Nikon has announced firmware version 5.10 for its flagship mirrorless camera, the Nikon Z9, launched in December 2021. This update introduces advanced features tailored for professional video recording, enhancing flexibility and usability.
A notable addition is the new Shutter Mode, enabling users to set the shutter angle in 15 steps between 5.6° and 360° when shooting in [M] mode. This feature simplifies achieving optimal motion blur by eliminating the need to manually adjust shutter speed when changing frame rates.
Further improvements include customizable options for video exposure aids. Users can now alter the color of the zebra pattern display and adjust the size, transparency, and position of brightness indicators like histograms and wave-form monitors. These updates ensure precise exposure control while accommodating individual preferences or specific shooting scenarios.
Nikon reaffirmed its commitment to supporting photographers and videographers by continuously enhancing its products through firmware updates.
For more details on the firmware update and Nikon’s full product lineup, visit Nikon India.
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Sony India recently announced its first G Master standard zoom lens with constant F2 max, the FE 28-70mm F2 G Master (SEL2870GM). This premium E-mount lens boasts a large aperture of F2 across the entire zoom range to achieve beautiful bokeh, high resolution and unrivalled autofocus for both stills and video, with sharpness and contrast to rival prime lens quality. All this is achieved in a compact, lightweight and well-balanced design that gives professionals and creators the ultimate freedom to capture a variety of scenes with just one lens where no shots can be missed including portraits, weddings, sports, documentaries and cinematic video.
The FE 28-70mm F2 G Master is the first G Master standard zoom lens with a constant F2 aperture making it ideal for both stills and video. Advanced design and optical simulation result in a zoom quality that rivals prime lenses with three XA (extreme aspherical) elements manufactured using original techniques to ensure high corner-to-corner resolution at F2 throughout the zoom range. Floating focus also allows sharpness, even at close focus down to 0.38 m/1.25 ft throughout the zoom range. Sony’s original Nano AR Coating II minimises flare/ghosting and optics designed to suppress internal reflections provide further flare resistance, ensuring high clarity whenever a strong light source appears in the frame. The G Master optics deliver soft bokeh for deep, dimensional images because of carefully controlled spherical aberration at both the design and the manufacturing stages with XA elements and a newly developed 11-blade aperture unit. The Super ED (extra-low dispersion) and ED glass elements effectively reduce chromatic aberration.
The FE 28-70mm F2 G Master delivers stress-free shooting with all the advantages of zoom and good image quality. Innovative technologies including advanced optics and XD (extreme dynamic) linear motors make all this fit in a constant F2 zoom that is only 92.9 x 139.8 mm (3-3/4 x 5-5/8) and weighs just 918 g (32.4 oz).
Four XD (extreme dynamic) linear motors and the latest algorithm precisely control the large and heavy focus group. It delivers reliable focus tracking and instant response, which are essential for weddings or sports events where every frame counts. This lens is fully compatible with the α9 III ‘s high-speed continuous shooting with AF/AE tracking of up to 120 frames per second, with tracking continued even whilst zooming.
By using the latest optical technology, Sony’s lens effectively subdues focus breathing, resulting in refined movie imagery. Rack focus and zoom effects can be used with F2 depth of field to create smooth, natural transitions and critical focus for high frame rate 4K 120p/FHD 240p recording is easy due to the high AF tracking performance. The XD linear motors and the newly developed aperture unit operate quietly and support α body breathing compensation with the α series camera’s image stabilisation “Active Mode”.
Important control functions include Linear Response MF for intuitive manual focus, adjustable zoom ring torque, and an aperture ring with a click ON/OFF switch. There are also two customisable focus hold buttons, an iris lock switch, and an AF/MF switch. The filter diameter is 86 mm, and the lens hood has a window for easy variable filter operation.
Buttons and switches feature silicone gaskets, the lens mount includes a rubber ring, and all other critical areas are designed to prevent the intrusion of dust and moisture to ensure maximum reliability in challenging outdoor conditions. A fluorine coating on the front element effectively repels contaminants and makes cleaning easy.
The FE 28-70 F/2 G Master Lens will be available across all Sony Centers, Alpha Flagship stores, Sony authorized dealers and major electronic stores across India from 29th November 2024 onwards at price of ₹299,990.
IIT Hyderabad and Nikon India, recently inaugurated its first “Centre of Excellence” (CoE) at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Hyderabad. This first-of-its-kind CoE aims to offer advanced imaging technologies to trainees, visiting scholars, and collaborators across the country, fostering impactful collaborations between IIT Hyderabad researchers and Nikon teams. As a hub for innovation, the centre will empower researchers to explore biological systems across scales – from single cells to human tissues – advancing research breakthroughs in high-resolution imaging.
Equipped with state-of-the-art imaging technologies, the Centre of Excellence offers a Confocal Microscope System AX R with NSPARC and TIRF. It also houses a Nikon Inverted Microscope System ECLIPSE Ti2-E for fluorescence imaging, a Nikon ECLIPSE Ts2-FL Inverted Routine Microscope, and a Nikon SMZ800N with a fluorescence attachment for macro imaging. Drawing upon its resources, technical expertise, and experienced staff, the centre will address critical challenges in cell biology and other research areas, facilitating innovative studies across various scientific fields.
Speaking on the launch, Sajjan Kumar, Managing Director of Nikon India, said, “We are thrilled to bring state-of-the-art microscopy systems to the greater scientific community in Hyderabad. This Centre of Excellence equipped with our most up-to-date imaging technologies, will not only drive scientific research but also empower researchers and students with the means to push the boundaries across various scientific disciplines. Our goal is to foster an innovative learning environment that will encourage further developments and benefit the community at large.
“Nikon’s dedication to advancing science is reflected by this first of its kind “Centre of Excellence”. By partnering with IIT Hyderabad, we are confident that we can make a substantial impact on India’s research landscape, equipping scientists with advanced high-resolution imaging tools that will drive innovation and discovery,”.
Prof. B. S. Murty, Director of IIT Hyderabad, added, “It gives us great pleasure to work with Nikon India to establish this Centre of Excellence. This initiative aligns perfectly with our goal of fostering innovative research and diverse learning opportunities. In various academic and research domains, the Centre will serve as a catalyst, inspiring our researchers and students to push the boundaries of what is possible”.
The Nikon Centre of Excellence at IIT Hyderabad marks a significant step in bridging industry and academia, offering a vital platform for collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and skill development. With advanced imaging resources, the centre will drive discoveries across diverse research fields and build a strong community of future scientists. By providing practical experience aligned with global advancements in microscopy, this partnership underscores Nikon’s commitment to advancing research and education, benefitting both the scientific community and the wider region.
Sony India celebrates 30 years of offering products and services to the Indian market in November 2024. Since its inception in 1994, Sony India has been at the forefront of revolutionising consumer electronics, reshaping the entertainment landscape and setting new standards in product quality and innovation across key product categories such as televisions, home and personal audio, digital imaging and gaming.
Sunil Nayyar, Managing Director of Sony India, commented, “For 30 years, Sony has been more than a brand, it has been a companion in the lives of millions of Indian families. We are deeply grateful for the trust and love our consumers have shown us. This milestone is a testament to our shared journey of innovation, creativity and connection. As we look ahead, we are committed to continuing to deliver experiences that inspire and bring people closer together.”
At Sony, every product and service is designed with Kando– the Japanese concept of deeply moving and inspiring people. From enabling families to enjoy blockbuster movies together, to listening to music in its purest form, to compelling gaming experience and empowering creators’ intent with world-class cameras, Sony’s mission has always been to bring people closer to what they love.
Sustainability remains a cornerstone of Sony India’s operations, aligning with the global “Road to Zero” environmental plan. Beyond its business operations, Sony India has made a impact on society through its CSR initiatives. Some of these programmes focus on skill development, heritage preservation, village development, elderly care and medical support.
As Sony India steps into its fourth decade, the company remains steadfast in its mission to create products that inspire wonder and connection. From reimagining home entertainment to pushing the boundaries of technology, Sony is committed to shaping a future filled with possibilities.
HP India showcased its latest innovations at the recently concluded Labelexpo India 2024. The showcase included solutions tailoured for growing market segments such as in-mold labels, lamitubes, flexible packaging, shrink sleeves, folding cartons, and security printing. Aiming to optimize job lengths and operational efficiency, HP Indigo technology empowers businesses to boost productivity and reduce their total cost of ownership.
The HP Indigo 6K Digital Press headlined the display, demonstrating its ability to handle diverse applications with speed and precision. Virtual highlights include the revolutionary HP Indigo V12, capable of printing at up to 120 meters per minute for high-volume label production.
HP also unveiled workflow solutions like the PrintOS software suite, featuring tools such as Spot Master, which enables accurate spot colors in minutes while reducing waste. The booth will also focus on sustainable printing technologies, including carbon reduction initiatives and brand protection tools.
Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Award (HIPA) recently announced the winners of their 13th Season in Dubai with Chinese photographer Liping Cao winning the Grand Prize of $200,000 for his black-and-white image. The award was given by Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture).
The image won the prize as it captures a poignant scene of nature and technology in harmony: towering wind turbines rise prominently on the horizon, their blades slowly rotating in the breeze, embodying the quiet power of renewable energy. Behind them, the sky is speckled with drifting clouds, creating a dynamic backdrop. The dry riverbed beneath the turbines adds depth to the image, reminding us of the importance of sustainable practices in a world facing environmental challenges.
Sheikha Latifa affirmed that Dubai, with its visionary approach, is a nurturing space for innovative initiatives and awards, establishing itself as a global source of inspiration and a gathering place for creative minds and exceptional talents from diverse fields. She noted that the Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Award reflects the emirate’s inspiring ethos, cultural richness, and the strength of its visual and creative arts landscape.
“This award, with its diverse categories, embodies Dubai’s ambitious vision and leadership, enhancing its position on the global stage as a magnet for photographers and creatives in general. It showcases Dubai’s ability to build bridges of communication among people and communities by honouring talented individuals who, through their creative work, tell the stories of cultures, document traditions, and convey powerful messages that reflect society and heritage,” Her Highness said.
Sheikha Latifa also highlighted that the award aligns with the UAE’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals, focussing in its current cycle on ‘Sustainability’, a theme that reflects the forward-thinking mindset of the award’s organisers and their conviction in the critical role of culture and the arts in advancing sustainability, thereby contributing to the well-being of societies.
Ali bin Thalith, HIPA’s Secretary General, thanked Sheikh Hamdan for his continued support of HIPA and the art of photography. “In our thirteenth year, we have extended our reach to 205 countries. What truly matters to us is the advancement of the photographer and the photography industry. His Highness’ vision for nurturing human creativity is apparent from his decision to raise the total prize purse under the award to $1 million.
More than a quarter of the winners in this season’s awards reside in the UAE, benefitting from a creative environment that stimulates innovation and competitiveness, Bin Thalith highlighted. “This reinforces the UAE’s leadership in attracting global talent and innovators,” he said.
James ‘Jimmy’ Philip Nelson, a Dutch photographer known for his work with indigenous communities, received the Photography Appreciation Award for his significant contributions to photography and projects that foster greater understanding between different cultures.he Photography Content Creator Award went to Emirati photographer Salma Ali Humaid Alsuwaidi for her pioneering work documenting the wildlife and bird species of the UAE. Her book, ‘Common Birds and Their Nests in the United Arab Emirates,’ significantly contributes to the scientific and artistic communities.
The inaugural HIPA Photographer of the Year Award was presented to Samy Al Olabi, a Syrian astrophotographer renowned for his images of celestial objects and nature photography, particularly in the dark skies of the Arabian Peninsula. He is famous for his projects photographing stars from the dark corners of the Arabian Peninsula. His work has been featured in more than 80 local and international publications.
Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, honoured the winners in the ‘Sustainability’ category. Ruijuan Huang from China took the first prize, with French photographer Virginie Ellis and Ranganathan Mukkai from India finishing second and third respectively.
H.E. Ali Khalifa bin Thalith, HIPA Secretory General, presented the ‘General – Colour’ winners. Rahul Vishwanath Sachdev from India won first prize, followed by Youmn Mohammed Almanla from Saudi Arabia, and Ahmed Abdallah Al Housni from Oman.
In the ‘General – Black and White’ category, American photographer Renee Capozzola took the first prize, followed by Hikkaduwa Liyanage Prasantha Vinod from Sri Lanka, and Ateeb Hussain from India.
His Excellency Abdulrahman bin Mohamed Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of HIPA, honoured the winners of the ‘Portfolio (Story-Telling)’ category, where Palestinian photographer Fatma Alzahra Shbair won first place, with Sarah Wouters from the Netherlands taking second spot and Wen Bing from China finishing third.
Her Excellency Hala Badri, Director General of Dubai Culture, presented the Sports Photography awards. Tobias Friedrich from Germany took the first prize, followed by Karim Iliya from the USA, and Hendra Agus Setyawan from Indonesia respectively.
His Excellency Abdulrahman bin Mohamed Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of HIPA , honoured the winners In the ‘Short Video (For Social Media)’ category, Aleksandr Tsuprun from the Russian Federation won first prize, followed by Norbert von Niman from Sweden, and Abhin Kizhakke Veettil from India who finished third.
In this issue read: ~Capturing The Landscape of Love – Marcus Bell ~House on The Clouds – Siddharth Sharma ~How To Be A Second Shooter – Photo & Video ~Tech Trends in Wedding Photography ~The Importance of Time Management in Wedding Photography ~Tamron 28-300 vs 50-300 Review & Shootout ~Stuffcool Click20 Magnetic Powerbank Review
Xiaomi India recently announced that Muralikrishnan B, the current President of Xiaomi India, will be transitioning out of his role at the end of the year. After over six impactful years with the company, Murali is set to pursue his passion for academic research, focusing on his Executive Doctorate in Management, where he aims to deepen his expertise in ‘Consumer Behaviour on Technology Platforms’. Murali will continue to support Xiaomi India as an independent Strategic Advisor.
Murali joined Xiaomi India in 2018 and held various roles, including Chief Operating Officer, before his promotion to President in 2022. Throughout his tenure, he played a pivotal role in enhancing Xiaomi India’s brand presence, leading strategic direction across teams, and steering critical public affairs efforts.
“Under Murali’s leadership, Xiaomi has seen exceptional success in India, continuing to be a key player in the technology landscape and connecting millions to innovative products. We deeply appreciate his contribution, and our commitment to India’s growth journey remains stronger than ever,” said Adam Zeng, Senior Vice President of the Group and President of International Business Department.
Reflecting on his journey, Murali said, “My experience at Xiaomi India has been one of the most fulfilling chapters of my career. The values of sincerity and passion that Xiaomi embodies have been central to our journey. I am immensely proud of what we have accomplished together in such a dynamic market. I am grateful to Xiaomi’s leadership for their guidance, to my peers and team members for their support, and to our partners and Xiaomi fans who have been integral to our success.”
Sudhin Mathur will continue to guide key functions as COO. Key leaders, including Sameer Rao (CFO), Varun Madan (CPO), and Anuj Sharma (CMO), will further strengthen Xiaomi’s focus on high-quality technology experiences and its ambitious vision for the next decade.
Nikon India Pvt. Ltd. recently announced the release of the APS-C size Nikon Z50II mirrorless camera especially targeted towards content creators across genre, vloggers, and streamers of all skill levels.
On this occasion, Mr. Sajjan Kumar, Managing Director of Nikon India said “At Nikon, we are committed to innovation and delivering advanced imaging solutions that meet the evolving demands of our customers. With the launch of the Nikon Z50II, we are excited to redefine creative possibilities and provide a product tailored to the needs of today’s creators. This versatile camera stands out in its segment, especially for content creators across all genres, featuring 4K video capture from 5.6K oversampling and AI-powered portrait enhancements. We are proud to introduce Z50II that empowers creators to bring their unique visions to life, ushering in a new era of creative expression.”
The EXPEED 7 image-processing engine, inherited from the Nikon flagship mirrorless camera Z9, supports high video resolution of 4K from 5.6K oversampling. It also supports the recording of N-Log video with RED LUTS available for free download for subtle and rich tonal gradation, enabling high-quality video recording.
The Z50II also offers advanced AI-driven features such as Skin Softening and Portrait Impression Balance, which intelligently refine portraits. These features help achieve professional-quality results with minimal post-production, making it perfect for fast turnaround times and ready-to-share social media content.
Furthermore, the Z50II is the first Z Series camera to feature product review mode that focusses on objects in the foreground. As well as a video self-timer function that allows the user to specify an interval of 2s or 10s before recording begins after the record button is pressed. In addition, support for USB streaming (UVC/UAC) allows users to easily deliver clear images for online meetings and live video streaming by simply connecting the camera to a computer or smartphone.
The Z50II comes packed with advanced autofocusing system, the same 9-type subject detection as that of the flagship model Z9. The Z50II also inherits the Pre-Release Capture function, which enables the camera to buffer images up to one second before the shutter-release button is fully pressed, ensuring you never miss critical moments. This feature is available exclusively in High-Speed Frame Capture mode, supporting continuous shooting at 30 frames per second.
The EVF built into the Z50II is the brightest in its segment. It allows easy checking of focus and details at the edges of the frame, even in bright surroundings, such as outdoors on a sunny day. Reducing the difference in brightness between the viewfinder display and that visible with the naked eye makes it easier to achieve the desired images.
The Nikon Z50II is the first APS-C camera to support both Imaging Recipe and Picture Control, offering users exciting ways to explore and create unique visual styles with the Nikon Imaging Cloud. With these features, users can save their personalised adjustments to colour, brightness, contrast, and more as custom recipes. Additionally, they can download colour presets curated by renowned professionals directly to their Z50II, storing them as Cloud Picture Controls for seamless use in their workflow.
Nikon India Pvt. Ltd. also announced the release of MC-DC3 Remote Cord, a remote cord compatible with the Z50II. From starry skies and nighttime scenes, or commercial (product) photography. It can also be used for remote photography to release the shutter at a distance from the camera. The shutter-release button can be locked in a fully-pressed position for long exposures (bulb shooting) or held down for continuous shooting. It can also be held halfway down for shooting with less release time-lag.
The Nikon Z50II body and MC-DC3 Remote Cord will be available by the End of November 2024 at ₹77,995 (body only) across India at Nikon outlets. Furthermore, it would be available in following kit combinations — Z50II + NIKKOR 16-50MM at ₹91,645; Z50II + NIKKOR 16-50MM + 50-250MM VR at ₹1,12,645 and Z50II + NIKKOR Z DX 18-140MM F/3.5-6.3 VR at ₹1,15,795.
