Luminar Neo Has Been Officially Released

By Louis Ferreira | Published: February 17, 2022


Pricing
This time, we have prepared something special for our customers. Now users can choose between a 1-year subscription and a lifetime license of Luminar Neo. Offer details are below:

1-year subscription
Luminar Neo 1 seat for $59
Luminar Neo 2 seats for $79

Lifetime license
Luminar Neo 1 seat for $79
Luminar Neo 2 seats for $99

Lifetime license offer for users who own Luminar or Aurora
Luminar Neo 1 seat for $59
Luminar Neo 2 seats for $69

Subscription includes
⚬ All future updates
⚬ All new feature add-ons
⚬ Workflow designed for creative phot editing
⚬ Unique AI tools to simplify repetitive tasks
⚬ Builtin library of Textures & Overlays
⚬ 30-day money back guarantee
⚬ 24/7 technical support

Lifetime license includes
⚬ Update with AI Masking and Portrait Background Removal
⚬ Performance and stability updates
⚬ Workflow designed for creative photo editing
⚬ Built-in library of Textures & Overlays
⚬ Unique AI tools to simplify repetitive tasks
⚬ Lifetime license
⚬ 30-day money back guarantee
⚬ 24/7 technical support

Press Release
NEW YORK, NY – February 17, 2022 — Skylum announces Luminar Neo, our newest AI-driven photo editor, is now shipping. Luminar Neo introduces several unique AI technologies to the market: RelightAI, Powerline Removal and Dust Spot Removal. These technologies significantly change the way photos are edited, allowing creative professionals to tell visual stories in new ways while making it easier to bring their unique ideas to life.

“There is a fine line between the photo you took and the photo you imagined. Often, small details make the difference. In Luminar Neo, we’ve built an editor to help you create the photo you imagined.” — Ivan Kutanin, Skylum CEO Read More »

Posted in Software| Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Sony Electronics’ Is The No. 1 Mirrorless Camera Brand & No. 1 Mirrorless Lens Brand For 2021 In North America

By Louis Ferreira | Published: February 16, 2022


SAN DIEGO, CA – February 16, 2022 – Sony Electronics Inc. – a worldwide leader in digital imaging– continues to lead the industry in bringing mirrorless technology to the world. Following a year of innovative product introductions such as the Alpha 1, Sony Electronics announced today that it was the number one mirrorless camera brand[ii] and full-frame mirrorless camera brand in 2021[iii].  This past year also marks the 8th consecutive year Sony has held the #1 position in full-frame mirrorless camerasi.  And lastly, Sony has announced it was the number one mirrorless lens brand in 2021[iv] as well.

The success of the lineup of full-frame cameras, including the Alpha 7S, Alpha 7R and Alpha 9 series, has been paramount to Sony’s strong sales numbers. These have been complemented by the popularity of the Alpha 7 III, which continued to be the No. 1 selling full-frame interchangeable lens camera line for the 4th year in a row[v]. For lenses, Sony’s full lineup of 65 different E-mount models highlighted by their flagship G Master™ series continues to drive industry growth.

Additionally, newer innovations such as the new Alpha 7 IV have started to set early sales records.  For the week of December 19-25, 2021, the Alpha 7 IV had the highest single-week sales of any mirrorless interchangeable lens camera line in the last four years[vi].

“We are always listening to our customers’ feedback, advancing our innovation and creating the best possible tools for all types of content creators,” said Yang Cheng, Vice President, Imaging Solutions, Sony Electronics Inc. “Finding new ways to empower our community is our top priority and we are honored that so many continue to choose Sony to tell their stories and bring their creative visions to life.”

A variety of additional stories and exciting new content shot with Sony products can be found at www.alphauniverse.com, Sony’s community site to educate, inspire and showcase work from fans and customers of the Sony Alpha brand.

[i] Source: Sony Internal Research, U.S., Detachable Lens Camera, Sensor Size: Full Frame, Mirrorless Detachable Lens, Annual 2014, Annual 2015, Annual 2016, Annual 2017, Annual 2018, Annual 2019, Annual 2020, Annual 2021.

[ii] Source: The NPD Group/Retail Tracking Service, U.S., Detachable Lens Camera, Mirrorless Detachable Lens, Based on Dollars, Annual 2021.

Source: The NPD Group/Retail Tracking Service, Canada, Detachable Lens Camera, Mirrorless Detachable Lens, Based on Dollars, Annual 2021.

[iii]Source: The NPD Group/Retail Tracking Service, U.S., Detachable Lens Camera, Sensor Size: Full Frame, Mirrorless Detachable Lens, Annual 2021.

Source: The NPD Group/Retail Tracking Service, Canada, Detachable Lens Camera, Sensor Size: Full Frame, Mirrorless Detachable Lens, Based on Dollars, Annual 2021.

[iv] Source: Sony Internal Research, U.S., Lenses Filters Adapters and Caps, Imaging Accessory Type: Prime Lens and Zoom Lens, Lens Mount Type: Canon EF-M, Canon RF, Sony E-Mount, Fujifilm G, Fujifilm X, Hasselblad, Leica, L-Mount, Nikon 1, Nikon Z, Leica M, Jan 2021-Dec. 2021.

[v] Source: The NPD Group/Retail Tracking Service, U.S., Detachable Lens Camera, Sensor Size: Full Frame, Camera Family, Based on Units, Annual 2021, Annual 2020, Annual 2019, Annual 2018.

[vi] Source: The NPD Group/Weekly Retail Tracking Service, U.S., Detachable Lens Camera, Digital Lens Type: Mirrorless Detachable Lens, Camera Family, Based on Dollars, Jan 2018-Dec 2021.

Posted in Press releases| 1 Comment

New Olympus OM-1 Uses Sony Quad Bayer m43 Sensor

By Louis Ferreira | Published: February 15, 2022


OM-1: B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama

Last night OM systems announced its latest Olympus camera the Olympus OM-1 with a pretty substantial price tag attached. I am curious to see how the Quad Bayer technology ends up working for noise performance and more, but I think it will be far more useful on APS-C and Full-Frame sensors. Below you can read a summary of what the technology has to offer.

Advantages of Quad Bayer Coding (QBC) – High sensitivity and high resolution in one sensor
The Quad Bayer structure means four adjacent pixels are clustered with the same-color filters. In this way, high sensitivity and high resolution can be achieved in one sensor. It can, for example, prevent resolution loss in a low-illuminance environment and produce low-noise nightscape photos.

How was QBC invented?
Smartphone cameras have been rapidly improving their image quality for the last few years. The high demand for better quality images is driving the trend to miniaturize pixels in the image sensor for smartphones so that more pixels can be crammed in to achieve higher resolutions. However, the miniaturization of pixels comes with a tradeoff: the sensor sensitivity must be compromised.

Addressing this problem, Sony has developed a pixel array which is called QBC. It minimizes the sensitivity loss due to physical size reduction of a pixel. The technology is in a sense specifically developed for smartphone image sensors, for larger sized sensors, such as ones applied in SLR cameras, can accommodate larger pixels and not requiring pixel miniaturization.

What is QBC?
When shooting in an environment of low illuminance, such as nightscapes, adjacent four pixels are clustered to create per-unit image signal that is four times greater than that of a single pixel.

By adding of adjacent pixels in analog, loss of resolution is prevented, enabling to reduce noise in the resulting image. The result is the enhanced sensitivity in low-illuminance environments, enabling low-noise, bright images for photos and movies. Meanwhile, in high-illuminance environments, such as outdoor in daylight, the sensor can revert the pixels to the Bayer structure by advanced processing of array conversion (remosaic) to achieve the high resolution of Bayer sensors.


Sony’s original array conversion circuit is integrated into the image sensor chip, which enables processing of array conversion (remosaic) within the sensor as opposed to the conventional software-based conversion. This contributes to low power consumption compared to software processing. The built-in array conversion circuit also enables real-time processing, so it can be leveraged when capturing videos.

Posted in 3rd Party Cameras| Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Tokina 500mm f/8 Now Available

By Louis Ferreira | Published: February 14, 2022

The Tokina 500mm f/8 can now be ordered from B&H Photo. It was announced last month. Microlenses are very light and portable and they will allow a photographer to carry around a lot of reach in a small package. The only real downside to a mirror lens is donut bokeh, which can be offensive or distracting to some. I personally own 3 mirror lenses because I really like how well they perform for such a low price.

Posted in 3rd Party Lens| Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Save Up To $399 on Samyang/Rokinon Lenses

By Louis Ferreira | Published: February 13, 2022


B&H Photo has several Samyang/Rokinon lenses discounted including the Samyang AF 14mm f/2.8 FE which is currently $399 off. You can find all the savings here.

Posted in 3rd Party Lens, Deals| Tagged , | 1 Comment

Delkin Announced CFexpress Type A Cards

By Louis Ferreira | Published: February 11, 2022


Delkin CFexpress: B&H Photo / Amazon

PCIe 3.0 Interface
Records 8K, 6K & 4K Video at High Frame
Rates & Bitrates
Max Transfer Speed: Up to 880 MB/s
Max Write Speed: Up to 790 MB/s
Serialized for Added Protection
48-Hour Replacement Guarantee


Overview:
BLACK CFexpress™ Type A Memory Cards from Delkin Devices combine industrial strength & reliability with unmatched performance, plus a quality guarantee like no other card. Leveraging today’s newest technology, Delkin BLACK CFexpress™ Type A cards provide professional-level performance that is specifically designed to meet current industry standards. As a bonus, every card is backed by our 48HR Replacement Guarantee policy for the ultimate coverage.

Technologically Advanced CFexpress™ Recording Speeds
Utilizing a 3rd generation PCI Express interface (as well as supporting NVM Express), Delkin BLACK CFexpress™ Type A cards boast recording speeds up to 790 MB/s (730 MB/s for 80GB) for flawless cinema-quality video capture, including 8K, 6K & 4K at high frame rates and bitrates. They also support RAW continuous-burst shooting without delay – never miss those precious split-second moments!

Streamlined Workflow
Capable of offloading data at speeds reaching up to 880 MB/s, Delkin BLACK CFexpress™ Type A cards ensure the quickest, most efficient data transfer from card to computer for immediate access to your files and sooner post-production start time. This is ideal for photographers and videographers who need to quickly unload large amounts of data and get back to shooting.

Tested for Compatibility
Each BLACK CFexpress™ Type A card has undergone extensive testing to ensure full functionality and performance in today’s high-end hosts. Built to meet the extensive demands of today’s broadcast, cinema and photography industries, Delkin BLACK CFexpress™ memory cards are the cards you can trust for fast, reliable photo & video capture. It is important to note though that CFexpress™ Type A cards are not backwards compatible with either CFexpress™ Type B, CFast 2.0, or CompactFlash hosts.

Durable Design & Lifetime Warranty
Built to endure even the most strenuous shooting environments, Delkin BLACK CFexpress™ Type A cards are durably designed to be shockproof, magnet proof, X-ray proof, anti-static, UV-guarded and resistant to extreme temperatures. Each card is also backed by a Lifetime Warranty and Delkin’s American-based customer support team out of San Diego, CA.

World’s Best Warranty – 48HR Replacement Guarantee
Not offered anywhere else in the world, Delkin BLACK CFexpress™ Type A memory cards and those with the “48HR logo” come with a superior 48-hour replacement guarantee in addition to our “Lifetime Warranty” policy. We will happily replace any non-working card within 48 hours or less (not including weekends), prior to receiving your non-working card. You can also replace your card over the counter at any authorized Delkin reseller. To activate your Delkin BLACK CFexpress™ Type A card’s free replacement program & lifetime warranty, simply register your card online here.

Compatible Cameras:

MANUFACTURERMODELSUPPORTED MEMORY CARDSAPPROVED
Sonya1(2) CFexpress Memory Cards; (2) SD UHS-II Memory Cards✔
a7 IV(2) CFexpress Memory Cards; (2) SD UHS-II Memory Cards✔
a7S III(2) CFexpress Memory Cards; (2) SD UHS-II Memory Cards✔
FX3(2) CFexpress Memory Cards; (2) SD UHS-II Memory Cards✔
FX6(2) CFexpress Memory Cards; (2) SD UHS-II Memory Cards✔

Not sure which Delkin memory card(s) are best for your camera? Please refer to our camera compatibility chart for recommendations
(Last updated 1/13/22)

Memory Card Capacity:

RESOLUTIONFILE SIZE80GB160GB
12MP3.6 MB20,66741,333
24MP7.2 MB10,33320,667
48MP14.4 MB5,16710,333
VIDEO TYPERESOLUTION & BITRATE80GB160GB
UHD 8K @ 30fps7680 x 4320, 400 Mbps20 min40 min
UHD 4K @ 60fps3840 x 2160, 600 Mbps10 min25 min

Data Recovery Support:
Delkin Devices is proud to partner with LC Technology, creators of data recovery software PHOTORECOVERY®, FILERECOVERY® and FILERECOVERY® Professional, to support our premium memory card lines. Lines covered include POWER SD, PRIME & POWER microSD, XQD, CFast 2.0, PRIME & POWER CFexpress™, JUGGLER™ SSD and BLACK. For more information and support regarding LC Technology, please contact Delkin Customer Service at [email protected].

Posted in Accessories| Tagged , | 1 Comment