The Design


The phone’s rear panel has been updated with radium and glows in the dark with a green neon Pac-Man maze that looks incredibly cool. In addition, the phone now features a new blue colour alert slider on the right, which OnePlus has been famous for a long time.
The User Interface


Looking at the amount of work that has gone into the OS in terms of UI design for this edition has really surprised us. The company has made significant improvements to the UI, including icons, animation and a style that gives the phone a vintage vibe. Also, when charging, the phone displays a fun animation of Pac-Man running behind the pellets, which are very cool touches.

The phone also comes with PAC-MAN 256 pre-installed, and as you play more and reach new levels and highscores, the phone will unlock hidden features such as new wallpapers, themes, and so on. The game is extremely addictive, transporting you back to a time when the game was a popular pastime.
The Camera

The Specs

The specifications, like the camera, are empty of surprises. Everything about the OnePlus Nord 2 Pac-Man Edition is identical to that of the OnePlus Nord 2. The phone has a Dimensity 1200 CPU from MediaTek, a 90 Hz AMOLED display panel, and a 4500 mAh battery with 65W rapid charging. In terms of performance, the phone performs admirably for a phone in this price range. And it is not expected to be premium in terms of performance, as no smartphone in this price bracket is.
The Price

Finally, let’s talk about the most crucial aspect: the pricing. The OnePlus Nord 2 Pac-Man Edition is only available in one option: 12GB RAM and 256GB storage for Rs. 37,999, which is Rs. 3,000 more than the OnePlus Nord 2 of the same variant.
Conclusion

The most important question is whether you should get the OnePlus Nord 2 Pac-Man Edition or the OnePlus Nord 2. We think that you should take that extra dip into your wallet for Rs. 3000 and get Pac-Man Edition since that extra money is definitely worth it and will also offer you a really nice UI, design, a Pac-Man vibe that you will understand once you have it in your hands.

It also feels entirely distinct from the Oxygen OS, which is an icing on the cake. In terms of design, it feels more luxurious than the standard OnePlus Nord 2. So don’t think about it too much and spend that additional money on the phone so you can have your Pac-Man as soon as possible.

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.



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.


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.

Nikon’s new Z fc mirrorless camera is the company’s second APS-C mirrorless camera, after the Z50, which was released in January 2019. The Z fc has a much more conventional, vintage look than the Z50, with several distinctive physical controls on the body, including separate dials for regulating ISO, shutter speed, and exposure compensation. Nikon Z fc has a 20.9 megapixel APS-C sensor, 209 AF pixels, an expandable ISO range of 100 – 51200, 11fps burst shooting AF/ AE tracking, an EXPEED 6 processor, an LCD with an LCD touch-angle, a 2360k-dot EVF, 4K UHD video recording at 30p, Live Streaming Supports, Snapbridge and Wi-Fi, and a lighter body. The Z fc has the same Z lens mount as Nikon’s full-frame sensor cameras, thus it can use the same Z branded FX lenses, but with a 1.5x crop factor. The Nikon Z fc is now available for Rs. 84,995 for the body only, Rs. 1,05,995 with the Nikkor Z 28mm f/2.8 (SE) Lens, and Rs. 97,995 with the Nikkor Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR (Silver) Lens. Look, Body and Feel The camera is as antique as they get in terms of style, body, and feel, and the look indicates that it is a tribute to the Nikon F series designs, such as the Nikon FM1, 2, and FE. And talking about Nikon’s F series, which looked great and performed admirably. So, it is clear that Nikon is aiming to appease those individuals in this case as well, and of course, with the success of Fuji, who has truly nailed the vintage look with outstanding performance, you can be sure that this will be popular with customers. In terms of build quality, the Nikon Z fc features a magnesium body as well as aluminum utilised in the camera, which feels good and sturdy. It weights around 445 gms with the batteries and lens and feels great and substantial in the hand. Although it lacks side grips, the relatively bulky design provides a greater grip than normal. Top: The top has a well-organized arrangement, with the On/Off button on the right, as well as the shutter and exposure compensation dials. There’s also a dedicated video recording button, which is a great addition, as well as a tiny display that indicates the camera’s aperture. The ISO dial, as well as the modes toggle, are located on the left. Although the camera has a hot shoe, it does not have a pop-up flash. Rear: At the back, there’s a 3-inch completely articulating screen with a 1040k resolution, as well as a playback/delete button and a view switcher. The shutter ring is located on the right, with other recognizable controls like as the info and 4-way toggle buttons. Front and Side: On the front, there is a stunning clean design that flashes the name Nikon and the Z fc at you. Nikon has also utilised the same typeface as they used on the F series camera, which is a clever technique to use. There is one custom button as well as the aperture ring. On the side, there is a Mini HDMI port as well as a USB charging C port. Bottom: At the bottom, there is a battery slot as well as one SD card slot that supports UHS 1. Nikon excels in the camera design sector overall. It is a retro-style camera, but it also contains all of the necessities that consumers require. Typically, manufacturers keep such designs simple, which means you have to go the extra step of utilising the fast menu to access functions. Sensor, EVF and Battery When it comes to the sensor, this camera practically has the same sensor as the Nikon Z50, and most people mistake it for a Z50 with a different appearance. It is equipped with a 21-megapixel APS-C sensor and 209 autofocus points in the single-point AF mode. The camera is driven by the same Expeed 6 processor as the Z50. The EVF is an OLED display that fills the whole frame and has a resolution of 2.3 million dots. Unfortunately, there isn’t much clarification on the refresh rate yet, but in our testing, we didn’t notice any latency in anything. The Z fc use the same battery as the Z50 and, according to the CIPA certification, can provide 300 photos per charge. However, it can be charged through USB Type-C, which is a nice thing because it lessens the strain of charging. Autofocus Tracking The autofocus tracking is borrowed from the Z series, which employs a large AF-Area to track the target. The technology works well in both the Z series and this camera. Image Quality ISO Performance In terms of ISO performance, the camera produces photos that are easily acceptable up to 3200. However, as the example photos show, noise begins to appear at 6400. Video Performance In terms of video capability, the camera can shoot 4K at up to 30 fps, but it lacks integrated image stabilization, which may be a disadvantage given that it is likely aimed at vloggers. The good news is that it shoots 4K without cropping. It also does not have the ability to watch on an external output, although this should not be a problem because most vloggers or users of this camera would not utilise such things. The camera’s video performance is excellent. It focuses quickly, produces high-quality results, and there isn’t anything to complain about in this department. Conclusion So, what are our thoughts on the Nikon Z fc? In terms of style, appearance, and usage, it ranks quite high on our list. In terms of performance, it can undoubtedly offer nice sharp photos as well as good video. It does not allow you to shoot with an external screen, but we do not believe that most customers in this category are searching for it. However, when it comes to the price, users could find that slightly steep. The Nikkor Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR (Silver) lens kit costs Rs. 97,995, while the Nikkor Z 28mm f/2.8 (SE) kit costs Rs. 1,05,995, and with the body alone costing Rs. 84,995 the overall price of the camera + lens starts fringing towards an entry-level full frame camera, like as the Z5. Apart from this while the performance of the F/2.8 28mm is excellent, it isn’t the fastest lens or offers the shallowest depth of focus. The camera could present a much better performance in combination with a faster lens, say a f/1.8? So, as time passes and the price of this camera begins to fall gradually, the combination of the faster lens along with its capability will make this a much better investment. 

Checkout our new video on the review of the newly launched Nikon Z FC. In this video we tested the Nikon Z FC in various criteria like Image Quality, ISO Performance and Video Quality. We have also spoken about the design, look, feel and whats new on the camera. Head on to our YouTube channel to watch the full video.

Checkout our new video on the OnePlus Nord 2 vs OnePlus Nord CE Camera Review on our YouTube Channel. In this video we test the cameras of both the smartphones that have been recently launched by OnePlus and dont have much difference in terms of the price between them.

Don’t miss this one!

Click here to check the full video!

 

OnePlus has recently launched OnePlus 9 series and we have already reviewed the OnePlus 9 Pro. And after fighting over the early bugs and issues and four to five updates  later, we are here with our OnePlus 9 review. Other than the normal review about the specs and user performance of primary features of the smartphone, we will also try and  answer questions like ‘Is Hasselblad truly worth it or is it just a marketing strategy?’, ‘Is it worth spending, or no?’ and many more. If you are questioning what’s different in this new phone as compared to the its previous version or any other smartphone, you can read this before you go ahead.


OnePlus 9 key specifications

• Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 SoC

• Adreno 660 GPU

• 8 GB or 12 GB RAM options

• 128 GB or 256 GB UFS 3.1 internal storage

• 6.55-inch Full HD+ (2400 x 1080) Fluid AMOLED display with 120 Hz refresh rate, HDR10+ and Corning Gorilla Glass

• Cameras: 48MP with PDAF (wide) + 50MP (ultrawide) + 2 MP (Monochrome), 16MP (wide) selfie camera

• 4,500 mAh battery with 65W fast charger

• Android 11 with OxygenOS 11

• 5G-compliant, Bluetooth 5.2, Dual band WiFi a/b/g/n/ac/6

Hasselblad
When OnePlus started teasing the 9 series with the image of the Moon, many people from technology industry already had an idea that they are tying up with Hasselblad for the cameras in the 9 series. Now this partnership with Hasselblad is for 3 years in which OnePlus will invest $150 million through its duration. But for this series, their statement says that, Hasselblad has helped OnePlus 9 series with only colour toning in the cameras. But in many ways, this was a very important moment for OnePlus because a lot of the brands have already tied up with other camera/lens brands and sometimes such collaborations attract more customer.

If you’ve been using many OnePlus phones over the years, then you would know that the performance of their cameras was probably the weakest part of their phones. They’ve always had amazing phone specs and performance, but as good as the other things about the smartphone were, for some reason that same level of outcome would never get translated to their cameras.


OnePlus 9 price in India
Rs. 49,999 for 8 GB RAM with 128 GB internal storage
Rs. 54,999 for 12 GB RAM with 256 GB internal storage


OnePlus 9 Look, Body and Feel
The OnePlus 9 has a similar design to its previous version, the OnePlus 8T, apart from the layout of the camera box. It has the same glass-fronted 6.55-inch Fluid AMOLED display with Corning Gorilla Glass and a glass back like the 8T. The lock button and ring/vibrate/silent toggle switch on the right and volume button on the left are in the same positions as well, all of which are in easy reach when you are normally holding the phone. It comes with the same USB-C port on the bottom with the speaker on the right to it, as well as a second speaker out of the earpiece.

The edges on the OnePlus 9 are slim, and make the phone feel thin than it is and the phone feels good to hold. Also, the phone is 0.3 mm slimmer than the 8T, but the company has opted for a glossy finish instead of matte along the edges, which definitely invites a lot of smudge marks. In order to keep it light weight (183 gm), OnePlus has given away the metal frame in the previous versions of OnePlus phones and replaced it with plastic. While it doesn’t feel like plastic to touch, it does put a doubt on the phone’s life. Having a plastic frame on the Nord is acceptable but doesn’t feel accurate on a ₹ 50,000 device.

Just like previous versions, it comes with in-display fingerprint scanner, but unlike the OnePlus 8 or 8T (it was located a little higher than regular for easier access), now they have moved it down a centimeter or two on the 9, and the user has to strain their thumb to reach it. The finger print scanner is highly responsive and works well. The SIM slot is present in the bottom on left side of charging port, and it can fit up to two nano-SIMs. The OnePlus 9 now comes with 5G. Till we have 5G in India, a user can use up to two 4G SIMs. The OnePlus 9’s screen is almost similar to the 8T. It is a 6.55-inch, Fluid AMOLED display with 2400 x 1080 pixels of resolution, 120 Hz refresh rate and brightness of 1,100 nits. The display is extremely colourful and super smooth when using it on different apps. It comes with an option to switch the refresh rate from 120 Hz to 60 Hz to save battery. It switches to 60 Hz automatically in apps that don’t support 120 Hz.

OnePlus 9 Performance and Battery
The OnePlus 9 is powered by Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 888 SoC, and the phone we have is of 12 GB RAM and 256 GB of UFS 3.1 internal storage. OnePlus has always opted for the fastest Qualcomm chip available in market, and no doubt that the performance is top-notch. There was no lag in day-to-day use, or in any of the normal apps or using multiple apps at same time. Gaming was halt-free and totally smooth experience at the highest settings. In popular performance benchmarks like the Geekbench 5, scores are higher than those of the OnePlus 8T. In Geekbench 5, it recorded a Single-core score of 1,112 and a Multi-core score of 3,538, which was pretty impressive with the Snapdragon 888 SoC.

The OnePlus 9 again comes with the same 4,500 mAh battery from the 8T. But the battery life can be slightly less because the Snapdragon 888 draws a bit more than the 865 chip on the OnePlus 8T. The phone runs for close to 28 hours of normal use that includes a normal amount of using social media  apps, browsing, capturing few images, hour of viewing some videos on YouTube and twenty minutes of gaming. OnePlus has maintained the 65 W Warp charger, the charging time has reduced though. It charges the phone from 0 to 50 percent in 13 minutes approximately. The OnePlus 9 goes from 0 to 100 percent in approximately 35 minutes. It doesn’t exactly powers up in 29 minutes as the company advertises, but 35 minutes is definitely faster with a 4,500 mAh battery.

OnePlus 9 Camera
OnePlus has provided three rear cameras on the OnePlus 9 unlike the four cameras in the 8T. The phone packs a 48 MP primary camera with a Sony IMX689 sensor but missing one key feature for the first time since the OnePlus 5T which is Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS). The second camera is a 50MP ultra-wide camera with a Sony IMX766 sensor. This camera can also click macro shots, a feature coming from OnePlus 7T. Everyone was in dilemma that the third camera is the telephoto which is not. The third camera present is a 2 MP monochrome camera that gives a mono filter for photos shot using the primary camera. Pro mode is where Hasselblad plays it role. It gives you better control over the ISO, White Balance, Shutter Speed, EV and Focus, if the user is more into photography they play around with the camera settings. The 16 MP front camera, with a Sony IMX471 sensor, holds its place in the OnePlus 9 like the 8T.

Daylight


Lowlight

Macro Mode


Tilt shift Mode
Another new feature in the camera is the tilt shift mode, which is something unique and a bonus to capture some different perspectives. But it is not something everyone will use it frequently unless you come across the mode.

The Pro Mode

Video Performance
The OnePlus 9 can shoot video in 1080p, 2160p (4K), and 4320p (8K). The main wide camera can shoot 1080p video in 30 and 60fps, 4K video in 30 and 60fps, and 8K video in 30fps. The ultra-wide camera can record 1080p video in 30 and 60fps, 4K video in 30 and 60fps, and 8K video in 30fps. All zooming is done digitally. EIS is available in 30 and 60fps modes but not for the 120fps mode. It features two slow motion modes, 1080p 240fps and 720p 480fps, which save slowed-down footage. The Super Stable mode uses the ultra-wide camera and then crops into a view of the main wide camera and then uses that video to stabilize the shot. The Nightscape mode enables night mode for video on the main camera. The Portrait mode works almost same to the feature available for photos, isolating the subject from the background using an artificial depth of field. Super Stable, Nightscape, and Portrait mode all save videos in 1080p only.

Conclusion
OnePlus 9 starts at a price of Rs. 49,999. The phone has amazing specs and is also a great performer. The smartphone comes with a powerful and high-end Snapdragon processor and runs the latest Android 11 OS. The camera has been the weaker aspect of the brand, but with the OnePlus 9 series, the company has managed to overcome that after a few updates. The OnePlus 9 provides Hasselblad camera which pulls off some stunning results in Pro Mode. A great display, nice loudspeaker and 65W fast charging are the brownie points which you will get with the smartphone. The primary highlight of the phone is its overall performance and the cameras, unfortunately, still come secondary to that.

The Godox AD100 Pro is Godox’s latest addition to their AD line-up of battery powered strobes, which means that Godox is currently offering ten different models in this product range. Godox AD100 Pro is the smallest variant, both in regards to size and power. Being an off-camera flash, it is targeted towards any photographer whether they are looking to shoot outdoors or indoors with genres like weddings, commercial, studio shots at an affordable price.

For many wedding and fashion photographers, the AD series flashes are rewarding for their excellent performance at a budget friendly price. At 100Ws and priced MRP 22,490 and street price of Rs. 19,600, it is one of the least powerful flashes in the AD series.

Before we start the review let’s talk about Godox. Everyone has been watching Godox in the market for a couple of years now and in a very short period of time the company has managed to really gain some great market strength in India. And the most important part is that they have been providing some amazing products like speedlights, strobes, led, softbox, brackets, etc. and that too at a super affordable price, which makes things even sweeter for the consumer. (Insert Godox Logo)

Look, Body and Design

The Godox AD100 Pro comes in a hard case which is easy, portable and light to carry anywhere for a shoot. The hard case includes the Godox AD100 Pro pocket flash, a Godox WB100 battery, AD-E2 Bracket, Battery Charger, USB Cable. You can carry the case whenever you go for a shoot or just put it in your camera bag and carry it around. In terms of design, Godox AD100 Pro is very compact and light weight. The body feels well-built and like any other pocket flash everything on the rear side is simple, clean and clear to understand. The light includes 2 threaded holes at the bottom which will let you directly mount it on any pole that you would need. And like most of its line-up the light includes a modelling lamp as well and for wireless compatibility the light goes with all the triggers in the Godox line-up.

Performance

Outdoor

We shot some images using a Canon 6D Mark II and the light was connected to the camera using a X1T-C trigger. Connecting the trigger to the light was very effortless as one just has to match the group and channel. The main reason behind choosing this light outdoors is because there are many times when you are shooting wedding portraits or pre-wedding images, commercial shoots with natural or artificial light in the background and you need to fill the light from the front to expose your subject properly.

The images shot outdoors using the Godox AD100 Pro were pretty impressive and the results were up to mark.

(Model – Aarya) (Instagram – @___aarya_3541__)

Indoor

For indoor shoots, we have shot some images at one of our known photographer friend’s studios (Siddhesh Sawant) (Instagram – @ssstudios26). Also the light was attached to the Godox SB-UBW80, 80 cm Octa Softbox using a Godox S2 Bracket. We shot some images on different setups like using the softbox, without softbox and modelling lamp. The images were shot using a Canon 5D Mark III and the light was connected to the camera using a X1T-C trigger.

The images shot indoors using the Godox AD100 Pro looked really nice and smooth and the light performed really well. The Godox AD100 Pro handles the heating very well too, even after using it on full power the flash was still firing. The fan inside the AD100 Pro is really helping a lot.

(Model – Rupali) (Instagram – @r00p_alley)

Conclusion

So what do we think about the GODOX AD100 Pro? In one simple word, it is really amazing. It is small, compact and lightweight, and packs a powerful punch. The best part about it though is that it is very pocket friendly. For a price of Rs. 19,600 (Street Price) the pocket flash gives a lovely performance.

And if as a beginner you are looking for a light then we would definitely recommend. The fact that it is so compact that it is very easy to carry wherever you go. Godox realised that photographers have to carry heavy bags and equipment every time and designed the AD100 Pro around that idea.

While this little one might not have the output to challenge the bigger ones in the line-up, but it certainly has the attitude to do so. It really tries to punch above its size and packs every bit of performance while trying.

For YouTube video review click here