Indholdsfortegnelse for October 2020 i Smart Photography

As we enter the festival season, the shadow of the Covid virus still hangs over the Indian subcontinent. The virus has now entered rural areas. One comforting factor, however, is the low mortality rate compared to other countries. The Indian economy contracted by 24% in the first quarter and inevitably, several industry sectors took a sharp knock. At a time like this, it is important to remember two things. One is, that life has to go on. Retreating into a shell is no solution. Leading a normal life with precautionary measures is the ‘new’ normal. Secondly, for all of you like me, who have enjoyed this remarkable hobby, whether as an enthusiast or as a professional, it is time for payback. Keep creating, sharing and encouraging. Camera manufacturers need your…

Fujifilm has announced the launch of the Fujinon XF 50 mm f/1.0 R WR lens, an autofocus lens with a maximum aperture of f/1.0, designed for mirrorless cameras. The XF 50 mm f/1.0 R WR is the 35th interchangeable lens for the line-up of X Series digital cameras. The XF 50 mm consists of 12 lens elements in nine groups, one aspherical element and two extra-low dispersion (ED) elements to achieve optimum control of spherical aberration. Used at or near to its maximum f/1.0 aperture, the XF 50 mm can produce a narrow depth-of-field, making it suitable for a variety of low light conditions. Its rounded diaphragm produces large, smooth bokeh for a professional look. Other features include on-sensor Phase Detection Autofocus (PDAF), Face/Eye AF and a powerful DC (direct…

Samyang Optics has announced the latest addition to their Tiny Series lens line-up with the introduction of a AF 35 mm f/1.8 FE large-aperture wide-angle prime lens. Its small size is suited to APS-C as well as full-frame bodies, offering a 52.5 mm equivalent focal length. The lens weighs 210 g (without lens cap and hood) and measures 65 mm (diameter) by 63.5 mm (length). Its optical construction includes an aspherical element to suppress aberration and deliver high resolution throughout the entire image frame, while the 9-blade circular aperture enables beautiful bokeh. Its Custom switch enables you to select functions such as Aperture Control Mode, while additional functions are scheduled via future updates. Other features include weather sealing protection from dust, light rain and snow and the AF/MF switch that…

Nature’s Best Photography Asia has announced the winners for the year 2020. The Grand Prize (winning image) was secured by Tatsuya Okuda for his image “Family Time”, showcasing a family of Orangutans. The winners from various categories include Haiyuan Tong (Wildlife), Satoshi Kawashima (Landscape), Gabriel Barathieu (Ocean category), Marcus Kam (Small world), Jiang Yan (Birds), Abhikram Shekhawat (Junior category) and Kenneth Lawrence (Video category). The results also mention the ‘Highly Honoured’ prize winners in each category, amongst which, are Smart Photography magazine contributors Randeep Singh and his son, Arshdeep Singh. Arshdeep, a recent winner of BBC Wildlife photographer of the year 2020, has received high honours under the Junior category for his image of Colugo, while Randeep Singh has received high honours for his image of the Crab Spider in…

Panasonic has announced that it has completed the previously announced transfer of its semiconductor business to Nuvoton Technology Corporation, a Taiwan-based semiconductor company under the umbrella of Winbond Electronics Corporation group, following the receipt of regulatory approvals. Panasonic announced on November 28, 2019 the transfer of its semiconductor business, mainly operated by Panasonic Semiconductor Solutions Co., Ltd. (PSCS). Panasonic and Nuvoton have since been collaboratively pursuing antitrust clearance and other customary regulatory approvals from competent authorities, with a target effective date of June 1, 2020. However, the closing date was postponed due to the COVID-19-induced delay in clearance processes. Now the transaction is successfully completed with all the necessary approvals obtained. Restructuring of the semiconductor business, announced along with the transfer, has already been completed prior to the transaction. Going…

For the third year in a row, GoPro is challenging its users to create the launch highlight reel for its new flagship camera. Open exclusively to owners of Hero9 Black, the Million Dollar Challenge will award an equal share of USD 1,000,000 to entrants whose video clips are chosen for the Hero9 Black Million Dollar Challenge video that will be released in December 2020. Hero9 Black users have been invited to capture and submit their video clips for consideration to the Million Dollar Challenge on GoPro’s official website before December 4, 2020 when the submissions for the challenge will officially close.…

Sennheiser has added the new MKE 200 to its portfolio of audio-for-video microphones. The mini-microphone is designed for easy on-camera use with D-SLRs and mirrorless cameras as well as mobile devices. The microphone features a directional design which captures the sound of your subject while rejecting unwanted background noise. To minimise any handling noise, the microphone is fitted with an internal shock-mount which acoustically decouples the capsule from the housing. To protect from wind noise, it has been designed with an integrated layer of protective mesh inside the housing. This protection is further enhanced by using the included furry windshield when filming outdoors. The device features a compact and sleek design with a fully integrated shock-mount and built-in windscreen. Its battery-free operation and a lightweight design allows for optimal gimbal…

■ What attracted you towards photography? Whose work has influenced you the most? Nature surprises us with vibrant colours and lights that illuminate our surroundings in the most spectacular ways! I have always been fascinated with how different lighting conditions beautify cities around the world. I love to capture these moments and showcase a different perspective of our world. I have been inspired by the works of many photographers from around the world, but, the kind of photography that influences me the most, are the works of Nigel Danson, Thomas Heaton, Elia Locardi. ■ Is it important to undergo professional training to be a photographer? Did you have any when you started out? Professional training can be helpful to achieve a structured and systematic education, but often, it is the…

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…

WE ARE GLUED TO THE GLOBAL IMAGING INDUSTRY Our team is updated with all the benchmarks and road blocks that the field of photography and imaging across the globe experiences. This helps us record the changes in the global perspective, thus making us the first to predict which products will be a rage in the Indian markets. WE’RE IMPARTIAL Loyalty towards our readers is a given, and their best interests are always on our mind. Every verdict is honest and not influenced by advertisers or personal favourites. So when we say a product is a ‘BEST BUY’, then, it is just that! OUR TESTS ARE CONDUCTED BY EXPERTS All equipment go through a series of tests at the hands of our experts. Our reviewers are experts in the field of…

Sony has announced the new LA-EA5, a 35mm full-frame A-mount lens adaptor that allows users to easily pair advanced E-mount camera bodies with A-mount lenses. Using the new LA-EA5 A-mount adaptor, users can now access Sony’s latest E-mount camera bodies with A-mount SSM (Super Sonic wave Motor) and SAM (Smooth Autofocus Motor) lenses, as well as A-mount lenses that do not have internal focus motors. Full support is provided for focal plane phase-detection AF, wide-area focal phase-detection AF coverage, Real-time Eye AF, Real-time Tracking and AF/AE (auto exposure) tracking for SSM/ SAM lenses on nine most recently introduced E-mount cameras at up to 11fps depending on the camera model. When used with the Alpha 7R IV or Alpha 6600, these capabilities are possible with lenses that do not have internal…

Sony has announced the Xperia 5 II (mark two), the newest addition to the Xperia smartphone family, offering users a compact design with speed, innovation and industry-leading performance. The Xperia 5 II leverages many of the leading features from the Xperia 1 II, including a triple lens camera (16mm/24mm/70mm) with ZEISS optics, calibrated specifically for the Xperia 5 II. Also included are the Photography Pro feature (with technology from Alpha brand series cameras), the Cinematography Pro feature, and a 21:9 CinemaWide display. The smartphone boasts the World’s first 4K HDR 120fps slow-motion movie recording in a smartphone and can capture and playback up to 5x slow-motion when recorded at 24fps. Audio features include High-Resolution 14 Audio, a 3.5 mm audio jack, and front-facing stereo speakers. All of these features are…

Canon has announced the launch of the EOS C70 camera, the newest addition to the Cinema EOS System. Utilising Canon’s RF lens mount, the new camera achieves a compact and lightweight design and supports 4K/120P high frame rate recording. Alongside the camera, Canon also announced the launch of the mount adaptor for EOS C70. The Mount Adaptor EF-EOS R 0.71x (sold separately) will enable the camera to support an extensive line-up of EF lens series. Featuring a 4K Super 35 mm CMOS DGO (Dual Gain Output) sensor, the C70 can capture 4K video in 4:2:2 (10-bit) colour. Moreover, the camera is equipped with the DIGIC DV7 image-processing platform, enabling users to record high-frame rate 4K/120P video to UHS-II standard SD cards. Employing a miniaturised optical system, the Mount Adaptor EF-EOS…

Canon has announced the full version of the EOS Webcam Utility software for Windows. A total of 42 EOS interchangeable lens cameras and PowerShot cameras are made compatible with the full production software. The new version will work with the tested video conferencing applications as well as streaming applications including Zoom, Facebook Live, Skype, Youtube, Cisco Webex, Google Hangouts etc. The software also enables users to record video files onto their memory card directly while video conferencing or streaming, by simply pressing the record button on their camera instead of through the software.…

Panasonic has announced the launch of Conductive Ventures II, with a commitment of USD 150 million, a 50% increase from the first fund. Headquartered in California, the new fund will invest in expansion stage enterprise software and hardware technology companies in the areas including artificial intelligence, financial technology, digital health, future of work, commerce, autonomous vehicle technologies, advanced manufacturing, etc. The first fund was invested in companies such as Ambiq Micro, Blueshift, CSC Generation, Desktop Metal, Gen. G, Jackpocket, Proterra, Self, Sprinklr, Survata and Versatile. Despite the young vintage of Fund I, one of its first investments, Desktop Metal, has announced its intention to go public. Conductive Ventures, led by venture capitalists with experience from IVP, Kleiner Perkins and Intel Capital will continue to spearhead investments in expansion stage companies…

World Tourism Day 2020 was celebrated by the Department of Tourism on September 27, 2020 at Bhubaneswar. On this occasion, a super bike rally consisting of 80 superbikes, from 9 superbiker groups, was flagged off at 7.30 a.m. from Info-city Square, by the Minister of Tourism and OLLC. The rally covered 25 km and culminated at Dhauli Shanti Stupa, where the CM of Odisha announced the opening of tourism in the state. The “Odisha by Road” campaign was launched by Kalinga Rides, a superbike rally. The campaign aimed at encouraging tourists to travel to various destinations within Odisha, with a resultant boost in tourism and economic revival. An additional campaign was announced by OTDC for the promotion of Odia cuisine through a chain of restaurants named “Nimantran”. In the initial…

Xiaomi has announced the Redmi 9A as a part of their Redmi A series of smartphones. The 9A features a 16.5 cm HD+ IPS LCD display with a 20:9 aspect ratio as compared to TFT screen panels with 18:9 aspect ratio. It features a 13MP AI camera on the rear with features such as AI Portrait mode, AI scene detection. The camera software has been optimised to bring features like document scanner and kaleidoscope. It comes with a 5MP AI selfie camera with AI portrait mode, and helps with AI face unlock. The 9A sports the octacore MediaTek Helio G25 chipset clocked at 2.0 GHz and is available in two variants, 2GB+32GB and 3GB+32GB with a 2+1 dual SIM slot and dedicated microSD card slot allowing expansion up to 512GB.…

GoPro has announced its new camera, the Hero9 Black, featuring a new sensor that delivers 5K video and 20 megapixel photos, next-generation HyperSmooth 3.0 video stabilisation with in-camera horizon levelling, a new front-facing display, a larger rear display, 30% more battery life, and a Max Lens Mod accessory that brings Max HyperSmooth video stabilisation and Max SuperView ultra wide-angle photo and video to Hero9 Black. The Max Lens Mod (INR 10,500) brings unbreakable Max HyperSmooth video stabilisation and low-distortion, ultra-wide Max SuperView to Hero9 Black at up to 2.7K60 resolution. It also allows for horizon lock even when the camera is rotated a full 360°. Other compatible Mods include the Media Mod (INR 8,400), with a removable foam windscreen, Display Mod (INR 6,900) and Light Mod (INR 4,700). The Hero9…

Vinod Udhwani is an engineer by qualification and a physics teacher by profession. “I am a self taught photographer and have been practising since 2010. It started out as a hobby and gradually turned into a passion. I got into wildlife photography to break free from the mundane routine and to soothe my mind and spirit by connecting with nature. Though I enjoy most genres of this art form, I am particularly inclined towards bird photography” says Vinod. Camera: Canon EOS 7D Mark II Lens: EF500mm f/4L IS II USM Aperture: f/5.6 Shutter Speed: 1/320 sec Focal Length: 500 mm ISO: 400 Camera: Canon EOS-1D X Lens: EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4x III Aperture: f/8 Shutter Speed: 1/125 sec Focal Length: 700 mm ISO: 640 Camera: Canon EOS-1D X…

Parag has been fascinated with wildlife since childhood. His tryst with the camera happened one day when, as a young boy, he picked up his father’s camera and started shooting. “Those were the days of the film and the learning curve was quite steep. I am fortunate to have been trained in the basics of photography by my father. My first trip into the wilds happened in 1995 when I went to Kenya and Tanzania. Since then, I have been to South Africa, most national parks in Kenya and India, notable amongst which are Bandhavgarh National Park, Kanha National Park, Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve, Ranthambore Tiger Reserve, Nagarhole National Park, Keoladeo National Park (Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary) etc. I now look for even the smallest opportunities that take me into the…

In the early days of photography, most cameras did not have what we know as ‘exposure meter’ or ‘light meter’. Along with the film, came instructions on how to set the exposures depending on the light intensity and weather conditions. Film speed was marked as ASA and not ISO as we have today. The instruction sheet had small icons showing the weather conditions and what aperture to set as per the weather condition. As long as you paid attention to the time of the day and the weather conditions, this was a fool-proof method to get ‘correct’ exposures. You had to pay attention to the intensity of the cast shadow under the varying light conditions. Please keep in mind that this method works approximately two hours after sunrise till two…

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…

Type: Interchangeable lens mirrorless Effective pixels: 24.3 million Lens mount: Z-mount Sensor size / type: Full frame (35.9 x 23.9 mm) / CMOS Processor: EXPEED 6 Viewfinder: 1.27 cm, approx. 3690K-dot (Quad VGA) OLED Eye sensor: Automatically switches between monitor and viewfinder displays Sutter speeds: 1/8000 – 30 seconds (1/3 or 1 2 EV steps), Bulb, Time, X=1/200 sec Meter: Matrix, Centre-weighted -- with +/- 5EV compensation ISO sensitivity: ISO 100-51,200 AF system: Hybrid phase-detection / Contrast AF Lens Servo: AF-S, AF-C, AF-F (AF-F only for movies); Predictive AF Tracking, Manual focus Focus Points: 273 (Single point AF) AF area modes: Pinpoint, Single point, Dynamic-area AF, Wide-area AF (S), Wide-area AF (L), Auto-area AF Vibration Reduction: 5-axis image sensor-shift (Lens-shift available with VR lenses) White Balance: Auto (3 types), Choose…

1 Which of the following filters are generally not used by Black & White photographers? a) Yellow b) Orange c) Purple d) Red 2 The British Royal Family has always been patronising the Royal Photographic Society. Who is the exception? a) Queen Elizabeth II b) Prince Andrew c) Queen Victoria d) The Duchess of Cambridge 3 One relatively unknown company introduced brass lenses recently. Which one? a) Lomography b) Rollei c) Seagull d) Zenith 4 One rock musician has now become an acclaimed portrait photographer. Which one? a) Bruce Springsteen b) Bryan Ferry c) Bono d) Bryan Adams 5 What type of photography is ideally done with a gimbal? a) Videography b) Architecture c) Portraits d) Landscapes 6 Digital cameras use three colours to record images. Which colour do they…

Something for everybody Dear Team SP, What I like the most about the magazine is that there is something for everybody. There is something that catches everyone’s fancy, be it amateurs, professionals or just art and photography enthusiasts. It is the perfect combination of entertainment and knowledge. Regards, Tirthankar Bose Big thank you Dear Editor, I have come to realise there learning is a never ending process and you can learn something new every day. Off lately, I have started experimenting with different softwares and apps for editing old photos and I am quite enjoying the process. How it started was that I was looking through old photo albums of our family and realised, how much the photographs have lost their charm. The quality has deteriorated massively and it is…

Panasonic has announced that it will be releasing firmware updates for the Lumix digital single lens mirrorless cameras S1R, S1H and S1 to enhance functions and usability, by the end of 2020. The new firmware would enable the S1R to record 5K video, making the most of its high-resolution image sensor. The release also states that the AF technology of the new Lumix S5 will be available on the S1R, S1H and S1. In addition to the eye, face and body, the head will also be separately recognised by real-time detection technology to provide precise focussing and tracking, even when the subject moves quickly, turns his/her back to the camera, tilts his/her head or moves far away from the camera. Panasonic has further stated that the firmware update shall apply…

Nikon has unveiled two additions to the Nikkor Z lens line-up. The Nikkor Z 14-24 mm f/2.8 S is a full-frame lens, while the Nikkor Z 50 mm f/1.2 S is a paramount fast-aperture prime lens. The 14-24 mm is reportedly, the shortest and lightest full-frame zoom lens of its kind and completes the trinity of its fast aperture Z series zooms. Its optical design allows for a significantly shorter lens while the wide-angle zoom range includes new options for capturing tack-sharp establishing shots, interiors or POV angles. It features a nearly flat front lens element, which allows the attachment of a threaded filter, enabling users to attach a Neutral Density (ND) filter, or Neutral Colour (NC) filter 112 mm or Circular Polarising Filter 112 mm, while a rear filter…

Sony has published the Corporate Report for FY 2020, which comprehensively covers both financial and non-financial information about the company. The report has been made publicly available through Sony’s Investor Relations (IR) website. The company has stated that theme of its midrange plan for the current three-year period, which began in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2019, is to generate sustainable social value and maintain a high level of profit. Last year, as part of this mid-range plan, Sony had established its “Value Creation Stories” (how Sony can best position itself to build clear value creation stories over the long term) and had published a Corporate Report. Based on the same idea, this year, the company states that it has deepened internal discussions on value creation from a long-term…

Sony has set a long-term environmental plan termed “Road to Zero” to achieve a “zero environmental footprint” by 2050 throughout all stages of its product lifecycles and business activities. To achieve this, it has set medium-term environmental targets every five years, from fiscal year 2021 through 2025. Sony has included new indexes as the key performance indicators based on issues identified in the course of GM2020, considering the current environmental situation. These indexes include targets regarding elimination of plastic packaging from newly-designed small products and renewable electricity usage as a percentage of total electricity use at sites which is in accordance with the provisions of RE100.…

Tecno, a global smartphone brand, has launched the Spark Power 2 Air smartphone. The device flaunts primary features such as 6000 mAh battery with AI power charging and safe charging, 7- inch Dot-notch display and an AI powered Quad camera setup having a 13 MP Primary Camera with an f/1.8 aperture and 8X digital zoom, 2 MP Bokeh and Macro Lens, and AI lens. Other features include in-built with Face Unlock 2.0 and Smart Fingerprint Sensor, Hios 6.1 Android 10 operating system and Quad Core A22 processor 2.0 Ghz. The device is available in Ice Jadeite and Cosmic Shine colour variants on Flipkart at a price of INR 8,499.…

Poco has launched its latest phone X3. Running on Snapdragon 732G, the X3 offers sustained performance and AI capabilities thanks to its architecture based on the Kryo 470 octa-core CPU and Adreno 618 GPU. The device embeds LiquidCool Technology Plus that reduces the heat of the phone’s processor by up to an additional 6°C. It sports an edge-to-edge 16.94 cm FHD+ display with a combination of a 120Hz refresh rate and a 240Hz touch sampling rate. Its Dynamic-Switch function allows the phone to save power by automatically navigating between 50, 60, 90 and 120Hz. It comes with dual stereo speakers that have the ability to self-clean, ensuring steady operation and unmuffled audio. The X3 sports a rear quad-camera system consisting of a 64MP main camera, 13MP ultra-wide angle camera, 2MP…

The major part of 2020 has been quite challenging for all businesses. How has the going been for Sennheiser in India? This pandemic is disrupting the way the world is functioning today. We are facing an extremely challenging time as the entire ecosystem is quite volatile and dynamic in nature which has naturally impacted our business. Uncertainty has loomed large over brands, however we can mitigate the effects and come out of this period of abnormal operation stronger than ever. Due to the rise in content creation in India, professionals are increasingly investing in better audio quality products to enhance engagement with customers digitally. Sennheiser has always offered products which have been a perfect blend of great engineering and unmatched design, thereby making it one of the most trusted and…

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…

NIKON Z5 ₹113,995 for body only Nikon India launched their latest interchangeable lens mirrorless camera, the Z5, on July 21, 2020 along with the Nikkor Z 24-50 mm f/4-6.3 kit lens. Nikon makes us believe that the Z5 is targeted at beginners, or those who wish to upgrade to a more sophisticated model in pursuit of their creative juices. In my opinion, the Z5 is more than that. The Z5 has enough features and capabilities to make a seasoned photographer want to have one as his back-up camera. Read on… Design & Build Quality The all black Nikon Z5 is beautifully crafted. It uses magnesium alloy for extra strength while keeping it lightweight. The hand-grip is deep and your index finger automatically comes over the shutter release button, while the…

32” 4K HDR Monitor Paper Colour Sync to simulate the photo-print results32” 4K HDR Monitor USB-C single cable for data/video transmission and power delivery Certificated with CalMAN Verified and Pantone Validated AQCOLOR Technology: 99% Adobe RGB coverage, uniformity technology and hardware calibration support for accurate colour performance 32 INCH, 16:9, 4K Resolution: Enjoy exceptional clarity and fine details with IPS technology Hardware calibration with Palette Master Element software: Tune and maintain the colour performance of the monitor at its most optimal state HDR: Increase the overall dynamic range between black and white to make image quality closer to what human eyes see in the natural world Paper Colour Sync for screen-to-print colour matching: Edit photos with efficiency in the screen-to-photo print process by the simulated preview on screen 10-bit colour…