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Posts Tagged ‘Design’

Long Acre Farms in New York celebrates Kodak with giant camera corn maze design

23 Aug

Long Acre Farms in Macedon, New York, has unveiled the autumn 2018 pattern for its Amazing Maize Maze: a giant Kodak camera. The design was created for Kodak’s 130th anniversary and Long Acre Farms’ 25th anniversary; it features a vintage camera, large flash, a finger capturing an image, and a strip of film.

One of Long Acre Farms’ owners, Joan Allen, explained the reason for the design to WXXI News, saying the farm has provided guests with an opportunity to create memories and capture images of them for decades:

You know we all think of, maybe, I’m pretty sure it’s worldwide, to think of capturing a memory with a Kodak camera and given that that’s our neighbor right her[e] in Rochester this seems like an appropriate theme.

Long Acre Farms shares images on Instagram and provides information on tickets and more on Facebook.

Via: WXXI News

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Peak Design announces 45L Travel Backpack and new system of ‘Packing Tools’

24 Jul

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Peak Design has announced a fresh travel-oriented product line that centers around a 45L carry on-sized Travel Backpack that can be yours for a reduced price through Kickstarter (starting today). Also in the line is a set of set of ‘Packing Tools’ to help keep your gear and personal items organized on the go.

The 45L Travel Backpack has all the bells and whistles of a high-end pack: a weatherproof nylon canvas shell, a rugged bottom liner, a luggage pass-through, full rear and side access, a laptop compartment, luggage handles and tons of organization pockets. It can also be expanded or contracted to fit 35L or 45L worth of stuff.

The 45L Travel Backpack officially hits stores this holiday season for $ 299.95 and will be available in either black or sage

The Packing Tools bring a nice level of versatility and modularity to the 45L Travel Backpack (though could easily be used in any pack). They come in a variety of forms including general packing ‘Cubes’ – useful for items like clothing (available in two sizes) – and ‘Camera Cubes’ for your precious gear (available in three sizes). There are also packing tools specifically for tech odds and ends, toiletries and shoes.

The 45L Travel Backpack is projected to officially hit stores this holiday season for $ 299.95 and will be available in either black or sage. The Packing Tools range in price from $ 24.95 – $ 89.95 and will also be available for the holidays.

Look for a full review of the 45L Travel Backpack on DPReview soon. In the meantime, read our review of the Peak Design Capture Clip V3.

Press Release

Peak Design’s Travel Line Reinvents One-Bag Travel

Travel Backpack 45L and Packing Tools Offer Infinite Customization

San Francisco, CA (July 23, 2018) – Peak Design, the leader in crowdfunding and best-in-class carry solutions, is proud to unveil the first products in their Travel Line: the Travel Backpack 45L and complete system of Packing Tools. With a focus on versatility, organization, and access, the Travel Line aims to satisfy a simple design directive: no two trips are the same, so the best luggage should adapt to them all.

Peak Design was founded during a trip and has grown into a team of prolific travelers who understand life on the road. The Travel Line combines Peak Design’s travel experience with their expertise, innovation, and design philosophies honed through their massively successful photography and everyday bag lines.

The hero of the Travel Line is the Travel Backpack 45L, a carry-on-sized backpack that boasts a collection of best-in- class travel functionality. In addition to full rear access for easy packing, the bag features dual side access, top access to laptop/tablet, and a dedicated front-access organization panel for smaller items. Beefy shoulder and waist straps stowe instantly beneath a magnetically sealed back pad. Expansion zips allow the bag to grow to 45L check-in size, while an innovative compression snap system shrinks the bag down to a 35L daypack. Thoughtful details include 360-degree grab handles, a duffle/luggage carry handle, theft-deterrent zips, hidden passport pockets, a soft- lined sunglasses pocket and tuck-away external carry compression straps. The Travel Backpack comes with a weatherproof 400D nylon canvas shell made from 100% recycled plastics and available in black or sage colorways.

Peak Design Founder and CEO, Peter Dering, rarely stays in any one place longer than two weeks: “From day one, travel has been a primary inspiration to us as photographers, designers, and adventurers. Living on the road is part of our DNA as a brand, and we couldn’t be more excited to have built a set of travel gear that truly adapts to the endless variety of trips we take.”

Accompanying the Travel Backpack is a feature-rich system of Packing Tools that provide endlessly customizable organization and protection of clothes, shoes, toiletries, tech items and photo/video gear. Designed to fit perfectly in Peak Design travel bags, each cube or pouch offers easy access, thoughtful organization, durable materials and a consistent aesthetic cleanliness.

Each Packing Tool was designed from the onset as a standalone product, intended to push their respective category forward with unique patterns, features and innovation. Art Viger, Lead Designer at Peak Design, commented on the system: “When you travel, the things you carry become your home on the road. Each and every one of the pouches and cubes are designed to work as a fluid ecosystem that can be easily re-configured for any type of trip.”

The new Travel Backpack (MSRP: $ 299.95) and Packing Cubes, will be available on Kickstarter (peakdesign.com/ks) for a pre-sale discount beginning July 23, 2018. The system will then be available for purchase online at peakdesign.com and through major retailers in time for the 2018 holiday season.

About Peak Design

Since 2010, Peak Design has been building innovative carry solutions with a simple overarching design directive: make the best things. The idea for our first product was born on a motorcycle trip through Southeast Asia and has since expanded to include a cross-functional ecosystem of bags, pouches, slings, straps, and clips. We’ve won applause along the way, but we’re most proud of the fact that we’re 100% crowdfunded and 100% employee-owned. We’ve raised $ 15.6 Million through 8 Kickstarter campaigns, allowing Peak Design to stay investor-free and focused on the things that matter most: designing great products, fostering happy employees, and taking care of our customers and the natural environment. Learn more at peakdesign.com.

45L Travel Backpack

MSRP: $ 299.95
Available on Kickstarter for a Limited Time: $ 235

Access

  • Full back panel-load access for packing
  • Dual zippered side hatches for instant camera access
  • Quick tablet & laptop access
  • Dedicated front organization panel
  • Soft-lined sunglasses pocket
  • Hidden passport/document pockets
  • Bag sits upright on floor when packed or empty

Expansion & Compression

  • Maximum international carry on size in normal 35L state
  • Expansion zip gives additional 10L of storage (45L max)
  • Compressible down to 30L day bag size
  • Expandable side pockets for water bottles, tripods
  • Tuck-away external carry compression straps

Organization

  • Rigidly supported sidewalls for easy packing
  • Zippered dividing panel separates bag into 2 compartments, or stows away for 1 large volume
  • Front organization panel contains 4 zippered mesh pockets for smaller items
  • Mount Camera Cubes (sold separately) internally for back or side access to photo, drone, or video gear
  • Protected luggage tag holder

Comfort & Portability

  • Magnetic strap storage system
  • 360-degree grab handles
  • Full-size padded hip belt with additional pockets and attachment points for Capture & Range Pouch (sold
    separately)
  • Axial strap attachments for shoulder & hip straps give constant comfort for all body types and carry loads
  • Proprietary sternum strap
  • Luggage pass-through and duffel grab handle
  • Back panel folds under for increased ventilation & comfort

Security

  • 400D weatherproof 100% recycled nylon canvas shell
  • DWR impregnated, PU-coated interior for water resistance
  • Oversized #8 (front, side) and #10 (back) main zips are weatherproof and lockable
  • Rugged 900D weatherproof bottom liner
  • Ultralight padded foam provides security, structure, and aesthetic cleanliness around entire bag

Packing Cubes (sold separately):

Packing Cubes (MSRP: Sm – $ 29.95, Md – $ 39.95) – Compressible, easy to access, and dividable, Peak Design Packing Cubes are available in 2 sizes. A tear-away main zip lets you access contents instantly, and an internal divider allows separation of clean and dirty clothes. An expansion/compression zip doubles available space or compresses clothes so you can fit more in your bag.

Wash Pouch (MSRP: $ 59.95) – Dedicated, easy-to-clean pockets for toothbrush and razor. Hangs or sits upright on sink for easy access in tight spaces. Unique folding pocket layout keeps toiletries neatly organized and easy to find.

Tech Pouch (MSRP: $ 59.95) – Designed to store small items like cables, cards, batteries, and travel essentials, Tech Pouch’s unique origami-style pockets create enormous spatial efficiency. Pack more into a smaller space, yet keep all items organized and easy to find.

Camera Cubes (MSRP: Sm – $ 49.95, Md – $ 69.95, Lg – $ 89.95) – Camera Cubes provide protection, organization, and instant access to camera, video, and drone gear. Securely mount Camera Cubes inside the Travel Backpack and access your gear via the rear or side zips. Tuck-away lids let you access camera gear from outside of the bag via a single zip, while a system of intelligently designed dividers allows for endless organization and customization.

Shoe Pouch (MSRP: $ 24.95) – An ultralight, durable, weatherproof pouch for shoes or additional clothing storage.

Rain Fly (MSRP: $ 29.95) – Provides complete waterproof protection to an already weatherproof bag. Rain Fly is made of durable, ultralight 200D rip-stop nylon, adjusts via cinch cord for snug form-fit, and stuffs into a convenient storage pocket.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Sony IMX586 smartphone sensor comes with 48MP and Quad Bayer design

24 Jul

Sony has introduced a new smartphone image sensor today and, looking at the IMX586’s impressive spec sheet, the new chip could help boost smartphone camera performance further in the next generation of high-end devices.

The sensor combines two key technologies: very high resolution and a ‘Quad Bayer’ color filter pattern to offer a series of clever processing modes.

According to Sony, low light performance is comparable to large 1.6?m pixels

With its 1/2″ format (6.4 x 4.8 mm) the stacked sensor is at the large end of the spectrum for smartphone cameras: nearly twice the size of a typical 1/3″-type chip. This allows it to squeeze 48MP onto its surface, but still requites a comparatively small pixel size of 0.8 ?m.

The IMX586 is not just about pixel count, however. It comes with a Quad Bayer color filter array in which every 2×2 pixel array has the same color filter. This allows it to offer several ways to process its data, depending on the conditions.

In low light image data from the four pixels in such an array is merged and processed as one single pixel, resulting in a reduced 12MP image resolution. According to Sony, low light performance is comparable to large 1.6?m pixels.

In bright light the image signal processor can make full use of the sensor’s 48MP pixel count, however, and capture high-resolution images or use the abundance of captured image data for high-quality digital zooming. This requires processing to convert the ‘Quad Bayer’ data into an approximation of what a 48MP Bayer sensor would have captured. It’ll be interesting to see how well this does.

Sony’s write-up seems to allude to a third way of using the data. It talks about the sensor being able to display up to four times the dynamic range of conventional products. We suspect this uses the system Sony uses on its IMX294 chip, where alternate pixels are switched off, mid exposure, protecting highlight capture while still recording full shadow detail. The Quad Bayer pattern would lend itself particularly well to this.

This three-mode approach… may remind some readers of Fujifilm’s Super CCD EXR technology

This three-mode approach to offering better performance in low light, higher DR in high contrast situations or high resolution when there’s plenty of light may remind some readers of Fujifilm’s Super CCD EXR technology, with which there are some obvious parallels.

As usual we don’t know when the new sensor will see the light of day in a production smartphone, but the Sony Xperia XZ3 which is expected to be launched at IFA in September looks like a good candidate. Given Sony is the biggest sensor provider to the smartphone industry we should sooner or later see the IMX586 in non-Sony smartphones as well.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Review: Peak Design Anchor Links System for Camera Straps

02 Jul

I’ve had all sorts of camera straps and carrying implements over the years. From traditional neck straps that come with most cameras to sling-style attachments to simple wrist straps and even, on occasion, daring to go out into the world with no camera strap at all.

My main issue with most camera straps is that while a lot of them are designed for specific situations such as portraits, sports, travel, or hanging out with friends I haven’t yet found one that works for every occasion. That’s where the Peak Design Anchor Links system comes into the picture and solves this problem once and for all.

Mostly.

Review: Peak Design Anchor Links

The issue with camera straps

Choosing a camera strap feels more like a marriage than a dating relationship. Most aren’t easy to attach and remove without twisting some screws, threading some nylon through impossibly small holes, or making your fingernails bleed while wrestling with a key ring-style securement device.

As a result, when I buy a camera strap it usually stays on my camera permanently but often gets in the way when I want to take pictures in a scenario that the strap just wasn’t meant for.

Peak Design Anchor Links System – the solution?

The Peak Design Anchor Links system helps remedy this issue but in a bit of an odd way. Anchor Links don’t really do much on their own, and they’re not even camera straps at all.

What they are is a way for you to add a huge degree of flexibility to whatever you are currently using to help carry your cameras. They give you a great deal of choice and freedom when it comes to picking a strap that’s right for any given occasion.

Review: Peak Design Anchor Links - Fuji camera and a wrist strap

Sometimes I like to use wrist straps, and sometimes I prefer larger over-the-shoulder straps.

How it works

Using Peak’s Anchor Links is pretty simple and involves two basic parts: the strap loop and the connector. The strap loops are small red and black circular tabs with about an inch of cord sticking out. These are what you attach to things you want to carry. The most obvious items are cameras but you can use them on virtually anything that needs to be carted around from pouches to lens cases to accessory bags and more.

The anchors are small connectors that attach to your camera strap, wrist strap, shoulder handle, or anything that you use to actually carry around your gear. There is no special magic to these anchors. You just thread your existing camera strap through the slot on one end of an Anchor just like you would thread a strap through the attachment point on your camera.

It takes just about a minute to get up and running with the Anchor Link system and if you’re like me, you’ll soon wonder what you did without them.

Review: Peak Design Anchor Links - camera with a neck strap

It took less than 9 seconds for me to switch from a wrist strap to a neck strap thanks to the Peak Design Anchor Link system.

So what’s the big deal?

When I first got the Anchor Link system I didn’t really see what the big deal was. How could a set of anchors and connectors really help me with my photography?

What I realized over months of using this system, is that simply having the ability to attach and detach camera straps at a moment’s notice has freed me to focus on other things that really matter. These won’t help you get better photos, and won’t teach you about composition and lighting. But you might find yourself bringing your camera more places than usual simply because you have so much more flexibility with how you carry it.

When I’m out with my family I can clip a traditional neck strap on in about three seconds flat. If I need to go handheld I can attach a wrist strap in no time. Then when I want to move a strap from one camera to another, it’s done in mere moments.

On a recent maternity session, I was able to pack my cameras and lenses securely and put all my various straps in a separate bag. Way better than trying to wrestle everything into a single container while dealing with unwieldy lengths of padded nylon.

Review: Peak Design Anchor Links

Anchor Links can be attached to other items such as bags and pouches, or even key rings.

In the field

In terms of durability, I have had no issues whatsoever with the Anchor Link system and have trusted some very heavy camera/lens combinations to these tiny little cords without any problems. Peak Design claims each anchor link can support over 200lbs and while I don’t know if I would go that far personally, it is nice to know they’re rated for far more than my camera gear actually weighs.

It seems weird to trust a $ 20 attachment to hold a $ 4000 camera/lens combination, but it’s fair to say that the weakest link in the system would probably be whatever strap you are using and not these anchors.

Drawbacks

There are a few drawbacks to the system, namely that the more you use them the more you end up with button-sized anchor disks hanging from your camera gear. Also for some wrist straps, the attachment that secures to the anchor disk can seem a bit large. But I use the system daily with a wrist strap on my Fuji X100F and it has never been a major issue.

These are minor quibbles though, are almost not worth mentioning for something that is so immensely practical.

Review: Peak Design Anchor Links on a Fuji camera

The strap loops are small and don’t really get in the way, and Peak Design claims they are made out of a durable plastic that won’t scratch your cameras when hanging loose.

Conclusion

Finally, it’s worth mentioning that Peak Design has recently re-designed the system to be thinner and easier to use. I currently use the older system and they have never felt clunky or unwieldy, so I would imagine the revised version is just as good and probably even better.

Overall it’s hard not to recommend the Anchor Links to just about any photographer whether casual, professional or anywhere in between. A basic set with four anchor links and two attachments costs about $ 25 and can give you a huge amount of flexibility and freedom no matter what type of photography you do.

The post Review: Peak Design Anchor Links System for Camera Straps appeared first on Digital Photography School.


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Peak Design acknowledges flaw with its Anchor connectors, is offering free replacements

06 Jun

For the fourth time since Peak Design launched its first camera strap system, the San Francisco-based camera bag and accessory manufacturer is changing its Anchor connectors—the little pieces that attach to your gear and snap into its camera straps.

The change comes after Peak Design realized its third version of the dyneema Anchor connectors, which were originally made to accommodate a larger variety of camera systems with smaller eyelets, are prematurely wearing out and failing.

According to Peak Design, there have only been seven reported failures of Anchor connectors of the more than one million sold since August 2017. That means only one in every 17,000 customers have been affected. But Peak Design said that’s still too high of a failure rate.

As seen in the above comparison image, Peak Design is fixing the issue by making the Anchor connector cord thicker once again.

Peak Design says it’s notified all customers who’ve purchased version three of its Anchor connectors, be it standalone or in a package with a camera strap. If you’re afraid you missed the email or otherwise want to double-check, Peak Design has created an Anchor update survey to help you see if you qualify. Also, as of May 22nd, 2018, all camera straps purchased through Peak Design’s website will come with a free Anchor Update Kit. According to a post on its support page, Peak Design said ‘eventually’ all Peak Design camera straps will contain version four Anchor connectors.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Review: Peak Design Capture Clip V3

01 Jun

Capture Clip V3
$ 70 | Peak Design.com

The original Capture Clip was a darling of Kickstarter, raising nearly $ 15 million back in 2011. V2 debuted in 2013 and was replaced by V3 at the beginning of 2018.

First released on Kickstarter in 2011, the Peak Design Capture Clip aimed to give photographers an easier way to carry their camera. Seven years later, we now have the Capture version V3, a much sleeker and more streamlined iteration of the original product.

Key Features

  • Arca-compatible plate
  • Aluminum construction
  • Anti-slip pad on mounting surface
  • Quick release button with security lock
  • Clip fits straps up to 6.4 cm wide and 1.6 cm thick
  • System can hold up to 90 kg (200 lb)
  • Available in silver and black

Design

$ 69.95 gets you the Capture Clip, an Arca-compatible plate, x2 hand-drive screws, x2 4mm hex screws (not shown), a hex wrench and a microfiber pouch for storage.

V3 boasts a ‘smaller, lighter and lower profile’ than V2 – more specifically it’s 57 g / 2 oz lighter (clip plus plate), 2.1 cm narrower, 1.2 cm shorter and 0.8 cm thinner. From a design perspective this means an accessory that looks less like a chunky piece of gear and more like an integrated piece of design affixed to your bag or strap. It is still made of all aluminum (minus some rubber bits for gripping your bag strap) and still has a smooth anodized finish like its predecessor. It is also now available in two colors; Silver and Black.

With V3, Peak Design has simplified the Capture lineup to just one product – V2 offered both the Capture Standard and CapturePro at different price points. The former had a glass-reinforced nylon back and was cheaper than the all-aluminum Pro.

Like the V2, you can still integrate a variety of add-ons to your Capture system such as the Manfrotto RC2 compatible Dual Plate or the Peak Design Lens Kit. This means you can use the Capture Clip for its base purpose but still have the option to expand its functionality well beyond just carrying a camera on your bag.

What’s also nice is V3 ships with two different sets of clamping bolts, hand-driven ones and a set that are driven in using a hex key (included).

In Use

The Capture Clip, in action.

The Capture system is extremely well designed and works exactly how you would expect it to: With the plate attached to your camera, simply slide it into the clip from above. When you want to retrieve your camera, press and hold the small button on the right side while sliding your camera back upward.

The first time I attached the system to my bag, I honestly didn’t expect to love it but quickly found myself enjoying the convenience it provides. In fact, all of the following gripes I have are admittedly nit-picky stuff because frankly the Capture Clip works well.

Even with a heavy camera attached, the Capture feels very secure

Attaching the clip portion to your bag for the first time can be a bit of a hassle but the key is just to loosen it more than you think you need to. Most folks will attach it to a backpack but it can easily be attached to a messenger bag, belt or something else entirely. Once attached to something it’s not hard to remove and replace. I tried it on both my Peak Design Everyday Backpack and my nearly decade old Camelbak backpack and it fit securely on both.

Even with a heavy camera attached, the Capture feels very secure. The only time I worried while using it was when pulling my backpack off my shoulders. I sometimes instinctively like to toss my bag around – not a good idea when your precious gear is connected to the front.

While writing this review, I used the Capture with 4 different cameras: a Nikon D750 w/ 50mm 1.8 (1 kg / 2.19 lb), Nikkormat FTN w/ 50mm 1.4 (1.1 kg / 2.43 lb), Bronica RF645 w/ 65mm f/4 (1.1 kg / 2.44 lb) and Hasselblad 501C w/ 80mm f/2.8 (1.47 kg / 3.25 lb). All of these felt confidently secure.

Peak Design says the Capture is rated for up to 90 kg / 200 lb so safety-wise almost anything you would put on there is a non-issue. For me personally, the Hasselblad was a bit too heavy to be comfortable. But it wasn’t just the weight; I also didn’t feel comfortable with the way large cameras or those with long lenses tend to pull down, potentially jabbing into your body.

Bottom line

The Capture system not only makes it simple to carry your camera, but it means you always have a plate attached for tripod mounting.

My biggest hangup with the Capture is just getting used to having your camera on your chest (that’s where I wore it at least), but it only took me about an hour of walking around in a park to get used to it. And by later that same day – while on a different shoot – I found I was using it instinctively.

My biggest hangup with the Capture is just getting used to having your camera on your chest

Overall for the price point of $ 69.95 the Capture Clip V3 isn’t cheap, but it’s worth the money if you’re looking for a new approach to the way you carry your camera. And if you’re looking to add another clip to your arsenal or upgrade from a previous version, you have the option of buying just the Clip alone for the lower price of $ 49.95.

Peak Design continues to bring a photographers-first approach to their design with a very strong sense for what works and what doesn’t. In this writer’s opinion, the new Capture Clip falls squarely in the “works” column.

What we like:

  • Very comfortable, lightweight and slim
  • Rated for up to 90 kg / 200 lbs, very secure and safe
  • Very quick learning curve and extremely easy to get used to
  • Feels great ergonomically
  • Lots of options for placement and expanding uses with other add-ons
  • Stylish, really

What we don’t:

  • Pricey
  • Gear hangs forward on chest
  • Hex screw requires you to keep the hex wrench with you

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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New Oppo flagship R15 comes with iPhone X-style design and portrait lighting

20 Mar

Chinese manufacturer Oppo has unveiled its latest two high-end Android smartphones, the R15 and R15 Dream Mirror Edition. The new devices are among the first of likely very many Android devices to be launched with an iPhone X style camera notch at the front this year. There is also a tall 6.28″ screen with 19:9 aspect ratio and 1080 x 2280 pixel resolution. The device comes with a metal frame and glass at front and back.

The R15 doesn’t only come with the iPhone X’s camera notch, though. It also borrows a face unlock feature from the X and the dual-camera comes with a portrait lighting mode, similar to what we’ve seen on Apple’s latest models.

In terms of camera specifications, the R15 features a main camera with a 1/2.6″ 16MP Sony IMX519 sensor and F1.7 aperture. The secondary lens comes with a 5MP resolution and F2.2 aperture. It is used to generate a bokeh mode and, according to OPPO, the new setup is capable of automatically recognizing up to 120 scenes and adjusting the camera settings accordingly, thanks to built-in Sony AI.

In the processing department the R15 runs a Helio P60 chipset with octa-core CPU and features 6GB of RAM. 128GB of storage and a 3,450 mAh battery are on board as well.

The Oppo R15 Dream Mirror Edition swaps the Helio chipset for a Snapdragon 660 but comes with otherwise very similar specs. That said, there is one important difference in the camera module: instead of the standard model’s 5MP sensor, the Dream Mirror Edition’s secondary camera comes with a 20MP sensor and fast F1.7 aperture, making it look very similar to the unit used in the 5T model of Oppo’s sister company OnePlus.

Scene recognition and portrait lighting modes are the same as on the standard R15, however. Both new models will be available from April 1 in China. The R15 will retail at CNY 2,999 (approximately $ 475), while the Dream Red model will set you back CNY 3,299 (approximately $ 521). There is no word on international availability yet, but we would expect the new devices to become available outside China at some point.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Canon illuminated buttons patent hints at future prosumer DSLR design

23 Nov

Canon has filed a patent that shows illuminated buttons appearing on the back of a prosumer DSLR camera (7D/5D-like design), hinting that the feature may be added to the maker’s future models. Details are sparse at this time, but an illustration in the patent shows a series of buttons with what appears to be a row of LEDs behind them.

The patent implies that this tech is about lighting up buttons while simultaneously preventing light leaks, explaining that this particular design: “enables a letter or character on the surface of a button to emit light uniformly […] without providing any dedicated separate member for light guiding and light shielding, and can prevent light leakage to the inside and outside of the device.”

As with all patents, we can’t say for sure when (or even if) this feature will make its way into a Canon camera, but it seems like a no-brainer and something that would be simple to implement. Check out the full patent for yourself here (Japan Patent Application 2017-147019).

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Peak Design unveils limited edition Leica Backpack Capsule

23 Nov

Peak Design has teamed with Leica to launch the Peak Design Leica Backpack Capsule, a combination Peak Design Backpack, Cuff (wrist strap) and Leash (neck strap) designed specifically for lovers of that expensive Red Dot.

This limited edition version of the company’s backpack includes subtle Leica trim including the camera maker’s iconic red dot, as well as red stitching.

Peak Design’s Backpack is designed for everyday use by photographers who need to safely transport their gear while traveling or undergoing their daily commute. The bag sports a pair of expandable external side pockets, padded internal accessory pockets, a sleeve for laptops up to 15in, a pair of weatherproof side zips for dual side-loading, a MagLatch top access point, and customizable FlexFold dividers.

Here’s a closer look:

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The Leica Backpack Capsule is currently listed for preorder online at a price of $ 300, but visitors to Leica stores and Boutiques in North America can get one for free (while supplies last) if they purchase a Leica SL before December 31st.

The backpack’s specs are as follows:

  • Weight Empty: 1350g (2.9 lbs.)
  • Capacity: 12 L min to 20 L max
  • Max laptop dimensions: 15″x9.75″x1″ (38x25x2.5cm) – Designed to carry up to a 15 inch Macbook Pro Retina, 2009 or later.
  • Max Tablet Dimensions: 14″ X 8.5″ X 0.4″ (33X22X1CM)
  • Outer dimensions: 18” H x 12” W x 6.75” D (46 H x 30 W x 17 D cm) (These are unpacked dimensions. Actual size will expand/contract depending on load.)

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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