Indholdsfortegnelse for April 2022 i Smart Photography

SMART PHOTOGRAPHY enters its eighteenth year of publication with this issue. It has been quite a journey so far. In 2005, digital had just started replacing film. In 2022, the industry looks quite different with smartphones having captured a large chunk of the lower end of the imaging market. D-SLR cameras have been replaced by mirrorless cameras and camera makers have moved up market. Compact cameras are close to being history and medium format has just about survived. The last two years have been awful, both for the imaging industry and for publications focussed on the industry. Beating all doomsdayers, we have survived and so has the bulk of the imaging industry, albeit in a different form. Our digital readers are now a multiple of print readers. Having said that,…

Acer Storage has announced a new line of CFexpress Type-B memory cards with read and write speeds of up to 1,600 and 1,200MB/s, respectively. The new Type-B storage cards are designed and manufactured by Biwin Storage Technology, which incorporates its own storage and DRAM memory modules, along with HP-branded hardware. The cards are available in 128GB, 256GB and 512GB capacities. While all variants of the storage cards support a maximum capacity of 1,600MB/s sequential read speeds, the 128GB and 256GB variants support a maximum capacity of 1,000MB/s sequential write speeds and the 512GB variant supports a maximum of 1,200MB/s sequential write speeds. They use a PCIe Gen3x2 interface and offer compatibility with select cameras using XQD card slots. The cards are reported to be UB-guarded, magnet-proof, X-ray proof and anti-static.…

Asus has announced the 14-inch 2.8K OLED HDR display convertible laptop, Zenbook 14 Flip OLED, the latest addition to its ZenBook series. The device features a 14-inch 2.8K OLED HDR 16:10 display with a 4-sided NanoEdge design with slim 2.9 mm side bezels and provides an 88% screen to body ratio. Its 360° ErgoLift hinge design allows the display to be flipped to any position. It is powered by the latest AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX processor and its full-sized backlit keyboard achieves a 19.05 mm pitch. It features Asus AI Noise-Cancelling Audio and is equipped with a 63 Whr battery and 100W Type-C fast-charger. The product pricing starts from INR 91,990 and is now available for purchase across online (Asus e-shop/ Amazon/ Flipkart) and offline platforms.…

Realme has introduced a new addition to its entry-level C series family with the realme C35, an entry-level smartphone. Commenting on the launch, Madhav Sheth, CEO Realme India, VP, Realme, and President, Realme International Business Group said, “We are thrilled to unveil the newest member of our C series smartphones as we continue our quest to become the world’s most popular smartphone brand. Realme’s entry-level C series has received a staggering response from our users and expanded to a family of 32 million users globally. Our newest member in the series is a new all-rounder in this segment, offering a remarkable combination of performance, camera and design in the entry-level segment, and we are confident that the Realme C35 will help us take this segment much further.” The device is…

Mirrorless full-frame camera market has got crowded in the last few years, unlike in the past when Sony was the only player in this space. How do you look at this change from a manufacturer’s perspective? Back in the days, it was said “Mirrorless is the future,” and today that time is here. Sony has been the leader in the mirrorless segment with several breakthrough innovations over the years. With time, the contribution of D-SLR in the camera industry has been gradually reducing, and the market has been inclining towards mirrorless. The customers are always on the lookout for advanced and breakthrough technologies, and mirrorless has been the answer. As a brand, Sony has been leading this change and we are glad that our vision is coming true. Being the…

2 022 turned out to be as tormenting a year as 2021. The Covid pandemic was a still unfolding saga impacting all segments of the world economy. Add to that supply chain issues, especially with regard to chips, and the picture is complete. In spite of all the negative factors, 2021 saw the launch of: • 21 new cameras overall • 1 new D-SLR ( from Pentax) • I new compact camera ( from Ricoh ) • 2 medium format cameras • 5 full-frame mirrorless cameras • 4 APS-C mirrorless cameras • 2 Micro Four Thirds mirrorless cameras New lenses were launched at a feverish pace. Nearly 70 new lenses were announced in the mirrorless space. On the other hand, 60 D-SLR lenses were discontinued. Sony said ‘ goodbye’ to…

I’m not into photography for gaining followers and likes. I’m into it simply because it gives me happiness. The reason I started taking photos is because of my love towards nature. I love being close to nature, observing every tiny detail about it and capturing those moments with my camera. The sound of the moving leaves, water drops and the flowing water gives me satisfaction. The feeling is very special. Being close to nature helps me realise that life is going to be fine. It is like meditation. I believe that the photographer doesn’t take an image, rather, the photographer makes an image. Photography is not only about taking good photos, it’s about enjoying the process during the journey.…

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…

Cosina has announced the release of its Voigtlander Nokton 23 mm f/1.2 manual lens for Fujifilm X-mount cameras. The lens’ optical design incorporates 10 elements in 6 groups that include 1 double-sided aspherical element and 2 low-dispersion elements. The lens features a clicked aperture ring, a 12-blade aperture diaphragm and an aperture range of f/1.2 – f/16. It has a 46 mm front filter thread, a minimum focussing distance of 18 cm, measures 59 mm in diameter, 44 mm in length and weighs 214 g. The Cosina Voigtlander Nokton 23 mm f/1.2 Aspherical lens will be available for purchase from April onwards at a price of JPY 90,000 (approx. INR 56,000).…

Leica has released the ‘Reporter’ edition of its Q2 Monochrome camera. While the camera retains all the internal functions of its predecessor, however, on the outside, the Reporter version sports an Army Green colour and Kevlar wrap on the front side. According to Leica, the green paint contains ‘abrasion-resistant’ properties while the Kevlar fibres are expected to wear out over time, giving it a ‘unique’ look while also adding additional grip. The camera has a full-frame 47MP sensor that can, reportedly, capture up to 13EV stops of dynamic range, which is 2 stops higher than its previous version that offered up to 11EV stops. It comes with a 28 mm f/1.7 ASPH lens. The Q2 Monochrome ‘Reporter’ version is available for purchase via Leica retailers at a price of USD…

Sony is expanding its Alpha Service Network across 11 cities in India including Mumbai, Coimbatore, Jaipur, Pune, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Trivandrum, Chennai, Indore, Bhubaneshwar and Guwahati. According to the company, this expansion of Alpha Camera body and lens repairs facilities adds to Sony’s service network of after-sales support for Digital Imaging products with 8 service centers for lens repairs, 18 service centers for Alpha Camera Body repair, 40+ service centers offering basic services like CCD Imager cleaning and firmware updates and 220+ collection centers pan India. The service centers are equipped with tools to repair Alpha camera body, camera lens, professional cameras and other digital imaging products like digital still cameras and camcorders. Customers can also avail instant services for basic support like CCD Imager cleaning and getting the latest firmware…

The 16th photo exhibition by Dr. Mukesh Batra was held at the Piramal Art Gallery at the National Centre of Performing Arts (NCPA) in Mumbai from March 12 - March 18, 2022. The exhibition showcased a large number of beautiful architectural images of Dubai. Dr. Mukesh Batra is a Padma Shri recipient (Homoeopathy) and the founder of Dr. Batra Group of Companies. Besides specialising in homoeopathy, he is a photographer with a philanthropic heart. The entire proceeds from the sale of his photographs go to charity. This time, the entire proceeds will, reportedly, be given to ‘The Victoria Memorial School for the Blind’. The exhibition was powered by Nikon MEA.…

The Maharashtra Photo Exhibition 2022 has been announced recently, to be hosted from April 30, 2022 to May 6, 2022 at the Piramal Art Gallery N.C.P.A. in Nariman Point, Mumbai. Participants for the current year include Deepak Bartakke, Dr. Sudhir Gaikwad, Gajanan Dudhalkar, Gopal Bhodhe, Kedar Bhide, Kishor Nikam, Mukesh Parpiani, Prakash Dudhalkar, Rajendra Waghmare, Subhash Jirange, Sudhir Nazare and Vaibhav Jaguste. The exhibition will be open for viewing from 12 noon to 8 pm (all 8 days).…

A rather unusual title, but rest assured that we have no intention of making you one. Rather, we want to show you how to solve a common photographic problem using a Photoshop tool. Let us see what the issue is and how Photoshop can be used to eliminate it. Ideally, when you photograph a straight line, it should again be reproduced in your captured image as a straight line. If there is any curvature that was originally not there in the subject, then we say that the image exhibits distortion. There are a few types of this phenomenon, but here, we are concerned about barrel distortion in which the straight lines bulge outwards like a barrel (Pictures 1 and 2). This occurs in almost all wide-angle lenses, but of late,…

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 Get the creative juices flowing Dear Editor, As you had rightly pointed out in the latest issue, the pandemic did a lot of damage to our physical and mental well-being. A lot of people have indeed been going through depression and this is perhaps the time to turn to your hobbies or learn new skills and get the creative juices flowing. We all look forward to leaving these difficult times behind us and embrace the beauty that life has to offer. Regards, Shweta Dahiya Looking forward to the next issue Dear SP, The latest issue and the…

Yongnuo has announced the release of its 85 mm f/1.8 autofocus lens for Nikon Z-mount camera systems. The optical design of the lens constitutes 9 elements in 8 groups, with 1 low-dispersion element and 1 high-refractive element. It has a seven-blade aperture diaphragm, uses a 58 mm front filter thread and sports an aperture range of f/1.8 – f/22. The lens has a minimum focussing distance of 80 cm and measures 58 mm in diameter, 89 mm in length and weighs about 405 g. The focus ring allows users to use it as a control ring for adjusting parameters such as ISO and aperture. The Yongnuo 85 mm f/1.8 lens is currently available (only in China) for purchase at a price of CNY 2,199 (approx. INR 26,524).…

Poco has recently announced the launch of X4 Pro 5G and M4 Pro smartphones during the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2022 annual trade show hosted by GSMA. The X4 Pro 5G sports a 6.67-inch AMOLED DotDisplay screen with a 120 Hz refresh rate, displays the DCI-P3 colour space and has peak brightness of 1200 nits. The M4 Pro sports a 6.43-inch AMOLED DotDisplay screen with a 90 Hz refresh rate. The X4 Pro 5G has a 108 MP image sensor paired with an f/1.9 lens. The 108MP main camera is accompanied by an 8MP ultra-wide camera (featuring 118° field of view and an f/2.2 lens), a 2MP micro camera and a 16MP selfie camera. It comes with a 5,000mAh battery that is reported to fully charge in ‘just over 40…

Canon has announced the launch of the EOS R5 C, the newest addition to the company’s Cinema EOS System of video production equipment. Commenting on the flagship launch, Manabu Yamazaki, President and CEO, Canon India said, “We at Canon, have consistently aimed at introducing creative and most pioneering technologies for our users, enriching them with memorable photography and cinematography experience every single time. The launch today marks a special milestone for us, as we introduce high-quality and high-performance hybrid model that combines the video performance and high reliability of the Cinema EOS System and the still image performance of the EOS R5. With the introduction of EOS R5 C camera, we are confident that we will be able to consolidate our leadership position in the country.” By switching modes via…

Canon has announced the launch of two new L-series super telephoto prime lenses viz. the RF 800 mm f/5.6L IS USM and the RF 1200 mm f/8L IS USM. Both lenses feature a highly durable vibration and shock-proof structure, with dust- and drip-resistant weather sealing to prevent moisture from entering. They are compatible with the extenders RF 1.4x and the RF 2x. When the lenses and extenders are combined with the EOS R system’s Dual Pixel CMOS AF, AF is possible over a wide coverage area. The lenses also support continuous shooting of up to 30 fps (electronic shutter). The 800 mm lens comes with a maximum aperture of f/5.6, a minimum focussing distance of 2.6 m and a maximum aperture of 0.34 x. It measures 163 mm in diameter,…

Apple has announced a range of new products including the new iPhone SE, iPad Air, Mac Studio and Studio Display. iPhone SE The iPhone SE comes in a compact and durable design that incorporates a 4.7-inch display, aerospace-grade aluminium and glass along with IP67 rated water and dust resistance. It features iOS 15 and has upgrades including the A15 Bionic chip packed with a 6-core CPU, which powers advanced camera capabilities such as photo editing, gaming and augmented reality. It also features a 12-megapixel ƒ/1.8 aperture Wide camera that offers features such as Smart HDR 4, Photographic Styles, Deep Fusion and Portrait mode. Along with 5G, the device comes in three colours i.e. Midnight, Starlight and (PRODUCT)RED. The iPhone SE will be available from March 18 onwards, in 64GB, 128GB,…

Asus has announced the sale of its smartphone 8Z. The device is powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G mobile platform and features an ultra-clear 120 Hz AMOLED display. The device has a 4000 mAh battery and comes in Obsidian Black and Horizon Silver colours with a 5.9-inch FHD+ (2400 x 1080) Samsung E4 AMOLED display, protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus. It comes in with a memory and storage option of 8GB RAM + 128GB ROM. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi 6 (802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax), 2x2 MIMO, Tri-band 2.4 GHz / 5 GHz / 6 GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.2. Its pro-grade camera system consists of a 64 MP main camera with Sony IMX686 flagship sensor, a 12 MP ultra-wide camera and 12 MP front camera with Sony IMX663 1/2.93-inch sensor.…

How did you venture into photography? Tell us your story. Since childhood, I have loved to draw mountains, streams, waterfalls, etc. but it was only after my graduation that I realised that it is called landscape. Later, my wife gifted me a point and shoot Nikon P500 to start with. Gradually, I realised the limitations of a point and shoot and then moved to a D-SLR in the year 2015. All this while, I had been shooting only landscapes and waterfalls around Mumbai. With my D-SLR, my first tour was driving to Spiti Valley. This was when I took photography more seriously and was fortunate enough to travel to Europe, US as well as many parts of India. I learnt a lot from fellow photographers too whose images have been…

@spmagazineofficial 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.…

Inside the Box ✓ OnePlus 9RT 5G ✓ Warp Charge 65 Power Adapter ✓ Warp Charge Type-A to Type-C Cable ✓ Transparent phone case ✓ Screen protector ✓ SIM tray ejector OnePlus has launched the fourth device in the OnePlus 9 series, and this launch comes when we have been keenly waiting for the OnePlus 10. The OnePlus 9RT features a few improvements over the OnePlus 9R including a new SoC. Design & Build Quality The OnePlus 9RT is available in Nano Silver and Hacker Black colours. While the Nano Silver has a metallic gradient, the Hacker Black uses a matte frosted glass to provide a glimmering texture. The back surfaces are resistant to sweat and fingerprint. Other design elements are similar to all OnePlus devices. The camera array has…

Inside the Box ✓ Monitor ✓ AC/DC Adapter ✓ Power Cable (cable length :1.8M) ✓ Mini DP to DisplayPort Cable (cable length :1.8M) ✓ USB3.1 Gen 1 Type-C Cable(cable length :1.8M) ✓ USB3.0 Up Stream Cable(cable length :1.8M) ✓ Quick Start Guide Viewsonic is one of the most popular specialist display manufacturers, and of late, they have been focussing on commercial and educational monitors in addition to general and professional models. Their VP series of monitors are professional displays falling in Viewsonic’s ColorPro line-up meant for colour-critical applications like photo, video editing and graphic design. The VP2785-4K is the 4K version of the earlier 2K monitor of the same designation. Design & Build Quality The VP2785-4K is sleek and lightweight by the standards of some 4K photography and design monitors.…

Nikon finally seems to have hit the jackpot with the Z 9. Apart from rave reviews, Nikon is now flooded with orders. A two to three month delivery period is being quoted. Panasonic has announced a new lens moulding technology that will halve the lens making costs. The new lenses will be made of chalcogenide glass which, according to Panasonic, has excellent far-infrared sensing characteristics. With Canon announcing the stoppage of production of D-SLRs, expect some aggressive launches of mirrorless cameras at the lower and middle end of the market from Canon in 2022. Hasselblad is now owned by DJI, the famous Chinese drone maker. Naturally, cameras for DJI drones are built by Hasselblad. We all know that the heart of a digital camera is the sensor. Camera manufacturers source…