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Sony ‘trade up’ program gets you $500 plus trade-in value towards a new a9

15 Aug

Switching brands is a painful and expensive process, but a new “trade up” promotion from Sony is trying to take a little bit of the sting away. For a limited time, people interested in stepping up to a Sony a7 II, Sony a7S II, Sony a7R II, or Sony a9 can get several hundreds of dollars in credit + trade-in value when they hand over their working DSLR or mirrorless camera.

These kinds of trade-in programs are not uncommon in the photo world, but we’re more accustomed to seeing them from brands like Hasselblad and Leica, where the price tag for upgrading from one model to the next is so high that a significant discount for trading in your older camera is a serious boon.

Sony’s promotion isn’t quite as intense, but trading in an eligible DSLR or mirrorless will snag you $ 500 + trade-in value towards a new a9, $ 300 + trade-in value towards an a7R II and a7S II, and $ 100 + trade-in value towards a new a7 II. What’s more, these discounts are being offered in parallel with instant-rebates of up to $ 200 on the same cameras.

If you’re looking for an a9, there is a (long) list of eligible cameras that will earn you that $ 500 bonus; however, if you’re interested in an a7 II, a7S II, or a7R II, “any working digital interchangeable lens camera” is acceptable. To learn more or take advantage of the program, read the press release below or head over to the trade up website at this link.

The ‘trade up’ promotion runs from August 13th through September 30th.

Press Release

Sony Rolls Out Exciting New Nationwide “? TRADE UP” Retail Event

Program offers up to $ 500 bonus offer on trade-in DSLR or mirrorless cameras toward purchase of Sony full-frame cameras, lenses and accessories

San Diego, August 14, 2017, Sony Electronics, a worldwide leader in digital imaging, today announced a new nationwide “? Trade Up” retail event with up to $ 500 bonus offer on top of the trade-in value of a working DSLR or mirrorless camera. The bonus offer can be applied to the purchase of several full-frame Sony cameras including the flagship ?9 as well as the ?7R II, ?7S II and ?7 II models. A variety of ? full-frame lenses and ? accessories are also eligible.

The trade-in and trade-up summertime bonus deal runs now through September 30, 2017, and runs in parallel with instant rebates of up to $ 200 on the same eligible products. Sony is also offering limited time 24-month interest free financing at participating retailers on select Sony imaging products. Combine all offers to maximum savings.

All eligible trade-in products must be in working condition. See below for a list of eligible trade-in products and requirements for eligibility. Customers are restricted to one bonus offer per item they trade-in at participating Sony Authorized Dealers.

Sony ?9 bonus offer of $ 500 on eligible trade-in products

Eligible products include the Canon 6D, Canon 6D II, Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 5D Mark III, Canon 5Ds, Canon 5Ds R, Canon 5D Mark IV, Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 1DX, Canon 1DX II, Nikon D600, Nikon D610, Nikon D800, Nikon D800E, Nikon D810, Nikon D810A, Nikon D750, Nikon D3, Nikon D3s, Nikon D4, Nikon D4s, Nikon D5, Leica M9, Leica M9P, Leica Monochrom, Leica M246, Leica M240, Leica M10, Leica SL, Leica M262, Sony ?7, Sony ?7R, Sony ?7S, Sony ?7 II, Sony ?7S II, Sony ?7R II, Sony?900, Sony ?850, Sony ?99, and Sony ?99 II

Sony ?7 series bonus offers and eligible trade-in products:

Sony ?7R ll Full-Frame Mirrorless Camera: Bonus offer of $ 300 on any working digital interchangeable-lens camera
Sony ?7S ll Full-Frame Mirrorless Camera: Bonus offer of $ 300 on any working digital interchangeable-lens camera
Sony ?7 ll Full-Frame Mirrorless Camera: Bonus offer of $ 100 on any working digital interchangeable-lens camera

FOR MORE INFORMATION: For more information on this promotion, please visit https://alphauniverse.com/tradeup.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Meizu Pro 7 Plus comes with dual-cam and dual-screens

28 Jul

Chinese manufacturer Meizu has released its latest flagship smartphone and the Pro 7 Plus is quite a remarkable device in a number of ways. Like most recent high-end devices it comes with a dual-camera on the back. However it also offers a secondary AMOLED display on the back as a standout-feature. It can be used for music playback, date and weather-related information, or as viewfinder when taking selfies with the rear cameras.

In addition the Pro 7 Plus is also the first device to be powered by MediaTek’s new Helio X30 10nm chipset with 10 cores in three clusters. There are also 6GB of RAM, 64GB and 128GB storage options a 3500mAh battery and a 16MP front camera. Images can be viewed on a large 5.7″ QHD AMOLED display.

In the dual-camera the Meizu uses a very similar configuration to the Motorola Moto Z2 Force Edition that was announced two days ago. Two 12MP 1/2.9″ Sony IMX368 sensors with 1.25 µm pixel size, one RGB and one monochrome, are combined for depth-effects and improved image quality. The lenses come with F2.0 apertures and phase detection AF is on board as well.

If you think the Pro 7 Plus might be too large for your liking, there is also the standard Pro 7 with a smaller 5.2″Full HD panel and less powerful MediaTek Helio P25 chipset. The camera setup is the same as on the Pro model though. No information on pricing and availability has been provided yet.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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OPPO R11 Plus comes with 2x tele dual-cam

10 Jun

Back at the Mobile World Congress in February Chinese Manufacturer OPPO was demonstrating a smartphone camera module with a 5x optical zoom that was developed in cooperation with the Israeli company CorePhotonics. This technology still has not made it into a production device but today the company has launched the R11 Plus which features a dual-cam with 2x zoom factor and all around impressive camera specifications.

The main lens is coupled with a 16MP Sony IMX398 1/2.8″ sensor and a fast f/1.7 aperture. The telephoto module features a 20MP Sony IMX350 sensor with f/2.6 aperture. The Qualcomm image signal processor applies image fusion algorithms and offers a background-blurring portrait mode, similar to what we’ve seen on the iPhone 7 Plus or the Xiaomi Mi6. 4K video recording is possible with both cameras. The front camera has a 20MP sensor and F2.0 aperture.

Other specifications include a 6″ 1080p AMOLED display, 6GB of RAM, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 chipset and a 4,000mAh battery, all wrapped up in a metal unibody. No information on launch data and pricing has been revealed yet.

Key specifications:

Dual-camera
Wide angle camera with 16MP Sony IMX398 1/2.8″ sensor and f/1.7 aperture
Telephoto camera with 20MP Sony IMX350 sensor with f/2.6 aperture
4K video on both cameras
Portrait mode
20MP front camera with F2.0 aperture.
6″ 1080p AMOLED display
6GB RAM / 64GB storage
Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 chipset
4,000mAh

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Shiftcam for iPhone 7 Plus review

07 Jun

The selection of accessory lenses for most iPhone models is pretty overwhelming. However, there is one exception: the iPhone 7 Plus dual-cam with its new 28 and 56mm equivalent lenses makes design and engineering of accessory lens solutions somewhat more complex than on the standard models. As a result, there still aren’t a lot of add-on lenses to choose from. Some time ago we tested the Kamerar attachment which adds more tele reach, macro capability and a fish-eye lens to the 7 Plus camera.

Now, you can get behind a new option on the Kickstarter crowdfunding platform. The Shiftcam camera lens case offers a similar concept to the Kamerar but aims to take things one step further by adding even more lens options. The current prototype design includes the following three lens pairs that slide over the iPhone’s dual-camera lenses:

120-degree Wide-angle / 2X Telephoto
10X Macro / 20X Macro
180 Degree Fisheye Lens / 2X Telephoto

The makers of the Shiftcam are currently collecting funds for finalization of the design and mass production on the Shiftcam Kickstarter page, but got ahold of a prototype unit. Read on to find out how it performed in our testing.

Operation and build quality

The Shiftcam system consists of two parts: a protective case and the lens module that slides into a guide rail on the case. The module can be removed if you aren’t planning to use the lenses for a while and want to keep them in a safe place. The build quality is a far cry from the premium look and feel of the iPhone, but the Shiftcam’s plastic material feels solid and the design is functional. The lens module moves noticeably smoother than on the Kamerar, but still slots into place with reassurance. A small camera grip allows for comfortable holding and the corrugated surface ensures a safe grip. You can also attach a camera strap.

As with the Kamerar, it is advisable to use a camera app that allows you to force the camera to use the tele-lens in lower light, such as Camera+ or Manual Camera for example. In dimmer conditions, the iPhone 7 Plus stock camera app will digitally zoom the wide-angle rather than using the telephoto lens, which means the Shiftcam lenses don’t line up properly with the iPhone’s camera modules anymore.

Image quality

As you can see in the samples below the add-on lenses only have a minimal impact on color response and exposure. Both wide-angle and fisheye are sharp at the center of the frame but fall off towards the edges. As you would expect, this fall-off is more drastic on the fisheye. Some vignetting is noticeable when photographing bright scenes on the wide-angle but the effect is within acceptable limits.

Overall the optical quality of the Shiftcam wide-angle and fisheye is not outstanding, but decent for smartphone add-on lenses in this price range. Both lenses are useful for those situations when you want to squeeze more of a scene into your frame.

iPhone 7 Plus wide-angle, ISO 20, 1/754 sec

Shiftcam wide-angle, ISO 20, 1/2037 sec

Shiftcam fisheye, ISO 20, 1/2179 sec

The Shiftcam comes with two tele lenses, one combined with the wide-angle, the other comes in a pair with the fisheye. The two lenses offer an identical focal length multiplier but having two of them simply means you don’t have to change the position of the Shiftcam lens slider so often.

However, on our prototype unit the image results of the two tele lenses were quite different. One lens showed a very noticeable softness across the frame while the other was much sharper. If Shiftcam manages to get the optical quality for both tele lenses on the same high level as our second telephoto sample shot below, it offers a great way of getting closer to your subject when shooting with an iPhone.

iPhone 7 Plus tele lens, ISO 20, 1/2128 sec

Shiftcam telephoto lens 1, ISO 20, 1/643 sec

Shiftcam telephoto lens 2, ISO 20, 1/736 sec

The Shiftcam case also comes with 10x and 20x macro lenses which are located next to each other on the lens slider. The 10x uses the iPhone’s wide-angle lens, the 20x is in front of the tele. Both lenses are capable of producing good sharpness in the focal plane and very useful levels of magnification.

That said, depth-of-field is minimal and putting the focus where you want it is a real challenge. As you can see in the sample below, shooting handheld I did not quite manage to do so with the 10x lens, despite several attempts. My hit rate with the 20x was better and with the right subject it’s possible to capture very nice macro images. You’ll have to get very close to the subject though, so living creatures might be scared away. You also have to be careful to not shade the scene with your phone.

Shiftcam 10x Macro, ISO 20, 1/1140 sec

Shiftcam 20x Macro, ISO 20, 1/479 sec

Conclusion

The optical quality of the Shiftcam lenses is pretty much in line with typical add-on lenses in the lower price bracket. The wide-angle and fisheye are fine at the center of the frame but get pretty bad towards the edges. One of the tele lenses is pretty sharp, but the other one on our test unit appears to be slightly misaligned. The macro lenses can produce decent quality if focused correctly.

However, the Shiftcam’s unique selling proposition is not optical quality but the fact that it combines all those lenses in a very easy-to-use lens case. Switching lenses is really quick and much less fiddly than with individual add-ons or even the Kamerar, which, despite a similar concept to the Shiftcam, uses 2 lens sliders instead just one.

If you own an iPhone 7 Plus, the Shiftcam is a very affordable and convenient way of experimenting with add-on lenses and expanding the focal range of your built-in camera. Given that we were using a prototype unit, there is also a chance that optical quality will be further improved for production lenses. You’ve still got a few more hours to secure a Shiftcam case by pledging $ 59 on Kickstarter. The Shiftcam makers have also modified the original August shipping date and are now envisaging the first units to ship by the end of June.

What we like:

Easy operation
Useful hand grip and good ergonomics
Good selection of lenses

What we don’t like:

Strong corner softness on fisheye and wide-angle
One of the tele lenses is soft
Macro lenses difficult to focus

Sample gallery

There are 17 images in our Shiftcam for iPhone 7 Plus samples gallery. Please do not reproduce any of these images on a website or any newsletter / magazine without prior permission (see our copyright page). We make the originals available for private users to download to their own machines for personal examination or printing (in conjunction with this review), we do so in good faith, please don’t abuse it.

Unless otherwise noted images taken with no particular settings at full resolution.

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Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Shiftcam is a 6-in-1 lens case for the iPhone 7 Plus

15 May

The dual-camera of the iPhone 7 Plus with its 28 and 56mm equivalent lenses, offers more flexibility in terms of focal length and framing than most smartphones. The Kamerar attachment we tested some time ago increases this flexibility even further by adding more tele reach, macro capability and a fish-eye lens.

The new Shiftcam camera lens case that is now on Kickstarter takes things one step further by adding even more lens options. The concept it similar to the Kamerar, with a system that is built around a shock-proof case that comes with a camera grip and an optional wrist strap. A snap mechanism and sliding lens module allow for quickly switching between telephoto, wide-angle, fisheye and macro options. The current prototype design includes the following lenses:

120 Degree Wide-angle
10X Macro
20X Macro
180 Degree Fisheye Lens
2X Telepho

The makers of the Shiftcam are currently collecting funds for finalization of the design and mass production on the Shiftcam Kickstarter page where you can also secure a Shiftcam case by pledging $ 59. Shipping is planned for August 2017. We are hoping to get our hands on a review unit soon for a more in-depth look.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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OPPO launches F3 Plus with dual selfie cameras

24 Mar

Chinese smartphone maker OPPO has launched its latest upper mid-range model, the F3 Plus, and while the new device unfortunately doesn’t come with OPPO’s recently displayed 5x zoom camera unit, it does offer an unusual imaging feature: a dual-front camera.

The front unit features a 16MP main camera with 1/3″ sensor and F2.0 aperture for standard selfies. It is accompanied by an 8MP module with 1/4″ sensor and a super-wide-angle lens with 120 degree angle of view for group selfies. Thanks to built-in facial recognition, the camera app can notify users to switch to the wide angle camera if there are more than three people in the frame.

The rear camera is more conventional but offers capable-looking specifications. A 16MP 1/2.8″ Sony IMX398 sensor is paired with a fast F1.7 aperture and optical image stabilization. Dual PDAF doubles the ‘focus pixels’ on the image sensor for up to 40% faster focus times in low light.

In the processor department you’ll find Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 653 octa-core offering, backed by 4GB RAM and 64GB of internal storage. A dual-slot card tray can hold two Nano SIM cards or one Nano SIM card and a microSD card, expanding memory to up to 256GB. OPPO claims the beefy 4,000 mAh battery allows for a standby time of more than 284 hours. It also features the company’s own VOOC fast charging technology which can get you up to 2 hours of talk time with 5 minutes of charging.

At the front you’ll find a 6″ 1080p IPS LCD display that is covered by 2.5D Corning Gorilla Glass 5. The F3 Plus features a metal unibody and comes in black or gold. It will be available from April 1st in a number of Asian regions. No information on pricing or global availability has been released yet.

Press Release:

{/PressRelease}

OPPO Launches F3 Plus, Kickstarting the ‘Group Selfie’ Trend with A First-ever 120° Wide-angle Front Camera

March 23, 2017 – OPPO unveiled today the F3 Plus, the latest model of its Selfie Expert series. The F3 Plus sports the brand’s first dual front selfie camera including a first-of-its-kind 120° wide-angle group selfie camera. Priced at XX, the F3 Plus will go on sale from April 1^st in India, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines and Myanmar.

OPPO’s F3 Plus’ dual front camera will answer urban dwellers’ pursuit of snapping perfect selfie photos with a 16-megapixel camera and group selfie photos with a 120° wide-angle camera. The rear camera is co-developed with Sony, equipped with a customized IMX398 sensor for serious photography. The F3 Plus is a high-end smartphone that is efficient, long-lasting, secure and beautiful, addressing today’s highly-demanding mobile-first world.

“OPPO is an industry leader in the Selfie Revolution with the recent ‘Selfie Expert’ F-series. Our brand has been growing rapidly across Southeast Asia and other regions around the world. We became the No.2 smartphone brand in India in 2016. The F3 Plus marks the beginning of a new ‘Group Selfie’ trend, and reinforce our position as the Selfie Expert,” said Sky Li, OPPO Vice President and Managing Director of International Mobile Business.

“The F3 Plus was created for urban warriors, selfie photo aficionados and lifestyle mavens who want with the need to capturing flawless selfie photos, and our groundbreaking dual front camera smartphone will deliver the photos they seek. The F3 Plus is also packed with outstanding performance, premium design and amazing battery life,” Sky Li added.

Remarkable Wide-Angle & Dual Front Selfie Camera Define the Next Expert-Class Photography

OPPO’s devotion to perfecting the selfie camera technology began at the very start of their business nine years ago, when no other manufacturer focused on the selfie snapping capturing trend. For example, in 2012, the N1 model pioneered the world’s first rotating camera. In 2016, the F1 Plus was the first-ever device to sport a 16 megapixel front camera. Taking one step further, the revolutionary dual selfie front camera will take the standards of camera hardware and selfie photography to new heights.

Set to be the next ultimate ‘Selfie Expert’, the F3 Plus features dual front selfie camera. The 16-megapixel front camera builds upon the technology offered by the previous ‘Selfie Expert’ F1s. At the core of this camera is a 1/3-inch sensor, which increases light exposure and clarity of images. The large f/2.0 aperture allows for great depth-of-field effects – clear foreground focus matched with the perfect amount of background blurriness.

In becoming the ‘Group Selfie’ secret weapon, the first-in-the-market, specialized 120-degree wide-angle 8-megapixel camera captures a much wider view, up to 105 percent more than a regular 80-degree lens. This allows even more people to enter the frame with minimized lens distortion, thanks to the 6P camera lens. The camera also features a ¼-inch sensor.

This group selfie camera is a reflection of OPPO’s ‘user-oriented’ philosophy. With the built-in Smart Facial Recognition, the F3 Plus will notify users to switch to ‘Group Selfie’ mode if there are more than three people in the frame. Users can snap their Group Selfie at ease, without compromising image stability when taking the selfie with one hand.

The outstanding rear camera offers professional high-quality photography performance with fast focusing speed, noise reduction and advanced low-light performance. Powering the 16-megapixel rear camera is a brand-new 1/2.8-inch IMX398 sensor. This sensor is jointly developed by OPPO and Sony, which features Dual PDAF – dual phase detection autofocus technology. This new technology doubles the sensor’s pixel array area where the photodiodes are embedded, necessary for phase detection autofocus. This makes for 40 percent faster focusing speeds even in low light. Paired with the large f/1.7 aperture, the resulting images are clear and breathtaking.

There are other innovative technologies packed into the F3 Plus to help users capture picture-perfect, flawless selfies. OPPO’s pioneering beautification editing software, Beautify 4.0, will allow users to choose from various beautification modes, ensuring images presenting the favorable effects.

A Flawless Smartphone Experience

The OPPO F3 Plus is fast, utilizing an octa-core processor backed by 4GB RAM and 64GB ROM. It also offers a dual-slot card tray that can hold two Nano 4G SIM cards or one Nano SIM card with a microSD card, expanding memory to up to 256GB. OPPO’s leading optimized ColorOS 3.0 system ensures superb speed with reduced energy consumption and flawless performance with built-in Privacy Protection feature and the Avast-based virus scanner.

Extended daily usage is another of the device’s core features. The 4,000 mAh built-in battery gives the F3 Plus a standby time of more than 284 hours[1]. Through OPPO’s proprietary and industry leading rapid VOOC Flash Charge Solution, the battery will charge four times faster than standard batteries. can get up to 2 hours of talk time with just 5 minutes of charging.

Privacy protection and security is also a top priority. F3 Plus’ Lightning-Fast Touch Access is undoubtedly one of the quickest in the market. The home-button fingerprint reader in the F3 Plus unlocks the phone in a mere 0.2s. The fingerprint reader is even more versatile with the fingerprint-activated calling and app launch functions.

Users can enjoy the flexibility to multi-task and ‘work hard, snap hard’, all on one smartphone – seamlessly, securely, with a long battery life.

[1] This number is for reference only and may differ depending on individual user usage / conditions.

Stunning Design and Exquisite Craftsmanship

Created with OPPO’s belief in design excellence, the F3 Plus is constructed with a metal unibody and carefully crafted for a better sense of hand-gripping, resulting in a sleek and thin smartphone that is a wonder to hold. The 6-inch, 2.5D Corning Gorilla Glass 5 screen features a pre-applied protective screen coating, giving it an elegant, classy and premium look while retaining unmatched durability.

The “Six-String” ultra-fine antenna is a design rethink by OPPO, removing the ubiquitous, thick pair of white antenna lines seen in previous smartphone models, and gives the back shell a stunning look.

Amazing Colors & Competitive Pricing

The F3 Plus comes in Black and Gold. The suggested retail price is $ XXX. It will be made available first in India, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines and Myanmar. Launches in the Middle East and North Africa will follow.

The F3 is also announced today, featuring the dual selfie front camera and 5.5-inch screen display. It is expected to be available in May 2017.

{/PressRelease}

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Lenovo Moto G5 Plus camera first impressions review

27 Feb

Lenovo has launched the latest model of its Moto sub-brand at the Mobile World Congress. The Moto G5 Plus is the successor to last year’s Moto G4 Plus and, like its predecessor, an upper mid-range device that puts a lot of emphasis on camera performance. For the new model’s camera resolution has been reduced from 16MP to 12MP and, with a 1.4µm pixel size, on-sensor phase detection and very fast F1.7 aperture, the main camera specifications look very similar to the Samsung Galaxy S7’s minus the optical image stabilization.

On the video side of things the camera is capable of recording clips with 1080p Full-HD resolution and front camera specification remains unchanged with a 5MP sensor and F2.2 aperture. Compared to the predecessor the size of the IPS display has been reduced from 5.5″ to 5.2″, making the G5 Plus a little more compact, but the 1080p Full-HD resolution remains unchanged. The metal frame is a little more sturdy and gives the entire device more of a premium touch than its predecessor.

The fingerprint sensor at the front now also serves as a touchpad, replacing the Android function buttons. Android 7.0 is powered by a Snapdragon 625 chipset and 2GB of RAM. 32 or 64GB of onboard-storage can be expanded via a microSD slot. The non-removable Li-Ion 3000 mAh battery supports fast charging and, unlike Lenovo’s high-end Moto Z models, the G5 Plus still features a 3.5mm headphone-jack.

12MP CMOS sensor with 1.4µm pixel size
F1.7 aperture
On-sensor phase detection
1080p video
5MP / F2.2 front camera
Manual control over shutter speed
5.2″ 1080p IPS display
Android 7.0
Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 chipset
2GB RAM
32/64GB storage
3000 mAh battery with fast charging

We have had the chance to use the Moto 5G Plus for a few days before launch and were impressed by the speedy general operation and how solid the new model feels in the hand. We have also shot a good number of sample images with the camera in a variety of situations.

Image Quality

In our brief test we found the Moto G5 Plus to capture good detail, especially in lower light, good exposures and pleasant colors across the ISO range. In the ISO 50 image below some slight smearing of fine detail is noticeable at a 100% view but overall fine textures are rendered nicely and luminance noise in the blue sky is very well under control. Some highlight clipping is visible in bright areas of the frame but it’s well within acceptable limits for this class of device.

ISO 50, 1/1622 sec

In sunlight colors are pleasant with a slightly warm touch. At close subject distance, like in the image below, the combination of a 1/2.5″ sensor with a very fast F1.7 aperture allows for some blurring of the background.

ISO 50, 1/2240 sec

Thanks to its fast aperture the Moto G5 Plus can keep the ISO low in indoor scenes like the one below. That said, in low light the camera is slightly more prone to camera shake than models equipped with optical image stabilization.

ISO 160, 1/30 sec

The camera’s white balance system deals well with artificial indoor lighting. In the ISO 250 image below fine detail is starting to suffer a little bit but both luminance and chroma noise are very well under control.

ISO 250, 1/30 sec

The indoor portrait below shows good detail and natural skin tones. The 1/30 sec shutter speed usually still gets you shake-free images.

ISO 400, 1/30 sec

For low-light shots like the one below, shutter speed is reduced to 1/15 sec and the camera engages a multi-frame night mode. There is now noticeably more noise in the image, especially the shadow areas, but the overall tonality is very pleasant and edge detail is still very well defined. The Moto G5 Plus is performing well in these light conditions.

ISO 500, 1/15 sec

The night shot below shows very good exposure, color and detail, considering the low light levels. Edges are very well defined and fine textures are still visible as well. Noise is noticeable when the image is viewed at a 100% magnification but finely grained and overall very well controlled.

ISO 640, 1/15 sec

Special modes

Panorama mode remains a bit of a weakness in the Moto camera app. The images tend to show good exposure and color but, compared to some competitors, are pretty small. In scenes with several moving subjects ghosting artifacts are almost unavoidable.

Panorama 2704 x 920 pixels

As you can see in the samples below, HDR mode is capable of maintaining better highlight detail than standard exposures. It also slightly lifts the shadows, making for a more balanced overall exposure in high-contrast scenes.

ISO 50, 1/3763 sec, HDR off

ISO 50, 1/3618 sec, HDR on

First impressions

We are hoping to spend more time with the Moto G5 Plus soon, but after our first brief test the new model looks, like its predecessor, like a great option for mobile photographers who don’t want to spend iPhone or Galaxy S money. The Moto G5 Plus offers responsive operation in all situations and very decent image quality across the ISO range. We especially liked the textures and low noise levels in low light scenes.

In terms of build quality the new model is a step up from last years G4 Plus as well and the touchpad-style fingerprint reader is an interesting touch. At its retail price point of $ 299 the Lenovo Moto G5 Plus looks like a great package for mobile photographers and general users alike.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Huawei announces P10 and P10 Plus with ‘Leica-style’ portrait mode

27 Feb

Huawei has launched its latest flagship smartphone duo at the Mobile World Congress today, the P10 and P10 Plus. The new models come with a refreshed design that features 2.5D curved Gorilla Glass 5, an all-metal backplate with a sandblasted finish and Huawei’s hyper-diamond cut on the edges. Both devices come in a range of colors including new green and blue options.

With a dual-camera that combines a 12MP color sensor with a 20MP monochrome chip the specification of the Leica-designed camera in the Huawei P10 is the same as in the Mate 9. Both lenses have an F2.2 aperture and the color variant also features optical image stabilization. As before, color and monochrome image information is combined for better image detail, higher dynamic range and lower noise levels in the Huawei P10 images. There is also a laser-assisted autofocus, two-tone LED flash and 4K video recording.

New on the camera is the ‘Leica-style’ portrait mode that uses 3D face detection and applies a combination of fake bokeh and adjustable illumination and ‘beautification’ effects to your portrait subjects. It works on both the main camera and the 8MP front camera that comes with an F1.9 aperture. The front camera can also automatically adjust the framing for individual or group selfies.

Images can be viewed and framed on a 5.1″ IPS display with 1080p resolution and the Android 7.0 operating system is powered by Huawei’s HiSilicon Kirin 960 octa-core chipset and 4GB of RAM. 64GB of internal storage can be expanded via a microSD slot. Compared to the P9 the battery size has increased from 3,000 to 3,200 mAh and fast charging is supported as well. The Huawei P10 will launch in March in Europe and many other regions at 649 Euros (approximately $ 685). Unfortunately US comsumer will have to wait a little longer for the new device.

The P10 Plus comes with a very similar design to the P10 but ups the display specification to 5.5″ and Quad-HD resolution. Like the P10 it is powered by the Kirin 960 chip, but in addition to the 4GB RAM/64GB storage version you can opt for a 6GB/128GB variant. In addition the P10 plus comes with slightly faster F1.8 apertures in the lenses of the dual-camera and a larger 3,750 mAh battery. The 64GB option will be priced at 699 Euros ($ 740), the 128GB model will set you back 799 Euros ($ 845).

Huawei P10 key specifictions:

Leica-branded dual-camera with 12MP color and 20MP monochrome sensors
F2.2 aperture
OIS on the color sensor
27mm equivalent focal length
On-sensor phase detection and laser-assisted AF
Daal-tone LED flash
4K video
8MP front camera with F1.9 aperture
Manual camera control
5.1″ IPS display with 1080p resolution
Android 7.0
HiSilicon Kirin 960 octa-core chipset
4GB RAM and 64GB storage
microSD support up to 256GB
3200 mAh battery
Stereo speakers
Fingerprint reader

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Kamerar Lens Zoom Kit for iPhone 7 Plus review

24 Feb

Kamerar Zoom Lens Kit for iPhone 7 Plus review

If you’re shopping for accessory lenses, for most iPhone models the choice can be overwhelming. The lenses on offer range from cheap plastic variants for very little money to hefty high-quality glass in metal bodies that require a three-figure investment. However, the situation is slightly different for Apple’s current flagship, the iPhone 7 Plus. Because of the unique design of its dual-camera there are currently still very few attachment lenses on the market. That said, we’ve had a chance to have a closer look at one of the first available options, the Kamerar Zoom Lens kit.

For $ 50 the kit includes a protective case for the iPhone, two lens modules that slide into the case and two small protective lens-cases. The first module combines a fisheye-adapter for the iPhone’s wide-angle lens with a tele-converter for the longer lens in the dual-cam. The fisheye offers a 160 degree angle of view and the converter comes with a 1.5x zoom factor, giving the 7 Plus tele lens a total zoom factor of 3x when compared to the wide-angle. The second module has two macro lenses that apply a 10x magnification to both iPhone camera lenses.

The complete kit consists of the phone case and two lens modules with a little protective case for each.