360Photography

Blog

  • Instagram expands fact-checking program with misinformation warnings on images

    In a blog post on Monday, Instagram announced that it is expanding its fact-checking system globally. With this expansion, third-party fact-checkers will review potential information published by Instagram users around the world. In order to reduce the spread of this misinformation, Instagram is using warning labels on flagged images.

    Easily acquired photo-editing software like Photoshop has made it possible to fabricate images and use them as ‘proof’ for fake stories. These images can be found across all social media platforms; they may include subtle edits like an airplane added to the image of a skyline or more obvious edits like a shark in a swimming pool.

    Rather than removing flagged images, which may raise concerns over censorship, Instagram is using warning labels to alert users who view the images. The initial warning label reads, ‘False information,’ followed by, ‘Reviewed by independent fact-checkers.’ Users have the option of tapping a link that will provide an explanation about why the image was flagged as false or tapping through to view the post.

    When viewing the post, users will still see a bright red warning label that reads, ‘See why fact-checkers say this is false.’ Tapping the link takes the user to assessments made by the fact-checkers, as well as their conclusions about the image. Users still have the option of sharing flagged posts.

    Accounts that repeatedly post flagged content will be removed from the hashtag and Explore pages in order to reduce their reach on the platform. Users retain the ability to manually report posts as ‘false information’ using the feedback option Instagram introduced earlier this year.

    The expansion arrives amid growing concerns over the role Instagram may have in the spreading of disinformation during the 2020 election. The company says it will now automatically label identical content as misinformation if it was first rated as partly false or false on Facebook, a platform heavily criticized over its facilitation of fake news.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Meet Leica’s newest limited-edition camera, the ‘White’ M10-P

    German camera manufacturer Leica has announced a new limited edition M10-P camera that will be almost entirely white and silver, aside from the iconic red dot, of course. The ‘White’ edition will feature white leather trim and white paint on the top- and base-plates, as well as white lettering in the shutter speed and ISO dials.

    The camera will come in a kit with a silver chrome Summilux-M 50mm F1.4 ASPH lens, and will have a white leather strap and a white case for the lens. Only 350 white kits will be made, and Leica says each will have a serial number unique to the White edition.
    The Leica M10-P White kits are available now and retail for £12,750. The US$ price has yet to be revealed.

    Press release:

    Leica M10–P ‘White’: the new special edition comes in a set with a Summilux-M 50 mm f/1.4 ASPH. lens

    Leica Camera is delighted to announce the Leica M10-P ‘White’, a new colour option of the iconic rangefinder camera. Limited to 350 sets only worldwide, the all-white design takes its cue from the extremely popular Leica M8 ‘White Edition’ released in 2009. The top and bottom plates are finished in white paint to match the camera’s white leather trim and the silver control elements feature white engravings, complementing the design concept of the Leica M10-P ‘White’.

    The technical specifications of both camera and lens are identical to those of the standard models: particularly discreet and concentrating on the most essential camera functions only, the Leica M10-P embodies the essence of the M-Philosophy. Featuring the quietest shutter release of all M-Cameras ever built, the almost inaudible sound makes it the ideal tool for discreetly capturing authentic photographs in any situation. With its handling concept, the Leica M10-P fulfils everything that discerning photographers expect from a Leica M and reflects the philosophy of all past and present Leica M-Cameras.

    The Leica M10-P ‘White’ comes as a set with the silver chrome Summilux-M 50 mm f/1.4 ASPH. lens, which complements the Leica M10-P by delivering consistent exceptional performance at all apertures and distance settings. Whether used for selective sharpness at short distances, high contrast available light photography or for landscapes with enormous depth of focus, the Summilux-M 50 mm f/1.4 ASPH. lens delivers outstanding results in all situations and superbly fulfils its tasks as a true universal lens.

    The set is completed with a white leather carrying strap with Leica embossing and a white leather case for the lens. All Leica M10–P ‘White’ cameras have a unique serial number.

    The Leica M10-P ‘White’ is available for sale from today.

    RRP: £12,750 for the set

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • SLC-0L-04: Red State, Blue State

    To learn to create evocative light with flash, it helps to better understand how we experience the continuous light we see every day.

    To do that, you'll need to wean yourself from auto white balance, and even to abandon familiar waypoints like your daylight WB preset. Because our goal is to learn to exist in a more fluid way along the Kelvin scale. Read more »
    Strobist

  • NPPA sues California over controversial ‘freelancer’ bill that harms photojournalists

    The National Press Photographers Association (NPPA) has announced its new lawsuit against California’s Assembly Bill 5 (AB5), which forces some independent contractors (freelancers) to become employees of their clients.

    The AB5 bill was passed in September but won’t go into effect until next month. Though the law aims to prevent companies from exploiting workers by falsely declaring them as independent contractors, critics say it unfairly restricts people like freelance photojournalists who desire the freedom and copyright benefits associated with being an independent contractor.

    In a statement published on Wednesday, the NPPA claims this law ‘discriminates against some visual journalists’ who wish to work as freelancers but are instead forced to become employees ‘whether they desire this working relationship or not.’

    The NPPA argues that this legal requirement violates the U.S Constitution because, in part, only certain freelancers are covered by it; others, including graphic artists and marketing photographers, are allowed to retain their independent contractor status.

    Photojournalists who also shoot video are forbidden from acting as freelancers under Assembly Bill 5, as well, which the NPPA alleges is ‘a content-based restriction on speech.’ Other issues introduced by AB5 include a limit of 35 assignments or submissions per year per client for still image photojournalists. The organization notes that many other types of freelancers also face similar restrictions, including freelance writers and freelance editors.

    The NPPA lays out the negative impact this law will have on freelancers, stating:

    NPPA members impacted by the law range from retirees who will be losing extra income to mid-career professionals whose journalism clients are part of their overall business model. All of the impacted members are experienced journalists, trained in ethics and professional standards, who keep their local community informed on matters of public concern. Their voices will be silenced when the impact of AB5 hits their businesses. Some NPPA members report that their income from certain clients is expected to drop by 60-75% next year due to AB5.

    In addition to earning concerns, the organization also points out that by forcing photographers to work as employees, these photojournalists will lose the copyrights to the images they capture under their employment, whereas freelancers retain the copyrights unless they choose to surrender them to their clients.

    Ultimately, the organization claims that it repeatedly attempted to get the bill modified so that it won’t negatively impact freelance photojournalists, but that California lawmakers have been ‘unsympathetic and unresponsive to our pleas.’ The lawsuit was filed in Los Angeles, California; the full legal complaint can be accessed on the NPPA’s website.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Easy Tips to Create Slideshows in Lightroom

    The post Easy Tips to Create Slideshows in Lightroom appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Kevin Landwer-Johan.

    slideshows-in-lightroom

    Lightroom has a built-in feature that allows you to create slideshows with selections of your photos. You can include music and add text overlays to slideshows in Lightroom. This can make sharing your work more appealing and interesting.

    Slideshows you make with Lightroom can be exported as videos and uploaded to Youtube. You can then embed them on your website and use them on social media.

    Step #1: Select photos for your slideshow

    There are many ways to select the photos for slideshows in Lightroom, but using the Library Module in the program is the easiest I know of.

    Select the photos you want to use when you are in Grid View by holding down the Ctrl (Cmd) key and clicking each image. You can then add the selected photos to a New Collection or Quick Collection.

    I prefer to add them to a Quick Collection because it’s so easy. When you have your photos selected, just tap the ‘B’ key and they get added to your Quick Collection. Once you have completed your selection, you can make a New Collection from the photos in your Quick Collection.

    Using Lightroom To Create Slideshows

    Select all the photos in your Quick Collection and press Ctrl (Cmd) + N to start a New Collection. Name the collection of photos for your slideshow. It will be added to the Collections panel on the left of your screen.

    Step #2: Arrange the order of your slideshow photos

    Arrange your photos in the order you want them to appear in your Lightroom slideshow.

    This is a key step in creating slideshows in Lightroom that will hold people’s attention. If the order of your photos is random they will appear disjointed. Having a good flow to the sequence of images will help you retain your audience’s attention longer.

    Create a slideshow with good flow and feeling. Look at composition, color, and meaning in your photos. Aim to place similar photos together. Or place them in a natural series if they are following a chronological timeline. Considering your story and the way the slideshow will play is very important.

    In Grid View, drag and drop each photo to the place you want it to appear in the Lightroom slideshow.

    Using Lightroom To Create Slideshows arrange

    Step #3: Make your Lightroom slideshow

    Once you’ve arranged all your images in the sequence you want them, click on Slideshow in the top menu. This opens the Slideshow Module view in Lightroom. This module has different left and right panels than you are used to using in the Library Module. If you can’t see them, press the F7 and F8 keys to bring them into view.

    Click on Create Saved Slideshow at the top right of the central panel. Name your slideshow and click on Create. Once you have made your slideshow in Lightroom, all the changes you make will be saved automatically.

    Using Lightroom To Create Slideshows create

    Step #4: Pick a template for your Lightroom slideshow

    Choose a template for your Lightroom slideshow from the Template Browser in the left-hand side panel. With the preset templates, it is easy to make changes later if you want.

    Run your slideshow to see how it looks. Are you happy with the layout and sequencing you have chosen?

    Easy Tips to Create Slideshows in Lightroom

    Step #5: Customize the design of your Lightroom slideshow

    In the right-hand side panel, you will find a series of windows. Here you can make changes to:

    Options

    In the Options panel, you can select the way you want your photos to display on each slide.

    You can have the photo fill the entire frame or part of it. You can add a border and drop shadow that you can customize. If you Zoom to Fill Frame a shadow cannot be seen in the slideshow even if you create one.

    Layout

    Here you can add space around your slides. You can choose how there is space above and below and to either side of your slides. By default, they are all the same, but you can uncheck the Link All box to customize.

    Here you have options for the aspect ratio you would like. These are Screen, 16:9 and 4:3

    Overlays

    In the Overlays window, you can add an identity plate, watermarking and rating stars. These options can be helpful when you are sharing your slideshow with wedding or portrait clients.

    Using Lightroom To Create Slideshows overlays

    Click on the text box to edit the text for the identity plate. Type in your new text and adjust the size and style to suit your taste.

    You can add custom overlay text to each slide. To do this, click the ABC which you can find below the main window. Type in your text and then drag it to the position you want. You can grab the text box handles to resize.

    Using Lightroom To Create Slideshows text

    Backdrop

    You can choose various options to create a background for your slideshows in Lightroom.

    Using the the Color Wash option adds a gradient look to the background. Choose colors that will work best with the photographs in your slideshow. Leave the Color Wash option unchecked to make a solid color background.

    You can choose to add a photo or other graphic as a background. Be careful if you use this option not to include a background image that conflicts with your photos in the slideshow.

    background

    Titles

    This is where you can add intro and outro text. You may want to include an introduction title or company logo. At the end, you may wish to display your website or email details.

    Music

    Select a music track to set the mood for your Lightroom slideshow. Choose an mp3 music file from your hard drive or find one online. There are lots of options to buy or find free music online you can legally use.

    Playback

    This is where you get to control transitions and how long each slide will stay on screen. There are manual and automatic options. You can also have it sync to the music track you have chosen.

    Adjust the options until you find a good flow for your photos when they are shown in the slideshow. Syncing to your music will work better with some tracks than with others. You may prefer to have each slide and transition the same length.

    Conclusion

    When you think you have got it right, press Play. Lightroom will prepare your slideshow and play it. You might want to go back and tweak the photos or design, which you can still do.

    Easy Tips to Create Slideshows in Lightroom

    Once you have watched your slideshow in Lightroom play through a few times, it’s time to export it. You can export it as a PDF or a video. A PDF can be used in a slide presentation, and video can be uploaded to Youtube or shared on social media.

    Click on the export option you prefer and name your slideshow. Depending on the number of photos you have in your slideshow in Lightroom, exporting may take a while.

    It’s that simple!

    Do you use this feature in Lightroom or have any other tips for creating a lightroom slideshow? Share with us in the comments.

    The post Easy Tips to Create Slideshows in Lightroom appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Kevin Landwer-Johan.


    Digital Photography School

  • Nikon Z50 review
    Silver Award

    85%
    Overall score
    Jump to conclusion

    The Nikon Z50 is a 20.9MP mirrorless camera: the first time the company has put an (unstabilized) APS-C sensor behind its new, larger ‘Z’ lens mount. The company says the camera is designed to attract a generation of users who don’t consider themselves to be photographers.

    Alongside the camera, Nikon has announced two lenses designed for this sensor size: a 16-50mm F3.5-6.3 collapsible standard zoom and a 50-250mm F4.5-6.3 telephoto zoom – both with built-in image stabilization (which Nikon calls Vibration Reduction).

    Key specifications

    • 20.9MP CMOS sensor
    • Twin control dial interface
    • Up to 11 fps shooting with AE/AF, 5 fps with live view
    • 4K video at up to 30p
    • 2.36M-dot OLED viewfinder
    • Rear touchscreen tilts up by 90° or down by 180°
    • Bluetooth-enabled Wi-Fi (via Snapbridge app)
    • Creative Picture Control effects

    The Z50 will be available for sale from November, with an MSRP of $ 860, body-only. Adding the 16-50mm zoom takes the price to $ 1000 and a two-lens kit with both DX zooms takes the list price to $ 1350.

    The Z50 is compatible with the FTZ mount adapter, allowing it to use F-mount DSLR lenses. The adapter is not included in any of the kits announced so far.

    What’s new and how it compares

    The Z50 is Nikon’s first APS-C mirrorless camera. We take a look at what it offers and how it squares up to its rivals.

    Read more

    Body and controls

    We take a look at the new camera and how it operates.

    Read more

    First Impressions / Shooting Experience

    Reviews editor Carey Rose spent a couple of hours shooting with a near-final Nikon Z50.

    Read more

    Image quality

    The Z50 is based around an updated version of the 20.2MP sensor we fist saw in the D500. It still looks pretty good against the competition.

    Read more

    Autofocus

    The Z50’s AF system is pretty effective, but is a little fiddly compared with its peers.

    Read more

    Video

    The Z50’s video looks good and it’s one of the easiest cameras to shoot both stills and video with.

    Read more

    Conclusion

    We found a lot to like about the Z50 but it has some very capable rivals in better-established systems.

    Read more

    Sample Galleries

    We’ve been shooting with the Z50 for a while and have plenty of real-world shots to show you how the camera performs.

    View gallery

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • 10 Christmas Portrait Locations (with Bonus Lighting and Composition Tips)

    The post 10 Christmas Portrait Locations (with Bonus Lighting and Composition Tips) appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Mat Coker.

    christmas-portrait-locations

    Everyone loves to see a nice portrait of the kids at Christmas. But it can be tough to brainstorm new Christmas portrait locations year after year.

    Whether you’re photographing your own kids, or you’re a family photographer, this list of Christmas portrait locations will give you plenty of ideas including tips for lighting and composition.

    1. Golden hour

    Christmas can feel magical and golden hour is a magical time of day for light. You can find some evergreens for the golden sunlight to filter through and create a magical feel for your portrait. Consider using the golden sunlight as a beautiful source of backlight.

    Christmas portrait locations

    Golden hour is approximately the first and last hour of the day when sunlight looks almost golden. Personally, I love to work with the last 15 minutes of sunlight. I scout my location a few days in advance and take note of the exact time the sun is at its best.

    2. Christmas lights in the background

    Christmas lights can also be a good source of warm light. They work especially well if you prefer to stay indoors. Keep the tree back in a darker corner and use a window to light your person (this works well when photographing holiday food too).

    You may find that a fully decorated Christmas tree can be a bit of a background distraction. A simple tree with lights adds a festive feel without being overwhelming.

    Christmas portrait locations

    The Christmas lights in the background echo the golden polka dots of her shirt. The catchlights in her eyes (created by the window light) help to bring the portrait to life.

     

    Christmas portrait locations

    You can see where she was positioned in relation to the window and the tree.

     

    Christmas portrait locations

    If you don’t have a window for a light source, you can use the flash on your camera. If you’re using your camera’s flash, there are two things to keep in mind. Keep the person away from the Christmas tree and get close to them with your camera. By staying close to them and keeping them away from the tree, the flash will light the person nicely but not overwhelm the tree with light.

    3. While it’s snowing

    If you live in a part of the world where there is snow, this is really fun for a Christmas portrait. But there are a couple of problems that you will likely run into.

    The first is that your photo may turn out looking very dark. This is because the snow is so bright that your camera meter naturally wants to darken the photo. One way around this is to shoot in full manual mode, then you can get the exact brightness that you want. Personally, I shoot on aperture priority and use exposure compensation to get the correct brightness for my photo.

    The second problem that you will run into when photographing during a snowfall is misfocused pictures. Your camera may autofocus on a snowflake in the foreground, leaving your subject out of focus. So, make sure to check your photo closely before packing up your camera. That way, you won’t be disappointed when you sit down to edit your photos and realize they’re all out of focus.

    Christmas portrait locations

    A darker background makes the snowflakes stand out more.

    Be sure to protect your camera in cold weather too.

    4. Christmas tree at home

    This is a perfect opportunity to capture both posed and candid moments. Again, window light will be your friend when lighting your subject.

    Notice that in the first photo I positioned the subject so that he is against a clean background. This way he stands out more and is not lost among the decor.

    Christmas portrait locations
    Christmas portrait locations

    5. A quaint storefront

    Our downtown street is filled with beautiful storefronts throughout December. These storefronts are a perfect Christmas portrait location. When using a storefront for a background, remember to frame the person neatly.

    Once your subject is framed, go for a natural smile! You’ll probably have to say something funny.

    Christmas portrait locations

    Notice how the boy is framed in this photo. He is balanced by the tree on the left and the windows on the right. His head is in a clean space with nothing distracting protruding from it.

    6. Rustic barnboard

    If you like a rustic aesthetic at Christmas time, look for an old barn to use as a Christmas portrait location.

    Christmas portrait locations

    In this first photo, she is placed right up against the wall. I’m using a 50mm lens with an aperture of f/1.8 so the boards are a little out of focus.

     

    Christmas portrait locations

    I brought her a few feet away from the wall in order to make the background go more out of focus.

    7. Use props

    You can use all sorts of props in your photos. Sometimes a prop to sit on is more than enough to add visual interest to your portrait.

    Christmas portrait locations

    With an overcast sky, you can make portraits any time of day without having to worry about harsh shadows from direct sunlight.

    8. Wrapping paper backdrop

    Find a wide roll of paper with a nice design to use as a backdrop. Place it next to the window and you will have a wonderful natural light source.

    Christmas portrait locations

    9. Decorate the wilderness

    It’s so much fun to bring a sack of Christmas ornaments on a hike and decorate a tree deep in the woods! Once you’ve done that, you’ve got a perfect Christmas portrait location.

    Christmas portrait locations
    Christmas portrait locations
    Christmas portrait locations
    Christmas portrait locations

    10. Choose a theme

    When thinking of Christmas portrait locations, consider building your portrait around a meaningful theme.

    Christmas portrait locations

    When my son was just two, I couldn’t resist creating a portrait inspired by Charlie Brown.

    11. Storytime

    Create a storytime theme using a big book as a prop. Remember that a window is a great source of light.

    Christmas portrait locations

    Try a posed portrait.

     

    Christmas portrait locations

    Once you have a nice pose, try a photographing a candid moment too.

     

    12. Go to a tree farm

    Perhaps you don’t have any nice scenery nearby. If that’s the case, then find a tree farm to use for your Christmas portrait location. If you don’t like the manicured look of rows of trees then go for an angle that doesn’t make it obvious that you’re at a tree farm.

    10 Christmas Portrait Locations (with Bonus Lighting and Composition Tips)
    Christmas portrait locations
    Christmas portrait locations
    Christmas portrait locations
    Christmas portrait locations

    The perfect gift

    Have fun trying out several of these Christmas portrait locations! When you’re finished, your printed portrait will be one of the most meaningful gifts you can give to friends and family over the holidays.

    Do you have any other ideas for Christmas portrait locations? If so, please share them with us in the comments!

    The post 10 Christmas Portrait Locations (with Bonus Lighting and Composition Tips) appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Mat Coker.


    Digital Photography School

  • How to Master Lightroom in a Weekend!

    The post How to Master Lightroom in a Weekend! appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Darren Rowse.

    Master Lightroom in a Weekend

    Day 7 of dPS Holiday Deals is the gift of mastering Lightroom in a weekend with Adam Welch of Contrastly.

    Save 63% now

    It’s painful when you’ve paid good money for an editing program like Lightroom Classic, and in your heart you know you’re not using it to its fullest capacity. 

    Don’t waste hours and hours merely opening up Lightroom and then moving sliders around until you land on something that looks kind of ok … 

    One of our regular writers, Adam Welch, brings you “The Decoding Lightroom” video course to show you how to go from importing your images to editing them professionally and responsibly, as well as exporting them.

    Decoding Lightroom

    There are 20 video lessons that cover every module and panel in Lightroom Classic. With over 5 hours of video material, you could go over all the material in the course in a single weekend and start using Lightroom to its fullest potential.

    Normally $ 129, Adam is offering his course to our readers for just $ 49 USD today.

    Check it out and save $ 80 before the next deal arrives in just 24 hours, or just click through and watch Adam’s awesome video if you’ve ever wondered who the person behind his articles is!

    PS – You can still grab yesterday’s deal – any of our dPS eBooks for just $ 9, save up to 80%. Check them out here.

    The post How to Master Lightroom in a Weekend! appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Darren Rowse.


    Digital Photography School

  • This is how the Samsung ISOCELL Bright HMX 108MP mobile image sensor works

    More recently we have seen a significant increase of resolution in high-end mobile image sensors, with market leaders Sony and Samsung launching sensors with pixel counts that are firmly in medium format camera territory.

    However, in the mobile world, the high resolutions aren’t so much about an increase in detail. Instead, they allow for improved digital zooming with only a small loss in detail, and the option to use pixel-binning methods in difficult light conditions in order to improve noise levels.

    Samsung has now published a video and blog post detailing the technology and improvements in its ISOCELL Bright HMX 108MP sensor that is deployed in the Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Pro and will likely also be used in the upcoming Galaxy S11 series.

    The sensor’s large 1/1.33″ surface combined with 0.8?m-sized pixels allows for the massive pixel count and increased light gathering capability compared to smaller variants. It uses Samsung’s ISOCELL Plus technology which minimizes optical loss and pixel crosstalk by installing a barrier around each pixel.

    Previously this barrier was made from metal. In this latest generation of ISOCELL sensors, it is now made from an ‘innovative new material that minimizes optical loss and light reflection’. Samsung says the material also allows the photodiode to absorb more light, allowing for much better performance than you would usually get from such small pixels.

    In addition, Samsung has implemented its Smart-ISO technology which lets the sensor pick the best level of signal amplification for a given lighting situation, reducing highlight clipping and noise levels.

    Samsung’s Tetracell Technology helps increase performance in low light by merging clusters of four pixels into single pixels, combining the native 0.8?m pixels into larger 1.6?m ones. Even in this mode, the ISOCELL Bright HMX sensor can still deliver 27MP image output which should be more than enough for any mobile application. The complete article is available on the Samsung website.

    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

  • Gear of the Year 2019 – Dan’s choice: DJI Mavic Mini

    A lot of awesome gear arrived on the scene in 2019 including plenty of ground-breaking and impressive cameras, lenses and accessories. But of all the releases, there was only one piece of gear I purchased for myself to enjoy outside of work: The DJI Mavic Mini.

    Back in 2016 I picked the original DJI Mavic Pro as my gear of the year because I felt it represented a turning point in the drone market. It was the first mid-level unit that seemed to offer everything I wanted: a folding design, good stills/video, a user-friendly interface and a reasonably affordable price. It was a product I threw down my own money for and one that opened my eyes to a new way of creating stills and video.

    There was only one piece of gear I purchased for myself this year: The DJI Mavic Mini

    But three years on and my Mavic Pro is starting to seem, well, old. While the folding design was unique at launch, the drone itself now feels hefty in comparison to many newer models. This has made me less likely to take it along on trips or adventures, unless I’m certain I’ll be using it. And though the image quality from its 1/2.3″ sensor is still largely good enough for my needs, I find the JPEG profiles unappealing and the Raw files lack malleability. It also doesn’t help that several ‘oh crap’ moments have now led the camera’s lens to become de-centered. Oops.

    Image quality from the Mavic Mini won’t knock your socks off, but it’s more than good enough for social sharing and Web viewing, especially if you take a little time to tweak the JPEGs.
    Processed to taste in Adobe Lightroom.
    ISO 100 | 1/40 sec | F2.8

    Even before the Mavic Mini was launched this Fall, I’d put together a wish list in my mind for my next drone: It would have to be small enough and light enough for me to bring it with me wherever, without a second thought. It would have to offer similar or better image quality to my Mavic Pro (either with better out-of-camera JPEGs or more workable Raw files), it would hopefully be quieter/less intrusive to others, all while offering similar battery life and a just as easy-to-fly interface.

    There’s no Raw capture on the Mini, so I pull the JPEG files into Lightroom and tweak them slightly, with good results

    The Mavic Mini checks off all the boxes (which is why I purchased one shortly after its launch, sight unseen). It’s nearly a quarter of the weight of the Mavic Pro and about half the size. It uses the same-sized, 1/2.3″ sensor (essentially, a smartphone-sized sensor) but the JPEG output, including color and tone, looks significantly more natural and pleasing (to me at least). There’s no Raw capture on the Mini, but that doesn’t really bother me: I pull the JPEG files into Lightroom and tweak them slightly, with good results.

    The Mini also sounds less like an angry swarm of bees compared to my Pro, which will hopefully lead to fewer angry glares out in the Pacific Northwest wilderness from all those passive aggressive Seattlites I encounter. And at $ 400 for the unit, controller and battery, the Mavic Mini is significantly less investment than the current Mavic Pro offerings (The Pro Platinum is $ 1150 at the time of writing). The lower price also leads to less anxiety about potentially losing it (though that’d still majorly suck).

    Processed to taste in Adobe Lightroom.
    ISO 100 | 1/40 sec |F2.8

    I’ve only been flying the Mavic Mini for several weeks now, but after a few adventures – including one in Oregon wine country – I’m hooked. The impossibly small size is hands-down its greatest feature. Getting it into my 16L Lowepro bag without displacing other necessities is no problem at all. Which means this little sky camera can come with me everywhere I go.

    The impossibly small size is hands-down its greatest feature – this little sky camera can come with me everywhere I go

    It’s also oh-so-easy to operate. DJI further simplified the flying experience for the Mini: It uses the new DJI Fly app, which is a pared-down and more user-friendly version of the standard DJI Go app (used by most of the brand’s other consumer drones). This is a change I welcome given the intended user is likely someone who is a beginner or intermediate drone flyer. Cleaning up the settings and options means there are less things to distract you while flying, but the experience is in no way dumbed-down. And perhaps most importantly, users still have full manual control over the camera’s settings.

    Processed to taste in Adobe Lightroom.
    ISO 100 | 1/60 sec |F2.8

    I did have to give up some features by stepping down from the Mid-level Mavic Pro-series to the more beginner-oriented Mini, above and beyond Raw capture. One such feature is video quality: the max video resolution is 2.7K/30p compared to 4K/30p on my Mavic Pro (not a deal-breaker for my needs as a primarily stills shooter). The maximum flight range is also less than that of the original Mavic, a limitation I’ve yet to encounter, but I’ll report back if I do.

    There is, however, one feature I wish the Mini had: Rear and front accident avoidance cameras. My Mavic Pro has a front avoidance camera and who would’ve guessed, all my crashes with it have been while going in reverse. But hopefully their absence will lead me to become a safer, more competent flyer (knocks on wood).

    Access to a go-everywhere flying smartphone camera has put a big smile on my face

    Ultimately, if you’re a photographer who’s been curious about drone capture and trying to decide when to pull the trigger and on which model, the time is now and the model is the Mavic Mini. At $ 400, it’s cheaper than a lot of other cameras accessories you can purchase. But it’s one that’ll likely change your perspective more than anything else you could put that money toward. Moreover, access to what is essentially a go-everywhere flying smartphone camera has put a big smile on my face, which is why the DJI Mavic Mini is my gear of the year.

    $ (document).ready(function() { SampleGalleryV2({“containerId”:”embeddedSampleGallery_6196828136″,”galleryId”:”6196828136″,”isEmbeddedWidget”:true,”selectedImageIndex”:0,”isMobile”:false}) });
    Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)