Indholdsfortegnelse for April 2020 i Smart Photography

With this issue, Smart Photography enters it’s 16th year of publication. Unfortunately, the timing coincides with the coronavirus epidemic. The impact is likely to be felt throughout the world. We understand that several camera plants in China have been shuttered, causing a shortage of strategic components. The global uncertainty will also take it’s toll on demand. To add fuel to the fire, budget cuts by camera companies will take its toll on other industries like retail and the media, both of which are already under considerable pressure. Let us hope that the second half of 2020 turns out to be better.…

Sigma has announced the release of a new firmware update for Sigma fp, expected to be available in the summer of 2020. The announcement confirmed the release of features such as CinemaDNG 120/100 fps (FHD 8-bit) shooting, cinemagraph, still capture in live view, movie shooting in Cine mode, HDR shooting and Director’s Viewfinder recording function. The company has also announced a new software development kit. The current firmware available for Sigma fp is 1.01 while version 1.02 is reportedly in the developing stages. According to reports, the Sigma fp 1.02 includes additional features like lens aberration correction and card error correction for specific SD cards.…

C-4 Precision Optics has released its 4.9mm f/3.5 Hyper Fisheye lens for Sony E-mount. It is the world’s widest fisheye lens with a 270 degree field of view that captures fully-circular fisheye images, allowing the users to photograph the area behind the lens. The lens is of a hefty 13 kg built and comes with extendable tripod legs and a cheese plate. It is designed for full-frame Sony E-mount cameras. The lens is constructed with five extra-low dispersion elements to combat chromatic aberrations and is designed for full-dome imaging, virtual reality, and 360-degree video applications. The 4.9mm f/3.5 Hyper Fisheye lens is available at a price of US $39,000 from authorised dealers and can also be rented weekly from LensRentals at a price of US $1246 per week.…

Koelnmesse GmbH has decided to cancel photokina 2020, originally planned to be held from May 27 to May 30, 2020, in wake of the Coronavirus threat. The next instalment of the leading international trade fair for photography, video and imaging will be held from May 18 to May 21, 2022. The management team of Koelnmesse has decided not to organise any own events until the end of June 2020. This decision is supported by the crisis management team of the City of Cologne, which also recommended in its meeting on March 18, 2020 to cancel the trade fairs during this period.…

Sony has launched the FE 20 mm f/1.8 G, a compact, lightweight, ultra-wide prime lens and the widest full-frame prime lens in Sony’s E-mount line-up. The lens design features two advanced aspherical (AA) elements and three extra-low dispersion (ED) glass elements to suppress chromatic aberration and deliver high image quality with minimal distortion, even at the maximum F1.8 aperture. It has excellent close-up performance, with good bokeh and with a minimum focus distance of 7.5 inches (max. magnification: 0.2 times). The lens is equipped with advanced optical design for reproducing point light sources with high contrast and minimum sagittal flare. The compact design and light weight (373g), gives the FE 20 mm mobility, when used with compact E-mount bodies as part of a well-balanced system that is ideal for use…

Sony India announced a new 4K handycam featuring an in-built gimbal mechanism and Optical SteadyShot technology. The FDR-AX43 has been developed for content creators and vloggers. It comes with Fast-Intelligent AF to ensure even moving subjects remain in sharp focus. The camera features 1 /2.5” Type Exmor R CMOS sensor that enhances image quality, reduces noise in dark environments and enables soft background defocusing. It uses a BIONZ X image processing engine for natural looking images and faster processing. The camcorder uses ZEISS Vario-Sonnar T* zoom lens with a wide angle of 26.8 mm enabling more number of subjects to fit in the frame. Other features include 20x optical zoom, 30x for 4k or 40x for HAD Clear Image Zoom and 250x digital zoom, multi-capsule microphone and high-capacity battery for…

Olympus and Panasonic jointly announced the addition of three more companies to the Micro Four Thirds System standard. Yongnuo, Mediaedge and Venus Optics recently declared their support for the MFT System standard. Yongnuo develops, produces and sells interchangeable lenses, performance lighting and video lighting. , Mediaedge has been an advocate of video streaming and display system concepts for over 17 years and is aiming to produce products that inspire customers. Venus Optics is the company behind the development and production of LAOWA brand, producing practical, cost-effective, and unique products. The three brands will soon be introducing products compliant with the standard. The release further mentioned that Olympus (the company that initiated both the Four Thirds System and the Micro Four Thirds System standards) will continue to develop and enhance the…

Darsh has been practising photography and videography for 10 years and has travelled extensively for assignments. He is based in Mumbai. He says that his fascination with the world of art and how artists keep striving for perfection is mirrored in his own perfectionist approach, as well as in the attention to detail in his photography and cinematography. He has won several awards at various salons of The Photographic Society of India. Darsh offers photography as well as cinematography services for clients. Camera: Nikon D750 Aperture: f/5.6 Shutter Speed: 1/2000 sec Focal Length: 86.0 mm ISO: 800 Camera: Canon EOS 550D Aperture: f/5.6 Shutter Speed: 1/250 sec Focal Length: 50.0 mm ISO: 400 Camera: Nikon D750 Aperture: f/8 Shutter Speed: 1/1000 sec Focal Length: 24.0 mm ISO: 400 Camera: Canon…

Ashok Kandimalla has been in the photographic field for over three decades and has extensive experience in both film and digital photography. Being an electronics engineer by profession and a photographer, he possesses a unique and deep insight into the technical aspects of digital photography and equipment. He has published more than a 100 articles on photography and some of his writings have also been published in the well-known international magazine Popular Photography. An avid collector of photographic books and vintage cameras, Ashok has a keen interest in the history of photography and a passion for sharing his knowledge on photography through teaching and writing. He is the only Indian photographer to be featured on the Nikon Centenary website. He is presently working as a Management and Engineering consutant. He…

Camera: SONY ILCE-7RM2 Lens: E 28-75mm F2.8 Aperture: f/3.2 Shutter Speed: 1/160 sec ISO: 5000 In January 2020 we had reviewed the Tamron 17-28 mm f/2.8 Di III RXD lens which had received Smart Photography’s Best Buy stamp of confidence. This month we have its senior sibling on test –the Tamron 28-75 mm f/2.8 Di III RXD. This is an E-mount (full-frame) lens designed for Sony interchangeable lens mirrorless cameras. The lens was tested using a Sony A7III body. Design & Build Quality Finished in dull black with clear white lettering, the Tamron 28-75 mm lens is sleek and lightweight (555 g with the lens hood, but without both end caps). The outer shell is made from polycarbonate and the build quality is good. The zoom ring, 3 cm wide…

Write to us at: Smart Photography, Next Gen Publishing Pvt. Ltd., 105-106, Trade World, B-Wing, 1st Floor, Kamala Mills Compound, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel (W), Mumbai - 400 013 E-mail: sp@nextgenpublishing.net Eagerly awaiting Dear SP, Congratulations on completing 15 wonderful years in the imaging and print industry. Eagerly awaiting the anniversary issue! Most importanly, the SPECIALS section. And ofcourse, Travel. Good luck and best wishes. Samantha United in spirit Dear Team, Just took this opportunity to show you our support and love. As we face difficult times ahead with the ongoing pandemic, I hope we all stay strong in the face of it and take necessary measures to keep ourselves and those around us safe. It is important that we stay united in spirit but isolated physically. Our best…

Capture One announced the release of Capture One version 20.0.3 offering the first official support for the Fujifilm X-T4 along with other new cameras and lenses from various brands. This service release also includes bug fixes for Capture One 20. Capture One offers Fujifilm photographers a suite of tools unlike the other photo editing software, including the ability to utilise Fujifilm’s Film Simulations such as Acros, Provia, and Classic Chrome. With Capture One, these Film Simulations are not restricted to JPEGs, but can be used with Raw files, allowing for a powerful and flexible image processing ability. Capture One and Fujifilm have teamed up to support the photographic community by providing fully-tailored support to Fujifilm’s cameras upon launch. Unlike other Raw processors, Capture One’s camera profiles are individually measured, a…

Joby recently launched a wide range of mobile accessories for smartphones users. Their latest line-up includes flexible tripods, rugged and water-proof lights and lightweight microphones keeping in mind the needs of bloggers, vloggers and other smartphone content creators. Their most notable addition, the GorillaPod Mobile Vlogging Kit, is a bundle containing three products viz. the Beamo Mini LED with Bluetooth control, GorillaPod Mobile Rig and Wavo Mobile microphone. The bundle also includes a GripTight PRO 2 smartphone mount and the entire kit is priced at US $200. The products are also available as standalone accessories, each priced separately ranging between US $40 and US $200.…

According to a recent press release, the World Press Photo Foundation has cancelled the World Press Photo Awards Show 2020 and the World Press Photo Festival 2020, which was due to be held in Amsterdam from April 16 to 18, owing to the Coronavirus outbreak. The winners of the 2020 Photo Contest and the 2020 Digital Storytelling Contest, including the winner of the World Press Photo of the Year and three other major awards will be announced and presented globally at 02:30 IST on April 16 through a wide range of online and media channels.…

Xiaomi has expanded its portfolio of Mi Power Banks and launched its first wireless power bank in India. The 10000mAh Mi Wireless Power Bank provides wireless charging on the go and is Qi certified. The power bank provides compatibility through its magnetic inductive technology and offers 10W wireless charging with all Qi compatible devices. The Mi Wireless Power Bank comes with two way 18W fast charging on both USB Type A output port and USB Type C input port. It also enables simultaneous charge on two mobile devices. The power bank uses high-quality lithium polymer batteries that ensure longevity and higher standard of safety. The power bank also comes with a non-skid wireless charging surface/pad. It also features 12 layers of circuit chip protection across voltage, temperature, current and electrostatic…

In a recent press release, Adobe has announced that as schools across the globe are facing physical campus closures and moving towards e-learning due to COVID-19 outbreak, the company is providing greater access to the Adobe Creative Cloud desktop apps to facilitate distance learning. This initiative by Adobe is done to ensure keeping the coursework, teamwork and student progress on track by providing ‘at-home’ access to students and educators alike.…

Magic Weavers is a group of photographers and filmmakers from all over India led by Abhinav Sah and Shraddha Lotlikar. They specialise in wedding photography, and over the past 10 years, Magic Weavers has shot over 250 weddings spread across the world. Abhinav has an industry experience of over 18 years. Having worked as a visual effects supervisor for films in both Hollywood and Bollywood, he brings creative and technical excellence in Magic Weavers. All the experience of working in films translates into better products for clients. Shraddha has been into the world of professional hair and make-up, which finally led her to start shooting weddings since early 2009. Her eye for detail and the ability to capture emotions are her strength. She has extensively shot for fashion and also…

• 2018 Photoblogger of the Year (Gujarat Tourism & ICIT) • Pro Travel Photographer. Photo Jurist. Photo Educator. SPEAKER (Architectural & Travel Photography): • TBEX Europe 2016 (Stockholm) • TBEX Asia 2016 (Manila) • TBEX International 2017 (Jerusalem) • TBEX North America 2017 (Huntsville, AL) • TBEX Europe 2018 (Ostrava, Czech Republic) WINNER: •India’s Biggest Blogging Contest - Cox & Kings’ Grab Your Dream (Season 2) • National Geographic Traveller’s GetOutThere Photo Essay Contest Web: http://travelu.re…

Camera: Xiaomi POCO X2 Aperture: f/1.9 Shutter Speed: 1/33 sec Focal Length: 5.4 mm ISO: 276 More than a year after Xiaomi announced the Poco series in India, they have launched the Poco X2 with some impressive features including 8GB RAM, quad camera setup and fast charger. The specifications surely look impressive. Let’s find out. Design and Build Quality The phone offers the the same glossy double glass design with internal reflection patterns that has become a cliche in smartphones. It uses a side-mounted fingerprint sensor mounted on the flat power/lock screen button. The fingerprint sensor and the volume rocker are at the right hand side. The dual in-screen front cameras are at the top right hand side corner. The back cameras are aligned vertically along with the dual tone…

The latest smartphones and tablets demand faster data transfer and hence the memory card that you use for external storage should be capable of meeting such speed requirements. Kingston recently announced the Canvas line-up of memory cards, which is compatible with HD 1080p and 4K videos. The Canvas Select Plus SD card is designed with exceptional performance, speed and durability for heavy workloads such as transferring and developing high-resolution photos or capturing and editing full HD videos. It can reach Class 10 UHS-I speeds up to 100 MB/s. The cards are available in capacities from 32 up to 512 GB and with a lifetime warranty. The 128GB card that we received, retails at an MRP of Rs.2500. For details, visit https://www.kingston.com.…

Nikon has announced the release of firmware Version 3.00 for the Nikon Z 7 and Z 6 full-frame mirrorless cameras and Version 1.10 for the Z 50 DX-format mirrorless camera. These latest updates offer several improvements and feature additions to the Nikon Z series. Firmware Ver. 3.00 for the Nikon Z 7 and Nikon Z 6 adds features such as Animal-Detection AF for recognising the eyes and faces of dogs and cats, allowing users to concentrate on their creativity without worrying about focus. Other important additions include enhanced functionality for subject-tracking AF (similar to that of 3D-tracking feature built into Nikon DSLR cameras) that can be enabled by holding the AF-ON button or half-pressing the shutter-release button. In addition to Sony CFexpress memory cards, select Type B CFexpress cards manufactured…

Cosina has announced the upcoming release of its Voigtlander Nokton 60mm f/0.95 lens for Micro Four Thirds cameras in April, 2020. The lens is made up of 11 elements in 8 groups and features a ten-blade aperture diaphragm with an aperture range of f/0.95 to f/16. It offers a minimum focusing distance of 34 cm and maximum magnification ratio of 1:4 (or 1:2 full-frame equivalent) and comes with a 77 mm filter thread. Cosina has reportedly added a new aperture switch that de-clicks the aperture ring when audio feedback is not required. The lens will be available at a retail price of 145,000 Yen.…

DxO PhotoLab 3 has released its latest software version 3.2. The update comes with improvements as well as Raw file support for five new cameras. The PhotoLab 3.2 has added additional features such as Duplicate and Rename in the Local Adjustments Palette, allowing the users to reproduce masks from one image to the other. The Repair tool has a new display mode for making accurate and realistic looking repairs and Windows users can now access the rename function as well as delete individual keywords tagged to multiple images. The update includes support for five new cameras — Canon EOS-1D X Mark III, Nikon D780, Olympus E-M1 Mark III, Leica D-Lux 7 and Leica Q2. About 770 new optical modules and 60 million different camera and lens combinations have been added…

Tokina has announced their new lens line-up for the year 2020, on the occasion of their 70th anniversary. The announcement was originally planned as a part of the CP plus 2020 trade show, Asia’s largest camera and imaging expo, which was cancelled earlier this year due to the Coronavirus outbreak. The roadmap showcases Tokina’s latest developments in D-SLR and mirrorless cameras which includes a total of six lenses. These include one APS-C lens each for Nikon and Canon D-SLRs, two full-frame lenses for Sony E-mount and three APS-C lenses each for Fuji X and Sony E-mounts. The atx-i line (released earlier this year) has a new addition to its previously-announced 11–16 mm f/2.8 CF and 100 mm f/2.8 CF Macro lenses. The new addition to the series, the 11–20 mm…

Madavor Media, LLC announced its acquisition of Imaging Resource, a website for camera and photography equipment reviews. The 22-year-old website will continue to operate utilising its experienced staff and contributors. The acquisition by Madavor will enable Imaging Resource to continue providing comprehensive and independent news and reviews in the photography business. Imaging Resource will operate under its existing brand and founder Dave Etchells will maintain an ongoing presence within the company as editor emeritus. The camera review website will now join Outdoor Photographer, Digital Photo Pro, Digital Photo and HDVideoPro as part of the photography portfolio at Madavor. The company will continue to be based in Georgia, giving Madavor Media a new location as part of its nationwide operations.…

Prasanth is an independent travel photographer, currently based in Kerala. He studied Business Administration at Mahatma Gandhi University, before pursuing his Post Graduation in Advertising and Public Relations from the School of Communication and Management Studies. He has spent five years working in Bangalore, as a Public Relations professional for a media company. Since his college days, he had started investing his time in learning the finer details of photography. Over the years, he traveled across the country and overseas, capturing life and culture in its varied emotions through his creative eye. Since then, he has experimented with different genres of photography, having proven his mettle in capturing some of the best moments, honored by professionals worldwide. Camera: SONY ILCE-7RM2 Aperture: NA Shutter Speed: 1/6 sec Focal Length: NA ISO:…

Camera type: Digital interchangeable lens mirrorless camera with Z mount Sensor format/Size: APS-C (DX) 23.5 x 15.7 mm / CMOS Effective pixels: 20.9 million Viewfinder: Electronic File formats: Raw: 12 or 14-bit: Raw+JPEG; JPEG Storage media: SD/ UHS-1 Compliant SDHC & SDXC Eye sensor: Automatically switches between monitor and viewfinder displays Shutter type: Electronically-controlled vertical-travel focal plane mechanical shutter; Electronic Front-Curtain Shutter (EFCS); Electronic shutter Shutter speeds: 30 seconds – 1/4000sec, ‘B’, Time Focus modes: AF-S, AF-C, AF-A, MF AF area mode: Single point; Pin-point/ Dynamic-area AF available only in photo mode; Wide-area AF-S, Wide-area AF-L, Auto-area AF Optical VR: Normal, Sport, Off Continuous shooting: In Low-speed continuous, it can shoot up to 1-4 fps; 11 fps when set to High-speed continuous extended. Built-in flash: Yes. GN: Approx. 7m/22 feet…

Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G Cores: 2xGold 2.2GHz + 6xSilver 1.8GHz GPU:Adreno 618 with LiquidCool Technology Memory type (RAM): 6GB / 8GB Storage: 64GB / 128GB / 256GB (UFS 2.1) Screen: 16.94cm (6.67) FHD+ incell RD Display (HDR 10 Display) Cover glass: Corning Gorilla Glass 5 Rear camera: Quad cameras 64MP main, 2MP Macro, 8MP Ultra wide, 2MP Depth Main camera sensor: Sony IMX686 Best video: 4K Front cameras: 20MP + 2MP dual in-screen cameras Battery: Built-in 4500mAh Dimensions: 165.3 x 76.6 x 8.8 mm Weight: 208 g…