Canon reported a decline in Imaging sales that led to lower operating profit in their latest Q1 financial reports:
"As for the camera market, last year, the aggressive promotions of each company during the selling season fourth quarter expanded unit sales. As a result, we expect the market this year to be down 4% to 5.75 million units.
In the first quarter, unit sales grew, mainly driven by mirrorless cameras like the EOS R50. However, as some of the cameras that we sold in the fourth quarter of last year were still in stock in the market, net sales declined due to reduction in the number of units shipped to optimize market inventory, and sales promotion expenses to promote sell-out of mass retailers.
From the second quarter, in addition to the optimization of market inventory, through the enhancement of our lineup of cameras and lenses, we will further strengthen our EOS R system, stimulating demand for both still and moving images. And by improving our product mix through an increase in our mirrorless camera ratio, we aim to achieve sales growth of 3.7% for the full year."
Peakto Search provides the ability to search your Lightroom Classic catalogs based on the content of images.
Unless you’re one of the increasingly rare photographers who tag and organize their images, finding specific photos in ever-growing libraries tends to be frustrating and time-consuming. Peakto Search is a new utility from CYME that uses machine learning to index Lightroom Classic libraries and find photos using text prompts or image similarity.
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The Lightroom Classic plug-in, which works only under macOS, is an outgrowth of Peakto, the company’s larger app for managing multiple libraries from various sources such as Apple Photos, Capture One, Luminar and others (but Peakto Search does not require Peakto to run). It’s available as a one-time purchase retailing for $129 or as a subscription ranging from $3.70 to $9.00 per month depending on whether you pay for 24 months, 12 months or single months. A free 7-day trial applies when you sign up for one of the subscription options.
Peakto Search appears as a floating window separate from Lightroom Classic, which you access from the macOS menu bar or from the Plug-in Extras menu in Lightroom. If you have multiple catalogs, such as to separate personal and work libraries or dedicated to separate jobs or clients, you can load them all into Peakto Search and the utility will grab results from them all, not just the currently running one.
Add multiple Lightroom Classic catalogs to Peakto Search and run queries across all of them, even if their images are offline.
Search by text prompt
Typically when you do a search in Lightroom Classic, it’s based on textual metadata (found in EXIF data or as keywords you’ve added) or attributes such as shutter speed, camera model or lens. What Classic does not offer is a way to search the contents of images. (The newer Lightroom desktop app does, because Adobe performs object recognition on photos in the cloud.)
Peakto Search scans a Lightroom Classic catalog and builds an index of the objects and scenes it recognizes from the machine language models it uses. Instead of hoping you tagged an image with the keyword “beach” or that it appears somewhere in the metadata (such as GPS information), you can type a prompt such as “smiling people at the beach” to get results that match or approximate those terms.
A text search for "smiling people at the beach" brings up photos from multiple catalogs. Lightroom Classic is on the left, and Peakto Search is in its own floating window at right.
Results appear quickly and get refined as you type, so “smiling people” will bring up a host of hits that change as you continue typing “at the beach.”
You can narrow the search results by filtering for attributes such as rating, color label, flag and file type (image or video). In our example, you could find smiling people at the beach, but only images you’ve previously rated as three stars.
Narrowing the results to images rated three stars.
Clicking a photo thumbnail in the Peakto Search window opens it in Lightroom Classic, even if the app isn’t currently running. When you want to open a photo from a different catalog than the currently open one, double-clicking a thumbnail directs Classic to switch catalogs and load that photo.
Since the plug-in and Classic enjoy this direct connection, you can change how multiple selected thumbnails are displayed. Instead of the default Detail view, for instance, selecting two or more thumbnails can trigger Lightroom’s Survey view, which shows the images larger in a grid for easier comparison. The Peakto Search interface includes a thumbnail size slider to change the visual density of results.
In addition to pointing you toward individual images, Peakto Search includes a feature for creating Lightroom collections based on the results of a search.
Create a new collection based on Peakto Search results.
Search by image
The other method of finding photos using Peakto Search is to feed it an image. That can be one you drag from outside the utility to the Find Similar Images interface, or by selecting an image in Lightroom Classic and choosing File > Plug-in Extras > Peakto Search for Lightroom > Search Similar Images.
In this case, the cat photo in Lightroom Classic is the basis for locating similar photos.
The scattershot nature of AI results
As with most AI-based tools, Peakto Search will get you closer to finding the images you want, but may not hit the target right away. A search for “bearded man sitting in a chair,” for example, brought up images that included just that, but also photos from the same shoot that included just the chair, and the man standing next to the chair.
With the 'Tolerant' setting, Peakto Search returns photos of the items in the text search, even if they don't all apply specifically.
To narrow or broaden the scope of results, there are three levels of a Tolerance setting: Close, Standard and Tolerant. That latter tends to produce better results with more matches, but also more images that don’t quite fit the description. Expect to find yourself using the Peakto Search picks as jumping off points to browse nearby photos within Classic’s Library module.
Settings
Scanning images for their contents to build an index is processor-intensive. On a 2021 MacBook Pro with an M1 Max processor, updating the index for a large-ish library (around 160,000 photos) activates all of the CPU cores simultaneously. Peakto Search includes settings for choosing the maximum number of concurrent indexing tasks (1 through 6) and which component is primarily doing the indexing, such as the machine’s Neural Engine and CPU or GPU. You can also set how long search results are held in memory for when you’re jumping back and forth between Peakto Search and Classic; a lower value, such as 1 minute, triggers the plug-in to refresh the search terms more often, using more resources.
Conclusion
When we browse our libraries for photos, we usually look for things we recognize: people, scenes, situations. Those are all characteristics beyond what Lightroom Classic understands (unless you’re working with AI-assisted features like masks). Peakto Search adds that visual dimension to finding images in your libraries, getting you to the photos you want faster.
In the last article, I surveyed the diverse and beautiful wildlife of Andasibe-Mantadia National Park. Today, I'd like to continue the tales of my Madagascar trip with a visit to the very north of the island.
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Getting to the Red Tsingy is a bit of a task. Its location at the northern tip of Madagascar, together with the lack of adequate roads from the center of the island, means that you have to fly to the coastal town of Antsiranana (Diego Suarez). From there, it's a 2.5–3 hour drive to the park entrance, where you get the permit and hire a person to accompany you on your visit. If you wish to avoid the long daily drives, there is a very nice camp with relatively luxurious tents, which allows much quicker access to the Tsingy.
Layers of Red Tsingy. To my eyes, they looked like lost souls.
Before continuing, I'd like to explain what the Red Tsingy even is. "Tsingy" in Malagasy means "the place where one cannot walk barefoot." This pertains mostly to the Grey Tsingy, which is found in the Tsingy De Bemaraha National Park, located hundred of miles away, in the west of the country. The dark, karstic Tsingy De Bemaraha is indeed extremely sharp and hard, and I wouldn't dream of climbing them barefoot, but the Red Tsingy (or Tsingy Rouge in French) is a totally different phenomenon.
Not karstic, not hard or sharp and extremely gentle to the point that it's forbidden to touch them for fear of harming the delicate structures, The Red Tsingy are basically dried-up pinnacles composed of laterite and iron oxide-rich soil, which are the result of erosion, caused by the massive deforestation practiced throughout Madagascar. As always, deforestation eliminates the plants' ability to hold the soil in place, which leaves it vulnerable to being swept by rain and wind. The remaining shapes are made smooth by years of being sanded down by winds, which leaves truly wonderful, almost organic-looking shapes. New structures keep being formed and unveiled every year.
The Red Tsingy area is predominantly red-colored, but the different hues and textures make it diverse and elaborate enough for landscape photography. Three natural pigments are found here in the soil: ochre, vermilion and magenta. Malagasies use them for face paints and natural dyes.
There are several sections in the area with short driving distances between them. Some areas are smaller and can be covered in one session, and some require much more time to traverse and shoot. As a regular tourist, the area can be seen in its entirety in one day, but if you're coming to shoot, I recommend spending at least three days exploring the area well enough to get good compositions of the Tsingy. Another problem is the opening hours of the park; it opens after sunrise and closes before sunset, so you need a special permit to stay there for sunset and post-sunset glow.
A Red Tsingy "castle" shining under a strong post-sunset glow.
Shooting the Red Tsingy is, surprisingly, quite challenging. In general, I find that the more compositional elements an area has, the harder it is to find the really good images. Since the Tsingy are usually very closely packed, some of them can get in the way and ruin an otherwise good composition. The fact that the Tsingy are all the same color makes it difficult to create separation between the photographic elements. The photographer thus needs to actively search for compositions with different colored elements, which happens, for example, when the ground is different in color from the structures.
The difference in color between the Tsingy and the red Earth helped me create a better sense of depth in this composition, even though I didn't really have a background element or a strong foreground element.
There are many other elements and factors that must be considered when shooting in the park. One of these is the relatively short time we have with good light. The sun is very harsh in Madagascar, especially in the north (since it's closer to the equator), and drops very fast before sunset. This means the light changes quickly in quality and that the sun can be difficult to incorporate into your images.
To get this shot, I had to stand very close to the Tsingy, raise my hands as far as I could above my head and shoot blindly at burst mode. The camera had to be placed high to get the composition (the Tsingy were very tall - next time, I'm definitely bringing a small stool), so I couldn't even look at the eyepiece or at the screen. This is a case where quantity prevailed over precision for lack of other choice. One shot turned out great.
Another factor is the critical need to be aware of yourself when standing close to the Tsingy. They are very fragile, and hurting them must be avoided to preserve the park's beauty. It's often compositionally desirable to shoot from very close distances, but extra care must be taken. Focus-stacking is sometimes needed when some of the elements are very close to the camera.
I had to take extra care venturing into this semi-circle of red Tsingy. Some of them were very close to my arms, which affected the variety of angles I could shoot at.
The last problem is the lack of background elements. As you may remember from my composition series, a combination of near and far elements is often helpful in order to create a sense of depth in our two-dimensional image. In Tsingy Rouge National Park, the background is usually red slopes which climb to meet flat plains - not exactly the equivalent of Patagonia's glorious mountain ranges. This leaves the photographer with the choice to either have no background elements (perhaps apart from sky and clouds), or to include the background and risk lack of depth perception in the image, due to the elements being similar in color and texture.
In this image, I tried to incorporate several tools to create a good sense of depth. Two worth mentioning are the different lighting in different sections of the image and the use of the shadow cast by the plant on the left of the Tsingy. The green vegetation added a much-needed splash of color.
In the next article in this series, I'll talk about photography in the wonderful Kirindy Forest, a private reserve holding spectacular wildlife and a very nice landscape.
Erez Marom is a professional nature photographer, photography guide and traveller based in Israel. You can follow Erez's work on Instagram and Facebook, and subscribe to his mailing list for updates and to his YouTube channel.
This is the first lens announced by Kase - a company known for manufacturing filters. For now, the lens is available only for Z/E/X - other mounts will be released later. Additional information on the new lens can be found here:
27mm focal length is suitable for portraits, landscapes, street photography and macro photography
Five groups of six pieces of optical structure, high-precision optical glass and advanced nano-coating technology to ensure image quality and color accuracy
F2.8 large aperture can easily cope with low-light environments
The STM stepper motor responds quickly, high focusing accuracy, and supports eye recognition.
0.3m minimum focusing distance
Supports USB Type C upgrade interface, you can download the latest firmware for upgrade by yourself
Viltrox has announced the new AF 40mm F2.5 Z lens for full-frame Nikon Z-mount cameras. The lightweight prime lens provides a normal field of view, roughly approximating the perspective of human vision.
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Optically, the AF 40mm F2.5 Z features an internal focus design built around ten elements in six groups. This includes one ED lens, one aspherical lens, three high-refractive index lenses, a high-definition nano-multilayer coating, and a front lens element that includes an anti-fouling coating. The close focus distance is 0.34m (13").
Image: Viltrox
The lens includes a 52mm filter thread and features a 7-bladed aperture.
The AF 40mm F2.5 Z weighs a relatively lightweight 180g (6.3oz). A stepper motor drives autofocus, and Viltrox says the lens is compatible with face and eye recognition systems. It also says the lens should be suitable for shooting video thanks to low distortion and minimal focus breathing.
On the tech side of things, Viltrox says the lens supports full EXIF transmission to the camera, and it includes a USB interface to support future firmware upgrades.
Viltrox says the AF 40mm F2.5 Z will be available "as soon as April." It has a suggested retail price of $158.
Please do not reproduce any of these images on a website or any newsletter/magazine without prior permission (see our copyright page). We make the originals available for private users to download to their own machines for personal examination or printing (in conjunction with this review); we do so in good faith, so please don't abuse it.
Viltrox AF 40mm F2.5 Z specifications
Principal specifications
Lens type
Prime lens
Max Format size
35mm FF
Focal length
40 mm
Image stabilization
No
Lens mount
Nikon Z
Aperture
Maximum aperture
F2.5
Minimum aperture
F16
Aperture ring
No
Number of diaphragm blades
7
Optics
Elements
10
Groups
6
Special elements / coatings
1 ED element, 1 aspherical element, 3 high refractive index elements, nano-multilayer coating
The lens, already available for Sony E mount, is 104mm (4.1") long and weighs 421g (14.9oz).
Its optical formula is made up of 11 elements in 9 groups, including two aspherical, one ED and two high refractive index lenses. It features an 11-blade aperture diaphragm. It uses a stepper motor to drive an internal focus design.
Minimum focus distantce is 0.5m (19.7") and it accepts 62mm threaded filters.
The company says it will be available soon at a price of $228.
Chinese lens maker 7Artisans has announced the AF 27mm F2.8 prime lens for APS-C cameras using the Sony E-Mount.
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The 27mm focal length gives a fractionally wide-angle ∼41mm equivalent field of view, while the semi-fast F2.8 maximum aperture should give some control over depth-of-field and better low-light performance than a kit zoom.
The compact prime consists of six elements in five groups. It uses a stepper motor and internal focus design, which is potentially promising in terms of autofocus speed. Unusually for a modern lens, it makes no use of aspherical, ED or other special glass, and features just six aperture blades.
The 48mm (1.9") long, 173g (5.0oz) lens features a USB 3.0 socket on its side, allowing firmware updates. It has a minimum focus distance of 0.3m (11.8") and accepts 52mm threaded filters. It is available immediately at a recommended price of $129.
The Ricoh teaser from yesterday is for a new Pentax K-3 Mark III Monochrome limited edition camera with HD PENTAX-DA 20-40mm f/2.8-4ED Limited DC WR lens that will be announced very soon (this week most likely):
"Let's start by talking about the name: Rollei 35AF. The "AF" in the name stands for AUTO FOCUS, a feature that takes this legendary camera to new heights.
We believe that classics are meant to be cherished, and our mission is to preserve the essence of this iconic camera while incorporating new features that enhance its capabilities without compromising its unique charm. With the added AF and other features, capturing stunning analog film pictures becomes effortless, quick, and incredibly precise.
Of course, the Rollei 35AF retains the beloved features that have made it a favorite among photography enthusiasts. It comes with a full metal body, 5-element all glass lens with coating on every side, and exposure controls.
But that's not all.
We've also included a built-in light meter and AUTO modes, allowing you to focus entirely on the things in front of you, the composition before your eyes, and concentrate on deciding what to capture on a rectangular 35mm film canvas while seizing that split-second decisive moment that leaves viewers impressed."
Sample photos taken with the Rollei 35AF film camera:
Additional pictures of the upcoming Rollei 35AF film camera:
Profoto is expected to announce a new flash on May 7th - here is a screenshot of the event invitation:
And the the Google translation (thanks P!):
Tuesday 7 MAY
Milan
STUDIO SANTAVERONICA
(Corso C. Colombo 11 - MM Porta Genova)
From 10.00 to 13.00 and from 14.30 to 18.00 set with the photographer DARIO BOLOGNA and the new Profoto flash to try!
Free entry
Connexion
