Mish Mash Highlights: 2/28/2018

Photography news

A post shared by Toby (@photorectoby) on

A big week for photography news, it's the end of the WPPI conference with Toby in Las Vegas to cover the event. We've got early thoughts on the new Sony a7III as well as a bevy of lenses, flashes, and more gear. As always this is your weekly highlights with photography news, Instagram top picks, photos from space, and more!While Toby does the Live Show for PEN this is your quick peek at what we’re doing behind the scenes. But, you can always join Photo Enthusiast Network and watch Toby live, find out more at Photorec.tv/pen. For everyone that are already PEN members, thank you for supporting the site!

This Week at Photorec.tv

Preorders are live for the Sony a7III in body only and with a 28-70mm lens

Around the Web

We can't cover everything photography news related but we try. For everything else, we've got the best news articles from around the web.The Canon EOS 4000D might be the cheapest DSLR ever launchedCanon introduces EOS Rebel T7 with updated 24MP sensorCanon's beginner line just got updated with the T7 and there's a new budget-friendly 4000D coming to Europe only for now. The T7 gets an upgrade to the current 24MP sensor but that's about it as Canon is trying to push their higher end models. The 4000D will be an even more streamlined version of the T7 for around $385 body only.

Canon T7Canon 4000D

6 Things to Know About Vero, the App Everyone and Their Mother Is Talking AboutAs you might have heard, everywhere, there's a new hot app for photographers on the market called Vero. It's currently having growing pains while upgrading servers to fill demand it's a bit tricky to log in at the moment. Vero is like Instagram in terms of posting, but there's no pesky algorithm in your way, making it a fan of those annoyed with Facebook and Instagram's filtering posts. Billed as a social media platform for users it has no ads, paying for the service with an in-app buy now feature and eventual subscription for later users. There has been a backlash towards the app though, as it's founder has a shady past. If this sounds interesting hurry up, as only the first million subscriptions are free. You can find me at roymckeeiii and Toby at photorectoby.

Get Vero at Google Play or the Apple App Store

Hot Deal! Thanks to WPPI this week get the Canon Pixma Pro-100 Printer for just $99.99 with code BHWPPI18Other Stories You Might Like:

Featured Photos Weekly Challenge

Instagram Challenge

This Week’s Challenge: #PRTV_DIY

A do it yourself week with those little DIYs, photography related or not. It's nice to challenge yourself from time to time and these little projects can net you some interesting shots.Next Week's Challenge: #PRTV_MoodNext week is a bit trickier as you have to capture emotion. While portraits could be key this week you can think out of the box for something such as a rainy day for feeling down and sad. Remember color can play big into this, we read into things a lot and color can be that extra little push that can make the scene.

Roy’s Features:

Bubble solution for a neat DIY! I like the blue stripe for whatever was in the background. Check out Jane's post for some tips on doing this one.

Instagram Challenge

Sharp and colorful! It's certainly a neat DIY with lots of color. 

Capturing smoke takes a lot of photos but you can get some neat shots. What does this one look like to you?

For more info, the schedule, and past top picks go check out photorec.tv/prtv. Try out some of Toby's Instagram Tips. For everything else Instagram, tag those shots #PRTV and #penlive for our daily photo features.

Photos from Space

NASA spacecraft snaps breathtaking photo of Jupiter storm

A snapshot from Juno recently released by Nasa of Jupiter's giant red dot.Jupiter

Also check out: Satellite Eye on Earth: January 2018 - in picturesMajor Tom Spaceman LED LightPick up a "Major Tom" spaceman LED light for your computer today. Part of Toby's Photos from space segment and it helps support the site. Click here to buy your own Major Tom on Amazon.Want to keep up with things happening this year? Sync your calendar with the solar system

That's all folks! We'll be back next week with even more of your photo news. If you guy's like the highlights leave us comments on the social media posts and we'll keep this going! For Pen members, Toby will be back on air March 28th.

The Sony a7III - Sony's 4k Update to Entry Level Full Frame

https://youtu.be/rdZaqXd6hMsSony has just announced the a7iii. A followup to their entry level full frame mirrorless a7ii.The Sony a7iii Specs:

  • Redesigned 24MP Sensor

  • 693 AF Points with A9s Eye-AF system (Better than a7Riii)

  • 15 stop Dynamic Range

  • 5 axis IBIS

  • 10fps with 14 bit raw (also 14 bit raw while silent)

  • 4k HDR, 6k full readout, Slog 2 & 3 and HLG

  • Uses Z Battery Rated at 710 shots longest battery life of any mirrorless camera ever

  • Dual SDcard slots, joystick, touchscreen, USB-C,

  • Available in April for $2,000 - Preorders start Wed

SmallGif.gif
Sony a7III Video

Sony a7III Video

At $2,000 for the a7III you get a NEW BSI 24.2 MP sensor offering- 10 FPS (silent or mechanical shutter), 15 stops of range and 4k Video. Combine that with 425 contrast Autofocus points, 693 phase detection autofocus points, eye AF,  5-axis in-body stabilization and a redesigned body that offers a bigger grip, a focus point joystick and a touchscreen. Not to mention the longest battery life of any mirrorless camera.With a lot of tech being brought in from the a7RIII and a9 it's fast. You can capture up to 177 JPEG images, 89 compressed RAW, or 40 uncompressed RAW images before filling the buffer. As with the other models, there is a partial lockout of camera functions while the data saves to the memory card. AF is about twice as fast as the A7II and significantly improved low light capabilities. The Eye-AF system is BETTER than the a7RIII! And it's REALLY good in the A7RIII!Offering 4K video with HLG(HDR) and S-Log2 and S-Log3. The 4k file is downsampled from 6k which when working off a 24mp sensor should give excellent low light results.  Full HD at 120fps to round it out.The design mirrors the a9, a7Riii batteries with dual SD card slots, slot one is SDXC II compatible. Same battery as a9/a7riii, the NP-FZ100 battery provides 710 shots per charge, that is actually the highest rating of any mirrorless on the market battery, the a7RIII is rated at 650 shots. USB-C for fast transfer of photos and video, tethered shooting and doubling as a power supply. There is also a micro USB port.My full review from Vegas will be released soon, don't forget to follow on Instagram at @photorectoby or subscribe to Youtube to be notified of the Sony a7iii review release

Preorders start 11 am ET, Feb 28th at B&H

Sony a7III Body Only

Sony a7III Body Only

Sony Alpha a7 III Mirrorless Digital Camera (Body Only)

Sony Alpha a7 III Mirrorless Digital Camera with 28-70mm Lens

Sony Alpha a7 III Mirrorless Digital Camera with 28-70mm Lens

Sony Alpha a7 III Mirrorless Digital Camera with 28-70mm Lens

My Sony a7III Photos from Sony Launch Event

[gallery ids="17740,17741,17742,17743,17744,17745,17746,17747,17748"]

Sample Images from Sony

[gallery ids="17715,17716,17717,17718,17719,17720,17721,17722,17723,17724,17725"]

Specs

Sony a7 III

Sony a7 II

Lens Mount

Sony E-Mount

Sony E-Mount

Camera Format

Full-Frame

Full-Frame

Pixels

24 MP: 6000 x 4000 (new BSI Sensor)

24 MP: 6000 x 4000

File Formats

Still Images: JPEG, RAWMovies: AVCHD Ver. 2.0, MPEG-4 AVC/H.264, XAVC SAudio: AC3, Dolby Digital 2ch, Linear PCM (Stereo)

Still Images: JPEG, RAWMovies: AVCHD Ver. 2.0, MPEG-4, XAVC SAudio: AAC LC, Dolby Digital 2ch, Linear PCM (Stereo)

Bit Depth

14-Bit

14-Bit

Memory Card Type

SDSDHCSDXCMemory Stick Pro DuoMemory Stick PRO HG-Duo

SDXCSDHCSDMemory Stick PRO Duo (High Speed)Memory Stick PRO HG-DuoMemory Stick XC-HG Duo

Image Stabilization

Sensor-Shift, 5-Way

Sensor-Shift, 5-Way

Video Format

3840 x 2160p at 23.98, 25, 29.97 fps (100 Mb/s XAVC S via H.264)3840 x 2160p at 23.98, 25, 29.97 fps (60 Mb/s XAVC S via H.264)1920 x 1080p at 100, 120 fps (100 Mb/s XAVC S via H.264)1920 x 1080p at 100, 120 fps (60 Mb/s XAVC S via H.264)1920 x 1080p at 23.98, 25, 29.97, 50, 59.94 fps (50 Mb/s XAVC S via H.264)1920 x 1080p at 50, 59.94 fps (25 Mb/s XAVC S via H.264)1920 x 1080p at 25, 29.97 fps (16 Mb/s XAVC S via H.264)1920 x 1080i at 50, 59.94 fps (24 Mb/s AVCHD via H.264)1920 x 1080i at 50, 59.94 fps (17 Mb/s AVCHD via H.264)

1920 x 1080p at 24, 30, 60 fps (50 Mb/s XAVC S)1920 x 1080p at 60 fps (28 Mb/s AVCHD)1920 x 1080i at 60 fps (24 Mb/s AVCHD)1920 x 1080i at 60 fps (17 Mb/s AVCHD)1920 x 1080p at 24 fps (24 Mb/s AVCHD)1920 x 1080p at 24 fps (17 Mb/s AVCHD)1440 x 1080 at 30 fps (12 Mb/s MP4)640 x 480 at 30 fps (3 Mb/s MP4)

Video Clip Length

Up to 29 Minutes

Up to 29 Minutes

Autofocus

Phase Detection: 693Contrast Detection: 425Automatic (A), Continuous-Servo AF (C), Direct Manual Focus (DMF), Manual Focus (M), Single-servo AF (S)

Phase Detection: 117Contrast Detection: 25Continuous-Servo AF (C), Direct Manual Focus (DMF), Manual Focus (M), Single-servo AF (S)

Viewfinder Type

Electronic, 100% Coverage

Electronic, 100% Coverage

Buffer/Continuous Shooting

Up to 10 fps at 24.2 MP for up to 89 Frames in Raw FormatUp to 10 fps at 24.2 MP for up to 177 Frames in JPEG FormatUp to 8 fps at 24.2 MP

Up to 5 fps at 24 MP for up to 50 Frames

Built-in Flash

No

No

Connectivity

HDMI D (Micro), USB 2.0 Micro-B, USB 3.0, USB Type-C, Wi-Fi

1/8″ Headphone, 1/8″ Microphone, HDMI D (Micro), Micro-USB, Multi Interface Terminal, Wi-Fi

Dimensions (W x H x D)

5.0 x 3.9 x 3.0" / 127.0 x 99.1 x 76.2 mm

5.0 x 3.8 x 2.4″ / 126.9 x 95.7 x 59.7 mm

Weight

1.4375 lb / 652 g

1.223 lb / 556 g

Mish Mash Highlights: 2/21/2018

Photography NewsYellowstone 2018Toby's in Yellowstone with Animals of Montana having an awesome time, if a bit snowy with the trucks going through two-foot drifts. As always this is your weekly photography news, Instagram top picks, photos from space, and more! After a story came out a couple weeks ago about a photography shoot at a craft store Michaels stores are free to shoot, up for a challenge?Yellowstone 2018 BisonWhile Toby does the Live Show for PEN this is your quick peek at what we’re doing behind the scenes. Get this week’s news, our Instagram challenge top picks, and more. But you can always join Photo Enthusiast Network and watch Toby live, find out more at Photorec.tv/pen. For everyone that are already PEN members, thank you for supporting the site!

This Week at Photorec.tv

Around the Web

We can't cover everything photography news related but we try. For everything else, we've got the best news articles from around the web.Michaels: Yes, You Can Do That Portrait Challenge In Our StoresThe next viral thing is shooting portraits in a craft store full of fake flowers. Originally starting with Hobby Lobby, their chain has pushed back as it's against store policy. Michaels craft stores instead have fully adopted the idea asking people to come in and tag your photos #michaelschallenge. Just give the workers some fair warning, and tag #PRTV so we can see your shots as well!

Sony Creates Groundbreaking Backlit CMOS Sensor with Global ShutterOne of the complaints about the Sony a7RII was that it suffered from rolling shutter. If something is moving fast enough in the frame the sensor could not keep up with the subject (the sensor scans row by row) and you'd get odd distortions in your photo with parts of the subject. Sony is trying to beat the issue by incorporating a global shutter that captures the entire image at once fixing this issue. Right now their test sensor is just 1.46MP but it's a great start for the next generation of camera sensors.Taking Apart The Sony A7rIII – In Search of Better Weather SealingInterested in the Sony A7rIII but worried about the weatherproofing? Lens Rentals has completely gutted the new camera to see what makes it tick. Check out this article for all the weatherproofing till the very last screw.Other Stories You Might Like:

Featured Photos Weekly Challenge

Instagram Challenge

This Week’s Challenge: #PRTV_negativespace2

Less is more, literally this week with the Negative Space challenge. You guys nailed it with some really great photos so go hit that hashtag linked above to see all the shots. Putting all that focus on your subject can really lead to a great image if you give it the room it needs with that negative space.Next Week's Challenge: #PRTV_DIYEver have a DIY project you wanted to try? Now is the chance, especially with Michaels open for some neat in-store photos. Custom bokeh, vaseline for blurring, a neat backdrop, light flares, or your own DIY ... this week it's a chance to try something different.If you do hit up a Michaels use the tag #MichaelsChallenge as well!

Toby’s Features:

Love the wide mouth - the perfectly centered seagull and that flat gray.

jimsjourney3

So sharp, so perfectly blue and so close to the edge of the frame- look at all that negative space!

Little duck - big pond - love the space, the ripples- well done!

 

Roy’s Features:

This is great with all the focus on the bridge, you lucked out on the weather.

explore_with_jan

A great closeup and that bokeh really singles out the flower.

angry_runner

Lots of space using this hole as a way to peep through and simplify your shot with a bit of framing.

congliocchidianna

For more info, the schedule, and past top picks go check out photorec.tv/prtv. Try out some of Toby's Instagram Tips. For everything else Instagram, tag those shots #PRTV and #penlive for our daily photo features.

Photos from Space

The Opportunity Rovers 5,000th Day on Mars

Sunrise on Mars: Our Opportunity rover was built to last 90 sols, or Martian days. The intrepid rover has survived to see 5,000 sols of exploration and counting. A sol lasts about 40 minutes longer than an Earth day. Here we see sunrise as a new day breaks over the Red Planet on sol 4,999, Feb. 15, 2018. This view looking across Endeavour Crater was taken with Opportunity’s Panoramic Camera (Pancam), yielding this processed, approximately true-color scene. This view combines three separate exposures taken and was processed to correct for some of the oversaturation and glare, though it still includes some artifacts from pointing a camera with a dusty lens at the Sun. Opportunity has driven a little over 28.02 miles (45.1 km) since it landed in the Meridiani Planum region of Mars in January 2004. Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Cornell/Arizona State Univ./Texas A&M #sunrise #science #space #Mars #martian #NASA #JPL #MER #robots #omgrobots #technology #sun #opportunity #planet #newday

A post shared by NASA (@nasa) on

Also: He Took a Picture of a Supernova While Setting Up His New CameraMajor Tom Spaceman LED LightPick up a "Major Tom" spaceman LED light for your computer today. Part of Toby's Photos from space segment and it helps support the site. Click here to buy your own Major Tom on Amazon.Want to keep up with things happening this year? Sync your calendar with the solar system

That's all folks! We'll be back next week with even more of your photo news and a live show. If you guy's like the highlights leave us comments on the social media posts and we'll keep this going! For Pen members, Toby will be back on air March 28th.

Fujifilm X-H1 Mirrorless Camera - Serious Video Specs!

Screenshot-2018-02-15-16.26.51-650x263.png
Screenshot-2018-02-15-16.27.46-387x400.png

Fuji has announced the X-H1 - similar and size and shape to the much loved Fuji X-T2 series (you can see my review of the X-T2 here) this camera is aimed squarely at videographers. Yes, it can still take great photos like the X-T2 but the feature set packed inside is really all about video.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AofDYo-tw8The standout features - In body stabilization 5 stops, 4k at 200Mbps with boosted dynamic range possible, internal DCI 4k and 120fps at 1080.While the body looks like a slightly larger Fuji X-T2 it has a top LCD that always remains on.Based on the quality of video I saw when I shot with the Fuji X-T2, I expect this camera to perform really well.  I hope to pair this against a Sony a6500, on paper the two are quite similar but the internal 4k log format is a benefit for Fuji shooters AND Fuji has some fantastic native lenses - Sony has a few but most video shooters choose to adapt which can be a little clunky at times.  The other competitor is the Panasonic GH5 and GH5s. Competition is good and I look forward to shooting with the X-H1 soon and making some comparisons against the competitors.One item to note- like the Fuji X-T2, the X-H1 is limited to just 15 minutes of 4k footage unless you are using the battery grip - purchased separately.  The X-H1 will be available Starting March 1st for $1899 body only and $2199 bundled with the VPB-XH1 vertical grip.

Preorder from B&H Photo

Sample Images

[gallery td_select_gallery_slide="slide" ids="17627,17628,17629,17630,17631,17632"]

Specifications

Camera Format

APS-C

Effective Pixels

24.3 MP

Sensor

23.5mm x 15.6mm(APS-C) X-Trans CMOS III with primary color filter.

Storage media

SD Card (-2G) / SDHC Card (-32G) / SDXC Card (-512G) UHS-I / UHS-II

File format

Still image

JPEG (Exif Ver.2.3)*2, RAW : 14bit RAW(RAF original format), RAW+JPEG

Movie

MOV (MPEG-4 AVC / H.264, Audio: Linear PCM / Stereo sound 24bit / 48KHz sampling)

Number of recorded pixels

L: (3:2) 6000 x 4000 / (16:9) 6000 x 3376 / (1:1) 4000 x 4000M: (3:2) 4240 x 2832 / (16:9) 4240 x 2384 / (1:1) 2832 x 2832S: (3:2) 3008 x 2000 / (16:9) 3008 x 1688 / (1:1) 2000 x 2000

Lens mount

FUJIFILM X mount

Sensitivity

Standard Output Sensitivity : AUTO1 / AUTO2 / AUTO3(up to ISO12800) / ISO200 to 12800(1/3 step)Extended output sensitivity : ISO100 / 125 / 160 /25600 / 51200

Exposure control

TTL 256-zone metering, Multi / Spot / Average / Center Weighted

Exposure mode

P (Program AE) / A (Aperture Priority AE) / S (Shutter Speed Priority AE) / M (Manual Exposure)

Exposure compensation

-5.0EV - +5.0EV, 1/3EV step(Movie : -2.0EV - +2.0EV)

Image Stabilizer

Mechanism

Image sensor shift mechanism with 5-axis compensation

Compensation Effect

5.5 stops (based on CIPA standard. Pitch/yaw shake only. With XF35mmF1.4 R lens mounted.

Shutter type

Focal Plane Shutter

Shutter speed

Mechanical Shutter

P mode: 4sec. to 1/8000sec. A mode: 30sec. to 1/8000sec.S/M mode: 15min. to 1/8000sec. Bulb mode: up to 60min.

Electronic Shutter

*3P mode: 4sec. to 1/32000sec. A mode: 30sec. to 1/32000sec.S/M mode: 15min. to 1/32000sec. Bulb mode: 1sec. FixedElectronic front curtain shutterP mode: 4sec. to 1/8000sec. A mode: 30sec. to 1/8000sec.S/M mode: 15min. to 1/8000sec. Bulb mode: up to 60min.Mechanical + Electronic shutterP mode: 4sec. to 1/32000sec. A mode: 30sec. to 1/32000sec.S/M mode: 15min. to 1/32000sec. Bulb mode: up to 60min.E-front + Mechanical shutterP mode: 4sec. to 1/8000sec. A mode: 30sec. to 1/8000sec.S/M mode: 15min. to 1/8000sec. Bulb mode: up to 60min.*Electronic front curtain shutter works until 1/2000sec.E-front + Mechanical + Electronic shutterP mode: 4sec. to 1/32000sec. A mode: 30sec. to 1/32000sec.S/M mode: 15min. to 1/32000sec. Bulb mode: up to 60min.*Electronic front curtain shutter works until 1/2000sec.Synchronized shutter speed for flash1/250sec. or slower

Continuous shooting

Approx. 14fps [Only electronic shutter ](JPEG: 40 frames Lossless compression RAW: 27 frames Uncompressed RAW: 23 frames)Approx. 11fps [with VPB-XH1](JPEG: 70 frames Lossless compression RAW: 28 frames Uncompressed RAW: 24frames)Approx. 8fps (JPEG: 80 frames Lossless compression RAW: 31 frames Uncompressed RAW: 26 frames)Approx. 6fps [Only electronic front curtain shutter ](JPEG: endless Lossless compression RAW: 35 frames Uncompressed RAW: 28 frames)Approx. 5fps (JPEG: endless Lossless Compression RAW: 37 frames Uncompressed RAW: 29 frames)* Recordable frames depends on recording media* Speed of continuous shooting depends on shooting environment and shooting frames

Auto bracketing

AE Bracketing (±3EV,±8/3EV,±7/3EV,±2EV, ±5/3EV, ±4/3EV, ±1EV, ±2/3EV, ±1/3EV)Filmsimulation bracketing (Any 3 types of film simulation selectable)Dynamic Range Bracketing (100%, 200%, 400%)ISO sensitivity Bracketing (±1/3EV, ±2/3EV, ±1EV)White Balance Bracketing (±1, ±2, ±3)

Focus

Mode

Single AF / Continuous AF / MF

Type

Intelligent Hybrid AF (TTL contrast AF / TTL phase detection AF)AF frame selectionSingle point AF: EVF / LCD: 13 x 7 / 25 x 13 (Changeable size of AF frame among 6 types)Zone AF: 3 x 3 / 5 x 5 / 7 x 7 from 91 areas on 13 x 7 gridWide/Tracking AF: (up to 18 area)* AF-S : Wide* AF-C : TrackingAll

White balance

Automatic Scene recognition / Custom1-3 / Color temperature selection (2500K-10000K) / Preset: Fine, Shade, Fluorescent light (Daylight), Fluorescent light (Warm White), Fluorescent light (Cool White), Incandescent light, Underwater

Self-timer

10sec. / 2sec.

Interval timer shooting

Yes (Setting : Interval, Number of shots, Starting time)

Flash modes

SYNC. MODE1ST CURTAIN / 2ND CURTAIN / AUTO FP(HSS)FLASH MODETTL (FLASH AUTO / STANDARD / SLOW SYNC.) / MANUAL / COMMANDER / OFF (When EF-X8 is set)

Hot shoe

Yes (Dedicated TTL Flash compatible)

Viewfinder

0.5 inch approx. 3.69 millions dots OLED Color ViewfinderCoverage of viewing area vs. capturing area: approx. 100%Eyepoint: approx. 23mm (from the rear end of the camera’s eyepiece) Diopter adjustment: -4-+2m

-1

Magnification: 0.75x with 50mm lens (35mm equivalent) at infinity and diopter set to -1.0m

-1

Diagonal angle of view: approx. 38° (Horizontal angle of view: approx. 30° )Built-in eye sensor

LCD monitor

3.0 inch, aspect ratio 3:2, approx. 1.04 millions dots touch screen color LCD monitor(approx. 100% coverage)

Movie recording

[4K (4096 x 2160)] 24p / 23.98p 200Mbps / 100Mbps / 50Mbps up to approx. 15min.[4K (3840 x 2160)] 29.97p / 25p / 24p / 23.98p 200Mbps / 100Mbps / 50Mbps up to approx. 15min.[Full HD (2048 x 1080)] 59.94p / 50p / 29.97p / 25p / 24p / 23.98p 100Mbps / 50Mbps up to approx. 20min.[Full HD (1920 x 1080)] 59.94p / 50p / 29.97p / 25p / 24p / 23.98p 100Mbps / 50Mbps up to approx. 20min.[Full HD (1920 x 1080) High speed rec.] 59.94p / 50p / 29.97p / 25p / 24p / 23.98p 200Mbps up to approx. 6min.[HD (1280 x 720)] 59.94p / 50p / 29.97p / 25p / 24p / 23.98p 50Mbps up to approx. 30min.* For recording movies, use a card with UHS Speed Class 3 or higher.* With Vertical Power Booster Grip attached, individual movie recording time is extended up to approx. 30min. on both 4K and Full HD mode.* Although movie recording will continue without interruption when the file size reaches 4GB, subsequent footage will be recorded to a separate file which must be viewed separately.

Film Simulation mode

16 modes (PROVIA/Standard, Velvia/Vivid, ASTIA/Soft, Classic Chrome, PRO Neg.Hi, PRO Neg.Std, Black & White, Black & White+Ye Filter, Black & White+R Filter, Black & White+G Filter, Sepia, ACROS, ACROS+Ye Filter, ACROS+R Filter, ACROS+G Filter, ETERNA/Cinema)

Grain effect

STRONG, WEAK, OFF

Dynamic range setting

AUTO, 100%, 200%, 400%ISO restriction (DR100%: No limit, DR200%: ISO400 or more, DR400%: ISO800 or more)

Advanced filter

Toy camera, Miniature, Pop color, High-key, Low-key, Dynamic tone, Soft focus, Partial color (Red / Orange / Yellow / Green / Blue / Purple)

Wireless transmitter

StandardIEEE 802.11b / g / n (standard wireless protocol)EncryptionWEP / WPA / WPA2 mixed modeAccess modeInfrastructure

Bluetooth®

StandardsBluetooth Ver. 4.0 (Bluetooth low energy)Operating frequency[Center frequency]2402 - 2480MHz

Terminal

Digital interfaceUSB3.0 (High-Speed) / micro USB terminal* connectable with Remote Release RR-90 (sold separately)HDMI outputHDMI micro connector (Type D)Othersø3.5mm, stereo mini connector (Microphone) / ø2.5mm, Remote Release ConnectorHot shoe, Syncronized terninal

Power supply

NP-W126S Li-ion battery (included)Battery life for still images*4Approx. 310frams (Normal Mode) When XF35mmF1.4 R is set.Actual battery life of movie capture*4*Face detection is set to OFF4K: approx. 35 min., FULL HD: approx. 45 min.Continuance battery life of movie capture*4*Face detection is set to OFF4K: approx. 45 min., FULL HD: approx. 75 min.

Dimensions

(W) 139.8mm x (H) 97.3mm x (D) 85.5mm (minimum depth 39.5mm)

Weight

Approx 673g(including battery and memory card)Approx 623g(excluding battery and memory card)

Operating Temperature

-10°C - +40°C

Operating Humidity

10 - 80% (no condensation)

Starting up period

Approx 0.4sec.* Fujifilm research

Accessories included

Li-ion battery NP-W126SBattery charger BC-W126Shoe-mount flash unit EF-X8Shoulder strapBody capStrap clipProtective coverClip attaching toolHot shoe coverVertical Power Booster Grip connector coverSync terminal coverCable protectorOwner's manual

Mish Mash Highlights: 2/14/2018

Photography NewsHappy Valentines Day from all of us at Photorec.tv! It's been a bit of a quick week but we've got a big release from Lightroom and a new lens from Sigma. Not to mention with the Winter Olympics in swing we've got the always popular gear stashes from Canon and Nikon.While Toby does the Live Show for PEN this is your quick peek at what we're doing behind the scenes. Get this week's news, our Instagram challenge top picks, and more. But you can always join Photo Enthusiast Network and watch Toby live, find out more at Photorec.tv/pen. For everyone already PEN members, thank you for supporting the site!

This Week at Photorec.tv

  • PEN Only - Tuesday Tip - Shooting After Dark
    • PEN members, your email yesterday was ideas and tips for shooting in the dark. Not everyone gets out then and it's a great time to experiment with some ideas from Toby.
  • Sigma Announces 14-24mm F/2.8 Art Full-frame Lens
    • Sigma is coming out with one of the big three lenses in the lens holy trinity. If you are shopping around it's the lens to check out for wide angle lenses. We'll be eagerly waiting to review it.
  • 2018 Olympics Cameras
    • Camera Porn! Go check out Canon CPS and Nikon NPS gear stashes for the Winter Olympics.

Around the Web

We can't cover everything photography news related but we try. For everything else, we've got the best news articles from around the web.Lightroom Classic CC 7.2 Brings Speed Boost and New FeaturesLightroom finally received another speed update. While not a true speed boost that you may be thinking of, for those with higher end computers this will help a bit and especially when exporting. In terms of specs computers with multi-core CPUs and 12GB+ of RAM are getting most of the benefits from this update as this focuses more on batch processes that use a lot of resources. For those that found Lightroom slowed down while using it over a day, you might see a big speed boost there as well as they've patched some memory leak issues.The big thing to remember is that this is just a first step, from here we'll continue to see more speed updates in future releases making YOUR workflow even faster.Update Includes:

  • Faster import grid loading
  • Faster import and preview generation
  • Faster walking through images in the Loupe View
  • Faster rendering of adjustments in Develop
  • Faster merge operations of HDR/Panos
  • Faster export
  • New catalog search features

LUTs Compatible With Capture One and Lightroom Thanks to Lutify.meFor those wanting a bit more of a cinematic feel to their photos, Lutify.me made it possible for you to get that look in Lightroom and Capture One. First off, this is not a preset, your sliders won't move as in Lightroom this change is applied to your color profile. You'll still have room to tweak your photos via the sliders. In Lightroom's Develop module if you scroll all the way to the bottom this is the setting in camera calibration, which can add a lot to the right photo.[gallery td_select_gallery_slide="slide" ids="17571,17572"]

Check it out at lutify.me. You can try out their free set to give this a try. To get Lightroom Luts they are available at $59.99 for 204 Luts, $19.90 a year after if you'd like more updates.

What happened to the photography industry in 2017?[embed]https://youtu.be/DhScE6GFdzI[/embed]An update on a year of photography in the industry. As a first in a decade, over 2017 manufacturers produced more cameras than 2016. A bit of a surprise to some as compact cameras were responsible for a big part of the growth. Not to mention the big push towards mirrorless with folks like Toby making the plunge to Sony and other brands. Watch this video from Lensvid for more info.Skydio R1 4K camera drone boasts game-changing autonomous techFollowing DJI's active avoidance software the new Skydio R1 boasts more advanced software that can navigate through dense woods. Using 13 cameras that work in unison with a powerful onboard system the R1 can plan out movement to avoid branches and leaves in real time to track a subject. While I am a bit more wait and see about these things after the Lily camera drone failure it is good to be seeing some competition coming after DJI's market. While this only has a limited 16 minute flight time it may at least be a proof of concept for smart drones.https://youtu.be/gsfkGlSajHQ Other Stories You Might Like:

Featured Photos Weekly Challenge

Instagram Challenge

This Week’s Challenge: #PRTV_favoritethings

A freebie week for your favorite things, and fitting for Valentines. Something a bit different to give you guys the freedom to submit anything you wanted to try out.Next Week's Challenge: #PRTV_negativespace2Giving your subject a bit of room to breathe is important for composition so this week we’re focusing on Negative Space. A good tip for this challenge is that the closer your subject is to the edge of the shot, the stronger its composition can be in terms of tension which draws focus. So go out there and get creative! 

Toby’s Features:

@angry_runner - I love this photo, they are framed nicely in this space and it's a great shot using natural framing.

@jenandrewsphoto - This is just a really nice image with the jet black background and a sweet moment.

@asifzbaig - I like this one. It's this road that works as a leading line that makes this work.

Roy’s Features:

@karlsmovingcastle - A nice bit of color and a great silhouette with these boats.

@ektull21 - It’s a neat shot and staying low to your subject is great for showing those layers (one of the three Hero angles)

@vanakatherock - And takeoff! There’s nothing like capturing a bit of history.

For more info, the schedule, and past top picks go check out photorec.tv/prtv. Then try out some of Toby's Instagram Tips. For everything else Instagram, tag those shots #PRTV and #penlive for our daily photo features.

Photos from Space

We're continuing the Starman theme from last week, with the right tech you can just barely still see the Telsa sent to space. Check out more about this feat at DIYphotography.https://youtu.be/m4r54ODsOM0Major Tom Spaceman LED LightPick up a "Major Tom" spaceman LED light for your computer today. Part of Toby's Photos from space segment and it helps support the site. Click here to buy your own Major Tom on Amazon.Want to keep up with things happening this year? Sync your calendar with the solar system

 That's all folks! Toby and Co will be out in Yellowstone next week so that means we'll just be having a Mish Mash Highlights article with your photography news. Don't forget to check out Toby's Instagram, @photorectoby, for some wildlife photos with Animals of Montana.

2018 Olympics Cameras

Olympics Canon CameraOlympics Nikon Camera

The 2018 Olympics camera stash photos are out for Nikon and Canon from the PyeongChang winter games. At big events such as the Olympics, Canon Professional Services (CPS) and Nikon Professional Services (NPS) both show up to offer support. For professionals that means cleaning, maintenance, and loaner gear for shooting the event. Which can be helpful for things such as a camera that won't fire and needs to be fixed immediately to some water in a lens from condensation between indoor and outdoor shooting. For something the size of the Olympics that means years of planning this out with each having 60 people on staff at the event speaking 10 languages. They are staying mum about the exact total of loaner gear here but it's close to 'several hundred luxury cars' for Nikon alone. That said, go check out your camera porn for the week.

Canon (Via Shutterbug)

 

Mish Mash Highlights: 2/7/2018

mish mash highlightsPhotorec.tv YoutubeHopefully, you've had a good week, ours started great hitting 250,000 subscribers on Youtube! If you haven't yet click here to subscribe! That said, we've got a big Photos from Space this week and the DJI Mavic Pro might be getting a big upgrade.While Toby does the Live Show for PEN this is your quick peek at what we're doing behind the scenes, this week's news, our Instagram challenge top picks, and more. Join the Photo Enthusiast Network and watch Toby live, you can find out more at Photorec.tv/pen.

This Week at Photorec.tv

With Toby back from Vietnam we've got a review on the new gear that made the trip. Some things worked great, he's in love with the Sony 85mm he bought, other things... not so much. Check it out for some insight on new gear for a long trip.

As Toby and company are out traveling, a big key element is shooting panoramas with some of the sweeping landscapes they encounter. For a quick Tuesday Tip, we've got a bit on how to shoot something like this and tips for editing after the fact.

  • PEN only - 5- minute Lightroom Basics 

Let's be honest for a second. Lightroom is a very big and complicated program to master. So with that, we've started doing some shorter 5 minute Lightroom basics videos to just introduce one bit at a time. Which hopefully should make it a ton easier to digest and learn.

  • PEN only - Our First PPA Level Image Review for PEN members

As photographers wanted different levels of critiques it made sense for us to separate it out to a basic critique and a harder PPA level one. We've released our first five picks this week and it's a great way to learn and improve your skills.

Last month the new DJI Mavic Air was announced and caught everyone's attention for being a major improvement over the spark. Well, the wait is over, you can hit the links above to get your hands on the new little drone!

Around the Web

We can't cover everything photography news related but we try. For everything else, we've got the best news articles from around the web.Olympus PEN E-PL9: A Pint-Sized Mirrorless Camera with 4K VideoA new little option coming out from Olympus, the new PEN E-PL9 is an upgrade that should work well for those traveling light. Considering it has in body image stabilization and 4k @30fps it's certainly an interesting choice against something like the G85. Check it out via Petapixel. Being the cheapest of the PEN line with a new integrated flash it's set as Olympus's option for those jumping to entry-level systems.Canon Continues Leadership of DSLR Camera Market with a Dominating Performance at the Big Game in MinnesotaFrom Canon, they still are on top in terms of sales but the big point to them was this week's Superbowl game. With a lot at stake, they had their Canon Professional services team out covering the event to support all of the professionals shooting. Certainly helpful whether they need a cleaning, a loner camera, or just a bit of tech support. Approximately 80% of the people there were shooting Canon, so they are still king of the hill for now.Rumor: DJI Mavic Pro II will sport 1-inch sensor, may arrive in MarchIt's a rumor, so take this with a grain of salt but we may be getting a Mavic Pro 2 soon. With the big hype over the Mavic Air, the big push for the new Mavic Pro will be a 1-inch sensor upgrade and a longer flight time. With competition closing the gap such as Autel it's interesting to see what may be coming soon.This Video Shows How Everyone Snaps the Same Instagram Travel PhotosA strong point that while we don't try to do it there's a lot of copying for that perfect travel photo. Hopefully this viral video is a push to think out of the box!https://vimeo.com/253334732Other Stories You Might Like:

Featured Photos Weekly Challenge

Instagram Challenge

This Week’s Challenge: #PRTV_text

From “Free Beer” to love, text can really be a great subject for an image or add to your subject. Even if just a bit of context that little bit can help push an image or help the viewer understand the shot.Next Week's Challenge: #PRTV_favoritethingsYes, from the title we’re going with The Sound of Music this week with a few of your favorite things. Consider this a bit of a wildcard week whether it’s raindrops on roses or whiskers on kittens we want those favorite things you remember when feeling sad. Something cheerful, a fond memory, family, food, a knick knack… it’s all fair this week!

Roy’s Features:

A kitchen scene with some great morning light coming in and a happy kiddo! The text really adds to this shot.

A post shared by Jane Glover (@angry_runner) on

Something I didn’t think of was filling in text and this crossword was a great idea by Nancy.

A post shared by NC♥ (@nancycachia) on

A clever sign and a nice memory, sometimes the little things like this make for a great photo.

For more info, the schedule, and past top picks go check out photorec.tv/prtv. Try out some of Toby's Instagram Tips. For everything else Instagram, tag those shots #PRTV and #penlive for our daily photo features.

Photos from Space

There’s a starman waiting in the sky

If you haven't seen it yet we've got Photos from Space this week with a car... in space. SpaceX needed something to test out their groundbreaking heavy rocket and what better than Elon Musk's Telsa as a test. The spaceman actually does serve a practical purpose of testing out SpaceX's new spacesuit design and there are plenty of little easter eggs they added before launch. Check it out in the links below!https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/960992715579125760

Major Tom Spaceman LED LightPick up a "Major Tom" spaceman LED light for your computer today. Part of Toby's Photos from space segment and it helps support the site. Click here to buy your own Major Tom on Amazon.Want to keep up with things happening this year? Sync your calendar with the solar system

That's all folks! We'll be back next week with even more of your photo news and a live show. If you guy's like the highlights leave us comments on the social media posts and we'll keep this going! For Pen Members go check out https://witharsenal.com from the live show.

Mish Mash Highlights: 1/31/2018

mish mash highlights

A post shared by Toby (@photorectoby) on

Toby's back this week, so PEN members, you get a live show! While he was supposed to take a day off Toby and co are back at it this week, hitting the ground running. This week we've got Instagram Scheduling and hopefully a MAJOR update to Lightroom performance.While Toby does the Live Show for PEN this is your quick peek at what we're doing behind the scenes, this week's news, our Instagram challenge top picks, and more. Join the Photo Enthusiast Network and watch Toby live, you can find out more at Photorec.tv/pen.

This Week at Photorec.tv

    • PEN - Image Review #2 Review Coming Soon - For those in PEN we've started up peer reviews and PPA level reviews for those wanting their photo critiqued a bit more. Our first video on the higher level PPA critiques is coming out soon.
    • How-to: Photograph the Milky Way - With summer coming it's about time for the Milky Way to make an appearance. Check out this new video by Toby on how to shoot it for the best photos possible.

Around the Web

We can't cover everything photography news related but we try. For everything else, we've got the best news articles from around the web.Instagram to Finally Allow Users to Schedule PostsDirect posting and scheduling to Instagram is now possible. Unlike Later.com that used a middleman approach, sending a photo and text to your phone, this posts directly onto Instagram saving some time. Check it out at Hootsuite or Sprout Social, for now, other scheduling services may see the same update soon. Albeit hopefully this doesn't mean an increase in bots as well.Why Being Socially Awkward Can Make You a Better PhotographerKnowing who and how you are can help with your photo skills. Play to your strengths with this article by Fstoppers.Adobe is preparing a major Lightroom Classic performance update, and we got to try itAdobe knows their software is sluggish, with an update coming soon for computers with multiple cores and 12GB+ of RAM your soon to see an upgrade. A faster library, develop, and export all around should make your workflow a bit faster. Especially with a speedy machine.Other Stories You Might Like:

Featured Photos Weekly Challenge

Instagram Challenge

This Week’s Challenge: #PRTV_culture

Challenge was a great opportunity to try something new with Toby's trip in Vietnam. Whether you went with a bit of pop culture or something from your hometown it's a bit of life through a different lens.Next Week's Challenge: #PRTV_textCapture some text, or things that look like it at least, for this week's challenge. Something a bit different but capturing words as your subject, or adding to it, can really add to a story for your photo.

Roy’s Features:

A great shot by Maxence with the busy energy of a city and graffiti that makes up an area.

Maxence Lefort @maxencelefort

A common memorial for surfer culture really fits to a T for this week's challenge.

A post shared by Scott Jung (J4Photo) (@j4photog) on

A bit of local food fits the theme for this week, Eileen has a fitting caption “Food is very representative of a city’s culture. In order to really get to know the place and the people, you’ve got to eat the food “ ~ Emeril Lagasse.

A post shared by Eileen K (@ektull21) on

For more info, the schedule, and past top picks go check out photorec.tv/prtv. Try out some of Toby's Instagram Tips. For everything else Instagram, tag those shots #PRTV and #penlive for our daily photo features.

Photos from Space

The Super Blue Blood Moon: Pictures From an Astronomical Hat TrickIf you've been following the news last night was the Super Blue Blood Moon. The New York Times put together this gallery of the world waiting, watching, and of course taking photos.Major Tom Spaceman LED LightPick up a "Major Tom" spaceman LED light for your computer today. Part of Toby's Photos from space segment and it helps support the site. Click here to buy your own Major Tom on Amazon.Want to keep up with things happening this year? Sync your calendar with the solar system

That's all folks! We'll be back next week with even more of your photo news and a live show. If you guy's like the highlights leave us comments on the social media posts and we'll keep this going!

Mish Mash Highlights: 1/24/2018

Photography News

A post shared by Toby (@photorectoby) on

Good Morning Vietnam! With the 12hr difference between Michigan and Vietnam Toby's just waking up for another day on tour with McKaylive. This week there's a new DJI drone, a Photoshop update, black and white challenge top picks, and more.While Toby does the Live Show via PEN when not on tour, this is your quick peek at what we're doing behind the scenes, this week's news, our Instagram challenge top picks, and more. Join the Photo Enthusiast Network and watch Toby live when he gets back, you can find out more at Photorec.tv/pen.Quick Tip! As a reminder, with this cold weather try to bag your cameras before taking them inside, this helps protect it from moisture condensation.

This Week at Photorec.tv

    • PEN ONLY Tuesday Tip - Learning to Print - A basic overview to get you started printing your work.
    • DJI Air RedDJI Mavic Air Announced - If you want to buy a drone this is the one. While a bit more expensive than the spark it's smaller and has all the features both Toby and I wanted. You get 12MP Stills and 4K video in a footprint not terribly bigger than a cell phone making it super easy to carry around. Now if I could only get Toby to buy me one?
    • Apps for Photography - We get asked quite a bit about which apps Toby uses while shooting. We've got the list here for some of the top picks, while PhotoPills is expensive it's still one of the best apps to really push your skills.
    • Sony a7RIII – 5 Awesome Features & a Few Complaints - Toby's taken the Sony a7RIII on a few trips by now since the review. He's come up with a few more thoughts that might sell you on this great small camera.

Around the Web

We can't cover everything photography news related but we try. For everything else, we've got the best news articles from around the web.Select Subject is Here: Photoshop Now Has AI-Powered One-Click SelectionsPhotoshop Subject SelectionA new update to Photoshop this week with 19.1 and the release of subject selection. Going to select>subject lets Photoshop attempt to select the subject automatically using Adobe Sensei. So far in real-world use, it's not perfect but gives you a start at a layer mask. Like always it will likely be improved in future Adobe updates.Also included in this week's update:

  • Decontaminate Colors in Select and Mask now is a slider versus checkbox allowing you to control how much of the effect you get for finer control.
  • Windows High-Density Monitor Support, if your using monitor scaling the controls should look a bit nicer after the update.
  • Support for the Microsoft Dial
  • Better SVG compatibility when copying to Adobe XD

Canon Sends Invitation to Dealers for Major Mirrorless Presentation Next MonthVia Canon Rumors so take this with a grain of salt, but it looks like Canon may be announcing a new mirrorless product to dealers and VIPs. They are keeping the entire thing very hushed but hopefully, it's a sign something is coming down the line.Preset Brewery Lets You Use Lightroom Presets in Photoshophttps://youtu.be/91mhvuIxHeQAt least for those with a Mac, Preset Brewery is a neat little program out this week that will convert a Lightroom preset into one that works in Photoshop. This gives those that want it a way to use a Lightroom preset they like in Photoshop without having to manually set all the sliders again. At the moment it only works one preset at a time for conversion but an update is coming soon. If that sounds good you can buy it now at Preset Brewery for $7.90.LibRaw, Creators of FastRawViewer, Release SonyPixelShift2DNG BetaOne of Toby's issues with the new Sony a7RIII was how it handles the new pixel shift photos. Requiring Sony software for all the work. Now thanks to LibRaw pixel shift photos can easily be converted, in batch, to Adobe DNG for easy editing in Lightroom or Photoshop. In terms of workflow, this should save a fair bit of time, if you have the new a7RIII try it out at https://www.fastrawviewer.com/SonyPixelShift2DNG.Other Stories You Might Like:

Featured Photos Weekly Challenge

Instagram Challenge

This Week’s Challenge: #PRTV_blackandwhite3

For this week's challenge, black and white let you really focus on a subject while having the option for a lot of leeway for edits. Great job this week with some amazing photos, black and white allows for a lot of variety so it's nice to see some experimenting.Next Week's Challenge: #PRTV_cultureTo go along with Toby's tour in Vietnam and Cambodia next week's challenge is culture. No, that doesn't mean you have to go travel. Capture something unique to your area that's a part of your town. For in Michigan here the one I always forget is most people don't know a Michigan Coney, a type of diner, or how we use our hands as a map (Michigan is mitten-shaped). Not to mention just north of me is a little Bavaria and year-round Christmas town. So try shooting food, people, buildings, something people recognize from your area. You might get a shot of something you otherwise wouldn't have thought of before! 

Roy’s Features:

Great contrast in this shot and the little guy in the frame really makes this one.

A post shared by Husein Pistoljevic (@hpistolj) on

Black and White shots are amazing at pushing contrasts, the darker scarf and background works well to frame your subject.

A post shared by Eileen K (@ektull21) on

A white foreground leading up to that black rock really makes for a great shot!

A post shared by Jude Nash (@cheekymonkey1975) on

Rose’s Features:

Love this composition, it's so simple and effective. I love the texture that the fog adds, too.

A post shared by Jane Glover (@angry_runner) on

Fantastic composition, I think that the black and white treatment adds a lot to the image.

A post shared by Justin Lai (@justlai87) on

Great use of black and white with the high contrast between the left and right sides.

A post shared by Maxence Lefort (@maxencelefort) on

For more info, the schedule, and past top picks go check out photorec.tv/prtv. Try out some of Toby's Instagram Tips. For everything else Instagram, tag those shots #PRTV and #penlive for our daily photo features.

Photos from Space

Rightfully named the Cartwheel Galaxy, this celestial object’s shape is a result of a violent galactic collision. A smaller galaxy has passed right through a large disk galaxy and produced shock waves that swept up gas and dust, much like ripples produced when a stone is dropped into a lake. Intense areas of star formation were sparked up, seen here in blue by our Hubble Space Telescope (@NASAHubble). The outermost ring of the galaxy, which is 1.5 times the size of our Milky Way, marks the shock wave’s leading edge. This object is one of the most dramatic examples of the small class of ring galaxies. This image is based on earlier Hubble data of the Cartwheel Galaxy that was reprocessed in 2010, bringing out more detail in the image than seen before. Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA #nasa #space #hubble #spothubble #galaxy #violent #collision #galactic #universe #solarsystem #cartwheel #star #formation #beautiful #pictureoftheday #science #telescope

A post shared by NASA (@nasa) on

Major Tom Spaceman LED LightPick up a "Major Tom" spaceman LED light for your computer today. Part of Toby's Photos from space segment and it helps support the site. Click here to buy your own Major Tom on Amazon.Want to keep up with things happening this year? Sync your calendar with the solar system

That's all folks! We'll be back next week with even more of your photo news. For PEN members next week Toby and co. will be off to Vietnam so it'll just be me with the highlights. If you guy's like the highlights leave us comments on the social media posts and we'll keep this going!

Sony a7RIII - 5 Awesome Features & a Few Complaints

Some post review thoughts. The Sony a7RIII got reviewed a bit ago, but since then it's been on trips around the world with Toby. Currently, in Vietnam, his takes a ton of use over the course of the tours with McKay Live meaning a ton of real-world use lately. So we've got the good, the bad, and the ugly of the new Sony everyone is hot to pick up.

Pick up your own Sony a7RIII today

amazon logo

amazon logo

Mish Mash Highlights: 1/17/2018

Mish Mash Highlights - Your Photography News and More@photorectoby VietnamToby says Hi from Vietnam! He's currently out on a McKay Live tour but we've still got the Week's photo news and more. Canon and Nikon are still eyeing that Full-Frame mirrorless market, both with stories out this week. Then it looks like Facebook wants to kill off more views on your photography page.While Toby does the Live Show via PEN when not on tour, this is your quick peek at what we're doing behind the scenes, this week's news, our Instagram challenge top picks, and more. Join the Photo Enthusiast Network and watch Toby live when he gets back, you can find out more at Photorec.tv/pen.Quick Tip! As a reminder, with this cold weather try to bag your cameras before taking them inside, this helps protect it from moisture condensation.

This Week at Photorec.tv

Around the Web

We can't cover everything photography news related but we try. For everything else, we've got the best news articles from around the web.Canon Asking Its Pros What They Want in a Pro Mirrorless CameraVia Petapixel and Camera Rumors, the word is out that Canon is surveying professionals on the must-have features for a Full Frame Mirrorless. As they've admitted to being behind it's nice to see them taking input on a new product. While both have attempts into this market neither have taken off like Sony's line of products, something Toby has switched over to for a while with his new a7R III. With the myth of a Canon Full Frame for years, hopefully, this is a sign that they might be giving it another shot considering where they stand currently.Nikon’s Full Frame Mirrorless to Have New Z-Mount: ReportWhile it looks like Canon may be starting from step one again Nikon may be developing a new Z-mount for full frame mirrorless. While keeping the traditional Nikon F-mount would be nice it's just a lot of empty space on a mirrorless body. So if a Nikon Mirrorless takes off we might see the change of a tradition. The Nikon 1 tried something similar and lost, but there's still hope for some Sony Competition.Your Facebook Business Page Is About to Get a Lot Less TrafficWhether you think it's another money grab like some, or an attempt to fix the feed, Facebook is going to be putting more focus on people and less on pages. They've already tested an explore feature pushing pages off the main feed although this might be more of a tweak on what shows up. Either way, that means even fewer eyes on your Facebook page posts. Considering we're already getting about 1/10 in views to people liking the page this might be a large push for you to explore other options, especially if you're going pro.New DJI drone teaserComing on the 23rd we might be seeing a new drone in-between the Mavic Pro and DJI Spark.https://youtu.be/W8JWknlPPQQOther Stories You Might Like:

Featured Photos Weekly Challenge

Instagram Challenge

This Week’s Challenge: #PRTV_stilllife2

Setting a scene up for a still life is a great chance to try something different with this week's challenge. This challenge really focused on lighting and composition as that's the heart of still life. Nice job ladies and gents!Next Week's Challenge: #PRTV_blackandwhite3As I already posted one photo up on the @Photorec.tv Instagram this week's challenge is all about going black and white. This is a really great opportunity to focus on shapes this week or really simplify an otherwise busy shot of color.

Roy’s Features:

Nice job playing with the light in this one, it's a nice gradient falling through the photo. 

A post shared by Marion 🦊 (@peachymarion) on

Drinks need more love in these challenges. I like the colorful elements set to the side that help balance the composition.

A post shared by Eileen K (@ektull21) on

I think I would have liked it shot a bit closer personally but you did a great job at setting a scene. 

A post shared by Jane Glover (@angry_runner) on

Rose’s Features:

Love the use of snow, great lighting.

A post shared by Ben Mooney (@bmooney32) on

Fantastic composition, love the black on black and the lighting.

A post shared by Jane Glover (@angry_runner) on

Such a great choice of focus and the composition is really nice.

A post shared by Marion 🦊 (@peachymarion) on

For more info, the schedule, and past top picks go check out photorec.tv/prtv. Try out some of Toby's Instagram Tips. For everything else Instagram, tag those shots #PRTV and #penlive for our daily photo features.

Photos from Space

Water of Mars

Big Sheets of Water Ice Lie Just Beneath the Surface of Mars

Thanks to the HiRISE camera aboard NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter we get a quick glimpse of frozen ice hiding under the sands of Mars.Also check out: We may get the first-ever image of a black hole this yearMajor Tom Spaceman LED LightPick up a "Major Tom" spaceman LED light for your computer today. Part of Toby's Photos from space segment and it helps support the site. Click here to buy your own Major Tom on Amazon.Want to keep up with things happening this year? Sync your calendar with the solar system

That's all folks! We'll be back next week with even more of your photo news. For PEN members next week Toby and co. will be off to Vietnam so it'll just be me with the highlights. If you guy's like the highlights leave us comments on the social media posts and we'll keep this going!

The GH5S, Only 10MP, and Why That's a Good Thing

First, this is designed for video, the S in GH5S stands for sensitive in low light. The GH5S looks almost identical to the GH5 on the outside, just a red shutter button, red ring on the mode dial and the S in the model name. It is on the inside that we see camera completely designed for video with low light demands. Primarily targeted at an event, wedding, and other videographers shooting in low light.GH5 provides a 21MP sensor, the GH5S is just 10!  What kind of upgrade is that? When shooting video we're not using the full resolution of the sensor, all those extra pixels are wasted, dropping the megapixels of the sensor to 10, similar to Sony's approach with the a7S series at 12MP, allows for larger pixels. Larger pixels do better in low light.Key Benefits of the GH5S:

  • 10MP low light sensor

  • 14-bit raw stills

Key Differences Compared to the GH5

  • 10MP vs 20MP - Better in low light, less room for cropping

  • No IBIS (In Body Image Stabilization)

I love my GH5 - it is a fantastically easy camera to shoot video with and takes beautiful still images too. I talk more about my favorite features of the GH5 in this video.  The IBIS stabilization paired with a stabilized lens gives you very smooth handheld footage. With the removal of IBIS in the GH5S (They assume you will use a gimbal) I can really only recommend this GH5S as an upgrade for those primarily shooting in lower light. For general videographers and travel photographers/videographers the GH5 is still my pick.And don't forget about the little G85 - for less than $1,000 this is one of the best travel photo/video systems out there. My Full Review of the G85What does this mean for the GH6? Where will Panasonic go with the GH6 and will there be a GH6S? I don't know, but it's something I'd like to find out now that they've split these two models.Final Thoughts. I Love the GH5 as a video-based camera that can take very good still images. I have no desire to pick up the GH5S as overall, for me, the IBIS is too big of a loss and I'm shooting in all sorts of light. If I was doing more weddings though, this would be perfect for the low light situations you'd be running into shooting.

Available for Preorder

amazon logo

amazon logo

Sample Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoyFxuFh3AEhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clbE9fRHo-8

Specifications

GH5S

GH5

Lens Mount

Micro Four Thirds (2x Crop Factor)

Micro Four Thirds (2x Crop Factor)

Pixels

Actual: 11.93 MegapixelEffective: 10.28 Megapixel

Actual: 21.77 MegapixelEffective: 20.3 Megapixel

Max Resolution

10 MP: 3680 x 2760

20 MP: 5184 x 3888

Aspect Ratio

1:1, 3:2, 4:3, 16:9

1:1, 3:2, 4:3, 16:9

Sensor Type / Size

MOS, 17.3 x 13 mm

MOS, 17.3 x 13 mm

File Formats

Still Images: JPEG, RAWMovies: AVCHD Ver. 2.0, H.264, MOV, MP4, MPEG-4 AVC/H.264Audio: AAC, Dolby Digital 2ch, Linear PCM (Stereo)

Still Images: JPEG, RAWMovies: AVCHD Ver. 2.0, H.264, MOV, MP4Audio: AAC, Dolby Digital 2ch

Bit Depth

14-Bit

10-Bit

Dust Reduction System

Yes

Yes

Memory Card Type

SDSDHCSDXC

SDSDHCSDXC

Image Stabilization

None

Sensor-Shift, 5-Way

Video Recording

Yes, NTSC/PAL

Yes, NTSC/PAL

Video Format

4096 x 2160p at 23.98, 24, 25, 29.97, 50, 59.94 fps3840 x 2160p at 23.98, 24, 25, 29.97, 50, 59.94 fps3328 x 2496p at 23.98, 24, 25, 29.97, 50, 59.94 fps1920 x 1080p at 23.98, 24, 25, 29.97, 50, 59.94, 120, 240 fps

4096 x 2160p at 23.98, 24, 25 fps3840 x 2160p at 23.98, 24, 25, 29.97, 50, 59.94 fps3328 x 2496p at 23.98, 24, 25, 29.97, 50, 59.94 fps1920 x 1080p at 23.98, 24, 25, 29.97, 50, 59.94 fps

Aspect Ratio

16:9

4:3, 16:9

Audio Recording

Built-In Mic: With Video (Stereo)Optional External Mic: With Video (Stereo + Mono)

Built-In Mic: With Video (Stereo)Optional External Mic: With Video (Stereo + Mono)

Focus Type

Auto & Manual

Auto & Manual

Focus Mode

Continuous-Servo AF (C), Flexible (AFF), Manual Focus (M), Single-servo AF (S)

Continuous-Servo AF (C), Flexible (AFF), Manual Focus (M), Single-servo AF (S)

Autofocus Points

Contrast Detection: 225

Contrast Detection: 225

Viewfinder Type

Electronic

Electronic

Viewfinder Pixel Count

3,686,000

3,686,000

Viewfinder Eye Point

21.00 mm

21.00 mm

Viewfinder Coverage

100%

100%

Viewfinder Magnification

Approx. 0.76x

Approx. 0.76x

Diopter Adjustment

-4 to +3 m

-4 to +3 m

Display Screen

3.2" Rear Touchscreen Swivel Touchscreen LCD (1,620,000)

3.2" Rear Touchscreen Swivel Touchscreen LCD (1,620,000)

Screen Coverage

100%

100%

ISO Sensitivity

Auto, 160-51200 (Extended Mode: 80-204800)

Auto, 200-25600 (Extended Mode: 100-25600)

Shutter

Type: Electronic & MechanicalSpeed: 60 - 1/8000 SecondType: Electronic & MechanicalSpeed: 30 - 1 Minute in Bulb Mode1/24 - 1/16000 Second in Movie ModeType: ElectronicSpeed: 1 - 1/16000 Second

Type: Electronic & MechanicalSpeed: 60 - 1/8000 SecondType: Electronic & MechanicalSpeed: 30 - 1 Minute in Bulb Mode1/24 - 1/16000 Second in Movie ModeType: ElectronicSpeed: 1 - 1/16000 Second

Remote Control

DMW-RSL1 (Optional)

DMW-RSL1 (Optional)

Metering Method

Center-Weighted Average Metering, Multiple, Spot Metering

Center-Weighted Average Metering, Multiple, Spot Metering

Exposure Modes

Modes: Aperture Priority, Manual, Programmed Auto, Shutter PriorityMetering Range: EV 0.0 - EV 18.0Compensation: -5 EV to +5 EV (in 1/3 EV Steps)

Modes: Aperture Priority, Manual, Programmed Auto, Shutter PriorityMetering Range: EV 0.0 - EV 18.0Compensation: -5 EV to +5 EV (in 1/3 EV Steps)

White Balance Modes

Auto, Cloudy, Color Temperature, Daylight, Flash, Incandescent, Shade, White Set 1, White Set 2, White Set 3, White Set 4

Auto, Cloudy, Color Temperature, Daylight, Flash, Incandescent, Shade, White Set 1, White Set 2, White Set 3, White Set 4

Buffer/Continuous Shooting

Up to 12 fps at 10.3 MP for up to 80 Frames in Raw FormatUp to 11 fps at 10.3 MP for up to 80 Frames in Raw FormatUp to 12 fps at 10.3 MP for up to 600 Frames in JPEG FormatUp to 11 fps at 10.3 MP for up to 600 Frames in JPEG FormatUp to 8 fps at 10.3 MPUp to 7 fps at 10.3 MPUp to 6 fps at 10.3 MPUp to 5 fps at 10.3 MPUp to 2 fps at 10.3 MPUp to 60 fps at 8 MP

Up to 12 fps at 20.3 MPUp to 30 fps at 18 MPUp to 60 fps at 8 MP

Flash Modes

AutoAuto/Red-Eye ReductionForced OnForced On/Red-Eye ReductionOffSlow SyncSlow Sync/Red-Eye Reduction

AutoAuto/Red-Eye ReductionForced OnForced On/Red-Eye ReductionOffSlow SyncSlow Sync/Red-Eye Reduction

Built-in Flash

No

No

Max Sync Speed

1 / 250 Second

1 / 250 Second

Flash Compensation

-3 EV to +3 EV (in 1/3 EV steps)

-3 EV to +3 EV (in 1/3 EV steps)

Dedicated Flash System

TTL

TTL

External Flash Connection

Hot Shoe, PC Terminal

Hot Shoe, PC Terminal

Self Timer

10 Seconds, 2 Seconds

10 Seconds, 2 Seconds

Interval Recording

Yes

Yes

Connectivity

1/8" Headphone, 1/8" Microphone, 2.5mm Sub-mini (2-Ring), HDMI A (Full Size), USB 3.0, USB Type-C, Viera Link, X-Sync Socket

1/8" Headphone, 1/8" Microphone, 2.5mm Sub-mini (2-Ring), HDMI A (Full Size), USB 3.0, Viera Link

Wi-Fi Capable

Yes

Yes

Battery

1 x DMW-BLF19 Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery Pack, 7.2 VDC, 1860 mAh

1 x DMW-BLF19 Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery Pack, 7.2 VDC, 1860 mAh

Operating/Storage Temperature

Operating14 to 104°F (-10 to 40°C)Humidity: 10 - 80%

Operating14 to 104°F (-10 to 40°C)Humidity: 10 - 80%

Dimensions (W x H x D)

5.5 x 3.9 x 3.4" / 138.5 x 98.1 x 87.4 mm

 5.5 x 3.9 x 3.4" / 138.5 x 98.1 x 87.4 mm

Weight

1.452 lb / 660 g with battery and memory card

 1.595 lb / 725 g with battery and memory card

New Firmware Update for the Sony a9 - What does it mean for the a7RIII?

 Maybe 7RM3 users will see a similar update soon?Sony has announced a major firmware update for the Sony A9 - More about the functions and enhancements, as well as the link to download the update, can be found below along with some quick thoughts about what this might mean for Sony a7RIII users.

Firmware version 2.00 provides the following benefits:

Continuous AF Enhancements:

Enhanced performance of continuous autofocus on moving subjectsEnhanced stability of the AF-C when zooming

Added Functions:

Adds the function to assign Protecting images to custom KeyAdds the function to transfer (FTP) protected files at onceNote: Only for images protected using version 2.00 or higher.Displays wired LAN MAC addressInputs IPTC metadata to filesNote: IPTC information must be created beforehand using the IPTC Metadata Preset software.Inputs camera serial number to metadata

Other Improvements:

Improves operational stabilityImproves accuracy of the overheating warning functionUpdate: https://alphauniverse.com/stories/sony-announces-a9-firmware-update-2-00/

Sony a7RIII Photographers

I hope we will see some of these benefits in a future FW update too. The a9 and a7RIII share many similarities including FTP transfer and similar AF systems. So far I have been extremely happy with the AF but additional improvements are always welcome. I have tested the FTP transfer and while it is cumbersome and actual transfer can be slow it is possible to set up a home FTP network or connect to one through a wifi hotspot and upload a few photos as a backup. FTP allows for full RAW transfer. With the Wifi, you are limited to jpegs. Being able to one-click mark images for transfer would be a huge time saver.Let me know of any questions. Thanks!

Mish Mash Highlights: 1/10/2018

mish mash highlightsToby will be heading off to Vietnam soon on a McKay tour but before that, we've still got a Mish Mash to do. This week in the news we've got a big announcement from Panasonic and maybe Canon realizes it's time to catch up... finally. Lots of news and more this week with CES coming after a slow time during the Holidays. For those following the live show Toby's going to cover what he'll be taking to Vietnam and he's going rather light.While Toby does the Live Show via PEN this is your quick peek at what we're doing behind the scenes, this week's news, our Instagram challenge top picks, and more. Otherwise, join the Photo Enthusiast Network and watch Toby live! Photorec.tv/join

This Week at Photorec.tv

Around the Web

We can't cover everything photography news related but we try. For everything else, we've got the best news articles from around the web.Panasonic GH5S: The Most Sensitive Camera in Lumix HistoryWe'll have Toby's thoughts in an article soon but the big catch this week is the new GH5S. Check it out at Petapixel, Preorders on the GH5S are live, and it's a great option for those doing video.Canon: We’re Lagging in InnovationShort Version? Canon finally admitted that their technology is falling behind. That said, it's an opportunity. After the rather held back 6DMII this is their chance for a bit of transparency. For us Canon users we're missing 4K on most lower models as a start. Not to mention mirrorless or in-body image stabilization. It might be a bit challenging seeing where Canon is going to be in five years as they keep holding back. But Sony has already eclipsed Nikon and is closing the gap. Will this be the push to right the ship?Really Right Stuff Ball Heads

If you are looking at getting a tripod something you may not think about as much is the ball head, the main part of your tripod that your camera rotates and rests on. As for tripods we suggest picking up the MeFoto Globetrotter Classic or Globetrotter Classic Carbon Fiber (not the Air for better stability), but down the line, we also suggest upgrading the head. Over time tripod's will wear down, especially over heavy use like Toby puts them through. That allows the head to slip, making shooting a bit tricky as the camera might tilt down or to the side a bit. So over time picking up one of these extends the life of your tripod and gives it better performance as well. In this case, the BH-30 is great for a more compact setup while the BH-55 works more for a better platform but at a higher cost.Other Stories You Might Like:

Featured Photos Weekly Challenge

Instagram Challenge

This Week’s Challenge: #PRTV_guiltypleasure

Not too many entries this week with the holiday considering but thanks to you that gave this week’s trickier challenge a shot! Next Two Week Challenge: #PRTV_stilllife2Something a bit simpler for next week and hopefully a bit warmer for those hitting those extra cold winter temps. Simply shoot a still life, which broken down is a group of objects arranged creatively. This should be great for those wanting to practice tabletop or food photography.

Roy’s Features:

Cake! Love the bokeh in the background and Happy Birthday!... Now I want cake.

A post shared by Lisa Phelan (@lisas_lens_) on

This is a great example of controlling your bokeh. Using the pool balls as context we can still tell someone is lining up for a shot but the focus is all on the 9 ball.

A post shared by Eileen K (@ektull21) on

Star Wars fan? Yep, that’s certainly a guilty pleasure with the rate Disney is going to put them out. Cropping the face made for a nice shot of a recognizable character.

A post shared by Justin Lai (@justlai87) on

For more info, the schedule, and past top picks go check out photorec.tv/prtv. Try out some of Toby's Instagram Tips. For everything else Instagram, tag those shots #PRTV and #penlive for our daily photo features.

Photos from Space

A couple photos thanks to Nasa this week, follow them and @iss on Instagram for some neat photos!In an enhanced shot by Nasa, we get this nice painterly look as Jupiter!

A post shared by NASA (@nasa) on

As the Michigander of the team, my State's been frozen in! While a bit common it's about seven times more frozen for this period thanks to a nor'easter storm hitting the mid to east United States. In this shot you can see the frozen Delaware Bay in the east coast between New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware .

A post shared by NASA (@nasa) on

Major Tom Spaceman LED LightPick up a "Major Tom" spaceman LED light for your computer today. Part of Toby's Photos from space segment and it helps support the site. Click here to buy your own Major Tom on Amazon.Want to keep up with things happening this year? Sync your calendar with the solar system

That's all folks! We'll be back next week with even more of your photo news. For PEN members next week Toby and co. will be off to Vietnam so it'll just be me with the highlights. If you guy's do like the highlights leave us comments on the social media posts and we'll keep this going!

Inrigo Camera Bag - Fully Waterproof!

Inrigo Camera BagThe Inrigo waterproof bag is a neat design new to Kickstarter, or at least a dry one. While moisture damage is a bit rarer here in Michigan, traveling to humid countries or shooting around water can cause significant issues to your gear. The Inrigo is that extra bit of insurance and peace of mind you might want to keep things safe and dry. Designed to be a drybox on the go the airtight Inrigo is IP78 waterproof rated so your gear stays dry while in water up to a meter deep.  With its airtight seal, the bag even has the option to inflate to provide a bit more protection for bumps and the ability to float if the worst occurs.Coming in two models, you've got a bit of a choice in how you want to pack your gear. The LitePak acts as a dry spot to carry your normal camera bag, acting as a shell against the elements. The ProPak works as a standard camera bag or the same as the LitePak with two interior storage totes for your gear and a dehumidifier. Both still have the basics though with a tripod mount, water bottle holder, space for a tablet, and more.Inrigo Waterproof BagWhile it's a waterproof bag, it's also a smart one, using temperature and humidity sensors combined with Bluetooth. If it starts to get too hot or humid you'll automatically get a warning on your smartphone to see if there's an issue. As a plus, if you're out of range you can also get alerts so you don't lose track of your bag.Find out more on Inrigo's Kickstarter page and sign up while they still have early bird pledges available on the LitePak. Once these go retail they will be selling for $250-299 so getting the LitePak for $139 and ProPack for $179 is a steal.  If everything stays on track the bags will be out around May of 2018. For those planning on traveling or shooting around water often this is the bag you might want to pick up.

Mish Mash Highlights: 1/3/2018

mish mash highlightsNew Year and a new Mish Mash! While Toby does the Live Show via PEN this is your quick peek at what we're doing behind the scenes, this week's news, our Instagram challenge top picks, and more. Otherwise, join the Photo Enthusiast Network and watch Toby live! Photorec.tv/join

This Week at Photorec.tv

Around the Web

We can't cover everything photography news related but we try. For everything else, we've got the best news articles from around the web.This Guy Made an 8×10 Large Format Video Camera (Petapixel)A DIY for that "Large Format Look". Check out Zev Hoover's frankencamera using a lens from an old large format camera to project an image then recording it with a Sony a7S. A simple design that works, albeit at 6 stops of light loss. It's a trick that uses a tilt-shift adapter to line up the image with the projection making up for the fact the camera is angled down. Check out the video to see the results!https://youtu.be/0ZixDTrQdzoInstagram will now add ‘Recommended’ posts to your feed (Techcrunch)They are at it again. In an attempt to make your Instagram more of a Mish Mash then this show Instagram is adding more to your feed. Just like with how ads have been stuck in you'll see a new "More Posts You Might Like" feature that has been their attempt to get you following more people. As with the other feed filling changes, the response has been generally negative and you can (temporarily) hide it by hitting the three dots next to hit and choosing hide. The feature has started to roll out this week so if you don't have it yet you will soon enough.Build Rapport on Your Photography Shoot With the Language of Music (Fstoppers)Want a better shoot? Check out this article by Fstoppers on matching music with your photography to built rapport. Typically, doing portraits you don't want to just throw up someone in front of a camera. You want to work with them, talk, tell a story, something to set the mood and get you working with your model. Music is a great way to do that and like they've added in this article getting a Bluetooth speaker can be cheap now. Set that up with a bit of music they like, or use their phone to play their music, and you've got some energy and common ground for a shoot... plus some awesome music.Ten New Year's Resolutions Worth Making as a Photographer (Fstoppers)It's a new year and go check out this great article by Fstoppers on things to get going on this year. Being that my background is IT and development my first thought is to go back up your photos! Other than that, they've got great tips about upgrading your website, working on your kit, and the one I personally need is to PRINT MORE. Go check it out!Other Stories You Might Like:

Featured Photos Weekly Challenge

Instagram Challenge

This Week’s Challenge: #PRTV_product2

A two-week challenge this time had you guys shooting the Holidays and New Years with some great shots! The nice thing about a shoot like this is with an open subject you've got the option from tabletop shots to cityscapes, portraits, and more.Next Two Week Challenge: #PRTV_guiltypleasure Opposite of your resolution… what’s that one thing you feel guilty about but its so good? Shoot food, drinks, your smartphone, that one expensive thing you had to have (GAS).

Toby’s Features:

A lovely holiday moment - the light on the child's face and the expression just work so well together.  

A post shared by Jane Glover (@angry_runner) on

A nice street portrait of Santa in action

It’s from last year but so was my fireworks shot :) I really like the composition here!

A post shared by Yannick (@ynickh) on

Roy’s Features:

While it’s a bit too late for a stock photo now I’d say it’s worth putting this one up! It's a great holiday shot with nice bokeh.

A post shared by Beau Ewen (@beauewenphotog) on

Getting a bit higher up made for an awesome shot changing your perspective above the roof line and a new years blast

Babies and bokeh, a great shot for the holidays and keeping some distance from the tree worked well for some separation from the background.

A post shared by Tyler Manzella (@manfella) on

For more info, the schedule, and past top picks go check out photorec.tv/prtv. Try out some of Toby's Instagram Tips. For everything else Instagram, tag those shots #PRTV and #penlive for our daily photo features.

Photos from Space

Brilliant photos taken of Earth from space in 2017 Tired of the end of the year galleries? How about just one more with this slideshow from the ISS station! Watch the video below then check out this article from bt.com for the individual pictures with some background info on them as well. There's some great shots mostly taken on Nikons![embed]https://twitter.com/Space_Station/status/947120103811776512[/embed]Also: Rare 'wolf moon' captured in breathtaking images – the biggest and brightest supermoon of 2018Want to keep up with things happening this year? Sync your calendar with the solar systemMajor Tom Spaceman LED LightPick up a "Major Tom" spaceman LED light for your computer today. Part of Toby's Photos from space segment and it helps support the site. Click here to buy your own Major Tom on Amazon.

That's all folks! We'll be back next week with even more of your photo news. For PEN members next week is a live show, after that, there is a break with just these highlights till the 31st. If you guy's like the highlights leave us comments on the social media posts and we'll keep this going!

Mish Mash Highlights: 12/28/2017

mish mash highlightsHopefully you all had a happy holiday, got some family time, and a bit new gear. This is your photography news of the week, just in article form. If you want to see Toby's take on things live go try out the NEW Photo Enthusiast Network (PEN) for live videos, Lightroom training, and more. The live show also has a critique, our shot at microstock, Q&A, Discussion, Special PEN content, plus a few surprises!

This Week at Photorec.tv

As we're human and it's the Holidays, not a lot of content went out this week. Hopefully, your holiday was great! But we do have a few things to get through:

  • B&H Deals, if you missed yesterday's post there is a bunch of hot sales covering the previous Black Friday sales and more. Check it out at photorec.tv/megadealzone.
  • Your Best Photo of 2017. Our yearly tradition to showcase all your shots from our amazing fan base. Entries are over and Toby's cramming atm to get the video out soon for the new year!
  • Pen Tuesday Tip - Flip it! - Special PEN content on how your eyes track an image and how to adjust a photo to make the most of it.
  • New PEN Critiques - As a new bonus to PEN members beyond the live show critique we'll be starting a new informal tips critique and a harder PPA (Professional Photographers of America) level critique.
  • Webinar Coming Soon - As PEN consists of a group of Instructors and not just Toby, we'll be having a live Webinar coming soon for members. Compared to the live show this will be more focused content on specific topics from different instructors and sometimes guests.

Photograph Frozen Bubbles DIYWhile it's cold out try some frozen bubbles as a fun DIY. It's an older article but being that it's that time of the year and starting to get quite cold give it a shot.

Around the Web

We can't cover everything photography news related but we try. For everything else, we've got the best news articles from around the web.Confirmed: DxO says new Nik Collection to be released in 2018The Nik Collection is a great set of tools to boost your editing from things such as noise reduction to a great black and white conversion in Lightroom and Photoshop. It's still free, but bought out by DxO from Google, the worry being that without development it would eventually stop working. With an announcement, it looks like we've got a 2018 version coming soon, just no word on a price if any. If you're interested in the NIK collection get it now at nikcollection.dxo.com.Free Lightroom alternative Darktable is now available on WindowsDarktableLooking for a Lightroom alternative now that they've gone to subscription only? Darktable has been ported finally to Windows giving you an option on all platforms (Windows/Mac/Linux) for a free open-source lookalike. If you want to give it a try you can check it out at www.darktable.org.Get Free Unlimited Google Drive StorageFor those that don't have unlimited photo storage with Amazon Prime another great option to backup your photos now is Google Drive's unlimited storage. The catch is you have to be an active student or Alumni with a .EDU email from a school using Google for Education. That said, it's worth the five minutes to find out, you may have a new spot to backup your computer for free (bar the crippling cost of college).Other Stories You Might Like:

Featured Photos Weekly Challenge

It's the holiday season and we've extended our weekly photo challenge on Instagram to two weeks to cover everything holiday All-AT-ONCE. That means you've got until next Wednesday (1/3) at noon to upload your holiday photos and New Years shots. Simply throw them up on Instagram with the tag #PRTV_holiday2. That does cover a lot so that means it could be portraits like Manfella's kiddos below, decorations, a New Years ball drop, yummy food, or something else you enjoy to shoot.Weekly Instagram Challenge

For more info, the schedule, and past top picks go check out photorec.tv/prtv. Try out some of Toby's Instagram Tips. For everything else Instagram, tag those shots #PRTV and #penlive for our daily photo features.

Photos from Space

Stunning Time-Lapse of SpaceX Falcon9 Rocket LaunchMore space-related, but the story that had the news coverage this week is the SpaceX rocket launch from Vandenberg Airforce base on the 22nd. While not UFOs Jesse Watson was set up early and caught the action in this great timelapse you can check out above. A big bonus to The Photographer's Ephermeris (GET THIS APP<-) and Google Maps for nailing the location. This was shot with a Nikon D810, Sony a6500, and Sony a7S II for this great view in 1,315 images.Also: Idaho Gets First International Dark Sky Reserve in the United StatesMajor Tom Spaceman LED LightPick up a "Major Tom" spaceman LED light for your computer today. Part of Toby's Photos from space segment and it helps support the site. Click here to buy your own Major Tom on Amazon.

That's it for this week and hopefully, you guy's like the new content. For PEN members we'll be back next year (week) live so go sign up. If you guy's like the highlights leave us comments on the social media posts and this may be a weekly thing!

The Gift Guide - Easy, Ready to Display Prints

2017-12-04-15.28.30-488x650.jpg

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAwa7ANPmiY&feature=youtu.be[/embed]You may be new to photography, or a veteran, but all those photos go to waste sitting on a hard drive and deserve to be printed. That said, we've come a long way from your basic photo prints. Check out our new video and some really neat options for your walls or a gift this holiday season.

Buy Today at Adoramapix

2017-12-04-15.25.58-488x650.jpg

Buy Today at Artifact Uprising

2017-12-04-15.23.13-488x650.jpg

Buy Today at Mixtiles

Panasonic G9 - Powerful, Stills-Focused, Camera

[gallery td_select_gallery_slide="slide" ids="16903,16904,16905,16906,16907,16908,16909,16910,16911,16912,16913,16914"]Panasonic has just announced the Panasonic G9, Similar in size and weight to their excellent GH5 camera but unlike the GH5 strength in video. This G9 is tuned for those that want the best still shooting experience in Panasonic's lineup. On paper, it's a great redesign stealing some of the best parts of the GH5.Lumix's new flagship has quite the specs:

  • No Low-pass filter for a boost in sharpness
  • The same 20.3MP sensor in the GH5 with a maximum 80MP high res photo mode thanks to sensor shifting like the Sony a7Riii.
  • 5-axis in-body image stabilization, 6.5 stops for sharp shots on the move
  • 4K video at 60p (10 minutes only), including a 180fps full HD slow-motion mode
  • 60 FPS via Electronic Shutter or 20 FPS mechanical
  • "World's Fastest AF" tracking speed of 0.04 seconds with its 225 AF points. Just a touch faster than the GH5's 0.05 for fast-tracking and smooth.
    • Face/Eye Recognition, Tracking AF, 1-area AF, and Pinpoint AF
  • Wi-Fi and Bluetooth with BLE, Bluetooth low energy for full-time connection to a smartphone
  • Massive 3,680K-dot OLED Live View Finder [LVF] with 120 fps refresh rate, 0.83X magnification, and blackout free 100% field of view.
  • Dual SD card slots
  • Redesigned body with a Thumb-operated AF joystick and top LCD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaGbeHx9HGUhttps://youtu.be/9CxVkl-fL3YThis flagship is a killer camera! It will be available starting in February for $1,700. With a big shift to stills in this model, the Panasonic G9 has some impressive specs. We'll have Toby up for a review soon when he can get a copy.

Preorder Now! The G9 will be released February 15, 2018.

Panasonic G9amazon logo

Specifications

Imaging
Camera
Digital Single Lens Mirrorless camera, Micro Four Thirds Mount (2x Crop Factor
Pixels
Actual: 21.77 MP, Effective: 20.3 MP
Max Resolution
17.3 x 13.0 mm (in 4:3 aspect ratio)
Aspect Ratio
1:1, 3:2, 4:3, 16:9
Sensor Type / Size
MOS, 17.3 x 13 mm
File Formats
Still Images: JPEG, RAWMovies: AVCHD Ver. 2.0, MPEG-4 AVC/H.264Audio: AAC, Dolby Digital 2ch, Linear PCM
Dust Reduction System
Yes
Memory Card Type
SD, SDHC, SDXC
Image Stabilization
Sensor-Shift, 5-Axis
AV Recording 
Video Recording
Yes, NTSC
Video Format
3840 x 2160p at 23.98, 29.97, 48, 59.94 fps (MP4)1920 x 1080p at 29.97, 59.94, 180 fps (MP4)1920 x 1080p at 23.98, 59.94 fps (AVCHD)1920 x 1080i at 59.94 fps (AVCHD)
Aspect Ratio
16:9
Video Clip Length
Up to 29 Min 59 Sec
Audio Recording
Built-In Mic: With Video (Stereo)Optional External Mic: With Video (Stereo + Mono)
Focus Control 
Focus Type
Auto & Manual
Focus Mode
Continuous-Servo AF (C), Flexible (AFF), Manual Focus (M), Single-servo AF (S)
Autofocus Points
Contrast Detection: 225
Viewfinder/Display
Viewfinder Type
Electronic
Viewfinder Pixel Count
3,680,000
Viewfinder Eye Point
21.00 mm
Viewfinder Coverage
100%
Viewfinder Magnification
Approx. 0.83x
Diopter Adjustment
-4 to +3 m
Display Screen
3" Rear Touchscreen Swivel Touchscreen LCD (1,040,000)
Screen Coverage
100%
Exposure Control
ISO sensitivity
Auto, 200-25600 (Extended Mode: 100-25600)
Shutter
Type: Electronic & MechanicalSpeed: 60 - 1/8000 SecondType: Electronic & MechanicalSpeed: 30 - 1 Minute in Bulb ModeType: ElectronicSpeed: 1 - 1/32000 SecondType: ElectronicSpeed: 1/25 - 1/16000 Second in Movie Mode
Remote Control
DMW-RSL1 (Optional)
Metering Method
Center-Weighted Average Metering, Multiple, Spot Metering
Exposure Modes
Modes: Aperture Priority, Manual, Programmed Auto, Shutter PriorityMetering Range: EV 0.0 - EV 18.0Compensation: -5 EV to +5 EV (in 1/3 EV Steps)
White Balance Modes
Auto, Cloudy, Color Temperature, Daylight, Flash, Incandescent, Shade, White Set
Buffer / Continuous Shooting
Up to 9 fps at 20.3 MPUp to 12 fps at 20.3 MPUp to 20 fps at 20.3 MPUp to 60 fps at 20.3 MPUp to 30 fps at 18 MPUp to 60 fps at 8 MP
Flash
Flash Modes
AutoAuto/Red-Eye ReductionForced OnForced On/Red-Eye ReductionOffSlow SyncSlow Sync/Red-Eye Reduction
Built-in Flash
No
Max Sync Speed
1 / 250 Second
Flash Compensation
-3 EV to +3 EV (in 1/3 EV steps)
Dedicated Flash System
TTL
External Flash Connection
Hot Shoe, PC Terminal
Performance
Self Timer
10 Seconds, 2 Seconds
Interval Recording
Yes
Connectivity
1/8" Headphone, 1/8" Microphone, 2.5mm Sub-mini (2-Ring), HDMI A (Full Size), USB 3.0, Viera Link
Wi-Fi Capable
Yes
Power
Battery
1 x DMW-BLF19 Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery Pack, 7.2 VDC, 1860 mAh
Operating / Storage Temperature
Operating: 14 to 104°F (-10 to 40°C)Humidity: 10 - 80%
Physical
Dimensions (W x H x D)
5.4 x 3.8 x 3.6" / 136.9 x 97.3 x 91.6 mm
Weight
1.27 lb / 579 g body only