360Photography

Tag: first

  • DPReview TV: Fujifilm X-T4 first impressions

    The Fujifilm X-T4 makes some big promises, but can it deliver? Chris and Jordan put it to the test and tell us if this is the Fujifilm camera we’ve all been waiting for.

    Subscribe to our YouTube channel to get new episodes of DPReview TV every week.

    • Introduction
    • Sample photos
    • X-T3 and X-T4 controls compared
    • In-body image stabilization (IBIS) performance
    • Battery life
    • Software improvements
    • Sensor
    • Autofocus
    • Video performance
    • Conclusion

    Sample gallery from this episode

    $ (document).ready(function() { SampleGalleryV2({“containerId”:”embeddedSampleGallery_0557387404″,”galleryId”:”0557387404″,”isEmbeddedWidget”:true,”selectedImageIndex”:0,”isMobile”:false}) });
    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Moving to Manual Mode: Which Setting Should You Adjust First?

    The post Moving to Manual Mode: Which Setting Should You Adjust First? appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Kevin Landwer-Johan.

    moving-to-manual-mode-photography

    Moving to manual mode is often considered too difficult by many beginner photographers. In reality, learning manual mode is not so hard to do. Sure, it’s not for everyone. Many photographers are content to let their camera sort out the exposure settings.

    One of the most common questions I get asked by people I am teaching to use manual mode is “which setting should I adjust first?” Unfortunately, there is no set answer to this question. It depends on what you are photographing.

    motion and DOF control, moving to manual mode, ballet dancer

    © Kevin Landwer-Johan

    Moving to manual mode

    Shifting your mindset is the most important aspect of moving to manual mode. Are you comfortable using any of the auto or semi-auto exposure modes on your camera? Then you need to make some changes to the way you think.

    First, it rarely matters if it takes you a little longer to set your camera. Very few memorable photos are taken as snaps on the spur of the moment. Slow down.

    Understand the basics of how you can set the exposure manually, then practice. Once you commit to moving to manual mode, you will find it’s not difficult to manage.

    There are only three settings you need to work with to manually control your exposure – shutter speed, aperture, and ISO. These regulate the exposure.

    The exposure meter, also known as the light meter, guides your decision making. With many cameras, you can also use the rear monitor to gauge your exposure. With mirrorless cameras, you can typically see the effect of adjustments you make to exposure in the viewfinder.

    Woman Photographer at the Shopping Mall, moving to manual mode

    © Kevin Landwer-Johan

    Balancing these three settings will result in a well-exposed subject. Each setting can also affect your photos in different ways. These are important to understand to be in control of how you want your photos to look.

    When you are first moving to manual mode, you may not know where to start in setting your exposure. There are many variations on how to set your camera.

    Each photographer may use a different method. I base my choices on what I am photographing.

    Here are the answers I give my workshop participants about which setting to change first.

    When to adjust your shutter speed first

    Photographing a moving subject means you need to consider your shutter speed first. If your shutter speed is too slow, your moving subject may appear blurred.

    At times you will want this effect. Often you will want your subject to be sharp, without any motion blur or camera shake fuzziness.

    Young woman standing in a busy market. Shot using a slow shutter speed to get the movement of the people blurred. Moving to manual mode

    Shutter speed was 1/2 a second. My model stood very still © Kevin Landwer-Johan

    You need to consider how fast your subject is moving to know an appropriate shutter speed to use. The faster the movement, the faster the shutter speed you’ll need to use to freeze the action.

    Making use of motion blur in your photos also requires you to think about how fast your subject is moving. If you set your shutter speed too slow, you’ll see too much blur, and your subject may not be recognizable.

    Alternatively, if your shutter speed is a bit too fast, your subject may only blur a little. This often looks like a mistake has been made.

    To capture a person walking and have them look sharp, you’ll need to use a shutter speed of 1/250th of a second or faster. If you want them to blur a little and still be recognizable, you’ll need to set your shutter speed at around 1/10 of a second or a little slower.

    Low light may mean your shutter speed needs to be slow. It’s important not to choose a speed that’s so slow you’ll get blurring from camera shake. This happens when you are hand-holding your camera and move it slightly during the exposure. I’ll address this more in the section about ISO setting.

    Once you have adjusted your shutter speed, you will then need to set your aperture and ISO. This is what your exposure meter, monitor, or viewfinder can guide you to do.

    Image: I used a shutter speed of 1/1250th of a second to ‘freeze’ the flying water © Kev...

    I used a shutter speed of 1/1250th of a second to ‘freeze’ the flying water © Kevin Landwer-Johan

    When to adjust your aperture setting first

    Aperture, among other things, allows you to control the depth of field in your photographs. This is the amount of your photo that is sufficiently sharp. The wider aperture you choose (lower f/stop number), the less you’ll have in focus in your picture.

    Choosing to adjust the aperture first is a decision based on how much of your composition you want in focus.

    At times, you might want to render as much of your composition in focus as possible. This is a common choice when photographing landscapes.

    Setting your aperture to a higher f/stop number (i.e., f/8-f/22) will give you more depth of field. Understanding hyperfocal distance will help you make better choices about getting a deep depth of field.

    Isolating your subject by blurring the background requires you use a lower f/stop number (i.e., f/1.2 to f4). Doing so means more light will enter your lens. You’ll need to adjust your shutter speed and/or ISO to make sure your subject is well exposed.

    Manipulating the aperture setting first is something I often do when I have a static subject. This is because the shutter speed I use is not so significant as it is when my subject is moving.

    Moving to manual mode to photograph a Thai dancer

    I used an aperture of f/2 on an 85mm lens to control the depth of field. © Kevin Landwer-Johan

    When to adjust your ISO setting first

    I treat my ISO setting as the foundation of my exposure. I only alter it when I need to. Unlike shutter speed and aperture settings, ISO has no creative influence. However, it does have an effect on the technical quality of your images.

    Changing your ISO first is a good idea when you have moved from one location to another, and the light is significantly different. If you’re outside photographing in the bright sun and move inside, you will most likely need to adjust your ISO. Likewise, if you’re photographing in a dark place, and then want to take photos somewhere that’s well illuminated, you may need to change your ISO.

    When you are having to set a slow shutter speed to get a good exposure, you need to consider changing your ISO setting. This is more vital when you are hand-holding your camera, because of the risk of camera shake. When your shutter speed is slow, and your aperture is wide open, increasing your ISO will allow you to also increase your shutter speed.

    My rule of thumb is to keep the ISO setting as low as possible. This will ensure the best technical quality. As camera sensors have improved over the years, quality problems at high ISO settings have diminished. I still find keeping my ISO low is a good way of managing my settings.

    Monks Lighting Candles at night

    I used an ISO setting of 3200 © Kevin Landwer-Johan

    Manual mode balancing act

    Obtaining a well-exposed subject using manual mode is not very difficult. It’s a matter of balancing your shutter speed, aperture, and ISO settings. The key to managing to do this well is practice.

    Moving to manual mode may seem like a big step, especially if you’ve been comfortable letting your camera control the exposure. Once you do make the decision to take control of your camera you will need to stick with it.

    Switch back to an auto mode only when you need to. Otherwise, you will never learn how to take charge of your manual exposure settings properly.

     

    The post Moving to Manual Mode: Which Setting Should You Adjust First? appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Kevin Landwer-Johan.


    Digital Photography School

  • NONS SL42 is the world’s first instant SLR with a M42 mount

    A new Kickstarter campaign is seeking funds for NONS SL42, the first instant camera to feature an interchangeable M42 lens mount and support for Instax Mini instant film. The camera can be used with ‘hundreds of classic M42 lenses,’ according to the team behind the project, which explains that pairing an M42 lens with Instax film results in a round image frame.

    NONS SL42 is an SLR camera that took more than a year to develop, according to the campaign. In addition to Instax instant film support, the SL42 features an adjustable aperture, manual focus, a hot shoe, shutter speed control and support for multiple exposures. The device is powered by two AA batteries.

    The Kickstarter campaign is offering the NONS SL42 instant camera for pledges of at least $ 1,550 HK / $ 200 USD. Backers also have other pledge options, such as the camera bundled with film for around $ 219, bundled with a lens for around $ 232 and bundled with film and a lens for around $ 258. Shipping to backers is expected to start in August 2020, assuming the campaign is successful.

    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)

  • Qualcomm shows off the first 8K footage captured with its Snapdragon 865 chipset

    One of the defining features of Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 865 chipset, which we covered back in December, is its ability to shoot 8K video. We’re yet to see a device make the most of the 865 Snapdragon, but Qualcomm has shared a teaser video showing the 8K resolution in all its glory.

    The device Qualcomm used to capture the video is a prototype smartphone with a Sony Sony IMX586 image sensor inside. It was captured back in November 2019 at various locations around Arizona, including the Grand Canyon, Horseshoe Bend and the Petroglyphs near Antelope Canyon. It’s suggested, of course, to view this in a compatible browser and on the highest-resolution screen you can find to make the most of the footage.

    Below are a few BTS shots shared with DPReview:

    $ (document).ready(function() { SampleGalleryV2({“containerId”:”embeddedSampleGallery_5543099542″,”galleryId”:”5543099542″,”isEmbeddedWidget”:true,”selectedImageIndex”:0,”isMobile”:false}) });

    You can read more about the video capture and Snapdragon 865 5G Mobile Platform on Qualcomm’s blog post.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • MSI Creator 17 is the world’s first laptop with a Mini LED HDR 1000 display

    In late December and again during CES 2020, MSI introduced a laptop designed specifically for graphics professionals: the MSI Creator 17 (not the be confused with the company’s Creator 17M model). This is the world’s first laptop to feature a Mini LED display that meets the HDR 1000 standard, making it ideal for photographers, filmmakers and others who work in visual professions.

    Though the MSI Creator 17 isn’t yet available and hasn’t been fully detailed at this time, the company did discuss its new display technology in detail during CES. According to MSI, the Creator 17 features a 4K 17in display with 1,000 nits brightness, 240 local dimming zones and Mini LED backlighting.

    Mini LED display technology has thus far only been offered in select television models, but it is expected to expand into the smartphone and laptop markets in coming years. The MSI Creator 17’s display offers 100% DCI-P3 coverage, plus MSI says that its display is ‘immune to burn-in problems.’

    A simulated graphic from MSI showing the advantages of Mini LED technology.

    Among other things, MSI says buyers can expect ‘close-to-real color accuracy’ from the laptop’s 4K display, as well as the power efficiency and thinness that come with the technology. Most of the Creator 17 specifications have not been revealed at this time, but MSI did reveal that its new model will feature a USB-C port for powering up to 8K displays and the fastest UHS-III SD card reader currently available on the market.

    Pricing and availability are unknown at this time.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • First look at the Nikon D6

    Nikon D6: First look

    We don’t know much about Nikon’s forthcoming pro sports flagship camera, but CES 2020 did give us an opportunity to get a first look – albeit at a sample under glass. Click through this slideshow for a closer peek, and a digest of what (little) we know so far.

    Nikon D6: First look

    It’s no surprise to see that the D6 looks a lot like the D5. In fact, aside from the slightly more D850-inspired sculpting of the pentaprism you’d be hard pressed to tell the two bodies apart. As Nikon’s high-end DSLRs have matured, it’s pretty much inevitable that we’re not going to see major changes to body shape or control layout.

    From the front you can see the D6’s deep vertical grip, which houses a high-capacity lithium-ion battery, and the heavy duty rubber covers which protect its remote control and flash sync ports from dust and moisture.

    Nikon D6: First look

    From the back, the D6 is again almost indistinguishable from the D5. There are in fact no noticeable changes to button layout at all compared to the previous model. While unconfirmed, the LCD looks to be the same or very similar to the D5, too. Assuming we’re right about that, it’ll be a 3.2″ panel. We fully expect the D6 to follow the D5 in offering back-lit controls for low-light shooting, too.

    The D5 was among Nikon’s first DSLRs to offer 4K UHD video, and we expect the D6 to build on this feature set, perhaps also offering an enhanced video / live view autofocus experience of the kind we’ve seen in the new D780.

    Nikon D6: First look

    The D6 features the same unusual eyecup attachment method as the D5, with the cup screwed into a removable panel, which releases via a pair of catches to the lower left and right of the finder. This view shows off the D6’s large upper status LCD, which displays key exposure settings, battery level, etc.

    It remains to be seen what kind of autofocus features the D6 will offer, but we still consider the D5 to be a gold standard for DSLRs, so any improvement on its excellent 153-point system will just make a great system even better. What we really want are improvements to live view autofocus, to bring the D6 more in line with what we’ve seen from the Z6 and Z7 (and now the D780). We’ll have to wait a while longer to see whether our wishes are fulfilled.

    Nikon D6: First look

    On the opposite side of the D6’s top plate is the main drive mode dial, which lets you quickly select from a range of advance options. No word yet on maximum framerate, but we’d expect a jump from the D5’s maximum shooting rate of 12fps. The trio of buttons which top this dial are MODE / BKT / metering pattern, and are unchanged from the D5.

    Eagle-eyed readers will also notice the WiFi and Bluetooth symbols printed on the D6’s shoulder.

    Nikon D6: First look

    A view from the top shows off the D6’s fairly sparse upper controls, which will be very familiar to D5 and D850 shooters. While – again – unconfirmed, the seam in the pentaprism hump just in front of the hotshoe looks a lot like a polycarbonate ‘window’ for those previously-mentioned wireless connections and / or GPS.

    And that’s it – for now. We’re hoping for more information on the D6 soon, ahead of its expected release before the Tokyo Olympics this summer. We’ll keep you posted!

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • COSYSPEED is crowdfunding to create first ‘Made in Africa’ camera lens pouches

    German company COSYSPEED is looking to raise at least $ 11,000 by offering up the option of either plain or ‘African-style’ camera lens pouches to backers via the popular crowdfunding platform, Indiegogo. Burundi, located in central Africa, is the world’s poorest country. COSYSPEED has partnered with Burundikids, a non-profit organization dedicated to educating young women and girls, to produce a series of 3 microfiber-lined lens pouches plus a microfiber cloth.

    The lens pouches come in three sizes designed to fit prime, standard zoom, and telephoto zoom lenses. The microfiber cloth is the most affordable option, starting at $ 4, followed by $ 9 for the prime pouch, $ 10 for the standard, and $ 11 for the telephoto zoom lens pouch. The entire bundle, containing all 4 items, can be purchased for $ 28. The measurements for each item are as follows:

    • S size Lens Pouch: (Ø) 80 mm / 3.2″ x (h) 100 mm / 4″ – Fits prime lenses
    • M size Lens Pouch: (Ø) 120 mm / 4.7″ x (h) 200 mm / 8″ – Fits standard zoom lenses up to 24-70/2.8
    • L size Lens Pouch: (Ø) 140 mm / 5.5″ x (h) 280 mm / 11″ – Fits tele zoom lenses up to 70-200/2.8
    • Microfibre Cleaning Cloth: 150 mm / 6″ x 150 mm 6″ – For lens cleaning

    If the campaign is successful, COSYSPEED aims to set up a permanent production facility in Bujumbura, Burundi’s largest city, so they can continue to produce the first ‘Made in Africa’ photo accessories. It will house homeless young mothers, and their children, while providing them food and health care. The women will also have the opportunity to participate in an apprenticeship program that will make them dressmakers.

    COSYSPEED will be crowdfunding on Indiegogo through January, 2020. Items are expected ship starting in May.

    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)

  • Anker announces the first MFi certified LED flash cube for iPhone 11, 11 Pro devices

    Chinese smartphone accessory manufacturer Anker has announced a new iPhone lighting accessory that connects to Apple mobile devices via the Lightning cable.

    Last week, we reported, via 9to5Mac, that Apple could soon support Made for iPhone (MFi) lighting accessories. This new device from Anker confirms that report and comes as the first device that will work natively with Apple’s hardware and software.

    The iPhone LED Flash, as it’s currently being called, will retail for $ 50 and work exclusively with iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro models. According to Anker, the flash unit works with Apple’s stock camera app, as well as third-party camera apps, and is capable of firing off 10,000 shots per charge. When the battery is dead, it can recharge via a Lightning cable (although you can’t use the one that’s built-in, which is inconvenient).

    Ignore the ‘December 27, 2019’ release date — it appears it won’t be out for another month.

    Anker claims the light, which bears a striking resemblance to the Lume Cube, can help ‘illuminate objects at 2x the range and 4x the brightness’ compared to the LED flash modules onboard the latest iPhone models. It comes with a diffuser (also similar to Lume Cube) and features a standard 1/4”-20 tripod mount.

    No definitive date is given for the launch, but 9to5Mac is reporting it will be available sometime in January. In the meantime, you can keep an eye on Anker’s website for more information. We have contacted Anker for a confirmation on the release date and will update the article accordingly if we receive a response.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Your first interchangeable lens camera: a beginner’s guide

    Just getting started with your first interchangeable lens camera? Don’t be intimidated – we’re here to help.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • ACLU files First Amendment lawsuit against US government on behalf of 5 photojournalists

    The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has sued the United States government on the behalf of five photojournalists who allege their rights were violated ‘on multiple separate occasions’ while reporting on conditions at the US-Mexico border. According to the ACLU, the Department of Homeland Security made a database of journalists and photojournalists who were reporting on US-Mexico border conditions and used this database to target, detain, and interrogate them.

    The lawsuit was filed on the behalf of Bing Guan, Go Nakamura, Mark Abramson, Kitra Cahana and Ariana Drehsler, all of whom are professional photojournalists and U.S. citizens, according to the ACLU. The lawsuit alleges these individuals were among the journalists included in Homeland Security’s secret database.

    The database allegedly contained the photojournalists’ names, birth dates, headshots, and information about whether they’d been interrogated. An ‘X’ was allegedly used to cross out the individuals who had already been interrogated, indicating that the ‘random’ secondary screenings and interrogations they were subjected to weren’t actually random.

    Bing Guan said in a statement to the ACLU:

    ‘I was being targeted by my own government for reporting on conditions at the border.‘

    The ACLU explains that photojournalists were detained when they attempted to reenter the United States, at which point they were allegedly interrogated about various matters ranging from their observations of the condition of the border and shelters to whether they could identify people from a series of headshots. Multiple photojournalists claim they were forced to reveal the images they had taken and that at least one officer had used a phone to snap images of the photos.

    Forcing the photojournalists to disclose details about their sources and observations was a violation of the First Amendment, according to the ACLU, which calls the ‘disturbing actions’ a potential deterrent that may prevent other journalists from pursuing similar work.

    The ACLU said in its announcement of the lawsuit:

    ‘That the government’s actions occurred at the border makes them no less unlawful … When the government tries to circumvent constitutional protections, we must hold it accountable. No journalist should have to fear government interference for having the persistence, courage, and commitment to expose the truth.’

    The lawsuit can be read in full on the ACLU’s website. Plaintiffs seek an official declaration that their First Amendment rights were violated; they also want the records related to their interrogations to be expunged and more.

    Via: ACLU

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)