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Posts Tagged ‘promises’

SID is a 3D camera that promises shake-free VR videos

13 May

Chinese company Weeview, maker of the Eye-Plug camera dongle for Android phones, has launched a Kickstarter campaign for a 3D camera. The new SID model features a pair of stereoscopic cameras that, when used together, produce 3D videos suitable for VR applications and headsets. Weeview says its new camera produces ‘shake-free’ footage, and that the stereoscopic effects can be adjusted with a mobile device during post-processing.

The SID camera works in conjunction with a mobile app that supports live 3D video streaming, as well as functions like ‘Auto Follow’ for tracking a subject in the video and ‘Highlight’ for zooming in specific parts of the shot. The model offers a total maximum video resolution of 2880 x 1440 (3K) at 30 fps, as well as 32MP 8064 x 4032 still photos. Both sensors sport an F2.4 lens with a 160-degree field-of-view. The camera itself contains 802.11n WiFi for wireless connectivity, micro USB for charging, and a microSD card slot for content storage.

Joining SID is the SID Camera Kit, a bundle that includes a motorized handheld gimbal and a smartphone mount. The gimbal can pan 320-degrees, roll 120-degrees, and tilt 320-degrees. Weeview says its new camera is also compatible with GoPro gimbals. 

The SID camera is currently being offered to Kickstarter backers who pledge at least $ 179, while the gimbal is included in the bundle for backers who pledge at least $ 269. Shipping to these backers is estimated to start this upcoming August.

Via: Kickstarter

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Blackmagic Designs promises scopes for 4K Video Assist monitor/recorder

25 Apr

Blackmagic designs has announced a variety of professional ‘scopes’ will be added to its Video Assist 4K monitor/recorder. In the meantime, the company has also added support for ten extra languages.

Firmware v2.5, due in June, will add waveform, RGB parade, vectorscope and histogram options to the device. These can either be displayed on a black background, overlaid on top of the video feed or shown as picture-in-picture frames.

Waveform, RGB parade and vectorscope are tools used by video professionals for quickly assessing exposure and color. These are powerful tools, each of which gives a different way of understanding the brightness and color makeup of the footage, to help set up and monitor your video as you capture it.

‘Scopes’ being added to the Video Assist 4K include this RGB parade, showing the spacial distribution of per-channel brightness values within the scene, helping with exposure and color balance.

We were recently impressed when the Panasonic DC-GH5 became the first camera we’ve reviewed to provide in-camera scopes, but the addition of these functions to the Video Assist mean that they’re now accessible to anyone shooting with a camera offering HDMI output.

Update v2.4, available today, adds support for ten additional languages, meaning the device can now be operated in: Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and Turkish.

The latest firmware can be downloaded from the Blackmagic Designs website.

Press Release:

Blackmagic Design Announces New Professional Scopes and Multi Lingual Support for Video Assist

New software update supports 10 additional languages, plus a beta demonstration of full professional scopes for professional monitoring.

NAB 2017, Las Vegas, Nevada – April 24, 2017 – Blackmagic Design today announced the immediate availability of Blackmagic Video Assist 2.4 update which adds support for multi-lingual support for 10 separate languages. This means customers can now use Video Assist in their native language. This update is available now as a free update for all Blackmagic Video Assist and Blackmagic Video Assist 4K customers.

Also demonstrated at the NAB 2017 show are powerful new professional scopes operating on the Blackmagic Video Assist 4K model, including waveform, RGB parade, vectorscope and histogram that can be viewed full screen for accurately evaluating video signals passing through Blackmagic Video Assist 4K. These scopes are shown as a development preview and will also be available in June as a software update free of charge for all Blackmagic Video Assist 4K customers.

Customers can see a beta demonstration of the new language support and preview the new professional scopes on Blackmagic Video Assist 4K at the Blackmagic Design NAB 2017 booth at #SL216.

The new scopes make the Blackmagic Video Assist 4K model perfect for live production monitoring, as portable test scope for broadcasters, and even for balancing color when color grading using the RGB parade scope.

The new localized Video Assist adds interface support for Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and Turkish. This broad language support now makes it easier for more customers to use Video Assist anywhere in the world.

“Video Assist has become an indispensable part of everyone’s production kit,” said Grant Petty, Blackmagic Design CEO. “It’s the perfect portable field monitor and recorder. The addition of full blown professional scopes makes it even more exciting and useful for customers. Plus, the new multi-lingual interface will make it easier for non-English speaking customers to use it!”

Availability and Price

Blackmagic Video Assist 2.4 update is available now from the Blackmagic Design website free of charge for all current Blackmagic Video Assist and Blackmagic Video Assist 4K customers. Blackmagic Video Assist 2.5, which will support scopes on the Blackmagic Video Assist 4K model will be available in June.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Upcoming Fujifilm GFX 50S firmware update promises to improve AF, exposure compensation

19 Apr

In addition to announcing a handful of new medium format GF lenses, Fujifilm also unveiled plans for the first major firmware update for the GFX 50S medium format camera. According to the Fujifilm press release:

“Fujifilm will release a free firmware update for the FUJIFILM GFX 50S later this spring, adding new functionality and improving operability. New functions include computer tethering via Wi-Fi and improved operability in exposure compensation and autofocus performance in difficult scenes.”

We recently reviewed the Fujifilm GFX 50S and while we gave the camera a gold award, it was noted that AF speed and reliability was one area ripe for improvement. We also were disappointed in the lack of a dedicated exposure compensation button, so perhaps this update will make accessing that functions less annoying. Furthermore, the addition of a Wi-Fi tethering feature should go a long way to making the GFX 50S appeal to studio shooters.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Adobe SkyReplace promises to make swapping skies a breeze

12 Nov

During Adobe MAX 2016, the company gave a behind the scenes look at a new technology that they’re developing called SkyReplace. The new software makes it very easy to replace the sky and even adjust the overall look of a photo with little to no Photoshop knowledge. 

Adobe says SkyReplace uses deep machine learning to automatically figure out where the boundary lines lie between the sky and the rest of the elements in the photo such as trees, mountains and buildings. It can then not only swap out the old sky and insert a completely new one, but it can also adjust the rest of the photo to take on the same look and feel as the replaced sky by adjusting color, light and contrast thus creating a more realistic look.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Google acknowledges lens flare issue on Pixel camera, promises software fix

27 Oct

Since the Google Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones have become available for purchase, there have been several reports about the camera of the devices, despite stellar scores in the DxOMark ranking, being very prone to lens flare with the sun at a certain angle to the camera lens. Now a group of affected Reddit users has described the problem in the Google Product Forum and got a quick reply from a Google employee:

‘First, for some background — flare is a property of ALL camera lenses. It comes in a ton of different shapes and sizes and can even be used for creative effect — good and bad :-). The shape, color, amount, etc. of flare is related to dozens of different parameters of the lens structure and inclement light. However, we have seen reports about this “halo/arc flare”. This is the specific kind of flare that appears as a bright/low-contrast arc in the corners of the frame.
 
You can expect a software update in the next few weeks that will improve the effects of this issue. We’re working on some algorithms that recognize the halo/arc flare, characterize it mathematically, and then subtract it from the image. 🙂 You will need to use HDR+ to see the benefits of this software.’
 
So it appears Google is planning to solve a hardware problem with a software solution and bake an algorithm, that mathematically removes the flare from the image, into the Pixel camera’s HDR mode. This means the measure will only be effective when shooting in this mode and it remains to be seen if there is any impact on noise and/or image detail in the affected areas of the image. We will certainly have a closer look at the Pixel’s flare behavior in our own test of the device.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Cactus promises 1/8000sec flash sync with V6 II transceiver, new version for Sony users

28 Jun

Hong Kong-based flash and flash trigger manufacturer Cactus has upgraded its V6 wireless transceiver system to allow flash sync speeds of up to 1/8000sec. The company, claiming its transceivers can apply TTL control to multiple brands of flash at the same time, says that the V6 ll will be compatible with units from Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic and Pentax. Cactus also plans to bring high speed flash to Fujifilm X cameras even though Fuji doesn’t support the feature with its own flash units. Cactus has, at the same time, announced a V6 lls for Sony users with the same capabilities, but offers a Sony-compatible hotshoe foot.

The Cactus V6 ll offers an LED AF-assist light and remote control of the flash’s power output and zoom head position, as well as the features of the previous version. Also new is the ability to detect the on-camera flash in the network and to assign an automatic profile to that flash on start-up. This should make the system easier to work with.

The Cactus V6 ll will be available from July priced at $ 95. The Sony version is scheduled for an August release. For more information and a list of pre-installed flash profiles visit the Cactus website.

Press release:

Go high-speed sync! Cactus launches the V6 II, a newest version of its popular Wireless Flash Transceiver to add cross-brand HSS and the V6 IIs, a dedicated Sony version.

After two years in the making, Cactus V6 II & IIs – the second generation of the World’s First cross-brand wireless flash transceiver, NOW supports high-speed synchronisation (HSS)!

Besides the revolutionary remote power control of Canon, Fujifilm, Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic and Pentax flashes all at the same time, the new models now support HSS / FP mode in the same cross-brand environment.1 This unique function gives photographers flexibility undreamed of. Matching flashes with same camera system for off-camera flash photography is over.

Two High-Speed Sync Modes
1. Normal HSS: Supports shutter speed up to 1/8000s.
2. Power Sync: Boosts flash contribution above camera’s x-sync speed, perfect for extreme conditions where Normal HSS is not powerful enough. 2

Cactus also extends HSS capabilities to Fujifilm cameras despite them not yet
supporting high-speed sync at the time of writing.

AF-assist
Both the V6 II and IIs now has an automatic LED AF-assist light that makes autofocusing in dark environments possible – even in pitched-black!3 Besides the camera-mounted V6 II/IIs, off-camera units will also activate the AF-assist light, which helps focusing even when camera is far from the subject.

V6 IIs for Sony
The dedicated Sony version – V6 IIs, embodies all the desirable functions of its sibling V6 II but with a Sony compatible hot shoe on the transceiver body, ensuring a seamless and secured connection with Sony cameras and flashes. Mounting the V6 IIs on a Sony Alpha camera allows the photographer to shoot above camera’s maximum x-sync speed and control power and zoom of Sony, including those with a Minolta/Sony hot shoe via an adapter, and other V6 II compatible flashes. 4 It is the perfect wireless flash trigger for existing and new users of Sony Alpha cameras, especially those who may still have non-Sony system flashes in their camera bags.

Highly Intelligent
V6 II and IIs can now auto-detect the on-camera portable flashes at device start-up by selecting the system the flash belongs to and assigning an Auto flash profile. Similarly, the V6 II will auto-detect the camera and selects the system accordingly. 5 This simple plug-and-play makes the setting up extremely quick and easy that both amateurs and professionals appreciate.

Expands Flash Compatibility
Remote zoom control now applies to all compatible TTL flashes, gives the photographer much quicker controls. Better still, previously unsupported digital TTL flash models on the V6 are now being supported.

Features at a Glance
1. Cross-brand wireless manual power and zoom control with HSS support of Canon, Fujifilm, Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic, Pentax and Sony flashes;

2. Two cross-brand high-speed sync modes:
•?Normal HSS supports shutter speeds up to 1/8000s;
•?Power Sync boosts flash contribution above camera’s x-sync speed;

3. Multi-master supports up to 20 photographers firing the same set of flashes at their own power settings;

4. AF-assist light assists focusing in low light environment;

5. Flash profile customization ensures accurate power output;

6. Work seamlessly with the RF60 series to support HSS and Power Sync;

7. Other useful features inherited from the V6 including:

  • Lo Power
  • Absolute Power
  • TTL Pass-through
  • Group Sequence
  • Sport Shutter
  • Remote Shutter
  • Relay Mode
  • Delay Mode
  • Firmware Update support

Price and Availability
Cactus V6 II and IIs are currently scheduled to be available in 2016 July and August respectively and both are priced at US$ 95.00 (ex VAT).

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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LandscapePro software promises simple steps to dramatic changes

21 May

Anthropics Technology, the makers of the PortraitPro software application, has announced a program that it claims ‘radically simplifies and speeds up’ dramatic reworking of landscape images. LandscapePro offers tools for replacing skies, enhancing water and altering the direction of the light using automatic selection techniques and ‘one-click’ pre-sets. The company says that users will need ‘no prior knowledge or technical skills’ to use the program.

LandscapePro invites users to drag labels, such as ‘grass’, ‘sky’ and ‘water’ on to the relevant areas of an image and the software automatically makes an adjustable selection of that area. A collection of sliders and filters then makes it possible to adjust or replace each type of element. A depth of field simulator can create blur at certain distances while further controls allow photographers to emphasize distance through coloration.

Color temperatures can be adjusted using pre-sets with atmospheric labels to simulate sunset or stormy conditions, and ‘common objects’ such as grass and sand have their own pre-sets as well. There is also a tool that helps to select areas of sky through the branches of a tree.

There are two versions of LandscapePro: Standard and Studio. The Studio version works with Raw files and has options to operate as a plug-in for Photoshop, Lightroom and Elements among other differences.

The Standard version costs $ 79.90/£59.90 while the Studio version costs $ 119.90/£99.90, though both are offered at 50% off at the moment.

For more information, and a free trial, visit the LandscapePro website.

Press release:

LandscapePro Launched

New, easy way to enhance landscape photos

Anthropics Technology today announced the launch of LandscapePro, the industry’s first intelligent landscape photo editing software, available in standalone and Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom and Elements plug-in editions. The new software radically simplifies and speeds up outdoor and nature photo retouching. It includes landscape relighting, sky replacement, 3D depth estimation, a depth of field simulator, distance controls, intelligent selection tools, and photo-adaptive controls among other powerful features. With one-click presets and targeted editing available, users can create beautiful landscapes in seconds.

LandscapePro is a new way to enhance pictures that rises to the challenges and nuances of landscape photography. It assumes no prior knowledge or technical skills, and photographers can create unique, dramatic effects quickly. The new product comes from the makers of the award-winning retouching software PortraitPro and PortraitPro Studio with a plug-in mode for Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, and Apple Aperture.

“Inspired by the success of Anthropics’s PortraitPro software, we are delighted to introduce a new product to help photographers expand their creativity and take landscape retouching to the next level,” said Andrew Berend, CEO, Anthropics. “LandscapePro offers an innovative and easy way to create stunning landscape photography, and can be used by novices or experienced photographers alike. As its intelligent controls uniquely adapt to the features of each photo, it enables photographers to do incredible things with their outdoor photos simply by using sliders.”

Key Features

Easily enhance landscape photos. LandscapePro contains a host of unique tools to enable anyone to create beautiful scenic photographs.

  • Intelligent selection tools.
  • Unique editing controls that adapt to the photo.
  • Easy-to-use slider interface.
  • No technical skills required.
  • LandscapePro Studio handles RAW files and can be run as a Photoshop, Lightroom and Elements plug-in.

Expand your creativity. Create unique, breathtaking scenes. LandscapePro effects are specifically tailored to landscape photography.

  • Landscape relighting. Lighting adjustment to fit any creative goals: change light source, temperature, time of day, or go from dawn to sunset. Note how the side lighting brings out the texture on the ground.
  • Instant sky replacement with presets. The unique sky controls enable photographers to replace sky, change clouds, or cast cloud shadows. Note how the change in sky has automatically relit the ground.
  • Cloud and atmosphere adjustment. Tools to manipulate skies by separately adjusting the clouds and the atmosphere behind them.
  • 3D depth estimation. A unique, easy-to-use depth of field simulator respects 3D objects in the scene. As easy as using a single slider.
  • Distance controls. Change colors in the image depending on the distance to the camera – make distant objects bluer, highlight the middle distance, or add fog.
  • Landscape-specific tools for dealing with common issues such as selecting small patches of sky behind trees.
  • Color adjustment tools targeted at common objects in landscapes, e.g. tools to make grass look lush, change the color of the sea, or to make sand golden.
  • One-click presets such as wet sand, stormy water, red sunset, lush trees.
  • Automatic area selection. Tag areas as sky, trees, buildings, grass, sand, rock, water and the selection will be applied instantly.
  • Targeted editing. Specially designed controls for different areas, e.g. change clouds to stormy or add thunder clouds, adjust waves, or add sunrise reflection to the sea.
  • Whole picture and individual object enhancements. Transform the whole photo instantly or use a new workflow where you select several objects in your scene first, before editing.

Editions

LandscapePro Standard – dedicated landscape photo editing.
LandscapePro Studio – handles RAW files, 48 bit per color TIFFs, supports different color spaces, and can be run as a plug-in for Photoshop, Lightroom and Elements.

Compare the different editions: www.landscapepro.pics/editions.
Availability, Free Trial and Pricing

LandscapePro is available to purchase or for a free trial from http://www.landscapepro.pics/.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Leica T firmware 1.4 promises to boost AF speed and overall camera responsiveness

29 Oct

Leica has released a major firmware update for its T (Typ 701) APS-C mirrorless camera. Firmware 1.4 promises to make autofocus twice as fast, and improves touchscreen responsiveness by three times. The company has also announced plans to release two new prime lenses for the T in 2016. Read more

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Sigma promises firmware fix for Pentax mount 17-70mm f/2.8-4 lens

24 Jan

Sigma has acknowledged a problem that Pentax users are suffering from when the company’s 17-70mm f/2.8-4 DC Macro HSM Contemporary lens is used on Pentax DSLR bodies with in-camera image stabilization activated. To rectify the issue the lens manufacturer has promised a firmware update for the lens, but hasn’t yet specified a release date. Read more

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Venus Optics 60mm macro 2x lens promises high magnification on a budget

15 Jan

Anhui ChangGeng Optical Technology Company Limited, a new Chinese lens manufacturer, has introduced a 60mm lens under the Venus Optics brand name that it says can deliver 2x magnification macro photography. The f/2.8 manual focus lens is designed to cover both full frame and APS-C sensors for macro work, but will introduce vignetting when used at normal focus distances with the larger format. Read more

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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