Mathieu

Fuji XF 55-200mm f/3.5-4.8 R LM OIS Hands-on … plus more interesting news about the X system

11/05/2013 By Mathieu

Update: We had a second opportunity to use the 55-200mm during the Fuji eXperience Tour here in Italy. Click here for part two!

My original plan for this lazy Saturday was to finish my article about the X-Pro 1 which I tested last week, but then I heard about the Fujifilm X Day at the camera store Grande Marvin here in Turin where Fujifilm was showcasing its entire X camera line and lenses. Of course, my priorities took a 360-degree turn!

At the event, I had the chance to talk with a representative of Fujifilm Italia who divulged some very interesting information about possible releases we may see in the future. And of course, I tried different products, including the brand new 55-200mm zoom for the X-Pro 1 and X-E1!

Olympus M.Zuiko 45mm f/1.8 Review: The best portrait lens for Micro Four Thirds

09/05/2013 By Mathieu

The Micro Four Thirds system offers a wide range of lenses but when it comes to portrait lenses, the choice is more limited. Without a hint of doubt, I can say that the M.Zuiko 45mm f/1.8 is the best choice. It is a very affordable lens but performs like a pro!

The new Photoshop CC: the rise of Creative Cloud and death of standalone purchases

08/05/2013 By Mathieu

On Monday, Adobe announced the new version of its famous software, Photoshop. It offers very interesting and advanced new features such as camera shake reduction.

But this new version also marks a point of no return for Adobe Products: you may have noticed that it comes with a CC instead of the traditional CS (Creative Suite) labelled after the product name. CC stands for Creative Cloud, the new subscription service launched by Adobe one year ago. This is important because Photoshop CC will be the first Adobe application available only with a Creative Cloud membership. You won’t be able to purchase it as a standalone application anymore. No more CD/DVD boxes or digital copies. You will need a monthly subscription, that starts at $19.99/month for the Photoshop CC full version which comes with 20GB of storage on the cloud (you can have a look at all the membership plans here). If I do some quick math, this means that the software will cost $239.88/year. Is it more expensive? In my opinion no, and I’ll tell you why.

Light Field Cameras: a sneak peek into the future of photography?

05/05/2013 By Mathieu

The first Lytro camera, announced in 2011, introduced consumers to a completely different style of photography, one that allows you to refocus after taking a shot. This is possible thanks to Light Field technology, which consists of several micro lenses placed over the image sensor. These microlenses can capture the entire light spectrum of a scene. Then, the camera software uses the data collected to determine the direction of the light rays.

Light Field cameras (or plenoptic cameras) aren’t really a new phenomenon, however. The first ever Light Field camera was actually invented in 1908 by Gabriel Lippmann. Several models have also been developed for industrial and scientific purposes, while others have remained prototypes (including one from Adobe).

Fuji’s Colours in Pralormo, Italy: An X20 & X100s Gallery

26/04/2013 By Mathieu

How many times have you woken up on what seemed to be a gorgeously sunny day, picked up your camera, chosen a destination and gone out hoping to take the most splendid pictures of your photography career, only to discover as you approach your destination that the weather wasn’t as you’d hoped?