Z7) and Canon (the EOS R), the bell has been sounded for an all-out mirrorless war.
Which got me thinking. Why are we so fascinated by mirrorless camera technology?
Our love-hate relationship with mirrorless cameras is of special interest to me. I’m a card-carrying member of the Sony full-frame mirrorless photography club, and I’ve used an A7R MK1 as my main camera body for some years now.
Let’s look at what mirrorless camera technology gives us, and why the winds of mainstream personal and professional photography are gusting towards a predominantly mirrorless future.
Note: I’m not trying to promote one camera system over another. While I do most of my work with a mirrorless camera, I still use SLR (film and digital) bodies and large-format film cameras.
The concept of mirrorless cameras is nothing new. Mirrorless digital cameras with interchangeable lenses have been available commercially since 2004. That was the year Epson released the still cool (yes, really) R-D1, which incorporated a rangefinder design alongside a digital APS-C sensor. This camera was a bridge between the familiar 35mm rangefinder and the digital revolution that was soon to come.
But let’s back up just a second. What makes a mirrorless camera so appealing to the general shooter? For the most part, it’s the lack of a mirrored optical viewfinder (hence the name).
Traditional SLR cameras (both film and digital) use a mirror and pentaprism system to show what’s being seen through the lens. But while this system is ingenious, it does make the camera quite bulky.
Mirrorless digital cameras do away with this system, relying on the digital sensor itself to show what’s going in front of the camera using an electronic viewfinder (EVF), an LCD screen, or a combination of the two. (Think of this as a constant “live view”.) This means mirrorless digital cameras can be inherently smaller than most DSLR camera bodies.
The Sony A7R MK1 (left) and the Canon 7D MK1 (bodies only).
And whenever something becomes smaller, it usually becomes more comfortable and practical.
Let’s briefly talk about the game-changing event in 2013, when Sony released the ILCE7 and ILCE7R (commonly known as the Sony A7 and Sony A7R respectively). These two cameras took what most hobby and professional photographers thought was possible from a compact digital camera and threw it out the proverbial window.
The A7 and A7R were the first full-frame mirrorless cameras, each packing pro-grade DSLR performance into a hand little camera body. They could even be mated to whatever lenses the photographer was using at the time (with the appropriate lens adapters). The A7 sported a 24.3 megapixel sensor, while the A7R floored us with a sensor packing 36.4 megapixels.
This meant ultra-high resolution, enhanced low-light performance and full-frame bokeh cream could be achieved with a mirrorless camera, while keeping weight and physical size to a minimum. The fact the price was comparable to other full-frame DSLR cameras at the time led to a mass exodus as camera jockeys (including me) handed in their DSLR for these new, more wieldable mirrorless cameras that could match their current setups.
But it’s not all butterflies and rainbows in the mirrorless camera world. Some of the benefits of digital mirrorless cameras are also their Achilles heel.
The ever-present live view tends to drain batteries quicker than their DSLR cousins, and also limits their burst mode rates. While the problem has been somewhat alleviated, the battery life of full-frame mirrorless cameras still hasn’t caught up with most current DSLR models, even though their burst rates have. This leaves some feeling slightly disadvantaged when it comes to battery mileage.
As I said earlier, the ratio of photographic punch to physical size was one thing that drew me to the full-frame mirrorless realm. But it comes with a few caveats.
For example, if you need to use non-native lenses with converters you won’t get much of a size benefit from mirrorless systems compared to their DSLR counterparts.
A Canon 5D MK3 with a Canon 50mm F/1.8 lens (left) and a Sony A7R with an EF 24mm f/1.4 Sigma lens attached via an MC-11 adapter.
While this is becoming less of a problem – more and more third party lens manufacturers getting on board and producing native-mount lenses for most mirrorless cameras – it’s still worth mentioning.
The “big guys” (i.e. the larger camera manufacturers) have been basking in their exclusivity for years. While they’ve produced excellent (and sometimes iconic) cameras and lenses, their innovation has been lacking during the past few years.
These long-standing giants in the photographic industry are starting to realize they aren’t the only game in town. And consumers have gotten wise to the fact that mirrorless cameras, particularly full-frame mirrorless cameras, can match (if not outperform) the products that have seen them resting on their laurels for so long. The Nikon Z6 and Z7, the Canon EOS R, and even the Panasonic SR1, all hint that Bob Dylan was right all along.
The times really are a changin’.
The post Why We Have Such a Love-Hate Relationship with Mirrorless Cameras appeared first on Digital Photography School.
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Google has announced the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL almost exactly a year after their predecessors debuted. The 5.5″ Pixel 3 and 6.3″ XL feature larger displays than the previous generation (5″ and 6″ respectively) but keep roughly the same size and weight.
In a world of dual and triple-camera arrays, Google is staying the course with a single rear-facing camera on each device: the same 12.2MP sensor with dual pixel autofocus and 28mm equiv. F1.8 aperture that appeared in the Pixel 2 and 2 XL. However, two front-facing cameras are now offered: a 19mm equiv. 8MP F2.2 with fixed focus designed for group selfies, and a 28mm equiv. 8MP F1.8 with phase detection autofocus.
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The real story, as it tends to be lately, is the software. Working with just one main camera, Google has doubled down on computational solutions to physical limitations. But there’s a silver lining to this approach: any techniques that make a single camera better will eventually make multiple cameras that much better once that approach is (arguably inevitably) adopted.
The Pixel 2 shot and aligned up to 9 frames for every image taken to maximize detail and reduce noise, and the Pixel 3 is now capable of shooting, buffering, and aligning up to 15 frames per shot. All still with zero shutter lag – you get the shot that represents the instant you hit the shutter button.
A new ‘Night Sight’ feature that combines multiple frames with long shutter speeds for extremely low light shots
There’s a catch, for now though. These extra frames are only used when zooming your image 1.2x or more, or when the environment is so dark as to require longer shutter speeds. That latter feature is called ‘Night Sight’ and it combines multiple frames with long shutter speeds for extremely low light shots. It does this using Google’s ‘robust merge’, which is able to effectively deal with subject movement without blur or ghosting.
Another computational feature called ‘synthetic fill flash’ understands human subjects and raises their exposure with a fill-flash effect. The result is often a nice warm glow on faces, particularly in backlit situations where they might otherwise be rendered dark.
Google uses super-resolution techniques to tackle the problem of poor image quality with digital zoom. By capturing multiple frames with sub-pixel resolution, the Pixel 3 can record detail finer than traditional approaches, which means that digitally zoomed shots, which crop and enlarge smaller portions of the frame, can – we’re told – compete with optical zoom approaches.
Particularly innovative about this approach is the removal of the need to demosaic: with pixel-level image alignment the Pixel 3 can combine images that have been off-set by one pixel shifts, which means that every color has been sampled at each pixel position in the final frame. No demosaicing means sharper images with less noise.
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A new Top Shot feature is available when taking motion photos – the device constantly buffers images and captures alternates, using AI to suggest the best photo of the bunch, even if it was captured before the shutter was pressed.
Improvements have also been made to Portrait Mode. Google says its depth mapping is better, with a new learning-based approach that is better at judging background and foreground objects. The result is fewer depth map errors, more uniform blur across the frame, and more natural transitions from in focus to out-of-focus areas. The level of blur and point of focus can be changed after the fact. Continuous subject tracking is now available as well – tap a subject and the camera will track and maintain focus on it, in stills or video.
Google says its depth mapping is better, with a new learning-based approach that is better at judging background and foreground objects
In non-photographic improvements, the Pixel 3 and 3 XL boast more robust waterproofing with an IP68 rating. And this year neither display appears to have the viewing angle and hue shift issues of last year’s Pixel 2 XL. In our use so far, the displays appear to be right up there with the best we’ve seen.
Both the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL will be offered in Just Black, Clearly White and Not Pink color variations, in either 64 or 128GB. The Pixel 3 starts at $ 799 and the 3 XL starts at $ 899.
Today we’re introducing Pixel 3 and Pixel 3XL, the new smartphones from Google. Pixel brings you the best of Google in a phone, powered by AI to deliver more helpful, thoughtful, and enjoyable experiences. That means a phone that answers for you when a telemarketer calls, a camera that uses AI to make sure you never miss the shot, and a more helpful visual and audio experience while charging, powered by the Google Assistant.
Brilliant photos every time and super-charged selfies
We’re taking more photos on our phones than ever before, but we still often miss the perfect moment. Pixel 3 helps you get that perfect shot on the first try.
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Here’s how the best camera gets even better with Pixel 3:
Unlimited storage for all of your photos and videos
With Pixel 3, you can save all your favorite moments with free, unlimited photo and video storage in original resolution. It’s hassle-free, you don’t have to think about back-ups. Come back to Google Photos later and search for the beach photos you took on your Pixel 3, and they’ll pop right up.
Your AI-powered sidekick
The AI in Pixel 3 enables new features that make your day-to-day actions simpler and easier.
If you want to know more about something you’re looking at, use Google Lens, built right into the Pixel 3 camera. To scan and translate text, find similar styles of clothing, or identify popular plants and animals, you can now long press in the Pixel 3 camera to easily open Lens. When you point your camera at information you want to remember or don’t feel like typing in—like a URL or QR code on a flyer or an email address on a business card—Google Lens suggests what to do next, like creating a new contact.
You can count on even more help across other apps too, including Gmail’s Smart Compose, now available for mobile on Pixel 3. Smart Compose suggests phrases in your emails so that you can draft them faster, on the go. Gboard, the keyboard built into your Pixel 3, will recommend GIFs, stickers, and more, to make your conversations fun and engaging. Available first in English.
The Google Assistant is also baked into Pixel 3 to help you find answers and control your phone and compatible smart home devices—all with a simple squeeze or just by using your voice. This year we have two new Assistant features coming to Pixel:
First, Pixel 3’s on-device AI helps you screen phone calls and avoid spam calls. Imagine you’re at dinner with family or in a meeting at work and a call from an unknown caller comes in. Just tap on “Screen call” to find out who’s calling and why, as well as other information (as prompted by you). You’ll immediately see a transcript of the caller’s responses so that you can then decide whether to pick up, respond by tapping a quick reply (e.g. “I’ll call you back later”), or mark the call as spam and dismiss. Processing the call details on-device means these experiences are fast, private to you, and use up less battery.
Second, Pixel users also get help with making calls. Later this year, Pixel users will be the first to get access to an experimental new Google Assistant feature, powered by Duplex technology, which helps you complete real-world tasks over the phone, like calling a restaurant to book a table. This feature will initially be available in New York, Atlanta, Phoenix and San Francisco to help people book restaurant reservations and will roll out to other cities in the future.
As we develop new calling technologies, we believe it’s critical that we help users understand the context of the conversation. We’ll disclose to businesses receiving the call that they’re speaking to an automated system, and we have developed controls to protect against spam and abuse, as well as the ability for a business to opt-out of receiving calls. For Call Screen, we will also let the caller know that a screening service is being used.
Digital Wellbeing
Our phones, while probably the most important tech in our lives, shouldn’t control our lives. So Digital Wellbeing, a suite of tools to help you find your own balance with technology, is built into Pixel 3. It includes a dashboard to help you understand how you spend time on your phone, the ability to set time limits on specific apps, and a new Wind Down mode to help you get to sleep at night by gently transitioning your display to a grayscale screen. When you don’t want to be bothered by rings or notifications, just flip to Shhh— an easy gesture that turns on Do Not Disturb and minimizes distractions.
Fast and wireless charging
Pixel 3 comes with an 18 Watt fast charger in the box, which can give you 7 hours of use in 15 minutes of charging. With our AI-powered Adaptive Battery technique, Pixel 3 prioritizes battery power for your most important apps to make your phone last all day.
Alongside Pixel 3, we’re also introducing Pixel Stand, our new, Qi compliant wireless charger (sold separately). While charging in the Pixel Stand, your phone turns into a smart visual and audio experience powered by the Google Assistant, similar to Google Home Hub. It answers your questions, plays music, helps you control smart home devices, transitions into a photo frame when idle, and much more. If you set an alarm, your screen will gently brighten over 15 minutes before your alarm goes off, mimicking the sunrise and helping you wake up naturally.
Pixel 3 is IP68 water and dust resistant and has a security chip custom-designed by Google called Titan M, making it the most secure phone we’ve built yet. Titan M enhances mobile security by protecting your unlock credentials, disk encryption, app data, and the integrity of the operating system code itself. Powered by Android 9 Pie, Pixel 3 comes with the latest Android operating system.
You can choose from two sizes – the 5.5” Pixel 3 and the 6.3” Pixel 3 XL – and three colors – Just Black, Clearly White, and Not Pink. Both have the exact same feature set and include a high quality Pixel USB-C earbuds and a USB-C Digital to 3.5 mm headphone adapter in the box. Pixel 3 comes with dual front-firing speakers tuned by a GRAMMY award-winning music producer to turn your phone into a powerful speaker. Customers who activate a Pixel 3 or Pixel 3 XL by December 31, 2018 can get 6-months of free YouTube Music Premium.
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
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We’ve already had a sneak peek at some of the LG V40 ThinQ’s triple-camera specifications but now the device has been officially announced and comes with a total of five cameras.
Three of those can be found on the phone’s back. The 12MP “standard” camera features an equivalent focal length of 27mm, a fast F1.5 aperture and a 1.4?m pixel size. Next to it you’ll find a 16MP super-wide-angle with 16mm equivalent focal length, F1.9 aperture and 1.0?m pixels. The 12MP tele-camera features a 52mm equivalent focal length, a F2.4 aperture and a 1.0?m pixel size.
There’s no tele option at the front but you can choose between a 5MP 21mm equivalent wide-angle (F2.2/1.12?m) and an 8MP 26mm “standard” camera (F1.9/1.12?m)
40 percent larger (compared to the V30) pixels on the main camera and the fast aperture should make for decent low light capabilities and LG says the PDAF system is 50 percent faster than before. An “advanced HDR” feature analyzes the scene in order to maximize dynamic range.
There is also a new AI Composition feature that recommends alternative framing to the shot taken by the user, presumably using a crop. The white balance and exposure systems are also AI-powered and can adjust color temperature across different lighting situations or automatically adjust shutter speeds for fast moving scenes.
Other specifications are in line with current Android flagship devices. The Android OS is powered by a Snapdragon 845 chipset and 6GB of RAM. Users can choose between 64GB or 128GB of internal memory and can also make use of a microSD card slot. Images can be composed, edited and viewed on a 6.4-inch OLED display with HDD+ resolution (3120 x 1440 pixels).
The V40 ThinQ isn’t the first triple-camera phone, but it is the first to offer three different focal length and, at least on paper, looks like a real contender in the high-end bracket of the market. We are hoping to get a test unit into our hands sometime soon. It’s worth mentioning that Samsung’s next flagship phone is expected to come with a similar camera setup but you’ll have to wait until next year to buy one.
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SEOUL, Oct. 4, 2018 — LG Electronics (LG) today unveiled its newest premium smartphone featuring a total of five cameras to redefine the standard of smartphone photography. The latest iteration of the company’s acclaimed V series, the LG V40 ThinQ is an uncompromising multimedia powerhouse device designed for today’s generation of storytellers that prefer to communicate with visuals and videos, especially on social media.
The LG V40 ThinQ retains the V series design philosophy with an improved 6.4-inch FullVision OLED display and even slimmer bezels than before. Powered by the Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 845 Mobile Platform paired with 6GB of RAM and 64GB or 128GB of internal storage, the LG V40 ThinQ again delivers the innovations that has made the LG V series a favorite among power users.
Seeing the Light with Five Cameras
In order to deliver a standout smartphone for today’s content-creating social generation, LG designed the LG V40 ThinQ from the ground up to deliver a truly all-encompassing smartphone camera experience. The LG V40 ThinQ features a rear camera module with three different lenses: 16MP super wide-angle, 12MP standard angle and 12MP telephoto. The three lenses allow for shutterbugs to frame different shots without changing position relative to the subject. The 107-degree super wide-angle lens captures subjects with more of the background with ease, while the telephoto with 2x optical zoom (or 3.2x the zoom of the wide-angle lens) takes clear shots from distance without a loss in image quality. The Triple Shot feature stitches together the images captured with each of the three lenses into a short video file for easy sharing.
The front camera module features a 5MP wide-angle lens and 8MP standard angle that work in tandem to create the perfect bokeh effect with an on-screen slider to adjust the amount of background blur. Other features allow selfie lovers to personalize their photos even more with unique lighting and special effects.
The pixel size of the main rear camera sensor has been improved by about 40 percent compared to the LG V30, increasing from 1?m to 1.4?m, while the image sensor is more than 18 percent larger than in the LG V30. In additdion to delivering the sharpest and brightest images of any LG smartphone camera, the F1.5 aperture of the main camera delivers greater depth of field, half the shutter lag and significantly faster burst mode compared to the LG V30.
What’s more, Dual PDAF (Phase Detection Auto Focus) delivers automatic focusing that is 50 percent faster, about twice as fast as the industry average. The advanced HDR feature analyzes and determines the right exposure settings to create perfectly lit shots, eliminating overexposed backgrounds or underexposed subjects. Subjects are always in perfect focus because the camera checks sharpness continuously until the shutter button is depressed.
LG upgraded the camera in the LG V40 ThinQ to be even more powerful and intuitive than ever to deliver the best color, composition, white balance and shutter speed. The AI CAM’s new AI Composition feature taps into the phone’s intelligence to frame, capture and recommend an alternative shot to the one taken by the user. AI Auto White Balance (AI AWB) automatically adjusts the color temperature across different lighting situations while AI Shutter selects the right shutter speed, especially useful when trying to capture fast-moving subjects.
Other new features such as Cine Shot, 3D Light Effect, Makeup Pro, Custom Backdrop, My Avatar and AR Emoji make photography on the LG V40 ThinQ a whole new experience. Cine Shot makes creating cinemagraphs – images with animation – incredibly easy and fun. Simply shoot a short video with any of the phone’s three rear cameras and “paint” the area to be animated with a finger and the result will be sure to amaze. 3D Light Effect changes the tone of a photo with professional-looking lighting, touch up any selfie with different looks using Makeup Pro or entirely change the background of a selfie with Custom Backdrop. For those who love all things augmented reality, create and share personalized emojis with My Avatar and AR Emoji using one’s own face or one of the provided characters.
Immersive Sight and Sound
The LG V40 ThinQ sports a new and improved 6.4-inch QHD+ (3120 x 1440) OLED FullVision display and a bottom bezel that is 1.6mm thinner than its predecessor. The new plastic OLED display is designed to deliver more accurate colors and better luminance consistency. The 4.5 million pixels delivered by the OLED display is the most of any QHD+ smartphone on the market today and allows for the enjoyment of immersive, vivid and vibrant content that only an LG OLED display can deliver.
LG has always prioritized high fidelity audio in its smartphones and the LG V40 ThinQ is no exception, being the first LG phone to carry the Audio Tuned by Meridian label. The 32-bit Hi-Fi Quad DAC produces a balanced sound signature that comes extremely close to the quality of an original recording. And Boombox Speaker, originally introduced on the LG G7 ThinQ, doubles the bass of conventional smartphone speakers by utilizing the internal space of the device as a resonance chamber. When placed on a solid surface or hollow box, the LG V40 ThinQ acts like a woofer to amplify the bass even more.
Minimalist Design Built to Last
The clean lines and sophisticated colors emphasizes the three main design elements of the LG V40 ThinQ: smooth touch, unique color and seamless form. With the objective to create a design that will stand the test of time, the simple yet beautiful exterior is the perfect complement to the wealth of innovative technologies found on the LG V40 ThinQ.
LG’s proprietary Silky BlastTM process etches the tempered glass back with microscopic pits to create a smoother matte finish which feels extremely comfortable in the hand without being slippery. In addition to its more premium appearance, the matte glass is more practical due to its higher resistance to fingerprints and stains. The phone will be available in the charming colors of New Aurora Black, New Platinum Gray, New Moroccan Blue and eye-catching Carmine Red.
The LG V40 ThinQ retains the slim and light design heritage of the V series, weighing only 169g and measuring a svelte 7.7mm in thickness. Like its predecessor, the LG V40 ThinQ meets the U.S. Department of Defense requirements for durability, passing 14 MIL-STD 810G Transit Drop Test categories for suitability in military operations and is IP68 rated.
“The LG V40 ThinQ was designed with the main goal to deliver an uncompromised experience for users to create, consume and share high quality content,” said Hwang Jeong-hwan, president of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “The versatility of the camera and the proven V series platform makes the LG V40 ThinQ a serious option for customers looking for a premium smartphone that does it all.”
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