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Posts Tagged ‘first’

Colorado Tripod Company introduces ‘world’s first titanium tripod system’

08 Dec

The Colorado Tripod Company has introduced what it claims is the world’s first titanium tripod system, with a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter. Not only does the use of titanium make the ball heads lightweight and strong, but the design of the heads also allows the camera to drop to the side below the usual 90 degrees seen in other heads.

The Highline ballhead will be available in either titanium or aluminum. The titanium model will feature a hollow ball to reduce weight. Both versions will have a locking force of 54lb and will offer left-handed controls that allow users to hold the camera and shoot with the right hand. The titanium model will weigh less than 340g (12oz), while in aluminium the same unit weighs 510g (18oz).

To accompany these heads a new line of titanium and carbon fibre legs have also been introduced. The company says that by CNC machining from a solid block of titanium it can make its metal parts stronger than manufacturers that use metal casting. Milling also means the company can make its parts more precisely, and it says it can cut the amount of material used to help reduce weight. The carbon fibre used in the Centennial legs is ten-layered, and comes from Japan.

An additional ball head called the Aspen comes only in aluminium but offers a much wider range of camera positions, as it has no housing around the ball. This allows the camera to drop well below 90 degrees, while making the head quite lightweight at only 454g (16oz).

The Highline ball head in aluminium starts at $ 79 on Kickstarter, while the titanium version can be had for $ 399. The Aspen head costs $ 179 and the Centennial tripod is $ 249 in aluminium and $ 399 in titanium. Various kits combing these products are also available. Shipping is planned to start in March.

For more information see the Colorado Tripod Company’s Kickstarter campaign page.

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)

 
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First look: Skylum Luminar 3 adds support for photo libraries, Digital Asset Manager to follow

07 Dec
Skylum Luminar 3’s layout.

Luminar’s library is set to open soon, but expect construction to continue through at least next year.

The long-awaited update to Skylum Software’s photo editor adds in-app photo library management, which the company says is the first step toward building out a complete Digital Asset Manager (DAM). Called ‘Luminar with Libraries’, this version more directly competes with applications that organize your photos, such as Adobe Lightroom Classic CC and Lightroom CC. Luminar 3 arrives December 18, runs on macOS and Windows, and is a free update for owners of Luminar 2018.

This version more directly competes with applications that organize your photos, such as Adobe Lightroom

That’s mixed news for photographers contemplating a switch from Adobe’s applications, especially since Skylum has been teasing a Luminar DAM for well over a year (and just barely hitting their promise to ship it in 2018). Acknowledging the situation, Skylum is making further updates to Luminar free throughout 2019.

Luminar 3 is a free update for current owners of Luminar 2018. Owners of Aurora HDR, Photolemur, and legacy products can upgrade for $ 49 until December 18. New preorders cost $ 59 until that date, and $ 69 thereafter. There’s no subscription pricing model.

Library vs Digital Asset Manager

Here’s what Luminar with Libraries offers:

  • The Library component is integrated into the application, not existing as a separate app. It keeps track of all the images you throw at it in a browsable image gallery. Photos can be imported from cameras or memory cards, or you can point Luminar at existing folders on your hard disk. Unlike apps such as Apple Photos or Lightroom CC, Luminar doesn’t squirrel the images away to its own folder or container. It creates a central catalog file to track file locations and edits, but the originals remain wherever you put them in the first place.
  • In the Library, you can rate photos from zero to five stars, mark them as flagged or rejected, or apply any of five color labels.
  • You can create albums and populate them with photos.
  • A few shortcuts act like smart albums, revealing photos based on their capture dates, import dates, and recently edited dates.
  • In the Info panel, a limited set of EXIF data is shown, such as the camera, lens, focal length, ISO, aperture, shutter speed, and exposure compensation.
  • You can filter the library based on any of those attributes.
Filter images based on the criteria the Library offers.

Luminar with Libraries covers the basics of wrangling files and making them easily available for editing, but a full DAM provides a deeper level of interacting with one’s photos. Not included in this release is the ability to apply keywords or IPTC metadata, any kind of text-based search, a way to expose and take advantage of location data, or synchronization of images between computers or devices. The interface for importing photos relies on traditional Open dialogs instead of a way to preview the shots.

Editing Changes

Luminar 3 is still the same editor as it was before, with a few enhancements. Presets are now ‘Luminar Looks,’ which sounds like just a rebranding attempt, but actually rolls presets, LUTs, and some AI-enhanced operations into one-click actions.

“Luminar Looks” isn’t simply advantageous alliteration, but a merging of presets, LUTs, and some AI processing.

More significantly, the inclusion of the library into Luminar makes it possible to apply edits to one image and sync them among many other similar photos.

Sync edits from one image to several similar shots.

The Windows version includes improvements to Luminar’s color management to get consistent color among displays and devices, plus a host of bug fixes and performance boosts.

What’s Next

Skylum plans to release frequent updates throughout 2019 to add features and expand the library’s features. In its Luminar Roadmap, the company lists targets for the first half of the year that include:

  • Improved handling of Raw + JPEG image pairs (instead of treating each part separately).
  • The ability to create virtual copies of photos.
  • A Smart Search feature for locating shots “using keywords, EXIF information, and file names” (suggesting keyword support will be forthcoming).
  • IPTC core data editing and syncing among images.
  • Features that use AI technology “when editing skin on portraits, architecture, removing objects or simply applying masks on your images.”
  • A Lightroom migration tool.

Although Luminar 3 won’t arrive with a fully-formed DAM, as many photographers were hoping, incorporating the photo library into the application is still a big deal. Melding the library and the editing tools in the same environment streamlines the overall workflow. It allows you to work on a range of images quickly, without the hassle of opening and saving individual images (and deciding where the edited versions live). It’s a big reason why people stick with Lightroom or use alternatives such as Capture One, Alien Skin Exposure, or ON1 Photo Raw.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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NASA’s InSight lander shares its first photos from the surface of Mars

28 Nov
Photo via NASA/JPL-Caltech/Lockheed Martin, used under Public Domain

It took six months and more than 300 million miles, but NASA’s InSight lander is now safe and sound on the surface of Mars and transmitting back the first bits of data to scientists here on Earth.

Among the first observations sent back to Earth from Mars is a collection of 1-megapixel photos captured with its onboard Instrument Deployment Camera (IDC). The images, which were transmitted by relaying the data to NASA’s Odyssey orbiter that’s currently orbiting Mars before being sent back down to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, are the first of many that will be transmitted back to Earth during InSight’s two-year mission to study the interior of Mars.

The first publicly-shared photo sent back was one captured before the lens cap was removed from the camera, as evident from the dust covering the image.

The second image shared by NASA shows off a bit of the spacecraft itself with Elysium Planitia, a large plain on the equator of Mars that’s located in the Elysium and Aeolis quadrangles, in the background.

The landing site, which is approximately 370 miles north of where NASA’s Curiosity rover is rolling around the Martian surface, will now be scanned and covered with various scientific instruments as part of InSight’s mission to ‘probe the mysteries of Mars’s deep interior and help answer geophysical questions about the planet’s structure, composition and how it formed,’ as noted by The New York Times.

To keep up with the InSight mission, visit NASA’s InSight mission page and follow the verified InSight Twitter account.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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ISO drafts the first worldwide drone standards, expected to be adopted later next year

23 Nov

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has published a draft set of standards for drone operations. The drafts will be open for public consultation until January 21, 2019 and are expected to be adopted globally later next year.

This is the first set of four drone-related sets of standards. An additional three sets will look into technical specifications, manufacturing quality, and traffic management.

Most of the proposed standards are line with already existing drone legislation and regulations as well as common sense. The draft includes no-fly zones around airports and other sensitive locations. Geo-fencing technology is suggested to prevent drone flying over restricted areas. Other suggestions include flight logging, operator training as well as maintenance requirements.

There are also rules around privacy and data protection for operators and the draft standard suggests there should be a mandatory means of human intervention for all drone flights.

With drone traffic increasing substantially and drones frequently involved in air traffic incidents, more standards for both technology and operation procedures should be a step into the right direction and can help drive drone adoption further. More information is available on the ISO website.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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NASA shares the first 8K footage from space, shot aboard the International Space Station

07 Nov

NASA has published the first 8K footage from space on its YouTube channel.

The three minute video, filmed aboard the International Space Station, details “the in-space experience and see how the international partnership-powered human spaceflight is improving lives on Earth, while enabling humanity to explore the universe.”

Throughout the video, more than a dozen experiments and devices are shown, each of which are listed and timestamped in the video’s description on YouTube. There’s even a glimpse or two of Nikon D5 cameras and Manfrotto mounting equipment.

In order to view the video in full resolution, you’ll need to either stream it on Google’s Chrome browser or download the 3GB MP4 video directly from NASA’s Image and Video Library website.

Of course, in order to watch it in all its glory, you’re going to need a display capable of showing off 8K footage — something you might not have sitting around the house or office — so keep that in mind.

NASA specifically thanks the European Space Agency, the ISS National Lab, and astronauts Alexander Gerst, Serena Auñón-Chancellor, Ricky Arnold and Drew Feustel for their efforts in the making of the video.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Panasonic announces first 8K camera with its organic image sensor inside

30 Oct

Panasonic has announced its first camera to use the organic film sensor it announced in February. This comes five years after announcing a collaboration with Fujifilm and seven years after the technology was patented. The AK-SHB810 uses the technology to offer 8K resolution at 60p and ‘global’ shutter.

The camera comes in the form of a ‘head unit’ that attaches via fiber-optical cable to an offboard processing unit. It should be available in 2019 with the Japanese press release talking about providing an 8K broadcast system in time for 2020, when Tokyo will host the Olympic Games. Panasonic also mentions feature film production, which explains the use of the industry-standard ‘PL’ mount.

In a conventional CMOS sensor, the silicon acts as the light-sensitive medium, charge storage and readout circuitry: reading out the pixel ends the exposure, so the shutter behavior is determined by the readout rate. In the organic film/CMOS chip, the two processes are independent, so the exposure can be stopped for the whole sensor to give a global shutter, with readout occuring in the background.

As well as avoiding any ‘rolling shutter’ skewing effect, Panasonic highlights that a global shutter means that flashguns fired while recording won’t cause partial bright bands across the image (something that could be distracting in broadcasts of indoor sporting events).

In addition, the sensor design allows the sensitivity of the capture medium to be varied to give a continuously variable virtual ‘ND Filter’ effect. The company also promises wide dynamic range capture, though puts no figures on this.

This figure shows the stepless, electronically-controlled ‘ND filter’ effect of the Panasonic sensor.

All these features stem from a fundamental aspect of the new sensor: the separation of the light gathering function of the sensor from the readout process and its circuitry.

The global shutter can be achieved because the light sensitive layer can be turned on and off (or its sensitivity varied) by varying the charge applied to it. This means that the whole film layer can capture a frame and then be made inactive while the CMOS circuitry underneath reads-out. In turn, this means the capture pattern doesn’t have to be defined by the sensor’s readout rate: progressively working down the frame.

The ability to vary the sensitivity of the organic film layer by adjusting the charge applied to it provides the virtual ‘ND filter’ affect, which can mimic ‘whole stop’ NDs or be continuously variable.

Pricing is not mentioned in the press release.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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These are the first portfolio images captured on Kodak’s revived Ektachrome E100 film

21 Oct
“Here, cotton candy-hued skies are reflected in Rockland, Maine’s calm harbor, speckled with ferries, yachts, yawls and mighty windjammers, such as the red-striped Victory Chimes, America’s largest schooner readying its sailors for a wind blown journey across Penobscot Bay,” Guttman explained on Kodak’s Instagram.

Ahead of its global distribution late last month, Kodak released its new Ektachrome 100 film to select photographers for beta testing. One of those photographers was award-winning photographer Peter Guttman, who was given access to the Kodak Professional Instagram account starting on September 12. Guttman used the account to share several images captured with the new Ektachrome E100 film.

Kodak bills its resurrected Ektachrome E100 as an extremely fine grain film that produces vibrant colors with low contrast and a neutral tonal scale. Guttman put the film to the test in a variety of scenes, capturing photos of a colorful sunset, bright daylight, high-contrast environments, and more.

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The new Kodak Ektachrome E100 film is available to preorder now from B&H Photo, Adorama, and other online retailers for $ 12.99. The film is listed as back-ordered with an availability date of December 2018. You can find out more information on Guttman by reading through his interview with YAG University

Credit: Photographs by Peter Guttman, used with permission

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Canon EOS R teardown: Roger Cicala takes a look inside Canon’s first full-frame mirrorless

20 Oct
Lensrentals.com, 2018

It’s been less than two weeks since the Canon EOS R started shipping and already Roger Cicala, founder of Lens Rentals, has taken one apart in incredible detail to see what’s inside.

Per his usual routine for gear teardowns, Cicala makes notes of various features and components found inside the camera along the way.

Lensrentals.com, 2018

The EOS R teardown started with the removal of the adhesive grip tape from around the body of the camera to better see where all of the screws are. From there, the Cicala stripped the EOS R of its various elements piece by piece from the outside in.

While Cicala called it ‘a rather a boring disassembly,” the resulting photos and look inside the camera are anything but. Canon appears to have done a solid job across the board considering the price point and feature set of the camera, but there’s certainly room for improvements.

Lensrentals.com, 2018

The buttons on the camera are thoroughly protected with weather-sealing gaskets, but the body itself is only water-resistant by tightly overlapping two pieces of the seams of the polycarbonate frame. In Cicala’s own words, “that means, I think, that it will be fine in a misty rain for a while, but don’t get it saturated and don’t set it somewhere wet.”

Lensrentals.com, 2018

Cicala also notes that “it’s not very crowded inside [the EOS R],” meaning there’s plenty of room to pack in more features and tech inside if Canon decides to do so. He specifically mentions that much of the extra space he noticed between the circuit board and image sensor is where the in-body stabilization (IBIS) is seen inside the Sony A7R III he took apart. But don’t hold your breath for seeing IBIS in future EOS R cameras. Cicala adds “Canon has been very clear that they think lens stabilization is superior.”

Lensrentals.com, 2018

Overall, Cicala says the EOS R appears to follow most of the design and engineering elements of past Canon DSLR cameras. “It was rather a boring disassembly, really, about what we should expect for Canon doing a Canon 6D Mark II quality mirrorless camera […] It’s neatly laid out and nicely engineered inside.”

Lensrentals.com, 2018

To see more photos and more thorough insights from Cicala, head on over to the full Canon EOS R teardown. Cicala notes that a similar dissection of Nikon’s Z7 is complete and will be written up as soon as he can get around to it.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Photographing a ‘First Look’: The Pros and Cons for Wedding Photographers

18 Oct

The wedding timeline can be different for every couple. That’s why you need to learn to ask important questions, such as whether they’ve considered a ‘First Look’ or would rather keep it traditional. This simple decision can change the entire course of the day in terms of taking portraits.

Let’s dive in and look at the pros and cons of having the couple see each other before the wedding ceremony.

What is a ‘First Look’?

Traditionally, the bride and groom don’t see each other until the bride walks down the aisle. It’s thought to be good luck, and keeps in line with centuries of tradition.

A ‘First Look’ is where a couple decides to see each other either before the wedding ceremony or before the important events  begin. This new concept is growing in popularity, with many couples opting to go for the first look rather than keeping the ceremony traditional.

Sometimes, as is normal with weddings, other factors will determine whether keeping it traditional or doing a first look is best in terms of both the photography and the day’s timeline.

The pros of having a first look

One pro of having a first look is when the wedding day timeline calls for it due to a schedule that might interfere with the bride and groom portraits. For example, if there isn’t enough time to take portraits after the ceremony because the couple would rather attend their cocktail hour, doing a first look earlier in the day will give you enough time to capture the couple. (Click here for other tips on overcoming common wedding day setbacks).

Another example is if the sun sets early on the wedding day and you’re not sure you’ll have enough light to take the couple’s portraits. This is where a first look can let you choose the best time during the day for the portraits.

Another pro of the first look is that when a couple sees each other before the ceremony it can calm their nerves and help them relax for the portraits. A first look can also act as a seamless transition into the bridal portraits without anyone else being present or having to wait for guests to move to the next event.

The first look will usually give you more time for bridal portraits. After the ceremony, many of the guests will want to congratulate the couple, which can eat up your precious time. They may also want photos taken of them with the couple, cutting further into your bridal portrait time.

A first look can make the transition to the couple’s portraits smoother on a wedding day.

I tell couples that the first look is usually the only time during the entire day they’ll be completely alone. This helps them savor each moment and really lean into each other during the photos. Since the first look typically lasts about ten minutes, it’s easy to transition into portraits of the couple. This works in your favor, as you get to spend more time with the bride and groom capturing real emotions before you seamlessly transition into the couple’s portraits.

A first look can bring out a lot of those nervous emotions and relax the couple before the day unfolds.

The cons of having a first look

One major con of doing a first look is it usually happens in the hottest part of the day or when the sun is at its brightest. First looks are typically done between 11am and 3pm. Photographing in the midday sun has its challenges, and the harsh direct light can sometimes mean changing locations for the bride and groom portraits.

Try to find a covered walkway, or somewhere that keeps the couple out of the sun. Look for large trees with lots of shade, but be aware of spotted light. In direct sunlight it may be easier to find big natural reflectors that bounce light back onto your subject. You can also help fill the shadows with flash or a photo reflector.

Another con to the first look can be the couple needing to get ready much earlier than anticipated just to fit it into the day’s schedule. Be sure to communicate with the couple so everyone knows the best time to photograph the first look and how long it will take.

How to photograph a first look

You can set up the first look in many different ways. A common way is to place the groom in a position where the bride comes come from behind and taps the groom on the shoulder. The groom then turns around and faces the bride. This is where emotions run high, and you can photograph from all angles so they can enjoy the moment.

The best angle is to photograph the groom facing away from the bride as she comes behind him. Then switch to the other side to get the groom’s reaction of seeing his soon-to-be bride in her dress. If you have an assistant photographer, place them at the opposite end of where you are so you can cover it from all angles.

Give the couple time to take in the moment and simply enjoy it.

Another way to do the first look is to have the groom facing the same direction the bride will be walking from. This will give you an instant reaction to them seeing the bride in her dress, so be ready to photograph all of those real emotions.

When you place the groom, take some solid portraits of him to help him relax before the bride walks into the scene. Talk to him, making sure your tone is soft, positive and excited. 

Tell the couple that it’s their time, you don’t exist, and that they should just enjoy the moment. Let them know that kissing, hugging and looking into each other’s eyes is what the first look is all about. 

Once the couple has relaxed and finished with the first look, move right into the portraits by taking them to the location you’ve scouted (if it’s different from the first look location). 

In conclusion

A first look helps you get the most out of your wedding timeline for bride and groom portraits. It also helps the couple relax and feel even more excited about walking down the aisle. Having this beautiful and emotive experience will create more authentic photos, and give you more time to create them.

Ask your next client if they’d like a first look, and refer to these tips when answering their questions. You may be able to help make their special day even more special.

Have you ever photographed a first look? Let us know in the comments.

The post Photographing a ‘First Look’: The Pros and Cons for Wedding Photographers appeared first on Digital Photography School.


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The Samsung Galaxy A9 is the first quad-cam smartphone

12 Oct

It looked like Lenovo was going to be the first smartphone manufacturer to launch a quad-camera model but Samsung has outpaced its rival on the final straight. Today, the Korean company launched the Galaxy A9, the world’s first smartphone with a quad-camera setup.

The device’s main camera offers 24MP resolution and F1.7 aperture. There is a 2x 10MP tele with F2.4 aperture and an 8MP super-wide-angle with 120 degree field-of-view and F2.4 aperture. The fourth camera is a 5MP depth sensor used to create a simulated bokeh effect.

There is no mention of optical image stabilization but the phone features AI-powered scene recognition for optimized exposure and other image parameters. The front camera comes with a 24MP resolution and F2 aperture.

Images can be composed and viewed on a 6.3-inch Super AMOLED screen with 1,080 x 2,220 pixel resolution and stored on 128GB of internal memory or microSD card. The Android 8.0 OS is powered by an octa-core processor and 6 or 8GB of RAM.

Power is provided by a 3,800mAh battery and a fingerprint reader is on board as well. The new phone will be available in a range of colors from November and set you back $ 695 (599 EUR) in the Euro Zone. Unfortunately no US pricing information has been released yet.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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