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Posts Tagged ‘Shows’

Oppo patent shows camera module that pops out of the side of a smartphone

04 Jan

Smartphone manufacturers have come up with a variety of solutions to maximize the screen surface to size ration on smartphones, including hole-punch front cameras, camera notches and pop-up mechanisms of various kinds.

In a patent filing found in the CNIPA (China National Intellectual Property Administration) database Oppo is now adding a new variant: the sideways pop-out front camera.

In the reference images, we can see a motorized camera module placed on the right-hand side of the phone on roughly the same height as the rear camera. The power button is located on the same side of the phone while volume rockers and SIM-tray can be found on the left. The speaker and USB-C connectors are at the bottom.

As usual, there is no way of knowing if this idea ever makes it into an actual production device but it’s good to see manufacturers are looking into new ways of optimizing space in the thin bodies of modern smartphones.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Adobe shows off its new Sensei-powered Auto Reframe tool for Premiere Pro

13 Sep

Adobe has announced Auto Reframe, a new Adobe Sensei-powered framing tool coming to Premiere Pro.

Auto Reframe uses Adobe’s AI and machine learning technology to automatically recompose footage for different formats so a single video can easily be created for multiple aspect ratios without having to manually keyframe each clip. Auto Reframe analyzes the video it’s applied to, crops it according to the aspect ratio of your choosing, and will pan the video to keep track of the subject matter.

If the automated result isn’t quite where it should be, editing the resulting composition is as easy as changing a few of the keyframes that are automatically created with the tool.

Adobe doesn’t give a specific timeframe for the arrival of Auto Reframe, but says it will launch in an update to Premiere Pro ‘later this year.’

{pressrelease}

Coming soon to Premiere Pro: Auto Reframe

Today, we’re excited to announce a new feature coming to Premiere Pro that will be a must-have in the age of content and platform proliferation. Powered by Adobe Sensei, Auto Reframe intelligently reframes and reformats video content for different aspect ratios, from square to vertical to cinematic 16:9 versions. Like Content-Aware Fill for After Effects (introduced this spring), Auto Reframe is an Adobe Sensei technology that uses AI and machine learning to accelerate manual production tasks, without sacrificing creative control. Through Adobe Sensei, we’re leveraging over a decade of AI and machine learning capabilities built into Adobe’s flagship products.

For broadcasters or anyone else who needs to optimize content for different platforms, Auto Reframe will help you get there faster. If you’re on the ground at IBC, we’d be happy to show you how Auto

Reframe analyzes, crops, and pans footage to prioritize the most compelling parts of your video at our IBC Stand (Hall 7-7.B35). {/pressrelease}

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Video: Incredible timelapse shows Earth’s rotation relative to the Milky Way

24 Aug

Photographer Aryeh Nirenberg has shared an incredible timelapse from a trip to Northeast Colorado that shows the Earth’s axial rotation in relation to the location of the Milky Way Galaxy in the night sky.

The timelapse, which was captured nearly two years ago, but only now uploaded to YouTube, was captured with an astro-modified Sony a7S II with a Canon 24-70 F2.8 lens attached via an adapter. Approximately 1,100 10-second exposures were captured at 12-second intervals to create the 55-second timelapse.

In speaking with DPReview, Nirenberg said:

‘I was trying to shoot a regular Milky Way timelapse at a reservoir, but access to it was blocked on the side of the reservoir that I needed to be at to face the Milky Way. So, instead of just shooting the Milky Way with the boring field in the foreground, I thought I’d try doing it with my iOptron portable equatorial mount to make it more interesting and I [photographed] until most of the sky was out of the frame.’

The resulting images were processed in Lightroom and the timelapse was rendered using LRTimelapse. You can find more of Nirenberg’s work on his website, Instagram profile and YouTube channel.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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New video shows off what appears to be DJI’s rumored ‘Mavic Mini’ drone

17 Aug

We’ve already seen purported images and rumored specs of DJI’s impending compact drone. Now, a video posted to YouTube shows off what appears to be the same device detailed in the previously-reported photographs.

Originally posted to TikTok by a user of a closed Facebook group dedicated to DJI drone equipment and subsequently uploaded to YouTube, the 23-second video shows a drone that appears to be the rumored ‘DJI Mavic Mini.’ On the front of the light grey drone is a white DJI logo. The arms of the drone are collapsed in their stored position and appear to have the protective tape still wrapped around them. The front and bottom obstacle avoidance sensors can also be seen in the video as the drone is rotated around.

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Interestingly, the area of the drone where the camera/gimbal would normally be installed appears to be missing. As noted by DroneDJ, it’s unknown whether it’s ‘been removed or has not yet been installed on this particular drone.’ The battery door appears identical to the one shown off in the previous images we’ve seen and show the same placement for the USB connector and Micro USB port.

Between our last post and this one, a leaked spec sheet has also been revealed that appears to contradict the initial report that the impending drone will weigh more than 250g. According to the purported spec sheet, the drone will come in at 245g, putting it under the FAA’s weight limit for registration requirements. DroneDJ has shared a follow-up article detailing why this is even more likely be the case considering DJI’s statements at its May 2019 event titled ‘Elevating Safety: Protecting the Skies in the Drone Era.’

Whatever the case is, there’s a lot of smoke hovering around the DJI rumor mill. Now the question is how much longer before the flames are found?

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Security firm Check Point shows how ransomware can be installed on Canon cameras

13 Aug

Security researchers with Check Point Research have demonstrated that it is possible to incapacitate a DSLR camera using wirelessly transmitted ransomware, a type of malware that forces victims to pay in order to decrypt their data. Though the demonstration involved using Wi-Fi, the researchers say it is also possible to hijack a DSLR camera using USB.

Modern cameras feature an unauthenticated protocol called Picture Transfer Protocol (PTP) that comes in two varieties: PTP/USB for wired connections and PTP/IP for wireless connections. Whereas USB requires the hacker to compromise the camera owner’s computer, Wi-Fi makes it possible to target the camera directly by simply being located near the device.

The DSLR malware demonstration involved a Canon EOS 80D camera, with the researchers explaining that they chose this model due to Canon’s popularity combined with the 80D’s support for USB, Wi-Fi and open-source software called Magic Lantern.

The researchers detailed the technical aspects of developing this malware in a blog post, ultimately explaining:

‘The ransomware uses the same cryptographic functions as the firmware update process, and calls the same AES functions in the firmware. After encrypting all of the files on the SD Card, the ransomware displays the ransom message to the user.’

It’s possible for hackers to set up a rogue Wi-Fi access point that causes these Wi-Fi-enabled cameras to automatically connect to the network, after which point the ransomware can be deployed. In a real-world scenario, this malware would demand payment from the victim — usually a few hundred dollars — in order to decrypt the images on the camera.

According to Check Point Research, Canon was contacted about these vulnerabilities in March and worked with the company to patch the security issues. Canon released the first security patch on August 6 alongside an advisory, shared below, detailing the PTP vulnerability and the cameras affected by by it.

Product advisory:

Regarding the security advisory for Canon digital cameras related to PTP (Picture Transfer Protocol) communication functions and firmware update functions

August 6, 2019 — Thank you very much for using Canon products.

An international team of security researchers has drawn our attention to a vulnerability related to communications via the Picture Transfer Protocol (PTP), which is used by Canon digital cameras, as well as a vulnerability related to firmware updates. (CVE-ID: CVE-2019-5994, CVE-2019-5995, CVE-2019-5998, CVE-2019-5999, CVE-2019-6000, CVE-2019-6001?

Due to these vulnerabilities, the potential exists for third-party attack on the camera if the camera is connected to a PC or mobile device that has been hijacked through an unsecured network.

At this point, there have been no confirmed cases of these vulnerabilities being exploited to cause harm, but in order to ensure that our customers can use our products securely, we would like to inform you of the following workarounds for this issue.

  • Ensure the suitability of security-related settings of the devices connected to the camera, such as the PC, mobile device, and router being used.
  • Do not connect the camera to a PC or mobile device that is being used in an unsecure network, such as in a free Wi-Fi environment.
  • Do not connect the camera to a PC or mobile device that is potentially exposed to virus infections.
  • Disable the camera’s network functions when they are not being used.
  • Download the official firmware from Canon’s website when performing a camera firmware update.

Please check the Web site of the Canon sales company in your region for the latest information regarding firmware designed to address this issue.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Astropad 3.2 update shows it isn’t going away anytime soon—and teases a Windows version

08 Jun

Astropad may have been ‘Sherlocked’ with Apple’s announcement that the ability to use an iPad as a secondary display will be baked into macOS 10.15 Catalina as a feature called Sidecar, but that hasn’t stopped Astropad from updating its third-party solution.

Yesterday, Astropad 3.2 was released with a few new updates and a note from its founders saying they have no plans to stop Astropad development, even amidst Apple’s Sidecar announcement.

Astropad 3.2 brings along your normal bug fixes and under-the-hood fixes as well as a fix to minimize pixelation. According to the update notes, the development team re-engineered the data flow from Mac devices to iPads ‘in order to push data more efficiently between devices.’ This fix should mean pixelation is ‘significantly reduced’ when your iPad is connected to a Mac device over strong Wi-Fi networks or USB. Astropad notes the changes should especially be noticeable when scrolling through text documents and websites.

On iOS, Astropad Studio 3.2, Astropad Standard 3.2 and Astropad Mini 3.2 should all be available to update in the iOS App Store if you currently have the apps on your device. The macOS app should automatically update to the latest version, but if not, Astropad has a dedicated download page where you can manually download the updated version.

As for future plans, Astropad’s founders have written up a blog post explaining that Astropad isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Under the headline ‘We’re not going anywhere,’ the note reads:

We’ve spent the last five years building innovative products like Astropad and Luna Display that cater to true creative professionals. Our team has always doubled-down on delivering rich features, deep customization, and low-latency input. Why? Because that’s user-driven and that’s what we do.

So while Apple’s Sidecar merely scratches the surface of a Mac-iPad workspace, we went all in on the bells and whistles. What does this mean for you? If you have basic needs, Apple’s Sidecar may do the trick. But if you’re a pro, we’ve built Astropad to cater to your creative workflow.

Oh, and one more thing: the message from the founders also hints that a Windows version of Astropad is in the future. ‘We see a bright future in that exciting new space and we hope you’ll join us along for the ride,’ reads the message. ‘So while we may be the underdogs, we’re ready to charge head-on because we’re just as committed to creative pros as we’ve always been — whether that’s via Mac, PC, or beyond.’

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Qualcomm shows off 4K HDR video captured on a smartphone with its Snapdragon 855 processor

05 Jun

To show off the incredible image capabilities of its latest smartphone chipset, Qualcomm has shared a 4K HDR video filmed on a prototype smartphone powered by its Snapdragon 855 Mobile Platform.

The video, which was filmed in Maui, Hawaii during Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Tech Summit in December 2019, was captured on a development platform—effectively a prototype smartphone—equipped with Sony’s 22.5-megapixel IMX318 image sensor at the heart of it. The footage was shot in the HDR 10 format with 10-bit color depth and in the Rec. 2020 color gamut. It’s worth noting the Snapdragon 855 is actually capable of both recording and playing back HDR 10+, which uses dynamic metadata instead of static metadata to provide more accurate rendering, so newer smartphones with even better image sensors could technically pull more impressive footage than what’s shown in the above video.

A screenshot from Qualcomm’s spec sheet that shows the photo and video capabilities of its 855 processor.

Qualcomm notes in its explainer blog post that the footage captured with compatible smartphones works with YouTube HDR, so it’s ready to share in its full dynamic range glory straight from compatible devices. Below are a few behind-the-scenes photos of the video shoot on Maui:

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According to Qualcomm’s website there are 11 smartphones currently confirmed to be using the Snapdragon 855 chipset: the OnePlus 7 Pro 5G, OPPO Reno 5G, ZTE Axon 10 Pro 5G, Motorola Moto z3 with 5G Moto Mod, LG V50 ThinQ 5G, Xiaomi Mi MIX 3 5G, Samsung Galaxy S10 5G, Sony Xperia 1, LG G8 ThinQ, Xiaomi Mi 9 and Samsung Galaxy S10. However, not all of those are confirmed to support the 4K HDR video capabilities, as it’s up to the device manufacturer to make use of the Snapdragon 855’s video capabilities.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Sony’s financial report shows 2% YOY growth for its ‘Imaging Products and Solutions’ division

18 May

Editor’s note: Keep in mind that each company groups different products under their respective ‘Imaging’ category, so there may be slight differences in what products and services are offered in the financial details. However, the categories are broadly similar and comparable, and we’ve done our best to account for those differences using available information.’

If you were to look at the most recent financials of Canon, Nikon and a few other camera manufacturers, it would seem the camera industry as a whole is facing a crisis. But not everyone in the imaging market is struggling, as Sony’s latest financials show.

Sony has published its latest annual financial report and inside a number of interesting details have emerged. Sony’s 2018 fiscal year (2018FY), which ended March 31, 2019, saw increased sales of 14.6 billion yen for its Imaging Products and Solutions division for a total of 670.5 billion yen. This amounts to a two percent year-over-year (YOY) growth, accounting for loss due to currency conversion.

A small snapshot from Sony’s financial report showing the sales numbers (in millions of yen). On the left are the numbers are through March 31, 2018, while numbers bolded in the center are the numbers through March 31, 2019. The numbers on the right are the difference between the two years.

While two percent might not seem impressive, Nikon’s imaging division reported a 17.9 percent decrease while Canon reported an annual decrease of 11.3 percent YOY.

Sony specifically mentions in its report (starting on page 26) that ‘[the] increase was mainly due to an improvement in the product mix reflecting a shift to high value-added models such as mirrorless single-lens cameras and the interchangeable lens lineup, partially offset by a decrease in compact digital camera unit sales reflecting a contraction of the market.’ Sony also says reductions in operating costs helped to reduce to YOY numbers.

In a year when it seems nearly every other company manufacturing cameras is showing decreasing profits YOY, it seems Sony managed to find a way to keep profits growing throughout 2018.

Update (May 17, 2019): The last paragraph in this article has been removed and rephrased to account for the discrepancies in the fiscal years between companies.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Drone footage shows the extent of damage from the Notre Dame Cathedral fire

18 Apr

The Notre Dame Cathedral, located on a small island on the Seine River in Paris, has withstood the French Revolution, two world wars and the horrors of Nazi occupation. A devastating fire ripped through the 850-year-old landmark this past Monday, decimating its vaulting, roof and spire. The above drone footage, courtesy of Ruptly, shows the extent of the damage. A panorama from Gigarama offers up additional context.

Up to 500 firefighters battled the flames into the late evening on Monday. According to a recent article in The Guardian, the cathedral was 15 to 30 minutes away from complete destruction if efforts to prevent the fire from reaching the bell towers had not succeeded. The two towers did not incur any structural damage.

Some credit for this small triumph can be attributed to the use of DJI drones, a Mavic Pro and Matrice M210. Remote pilots were able to track the movement of the flames and inform firefighters on where they should aim the fire hoses. ‘The drones allowed us to correctly use what we had at our disposal,’ said fire brigade spokesman Gabriel Plus in comments translated from French.

French President Emanuel Macron has vowed to completely restore the structure in five years time, an ambitious goal considering that the Notre Dame Cathedral took several hundred years to build. Police say the fire was likely an accident caused in the wake of renovations, though a full investigation is currently underway.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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CIPA’s February 2019 report shows huge drop in global digital camera shipments

09 Apr

The Japanese Camera & Imaging Products Association (CIPA) has published a new graph showing the number of cameras shipped in February 2019 and the figures aren’t reassuring. According to the association, sales were down from January 2019 and had substantially decreased compared with February 2018.

Global digital camera shipments in February 2019 came in at only 935,148 units compared to the 1,001,398 shipped in January 2019. This is a more than 30% decrease year-over-year, with January 2018 having seen 1,340,492 shipments and February 2018 having maintained a consistent rate at 1,340,995.

A decrease was experienced in the interchangeable lens camera market as well, dropping from 798,014 in February 2018 to 521,217 in February 2019. Both the February 2018 and 2019 shipment periods were lower than February 2017, which had 843,217 in global interchangeable lens camera shipments.

A similar, though not quite as dramatic, decrease in global built-in lens digital camera shipments was experienced in February 2019 compared to February 2018 at 413,931 units versus 542,981.

According to the CIPA data, global digital camera shipments remained very similar from January to February 2017 and increased slightly for those same months in 2018. The trend changed in 2019, with overall February shipments dipping a little more than 6% below January’s global shipment numbers.

The numbers are concerning due to the general decrease year-over-year, but also because the shipment numbers decreased during a time in the year when they previously remained relatively steady or began increasing. It’s yet to be seen whether March’s figures represent yet another decrease or if February’s shipment numbers end up being an unfortunate, concerning fluke.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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