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Instagram finally adds a half hearted “Pinch to Zoom” feature

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Instagram has finally added a pinch to zoom feature to their app. A feature so underwhelming that they didn’t even mention it on their blog (although, they did post to Instagram, heh). Ok, so perhaps I’m being a little harsh. It’s a feature that has been asked for ever since Instagram first launched. At least, people asked for it until they just got bored of waiting for it. You can now do it, but it’s not really all that useful.

Instagram did upgrade the resolution of images the app supports slightly in 2015 to account for higher resolution displays, but it’s still not very high. With the resolution of today’s phones, Instagram’s 1080 pixel resolution barely covers modern screens. High compression further degrades the quality of the images.

DJI’s new Osmo+ brings 7x zoom to handheld gimbal cameras

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DJI have updated their Osmo handheld gimbal camera to provide up to 7x zoom capabilities. Like the recently announced Zenmuse Z3 zoom camera for the Inspire 1, it’s actually a 3.5x optical zoom. On top of this is a 2x “digital lossless zoom”. Technically the “digital zoom” is really a crop mode, and is only available when shooting 1080p.

You get a field of view equivalent to a 22-77mm focal range on a full frame camera. It’s a comfortable range. It’s compatible with the DJI GO app, so you get full remote control and viewing from your cellphone or tablet.

Apple patent teases optical zoom module that could appear inside the iPhone 7

Implementing optical zoom into a smartphone camera has proven to be a challenge. Many companies have attempted to circumvent the physical restrictions of creating a telephoto inside a smartphone, but none have successfully done so on a commercial level.

That could change though, now that Apple is looking to get into the game of smartphone telephoto technology.

Mesmerizing video shows how incredibly far Canon’s SX50 superzoom can see at 200x

While the Nikon COOLPIX P900 has ruled the roost when it comes to superzoom capabilities, Canon’s SX50 shows it’s no chump when getting in close.

Below is a video posted to YouTube by TheSleeb. In it, we catch a ridiculous glimpse at just how powerful Canon’s superzoom compact can be when using its 200x digital zoom (it’s optical zoom stops at 50x).

G Master, a new series of wide aperture flagship lenses from Sony

Alongside the new and impressive a6300, Sony has released an entirely new series of interchangeable lenses, the G Master.

Destined to be their most premier line of glass, the new lineup will start out with 3 new E-mount lenses: a 24–70mm f/2.8, 85mm f/1.4, and 70–200mm f/2.8.

Unleash your inner stalker with the help of a $60k zoom lens

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There’s a little bit of creepy in all of us.  Don’t take my word for it, it’s practically scientific fact.  Stop it!  I’m not judging you…it’s perfectly normal.  But, if you have an extra $60k sitting around looking for a home, you can take your creepy to a whole, new level!

Don’t believe me?  YouTuber SirJonnyCargo shows how he took a Fujinon XA55 Digipower lens designed for video set work, made a few modifications, and attached it to a Panasonic Lumix GH4.  With the crop factor and a 2x teleconverter added, he took the effective focal range of the lens from a measly 9.5-525mm (::scoffs::) to a whopping 44-2,415mm full-frame equivalent!  That’s some serious reach, AT&T.

Five Audio Options for Your Home or Office Studio

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Being photographers we are accustomed to pay attention to composition, lighting, depth of field, colors, focal length and many other factors that comprise the final frame.

Photographers entering the world of video have the advantage of already mastering all these aspects, but one of the most important aspects in video gets ignored way too often – audio.

Audio recording is not something that automatically comes to mind for a stills photographer, in many cases leading to sloppy sound that ruins the video, but luckily Jay P. Morgan from The Slanted Lens is here to help.

Watch the video for five options for recording audio in your home studio. Jay explains the advantages, disadvantages and price of these solutions, ranging from free to $1,000.

Sigma Gearing to Aim at Tamron With New Massive Telephoto Lens

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It’s that time of the year again, and with Photokina back in session comes the inevitable new gear announcements, as well as the rumors leading up to them. This time, the rumors are about a new and upcoming telephoto lens from Sigma. Made for their Sports line, the 150-600mm F/5.6-6.3 lens seems to be a direct competitor to Tamron’s own recently released 150-600mm model.

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