Review: Samsung T7 Shield Portable SSD USB 3.2 Gen 2
Samsung’s highly portable T7 Shield SSD with USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps) promises high transfer speeds in a robust housing, Kevin Carter takes a look. What is it? This small, highly portable bus-powered NVMe SSD with a USB-C 3.2 Gen2 (10Gbps) with read/write speeds of up to 1,050 MB/s and 1,000 MB/s respectively, is almost twice as fast as SATA-based SSDs (and 10x that of HDDs). As such it is ideal for photographers and occasional videographers. It’s also a rugged (IP65 rated) drive that’s ideal for replacing any old hard-disk drive for sharing across multiple devices, such as direct-to cameras (mainly but not limited to the newer Panasonic, Sony and…
Fujifilm GFX100S II announced with several important features from flagship GFX100 II
Fujifilm has announced the FUJIFILM GFX100S II, the update to the 100MP GFX100S and has several features from the ‘flagship’ GFX100 II, including I believe the same microlens structure. This is said to improve image quality at the periphery and AF accuracy out towards the edges of the frame. The redesigned sensor has a new IOS 80 base, which is claimed to offer lower noise and a wider dynamic range than the GFX100S. The FUJIFILM GFX100S II will be available in the UK from 17 June 2024 from authorised Fujifilm retailers, the FUJIFILM House of Photography in London or the Fujifilm online store at https://eshop.fujifilm-x.com/uk at a suggested retail price…
Canon announces development of the EOS R1 flagship with deep learning technology promising improved image quality
Canon has announced that the ‘flagship’ Canon EOS R1 is under development. While that’s not surprising, what is telling from the rather scant details is that AI will feature heavily. Reading between the lines I expect to see noise reduction improved over the camera’s internal processing by the bundled DPP software, in effect locking out other parametric editors such as Capture One and Lightroom from accessing the data and ultimately the promised noise reduction improvements. Not only is this to add value to the camera and system by leveraging the software side, but we will likely be choosing our camera systems based on software enhancements in the future. I wouldn’t…
Hasselblad announces wide angle XCD 25mm F2.5 V lens
Hasselblad has announced a new ultra-wide (20mm equivalent) lens, the Hasselblad XCD 25mm f/2.5 V for the mirrorless X system cameras. The XCD 2,5/25V features IF (internal focusing) using a linear stepping motor and adopts an optical construction of thirteen elements in ten groups, including four aspherical elements and three ED elements. Hasselblad say it has been designed to meet the requirements of 100-megapixel sensors. The filter size is 72mm. The new XCD 2,5/25V lens is priced at £3,559.00 / $3,699 USD / 4,199 EUR and is available online and at selected retail stores worldwide. More information can be found on their website. Previous lens makers for Hasselblad have included…
Review: Samsung T9 Portable SSD USB 3.2 Gen 2×2
Samsung’s flagship T9 SSD with USB-C (3.2 Gen 2×2) promises high transfer speeds of up to 2,000 MB/s, not that far off from TB3/4 SSDs, Kevin Carter takes a look. What is it? Housed in a wonderfully tactile and equally practical black silicone rubber housing, the Samsung T9 is aimed at all types of content makers. Particularly though, with its high transfer speeds from a USB-C 3.2 Gen 2×2 (20 Gb/s) connector, this bus-powered NVMe SSD looks highly attractive for photographers and occasional videographers. The Samsung T9 is a small, highly portable and robust drive that’s ideal for sharing across several devices, such as typical laptop-to-desktop (short to long-term storage)…
Megadap announces Canon EF to Nikon Z AF Adapter EFTZ21
Megadap, an innovative and independent manufacturer of AF adapters for mirrorless cameras, has recently announced a new Canon EF to Nikon Z AF Adapter, the EFTZ21. Priced at $299 and available now, the new EFTZ21 is compatible with both FF and APS-C (DX) format cameras, including the Nikon ZF, ZFC, Z30, Z50, Nikon Z5, Nikon Z6, Nikon Z6 ii, Nikon Z7, Nikon Z7 ii, Z8, and Z9 cameras. The new adapter can be purchased online directly from the manufacturer’s site. Press release: Hong Kong, 19th April 2024 – Megadap, an innovative manufacturer specializing in camera lens accessories, is proud to announce the launch of its new Canon EF Lens…
Sony announces a compact large aperture wide-angle G series zoom FE 16-25mm F2.8 G
Sony has announced a new compact, large aperture wide-angle G series zoom the Sony FE 16-25mm F2.8 G aimed at both stills photographers and video/filmmakers. The filter thread size is just 67mm and it looks like it’s an IF design (with no extending lens barrels) so it should be capable of taking a decent matte box or filter holder and a raft of filters. 67mm is just at the limit (minimum) of most matte box systems. This is the second lens to follow this short-zoom style, after the Sony FE 24-50mm F2.8 G” announced in February 2024 and uses the same size filter thread. Will a third, say a 50-100mm…
Panasonic announces major firmware update for Lumix S5II and S5IIX
Panasonic has announced a significant firmware update for its full-frame mirrorless LUMIX S5II and S5IIX cameras. The Firmware V2.0 update adds AF features and enhances sharing functionality for both stills and video capture. Key features include: Camera-to-cloud integration with Adobe’s Frame.io – now supports Adobe Camera to Cloud compatibility, enabling images and videos to be automatically uploaded, backed up, shared, and worked on jointly via the cloud. Proxy Video Recording – this innovative feature introduces the simultaneous recording of a low-bit-rate proxy file alongside the original video recording, providing quick post-production processes. Enhanced Real-time Autofocus Recognition– this newly improved system boosts the precise Phase Hybrid autofocus, efficiently recognising not only people but animal eyes, cars and motorcycles. Enhanced E.I.S.…
Eizo announces 30.5-inch ColorEdge Prominence reference monitor with built-in calibration and network features
Eizo has announced a new ‘reference’ DCI-4K (4096 x 2160) HDR (high dynamic range) monitor for post-production work. As this model has the ‘Prominence’ moniker it should not be confused with your typical ColorEdge display for stills and occasional video, even if has built-in hardware calibration. There’s no mention of availability or price as these tend to be special order only – if you have to ask the price you probably can’t afford it – expect to cut a cheque north of £40K. The new monitor will be displayed at the NAB show in Las Vegas later this month and in the UK at the MP&T show in London the month…
LEE100 Polariser Filter review
Lee100 Filter Holder – Why do you need it? Although you can use image editing software to achieve many of the same effects with specific filters, such as a polariser to cut reflections and improve saturation, it remains advantageous for some types of photography, such as interiors and landscapes As they cut down on exposure somewhat, they can also be used as a pseudo Neutral Density (ND) filter, albeit mostly in a limited fashion*. They are also pretty expensive, so if you have several lenses of different thread diameters, using a holder can save a lot of money. Please note this review has been edited and updated from the Lee100…
