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How to Find Your Photos in the Lightroom Catalog Using Filters
You’ve likely had this problem if you’ve been using Lightroom for any length of time. Can you relate? You go to your Lightroom catalog to find that amazing picture you took of the sunset in Maui last summer and scroll through thousands of previews in the filmstrip, but you can’t find your photos.

But was it before the weekend you went camping with your family? Or was it around the time you photographed your sister’s baby shower? You have thousands of images and can’t find what you’re looking for, and everything is a mess.

Sound familiar?

Luckily, with a little bit of organization and know-how, it’s really easy to find your images in Lightroom.

One of Lightroom’s biggest strengths is the ability it gives you to organize and archive your photos.

You can find your photos by:
- Using the Library Filter Bar
- Using Collections
- Using keyword tags
You can also customize the Library Filter bar and use Library Filter presets.

So without further ado, let’s look at some of the ways we can sort and find photos in Lightroom.

Lightroom Grid View

Sort Order

The most basic way of locating your photos is to scroll through Grid view. If you know the filename or approximate capture date, you can sort the photos into a specific order.

The Sort options are on the Toolbar in Grid view under View Menu > Sort.

By default, I have mine set to Capture Time, which sorts my photos from the oldest to the newest.
- Added Order sorts the photos according to the time of import, with the most recent imports first. The Previous/Current Import collection is set to Added Order by default.
- Edit Time sorts your pictures according to how recently they were edited, including both Develop and metadata edits.
- Edit Count sort photos according to how frequently you’ve edited that photo.
- Rating groups photos by their star rating, from highest to lowest.
- Pick sorts photos by their flags; flagged photos are first, followed by the unflagged photos, and then the rejected photos.
- Label Text groups the photos alphabetically according to their label text.
- Label Color sorts the photos by their label color, regardless of label text.
- File Name sorts the photos by just that.
- File Extension sorts the photos by their file extension, such as JPG, TIFF, PSD, etc.
- File Type groups the photos by their file type, such as PSD, Video, or JPEG.
Scrolling through photos is impractical unless you have a small number of photos, which is usually not the case. Filtering hides the photos that don’t meet the criteria that you choose.

For example, you may only want to view the photos that you have applied 5 stars to, as I do to all of the images I have finalized editing and exported to a folder.

The Library Filter Bar

The Library Filter bar at the top of the Grid View in the Library Module offers three main ways to find your photos by using the Text filter, the Attribute Filter, or the Metadata filter.

The bar appears in the middle of the grid of your images in the Library Module (circled below). You cannot see it unless you are in Grid View.

If you don’t see it, go up to View and choose Show Filter Bar or hit backslash ( \ ) on your keyboard.

Also, choose where you want to search. If you are searching all of your photographs in the Catalog, be sure to click on All Photographs under Catalog in the left-hand panel under Navigator.

All Photographs

Text Filter

The Text Filter allows you to search through the catalog or a selection of photos using a certain text search field.

There are several search options, such as keywords, metadata, as well as IPTC or EXIF information. EXIF information includes the camera make, model, serial number and software.

Any searchable plug-in field includes searchable metadata fields created by third-party plug-ins.

For example, I can use Any Searchable Field to search for files that have a certain number in them. Or I can search for all my images that have a certain keyword.

If I search for “culinary”, it will search for all of the keywords, captions, file paths, folders, virtual copies etc., for that word. I include the word culinary in all of my food photography. So by using filters, I can find all my food images quickly in Lightroom.

Attribute

Lightroom gives you the option to filter your photos by flag status, edit staus, star rating, color label, or copy.

In the screenshot below, you can see that I searched for all of my photographs that I have rated as 5 stars. I give 5 stars to images upon export, when I have finished editing them. I assign them a color label as well. For example, red means that I have submitted the images to my stock portfolios.

You can also search your virtual copies and videos using Attribute, within the icons on the far right of the panel.

The middle icon is for Virtual Copy, while the far right icon is for Video.

Click again on Attribute if you no longer want to see the Attribute Bar.

Metadata

Inputting metadata after each shoot can be a lot of work, but doing so makes it easy to locate your photos at a later date.

Your camera automatically embeds some metadata or any you’ve added manually say when you’ve set up Lightroom for tethered capture.

When you’re editing in Lightroom, it’s a good idea to put some keywords in the Keyword panel in the Library Module. This is something you need to do if you’re licensing your work for stock photography, but I recommend doing it regardless so that you can more easily search your photos.

For example, if you have input the word “strawberries” in your keyword metadata, you can find all the images that contain strawberries.

When you click on Metadata in the Library Filter bar, you can search using a wide range of criteria, including file type, and camera and exposure information. You can even find images you have not assigned your copyright status.

Lightroom also gives you the option to add more than one type of search criteria at a time.

For example, when I searched for images of strawberries, I also searched for shots taken with my Canon 5D Mark III, using my 24-70mm lens, as well as any shot with my 100mm macro. I also searched for flagged images, as I only wanted to see my top picks, not every single image of strawberries.

Note that if you want to search two types of photos, such as portraits and landscapes, be sure to choose them both in the first panel on the left. If you put it in the next panel, Lightroom will look for images that are both landscapes and portraits, rather than images that are landscapes or portraits.

Click on the first keyword then hold down the Ctrl (PC) or Command (Mac) key to select the second keyword. You can select multiple choices from the same column this way.

If you would like to do a different search or cancel that search, simply click on None in the Library Filter bar. When you do another search, Lightroom will remember the criteria you input for your last search.

To reset this, click on All, which is the first choice in the Filter panel.

Conclusion

As you can see, you can find your photos in Lightroom in various ways by using a plethora of criteria.

This is exciting news if you have been scrolling endlessly through your images to locate what you’re looking for, or you need a more organized approach to your workflow.

The post How to Find Your Photos in the Lightroom Catalog Using Filters appeared first on Digital Photography School.

Digital Photography School
September 28, 2018
Kodak Ektachrome film products now shipping globally to distributors and dealers

Following the limited shipments it initiated in August, Kodak Alaris is now shipping its new Ektachrome film products to global stock house dealers and distributors, the company announced on Tuesday. It’s currently shipping the Ektachrome Film E100 product, which will initially be available in the 135/36x camera format.

Starting on October 1, Eastman Kodak Company will also offer the Ektachrome 7294 Color Reversal Film in Super 8 format. Additional Ektachrome film products in 16mm format will be available later this year. According to Kodak, both the Ektachrome 7294 Color Reversal Film and E100 feature “extremely fine grain,” as well as a neutral tone scale and “clean, vibrant colors.” Prices weren’t provided.

Ektachrome was officially discontinued in 2012, but a resurgence in analog photography has prompted the company to bring back some of its film products. Kodak Alaris had announced plans to resurrect Ektachrome during CES 2017. Soon after, the company also revealed plans to bring back the Kodak T-Max P3200 high-speed black and white film, that having also been discontinued in 2012.

Via: Kodak

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

September 28, 2018
iPhone XS Max teardown reveals new sensor with more focus pixels

When Apple announced the new iPhone models XS and XS Max the company told us that the camera’s wide-angle module featured a larger sensor with 1.4 µm pixels compared to 1.22 µm on last year’s iPhone X.

Now a teardown performed by TechInsights has confirmed the new sensor, but has also revealed some additional detail about the wide-angle camera. The sensor is a stacked model provided by Sony and measures 7.01 mm x 5.79 mm (40.6 mm²). This is 7.8 mm² more than the wide-angle camera sensor on the iPhones X and 8 Plus.

TechInsights engineers noticed an increased density of Focus Pixels

In addition, the TechInsights engineers noticed an increased density of Focus Pixels. This means more regions of the sensor are available as autofocus points and should, at least in theory, improve autofocus performance in most light conditions and shooting situations. Focus Pixels is an Apple term for masked PDAF pixels which were first introduced in 2014 with the iPhone 6.

TechInsight’s teardown is still in progress, so we hope the team can provide some more information and also have a closer look at the camera’s 2x tele-module, which on paper looks unchanged from last year, over the coming days.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

September 28, 2018
Photokina 2018: Hands-on with Panasonic Lumix S1R

First look at Panasonic Lumix S1R

One of the most interesting announcements at this year’s Photokina show in Germany was the Panasonic / Leica / Sigma L-mount partnership, the first fruits of which are two upcoming professional-oriented mirrorless ILCs from Panasonic.

We’ve seen non-functional mockups of the S1R already, but earlier today we were lucky enough to get access to a working prototype camera in the VIP area at Panasonic’s booth. Click through for a closer look.

First look at Panasonic Lumix S1R

We couldn’t power the camera up, so for now our impressions are limited to general handling and ergonomics but the S1R certainly feels good in the hand. It’s a large camera, especially for a mirrorless ILC but it doesn’t feel too heavy, and the camera+24-105mm combination shown here is nicely balanced.

Panasonic tells us that every aspect of the camera was decided upon on the basis of detailed customer feedback, including the demand from professional users for large, well-placed controls and a deep grip.

First look at Panasonic Lumix S1R

These blocks of plastic show the evolution of the S1R’s grip shape, over several prototype iterations.

First look at Panasonic Lumix S1R

Apparently what you get when you ask professional photographers what they want is something that looks an awful lot like a traditional DSLR. Resembling an upsized G9, Panasonic claims that ‘no compromise’ has been made in the S1R’s performance, which is intended to satisfy the needs of the most demanding professional photographers.

First look at Panasonic Lumix S1R

While final specs are still to be confirmed, Panasonic tells us that the viewfinder in the S1R will ‘rival human vision’, i.e, a hypothetically perfect optical finder. We’re curious to see for ourselves what this means in practice but judging by the excellent finder in the G9, Panasonic has what it takes to create very high quality, immersive EVFs.

This view shows the S1R’s conventional, button-laden rear control layout which includes an AF positioning joystick and twin rear dials. The grip texture is provisional – final shipping cameras will feature a textured faux leather finish.

First look at Panasonic Lumix S1R

The touch-sensitive rear LCD (specs are again TBD) is articulated, which means you can fold it out….

First look at Panasonic Lumix S1R

…and down, allowing for waist-level shooting in both landscape and portrait orientations.

First look at Panasonic Lumix S1R

Now there’s a thing – twin card slots. The S1R is aimed squarely at professional photographers, and the option of XQD and / or SD should fulfill demands for backup, redundancy, or ‘stills to this card, video to that one’ shooting. Like every point on the S1R’s body, the card door is gasketed to protect against dirt and moisture incursion. Panasonic claims that the S1R should rival the GH5/S for durability in unusually cold, hot or wet environments.

First look at Panasonic Lumix S1R

The S1R we handled was missing a battery, but Panasonic tells us that battery life was a priority in the new models and as such, both will take a new, larger-capacity battery than those found in the company’s M43 cameras.

First look at Panasonic Lumix S1R

This image shows the S1R without a lens attached. The S1R will accept existing Leica L-mount lenses marketed alongside the SL, as well as forthcoming Panasonic-branded lenses and future Sigma alternatives. This view shows off the S1R’s two customizable front-mounted buttons, to the left (as seen from this direction) of the lens mount. In a thoughtful touch the upper button is convex, while the lower is concave for ease of identification by touch.

First look at Panasonic Lumix S1R

The S1 and S1R will be sold alongside four lenses: a 50mm F1.4, 24-105mm, 28-70mm and a 70-200mm F2.8. Final specifications are still to be confirmed, and the lenses shown here are non-functional mockups, displayed under glass.

Learn more about the Panasonic S1/R

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

September 27, 2018
5 Tips for Photographing Handheld Without a Tripod
Are you frustrated by the inconvenience of a tripod and you prefer shooting handheld? Do you want to take sharp images, but without having to lug around such a large piece of equipment?

Fortunately, it is possible to get stunning images, even images in low light, without using a tripod. In fact, tripods often limit your flexibility.

I rarely use a tripod, myself. While I do appreciate the added stability a tripod provides, I find myself struggling to compose images. I prefer the ability to quickly flow from composition to composition. I also like to shoot from angles that tripods struggle to cover. Hence, I have a lot of experience in photographing handheld.

In this article, I discuss various ways you can shoot without a tripod while still getting sharp images. I will show you how, with very little work, you can take your handheld photography to the next level.

1. Stabilize Your Body Against an Object

I’ll start with the least technical tip for shooting handheld, that is to become a human tripod!

By this, I mean that you should seek to stabilize your body and arms against an object. I find that the ground is an excellent choice (after all, it’s reliably present).

So, when shooting handheld, I often get down on the ground. I’ll lie on my stomach and press my elbows firmly against the soil. Then I can feel fairly confident when taking my image that things will remain sharp.

I stabilized my elbows against the ground in order to photograph this aster.

If you don’t want to get down on your stomach, that’s okay. You can also try out several other positions.

For instance, you can crouch down and put your elbows on your knees. Or you can tuck your elbows into your body.

You can also find some other object to stabilize yourself against. I sometimes use large rocks or fallen trees when shooting flowers. It pays to be creative.

2. Use Your Camera or Lens’s Built-In Image Stabilization

Does your camera or lens possess image stabilization technology? If so, switch it on!

You see, image stabilization technology is built in by clever camera manufacturers. It reduces (or eliminates) camera shake using image stabilization.

Image stabilization technology generally works in one of two ways. If it’s built into the camera, the sensor physically moves to counteract any camera shake that the camera has experienced. If it’s built into the lens, an optical element inside the lens is what moves.

Regardless, here’s the key takeaway: Image stabilization technology help to minimize or eliminate camera shake.

Without image stabilization, getting this urban abstract would have been very difficult.

The downside of image stabilization technology is that it’s expensive. Only some cameras and some lenses possess it, and they tend to be on the pricier side of things.

For those of us who dislike shooting with a tripod, however, image stabilization is a worthwhile investment.

3. Shoot with Shorter Lenses

An oft-cited rule in photography circles is this: you can handhold your lens at a shutter speed that is the reciprocal of the focal length (that is, 1/focal length).

This may sound complex, but it’s really not. To find an acceptably fast shutter speed, take the focal length and make it into a fraction with a one on top.

For instance, if you’re shooting with a 100mm lens, you can handhold at a shutter speed of 1/100th of a second or faster. When you’re shooting with a 400mm lens, you can handhold at a shutter speed of 1/400th of a second or faster. Finally, if you’re shooting with a 25mm lens, you can handhold at a shutter speed of 1/25th of a second.

Do you see the pattern? The longer the lens, the faster your shutter speed must be. Conversely, you can use a longer shutter speed when using a short lens.

I used a wide angle lens to capture this golden retriever in low light.

This is for a couple of reasons. First, long lenses tend to be bigger and heavier, causing more camera shake. Second, longer lenses magnify camera shake, resulting in blurrier pictures.

Therefore, if you don’t have a tripod to cut down on camera shake, you should use a lens that is more forgiving of the rule (based on the 1/focal length rule).

So if you’re shooting handheld, use shorter focal lengths for more success.

4. Shoot in Burst Mode

Another tip for photographing without a tripod is to shoot in burst mode (high-speed drive mode).

To activate burst mode, you simply have to set the camera to high-speed drive mode and hold down the shutter button. If you have a camera with this capability, you’ll hear the rapid-fire sound of images being taken.

Burst mode was essential for getting this early-morning shot of a White-Morph Reddish Egret.

This mode helps with handheld photography for two reasons.

First, when you jab the shutter button with your finger, it generates camera shake. When you use burst mode, however, you only press the shutter button at the beginning of your image sequence. This means that later photographs are taken with very little camera shake because the shutter button is not actually pressed just before the image is captured.

Second, when you shoot in burst mode, the mirror doesn’t cause extra vibrations. You see, many cameras (DSLRs) have mirrors in front of the sensor. When the shutter button is pressed, the mirror flips up, briefly exposing the sensor to light (to capture the image).

When the mirror flips up, this causes small vibrations throughout the camera, another form of camera shake. Yet when you activate burst mode, the mirror only flips up only at the beginning of the burst. The later shots aren’t affected by the vibrations caused by the mirror and as a consequence, they are sharper.

NOTE: This last point doesn’t apply to mirrorless cameras as they do not have a mirror, hence the name!

5. Use the self-timer

My final tip for photographing without a tripod is to use your camera’s self-timer.

The self-timer allows you to press the shutter button, and then it waits a specified number of seconds before the image is taken.

I love using the self-timer when photographing flowers.

This useful for the same reason cited above in favor of burst mode. It prevents the camera shake generated when you press the shutter button.

So, next time you’re out in the field and you’re struggling to get sharp images without a tripod, try using the self-timer to reduce your camera shake.

Conclusion

Many photographers think that tripods are a necessity, but this isn’t necessarily the case. There are methods that you can use to shoot without a tripod while still capturing stellar images.
- First, steady yourself by placing your elbows against the ground.
- Second, switch on your camera or lens’s image stabilization software.
- Third, shoot with shorter (e.g., wide-angle) lenses.
- Fourth, photograph using burst mode.
- Fifth, use your camera’s self-timer.
If you follow these tips, your tripod will become far less important, and you’ll take fantastic handheld images.

Have any more tips for photographing without a tripod? Please share them in the comments below.

The post 5 Tips for Photographing Handheld Without a Tripod appeared first on Digital Photography School.

Digital Photography School
September 27, 2018
Venus Optics shows eight new Laowa models, including the widest Fujifilm GFX lens

A dramatic flurry of lenses has emerged from independent manufacturer Laowa at Photokina as the company shows a total of eight new models in a wide range of mounts. The company is showing a 17mm F4 for the Fujifilm GFX medium format system that will offer the angle of view we’d expect from a 13mm focal length on a 135 format camera. The lens will be the widest available lens for Fujifilm’s system and, as part of the Zero D series, it should have only the slightest amount of distortion.

Other lenses of note in the collection include a designed-for-cinema 25-100mm T2.9 zoom marking Laowa’s entry into the professional movie market. The lens is claimed to be parfocal, so focus doesn’t shift during zooming, and to display minimal breathing as focus is altered.

Drone and MFT users will both get versions of a 9mm F2.9 super wide, while macro lovers will be able to enjoy a 100mm macro that can reproduce a subject at double size on the sensor.

All the details are below and on the Venus Optics website. Pricing and availability are yet to be confirmed.

Press Release

Venus Optics unveil 8 new & unique Laowa lenses in Photokina, including the 25-100 T/2.9 Professional Cine Lens

Together with the 4 new lenses showed earlier in Beijing P&E, a total of 12 new Laowa lenses will make their Europe debut in Venus Optics’ booth in Photokina (Hall 2.1, D-040)

Venus Optics, the camera lenses manufacturer who had previously launched a number of unique Laowa camera lenses, is proud to unveil 8 new and unique lenses in Photokina.

Laowa OOOM 25-100mm t/2.9 Cine Lightweight Zoom
Laowa 17mm f/1.8 MFT
Laowa 12mm f/1.8 MFT
Laowa 9mm f/2.8 Zero-D (DJI DL)
Laowa 9mm f/2.8 Zero-D MFT
Laowa 7.5mm t/2.1 Cine
Laowa 9mm t/2.9 Zero-D Cine
Laowa 12mm t/2.9 Zero-D Cine
Laowa 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 FE Zoom
Laowa 100mm f/2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO
Laowa 17mm f/4 GFX Zero-D
Laowa 4mm f/2.8 Fisheye MFT

Laowa OOOM 25-100 t/2.9 Cine Lightweight Zoom

Laowa OOOM Cine lightweight zoom is the first professional cinema style zoom lens offered by Venus Optics. The lens features a wide 25-100mm zoom range, making it a one-size-fits-all lens for different types of productions.

Unlike some cine lens in the market which were re-engineered from a photo zoom lens, Laowa OOOM Cine lens is designed for digital cinematography in the first place. It is truly parfocal, meaning the focus will never shift when you zoom in or zoom back out. It is designed to have nearly zero focus breathing throughout the whole zoom range. The aperture remains fixed at t/2.9 at all focal lengths.

It is built with the true cinema level mechanics. It comes with a stepless, t-stop independent aperture ring with an industry standard 0.8 mod /32 pitch gears. The 270° rotation flow provides room or precise focus pulls and the iris is clickless, enabling smooth iris pulls. The lens weighs only 2.16 pounds, which is fairly light for a cinema zoom that holds focus and aperture throughout the focal length range.

Laowa 17mm f/1.8 MFT

Laowa 17mm f/1.8 is a new compact, standard prime designed for Micro Four Thirds cameras and it gives a 35mm-equivalent field of view. The lens houses 9 elements in 7 groups and have a 5-blade aperture for the best sunstar rendering. The lens is extremely compact and lightweight, weighs only 160g (0.36lbs) and is 5cm (2”) long. A 46cm filter thread is included and the 15cm minimal focus distance make it a perfect lens for videography.

Laowa 12mm f/1.8 MFT

Laowa 12mm f/1.8 is a new compact, wide-angle prime for Micro Four Thirds cameras and it gives a 24mm-equivalent field of view. The ultra-fast f/1.8 aperture allows photographers to take astro photos with ease. The lens houses 13 elements in 10 groups and a 5-blade aperture. The lens can focus as close as 14cm (5.5”) and takes 46mm screw-in filters which gives extra convenience to videographers. It weighs only 165g (0.4 lbs) and its 5cm long (2”).

Laowa 9mm f/2.8 Zero-D (DJI DL)

Following the successful launch of the super compact and lightweight 7.5mm f/2 MFT lens for DJI Inspire drones (X5 gimbals) during 2017, Venus Optics is proud to introduce another ultra-wide option, Laowa 9mm f/2.8 Zero-D DL, to use on DJI Inspire 2 (X7 gimbals).

Featuring an effective 118° angle of view, the Laowa 9mm f/2.8 Zero-D DJI DL is currently the widest available option for DJI Inspire 2 drones with Zenmuse X7 gimbals. The bigger image circle can cover the size of Super35 sensors and the native DL mount allows an easy lens switching. The lens weighs only 215g and it is super tiny and compact. It comes with a 49mm filter thread and features a close-to-zero optical distortion.

Laowa 9mm f/2.8 Zero-D MFT

Laowa 9mm f/2.8 Zero-D (Micro Four Thirds mount) is the 4th variant added to the existing Fuji X, Sony E and EOS-M mounts. The 9mm lens provides a 18mm equivalent angle of view on the Micro Four Thirds sensor. It also has a better vignetting control over the other variants of the same lens. The close-to-zero distortion will remain unchanged.

Laowa 7.5mm t/2.1 Cine / Laowa 9mm t/2.9 Zero-D Cine

The new Laowa 7.5mm and 9mm Cine lenses are the cine-mod version of the existing photo version of Venus Optics best-selling models. Both lenses were re-housed with a step-less aperture rings and focus rings with standard 0.8 mod gears which give videographers extra convenience to use with follow-focus systems. Both of the lenses are the widest available in the market in its class and only weigh 180g (0.4lbs) & 250g (0.55lbs) respectively. Closest focusing distance is both 12cm (0.4 feet). The wide perspective and lightweight makes them the perfect companion for gimbal shooting. MFT mount is available for 7.5mm t/2.1 Cine and Sony E mount is available for 9mm t/2.9 Cine.

Laowa 12mm t/2.9 Zero-D Cine (PL)

The new Laowa 12mm t/2.9 Zero-D Cine in PL mount is the cine-mod version of the existing 12mm f/2.8 Zero-D lens. The lens was rehoused with a step-less, t-stop aperture rings and focus rings with standard 0.8 mod gears for iris and focus pulls. It successfully covers the 35mm Vista Vision sensor size and offers an ultra-wide 122° angle of view, making it one of the world’s widest and fastest available option for shooting with large sensors. Despite the ultra-wide field of view, it is perfectly rectilinear and features a close-to-zero distortion rate. The focus flow is extended to 270° for cinematographers to also take advantage of the 0.6 feet (18cm) closest focusing distance. The super lightweight (650g, 1.4lbs) is also an added benefit for cinematographers.

Laowa 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 FE Zoom

This lens is currently the widest zoom lens available for Sony full frame E-mount cameras. Designed primarily for travel photography, Venus optics have managed to compress the size to smallest in its class, less than 4 inch (<10cm) and only 1.1 pounds (<500g). The 102? (18mm) to 130? (10mm) angle of view provides flexibility for photographers to compose landscape or architecture photos with ease. The lens houses with 14 elements in 10 groups with 2 aspherical elements & 1 extra-low dispersion element to deliver exceptional performance. It can focus as close as 15cm for some mini-macro shooting. A rear filter slot is included to fit with 37mm filter. A dedicated filter holder is being developed to fit 100mm-wide filters. Click/clickless aperture can be toggled by the switch on the lens barrel. A 5-blade aperture design ensures a pleasing and clean sunstar rendering.

Multiple samples will be available for free rental during Photokina period.

Laowa 100mm f/2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO

Followed by the success of the Laowa 60mm f/2.8 2:1 Macro, the 100mm f/2.8 2:1 Macro is the 2nd member of Laowa 2:1 macro line-up. This new 100mm lens can cover full frame sensor size and focus from 2:1 magnification to infinity. The wide magnification range allows macro photographers to capture subject at any sizes. This 100mm portrait lens also features an apochromatic (APO) characteristic that no chromatic aberration can be found. The 12 elements in 10 groups optics design delivers a crystal sharpness image in both macro and tele distances. Automatic aperture control feature is available for Canon EF version and Aperture coupling is available for Nikon F mount version.

Laowa 17mm f/4 GFX Zero-D

This is currently the widest available native lens option for Fujifilm G-mount cameras. The new Laowa 17mm f/4 GFX has a field of view equivalent to 13mm in 35mm format (113?). Featuring a close-to-zero distortion and 86mm filter thread, this lens is ideally suited for landscape, architecture & interior photography. The 21 elements in 14 groups design with 2pcs of aspherical & 3pcs of Extra-low dispersion elements successfully help to control the distortion & chromatic aberrations to the minimal.

Laowa 4mm f/2.8 Fisheye MFT

Featuring a 210? angle of view, this lens delivers unique circular fisheye field of view on Micro four thirds cameras. The ultra-wide angle view allows photographers to create 360? panorama with ease. Despite the unique & ultra-wide perspective, the lens only weighs 0.3 pounds (135g).

Free Rental Programme
Venus Optics have prepared some copies of the Laowa 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 FE Zoom and Laowa 24mm f/14 Probe lens (Canon) for free rental during Photokina period. For reservations, please contact Venus Optics via contact@venuslens.net.

Availability
All 12 new lenses will make its Europe debut in Venus Optics’ booth (Hall 2.1, D-040) in Photokina, Cologne during 26th-29th Sept. Pricing and ship date are to be confirmed.

About Us
Anhui ChangGeng Optical Technology Company Limited (Venus Optics) is a new Chinese camera lens manufacturer based in Hefei, Anhui. We currently manufacture and distribute camera lenses under the brand name of ‘Laowa’.

For more information about Anhui ChangGeng Optical Technology Company Limited and our products information, visit http://www.venuslens.net/

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

September 27, 2018
Fujifilm developing 100MP medium format with phase detection and IBIS

Fujifilm has said it is developing a 100MP GFX medium format camera that will include both phase detection autofocus and in-body image stabilization. The 4K-capable camera will sell for around $ 10,000.

The development was announced at the company’s press conference at the Photokina trade show in Cologne, Germany, alongside the unveiling of the 50MP GFX 50R model.

A mockup on display at the event shows it to resemble a dual-grip variant of the existing GFX 50S model but without the protruding hump at the back of the body.

No details beyond these headline specs were made available but the company said the camera would be available in 2019.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

September 27, 2018
Photokina 2018: First look at new Ricoh GR III

Our new favorite compact? Meet the Ricoh GR III

Ricoh has announced the development of a third model in its popular GR lineup: The forthcoming GR III will feature an updated sensor and redesigned lens. We’re at Photokina, where we took a quick look earlier at an early sample under glass.

The biggest upgrade to the GR III is invisible. The new camera features a 24MP APS-C sensor, which should substantially improve upon the rather old 16MP sensor used in the GR/II. The new sensor brings with it phase-detection autofocus, and in-camera stabilization. Both these changes are potentially of huge value to prospective buyers, and serve as a major differentiator against arguably the GR III’s main competitor, Fujfilm’s X100-series.

Our new favorite compact? Meet the Ricoh GR III

Externally, the magnesium alloy-bodied GR III is virtually indistinguishable from its predecessors, the GR and (extremely closely-related) GR II. The 28mm effective focal length of it 18.3mm F2.8 lens is unchanged, but it has been redesigned.

The new lens features six elements in four groups, including two aspheres. The GR/II’s lens was made up of seven elements in five groups, also including two aspherical elements. Beyond an improvement to minimum focusing distance from to 6cm (2.4″) from 10cm (3.9″) we don’t know what the practical effects of this redesign are (the GR/II’s original lens was stunningly sharp) but we’re keen to put it to the test as soon as we can.

Our new favorite compact? Meet the Ricoh GR III

Movie shooting has been moved from its old position on the main exposure mode dial, to a button on the left-hand side of the camera. This button can also be configured to activate the GR III’s wireless feature. Notice also the omission of the mechanical flash release switch, which was featured on the GR/II. The GR III does not include a built-in flash.

Our new favorite compact? Meet the Ricoh GR III

Sorry for the poor quality of this image, which was (obviously) shot through perspex, and against powerful spotlights. Hopefully it shows you what you need to know. From behind, the biggest difference to the GR III compared to its predecessors appears to be a larger LCD, but in fact this is partially an illusion. The GR III’s screen is now 3:2 aspect ratio (as opposed to 4:3) but the diagonal length is the same and resolution (1.03 million dots) is unchanged compared to its predecessor.

The biggest difference is that the GR III’s screen is touch-sensitive.

Our new favorite compact? Meet the Ricoh GR III

You might also notice that the GR/II’s AE/AFL / AF-C switch has been deleted in the new model – likewise the +/- toggle that used to live on the upper-right corner of the thumb grip. This is a shame, but the GR III does gain a rear control dial around the 4-way pad, and from the labeling it looks like the rear ‘ADJ’ jog switch can be used for quick exposure compensation.

Our new favorite compact? Meet the Ricoh GR III

From the top, the simplified exposure mode dial looks noticeably less cluttered than the older GR/II. Movie mode has gone, but so has the auto-everything ‘green’ camera mode, and TAv. Instead, we have the traditional PASM plus three user-configurable settings. The front control dial and trademark Ricoh pill-shaped shutter button are unchanged.

That’s it! At least for now. This camera was firmly behind glass but as soon as we can get our holds on a working sample, we’ll be posting a lot more about the GR III, which is already looking like it might become our new favorite compact.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

September 27, 2018
Photokina 2018: Hands-on with Tamron’s 2nd-gen 15-30mm F2.8 lens

Open wide: Tamron’s 15-30mm F2.8 G2

Tamron has updated their SP 15-30mm F2.8 Di VC USD full-frame lens and we got a chance to check out version 2 as this year’s Photokina. It handles essentially the same as its predecessor but there are some cosmetic changes. The design now matches that of the SP 24-70mm F2.8 and SP 70-200 F2.8 – specifically the grey bit by the base is new and the switches on the side have been redesigned.

Aside from cosmetic changes, a list of improvements under the hood make the 15-30mm F2.8 version 2 all the more appealing, including: dual processors for faster AF and better stabilization, fresh coatings to reduce flare and a new aspherical element.

It is available in both Canon EF and Nikon F mounts – the Nikon mount just began shipping, Canon mount ships October 12th. The list price is $ 1299.

Open wide: Tamron’s 15-30mm F2.8 G2

Like version 1, the front element is large and bulbous and the front of the glass moves forward in the housing as you zoom in – it is shown here zoomed to 30mm. There’s no way to put a threaded filter on it but the Canon version has a rear filter holder that can accept gels. The Nikon does not due to the F mount’s flange distance.

Version 2 also features a new Anti-reflection eXpand coating that Tamron developed in house to ensure flaring is as well-controlled toward the edges as it is in the center. The lens has two additional coatings to combat flare and ghosting. It also features an updated fluorine coating on the front element that is ‘abrasion resistant.’ This should make it easy to wipe away dust, water or grime and provide some level of scratch resistance. Speaking of water, the whole thing is weather resistant.

Open wide: Tamron’s 15-30mm F2.8 G2

Vibration control has been improved thanks to the inclusion of a second processor – now one processor is dedicated to AF and one to VC. Tamron says the new VC-dedicated processor should result in up to 4.5 stops of stabilization.

In addition to a dedicated AF processor, the lens has an updated AF algorithm. All of this should result in faster AF speeds. And because focus is driven by an ultrasonic silent drive motor, AF noise shouldn’t be an issue for video shooters. Then again, if you are old-fashioned, a manual override switch has you covered.

Open wide: Tamron’s 15-30mm F2.8 G2

A rubber gasket along the mount ensures no water gets inside your DSLR. And as mentioned, the lens design is moisture-resistant with internal seals located in critical areas where water or dust might get in.

Also the 15-30mm can make use Tamron’s TAP-in console for AF fine-tuning, VC control adjustments and firmware updates. The console will set you back about $ 60.

Open wide: Tamron’s 15-30mm F2.8 G2

In terms of handling, version 2 is nearly identical in size and weight to version 1. At 1100 g, it is not light-weight. Nor is it small, but that’s the price of ice when it comes to a stabilized constant-aperture wide-angle full-frame zoom.

Overall we’re excited to get the Tamron 15-30mm F2.8 version 2 on a body and start shooting. We were big fans of version 1 and it will be nice to see how all these improvements affect overall image quality and the shooting experience. Stay tuned for a sample gallery!

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

September 27, 2018
Photokina 2018: Zenit and Leica collaborate on new ‘M’

Designed in Russia, made in… Germany? It’s the Zenit M

Leica is clearly in the mood for partnerships: A day after the company announced it was teaming up with Panasonic and Sigma on the L mount, Zenit took the wraps off the ‘M’, a Zenit-designed, Leica manufactured rangefinder camera which has (cough cough) rather a lot in common with Leica’s last-generation M Typ 240.

Designed in Russia, made in… Germany? It’s the Zenit M

Leica and Zenit aren’t necessarily names that you’d immediately associate, but hey, in the words of one Leica executive I talked to, “that’s globalization for you!” In the latest sign that this ain’t your Großvater’s Leica, it is currently assembling the 24MP full-frame Zenit M rangefinder alongside the M10 at its Wetzlar plant in Germany.

As far as division of labor is concerned, I’m told that Zenit was responsible for the external design, and everything else is done at Wetzlar.

Designed in Russia, made in… Germany? It’s the Zenit M

I must say, I rather like Zenit’s design touches. Somewhat more slab-sided than the Typ. 240, the Zenit M actually looks pretty cool to my eyes, and the asymmetrical curve of the top-plate acts as an optical illusion, making the M look slightly slimmer than the ‘original’ Leica.

Rather wonderfully, just like a Leica, the Zenit M has the model name and serial number engraved into the hotshoe assembly.

Designed in Russia, made in… Germany? It’s the Zenit M

So far, so Leica. From the rear, the Zenit M is almost indistinguishable from the Typ 240. Only the ‘DESIGNED IN KRASNOGORSK’ gives it away. With my eye to the viewfinder, there’s no discernible difference in use, either.

Designed in Russia, made in… Germany? It’s the Zenit M

At the heart of the Zenit M is the same full-frame 24MP CMOS sensor as – you guessed it – the Leica Typ 240. It also offers live view and HD movie recording.

Designed in Russia, made in… Germany? It’s the Zenit M

The battery and memory card are accessed in the same way, too, via the removable baseplate.

Designed in Russia, made in… Germany? It’s the Zenit M

The Zenit M will be available in a black or chrome finish, and will be shipping later this year or early 2019 for ‘between 4-5,000 Euros’ kitted with the Zenitar 35mm F1.0.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

September 27, 2018