Photo Books made Better and Easier with Canon’s New hdAlbum EZ V2.0 Software

hdalbum ez

Canon hdAlbum EZ v2.0 is available at App Store | Google Play, and for Mac and Windows.

Canon press release:

Outstanding Quality Photo Books Made Easier Than Ever With Canon’s New hdAlbum EZ V2.0 Software

MELVILLE, N.Y., June 25, 2018 – The average smart phone user has 630 photos stored in their phones1 – that’s a lot of memories captured with no place to go. Creating photo books to showcase all those memories is a great idea and thoughtful gift but the process can often feel daunting and time-consuming without the right application. Today, Canon U.S.A. Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, is excited to announce the launch of the new hdAlbum EZ v2.0 app, using our proprietary EAGiAL-M2 technology to automatically arrange images directly from your compatible mobile device3 to make the photo book creation process a fun hobby and creative outlet.

The imaging experts at Canon have completely redesigned the hdAlbum EZ app with the v2.0 update for a virtually seamless customer experience, allowing users to navigate the mobile interface with ease and convenience. The redesigned software creates attractive layouts for the user, creating beautiful photo books using 20 to 50 of their favorite images. It can also be linked to Facebook, Instagram and Verizon Cloud accounts.

“Canon is committed to offering time-saving solutions and creating intuitive platforms for imaging creation,” said Kazuto Ogawa, president and COO, Canon U.S.A., Inc. “The newly redesigned hdAlbum EZ v2.0 software provides a streamlined user experience for consumers to capture and share their memories with friends and families while leveraging the high-quality printing capabilities Canon is known for delivering.”

Starting at $14.99, Canon photo books take less than a week (approx. 3-5 business days) for production. Canon hdAlbums are ideal gifts or keepsakes for life’s biggest moments such as graduations, family vacations, newborns, engagements, weddings and more – you can learn more about the photo books and the redesigned app by visiting: https://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog/canon-professional-prints-and-photo-books/hdalbumez-custom-photo-books

Kamlan 28mm f/1.4 lens sample pictures

Kamlan 28mm f/1.4

The Kamlan 28mm f/1.4 (announcement) will be available for Canon EOS M systems, and for Sony E, Fuji X, and M4/3 mounts. You can order it for $199 on this Kickstarter page. Delivery is expected for August 2018.

DPReview posted a set of sample images shot with the Kamlan 28mm f/1.4, unfortunately not on a Canon EOS M but on Fuji and Sony gear. The Kamlan 28mm f/1.4 lens appears to be a pretty good performer for the money it costs.

Skylum releases Aurora HDR 2018 (ver. 1.2.0)

Aurora HDR 2018

Skylum Software released the free Aurora HDR 2018 version 1.2.0 update. Among the many new features, this version focuses on a faster and more efficient workflow. See all new features  and addition below.

A collection of bonuses will also be included with every purchase (worth $128, see at bottom of post). Aurora HDR 2018 now supports the Loupedeck editing console.

This is new in Skylum Aurora HDR 2018 version 1.2.0:

  1. Speed boost for editing and adjusting. We’ve dramatically increased performance across all areas of Aurora HDR 2018 1.2.0 on Windows and Mac.

  2. Fast single-file opening. With an improved image processing engine, Aurora HDR is now much faster when opening single files.

  3. Loupedeck integration (for Mac&Windows). Now, users can quickly process photos in Aurora HDR using physical dials, knobs, and keys.

  4. Batch processing (for Windows). Aurora HDR 2018 1.2.0 will allow Windows users to edit a large number of photos simultaneously.

  5. Better memory management. Aurora HDR 2018 1.2.0 is also optimized to make better use of memory, with more intelligent memory management and improved stability.

  6. Windows version catches up to Mac version. Windows users will receive a flip/rotate tool, bringing Aurora HDR for Windows more in line with its macOS counterpart.

  7. Aurora HDR now supports more cameras than before. The full list across both Windows and MacOS includes: Canon EOS 3000D / Rebel T100 / 4000D, FujiFilm X-H1, FujiFilm X-A20, FujiFilm X-A5, FujiFilm X-E3, Olympus E-PL9, Panasonic DC-GF10 / Panasonic DC-GF90, Panasonic DC-GX9 / DC-GX7MK3, Panasonic DC-TZ200 / DC-ZS200 / DC-TZ202 / DC-TZ220 / DC-ZS220 / DC-TX2, PhaseOne IQ3 100MP Trichromatic, Sony A7 III.

More after the break…

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A Canon and Nikon pro mirrorless wishlist discussion (video)

Canon EOS M50

Gordon Laing from CameraLabs discusses with 6 special guests what features Canon’s and Nikon’s upcoming pro-oriented mirrorless camera should have.

If you want to know more about Canon’s mirrorless agenda we got you covered. We expect Canon to announce the Canon EOS M5 Mark II ahead of Photokina 2018. Canon’s full frame mirrorless might take a bit longer.

Samyang AF 85mm f/1.4 EF for Canon mounts officially announced

Samyang AF 85mm f/1.4 EF

Samyang (aka Rokinon, Walimex) announced the company’s new Samyang AF 85mm f/1.4 EF lens. Sample pictures shot with the lens are here. The Samyang AF 85mm f/1.4 EF has a very compact size and is light, compared to Canon’s EF 85mm f/1.4L IS and Sigma’s 85mm f/1.4 ART lenses.

Compact and lightweight AF 85mm lens for superior portability

Change The Standard

Samyang AF 85mm F1.4 EF is designed with a bright aperture of F1.4. The new 85mm is formed of 9 elements in 7 groups, with 1 Hybrid aspherical lens. It also has Ultra Multi Coating, a feature used to reduce ghosting and lens flare. This lens provides smooth out-focusing and beautiful bokeh effect with excellent center resolution. The AF 85mm F1.4 EF lens is equipped with a variety of Samyang’s most advanced lens technologies, making it ideal for a variety of shooting situations – portraits, outdoor, pets and more. It is also lightweight and compact, weighs only 485g without lens caps and hood, maximizing portability and usability.

Compatible camera list (click)

  • As of June 2018, Samyang Optics has confirmed through internal testing that the following camera models work with the AF 85mm F1.4 EF lens. However, some camera functions may not be fully operational.
  • For mirrorless cameras, all camera functions are made fully operational only if the official “EF=EOS M” Canon mount adapter is installed.

 

Model name AF 85mm F1.4 EF
Aperture range F1.4 ~ 16
Lens optical Construction 9 ELEMENTS IN 7 GROUPS
Special lens Hybrid ASP 1
Coating UMC
Minium focusing distance 0.90m (2.95ft)
Maximum maginification ratio x 0.11
Filter size Φ77.0mm
Number of blades 9
Mount Canon EF
Angle of view 35mm 28.4˚
ASP-C 19.0˚
Maximum diameter Φ88.0mm
Length 72.0mm
Weight without lens cap, hood 485g
Weight 570g

 

AMS announces production of 48MP full frame global shutter sensor

global shutter

AMS CMV50000 at a glance:

  • 8T global shutter pixel with true Correlated Double Sampling (true-CDS)
  • Resolution of 7920×6004 at 30 frames per second
  • Low noise (8.8e) and high sensitivity (QE=60%), with on-chip noise reduction
  • Capable of using standard optics
  • 35mm full frame optical format sensor
  • Capture fast moving objects
  • Designed for high performance applications
  • Use in low light conditions

Belgian based company AMS (formerly CMOSIS) announced the start of production of their 48MP full frame sensor with global shutter and 30fps. For those interested in technical detail, here is a datasheet.

Press text:

High-resolution, high-speed CMOS image sensor for machine vision systems goes into mass production

Premstaetten, Austria (12 June, 2018) — ams (SIX: AMS), a leading worldwide supplier of high performance sensor solutions, today announced its CMV50000, a high-speed 48Mpixel global shutter CMOS image sensor for demanding machine vision applications, has gone into mass production.

It is available for purchase in high volumes now.

The CMV50000, which features a 35mm-format 7920 x 6004 array of 4.6µm-sized pixels based on a patented eight-transistor pixel architecture, is a breakthrough in CMOS image sensor performance. It operates at a fast 30 frames/s with 12-bit pixel depth at full resolution or a binned 4K and 8K modes, and even faster – up to 60 frames/s – with pixel sub-sampling at 4K resolution.

This means the CMV50000 can provide the detailed views of a large surface area that are required in factory automation applications such as automated optical inspection (AOI) equipment and systems for the inspection of displays of mobile phones, tablets, laptops and TVs. The combination of high frame rate and high resolution enables manufacturers to increase their already high throughput rates at consumer product assembly plants.

The low-noise ams pixel architecture offers excellent electronic shutter efficiency, and the global shutter operation produces distortion-free images of fast-moving objects. The sensor offers 64dB optical dynamic range at full resolution and up to 68dB in binned 4K mode. The image sensor benefits from the implementation of sophisticated new on-chip noise-reduction circuitry such as black-level clamping, enabling it to capture high-quality images in low-light conditions.

The outstanding performance of the CMV50000 lets manufacturers replace the charge-coupled device (CCD) image sensors which have traditionally been used in applications requiring ultra-high resolution. Now they can use a CMOS image sensor which is easier to implement in camera systems, uses less power and operates at higher frame rates.

The superior imaging performance of the CMV50000 was recognized earlier in 2018 when it was named the Biggest Breakthrough Development at the Image Sensors Europe Awards 2018.

“During recent months, ams has seen great demand for the CMV50000 from design teams developing new automated optical inspection systems and vision systems for testing flat panel displays,” said Wim Wuyts, Marketing Director for Image Sensors at ams. “The CMV50000 is now fully qualified and available to these manufacturers in production volumes. It is also about to be supported by a full demonstration system for evaluating the sensor’s performance.”

Both the monochrome and color versions of the CMV50000 are available in production volumes now. The per unit pricing is €3,450.

For sample requests and for more technical information, go to www.ams.com/Image-Sensor/CMV50000.