RSS
 

Posts Tagged ‘dSLR’

Throwback Thursday: Alpha A700, Sony’s first high-end DSLR

10 Sep

Turning ten years old this week is the A700, Sony’s first high-end DSLR after fully taking over Konica Minolta’s camera business. With plenty of Minolta DNA underneath its Sony Alpha branding, it debuted in September 2007 to take on the likes of Canon’s 40D and Nikon’s D300. Our 33 page (!) review, published in December of 2007, details the strengths and weaknesses of the camera, and includes musings like “Whether the lack of live view has any real relevance in a camera at this level remains to be seen; we doubt it.”

Did you own the A700? Let us know in the comments.

Read our full Sony Alpha 700 Review

Sony Alpha A700 Sample Gallery

$ (document).ready(function() { SampleGalleryV2({“containerId”:”embeddedSampleGallery_2744829658″,”galleryId”:”2744829658″,”isEmbeddedWidget”:true,”standalone”:false,”selectedImageIndex”:0,”startInCommentsView”:false,”isMobile”:false}) });
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
Comments Off on Throwback Thursday: Alpha A700, Sony’s first high-end DSLR

Posted in Uncategorized

 

LukiLink turns your smartphone into an external HDMI display for a DSLR

25 Aug

A new device called the LukiLink just popped up on Kickstarter, and it promises to transform your smartphone into an external HDMI displays for your DSLR.

LukiLink is very simple to use: just connect it to a DSLR camera via an HDMI cable on one side, and a smartphone/tablet via a USB cable on the other. Live video from the camera is then output to the smartphone via the LukiLink mobile app (Android and iOS). The system supports a maximum input/output resolution of 1080/60p.

The team behind the LukiLink, which resembles a simple dongle, explains that the system can be used to view live video from the camera with the smartphone serving as an ordinary external monitor. The system can also be used to livestream footage from the camera on platforms like YouTube, and to transform the smartphone (or tablet) into an external recorder.

LukiLink promises support for NTSC, PAL, and PAL-60 video format inputs, bitrates ranging from 3Mbps to “about 18Mbps,” as well as a maximum recording resolution of 1080/30p. Latency, meanwhile, is said to “usually” fall between 200ms and 300ms, though the exact rate will depend on the smartphone used.

The team behind the product is currently seeking funding on Kickstarter, where they have raised a little over $ 40k of their approximate $ 106k goal. Interested buyers can claim a unit by pledging at least €90 (~$ 105 USD), which is a €40 discount over the anticipated retail price. Assuming the LukiLink is funded, global shipments are scheduled to begin this upcoming October.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
Comments Off on LukiLink turns your smartphone into an external HDMI display for a DSLR

Posted in Uncategorized

 

Canon beats Nikon to get EISA’s Pro DSLR award for 3rd year running

17 Aug

Canon’s EOS 5D Mk IV has won the European Imaging and Sound Association’s (EISA) Professional DSLR of the Year award, making this the third year in a row that the brand has beaten Nikon to the top spot in the professional camera category. Neither company, though, managed to come out as well as Sony, which won a total of six titles for is compact system range.

One of Sony’s titles was the prestigious European Camera of the Year award—a prize the company hasn’t won in nine years—which went to the a9.

Sony’s other awards included Prosumer Compact Camera of the Year for the a6500, Compact Camera of the Year for the RX100 V, Superzoom Camera of the Year for the RX10 ll, Compact System Lens for its FE 100mm f/2.8 STF GM OSS and Professional Compact System Lens for the FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS.

Other notable lens awards went to Sigma for the 135mm f/1.8 DG HSM Art, and to Tamron’s 150-600 f/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2 and the 18-400mm F3.5-6.3 Di II VC HLD. Panasonic’s Lumix DC-GH5 won Photo & Video Camera of the Year, while Prosumer DSLR of the Year went to Nikon’s D7500.

While this was the first year non-European countries were able to take part in the awards process, the Photography Expert Group remained entirely populated by magazine editors from Europe. For more information see the EISA website.

Photography awards in full:

EISA CONSUMER DSLR CAMERA 2017-2018
Canon EOS 77D

EISA PROSUMER DSLR CAMERA 2017-2018
Nikon D7500

EISA PROFESSIONAL DSLR CAMERA 2017-2018
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV

EISA CONSUMER COMPACT SYSTEM CAMERA 2017-2018
Fujifilm X-T20

EISA PROSUMER COMPACT SYSTEM CAMERA 2017-2018
Sony 6500

EISA CAMERA 2017-2018
Sony 9

EISA COMPACT CAMERA 2017-2018
Sony RX100 V

EISA SUPERZOOM CAMERA 2017-2018
Sony RX10 III

EISA PHOTO & VIDEO CAMERA 2017-2018
Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5

EISA INSTANT CAMERA 2017-2018
Fujifilm Instax SQUARE SQ10

EISA DSLR LENS 2017-2018
SIGMA 135mm F1.8 DG HSM | Art

EISA DSLR ZOOM LENS 2017-2018
Tamron SP 150-600mm F5-6.3 Di VC USD G2

EISA PROFESSIONAL DSLR LENS 2017-2018
Canon EF 16-35mm F2.8L III USM

EISA COMPACT SYSTEM CAMERA LENS 2017-2018
Sony FE 100mm F2.8 STF GM OSS

EISA PROFESSIONAL COMPACT SYSTEM CAMERA LENS 2017-2018
Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS

EISA COMPACT SYSTEM CAMERA ZOOM LENS 2017-2018
Olympus M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 12-100mm F4.0 IS PRO

EISA PHOTO INNOVATION 2017-2018
Tamron 18-400mm F3.5-6.3 Di II VC HLD

EISA PHOTO DISPLAY 2017-2018
EIZO ColorEdge CG2730

EISA SMARTPHONE CAMERA 2017-2018
Huawei P10

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
Comments Off on Canon beats Nikon to get EISA’s Pro DSLR award for 3rd year running

Posted in Uncategorized

 

Video: See exactly how a mechanical DSLR shutter works

01 Aug

Have you ever wondered what exactly happens when you press your DSLR’s shutter button? Many of us know the theory, we may have even seen (or made) diagrams and GIFs showing how the standard mechanical shutter works. But for this video, YouTuber Chris Marquardt actually yanked the shutter out of a Nikon D500 to show you the mechanism IRL.

The demonstration is pretty simple, showing you how the two spring-loaded curtains move across the frame, and revealing the electromagnets that keep them in place when the curtains are cocked.

“The first and second curtain are both cocked against spring tension and held back by electro magnets,” explains Marquardt. “When it’s time to fire the shutter, the electronics release the first curtain, then after the exposure time is up, the second curtain.” It’s definitely an interesting demo if you enjoy these kind of tear downs, although you might want to turn the volume down… or off. As our own Richard Butler put it, the music “makes me want to rip my sound card out of my computer and destroy it.” Okay then…

Once you’ve watched the video (sound card intact, we hope), click the button below to read our more comprehensive dive into all things shutter related.

Electronic shutter, rolling shutter and flash: what you need to know.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
Comments Off on Video: See exactly how a mechanical DSLR shutter works

Posted in Uncategorized

 

This Nat Geo cover was shot with a 10-year-old DSLR and an iPhone flashlight

24 Jul
European astronaut Paolo Nespoli sitting in a Soyuz launch module simulator, illuminated by a single iPhone flashlight. Photo © Alessandro Barteletti.

Photographer Alessandro Barteletti has spent the last year creating a photo essay for National Geographic, in which he tells the story of 60-year-old European astronaut Paolo Nespoli. The project has taken him all over the world with Paolo, but it’s the photo above that stuck with him, and that Nat Geo in fact picked for the cover of the July issue of National Geographic Italia.

For this project, Barteletti received access to the training centers in Europe, the US, and Russia, trailing Paolo and capturing photos honoring the astronaut as the first 60-year-old ever to be enrolled in a 6-month-long mission.

Behind the scenes with Barteletti, shooting Paolo Nespoli for National Geographic. Photo © Alessandro Vona

The memorable cover photo was captured in Star City, Russia, while Paolo sat inside the Soyuz launch module simulator.

“I came into the Soyuz with my Nikon D3 and a wide angle lens, ready to shoot Paolo when, suddenly, something unbelievable happened: all lights off, everything was dark and from the outside they started knocking on the door telling me I had only one minute left,” Barteletti tells DPReview. “I didn’t know what to do: that was the perfect setting for THE PHOTO, probably one of the best ones ever. Outside I had some led lights but if I had come out the module, they wouldn’t have let me come in once again.”

Paolo agreed that leaving the module wasn’t an option, and so they tried to come up with some way to capture the shot in the next 60 seconds… with no professional lighting anywhere in sight.

“I had an idea, one of those crazy ideas that only come to you when you are desperate,” says Barteletti. “I took my iPhone—the only electronic device I had with me—I turned on the torch, and I put it between two panels behind the astronaut.”

As it turns out, his idea worked perfectly. “The module was so small, less than 2 meters of diameter, that the torch was enough to properly light the setting,” he told us. “I had only the time for two landscape shots and two portrait ones, just a few seconds before I was literally obliged to leave the module.”

In the end, Barteletti was right: it was THE PHOTO. National Geographic chose this shot for the cover. Barteletti still can’t quite believe they chose a photo “shot with a ten-year-old Nikon D3 and lit with an iPhone torch.”

To learn more about Alessandro or see more of his work, visit his website by clicking here.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
Comments Off on This Nat Geo cover was shot with a 10-year-old DSLR and an iPhone flashlight

Posted in Uncategorized

 

How to Demystify Shooting Video With Your dSLR

12 Jul

It’s almost impossible these days to get a camera that doesn’t have a video mode yet I’m going to guess that you have either never pushed the record button, or you have and you weren’t happy with the results so never pushed it again. Or maybe you’ve avoided pushing the button simply because you don’t want to deal with editing the video. It becomes one of those things that’s easier to avoid than it is to try and possibly fail at mastering immediately. And while it’s true that the record button is red, you shouldn’t let that stop you shooting video.

shotting video - red button

If you are one of those photographers, let’s demystify some of the ins and outs of shooting video with your DSLR and open up a new string to your bow. The biggest tip? Just to get out there and shoot some video. Not all the footage will be amazing, but the more you do it the more you’re going to learn and the more comfortable you’ll get with it. Dare I say, you may actually have some fun learning something new as well.

Why bother?

But why would you want to add the shooting video to your arsenal in the first place? Let’s be honest, even if you aren’t making money from your photography, if you’re like most of us, you really like getting attention online and engaging with others. Video is a great way to get attention on social media and begin a dialogue. A fake survey that I am about to make up said that people are 800,000% more likely to stop and look a post if it includes a video.

On a serious note though, video can help improve your storytelling and it’s fun to learn new things. Perhaps if you find yourself in a bit of a rut, it could be just the thing to help get your creative juices flowing.

Smiling shooting video

Storytelling and video editing

Video, just like photography, is about telling a story.

The first thing to think about with video is that you will most likely have to edit it, not much, but at least just a bit. It’s important to have at least some idea of what your edit is going to look like before you shoot video. I’ve been working in the film industry for almost 20 years and even I have times where I get back to the editing suite and realize that I’ve forgotten to get a shot that would really help. The more you shoot, the more you’ll realize how many different angles and shots you actually need to tell the story.

Interview shooting video

A good tip is to always get wide and tight shots. Your close-up and medium detail shots are most likely going to be your beauty shots, artsy-fartsy if you like. Then the wide shots will help you establish your scene and let your audience know where your story is taking place, which is absolutely vital. Once you have those shots, just have fun and be creative. Take more shots and angles than you think you’ll need. Trust me, you’ll be glad you did!

Camera settings for shooting video

When it comes to the settings on your camera, you can go really deep but don’t let it stop you from starting! There are some basics to start with:

1. Select a frame rate

If you’re in North America or Japan, select 30 frames per second and if you’re anywhere else select 25 frames per second. There are a few other options and reasons for all of them, but this is a good place to start.

Frame rates are normally found in the “movie settings”, which is at the bottom of the “Shooting Menu” on Nikon.

With Canon, you may have to turn on Live View mode before the movie options will appear in the menu.

2. Aperture, ISO and Shutter Speed

These work exactly the same in video as they do when taking still photos, so that’s easy.

But shutter speed is slightly different. As a general rule, set your shutter speed to double the frame rate. This is so that movement in your video will look natural. If you set your shutter speed low – in video mode, most cameras won’t let you go under 1/20th – then any movement will be blurry. If you set your shutter speed higher than 1/60th or so, then things moving in your video may appear too sharp. Yes, too sharp can be bad in video – try it and see for yourself.

Here is a short video to help you with video settings:

3. Audio

Lastly but probably most importantly, think about your audio. Without realizing it, you’ll find it makes all the difference in your video. The built-in microphones on most cameras are not great, so a good way to get round that is… don’t use it.

So what DO you use? Well, microphones are a bit like cameras, the best one is the one you have with you. So just use music over your whole video to cover anything until you can get a better audio source.

Gear

What about gear, you ask? Don’t you need loads of different equipment than what you use for photography? What about external monitors, tripods, and video lights? Do you need a fancy rig? Sure, you can get a whole lot of new gear but you don’t NEED anything to get started. It’s too easy to let a lack of gear stop you but if you have a camera with a record button, you have everything you need to start.

record button shooting video

shooting video gear shooting video fancy rig

Conclusion

You just need to get out there and shoot – anything. Just press the red button, because this is one situation where red means go. Go shoot some video and have some fun like this!

The post How to Demystify Shooting Video With Your dSLR by Lee Herbet appeared first on Digital Photography School.


Digital Photography School

 
Comments Off on How to Demystify Shooting Video With Your dSLR

Posted in Photography

 

Motorola shows off ‘DSLR’ and 360° camera Moto Mods at Ghana event

06 Jul

Motorola has big plans for Moto Mods—the company’s snap-on accessories for the modular Moto Z smartphone. The company recently showcased some new Moto Mods at an event in Ghana, and according to TechDroider they included a 360-degree camera mod and a ‘DSLR’ mod with interchangeable lens support.

Popular leakster Evan Blass also recently tweeted a photo showing the alleged 360 camera Moto Mod unveiled in Ghana:

Assuming the 360 camera mod leak shows the actual product, the Moto Mod will feature a dual-lens camera module attached to the top of the Moto Mod, which itself attaches to the back of the Moto Z smartphone. The ‘DSLR’ mod is a bit more of a mystery, appearing in one very rough photo from TechDroider as a Moto Mod with a mount for attaching removable lenses.

No further information about either mod—including specs, pricing or availability—are known at this time, but we’ll keep you updated. Chances are good the products won’t stay exclusive to the little country of Ghana.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
Comments Off on Motorola shows off ‘DSLR’ and 360° camera Moto Mods at Ghana event

Posted in Uncategorized

 

Meet the EOS 6D Mark II – Canon’s entry-level full-frame DSLR

29 Jun

Hands-on with Canon EOS 6D Mark II

Meet the new 6D – it looks a heck of a lot like the old 6D, but before you jump to the comments to complain about how nothing exciting ever happens in the camera industry anymore, read this article first.

Because appearances are deceptive…

Hands-on with Canon EOS 6D Mark II

One of the most notable upgrades compared to the original 6D is an entirely new 26.2MP full-frame CMOS sensor, with a native ISO sensitivity span of 100-40,000.

We haven’t been able to conduct any lab testing yet, but from our initial shooting it appears (unsurprisingly) to deliver better image quality than the 20MP sensor inside the 6D. The bump in resolution from 20 to 26 Megapixel won’t make as much difference to maximum print sizes as the bare number might suggest, but as a general rule, more pixels = better image quality.

Hands-on with Canon EOS 6D Mark II

Ergonomically, the 6D Mark II is exactly what you’d expect. Button layout is virtually identical to the original EOS 6D, and anyone with experience of a recent EOS-series DSLR will be able to find their way around without any trouble at all.

Hands-on with Canon EOS 6D Mark II

It’s the same story on the back of the Mark II, with one very obvious difference. The LCD is now touch-sensitive, and fully articulating.

Hands-on with Canon EOS 6D Mark II

Like so. Operationally, this makes the 6D Mark II behave very much like the APS-C format EOS 80D. It even shares the same 45-point phase detection autofocus system, with the same Dual Pixel AF implementation in live view and movie modes too, covering 80% of the frame both vertically and horizontally.

Speaking of movie mode, the EOS 6D Mark II offers a fairly standard (ahem – standard for Canon) video feature, with a maximum resolution of 1080/60p. If you want 4K, you’ll have to save up for an EOS 5D Mark IV, I’m afraid.

Hands-on with Canon EOS 6D Mark II

Spot the difference – externally, the 6D Mark II (on the left) is extremely similar to its predecessor. It’s basically the same weight, too – 685g (1.5 lb) compared to 680g.

Hands-on with Canon EOS 6D Mark II

And aside from the redesigned screen, it’s pretty much identical from the back, too. Which is fine – the 6D was a pleasant, intuitive camera, and aside from some very minor styling differences (the card access lamp is now above the memory card door, not below – tell all your friends!) the Mark II barely alters the basic recipe.

While the simultaneously announced EOS Rebel SL2 features a dedicated Wi-Fi button, setting up the 6D’s wireless system is all done through the camera’s menu system. The 6D II supports NFC for easy pairing with Android devices as well as Bluetooth for maintaining a constant connection with your mobile device. Like its predecessor, the EOS 6D Mark II also offers a built-in GPS for image geotagging.

Hands-on with Canon EOS 6D Mark II

Note the raised collar around the hotshoe. This forms a weatherproof seal when the 6D Mark II is used with one of Canon’s high-end flashguns.

As usual, Canon is coy when it comes to the extent of the EOS 6D Mark II’s weather-sealing, but I am in the unusual position of having been able to test a pre-production unit in moderately heavy rain. You’ll be reassured to know that while I got quite soggy, the camera didn’t stop working, explode or fall apart in my hands.

Hands-on with Canon EOS 6D Mark II

For almost 30 years, non-pro Canon SLRs have sported the same distinctive exposure mode dial. This is where you’ll find the standard PASM shooting modes, as well as auto exposure modes, including full-auto, custom shooting settings and scene modes (‘SCN’). The 6D Mark II’s main power switch is just below.

Hands-on with Canon EOS 6D Mark II

Some readers might be disappointed with the 6D Mark II’s single SD card slot (and lack of UHS-II support,) but a lot of enthusiasts and advanced amateurs probably won’t care. With card capacities of 64GB+ and built-in Wi-Fi, some 6D II users might find themselves swapping cards very rarely.

That said, with a maximum shooting rate of 6.5 fps, the 6D Mark II will rip through card space quicker than its predecessor (which maxed-out at 4.5 fps) especially in Raw mode.

Hands-on with Canon EOS 6D Mark II

The LP-E6N battery is compatible with most high-end Canon DSLRs, which is great news for anyone considering a 6D Mark II as a second camera alongside an original 6D or recent 5D-series body. Battery life is quoted as 1200 shots in viewfinder shooting mode, dropping to ~400 in live view.

Hands-on with Canon EOS 6D Mark II

Like the 5D and 1D-series bodies, the 6D Mark II is compatible with Canon’s Remote Switch RS-80N3, and the programmable TC-80N3. The remote switch socket is positioned at the front of the camera, safely out of the way of the handgrip.

Hands-on with Canon EOS 6D Mark II

Standard HDMI and USB I/O ports can be found on the side of the 6D Mark II, alongside a mic socket. We’re pleased to see that the mic socket is offset, which means that it shouldn’t snag the articulating screen during movie shooting.

You can read more about using the EOS 6D Mark II in my shooting experience.

What do you make of the EOS 6D Mark II? Let us know in the comments below.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
Comments Off on Meet the EOS 6D Mark II – Canon’s entry-level full-frame DSLR

Posted in Uncategorized

 

Beastgrip launches Kickstarter to fund next generation DSLR lens adapter for smartphones

31 May

Beastgrip has created a Kickstarter campaign to fund its latest series of adapters that allow smartphone photographers to shoot through SLR lenses and achieve the associated shallow depth of field. The company has not only officially launched the Mk2 model of its existing DOF Adapter but is also offering the new Pro Series 1.33x Anamorphic Lens and the Beastrail to attach focusing aids when using cinema lenses.

Beastgrip says that it has redesigned some of the build and handling aspects of the DOF MK2 but has also given it new optics that are said to reduce the occurrence of aberrations while at the same time making the system compatible with a wider range of lenses – including zooms.

$ (document).ready(function() { SampleGalleryV2({“containerId”:”embeddedSampleGallery_6367553279″,”galleryId”:”6367553279″,”isEmbeddedWidget”:true,”standalone”:false,”selectedImageIndex”:0,”startInCommentsView”:false,”isMobile”:false}) });

The new anamorphic lens compresses a wider view onto the smartphone’s sensor which can then be worked in post-production to create videos with a 2.4:1 aspect ratio and stills in the 16:9 format. The lens has a 58mm filter thread on the front and is prone to ‘cool horizontal lens flare that you get when the lens is pointed towards a bright light source.’

$ (document).ready(function() { SampleGalleryV2({“containerId”:”embeddedSampleGallery_2240018419″,”galleryId”:”2240018419″,”isEmbeddedWidget”:true,”standalone”:false,”selectedImageIndex”:0,”startInCommentsView”:false,”isMobile”:false}) });

The Beastgrip DOF MK2 will cost $ 269.99 on its own or $ 409.98 with the Beastgrip Pro housing, while the 1.33x Anamorphic Lens will cost $ 175 or $ 314.99 with the Beastgrip Pro. The Beastrail will be $ 159.99. Each of the items, and various kit combinations, will be offered at a discount on the Kickstarter page for ‘early bird’ investors. 

For more information see the Beastgrip DOF MK2 Kickstarter page or the Beastgrip website.

Press Release

Beastgrip is Releasing New Gear to Turn Your Smartphone Into a Pro Camera Rig

Beastgrip is proud to announce the DOF Adapter MK2, the next generation of the best-selling DOF Adapter that allows photographers and filmmakers to mount a real SLR or DSLR lens to a smartphone for a stunning bokeh, shallow depth of field and manual focus control.

“Smartphone cameras are great, but they have substantial limitations. Without true depth of field, larger sensors and/or the option to add lenses or camera gear, most photos/videos that are shot with one all look the same,” said CEO Vadym Chalenko. “We’re here to change that.”

“Using lenses and depth of field adapters with your smartphone give you an entirely new look, by changing the focal length, perspective, and emotion of your shot so you can focus the viewer’s attention on what’s most important,” VP of Business Development Sean Lawrence explains.

The original DOF Adapter has been a monumental advancement in “phoneography.” Since it was released on Kickstarter back in 2015, professional filmmakers have been pushing it to its fullest potential with films like Ghost Digital Cinema’s “MALTO,” Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros’ “No Love Like Yours,” National Geographic’s “Wasfia,” and Boat Magazine’s “Of Land and Sea.”

“We couldn’t be happier to be a part of these projects, but we knew that the DOF Adapter could be – and should be – better, so that creators of any skill level can harness its power in their workflow,” added Chalenko.

New Features for the DOF Adapter MK2

  • The new design dramatically improves the image quality from the first version and provides a simple, user-friendly experience. The MK2 also boasts the following new features:
  • Custom optics that dramatically reduce vignetting/hotspotting, chromatic aberration and distortion.
  • Compatibility with a much wider range of full-frame SLR/DSLR lenses, such as zoom lenses.
  • Sealed focusing screen and components for a maintence-free user experience.
  • Durable, black anodized aluminum casing with a rotating barrel that aligns the focusing screen and bayonet mount in one simple motion.

Beastrail

Beastgrip also created a rail support for attaching additional accessories like a follow focus to the DOF Adapter MK2 for a complete filmmaking system with the same features found on professional camera rigs.

Pro Series 1.33X Anamorphic Lens

Following the recent release of the Beastgrip x Kenko Pro Series .75X Wide Angle lens, Beastgrip is adding a 1.33X Anamorphic Lens to the Pro Series Lens Collection as well. This lens transforms videos into a widescreen 2.4:1 aspect ratio and adds a more dramatic perspective without the need to crop, resulting in a high resolution, cinematic look and creative lens flares like seen in Hollywood film

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
Comments Off on Beastgrip launches Kickstarter to fund next generation DSLR lens adapter for smartphones

Posted in Uncategorized

 

Arsenal is artificial intelligence for your DSLR or mirrorless camera

26 May

A new product being funded on Kickstarter, Arsenal, aims to simplify the process of capturing images using a DSLR or mirrorless camera by utilizing artificial intelligence. The system is composed of a hardware component sits on the hotshoe and connects to the camera’s USB port, as well as mobile apps for iOS and Android that communicate via WiFi or Bluetooth to the main unit. Among other things, Arsenal chooses ideal camera settings for a particular scene based on what it has learned from thousands of similar existing photographs.

Arsenal was created by engineer and photographer Ryan Stout as a way to quickly shoot ‘amazing images’ in any condition, and without having to manually adjust the camera’s settings. The related mobile app provides total control over the camera, as well as one-tap access to an AI assistant – trained from a database of millions of photographs and their metadata – that chooses optimal settings based on the scene in front of the camera. The software then goes on to refine its chosen settings based on 18 environmental factors. It even takes vibrations into account, thanks to its highly sensitive accelerometer.

Photographers are given a live preview of the scene through the mobile app, as well as manual control over aperture, ISO, and shutter speed. You can focus by tapping on your phone’s touchscreen as well, or tap multiple points and Arsenal will ensure they’re all focused. Arsenal also supports advanced camera functions, like automated photo stacking for HDR images, focus stacking, long exposures without the need for ND filters, and time lapse creation. The resulting Raw files are saved directly to the camera.

Images on your camera can be viewed, even at 100%, directly in the app. From there you can instantly share to social media using your phone’s social sharing capabilities. You can even rate images and enter Lightroom compatible notes, and they’ll all show up upon import.

Arsenal supports cameras from Canon, Nikon, Fujifilm, and Sony; photographers can input their own camera on this page to see whether it is supported. The camera assistant is currently being funded through Kickstarter, where the $ 50,000 goal has been exceeded with nearly a quarter-million in funding. Backers can get a Kickstarter Exclusive Arsenal by pledging at least $ 150; shipping is estimated to start in January.

Our gallery below explains more about Arsenal’s features. View full-screen for captions.

$ (document).ready(function() { SampleGalleryV2({“containerId”:”embeddedSampleGallery_4614991868″,”galleryId”:”4614991868″,”isEmbeddedWidget”:true,”standalone”:false,”selectedImageIndex”:0,”startInCommentsView”:false,”isMobile”:false}) });

Via: Kickstarter

Press Release:

Arsenal, leaving stealth mode, unveils AI-powered camera hardware on Kickstarter

Intelligent camera assistant wirelessly controls DSLR and Mirrorless cameras from a smartphone, uses machine learning to find optimal settings in any conditions.

BOSEMAN, MT—May 23, 2017—Arsenal, a camera technology startup, today announced the world’s first intelligent camera assistant powered by machine learning. The new hardware and software product, launched on Kickstarter, enables photographers to wirelessly control their cameras and quickly perform advanced techniques.

Arsenal’s artificial intelligence (AI) is powered by a series of machine learning algorithms trained on a database of millions of photographs and their metadata. By comparing new scenes with its database and adjusting based on environmental variables, Arsenal enables photographers to get the perfect shot every time.

“Today’s cameras have amazing optics, but they do very little to actually help you take a good photo,” said Ryan Stout, Arsenal’s founder and CEO. “You can go spend a thousand dollars and out-of-the-box it will take worse photos than your smartphone. Arsenal changes that by making your existing camera smarter.”

Arsenal will serve the growing market for Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) and Mirrorless cameras. Its initial product will be compatible with dozens of popular models made by Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Fuji.

In addition to its AI capabilities, Arsenal gives photographers control over their camera from up to 100 feet away. Users can adjust settings, watch a live preview, and trigger the shutter remotely from their smartphone.

Arsenal also simplifies several advanced photographic techniques. Arsenal will perform photo stacking (the process of combining multiple photos for more dynamic range or sharper focus), long exposures, and timelapses. In each case, the resulting RAW files are saved directly on the camera.

The Arsenal app also includes powerful photo review capabilities. Users can wirelessly browse the photos on their camera’s card and view individual RAW files in full resolution. Photos can then be shared directly to Instagram, Snap, and Facebook.

The Arsenal system, which is currently being tested in the field, consists of two parts: an ultralight hardware device that sits on top of a user’s camera, and an iOS/Android mobile app. The app wirelessly communicates with the device via wifi or Bluetooth, which in turn controls the camera via a micro-USB connection.

Backers of Arsenal’s Kickstarter campaign will be the first to receive the product, which is scheduled to ship in January 2018.  

For more information on Arsenal, the intelligent camera assistant, visit https://witharsenal.com.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
Comments Off on Arsenal is artificial intelligence for your DSLR or mirrorless camera

Posted in Uncategorized

 
« Older Entries
Newer Entries »