Indholdsfortegnelse for August 2020 i Smart Photography

We enter the month of August with the Covid virus still in full swing, in parts of India. The boredom caused by the lockdown restrictions is relieved by the news that the photo majors are out, launching exciting new products. This month, we have three exciting products under review. Fujifilm’s X-T4 is perhaps their best product to date, Nikon’s new 120mm -300mm f/2.8 is mind blowing and Tamron’s new travel zoom breaks new barriers. Starting this month we have initiated our foray into AV content, to take reader engagement to the next level. Given the proliferation of video content in the learning process, this step was inevitable. We have started off with 3 unique initiatives - 1. SP Q&A series - talks about the latest developments in the imaging industry.…

Rocket Lab has announced that it experienced an anomaly during its 13th Electron mission titled ‘Pics or it didn’t happen’, resulting in the loss of its vehicle containing Canon’s CE-SAT-IB satellite camera. The payloads onboard the vehicle ‘Electron’ failed to get deployed in the orbit and remained within the predicted launch corridors, without causing harm to personnel or the launch site. Rocket Lab is reportedly working with the FAA to investigate the anomaly and identify its root cause to correct the issue and move forward. According to the press release by Rocket Launch, the company currently has more than eight Electron vehicles in production, ready for a rapid return to flight as soon as investigations are complete and any required corrective actions are in place.…

Fujifilm has announced the availability of the macOS version of Fujifilm X Webcam software for turning the X Series and GFX System digital cameras into webcams on Mac computers. Users can install the software on any Mac computer and connect it to a supported camera system using a USB cable. The webcam software includes advanced functions such as the Film Simulation modes, which delivers Fujifilm’s colour profiles. The software is available for download on the Fujifilm official website.…

Sirui has announced that it will launch a 35mm f/1.8 1.33x anamorphic lens. The new lens has been designed for APS-C and MFT sensors and will be available in MFT mounts only. However, recent reports suggest that adapters will be available for Sony E, Canon EF-M and Nikon Z camera systems. The lens features detachable focus and aperture rings, a 67mm front filter thread and minimum focus distance of 0.85m. The 35mm is an affordable and wider alternative to its 50mm f/1.8 1.33x anamorphic lens that was released earlier this year. The lens reportedly comes with a viewing angle of a 26.3mm and is built with aircraft aluminium housing and Schott glass structure. The company is promoting the lens by releasing a pre-launch video with Indiegogo. According to the campaign…

Republic of Gamers (ROG), a sub-brand of ASUS, has announced the ROG Phone 3. The new smartphone uses Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Plus 5G mobile platform with advanced 5G mobile communications and Qualcomm Snapdragon Elite Gaming capabilities. The chipset enables 5G connectivity and advanced Wi-Fi 6 performance, desktop-level gaming with ultra-realistic graphics, professional-quality high-resolution photography, and intuitive AI experiences. The Phone 3 features an upgraded GameCool 3 cooling system that has a redesigned Copper 3-D vapour chamber, a large graphite film behind the screen to maximise heat transfer, and an enlarged heat sink to eliminate hotspots. The new AeroActive Cooler 3 clip-on external fan accessory delivers increased airflow to lower heat for longer performance. The cooler also offers 3.5mm headphone jack and 30W USB Type-C charging connectivity. It features 144 Hz/1ms…

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 Inspiring Dear Editor, The July issue was truly inspiring. I immensely enjoyed browsing through the mastercraftsman section featuring Tania Chatterjee. The images were beautiful and the interview was inspiring. I am glad that women photographers are making their name in the Travel and Photography industry. This is not something we get to see very often. The showcase section was particularly good. The title was very apt and the photographer’s ‘perspective’ was definitely fresh! Regards, Pallavi Upadhyay Beautiful Cover Dear SP, I was so happy to see the July issue. The Cover page itself was so beautiful, all the…

Fujifilm has announced the availability of its highly-anticipated firmware update for the GFX System. This firmware update provides significant additional capabilities to each GFX System digital camera for photography, as well as new capabilities for video shooters, including 4K raw video support for the GFX100. This new firmware update will allow the GFX100 to output 4K raw video up to 29.97p via HDMI, which can then be recorded to an Atomos Ninja V HDR monitor recorder and encoded into 12-bit Apple ProRes raw for compatibility with a wide range of grading and editing software. Simultaneous recording of raw via HDMI, while recording Film Simulation / F-Log / Hybrid Log Gamma (HLG) internally to a memory card is also available as a part of this firmware update. It offers expansion of…

Zhongyi Optics (ZY Optics) has released the new Mitakon Speedmaster 50mm f/0.95 for Canon EF mount cameras. The 50mm has a different optical design from its mirrorless version and is reportedly, the world’s only f/0.95 lens designed for D-SLR cameras. Due to the large size of the rear element, the lens cannot be made for a Nikon. It comes with an ultra-fast f/0.95 maximum aperture and is a compact prime making it suitable for low-light conditions. The lens boasts of a controlled depth-of-field for isolating subjects from the background and producing selective focus effects. It is designed with 12 elements in 6 groups optic system with 1 HRI (High Refractive Index) element and 5 UD (Ultra-low dispersion) elements for minimising chromatic aberrations. It also sports an eleven-blade diaphragm that helps…

Nikon, a shareholder of Berkeley Lights, Inc., has released a notice that it is expecting to record valuation gains on investment securities of approximately JPY 5.8 billion in the consolidated financial results for the half year ending March 31, 2021. The valuation gains are expected to be recorded in “Finance income” in the consolidated statement of profit or loss. The consolidated financial forecast for the year ending March 31, 2021 is yet to be determined, due to the spread of COVID-19. The Company says that it will announce the consolidated financial forecast soon.…

APAC photography institute is organising its ninth Photofry photography contest, which is divided is into three subjects. The contest is open to everyone and a maximum of five entries, per subject will be acceptable for each contestant. The subjects for the D-SLR photo contest are Nature, Fashion and Relation, whereas, the subject for smartphone photo contest is Lockdown Diary. All the participants will be honoured with a Certificate of participation from APAC and 30 winners will be declared. The last date for sending the entries is August 15, 2020. Winners will be declared in August and first, second, third and two runner-ups, per subject, will be awarded. The winning entries will be exhibited in September, 2020 at Piramal art gallery, Nariman Point, Mumbai. Participants can send their entries via email…

Mukesh Mishra is a self-taught wildlife photographer who loves nature and is highly passionate about it. By profession, he is a software engineer. His love for photography started at the age of 19. He drew his inspiration from one of his faculty members who captures beautiful pictures of nature and birds. He believes that photography is a powerful tool that evokes a sense of awareness, joy and compassion at the same time. He loves to present the nuances of his images in the form of storytelling.…

I only knew Churu because of its high (and low) temperatures shown in weather reports. Having never featured on the popular tourist circuit, this city fell off the map of a discerning traveller too for its lack of tourism infrastructure. While the name Shekhawati brings Havelis of Mandawa, Ramgarh, and Fatehpur to one’s mind, Churu is the genuine leader of this pack. The Shekhawati culture is amply on display at its grand mansions, which are more than fifty in number. The concept of Havelis began with 16th-century Rajput rulers and continued in the latter half of the 18th century, when the patronage shifted from Rajput to the Marwaris, the Hindu merchants. It’s a well-known bit of trivia that the Shekhawati region including Churu, is the home of many successful Marwari…

Final Rankings Recommended ..................... 75-80% Best Buy.....................81% and above D-SLR/ILCC Design & Build Quality.......... (out of 20) Key Features ....................... (out of 20) Ergonomics......................... (out of 20) Performance Autofocus ......................(out of 5) Metering.........................(out of 5) Noise control..................(out of 5) Distortion/Sharpness......(out of 5) LCD/Viewfinder ..............(out of 5) Auto White Balance........(out of 5) Value for Money ............ (out of 10) Grand Total ................. (out of 100) LENSES Design & Build Quality.......... (out of 20) Key Features....................... (out of 20) Ergonomics......................... (out of 20) Performance Autofocus ......................(out of 5) Sharpness......................(out of 5) Distortion control............(out of 5) Aberrations ....................(out of 5) Darkening of corners......(out of 5) Extra Features ................(out of 5) Value for Money................... (out of 10) Grand Total ....................... (out of 100) COMPACT CAMERAS Design & Build Quality.......... (out of 20) Key Features…

Inside the Box ✓ Camera✓ Rechargeable battery NP-W235✓ AC Power adaptor AC-5VJ✓ Plug adaptor✓ USB cable✓ Body cap✓ Metal strap clips✓ Protective covers x 2✓ Shoulder strap✓ Hot shoe cover✓ Sync terminal cap✓ Vertical battery grip connector cover✓ Headphone adaptor✓ Owner’s Manual (The X-T4 is also available as a package, along with the FUJINON XF 16-80 mm f/4 R OIS WR lens) Fujifilm is perhaps the only camera company to concentrate and focus on certain segments of the camera market. From the start, Fujifilm has dedicated its efforts to making high quality APS-C and medium format cameras. In fact, the company has gone on record to state that it will not enter the full frame market. The end result has been a string of impressive APS-C and medium format cameras.…

Olympus has announced an updated M.Zuiko digital lens roadmap, outlining plans to expand the M.Zuiko lens line-up and including an update of anticipated availability of the previously announced M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-400mm f/4.5 TC1.25x IS Pro super telephoto zoom lens with built-in 1.25x teleconverter. The lens is scheduled to release towards the end of 2020. This is reportedly, the first Olympus interchangeable lens with a built-in 1.25x teleconverter, extending the maximum focal length to 1000mm (35mm equivalent). Two new lenses, including the M.Zuiko Digital ED 8-25mm f/4, as well as an unspecified macro lens, will join the M.Zuiko line-up as part of Olympus’ commitment to broaden the field of photographic expression. Reports also suggest that the company is currently working on developing a new bird detection capability in addition to…

Fujifilm has announced the launch of Fujinon GF 30mm f/3.5 R WR, a wide-angle prime lens with a focal length equivalent of 24mm (in the 35mm film format) for the Fujifilm GFX System of large format digital cameras. The lens consists of thirteen lens elements in ten groups, including two aspherical elements and two extra-low dispersion (ED) elements. The high-performance lens groups are positioned to control various aberrations, especially distortion, to which wide- angle lenses are prone. The lens is compatible with 100MP sensors, weighs approximately 510g and measures 99.4mm with a maximum diameter of 84mm. The lens uses an internal focussing system that reportedly offers fast and quiet autofocus (AF). Focus breathing is 0.05%, making it suitable for recording video. The 30 mm incorporates Fujifilm’s optical design and production…

The World Photography Organisation has announced the submissions for the fourteenth edition of the Sony World Photography Awards from July 1, 2020. Entry to the Awards is completely free and photographers will be judged anonymously by a panel of industry leading judges. Photographers can register themselves in the competition using their Facebook, Weibo or Google accounts and upload images via their Instagram accounts. Photographers worldwide have been invited to participate in the 4 categories, namely, Professional, Open, Youth and Student. The Awards programme will also reward local photographic talent. The organisation has introduced new categories across the Professional, Youth and Open categories and a refreshed theme for the Student competition. In the Professional competition, a new category for single images has been introduced, titled Portfolio, in which, photographers are requested…

Fujifilm is reported to have developed a game changing photo paper. The Album Paper XS Ultra Thin 135 μm paper is available in Glossy and Lusture surface option in the size of 8-inch and 12-inch rolls. The paper is reportedly designed for high-quality photo albums with optimal thickness and offers image stability, colour longevity and lamination free options. Fujifilm suggests that the advanced UV layer in the paper surface protects the album from fingerprints and stickiness and can be used by labs and studios as a frontline to sell more slim albums.…

Tokina has announced the sales release of SZX Super Tele 400mm f/8 Reflex MF lens from August 7, 2020 onwards. The 400mm incorporates a catadioptric type optical design, with a constant f/8 aperture. The lens offers compact alternative to standard tele photo lenses. It is designed for active travel photographers seeking to shoot outdoor landscapes or wildlife. The lens features 1:2.5 magnification for macro photography, donut-shaped bokeh, compression effect and a versatile mount system for 5 camera mounts (including 3 mirrorless mounts). The lens adopts 0.75mm pitch and 42mm thread mount standard, which allows the lens to be attached to any camera by using different mount adaptors. Tokina is also selling lens versions with included adaptors for Canon EF, Nikon F, Sony E, Fujifilm X and Micro Four Thirds camera…

Sony has announced the establishment of the Sony Global Relief Fund for COVID-19, a USD 100 million fund to support those around the world affected by the COVID-19 virus. Through this fund, Sony is providing support in three areas i.e. assistance for those individuals engaged in frontline medical and first responder efforts to fight the virus, support for children and educators who must now work remotely, and support for members of the creative community in the entertainment industry, which has been greatly impacted by the spread of the virus.…

Corning has introduced its latest breakthrough in glass technology with the Gorilla Glass Victus. The latest Gorilla glass has been built to prolong durability and prevent damage caused by breakage and scratches to the devices. The Gorilla Glass Victus has reportedly achieved drop performance of up to 2 metres when dropped onto hard and rough surfaces. Corning has stated that the aluminosilicate glasses from other manufacturers typically fail when dropped from less than 0.8 metres, whereas, the Gorilla Glass Victus surpasses the performance of Corning’s Gorilla Glass 6, with up to 2X improvement in scratch resistance. Additionally, the company states that the scratch resistance of Gorilla Glass Victus is up to 4X better than its competitors’ aluminosilicate glasses. According to the press release shared by the company, Samsung will be…

Dibyendu Das is a photographer, hailing from Assam, who learnt photography on his own and has been practising since 2011. He has been bestowed with three photography distinctions until now viz. EFIAP, FFIP and AFIAP and has won hundreds of awards and accolades from various countries. He has actively been in touch with various photography magazines and websites. He likes to travel a lot and has also written travel articles for different magazines. His work usually revolves around the genre of landscape and travel photography, which was inspired by the exquisite scenery of the North East. He teaches photography and organises photography tours. Instagram: www.instagram.com/dibyendu_das_photography/ Facebook page: www.facebook.com/dibyendudas.photography/…

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…

Inside the Box ✓ Lens✓ Lens hood HK-41✓ Front lens cap LC-K103✓ Rear lens cap LF-4✓ Lens case CL-L2 The AF-S Nikkor 120-300mm f/2.8E FL ED SR VR lens was announced in the first week of January, 2020 along with the D6 and was aimed at the 2020 Olympics. This is a truly professional quality lens designed for those sports photographers who will not settle for anything less than the best. But that doesn’t mean that the lens is useful only to sports photographers; you can use it equally well for portraiture, table tops and nature/wildlife. Design & Build Quality Exquisitely good looking and built to last forever! The lens uses a magnesium alloy construction to provide great strength and at the same time, keep the weight manageable. The lens…

Inside the Box ✓ Lens (Model A071) ✓ Lens front and rear caps ✓ Lens hood (HA036) ✓ Warranty card ✓ Owner’s manual Way back in 1973 when I started with serious photography, Tamron was considered one of the best independent lens manufacturers. Then, along came some others who gave Tamron a run for their money. In the recent years however, Tamron has regained its top-notch position and is a popular choice for advanced amateurs and professionals alike. For those of you who might be interested in Tamron’s history, the name ‘Tamron’ is derived from the name of a popular optical designer Uhyoue Tamura who laid the foundation of the company. Tamron’s first AF 28-200mm f/3.8-5.6 Aspherical zoom lens was launched in 1992. The 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6 Di RXD is targeted…

Inside the Box ✓ OnePlus 8 Pro✓ Warp Charge 30 Power Adapter✓ Warp Type-C Cable (Support USB 2.0)✓ Quick Start Guide✓ Welcome Letter✓ Safety Information and Warranty Card✓ LOGO Sticker✓ Case✓ Screen Protector If you have followed OnePlus over the years, you know how OnePlus phones have been called as flagship killers. And truth be told, killers they were. However, to achieve that affordable price point for a good phone, OnePlus had to cut some corners by leaving out some features that are now a mainstay in competitive phones. Not anymore though. OnePlus has finally brought long-sought features like a waterproof design and wireless charging but is it too little too late considering there are other options in the market at a similar price range? Let us find out. Design…

1 The Vivitar Corporation of the USA saw great success in the 1970s with their Series 1 lenses. Vivitar, however had no lens manufacturing facilities. Its Series 1 lenses were made mainly by: a) Kiron b) Cosina c) Sigma d) Tamron 2 Vivitar also marketed SLR cameras in the 1970s and 80s. These were, in turn, manufactured by: a) Cosina b) Petri c) Miranda d) Chinon 3 Why did select camera manufacturers use titanium shutters? Tick the correct reason. a) Durability b) Lightweight c) Cheap d) Easy to repair 4 High eye point viewfinders were designed to enable spectacle wearers to see the entire image with the eye away from the eyepiece, by approximately an inch. Who was the first to introduce the high eyepoint finder? a) Rollei b) Leica…