LAUNCH!!! RAWtalk 181

What does LAUNCH mean you may ask? LAUNCH all capitol letters by the way means you can save an extra $50 when you use the CODE LAUNCH at checkout to purchase the FroKnowsPhoto Guide To Video Editing right here https://froknowsphoto.com/video-editing-guide/ We are extremely excited to finally bring you the guide and hope you decide to pick it up.

This weeks show is brought to you by VideoBlocks.com/go/fro who now have 360 Virtual Reality Stock footage available. This is a HUGE deal for companies looking to jump into the VR world, they can now do it with stock footage from VideoBlocks. https://www.videoblocks.com/videos/footage/360-files

Allen’s Canon BALL is on Saturday June 18th, I hope to see you there for a fun day.

We have Photo News, Gear Of the Week, Flying Solo, Wheel of FRO and MEME’s.

Thank you all for your continued support, without you we wouldn’t be able to do what we do.

00:00:16 – Show Start
00:02:02 – The FroKnowsPhoto Guide to Video Editing is OUT!
00:06:29 – “LAUNCH”! $50 Off Code (2 Weeks Only)
00:07:56 – This Week’s Plug: VideoBlocks
00:12:44 – Photo News
00:16:32 – Follow Jared on Snapchat
00:28:04 – Winston Merideth III Returns!
00:34:02 – Gear of the Week: Nikon D500
00:39:04 – Flying Solo
01:18:07 – Wheel of Fro
01:22:21 – Wheel of Fro Song Submission
01:25:08 – This Week’s Memes

Here’s all of Stephen’s photo news stories in detail:

Zeiss Lens Used on Apollo Missions Sells for Half-a-Million Dollars

A quick update on that 500mm f/8 Zeiss Tele-Tessar lens auction that NASA used during the Apollo missions: it officially sold for a whopping $453,000. RR Auction, the auction house responsible for the sale, says it’s “one of the largest pieces of space hardware used on the lunar surface to have ever been sold at auction.” (via DIYP)

Sony Takes Hit at DSLRs in New Mirrorless Ad

Sony took a hit at DSLRs in their latest ad that imagines what cameras would be like if they were people. The new ad from Sony Thailand shows off the Sony RX 100 IV, and how it’s great as a nice walk around camera versus bringing a big bulky DSLR. In the video below, they showcase a big body builder being lugged around as a DSLR, scaring off people as the photographer behind him attempts to take candids of people in a park, while another photographer is walking around with an average-sized person—being the RX 100 IV—and they’re able to take photos of people without people noticing. Check out the full 3-minute video below: (via PP)

Here’s How Nikon’s New Auto AF Fine Tune Feature Works

Speaking of DSLRs, there’s a new video demonstrating Nikon’s new Auto AF Fine Tune feature from DPreview. In the video below, they showcase how the D5 and D500’s Phase Detection autofocus can now be easily calibrated by using the live view contrast detection focus system instead of various charts or special software. Here’s how it works: users set their camera on a tripod, focus on a subject in live view, and hold the AF selection button while holding the record button at the same time. A dialog box will then appear asking to save the new focus value. They note that you’ll want to do this for each lens you own, and recommend doing it several times to make sure it has an accurate reading over and over again. They also mention to calibrate it at the focal length most often used, or if you’re unsure, they say do 40x the focal length in millimeters. Check it out below: (via DPR)

1st New RAW Processor in 10 Years Claims it’s the “Future of RAW Photo Editing”

There’s a new RAW processor on the market—the first in over 10 years—simply called Photo RAW by ON1. Calling it the “future of RAW photo editing,” ON1 says it has “modern code optimized for today’s super-megapixel cameras and high-performance computer graphics systems. Photo RAW will be the world’s fastest, most flexible, and easiest-to-use RAW processor and photo editor on the market.” They claim the software is fast too, saying “It will open 50-megapixel images in a fraction of a second on a standard PC or Mac,” and “perform edits in real-time, without slider lag or frustrating waits for redraw.” It’s non-destructive and has all the typical adjustments too like exposure, contrast, shadows, highlights, etc. It doesn’t require users to import or catalog their photos either. Instead, it’s built upon a browser system that will process RAW photos, which they claim happens in real time whether you have a single raw photo or 100—basically think of Adobe Bridge paired with Camera Raw. They say it can be used as a standalone program (Camera Raw) too or paired with their On1 Browse software (Bridge). It’ll be available this Fall as part of their current ON1 Plus Pro membership which is $150/year.

New Hover Drone Can Be Pulled from Mid-Air Without Risk of Getting Cut

Drone news: there’s a new tiny drone called the Hover Camera that can safely be pulled from the air with no risk of getting cut. Where other drones focus more on flying and maneuvering, this one simply hovers with a downward facing camera, hence the name. It’s safe too, with a carbon fiber cage around the blades, so you won’t get cut. It’s also super portable, it folds up completely in half, to about the size of a small book. Spec wise, it captures 4K video and 13MP stills. It has no gimbal though, but instead uses electronic image stabilization for smooth footage. There’s no remote either, users can control everything via a smartphone app, and by just simply pushing it in the air. It’ll follow you around as well thanks to its built in facial recognition. Right now, the company behind it is preparing for a beta launch and is allowing a couple hundred people to test them out. Those interested can sign up at their website to request to be a beta tester. No pricing just yet, but they note that they plan on keeping the price below $600, and it’s expected to officially launch this Summer. Check out the preview video demonstrating the hover drone in action below: (via R/C)

Filmmakers Reveal Drone-Shot Short Film Using the Hitchcock Zoom

In other drone news: filmmakers Tim Sessler and Brandon Bray posted a new short film entitled “Balance,” which is the first to use the dolly zoom—aka the Hitchcock Zoom—with a drone. The film focuses around the city of Manhattan where the duo flew the drone. They say they used new camera techniques for drone cinematography which include extreme roll moves with their MoVI M15 gimbal which has remote controls for zooming and pulling focus. They barrel-rolled, tilted ,panned, had a rolling shutter effect, resulting in a very nauseous video to watch. They used a Canon CN-E 15.5-47mm zoom lens, starting at 47mm and zooming out to its widest angle while simultaneously moving the drone towards the subject, keeping the subject the same size, and adding that crazy vertigo effect. They used a Freefly Alta 8 drone for most of the shots, but the aerials over the city were shot from a helicopter, legally. Check out the trippy final video below along with a behind-the-scenes look at how they pulled it off: (via Gizmodo)

Turn Your 360-Degree Photos Into 3D-Printed Ornament-Like Spheres

A company called Scandy is transforming your 360-degree photos into a tangible form with 3D printing. To show off the true form factor of 360-degree photos, they’re printing them on tiny spheres, which happen to look just like Christmas ball ornaments. Their new app will allow anyone to take 360-degree photos straight from their phone, and then print them onto their new spheres. Price wise, for a 2-inch small ball, it’s $50, 3-inches is $75, 4-inches is $100, or you can purchase all of their sizes for $200. Check out a video showing off the 3D printed photos below: (via MF)

Photographer Captures Newlywed Couple’s Reflections in New Ring Photo Series

A new photo series called “Ringscapes” by photographer Peter Adams-Shawn features reflections of newlyweds in wedding ring photos. Some of the photos feature a landscape, some feature the couple doing a special pose, where some feature special objects like flowers, or the wedding dress. Check out his full series here. (via PP)

Photo by Peter Adams-Shawn

Photographer Stacks Up to 10K Images to Create Highly Detailed Macro Photos of Insects

Photographer Levon Biss has a new exhibit entitled “Microsculpture” which showcases his extremely detailed macro photos of insects. Captured with a microscope at a very shallow DOF, a single photo consists of 8-10,000 photos that were stacked in post, which took about two weeks to create, from the first press of the shutter to the final export. He even teamed up with Oxford University’s Museum of Natural History and got to choose from their rare massive collection of bugs. The exhibition will run from May 27 – Oct. 30 in the main court of Oxford University’s Museum of Natural History. Check out a behind-the-scenes video on the making of his images, along with 22 of the exhibited photos here. (via DIYP)

Leica Unveils LCD-Free Camera: the Leica M-D

Leica has revealed the Leica M-D (Typ 262) which officially has no LCD, this marks the first Leica production M-series camera that has no LCD screen. Leica says it still has everything you love about a Leica inside though: it “embodies the entire range of technical advantages perfected over decades in the Leica rangefinder system.” However, only main photography dials are included on the body: shutter speed: aperture, and ISO. Spec wise, it’s basically a Leica M (Typ 262), again without the LCD. Leica says this will “promote its users’ concentration on what is essential: the picture.” The simplistic design even leaves out the iconic red dot logo: “The Leica red dot logo has been omitted from the front of the camera in favour of its unobtrusive appearance.” To add to the stealthy look, they say the new quiet shutter is hardly audible which “guarantees maximum inconspicuousness when shooting.” You can preorder it now for $6,000.