Do you know what a significant event took place on September 16, 1824? On that day, two important events took place in France: King Louis XVIII of France died, and photography was born. With all due respect to the French king, I consider the second event to be more important over time. It was the talented inventor Joseph Nicéphore Niépce who we consider the father of our hobby 200 years ago. We’ll probably never know what his first photograph looked like, but if you want to see his first surviving photograph – from 1827, titled View from the Window at Le Gras – you can visit the Gernsheim Collection at the University of Texas at Austin. How far back do your photographic beginnings go?
Recent Announcements
- DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro: This is DJI’s answer to the recently announced GoPro Hero 13. At the heart of the camera is a new 1/1.3″ CMOS sensor (larger than the one used in the GoPro) with 40MP resolution. The built-in lens with a maximum aperture of f/2.8 has a 155-degree field of view. Still images can be captured in JPG or RAW format. The camera can record UHD 4K 120p video in 10-bit D-Log M or 10-bit HLG color mode. With HDR video, the maximum is 4K/60fps. The new SuperNight mode with AI denoising algorithms expands low-light shooting capabilities. New features include 47 GB built-in memory and the ability to use up to 1 TB microSD cards. A larger battery extends shooting time to up to 4 hours. Price starts at $349.
- Hasselblad X2D 100C Earth Explorer: The Earth Explorer is a limited version (1000 units) of the X2D model that Spencer used in Iceland this summer. It is earth tones, a combination of browns and greens (Hasselblad calls it Tundra Brown), that are reflected in the color of this camera. The edition also includes an XCD 55mm f/2.5V lens (43mm equivalent), 72mm UV filter, extra battery, dual battery charging hub and 30W USB-C charger, and an exclusive strap. The price for this combo is $13,999, which is about a $2000 premium over the usual version of the camera and lens.
- DxO Photolab 8: The next generation of DxO’s photo editing software delivers further enhancements to its noise reduction and detail extraction algorithm – DeepPRIME XD2s. DxO promises to “amplify details without adding fringing or artifacts in high-frequency areas.” The new magnifier view (up to 1600%) gives you a live preview of all your edits. In addition to the traditional U Point tools, there’s a new option for selecting the hues you want to edit – Hue Mask (this feature is similar to the Color Editor in C1). The Curves tool has been significantly improved with a luma channel, tone picker, and a few other tweaks. There’s also a new Compare Mode. The standard price is $229, or $109 if you are upgrading from the previous version.
The Rumor Mill
Will Pentax announce a new flagship DSLR?
The development of a Pentax K1 Mark III has been talked about since last year. Considering that Ricoh recently registered a new camera with the product code R07010, it’s quite possible that the top line of Pentax DSLRs will soon see a third generation. What will make it special, and what should convince potential customers? First of all, the sensor. It is said to be a 61MP, backside illuminated CMOS from Sony. This would make it the world’s highest-resolution DSLR.
The most interesting rumored feature of the K1 Mark III is the Astrotracer. This, combined with a built-in GPS module and stabilized sensor, should be able to track celestial objects. As a result, stars will not appear as blurry smudges during long exposures, but as points (though the earth itself will be blurred)! Pentax is also said to be improving autofocus capabilities, thanks to the a new SAFOX 14 autofocus system. Other rumored features include button illumination, two CF Express memory card slots, a joystick, and a very fast shutter speed. As they say, variety is the spice of life, so I wish Pentax good luck in the DSLR segment.
Tamron could announce a 20x zoom lens
Superzooms have a nice feature: They can be glued to the camera almost permanently. That is, unless you’re a fan of shallow depth of field and uncompromising image quality. If you’re willing to make those compromises, you’ll get a lens for just about anything life throws at you. That said, most ultra-zooms start at 24mm or 28mm. Tamron may want to break these long-standing rules according to a new rumor, which says they’re working on a superzoom that starts at 20mm. And all this without sacrificing reach at the long end, rumored to be 400mm. The maximum aperture for such a zoom is said to be f/4-7.1, which wouldn’t be bad at all. Even the rumored weight seems acceptable at about 1 kg (2.2 pounds). If all this is true, it would be quite a surprise, but it remains to be seen if this is a real lens or just dust in the wind.
Via Photo Rumors
Good Deals and New Sales
We’ve already covered how to back up your photos on the go. An important, but relatively expensive component of the entire backup workflow is a reliable and durable SSD. However, their prices are dropping over time. Here is a selection of those that are currently available at interesting discounts.
- Samsung 4TB T7 Shield Portable SSD (was $481, now $281)
- Samsung 2TB T7 Shield Portable SSD (was $276, now $171)
- SanDisk Professional 4TB PRO-G40 SSD Thunderbolt 3 (was $674, now $395)
- SanDisk Professional 2TB PRO-G40 SSD Thunderbolt 3 (was $450, now $275)
- WD 4TB My Passport SSD USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C Portable SSD (was $680, now $270)
- WD 2TB My Passport SSD USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C Portable SSD (was $350, now $130)
- WD 1TB My Passport SSD USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C Portable SSD (was $180, now $90)
B&H Photo is still running a sale on exotic Nikon telephoto lenses at exceptionally good prices. High-end telephoto lenses have never been this affordable, and this is likely closing out Nikon’s last new stock of these lenses. Even on mirrorless, but especially on DSLRs, the latest generation of F-mount telephoto lenses has a lot to offer.
- Nikon AF-S 800mm f/5.6E FL ED VR (was $16,297, now $11,497)
- Nikon AF-S 180-400mm f/4E TC1.4 FL ED VR (was $12,397, now $8,677)
- Nikon AF-S 400mm f/2.8E FL ED VR (was $11,197, now $7,897)
- Nikon AF-S 500mm f/4E FL ED VR (was $10,297, now $7,297)
- Nikon AF-S 200-400mm f/4G ED VR II (was $6,599, now $4,599)
Other Pages of Interest
If you think of Viltrox as a third-party manufacturer of relatively affordable photo lenses, you are quite right. However, Viltrox also makes cine lenses, and they often cost significantly more. Even more so when they are such optical monsters as the LUNA 42-420mm T5.6 ZOOM 10X Cine Lens. Its price is expected to be around $100,000. If you want to take a look at the lens and didn’t manage to do so at the 2024 IBC show in Amsterdam, you can do so at the Viltrox website.
“The rare New Britain Goshawk (Accipiter princeps) has been photographed for the first time in history.” So begins an article on WWF that tells the story of a lucky photographer who managed to capture an extremely rare species of raptor from Papua New Guinea. The last confirmed record of this bird of prey dates back to 1969! This is what I love about the tropics. The excitement of knowing that behind every tree, every rock, every bend in the river, there could be something unique waiting for you.
Mid-September has been extremely fruitful for photo contest results. If you haven’t already done so, make yourself a cup of coffee or other favorite beverage, find a comfortable seat, put on some nice music, and get inspired:
- Ocean Photographer of the Year 2024
- Nature TTL Photographer of the Year 2024
- 2024 Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year
- Nikon’s Small World
- Natural Landscape Photography Awards 2024
Photo Theme Challenge, Week #68
Last week’s theme was long exposure, and you can see the results in this thread. Thank you to everyone for your submissions! This week’s theme is September, and you can submit your results in this thread by Saturday, September 28, 2024!
Week #67 Results
Let’s check out some of the shots we received for the “long exposure” theme, starting with new member fdantzer’s photo:
This long exposure shot of the moon produced quite a painterly effect, don’t you think?
Another use of long exposure is light painting in PRG Lagarde’s photo:
This creative effect looks a lot like the classic effects from earlier horror movies!
Next we have dave’s seascape photo:
I find it very interesting how the long exposure effect is much more apparent in the foreground. It gives a sense of two different environments close together, one dynamic and one a bit more peaceful!
Finally, we have AndrewGusew’s photo:
A classic long exposure of water gives a great abstract!
Thanks everyone for submitting their photos in the challenge, and we hope to see more next week in the September theme.
I shot my first roll of film at the end of spring in 1990 when I was 16, and I got immediately infected by the photo virus ;). I went with my parents to Arboretum Volčji Potok – a botanical garden in central Slovenia. Before the trip my much older brother briefly explained to me how to use light meter, how to set shutter speed and aperture, and how to focus a mf lens. I knew nothing about the composition and other photo stuff. The camera was my father’s East German Praktica PL nova I (35mm SLR) without light meter, so I had to use handheld external selenium light meter. The lens was M49 50mm f/2.8 by Meyer-Optik Görlitz (DDR), and the film was East German ORWO NP22 135-36 b&w negativ film (22 DIN-125 ASA-ISO 125).
PS: It was my brother’s idea to take the camera and shoot a roll of film.
Thank you for sharing your beginnings. My first real camera was also a Practica. I had an MTL 5B which already had a built-in light meter. It was a kind of East German Nikon FM2 :-) Of course I had a 50mm lens from Carl Zeiss Jena on it. In the Czech Republic they made pretty good FOMA films back then. German ORWOs were also popular. I used to look greedily at ILFORD in the windows of photo shops. Oh, and now I still have a few rolls of HP5+ in my closet. They expired a long time ago, and I don’t even have a camera to put them in anymore. If anyone could use them, I’d be happy to donate them.
PS: Your brother had a very good idea
Missed the news article this week, sorry. Well my first “beginning” with photography was when I was 11 and I disliked it, really. I prefer digital medias.
Thanks for the feature Libor :) .
I think my first attempts at photography were also around that age. And they were actually quite disastrous. I remember chasing ravens in an autumn field with a Russian compact camera. The lens was short and the ravens were far away. The result was pathetic. On my black-and-white film, the biggest raven was just a few silver bromide crystals. Finding them in the dark soil of a plowed field was detective work. I failed. The experience is etched in my memory and, strangely enough, has not deterred me. The excitement of the hunt outweighed the disappointment of the result.
Astrotracer sounds incredibly useful. Is this also practical at longer focal lengths (where apparent motion is more rapid), or does it work reasonably well only for wideangles?
That is a very interesting question. In any case, the result should be better than without this feature. It will depend on what angle (trajectory) the sensor will be able to cover.
It’s also worth noting that the used F-mount supertelephotos are being offered at astounding prices at B&H.
Wow that 800 f/5.6 sale is quite incredible, no doubt due to the existence of the 800 f/6.3 PF.
I would think for a long time whether to choose the 800mm f/5.6 or the 800mm f/6.3. In the end I would probably choose the 600mm f/4. But that one seems to be sold out already. In that case, there’s nothing to do but bite the wallet and take the new version with teleconverter ;-)