Toshihisa Iida, Fujifilm’s General Manager of the Sales and Marketing Group talks us through the new GFX medium format mirrorless camera, who it’s for and why it features a Bayer sensor.
We’ll be publishing details of a more in-depth interview conducted without the camera running, next week.
Click here to read a transcript of this video interview
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
The Canon EOS M5 launches the M line of mirrorless cameras into greater significance than ever before. With abundant external controls, a mature touchscreen interface and extremely impressive Dual Pixel autofocus, it’s a camera we can’t help but like, even if we wish it had turned up to the mirrorless party a little earlier. And sure, it may not have headline features like 4K or high frame rate video, but Canon clearly knows how to make a camera that is both comfortable to hold and pleasing to use.
We stopped by Canon’s stand at Photokina 2016 and talked with Canon product specialist Hin Pang to talk a little more about what makes the EOS M5 so likeable.
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
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Tamron’s new SP 150-600mm F5-6.3 Di VC USD G2 might look like little more than a refined version the previous 150-600mm, but the new version is actually a substantial redesign.
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The ‘G2’ in the name stands for second generation, reflecting several improvements to the design, including the now-standard SP level of build quality, and revamped Vibration Correction (VC) offering up to 4.5 stops of compensation. Optical construction comprises 21 elements in 13 groups, including three LD (Low Dispersion) lens elements.
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Tamron’s ‘SP’ (Special Performance) designation is given only to the company’s highest-performing lenses, and the SP 150-600mm is the first zoom in Tamron’s new SP lineup. It is compatible with Tamron’s ‘TAP-in’ Console, which allows the lens to be customized to user preferences.
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The 150-600mm has three VC settings, and one additional custom option (enabled via the Tap-In Console) activates Vibration Correction in video mode. This view also shows the rubber seal around the lens-mount, which keeps dust and moisture from getting into the camera.
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At full extension, the SP 150-600mm is a hefty lens, but the relatively small maximum aperture range keeps the deign relatively compact considering the telephoto reach. On an APS-C format camera, the effective focal length range increases to about 233-930mm equivalent.
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In addition to the main zoom lock, which prevents the zoom from extending beyond 150mm, a ‘Flex Zoom Lock’ mechanism has been added to keep the lens barrel fixed at any focal length of your choosing.
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The SP 150-600mm F5-6.3 Di VC USD G2 was launched alongside two new teleconverters. The 1.4X and 2X converters are moisture and dust-resistant, and turn the 150-600mm into a 210-840mm or 300-1200mm equivalent zoom on full-frame, respectively.
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
Nikon may have introduced the D5 and D500 many months ago in anticipation of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, but that doesn’t mean they’re out of new releases for Photokina 2016. The ambitious KeyMission lineup shows that Nikon is taking the 360 and action camera market awfully seriously, while the D3400 should continue to offer entry-level DSLR users impressive image quality. Lastly, the Nikkor AF-S 105mm F1.4 is a gorgeous piece of glass that we can’t wait to get out into the real world with.
Watch as DPReview’s Barney Britton talks with Steve Heiner, Nikon’s senior technical manager, about these new products (and even a new market segment) from Nikon.
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
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Nikon’s stand at Photokina is split fairly equally between displays of its DSLRs and demonstrations of its new KeyMission 360, 170 and 80 cameras. We took a look at everything they had to offer, starting with the Nikkor 105mm F1.4E ED. It’s as big as it is beautiful. At 106mm long and 95mm across, it’s quite a handful. That said, it didn’t feel disproportionate when mounted on a D5, despite its 985 g (2.17 lbs) weight.
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The ‘E’ in the lens’ name means it offers an electromagnetic diaphragm. This not only operates faster than apertures operated by mechanical coupling, which is ideal when shooting at high frame rates, but also means many recent Nikon cameras can control the aperture even when they’re in live view mode, which is great news for video shooters.
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Also on show is Nikon’s D3400, the company’s latest entry-level DSLR. It looks a lot like the D3300 and shares many of its specifications, with it still being built around a 24MP APS-C sensor. Without AA filter, in this instance.
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The big news with the D3400 is the inclusion of Bluetooth Low Energy, which it uses to stay constantly connected to a smartphone. The iOS version of the SnapBridge app is now available, to which the camera can upload images automatically. The camera also includes a significantly boosted battery life (1200 shots per charge), but some of this will stem from the use of a less powerful built-in flash.
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Originally announced back at CES in January, the KeyMission 360 is about to become available. Nikon says the two >180 degree lenses that combine to give 360 degree coverage are one of the aspects of the company’s expertise that it can bring to the sector.
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From the top, it’s apparent just how small the camera is. In part the lenses have to be mounted close to one another in order for them to provide an overlapping field of view.
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A slightly more conventional action cam, the KeyMission 170 offers a wide-angle lens that provides the field of view that the name implies. Rather than needing a special housing, the camera is itself already waterproof and shockproof, though an additional accessory is available to allow the 170 to be submerged to much greater depths.
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The KeyMission 170 includes a standard tripod thread but Nikon says it will offer an accessory to adapt this so the camera can be used with common mounts designed for GoPro cameras.
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They KeyMission 80 is a wearable style camera with a (you guessed it) 80 degree field of view, and is designed to be used in a vertical orientation. On the front is a 12MP 1/2.3″ CMOS sensor that’s capable of 1080/30p video – no 4K here.
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On the back there’s a rear-facing 4.9MP selfie camera and a 1.75″ touchscreen. The whole camera is waterproof to about 1m/3.2ft, shockproof to 1.8m/6 ft and freezeproof to 14 F/-10 degrees C.
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Despite looking high and low, we couldn’t find any sign of the much-anticipated DL compacts. Prototypes are not yet available, we were told. We’re still looking forward to them, though, and are hoping there’ll be more news at Photo Plus Expo next month.
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
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Western Digital has introduced the first ever 1TB SDXC card, doing so under its recently acquired SanDisk brand. Though the card will not be available on the market anytime soon, the prototype does serve to highlight the next level in SD card capacity. This isn’t the first time SanDisk has unveiled a high-capacity prototype at Photokina; in 2014, the company unveiled its then-prototype for a 512GB SDXC card.
‘Just a few short years ago the idea of a 1TB capacity point in an SD card seemed so futuristic – it’s amazing that we’re now at the point where it’s becoming a reality,” said Stargate Studios CEO Sam Nicholson. ‘…High-capacity cards allow us to capture more without interruption, streamlining our workflow, and eliminating the worry that we may miss a moment because we have to stop to swap out cards.’
Though Western Digital is showcasing the prototype at Photokina, it has not stated when it anticipates the card being available commercially, nor what consumers can expect to pay.
Via: SanDisk
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
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Phase One is showing off two new ‘Blue Ring’ lenses at this year’s Photokina tradeshow in Cologne, Germany. We visited the Phase One booth earlier and got our hands on them.
First up is the new 150mm LS F2.8 IF, which offers a focal length equivalent to 64mm on full-frame, making it a useful portrait prime. At first glance this is an enormous lens, but a lot of its apparent size is actually the detachable hood.
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F2.8 is fast for a medium-format lens, which should ensure nice shallow depth of field when used wide-open for portraits. Here’s a view straight down the front of the lens. See what we mean about that big hood?
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With the hood removed, the 150mm becomes a good deal smaller. The new lens can synchronize with flash at shutter speeds of up to 1/1000sec and can focus as close as 100cm/3.2ft. It uses 8 elements in 7 groups and accepts 105mm screw-in filters. It could be yours for only $ 6990/€5990.
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Next up is the 45mm LS F3.5, which Phase One tells us will offer extremely good edge-to-edge sharpness, even wide-open. Aimed at landscape photographers, the 45mm (and indeed the 150mm) offers a simple auto/manual focus clutch switch. Shifting to manual focus is as easy as pulling the focus ring towards the camera.
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Like the 150mm, the 45mm features a leaf shutter inside the lens itself, and it can synchronize with flash at shutter speeds of up to 1/1600sec. Construction comprises 10 elements in 7 groups.
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Equivalent to a 28mm field of view on full-frame, the new 45mm F3.5 has a closest focusing distance of 55cm/1.8ft. It is available now for $ 5990/€5290.
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This is Lau Norgaard, VP of R&D at Phase One. He’s pretty pleased with his new lenses – what do you think? Let us know in the comments.
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
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As promised earlier this month, Metz has launched a new flash at Photokina, the Metz mecablitz M400. This model is the flagship for the company’s new line of compact flash devices; it is more than 30-percent smaller than ‘traditional flash units,’ says Metz. Despite its compact size, the M400 is said to offer high-performance for all varieties of photographers and videographers.
The mecablitz M400 flash offers Auto TTL mode, an adjustable LED video light, a max guide number of 40 (ISO 100), a 24-105mm motor zoom function, a 12mm integrated wide-angle diffuser and a completely pivotable reflector including a removable reflector card. The flash also includes an integrated OLED display with what Metz says is a simplified user interface for viewing and adjusting settings.
The flash is available in variants for Sony, Nikon, Canon, Fujifilm, Pentax and Olympus/Panasonic/Leica cameras. Though the M400 is currently listed on Metz’s website, pricing and availability information hasn’t yet been provided.
Via: Metz
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
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Following speculation that such an announcement was imminent, Leica has taken the wraps off its new Sofort instant camera, something photographers can use to ‘create small, haptic works of art and lasting memories,’ according to the company. The Leica Sofort features a fixed 60mm (34mm equivalent) lens with an F12.7 aperture, an integrated flash, eight operation modes, 1/8 to 1/400s mechanical shutter and a rear optical 0.37x viewfinder. In other words, it’s more than likely to be a re-badged Fujifilm Instax Mini 90.
The Sofort, which is set to make its first public debut at Photokina, will be available in mint, white, and orange colors. Users have eight operation modes to choose from: Automatic, Selfie, People & Party, Action & Sport, Bulb, Macro, Self-Timer, and Double Exposure. The integrated electronic flash includes the following four modes: Auto, Forced On, Forced Off, and Forced On w/Red-Eye Reduction.
The Sofort will launch this upcoming November alongside three different instant film pack options: a color film pack with 10 exposures, a color film double pack with 20 exposures, and a monochrome film pack with 10 exposures. The camera will also accept Fujifilm’s Instax mini film.
Several accessories will also be offered, including a range of carrying straps in black & white, mint, and orange colors; soft carrying cases in brown or black; the Sofort Photo Presenter for presenting photographs; Sofort Postcards 3-packs with support for attaching pictures; the Sofort Photo Album; and, finally, the Sofort Storage Boxes, which will be offered in sets of three with the following color combinations: white & black, orange & black, and mint & black.
Pricing information hasn’t yet been revealed.
Source: Leica
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
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German company Metz has teased a new generation of flash products ahead of Photokina, where it plans to launch the first flash model in this new product line. According to a post on the company’s Facebook page, the new flash will be 30% smaller than previous models thanks to ‘new developed technologies and construction.’ Metz says it will post more details about the flash on its Facebook in the days leading up to Photokina.
Via: Photo Rumors
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)