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Posts Tagged ‘Market’

Don’t wait for Holga – this battery-free Instax printer is already on the market

18 Oct

Toy manufacturer Tomy has announced the KiiPix, a battery-free smartphone printer that’s remarkably similar to the one Holga has been promoting through its Kickstarter campaign. The biggest difference between the two is that you can get the KiiPix today, rather than having to wait for a Kickstarter.

The KiiPix is designed very much like the Holga version, other than the pull-up bellows, and uses the same principles for copying the screen of your smartphone onto Fujifilm Instax Mini instant film.

To make a print, users are encouraged to turn up the brightness of their screen and place the smartphone face down on a frame supported by a fold-out stand. The shutter is tripped using a nearly identical side-lever mechanism as the Holga Printer, and a winding crank draws the film from the cassette through the exit slot to trigger development.

The only thing the KiipIx needs to print photos is a steady supply of Instax film. It collapses down to 135x55x175mm/5.3×2.1×6.88in to stow away easily in a bag for carrying around. The printer has been available since August, and retails for$ 40/£39. It comes in a range of colors depending on your region. For more information see the Tomy website.

PRINT PICTURES ANYTIME, ANYWHERE WITH KIIPIX

KiiPix from TOMY is the new and innovative smartphone printer that instantly prints your favourite photos straight from your smartphone to create lasting memories.

Unlike many instant cameras or photo-printing devices, KiiPix does not require batteries, an app or Wi-Fi to use; simply open up the device, place your smartphone on top, press the button and rotate the dial to print out your photo. KiiPix’s compact design means it’s easily portable so you are ready to print photos anytime, anywhere. It comes in three colours: cherry blossom, sky blue and jet black and at an affordable price point of £39.99 is guaranteed to appeal to the masses.

As the revival of retro inspired products becomes more prominent in both the fashion and technology industries, Kiipix is tipped to be the must-have lifestyle product for millennials, students and young women in 2018. From fashion, to gaming systems, to food, consumer trends show that nostalgic brands are resonating with millennials as they embrace old favourites.

There has been a huge surge in the popularity of instant photography in the last number of years as consumers turn to analogue camera equipment and discover the joy of print photography in this digital age. KiiPix combines both the new and the old, as users can capture and modify photos on their smartphones before instantly printing, retro style.

Kiipix will be supported with a strong digital and social media campaign, as well as being present at experiential consumer events; influencer marketing will also be central to the product launch.

KiiPix – SRP: £39.99
The innovative KiiPix device is light and compact, and collapses into a peggable closed box making it easily portable measuring at 135 mm x 55 mm x 175 mm. KiiPix comes in three colours, cherry blossom, sky blue and jet black. Available in August 2018. Suitable for 10 years plus.

All TOMY toys are cleverly designed to develop children’s core skills whilst they play. Manufactured to the highest standards, this collection of reliable toys continues to be a family favourite, building on the heritage and core values, which parents associate with TOMY. For more information on TOMY please visit www.tomy.com, become a fan at Facebook.com/tomy.toy.uk or follow us on @TomyToysUK.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Sony claims top spot in full-frame interchangeable lens camera market, launches ‘Be Alpha’ campaign

16 Aug

In a press release issued this morning, Sony announced it has sold more full-frame cameras than any other brand in the US over the past six months, measured both by units sold and by value.

Perhaps more impressively, the company is also celebrating occupying the top position in the overall mirrorless market, a spot it has owned for the past six years thanks to the huge success of the a6000, as well as sales of the a7 series.

That’s all good news for Sony, yes, but it’s probably no coincidence that Sony was the last brand to release a mass-market full frame camera. It’s been a year since Canon’s last entry in the category, and a similar amount of time since Nikon announced the D850. And either way, we don’t recommend getting too invested in brand market share, but that’s just us.

Sony’s also taking the opportunity to launch a brand new ‘Be Alpha’ campaign, which will comprise a number of in-person events in major cities, starting on August 19th in New York City to celebrate World Photography Day. The initiative also includes an ‘Alpha Female’ program, which will include grants, mentorship and events to address “the imaging industry’s well-documented diversity challenges.”

Sony Celebrates No.1 Overall Position in U.S. Full-frame Cameras with Launch of Historic “Be Alpha” Campaign

The Leader in Full-frame Empowers Creators of all Types to Continue to Innovate, to Lead, to Push the Limits, to “Be Alpha”

SAN DIEGO, Aug. 15, 2018 – Sony Electronics, Inc. – a worldwide leader in digital imaging and the world’s largest image sensor manufacturer – today announced that it has overtaken and held the No. 1 overall position in the United States full-frame interchangeable lens camera market in the first half of 2018, in both dollars and units1. In fact, four out of every 10 full-frame cameras sold during this time period have come from the Sony brand1.

Additionally, Sony has announced that within the overall mirrorless market, it has held the No. 1 position in both dollars and units for more than six years2. These strong results can be attributed to the company’s leadership in transitioning the market from older DSLR technology to next-generation mirrorless cameras.

Much of Sony’s recent success has been driven by sales of the acclaimed ?7R III and ?7 III models, as well as the rapid adoption of the ?9 camera amongst professional sports photographers and photojournalists. The brand’s extremely active community has played a major part as well, as evidenced by the strong engagement on key social platforms like Instagram, where the official @SonyAlpha page has just surpassed the coveted one million followers count.

As a celebration of these historic achievements, Sony has announced the launch of its extensive “Be Alpha” campaign that will connect creators of all types with the brand and its ever-growing roster of talented photographers and videographers.

“We’re extremely proud of achieving No. 1 overall share in Full-frame cameras in the US market, as well as holding a strong No. 1 share in the mirrorless market for six years running” said Neal Manowitz, vice president of Digital Imaging at Sony Electronics. “More than anything, we owe this to our community. It is our pleasure to create for you, the true creators. You pushed us to innovate, to change, to continually adapt, and your voice remains core to everything we do.”

Manowitz added, “To ‘Be Alpha’ is to be a leader, to be an innovator, to stand out amongst the crowd. It represents everything we stand for as a brand. Our campaign will celebrate the extended Sony community, while also shining a light on the topics that that we are most passionate about – diversity, conservation, equality and much more.”

Sony’s “Be Alpha” movement will be headlined by a series of community events in major markets throughout North America in 2018 and beyond, beginning with the official launch event on August 19th, World Photography Day, in New York City. The campaign will encourage all creators to get involved by sharing their own “Be Alpha” content on all relevant social platforms while tagging #BeAlpha.

The “Be Alpha” campaign will also feature programs that are designed to foster growth in both the current and next generations of imaging professionals, the most notable of which being the flagship “Alpha Female” program. This multi-tiered, female exclusive program is Sony’s thoughtful response to the imaging industry’s well-documented diversity challenges. It will include a variety of grants and mentorship opportunities for female photographers and videographers, as well as the production of several large-scale industry events. Additional details to be released soon.

All key information regarding Sony’s “Be Alpha” movement, including the campaign launch video, will be hosted at www.alphauniverse.com/BeAlpha. This page will be continually updated with information on new events, content pieces and more.

A variety of additional stories and exciting new content shot with Sony products can be found at www.alphauniverse.com , Sony’s community site built to educate, inspire and showcase all fans and customers of the Sony ? brand.

A chart summarizing Sony’s rapid growth in Full-frame market is included below:
  1. Source: The NPD Group, Inc., U.S. Retail Tracking Service, Detachable Lens Camera, Sensor Size: Full Frame, Based on dollar and unit sales, Jan. – June 2018.
  2. Source: Sony internal historical data sources.
  3. Source: The NPD Group, Inc., U.S. Retail Tracking Service, Detachable Lens Camera, Sensor Size: Full Frame, Based on dollar sales, Jan.- Dec. 2017 vs. Jan.- Dec. 2016.
  4. Source: The NPD Group, Inc., U.S. Retail Tracking Service, Detachable Lens Camera, Sensor Size: Full Frame, Based on adjusted dollar sales, Jan.- June 2018 vs. Jan.- June 2017. Sales are adjusted for 5wk Jan. 2018 vs. 4wk Jan. 2017.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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5 Essential Shots You Need to Get for Street Market Photography

26 Jul

A favorite subject for many street photographers is the market. It’s no surprise either, as these places have a lot of life going on, and therefore many good photography opportunities. The best way to get the most out of your street market photography is to get organized.

That means going in with a plan, which for photographers means a list of photographs you intend to take. So in this article, you’ll get an idea of what those photos should be, read on to find out.

#1 – An overall scene-setting shot

Five Essential Street Market Photos You Need to GetFive Essential Shots You Need to Get for Street Market Photography

A scene-setting photo that shows the scale of the market will often need to be taken from a high vantage point.

This is the photo that tells the viewer about the scale of the market. It’s the entry point for the viewer into all the other photos that will go into this set. There will be different approaches to achieving this photo, and depending on the location of the market some options might not be available to you.

  • Bird’s eye view – To get this photo you’ll need to find a high vantage point of some description. The aim is to capture the whole market or as much of it as possible in one shot. You essentially want to show the size of this market before you present the more human photos. Your lens choice will depend on how far away from the market your vantage point is located. Typically you’ll want to use a wide-angle lens for this, although photographing from a distance means a longer focal length is always possible. A third possibility these days is using a drone (check the laws in your area first!), with this available you’ll not need to spend the time looking for a vantage point.
  • Wide-angle – Assuming you’re not able to utilize a bird’s eye view, the next option is a wide angle photo from street level. You won’t capture the whole market, but a sense of scale is still possible. These type of photos will work best with an indoor location where you can capture interior architecture.
  • The tunnel – Finally many markets will have market stalls along a road that seem to go off into infinity. The best method to capture this is to use a longer focal length lens to compress the scene. If the market stalls are on both sides of the road this may well give the effect of a tunnel.
Five Essential Shots You Need to Get for Street Market Photography - market near train tracks

Elements in the photo that give context to the scene are a good idea. Here you can see this is a railway market.

#2 – A staged portrait

Photographing strangers is a big part of market photography. In order to get a good photo of market vendors, there are several steps which you’ll need to take as a photographer.

  • Gaining permission – As this photo is staged, you’ll first need to ask the person for their permission. In some cases, this will be a simple request, which is either accepted or refused. In order to increase your chances of getting a “yes”, buying something from a street vendor will help, you may even offer to pay cash just for the photo. Are you in a location where you don’t speak the local language? Learning the simple expression, “May I take your photo please?” is a great idea, and failing that body language can be surprisingly effective.
  • Taking the photo – As you’ve gained permission for this photo, you’ll likely be standing close to your subject. The best lens for this is a prime lens that’s good for portraits such as the 50mm. It’s preferable that you spend time to build rapport with your subject before taking the photo, this will give you a more natural looking photo. Then take care of the usual things like a nice clean background, and light coming from the right direction to light up the person’s face.
Five Essential Shots You Need to Get for Street Market Photography - vendor selling fruit in large baskets

Gaining permission to take the photo allows you to control the scene a bit more.

#3 – A candid portrait

Candid street market photos will likely make up the majority of your photos of the market. Getting good photos here will require quick wits, and an ability to blend in.

  • The decisive moment – Capturing the decisive moment can make or break your photo. To increase your chance of getting this moment you need to position yourself in the right place. Look for spots where there are many human interactions, and anticipate the right moment. So this might be a customer interacting with a vendor, or perhaps a street hawker cooking some food.
  • Hip photography – One way to be more conspicuous with your photography, and get natural looking photos is to experiment with hip photography. If your camera is not at your eye most people will assume you’re not taking a photo of them. So if your camera is at your hip instead you can get close to your subject, and take the photo from the hip secretly, without drawing attention to yourself. To get this technique right takes a bit of practice. Focus your camera to a set distance before taking the photo, and keep the camera in manual focus to prevent it from refocusing. Use a small aperture of f/16 or smaller, so you have a large depth of field.
Five Essential Shots You Need to Get for Street Market Photography - man selling fish at a market on the train tracks

This photo is a candid, the rail lines frame the vendor nicely.

#4 – Detail photos

The produce you’ll find at the market can make for some excellent detail photos to go in your street market photography selection. In theory, these photos should be the easiest to come by. Because it’s still life photography you won’t need to get permission from a person to take the photo. However, you are taking photos of someone’s stock, so ask permission to take the photo first.

  • Repeating patterns – Items like fish or fruit make great subjects for repeating patterns. Often the vendor will have these lined up in an aesthetically pleasing manner, so as a photographer you just need to concentrate on good framing.
  • Contrast – Look for color contrast, perhaps between fruits of differing color, or table backgrounds against produce. Colorful images will look good in your street market photography collection.
  • Change the angle – The majority of detail photos are taken from the top down. Changing the angle can still give you an interesting detail photo though, but with more depth to it. If you use a low enough angle you may even get some bokeh background in your frame.
apples in baskets next to train tracks - Five Essential Shots You Need to Get for Street Market Photography

This is a detail photo, but once again context is inferred with the train track.

#5 – Something more creative

Finally, it’s always good to introduce a little creativity to your street market photography. These are the type of photos you’ll want to go for once you’ve bagged the other photos in this list.

There are many ways you can be creative with your market photography, below are a few ideas.

  • Low key – Markets are great places to find shards of light, a gap in the roofing perhaps that lets the sunlight through? You can use that light to create a low key portrait. Simply expose for the sunlit area, and underexpose the background. You will likely be exposing at -2EV or -3EV to create a photo like this. Wait for your subjects face to be lit up by the sun, and take your photo.
  • Blur – The use of blur can create a dynamic edge to your photo. Whether you attempt a panning photo, or put your camera on a tripod and expose for around 1/3 of a second to capture the motion of people moving about the market is for you to decide.
  • Crystal ball – A versatile object that can be applied to many different genres of photography. If you’re looking for a photo with a fish-eye like feeling but compressed into the ball, then this is a great option.
Five Essential Shots You Need to Get for Street Market Photography - low key portrait of a lady

Creating a low key photo is one option for more creative street market photography.

Now it’s time for you to do some market photography!

So do you enjoy street market photography? What’s your favorite type of photo to take while you’re in the hustle and bustle of a market?

What time of the day do you typically photograph markets? Do you like to go at the crack of dawn to see all the life at a fish market? Or do you go for the low light magic of a night market?

What tips do you have for getting the best results from this genre of street photography? As always please share your photos and ideas in the comments section of this article.

street market photography - vendors selling goods on train tracks

In this photo, the motion blur of a moving train can be seen behind the market vendors.

The post 5 Essential Shots You Need to Get for Street Market Photography appeared first on Digital Photography School.


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Video: Testing all the Nikon F to Sony E-mount AF adapters on the market

08 May

Photographer Matt Granger has taken to YouTube to share a useful little gear video for those people who want to use Nikon F glass on their Sony E mount camera. In the video, he tests out all of the current Nikon F to Sony E-mount autofocus adapter on the market.

The video compares three adapters in all—the models available from Commlite, Vello, and Fotodiox Pro—which cost $ 400, $ 400, and $ 350, respectively. To test the gear, Granger tries them out on four lenses in turn: the Nikon 85mm F/1.4G, Nikon 200mm F/2G ED VR II, Nikon 24-70mm F/2.8G ED and the always-trusty 70-200mm F/2.8 ED VR II.

Although unconfirmed, Granger also shares a little tidbit of information from an unnamed source who told him that all of these adapters are effectively made with the same internals, as there’s only one company that’s managed to reverse-engineer Nikon’s tricky lens coding system.

Interestingly enough, this claim seems to be substantiated by the fact that all three adapters are absolutely identical, down to the cutouts, caps, desiccant and screw locations. The only difference is the location of markings on the devices and the fact that the Fotodiox adapter features gold metal mounting plates and gold release buttons, whereas the other two feature silver mounting plates and black release buttons.

We’ll leave it to Granger to break down every detail of the three adapters in the video up top, but we can summarize his experiences by saying that each adapter seemed to have strengths and weaknesses depending on which lens it was being used with.

In the end, Granger says it’s ultimately up to you to decide which one best fits your needs based on price and the location of each company’s respective support services. He also notes that, while each of the adapters do work in environments where your subject isn’t moving much, don’t expect to shoot a football game with one of them—the speed just isn’t there. Still, the adapters left Granger impressed.

Check out the full test up top, and then head over to Matt’s YouTube Channel for more videos like this.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Report: Casio is pulling out of digital compact camera market

26 Apr

According to a report on the Japanese Nikkei website, electronics manufacturer Casio—one of the pioneers in the digital camera segment—is exiting the digital compact camera market. The company generated a loss of 500 million Yen (approximately $ 4.6 million USD) in the fiscal year that ended March 2017, and has come to the conclusion that no market growth or increase in market share can be expected for the future.

Casio had already silently withdrawn compact cameras from markets outside Japan (the last model in our database is the 12MP ZR5000 from 2016) but was still selling digital compacts in its home country until now.

Casio EX-F1 from 2008

The first Casio model in our camera database is the 1996 QV300, which offered a whopping 640 x 380 pixel resolution and a 47-106mm equivalent zoom range. Many of the company’s later models did not particularly stand out from the competition, however. The EX-F1 superzoom (pictured above) was the most notable exception. Its ability to shoot 60 frames per second still images and 1200 fps videos (at a tiny resolution) were unheard of at the time of launch.

Have you owned a Casio digital camera, or do you still own one? Let us know in the comments.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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PolarPro expands into pro market with new QuartzLine camera filters

11 Apr

Lens filter manufacturer PolarPro is breaking into the professional lens filter market this week with the launch of its new QuartzLine Camera Filters for DSLRs, mirrorless and cinema cameras.

As the name suggests, PolarPro’s new filters are made of 99.9% pure fused quartz wrapped inside a brass frame. PolarPro says the use of quartz sets, “a new bar for light transmission and purity as the rare, fused quartz element delivers an extremely low refractive index compared to traditional filters.”

PolarPro QuartzLine ND Filter

QuartzLine Filters will be offered in ultraviolet, circular polarizing and multiple neutral density varieties. They come in 37mm, 46mm, 67mm, 77mm and 82mm thread sizes, with optional step-up rings available. Below is the entire collection of filter options and step-up ring sizes:

  • Filter Options: UV, CP, ND8, ND8/PL, ND16, ND16/PL, ND64, ND64/PL, ND1000, ND1000/PL, ND100000
  • Step-up Ring Options:
    • Step 52mm, 55mm and 58mm lens to 67mm filter
    • Step 62mm, 67mm and 72mm to a 77mm filter
    • Step 62mm, 67mm, 72mm and 77mm lens to an 82mm filter

PolarPro has also released a pair of Kanga Camera Filter Cases to keep either three or six filters safe and sound when traveling. They feature a soft microfiber lining and a magnetic opening for quick and quiet access. Like PolarPro’s filters, these come with a lifetime warranty.

PolarPro’s QuartzLine filters start at $ 60 and go up to $ 250, depending on the size and filter style. The three- and six-filter Kanga Camera Filter Cases retail for $ 40 and $ 50, respectively. You can find the full lineup of filters and cases on PolarPro’s website.

Press Release

PolarPro Leaps into Professional Lens Filter Market with Launch of QuartzLine Filters

PolarPro, long-trusted for its high-quality action camera and drone lens filters will bring new industry-leading glass to professional photographers and cinematographers with the full frame QuartzLine Filters.

Costa Mesa, C.A. – April 9, 2018 – PolarPro, developer of products inspired by adventure, announced today it is expanding its line of lens filters to professional photography and cinematography cameras. Well known for its industry-leading action camera and drone filters, PolarPro is continuing its tradition of quality with the new professional-focused QuartzLine Camera Filters for DSLRs, mirrorless and cinema cameras. The QuartzLine Filters range from $ 59.99 to $ 249.99 depending on size and filter style, for more information and specific pricing on the new PolarPro QuartzLine Lens Filters, please visit us here.

Constructed of 99.9% pure fused quartz, the QuartzLine Filters set a new bar for light transmission and purity as the rare, fused quartz element delivers an extremely low refractive index compared to traditional filters. A new optical coating method reduces surface reflectivity to less than one percent and increases surface hardness, all while maintaining a perfectly neutral color profile. The QuartzLine Filters will offer circular threaded UV, polarizers and neutral density filters from ND8 to ND100K, as well as hybrid single element ND/polarizing lens filters ranging from ND4/PL to ND1000/PL. With the filters running from 37mm, 46mm, 67mm, 72mm and 82mm, and an optional assortment of step-up rings, these stunning new optics will help adventure seeking creators capture perfection. All QuartzLine Filters can also be paired with PolarPro’s rugged construction Kanga Camera Filter Case to ensure they can go anywhere.

“As we have worked to establish PolarPro as the preferred option for drone cinematographers, we’ve also been working behind the scenes to make the QuartzLine Filters into an extremely precise and consistent filter for professional photo and video creators,” said Austen Butler, Co-Founder of PolarPro. “With QuartzLine, we wanted to create a rugged camera filter in line with our obsession over image quality. After testing 29 different materials we landed on a fused quartz glass element, with hyper neutral coatings to reduce reflectivity, increase scratch resistance, and most importantly, delivery a consistently neutral color profile.”

Ideal for professional photographers and cinematographers looking to ensure the most accurate representations of their creative vision, the QuartzLine Camera Filters combine PolarPro’s Death Valley-tested precision coatings with some of the most premium materials available.

Fused Quartz Glass At 99.9% pure, fused quartz is one of the purest glasses available. It’s this purity that allows the QuartzLine Filters to be extremely durable while delivering stunning optics and optimal clarity. The fused quartz glass also helps to ensure QuartzLine Filters have an extremely low refractive index of only 1.46 giving the filters increased stability and temperature resistance (from -50F up to 130F), so content creators can bring the true-life colors to their final product from the most extreme locations on the planet.

Color and Image Accuracy Light transmission in the QuartzLine Filters is perfectly neutral from the UV spectrum all the way across the IR spectrum, which gives photographers and cinematographers the confidence to stretch the boundaries of their creative vision while ensuring color and image accuracy. Unique among filter manufacturers, PolarPro leverages its new advanced coating technologies to eliminate any color cast or color inconsistency throughout the spectrum. The single-element QuartzLine Filters are available in a wide array of ND and ND/PL filters so photographers or cinematographers do not have to stack glass to achieve the desired effect, while also allowing wide-angle shots without fear of vignetting.

Precision Coatings The QuartzLine Filters rely on PolarPro’s advanced coating technologies to eliminate color shift, reduce flaring and ghosting, and to increase surface hardness for the already-durable fused quartz glass. Unlike other filters on the market, QuartzLine receives advanced coatings to eliminate color-casting or inconsistencies throughout the color spectrum. Each of the QuartzLine Filters feature:

• Neutral Density Coating – Precisely applied to reduce the desired light transmission without incurring color shifts, PolarPro’s ND coatings have been tested in the most demanding conditions possible from the workshop test bench to sun-blasted skies around the world.

• Anti-Reflective Coating – Reducing the reflectivity of the lens filter eliminates hot spots in the frame, and PolarPro’s coating technology allows the 3.45% native reflectivity of the fused quartz to be reduced to a negligible 0.455%.

• Anti-Scratch Coating – Protecting the coatings and base glass while hardening the filters surface, PolarPro’s anti-scratch coating has stood up to the demands of the most adventurous downhill thrashings possible.

• Hydrophobic Coating – Increasing surface hardness, while making for easy cleaning and water resistance, PolarPro’s hydroscopic coating provides the external layer on the QuartzLine Filters.

Durable Brass Frames The durable four-part frame which houses each QuartzLine Filter has been over-engineered to ensure it threads onto each lens perfectly. Wanting to use the absolute best materials possible, PolarPro eschewed the traditional aluminum frames in favor of the more durable, yet lightweight, brass frames. With the unique production demands of professional photographers and videographers in mind, the QuartzLine showcases the brass exterior portion of the frame while the interior is coated in a matte back to prevent unwanted reflections.

Comprehensive Product Range The QuartzLine Filters will be available for a wide array of lens sizes and a series of optional step-up rings will allow QuartzLine to accommodate most professional lenses. The range of UV, circular polarizing filters, traditional neutral density and hybrid neutral density/polarizing filters is detailed in brief below, or on the QuartzLine product page, here.

  • Filter Thread Sizes: 37mm, 46mm, 67mm, 77mm, 82mm
  • Filter Options: UV, CP, ND8, ND8/PL, ND16, ND16/PL, ND64, ND64/PL, ND1000, ND1000/PL, ND100000
  • Step-up Ring Options:
    • Step 52mm, 55mm and 58mm lens to 67mm filter
    • Step 62mm, 67mm and 72mm to a 77mm filter
    • Step 62mm, 67mm, 72mm and 77mm lens to an 82mm filter
  • PolarPro Kanga Camera Filter Cases: Available in 3-filter or 6-filter storage sizes, the PolarPro Kanga Camera Filter Case features a magnetic opening for quick and easy filter access, plush microfiber interior lining, and a pull-tab system for streamlined filter selection. The PolarPro Kanga Cases retail for $ 39.99 and can be purchased here.

For more information about the new PolarPro QuartzLine Camera Filters, retail availability and pricing, please visit our website.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Samsung wants to dethrone Sony, reach #1 in the global image sensor market

17 Mar

According to a new report out of South Korea, Samsung is increasing production of its ISOCELL image sensors at its Hwasung, South Korea location in a bid to clinch the #1 spot in image sensors worldwide.

However, this feat is definitely easier said than done. Current market leader Sony has a comfortable advantage over its South Korean rival, and certainly won’t go down without a fight. In the lucrative smartphone segment alone, Sony currently has a 46 percent market share versus Samsung’s much smaller 19 percent.

That said, technologically at least, Samsung is well-placed to take on the challenge. Its latest Galaxy Note 8 and Galaxy S9/S9 Plus devices all come with innovative imaging technologies and offer excellent camera performance built on Samsung’s own sensor technology.

The company rebranded its image sensor range as Isocell in June 2017. Since then, Samsung has not only expanded its high-end sensor offerings, it also designed low-cost image sensor modules that are easy to implement into devices by other manufacturers. Several of those, for example Xiaomi and Meizu, are already using Samsung image sensors.

However, market leadership cannot be achieved with smartphones alone. Samsung is also planning to grow in the automotive space where CMOS sensors are increasingly used in the autonomous vehicle space and for other applications. In this segment, Samsung will face stiff competition from the likes of Bosch and Continental.

Whoever ends up ruling the image sensor market, a large company like Samsung challenging Sony’s quasi-monopoly for image sensors can only be good news for consumers.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Canon CEO: ‘we will go on the offensive… in the mirrorless camera market’

14 Mar
Presentation chart from Canon’s Corporate Strategy Conference, indicating its goal to seize 50% of the interchangeable-lens camera market.

There it is, clear as day. One week after a Canon executive said in an interview that Canon is finally willing to cannibalize DSLR sales to invest in mirrorless, Canon CEO Fujio Mitarai has made an even more definitive statement during his presentation at the company’s Corporate Strategy Conference on March 6th.

A summary of Mr. Fujito’s speech can be found in this PDF, but the relevant paragraph—in which he’s talking of growing markets Canon will become more involved in—is quoted in full below (emphasis added):

Within existing businesses, there are market areas that are growing, such as color devices in MFDs and laser printers, and mirrorless in cameras. In these segments, by launching differentiated products that only we can provide, we will stimulate the market, grow our sales, and secure additional market share.

For example, in our core camera business, in addition to our overwhelming share of the DSLR market, we will go on the offensive and work to expand our sales in the mirrorless camera market, which is exhibiting remarkable growth. This will allow us to reach our goal of 50% market share of the entire interchangeable-lens camera market.

50% market share “of the entire interchangeable-lens camera market” is no small goal, and the declaration that Canon will “go on the offensive” to expand sales in the mirrorless market lends some official credence to rumors of full-frame mirrorless prototypes. It also makes this prediction by a Sony executive feel all the more prescient.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Why brand market share shouldn’t matter to you

11 Mar
The best-selling camera with 8 buttons, in the western Tri-state area, last Tuesday between 11:47 and 11:49.

“We’re #1 in full frame*,” scream the press releases from the three big full frame camera makers. And, given the price and apparent appeal of the Sony a7 III, I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s more screaming once it hits the shelves.

The precise wording changes, as does the length of the list of caveats that follows that all-important asterisk but, I’d argue: what doesn’t change is that it’s simple boosterism. And you should pretty much ignore it.

There are a couple of reasons I say this. The first is that, even if you take all the footnotes (in this month, in that territory…) into account, the numbers don’t really tell you very much.

These announcements mainly tell you whose turn it is to be king for the day

Part of this is because you’re cherry-picking data from a small sample: there are only three big brands in the sector and very few products being launched. This means the launch of a new model inevitably causes a sales spike and this can see one brand jump in front of the others in the sales chart. A new model will sell more through pre-orders than an existing competitor that, post launch spike, has been selling steadily for 23 months. So, rather than saying which camera is king, these announcements mainly tell you whose turn it is to be king for the day.

Existing commitments

It’s interesting, of course, when similar models, such as Nikon’s D850 and Sony’s a7R III get launched around the same time. But even though they are targeted at pretty similar customers, the winner of the sales race doesn’t tell you much about the cameras because there’s already a degree of brand loyalty baked into the market.

Investment in lenses and accessories means that anyone already shooting full frame is very unlikely to switch systems. So, if we assume a good proportion of new full frame sales are being made to exactly these photographers, you realize much of the current popularity was defined years ago.

And this doesn’t just apply to people who’re already shooting full frame. The manufacturer-promoted (though arguably mythical) concept of the upgrade path can lead to people feeling committed, or to commit themselves to a system, even if they aren’t shooting full frame.

There’s tremendous inertia to overcome before any brand can make headway in the pro sector. Even once Sony’s 400mm F2.8 becomes available, it’s not going to displace all those Canon ‘L’ lenses overnight.

All these issues are amplified at the high/pro-end of the market. Not only are many pro-orientated lenses much more expensive, thereby increasing the financial commitment to a system, but there’s also a chance that some of your kit belongs to your employer or that you’re already a member of one brand’s pro support network.

So a lot of sales figures are more about whether a brand has convinced its existing user-base to modernize/upgrade, rather than about stealing customers away from other systems.

Further inertia

To cause any significant amount of brand switching a camera would have to be compellingly better. And people have to recognize it.

Canon stole a huge march over Nikon in the early days of autofocus and the sea of white lenses that flanks the sidelines of sports games are a testament to that, as much as anything else. Canon could release a stinker (or, in the case of the EOS-1D III, a camera that develops the reputation as one), but that’s not going to drive customers away unless they release a series of duds and the competition is doing something noticeably better. Again, this counts double for professionals.

To cause any significant amount of brand switching a camera would have to be compellingly better. And people have to recognize it.

Even if one brand does fall behind, its users may not notice. For a while Canon lagged behind in dynamic range, but that didn’t see any mass exodus because many Canon shooters, having not experienced the difference and having adapted to the capabilities of their existing cameras, simply didn’t notice. After all, you can’t miss what you’ve never had. So it’s unlikely many Canon photographers felt any impetus to switch, even though there was a real-world photographic benefit to doing so. Now that Canon has essentially closed that gap and opened up a new front with the development of Dual Pixel AF, the moment has passed.

So while we felt the EOS 6D II was a bit disappointing, compared with its rivals it’s still good enough that existing Canon buyers will stick with ‘their’ system and perhaps never be aware that the grass might be greener just one field over.

Until the fog clears, it’s all bluster

Which is to say: these numbers don’t tell you anything at all about how good the respective brands’ cameras are.

They might tell you something interesting about whether a new technology is finding a foothold in the market, but without a lot more context, it’s hard to meaningfully interpret even that. For instance, no matter what Sony proclaims, it’ll probably take a few more years to establish whether mirrorless is making inroads into DSLR sales or to what extent it’s simply expanding the market.

These numbers don’t tell you anything at all about how good the respective brands’
cameras are

I can see that sales success of the system you’ve bought into can give some reassurance that it has a future, but should you care about how one brand is performing relative to another? Since the numbers tell you next-to-nothing about camera quality or even much about what’s happening in the market, I’d argue most discussion of sales rankings are simply fanboyism. And the canny stirring of it by marketing departments.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Nikon claimed the #1 spot in the full-frame camera market for December 2017

24 Jan
Nikon says the jump to #1 was due to ‘exceptional demand’ for the D850.

Nikon made a major sales announcement today, revealing that the company achieved the #1 spot in the full-frame camera market for December 2017. More specifically, the company “attained the #1 position for both market share and revenue for December 2017, in the full-frame digital camera with interchangeable lens (DCIL) category in the U.S.” That DCIL term is what we refer to as just ILC here at DPReview, and yes, that includes full-frame mirrorless.

The numbers come from the US retail tracking group The NPD Group Inc., and the result is due largely to what Nikon calls “exceptional demand” for the Nikon D850 DSLR, which launched in August of last year and went on to be one of the most highly demanded cameras of the 2017 holiday season.

Admittedly, the result only covers a single month’s worth of sales, but Nikon is quick to point out that it is the most important sales month of the year.

“December is a significant month for sales because of the large volume of units sold during the holidays,” reads the press release. “Industry-wide, DCIL full-frame unit sales for the month of December 2017 were almost equal to unit sales from January through March of 2017.”

Interestingly, it’s not just the D850 that propelled Nikon into the #1 spot. According to the Japanese camera giant, the top two cameras in the full-frame ILC segment during December were the Nikon D850 at #1 and the Nikon D750 at #2.

This announcement comes hot on the heels of the 2018 BCN camera rankings that had Canon users so excited, and less than a year after Sony announced that it had claimed the #2 spot in the full-frame ILC market from Nikon for the period from January to February of 2017.

Correction: An earlier version of this article said that the D750 probably wasn’t the #2 best-selling full-frame ILC overall, since Nikon specifically used the term ‘DSLR’ in that section of the press release. However, Nikon has since confirmed that the D850 and the D750 were the #1 and #2 best-selling full-frame ILCs for December 2017.

Press Release

Nikon Inc. Achieves #1 Spot in full-frame Camera Market During Important 2017 Holiday Selling Season

Market Bolstered by Exceptional Demand for the Award-Winning full-frame (FX-format) D850 DSLR

Melville, NY (January 23, 2018) – Imaging leader Nikon attained the #1 position for both market share and revenue for December 2017, in the full-frame digital camera with interchangeable lens (DCIL) category in the U.S.1 The overwhelming success of the powerful new Nikon D850 DSLR as well as the acclaimed D750 DSLR helped contribute to the brand’s strong growth within the full-frame camera segment for December 2017. According to The NPD Group, Nikon achieved double-digit unit and dollar sales growth within the full-frame camera segment in December 2017 vs. December 2016.2

This market category comprises all full-frame digital cameras with interchangeable lenses (DCIL), including DSLR and mirrorless cameras. December is a significant month for sales because of the large volume of units sold during the holidays; industry-wide, DCIL full-frame unit sales for the month of December 2017 were almost equal to unit sales from January through March of 2017, according to The NPD Group.3

“Nikon has returned to an emphasis on high-end products for advanced and professional users. These users appreciate Nikon’s full-frame offerings because of their amazing image quality, reliability, low-light capability and high-speed performance,” said Bo Kajiwara, President and CEO, Nikon Inc. “Nikon is an innovative, diversified company with a clear, long-term strategy to thrive into 2018 and beyond.”

Since the beginning of 2017, the camera industry has seen strong growth in the full-frame segment, with consumers gravitating toward Nikon’s innovative offerings for advanced and professional photographers. The month of December alone saw an overall increase of 69% in units and 59% in dollars compared to the same period in 2016.2 Nikon specifically experienced an 81% increase in units, and 88% growth in dollars for this segment.2

For the month of December, the top two selling DSLR cameras in this segment were the Nikon D750 and the Nikon D850.4There has been exceptional demand for the extremely versatile, highly acclaimed D850, which is the ultimate combination of speed and resolution. This 45.7-megapixel full-frame DSLR is a tool for serious photographers with robust construction, unparalleled imaged quality and proven reliability. Both the D850 and the D750 have won a myriad of industry and consumer accolades, and both are perfectly complemented by the vast NIKKOR lens system, which offers the best in optical excellence.

“Premium segments are leading the imaging market, as consumer demand for features like full-frame are on the rise,” said Ben Arnold, executive director, industry analyst for The NPD Group.

Kajiwara also added, “We want to sincerely thank our customers and our fans for making this achievement possible.”

1- The NPD Group Inc., U.S. Retail Tracking Service, Detachable Lens Camera, full-frame, Based on unit and dollar sales, Dec 2017
2- The NPD Group Inc., U.S. Retail Tracking Service, Detachable Lens Camera, full-frame, Based on unit and dollar sales, Dec 2017 vs. Dec 2016
3- The NPD Group Inc., U.S. Retail Tracking Service, Detachable Lens Camera, full-frame, Based on unit sales, Dec 2017 vs. Jan- March 2017
4-The NPD Group Inc., U.S. Retail Tracking Service, Detachable Lens Camera, full-frame, Based on unit sales, Dec 2017

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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