Photography Information: New Sigma Lenses, Faster CFexpress Standards

What would a world with out colours appear to be? A world diminished solely to shades of grey? I used to be impressed to revisit this altered actuality after a while, partly due to the up to date model of the DxO Nik Assortment plugin and partly as a result of I’ll have a Leica Monochrom camera on mortgage for a brief take a look at quickly. I’m actually wanting ahead to it. And maybe a few of this week’s information provides you purpose to be excited as properly.

Current Bulletins

• Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Contemporary: Sigma provides a Fujifilm X mount choice to this current lens (already obtainable for Sony E and Leica L). Fuji already makes a lens in the identical vary, but it surely has a barely wider most aperture and prices twice as a lot. Sigma will due to this fact current an attention-grabbing various for these on a price range. Obtainable for pre-order for $949.
• Sigma 23mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary: Right here, too, Sigma is increasing this lens past simply Sony E and Leica L to Fujifilm X. This APS-C crop sensor lens has a discipline of view equal to 35mm on full-frame. It would compete with Fuji’s personal 23mm f/1.4, however price much less. Obtainable for pre-order for $549.
• Meyer-Optik Gorlitz Biotar 75mm f/1.5 II: A legendary full-frame lens whose design dates again to the Thirties. On the time, it was one of many brightest lenses obtainable. The present model guarantees higher optics, however retains the “swirly bokeh” that’s typical of this lens. The absolutely guide lens has a silent aperture diaphragm comprised of 15 blades. It’s appropriate with Canon EF, Canon RF, Nikon F, Nikon Z, Sony E, Leica L, Fujifilm X, Leica M, Micro 4 Thirds, and Pentax Ok mounts. Obtainable for $1,399.
• Nik Collection version 6.3: This bundle of 8 plugins for Photoshop and Lightroom Traditional has been round for some time and is without doubt one of the cornerstones of the DxO software program portfolio. Within the new model 6.3, the Nik Sharpener and Nik HDR Efex instruments have been improved. You will discover out what precisely has modified here. DxO has additionally considerably up to date its lens modules. At a private degree, I’m glad it lastly contains the long-awaited Nikkor Z 400mm f/4.5 VR S.

The Rumor Mill

CFexpress playing cards shift into the next gear

Immediately’s quickest CFexpress Kind A and B playing cards permit steady taking pictures at almost 16 FPS in 14-bit RAW for no less than one minute (as we examined right here). Nonetheless, at the moment’s high-end cameras can shoot 20 FPS or extra at this high quality. With the just-announced new CFexpress 4.0 commonplace, it ought to lastly be attainable to take full benefit of those speeds.

The CompactFlash Association has introduced the approaching arrival of those playing cards. The brand new commonplace guarantees as much as twice the pace of the present commonplace. The change behind such a dramatic enhance in pace is the adoption of PCIe Gen4, which permits as much as twice the throughput efficiency. What’s essential to us as customers is that the playing cards is not going to change bodily in any means and can be usable in present cameras.

And when will we be capable to put these playing cards in our cameras for the primary time? Nextorage plans to introduce CFexpress 4.0 commonplace playing cards in early 2024. As quickly as that occurs, I’ll definitely let and embrace the cardboard in our pace take a look at.

Canon units the stage for the RF 200-500 f/4L IS

Though Canon doesn’t and gained’t have something like a roadmap for upcoming lenses, this lens has been whispered about for a while. The whispers have not too long ago intensified attributable to the truth that the present EF 200-400 f/4L IS 1.4x, has simply been discontinued. Nonetheless, Canon Rumors has been repeatedly knowledgeable that the brand new model is not going to get a built-in teleconverter. In fact, having a zoom with this vary and f/4 is a dream anyway. However who is aware of, perhaps Canon will shock us. We must always know by the tip of the year.

Fujifilm GFX100 II to get distinctive options

This medium format camera hasn’t been introduced but, however in keeping with Fuji Rumors, it ought to get two attention-grabbing options – a waveform monitor and an anamorphic mode. Each options could be geared towards video however maybe may very well be helpful for sure nonetheless pictures as properly.

Waveform monitor is used to guage the brightness of your picture, whatever the coloration. The histogram does one thing related, but it surely solely supplies a graph displaying the quantitative distribution of brightness within the picture. It tells you nothing about the place precisely it’s pitch black and the place there are clipped highlights. That’s what the waveform monitor can present.

We don’t have any extra particulars on how the anamorphic mode is meant to work, however my guess is that the viewfinder will show a desqueezed picture based mostly on the squeeze issue. Actually a helpful function for anybody who makes use of these lenses each day.

Picture Contest Nook

Nature and Humans Photo Contest

• Matter: The theme of the primary class “Nature and People – Thematic Sequence” is investigating the connection between the pure surroundings and us people. Along with this class, there are 10 different classes the place you may submit your nature images.
• Charges: The entry charge is 25 euros, whatever the variety of images submitted (most 30).
• Prize: The successful collection (essential class) and successful picture will obtain a money prize of as much as 2,000 euros.
• Deadline: September 10

The Nature Conservancy Contest 2023

• Matter: This year’s 12 classes are Oceans, Individuals & Nature, Crops & Fungi, Freshwater, Lands, Mammals, Local weather, Aerials, Bugs & Arachnids, Underwater Life, Birds, and Reptiles & Amphibians.
• Charges: Free
• Prize: The competition will award over $25,000 in prize cash, together with a camera equipment value $5,000 for the general grand-prize winner.
• Deadline: September 29

Good Offers and New Gross sales

It’s the start of September, and with it, the tip of summer time. I do know, you in all probability figured that out by your calendar. To usher within the Autumn, Sony has a reduction occasion at B&H. It lets you commerce in any ILC camera and obtain a Sony trade-in bonus of as much as $500, plus as much as an extra $200 in financial savings. Meaning you may get money on your camera and as much as $700 off a brand new camera or lens. Click on here for extra data.

Two weeks in the past, I wrote right here about reductions on MacBook laptops from Apple. A few of the unique hyperlinks are nonetheless related, so verify them out right here. Newly added to the bunch of discounted laptops is Apple’s 16″ MacBook Professional with M2 Professional chip (was $2,699, now $2,449).

This week, I used to be attempting to slim down my decisions for a laptop computer operating on Home windows OS, and there actually are rather a lot to select from. All of the fashions I’ve listed beneath have a high-quality monitor with a coloration gamut of no less than 100% sRGB, a devoted graphics card with no less than 8GB of reminiscence, and a quick 1TB SSD. In different phrases, machines for a correct photograph and video workload.

• HP 17.3″ OMEN 17-ck1003nr (was $2,149, now $1,599)
• Lenovo 16″ Legion Professional 7i 16IRX8H (was $2,749, now $2,149)
• Razer 17.3″ Razer Blade 17 (was $3,200, now $2,500)
• HP 16″ ZBook Fury 16 G9 (was $3,799, now $3,491)

Right here’s one other post-processing deal for you this week. If you wish to make your life simpler and edit quicker and extra precisely, it’s value contemplating a graphic pill or modifying console. One of many latter, from the specialist firm Loupedeck, is now discounted (was $279, now $229).

Different Pages of Curiosity

Within the flood of digital visible ballast, it’s usually tough to search out high quality pictures. The judges of the recently-announced Refocus Awards does simply that. The successful pictures showcase beautiful pictures in all genres – panorama, wildlife, portraiture, and extra.

There are a lot of nature pictures competitions, however close to the highest of the pyramid is the Pure Historical past Museum’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year. The outcomes gained’t be introduced till October 13, however you may take a primary take a look at the highly-scoring picture already.

I began with black and white and I’ll finish with black and white. If, like me, you take pleasure in pictures of a colourful world diminished to shades of grey, check out the successful pictures from the Black and White Photo Awards.

Picture Theme Problem, Week #13

Final week’s theme was circles, and you’ll see the outcomes on this thread. Thanks to everybody on your submissions! This week’s theme is textures, and you’ll submit your outcomes on this thread by September 8!

Week #12 Outcomes

Let’s check out a few the submissions for the circles theme, beginning with Ronald’s submission:

On this easy setup, he used water, oil, and colored paper to provide his shot. It goes to indicate that should you can’t discover any new topics, use some frequent family provides. A really good interpretation!

The subsequent submission is by OnlyNorth:

I had a sense somebody would possibly use bokeh circles, and that is such an ideal use of them! I really like how the impact actually gives the look that it’s moist exterior, particularly because it’s not all the time straightforward to seize rain.

Lastly, let’s check out one by rjbphoto:

I assumed the distinction between the particular person in shadow and the folks in mild, together with the projection of the ellipse was very good.

Due to everybody who submitted their pictures!