Google Earth allows you to see the Earth from a different perspective, one few of us get to really see unless you fly over the planet and then zoom in to a particular place. Google now has a timelapse feature to allow you to witness how the Earth changes with the years, in this case from 1984 to 2020, 36 years of changes in a mere 10 seconds.
I was impressed with the construction of the Burj Al Arab in Dubai, UAE and the dramatic loss of ice on the Mylius-Erichsen Land in Greenland. Google plans to update the time lapse imagery at least once a year.
FUJIFILM North America Corporation has announced the launch of the FUJINON XF18mmF1.4 R LM WR lens, the 39th interchangeable lens for Fujifilm’s APS-C X Series mirrorless cameras.
The XF18mmF1.4 utilizes three aspherical lenses and an extra-low dispersion (ED) lens to minimize chromatic and comatic aberration. The focusing group of six lens elements also moves in unison to minimize aberration fluctuations and deliver consistent sharpness at any focusing position. The internal autofocus (AF) system is driven by a powerful linear motor to provide fast, accurate, and near-silent AF in as fast as 0.04 seconds. It focuses down to 4.33 in (11 cm) from the front of the lens (20 cm from sensor surface).
Weather-resistant seals at eight locations along the lens barrel provide resistance to dust, moisture, and temperatures as low as -10°C (14°F) when used with a weather-resistant X-Series digital camera.
Billed as Fujifilm’s most design-sensitive lens in Fujifilm’s history, the XF18mmF1.4 is built to extremely high mechanical precision with strong lens elements to make the lens resistant to shock and the environment, and to provide the best image quality available so far in the XF line of lenses. Fujifilm also claims the XF18mmF1.4 is incredibly sharp even wide-opened at F1.4, while at the same time producing smooth and pleasing bokeh.
Interestingly, the focal length of 27mm equivalent was chosen to mimic the field of view that image creators typically get when shooting with smart phone cameras. So with the XF18mmF1.4, they can now get professional-quality images and videos that seem to have been shot with a smartphone camera, but with much higher image quality, sharpness and smooth bokeh. The XF18mmF1.4 targets landscape, cityscape, portrait and wedding photographers.
The XF18mmF1.4 R LM WR lens is expected to be available in late May, 2021.
PRESS RELEASE
Fujifilm Announces New FUJINON XF18mmF1.4 R LM WR Lens
A Versatile New Take on a Popular Focal Length
FUJINON XF18mmF1.4 R LM WR
Valhalla, N.Y., April 15, 2021 – FUJIFILM North America Corporation is pleased to announce its FUJINON XF18mmF1.4 R LM WR lens (XF18mmF1.4), expected to be launched in May, 2021. With a 35mm equivalent focal length of 27mm, and a maximum aperture of F1.4, it is the 39th lens in Fujifilm’s broad line of interchangeable lenses, made exclusively for the X Series family of mirrorless digital cameras.
Its lightweight, highly portable design makes it an ideal lens for everything from landscapes and cityscapes to portraits and weddings. Added flexibility in dimly lit environments is also provided through the lens’ wide F1.4 aperture, which also produces incredibly smooth bokeh.
“Keeping to our X Series philosophy of creating lightweight and compact imaging solutions that produce phenomenal image quality, XF18mmF1.4 is a well-balanced and versatile option for any image-maker,” said Victor Ha, senior director of marketing and product management, Electronic Imaging Division at FUJIFILM North America Corporation. “We are really excited to see what stories and images our community of image-makers will create with this lens. It’s certainly ideal for street photography and landscapes, but we’re also looking forward to seeing how it will be used to make wedding and portrait images. There are a lot of creative possibilities with this lens, and I’m confident we’re going to see some great content.” (more…)
DJI has released the Air 2S, a compact foldable drone with a 1″ sensor that can shoot 20MP stills and 5.4K video at 30fps or 4K at 60fps and 150Mbps. It features 31 minutes of maximum flight time, obstacle avoidance in four directions, a new digital zoom that supports 4X zoom at 4K 30fps, 6X at 2.7K 30fps, 4X at 2.7K 60fps, 6X at 1080P 60fps and 8X at 1080P 30fps.
It retaines the three-axis mechanical gimbal for smooth professional-level quality images and videos and now has 8 GB of internal storage. Transmission range is 12Km max.
PRESS RELEASE
DJI Air 2S Melds Incredible Image Quality With Unmatched Flight Performance
Added Obstacle Sensors Improve Autonomous Flying, While The 1″ Sensor Offers 20-Megapixel Photos and 5.4K Video
DJI Air 2S
NEW YORK, April 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — DJI, the global leader in civilian drones and creative camera technology, today sets a new benchmark for high-grade flight performance and incredible imagery with the new DJI Air 2S. This portable camera drone is an all-in-one solution, offering robust flight performance, state-of-the-art camera upgrades and high-grade preprogrammed content creation tools.
“Every creator remembers what it felt like to fly a drone for the first time, and they’ll feel the same sense of wonder and possibility when they first experience DJI Air 2S’s unparalleled mix of astonishing flight capability and gripping image quality,” said Ferdinand Wolf, Creative Director, DJI Europe. “DJI Air 2S is a wish list come to life for everyone who demands more from a drone, showcasing upgrades that truly elevate the system into a highly versatile drone. From content creators, to drone enthusiasts and travelers, we are confident that a lot of people will be excited about this drone.” (more…)
It seems like we have waited for a thousand years already for Canon to not only seriously join the mirrorless category, but also to announce their flagship full-frame mirrorless camera. Well, with the official announcement of the development of the full-frame EOS R3 mirrorless camera, “[l]anding between the robust EOS R5 [mirrorless] and Canon’s flagship EOS-1D X Mark III [DSLR],” we are now one step closer to the realization of the dream. It is Canon’s DSLR “Twilight” and the dawn of its mirrorless era.
Canon’s flagship EOS R1 full-frame mirrorless camera is not here yet, but since the EOS R3 “will be designed to satisfy the most demanding expectations in a professional camera — emphasizing speed, performance, and reliability,” this gives us a glimpse of how much more powerful the R1 of necessity would need to be. Note also that Canon is positioning the R3 between the R5 and its flagship 1D X Mark III DSLR (to be replaced by the R1 mirrorless), so the R3 is not a direct competitor to the Nikon Z9 (which Nikon is positioning as its flagship full-frame mirrorless).
The EOS R3 is positioned as a professional camera for action and sports photography with “great emphasis on superb AF performance and speed with fast-moving subjects“. It features “explosive speed” with 30 fps continuous shooting, various types of AF to “master movement” and is “ultra responsive” with Eye-Control AF to allow it to “outpace” and “outperform” its competitors — viz Sony. [Canon marketing is not shy on using superlatives.]
The “explosive speed” promise comes from using a new, Canon-developed, full-frame stacked CMOS sensor with a back-illuminated design. The stacked design allows for faster read-out speeds during still-imaging recording, produces less rolling shutter distortion during Electronic Shutter operation and allows for continuous Electronic Shutter still-image shooting at speeds up to 30 fps with full Dual Pixel CMOS AF and auto exposure.
The R3 uses the tried and proven AF system from the EOS R5 and EOS R6 cameras to “master movement,” and promises to tweak it to deliver “even better performance during portrait and action-type shooting” and “offer new recognizable subjects for its AF system.”
Eye-Control AF delivers the “ultra responsive” promise: select the initial area for AF tracking by simply looking directly at the viewfinder location where you want to initiate AF. With Eye Control AF and Servo AF activated, the camera will focus on and track moving subjects at that location in the frame. When Face Detect + Tracking is active, the camera will continue to follow moving subjects around the entire active AF area.
Last, but not least, the R3’s body, though looking familiar, is going to be an entirely new one-piece design that integrates the body with a vertical grip section, with the requisite weather and dust-resistance (equivalent to that of EOS-1D class camera) for any professional camera targeted to nature, wildlife, sports and photojournalism content creators working in extreme conditions. News photojournalists would want to add the optional Mobile File Transmitter application for iOS and Android devices for quicker transfer of photos and videos back to their editorial desks.
Three new RF lenses have been introduced today — The Canon RF 100mm F2.8 L Macro IS USM, RF400mm F2.8 L IS USM and RF600mm F4 L IS USM.
Kudos to Canon marketing for ending all the silly teasers, intentional leaks and rumors that just waste people’s time and oversell expectations.
Developing News: Canon Announces That The Powerful Professional Full-Frame EOS R3 Mirrorless Camera Is On Its Way
The Company Is Also Welcoming Three New RF Lenses: The Canon RF100mm F2.8 L Macro IS USM, RF400mm F2.8 L IS USM and RF600mm F4L IS USM
MELVILLE, NY, April 14, 2021 – Canon U.S.A. Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, today announced that its parent company, Canon Inc., is developing a new, high-performance professional camera — the Canon EOS R3*. When it arrives, the EOS R3 will be an outstanding complement to the three new RF lenses the company also introduced today — The Canon RF 100mm F2.8 L Macro IS USM, RF400mm F2.8 L IS USM and RF600mm F4 L IS USM.
“The development of the Canon EOS R3 and the launch of the new RF lenses are the latest testament to the company’s commitment to professional still and video image and content creators,” said Tatsuro “Tony” Kano, executive vice president and general manager of Canon U.S.A.’s Imaging Technologies & Communications Group. “When the camera becomes available, it will pair well with each of the new RF lenses announced today. Canon is excited to share this news today, and we look forward to seeing the images captured with the new RF lenses and upcoming EOS R3.” (more…)
FUJIFILM has introduced its latest Instax camera, the INSTAX MINI 40, with automatic exposure, auto shutter speed and auto brightness. A novel feature is a “selfie lens” with a tiny embedded mirror that lets you line yourself up properly; pop the lens out in selfie mode and it will take a subject in focus from 0.3m to 0.5m, the perfect arm-length selfie distance.
An interesting throwback to the film era is the new Contact Sheet Mini instant film. Back then, photographers would line up their developed negatives onto a sheet of film and expose them all on that one sheet creating what is called a “Contact Sheet.” They would then view the contact sheet and select only those pictures that they really wanted to print out. The Fujifilm Contact Sheet instant film does not quite provide that capability, but instead mimics the look by printing a number on the border of each instant film in classic orange lettering.
The INSTAX MINI Contact Sheet instant film comes with 10 total exposures and is compatible with all FUJIFILM INSTAX MINI cameras and printers.
MSRP:
$139.99 CAD for the Mini 40 bundle
Includes: Mini 40 Camera and one 10-exposure pack of the new Mini Contact Sheet Film
$13.99 CAD for one 10 exposure pack of Mini Contact Sheet Film
Availability: Late April at most major retailers in Canada
PRESS RELEASE
FUJIFILM Introduces INSTAX MINI 40TM
Instant Camera and New INSTAX MINI Instant Film Variety
Mississauga, ON – April 7, 2021 – FUJIFILM North America Corporation is pleased to announce the launch of its new INSTAX MINI 40TM Instant Camera (“MINI 40”). Alongside the debut of MINI 40, Fujifilm introduces a new INSTAX MINI instant film variety, “Contact Sheet”, which mimics the look of a classic film contact sheet and adds a new twist to the popular INSTAX MINITM instant film series. “The new MINI 40 will appeal to sophisticated instant photo enthusiasts, whom have already been using our INSTAX product for years and are now looking for an instant camera with a timeless design,” said Manny Almeida, Division President, Imaging Division, FUJIFILM North America Corporation. “Designed to be easily portable, MINI 40 is finished with a high-quality texture that fits in one hand. The lustrous black camera body is accented with silver touches, resulting in a classic and chic look.” (more…)
