Desktops, Laptops, Raid Drives, 4K Monitors- Gift Guide 2017

Let's talk about pro level gear for your office - the stuff that makes editing photos and video a painless experience - from fast computers and huge raid drives to beautiful 4k monitors in this episode of the 2017 Holiday Gift Guide.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BFb_F4p0KU

5K iMac

Specs -4.2 GHz Intel Core i7 Quad-Core8GB of DDR4 RAM | 512GB SSD (Buy Additional RAM)27" 5120 x 2880 IPS Retina 5K DisplayAMD Radeon Pro 580 Graphics Card (8GB)UHS-II SDXC Card ReaderThunderbolt 3 | USB 3.0 Type-AI have an older version of this iMac and love it - a beautiful screen that needs no calibration and performance that easily handles editing photos and 4k video. I recommend you buy with just 8GB of RAM and buy separately, it is VERY easy to install and saves you almost $400.Buy from B&H Photo: Recommended 5k iMac

15" MacBook Pro

Specs -2.9 GHz Intel Core i7 Quad-Core16GB of 2133 MHz RAM | 512GB SSD15.4" 2880 x 1800 Retina DisplayAMD Radeon Pro 560 Graphics (4GB GGDR5)An updated version of my trusty MacBook Pro - this will handle all your editing needs. While I would love to save a few pounds and go with the 13 the truth is you save less than 2lbs and give up significant screen real estate.  For photo editing that doesn't feel cramped, I need 15" screen.Buy from B&H Photo: Recommended Laptop 15" Macbook Pro

Lacie 6Big -36TB Thunderbolt Raid Drive

Lacie 6Big

Lacie 6Big

Talking backup drives is never very exciting but this raid drive is ridiculously fast and comes in a variety of sizes. I am currently running the 6Big with 6, 6TB drives giving me 30TB of space and peace of mind with the raid system protecting me from drive failure.Specs-6 x 6TB Enterprise-Class 3.5" HDDsSix Hot-Swappable Drive Bays2 x Thunderbolt 3, 1 x USB 3.10/1/5/6/10/50 RAID SupportBuy from B&H Photo: Lacie 6Big

BenQ SW271 27" 16:9 4K IPS Monitor

Specs -27" In-Plane Switching (IPS) MonitorUSB Type-C / HDMI / DP Inputs3840 x 2160 Resolution1000:1 Contrast RatioI have been using this monitor for a few weeks now and the resolution and color is lovely - this is a fantastic monitor for editing with easy custom setup, a removable shade/glare hood and a nice matte finish to the screen.Buy from B&H Photo: Beautiful 4K Monitor

GH5 Hands-on

UPDATE: NEW VIDEO - 6 MONTHS WITH THE GH5I have had the GH4 for three years, the GH5 for three days - Here are my early thoughts on the GH5https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLTkpT6hBVQSummary Review: 

• The GH5 offers 4k at 60fps and it looks gorgeous or shoot 4:2:2 10bit 4k for better color grading
• The sensor is stabilized providing extremely smooth handheld footage with IS enabled lenses
• Slow mo options are better and higher quality
• Low light performance has improved - noticeably better but not OMG amazing difference
• Autofocus seems to be similar, no real improvements over GH4
• Additional Pro level tools- Focus Transition, Waveform and Vector Scopes

SAMPLE GH5 Photos

The GH4 pushed the envelope with a full featured video camera and became an extremely popular camera for videographers of all levels. I personally enjoy how beautiful the footage looks and how user friendly the camera is, well suited to casual vlogging or more serious work.   The GH5 continues to be a class leader with frame rates and/or bit rate recording offerings not seen in any other cameras at this price range.  The stabilized sensor now makes it possible to shoot gorgeously smooth handheld video and the sensor upgrade does better in low light(noticeably better but not dramatically better). Autofocus does still seem to be the achilles heel. Not sure I see any noticeable improvement in AF abilities over the GH4 but I plan to test more and make use of several new AF settings in the menu system.    Follow me on Instagram or twitter for updatesBuy the GH4 from B&H PhotoBuy the GH5 from B&H PhotoBuy the Rode Video Mic Full Review:The Gh5 form and button placement is very similar to the GH4 - though we do have a little joystick nub - useful for menu navigation, focus point selection, the record button has moved up top and the whole camera is slightly bigger and about a 1/2 lb heavier. I am a little bummed that they went bigger heavier, I really like the size of the GH4 but it did allow them to upgrade the viewfinder -which is noticeably bigger and add dual card slots - in the years of hard use and abuse the Gh4 has seen - including shooting days worth of footage in hot Tanzania - I have never had a card or camera write error but having two slots gives you backup, or split video and stills OR just have a massive amount of storage. We also have a full HDMI port and a USB C connection, I am so glad, I hate those fiddly usb3 connections. The USB-C allows for fast image download but does NOT support charging over USB. if you want to charge on the go you need to pick up one of these - And while the Gh5 uses the same battery it does seem like battery life is marginally shorter -likely do to the slightly higher resolution LCD AND the stabilized sensor.A stabilized sensor! And like the G85 I just reviewed and the Olympus OMD em1 Mark II - when paired with certain lenses you get dual stabilization - useful for longer exposures , though so far I can’t can’t seem to hand hold reliably past a 1/2 second -with the olympus I could get 4 seconds and that was without the dual IS lens. But for video you now have silky smooth footage and can throw on small primes and still get decently smooth footage.Let’s take a look at the rest of the features4K at 60fps, nothing else close to this price offers 4k at 60FPS and full sensor use for 4k, no additional crop at 4k like you had with the GH4 - wide lenses stay wide and this provides slight low light improvements. You also have 10 bit recording internally- this means the files respond better to grading and improved slowmo with 180fps at 1080 vs just 120 fps in the Gh4. And with 60 fps at 4k you can do the kind of cinematic slow mo at 30fps and stay at 4KYou now have AUTO ISO available when shooting in Manual Video mode - something I personally appreciate.And while this isn’t a difference from the Gh4 - it's important to mention as I get asked often - there is NO recording limit on the GH4 - as long as you have space on the cards and power, the camera will continue to record. It will NOT stop at 29:59 seconds!And also important for me to mention that you can continue to record 4k even when using the very capable wifi remote - something that sets this camera apart from Olympus and fuji.It’s not just on the video side, this is a more capable stills camera - with a 20MP sensor ,improved low light handlingDOWNLOAD FULL RESOLUTION FILES FROM BOTH CAMERAS

And you have the 6K photo feature - this is where the camera will take 18MP at 30fps and you can pull out individual still images - they are jpegs so it isn’t terribly exciting BUT certainly lets you nail important moments with basically 30fps!You also have the post focus feature and in camera 4k timelapse that I mentioned in the G85 reviewGH4/GH5 AutofocusThe Gh4 AF I have found to be adequate for my uses - I mostly get focus before starting my videos and it always is fast and responsive when you force focus, half press shutter or back button. When I leave AF on during my videos and record my face - it usually does good job, if you watch some of my videos you can see it hunt some when it really shouldn’t in my opinion and those times I want to have a slightly more dynamic video - walking toward or away from the camera - it’s just OK- I’d give it a 6/10 for reliability with tracking, maybe 6.5. The canon 80D or a sony a6500 gets an 8/10 in my opinion. The GH5 seems very similar to the GH4 in regards to focusing. This is something I don’t want to talk in depth about yet because I haven’t tested enough, I will be back with more as soon as I feel I can definitely say if it is the same or better - but for now it seems very similar so if you were really hoping to get a noticeably better AF system with the GH5 - hold off.They have added a sweet focus transition tool - basically let’s you rack focus - setting 3 positions and jumping between them during recording. A great way to use AF during video but with the reassurance it is going to land exactly where you want.   They have also added waveform and vector scopes, pro level features no one else offers.Summary Review: The GH4 pushed the envelope with a full featured video camera and became an extremely popular camera for videographers of all levels. I personally enjoy how beautiful the footage looks and how user friendly the camera is, well suited to casual vlogging or more serious work.   The GH5 continues to be a class leader with frame rates and/or bit rate recording offerings not seen in any other cameras at this price range.  The stabilized sensor now makes it possible to shoot gorgeously smooth handheld video and the sensor upgrade does better in low light(noticeably better but not dramatically better). Autofocus does still seem to be the achilles heel. Not sure I see any noticeable improvement in AF abilities over the GH4 but I plan to test more and make use of several new AF settings in the menu system.    Follow me on Instagram or twitter for updatesBuy the GH4 from B&H PhotoBuy the GH5 from B&H PhotoBuy the Rode Video MicConsider becoming a photorec.tv member - where you get access to my support group along with awesome additional perks and we can have those conversations where you get the answers you are looking for.

Today Only - DJI Phantom 3 4K $500

The big deal of the day today for B&H is the phantom 3 4K for only $500. Unlike the Black Friday deals for the 2.7K versions we've been seeing this is a $800 drone you can get it today only for $300 off!Product Highlights

• 24 fps DCI 4K / 30 fps UHD 4K
• Camera Takes 12MP Still Photos
• Wi-Fi Extender with 3900' Range
• DJI Go App for iOS / Android
• Home and Course Lock Flight Modes
• Follow Me / Waypoint Navigation
• Point of Interest Orbit Mode
• Vision Sensor for Indoor Flight
• Up to 25 Minutes Flying Time
• Mobile Device Holder Included

Get it now at B&H

Other B&H deals for today:

• $39.99 - HUBSAN X4 Mini H107C+ Quadcopter with 720p Camera
• $349.99 - Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM Zoom Lens for Canon DSLRs with APS-C Sensors
• $49.95 - BlackRapid RS-Sport Extreme Sport Strap (Camo) 

Nikon's New KeyMission Action Camera Line

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5MM1I5o8FwYou might remember during CES the KeyMission 360 was the big hit in the news from Nikon as strong competition for GoPro. Albeit this week GoPro stole the news headlines with their Karma Drone. The Nikon KeyMission since then has become a series of action cams with the 360 showcased during the original announcement, a 170 GoPro equivalent, and 80 wearable camera. As for the model numbers the names imply the degree of field of view the cameras can see. 

KeyMission 80

Smaller than your average GoPro, the KeyMission 80 is a rugged wearable camera for the person on the go. The small clip-on camera can record 1080p video, shoot 12MP photos, and 5MP selfies with a rear facing camera. Using SnapBridge it can automatically upload to your phone via Bluetooth and WiFi on the go. At a compact size of 1.8” x 3.5” it’s a convenient option for those wanting to have a camera right there when needed. KeyMission 80 goes where the action is. It's waterproof down to 3.4-feet, freezeproof to 14°F, and shockproof from drops up to 4.9-feet.Watch the KeyMission 80: Product Tourhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_fEmGTWP90

KeyMission 170

The main GoPro clone of this lineup, the KeyMission 170 is built for just that role and that's about it honestly. Built with a F/2.8 8.3MP camera the KeyMission 170 is made for rugged 4K footage. It’s main highlight is Electronic Vibration Reduction for crystal clear video, bar while shooting at 4K. It also has SnapBridge included for sending data to your phone but the 170 and 360 have a special smartphone app for additional features. With a included remote you have control from a distance and the option of tagging highlights to make editing a breeze.  With no additional housing, it's waterproof down to 33-feet, freezeproof to 14°F, shockproof up to a drop of 6.6-feet, and resistant to dust and grit.Watch the KeyMission 170: Product Tourhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jv9m_DSIUSo

KeyMission 360

The original product of the line announced in January, the KeyMission 360 makes it's mark for 360° 4K video. Two 20MP sensors with F/2.0 lenses each shoot 180° and stitch together to make this possible. The KeyMission 360 wants to be your all in one action camera with 23.9MP 360° stills , 4K video, 360° video, timelapses, and more. With 360° photo and video being something Toby’s had an eye on lately the KeyMission 360 makes for an immersive experience, especially in VR as it comes with an included head mounted smartphone display. Compared to the others while it has included SnapBridge for sending data it also can be used to watch live while recording. With no additional housing, KeyMission 360 is waterproof down to 98-feet*, freezeproof down to 14°F and shockproof up to a drop of 6.6-feet.Watch the KeyMission 360: Product Tourhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUlEtzH6llk

 Specifications

	KeyMission 80$279.95	KeyMission 170$399.95	KeyMission 360$499.95
ISO Sensitivity	ISO 100 -1,600	ISO 100 -1,600	ISO 100 -1,600
Megapixels	Front: 12.4 MPRear: 4.9 MP	8.3 MP	23.9 MPImage processing may reduce the number of effective pixels
Screen Size	1.75 in. diagonal	1.5 in. diagonal	N/A
Screen Type	1.75-in. (4.4 cm) approx. 230,000-dot, TFT LCD (touchscreen) with 5-level brightness adjustment	1.5-in. (3.7 cm) TFT LCD monitor, approx. 345,000-dot	N/A
Video	Movie: 1,920x1,080/ 30p (max.)	When NTSC/PAL is set to NTSC3840x2160/ 30p1920x1080/ 120p1920x1080/ 60pWhen NTSC/PAL is set to PAL3840x2160/ 25p1920x1080/ 100p1920x1080/ 50pHigh Speed movie options:HS 1080/ 4xHS 720/ 8x	When NTSC/PAL is set to NTSC3840x2160/ 24p1920x1080/ 24p1440x960/ 30p480x640/ 120p240x320/ 240pWhen NTSC/PAL is set to PAL3840x2160/ 24p1920x1080/ 24p1440x960/ 25p480x640/ 100p240x320/ 200p
HDMI	N/A	HDMI micro connector (type D)	HDMI micro connector (type D)
VR	Lens-Shift VRFront: Lens shift (still images)Combination of lens shift and electronic VR (movies)Rear: Electronic VR (movies)	Movie: Electronic VR function (4K UHD is not supported)	Movie: Electronic VR function (4K UHD is not supported)
Focus	Approx. Front: 4 in. (10 cm.) to infinity from the center of the front surface of the lensRear: 1 ft. 2 in. (35 cm) to infinity from the center of the front surface of the lens	Approx. 1 ft. 4 in. (40 cm.) to infinity from the center of the front surface of the lens	Approx. 1 ft. (30 cm.) to infinity from center of front surface of lens (wide-angle position)
Storage	MicroSD cardSDHC memory cardSDXC memory card	MicroSD cardSDHC memory cardSDXC memory card	MicroSD cardSDHC memory cardSDXC memory card
Battery	Rechargeable lithium-ion battery (built-in)	One Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL12	One Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL12
Dimensions	1.8 in. (44.8 mm) x 3.5 in. (86.5 mm) x 0.6 in. (15 mm)	2.7 in. (66.4 mm) x 1.9 in. (46.8 mm) x 1.7 in. (42.7 mm)	2.6 in. (61.1 mm) x 2.5 in. (65.7 mm) x 2.4 in. (60.1 mm)
Weight	2.7 oz. (74 g)	4.8 oz. (134.5 g)	7 oz. (198 g)

 Buy a KeyMission Today! Pre-orders of the 360 and 170 come with a FREE $149.95 accessory pack! Includes a system case, tripod, extension arm, and extra battery.

KeyMission 80	KeyMission 170	KeyMission 360

Nikon Announcement

 You might have noticed the lens and camera announcements have been fast and furious over the last week as we lead up to CP+ - A big international photo show held in Japan. First we had the Canon 80D, then the new Tamron prime lenses, Sigma's new lenses (cameras too) and the Sigma to FE mount adapter, Panasonics new 12-60 lens and now SIX new cameras from Nikon.  Three are boring Coolpix P&S cameras but the three pictured above is a new line from Nikon - the DL Series. These are all use a 20.8MP CX-format sensor - that's a 1 inch sensor similar to the Sony RX 100 line - clearly a competitor Nikon has set their sights on.  Additionally and like the Sony each of these cameras is capable of shooting 4K video.  Wifi/NFC, 120fps at 1080p round out the main features.  The also all share flip up (or flip out0 touchscreens.   The differences? Focal range/zoom really with a few additional features to support each range. Nikon DL18-50 f/1.8-2.8 Digital Camera Pre Order from B&H Photo - Available June, 28 2016 for $846Highlight Feature: Perspective Control - accurately depict architectural subjects and correct converging lines.My own notes - This may be the new perfect vlogging camera - starting at that wide 18mm is great for hand holding and talking to the camera.  I don't know of anything else that starts as wide with this sized sensor in a compact body.

---

  Nikon DL24-85 f/1.8-2.8 Digital Camera Pre Order from B&H Photo - Available June, 28 2016 for $646Highlight Features:

• Built-in ND filter for maintaining slower shutter speeds or wider aperture settings in bright conditions.
• A Super Macro mode and Focus Bracketing features are also available for producing close-up imagery with life-size magnification with extended depth of field.

My Own Notes - If you don't need the wider 18mm of the first model this price is hard to beat - a great focal range, ND filter And the macro mode all for $646!

---

  Nikon DL24-500 f/2.8-5.6 Digital Camera Pre Order from B&H Photo - Available June, 28 2016 for $996Highlight Features:

• Sport VR mode -  optimized for shooting sports or other fast-moving subjects and helps to keep the built-in 2.359m-dot OLED electronic viewfinder or rear LCD's image stable while panning

My Own Notes - Impressive zoom and glad to see they have added an additional VR to keep it all stable. Pricey though!

---

Additionally Nikon will be offering an electronic Viewfinder - Compatible with the 18-50 and 24-80 the DF-E1 Electronic Viewfinder, which serves as a convenient alternative to the rear screen when working in bright lighting conditions- No info on price or availability yet. Do you think any of these cameras has a chance of dethroning Sony's RX 100 or RX10 series?  let me know in the comments.