Category: Camera

Camera, Camcorders, DSLR, Mirrorless, Lenses and Accessories. All Here

Nikon D850 Launched With A 45.7MP Sensor

Nikon has announced a new full-frame DSLR, the D850. The announcement coincides with the company’s 100th anniversary, hoping to fulfill the wish-lists of professional photographers. Nikon seems to be aiming for portrait photographers, sports shooters, event photographers, etc.

Unlike the D810‘s 36.2-megapixel sensor, the Nikon D850 is built around a back-side illuminated(company’s first) 45.7 megapixel CMOS Sensor and can push the images at 7 fps, or 9 fps with the optional battery grip. Courtesy, the new Expeed 5 image processor, you can buffer up to 51 frames of 45.7-megapixel 14-bit RAW images, or 170 frames at 12-bits. It has the exact same 153-point (99 cross type) autofocus system used in the D5 with 99 cross type sensors and multi-cam 20K autofocus.

Nikon claims that the D850’s 45.7-megapixel sensor has an “unprecedented combination of resolution, dynamic range, ISO, and processing power.” In a bid to capture incredible detail, the company took a pass on the optical low-pass filter (OLPF). No mention of the manufacturer yet, but the fact that Sony uses a similar sensor on its 42-megapixel, full-frame Alpha A7R II, makes it quite certain.

D850’s video capabilities include shooting 4K UHD footage at 30 or 24 frames per second, and 1080p video at up to 120 fps. The camera can also record uncompressed 4:2:2 8-bit 4K UHD footage to an external recorder via HDMI port while recording locally to a card at the same time. Furthermore, the D850 offers an 8K time-lapse video mode.

The Nikon D850 also has a “silent shooter” mode, to shoot in “complete silence” using Live View and the electronic shutter. Other features include a tilting 3.2-inch touchscreen, radio flash control, three sizes of RAW files and a battery which offers 1,840 shots at full resolution or 70 minutes of video on a single charge.

The Nikon D850 comes with a weather sealed magnesium body, dual card slots, illuminated buttons, focus stacking and WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity. Nikon’s flagship camera seems to be a strong contender as compared to Canon’s 50.2-megapixel 5Ds, Fujifilm’s $6,500, 51.4-megapixel GFX 50S and the Sony’s A99 II SLT.

Nikon’s flagship camera, D850 costs $3,299 for just the body and an additional $400 for the MB-D18 Multi Power Battery Pack. The digital SLR camera is reported to arrive in September 2017.

August 26, 2017
GoPro Launches Hero 5 and Karma Drone

GoPro may have led the action camera market since the inception of the brand, but the launch of their new Karma drone has had the whole world excited for a long time.

The Hero 5 Black is the latest camera to be added to GoPro’s Lineup. The new action camera comes with a  2-inch Touch Display will capture  Video Resolutions up to 4K at 30 Frames per Second. You also get still images with a resolution of  12MP. A new feature will enable auto-upload of photos and video to cloud when camera is charging

GoPro Hero 5 includes voice control with support for 7 Languages . This is also the first GoPro camera to be waterproof without an additional housing, and it does that till 33 Feet (10m)

The Gopro Hero 5 works with existing GoPro mounts and the new Karma drone. Stereo Audio Recording and Advanced Wind Noise Reduction is added for better video sound capture. Electronic Video Stabilization and a Distortion-Free Wide Angle Video and Photos with New Linear-View Setting

The GoPro Hero 5 will capture RAW and WDR Photo Modes and has inbuilt GPS.

GoPro

The Karma Drone is something the company has been teasing for a while, the drone comes with a stabalization handle and the company is calling it a complete system. The drone comes in a backpack case and travels with its propellors and landing gear folded. You can remove the camera and Gimbal from the Karma Drone and install it on the Karma handle for a stabilised hand held video experience.

The Karma handle can then be mounted using GoPro mounting attachments on various things like helmets, bikes and cars.

Features include :

A game-style controller features an integrated touch display, making it fun, fast and easy to fly without the need for a separate phone or tablet to see what your drone sees.

The 3-axis camera stabilizer can be removed from the drone and attached to the included Karma Grip for capturing ultra-smooth handheld and gear-mounted footage.

Karma will be available October 23rd in the following bundles:

·      Karma without a GoPro camera for $799.99 MSRP

·      Karma bundled with HERO5 Black for $1099.99 MSRP

·      Karma bundled with HERO5 Session for $999.99 MSRP (available in early 2017)

September 20, 2016
The Moto Z Just Got a Thousand Times Sexier with This Hasselblad Attachment

The Moto Z is already a good looking phone (have you seen the black and rose gold variant?), However, the new Hasselblad True Zoom Moto Mod is one series piece of eye candy.

It gives you 10x optical zoom, using a 1/2.3-inch 12 MP sensor, with a 1.55 micron pixel size. It shoots in RAW, you get a real Xenon flash, along with full manual Focus, white balance, f-stop, ISO and exposure controls. The little downside is that it shoots only 1080p video, but it does add OIS to the mix. You will also get Dual Microphones and a 3.5 mm headphone jack for those who were missing it on the slim Moto Z.

The Hasselblad True Zoom, is pretty identical in form and design to the Sony Q series lenses, considering that Sony now has a partnership with Hasselblad, much like Panasonic has one with Leica (both uber premium range manufacturers), this strategy was ported over to the Moto Mod.

Moto Z and the Z force are modular just like the LG G5, however, the biggest difference remains that Moto Z’s Moto Mods do not require you to remove the battery and re-insert the module like they do on the LG G5. The Hasselblad True Zoom Moto Mod also works with the similar principle. It Attaches to the back of the Moto Z, Moto Z Play or Moto Z Force (Moto Z Droid, Moto Z Force Droid, Moto Z Play Droid in the US) and the phone automatically recognises it.

Early reviews have pointed to really sharp and quick images, with excellent low light capabilities. Which is what is expected from a large sensor. The Hasselblad True Zoom Moto Mod uses the phone’s battery so no recharging the Mod, it also saves images directly on to the phone storage or micro SD, which means no hassle of transferring.

September 1, 2016

Canon 5D Mark IV Shoots 4K Video Comes with Wi-fi

Canon today announced the new Canon 5D Mark IV, a revision to the camera that started to DSLR video scene back in the day. The 5D will finally shoot 4k video with the 5D Mark IV and will come with inbuilt Wi-Fi.

For the video enthusiast and professional, the 4K Motion JPEG video (DCI cinema-type 4096 x 2160) at 30p or 24p, will allow an in-camera still frame grab of 4K 8.8-Megapixel images. Multiple video options include Full HD up to 60p, and HD up to 120p.

The touchscreen monitor allows tapping to select a focus point, racking focus during video capture, or using familiar swipe and pinch movements during image review. A 3.5mm jack for connecting an optional external microphone to record audio, alternative use of the onboard stereo microphone; a 3.5mm headphone jack can be utilized for real-time monitoring.

When shooting 4K, the central 4096 x 2160 area of the sensor is used at a 1.74x crop in order to record 4K video with a 1:1-pixel ratio.Slow motion is possible in Full HD 1080p at 60 fps, while HD 720p is available up to 120 fps, though it is recorded without sound.

The Canon 5D Mark IV has been launched for a price of $3,499 for body only, and will be available starting September Mid. In India Canon has launched the 5D Mark IV on the 26th of August with a starting price of Rs. 2,54,995 for the body only.

EOS 5D Mark IV DSLR Camera Features:

New 30.4 Megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor, with ISO range 100–32,000; expandable up to 50–102,400.
4K Motion JPEG video (DCI cinema-type 4096 x 2160) at 30p or 24p; in-camera still frame grab of 4K 8.8-Megapixel images; multiple video options include Full HD up to 60p, and HD up to 120p.
Dual Pixel CMOS AF during video or Live View shooting; LCD monitor has full touch-screen interface, including selection of AF area.
Up to 7.0 fps continuous shooting speed, DIGIC 6+ Image Processor .
61 AF points with expanded vertical coverage with 41 cross-points, and AF possible at all 61 AF points with many lens + extender combinations effective at f/8.
150,000-pixel RGB+IR metering sensor, enhanced scene recognition and face detection capabilities.
Dual Pixel RAW, in-camera Digital Lens Optimizer during JPEG shooting and Diffraction Correction technologies.
Built-in Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity provide easy sharing to compatible smart devices, select social media sites and the Canon Connect Station CS100 device.
Built-in GPS3 provides geotag information including auto time syncing with Universal Time Code (UTC) via satellites.

Camera	EOS 5D Mark IV	EOS 5DS / 5DS R	EOS 5D Mark III
Lens Mount	Canon EF	Canon EF	Canon EF
Image Sensor	Full-Frame CMOS (36 x 24mm)	Full-Frame CMOS (36 x 24mm)	Full-Frame CMOS (36 x 24 mm)
Effective Pixels	30.4 MP	50.6 MP	22.3 MP
Image Processor	DIGIC 6+	Dual DIGIC 6	DIGIC 5+
Maximum Resolution	6720 x 4480	8688 x 5792	5760 x 3840
Card Slot	1 x CompactFlash 1 x SD	1 x CompactFlash 1 x SD	1 x CompactFlash 1 x SD
Viewfinder Type	Eye-level pentaprism	Eye-level pentaprism	Eye-level pentaprism
Frame Coverage	100%	100%	100%
Magnification	0.71x	0.71x	0.71x
Top Continuous Shooting Rate	7 fps	5 fps	6 fps
Exposure Metering System	150,000-pixel RGB+IR Metering Sensor	150,000-pixel RGB+IR Metering Sensor	iFCL 63-Zone Dual Layer Metering Sensor
Metering Range	0 to 20 EV	0 to 20 EV	1 to 20 EV
ISO Sensitivity	ISO 100-32000 (Expanded: ISO 50-102400)	ISO 100-6400 (Expanded: ISO 50-12800)	ISO 100-25600 (Expanded: ISO 50-102400)
Autofocus System	High-Density Reticular AF	High-Density Reticular AF	High-Density Reticular AF
Number of Focus Points	61, 41 cross-type (f/8 support at all points)	61, 41 cross-type (f/8 support at all points)	61, 41 cross-type (f/4 support, f/8 at center point)
Autofocus Sensitivity	-3 to 18 EV	-2 to 18 EV	-2 to 18 EV
Interval Shooting	Yes	Yes	No
Mirror Vibration Control System	Yes	Yes	No
Flash Control	TTL, Manual	TTL, Manual	TTL, Manual
External Flash Interface	Hot shoe, PC sync	Hot shoe, PC sync	Hot shoe, PC sync
Video Resolutions	4096 x 2160: 30p, 24.00, 24p 1920 x 1080: 60p, 30p, 24.00, 24p 1280 x 720: 120p	1920 x 1080: 30p, 25p, 24p 1280 x 720: 60p, 50p 640 x 480: 30p, 25p	1920 x 1080: 30p, 25p, 24p 1280 x 720: 60p, 50p 640 x 480: 30p, 25p
Audio Recording	Yes, stereo with video	Yes, stereo with video	Yes, stereo with video
External Microphone Input	1 x 3.5mm input	1 x 3.5mm input	1 x 3.5mm input
Headphone Jack	1 x 3.5mm output	1 x 3.5mm output	1 x 3.5mm output
Maximum Recording Time	29 min., 59 sec.	29 min., 59 sec.	29 min., 59 sec.
Monitor	3.2″ 1.62m-dot touchscreen LCD	3.2″ 1.04m-dot LCD	3.2″ 1.04m-dot LCD
Interface	Mini-HDMI USB 3.0 Canon N3 Remote Terminal	Mini-HDMI USB 3.0 Canon N3 Remote Terminal	Mini-HDMI USB 2.0 Canon N3 Remote Terminal
Wi-Fi	Built-in	Optional, via WFT-E7A	Optional, via WFT-E7A
GPS	Built-in	Optional, via GP-E2	Optional, via GP-E2
Power Source	1 x LP-E6/LP-E6N Li-Ion Battery Pack	1 x LP-E6/LP-E6N Li-Ion Battery Pack	1 x LP-E6 Li-Ion Battery Pack
Dimensions	5.9 x 4.6 x 3.0″ / 15.1 x 11.6 x 7.6 cm	6.0 x 4.6 x 3.0″ / 15.2 x 11.6 x 7.6 cm	6.0 x 4.6 x 3.0″ / 15.2 x 11.6 x 7.6 cm
Weight	28.2 oz / 800 g	29.8 oz / 845 g	30.3 oz / 860 g

August 25, 2016

Apple iPhone 7 Could Feature Dual-Lens Camera Setup

With Samsung and LG having unveiled their flagship devices at the MWC last month, we now turn our attention back to Apple and its much-rumoured iPhone 7. According to recent reports, Apple submitted a patent application published in January which tells us that the Cupertino giant is working on a dual-lens camera setup for the high-end version of the iPhone 7, possibly the iPhone 7 Plus.

iPhone 7 Dual-Lens Concept

According to the patent, the UI of the camera will show a split-screen view, in which one screen will show a wide-angle shot, and the other will be a zoomed in shot of the subject. The patent shows a dual-camera system that consists of one standard wide-angle lens and one telephoto lens to capture zoomed-in photos and videos.

The lenses can be used simultaneously to take separate photos and videos while Apple software merges the images together in unique ways. Using a lens with a large focal length would also mean that the zoomed in shots will not lose detail and will remain crisp and clear.

MacRumors videographer Matt Gonzalez created a video based on the information from the patent to show an animated concept of what the iPhone 7’s dual lens camera could look likeand how best Apple can utilize this feature.

This of course, is merely a speculation and there is no confirmation that the patent will ever see light of day. However, this rumour is among the most possible features that you can expect from the iPhone 7. With smartphone camera becoming one of the most important features today, and phone makers like Samsung introducing next-gen camera technology, Apple will need to up its game and bring something unique to its camera with the iPhone 7 or suffer the consequence.

We have just come off the recent Mobile World Congress where names like Samsung, LG, and Xiaomi unveiled their flagship devices. Those who followed the unveiling closely will have noticed that the one common trait between the three flagship devices – Galaxy S7, LG G5 and Mi 5 – are that they all featured new and improved camera technology.

Apple has been among the top when it comes to having an exceptional camera in its smartphone. The iPhone 6s that was launched in September, 2015, came with a 12MP f/2.2 rear sensor. But Samsung, with the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge, intorduced a new Dual Pixel Technology inside its flagship. Apple has more than enough means to make the above patent a reality. We’ll just have to wait and see how it pans out as we approach closer to September.

March 8, 2016
Oppo Teases Upcoming Camera Centric R9 Smartphone

Chinese smartphone maker, OPPO, which was recently in the news for its Super fast battery charging tech, and SmartSensor tech that it unveiled at the MWC 2016, is now looking to keep the momentum going by rolling out a new teaser for its upcoming phone the OPPO R9.

This new teaser from OPPO confirms the existence of the previously rumored R9 smartphone which is expected to be a camera-centric device given that the Chinese text in the teaser translates as “This time, it is worth and other ‘9’ point. #OPPO New camera phone R9 #.”

No concrete details about the phone’s specs or any other information is known, but according to what the ever churning rumour mills suggest,

Specs-wise, from what all has been rumored until now, the Oppo R9 will be powered by the mighty Snapdragon 820 SoC and sport a massive 6-inch QHD display. The phone is expected to come with 3GB or 4GB RAM and 64GB of expandable internal memory.

The camera which is to be the centerpiece of the OPPO R9 will feature 21MP rear unit and a 13MP front shooter. Packing in a 3,700 mAh battery, the R9 will run Android 6.0 Marshmallow out-of-the-box.

February 29, 2016
Samsung Galaxy S7’s Dual Pixel Technology Explained

Samsung unveiled its flagship Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge smartphones at the MWC 2016 on Sunday. The newest flagship devices came bearing pretty much similar looking design language as the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge, while the main improvements resided within the devices themselves. Among the bumped up specs, one new technology that grabbed everyone’s attention was the new Dual Pixel technology employed in the rear camera.

The Dual Pixel, essentially, is an improvement or a natural evolution from the Phase-Detection Auto-Focus technology used by many other smartphones. Firstly, Samsung downgraded from 16MP found in the S6 to 12MP in the S7. The decision to do this was to focus more on quality rather than quantity. The 12MP sensor brings 56% bigger individual pixels with1.4um pixels as compared to the S6.

To understand Dual Pixels one needs to first wrap their heads around PDAF. PDAF traditionally uses less than 10% the total number of pixels equipped with focusing photodiodes and uses it strategically in the sensor area to focus on a subject. This requires more time for focusing. Dual Pixel, on the other hand, uses a 100% of the pixels for extremely precise and fast focusing. Using the whole of the pixels also allows more light in.

This combined with a wider f/1.7 aperture (the S6 had a f/1.9 aperture) allows for a lot more light to come in, 25% more to be more accurate. This results in great low-light captures that are sharp and colourful. The Dual Pixel image sensor splits every single pixel into two photodiodes for on-chip phase detection, promising vastly improved autofocus performance. Much like the human eye, the Dual Pixel technology sends light from the lens to two image sensors seperately to adjust the focus.

February 23, 2016
MWC 2016 Day 1: 360-Degree Camera, VR, and More

The Mobile World Congress is already underway and has wrapped up with the first day today. The conference actually began yesterday with the Unpacked event where LG, Huawei and Samsung kicked off the show with their products. Flagship mobiles aside, the MWC attention being given to new technology as well. 360 cameras and virtual reality were big at the MWC. Here are the products that grabbed our attention the most.

Gear 360 Camera

The MWC has always been the grandest stage for Samsung as it is where the Korean giant always unveils its flagship smartphones. That being said, yesterday’s Unpacked event for Samsung seemed a lot less about its flagship S7 devices and a lot more VR-centric. Indeed, the event opened with a virtual reality presentation, having the audience wear the Gear VR headset to experience the arrival of the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge with a VR presentation.

Along with the flagship devices, Samsung also unveiled the Gear 360 camera that can capture 360-degree videos that can capture and share 360-degree images and videos thanks to its double-lense spherical shape. The eyeball-shaped camera has a flat bottom that allows it to rest on any surface, a MicroSD card slot (up to 128GB) and swappable battery, hidden within.

Each of the opposing f/2.0 lenses have a 195-degree field view and the resulting 15 degrees of overlaps helps the software stitch the two images together. The camera shoots 30-megapixel spherical photos and 3840 x 1920 video that offers a great experience, especially inside the Gear VR.

LG 360 Cam

The LG 360 Cam is a low-cost, and easy way to record 360-degrees video. The camera uses two 13MP lenses on either side with a 200-degree field of view. The camera carries a 1,200mAh battery pack inside and can record up to 70 minutes on a single charge. The camera also records 2k videos.

This is one of the major modular attachments announced by LG at the launch event and the company has high hopes from the LG 360 Cam for helping increase sales for the LG G5

LG 360 VR

Apart from its revolutionary modular flagship G5 smartphone, LG also displayed its 360 VR headset that is designed to work as a standalone display, without the need to attach a smartphone like the Google Cardboard and Samsung Gear VR.

The LG 360 VR has a pixel density of 639ppi, which is pretty high. The headset connects to the G5 using a USB Type-C cable.

Nokia Ozo VR Camera

One very interesting device here is the Nokia Ozo VR camera which will in all probability be the first cinema grade virtual reality recorder. The device comes with the capability to record and store up to 45 minutes of audio and video. we checked out the results first hand and the VR quality is really high standard.

Nokia thinks the Ozo VR will be able to revolutionise the movie-making industry with this new offering, and as such will look to make a big push for the Ozo VR Camera in the coming days. How it fares in the market though only the future knows.

February 22, 2016
Canon Unveils 80D Upgrade and PowerShot Updates

Canon has been unveiling a bunch of new cameras in the recent few months. Earlier this month, the company unveiled the 4K-capable EOS-1D X Mark II and today it has unveiled the mid-range EOS 80D DSLR Camera with a versatile EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Lens, which come alongside the DM-E1 Directional Microphone and the unique PZ-E1 Power Zoom Adapter.

Canon also unveiled two point-and-shoot cameras for those who are looking for more pocket-friendly options. the svelte and powerful PowerShot G7 X Mark II Digital Camera and the compact long-zoom PowerShot SX720 HS Digital Camera. video -The new 80D comes with 24.2MP APS- C CMOS sensor and the DIGIC 6 image processor. Dual Pixel CMOS AF has received a boost for improved focusing accuracy and speed when recording video.

Image quality has been given a bump and the images captured promise exquisite detail and colur.The camera comes with Full HD 1080p at up to 60 fps in the MP4 format, headphone and microphone jacks, and a 3.0” vari-angle touchscreen Clear View II LCD monitor which offers flexible positioning. Additionally, the camera has Wi-Fi with NFC, HDR Movie, Time-Lapse Movie, and Creative Filter options.

Along with this, Canon is offering a EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Lens which is compatible with APS-C cameras like the 80D. The focal length range goes from 28.8-216mm and allows faster autofocusing than before. The lens also works with PZ-E1 Power Zoom Adapter, allowing users to perform more controlled zooms and making it ideal for video use. The lens comes with Optical Image Stabilizer and a Dynamic IS system.

Canon finally unveiled the DM-E1 Directional Microphone, the DM-E1 which comes with a windjammer to reduce noise and a shock mount to lessen handling noise. It has a frequency response of 50 Hz to 16 kHz and runs on a single button-type lithium cell battery.

Finally, Canon wrapped up the announcement with two new PowerShot cameras.The first one is the PowerShot G7 X Mark II that features the latest DIGIC 7 image processor which powers a high-speed continuous shooting rate of 8 fps with raw or JPEG. It comes with a 20.1MP 1” CMOS sensor and 24-100mm equivalent f/1.8-2.8 lens combination.

PowerShot G7 X Mark II

It has a multi-angle 3.0” 1.04m-dot touchscreen LCD that can flip 180° for selfies. In addition to stills, the G7 X Mark II can record Full HD 1080p video and offers built-in Wi-Fi with NFC for connecting to a mobile device.

PowerShot SX 720HS

The second one is the PowerShot SX720 HS with a 40x optical zoom range and a relatively compact body. It features a 20.3MP CMOS sensor along with the DIGIC 6 image processor to create high-resolution, low-noise images and Full HD 1080p60 video. It also comes equipped with a large 3.0” 922k-dot LCD for easy viewing.

February 18, 2016
Sony Unveils IMX318 22.5 Megapixel Exmor RS Mobile Camera

Sony today announced a new Exmor R sensor for mobile devices.The sensor will be called the IMX318 and it is the first stacked CMOS sensor with integrated hybrid autofocus and 3-axis electronic image stabilization. The IMX318 is a 1/2.6 type sensor with an effective resolution of 22.5 megapixels. It has a pixel pitch of 1.0 micrometre.

A statement from Sony talking about this launch read,

“The IMX318 boasts a stacked structure and the industry’s smallest unit pixels, which measure 1.0 micrometre in size. With this, the image sensor achieves a compact, type 1/2.6 size suitable for inclusion into smartphones, while still realizing a high resolution of 22.5 effective megapixels, among the top in the industry.”

The sensor is expected to be used in the upcoming Sony Z6, and what’s so exciting about this that it has built in hybrid AF. Sony IMX318 is the first to incorporate this within the sensor’s internal signal processor. The company claims this will result in a focusing time of 0.03 seconds for stills and as fast as 0.017 seconds during 60fps video.

The other major talking point about this sensor is the inclusion of the integrated 3-axis image stabilization. The sensor can correct for pitch, roll, and yaw by taking the input from an external gyro sensor and processing it within its own internal signal processor. This will be more energy efficient as compared to software processing.

February 16, 2016
Best Valentine’s Day Gifts for Your Techie-Better-Half

Now that we are done and dusted talking about dating apps, let’s move to the second step -making your techie-Valentine happy with the perfect gift this year. Here’s our guide to shiny, little objects to shop for this year.

FitBit

If your partner is into fitness, look no further than the FitBit range of smart-wearables. From motion trackers to smartwatches, the company offers it all. The most recent addition to its family is FitBit Alta, a chic fitness tracker that can be personalised to suit your style. All FitBit wearables can be bought off Amazon or the official FitBit online store.

 

Gear VR

How about spreading some VR-love this Valentine’s? Check out Samsung’s virtual reality head-set called Gear VR launched in India just last month. The Samsung Gear VR Headset is priced at Rs.8,200. Gear VR is available through the company’s retail stores, as well as through Flipkart.

Headphones

This is the perfect gift for all music aficionados. The best part about gifting headphones is that you will always find one that suits your budget. From Skullcandy to Sennheiser to an endless list of brands and designs and colours -you really are spoilt for choice here.

 

Portable Speakers

Talking about music lovers, here’s something else to add to the list. Portable speakers are by far one of the best things that happened to music. Connect them to your laptop or smartphone with Bluetooth or choose a bright, colourful AUX chord, which barely cost a dime, and voila! A nice portable speaker would easily fit within Rs. 2000.
 

Powerbanks

If your partner finds it hard to stay off their smartphone (no matter how much it may have annoyed you in the past), it’s time to let them know you’re not only willing to accept this trait of theirs, but also encourage it by gifting them a powerbank. This will ensure their phone never runs out of juice again while they never run out of love for you. A decent powerbank would fall under Rs.2000.

 

GoPro

After music, it’s time to talk about photography and GoPro is the next big thing on this front. GoPro is the perfect answer to extreme-action videography. If you’ve been looking for a GoPro camera that doesn’t pinch your pocket and yet has some important features such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, your answer lies in the GoPro Hero+ priced at $199.99 (Rs. 13,200 approx).

Kindle

Kindle is the perfect gift for the bookworm in our lives . Ask any bibliophile and they would agree without a second thought how this is the best technological development ever. You could narrow down your choices between the basic, entry level variant or the back-lit Paperwhite. There is also a white colour option you could go for if a black Kindle is too mainstream for you.

 

Netflix Subscription

Yes, yes, this is not exactly a gadget and therefore does not belong in this list, but Netfilx just arrived in the country and we cannot stop talking about it. If all else fails and there is absolutely nothing you can come up with -just gift your partner a Netflix subscription – an epicly entertaining gift which is also easy on the pocket.

February 14, 2016
Leaks Reveal HTC One M10 Camera Specifications

HTC One M10 is slated to skip a MWC launch in favour of a more sober affair in the coming weeks, making it one of the most anticipated phones to be launched this year. Needless to say, the internet is flooded with leaks and rumours about the phone.

The latest leaks surfacing on the internet are regarding the camera of the phone, which is going to be codenamed “Perfume”. The leaked information suggests, the One M10 will come with a 12-megapixel Sony IMX 377 sensor on the back. It will support laser autofocus as well as phase detection autofocus.

The front camera on the other hand will be a 5MP Samsung s5k4e6 one, which has 1.34µm pixel size – much smaller than the 2µm of the original UltraPixel cameras. This camera will be called UltraPIxel One.

HTC Perfume "UltraPixels":
Main Camera – Sony IMX377 12MP 1.55um + Laser Autofocus + PDAF
Front Camera – Samsung s5k4e6 5MP UltraPixel

— LlabTooFeR (@LlabTooFeR) February 11, 2016

Just to recap, the One M10 will come equipped with a 5.2-inch QHD AMOLED display. The smartphone will be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 820 chipset, paired with 4GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. A microSD card slot will be available too.

February 12, 2016

Sony Announces Alpha A6300 -World’s Fastest AutoFocus Camera

Sony today announced a new, mirror-less camera that boasts of the world’s fastest autofocus speed and the world’s highest number of autofocus points. The Alpha a 6300, successor to the Sony A6000, one of the best-selling mirror-less cameras of the past few years, will soon come to markets with the promise of a more intelligent, faster autofocus system and support for 4K and high-frame-rate video.

The camera comes with a new 4D Focus system which locks on to an object in hardly 0.05 seconds. According to Sony, this sets a new record for a camera with interchangeable lens and APS-C sensors. It has also been claimed that this creation of Sony Labs also boasts the world’s highest 425 phase detection autofocus points.

Another key enhancement seen on the A6300 is the addition of a reworked 24.2MP APS-C Exmor sensor, featuring thinner copper wiring and enhanced processing with the BIONZ X processor that is slated to improve low-light performance up to ISO 51200 and allow for 4K recording with full pixel readout, and Full HD video at up to 120 fps.

The back of the Sony A6300 houses a XGA OLED Tru-Finder electronic viewfinder with 2.4 million dots and a 120fps framerate mode for smooth subject tracking. Below it is a tilting LCD display.The camera comes with 64 different functions which can be operated by 9 customizable buttons housed on the dust and moisture-resistant magnesium alloy body.

The A6300 camera includes silent shooting mode along with a microphone line input for convenience. Wi-Fi, and NFC connectivity options are also present on the camera.

Specification	Sony Alpha A6300 Mirrorless Digital Camera
Lens Mount	Sony E
Image Sensor	APS-C Exmor CMOS (23.5 x 15.6mm)
Effective Pixels	24.2MP
Total Pixels	25.0MP
Maximum Resolution	24MP: 6000 x 4000
Aspect Ratio	3:2, 16:9
Still Image File Format	RAW, JPEG
Storage Media	SD, SDHC, SDXC, Memory Stick PRO Duo, Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo
Card Slot	1 x SD (UHS-I) / Memory Stick Duo multi slot
Viewfinder Type	2.36m-dot 0.39″ / 1 cm XGA OLED Tru-Finder EVF
Frame Coverage	100%
Magnification	1.07x (35mm Equivalent: 0.70x)
Eyepoint	23mm at -1m^-1
Diopter Adjustment	-4 to +3m^-1
Shutter Type	Electronically controlled, vertical-traverse focal-plane type; Electronic
Shutter Speed	1/4000 to 30 sec., bulb
Flash Sync Speed	1/160 sec.
Drive Modes	Single, continuous (Hi+, Hi, Mid, Low selectable), self-timer, bracketing
Top Continuous Shooting Rate	11 fps
Self-Timer	10, 5, 2 sec.
Exposure Metering System	1200-zone evaluative metering with Exmor CMOS sensor
Metering Method	Multi-segment, Center-weighted, Spot
Metering Range	-2 to 20 EV with f/2 lens
Exposure Modes	Auto, Program, Aperture priority, Shutter speed priority, Manual
Exposure Compensation	±5 EV in 1/3 and 1/2 EV steps
Exposure Bracketing	3 or 5 frames in 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, 1, 2, or 3 EV increments 9 frames in 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, or 1 EV inctrements
ISO Sensitivity	Stills: 100-51200 Movie: 100-25600
Autofocus System	Enhanced Fast Hybrid AF with 4D FOCUS
Number of Focus Points	Phase Detect: 425 Contrast Detect: 169
Focus Modes	Automatic, Single-shot, Continuous, Direct Manual Focus, Manual
Autofocus Sensitivity	-1 to 20 EV with f/2 lens
Built-In Flash	Yes, Guide Number: 19.7′ / 6 m; Coverage: 16mm
Flash Control	P-TTL
Flash Modes	Off, Auto, Fill-flash, Rear sync, Slow sync, Red-eye reduction, High-speed sync, Wireless with compatible external flash
Flash Compensation	±3 EV in 1/3 or 1/2 EV steps
Flash Bracketing	3 or 5 frames in 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, 1, 2, or 3 EV increments 9 frames in 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, or 1 EV inctrements
External Flash Interface	Multi Interface Shoe
White Balance Modes	Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Incandescent, Fluorescent (Warm White, Cool White, Day White, Daylight), Flash, Color Temperature (2500-9900K), Color Filter, Custom, Underwater
Movie Recording	XAVC S 4K: 3840 x 2160: 30p, 24p, 25p XAVC S HD: 1920 x 1080: 120p, 100p, 60p, 50p, 30p, 24p, 25p AVCHD: 1920 x 1080: 60p, 60i, 50p, 50i, 24p, 25p MP4: 1920 x 1080: 60p, 50p, 30p, 25p; 1280 x 720: 30p, 25p
File Format	XAVC S, AVCHD, MP4
Compression	XAVC S: MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 AVCHD: MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 MP4: MPEG-4 AVC/H.264
Audio Recording	Yes, built-in stereo microphne or 3.5mm audio input
Audio File Format	XAVC S: Linear PCM, 2ch AVCHD: Dolby Digital (AC-3), 2ch, Dolby Digital Stereo Creator MP4: MPEG-4 AAC-LC, 2ch
External Microphone Input	Yes, 3.5mm stereo input
Headphone Jack	None
Maximum Recording Time	29 minutes 59 seconds
Monitor	3.0″ / 7.5 cm 921k-dot tilting TFT LCD
Interface	1 x Micro-USB (Multi Terminal) 1 x Micro HDMI (Type D) 1 x 3.5mm stereo audio input
Wi-Fi	Yes, built-in with NFC & QR Code function
GPS	None
Power Source	1 x NP-FW50 Rechargeable Li-Ion Battery Pack
Battery Life	Viewfinder: 350 Shots LCD Screen: 400 Shots
Operating Environment	32 to 104°F / 0 to 40°C
Dimensions	4.7 x 2.6 x 1.9″ / 120 x 67 x 49mm
Weight	404 g with battery and Memory Stick

Source

February 4, 2016

Canon Unveils 4K-Capable EOS-1D X Mark II

Canon has lifted the veils on its updated flagship DSLR with 4K-shooting, the EOS-1D X Mark II. The main attraction here is, of course, the ability to record DCI 4K (4096 x 2160) video at an impressive 60p, a feature mainly seen in camcorders and cinema cameras. As much as this DSLR is big on videos, it’s equally big on stills as well with a 20.2MP full-frame CMOS sensor, as well as dual DIGIC 6+ processors.

The camera coes with two card slots – a CFast 2.0 card slot and a CF card slot for older media cards. The DSLR comes with an improved sensitivity with a native ISO 51200 which can be expanded up to ISO 409600. The 4K shooting, however, will be limited to a sensitivity range up to ISO 12800 while HD is available at up to ISO 25600. All this along with other camera settings can be operated through a 3.2″ 1.62m-dot touchscreen LCD.

Added to the DCI 4K (4096 x 2160) recording, the Mark II also comes with a true 24.00 fps shooting option in all modes and can shoot in Full HD at up to a speedy 120 fps. Internally, the 4K video at 60p has an impressive 800 Mbps bit rate, while 24/30p have a 500 Mbps bit rate, ensuring sharp footage with minimal artifacting.

Dual Pixel CMOS AF for a full-frame sensor and Movie Servo AF provide a major boost in autofocus in video. This provides exceptional speed and accuracy, which is complemented by the touchscreen that lets the user simply tap the area to change focus.

Meanwhile, low-light shooting gets a bump with f/8 support, all 61 points and working at down to -3 EV with the center point. Still capturing is now faster, where full-resolution 20.2MP raw files can be captured with full-time AF and AE metering at a rate of 14 fps.

Canon has implemented a Digital Lens Optimizer technology that stores lens aberration data in the camera and almost instantly corrects peripheral brightness and chromatic aberration, as well as distortion and diffraction. This ensures maximum resolution and detail from the 20.2MP CMOS sensor.

The camera is dust and water resistant, which makes it hold its own in the most diffuclt weather conditions and scenario. Connectivity features include a PC sync port, a microUSB 3.0 transfer port, and an Ethernet port in addition to the Mini HDMI (Type C) and audio connections. The Mark II is compatible with batteries of the orginal 1D X, though the camera will work at slightly reduced continuous shooting rates. The EOS-1D X Mark II is expected to begin shipping in April at a price of around $6,000 (body-only), or $6,300 for a premium kit that includes a 64GB CFast card and an Extreme PRO CFast 2.0 Card Reader/Writer.

February 2, 2016
Patent Reveals Smaller, High Resolution Camera for iPhone 7

As revealed by reports, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has granted Apple a Patent for a “Small form factor high-resolution camera” that will see the amalgamation of cutting edge sensor technology with similarly complex optics to create a compact, high-performance camera suitable for use in there future ultra slim iPhones.

The application, aptly titled “Small form factor high-resolution camera,” reveals a spherically curved sensor that would work with three different lenses to focus light onto a sensing surface.

This would be in line with the already strong rumours of a new iPhone for the next year which will be thinnner than anything that we’ve seen before. Apple has also been looking for ways to make the iPhone thinner and add a higher capacity battery, and this particular switch in camera tech will help in achieving this.

But this move will not come without its drawbacks, the biggest being native barrel distortion, or a bubble-like warping of photos. But if reports are to be beileved then Apple plans to fix this with a software solution for this.

Other than this, the next iteration of the iPhone is expected to come with an OLED diplay, with a full body speaker grill, and could even support Li-Fi. It is also expected to skip on the 3.5mm jack in favour of a system that will see audio accesories being connected to it via the lightning port.

January 26, 2016

Category: Camera

Gear 360 Camera

LG 360 Cam

LG 360 VR