New Camera 2013 Review: Review Digital Camera World 09-16-2014

Digital Camera World

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Creative flower photography: how to shift the focus using layer blending techniques

Sep 15th 2014, 23:01, by cgillo

In this tutorial we show you how to get creative with your macro flower photography by adjusting the focus in three separate exposures, and blending the shots for a magical effect.

We're kicking off our new series on macro photography by creating a flower image with a difference. Flowers are a favourite macro subject, and you can produce great results simply by shooting conventional close-ups, but in this tutorial we're going to be using layer blending techniques to get creative with focus, and produce a colourful image with a dream-like quality.

We'll show you how to shoot three separate exposures of the same flower, and then combine them. The aim is to capture one shot that's in focus and two that are blurred, and the magic happens when you blend the images together, using layer masks in Photoshop Elements.

It's important when planning your shoot to take into account the light. For the best results you want to shoot either first thing in the morning or late in the day, when the sunlight is softer and warmer.

Although this effect lends itself particularly well to shooting flowers, feel free to try it with other subjects – for example in a woodland setting or at the beach. Just make sure you compose your image so that you have something of interest to keep in sharp focus, and other elements that you can throw out of focus.

SEE MORE: Creative pictures of flowers – how to shoot and edit flower photos for dramatic impact

How to set up your camera to capture and blend macro images

01 Subject and lighting
Flowers are the ideal subject for this technique. Look for blocks of bright colour in the background, as these will look attractive when blurred – in our shot the purples and pinks in the background frame our main subject nicely. Try to capture some dappled light filtering through trees, too.

SEE MORE: Macro flower photography – a simple set-up for perfect pictures

02 Take a tripod
As we're going to take three shots of the same flower we need to ensure that our camera is firmly locked in place on a tripod, so that the images will align precisely when we combine them. Once you've composed the image, tighten the tripod's adjustments to ensure there's no movement between shots.

SEE MORE: 8 tripod mistakes every photographer makes (and how to avoid them)

03 Camera settings
Set your camera to Aperture Priority (Av) mode and set it to the widest aperture value available; we set ours to f/2.8. Keep the ISO low, ideally 100 for maximum quality images. However, if you're shooting on a breezy day and your main subject is moving about, push the ISO up so that you can increase the shutter speed to prevent motion blur.

SEE MORE: How to set up your autofocus for macro photography

04 Live View mode
Enable Live View mode, and compose your image according to the rule of thirds – you can display a grid overlay to aid you. Ensure that your main subject sits comfortably in the frame, with breathing space around it. In our image, the main area of interest sits in the top third of the frame, and slightly to the right.

SEE MORE: 7 dos and 3 absolute don’ts when using Live View

05 Manual focus
As you're capturing a very shallow depth of field much of the image will be blurred, so your focusing needs to be accurate. Switch your lens to manual focus (MF), move the Live View focus box over the flower and press the Magnify button twice for a 10x view. Adjust the focus ring until the flower is in sharp focus, then fire the shutter to take your first image.

SEE MORE: What is a macro lens – magnification and minimum focus distance explained

06 Shift the focus
For your second exposure, twist the focus ring a little to the right so the flower is slightly out of focus, and then take the shot. For the third exposure, twist the focus ring back the other way, past the point at which the flower was in focus, and take another shot with the main flower out of focus.

Canon EOS 7D Mark II hands-on review

Sep 15th 2014, 13:14, by jmeyer

Canon EOS 7D Mark II hands-on review: our testing team got an early look at Canon's EOS 7D replacement. Here's what they thought.

The Canon EOS 7D launched back in 2009, now five years on Canon have announced the EOS 7D Mark II.

Initially looking at the Canon 7D MK II’s specifications they might seem conservative, but as with the EOS 5D Mark III and the 1D X updates to these models were refined, with well measured features that met the needs of photographer in quality and reliability, rather than boasting headline hitting new technological advancements.

Here Ali Jennings takes a look at what the Canon 7D Mark II has to offer

Canon EOS 7D Mark II: price, specs, release date confirmed

Sep 15th 2014, 12:00, by jmeyer

The Canon EOS 7D Mark II – price tag at £1,599.99 / €1,999.99 – has been announced at Photokina 2014, adding many features found in the flagship EOS-1D X.

The Canon EOS 7D Mark II is Canon's new flagship APS-C format DSLR and is a replacement for the Canon 7D, which was launched back in 2009. Among the Canon 7D Mark II key features are a new 20.2-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor, 10fps continuous shooting at full resolution and a new 65-point cross-type AF system.

Though this new Canon camera incorporates a 20.2-megapixel sensor like the Canon EOS 70D, our testing team says this is a brand new sensor for the 7D Mark II, and micro lenses have also been redesigned for improved efficiency.

Also on-board the Canon EOS 7D Mark II is Canon's Dual Digic 6 processing engines, which help it achieve its 10 frames-per-second maximum burst rate for 31 raw files or until the memory card is full with JPEGs. The Canon EOS 7D Mark II maximum continuous shooting rate can be set to 210fps in High mode, 19fps in Low and 14fps in Silent shooting mode.

SEE MORE: Canon vs Nikon – the DSLR system comparison you’ve been waiting for!

The Canon EOS 7D Mark II also offers a wider sensitivity range than its predecessor, with its native ISO running from 100-16,000 (the highest non-expansion setting in any Canon DSLR), which is expandable up to ISO 51,200.

Building on the EOS 7D's reputable AF system, this EOS 7D replacement offers 65 AF points – all of which are sensitive cross-type. What's more, the 7D Mark II's central focus point is a dual cross-type at f/2.8 and sensitive down to f/8. Canon also says this central point can function down to -3EV.

SEE MORE: Full-frame DSLRs: do you really need one?

SEE MORE: Canon EOS cameras – 100 things you never knew they could do

Canon EOS 7D Mark II inherited features

Canon has also incorporated technologies from its flagship full-frame camera, the EOS-1 X, and the Canon EOS 5D Mark III. From these siblings the Canon EOS 7D Mark II inherits the same EOS iTR AF and AI Servo AF III autofocus technologies, which offer a selection of six different shooting situations to which you can tailor your AF system to focus on moving subjects.

The EOS 7D Mark II AF system allows you full control over sensitivity and subject tracking, while a new dedicated AF Mode Selection lever lets you instantly switch between AF area modes without taking your eye from the viewfinder.

The Canon EOS 7D Mark II is also kitted out with a new 150,000-pixel RGB + Infrared (IR) metering sensor (the first in an EOS camera to include infrared and flickering light sensitivity) and is divided into 252 zones. As our testing team notes, this is even better than the EOS-1D X, which offers a 100,000-pixel sensor.

Canon says this flicker detection feature ensures images are only shot when light levels are at their brightest level – intelligently analysing the light source and detecting flickering light the eye can't see.

And borrowing from the Canon 70D, the EOS 7D Mark II’s 20.2MP sensor has pixels that can be used for phase detection focusing (Dual Pixel AF) in Live View and Video mode.

Canon EOS 7D Mark II video recording

In another first for Canon EOS cameras, both Movie Servo AF speed and tracking sensitivity can be customised, giving you control for pull-focus effects and transitions between subjects. The Canon EOS 7D Mark II also records video in Full HD quality in Mov or MP4 format, with a choice of frame rates from 24p to 60p (50p in PAL).

To transfer footage, the new Canon camera has an HDMI port that provides a clean, uncompressed (4:2:2) feed to external recorders, and there are ports to connect a microphone and a headphone for better sound recording and monitoring.

There’s also a USB 3.0 port for faster image transfer, and a bracket ships with the camera to hold the cable securely in place when shooting with the 7D Mark II tethered to a computer.

Other key features of the Canon EOS 7D Mark II include a magnesium alloy body; a 200,000-cycle shutter life; dual memory card slots that accept SD/SDHC/SDXC in one and the other is compatible with CompactFlash cards; a viewfinder that provides approximately 100% coverage; an electronic level inside the viewfinder that works independently of the AF buttons; an intervalometer for shooting time-lapse sequences; a builtin compass and GPS technology; and a 3in 1,040,000-dot LCD screen on the back of the new Canon camera.

Canon EOS 7D Mark II Price & Release Date

The Canon EOS 7D Mark II price tag will be £1,599.99 / €1,999.99 for the body only, with a release date set for November 2014.

Samsung NX1: price, specs, release date confirmed

Sep 15th 2014, 10:00, by jmeyer

The Samsung NX1 – price £1,299 (approx US$2110/AU$1,175) – has been announced at Photokina 2014, and this new Samsung camera offers 4K video recording, a 28MP back-illuminated sensor, 15fps shooting and 205 AF points.

Samsung's new semi-professional compact system camera looks set to grab photographers' attention with a host of premiums specifications. Chief among these is the Samsung NX1's 28-megapixel APS-CMOS sensor, which features a Back Side Illumination structure.

As our testing team notes in their Hands-on Samsung NX1 Review, this is the first time we've seen a back-illuminated sensor larger than the 1-inch type and "it should mean better noise control in low light because there's more room on the sensor for the light-gathering receptors."

Meanwhile, a new micro-lens array helps enhance light transmission into the sensor. What's more, the Samsung NX1 has no anti-aliasing or low pass filter, which should give sharper, more detailed images.

The Samsung NX1's new sensor is also accompanied by a new processing engine, the DRIMe V Image Processor. Samsung claims this is 2.8x faster than its previous image processor, and offers better colour reproduction and noise reduction.

The extra power also gives the Samsung NX1 a maximum continuous shooting rate of 15fps for up to 77 Fine Quality JPEGs or 40 raw files, the company says.

What's more, the new DRIMe V Image Processor allows the Samsung NX1 to support 4K UHD video recording with no need for external equipment. As our testing team notes: "Samsung is using a new codec, H.265 (HEVC) and 40Mbps for its 4K video. This is claimed to have the same image quality, but half the size of 100Mbps H.264 footage.

“Although 4K footage can be recorded to the memory card (SD/SDHC/SDXC/UHS-I/UHS-II) it is also possible to send clean, compressed 4:2:0 8-bit 4K footage to an external recorder via an HDMI connection. Samsung is also working with a third-party provider to ensure that there are compatible rigs and recorders available for the NX1."

SEE MORE: Best compact system camera: 5 premium CSCs tested and rated

Yet another new development is Samsung's NX AF System III, which boasts 205 Phase Detection AF points (153 cross type) and 209 contrast detection points. The Samsung NX1 also claims an AF speed of just 0.055sec and operation down to -4EV. When light falls below -4EV a green focus assist light shines a grid pattern as far as 15m.

A new Samsung Auto Shot feature relies on the DRIMe V processor helps photographers capture action sequences at the ideal moment, Samsung says, using the processor's algorithms to recognise high-speed motion and equate shutter lag in real time.

The Samsung NX1 supports native ISO 100-25,600 range, which can be extended to ISO 51,200. What's more, the Samsung NX1 features a new noise reduction technology which photographers can apply to specific areas of an image.

This technology works by distinguishing each imaging area, such as textures or skies, and applying different types of noise reduction to the individual parts. Samsung says this method retains details without the softening that is common with other global noise reduction technologies.

The Samsung NX1 also comes equipped with built-in Wi-Fi functionality (IEEE 802.11b/g/n/ac) and is the world’s first Bluetooth equipped CSC, the company says. Samsung also claims the NX1's Wi-Fi is so fast that photographers can watch 4K movies on UHD TV via wireless streaming and offers fast data transfer speeds.

SEE MORE: What camera should I buy? Pros and cons of each camera type

Samsung NX1 body design

The Samsung NX1 body is made from magnesium alloy, with an enhanced grip for which you can also buy a custom-designed Vertical Grip accessory allowing for the use of a larger battery and easier vertical and horizontal shooting, Samsung says. The NX1 also boasts rubber weather sealing to protect the camera from dust and water.

The Samsung NX1 also offers an XGA OLED Electronic Viewfinder with 2.36 million dots. Samsung says the NX1's DRIMe V Image Processor cuts down lag time to just 0.005-seconds so that the EVF reflects the scene being shot in near real time, without delay. On the back of the camera is a 3in FVGA Super AMOLED display with touch capabilities.

The Samsung NX1 is also the first CSC to feature a top LCD panel, which displays a number of advanced camera settings and the battery condition.

Samsung NX1 price

The Samsung NX1 price tag will be £1,299, or approximately US$2110 / AU$1,175.

Along with announcing the Samsung NX1, the company has also expanded its NX lens range is a new 50-150mm 2.8 S ED OIS telephoto lens. Features include Advanced Multi-Axis Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS) system with up to 4.5 stops (at mid-range, under the CIPA standard), Samsung's Ultra Precise Stepping Motor (UPSM), and dust and splash resistance offered by Samsung Hyper Shield (SHS).

Samsung NX1 Specs

Image Sensor
28.2 effective megapixel APS-C BSI CMOS sensor

Display
76.8mm (3.0-inch) Super AMOLED Tilt Display with Touch panel (tilting Up 90°, Down 45°)
FVGA (720×480) 1,036K dots

View finder
EVF (OLED) with Eye Contact Sensor
XGA

ISO
Auto, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400, 12800, 25600 (1EV or 1/3EV step) (EXT. 51200)

Image
JPEG (3:2) : 28M (6480×4320), 13.9M (4560×3040), 7.1M (3264×2176), 3.0M (2112×1408)
JPEG(16:9) : 23M (6480×3648), 11.9M (4608×2592), 6.2M (3328×1872), 2.4M (2048×1152)
JPEG (1:1) : 18.7M (4320×4320), 9.5M (3088×3088), 4.7M (2160×2160), 2.0M (1408×1408)
RAW : 28.0M (6480×4320)
* 3D Lens Image Size: JPEG(16:9) 5.9M (3232×1824), 2.1M (1920×1080)
File format: RAW (SRW ver2.0.0), JPEG (EXIF 2.3), MPO (for 3D Lens), DCF

Video
MP4 (Video: HEVC /H.265, Audio: AAC)
UHD 3840×2160 (30fps Only), 4K 4096×2160 (24fps Only), Full HD 1920×1080, 1280×720 , 640×480
* 3D Lens Movie Recording Compatible only for Full HD
Frame rate: 60fps, 30fps, 24fps NTSC / 50fps, 25fps, 24fps PAL

Video Output
NTS, PAL, HDMI

Value- Added Features
SMART Mode: Action Freeze, Beauty Face, Fireworks, Landscape, Light Trace, Multi-Exposure, Night, Panorama (Live), Rich Tone (HDR), Samsung Auto Shutter, Silhouette, Sunset, Waterfall
3D still image & video capturing
Built-in Flash (Guide Number 11 at IOS100)
Magnesium cover body
External Microphone
Dust and splash resistance
* Note – This product is not water or dust proof. It is designed to resist dust and minor splashes only. Exposure to severe conditions is not recommended.

Wi-Fi Connectivity
IEEE 802.11b/g/n/ac

•   Email
•   Quick Transfer
•   Auto Backup
•   FOTA
•   TV Link
•   Full Browser(SNS & Cloud)
•   Auto Time Setting
•   BT GPS Tagging
•   Mobile Link
•   Photo Beam(Play Back)
•   Remote Viewfinder Pro
* Note – The availability of each service may differ by country.

NFC
NFC

Bluetooth
Bluetooth 3.0

Storage
SD,SDHC,SDXC,UHS-I,UHS-II

Battery
BP1900 (1860mAh)

Dimension (WxHxD)
138.5 x 102.3 x 65.8

Weight
550 g (without battery)

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New Camera 2013 Review

Tuesday, 16 September 2014

Review Digital Camera World 09-16-2014