New Zealand attack shows that as A.I. filters get smarter, so do violators
The shootings in Christchurch, New Zealand were livestreamed to social media, and networks spent the next few days trying to take down remixed videos of the horrific attacks. While stats show networks are improving at removing offending videos, as the system improves, so do the violators' workarounds.
Photography News: Meet the beer that processes film and the first pinhole zoom
Who knew the photography world need film-processing beer and a zooming pinhole lens? Find them among the oddities announced in this week's photography news. SuperEight is a beer with the acidity and Vitamin C ideal for developing film. Thingify teased a new pinhole lens with zoom for Sony E Mount.
Facebook axes alleged discriminatory targeting of ads after civil settlements
Facebook advertisers can no longer use targeting for age, gender or zip code when advertising in the housing, jobs, and credit categories. The changes come as part of a civil settlement, following earlier changes to remove racial targeting from the same categories. Facebook is also designing an ad tool.
Genius Pack Supercharged will power up your phone and tablet simultaneously
With enough juice to power a smartphone up to four times and dual USB charges, the Genius Pack Supercharged carry-on bag can charge two devices simultaneously. Besides the TSA-compliant battery, the bag also uses eight 360-degree wheels, an organized interior and a tough exterior shell.
Sony’s latest sensor is stacked, backlit, and equipped with a global shutter
Say this five times fast: Backlit, stacked, global shutter sensor. Sony managed to cram all three technologies into one sensor using a unique design. The result is a high-speed sensor with a higher resolution without sacrificing low-light quality. But when will photographers actually see the technology?
Insta-checkout? New Instagram service lets you shop without leaving the platform
Shopping on Instagram no longer means leaving the platform to checkout in a web browser. Instagram checkout launched in beta today with a handful of retailers, allowing users to checkout without leaving the app. The tool will also send users notifications, including shipping updates.
Paper designs digitize in real time using an Illustrator-connected paper tablet
Love graphic design, but prefer the feel of real paper? The new Moleskine Paper Tablet - Creative Cloud Connected syncs with Adobe Illustrator in real time, turning paper sketches into digital drawings. The system comes after previous collaboration allowed users to digitize designs with a smartphone.
Photography News: Taking a smartphone photo probably saved this guy’s life
Can photography save your life? A man was snapping a photo in Australia when the smartphone stopped an arrow shot at his face. In this week's photography news, see Canon's plans for a stabilized mirrorless, Hasselblad's newest accessories, Samyang's latest lens, and Think Tank's newest bags.
Facebook may soon let you watch live TV with friends in Watch Party
Facebook Watch Party is designed to allow friends to watch together, even when they can't be in the same physical space. Now, that feature could be expanding to include live TV. Facebook announced a test of the feature, starting with live sports, that also allows hosts to ask trivia questions and create polls.
Twitter takes a cue from Instagram and Snapchat with new quick-swipe camera
Twitter is giving the "what's happening" treatment to photos and video by allowing users to access the in-app camera fast enough to catch and share the moment. The new Twitter camera is accessible with a swipe, and uses a design distinguished from the images just uploaded from the camera roll.
Forget folding phones, the Insta360 EVO camera folds in half to shoot 360 video
The Insta360 EVO is a ... flip camera? Unfolded, the Insta360 Evo shoots 3D in 180 degrees, folded, the new camera shoots in 360 degrees. Designed for dual formats, the camera is launching with what's essentially a pair of 3D glasses for your phone, not your face, the $30 reverse phone case HoloFrame.
Bundle up to save big on Canon and Nikon DSLRs, waterproof cameras
Looking for a beginner's DSLR, an advanced compact or a waterproof compact camera? Walmart has several camera bundles on sale, which means you don't even have to add a memory card to the cart. Here are some of the best deals we've spotted as part of the camera deals available at Walmart.
Did you give Facebook your phone number? You can’t delete it or make it private
Facebook users may want to think twice before adding a phone number to two-factor authentication. Users are complaining that there's no way to delete the phone number from the account or prevent friends from looking you up by phone number. And Facebook has been doing it for years.
Federal investigation digs into Facebook’s data-sharing deals
Facebook confirmed it is cooperating with a federal criminal investigation. According to a report, the company is under investigation for sharing user data with smartphone and tablet companies. The exact scope of the investigation, however, is unclear, and Facebook says it didn't violate an earlier FTC agreement.
Loupedeck Plus can now edit video, audio with Final Cut Pro
The list of Loupedeck Plus-compatible software is growing. The photo-editing console now works with Final Cut Pro and Adobe Audition for video and audio editing. The controls can be configured to be used on either platform, along with Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop, Premiere Pro, and Skylum Aurora HDR.
13 inspiring female photographers to follow on Instagram
On International Women's Day, fill your Instagram feed with inspiring posts from these 13 women photographers, representing a breadth of experience from travel and street photography to fine art and commercial work.
Leica Q2 doubles down on resolution in fast, weather-sealed full-frame compact
Leica's second generation Q series camera almost doubles the megapixels of the first. The Leica Q2 is a 47.8-megapixel full-frame camera with a fixed 28mm f/1.7 lens. Besides the increased resolution, the upgrade offers 4K, an updated processor and a new viewfinder inside a weather-sealed, travel-friendly body.
The Lensbaby Composer Pro II with Edge 35 mimics tilt-shift blur for less cash
Want to create a tilt-shift image on a budget? The new Lensbaby Composer II with Edge 35 mimics the look of a tilt-shift lens for under $500. The new Edge 35 optic is part of the Composer Pro II optics system, which allows photographers to swap out different optics for different effects, using the same lens base.
Sony FE 135mm f/1.8 is sharp enough to handle futuristic 90-megapixel cameras
Lens launches come with a lot of hype and marketing speak but a test from LensRentals confirmed some of the initial claims around the new Sony FE 135 f/1.8. The rental company says that the new Sony 135mm is the sharpest lens that it has ever tested -- even higher than ultra high-resolution cameras.
Amid confusion, the Red Hydrogen team promises a pro in-device camera
Learning from the Red Hydrogen One, the company is gearing up for a pro-level device. In a forum post, Red's founder shares how the team is designing a Red Hydrogen with a pro-level in-device camera. But, the company left Red Hydrogen One users unsure if the previously promised modules are actually coming.
The tiny SanDisk 1TB microSD cards are breaking speed records
Just a few weeks after Lexar launched the first terabyte microSD card, Western Digital unveiled the fastest 1TB microSD during Mobile World Congress. The company says the card doubles the typical standard speed for microSD cards. Micron also announced a 1TB SD card today that's "cost effective."
Photography News: This is what happens to a camera in a tornado
Think a simple camera is harmless? Watch what would happen if it became tornado projectile in a video putting an old Canon inside a tornado cannon. In this week's photography news, see Meike's new 85mm lens and learn how Sony is busting myths about the E-Mount aperture.
Facebook shoots down Pages, ads sharing vaccine misinformation
Facebook will penalize Pages and Groups that share vaccine hoaxes on the platform, the company said Thursday, which will reduce the posts reach. The network is also working to prevent the information from entering ads. Instagram will also see changes in Explore and hashtag searches.
Flickr axes Creative Commons limit to give free users more wiggle room
Flickr's free option only allows 1,000 images, but now Creative Commons and other free-to-license images are excluded from that cap. Flickr also added an "in memoriam" account option, which will keep images online after a photographer's death. The changes come after SmugMug acquired the platform last year.
Yongnuo’s 4G smart mirrorless camera could cost under $500
Yongnuo surprised with a teaser for an upcoming mirrorless camera and now we know more details, including a good chunk for the specifications. The Micro Four Thirds mirrorless camera will use an Android 7.1 operating system and Canon EF lenses. The sensor will be manufactured by Panasonic and there's 4K, too.
The modular Bitplay Snap Grip gives your smartphone a DSLR-like feel
Love the portability of smartphone photography, but hate the ergonomics? The new Bitplay Snap Grip brings the company's grips to a modular design that can fit iPhone and Android phones. The grip can be used alongside the AllClip for add-on lenses, and can also be used with newly launched iPhone cases.
Just drag and drop: Using A.I., Skylum AirMagic edits drone photos for you
Drag and drop your drone photos into AirMagic, then go Netflix binge-watch while artificial intelligence edits your photos for you. AirMagic is a drag-and-drop program that uses A.I. to correct issues found in drone photography. The software is Mac and PC compatible, as well as in Lightroom and Photoshop plugins.
With three lenses, the Black Eye Pro Kit G4 aims for versatile portability
With three lenses in one kit, the new Black Eye Pro Kit G4 wants to make your smartphone shots more versatile. The new kit includes a wide-angle, a fisheye, and a telephoto, along with a carrying case. The system uses a clip-style mount to fit most smartphone models, with a pro-oriented design.
Pinterest personalizes online window shopping with new tools
Fan of Pinterest shopping? Browsing for new buys just got simpler. Pinterest is rolling out a new section of personalized recommendations based on previous Pin activity. The list of updates also includes an option to shop from only a single brand, as well as new tools and ad options for businesses.
Always the underdog, Olympus engineers show they can play with the alphas
The Olympus OM-D E-M1X encompasses several company firsts -- a 7.5 stop stabilization system, artificially intelligent autofocus for motorsports, and a built-in battery grip. But what, exactly, went into making the E-M1X. Learn from the Olympus developers that designed the camera.
Photography News: Get ready for a Fujifilm price jump and a new speedy CFexpress
In this week's photography news, find out why Fujifilm says it has to raise its prices. Explore Sony's newest accessory, a Bluetooth remote control, and the upcoming CFexpress Type B card with three times the speed of current options. And see the latest retro camera from Polaroid Originals.
Third-party RF mount lenses for Canon mirrorless are coming from Samyang
Photographers won't have to wait much longer for third-party Canon RF lenses to arrive. Samyang just announced two upcoming lenses for the RF mount, an MF 14mm f/2.8 RF and an MF 85mm f/1.4 RF. The company also unveiled the Samyang XP 10mm f/3.5, designed for wide angles while minimizing distortion.
Leica’s latest SL system lens promises high-end images — if you can afford it
Leica's newest prime lens promises big quality -- but can you afford it? The Leica APO-Summicron-SL 35mm f/2 ASPH is a new L-mount lens with high-end optics, fast autofocus, and weather-sealing. The lens is expected out in mid-April, joining Leica's other L-mount prime lenses.
This $30 screen protector creates 3D views on a smartphone without the glasses
The Holoscreen looks like a basic screen protector -- until you open the dedicated 3D app and objects start jumping off the screen. Designed from a partnership between Lucid and Holotech, the Holoscreen is designed to make glasses-free 3D content affordable and accessible across a number of different devices.
From portraits to cinema, Sony’s new 135mm f/1.8 GM lens can do it all
The FE 135mm f/1.8 GM is a premium prime lens that builds on the classic portrait focal length by adding features for videographers like linear manual focus, optional de-clicked aperture control, and no focus breathing. It also advertises edge-to-edge sharpness and improved bokeh from its 11-blade iris.
Are cheaper L-mount lenses coming? Sigma unveils 11 L-mount lenses and adapter
Sigma will soon have 11 different prime lenses for the L-mount, which is compatible with Leica full frame bodies and the new Panasonic S1 and S1R. The company will also launch a converter for existing lenses to adapt to the L-mount -- but with limitations. The lenses don't yet have a launch date.
Nikon A1000, B600 pack big zooms into compact, budget-friendly cameras
The new Nikon Coolpix A1000 packs in a 35x zoom lens, 4K video, and an optical viewfinder, while Nikon's B600 brings a 60x zoom lens to the table. The cameras are modest updates to Nikon's budget-friendly zoom models, and now they are coming to photographers in the U.S. next month.