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Fujifilm X-E4 Review

The Fujifilm X-E4 is a lightweight, rangefinder-style camera with a 26MP APS-C sensor that works with the company’s X-mount lens family. The X-E4 is marketed as a fun-to-use and compact photography companion, and it is the smallest X-mount camera on the market, inviting you to carry it with you everywhere you go.

The X-E4 inherits a lot of the goodies from the most current Fujifilm cameras, including improved autofocus, respectable video specifications, and very outstanding burst shooting rates, thanks to Fujifilm’s newest sensor and CPU combination. And if you shoot JPEG, you now have access to eighteen of Fujifilm’s outstanding film simulations.

The X-E4 is priced at Rs 74,999 for body only. The X-E4 is similar to the Fujifilm X-S10 and much like the X-T4 except for the lack of image stabilization. Is it good enough to be considered for your future camera purchase? Let us check.

Key specifications:
  • 26MP APS-C sensor with X-Trans colour filter array
  • 3.0″ tilting touchscreen with 1.62M dots (can tilt up 180 degrees)
  • 2.36M-dot electronic viewfinder, 0.62x magnification
  • DCI 4K/30p, 4:2:0, 8-bit internal video recording (4:2:2 10-bit over HDMI out)
  • Full HD video at up to 240p, for 10x slow motion
  • 8 fps burst shooting with mechanical shutter (20 fps with electronic)
  • CIPA rated to 460 shots per charge (NP-W126S battery pack)
  • 121mm x 73mm x 33mm
  • 364g (12.9oz)



Look, Body & Feel

Just as the X-E3 experienced a small reduction in size and control points when compared to the X-E2, so does the X-E4 when compared to the X-E3. The camera body is somewhat smaller (but slightly heavier) than the previous generation.
When it comes to the grip the body is quite uncomfortable to use as it feels like you are holding a bar of soap. But you can’t really excpet much from a vintage style camera. Also after using the MHG-XE4 hand grip and TR-XE4 thumb grip, it it was quite comfortable to hold the camera and shoot. The camera looks attractive, the leather look feels nice in hand and the alloy top plate looks beautiful. Overall the camera  feels solid in hand. The camera is designed very minimalistically by Fujifilm to make it look more compact and easy to carry on the go. Buttons and dial placements are comfortable and easy to operate.

Image Quality
We have been using this camera around a week and shot some images in different lighting conditions, let’s see how it performs.

Daylight: The Fujifilm X-E4 is equipped with a 26 megapixel APS-C sensor. The sample photos visual quality was amazing and appealing to the eye. The photos taken in daylight were well exposed, and the colours were quite realistic. To grab and retain the subject, the focusing was rather bit slow. When zoomed in, the images were crisp and clear.




Lowlight: When it came to low-light photography, the photos captured by this camera were adequate but not exceptional. The colors were vibrant, but the pictures were less sharp and lacking in detail when zoomed in. Although, in low-light circumstances, the camera was hunting to focus in subject. Overall, the photos taken in lowlight conditions with this camera were mediocre.




ISO Performance: When it comes to ISO, the Fujifilm X-E4 performs admirably. Until ISO 3200, the photographs captured with this camera had less noise in them. Anything beyond 3200 ISO produced noise, and the photos began to lose clarity.




Video Quality

The X-E4 may not appear to be a natural choice for video work due to its rangefinder-style design, but it is really quite capable. It can capture 4K video at 24 or 30 frames per second, and Full HD video at up to 240 frames per second.

The camera can gather internal 8-bit logs as well as external 10-bit logs through the Micro-HDMI connection. If you want to avoid the trouble of colour-grading in post, the Eterna/Cinema profile, which delivers flat contrast and rich tones, may be exactly what you need.

There is no specific video record button, however this function can be assigned to one of the three custom buttons. When shooting video, AF settings are more limited than when taking stills. While face and eye detection are still available for human subjects, the usual autofocus subject tracking mode in which you place the AF box over your subject and start auto focusing to lock on it is missing. Face and eye detect works well, however the camera will sometimes lose the subject, resulting in a focus break. The cameras also lacks in-body stabilization.

The footage captured with the X-E4 was rather amazing. The video quality was very well exposed, the colours were vibrant, and the details were excellent in both 4K and Full HD.


Conclusion

The X-E4 is a sleek camera with great image quality and a bunch of good functions. It’s the brand’s smallest X-mount option and an excellent choice for street, travel, and hobby photographers. The images are sharp and crisp and the camera can also capture videos well, however the camera lacks in-body stabilisation which could be a challenge for the users. Another area of concern is the AF tracking and grip where other competitors provide a comfortable grip and better AF tracking using face/eye recognition. But overall, the camera is a fantastic option, and if you’re looking for a compact option around Rs. 75,000 for travel or street photography, you should definitely consider the Fujifilm X-E4.

OnePlus 9 Series Xpan Mode Review in Hindi

In this video, we look at OnePlus’s XPAN Mode in the OnePlus 9 Hasselblad Series.

After partnering with Hasselblad for the OnePlus 9 Series, the cameras didn’t live upto to the expectations. But with the new update there are new upgrades, a significant increase in image quality. Watch the entire video to see the what is the XPAN mode and how it perfroms as well as the differences in the images of the OnePlus 9 Hasselblad series.

#Oneplus #Oneplus9 #Oneplus9pro #Hasselblad

Also special thanks to Chris Wu for the Hasselblad Xpan Camera clips. Do check out his review of the Xpan Camera at https://youtu.be/VytG7syKZ9Q

Canon launches professional full-frame mirrorless camera EOS R3 and two new RF Lenses

Canon recently announced the launch of the EOS R3, their most advanced and capable full-frame mirrorless camera to date in the EOS R series of cameras. It features a newly developed (approximately 24.1-megapixel) back-illuminated stacked CMOS sensor, new Eye Control AF, and is capable of recording 6K 60p RAW or 4K 120p 10-bit movie.


The new EOS R3 will appeal to advanced enthusiasts, professional and hybrid shooters with its high-speed shooting capabilities, ultra-low light performance, advanced tracking, and recognition capabilities for various applications such as wedding, sports, wildlife, and cinematography.


Commenting on the flagship launch, Mr. Manabu Yamazaki, President & CEO, Canon India said, “India is one of the most important markets for Canon’s camera business. Given the uniqueness of the photography industry here, we have been focused on catering to the varied and evolving needs of photography enthusiasts who are swiftly moving from casual photography to professional photography. The introduction of EOS R system has been a revolutionary milestone for us in India as we build a strong customer base for mirrorless cameras. Continuing the momentum, we are truly delighted to launch Canon EOS R3, the latest addition to the EOS legacy of professional cameras. With over three decades of continuous EOS innovation, the R System has been acknowledged in the industry for offering greater creative possibilities and even more dynamic ways of capturing every moment. With the launch of the Canon EOS R3, we are providing users with high level functionalities required to elevate the photography and videography experience for professionals and enthusiasts.”


Mr. C Sukumaran, Director- Consumer Systems Products and Imaging Communication Business, Canon India added, “With mirrorless cameras getting wide acceptance amongst users especially the professional segment, it has been our constant endeavour to support the growth of the ecosystem with breakthrough technologies and innovations. The introduction of Canon EOS R3 camera is a testament to our consistent efforts of expanding imaging possibilities for users. Backed by many firsts for Canon – it is the first EOS series camera to be equipped with our newly developed 35mm full-frame back illuminated stacked CMOS sensor and is also our first digital camera to feature Eye Contol AF functionality. With the EOS R3, we bring forth some next-generation features developed on the concept of high speed, high sensitivity, and high reliability for both stills and video captures. We are confident that photography enthusiasts will be delighted by the new camera and what it has to offer to capture the perfect shot.”


The 24-megapixel stacked BSI sensor has a lesser resolution than the 45-megapixel R5 sensor, but the R3 is all about quickness, rapid AF performance, and low-light capabilities. Canon claims that it can shoot at up to 30 frames per second with the electronic shutter and 12 frames per second with the mechanical shutter, and that the highest native ISO is 102,400. In the Canon Log 3 profile, the R3 can shoot 6K at 60fps and uncropped 10-bit 4K at 120fps.


The R3 appears to be quite similar to the EOS-1D X Mark III, which effectively fills the same position in Canon’s DSLR portfolio. It features a one-piece magnesium alloy construction with a built-in vertical grip, and Canon claims it is weather and dust resistant in the same way as the EOS-1D DSLRs. The body has wired LAN, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and USB-C ports, as well as a CFexpress card reader and a UHS-II SD card slot. A 3.2-inch vari-angle LCD screen is also included.


Canon EOS R3 is expected to be available for sales in India by November end this year and will be priced at INR 4,99,995/- (body only).


Canon is also releasing two new lenses for the EOS R system which is Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 and Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 lens. Canon RF100-400 mm f/5.6-8 and Canon RF16mm f/2.8 are expected to be available for sales in India by October this year and will be priced at INR 58,995/- and INR 26,995/- respectively.

Fujifilm launches LTO Ultrium9 Data Cartridge in India

Fujifilm recently announced the release of the “Fujifilm LTO Ultrium9 Data Cartridge” (LTO9). A novel recording medium that meets with the ninth generation LTO Ultrium magnetic tape storage media standards, suited for backing up and storing huge amounts of data. LTO9, which uses Fujifilm’s patented technology, has a storage capacity of up to 45TB (18TB for non-compressed data), which is a 50% increase over the previous version of LTO tape. The new LTO9’s large capacity responds to the increasing data storage need amidst the rapid growth of IoT technology and the acceleration of Digital Transformation, while also contributing to CO2 emissions reduction, an essential job that must be tackled internationally.


Magnetic tapes are gaining popularity as a storage medium that allows for the secure long-term storage of large-capacity data at a cheap cost, particularly in India, where digitalization is becoming more important. Furthermore, they have a much reduced environmental effect because there is no need to keep it turned on at all times during data storage, reducing the amount of CO2 emissions created throughout its lifespan by 95 percent when compared to hard disk drives (HDDs).


Fujifilm has always been at the forefront of innovation and has made significant contributions to the world’s digital revolution. With the advent of 5G networks and high-definition 4K / 8K video, the amount of data created globally has risen dramatically in recent years, as has the growth of IoT, information and communication technologies, and the application of Artificial Intelligence for Big Data analysis. This includes “cold-data,” or data created a long time ago and infrequently accessed, which is believed to account for more than 80% of all data. The use of accumulated data, particularly cold data, for creating next-generation technologies is quickly rising, as is the necessity for dependable and cost-effective long-term storage of such data for future use. However, utilizing a huge quantity of power for using and storing big amounts of data would result in increasing CO2 emissions. In their attempts to address climate change, which is one of the key societal concerns, big data centers and private companies are aggressively embracing renewable energy to meet their electricity need, or developing a data infrastructure with low power consumption.


Speaking on the launch of the product, Mr. Koji Wada, Managing Director, Fujifilm India said, “At Fujifilm, we look towards providing a fitting solution to the problems of the ever-evolving world. With digitization taking the centre stage today, industries needed a smart and sustainable solution to their data storage needs – hence, we have announced the launch of our latest LTO Ultrium9 Data Cartridge in India. With a maximum capacity of 45 TB, the cartridge ensures safe storage of your computed data in a device that is not only affordable, but also environmentally conscious. At Fujifilm, we are vigilant and alert at recognizing the fallacies in technology and innovation, as we have for a long time, and develop solutions that will help tackle those short-comings. We are sure that this product will immensely benefit the Indian digital industry and will prove to be a game changer.”


Today, there is a larger emphasis on digitalization in India. With the increased need for digital storage, the carbon footprint has steadily increased. To counteract this, magnetic tapes are gaining popularity as a storage medium that provides long-term storage of large-capacity data safely at a low cost and has a significantly lower environmental impact because it does not need to be constantly powered on during data storage, reducing the amount of CO2 emissions generated during its lifecycle by 95 percent when compared to hard drives (HDDs).


The new LTO9 incorporates barium ferrite magnetic particles (BaFe magnetic particles), which have been finely manufactured using Fujifilm’s patented “NANOCUBIC technology” and are uniformly dispersed to coat tape surfaces, producing a smooth and thin magnetic coating with little unevenness. As a result, the maximum storage capacity is 45TB (18TB for non-compressed data), which is 1.5 times the capacity of LTO8. For added convenience, the new tape offers high-speed data transfer of up to 1,000MB/sec (400MB/sec for non-compressed data).Furthermore, there is no need to have it switched on at all times when storing data, decreasing the amount of electricity consumed in the process when compared to HDDs. Magnetic tapes can also be kept offline as a type of security to reduce the risk of data damage / loss in cyber attacks. Magnetic tape has long been a popular storage medium for huge data centers and research institutes due to its ability to safely store large amounts of data for lengthy periods of time.


The recording media market is always evolving, and we will see more advancements in the near future as each developer strives to provide the best solution to meet all of our technical demands. This will help humanity take another step further in its never-ending pursuit of technological advancement, and Fujifilm will always be in the forefront of making a positive difference.

New Photography Genres to Try your Hands on

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The world of photography has gone through a lot evolution. From those heavy cameras and lenses to a simple 180 g device in your hand, the technology around photography changed drastically. Likewise with each new device, came new features that improved the art of photography; offering more options to be creative. Hence different forms of photography came out and a lot of new genres came to light.


So what does it mean to be a photographer in 2021? Few years back, photography was only limited to people who could afford to buy those expensive cameras and lenses. But now, almost everybody has equipped themselves with good smartphones, which have a pretty nice camera. And the technology has grown in such a way that it doesn’t require much effort to capture decent images of anything around you.


With social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook being flooded with artistic photos from regular people, it has become really challenging and tough for the professionals out there. They have to think more creatively and work beyond the normal and capture photographs which are different and commercially successful. This gave a lot of photographers to do something new and creative and their work received huge demand commercially too.


In this article we have talked about a few trends that we think are breaking the bond of the industry and are quite offbeat in their approach.



Underwater Wedding Photography

Photography is an important part of the wedding planning process. And with the advent of social media, couples and their families are leaning more towards conceptual photography to make their special day even more special. This has led to the birth of various quirky wedding photography trends and one which has recently picked momentum is underwater wedding photography.



Underwater wedding photography is the latest trend that puts the pair in some different settings to photograph their beautiful moments. Couples nowadays are really bored with those common simple poses with just married props, standing in a beautiful location. They want to take it a step further and experiment with such new trends.


Birth Photography

The rise of birth photography has been wanted by many out there, including the huge number of professional photographers who are super keen to photograph as many births as they can. It is a very tough form of photography as you are in a very sensitive environment and your mere presence can be a source of discomfort to your subject. There is nothing quite like birth photography. According to a lot of birth photographers, it is an emotion-filled, once in a lifetime chance to witness a miracle. You need to be prepared with your gear for this kind of photography and you need to manage the light of the surrounding for good shots. The operation theatres mostly have low lighting and you need to be ready for that.




Travel Photography

Cameras are getting more compact and travel friendly each day. The camera has shifted from being a luggage to an essential and hence this form of photography has boomed. Now travellers who seek beautiful scenic location to explore can share their experience with others. Social media, especially Instagram, has given this style of photography the required medium and it has picked up since. You can now spot your friends or a neighbour venturing into this form of photography as all you need is your smartphone and an internet connection. Travel photography is different for different people. Some like to photograph monuments, whereas others like to capture beautiful landscapes. However, the common element that stays is that we photographers go to a foreign or unfamiliar places and capture them. They capture the beauty of the places, and also the essence of the culture of that particular place.




Deadpan Photography

Deadpan photography, well known in the 50s, has made a major rebound and is returning to a reality based photography style. This style of photography is unmistakably impacting clients around the globe.



So what is Deadpan Photography? The portrayal of things or emotions as it is. Today’s world is world full of filters and post-processing, what deadpan photography aspires to do is to give the raw and unaltered version of the subject, whatsoever it may be (even commercial products). As social media has become an integral part of our life, people have started sharing pictures and the reviews of the product that they purchased. Instead of applying filters to glorify these products, people are now sharing images to show items and products as they are. Following the trend, even big corporates are trying to shift towards deadpan photography to build trust with their consumers. Recently Domino’s has taken this style up and they post unedited real pictures of their pizzas on Instagram


Infrared Photography

Although this genre was used before for defence purposes, infrared photography has now become really notable for professional photographers and has taken to the mainstream pop culture. You can easily find infrared photography websites and Instagram accounts displaying colourful psychedelic images. Infrared images looks similar to painting like effect and photographers are already bringing out extraordinary images from this idea. Earlier artist like Jimi Hendrix and Frank Zappa used infrared images for their album covers for a more intellectual and darker touch. Now infrared has entered into other genres too like portraits, landscapes, etc. It is not used for just the psychedelic looks anymore. It has become a big part of serious photography as well.


Tamron announces the launch of all-in-one zoom lens with 16.6x zoom ratio for Sony E-mount

Tamron has recently announced the release date for the Sony E-mount model 18-300mm F/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD (Model B061) on September 24, 2021, an all-in-one zoom lens for APS-C mirrorless cameras.


The 18-300mm F3.5-6.3 VC VXD zoom lens has a full-frame equivalent focal length range of roughly 27mm to 450mm. The world’s first APS-C mirrorless camera zoom lens with a 16.6x zoom ratio, the lens provides the benefits of a flexible all-in-one zoom lens suitable for a wide range of photography settings. Tamron’s VXD (Voice-coil extreme-torque drive) linear motor focus mechanism is used in its AF drive system for enhanced quietness and agility. The lens has unique lens components that are carefully placed to retain high resolution performance from edge-to-edge and deliver outstanding picture quality, making it the best all-in-one zoom lens available.


Furthermore, with a MOD (Minimum Object Distance) of 0.15m (5.9 in) at the 18mm wide end and a stunning maximum magnification ratio of 1:2, this lens works admirably while photographing close-up. Tamron’s patented VC (Vibration Compensation) system is built into the lens, significantly minimizing picture blur produced by camera shaking in low-light circumstances or in the ultra-telephoto range at slower shutter rates.


The lens also has the same unified 67mm filter size as most other Tamron lenses for mirrorless cameras. This is a very flexible lens with a broad range of additional characteristics for comfortable photography that allows you to effortlessly enjoy great image quality from wide-angle to ultra-telephoto.

Nikon Z fc Review

In this video we review the newly Nikon Z FC by testing its Image Quality, ISO Performance and Video Quality. We have also spoken about the design, look, feel and whats new on the camera.

The camera is available in 2 kits:

Nikon Z fc body only: Rs. 84,995.00

Nikon Z fc kit with NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR Lens: Rs. 97,995.00 

Nikon Z fc kit with NIKKOR Z 28mm f/2.8 [SE] Lens: Rs. 1,05,995.00


Canon India salutes the spirit of photography on World Photography Day 2021

On the occasion of World Photography Day, Canon India recognized and celebrated the thriving photography community and the passion that they exhibit in their work. As part of this celebration, the brand announced #BehindTheShot campaign to celebrate the sheer creativity and hard work that photographers put in their photos to bring alive the emotions and create a wider impact.


For the same, the brand showcased six renowned photography experts who came together to reflect upon their most memorable shot. They further shared their experiences on how much pain and efforts were taken to get that one perfect shot, which in the end became worth their time. Through this film, Canon India invites photography enthusiasts to come forward and share their #BehindTheShot story/images and be part of this creative journey with the brand. In addition to this, Canon India organized an online round table discussion where 7 Ace photographers came on a common platform to discuss about their passion for photography, and further address audience queries.


The brand also unveiled the latest chapter of its award-winning digital campaign #ShiftYourFocus, wherein the brand acknowledged nature’s timeless contribution to art and photography. As part of the brand’s CSR efforts, Canon India also conducted a photography workshop for 10 children from its adopted SOS Children’s Village in Faridabad, to foster the imaging culture amongst the youth. The session was undertaken by Canon India employees to educate children about photography as a profession and the basic skills required for the same in case they want to make it as a career.


Sharing his thoughts on this commemorative day, Mr. Manabu Yamazaki, President and CEO, Canon India said, “Amongst various forms of art, Photography steals the limelight of being one of the most beautiful and expressive forms of art, capable of bringing out numerous emotions to life. And what better occasion other than the World Photography Day, to admire and rejoice this art, thereby fueling the everlasting passion of photography amongst its patrons. As one of the leading brands in the imaging industry, we constantly endeavor to spread the very joy of photography across communities through all means available. To make the day larger than life, Canon India is all set to encourage the imaging culture by organizing virtual photography workshops, a live webinar with Canon Ambassadors along with social media campaigns for all the photography fanatics in the country.”


Mr. C Sukumaran, Director, Consumer System Products & amp; Imaging Communication Business, added, “We at Canon, have always believed in empowering photographers and honoring their hard work, and further spread the knowledge of photography. Our campaign #BehindTheShot is an ode to photographers and their creative genius and we want to celebrate the endless hours that they put in to make a picture perfect. We also take pride in our portfolio of cameras and lenses, which has been delivering a unique and engaging experience for photography enthusiasts across genres. To promote the growth of the industry, we endeavour to constantly evolve with the changing consumption trends and come up with industry-first innovations for our customers.”


The brand has also introduced several regional workshops and webinars to reach out to customers and cultivate the passion of photography. In the northern region of the country, Canon India reached out to 1000+ photography enthusiasts through their specially curated photography workshops and webinars led by select Canon trainers and mentors to cover themes like Film making & Cinematography, Portrait & Lighting Photography, Product and Wedding Photography, Street/ Travel Photography and an introduction of EOS R5, EOS R6 and RF lenses. In addition to this, Canon has also planned an interschool photography competition in association with Bal Bharti school, Noida which will see participation from over 100 schools.


While in the west region, Canon India has organised webinars with brand mentors including Aishwarya Sridhar, Pritesh Rao and Canon trainer conducted sessions with Symbiosis Institute, Cuncolim United Higher Secondary School and Subhash Photo respectively. In the south region, Canon conducted webinars covering topics such as food, wildlife, new-born and product photography with up to 300 participants in attendance.


In the east region, Canon conductied online webinars led by mentor Anoop Guha, for Durgapur Silpanchal Photographers and KIIT University students. Additionally, they participated in an exhibition organized by Photography Charchaa (Kolkata) and in a live demo activity organized by Dum Dum photography association.