Mish Mash Highlights: 3/14/2018

A post shared by Toby (@photorectoby) on Mar 12, 2018 at 7:30am PDT

Your photography news and more this week with the Mish Mash Highlights. This week Toby's off in Africa on safari, check out the little cute baby baboon! Then in the news, Toby released his a7III official review and it sounds like Canon and Nikon are close behind.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

Want to travel with Toby? We've got some great new trips to sign up for:

• Return to New Zealand – April & May 2019
• Oregon Waterfalls and Coast - August 24th-26th  2018

• New for PEN, join today at Photorec.tv/PEN
  • Tuesday Tips - To go along with Steve's digital matting tutorial I've added a quick guide for making your own handwritten watermark.
• Vietnam Photography Adventures – Part Three! - A new vlog on Toby's recent tour of Vietnam with the last leg of the trip heading into Cambodia.
• Sony a7III Review – The Only Thing Entry Level Is the Price - The big review is out! - If you are thinking about going full frame or want to upgrade this is a strong option to choose for your next 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.Did Instagram Just Bring Back Chronological Feeds?Without a big announcement from Instagram, you might have noticed your Instagram feed has changed a bit. Instagram has been testing out a new feed for some that prioritize more recent posts like the original chronological feed that sorted photos by most recent. Something you all want as our Instagram poll was nearly 100% for a change. This is getting more people to see your posts and letting you see posts from people that might have been not showing up often. It's a welcome change, likely as Instagram has been feeling a bit of pressure from Vero and Ello apps so they are trying to keep their users.Sony Exec Predicts Canon and Nikon Full-Frame Mirrorless Within a YearSo the million dollar question, with a camera like the Sony a7III now out when will Canon and Nikon catch up? At least according to Sony's General Manager Kenji Tanaka they think it will be within a year. Canon's been strongly pushing for a full frame mirrorless and market share lately so it is a big possibility that we might see something soon. Would you go for a Canon/Nikon full frame mirrorless or do you want to make the switch to Sony?Other Stories You Might Like:

• Canon Wants a 50% Marketshare
• This Video Shows the Danger of Sharing Photos of Your Favorite Location on Social Media
• Should You Raise Your Photography Pricing?
• Photojournalist faces death penalty in Egypt for covering anti-government protests
• 1923 Leica Camera Sold for $2.95 Million, Setting the New World Record
• Photographer Receiving Death Threats for Using Live Ducklings and Bunnies
• Photo Shoot Helicopter Crash in NYC’s East River Kills 5
• 'I'm Back' digital back for analog SLRs successfully returns to Kickstarter

Featured Photos Weekly Challenge

This Week’s Challenge: #PRTV_silhouette2

Going a bit darker for the silhouette challenge was hopefully a bit of fun for those of you that submitted. From a technical point it's a nice way to control your exposure to get a different result, and on the artsy side something different you can do for a shoot. There are some really nice shots this week so go check them out!Next Week's Challenge: #PRTV_colorful2Some color to hopefully bring in spring, it's still snowy here, unfortunately. For this challenge, it's time to put up some colorful shots! As a tip watch your histogram so you don't blow out your photo, more on that in my shooting reds article.

Roy’s Features:

A clever shot with some nice color and action!

As you can really set the mood with a silhouette this really makes for a nice peaceful scene. 

A nice way to really put the focus and set the scene for those dramatic clouds.

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 neat shot this week with geology showing Mars's watery past.

Imprints on the surface of Mars reveal a history of flowing water. In this Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter image, old stream channels, possibly more resistant to erosion because of their composition, now stand above fan-shaped deposits, each affirming the Red Planet's complex geologic past. Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Univ. of Arizona #nasa #space #mars #water #martian #surface #dark #light #science #solarsystem #planet #picoftheday #pictureoftheday

A post shared by NASA (@nasa) on Mar 13, 2018 at 4:30pm PDT

Pick 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.

Vietnam Photography Adventures - Part Three!

We left Vietnam and head for Cambodia and Siam Reap- amazing floating villages of Tonlé Sap and explorations of Angkor Wat and all the surrounding temples like Ta Prohm!Watch the SeriesVietnam Photography Adventures Part 2Vietnam Photography Adventures Part 1

• Save 10% off your first purchase of a domain, website galleryat http://squarespace.com/photorectv

• See a complete list of the gear I took to Vietnam https://kit.com/photorectoby/vietnam-...

• A few of my favorite photos from Vietnam http://photorectoby.com/vietnam

• Travel with me on a future workshop - http://photorec.tv/travel

Mish Mash Highlights: 3/7/2018

A post shared by Toby (@photorectoby) on Mar 7, 2018 at 5:28am PST

Toby's slowly making his way to Africa for a safari, taking a bit of a pit stop in Amsterdam for a vacation. With WPPI over this week news is a bit slower but Later.com got a big update for Instagram and Canon is ready to make a move... finally. 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

Want to travel with Toby? We've got some great new trips to sign up for:

• Return to New Zealand – April & May 2019
• Oregon Waterfalls and Coast - August 24th-26th  2018

• New for PEN, join today at Photorec.tv/PEN
  • Tuesday Tips - See as a Photographer! Tips on how to see things as a photographer for the best composition for your photos.
  • New Videos!
    • Lightroom Crop and Export for Print or Share Online, a complete guide on how to export your photos and getting them ready to print by Toby
    • The Making of a Black and White Series Part 1, this week David introduces some basics on how to start working on your photos for a great black and white photo.
• Sony a7III vs a7RIII
  • With the a7III out the big question now is should you go with it or the a7RIII. It's a battle of specs and Toby's got all the details.
• Review – Sony 12-24 f/4 and SUPER WIDE NISI Filters
  • The Sony 12-24 ultra wide gets a review after some shooting in Yellowstone plus NISI has a great filter made just to fit it.
• Back to the Serengeti
  • As Toby is soon to be in Africa this is a follow up of all the gear that made the trip and the multiple vlogs from the last tour.

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.Schedule Posts Automatically to Instagram with Later!Later.com, our favorite site for scheduling Instagram photos, just got a big update to post photos directly to Instagram. This means you can post photos directly from your computer without the risk of a shadow ban and schedule without having to stop later on to push it out from the later phone app. The catch for this is carousel (galleries) and videos still are not automatic, no tagging, no locations, and you need to have an Instagram business page. The locations part is unfortunate as you do get people coming in from there, but overall the benefits are great for someone busy or wanting to post at work.

Sign up today at Later.com and hit the link above for how to use the new feature

Canon is Finally Willing to Cannibalize Its DSLRs for Mirrorless: Report

Canon's latest camera releases were known to be a bit on the safe side, trying to protect their other models. As DSLR sales are dropping and mirrorless are becoming more popular Canon has finally decided to really push into the mirrorless market. Same news as usual with their previous announcement but this time suggesting models having higher end specs competing with their DSLR line. With a release of the m50, a mirrorless entry level with 4K, and pulling their pros for suggestions of whats needed the change is coming. With Sony in the lead at the moment a bit more competition is needed as Canon has been the sluggish one of the big three. Hopefully we'll see more soon including the rumored full frame mirrorless camera from Canon.Other Stories You Might Like:

A post shared by Reuben Wu (@itsreuben) on Mar 7, 2018 at 5:23am PST

• How Two Photographers Unknowingly Shot the Same Millisecond in Time
• Think Tank Photo Releases Modular Belt System V3.0
• Benjamin Von Wong Shows Us How Photography Can Change the World
• New Wireless Trigger Comes Alive With Smart Photo App Features
• A Camera in One Hour: How CPS Saved the Day and My Photo Job
• Photographer Captures Halos Above Rock Pinnacles Using Drones
• Wacom Intuos Pen Tablet (2018) for Creative Beginners and Enthusiasts
• Canadian Bride Fined $115,000 After Online Hate Campaign Against Wedding Photographer
• Photographer Spots ‘One in a Million’ Yellow Cardinal

Featured Photos Weekly Challenge

This Week’s Challenge: #PRTV_Mood

Showing a bit more mood in your photos was the challenge this week and a good step for something a bit extra to a shot. Whether a person, place, or thing it's another interesting element to add to a scene.Next Week's Challenge: #PRTV_silhouette2A fun technical challenge this week as you get to play with the light to try to get some nice silhouettes. This is a great challenge for using a flash or waiting for the sun to get a bit lower to really nail the silhouettes. This should be a fun challenge and you can even try a table top shoot.

Roy’s Features:

I'd say that fox is slightly loving the snow in that picture and it's a great shot that sets the mood.

A nice one by Jane, going with a black background really captures the subject without any distractions to put focus on the action and mood. 

Capturing a more candid looking moment for a great shot of the happy couple.

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

Hubble Finds Huge System of Dusty Material Enveloping the Young Star HR 4796A

The start of a planet, a 150 billion mile wide dust cloud surrounding a star

Also check out: Satellite Eye on Earth: January 2018 - in picturesPick 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.

Sony a7iii vs a7Riii

The Sony a7iii is better than the Sony a7Riii but costs $1200 less? It's Sony a7III vs a7rIII, let's talk about the differences and decide which is best for you. Toby's back from Las Vegas at WPPI with Sony and we've got the answers you need.

A7RIII Strengths:

• More megapixels, 42 vs 24

• Better electronic viewfinder and LCD

• Pixel Shift, combined photos for more detail

• Slightly better build time and lifespan

A7III Advantages:

• Better autofocus, 693 vs 399

• Better battery life

• Better low light performance

• $1,200 cheaper

Sony a7Riii: $3200 - BUY AT B&H Photo - https://bhpho.to/2AYk9h0Sony a7iii: $1999 -PREORDER AT B&H Photo - https://bhpho.to/2EZ1h3G

I have owned the a7R iii from the moment it was released - it's come along with me to Yosemite, Yellowstone, Alaska, and Vietnam.  Now I just spent three days with the a7 iii and I think that makes me pretty qualified to help YOU answer the question of why you may or may NOT want to spend an additional $1200 for the a7R iii. Let's start with what the a7R iii offers over the a7 iii -A better EVF - when looking through the viewfinder of the a7R iii, it does not feel like a screen. it's beautiful, crisp and clear. When you put your eye up to the a7iii you can just start to see the pixels. I honestly didn't notice until I saw the spec differences and then held both up to my eye one after the other. It's not a difference that I feel will impact your photography - the LCD is also slightly lower res - not something I noticed. The a7R iii offers pixel shift - a feature where 4 photos are taken and combined in software on the computer for noticeably increased detail - I am blown away but how much more detail is captured when you take the time to use pixel shift but despite that I have used only it a few times- part of that is the way I shoot - I lump myself more into the travel photography category than landscape, typically on the move, often not on a tripod which is required.  For landscape photographers looking to get as much detail as possible in a shot - there is nothing short of carrying around medium format gear that comes close to what the a7R iii and pixel-shift provide.More megapixels The a7R iii offers 42MP, the a7 iii 24mp. It sounds like a big significant difference  - Maybe Enough of a difference that I could say the a7R iii offers FORTY-TWO Megapixels and the a7iii offers JUST 24mp.  JUST 24?! Here is a representation of the difference. Here is an actual shot - here are both at 100% view  I have sent both off to be printed at 16x20 - the won't be back before I leave for the Serengeti but I will revisit this discussion at some point in the future.  We will touch back on this MP discussion in a minute - There are a few other differences  - the a7R iii has more weather sealing though until a tear down we don’t know the real differences, The use of metal screws when the a7iii uses plastic  and the a7R iii shutter is rated for a longer life span - These are not factors that would sway my decision one way or the other but I want you to have as much info as possible. let's now look at what the a7 iii offers over the a7R iiibetter AF system - borrowing from the a9 we have 693 points, greater coverage and because we have more points the Eye-af system is even more accurate, even more responsive.  Honestly, I didn't see a huge difference but it feels very responsive and accurate.Better battery life - The official CIPA rating of the new camera is 710 shots - I know that on one full day of shooting I was able to capture just under 4,000 photos on one battery.  The a7R iii is rated just at 610 shots but I have had similar experiences and rarely needed more than one photo for a day and that includes shooting in Alaska and Yellowstone with below freezing temps.Better Low light performance on the photo side of things it is similar and when you downsize the A7Riii pics they look a little better  but in video the a7iii is better, noticeably and in ways that videographers who don't care about the improvements that the a7Siii  will bring will likely take notice - at this price point the a7iii is extremely impressive for the video quality provided.Let's recap the differences that matter. - a7R iii offers those megapixels, The a7 iii improved AF,  better video quality at the higher ISO and saves you $1200.Here's what I say I feel that if you are watching this video, you might be on the fence and if you are on the fence - you don't need 42MP,  24 is more than enough and the savings can be put toward a lens or a trip that is going to put you someplace awesome where you can make beautiful 24mp photos . There are fewer of you that need 42MP but if you do, you should know it.  And if you are a Lightroom user - Lightroom will certainly feel more responsive when browsing 24mp files.and briefly, have heard some people say why buy the a9? In my opinion, The a9 is a different beast offering 20 fps silently without worry about distortion due to rolling shutter.I know some of you also wonder about the 7Rii vs the a7iii since they are similar in price  - I think this is an easy choice for most of you. The improvements in the newer a7 series really make the a7 iii much more user-friendly and capable of handling a greater number of photography tasks - for that reason, I think most people would be better off going a7ii to a7iii even though you don't get an increase in MP.

a7III

a7RIII

Sony a7III

a7RIII

• 24MP Full-Frame Exmor R BSI CMOS Sensor

• BIONZ X Image Processor & Front-End LSI

• 693-Point Hybrid AF System

• UHD 4K30p Video with HLG & S-Log3 Gammas

• 2.36m-Dot Tru-Finder OLED EVF

• 3.0" 922k-Dot Tilting Touchscreen LCD

• 5-Axis SteadyShot INSIDE Stabilization

• ISO 204800 and 10 fps Shooting

• Built-In Wi-Fi and NFC, Dual SD Slots

• USB Type-C Port, Weather-Sealed Design

• 42MP Full-Frame Exmor R BSI CMOS Sensor

• BIONZ X Image Processor & Front-End LSI

• 399-Point AF System & 10 fps Shooting

• UHD 4K30p Video with HLG & S-Log3 Gammas

• 3.69m-Dot Tru-Finder OLED EVF

• 3.0" 1.44m-Dot Tilting Touchscreen LCD

• 5-Axis SteadyShot INSIDE Stabilization

• ISO 102400 & Pixel Shift Multi Shooting

• Built-In Wi-Fi/Bluetooth, Dual SD Slots

• USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-C Port & PC Sync Port

Amazon

B&H Photo

Amazon

B&H Photo

Mish Mash Highlights: 2/28/2018

A post shared by Toby (@photorectoby) on Feb 28, 2018 at 6:45am PST

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

• Want to travel with Toby? We've got some great new trips to sign up for:
  • Return to New Zealand – April & May 2019
  • Oregon Waterfalls and Coast - August 24th-26th  2018
• New for PEN, join today at Photorec.tv/PEN
  • Tuesday Tips - Check your email! - Time for you and your photography, a life tip on getting photos when you can
  • New Video! - Photoshop - Eye Enhancement and Highlights, getting a bit more pop in eyes without going overboard
  • Option 2 PPA Level Review is live, go check your email or the site for the new Video!
• The Sony a7III – Sony’s 4k Update to Entry Level Full Frame
  • An early hands-on from Toby in Vegas, the a7III doesn't cut any corners with A TON of specs in their more entry level full frame.

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

• SIGMA Announces 9 Art Lenses for Sony E-mount cameras
  • For those wanting to switch to Sony, Sigma just made the move a ton easier with a large part of their Art line now available in Sony E Mount. For those with a lot of Sigma Art lenses already remember they do offer a conversion service as well.
• Sigma & Tamron Announce Sony FE Lenses
  • Tamron is also in the Sony lens game this week with a 28-75mm f/2.8 lens. Much smaller and lighter than the Sony edition, this should be great for those traveling that need f/2.8.
• Finally: M50 Canon Camera Offers 4K Video & Several Other Sweet Features
  • While Sony is currently sweeping the news this week Canon has a new mirrorless camera out for $899. It's a bit more of a competitive model than previous generations. The M50 comes with 4K, 120p HD, vari-angle touchscreen, automatic backup and even more sweet features.
• Vietnam Photography Adventures – Part Two!
  • Toby took so much video in Vietnam! We've got part two this week hitting Halong Bay. Warning: Snakes!
• NEW SONY FLASH – F60RM with wireless
  • A new flagship flash from Sony to fill out their accessories. THe F60RM is a flash with built-in wireless that can act as a master or slave in conjunction with their previous products.

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.

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:

• The New Canon 470EX-AI Speedlite Can Automatically Turn Its Head For a Perfect Bounce Flash
• 500px Sold to Visual China Group, the “getty of China”
• Beware 500px’s (Very) ‘Flexible Pricing’
• This Is What Happens When You Give a Photographer a Spacesuit
• Sigma to Increase Price of Mount Conversion Service
• Court Injunction Insists Canon Italia Must Remove Elia Locardi's Image
• Wacom Announces the Cintiq Pro 24" Pen Display
• Buyer Orders a $6,000 Camera, Amazon Sends a Box of Rocks Instead
• How SpaceX Shoots Close-Up Footage of Launching Rockets
• Ex-Lexar execs have launched a new memory card company, here's why you should care

Featured Photos Weekly 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.

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.

Also check out: Satellite Eye on Earth: January 2018 - in picturesPick 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

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 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

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

SIGMA Announces 9 Art Lenses for Sony E-mount cameras

SIGMA Corporation is pleased to announce the upcoming launch of interchangeable lenses for the Sony E-mount digital camera series with full-frame image sensors. SIGMA will gradually introduce the lenses as members of the Art line, which offers photographers the highest level of optical performance.

Preorders coming soon at B&H

• 14mm F1.8 DG HSM | Art
• 20mm F1.4 DG HSM | Art
• 24mm F1.4 DG HSM | Art
• 35mm F1.4 DG HSM | Art
• 50mm F1.4 DG HSM | Art
• 70mm F 2.8 DG MACRO | Art
• 85mm F1.4 DG HSM | Art
• 105mm F1.4 DG HSM | Art
• 135mm F1.8 DG HSM | Art

While offering the same high-performance optical design as other lenses in the Art line, the new Sony E-mount models will feature a newly developed control algorithm that optimizes the autofocus drive and maximizes the data transmission speed. In addition, these lenses will be compatible with Sony’s Continuous AF (AF-C) and high-speed autofocus, which are not addressed by SIGMA MOUNT CONVERTER MC-11. Like the converter MC-11, the lenses will be compatible with in-camera image stabilization and in-camera lens aberration correction, which includes corrections for peripheral illumination, chromatic aberrations, and distortion.The lineup will include the Art line set of seven prime lenses covering 14mm to 135mm. It will also include two models that SIGMA will be exhibiting at CP+ 2018: 70mm F2.8 DG MACRO | Art and 105mm F1.4 DG HSM | Art (launch date TBD). Further, SIGMA plans to introduce additional Sony E-mount models in the Art line going forward.Note: This product is developed, manufactured and sold based on the specifications of E-mount which was disclosed by Sony Corporation under the license agreement with Sony Corporation.【Key features】1. Autofocus tuned for each lensThanks to an autofocus drive control program tuned for each lens and high-speed data transmission,the lenses will offer high-speed autofocus at the same performance level as that of a lens designedexclusively for mirrorless cameras. In particular, in E-mount cameras offering Sony’s Fast Hybrid AF, AF-C mode will deliver exceptional subject following performance. Moreover, autofocus will remain extremely precise even in those E-mount cameras offering only contrast AF.2. Compatible with in-camera image stabilizationThe lenses will be compatible with in-camera image stabilization. The Sony E-mount camera sensesthe focal length of the lens and automatically optimizes image stabilization performance.3. Data loaded for compatibility with in-camera aberration correctionThe lenses will be fully compatible with in-camera aberration correction, which includes correctionsfor peripheral illumination, chromatic aberrations, and distortion. By matching corrections to the optical characteristics of the lens, this function takes image quality to an even higher level.4. Native mount for a more rigid and stable feelMaking the mount native to the lens makes possible a more rigid and stable feel to the lens.Featuring a special surface treatment to enhance strength, the brass bayonet mount offers a high-precision fit and exceptional durability. The mount connection area incorporates rubber sealing for dust- and splash-proof construction.5. Available Mount Conversion ServiceThis service converts the mount of SIGMA lenses to that of a different camera body, allowing photographers to continue using their favorite lenses over the long term regardless of camera system.Note 1: The Mount Conversion Service is different from a normal repair. In order to apply for the service, please contact your nearest authorized SIGMA subsidiary or distributor. http://www.sigma-global.com/en/about/world-network/Note 2: This service is performed exclusively by SIGMA.

Vietnam Photography Adventures - Part Two!

Leaving the amazing Halong bay behind we venture south through the city of lanterns, Hoi An, the city of Hue and of course Saigon/Ho Chi Minh City and exploring the Mekong Delta - Snakes on me, Snakes in a bottle and so much more.Watch the SeriesVietnam Photography Adventures Part 3 Vietnam Photography Adventures Part 1

Would you? On our #mckaylive travels up the Mekong river, we came across Bebe, 7 year old, 50lb boa. I think he liked me! Traveling with the McKay crew is as much about fun experiences as it is about the photos.

A post shared by Toby (@photorectoby) on Feb 4, 2018 at 7:59am PST

• Save 10% off your first purchase of a domain, website gallery - at http://squarespace.com/photorectv

• See a complete list of the gear I took to Vietnam - https://kit.com/photorectoby/vietnam-...

• A few of my favorite photos from Vietnam http://photorectoby.com/vietnam

• Travel with me on a future workshop - http://photorec.tv/travel

NEW SONY FLASH - F60RM with wireless

Sony Brings Radio to Flagship HVL-F60RM FlashThe HVL-F60RM External Flash from Sony is the new top of the line flash. similar to F45RM, the F60RM offers several improvements in operability, performance, and build quality that make it a worthy upgrade. The most significant upgrade is the implementation of Sony's 2.4GHz Radio System, which allows it to function as either a controller or remote flash from up to 98' away with full TTL support, including high-speed sync. It is also fully compatible with all existing Sony flash components, including the F45RM External Flash and WRC1M Wireless Radio Commander.Sony continues to fill out the accessories and lenses that professionals require. In my opinion, the ecosystem is on par with Sony and Nikon for any studio and/or portraiture work.Full Specs of the F60RM Flash

• 2.4 GHz Radio Transceiver with 98' Range
• Compatible with Sony ADI / P-TTL
• Guide Number: 197' at ISO 100 and 105mm
• Zoom Range: 20-200mm (14mm with Panel)
• Quick Shift Bounce for 90° L/R Pivot
• Tilts from -8 to 150°
• Wireless TTL Ratio Controller/Remote
• LED Light and AF Illuminator
• Quick Navi Interface with Dot Matrix LCD
• Recycle Time: 0.1-1.7 Seconds
• Price: $599.00

B&H Preorders are not live yet - sign up for notificationAdditional Battery pack available Compatible Cameras:

• a9
• a7R III
• a7R II
• a7S II
• a99 II
• a6500

Fujifilm X-H1 Mirrorless Camera - Serious Video Specs!

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

Vietnam Photography Adventures - Part One!

Dark alleyways of Hanoi, remote mountain villages outside Sa Pa, and the awesome Halong Bay are some of our destinations in part 1 of our Vietnam Adventures!

Watch the SeriesVietnam Photography Adventures Part 2Vietnam Photography Adventures Part 3 

• Save 10% off your first purchase of a domain, website gallery - at http://squarespace.com/photorectv

• See a complete list of the gear I took to Vietnam - https://kit.com/photorectoby/vietnam-...

• A few of my favorite photos from Vietnam http://photorectoby.com/vietnam

• Travel with me on a future workshop - http://photorec.tv/travel

Mish Mash Highlights: 2/14/2018

Happy 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:

• UPDATE: Tamron teases a new lens…is it a new 28-75mm F/2.8 FE?
• Picture of a Single Atom Wins Science Photo Contest
• Customer Stories – Photographing the SpaceX Falcon Major Launch
• Stylizing Your Work With the Use of Color
• More DJI Mavic Pro 2 rumors
• How Many Megapixels Do You Need to Print a Billboard?
• Instagram ‘Regram’ Test Lets Others Use Your Photos in Their Stories
• 4 Young Photographers Who Will Inspire and Amaze You
• RGG EDU is giving away a $300, 8+ hour beer photography course for free
• The Winning Photos of Underwater Photographer of the Year 2018

Featured Photos Weekly 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/m4r54ODsOM0Pick 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

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)

 

Sigma Announces 14-24mm F/2.8 Art Full-frame Lens

We're 2/3rds of the way through the lens trinity with Sigma announcing the new Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG HSM Art Lens. A full-frame design, this should be an excellent lens for shooting landscapes, interiors, and stars. Designed to work with 50MP cameras. Near zero distortion (less than 1%) and minimal chromatic aberration is the claim. The Sigma ART line has impressed photographers for several years now and I expect this lens to be a serious winner.With the recently released 24-70 Art, we're just waiting on a 70-200mm lens at this point. The 14-24mm lens currently only available in Canon, Nikon and Sigma SA mounts, Sony owners must use an adapter like the Sigma MC-11 adapter for now.  There are strong rumors that in just a few months Sigma will announce FE mount versions of many of their lenses.The Sigma 14-24 Art features Sigma's Sports line of dust and splash proofing with a seal at the mount. Build for high-speed, high accuracy autofocus. This should be a great option for those wanting to capture close up sports and action shots.Another exciting announcement is the introduction of the front mount conversion service for the Sigma 14-24mm F2.8 which allows the lens to be used in multicam productions, e.g., VR rigs. The exclusive front round component minimizes the risk of interfering with other cameras and eliminates undesired shadows in the content.We're one step closer to the lens trinity from the Sigma Art line and this likely represents an excellent option for Canon photographers and Nikon user looking to save over the current Nikon 14-24 f/2.8 that costs nearly $1900.

Preorder Coming Soon at B&H

Canon Mount | Nikon Mount

Sample Images

[gallery ids="17506,17507,17508"]

Specifications

Lens Construction

17 Elements in 11 Groups

Angle of View

114.2°-84.1°

Number of Diaphragm Blades

9 (rounded diaphragm)

Minimum Aperture

F/22

Minimum Focusing Distance

26 - 28 cm10.2-11.0 in

Maximum Magnifications

1:5.4

Dimensions (Diameter x Length)

ø96.4mm x 135.1mm3.8in. x 5.3in.

Weight

1,150g/40.6oz.

Mounts

Canon, Nikon, Sigma

Price

TBA

Mish Mash Highlights: 2/7/2018

Hopefully, 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

• Want to travel with Toby? We've got some great new trips to sign up for, get them while there are spots available! 
  • Return to New Zealand – April & May 2019
  • Oregon Waterfalls and Coast - August 24th-26th  2018
• Vietnam Photography Gear – What worked, what failed!

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.

• PEN only Tuesday Tip -  How to Create a Panorama

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.

• Mavic Air Available now! | B&H - Amazon

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:

• Canon Patent Showing Wireless Charging of Cameras
• Reckless drone video under investigation for flying directly above passenger jet
• Beauty YouTuber Uses Over $10,000 Worth of Equipment to Shoot Makeup Videos
• Photography at 40,000 Feet
• I Was a Homeless Teen Who Became an Award-Winning Wedding Photog
• How Students Restored Photos Damaged by Hurricane Harvey
• 3 Simple Ways to Use Framing and Layering in Portraits
• A Tale of Two Moons: Peter Lik’s Photographs Called Out by Science

Featured Photos Weekly 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 Feb 5, 2018 at 6:16am PST

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 Feb 6, 2018 at 7:37am PST

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

A post shared by MRobert Photography (@mrobertphoto) on Feb 6, 2018 at 9:17am PST

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

• Out-of-This-World Photos from Falcon Heavy's Historic Debut Flight
• Link to launch | Link to orbiting earth

Pick 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.

Vietnam Photography Gear - What worked, what failed!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItBSic8Rkwc 

Mish Mash Highlights: 1/31/2018

A post shared by Toby (@photorectoby) on Jan 19, 2018 at 6:21am PST

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:

A post shared by Darcy Evans. (@darcyevansphotography) on Jan 20, 2018 at 7:44am PST

• The Canon EOS 90D is Coming Later in 2018
• This Guy Built an Ultimate Lightroom Battlestation for $6,000
• Sometimes You Get a Lens Because of the Ones You Love
• I Named These Puppies Click, Bokeh, Nikon, Sensor, Skrim, and Gobo
• Nikon sends the astrophotography-friendly D810A into a black hole
• 3 Bad Habits You Need to Break to Improve Your Photography
• Zion National Park Will Allow Tripods on Some Trails After All
• New Canon DSLR camera leaked in recent FCC filing
• Newlyweds Have Wedding Photos Taken in Front of Erupting Volcano
• Copyright Registration Law Set to Change, Could Cost Photographers Significantly More
• Tested Sony A7rIII at -10 degree Celsius in the snow on the Dolomites.
• This Photo of an Icy Niagara Falls Looks like It’s of a Different Planet
• The 13-Year-Old Award-Winning Wildlife Photographer

Featured Photos Weekly 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.

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 Jan 27, 2018 at 11:05am PST

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 Jan 31, 2018 at 6:23am PST

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.Pick 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!

How-to: Photograph the Milky Way

Simple tips and tricks for getting the best milky way photos - from when to go, where to go and what gear to use.

When to Shoot

March to October is good but the best times to see the galactic core is late April to late July here in the Northern Hemisphere. In the southern hemisphere February to October with the galactic core best visible during June and July - The galactic core is arguably the most interesting and most photogenic section of the milky - So take a moment and add a calendar reminder to watch this video again in the spring.You also want nights with no moon - this means a new moon or dates when the moon is below the horizon - a quick search online yields lots of helpful info. On iOS and Android, I love Photopills it has at a glance moon info as well as rise/set times for the Galactic core for your location AND a mode that lets you overlay the night sky & milky way on the landscape where you are standing!

Location

Someplace with low amounts of light pollution - to figure out the closest dark skies visit website Dark site Finder - Yellow is eh, Green is ok, blue is good, black is even better. But don’t let this stop you from trying - Your milky way shots might not be the best but at least get out, practice and develop the skills so when you end up at the right time and place you can get THE SHOT.DO include interesting foreground elements - rocks, trees, mountains, something to ground your viewer on earth while giving them a taste of the stars above.

Gear

Irix Firefly

You need a sturdy tripod - I have my favorites listed below. As for lens choice. Full Frame equivalents of 14 to 30 work well for me. The IRIX firefly is my current budget favorite - I have a review of several lenses perfect for astrophotography linked below. You could go fisheye or shoot a panorama if you have a full view of the sky with little light pollution.

• The Best Lenses for Photographing the Stars & Milkyway

• Carbon Fiber Tripods Review

Camera Settings

Get manual focus during the day and then tape or lock your focus ring at that point.

• Aperture - Use the widest your lens allows - f/2.8 is great wider is even better Kit lenses at f/3.5 are a possibility too.

• Shutter speed - Probably about 20 seconds but follow the 500 rule and keep that shutter speed as short as possible so stars are pinpoints and not streaks. Taking multiple shots and stacking for lower noise higher detail is an option too - I haven’t done that yet - I have been happy with single shots.

• ISO You are probably going to end up around 1600 - lower if you have a faster lens than f/2.8 - higher if you have a slower lens.

In Post

Post Processing I typically cool the image - brighten overall image but especially the stars by increasing the highlights and I use a brush to increase the brightness of the milky way and a second brush to decrease the brightness of the darker sections - overall increasing contrast and making the milky way stand out more. 

Mish Mash Highlights: 1/24/2018

A post shared by Toby (@photorectoby) on Jan 19, 2018 at 6:21am PST

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 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 SelectionsA 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:

• One of the Funniest AI Photos Fails We've Ever Seen
• This Epic Action Sports Video Shows a Skier Freeriding Across the World
• Government Seizes Photographer’s Laptop, Photographers Everywhere Immediately Seem Way More Badass
• I’ve Been Sharing My Photography for Free on Unsplash for the Past 4 Years, Here’s What I Found
• Why I Rejected Your Request for Free Photos
• Five Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Give Raw Files to Your Clients
• The Story of the World's First Digital Camera as Told By Its Inventor
• How to Use a Polariser to Remover Glare From Portraits
• Seven Tips for People Looking to Turn Their Photography Into a Career
• Our $3,000 DSLR Was Stolen in Italy and We Filmed It Happen
• How to Use CTO and CTB Gels to Change the Color of Your Background
• Video: Using a $50 lens on a $12,500 5K RED cinema camera

Featured Photos Weekly 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 Jan 18, 2018 at 1:55pm PST

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 Jan 23, 2018 at 5:42am PST

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

A post shared by Jude Nash (@cheekymonkey1975) on Jan 20, 2018 at 1:18pm PST

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 Jan 23, 2018 at 5:50pm PST

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

A post shared by Justin Lai (@justlai87) on Jan 22, 2018 at 5:38pm PST

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

A post shared by Maxence Lefort (@maxencelefort) on Jan 21, 2018 at 11:37am PST

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 Jan 23, 2018 at 11:24am PST

Pick 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!

DJI Mavic Air Announced

DJI Mavic Air - NOW IN STOCK AT B&H PHOTO

Unlimited stories, straight from your pocket!

DJI Mavic Air Gimbal

DJI Mavic Air Active Track

DJI Mavic Air Remote

Essentially, the new DJI Air is a fix for every single issue we had with the DJI Spark. We get 4K video at 30fps and RAW stills in the smallest package yet. With foldable rotors like the Mavic Pro, it crunches down to half the size of a Mavic Pro and weighs 40% less. Even including 8GB of internal storage if you happen to forget your Micro SD card or just need a little bit more room. Sitting between the Mavic Pro and Spark if you haven't picked up a drone yet this might be the one you've been waiting for all this time.The Mavic Air uses a new 1/2.3" CMOS Sensor with a 24mm (35mm equivalent) F/2.8 lens that's stabilized with a recessed 3-axis gimbal. Capturing 12 MP stills or Stabilized 4K Video at 30fps and Full HD at 120fps. Including a new 32MP spherical panorama mode generated on camera and HDR mode.It's smarter with Flight Autonomy 2.0 using 7 cameras to sense and avoid objects. That means it's better sensing the environment and a safer return to home. Using Advanced Pilot Assistance System (APAS), with obstacles in the way, the DJI Air will automatically fly around objects to keep moving. A big upgrade from previous models which would just stop when encountering an object.Same intelligent smart modes as the DJI Spark. Active Track and Quick Shot have new updates and improvements. The hand controls like the DJI Spark uses are included, but now with much more responsive and accurate controls. A new asteroid quick shot mode starts with a spherical panorama that falls down towards the subject. Also a new boomerang quick shot is great for sweeping around a subject for a big reveal (like a boomerang).With a 21 minute flight time, it puts the Mavic Air dead between the Spark and Mavic Pro (16 and 27 minutes for those). That said while it might burn the battery faster the 42.5 MPH sport mode will be more than a bit of fun if you don't crash it. It can operate in 22mph winds, and a flight ceiling of 16,404, so the Mavic Air is certainly up for anything. DJI has even redesigned the remote with a 2.5 mile range, removable antennas, and still foldable to pack up small (262 ft range with a smartphone).Overall this fixes pretty much every issue we had with the spark being more of a consumer drone, lacking things like RAW stills and 4K video. At $799 for the standard package and $999 for the Fly More Package it sits right in the middle. We'll have a review from Toby coming up soon so keep an eye out! This is that sweet spot for ultra portability vs features, so small you can put it in your pocket, but still has what you need to get the job done.

The Dji Mavic Air Is Available for Pre-order Today!We Recommend the Fly More Combo to get you going.

DJI Air Black

Standard

|

Fly More Combo

DJI Air Red

Standard

|

Fly More Combo

DJI Air White

Standard

|

Fly More Combo

Sample Video / Images

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slTxM9eCDq4[gallery td_select_gallery_slide="slide" ids="17389,17390,17391,17392,17393,17394,17395"]

Specifications

Aircraft

Takeoff Weight

430 g

Dimensions

Folded:168×83×49 mm (L×W×H)Unfolded:168×184×64 mm (L×W×H)

Diagonal Distance

213 mm

Max Ascent Speed

3 m/s (S - mode

[1]

)2 m/s (P - mode)2 m/s (Wi-Fi mode)

Max Descent Speed

2 m/s (S - mode

[1]

)1.5 m/s (P - mode)1 m/s (Wi-Fi mode)

Max Speed (near sea level, no wind)

68.4 kph (S - mode

[1]

)28.8 kph (P - mode)28.8 kph (Wi-Fi mode)

Max Service Ceiling Above Sea Level

5000 m

Max Flight Time (no wind)

21 minutes (at a consistent 25 kph)

Max Hovering Time (no wind)

20 minutes

Max Flight Distance (no wind)

10 km (at a consistent 25 kph)

Max Wind Speed Resistance

29 - 38 kph

Max Tilt Angle

35° (S - mode

[1]

)25° (P - mode)

Max Angular Velocity

250°/s (S - mode

[1]

)250°/s (P - mode)

Operating Temperature Range

0°C - 40°C

Operating Frequency

2.400 - 2.4835 GHz5.725 - 5.850 GHz

Transmission Power (EIRP)

 2.400 - 2.4835 GHzFCC: ≤28 dBmCE: ≤19 dBmSRRC: ≤19 dBmMIC: ≤19 dBm5.725 - 5.850 GHzFCC: ≤31 dBmCE: ≤14 dBmSRRC: ≤27 dBm

GNSS

GPS + GLONASS

Hovering Accuracy Range

Vertical:±0.1 m (with Vision Positioning)±0.5 m (with GPS Positioning)Horizontal:±0.1 m (with Vision Positioning)±1.5 m (with GPS Positioning)

Internal Storage

8 GB

Gimbal

Mechanical Range

Tilt: -100° to 22°Roll: -30° to 30°Pan: -12° to 12°

Controllable Range

Tilt: -90° to 0° (default setting)-90° to +17° (extended)

Stabilization

3-axis (tilt, roll, pan)

Max Control Speed (tilt)

120°/s

Angular Vibration Range

±0.005°

Camera

Sensor

1/2.3” CMOSEffective Pixels: 12 MP

Lens

FOV: 85°35 mm Format Equivalent: 24 mmAperture: f/2.8Shooting Range: 0.5 m to ∞

ISO Range

Video:100 - 1600 (auto)100 - 1600 (manual)Photo:100 - 1600 (auto)100 - 3200 (manual)

Shutter Speed

Electronic Shutter: 8 - 1/8000s

Still Image Size

4:3: 4056×304016:9: 4056×2280

Still Photography Modes

Single shotHDRBurst shooting: 3/5/7 framesAuto Exposure Bracketing (AEB): 3/5 bracketed frames at 0.7EV BiasInterval: 2/3/5/7/10/15/20/30/60 s

Video Resolution

4K Ultra HD: 3840×2160 24/25/30p2.7K: 2720×1530 24/25/30/48/50/60pFHD: 1920×1080 24/25/30/48/50/60/120pHD: 1280×720 24/25/30/48/50/60/120p

Max Video Bitrate

100Mbps

Supported File System

FAT32

Photo Format

JPEG/DNG (RAW)

Video Format

MP4/MOV (H.264/MPEG-4 AVC）

Sensing System

Forward

Precision Measurement Range: 0.5 - 12 mDetectable Range: 0.5 - 24 mEffective Sensing Speed: ≤ 8 m/sField of View (FOV): Horizontal 50°, Vertical ±19°

Backward

Precision Measurement Range: 0.5 - 10 mDetectable Range: 0.5 - 20 mEffective Sensing Speed: ≤ 8 m/sField of View (FOV): Horizontal 50°, Vertical ±19°

Downward

Altitude Range: 0.1 - 8 mOperating Range: 0.5 - 30 m

Operating Environment

Forward:Surface with clear pattern and adequate lighting (lux > 15)Backward:Surface with clear pattern and adequate lighting (lux > 15)Downward:Detects clearly patterned surfaces with adequate lighting (lux>15) and diffuse reflectivity (>20%)

Mobile Device Control

Operating Frequency

2.400 - 2.4835 GHz5.725 - 5.850 GHz

Max Transmission Distance (unobstructed, free of interference)

Distance: 80 mHeight: 50 m

Intelligent Flight Battery

Capacity

2375 mAh

Voltage

11.55 V

Max Charging Voltage

13.2 V

Battery Type

LiCoO₂ 3S

Energy

27.43 Wh

Net Weight

140 g

Charging Temperature Range

5℃ - 40℃

Max Charging Power

60 W

Remote Controller

Operating Frequency

2.400 - 2.4835 GHz5.725 - 5.850 GHz

Max Transmission Distance (unobstructed, free of interference)

2.400 - 2.4835 GHz:FCC: 4000 mCE: 2000 mSRRC: 2000 mMIC: 2000 m5.725 - 5.850 GHz:FCC: 4000 mCE: 500 mSRRC: 2500 m

Operating Temperature Range

0℃ - 40℃

Transmission Power (EIRP)

2.400 - 2.4835 GHz:FCC：≤26 dBmCE: ≤18 dBmSRRC: ≤18 dBmMIC:≤18 dBm5.725 - 5.850 GHz:FCC: ≤30 dBmCE: ≤14 dBmSRRC: ≤26 dBm

Battery

2970 mAh

Operating Current/Voltage

1400 mA ⎓ 3.7 V (Android)750 mA ⎓ 3.7 V (iOS)

Supported Mobile Device Size

Max length: 160 mmSupported Thickness: 6.5-8.5 mm

Supported USB Port Types

Lightning, Micro USB (Type-B), USB-C

Supported SD Cards

Supported SD Cards

microSDClass 10 or UHS-1 rating required

Recommended microSD Cards

16GSandisk ExtremeKingston 16GB SDHC-I SDCAC/16GB32GSandisk Extreme V30Sandisk Extreme V30 A1Sandisk Extreme V30 Pro A164GSandisk Extreme V30 A1Sandisk Extreme Pro V30 A1128GSandisk Extreme V30 A1Sandisk Extreme Plus V30 A1

Charger

Input

100 - 240 V, 50/60 Hz, 1.4 A

Output

Main: 13.2 V ⎓ 3.79 AUSB: 5 V ⎓ 2 A

Voltage

13.2 V

Rated Power

50 W

App

Video Transmission System

Enhanced Wi-Fi

Name

DJI GO 4

Live View Quality

Remote Controller:720p@30fpsSmart Device:720p@30fpsDJI Goggles:720p@30fps

Latency (depending on environmental conditions and mobile device)

170 - 240 ms

Required Operating System

iOS v9.0 or laterAndroid v4.4 or later