In this video you will discover the workflow of Autopano Video. You’ll see how easy it seems, with this software, to create 360​​° videos from import to rendering. The example shows the creation of a 360° movie stitching 6 video flows from 6 GoPro cameras.

The multicam synchronization is simple, based on the audio tracks of the cameras as on Final Cut Pro X for example.

Kolor Autopano Video user interface.

We can generate a 360 x 180 panorama in Autopano in which you can straighten the horizon and vertical elements as you would do for still images panoramas.

By default, the 360 video is rendered in 4K, but it is of course possible to have it done in Fll HD. You get the choice of the fps when exporting the video and you can get it as a simple MP4 file.

For workflow efficiency, you may appreciate that the rendering calculation is done in the background to allow the possibility to work on another project while the computer and Autpano Video calculate the 360 final movie, which must be an extremely demanding task for your CPU.

Here is the video demonstration of the Autopano video workflow :

You can try this free version of Autopano Video beta1, a fully operating version of the software, without any kind of limitation. It will work until June 30th, 2013.

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In addition to this well thought out innovation, the Canon EF 200-400 f/4L IS USM is a real Canon L telephoto lens with a magnesium alloy frame and wheather sealings. It has, as its name suggests, the image optical stabilization that is enhanced by a third working mode in addition to classic mode and the second one for helping to achieve filé like on mooving cars. This mode activates the image stabilization only when you trigger. Canon states that “it is possible to support rapid movement followed without overcompensation for panoramic images.” This mode will be mostly used by sports photographers.

The ultrasonic USM autofocus motorization offers the ability to fine tune the focus manually after the autofocus crafted. The “PF” (Power Focus) will be operated with the pros Canon DSLRs EOS-1D C and EOS-1D X in video mode where it can shift the preset focus distance (Pull Focus) to quickly switch focus distance predefined to an other position precisely by turning the focusing ring.

On the optical side, the Canon EF 200-400 f/4L IS USM lens incorporates Fluorite and UD glass (ultra-low dispersion glass) lenses to lower chromatic aberrations and improve the colors. The anti-reflective SWC and the Super Spectra coating are applied on internal lenses to fight against ghosting and various internal reflections. Its max. aperture of f/4 is available on the entire zoom range and even when you use the built-in 1.4x extender.

You will certainly have guessed by reading its upscale data sheet that the Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM is a high-end telephoto lens (magnesium, fluorine, integrated extender ….) and this undoubtedly “pro” lens will sell at a “pro” price tage of € 12,999…. It will be available on May 29th.

I am just hoping will see this integrated focal length multiplier coming down to cheaper telephoto lens because this is a great idea.

The canon ef 200-400mm f/4L IS USM will be remembered as the first lens to offer a built-in 1.4x extender.

Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM technical specifications

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Here is the first high-end prime lens available in Nikon CX mount for Nikon 1 mirrorless cameras. The 1 Nikkor 32mm F/1.2, once mounted on a Nikon 1, S1 or V2, will give a 85mm equivalent, with a max. aperture of f/1.2. Interesting! This focal length tailored for portrait photography, benefits of an extremely generous aperture to easily generate a nice and smooth bokeh (with the help of the 7 circular aperture blades). But not only because such a wide aperture will let photographers often skip the use of a flash in natural light, even under low-light conditions.

As this new lens seems to mean with its serious look, it assumes high flying ambitions worked with an optical formula of 9 lenses divided into 7 groups. The lens receives the nanocristal surface treatment, this is a first on a Nikon 1 lens. This is also the first lens in the range to be equipped with a true manual focus ring. As the lenses for Nikon digital SLR, the 1 Nikkor 32mm f/1.2 gets aSWM motorization. This system is a guarantee of silent and fast  focus, for stills at least, because it is not what I’d call a panacea in video.

The 1 Nikkor 32mm f/1.2 in silver finish mounted on a Nikon 1 J3.

 1 Nikkor 32mm f/1.2 prices and availability

The 1 Nikkor 32mm f/1.2 will be available in two colors: high-gloss silver and semi-gloss black. The outer coating of the lens is also made of metal. It will come with a bayonet lens hood (HB-N107) but the soft pouch usually supplied with Nikkor lenses for DSLRs will be available as an optional item this time. The 1 Nikkor 32mm f/1.2 hit the shops as of June 13, 2013 at a recommended retail price of €849.

The 1 Nikkor 32mm f/1.2 is a promising lens, a nice fast portrait lens, but also a pretty expensive lens considering it will be used on small sensor cameras like the mirrorless Nikon1. It will certainly not sell much but will contribute to the Nikon 1 prestige.

Main technical characteristics of the 1 Nikkor 32 mm F/1.2:

• Focal Length: 32mm (or 85mm on a Nikon 1)
• Maximum aperture: f/1.2
• Minimum aperture: f/16
• Optical formula: 9 elements in 7 groups
• SWM autofocus motorization
• Manual focusing ring
• Nanocrystal lens surface treatment
• 7-blade circular diaphragm
• Minimum Focusing Distance: 45cm
• Maximum magnification ratio: 0.22 x
• Filters diameter: 52mm
• Length of the lens: 47mm
• Lens diameter: 65.5 mm
• Weight: 235 grams
• Retail price: 849 euros

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The Olympus Pen E-P5 has the live MOS sensor of 16-megapixel that I enjoyed in the Olympus OM-D and that is used this year on its mirrorless compact Pen as the Pen E-PL5. It is simply the best micro 4:3 sensor ever made and its tests showed that the sensor was catching up with APS-C sensors like the ones found in Sony NEX or Samsung NX and in many digital SLRs. The overall quality gap is now only around one single EV. The sensor’s signal is processed by the TruePic VI processor.

The Olympus E-P5 will be the first mirrorless system camera to offer a focal plane shutter for a maximum shutter speed of 1/8000s. This shutter speed figure is symbolic to the eyes of many photographers and often means how pro or serious a camera may be. On a purely practical side, it will be useful under bright light when you want to use a fast lens like the Olympus M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 17mm f1.8 at its widest aperture without having to use ND filters.

Olympus follows its retro trend in terms of aesthetic codes with the Pen E-P5 which is a tribute to the Pen F launched 50 years ago. The Pen E-P5 is made of metal and has a soft-touch finish as explained by Olympus communication.

The Olympus Pen E-P5 uses the Fast AF system that equips other mirrorless cameras like the OM-D, not bad as a reference. Olympus has made a new gain of reactivity with an even shorter shutter lag. Also, the AF points are smaller which increases the precision of focus, especially in macro photography.

Image stabilization is built-in on Olympus cameras. (At Panasonic’s, the competitor micro four thirds, image stabilization is still to be found on the lenses) The Pen E-P5 is stabilized and its VR system (sensor shift) is active on 5 axis. This new generation of mirrorless cmaeras introduces a system that automatically detects when you want to make a horizontal pan on a fast-moving subject, as is generally done to get a fast race car sharp while fluidizing the background directional blur in order to give an increased impression of speed.

Born in 2013, this upscale camera needed WiFi and it’s done. WiFi connectivity on the Pen E-P5 allows it to communicate with your smartphone to share your photos and videos instantly on social networks, but that is not it. The Olympus Image Share 2.0 app for smartphones or tablets also allows you to control your camera remotely and make your composition through the screen of your smartphone or tablet (Apple iOS as Android), or trigger by tapping the screen of your idevice. The Pen E-P5 is not equipped with a GPS sensor, but it has the ability to get location data from your smartphone if you use it in conjunction with it via WiFi.

The Olympus Pen E-P5 main asset ? Its image quality or its refined UI ?

The Pen E-P5 is anything but a camera for beginners! It offers a highly customizable UI with programable Fn buttons. It inaugurates the new system which consists of two dials and a double lever as appeared on the expert compact camera Olympus XZ-2. This command allows a quadruple setting of the parameters for shooting without having to go through the menus. To illustrate this UI breakthrough, Olympus cites the case where the first dial is used to change the aperture setting while the other will be used to control the exposure compensation. Then simply flip the lever located on the front of the camera to then assign the ISO sensitivity setting to the first wheel and the white balance setting to the second one. Each dial is fully configurable on each lever position thereby further customize the device according to the settings that you change frequently.

The UI of the Olympus Pen E-P5 also benefits from the touchscreen (with a resolution of 1.04 million dots), a tiltable screen. It enriches the viewing manual focus assistance with “focus peaking” display as I enjoyed it on the Fuji X100S for its review.

The Pen E-P5 is equipped with a built-in flash with a sync speed that is very high, and I do appreciate it : 1/320 s. But also, the Pen E-P5 can control external wireless flashes. A real DSLR!

The Pen E-P5 is compatible with the new electronic viewfinder Olympus VF-4 gifted with a 2.36 million dots panel. If the subtle display of the viewfinder with 2.36 million dots can be as fine as the viewfinder of the Olympus OM-D E-M5 and the Sony NEX-6, it is probably its magnification of x1.48 which will be appreciated (equivalent to x0.74 on a Full Frame camera). The viewfinder is equipped with an eye detector that can automatically switches between the screen and the EVF when you approach your face. Always nice and handy.

The Olympus Pen E-P5 can wirelessly control external flahses.

I like the creative filters on Olympus mirrorless since they appeared on the Pen E-PL1. The brand has been a pioneer in this area and it is now 12 artistic Filters and 7 creative effects, which are available on the E-P5 for both your photos and your videos (Full HD). A new function called “Art Fade” can create fondu between different artistic filters when recording movies. As on the Olympus OM-D, the Pen E-P5 provides useful Bulb Live and Live Time modes handy for controlling long exposures in real time with a histogram display and control of high and low lights. The “Photo Book” function is offered by the Pen E-P5 to create real comics-like photo book  directly on the camera with a variety of layout templates and graphical themes.

The Pen E-P5 is equipped with an interval timer. That is new too. We can program the shutter between 1 and 99 stills from the second to 24 hours. The camera can also automatically create a short Time lapse film.

Stylish, with a genuine vintage look.

Olympus Pen E-P5 prices and availability

The Olympus Pen E-P5 is undoubtedly a very advanced camera that sharpens the many arguments of its predecessor, the Pen E-P3. The sensor is well-known and praised for its high quality, UI is customizable and very advanced, the camera has WiFi, built-in image stabilization and multiflash capabilities with a bodypump shutter. The Pen E-P5, which reminds me of a little OM-D, has also the price of it  : it will be available, body only, at a price of $999 / €1099. It will also be sold in various kits with various lenses, but also with the new VF-4 viewfinder.

Olympus Pen E-P5 complete technical specifications

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Arranged in four rows of four, the 16 lenses of the camera module engineered by Pelican Imaging supply color layer sensors : red green and blue layers. We know this technology in 3-CCD camcorders. It is usually a sign of great image quality and color reproduction. This alignment of lenses will also allow the unit to use the parallax of view point to provide 3D information. Th edevelopped Pelican Imaging software, their real specialty, will use these information. On paper, the Pelican Imaging system would win on all fronts: it should deliver less noisy images in low-light conditions and contain focus information on the entire image. Therefore, you could then decide later which part of the image or subject to get in focus, as you can do with Lytro cameras. This design without autofocus during shooting dispenses any mechanical set-up AF system which should result in a slight gain of space and more compact smartphones. Also, these data will add an additional level of performance to the digital image stabilization embedded on smartphones for sharper stills and more stable video sequences. 3D information would be processed by the image stabilization system to effectively correct camera movement on all axes, which is not the case on current optical image stabilization systems which are generally working on 2, 3 and up to 5 axes.

Today, if Pelican Imaging has a new shareholder, ie. Nokia, they claim working with various industry players and this innovative picture module is not exclusive to Nokia’s Windows Phones. Moreover, Qualcomm is also a new shareholder of Pelican Imaging. Given the computing capacity that seems to require their technology, it is not surprising that a manufacturer of mobile processors joins this ambitious project. It makes perfect sens…

Pléeoptics cameras on our smartphones and our tablet, that seems to be the near future for the market as Pelican Imaging is not the only company to consider this technology : Toshiba also seems to work on a plenoptic Lytro-like refocus smartphone / tablet camera modules and the first company to successfully release a plenoptic camera, Lytro itself, seems determined to adapt this technology to smartphones.

Here is a Pelican Imaging video where they demo the assets of their plenoptic technology :

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This is not video is worth watching if you wonder what it can be like to zoom from 24mm all the way to 1200mm with the same camera. Having said that, I am not so sure such an extreme lens is very useful and I don’t see so many advantages to it. On the other side, a f/2.8 lens at all focal lengths like on the Panasonic FZ200 is really neat and probably more helpful for photographic purposes that 1200mm…

Yes, the tiny little yellow frame shows what you would crop when using the HX300 at 1200mm compared to 24mm which is the focal length I took this image at. I shot this image in Sainte Anne, Guadeloupe, French Western Indies, from the deck of the La Toubana hotel, well located as you have a great sea view, you can see the small Island of Marie-Galante and also the volcano La Souffrière.

On the 24mm image, you can barely spot this ship which actually was there… The main con of a 1200mm lens… it is very senstive to smear and you will certainly not get a lot of sharp and clear photos with the HX300 at 1200mm (and I am not talking about the blir / image stabilization issue at this point)

The oroginal image at 24mm with the HX300. Clicking on each image will let you display a 1000px large image.

But how good is the Sony HX300 at 1200mm ? Well, optically speaking, the image is soft and suffers from atmospheric haze wich is very intense at such length : the 1200mm image shows a boat that was located at the entry path for the Port of Pointe à Pitre. I shot the image from Sainte-Anne. That is 12miles away !

But the camera also seems to have a hard time focusing in video at telephoto as I show you in this short video of a flying pelican that the AF of the GX300 could not lock focus on. Yet, the scene was not very bright and had low contrast but it failed. On the other side, this video of the Sony HX300 review shows how impressively efficient the camera shake system is as I recorded the surfer’s video handheld, panned handheld and the image is okay to watch (YouTube proposed to stabilize the video. I dod not allow it to show the video as recorded by the HX300).

And now, 27 seconds of shining sun and deep blue see in St François lagoon, Guadeloupe, FWI. Free of charge, recorded with the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300.

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Salgado is a big fan of Leica cameras.

Here is Sebastião Salgado on stage at TED video :

The post Please listen to Sebastiao Salgado, black and white social photography master appeared first on Photography Daily News.

The LUMIX G VARIO 14-140mm/F3.5-5.6 ASPH. / POWER OIS is a more compact version of the 14-140 mm lens that we know so far in the Panasonic Lumix range of G lenses. This lens, you will understand, is available in micro Four Thirds mount and gets a new autofocus motorization compatible with the new AF system of the GH3 or G6 which allows to operate up to 240 operations per second of dichotomy to find the right focus in no time. I had the opportunity to get my hands on the GF6 and G6 recently with the 14-140mm and it is clear that their focus is made in the blink of an eye.

Once mounted on a Lumix G camera , the LUMIX G VARIO 14-140mm/F3.5-5.6 ASPH. / POWER OIS gives an equivalent focal range to a 28-280 mm. The lens itself is stabilized through an optical stabilization system (Power OIS) Panasonic designed to correct both small movements such as vibrations and larger amplitude of the camera.

Panasonic reminds us, and they are right to do so, that this new lens complements a young, yet huge, range of lenses for Panasonic Lumix G MFT cameras. A range already very rich range and the most comprehensive lens range of any other mirrorless camera system. The work done by Panasonic since 2008 and the launch of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 is impressingvly huge with the development of a true optical ecosystem when competitors failed in a way to do so (Nikon 1, Sony NEX, Samsung NX, etc.. have poor lens offers).

The 14-140mm II with the Lumix G6.

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As mentioned, the Panasonic LF1 is extremely compact (170 / 192 Grs). Still, it gets a sensor that is typically found in bulkier cameras, a 1/1.7″ as the popular Lumix DMC-LX7. This sensor will be many times more convincing at high ISO and under low-light circumstances than small sensors 1/2.3″, which are commonly found in compact digital cameras (and some wonder why they don’t sell anymore ?….). It allows the LF1 to provide a sensibility range that extends from ISO 80 to ISO 12,800. It seems that the Canon Powershot S100 / S110 has found a challenger …

The Panasonic LF1 gets a 3″ / 921,000 dots rear LCD.

So yes, the Panasonic LF is very compact, its sensor is however large, but it is not it. It is also equipped with a 7.1x optical zoom lens, very versatile, as it covers the 28-200 mm! Yes, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LF1 is also a great travel pocket camera … If you look at the front camera face, you will notice that it offers a generous aperture in wide-angle (Leica DC Summicron-Vario lens) since it offers a  maximum aperture of f /2.0 in wide-angle. This will facilitate taking photos indoors without using the flash and give your photos a little more bokeh thanks to the synergy on the depth of field between large sensor and wide aperture. This lens is naturally stabilized. I say “Naturally” as Panasonic has since 2005 decided of stabilizing ALL compact cameras. (By the way, strangely, their mirrorless Lumix G cameras aren’t….while their Olympus equivalents offer embedded Image sensor shift stabilization.)

On the video side, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LF1 is getting the most of the CMOS sensor which allows to record video in Full HD 1920 x 1080 pixels at a frame rate of 50i/60p. We can save either in AVCHD or MP4.

I had a chance to use the LF1 for a few minutes at the european press event of Pana. I have looked inside the viewfinder of the Panasonic LF1 during his presentation to the press … Clearly, this viewfinder has no other merit than that to exist : it is really poor quality, narrow, not well defined … This small electronic viewfinder 0.2″ is what can be worse in this regard. But before I criticize it, maybe should I put in perspective its presence, which can help out in many situations, and the extreme compactness of the camera. I am impressed that Panasonic has arrange to place an EVF (even a bad one) in such a small camera.

The Panasonic LF1 will not be a cheap camera. It is expected to be sold in June 2013 for €429.

The LF1 is equipped with a 1/1.7″ sensor . As is customary on cameras segment, I will most certainly sell to advanced users. Consequently, PASM modes are here to please this audience and the camera has a well thought-out manual control ring around the lens, which can also be used to control the shutter speed or zoom. It is a physical ring located around the lens barrel (like on the Casio ZR1000 I am testing right now). Neat.

The Lumix LF1 offers a full range of creative filters that can be applied both when shooting and in view mode. Photographers have 15 creative filters among which 13 can also be applied to panoramic photos the camera can capture (swipe pano).

This month, Panasonic has announced three new cameras: the GF6, the GF6, and this tiny little LF1. These three cameras have one thing in common: they are equipped with WiFi connectivity and with NFC technology that allows them to connect to a smartphone or tablet itself equipped with NFC technology simply gently shocking the two devices. Using the Panasonic mobile application, we can control the camera, see what it sees, fire the shutter, zooming…. Naturally, the main use of wireless connectivity on the LF1 will be for the keenest on sharing photos and videos on social networks via tablets or smartphones…

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It fits in a pocket, yet! … The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX50 has a 30x optical zoom. That is a record. The hX50 gathers in one single pocket camera a wide angle (increased : 25mm on the HX20 vs. 24mm on the HX50) and supertele 720mm, a focal length usually reserved for bridge cameras. The BIONZ processor will have a lot to do to optimize sharpness and correct optical defects inherent to such a powerful lens. The image is stabilized by Sony’s Optical Steady-Shot system which is active on three axes.

This is a backside illuminated Exmor R sensor of 20.4 megapixel which officiates in the Sony HX50. This ”backlit” sensor usually produces excellent results in high sensibility although it is only the size of a ladybug. It can be set from ISO 80 to 3200 and the multi-image mode can fetch ISO 12,800. Sony has worked brilliantly again to speed the autofocus up which was already, on the previous generation, pretty fast, to reduce the focusing time to only 0.15 s. The HX50 offers a burst shooting rate of 10 fps.

Sony HX50 offers PSAM modes in addition to scene modes and iA iA + multiimage (noise reduction, HDR, handheld nigh shots…). It is equipped with a manual ring for exposure compensation.

Goodbye GPS, hello Wi-Fi…. Wi-Fi comes to the HX50 which will have cost the GPS sensor of the HX20V, a function I find so useful on a travel camera, but less requested in 2013 than the sacrosanct Wi-Fi (a variation of the HX50 will be launch in some countries equipped with GPS instead of Wi Fi. Few cameras get both GPS and Wi-Fi. I am only thinking of the Canon EOS 6D). Wi-Fi allows you to control the HX50 remotely via a smartphone or to transfer your photos and videos on the device (tablet or smartphone) via Sony’s PlayMemories 2.2 application as I had enjoyed during the test of the Sony NEX-6 . Thanks to the Wi-Fi, the Cyber-shot DSC-HX50 can wirelessly stream your photos on your TV in the form of a slideshow.

Sony HX50 offers a selection of 9 creative filters available in photo. That is less than some competitors, and offers 4 filters are available in video mode like : toy camera, Pop color, partial color, Soft High Key)

Of course, swipe panorama is here. I love this feature. I use it all the time since I bought a HX5 3 years ago and I have to say that Sony is the brand which makes it the best.

The screen remains the same, convincing, as on the HX20, a 3″/ 921,600 dots.

Finally, the Sony HX50 is equipped with a hot shoe that will accommodate an external flash or an hypothetical electronic viewfinder, but the list of compatible accessories has not been sent to me by Sony when I requested it…. I am expecting them to clarify.

Sony HX50 price and availability

It is early May that the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX50 will come to the market. It will be sold €420. An other version, the HX50V, will be equipped with GPS instead of Wi-Fi. I don’t have its price though.

Sony HX50 main technical specifications

• Exmor R CMOS 20.4-megapixel Sensor
• Maximum sensibility: ISO 12800 + iA mode, ISO 3200 in auto mode
• 30x optical zoom lens (24-720mm)
• Maximum Aperture: f / 3.5-6.3
• Minimum Focusing Distance: 5cm in wide-angle and 2m in telephoto
• Optical Image Stabilization (3 axes)
• Shutter speed: 4 to 1/1600s
• Manual Ring or exposure compensation
• Autofocus: in 0.15s
• PASM modes
• AccessoryHot shoe
• Video: 1920 x 1080 pixels / 50p/60p / AVCHD V2 / 28Mbps / stereo sound
• Burst mode: 10 fps on 10 consecutive images
• Sweep Panorama 360°
• Creative filters:
  • Photo 9 (HDR Painting, Rich-tone Mono, Miniature, Toy Camera, Pop Color, Partial Color, Soft High Key, Watercolor Painting, Illustration Smile detection)
  • Video: 4 (Toy Camera, Pop Color, Partial Colour, Soft High Key)
• Shooting Modes (13): Sup Auto, iAuto, Easy, Program Auto, Movie, Panorama, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority, Manual Exposure, Scene, Photo Effects, 3D photo, Blur Background
• Wi-Fi
• LCD screen: 3 “/ 921,600 dots / Xtra Fine LCD
• Connectors: MicroUSB, USB 2.0 high-speed, micro HDMI, shoe accessory
• Dimensions (WxHxD): 108.1 mm x 64.3 mm x 38.3 mm
• Weight: 272 g

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