Ricoh GXR Mount A12 Hands-on Preview Preview based on a pre-production GXR Mount A12 with firmware 01 The ability to resuscitate classic manual focus lenses has been one of the unexpected side-effects of the development of mirrorless camera systems. Ricoh has responded to this trend by introducing the Mount A12 module for its GXR system. This module, featuring a Leica-style M mount, allows the fitting of a wide range of lenses onto a GXR body for the first time. The GXR system may originally have aimed to offer optimized combinations of lens, sensor and processor, but the customer demand for the ability to mount other lenses was too much for Ricoh to ignore. There is, after all, a certain appeal to shooting a well-built metal lens on a small camera, but very few of us are willing to move back to film in order to experience it, or to spend considerable sums on a digital Leica. Ricoh clearly isn't content to sit on the sidelines as the mirrorless systems begin to respond to this pent-up demand. The use of the Leica M-mount brings flexibility in two respects. In part because it is no longer under patent, and also thanks to its age, there are a wide range of lenses available for the M-mount. These include Zeiss, Voigtländer, Konica, Minolta and Rollei lenses, as well as native Leica designs. Just as crucially, because the M-mount has one of the shortest distances from the mount to the imaging plane, there's room to fit an adapter allowing the use of a vast range of other lens types. The GXR Mount A12 module offers a 12MP APS-C CMOS sensor but, unlike the existing modules, it has a redesigned microlens layout designed to better cope with the wide range of lenses that could be mounted on the camera but, more importantly, it has no low-pass (anti-aliasing) filter. The company says it feels it is more important to convey the full characteristics of the lenses than to suppress moiré. The module's firmware also brings several new functions to the system, including two 'Focus Assist' modes that highlight high-contrast regions in the preview to allow fast focusing. The ability to quickly and accurately focus manual lenses has been something of a challenge for cameras without an optical viewfinder. Plenty offer fast access to magnified live view but few offer the range of options of the GXR, which offers three levels of magnification, a choice of inset or whole-screen magnification, the two focus assist modes and a jump back to full preview when you half-press the shutter. For the manual-focus-only camera that this module creates, getting this right was essential and our initial impression are pretty positive. Beyond this, the Mount A12 module also includes options for correcting geometric distortion, vignetting and 'color shading,' which, along with the lens name and details, can be stored as custom settings to the camera or off to a memory card. These custom settings can then be manually recalled next time you re-mount a specific lens. The lens name and details are also included in EXIF image metadata. Also unique to this module is an electronic shutter option, for completely silent shooting at up to 1/8000th of a second. The sequential read-out from the sensor means this mode isn't ideal for fast moving subjects (it also can't be used in Bulb or Time modes), so is available only as a scene mode. Ricoh GXR Mount A12 specification highlights
  If you're new to digital photography you may wish to read the Digital Photography Glossary before diving into this article (it may help you understand some of the terms used).
This article is Copyright 2011 and may NOT in part or in whole be reproduced in any electronic or printed medium without prior permission from the author. |
Thứ Sáu, 5 tháng 8, 2011
Ricoh GXR Mount A12 Hands-on
Ricoh M-mount GXR Mount A12 module announced and previewed
RRicoh has announced a Leica M-mount unit for its modular GXR camera system. The GXR Mount A12 features a 12MP APS-C CMOS sensor with the ability to fit a wide range of M-mount lenses or a still wider choice if used in combination with an adapter. And, unlike the majority of digital cameras, it features no low-pass (anti-aliasing) filter. The Mount A12 module includes all the usual GXR features (such as toy camera and miniature processing modes), but also gains a silent electronic shutter mode, several manual focus assist options and a series of lens correction parameters. The module will be available from early September, at an MSRP of $649. We've been using a pre-production Mount A12 module for the past few days and have prepared an hands-on preview with real-world samples.
Ricoh GXR and GPS-equipped Panasonics get firmware updates
 Ricoh and Panasonic have announced firmware updates for their cameras. Ricoh has released firmware v1.37 for its GXR module, while Panasonic promises improved GPS accuracy for several of its recent cameras. Installing firmware version 1.2 should increase the positioning accuracy of the DMC-ZS10/TZ20, TZ22 and FT3/TS3. Meanwhile, v1.37 for the GXR modules corrects a minor error with focus mode reporting, and a glitch in manual mode for the S10 module.RicohPanasonic |
Just posted: Panasonic DMC-FZ47 preview samples gallery
 Just Posted: Panasonic DMC-FZ47 preview real-world samples gallery. We've had Panasonic's latest FZ-series superzoom for the past few days. The FZ47 (FZ48 in Europe) is based around a 12MP CCD sensor and offers a 24x zoom, covering a range equivalent to a 25-600mm lens. We shot in a variety of situations, including a floodlit football match, to show what that combination can and can't do. We've also prepared a series of images at all the camera's different ISO settings and taken test shots using several of its noise reduction settings, to give a feel for the image quality options available on this JPEG-only model.There are 32 images in the samples gallery. Please do not reproduce any of these images on a website or any newsletter / magazine without prior permission (see our copyright page). We make the originals available for private users to download to their own machines for personal examination or printing (in conjunction with this review), we do so in good faith, please don't abuse it. Unless otherwise noted images taken with no particular settings at full resolution. A reduced size image (within 1024 x 1024 bounds) is provided to be more easily viewed in your browser. As always the original untouched image is available by selecting the 'Original' link under each photo.
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Nik Software reduces Viveza 2 pricing and opens up Snapseed
 Nik Software has released an updated version of its Snapseed image processing app and lowered the price of its Viveza color and light control software. Viveza 2, launched in 2009 will now be available for €99.95 (down from €199.95), with upgrades from Version 1 also halved to €49.95. Meanwhile, the company has also released a 'universal' version of its Snapseed image processing app, allowing it to run on the iPhone and iPod Touch, as well as the iPad.Press Releases: Snapseed Now Available as Universal App for iPad, iPhone and iPod TouchHamburg – August 2011 – Leading photography software developer Nik Software (www.niksoftware.com) today released a universal version of Snapseed™, its acclaimed photo enhancement and sharing app for everyone. As a universal app, Snapseed now runs on iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch devices. Regardless of device, Snapseed offers a fast, enjoyable, and high quality photo experience for people on the go. The app enables a powerful photographic workflow that includes photo capture, stunning enhancements and effects, and a broad range of sharing options all using simple gesture controls.Current users of Snapseed for iPad can install the iPhone version on their iPhone or iPod Touch for free by simply downloading it to their iTunes library and synchronizing their device. Nik Software now offers Viveza 2 world-wide for € 99,95As of August 1, 2011, Nik Software lowers the SRP for Viveza 2 worldwide to € 99,95 incl. VAT from formerly € 199,95. For the upgrade, owners of Viveza 1 now pay € 49,95. As of August 1, 2011, the academic version also costs € 49,95.Viveza 2 is the most precise tool available to selectively control color and light in digital images. U Point powered controls allow you to precisely control where enhancements are applied without the need for complicated selections or layer masks. Simple-to-use sliders let you quickly adjust brightness, contrast, saturation, structure, shadows, group control points, and the intelligent controls allow professional editing and optimization. Viveza 2 can be installed as 32-bit- or 64-bit-plug-in for Adobe Photoshop CS3 through CS5, Photoshop Elements 6 through 9, Lightroom 2.3 (or later) or Apple Aperture 2.1 (or later). The program is compatible for Windows as well as for Macintosh and available in German, English, French, Italian, and Spanish. www.niksoftware.com/viveza Nik Software offers regularly free online-trainings for Viveza 2. Dates and additional info can be found here:www.niksoftware.com/trainings. |
Kenko-Tokina launches NDX variable neutral density filter
Kenko-Tokina has announced a variable neutral density (ND) filter that can be adjusted fro ND2.5 to ND1000. The Kenko NDX filter can darken the scene by anywhere from 1.3 to 10 EV. The filter allows the use of wide apertures while keeping the correct exposure within the shutter speed range of your camera, or of very long shutter times to emphasise motion. The company suggests its use for shooting video with shallow depth-of-field, for instance. Its variable nature allows the amount of filtration to be reduced for focusing, then increased to the desired amount, without having to remove the filter. The filters can vignette when used with lenses wider than 28mm equivalent and are available in 77mm and 82mm filter thread sizes. |
Match Technical launches Thumbs Up EP-5S thumb rest for Fujifilm X100
Chinese accessory maker Match Technical has introduced a version of its 'Thumbs Up' accessory grip for the Fujifilm X100. The Thumbs Up EP-5S is an updated version of the grip we featured in our Leica M9 preview, and slots into the camera's hot shoe. It features a revised, 'ergonomic profile' thumb rest, includes a silicone insert to cushion the join between the grip and the camera, and is available in either black or silver. (via DCWatch)
Vimeo launches pro-focused video hosting options
 Video hosting site Vimeo has launched a service allowing more professional presentation of videos. The Vimeo PRO service allows videos to be presented with customer or no branding, and allows videos to be shared with password protection. The service will cost $199/year for 50GB of storage and up to 250,000 plays. Additional views or capacity can be bought for $199, which buys either 100,000 plays or 50GB of storage. Videos stored with 'Pro' accounts do not, by default, appear within the Vimeo website, giving greater control over where they appear. There is also an option to allow comments from users who aren't registered with Vimeo.Press Release: VIMEO MAKES QUALITY VIDEO HOSTING AFFORDABLE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES WITH THE LAUNCH OF VIMEO PRO New Vimeo PRO Service Combines High Quality Video Hosting With Business-focused Features for Small Businesses at a Yearly Rate of $199 NEW YORK, Aug. 1, 2011 –Vimeo®, an operating business of IAC [NASDAQ: IACI], building on their reputation as the home for high quality video sharing today launched Vimeo PRO. The new Vimeo PRO account is the easiest and one of the most affordable professional video hosting solution for small businesses available. The product will go live on the site today at 1:00pm Eastern.Online video continues to experience explosive growth. Recent predictions*1 show that video will account for 50% of all consumer Internet traffic by the end of 2012. Nearly 60 percent of viewers*2 watch video before reading text on the same webpage and are more likely to make a purchase. This year, 83 percent of small businesses plan to use social media channels for their business*3. With the web rapidly moving from text to video, small businesses need to adapt to the shift in technology or quickly become irrelevant or less impactful to their consumers who expect to see video everywhere online. “Until now, quality video hosting has been expensive, confusing, and extremely difficult for a small business owner to understand. Small businesses have fallen between the cracks of free video services and massive enterprise video solutions,” said Dae Mellencamp, Vimeo’s General Manager. “Vimeo PRO resolves the contradiction that best-of-breed video quality and hosting can also be easy and affordable.” Vimeo developed its PRO account, which will exist as a separate service outside of the Vimeo.com community, based on demand for a cost-effective video-hosting service equipped with core features that meets the growing needs of small businesses. It’s priced at $199 for 50GB of storage and 250,000 plays as a flat annual fee. Customers can purchase increased storage capacity in 50GB increments for $199. Businesses can also purchase additional plays in increments of 100k for $199. Vimeo PRO is one of the most affordable professional video hosting solutions on the market.Enabling small businesses to compete with larger companies, Vimeo PRO offers robust product features including exceptional video quality, customizable Portfolio websites, extensive video player customization, Video Review Pages, advanced statistics, social media sharing and broad privacy settings. Production companies will be able to create many separate portfolios and share rough cuts with clients. Restaurants can show their atmosphere and signature dish preparation online to potential diners. Real estate agents can provide home hunters with higher quality housing previews. And, even doctors can create private groups to educate patients and medical students. Customers can upload up to a 5GB file at a time with no time limits and Vimeo will not run any advertising over their videos. Coupled with its current array of popular features like HD and HTML5 video, full tablet, mobile and connected TV support, and Vimeo Video School, Vimeo PRO provides all the major tools small businesses need to host videos online. In addition, Vimeo PRO accounts can opt-in to the Community Pass, which is a feature that allows PRO accounts to interact with the Vimeo.com community as long as the account and each individual video abide by the community guidelines.  *1 “Cisco Visual Networking Index: Forecast and Methodology, 2010-2015”*2 December 2010 Forbes Insight survey *3 (Source: Emarkerter) |
Thứ Sáu, 29 tháng 7, 2011
Just posted: Printer Primer Part 2: Print workflow
 Just Posted: Printer Primer Part 2: Print Workflow. Over the coming months we will be expanding our printing content to include reviews and technique articles. As part of that process we're also taking the opportunity to update some of our existing content. Part 1 of our updated printer primer covered choosing a new photo printer, and Part 2 takes over where Part 1 left off. Part 2 of our printer primer - print workflow - explains how to get the most out of your new printer, whether you're an experienced print maker or you're dipping your toes into home printing for the first time. |
Microsoft releases new Camera Codec Pack with RAW support
 Microsoft has released a new version of its Camera Codec Pack for Windows Vista and Windows 7 which allows users to view RAW files from more than 120 DSLRs. Using Microsoft's Windows Live Gallery 2011 software, RAW files from compatible cameras can be edited, and adjusted images stored as either JPEG or JPEG-XR files.A full list of compatible cameras and a download link for the new codec can be found here |
Leica releases firmware update for S2 and S2-P
Leica has released a firmware update for its S2 and S2-P medium format DSLRs. Version 1.0.1.8 brings improvements to the auto-bracketing procedure and adds a customization option to the menu control button on both the S2 and S2-P cameras. Registered users can download the latest firmware via the Owner's Area on Leica's website.Olympus launches VF-3 and announces E-PL3 US pricing
 Olympus has announced US pricing and availability for the PEN Lite E-PL3. The E-PL3 will be available from September at a suggested retail price of $699.99. Aspreviously announced, the MSRP in the UK market will be £549.99. The camera will be shipped as a kit with either the M.Zuiko 14-42mm lens or the M. Zuiko 17mm pancake lens. The company has also introduced the VF-3 electronic viewfinder for its PEN series of Micro Four Thirds cameras. This is a smaller, slightly lower resolution (0.97x magnification, 920k dot, rather than 1.15x, 1.44M dot) alternative to the existing VF-2. Compatible with all PEN cameras that have an accessory port, the VF-3 has a street price of $179.99, offers a 100% field of view and can be tilted by up to 90 degrees.Jump to: Press Release: SWING INTO ACTION! OLYMPUS UNLEASHES THE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED PEN E-PL3 CAMERA FEATURING TILTING LCD AND THE NEW VF-3 ELECTRONIC VIEWFINDER Price and Availability Announced for Compact PEN E-PL3 Camera That Delivers Maximum Flexibility, Innovation and Amazing Image Quality for All; New Accessory Viewfinder Expands Your Point of View Available in September, the Olympus PEN E-PL3 will be sold at the affordable price of $699.99 and will deliver amazing image quality and lightning fast speed for brilliant still images and high-definition (HD) video. It will ship bundled with either a wide-angle zoom M.Zuiko 14-42mm lens (28mm-84mm equivalent), optimized for fast autofocus (AF) and silent AF operation, or the M. Zuiko 17mm ultra-compact and portable wide-angle pancake lens (34mm equivalent). The PEN E-PL3 is a member of the Olympus PEN family of compact system cameras that also includes the new E-P3 and E-PM1. Designed to help innovation seekers capture and share their unique visions, the Olympus PEN E-PL3 combines pro quality with the portability of a point-and-shoot and features found on bulkier DSLR-type cameras. Olympus also expands the power of its PEN Micro Four Thirds system family today with the introduction of the compact VF-3 Electronic Viewfinder. Attractively priced at $179.99, the VF-3 easily attaches to Olympus PEN models with an accessory port, as well as the Olympus XZ-1 for eye-level convenience. Packs a Powerful Punch in a Small Package The E-PL3 offers something for everyone. Packed with the technology and image quality normally found in a DSLR, it’s the size of a small, portable point-and-shoot camera and can easily travel with you. Its 3-inch, tilting high-resolution LCD screen helps you see high above the crowd to capture amazing stills and HD video of live performances, sports events and more. Easily move to eye-level to capture superb detail of children at play or even lower to the ground to record baby’s first steps or a pet soundly sleeping. Never worry about missing a spontaneous moment because the E-PL3 shoots at 5 frames per second. Offering the versatility of interchangeable lenses, excellent quality low-light shooting thanks to the camera’s AF Illuminator, a high ISO of up to 12,800, with a blazing fast autofocus system, a12.3-megapixel Live MOS Image Sensor and TruePic™ VI Image Processor, the Olympus PEN E-PL3 becomes the ultimate travel companion. Discretely document all of the color and pageantry of the city, even in low-light, as you make your way to your next destination. Staying in for a more relaxed evening at home? Tech-enthusiasts will want to keep the E-PL3 ready by their side to capture friends and family, while showcasing their creativity. Easy-to-use technologies like in-camera Art Filters and image effects empower users to apply their unique artistic vision to images and videos so they can easily share professional-quality creations. Accessing all of the camera’s options is quick and easy with a new intuitive interface. See the World through Your Own Eye The VF-3 is perfect for photographers who like the option of holding the camera up to their eye to compose. With 100-percent field-of-view, none of the recordable subject area is cropped, making composition with the VF-3 easy and accurate. The magnification and built-in diopter adjustment of the VF-3 allow for easy viewing. The VF-3 can be rotated up to 90-degrees to accommodate more obscure shooting angles for additional creative control. Furthermore, if you are the kind of person who likes to tweak the settings on your TV, you’ll love the ability to adjust the brightness and color temperature to your own particular tastes. “The Olympus PEN E-PL3 is designed to capture spontaneous, authentic moments in amazing detail without the need to sacrifice portability or quality,” said Katie Roseman, senior product manager, Olympus Imaging America Inc. “We’ve packed the affordable E-PL3 with technologies and image quality normally found in bigger DSLR-type cameras. Now, with the new VF-3, consumers can get more of a DSLR-like experience from our cameras by looking through the viewfinder to compose the shot.” Availability The Olympus PEN E-PL3 kit will be available in black, white, red and silver, starting in September 2011. The kit includes the PEN E-PL3 body, lens, USB cable, video cable, BLS-1 Li-Ion battery pack, Li-Ion battery charger, shoulder strap, OLYMPUS [ib] software CD-ROM, manuals and registration card. The updated Olympus Viewer 2 software is included with all new Olympus PEN cameras. The software helps users edit and organize photos and play back AVCHD video. Olympus Viewer 2 also enables users to experience new functions, including the application of new art filters, effects and variations. U.S. Pricing / Product Configurations Olympus PEN E-PL3 Body with MSC M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED m14-42mm II R f3.5/5.6 Zoom or 17mm Lens Estimated Street Price: $699.99 Olympus VF-3 Electronic Viewfinder Estimated Street Price: $179.99 Additional image E-P3 with VF-3 viewfinder |
Olympus announces SP-810UZ with the world's longest zoom lens
Olympus has announced the SP-810UZ superzoom with a 36x (24-864mm equiv.) zoom lens - the world's longest optical zoom in a compact camera. Successor to the SP-800UZ, the SP-810UZ also boasts a 14MP CCD sensor, 3.0" LCD and 720p HD video recording. Also included are a 3D capture mode, AF Tracking and Magic Filters including a new 'reflection' effect. Priced at $329.99, the camera will start shipping from September 2011.
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