Gearing up for Photokina, Fujifilm has announced the XF 56mm F1.2 R APD – APD standing for apodization. The lens is a variant of the existing XF56mm F1.2 R, utilizing the same underlying design of 11 elements in 8 groups but it adds an apodization filter. Essentially a radial gradient filter, it aims to produce better-looking highlights and more pleasant bokeh. Read more
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
Zeiss has announced a new fast mid-telephoto prime to join last year’s widely acclaimed 1.4/55 lens in the Otus range. Due out in the middle of this month in Canon EF (ZE) and Nikon F (ZF.2) mounts, the new Zeiss Otus 1.4/85 is a manual focus lens claimed to offer exceptional performance even when used wide open on full frame cameras. Read more
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
Ahead of a Photokina launch, Hong-Kong based SLR Magic has announced the HyperPrime Cine 10mm T2.1 lens for Micro Four Thirds and SLR Magic 77 ND 0.4-ND 1.8 filter. The manual focus lens offers a 20mm equivalent angle on a Micro Four Thirds body, and is designed to a videographer’s taste with a stepless aperture ring. It will be available at the end of October for $ 799. Read more
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
Samsung has announced the latest iteration of its top-of-the-line phablet, the Galaxy Note 4, at simultaneous events in New York and Berlin today. In terms of design the new model is very close to its predecessor, the Galaxy Note 3, but the big news about the Note 4’s 16MP camera is its optical image stabilization system – making it the first Samsung smartphone to offer this feature. Read more
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
Sony has announced the QX1 and QX30, expanding its line of ‘lens-style’ cameras ready to be paired with a smartphone. The QX1 is an interchangeable lens model, containing a 20MP APS-C sensor and a Sony E-mount for use with lenses designed for Sony’s mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras. More like the existing QX10 and QX100, the QX30 is single unit containing a sensor and lens, providing a 20MP 1/2.3″-type sensor and a longer 30x optical zoom. Read more
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
Two years after HTC launched its Windows Phone flagship model 8X, the Taiwanese manufacturer now offers another high-end model with the Microsoft OS. Today HTC has revealed a Windows Phone version of the HTC One M8, originally launched with Google’s Android OS in March this year. This means the One M8’s unique Duo Cam features are now available in a Windows phone environment. Read more
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
Manfrotto has announced a new line of backpacks and accessories, the Pro Light series. The new line includes backpacks designed for both still photographers and videographers, holsters and rain covers, all designed with an emphasis on portability and versatility. The five styles of backpacks for still photographers offer side access for another route to your gear and are priced from $ 220 – $ 310 USD/£199.95 – £249.95 GBP. Read more
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
Microsoft’s Research division in Redmond, Washington has published material detailing a method for turning shaky first-person camera footage into a stabilized hyperlapse video. The algorithm they’ve developed uses a 3-step process to produce exceptionally stable videos that play back in a single fluid camera sweep. Researchers state that they are woking on bringing this technology to a Windows app, though no release date is given. Learn more
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
Canon has introduced a pair of budget-friendly superzooms: the PowerShot SX400 IS and SX520 HS. These cameras have 24-720mm and 24-1008mm equivalent lenses, respectively. The SX400 sports a 16MP CCD and 720p video, while the SX520 uses a CMOS sensor (likely BSI) that can produce Full HD movies. You’ll be able to pick up the SX400 IS in August for $ 249.99, with the SX520 HS following in September for $ 399.99.
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
Canon’s printer division has announced Canon Print Service, a software plug-in for your mobile device that allows you to print to compatible Canon printers via a Wi-Fi connection. The service is available for Android devices running version 4.4.2 or newer and select HP Slate devices. Read more
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)