Indholdsfortegnelse for June 2021 i Smart Photography

The trend towards multiple lenses on camera phones has gathered momentum and even the so called budget smartphones sport more than one lens. Gone are the days when the only lens you had was a 28 mm or 30 mm which served as a standard lens in most phones. Apart from the standard lens, you can now get a wide angle lens, an ultra wide angle lens and even a reasonable telephoto, all in one enclosure with no weight penalties. The latest Samsung S 21 Ultra even offers a 10 X telephoto. Smartphone manufacturers are taking the help of optical companies like Zeiss or Leica (and even Hasselblad) to improve their lens quality. This is indeed a win-win situation for both smartphone manufacturers and camera makers. Better phone cameras encourage…

Epson has announced the launch of the Epson EcoTank L8180 Photo Printer. The L8180 is a multifunction printer that reportedly delivers a higher colour gamut for photo prints with powerful performance and affordability. The printer is packed with 6 colour integrated InkTank for a high page yield and is reportedly affordable due to its low running costs. With its 6 colour inks (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, Grey and Pigment black) combination, this printer can deliver borderless prints up to A3+ size. In addition, the Epson smart panel app enables the user to control the printer from smart devices to print, copy documents and even set up and troubleshoot the printer. Commenting on the launch, Siva Kumar, Senior General Manager - Inkjet Printers, Epson India, said “We are thrilled to launch…

Realme has announced the sale of Realme 8 5G across realme.com, Flipkart and mainline channels. The Realme 8 5G is equipped with MediaTek Dimensity 700 5G processor, crafted with features like super slim design, ultra-smooth display and dual 5G dual standby, among others. It comes with an 8.5 mm slim body with a 16.5 cm 90Hz Ultra Smooth Display and a 5000mAh battery with an 18W type-C charger, along with a Smart 5G Power Saving mode. It also features a 48MP Nightscape Camera, comprising a 48MP Ultra HD Main Camera, a B&W portrait lens and a 4 cm macro lens along with a 16MP front camera. It also comes with a Fast Side Fingerprint Scanner and a new Dynamic RAM Expansion Technology (DRE) that converts storage/ROM into virtual RAM to…

The Instagram Photo Feature is for all you photographers and photography enthusiasts on Instagram who caught our eye! Follow @spmagazineofficialon Instagram and tag us in your posts to get a chance to be featured in Smart Photography. Amar is a wedding photographer and a Sony artisan. After quitting his software career in the US and returning to India to take up photography full time, there was no looking back for him. He found Studio A in 2010, which is a wedding photography brand with a team of 25 people. Amar is the founder of several other brands like MIZU (hand-painted premium backdrops), Big Short Films (change-making social documentary films), The Photo Rama (a comic character to inspire and educate young photographers), Evolve Library (a free and open space for all…

1 Name the oldest and largest Imaging and Sound Association of which SP is a member. 2 What does the term EISA stand for? 3 Name the camera that won the EISA Award for CAMERA OF THE YEAR 2019. 4 Name the camera that won the EISA CAMERA OF THE YEAR 2020. 5 In which year did Smart Photography start the awards? 6 Who was the first winner of the SMART PHOTOGRAPHY CAMERA OF THE YEAR AWARD? 7 Name the camera company that has won the SP CAMERA OF THE YEAR AWARD the maximum number of times. 8 Which camera company won the award only once in 2009? 9 Who won the SP CAMERA OF THE YEAR AWARD last year? 10 Who won the SP CAMERA OF THE YEAR AWARD…

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…

Leica is expanding the SL lens portfolio with another zoom lens with two new bundle options with the SL2 and SL2-S. The Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-70 mm f/2.8 ASPH. lens design is comprised of 19 elements in 15 groups, featuring three elements with aspherical surfaces on both sides. The internal focussing is based on a single, lightweight lens element, and utilises a silent stepper motor to deliver a fast and precise autofocus. In addition to its lightweight design, the metal body and weather sealing makes the lens durable in any environment. Its compact design is made possible by the omission of in-lens optical image stabilisation. The lens’ aperture comprises of 11 blades that create a circular bokeh. The Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-70 mm f/2.8 ASPH. is available for purchase at Leica Stores, boutiques…

Samyang has announced the launch of its 12 mm f/2 E, a new autofocus wide-angle prime lens for Sony APS-C mirrorless camera systems. The lens sports an angle-of-view similar to an 18 mm lens on a full-frame camera and is constructed from 12 elements in 10 groups, including three extra-low dispersion elements and two aspherical elements. It comes with a minimum focussing distance of 19 cm and sports a seven-blade aperture diaphragm with a 62 mm front filter thread. The lens measures 59 mm long, 70 mm in diameter and weighs 213 g. The Samyang AF 12 mm f/2 E is currently available for purchase at an MSRP of USD 399 and is expected to ship in June 2021.…

Canon has announced that the new TriCCS astronomical observation system, which employs Canon’s ultrahigh-sensitivity image sensors and the Seimei Telescope installed at the Okayama Observatory, Kyoto University (Asakuchi City, Okayama Prefecture), will commence operation on August 2, 2021. The Okayama Observatory, established in 2018, began operation of the Seimei Telescope, designed to observe light from the optical (visible light) to near-infrared wavelength spectra, in February 2019. Since then, astronomers from around the world have utilised the telescope for their own research. The newly implemented TriCCS system is reportedly capable of detecting multiple wavelengths of light at high speeds, making possible the observation of such subjects as dark celestial bodies located far away and bodies that experience rapid and significant changes in brightness. The TriCCS system utilises technologies including Canon’s LI3030SAM…

Sony has unveiled the newest addition to its E-mount lens lineup with the introduction of the FE 14 mm f/1.8 GM (model SEL14F18GM), a compact, large-aperture, ultra-wide-angle lens. The FE 14 mm features a compact optical design, measuring 83 mm x 99.8 mm and weighing 460 g (approx.). It is constructed of two XA (extreme aspherical) elements, two ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass element and one Super ED glass element. It comes with Sony’s Nano AR Coating II technology for subduing flare and ghosting. The lens features a 0.25 m minimum focussing distance and a 9-blade circular aperture mechanism. It also features control options including, a focus hold button, a focus mode switch and a focus ring. For added customisation, several functions can be assigned to the focus hold button from…

Vivo has expanded its camera and design focussed V series with the launch of the V21 smartphone. The smartphone showcases a 44MP OIS (Optical Image Stabilisation) front camera that combines features including 44MP OIS night selfie, Super Stable selfie video, Eye Autofocus and 4K video. It also features a 64MP OIS rear camera, supported by a set of secondary cameras to handle 120-degree wide angle, as well as macro photography. The camera system includes other features such as a dual-view option which records videos from both sides of the smartphone, advanced AI to augment facial features and a Double Exposure Function. The V21 sports a sleek, minimalist design in a 7.29 mm thin body and the front of the smartphone packs an E3 AMOLED Display with 90Hz refresh rate. The…

Over the past few years, the photography industry in India has witnessed a complete metamorphosis. What was not considered as a mainstream career option or a profession almost a decade ago, has now grown itself into a full-fledged industry. There are multiple factors that have influenced this shift, including the growth of various industries such as wedding, food, fashion, and lifestyle where communication through photography has become integral. Moreover, the rise of millennial era along with the splurge in usage of social media and the advent of OTT has contributed immensely to the ‘fandom’ of photography, both as a passion as well as profession. More importantly, the ever-growing digital landscape is further giving the professional photography industry an impetus to grow. What remains at the core of all these factors…

Insta 360 One X2 ₹49,990 Inside the Box ✓ Insta360 ONE X2 ✓ Battery ✓ Charge Cable ✓ Protective Pouch ✓ QuickStart Guide ✓ Warranty Card A360-degree camera offers unlimited artistic possibilities in the hands of a creative person. There are a few options for 360-degree cameras such as the Ricoh Theta and GoPro Max. The Insta 360 One X2 combines the slim profile of the Theta with advanced features of the Max. Design & Build Quality The Insta 360 One X2 has a sturdy polycarbonate body with a matte finish and rubber shock absorbent lining around the sides. The camera uses a large 1630 mAh removable battery. It uses a USB Type-C port for charging. Both the battery chamber and USB port have seals and indicators to ensure that…

Write to us at: Smart Photography, Next Gen Publishing Pvt. Ltd., 608, Trade World, 6th floor, C wing, Kamala Mills Compound, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel (W), Mumbai - 400 013 E-mail: sp@nextgenpublishing.net Great Platform Dear SP, We are regular readers of your magazine and it is my personal favourite so far. I recently took up photography as a hobby, thanks to all the new-age bloggers and influencers these days on all social platforms. I think this magazine inspires and provides a great platform for all photography lovers to put their talent out in the world. Regards, J.K. Awasthi & family Inspiring Dear Editor, It is always nice to see all the beautiful sceneries from around the world on your magazine. Such images radiate so much positivity among its readers,…

TTartisan has announced the release of its 50 mm f/1.2 manual lens for APS-C mirrorless cameras for Nikon Z and Leica L mounts. Initially the lens was only available for Canon EF-M, Fuji X, Micro Four Thirds and Sony E mount camera systems, but has now been made available for both Nikon Z and L mount camera users as well. The lens is made of seven elements in five groups and uses a 10-blade aperture diaphragm. It has a minimum focussing distance of 50 cm while the front filter thread measures 52 mm and the lens measures 60 mm long and 62 mm in diameter, while weighing approximately 336g. The lens is currently available for purchase on TTartisan’s online portal at a price of USD 98.…

HP has introduced the latest ZBook Studio G8, ZBook Fury G8 and ZBook Power G8 laptops built for professional creators and power users. The ZBook Studio features HP DreamColor displays and a 120Hz refresh rate with a billion on-screen colours, 100% DCI-P3, and end-to-end colour accuracy with Pantone validation. It is powered by HP Sound Calibration, comes with a commercial-grade RGB keyboard in a creator PC with 16.8 million colour customisation options with up to NVIDIA RTX A5000 or GeForce RTX 3080 Laptop GPUs and 11th Gen Intel Core i9 vPro processors. The ZBook Fury comes in an expandable 15” mobile workstation and customisable 17” mobile workstation with a sleek, slim design. It features HP Sound Calibration, Tile device location and optional HP Sure View Reflect privacy screen. It also…

Sony announced a 1 million US dollar donation to support the COVID-19 crisis in India, as the recent surge in infections is leading to shortages of medical supplies and overwhelming the country’s health system. In response to the situation in India, Sony will donate 1 million US dollars through the “Sony Global Relief Fund for COVID-19” to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and other organisations, to procure oxygen for medical purposes and PCR testing machines, and to support local relief activities. In April 2020, the Sony Group established the “Sony Global Relief Fund for COVID-19” and has reportedly been engaged in various relief efforts, mainly in the areas of medical, education and the creative community. The company says that it will continue to work with its partners and stakeholders…

Samsung has announced the launch of Galaxy M42 5G, a mid-segment 5G device. The device is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G and comes with Game Booster and Frame Booster for ‘advanced gaming performance and lag-free gaming experience’. It features a 20 MP front camera and a 48MP ISOCELL GM2 sensor on the rear camera that has a resolution of 6000 x 8000 pixels to produce a true 48MP output. The rear camera set up also includes 8MP ultra-wide lens with 123 degrees field of view and a 5MP macro lens. The 5MP depth camera blurs the background and is ideal for portrait shots. The rear camera also supports HDR and 4K video recording @30 fps. Other camera features include single click, Night Mode, Hyperlapse, Super-Slow motion, Scene Optimiser and…

Oppo has announced the launch of the new A53s 5G smartphone, as sleek and affordable option in the 5G ready phone market. The smartphone supports a fast 5G network connection owing to its Dual SIM 5G that runs on MediaTek’s Dimensity 700 chip. Its Dual SIM Dual Standby (5G) enables the users to use up to two 5G SIM cards. It also comes with LinkBoost technology that reportedly connects the phone to both a Wi-Fi and 5G signal to run multiple tasks. Moreover, the Smart 5G switch automatically switches from a 5G to 4G/LTE connection, or vice versa, depending on the best network configuration for the apps in use. The device boasts of an ‘Ultra-large’ memory and storage. It comes with 128GB of storage through a Micro SD slot 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…

Canon RF 24-70 mm f/2.8L IS USM ₹2,00,995 Inside the Box ✓ Lens ✓ Front and back lens cap ✓ Lens hood ✓ Lens bag A standard zoom lens is part of most serious photographers’ kit bag, and the 24-70 mm f/2.8 holds a special place in the case of professional photographers. It is one of the most versatile focal lengths that can let you shoot from landscapes to portraits and a fast and stabilised lens such as this offers pleasing bokeh. Design & Build Quality Being an L-series lens, the RF 24-70 mm is expected to have a rugged construction and the lens certainly upholds this expectation. The lens exterior is constructed with sturdy engineering plastic and is dust- and weather-resistant. The lens mount, switch panel and lens joining…

OnePlus 9 ₹49,999 Inside the Box ✓ OnePlus 9 5G ✓ Warp charge 65 power adapter ✓ Warp charge Type-C to Type-C Cable ✓ Quick start guide ✓ Literature ✓ Case ✓ Screen Protector ✓ SIM tray ejector OnePlus has always been a value for money brand, offering devices that provide the best specs at their retail prices. Though the first few devices starting from the OnePlus 1 offered top-of-the-line image quality of those times, other brands soon came up with better cameras that pushed the brand to a distant second line of imagers. Now OnePlus has roped in one of the best in the field, the iconic large format camera manufacturer Hasselblad, to fine-tune their cameras to match those of the flagships. The OnePlus 9 sits a little lower…

Realme 8 Pro ₹17,999 Inside the Box ✓ Realme 8 Pro ✓ USB Type-C Cable ✓ 65W Charge Adapter ✓ SIM Card Needle ✓ Screen Protect Film ✓ Protective Case ✓ Quick Guide ✓ Product Information Realme has unveiled their 8-series and the 8 Pro features a camera with a massive 108MP resolution. This under-20k camera offers advanced features that are still alien on most other phones. Design & Build Quality The Realme 8 Pro is quite light and thin at 176 g and 8.1 mm. Realme has used AG-crystal process for the polycarbonate back cover for a granular and fluorescent finish along with a bold glossy ‘Dare to Leap’ slogan that literally screams from the back surface. The device is available in Infinite Blue and Infinite Black colours and…