Lomography made a big splash when they released a 21st-century version of the famed Petzval lens last year. Now, 175 years after it was first invented by Joseph Petzval, Lomography is planning to launch a 58mm version of the lens with a built-in bokeh control ring. This ring, according to Lomography, will allow you to “determine the strength of the swirly bokeh in your photos” with its seven different levels of swirliness. The new lens goes for $450. For those too cheap to spring for the new lens, we assume an ample amount of peyote will achieve the same result.
Top 15 DIYP Articles for 2014
We waited for the absolute last second with this one, wanting to make sure we tally in everything we can. So, in no particular order, here are the 15 top posts on DIYP from the last year:
Fast & Curious: GoPro captures biker’s near-death collision
Perhaps it can be said that I simply like to toy with death a little less than the average person, but you can never accuse biker Jack Sanderson of that. While out for a relaxing, spring-time ride (okay, so he’s weaving across both lanes of traffic at high speeds on very winding roads, and I’m totally confused as to which vehicles are coming or going), the 21-year-old Knutsford, Cheshire resident passed two other bikers, dropped around a turn, and missed a potentially-deadly 60mph head-on collision with an oncoming car by inches, flying off the road and tumbling 40 feet down an embankment. [Read More…]
New Sigma 50mm F/1.4 Compared – Comes Out On Top
Earlier this year, Sigma generated a good amount of noise throughout the photography community when the company stated the intended target competition of their upcoming 50mm F/1.4 lens: Zeiss’s $4,000 55mm Otus. That can either result in us getting one a big leap in quality for lenses on the market at a (hopefully) more consumer-friendly price, or it can end with us having some serious trust issues.
Just recently, Xitek has posted the first few pictures of the Sigma lens engaged in tests with three other lenses: the Sony Planar T 50mm F/1.4 ZA SSM, the Nikon Nikkor AF-S 58mm F/1.4G, and the targeted Zeiss 55mm F/1.4 Otus. (cheapest of which is ~$1500).[Read More…]
Panasonic Unveils the New VariCam 35 with 4K & 120 fps Capabilities
Thanks to Planet 5D for the heads up on this!
Disclaimer: if you have a weak wallet, then don’t read this.
Actually, in this case, all of our wallets are most likely crying in the corner, so it’s okay. Just appreciate the camera, I guess.
Panasonic took part in a press conference just yesterday in New Jersey, where it announced a new entry targeted towards the high-high-high end market of cinema. The 4K camera/video-recorder is titled the VariCam 35 (AU-VREC1), and it claims to be a powerhouse in handling a variety of formats.
Nikons D4s Set for Release in March
Ever since its release back in January 2012, the Nikon D4 has remained one of the top choices for sports journalists and action photographers. As of today, Nikon has officially announced the release of the full-frame camera’s successor: the Nikon D4s.
Enhance Image – Finding People In Pupil’s Reflections Is A Reality
In the world of detective TV there always comes a moment where the prime detective discovers that they have this one single snapshot of the murder victim from seconds before they were killed.
This is where they scan the photo, and “enhance” it to see the killer’s reflection in the victim’s pupil. Or it might be a reflection on a shiny toaster, or a silver shirt button. It does not matter, as long as it can be “enhanced”.
A team of researchers in the Department of Psychology at the University of York took a shot at the myth and discovered that “enhancing” pupil photos to identify people is actually a reality….[Read More…]
New Camera News Is Like TheOnion But For Photographers
If you are sorry about The Onion stopping its presses (but still go there daily online) you are going to love New Camera News.
The site which seems like your regular News, Trends & Reviews blog gives a Tongue-in-cheek view on everything photography.
The site seems to be run incognito of actually by a descendant of one mysterious grandpappy Cyrus:[Read More…]
Possible Halo Effect with Canon 70-200 f.2.8 L IS USM II
The Canon 70-200 f.2.8 L IS USM II is quite a flagship of a lens. At $2500 and 2.9 pounds it is quite a beast, and almost every review or recommendation I’ve seen on it states that the only real issue with it is that you will never change lenses after using it.
Lisbon based Photographer Rui M Leal had a different experience though. Rui was assigned to shoot a concert when he noticed a bright halo at the edge of the frame when shooting at the 90-110 zoom range. [Read More…]
Lytro Behind You, KaleidoCam Enables Post Production Re-Focusing, Re-Exposing And Re-Polarizing
It was not that long ago when Lytro stunned to world with a camera that can re-focus in post production. This was quite a revolution as till then, the focus point was at the time when the shutter opened, was the focus pint and that was it. Millions of photos ruined by being almost in focus but not quite and Lytro aimed to change that. The hype, however, did not convert into a fed.
Now researchers in Saarland University in Saarbrücken, Germany extend the idea of Lytro to enable post production control of almost any possible aspect of photography including: exposure, light-temperature, focus and polarization. (and even a bit of spatial control) They call it The KaleidoCam. This video explains how it works.[Read More…]
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