Articles tagged "connect"

Samsung has announced a new smartphone image sensor that offers 12MP resolution, 1.4μm-pixel-size and Dual Pixel technology for fast focusing. Interestingly, those are very similar specifications to that of the Sony IMX260 sensor that has been found to be used in Samsung's new flagship smartphones S7 and S7 edge. Read more

Aukey is a mobile device accessory maker that has been in the clip-on lens business for quite some time. We've had a chance to try out one of the company's latest models, the 'Super Wide Angle' lens which at 238 degrees offers quite an extreme angle of view. Read more

At the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge the Korean manufacturer did not provide any official information about the makers of the the new devices' camera module. However, now a teardown from Chipworks has confirmed rumors that the S7 captures its images on a Sony IMX260 sensor with 12MP resolution, 1.4um pixel size and dual pixel AF across the entire sensor. Read more

Corephotonics, a provider of computational camera solutions based in Israel has launched a new dual-camera module for smartphones called Hawkeye. Hawkeye combines a standard 13MP camera module with a second 13MP module that uses proprietary folded optics. Read more

Unlike iOS, Android supports the capture and processing of Raw photos. Chances are that if you own a late model mobile device running either Lollipop or Marshmallow, you should now be able to use the Adobe DNG Raw format, the headline feature in the recently updated Lightroom for Android 2.0. We tried out the new Raw workflow, from mobile to desktop and back again. Read more

We've seen established members of the optical industry partner with smartphone makers before – Nokia high-end phones used to come with Carl Zeiss branded lenses, and Schneider Kreuznach optics have been used in various models from Chinese manufacturer Oppo. Now it seems we could soon see Leica-branded lenses and other imaging technology in Huawei smartphones. Read more

Chinese smartphone manufacturer Oppo has a history of launching smartphone models with novel camera features and concepts, and has just launched the first sensor-based image stabilization system for smartphones at MWC. Oppo calls it the smallest image stabilizer of its kind, and claims it's able to correct for shake with greater precision than current optical stabilization systems. Read more

Together with its new Galaxy S7 and S7 edge flagship phones, Samsung has announced the Galaxy Gear 360 camera at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. The Gear 360 is a ball-shaped device that uses two 15MP cameras with F2.0 fisheye-lenses to record 30MP spherical still images or 360-degree video with a resolution of 3840 x 1920 pixels. Read more

Adobe has released a major update to its Photoshop Lightroom for Android mobile app, now achieving feature parity with its iOS counterpart — and even surpassing it in one major way. A brand new in-app camera lets you shoot in Adobe Camera Raw DNG format. Read more

Samsung has launched the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge, the successors to the flagship models Galaxy S6 and S6 edge. Despite only fairly moderate design changes, a lot of new technology is incorporated. In the camera department pixel count has been reduced to 12MP for larger 1.4um pixels which means a 56 percent increase in size compared to the Galaxy S6. Samsung has also introduced a new AF system it calls Dual-Pixels, which splits every single pixel into two photodiodes for on-chip phase detection. Read more

The Nextbit Robin is a different kind of smartphone. It's an Android device with a fresh modern design, but its most important feature is the one you never see – it's fully integrated with the cloud, backing up and archiving your phone's images, apps and files so you never run out of local storage. We got ahold of an early unit to test out its camera and unique interface. Read more

Cloud photo storage services are abundant, but not all photographers are willing to pay the monthly fees associated with large storage amounts. Monument, a project currently seeking crowdfunding, aims to bring the organization and syncing features found in cloud services like Google Photos to a photography-centric storage device that you keep in your own home. Read more

In terms of processing power, look and feel the Sony Xperia M5 ranks below Sony's Xperia Z flagship line of smartphones. However, like the Z-models it's dustproof, waterproof and has a lot to offer in the photography department. The rear camera provides a 21.5MP Sony Exmor sensor with on-chip phase detection combined with an F2.2. lens, as well as 4K video recording. Scoring 79 in DxOMark's Mobile testing, it sets the bar as the best mid-range device in DxO's rankings. Read more

If you're juggling multiple Instagram accounts for personal and professional use, the latest version of the app is about to make life a little easier. Version 7.15 for iOS and Android adds support for up to 5 accounts. Read more

The Sony Xperia Z5 currently shares the top spot in DxoMark's mobile rankings with the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge Plus. With a 23MP BSI CMOS sensor, F2.0 lens and hybrid AF system it's easy to understand how it might have ended up at the top of the rankings. Our full review digs into image quality as well as our experience using the Z5 for photography. Read more

Photo Mate, arguably the most comprehensive Raw image editing app for Android, has received a substantial update. Version R3 comes with an all-new rendering engine for both Raw & JPEG editing. This includes improvements to all the important adjustments, such as contrast, shadows, highlights and exposure. Read more

A patent was recently granted to Apple describing how a spherical image sensor can be used to design a very compact camera module. The sensor is spherically curved and eliminates the need to correct for curvature of field, meaning a simpler, brighter and ultimately smaller lens design can be used. Read more

Like its predecessor, the OnePlus 2 offers the specification of a high-end phone at a budget price point. The camera's 13MP resolution isn't anything out of the ordinary these days, but optical image stabilization and a laser-assisted AF system tend to be found only on expensive top-end models. Find out where its appealing camera specs land the OnePlus 2 in DxOMark's mobile rankings. Read more

Panasonic has announced that the next version of its Lumix DMC-CM1 smartphone will dispense with its phone functionality to concentrate on being a camera. The Lumix DMC-CM10 will initially only be available in Japan, and is very much the same as the original DMC-CM1, but while it will run on the Android 5.0 operating system it will not be equipped to make phone calls. Read more

MaxCurve is an app for iPhone and iPad that, as the name suggests, relies predominantly on curves for image editing. Overall, there are 20 curve adjustments available which are grouped into so-called kits. Another key feature of MaxCurve is its ability to connect, via Wi-Fi, to a desktop version of Photoshop that is running on a Windows PC or Mac. Read more

Mobile phone add-on-lens manufacturer olloclip has announced it is to introduce a new case for the iPhone 6 series that makes it easier to fit additional accessories to complement the process of shooting movies and stills with its products. Read more

In the HTC device lineup the One A9 sits just below the flagship One M9. However, in the camera department, with its faster F2.0 aperture and optical image stabilization, it actually offers some advantages over the M9. There is also a dual-LED flash and the A9 is, like the M9, capable of recording DNG Raw files. However, with a DxOMark Mobile score of 78 the HTC A9 doesn't place itself among the best current smartphone cameras. Read more

The Blackberry Priv combines Google's Android operating system with BlackBerry's security features and a slider form factor with hardware qwerty-keyboard. In the camera module an 18MP sensor works together with a Schneider Kreuznach designed lens and optical image stabilization. The camera is capable of recording 4K video and there is also a dual-tone LED flash. DxOMark recently published its test results – find out how it rates. Read more

A team at Sony has custom designed and 3D-printed a rig that mounts onto a tripod and can hold 12 Xperia Z5 Compact smartphones, making it possible to record 4K video simultaneously for immersive video. Stitched together in post production, the clips create some impressive 48K 360-degree footage. To test and demonstrate the setup, Sony recorded various winter sports scenes at the Rise Ski & Snowboard Festival in Les Deux Alpes. Read more

Looking at a new Apple patent that has recently surfaced, it appears we might see a dual-camera setup in future iPhone generations. The design uses two camera modules, one with a wide-angle lens and another with a longer focal length. Throw some Apple software wizardry into the mix and you get yourself a smartphone zoom lens that should get close in quality to fully optical zooms and much better than existing digital zooms. Read more

CameraLends.com, a peer-to-peer camera gear sharing service that was established in 2013, has just launched a mobile app. The service allows for private rental of cameras, lenses and accessories of all types. Read more

Smartphone accessory lens manufacturer ExoLens is to introduce three new lenses that use optics and designs from Zeiss. The lenses will be a zoom macro adapter as well as wide-angle and telephoto converters that will screw into a frame that fits around the phone. Read more

Samsung has launched a new convertible tablet at CES which appears to be squarely aimed at Microsoft's Surface Pro model. Like the Surface Pro, the Galaxy TabPro S runs Microsoft's Windows 10 operating system and can be used with a keyboard cover that attaches via a pin connector. While on the Microsoft device the keyboard cover is an optional accessory, with the TabPro S it is included in the package. Read more

CamFi is a new option for those photographers looking to control their Nikon or Canon DSLR wirelessly. The device mounts on the hot shoe of compatible DSLRs and creates a Wi-Fi network that you can connect to using a PC or Mac as well as Android and iOS mobile devices. At $130 CamFi is priced well below manufacturer-provided options for high-end DSLRs. Read more

The Galaxy Note 5 is the latest model in Samsung's line of Note large-format smartphones. In terms of camera specifications the Note 5 offers very similar hardware to what we've seen on the Galaxy S6, S6 Edge and S6 Edge+. A 1/2.6-inch 16MP CMOS sensor is combined with a fast F1.9 aperture and an optical image stabilization system. DxOMark has just completed its Mobile report on the Note 5's camera, and we've published the findings over at connect.dpreview.com. Read more

DxOMark has completed its full mobile report into the Samsung Galaxy S6 smartphone's camera. With a DxOMark Mobile score of 87 the Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ just snatches the smartphone camera crown from the Sony Xperia Z5 and places itself on top of the DxOMark smartphone rankings. Read more at connect.dpreview.com

DxOMark has just released its full report into the technical ins and outs and real-world performance of the iPhone 6s Plus's 12MP camera. We've added DxO's findings into our previously-published in-depth review of the iPhone 6s Plus and you can read the whole thing over at connect.dpreview.com

Ricoh Imaging has announced THETA+ Video for Apple's iPhone. The app allows for editing of 360° footage and time-lapse videos that have been captured with one of Ricoh's THETA cameras. You can trim video clips, choosing from four viewing formats including Little Planet, which "projects" the video on a small planet floating in space, and apply 10 different filters. Read more on connect.dpreview.com

Adobe has today launched version 2.1 of Lightroom for mobile for Apple iOS devices. The update comes with a number of new features, some of which take advantage of new hardware in the Apple iPad Pro and the new iPhone models 6s and 6s Plus. Read more

Image sharing platform Flickr has announced today its app for the Samsung Gear VR virtual reality headset. It allows you to view the tens of thousands of 360-degree panorama images that have been uploaded by Flickr users in an immersive way that allows for panning by moving your head. Read more

Apple released a number of software updates yesterday including iOS 9.2. In addition to a large number of bug fixes, the update adds iPhone support for the company's Lightning to USB Camera Adapter, making it possible now to transfer images directly from a camera to your iPhone. Previously, only iPads were supported. Read more

Battery life is still one of the most obvious weaknesses of smartphones and many devices, even high-end models, will struggle to get through an entire day of normal use without charging. Apple's iPhones are no exception, which is why there is an abundance of aftermarket battery packs and cases available for the range, but until today no Apple-branded battery expansion had been available. Read more

In October, Adobe released Lightroom 2.0 for iOS which, unlike previous versions, can be used as a stand-alone app on your Apple mobile device, without a paid subscription to the company's Creative Cloud services. Apparently customer response to the move has been very positive and Adobe has decided to do the same with the Android version of the app. Read more

As a followup to its Cardboard headset and Cardboard app, Google has launched a new VR content creation tool for Android called Cardboard Camera. With Cardboard Camera, users are able to record 360-degree panoramas for viewing with Cardboard VR headsets. Read more

Pulse, a project currently seeking funding on Kickstarter, aims to bring wireless control to many Nikon and Canon DSLRs. The device consists of a wireless controller that attaches to a camera's hot shoe and plugs into its USB port, connecting to Android and iOS smartphones over Bluetooth. Read more

Samsung has today officially launched a new generation of its A-series smartphones, and although the new devices range below the high-end Galaxy S and Note models in the Samsung line-up, they come with promising-looking specifications - especially in the camera department. Read more

The iPhone 6s Plus is the iPhone 6s' bigger brother and, apart from the larger 5.5-inch screen, mainly distinguishes itself from the smaller model by offering optical image stabilization system in its camera module. Compared to its predecessor, the 6s Plus ups camera resolution to 12MP, adds 50% more phase detection sensors and is capable of 4K footage. Our review tests its camera performance. Read more

The team behind the Lumu smartphone light meter has launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund the production of Lumu Power, their next generation device. In addition to ambient light levels, the Lumu Power is also capable of measuring flash exposure and color temperature. Read more

A portable photo printer called LifePrint, now seeking funding on Kickstarter, creates 'living' photos by combining a printed photograph with a digital video. An augmented reality app makes this possible, so that when a print is viewed through a smartphone's camera, the video appears where the photo is located, making it seem as if the image - called a HyperPhoto - has come to life. Read more

While processing power and camera quality in smartphones have been improving at a fast pace in recent years, battery life and charging times have only made comparatively small steps forward and remain a major bottleneck in smartphone performance. Chinese manufacturer Huawei has presented some potential battery tech advancements: two prototype removable lithium-ion batteries that can be fully recharged in only a few minutes. Read more

We've all witnessed the megapixel race in digital cameras and, just a few years later, the trend has caught on in the smartphone camera sector. Lately though, manufacturers seem to putting more of an emphasis on low light performance. This may be the case with the newest Samsung Galaxy device, expected to launch in early 2016, which is rumored to use a 1/2-inch 12MP imager. Read more

Most smartphone cameras seriously struggle when it comes to macro photography. A number of accessory macro attachment lenses are available, but many of them are device-specific and bulky enough to discourage carrying every day. Now the makers of the 150x Micro Phone Lens microscope attachment have come up with an ultra-portable and very affordable solution compatible with virtually all smartphone cameras - a stick-on macro lens. Read more

Animated GIFs are more popular than ever and there are a number of apps available to help with their creation. Now VSCO, the company behind the successful VSCOCam app, has launched its contribution to GIF-making. Read more

Google has announced Snapseed version 2.1 for Android, introducing the ability to edit Raw DNG files. While quite a few high-end Android smartphones have allowed Raw shooting for some time, editing those files hasn't been easy. This update to the extremely popular Snapseed app will certainly change that. Read more 

With smartphone screens growing larger and nearing what used to be tablet territory, it's probably natural that the latter are increasing screen size as well. Apple launched the 12.9-inch iPad Pro in September and now Samsung, which already has the 12.2-inch Galaxy Tab Pro in its line-up, has gone one step further and launched the gigantic Galaxy View with an 18.4-inch display. Read more