Camera
Video: Brendan Barry makes 20″ x 24″ wildflower image using camera obscura and color reversal process
UK-based photographer Brendan Barry has used his lockdown to grow closer to nature. He’s been taking regular neighborhood walks with his daughter and learning more about the area surrounding their home in Exeter and the city’s surprising nature. They have regularly picked wildflowers on the journey, which Barry has been photographing using a color reversal process he has been developing over the last few years.
Barry’s process is ‘long and laborious and the photographs hard to achieve.’ He tells us that it can take up to eight hours to create a successful exposure, and due to the nature of the toxic chemicals he uses, he often shoots at night to protect his toddler daughter. Plus, as he says, ‘it is so peaceful and quiet then.’
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| Barry shoots directly to 20″ x 24″ photographic paper using a camera obscura. He has been using a color reversal process that he’s developed over the last few years to make his images. |
In a project commissioned by Maketank and filmed by Chen Liu (Lynd), we go behind the scenes with Brendan Barry as he creates a 20″ x 24″ color still life of wildflowers captured directly to photographic paper. Barry uses a camera obscura and his color reversal process, which he has been working on for the last few years. The image is from his series, ‘Wildflowers picked on walks with Bea.”
The ongoing photo series is a very personal project for Barry. The subjects are collected during walks with his daughter, and the images are time-consuming and difficult to make. The images are also a reflection of the times. The lockdown is very difficult for many, and the ongoing pandemic is even more challenging in and of itself. With that said, the lockdown has also given people like Brendan Barry the chance to connected differently with their neighborhoods.
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| Brendan Barry carefully arranges wildflowers for a new image. Each shot can take upwards of eight hours to create from start to finish. |
For Barry, he feels it is ‘vital to capture and appreciate what is here, to remind ourselves of what we have all around us, literally on our doorsteps, in the hope that we may seek to retain some of this when normality, whatever form that will take, returns.’
If Brendan Barry’s name sounds familiar, there’s a good reason. He has created many fascinating cameras and photographic projects over the years, many of which we have featured. Last October, we shared how Barry was commissioned by the Exeter Canal and Quay Trust to convert an entire room into a camera obscura. If you’d like to learn how to do that, we also covered a tutorial from Barry about this topic last spring.
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During the lockdown, Barry converted his backyard shed into a camera and darkroom, which he has used as part of his wildflower series.
In 2019, Barry transformed the 46th floor of the 101 Park Avenue skyscraper in New York City into a massive camera obscura. That same year, he also converted a shipping container into a camera, which he called ‘the world’s biggest, slowest, and most impractical Polaroid camera.’
If you’d like to see more of Brendan Barry’s work, visit his website and follow him on Instagram. He’s always up to something awesome.
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| Image: Hasselblad |
Hasselblad has announced the XCD 20-35mm F3.2-4.5 E, equivalent to 16-27mm in full-frame terms. It’s the company’s first ultra-wide zoom lens, and Hasselblad says it should deliver the same level of image quality as its XCD prime lenses.
Formally branded the XCD 3,2-4,5/20-35E, it’s also the first lens in the company’s new XCD E series. According to Hasselblad, ‘E’ stands for Excellence and represents the top level of optical performance in the XCD series.
The new lens has the widest field of view and the largest aperture in Hasselblad’s medium format system. Optically, the internally focusing lens is comprised of 16 elements in 12 groups, and includes three aspherical elements. It has a minimum focus distance of 0.32m (13″) and maintains its widest f3.2 aperture all the way to 24mm.
The lens is housed in an all-metal ring with a matching metal lens hood and features a focus and control (aperture) ring. Its leaf shutter supports flash sync speeds of up to 1/2000 sec., and autofocus is driven by a stepper motor for quiet movement. Physically, the lens is 117mm (4.6″) long with a diameter of 81mm (3.2″) and weighs 805g (1.8lbs). It has a 77m filter thread.
The XCD 3,2-4,5/20-35E has a suggested retail price of $5,929 in the US and €6,729 in Europe.
Hasselblad XCD 20-35mm F3.2-4.5 E specifications
| Principal specifications | |
|---|---|
| Lens type | Zoom lens |
| Max Format size | Medium Format (645) |
| Focal length | 20–35 mm |
| Image stabilization | No |
| Lens mount | Hasselblad X |
| Aperture | |
| Maximum aperture | F3.2–4.5 |
| Minimum aperture | F32 |
| Aperture ring | No |
| Optics | |
| Elements | 16 |
| Groups | 12 |
| Special elements / coatings | 3 aspherical elements |
| Focus | |
| Minimum focus | 0.32 m (12.6″) |
| Maximum magnification | 0.16× |
| Full time manual | Unknown |
| Focus method | Internal |
| Distance scale | No |
| DoF scale | No |
| Physical | |
| Weight | 805 g (1.77 lb) |
| Diameter | 81 mm (3.19″) |
| Length | 117 mm (4.61″) |
| Materials | Metal |
| Zoom method | Rotary (internal) |
| Filter thread | 77 mm |
| Hood supplied | Yes |
| Tripod collar | No |
| Image: Nikon |
Nikon has announced the Nikkor Z 50mm F1.4, a fast, normal prime lens for Z-mount cameras that covers the classic 50mm focal length.
The new lens is a virtual twin to the Nikkor Z 35mm F1.4 prime that Nikon announced just three months ago in June. The two lenses share the exact same dimensions, at 87mm (3.4″) long by 75mm (3″) diameter, and the new lens weighs in at 420g (14.8oz.), just 1% heavier than its 35mm sibling.
Notably, the new lens is slightly less expensive than Nikon’s own 50mm F1.8 S prime, which is part of Nikon’s premium ‘S’ series of lenses. It was suggested to us that the non-S lens prioritizes character over clinical sharpness.
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The Nikkor Z 50mm F1.4 mounted on a Nikon Z6 III
Image: Nikon |
Optically, the lens comprises 10 elements in 7 groups, including one aspherical element, and has a 9-bladed aperture. This makes it optically simpler than the F1.8 S lens and it lacks that Nano Crystal Coatings of the premium model. It has a minimum focus distance of 0.37m (14.5″) and a maximum magnification ratio of 0.17x.
Other features include a manual focus ring and a customizable control ring, which the ‘S’ model lacks. According to Nikon, the lens should be well-suited to video work thanks to a smooth, twin STM motors, suppressed focus breathing and the clickless control ring. Nikon describes the lens as designed to be drip and dust-resistant.
The Nikkor Z 50mm F1.4 has a suggested retail price of $499 and will be available beginning in late September.
The Nikkor Z 50mm F1.4 is Nikon’s Latest Affordable and Fast Prime Lens for the Nikon Z System
Classically Captivating Focal Length and Large f/1.4 Aperture is the Simple Formula for Breathtaking Creativity
MELVILLE, NY (September 10, 2024) Today, Nikon Inc. announced the NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.4, a lightweight prime lens with a wide and bright f/1.4 aperture. This affordable lens is compact enough to take anywhere, while offering a versatile and classic focal length that’s ideal for portraits, landscapes, street snaps, travel, still life and more.
“The NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.4 is a modern take on a classic lens design, giving creators the benefits of the latest imaging technology and optical innovations at a very appealing price,” said Fumiko Kawabata, Sr. Vice President, Nikon Inc. “With the recently released NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.4, photographers and videographers now have access to a great pair of fast, affordable primes that will help them to take their creativity further.”
The large f/1.4 aperture of this lens affords users the ability to create images and video with three-dimensional emphasis and naturally soft backgrounds that draw the viewers’ attention to a subject.
The NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.4 lens features a compact, comfortable and lightweight design, measuring approximately 2.9 in x 3.4 in (74.5 × 86.5 mm) and weighing only 14.8 oz (420 g). The lens is engineered with a premium feel and superb handling, featuring a dedicated focus ring and customizable control ring.
Additional Features of the NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.4
- Close minimum focus distance lets users get as near as 14.5 in (0.37 m) from the subject, which is great for flowers, still life and food photography.
- Nine-blade diaphragm helps to create a natural, circular bokeh for a pleasing out of focus area.
- Focus breathing is effectively suppressed to minimize the shift of the angle of view when adjusting the focus.
- Near Silent operation for video production, with a click-less control ring and near silent lens drive thanks to the use of STM motors.
- Weather Sealed and designed with careful consideration for dust- and drip-resistant performance*.
Price and Availability
The new NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.4 will be available in late September 2024 for a suggested retail price of $499.95** For more information about the latest Nikon products, including the extensive lineup of NIKKOR Z lenses and the entire range of Z series cameras, please visit Nikonusa.com.
Specifications, equipment, and release dates are subject to change without any notice or obligation on the part of the manufacturer.
*Thorough dust and moisture-resistance is not guaranteed in all situations.
**SRP (Suggested Retail Price) listed only as a suggestion. Actual prices are set by dealers and are subject to change at any time.
Nikon Nikkor Z 50mm F1.4 specifications
| Principal specifications | |
|---|---|
| Lens type | Prime lens |
| Max Format size | 35mm FF |
| Focal length | 50 mm |
| Image stabilization | No |
| Lens mount | Nikon Z |
| Aperture | |
| Maximum aperture | F1.4 |
| Minimum aperture | F16 |
| Aperture ring | No |
| Number of diaphragm blades | 9 |
| Aperture notes | Rounded diaphragm opening |
| Optics | |
| Elements | 10 |
| Groups | 7 |
| Special elements / coatings | 1 Aspherical Element |
| Focus | |
| Minimum focus | 0.37 m (14.57″) |
| Maximum magnification | 0.17× |
| Autofocus | Yes |
| Motor type | Stepper motor |
| Focus method | Internal |
| Distance scale | No |
| DoF scale | No |
| Physical | |
| Weight | 420 g (0.93 lb) |
| Diameter | 75 mm (2.95″) |
| Length | 87 mm (3.43″) |
| Filter thread | 62 mm |
| Hood supplied | Yes |
| Tripod collar | No |
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The iPhone 16’s camera bump is smaller than the previous generation’s.
Image: Apple |
Apple has announced the 6.1-inch iPhone 16 and 6.7-inch iPhone 16 Plus. The new phones now include a dedicated ‘Camera Control’ button, as well as the ‘Action’ button that was exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro in the previous generation. The phones also feature a new A18 processor, which the company says has a 30% faster CPU and 40% faster GPU than the chip found in the regular iPhone 15.
The phone’s ultrawide camera has been upgraded, and now includes autofocus. The company says it can capture ‘2.6x’ more light. It also now allows users to capture ‘Macro’ photos using the ultrawide camera, a feature that was previously limited to the Pro models.
Apple says the iPhone 16 can now capture spatial videos and photos, using both cameras.
The company says the ‘Camera Control’ button allows you to control various features in the camera app. Pressing it will open the camera, and pressing it again will take a picture. You can also press and hold it while in the app to take a video. The button is touch sensitive, letting you slide your finger across it to change zoom level, depth of field, and more.
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Lightly double-tapping the Camera Control will let you choose which variable to adjust.
Image: Apple |
The button also has haptic feedback, which the company says will give you a more tactile feel while taking pictures.
Apple says the button will also provide ‘instant access’ to Apple Intelligence features. According to Apple, pressing and holding the ‘Camera Control’ will bring up an interface that lets you perform a visual search using ‘Visual Intelligence.’ You can point it at an object, and the phone will bring up information about what’s in frame. It can also be connected to third parties, getting information about what the camera is pointed at from services like ChatGPT.
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The new design also features what appears to be a smaller camera bump than the previous generation, as the wide and ultra-wide cameras are in line vertically, rather than being at a diagonal.
Earlier in the presentation, Apple CEO Tim Cook called the phones “the first iPhones designed from the ground up for Apple Intelligence and its breakthrough capabilities.”
This story is developing… please refresh to see more details.
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