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Posts Tagged ‘unveils’

Sigma unveils 56mm F1.4 DC DN lens for Sony E and Micro Four Thirds

26 Sep

Sigma has announced the 56mm F1.4 DC DN lens for Micro Four Thirds and Sony E mounts. The compact 56mm lens becomes the sixth DN lens for mirrorless cameras and will make a handy portrait lens on both systems.

On Micro Four Thirds, the lens will behave as being equivalent to a 112mm F2.8 lens on full frame. On Sony E mount, it will act as an 84mm F2.1 equivalent. In both instances it should lend itself to offering a good degree of control over depth-of-field and, if previous Sigma pricing for the DN range is anything to go by, should be a sensibly-priced option.

The lens will be part of Sigma’s ‘C’ (for Contemporary) range of lenses which aim to strike a balance between quality and price.

The Sigma 56mm F1.4 DC DN is likely to be a keenly-priced portrait lens for both Micro Four Thirds and Sony E mount.

Press Release:

Sigma Unveils Five New Global Vision Lenses

Sigma’s 28mm F1.4 DG HSM Art, 40mm F1.4 DG HSM Art, 56mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary, 70-200mm F2.8 DG OS HSM Sports, and 60-600mm F4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM Sports will make their public debut at Photokina 2018

Cologne, Germany – September 25, 2018 – Sigma today announced five new Sigma Global Vision lenses shown for the first time at the 2018 Photokina expo in Cologne, Germany from September 26th-29th in Hall 4.2 on Stands B020, B028I and C029. From wide-angle to hyper-telephoto, the new Sigma Global Vision introductions arrive as some of the most anticipated lenses in the industry, further facilitating artistic expression for photographers.

Sigma 28mm F1.4 DG HSM Art
The new Sigma wide-angle model stands out with its thoroughly corrected magnification chromatic aberration and sagittal coma flare, as well as completely minimized distortion thanks to its optical design. It features water- and oil-repellent coating on the front lens element and its overall dust- and splash-proof structure ensures excellent performance even in the most challenging shooting conditions. The high-speed AF, thanks to the HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor) with an updated algorithm, captures the perfect moment instantly. Available in Sigma, Nikon, Canon and Sony E camera mounts, this lens is a great contender for street photography, as well as shooting landscapes and night skies.

Full technical specifications are available here: https://bit.ly/2DdAiVE. Pricing and availability will be announced later.

Sigma 40mm F1.4 DG HSM Art
The 40mm F1.4 DG HSM Art is Sigma’s first lens developed originally to live up to the sought-after angle of view and performance standard for a benchmark cine lens. This lens effectively arranges three FLD (“F” Low Dispersion) glass elements and three SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass elements to correct axial chromatic aberration and magnification chromatic aberration. Designed for exceptional sharpness at maximum aperture, this lens excels at available light photography. With less than 1% distortion and near non-existent sagittal coma flare, this lens demonstrates consistent optical results featuring both 8K-compatible resolution and a beautiful bokeh. It is available for Sigma, Nikon, Canon and Sony E mount camera systems.

Full technical specifications are available here: https://bit.ly/2QHliC5. Pricing and availability will be announced later.

Sigma 56mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary
This lens completes the Sigma large aperture series of portable wide-angle, standard, and telephoto prime lenses in Micro Four Thirds and Sony E mounts. Featuring compact design, light weight and outstanding image quality offered in Sigma’s Contemporary line, this lens stuns with a beautiful bokeh effect and the amount of brightness expected from F1.4 lenses even in the mid-telephoto range for cropped sensor cameras. In addition, this lens is characterized by smooth and quiet autofocus ideal for video shooting. Compatible with the Sony E mount Fast Hybrid AF, it also achieves precise AF tracking. By using the face recognition or eye AF functions of the camera, focus will continuously be on the face or the eye even if the subject moves during the shoot.

Full technical specifications are available here: https://bit.ly/2PLuSTh. Pricing and availability will be announced later.

Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 DG OS HSM Sports
One of the most anticipated lenses from the Sigma Global Vision line, the Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 DG OS HSM Sports is the new flagship large-aperture telephoto zoom lens that meets the most stringent needs of professional photographers. Robust yet lightweight, the lens’ magnesium body ensures high mobility and its dust- and splash-proof structure together with the water- and oil-repellent coating on the front element ensure safe use even in the most challenging shooting conditions. It also incorporates Intelligent OS with an acceleration sensor and the latest algorithm capable of panning in all directions. The lens’ optical design, incorporating 10 exclusive low-dispersion glass elements, allows for extremely high resolution, from the center to the corners. By optimizing spherical aberration, a smooth and natural bokeh effect is achieved when using the Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 DG OS HSM Sports for portrait photography. The versatility of this lens is demonstrated in various customization options via an AF Function button either through the camera body or Sigma USB Dock. The newest F2.8 large-aperture zoom lens from Sigma comes in Sigma, Canon and Nikon mounts.

Full technical specifications are available here: https://bit.ly/2DlyWbE. Pricing and availability will be announced later.

Sigma 60-600mm F4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM Sports
The Sigma 60-600mm F4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM Sports is the world’s first 10x optical zoom telephoto lens with a tele end of 600mm. Incorporating 25 elements in 19 groups, excellent and consistent image quality can be achieved throughout the entire zoom range. This lens’ intelligent OS featuring the latest algorithm delivers an image stabilization effect of 4 stops. Its optical design ensures maximum correction of magnification chromatic aberration encountered in hyper-telephoto shooting. This offers both high resolution and consistent edge-to-edge performance throughout the entire zoom range. In addition, when shooting at the focal length of 200mm, the Sigma 60-600mm F4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM Sports can also be used for telephoto macro photography, with a maximum magnification ratio of 1:3.3, thanks to its high rendering performance. Its multi-material build, which incorporates magnesium among other components, ensures durability and enhances portability, allowing for comfortable handling of the 10x zoom lens. The zooming mechanism has been engineered to make both smooth rotation and straight zoom possible. Versatile and robust, the new Sigma hyper-telephoto zoom lens is available in Sigma, Canon and Nikon mounts starting in late October 2018 for $ 1999 USD.

Full technical specifications are available here: https://bit.ly/2xmASv1.

Sigma 56mm F1.4 DC DN specifications

Principal specifications
Lens type Prime lens
Max Format size APS-C / DX
Focal length 56 mm
Image stabilization No
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds, Sony E
Aperture
Maximum aperture F1.4
Minimum aperture F16
Aperture ring No
Number of diaphragm blades 9
Optics
Elements 10
Groups 6
Special elements / coatings SLD element
Focus
Minimum focus 0.50 m (19.69″)
Maximum magnification 0.14×
Autofocus Yes
Motor type Stepper motor
Full time manual No
Focus method Internal
Distance scale No
DoF scale No
Physical
Weight 280 g (0.62 lb)
Diameter 67 mm (2.62″)
Length 60 mm (2.34″)
Sealing Yes
Filter thread 55 mm
Hood supplied Yes
Tripod collar No
Other
Notes Weight and dimensions for Sony mount

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Instagram unveils IGTV, a new standalone app for sharing hour-long vertical videos

21 Jun

Instagram has finally cleared the air regarding rumors and reports that the Facebook-owned social network was looking to get more heavily involved in video content. A new blog post on Instagram’s website confirms the impending release of Instagram TV, a new standalone app with a focus on long-form, vertical-first video content.

As detailed by Instagram in its announcement blog post, Instagram TV — IGTV for short — is different from the main Instagram app in a few ways. ‘First, it’s built for how you actually use your phone, so videos are full screen and vertical. Also, unlike on Instagram, videos aren’t limited to one minute. Instead, each video can be up to an hour long.’

When you download and log in to IGTV, you shouldn’t have to spend much time going out there and finding content from the get-go. Once you’ve logged into IGTV, any content creators you follow on Instagram will already be a part of your video content on IGTV. Akin to YouTube, IGTV calls each creator’s page a ‘channel,’ although the call to action remains ‘follow,’ unlike ‘subscribe’ on YouTube.

From the second you open IGTV on your device, video content will immediately start playing. Instagram compares this to how a television automatically starts playing content when you turn it on, but it’s more or less a fancy way of saying IGTV content is autoplay content.

To keep things familiar, IGTV makes it easy to keep tabs on your favorite creators and find new ones. As with the Instagram app, IGTV will feature a ‘For You,’ ‘Following’ and ‘Popular’ tab for navigation. There’s also a new ‘Continue Watching’ section for revisiting old videos you didn’t finish for whatever reason. You can also like, comment and share videos with friends via Instagram’s direct messaging system.

In addition to being a standalone app, IGTV content will also appear in the main Instagram app. It’s not known whether this cross-app integration will stay, as it seems to more or less to be an effort to get Instagram users onboard with the new app. Whatever the case, for the time being, you should be able to catch the latest content from the people you follow right within the Instagram app.

IGTV will be rolling out across the globe over the ‘next few weeks’ for both Android and iOS.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Canon unveils Canon EF 70-200mm F2.8L IS III USM for professional photographers

07 Jun

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Canon has taken the wraps off a new flagship telezoom, the Canon EF 70-200mm F2.8L IS III USM. A modest refresh of version II, the new lens features the same 23 elements in 19 group optical design and 3.5 stop image Stabilization system as its predecessor but adds Air Sphere Coating and fluorine coating on front and rear elements. Other coatings are reportedly ‘improved’.

The Canon EF 70-200mm F2.8L IS III USM will be available in August for $ 2,099.

Press Release

CANON UPDATES LINEUP OF EF L-SERIES TELEPHOTO ZOOM LENSES WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF EF 70-200MM F/4L IS II USM AND EF 70-200MM F/2.8L IS III USM

Next Generation of EF 70-200mm Lenses Features a Variety of Updates Including Enhanced Optical Image Stabilization in the f/4 and the Inclusion of Air Sphere Coating in the f/2.8

MELVILLE, N.Y., June 7, 2018 – Canon U.S.A. Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, today introduced two new telephoto zoom lenses, the Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS II USM and Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM. The new lenses serve advanced amateur and professional photographers in a variety of applications and solutions including wildlife, landscapes, portrait and sports photography. Canon EF 70-200mm focal-length lenses are a popular option for photographers in need of a long zoom range that maintains a relatively compact design. In addition, these updated lenses inherit the same overall build-quality and ruggedness photographers have come to expect from the Canon EF L-series line of lenses.

“At the core of image capturing, Canon believes the lens is just as important as the camera. A seamless relationship between the two allows photographers to produce emotion-evoking and timeless images,” said Kazuto Ogawa, president and chief operating officer, Canon U.S.A., Inc. “Canon is excited to offer photographers two distinct options in the 70-200mm focal-length, continuing to further expand our optics heritage.”

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS II USM

The new Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS II USM features numerous updates over its predecessor, making it an ideal lens for advanced amateur photographers using Canon DSLR cameras such as the EOS 6D Mark II or EOS 80D. Most notably, Optical Image Stabilization is upgraded from three stops to five shutter speed stops of correction over the original f/4 lens. The improved IS allows photographers to more easily capture crisp, in-focus images without the use of a tripod. The new lens also features three IS modes, each uniquely designed and suitable for a variety of shooting situations, such as the capture of still subjects, panning or fast moving objects2. Furthermore, the IS operational noise has been reduced, which proves ideal for photographers shooting in a concert hall or on-stage shooting at the theatre.

Additional noteworthy features of the Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS II USM include:

  • One fluorite lens and two UD lenses helps to provide high-image quality
  • Minimum focusing distance shortened from 1.2m to 1m (3.9ft to 3.3ft)
  • Super Spectra Coating technology and optimized lens element placement helps minimize ghosting and flaring
  • Circular nine blade aperture producing a beautiful bokeh quality, ideal for portrait shooting
  • Lens features 20 lens elements in 15 groups
  • Fluorine coating on front and rear elements helps to reduce smears and fingerprints
  • Inner focusing system with Ring Ultrasonic Motor

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM

The new Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM is an ideal lens for professional photographers who shoot with the Canon 1D and 5D series of DSLR cameras. The inclusion of Air Sphere Coating (ASC) technology helps to reduce flaring and ghosting, and suppresses the reflection of light.

Additional noteworthy features of the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM include:

  • Optical Image Stabilizer up to 3.5 shutter speed stops of correction
  • Fluorine coating on front and rear elements helps to reduce smears and fingerprints
  • Inner focusing system with Ring Ultrasonic Motor
  • One fluorite lens and five UD lenses helps to provide high-image quality
  • Minimum focusing distance of 1.2m (3.9ft)
  • Lens features 23 elements in 19 groups
  • Circular eight blade aperture

The Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS II is scheduled to begin shipping in late June 2018 with an estimated retail price of $ 1,299.00. The Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III is scheduled to begin shipping in August 2018 for an estimated retail price of $ 2,099.00.

For additional information regarding the lenses improved performance over predecessors please visit, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFTBw7-8gdk&feature=youtu.be.

Canon EF 70-200mm F2.8L IS III specifications

Principal specifications
Lens type Zoom lens
Max Format size 35mm FF
Focal length 70–200 mm
Image stabilization Yes
CIPA Image stabilization rating 3.5 stop(s)
Lens mount Canon EF
Aperture
Maximum aperture F2.8
Minimum aperture F32
Aperture ring No
Number of diaphragm blades 8
Optics
Elements 23
Groups 19
Special elements / coatings Five fluorite and five UD elements, ASC and fluorine coatings
Focus
Minimum focus 1.20 m (47.24″)
Autofocus Yes
Motor type Ring-type ultrasonic
Full time manual Yes
Focus method Internal
Distance scale Yes
DoF scale No
Focus distance limiter Yes
Physical
Weight 1440 g (3.17 lb)
Diameter 89 mm (3.5″)
Length 199 mm (7.83″)
Materials Magnesium alloy
Sealing Yes
Colour White
Zoom method Rotary (internal)
Power zoom No
Zoom lock Unknown
Filter thread 77 mm
Hood supplied Yes
Tripod collar Yes

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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HTC unveils the U12+: Brings back the dual-camera and adds 4K 60p video

25 May

With the release of the HTC One M8 in 2014, HTC was a true dual-camera pioneer; unfortunately, that phone was also slightly ahead of its time. The One M8’s camera only had a lukewarm reception, and overall the device did not prove to be particularly popular. As a consequence, HTC dropped the dual-camera concept after the M8… until now. HTC has finally rejoined the ranks of dual-camera proponents with the launch of the brand new HTC U12+.

Building on the camera performance of last year’s U11+, the new model appears to have a lot to offer mobile photographers.

The main camera features a 1/2.55? 12MP sensor with stabilized F1.75 aperture lens and 27mm-equivalent focal length. The secondary 2x optical zoom camera features a 16MP pixel count and 54mm equivalent focal length. The aperture is F2.6. The autofocus combines PDAF and laser technology and there are also a “Pro” photography mode for manual control and RAW-support, as well as a background-blurring portrait mode.

On the video side of things, the HTC U12+ is capable of capturing movies at 4K resolution and 60 frames per second which is still quite an unusual feature on a smartphone. 240 fps slow-motion is available at 1080p Full-HD resolution. The front camera also comes with a dual-camera setup. However, unlike the main shooter it is not optimized for zooming but instead designed for creating a natural-looking bokeh effect in portrait mode.

Here’s a quick video into to the new smartphone and all its “bigger, bolder and edgier” features:

Other specifications include Qualcomm’s latest and greatest Snapdragon 845 chipset, 6GB of RAM and a 18:9 6-inch Super LCD6 display that supports HDR10 and DCI-P3 and comes with a 1,440 x 2,280 pixel resolution. The phone comes with 64GB or 128GB of storage that can be expanded via microSD card, and all components are housed in an IP68 certified body.

With the addition of the secondary tele-camera, on paper the new HTC looks like a very solid upgrade over its predecessor. We’ll have to wait and see what the camera is capable of in real-life shooting situations.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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HP unveils DesignJet Z6 and Z9+: faster, more efficient large-format photo printers

25 May

During the FESPA Global Print Expo in Berlin last week, HP unveiled two new DesignJet Z Series large-format printers: the DesignJet Z6 and Z9+. Both models will be available in 24-inch and 44-inch formats with onboard vertical trimmers, new HP Pixel Control color technology, and a redesigned poster application.

According to HP, the new Z Series printers are able to print 2.5 times faster than the DesignJet Z3200 Photo Printer while utilizing fewer inks, the end result being improved performance and reduced costs. The company claims these new large-format printers offer the “fastest printing capabilities available on the market today.”

The DesignJet Z6 printer is designed specifically for Geographical Information Systems (GIS) users and creators, as well as anyone else in need of water- and fade-resistant large-format prints. The Z9+ model, meanwhile, is targeted at consumers and retailers in need of “amazing photographic quality prints.”

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HP explains that its Pixel Control technology coupled with HP Nozzle Architecture (HDNA) results in true-to-color prints made using nine instead of 12 inks; there’s also support for HP Professional PANTONE Emulation. Other features include dual drop technology, HP Secure Boot and JetAdvantage Security, and HP PrintOS for remote printer management.

HP plans to release the DesignJet Z6, Z6x10, and Z9+ large-format printers on June 1st, with the larger 44-inch models with dual roll and the vertical trimmer not arriving until around July 1st. The company didn’t specify which markets the printers will launch in, or how much they will cost when they do.

Press Release

HP Launches State-of-the-Art Large Format Photo Printers

BERLIN, May 15, 2018 – HP Inc. unveiled its new DesignJet Z Printer series at FESPA Global Print Expo to showcase innovative large format technologies offering amazing image quality and fast, simple output for print service providers (PSPs), retailers, and creatives to deliver beautiful photos, impactful graphics and technical applications.

The market for large photo merchandising grew seven percent in 20171 with nearly 1.3 trillion photos taken in the same year2. The demand for simplicity and unrivaled photo quality is growing, fueling the need for printing solutions that remove bottlenecks and increase time savings.

The new HP DesignJet Z6 and Z9+ Printer series is designed to easily maximize printing performance for amazing photo output. By tightly integrating the materials, hardware, and software together, the new printers offer amazing photo quality and print permanence with fewer inks to simplify manageability and reduce costs. New vertical trimmer is featured on select models to optimize output in addition to other innovative technologies for rapid high-quality production from professional photo quality prints to retailer signage. The result is printing 2.5 times faster3 and post-production 20 percent faster4.

“The new DesignJet Z Printer series radically enhances the customer experience and reinvents printing possibilities for both professional photo and signage to ignite business growth and adapt to future needs,” said Guayente Sanmartin, General Manager and Global Head, HP Large Format Design Printing, HP Inc. “We thoughtfully designed the new printers to deliver impressive photo quality without compromising time resources and output speeds with the new vertical trimmer and innovative color technologies.”

The DesignJet Z Printer series will debut at FESPA 2018 at HP Booth 3.2 C20.

Simple and fast output for high-quality vibrant photos

HP DesignJet Z Printer series, both available in 24- and 44-inch formats, are built to give PSPs a competitive edge by enabling the fastest printing capabilities available on the market today. As an industry first, the HP DesignJet Z6 and Z9+offer a premium option with onboard vertical trimmer for fast and efficient production. New color technology, HP Pixel Control, now for the first time manages colors in a truly digital way to help customers embrace new opportunities for color-rich and dynamic printing.

For print service providers who rely on amazing professional photographic quality prints, the HP DesignJet Z9+ printer allows for a broad range of graphics and technical applications.

The DesignJet Z6 Printer series is designed for Geographical Information Systems (GIS) creators and users, print service providers, and retailers who require a simple to use solution for high-quality technical and graphics applications with water/fade resistance. The new print series is designed to handle even the most complex files with powerful processing architectures and the Adobe PDF Print Engine.

Specific technologies and features include:

  • HP Pixel Control: Achieve true-to-color prints and an expanded color gamut with RGB HP Vivid Photo Inks, featuring chromatic red, chromatic green, and chromatic blue, the i1 embedded spectrophotometer5 and HP Pixel Control. HP Pixel Control is truly digital color pipeline designed for outstanding, consistent image quality delivered by controlling every print-ready pixel. Combining HP HDNA with HP Pixel Control, users get amazing image quality with just nine inks versus 12 compared to the previous generation HP DesignJet. The new printers also offer HP Professional PANTONE Emulation to match Brand identity colors.
  • Dual drop technology: Produce prints with clear details and high-contrast color with dual drop technology powered by HP Nozzle Architecture (HDNA) and high-definition printheads. The HP DesignJet Z9+ features an upgradable configuration for a higher gloss output6.
  • Tools to create: Simplify large format printing with a redesigned poster application in the HP Applications Center7, which also includes Adobe Stock, Unsplash, Vecteezy, and Pattern Design, offers customers access to the necessary tools for creating beautiful, original signs, and posters. The HP Applications Center also embeds augmented reality (AR) technology to ignite the creation of more meaningful and engaging content for print.
  • Indoor and Outdoor Durability: Create prints with highly-stable pigment HP Vivid Photo Inks that provide water-resistant, fade-resistant prints8 for long-term indoor display and, when printed on suitable water-resistant media, outdoor display. HP Vivid Photo Inks gives PSPs the assurance that the prints they make for their customers will last as long as possible.
  • Security: Take advantage of the industry’s most secure printers with HP Secure Boot, whitelisting, authentication solutions, and HP JetAdvantage Security manager to safeguard printers and data for enterprise and government.
  • HP PrintOS: Remotely manage the print production environment from anywhere at any time with HP PrintOS now offered on the HP DesignJet Z Printer series.

HP is also announcing enhanced HP DesignJet Z6x10 Printers for a better user and output experience. Boasting a new fresh design, the new printers have new labeling indicating the printer colors to simplify ease-of-use. The printers have new printheads and Chromatic Red Ink formulation to deliver sharp detail and precise line quality. Optimized fast and normal print modes for heavyweight coated, polypropylene and canvas to speed-up production and enhance image quality. Lastly, the new printers will have 500 GB HDD with more virtual memory to process complex and graphic intensive prints.

HP offers a wide variety of innovative media including the new:

  • HP Recycled Satin Canvas is a 17.4 mil (443 micron), 370 gsm crack-resistant canvas for HP aqueous inks, made from 100% recycled water bottles making it the first of its kind in the HP Wide Format Media Portfolio.
  • HP Everyday Blockout Display Film with a unique construction of three layers of polypropylene, polyester, and polypropylene film for an added suppleness and superior lay-flat properties. HP Everyday Blockout Display film is a thicker film compared to 100 percent polyester, costs less, and has a coating for dual ink technology.

Follow HP Graphics on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn.

Availability9

The HP DesignJet Z6, Z6x10, and Z9+ Printers are expected to be available on June 1, 2018. The 44-inch HP DesignJet Z6 and Z9+ with dual roll and vertical trimmer are expected to be available on July 1, 2018.

1. Source: Photo Merchandising report from Infotrend

2. Source: New York Times

3. Based on internal HP testing April 2018, tests done on mechanical printing time. Up to 2.5 times faster printing compared to the HP DesignJet Z3200 Photo Printer series. May vary depending on print mode and media type.

4. Vertical trimmer and dual rolls included with the HP DesignJet Z9?dr 44-in PostScript® Printer with V-Trimmer only. Up to 20% reduction in post-processing labor time based on internal HP testing compared to HP DesignJet Z9?dr series printers without built-in vertical trimmer.

5. Embedded in the HP DesignJet Z9? Printer series is an i1 spectrophotometer from X-Rite. Close collaboration between HP and X-Rite ensures a reliable solution that’s been thoroughly tested to meet customer demands for ease, quality, and dependability.

6. Based on internal HP testing April 2018, tests on mechanical printing time, comparing to HP DesignJet Z9? series printers without gloss enhancer. HP Gloss Enhancer can be used on photo paper, except for matte-finish papers. Optional upgrade available second half 2018.

7. Requires an HP Applications Center account, Internet connection, and connected Internet-capable device. For more information, see http://www.hpapplicationscenter.com.

8. Performance may vary based on writing system differences. Print permanence estimates by HP Image Permanence Lab based on the same formulation of HP Vivid Photo Inks used with the HP DesignJet Z6200 Photo Production Printer, using 6 inks. Water resistance performance varies based on printer and print profile. Water resistance testing by HP Image Permanence Lab on a range of HP media and follows ISO 18935 method. Display permanence rating for interior displays/away from direct sunlight by HP Image Permanence Lab on a range of HP media. For more information, see http://www.HPLFMedia.com/printpermanence.

9. Pricing and availability subject to change.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Microsoft unveils the Surface Hub 2: A huge collaborative 4K+ 50″ display

16 May

Microsoft has expanded its Surface product line with the new Surface Hub 2, a sequel to the original Surface Hub introduced in early 2015 (and which you probably never heard of).

The Surface Hub 2 is a large 50.5-inch 4K+ collaborative display with portrait/landscape modes and pen support. Microsoft says Surface Hub 2 was designed for teams “regardless of location,” enabling them to video chat, view content, write directly on the screen, and daisy-chain multiple displays together.

Surface Hub 2 brings together Office 365, Microsoft Teams and Whiteboard, and Windows 10. Up to four displays can be used together in either portrait or landscape mode; the user can also toggle between those modes by manually rotating the screen. In addition to wall mounts, Steelcase worked with Microsoft to create rolling stands for Surface Hub 2.

Microsoft confirms that Surface Hub 2 supports multi-touch and features 4K cameras that rotate with the device. Far-field microphone arrays and speakers enable communicating with remote team members, plus there’s support for multi-user sign in so that multiple people can be authenticated on the workspace.

The company decided to use an atypical 3:2 aspect ratio versus the more common 16:9; the exact resolution hasn’t been stated. Though many details are still missing, it’s clear that Surface Hub 2 is designed to help anyone who engages in collaborative—particularly visual—work. Content such as images can be immediately shared with others, for example, without a break in the workflow.

Microsoft plans to start testing Surface Hub 2 with “select commercial customers” some time this year, and the product will go on sale in 2019, though the price hasn’t been provided at this time. Interested potential buyers can sign up for updates on Microsoft’s Surface Hub 2 website.

Do you see a photography use for the Surface Hub 2? Maybe as an in-studio display for tethered shooting and collaborative photo editing? Maybe something else? Let us know in the comments.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Yongnuo unveils YN50mm F1.8 II: Version 2 of its ‘Nifty Fifty’ clone

15 May

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Hong Kong camera gear maker Yongnuo has released version II of its ‘nifty fifty’ Canon clone: the YN 50mm F1.8 II. The original YN 50mm F1.8 was one of the first lenses the budget brand ever released, undercutting Canon’s already ultra-affordable EF 50mm F1.8 II. Version II continues this trend, with a price tag of just $ 75, while the original will cost you just $ 51.

Optically, the lens seems to be unchanged—you still get 6 lens elements in 5 groups which produce a 46° angle of view, and a 7-blade aperture that runs from F1.8 to F22. The updated lens does drop the minimum focusing distance from 45cm to 35cm (to match Canon’s 50mm F1.8 STM), and adds support for USB-free firmware updates that are delivered directly through the camera.

Other notable improvements, according to Yongnuo, come in the form of improved “mechanical structure and coating technology,” which apparently translate into improved “focus accuracy, auto-focus speed and light transmittance.” You’re also getting a metal mount, and focus distance markings have been added to the lens build.

Here’s the full spec sheet, in case you’re curious:

The lens is already live on eBay, where it’s going for $ 75 (compared to Canon’s 50mm F1.8 STM, which will run you $ 125). Expect the Yongnuo lens to join the rest of the YN lineup on Amazon shortly.

To learn more about this lens, head over to the Yongnuo website.

Press Release

Small Lens with Super Bokeh Effect – YONGNUO YN50mm F1.8 II

Supports USB-free Firmware Upgrade

Firmware of the lens can be upgraded through camera instead of using USB port, which not only meets the requirements of firmware upgrade and appearance design, but also avoids the incompatibility problems caused by different computer operating systems.?Note: this function needs to be supported by camera?

F1.8 Bright Aperture

Maximum aperture F1.8,bokeh effect is easily achieved ,which brings you more fun during photographing.

New Mechanical Structure, New Coating Technology

YN50mm F1.8 II has all the product advantages of the last generation. By improving the mechanical structure and coating technology, its focus accuracy, auto-focus speed and light transmittance are increased. Furthermore, it can control backlight ghost and glare.

Durable Metal Mount

YN50mm F1.8 II adopts chrome-plated and high-accuracy metal mount. It’s wearable, corrosion-resistant, and highly consistent with the body of the camera.

0.35m Closest Focusing Distance

Compared with the first generation, the closet focusing distance of YN50mm F1.8 II is shortened to 0.35m.You can get closer to the object for photography and enlarge the object.

Focus Modes: Auto Focus (AF) and Manual Focus (MF)

YN50mm F1.8 II supports auto focus and manual focus. The focus mode can be selected according to practical requirement.

Focus Distance Indicator is convenient for you to estimate the distance and the depth of field.

YN50mm F1.8 II has 7pcs of aperture blades, which helps to take picture of circular defocused spots or helps to stop down and take picture of 14-star effect.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Hasselblad unveils its widest lens ever: the XCD 21mm F4

09 May

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Back in November, Hasselblad announced (among other things) that the originally-planned XCD 22mm lens on the mirrorless X1D lens roadmap would actually be released even wider: as a 21mm F4. This week, that promise became a reality.

Announced yesterday, the Hasselblad XCD 21mm F4 for the mirrorless medium format X1D camera, is officially Hassleblad’s widest lens ever.

“The high-performing 21mm f/4 lens brings together the compact format of the XCD range with the maximum optical quality across the frame with a wide field of view,” reads the press release. “The XCD 21mm has an extremely short focal length that provides a 17mm full frame equivalency.”

Sample Photo Credit: Hasselblad

The 17mm full-frame equivalent lens features an optical design made up of 13 lens elements in 9 groups, including 2 aspherical elements. The aperture range runs from F4 to F32, an integrated leaf shutter lets you flash sync up to 1/2000th of a second (like all the XCD lenses), and there’s also a 32cm “close distance setting” that gets you a 1:10 magnification ratio.

The lens is already live on Hasselblad’s website and available for pre-order online. It’s scheduled to ship “mid-May” for $ 3,650 USD / 3,000 Euro / £2,750 GBP excluding VAT. To learn more, visit the Hassleblad website.

Lens Specifications (source):

  • Focal length: 21.8 mm
  • Equivalent Focal length (24×36): 17 mm
  • Aperture range: 4 – 32
  • Angle of view diag/hor/vert: 105°/92°/75°
  • Length/diameter: 106 mm/83 mm
  • Weight (excl. covers and lens shade): 600g
  • Filter diameter: 77 mm

XCD Lens Roadmap:

Press Release

Hasselblad’s Widest Lens Ever, XCD 21mm F/4, Now Available for the X1D

Continuing the development of the XCD lens line, the previously announced XCD 21mm f/4 lens is now available for ordering. As Hasselblad’s widest lens yet, it opens doors for even more creative possibilities for the X1D user.

The high-performing 21mm f/4 lens brings together the compact format of the XCD range with the maximum optical quality across the frame with a wide field of view. The XCD 21mm has an extremely short focal length that provides a 17mm full frame equivalency. It features a 32 cm close distance setting (1:10 image scale) and an aperture range between 4 and 32. Offering a new versatility to the X1D user, the lens is especially suitable for both landscape and interior and exterior architectural photography.

Like the other XCD lenses, the XCD 21mm f/4 lens has an integral central shutter offering a wide range of shutter speeds and full flash synchronisation up to 1/2000th second. “The automatic Lens Correction Tool in Phocus will generate images from the XCD 21mm f/4 that are completely free from any distortion, rendering all lines perfectly straight!” says Ove Bengtsson – Product Manager.

The XCD 21mm lens will begin shipping mid-May 2018 with an MSRP of € 2999 / $ 3750 / £ 2749 excl. VAT.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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ESA unveils most detailed 3D star map ever captured

04 May

The European Space Agency (ESA) Gaia mission has released a new star map of the Milky Way, giving us the most detailed view of our galaxy to date.

Launched in December 2013 from Kourou, French Guiana, the mission of the Gaia space observatory is to create the largest and most detailed 3D space catalog in existence. To do this, it uses what the ESA calls the ‘largest digital camera in the Solar System,’ a one-billion-pixel camera made up of more than 200 CCD sensors.

Gaia’s sky in colour. Image provided by ESA

This new set of data, released on April 25th, details the location and movement of more than 1.3 billion stars. For context, the first set of data released by the ESA in May 2016 contained similar information of a mere two million stars. It’s not only the position and movement of the stars either.

As well as positions, the data include brightness information of all surveyed stars and colour measurements of nearly all, plus information on how the brightness and colour of half a million variable stars change over time. It also contains the velocities along the line of sight of a subset of seven million stars, the surface temperatures of about a hundred million and the effect of interstellar dust on 87 million.

The new information will be used for many years to come by scientists all over the world. “Gaia will greatly advance our understanding of the Universe on all cosmic scales,” says Timo Prusti, Gaia project scientist at ESA, in the announcement blog post. “Even in the neighbourhood of the Sun, which is the region we thought we understood best, Gaia is revealing new and exciting features.”

The ESA expects many more datasets to be released in future years, with the full and final catalogue set to be published sometime in the 2020s. Originally, Gaia was only set to operate until mid-2019, but the ESA has already approved an extension to its mission that should see it functioning well into 2020.

You can access the data from Gaia’s first release on the ESA’s archive site and view a collection of 360-degree videos in a dedicated VR page.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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LG unveils G7 ThinQ smartphone with super-wide-angle lens

03 May

After a few months’ delay (the reasons of which are not entirely clear) LG is the last of the big mobile manufacturers to finally unveil its new 2018 top-end smartphone. The new model is called the G7 ThinQ, and comes with most of the photography features and characteristics you would expect from a current flagship device.

An almost bezel-less 6.1-inch LCD display with a resolution of 1440 x 3120 pixels is combined with Qualcomm’s latest top-end Snapdragon 845 chipset, and embedded into an IP68 dust- and water-resistant body. There is also a 3.5mm headphone jack with a quad DAC and a microSD slot for memory expansion. The device is available with 6GB RAM and 128GB of storage or 4GB RAM and 64GB storage.

In the camera department, LG is sticking to its strategy of differentiating itself from most competitors by offering a super-wide-angle lens in the dual-camera setup. Both sensors now offer a higher 16MP pixel count, compared to the G6’s 13MP, with the main camera boasting a 71-degree field of view, fast F1.6 lens, optical image stabilization, and an autofocus system that uses both phase detection and laser.

The super-wide-angle has to make do with a slower F1.9 aperture and without OIS. It also only comes with a fixed focus. Like on the V30S, camera operation is enhanced by LG’s artificial intelligence technology that can detect objects and scenes and auto-adjust camera settings accordingly. Additionally, there is a “smart pixel-binning” mode for lower noise and better exposure in low-light shots.

Finally, we also get a “fake-bokeh” portrait mode on an LG flagship, which can artificially blur the background in portrait shots taken with both main camera and super-wide-angle.

LG is late to the game for 2018, and we’ll have to see if consumers are interested in the brand’s super-wide-angle camera concept when most other manufacturers bet on telephoto lenses in their dual-cam setups. In any case, it’s good to have one more option in the high-end bracket of the Android smartphone market.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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