Skylum Luminar 4 Will Be Released November 18, 2019

Skylum Luminar 4
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Skylum announced the release date of Luminar 4.

Skylum Luminar 4 will be available to the masses on November 18, 2019. If you preorder now at $79 you get bonus one-year plan to SmugMug (worth US$180). Upgrading is $69. When released on November 18, the price will jump to US$89 new and US$79 for an upgrade.

Some of the AI powered features of Luminar 4 have been already been disclosed.

Skylum press release:

Image editing made extraordinarily fast through AI advancements in Luminar

Flagship software to bring innovative machine-learning tools and workflow to photographers as both a standalone application and plugin.

BELLEVUE, WA -October 15, 2019—Skylum is pleased to announce additional enhancements coming to Luminar 4 to be shipped on November 18, 2019. The release intends to change the way photographers approach photo editing, offering several tools informed by extensive machine-learning and a new streamlined interface to make photo editing more accessible than ever before.

Luminar 4 isn’t just another photo editor —it brings time-saving, creative photo processing to everyone in an easy-to-use approach. Skylum wants people to enjoy not only the taking of photos, but also the processing images which is typically where many photographers have the most frustration.

With Luminar 4, anyone can create a masterpiece.With a refreshed interface and workflow, Luminar 4 shifts from being a tool-based approach to one that is purpose-based. It shortens the learning process, helping any photographer experiment creatively and expand their vision. While the software incorporates complex tools, they’re completely customizable and easy to use, whether you’re a beginner or seasoned professional.

For example, in Luminar 4, photographers will experience the power of AI Sky Replacement —the first automated sky replacement tool in the market. AI Structure provides photographers with a tool to adjust fine details in their photographs, without destroying relevant subjects. Finally, tools like AI Skin Enhancer and Portrait Enhancer will take an everyday portrait and turn it into a masterpiece!

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This Image Sensor Makes It Virtually Impossible To Blow Highlights

Image Sensor
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Researchers at the German Institut für Mikroelektronik Stuttgart have developed an image sensor that makes it almost impossible to blow highlights with.

What this image sensor does, is using “self resetting pixels“, i.e. pixels that don’t clip when they get saturated but instead starts over and counts the times it has started over. From the research paper’s abstract:

Conventional CMOS image sensors with a linear transfer characteristic only have a limited dynamic range (DR) of about 60–70 dB. To extend the dynamic range considerably, the already successfully demonstrated concept of a linear self-reset pixel was employed in this work. With the self-reset concept the limit of the maximum analyzable photo generated charge (Qmax) during the exposure time is extended to a multiple of the saturation charge of the photo diode (Qsat) by asynchronous self-resets of the photo diode. Additionally, the remaining charge at the end of the exposure time is evaluated to increase the resolution of the opto-electronic conversion. Thus we achieved pixels with a DR of more than 120 dB combined with an improved low light sensitivity using a pinned photodiode.

In other words: you don’t have to worry about your exposure in order to save highlights in your image. Instead, you can set the best exposure for your subject and safely snap knowing that no highlights will be blown out.

This image sensor is a prototype and likely far from going into production. Never the less, it’s a technological innovation that sooner or later will be featured on image sensors.

The full paper “Realization and opto-electronic Characterization of linear Self-Reset Pixel Cells for a high dynamic CMOS Image Sensor” by Stefan Hirsch, Markus Strobel, Wolfram Klingler, Jan Dirk Schulze Spüntrup, Zili Yu, and Joachim N. Burghartz, is available here.

Let’s hope it’s something Canon will research too.

[via Image Sensors World]

Canon EOS 90D Review (range of compelling features, ePHOTOzine)

Canon Eos 90d Dynamic Range
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Canon EOS 90D at a glance:

  • 32.5MP APS-C CMOS Sensor
  • DIGIC 8 Image Processor
  • UHD 4K30p & Full HD 120p Video Recording
  • 3″ 1.04m-Dot Vari-Angle Touchscreen LCD
  • 45-Point All Cross-Type AF System
  • Dual Pixel CMOS AF with 5481 AF Points
  • Up to 10-fps Shooting, ISO 100-25600
  • Built-In Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
  • EOS iTR AF, Electronic Shutter Function
  • 220,000-Pixel AE Metering Sensor

ePHOTOzine reviewed the new Canon EOS 90D, Canon’s latest APS-C DSLR.

They gave the EOS 90D a “highly recommended” rating. As usual wirh Canon cameras, high image quality and color reproduction are emphasised. From the conclusion:

If you’re looking for a Digital SLR, then the Canon EOS 90D gives a range of compelling features, that make it a great choice. As a DSLR, rather than a mirrorless camera, it also offers exceptional battery life, with 1300 shots possible before the battery is depleted. The ability to focus on a subjects face, while using the optical viewfinder, is incredibly useful for portraits. In-camera raw editing is easy to use and can produce some great results.

[…] From the outside the EOS 90D may look just like every other Canon DSLR, with a conservative design, but inside is where the most of the differences can be found. Canon has developed a new 32mp APS-C CMOS sensor, yet don’t seem to have been massively hit by increased noise, when compared to other Canon DSLRs. It offers a higher resolution sensor than others, and the 4K video using the full width of the sensor will be a massive positive for many.

Read the review at ePHOTOzine

More EOS 90D reviews.

EOS 90D:

Asia & Australia: AliExpress, Amazon JAPAN, Amazon CHINA, Amazon INDIA, Amazon AU, Amazon USA, Digitalrev, Adorama, B&H Photo, eBay Australia, Rakuten JP
Europe & UK: Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon FR, Amazon IT, DigitalRev, eBay DE, Wex Photo Video, Park Cameras, Canon DE, Canon UK, Canon IT, Canon FR
USA/Canada: Amazon USA, Amazon CA, B&H Photo, Adorama, Digitalrev, KEH Camera, eBay US, Canon USA, Canon CA, BestBuy

Deal: Manfrotto Metropolitan Camera Backpack (Black) – $49.95 (reg. $129.95, today only)

Camera Backpack
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At a glance:

  • Holds DSLR, up to 3 Lenses, 70-200 f/4
  • Fits DJI Mavic Pro/Mavic Air
  • Dedicated 15″ Laptop/Tablet Pocket
  • Multiple Pockets and Organizer
  • Padded Touch-Fastening Interior Dividers
  • Exterior Tripod Connection
  • Top Handle, Shoulder and Sternum Straps
  • Padded Back Panel
  • Coated Bottom Material
  • Water-Resistant Fabric

Only for today (10/14/2019) B&H Photo has the Manfrotto Metropolitan Camera Backpack (Black) on sale at $49.95. Compare at $129.95. Free shipping.

Last hours to get the upcoming Skylum Luminar 4 at special preorder price. Have a look here to learn about the AI features.

Looking to save on gear? KEH is offering up to 20% off on selected used gear.

Some cool Kickstarter projects:

  1. SliderMini portable camera slider
  2. Universal camera strap with lifetime warranty
  3. DUO Daypack, quick access camera bag with lifetime warranty
  4. Kamlan 50mm f/1.1 lens for $199
  5. Peak Design super light travel tripod
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