$15,555.55+ 5DayDeal giveaway launched


The new 2024 5DayDeal Video Creators Bundle will officially go on sale next week (June 3, 2024).

The corresponding $15,555.55+ 5DayDeal prelaunch giveaway is already live online.

Stay tuned for updates and additional information.

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Do not buy photo gear from Best Buy unless you are planning to keep it – they have a 15% restocking fee


Do not buy photo gear from Best Buy unless you are really planning to keep it - they have a 15% restocking fee for drones, digital cameras, camera lenses, camcorders, action cameras, and many other products:

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Reminder: the 80% off intro offer for Photography Lighting Cheat Sheets is ending soon


The new Photography Lighting Cheat Sheets by PictureCorrect are now 80% off during the launch sale until May 31 (a total of 43 Photography Lighting Cheat Sheets):


13 on Natural Light: Whether you’re capturing the golden glow of sunrise, the harsh shadows of midday, or the soft, diffused light of an overcast day, these cheat sheets will equip you with the knowledge and techniques to take advantage of natural light in any situation.


7 on Artificial Light: Navigating the complexities of artificial lighting presents a unique set of challenges for photographers, from beginners to seasoned professionals. Artificial light, unlike its natural counterpart, requires a deeper understanding of light intensity, color temperature, and direction to achieve the desired effect.


4 on Flash Photography: Flash photography, while immensely powerful, introduces a spectrum of challenges that can test even the most experienced photographers. The primary hurdle lies in mastering the balance between the flash’s intensity and the ambient light, ensuring that the final image looks natural rather than overpowered by harsh lighting.


11 on Portrait Lighting: Mastering portrait lighting techniques is an art form that presents its own set of intricate challenges. Each style demands a precise understanding of light placement, shadow control, and subject orientation to achieve its signature effect. Photographers must navigate these complexities, blending technical precision with creative vision, to capture portraits that not only illuminate but also reveal the essence of their subject.


8 on Lighting Effects: Lighting effects are the brushstrokes of the photographer’s palette, offering endless possibilities to infuse images with emotion, depth, and atmosphere. The artful application of lens flares can add a cinematic quality, imbuing shots with a sense of story and timelessness, while the deliberate use of starbursts around light sources can create a sense of wonder and energy. Bokeh, with its soft, out-of-focus lights, transforms the mundane into the magical, drawing the viewer’s attention to the intended subject with a gentle, enveloping embrace. Mastering these effects requires not only a technical understanding of photography and lighting but also a creative vision that sees beyond the subject to the very essence of the scene. Through lighting effects, photographers can sculpt light, craft ambiance, and convey emotions, turning simple images into captivating stories.

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DxO announces support for the Fujifilm X100VI, Leica SL3, and several new lenses (528 new modules added)


DxO announced support for the Fujifilm X100VI, Leica SL3 cameras, and several new lenses, including the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 for Nikon Z, the Panasonic Lumix S 28-200mm Macro, 17mm and 24mm primes from Sigma, the Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS, and the latest Viltrox lenses.

A total of 528 new DxO Optics Modules were added. The total number of camera-lens combinations supported by DxO is now 94,427. Available from today, these DxO Optics Modules can be found in the latest versions of all DxO software products:

The newly added optical profiles cover the following cameras and lenses:

Cameras

Lenses

Discover the full list of cameras and lenses supported by DxO Optics Modules on this page. See also how DxO Optics performs their tests.

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SIRUI joins the Micro Four Thirds System standard


The Chinese lens manufacturer SIRUI joined the Micro Four Thirds System standard:

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More bad news for Panasonic: Lumix S9 product page controversy and the use of stock photos *UPDATED*


More bad news for Panasonic: in addition to the latest statement from the company's president and reports for the marketing department trying to influence reviewers, Panasonic is now also being accused of using stock photos in their latest Lumix S9 camera campaign. One of the photos seems to be taken with a Nikon camera by... a Nikon Ambassador. Currently, this issue has only been confirmed for Lumix Japan, but it's possible that similar promotions are being conducted in other countries. In summary, some of the photos on the Lumix S9 product page are stock photos, and the camera screen images seem to be composites.

For example, the dog picture from this page:


can be found on Shutterstock:


The next screenshot is from this page:


The birds picture is taken by a Nikon Ambassador:


and the dog to the right is all over the Internet (famous dog!):


Update: Lumix Japan has issued an apology for this issue. The PDF document includes an apology and mentions that they will review the content of the Lumix site. However, the PDF document is very brief (it lacks company names and other details), leading to further criticism for not being in an appropriate format for an official release.

Additionally, this issue has been covered by Japanese TV news.

Also: this image is part of the introduction for the LUMIX G VARIO 12-32mm lens, but it appears that the photo of the girl on the right was taken with a Canon EOS 5DsR and a TAMRON 150-600mm G2 lens. The caption implies that the photo was taken with a Lumix camera and lens. This could potentially be considered a violation of Japan's Act against Unjustifiable Premiums and Misleading Representations.

The issue is highlighted in the following tweets:

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What else is new?

The new 758-page Nikon Z9 Experience Guide is now updated with all the latest additions and changes for firmware v5.0

New Oberwerth ReLon® camera bag series launched

Canon R5 II camera price and other rumored specifications

Canon 14-20mm f/2 and 14-24mm f/2.8 Patents Found

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Kodak dominates the best-selling compact digital cameras in Japan




Compact cameras are recently experiencing a nice comeback and Kodak is currently dominating the best-selling compact digital cameras in Japan:

  1. Kodak PIXPRO WPZ2 (more info)
  2. Kodak PIXPRO FZ45
  3. Kodak PIXPRO FZ55
  4. Nagaoka Movio MAF100
  5. Kenko Tokina KC-03TY
  6. Fujifilm Instax mini Evo
  7. Canon IXY 650

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