Category Archives: news

Canon’s EF-series produces its 90 millionth lens

Canon Inc. recently celebrated hitting the production of its 90-millionth EF-series interchangeable lens, an EF24-70mm f/2.8L II USM. Ahistoric achievement for the company, the production of interchangeable EF lenses for Canon EOS-series AF (autofocus) film cameras began first in 1987 at the company’s Utsunomiya Plant. EF lens production surpassed the 10-million-unit mark in 1995, doubling to 20-million lenses in 2001. After reaching the 30-million-unit milestone in 2006, Canon celebrated the production of its 40-millionth lens in 2008. Owing to the rapid spread of the EOS digital SLR cameras series, production for Canon’s EF lenses gained momentum, reaching the 50-million-unit milestone in 2009, followed by the 60-million-unit and 70-million-unit marks in January and October of 2011, respectively. And the EF series reached the 80-million mark in August 2012, and just nine months later, the EF series has now come to celebrate its 90-millionth lens produced. Canon’s EF lens series was first introduced together with the EOS SLR camera system in March 1987, and has over the years led the industry through the incorporation of a number of all-new technologies.

In May of this year, Canon announced an EF200-400mm f/4L IS USM, a super telephoto zoom lens equipped with a 1.4x internal extender and offers a 200-560 mm wide zoom range. As a result, Canon’s current EF lens lineup comprises 84 models including the EF Cinema Lens series for use in cinema and TV production. Canon will continue refining its imaging technologies based on its core optical technologies to produce lenses and cameras that cater to the varying needs of photographers—from first-time users to advanced amateurs and professionals—while constantly trying to contribute to expanding the photographic and video imaging culture.

 

 

SanDisk announces new India Country Manager

SanDisk Corporation, one of the leading brands in flash memory storage solutions, has announced the appointment of Rajesh Gupta as the new country manager for SanDisk India with immediate effect.

 Previously, Gupta was the director of sales for SanDisk in India where he was a key part of the robust organization that made SanDisk a strong memory brand in India. Prior to his time at SanDisk, he worked for Intel Corporation for 15 years, last serving as the director of sales and marketing for Intel Technology India.

 “Rajesh has more than two decades of proven sales and marketing success in the IT industry. We are pleased to appoint him as the new country manager of India to continue SanDisk’s growth in the region,” said Gavin Wu, Vice President, Asia Pacific, SanDisk.

 Speaking of his new responsibilities, Rajesh Gupta said, “I am glad to accept my new position to continue to drive further SanDisk achievements in India. The market for NAND flash in India is poised for growth and I see a significant potential to expand our presence. I look forward to enabling SanDisk’s success in these new innings.”

Fujifilm X20 review

After the launch of Fujifilm X10 in 2011, which was one of the most advanced compact cameras in its segment then, Fujifilm has developed yet another camera in this segment, the Fujifilm X20. With similar attributes like its predecessor, the X20 is loaded with a 12 megapixel sensor, 28-112 mm equivalent lens capable of 4x manual zoom and a 1080p HD video recording capability set in a body designed very similar to the X10. What distinguishes it from the X10 though is its new X-Trans CMOS II sensor, an improved 12fps burst shooting mode and Focus Peak Highlight, to name a few features. But do they add up to a convincing reason to buy?


Look, body and feel


At first glance the X20 looks just like its predecessor the X10, although it’s now available in a dual tone silver-and-black finish, an addition to the conventional black finish. The camera has a magnesium alloy body with black leather finish around most part of it. The well crafted X20 has a sturdy and superior build which feels reassuringly solid in the hands.


The X20 doesn’t just imbibe similar looks as the X10, but also similar control buttons and dials. The top panel of the camera features an a mode dial, shutter button which is threaded for a mechanical cable release, a customisable Fn button and exposure compensation dial. There is also a centrally-mounted hot shoe for an external flash unit, and a little pop-up flash on the left.


The front of the camera is minimalistic and maintains a retro feel. It houses 28-112 mm f/2.0 Fujinon lens which has an integrated power switch on it, similar to the one on the X10. New users may find it a little confusing at times, trying to locate the power button, but overall this feature helps reduce the need of an additional power button and also gives the camera a compact look. The front of the camera also houses a conveniently placed swivel focus mode dial, the autofocus white led lamp and a stereo microphone for recording audio.


The back of the X20 consists of a larger optical viewfinder than its predecessor, which displays data such as shutter speed, ISO etc. An eye sensor beside the viewfinder window helps for automatic switching with the rear LCD. Other than the 2.8 inch 460k dot LCD screen which dominates the back of the camera, a host of ergonomic control buttons and dials add to a smooth and quick control of the cameras settings. One such example is the button labeled ‘Q’ which facilitates quick changing of camera settings.


Features


The Fujifilm X20 comes with impressive features. The sensor adopted by the X20 is a 12 megapixel 2/3inch X-Trans CMOS type. X20’s sensor is nearly 50% the size of the sensor of Sony RX100, which has a 1 inch full frame sensor. X20’s sensor is larger than most of the cameras in the advanced compact camera segment today.


Other than using the rear LCD to compose your images you can also use the optical viewfinder, with 85% coverage, a diopter control and to top it all, Fujifilm has developed a Digital Trans Panel which overlays the viewfinder and displays shooting information such as shutter speed, aperture, ISO, and focussing area. The viewfinder displays the information in one of three different colours, depending on the scene and shooting conditions – black in good light, green in bad, and red if an error occurs.


There is Focus Peaking display for manual focus using the rear LCD. While shooting using manual focus, the X20 focusses accurately by using the Focus Peaking Highlight which indicates areas of highest contrast.  The Fujifilm X20 boasts of a continuous burst shooting rate of 12fps for 11 JPEGs while shooting a burst of RAW files at 9fps for 14 RAW photos.


The X20 records videos in full HD 1080 at 60fps with built-in stereo microphones for audio support.


Performance


In the last few years Fujifilm has been producing cameras with unique styling and consistently good image quality. Like its predecessor, the Fujifilm X20 is quite a performer.


The camera is easy to use; manual focus zoom ring gives the user additional control. The focussing mechanism on the X20 is spot on, however the focus does lag in low light conditions while shooting at a higher focal length. The optical viewfinder on the X20 could revive the trend of using the viewfinder instead of the LCD screen to compose frames. While shooting close up shots, switching to the Supermacro mode allows the user to focus as close as 1 cm to the subject. The rear LCD screen is clear and bright and is not affected by glare and reflection.


 The image produced by the X20 contains details and they are not lost even after when zoomed in 100% of the image size. The larger than usual sensor is responsible for the excellent image quality. The colours reproduced by the camera are accurate and vibrant. The images display good contrast and the tonal range shows good detail in shadows as well highlights. While shooting using the auto white balance, the colours in the frame are reproduced accurately even under mixed lighting. In addition, the X20 has digital filters in the Advanced Mode which include Toy Camera, Pop Colour, Miniature, Partial Colour and so on which are fun to experiment with.


ISO performance

The Fujifilm X20 performs well in low ISO sensitivities but while shooting in low light situations, the images reveal slight traces of noise at higher ISOs (ISO 800 and above). When shooting at ISO 3200 and above the noise becomes very visible and there is a loss in detail.


Conclusion


The Fujifilm X20 is similar to the X10 but with definite improvements. The better image quality owing to the new megapixel 2/3-type X-Trans CMOS II sensor with no low-pass filter, the hybrid optical viewfinder and speedy autofocus are few features that make this camera stand apart.

The camera is priced at Rs. 39,999, higher than most cameras in this segment. Loaded with excellent image quality that comes in a cool retro look, the X20 is an excellent camera.


Text: Steve D’Souza

 

Commemorating World Photography Day with Artistique

As a part of our run-up to the World Photography Day on the 19th of August this year, Asian Photography is proud to announce Artistique, an exhibition cum contest designed to promote photography both as art as well as commodity. Photographers from across the country are invited to send in their photographs to ap.artistique@gmail.com, and the best ones out of each of the categories will be showcased at the exhibition to be held from 16-19 August, 2013 at the Piramal Art Gallery, NCPA, Mumbai. Apart from visibility, the winners also stand to win prizes worth Rs. 1 lac (each category).



The themes for the contest are Black and White, Beauty, and Fashion, and the participants are requested to specify the precise category they want to send their entry under. The exhibition will also feature some of the most noted names in the photography industry, namely Jatin Kampani, Kakubhai, Arko Dutta and Ali Rangoonwala . Jatin, Arko and Ali will come together as jury on the photography contest as well, which will have the final say on the winners from the entries received.

For the terms and conditions and other rules, visitasianphotographyindia@gmail.com.  

10 must-have photography apps for your smartphone

With the focus constantly shifting from exclusive, professional use of heavy cameras and equipment towards lighter, more user friendly devices by amateurs, mobile phones have emerged as the primary choice of photography equipment by the masses. Though not being able to deliver the same image quality and detail as their interchangeable-lens counterparts, mobile phones still maintain a steady hold on the latest trends in the imaging industry, and are expected to do so for a long time to come. Fueled by the exponential increase in the popularity of the top app markets and decrease in the prices of smartphones, consumers seem to be getting the most out of it. We list the top 10 photography apps for iOS and Android platform to help our uninitiated readers make the most of their smartphones. The below mentioned apps are available for iOS and Android unless specified otherwise.


Adobe Photoshop Touch


Adobe Photoshop Touch brings Adobe’s premier photo-processing software Adobe Photoshop to the mobile platform. While most of the apps in this list cater to amateurs, this one is strictly for professionals. If you’re looking to add quick filters to a picture you want to upload on Facebook, this might not be the best option for you, but for photographers short on time and on-the-move Adobe Photoshop Touch is quite handy. Most, if not all, of Adobe Photoshop’s features are included in its mobile version as well, for example layers and selection tools. You can start your processing job on the computer, import the layer info to your phone when going out, and continue.


Instagram


Easily the most popular photo-sharing smartphone app in the world, Instagram is the most effective initiative to integrate mobile photography and social networking till date. Over a hundred million registered users and counting, Instagram provides its users with a clean and fast interface as well as integration with all the major social networking sites, along with a slew of vintage filters and effects. Instagram can safely be credited with bringing mobile photography right in the centre of the imaging industry.


PicSay Pro


One can add interesting bubbles and photo captions through PicSay Pro, an animated effects photography app available on the Android store. The interface is clean, and the app lets the user choose from the huge number of effects in its database. One can buy additional add-ons in-app for enhanced effects. Besides the fun part, the app has an extensive list of options for image editing as well.


Flickr


The mobile app for one of the oldest online photography based social networking sites on the internet, Flickr, deserves an inclusion in the list. The app is clean, hassle free and looks amazing on high resolution devices. You can easily upload photographs from your device to the website, check notifications and interact with fellow users. As computation gets more restricted to smaller devices by the day, Flickr serves as a steady alternative to users looking to maintain their account on the move.


Camera+


Originally designed to serve as an extension to the iPhone’s camera, Camera+ is one of the oldest photography apps available on the iTunes store. It lets you add a variety of effects to your photographs, along with a ton of features to help you get a better shot while shooting. Once shot, you can start playing with the built in features and tweaks.


Pro HDR


Pro HDR was originally available on the Apple store but after its success the developers have come out with an Android version as well. Pro HDR is one of the most popular HDR apps today, especially among iPhone and iPod Touch users. It lets you shoot a couple of shots at a variety of exposures for shadows and highlights and merges them to deliver stunning HDR composites. Along with that there are a lot of other features to enhance your HDR photographs; with the help of the assisted manual mode you can even choose the value of exposures you want to shoot at if you have a certain look in mind for the HDR image you are clicking.


Adobe Photoshop Express


Unlike the Photoshop Touch by Adobe, Photoshop Express is more targeted at amateurs than professionals. A lot of features from the PC version are missing, including layers. Though if you’re an Adobe fan looking for an app which lets you quickly edit and upload, Photoshop Express is it. You can tweak features like brightness, contrast, saturation etc, along with noise and red-eye reduction; though some of the better options have to be paid for. Still, it is a lot cheaper than the Photoshop Touch app and is ideal for novice photographers.


Photosynth


Photosynth is a panorama stitching app popular on the iTunes store. It lets you create right to left as well as down to up panoramas in just a couple of taps. The interface is easy to use, and you can share your work from right inside the app. The app is free; we definitely recommend you try it out.


Snapseed


According to the Apple store statistics, Snapseed is doing better than Instagram in a lot of countries. It is basically a photo-sharing app which lets you edit and showcase your work to your friends, equipped with some unique gesture based controls. The interface takes some getting used to, but as soon as you figure it out it works like a charm. The app has a tutorial telling first time users about the basic controls as well. The editing possibilities in Snapseed are quite a lot, which makes it a flexible option for users looking to experiment.


Paper Camera


If we talk about photo-effects, Paper Camera is one of the most unique real time photo-effects apps in the app markets right now. The themes are paper based, as the name suggests, and the app has a potential to make even the most boring frames look appealing. You can turn your photographs into sketches, cartoons, comic books; there are tons of options to choose from. We definitely recommend this one if you’re looking for something different.

 

Fujifilm launches 50x zoom SL1000

Fujifilm recently launched its latest bridge camera, 50x zoom enabled SL1000. The camera is designed keeping travelers in mind, with zoom values ranging from 1cm macro to 1200mm telephoto. The camera supports movie recording as well, shooting in full HD (60 fps and stereo sound) with advanced filter and 3D shooting features. There is also an Intelligent Digital Zoom feature, which increases the effective focal length from 1200mm upto 2400mm, or 100x.


Fujifilm has aimed at keeping the blurring at a minimum low with its High-Magnification Zoom and Powerful Optical Image Stabilization features, minimizing the effect of blurring at longer zoom lengths. The LCD monitor is 180˚ tilting, making way for more shooting angles than usual. SL1000 has a 16 million pixels 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS sensor, which is designed to cope with high ISO values. Mr. Rohit Pandit, EVP – Sales & Marketing, FUJIFILM India said about the launch, “We are extremely proud to bring the best of the long zoom camera segment- SL1000 which is enriched with versatile functionalities and will be desired by those photographers who do not want the lens-changing capability of a DSLR, but are still keen on having total control over their images. It’s powerful zooming capacity is certain to attract people with an eye for detail.” The camera is priced at Rs. 29,999.

 

DIY Macro Lens



The video teaches you simple steps on how to convert your fixed focal lens into a Macro lens. This can be used to shoot any macro subject you wish.

Olympus launches 8 new products in the Indian market

Olympus Imaging India Private Limited recently announced the launch of 8 new cameras in its Olympus Stylus brand. The XZ-2 and the XZ-10 for image quality, SZ-16 and SH-50 for low light performance, VG-165, VG-180 and VG-190 for easy shooting and the awaited Tough – TG-2 are added to the Indian shelves.

 

 

With the launch of these cameras, Olympus has shown interest in adapting to changing times, as the compact camera segment continues to fall to the smartphone camera. At such a point in time, the advanced point-and-shoot, an advanced breed of cameras has taken much of the imaging world by surprise with competitive imaging quality at extremely competitive prices.

 

 

“Much has been said of India being a price sensitive country. Today, we at Olympus, having interacted with Indian consumers can firmly say that they are willing to consider a premium, provided the product is of exceptional quality, both style-and-substance-wise” said Mr. Kenichiro Mori, newly appointed Managing Director, Olympus Imaging India Private Limited adding, “We have placed our faith in advanced point-and-shoot this year as we see consumers evolving to ask for a product which is a combination of exceptional photoquality and amazing style. We want to be at the forefront of that race.”


 

 

Olympus has entered the market with these multiple offerings in the compact camera segment, and its PEN series and the t O-MD E-M5 in the professional camera space. With these it hopes to change the face of the Indian imaging industry. “India has traditionally had a slower rate of adoption of new technology than some other regions such as Europe, the Americas or Japan. But demographically being a young country, this trend is rapidly reversing. Keeping this in mind, Olympus is concentrating on launching products which are futuristic, yet are firmly anchored in needs of consumers.

 

 

 

Nikon releases the AF-S NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR

Nikon recently announced the release of the AF-S NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR, a FX format, 5x telephoto zoom covering a range of 80-400mm. As it covers a wide variety of focal lengths, the camera is primarily aimed at genres which require a higher zoom range, like bird, sports or landscape, though it can be put to use in a variety of other genres as well. The lens is made with a new optical design utilizing four of Nikon’s ED lens elements, one of them being the Nano Crystal Coat which helps reducing ghost and flare. There is also a Silent Wave Motor (SWM) which helps the lens silently autofocus. The lens comes with three focusing modes – A/M (autofocus with manual override, AF priority), M/A (autofocus with manual override, manual priority) and M (manual).

Commenting on the announcement, Mr. Hiroshi Takashina said, “We are pleased to announce the new addition to our NIKKOR lens line-up. It is a much awaited lens and we assure that it will suffice the requirements of a photographer who wishes to capture distant subjects.”Talking about Nikon’s presence in India, he added, Nikon has always believed in creating a photography culture in India, and to achieve this we are coming up with new products to meet discerning needs of the growing customer base.”