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Posts Tagged ‘smartphones’

FilmLab is a film negative scanning app for smartphones

14 May

Thanks to cheap secondhand cameras and a general ‘retro trend’ film photography is experiencing a true revival. However, most photographers who shoot film still need digital versions of their images to show them off online or send to friends and family, which is why film-scanning hardware and software is a necessary part of the equipment.

Software developer Abe Fettig has found current solutions too expensive and slow and has therefore used his spare time to start working on the FilmLab app as a side-project. FilmLab now exists as a prototype and is impressively simple. Negatives or slides of any size have to be placed on a light table and can then be scanned using your smartphone. 

Pointing the app at the roll of film automatically identifies the images, corrects for distortion and converts negatives into positives. A tap on the shutter then records several Raw files which are merged for optimal image quality. Alternatively, if you want better image quality and/or higher resolution, you can also load images taken with a DSLR or other camera into the app for conversion into digital positives.

Abe is now hoping to work full-time on the app for a while to iron out the bugs and make it work with more types of film stock and phones. You can support this project by donating $ 3 to the app’s development and getting access to ongoing updates, or by donating $ 18 for access to the first Beta builds that will let you be among the first users to try out new features.

The plan is to offer the app as a $ 2/month subscription service once it is finished, with a one month free trial period. This would make it inexpensive, or even free, for those users who do a short-term project digitizing film. You can find out more about the project and see some scanning samples on the FilmLab Kickstarter page.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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OPPO announces dual-cam 5x optical zoom technology for smartphones

27 Feb

OPPO is not showing any new smartphone models at the Mobile World Congress but, as teased last week, the Chinese company has announced 5x Dual Camera Zoom system for smartphones. The system uses a periscope-style design and fits into a module that is only 5.7mm tall. Light is diverted through a prism and into the dual-camera’s telephoto lens which is arranged at  a 90-degree angle to the accompanying wide-angle. By shifting the path of the entering light Oppo is able to achieve a 3x optical zoom which is combined with a proprietary image fusion technology for digital zoom. The end results is a total 5x lossless zoom factor. 

At longer focal lengths camera shake becomes more of a limiting factor which is why OPPO has also integrated optical image stabilization into the system. Both the prism and tele lens can sense vibrations and compensate for them in real time. The mechanism dynamically adjusts its angle at increments of 0.0025 degree and OPPO promises 40 percent better performance than previous OIS generations for stable shots even at the 5x zoom setting. 

OPPO has not provided any information on sensor sizes and apertures, which would be critical to the image quality of the system, but nonetheless the technology looks like a very innovative approach to zooming on smartphones and we are looking forward to seeing it implemented in a device.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Flickr says smartphones were the most popular device this year, iPhone tops list

08 Dec

Flickr has published its 2016 end-of-year report detailing the most popular devices and brands on its platform. Per the report, 48% of photos published on Flickr this year were captured using smartphones, and 47% of them were captured using iPhones specifically. The top three iPhone models were the iPhone 5s, the iPhone 6, and the iPhone 6s.

As far as brands go, Canon was the second most used at 24% and Nikon came in third at 18%. Device types, meanwhile, show DSLRs ranked second after smartphones at 25%, point-and-shoot cameras at 21%, and mirrorless models at 3%. Comparing the figures with last year’s report, smartphone uploads are up 9%, DSLR uploads are down 6%, point-and-shoot uploads are down 4%, and mirrorless uploads have remained steady.

Via: Flickr Blog

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Grip Gear introduces Movie Maker, a tiny slider for smartphones and action cams

30 Nov

Grip Gear, maker of the handheld smartphone stabilizer IndieSolo, has launched the Movie Maker: a portable, electronically driven slider built for smartphones, action cams and compact cameras.

Powered by AAA batteries or a separate power bank via USB, the Movie Maker includes a rail, motorized head and a clamp to accommodate most smartphones. Eight speeds can be utilized, as slow as 6mm/min up to 300mm/min to create slow motion, time-lapse or real-time stabilized panning shots.

Upon reaching the end of the track, the Movie Maker will automatically bounce back and move in the opposite direction. The motorized head can also be used separately from the rail to pan 360-degrees for panorama. It’s all designed to pack away into a compact kit that can fit into a camera bag or backpack.

The Movie Maker is available now on Amazon for a list price of $ 130.

Press release

Hollywood production tools arrive for smartphones.
Grip Gear launches The Movie Maker tool set

<GripGear. 31 Oct. 2016. For immediate release. > Smartphone movie tool kit company, Grip Gear has upped the ante in video production with the launch of Movie Maker: a set of miniature production tools that puts all the equipment a movie company might use to make a major Hollywood production into a tiny package that will help turn a smartphone into a full-blown movie making resource.

As smartphones become more and more capable, they are becoming one of the most important tools for creating video content for both brands and individuals. By 2019 video will account for almost 80 percent of all consumer Internet traffic. Even now, Facebook experiences 8 billion video views per day. But as video proliferates, standing out from the crowd becomes an increasing challenge.

The Movie Maker helps video makers move up into a new realm of production quality and creativity with gadgets like an 8-speed electronic tracking slider, a 360º panoramic function and suction cups to hold your phone in impossible positions for the most amazing shots.

Co-founder Rhys Bradley said: “As a former grip in the film industry, I’ve long had a vision of creating a film set experience in a smaller format for smartphones and other small cams. With the Movie Maker, smartphone users can now create beautiful movie quality footage that used to take massive pieces of expensive film making equipment with a set of highly portable tools that can fit in a camera bag!”

Co-founder Dean Tzembelikos said: “After 3 years of development and meticulous attention to detail and quality we are proud to launch the Movie Maker. It will enhance the video making experience and bring out the creative juices in everyone. This is a genuine breakthrough in putting movie making into the everyone’s hands”

The Movie Maker will shortly be available on Amazon as well as at www.gripgear.com and cost USD $ 129.

Technical information:

  • Can use 99% of all smartphones, action camera’s and light compact camera’s
  • Folds small and is light weight and backpack friendly • Comes with 2 x 31cm tracks, additional tracks are available for extensions
  • Power Options: Plug into a power bank to extend operating times +36 hours (10400MA), or use 2 AAA batteries for 2 hours
  • Remote control for both speed and direction (8 speeds)
  • Bounce back for continuous motion: When the movie maker reaches the end of track it will not stop but move in opposite direction
  • Motor speeds vary from very slow, mostly used in time lapse 6mm/minute and to a 300mm/minute for real time.
  • Operates as a manual slider
  • Convenient ¼ inch threads allow you to attach The Movie Maker to a tripod, suction cup
  • Can climb 90 degrees
  • Weighs 900g and can hold up to 300g phone/camera
  • Can operate upside down
  • Use without tracks for pans or 360 Panorama shots
  • No vibration, even on full zoom videos are stable
  • Easy to use

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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GekkoGum is an adhesive mount for action cams and smartphones

19 Nov

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A new crowdfunding project on Kickstarter is looking to raise funding for the production and distribution of the GekkoGum camera support. GekkoGum is made from an odorless and grease-free rubber compound that is malleable and does not stick to your fingers but, according to its makers, has a retaining force comparable to gecko feet. This means you can use it to attach your action camera or smartphone to any surface or object within a matter of seconds. It won’t stick to silicone though.

GekkoGum comes in a storage pouch and can be cleaned with water to remove superficial dirt. It does not shrink or become brittle over time and keeps its characteristics for many years. The recommended maximum camera weight is 200 grams which includes most common action cams and smartphones. You can now secure a GekkoGum by pledging €15 (approximately $ 16) on the project’s Kickstarter page. Shipping is envisaged for January 2017.

Would you feel comfortable sticking an expensive device to a wall using GekkoGum? Let us know in the comments.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Google launches Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones with gyroscope-based video stabilization

05 Oct

Google has just launched its 2016 smartphones. The Nexus moniker has gone and the new models are Pixel-branded, just like the company’s top-end Chromebooks and tablet. The Pixel and Pixel XL are made by HTC, though only the Google logo appears on the device, and pretty much only differ in terms of screen size and resolution as well battery capacity. The smaller Pixel sports a 5″ 1080p AMOLED display and a 2,770mAh battery, while the XL variant comes with a 5.5″ QHD-screen and a 3,450mAh battery. 

In the camera department the specifications have not changed much from last year’s Nexus devices. A 1/2.3″ 12MP sensor with 1.55µm pixel size is paired with an F2.0 aperture. There is no optical image stabilization but Google has added a new gyroscope-based video stabilization system that reads gyro data 200 times a second for smoother panning and shake-free handheld recording. The camera can record 4K video, and in stills mode Google’s excellent HDR+ mode is on by default, using an image stacking approach to reduce noise and capture better detail. In addition Pixel owners can store unlimited full-size images in Google’s cloud service.

Check out the photography-specific features of the Google Pixel from the announcement.

Both phones come with Google’s brand new Android 7.0 Nougat operating system and are powered by Qualcomm’s latest top-end chipset Snapdragon 821. 4GB of RAM can be combined with either 32 or 128 GB of local storage and a fingerprint reader on the back provides extra security. The Pixel phones will be available in Quite Black, Very Silver, and Really Blue color options. Pricing starts at $ 649 for the standard Pixel. In the US the devices will be exclusive to carrier Verizon, with pre-orders starting today. 

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Qualcomm launches Clear Sight dual-camera system for smartphones

18 Sep

Chipset-maker Qualcomm has today announced its new Clear Sight dual-camera system. Clear Sight is not designed for optical zooming, like the dual-cameras in the LG G5 or iPhone 7 Plus, but instead adopts a similar concept as the Leica-branded dual-camera setup in the Huawei P9.

Both lenses have the same focal length but one captures image data on a color sensor, the other on a monochrome imager. The sensors are technically identical but the monochrome variant does not use a color filter. This means it cannot record any color information but in turn can capture three times as much light as the color sensor. As a result the black and white images have better contrast, lower noise levels and increased sharpness. By merging the image information from both sensors, color is added to the final output image.

This task is handled by Qualcomm’s Spectra ISP which is featured in the company’s Snapdragon 820 and 821 mobile chipsets. Clear Sight consists of a hardware module with two cameras, plus the corresponding computational algorithms that enable the Spectra ISPs to capture both images at exactly the same time and merge them. Qualcomm has not yet provided any detailed specifications, nor do we know what upcoming devices will feature Clear Sight. It certainly looks like dual-cameras are here to stay, though.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Lenovo announces Hasselblad True Zoom camera module for Moto Z smartphones

04 Sep

Lenovo offers a range of detachable smartphone accessory modules, called Moto Mods, for its Moto Z series smartphones. So far a power pack, a speaker and a mini-projector have been available. Now the company has launched a new addition at IFA in Berlin that is especially interesting to mobile photographers: the Hasselblad True Zoom.

As its name suggests the True Zoom camera module was developed in cooperation with Swedish camera maker Hasselblad, and with its 10x zoom lens and Xenon flash it converts any Moto Z device into a connected travel zoom camera. Like the other Moto Mods, the True Zoom is attached to the smartphone via magnetic force and can be used instantly – no need to restart the device or pair the phone. Communication between the devices takes place via a range of electronic contact pins.

The True Zoom’s body is made from a plastic material. Inside, images are captured on a 12MP 1/2.3″ CMOS sensor with a 1.55 um pixel size. The zoom lens offers an equivalent range of 25-250mm and a F3.5-6.5 aperture. Optical image stabilization is on board as well, and the module can record 1080p Full-HD video.

Currently compatible smartphone models are the Lenovo Moto Z, Moto Z Force and the just-announced Moto Z Play mid-range phone that comes with a 16MP camera, 5.5″ 1080p AMOLED display and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 octa-core processor. We have had the chance to test the Hasselblad True Zoom on a Moto Z Force for a few days – you can read about our experience with the module in our hands-on review.

The Hasselblad True Zoom will ship globally in September and will cost $ 299/€299, or $ 249.99 from Verizon in the US.

Lenovo’s Moto Mod range includes a power pack, a speaker, a projector and now the new Hasselblad True Zoom camera module.

Hasselblad True Zoom Moto Mod key specifications:

  • 12MP 1/2.3″ CMOS sensor with 
  • 25-250mm equivalent 10x zoom lens
  • 12MP
  • F3.5-6.5 aperture
  • ISO 100 to 3200
  • 1080p video
  • 2 built-in microphones
  • Physical two-stage shutter button and zoom lever
  • Xenon flash
  • 145g

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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DJI Osmo Mobile brings 3-axis gimbal stabilization to smartphones

03 Sep

DJI has introduced the Osmo Mobile, a variation of its previously launched Osmo that is, in this case, designed for smartphones. With Osmo Mobile, users can insert a smartphone into the mount and record smooth, stabilized footage with the handset thanks to the SmoothTrack technology and 3-axis gimbal stabilization. The stabilizer works with the DJI GO App for livestreaming videos, sharing content, and tracking moving objects via DJI’s ActiveTrack.

The Osmo Mobile’s 3-axis stabilization claims accuracy down to 0.03 degrees, while the SmoothTrack tech works to reduce small movements and shaking. Trigger control enables switching between the handset’s front and rear camera, as well as re-centering and locking the gimbal direction. Standard, Portrait, Flashlight, and Underslung operation modes are available.

The DJI GO App offers, in addition to ActiveTrack, functions including access to camera settings, Panorama, Long Exposure, Live Stream, and Motion Time Lapse. Other Osmo features include Bluetooth, a 3.5mm charging/upgrade port, and compatibility with Osmo accessories. DJI says Osmo Mobile ‘should’ support any smartphone between 2.31 and 3.34 inches wide; this includes the most recent high-end smartphones, including the Galaxy S7, iPhone 5/6/6s Plus, and the Huawei Mate 8.

The Osmo Mobile is available as of today for $ 299.

Via: PRNewswire

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Quick review: Apexel 8mm fisheye lens for smartphones

02 Sep

Fixed focal length lenses are one of the key limitations of smartphone cameras. So it’s no surprise that add-on lenses, which allow you to vary the focal length, are among the most popular smartphone accessories.

We have had the chance to test one of the more extreme variants, the Apexel 8mm fisheye lens, which provides a whopping 238-degree field-of-view. The lens comes with a clip that makes it very easy and quick to attach to most mobile devices – Apexel claims it is compatible with 98% of all smartphones – but we’ve found it to work best with the latest generation Apple iPhones, as the back of the lens slots onto the iPhone’s lens protrusion, where it is firmly held in place. On other devices, without a protruding camera-module, things can get a little more difficult and you might have to optimize the position of the lens by moving it around very slightly until you find a position that gives the best image quality. 

The provided clip makes lens attachment very easy and quick. Lens construction features six elements in five groups.

The lens construction features six elements in five groups and a multi-layer coating. The glass is housed in an aluminum body and the clip is made from very robust ABS plastic. Apart from the lens and clip you’ll find a lens cap, storage case and lanyard in the box.

In use

Image quality does of course vary depending on the smartphone camera you are using, and can be a little hit and miss. We tested the lens on the iPhone 6s Plus and the Lenovo Moto Z Force. On the iPhone, the lens clips neatly onto the protrusion of the phone camera but still, many images are very soft across the frame. During our testing the iPhone’s AF system clearly found it more difficult than usual to find a lock and, so it seems, sometimes simply did not focus correctly before the shutter was triggered. Other images are relatively sharp at the center of the frame and only show softness around the edges.

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In general, sharpness was better on the Moto Z Force but you’ll have to make sure the lens lines up perfectly with the smartphone camera. That said, even in a best case scenario vignetting is much more pronounced than on the iPhone – in sunny conditions lens flare is visible and again the AF occasionally takes much longer to lock than without the clip-on lens. With the Apexel’s extreme angle of view it can also be difficult to keep fingers and other body parts out of the frame, so check the preview image carefully before pulling the trigger.

Of course, the lens also works in video mode. The sample below was recorded in the Lenovo Moto Z Force’s 1080p video mode. It shows most of the same imperfections as the still images but thanks to the lower video resolution they are not quite as intrusive. 

Conclusion

The Apexel 8mm fisheye lens for smartphones is a nicely made accessory lens that is very easy to clip onto most phones (as long as you don’t use a case). The fisheye effect is extreme and can be an interesting additional weapon in your creative mobile imaging arsenal. However, image quality purists won’t be happy with the strong softness, vignetting and some lens flare we’ve seen in our sample pictures. Not that we were expecting Zeiss quality from a smartphone accessory lens, but the Apexel is generally quite a bit softer than we’d like.

That said, the lens can be fun to use and capture image results that are different from your usual smartphone pictures. The Apexel 8mm Fisheye is currently available for approximately $ 44 on Amazon.com*.

Pros:

  • Extremely wide angle-of-view
  • Nice fisheye effect
  • Solid build quality
  • Easy and quick attachment
  • Compatible with most smartphones (although works best with iPhone 6/6s generations)

Cons:

  • Strong image softness
  • Varying degrees of vignetting (depending on smartphone camera)
  • Some lens flare in sunny conditions
  • Slows down camera AF
  • Exposed front element prone to scratching and fingerprints
  • Clip not compatible with many phone cases
 
 
* dpreview.com is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Amazon but is editorially independent of our parent company.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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