Indholdsfortegnelse for January 2025 i Smart Photography

Cameras and photography have experienced an interesting roller coaster ride since the 1960s. In 1960, there were an estimated 10 crore cameras worldwide and these produced upto 80 lakh photographs everyday. Learning film photography from shooting to developing took the best part of twelve months. Learning the intricacies of composition, light metering, developing and printing took time and attaining proficiency required a good degree of both theoretical plus practical knowledge and experience. As we enter 2025, there are an estimated 70 crore cameras including smartphones and upto 50 crore photographs are reckoned to have been taken every day. Smartphone and digital technology call the shots and film cameras are a memory. Learning mobile photography is significantly easier and can take just a few weeks. Mobile apps like Snapseed and Instagram…

Brightin Star has officially announced the release of their new 50mm f/0.95 II full-frame lens, which is now available for E, Z, L, and RF mounts. This manual focus lens stands out with its glow-in-the-dark focusing and aperture scales, adding a unique touch for photographers working in low-light environments. The lens, designed for full-frame sensors, promises excellent low-light performance due to its massive f/0.95 aperture, making it ideal for portrait photography, street shooting, and capturing night scenes. It includes a retractable lens hood, which helps in reducing flare and ghosting, ensuring clearer images even when shooting against the light. This release marks another step in Brightin Star’s commitment to offering high-quality, yet affordable optics. With this lens, photographers can enjoy the benefits of an ultra-fast aperture combined with innovative features…

Panasonic has launched the LUMIX S 18-40mm F/4.5-6.3, heralded as the world’s smallest and lightest full-frame zoom lens, weighing in at a mere 155 grams. This lens is specifically designed for photographers and videographers who demand both portability and versatility, offering an 18-40mm focal length range. This makes it ideal for capturing everything from expansive landscapes to fine detail in close-ups. The lens shines when paired with the LUMIX S9, where it supports a Hybrid Zoom feature that extends the focal length to 18-120mm, providing a significant boost in flexibility for both photography and videography. It includes advanced focus breathing suppression technology, which ensures smooth transitions in video, crucial for professional-quality footage. Moreover, the lens is built to endure harsh environments, featuring a dust-, splash-, and freeze-resistant construction, making it…

Sigma 28-45 mm F/1.8 DG DN Art `130400/- In the Box ✓ Lens ✓ Lens hood LH878-06 ✓ Front lens cap LCF-82 III ✓ Rear lens cap LCR II ✓ Case This month we have for review a unique lens. The Sigma lens before us has a unique focal length of 28 mm to 45 mm. Further, and this is a first, the Sigma maintains a maximum aperture of f/1.8 throughout its focal range. In this way, the Sigma could replace three prime lenses with focal lengths of 28 mm, 35 mm and 45 mm. The closest competition comes to Sigma is Sony’s 24 – 50 mm f/2.8 which SP is yet to review. Let us review the Sigma under different heads. Design & Build Quality The Sigma 28–45 mm…

Sony India has celebrated its 30th anniversary, reflecting on three decades of pioneering work in consumer electronics. Since its inception in 1994, the company has been a leader in transforming the consumer electronics landscape in India, introducing innovative products across television, digital imaging, home audio, personal audio, and gaming sectors. The company’s commitment to innovation is evident in its contributions to the entertainment sector, setting benchmarks in product quality and user experience. Sunil Nayyar, Managing Director of Sony India, expressed gratitude towards consumers for their trust and love, acknowledging the milestone as a reflection of a shared journey of creativity and connection. Looking ahead, Sony India pledges to continue delivering inspirational experiences that bring people closer together. As they step into their fourth decade, the focus remains on enriching lives…

Sony Semiconductor Manufacturing has announced that it has now shipped over 20 billion image sensors, doubling its output from 10 billion units since May 2019. This impressive growth over just five years underscores Sony’s dominance in the image sensor market, largely driven by the surge in demand from the mobile device sector. President Yoshihiro Yamaguchi highlighted that this milestone was achieved due to the increasing number of cameras on modern smartphones, which often include multiple rear and front-facing sensors. This trend not only reflects Sony’s technological prowess but also its strategic positioning to supply not only the mobile industry but also expanding into markets like in-vehicle systems, smart factories, and data centers. The company’s success in this field is further bolstered by their ongoing investments in production facilities, with a…

Panasonic unveils the LUMIX G97, a compact Micro Four Thirds camera, blending advanced technology with user-friendly design. Priced at ₹84,990 for the 12-60mm kit and ₹94,990 for the 14-140mm version, it’s set to launch in February 2025 across India. This camera boasts a 20.3MP CMOS sensor for vivid, sharp imagery and features like LUMIX Photo Style for creative color adjustments. Its Live View Composite function captures light trails and star scenes with finesse. For performance, the G97 offers a 5-axis Dual I.S.2 stabilization and 4K PHOTO mode at 30fps, capturing life’s fleeting moments with precision. Video enthusiasts will appreciate the 4K 30p recording, slow-motion, and V-Log L options, alongside professional audio inputs. With an intuitive interface, including a high-resolution OLED viewfinder and free-angle LCD, the G97 is both rugged and…

Sigma is set to enhance its offerings for professional photographers with the announcement of a new full-frame autofocus lens. This addition to their lineup is part of Sigma’s strategy to provide high-quality, yet affordable alternatives to lenses produced by camera manufacturers, broadening the options available to photographers seeking top-tier optics without the premium price tag. The new lens will join Sigma’s respected range, known for balancing performance and cost-effectiveness. By focusing on full-frame capabilities, Sigma aims to cater to the needs of professionals who require the expansive dynamic range and depth of field control that full-frame sensors offer, thus reinforcing Sigma’s position as a key player in the professional photography market.…

Vimal Parmar An independent marketing consultant and digital print evangelist with over 40 years of experience in the imaging industry. @vimalparmar Welcoming 2025 : Celebrate Last Year’s Memories and Plan Your Photography Journey Ahead Dear Readers, As we welcome 2025, I wish you all a year filled with creativity, discovery, and countless opportunities to capture the beauty around us. The start of a new year is the perfect time for reflection, and what better way to cherish the memories of 2024 than by creating a photobook? Gather your favourite moments from last year—spontaneous smiles, vibrant landscapes, quiet stillness, or even those innumerable selfies—and turn them into a timeless keepsake. A photobook is not just a collection of images; it is a celebration of the stories you have told through your…

ASUS ProArt Display PA27JCV Professional Monitor TBA, in.store.asus.com The ASUS ProArt Display Display PA27JCV is a game-changer for creative professionals, setting a new benchmark in display quality and colour accuracy. Designed with professionals in photography, video editing, and graphic design in mind, this 27-inch 5K (5120x2880), 218 PPI monitor offers a stunning resolution that delivers razor-sharp visuals and unmatched clarity. First up, the unboxing experience: though everything is packaged securely and safely, it took a bit of time to figure out how everything fits together. We wish Asus puts extra effort into making the unboxing and setting up experience a joyful one. Once it was set up, it was a breeze to use it. Asus provides a Colour Calibration Test Report with the monitor. The standout feature of the PA27JCV…

Vivo has unveiled its latest X200 Series, highlighting significant advancements in mobile photography. The series introduces the X200 with a 50MP Sony IMX882 telemacro 3x sensor, designed to capture detailed close-up shots with remarkable clarity. This sensor allows for an impressive depth of field and focus, making macro photography accessible to everyone. The flagship model, X200 Pro, steps up the game with a 200MP Samsung HP9 sensor, setting new standards for high-resolution imaging in smartphones. This suite of cameras underlines Vivo’s commitment to providing professional-grade photography tools in a mobile form factor. The high megapixel count on the X200 Pro ensures that users can zoom in without losing detail, perfect for landscape photography or capturing distant subjects. Both models in the Vivo X200 Series are poised to cater to photography…

Thiruchitrambalam Thiruchitrambalam, is a freelance photographer from Salem, Tamil Nadu. He’s been practicing photography for over six years now, focussing on capturing the beauty of the night sky, landscapes, and the everyday life of streets and people. Photography allows him to slow down and truly appreciate the world around him. His work has been exhibited at the Birla Planetarium in Kolkata, showcased at the Trieste Photo Days in Italy for the Urban Photo Awards, and he has been a finalist in a Nature Photo Contest, along with other notable exhibitions.…

Srini Swaminathan Srini Swaminathan calls himself an Explorer, Educator and a Golden Retriever (because he is ‘fur’ever curious about the world!) Having started his career in the oilfield rigs and platforms, Srini has tra’well’ed to 44 countries – some for work, some for marathons and some for satiating his curiosity. A leisure ultramarathoner and cyclist, Srini has cycled Kashmir to Kanyakumari and Bhuj to Assam. He is also an author and translator. He lives in Chennai and wishes to take his street Indie dog Oreo in a backpack around the world. He is @srini091 in Instagram and X (formerly Twitter)…