Moment Pro Camera App [Android and iOS]

Get Moment Lenses (not required to use App but they work nicely together - see below)I love my Pixel 2 but hate the camera app! Moment (makers of excellent little smartphone lenses) just released an Android App and a revamped iOS app that makes manual control of your smartphone camera easy as pie. The app offers full manual control over shutter speed, ISO, exposure compensation, focus, and white balance via on-screen sliders. Icons across the top give you access to a grid view, self timer and RAW or JPEG shooting.The iOS version offers a few additional features for video recording and dual-stage shutter with half and full press using Apple pressure sense tech.Get Moment on: iOS | Android If you are using Moment lenses you can select the lens and the app dials in the best settings for that attachmentThe app feels snappy and bug-free which is impressive for a 1.0.0 release. I hope we get some additional video features on android but overall I am excited to replace my really limited camera app on the Pixel2 with Moments Pro app which is much more capable.

More about those Moment Lenses

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6UtNjQIAhM

Moment Lenses- The Filmmaker Collection

Have you seen the teasers Moment has been dropping the last couple weeks? So excited to see they finally revealed their new filmmaker collection! Beautiful, cinematic video on your phone. It just launched on Kickstarter so it’s a good time to get it at 30% off.They announced four new products.Anamorphic Lens - $149A lens that makes your videos look widescreen With sweet flares and letterbox screen, this is the holy grail of video. Typically super expensive, but we made it affordable.iPhoneX Battery Photo Case - $99The first photography battery case on the market for iPhoneX. With wireless charging and an electronic shutter button, we make it easier to shoot video and recharge your phone. Universal Gimbal - $40To get butter smooth video on your phone, you need a gimbal. The first adjustable counterweight to balance your gear on a DJI Osmo, Zhiyun SmoothQ, and Evo Shift gimbals. Modular to 60g, 90g, or 120g.Lens Filter Adapter - $40The Moment Filter Mount lets you attach a standard 62mm filter to any of your Moment Lenses. Simply press fit the mount onto your lens and you’re ready to go. Available exclusively on Kickstarter. Early bird pricing starts at 30% off. Ships in June 2018

Apps for Photography

Weather Underground

You are carrying a mini computer with you all the time, why not put it to use? Check out some of our favorite smartphone apps to get your photography going.

Weather Underground (Free)

Google Play

Apple App Store

I like weather undergrounds info and display and they let you set up smart forecasts that can quickly give you an idea of optimal times for various activities including astrophotography.

WU Storm

STORM by Weather Underground (Free)

Apple App Store

Along with weather underground, I use STORM for real-time radar that can be helpful to know exactly when that rain is going to stop at your location. I find watching the radar and the movement of the precip is more accurate in the short term than any forecasts.

NOAA Weather International

NOAA Weather International (Free, $2.99 Ad Free)

Google Play

Apple App Store

AND I sometimes want to know what the weather nerds are saying about the future and the NOAA app gives me a straightforward look at each day and provides an easy click to read the forecast discussion. You can also click to see the elevation of a location on the map. FREE or pay $2.99 to remove the adds.

Tide Charts Near Me

Tide Charts Near Me (Free, $1.99 Ad Free)

Google Play

Apple App Store

I live near the coast and we regularly run workshops on both coasts - knowing the tide is critical to knowing how much beach or rock will be exposed and if the tide is headed out giving you plenty of time to shoot or the tide is coming in when you need to be very careful about getting stranded, Tides- Charts near me is a simple representation of the tides near you - with automatic updating based on your location. FREE or $1.99 to remove the ads.

Photopills

PhotoPills ($9.99)

Google Play

Apple App Store

This is huge and I was pretty happy when they offered an Android app - First I love the widget - at a glance I know sunrise, sunset, moonrise and even the status of the galactic core for my location! Once you dive into the app your find tons of useful info from the planner to the AR that helps you line up for sunsets, sunrises and star trails. Additional calculators further help your planning- tons of useful info and well worth the $10 - you can find most of these items in other apps for free but I haven’t found any that bring them all together in one app.

Squarespace

Squarespace (Free)

Squarespace

The square space app makes it really easy to update your site with posts, photos and even video - The one way to get people to come back to your site again and again and that is to update the content and offer information behind the photos - Squarespace makes it incredibly easy to build a beautiful website and blog and the app makes it really easy to update on the go. Additional apps from Squarespace allow you to track your analytics, keep notes, update your store and more.

It’s fine to put your best work on Instagram but you should have a website where you control everything and display your work professional in a big beautiful way and Squarespace makes it easy to do that - with beautiful custom templates and 24/7 support along with easy custom domains- Get your own website today at

squarespace.com/photorectv

and save 10% off your purchase.

Snapseed

Snapseed (Free)

Google Play

Apple App Store

Still my favorite editor for quick edits of photos captured with the phone or transferred via wifi

Lightroom CC

Lightroom - Full version (Adobe Creative Cloud Required)

Google Play

Apple App Store

If you are smart about syncing Lightroom mobile can be powerful and recent upgrades have seriously improved the capabilities and stability of the app - almost making it my pick over Snapseed for editing... but go watch my Snapseed secrets it is just so quick and powerful once you know a few tricks. Sound good?

Click here to sign up for Adobe Creative Cloud.

Later.com

Later (Free)

Google Play

Apple App Store

I continue to love

Later

for an easy way to get images and captions to your phone - I hate writing captions and hashtags on my mobile device and recent updates to the paid plan give you the best times to post and suggest hashtags making new posts easy.

Sign up today and get started!

Miops

Miops ($30 Dongle or $125 Remote Required)

Google Play

Apple App Store

I talked about this on my recent Yosemite trip - with a small dongle you can trigger your camera in several different ways - really useful - I will be posting a separate video about this system soon.

Pick up the Dongle or Remote on Amazon

TrackR

TrackR (Free, TrackR Required)

Google Play

Apple App Store

This little Bluetooth tracker lets me ping my camera bag and set an alert if it moves outside of Bluetooth range - I have only started using this - certainly not a full proof way to protect your camera bag but at least gives me a little more piece of mind.

Buy a TrackR Today!

New Stuff - LG v30, RX0, EM10 Mark III

LG has made official the LG v30Headline features LG v30-

• 16-MP camera has an aperture of f/1.6
• 13-MP 120 degree view camera
• Cine Effects for recording video
• Lossless audio recording
• 6-inch, 18:9 Quad HD OLED screen
• IP68 water and dust resistant and supports wireless charging
• 600 MHz - Supporting T-mobiles new -faster/broader bandwidth

Available Soon on B&H Photo - View Here

Sony has announced the tiny RX0

It might look like a GoPro competitor but it is that and MUCH more -

Headline features RX0-

• Outputs 4:2:2 UHD 4K Video via HDMI (records 1080p60 internally)
• Ultra-Compact, waterproof (10-meter depth) and shockproof body
• 20MP 1" Stacked CMOS Sensor (double the size of a GoPro sensor)
• Zeiss 24mm-Equivalent Lens, f/4 Aperture
• Manual focus, auto focus and pre focus setting
• 40x Super Slow motion recording, Picture Profile (S-Log2)
• Continuous recording until card is full (NOT limited at 29:59)
• XAVC-S, AVCHD and .MP4 Recording
• Timecode-Sync Multiple Cameras
• Control via App or VP1K Remote
• Preorders start September 5th - $699 from B&H Photo

Sure it looks like a GoPro and comes in a rugged, waterproof housing - additional housing available for deeper than 10-meters, but the 4K out via HDMI, the Timecode-Sync and control of multiple units through the app or Remote means this is really focused on VR and multi camera setups in a variety of conditions. Maybe under a drone or mounted to multiple points on a rally car, or on your scuba mask… the options are endless and with that larger sensor and a higher quality lens - we should see some beautiful footage out of this camera.

Olympus OM-D E-M10 MK III

Headline Features Olympus OM-D E-M10 MK III

• 16.1MP Four Thirds Live MOS Sensor (same sensor as MK II)
• Dual Quad-Core TruePic VIII Processor
• UHD 4K30 Recording
• 3.0" 1.04m-Dot Tilting Touchscreen LCD
• In-Body 5-Axis Image Stabilization
• 121-Point Contrast-Detect AF System
• Up to 8.6 fps Shooting and ISO 25600

Just a minor and mild refresh of the existing E-M10 MK II. The new version upgrades the processor and now supports 4k video, updates to the AF system and a bump to 121 AF points vs 80 in the Mark II.   Slight change to the mode dial as well. The M10 offers a very compact interchangeable lens system at an affordable cost. Nearest competitor - the Panasonic G85 (see my full review of the G85).Shipping later this year. Preorder on B&H Photo now $699 Body Only | $799 w. 14-42 kit Silver and Black bodies available.Which new announcement are you most excited about.

Lightroom Mobile Android RAW Editing

UPDATE: Today only - $30 OFF year subscription to Lightroom and Photoshop CC including LR mobileAdobe has just released a technology preview that allows Android mobile users to directly import RAW files into your mobile device for editing - The list of supported cameras is impressive - most current models- Canon, Nikon, Fuji, Sony and more. See the complete list of supported cameras  iOS users got this update in July.You will need a USB On-The-Go adapter also called an OTG cable that will allow you to directly connect your camera to your android mobile device. Shop OTG cables at B&H or on Amazon OTG cable. -Those are standard micro USB cables. If you have a USB-C device you will need to purchase a USB-C OTG.   iOS users need the SD card adapter. Why do you need a cable/adapter, don't modern cameras offer WiFi transfer?  Yes! But none of those cameras will transfer RAW files via WiFi.Plug the OTG cable into your device and use your standard camera cable to connect to your camera and change to the PTP transfer mode in the Android Notification Center. Then, tap on the notification that indicates “Connected to USB PTP Camera. Tap to view files.” (note - When I connected to my Android LGv10 I did not have to click the notification) You will be presented with an import box. Select the photos you want to import, the collection you want to import the photos into, and tap transfer. Lightroom will transfer the photos and notify you once all of the photos have been imported.

You get all of the benefits of raw, such as the ability to change the white balance, being able to recover blown out highlights, access to the full range of color information, as well as editing an uncompressed file, all using the exact same technology that powers Lightroom on your desktop. An added benefit is that the raw file that you’ve imported into Lightroom for Android will be synced with Lightroom on your other devices, such as Lightroom for desktop or Lightroom on the web, along with any of the edits, star ratings, or flags that you’ve added.Lightroom for Android 2.2 is available now from the Google Play Store.  Will you be editing RAW files on the Go?Do you want to learn Lightroom - I am offering my 6+ hour video course on Lightroom Training for just $18.74 in November!!  More about Lightroom Mobile Editing  

Lightroom Mobile Updates

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQK2k6a1A-ALightroom Mobile has been updated on Android and iOS - Take a look at the new PRO camera built in that provides shutter speed, ISO and exposure compensation and allows DNG(RAW) Capture and editing on your mobile device. Is it as buggy and slow as LRM has been in the past? How does Lightroom Mobile compare to Snapseed? And on iOS you can now edit any RAW file (coming soon with iOS 10 support)SUBSCRIBE for more contentYou can download Lightroom for Android 2.1 here now for free.Lightroom mobile 2.4 is available immediately for iPhone and iPad from the iOS App Store for free.Mobile Photos shot with the new Camera App in Lightroom Mobile 2.1 on Android (DNG Support)https://www.instagram.com/p/BH2pBkoDYO4/?taken-by=photorectobyhttps://www.instagram.com/p/BH1EME7Du0U/?taken-by=photorectoby 

Instagram Feed Changes- BUMMER!?

Instagram announced today that they will be changing your feed from chronological to Algorithmic! Similar to Facebook Instagram will use what it knows about you to display posts it thinks are most relevant to you first.   For now they say that ALL posts will still be visible but I have to say it feels just like a matter of time until certain posts get buried and after that- maybe needing to pay to promote...   I do know I have seen more ads on instagram in the last few months.    What are your thoughts? See the complete post below - FROM INSTAGRAM

See the Moments You Care About FirstMARCH 15, 2016You may be surprised to learn that people miss on average 70 percent of their feeds. As Instagram has grown, it’s become harder to keep up with all the photos and videos people share. This means you often don’t see the posts you might care about the most.

To improve your experience, your feed will soon be ordered to show the moments we believe you will care about the most.

The order of photos and videos in your feed will be based on the likelihood you’ll be interested in the content, your relationship with the person posting and the timeliness of the post. As we begin, we’re focusing on optimizing the order — all the posts will still be there, just in a different order.

If your favorite musician shares a video from last night’s concert, it will be waiting for you when you wake up, no matter how many accounts you follow or what time zone you live in. And when your best friend posts a photo of her new puppy, you won’t miss it.

We’re going to take time to get this right and listen to your feedback along the way. You’ll see this new experience in the coming months.

Based on your comments on my FB post - you feel the same - this is not a good idea

Nexus 6P Camera Review (simple yet decent)

My Quick Thoughts on the Nexus 6PAs a professional photographer and Android user I want to comment mostly on the Nexus 6P camera and camera app.I am really happy we are at a place where flagship android phones offer some of the best image quality out there.The Nexus 6p offers a 12.3 MP camera with an f/2.0 lens and laser-assisted autofocus.   There is No Optical stabilization like we have from several of the other flagship android devices and the iPhone 6s plus.  Google says this lack of OIS is offset by their larger pixels allowing for better low light gathering.   The quick high ISO comparison I did between the Nexus 6P, Iphone 6S+ and the LG V10 shows the Nexus is a clear winner at the higher ISOs.The LGV10 produces the largest resolution file here and, as a result looks a bit noisier.  The detail in the LG V10 when you zoom is significantly greater than the other two.Back to the Nexus 6P- I have been shooting with the camera all weekend and have been impressed with the results, especially in low-light conditions; However, I am disappointed in the very basic camera controls and feel spoiled by the awesome manual camera interface provided by the LG G4 and LG v10.  With the Nexus you are limited to turning HDR on, off or automatic, flash on, off or automatic and setting a timer.   If you want greater control you will need to install a manual camera app.  (Click to Subscribe to be notified when I publish an upcoming video on the best manual photo app) You do have Photo Sphere, Panorama, and the gimmicky Lens Blur options.  Swipe across the screen in photo mode moves you to video - you have 120fps and 240fps for  slow mo (limited to 720p) and the camera is capable of 4k video.  Your standard 1080p is 30fps.  Digital stabilization of video is an option and in my limited testing works decently well. With regards to the High ISO test,  In some real world situations the optical image stabilization offered in the Iphone 6S+ and LG V10 can give those devices an advantage but overall I am really happy with the results from the Nexus 6P. 

I will be back with more sample videos and you can see additional full resolution photos.With the outdoor shots many of the Nexus 6P shots are more true to life than the LG v10 which often have a greenish cast when you compare the two. In the LG V10s defense, I often shoot manual mode and make quick adjustments to the White Balance and exposure compensation which gives me exactly the look I want. Not camera related but I want to mention- the fingerprint sensor in this phone is excellent and I love the back center placement for the sensor, it’s a natural location for my finger when I pick up and hold the phone and it reads my print quickly every time.  Overall This feels like a solid step forward for the Nexus line and anyone wanting excellent image quality would be very happy with this phone. However the photographers that like a bit of control and or those that plan to shoot often should consider something like the LG G4 or LG v10 both offering that microSD card slot for loads more room (missing on the Nexus 6p) replaceable batteries and that excellent manual control built-in.   

Nexus 6p Sample Images

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lT_knRyi_QNexus 6P Sample Images - Scroll down for full resolution images.

 Full Resolution Images from Nexus 6P

LG V10 Vs LG G4 - Video Manual Control

I have been using the LG G4 for much of the travel footage shot in the Iceland and Greece vlogs – I love the quality and ease of use. I don’t love the lack of manual control in video. The LG G4 made headlines by providing native  and seamless manual control when shooting still photos (watch my review) but annoyingly you lose all manual control when you switch to video – this can make some backlit scenes and other tricky exposures very difficult to film.  The LGV10 solves that and throws in a few extra features including:

• Additional Stabilization mode -Optical and Electronic
• Quick Video editing
• Stainless steel frame design
• Customizable audio capture from three in body mics

This is on top of the MicroSD card slot that supports up to 2TB for storage of all those 4k files. - Very quick unboxing and brief tour of the manual video interface below the gallery.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRZq1Kn40qc&feature=youtu.be   Disclaimer- “I received a free device in exchange for my honest product evaluation.”

LG V10 -Full Manual Control for video

We live in exciting times.  I have been using the LG G4 for much of the travel footage shot in the Iceland and Greece vlogs - I love the quality and ease of use. I don't love the lack of manual control in video. The LG G4 made headlines w/ the full manual control when shooting still photos (watch my review) but annoyingly you lose all manual control when you switch to video - this can make some backlit scenes and other tricky exposures very difficult to film. The LG V10 looks to fix that- providing full manual control during video.

"The LG V10 offers users the ultimate in video capturing, editing and sharing. The V10 is the first smartphone to offer manual mode for video."

LG has added a few additional features that differentiate this phone from the lG G4, including:Two screens on the front of the device. There's the main, 5.7-inch display, and just above that is a smaller "always on" screen that can display different content. When the main screen is off, the second screen can display the weather, time and date, and battery level. When the main screen is on, the second screen can be used to for quick-launching apps, accessing favorite contacts, or changing camera settings.Two front facing cameras! Both are 5MP but each offers different fields of view- 120° and 80° The V10 will include software capable of stitching the shots together for a wider view? I am not exactly sure here.Customizable audio capture using the three microphones!Video editing software and the ability to use the Optical Image Stabilization or Electronic Image Stabilization.Available in only a 64GB storage variant and otherwise offering much of the same internals - including the 3,000 mAh battery (removable) and MicroSD card slot capable of supporting up to a 2TB Micro SD Card!! (largest I know of is this 200GB card from SanDisk)Body is a bit flatter with stainless steel and silicon construction and offers a fingerprint reader too.The promo video is. . well a bit cheesy, but doesn't dampen my enthusiasm for what could be a serious video tool.   Do you share my excitement? Let me know in the comments.https://youtu.be/ELD_6aeHGKQFull SpecsKey Specifications:*Chipset: Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 808 ProcessorDisplay: Main) 5.7-inch QHD IPS Quantum Display (2560 x 1440 / 513ppi)Secondary) 2.1-inch IPS Quantum Display (160 x 1040 / 513ppi)Memory: 4GB LPDDR3 RAM / 64GB eMMC ROM / microSD (up to 2TB)Camera: Rear) 16MP with F1.8 Aperture / OIS 2.0Front) 5MP Dual Lens (80o Standard Angle / 120o Wide Angle)Battery: 3,000mAh (removable)OS: Android 5.1.1 LollipopSize: 159.6 x 79.3 x 8.6mmWeight: 192gNetwork: LTE-A Cat. 6Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 a, b, g, n, ac / Bluetooth 4.1 / NFC / USB 2.0Colors: Space Black / Luxe White / Modern Beige / Ocean Blue / Opal BlueQuick video of stabilization in actionhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykPrvAK7UIs