MasHD Blog

Sony has been on a roll recently , the A9 , launched as a Nikon D5/Canon 1DX rival has so far been the darling of many reviewers and professionals alike , and on the other hand , we have the recently announced Sony A7RIII which has also been making headlines as it changed the playing field which otherwise would have been mostly a duopoly between the Nikon D850 and the Canon 5DMk4 . With Mirrorless sales slowing chipping off DSLR sales ,its quite evident that Sony will release more Full frame cameras in time to come , the rumor mill , which so far consisted of only the upcoming A7SIII suddenly went into overdrive as news of a successor to the "Basic model" A7II were leaked , the camera ,which was initially thought to be a watered down version of the A9- with one SD slot and no rear joystick are all "fake news" as they are all present in the new A7III. The camera , designed around a new 24MP - Full frame BSI image sensor with 5 Axis IBIS image stability ,f...

Nokia (HMD) has officially announced their flagship spec Nokia 8 Sirocco smartphone today . the phone , designed to occupy a slot between the mid range Nokia 7 and the upcoming Nokia 9 flagship , features a Lumia inspired metal chassis and a 5.5" P-OLED display which has a resolution of 2560x1440 . The phone , like most high end products , features a IP 67 ingress protection rating and a healthy amount of RAM - 6GB in this case , paired with a 2.5Ghz Snapdragon 835 Soc with Adreno 540 GPU . Storage wise , the phone holds 128GB internally and this can be expanded to another 256GB via MicroSD . The phone , like most higher tier Nokia's of the past , features Carl Zeiss optics - which are now paired to two 12MP sensors of which the main module has an aperture of f1.75 and a 1.4 Micrometer pixel size and Optical image stability (OIS) , the second unit , which has a f2.6 Aperture , features no OIS onboard . The rear module of the Nokia 8 is capable of 4K recording at 30fps wh...

Sony has officially launched their latest flagship duo for 2018 - Xperia XZ2 and the Xperia XZ Compact . The two phones , which are said to take “the best of Sony” ,feature an all new design aesthetic and thus departs from Sony’s blocky designs which were first seen on the original Xperia Z from 2011 , the new designs, which has a somewhat of a HTC U11 vibe to it ,features a curved back , thinner bezels and no headphone jack (hmm) . Xperia XZ2  The phones ,just like Sony’s of the past , feature IP65/68 dust and water reststance ,the two displays feature Gorilla glass 5 protection and they are also HDR BT2020 ready with both the 5.7” and the 5” variants sharing the new de-facto 18:9 aspect ratio and 2160x1080 resolution . Under the hood , both devices also share a Snapdragon 845 soc (Adreno 630 GPU) with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage (expandable upto 400GB via microSD). Both devices also use Sony’s 19MP Motion Eye 1-2.3” sensor (IMX400), the unit features a f2 apertur...

Canon has officially announced the cheapest DSLR ever produced – the EOS 4000D . The camera , aimed at beginners and bargain hunters who want a reliable starter kit ,feature an easy to use interface , an almost basic button layout and a bargain price of GBP 330 ($385) . The camera , designed with polycarbonate/ABS plastic – including the lens mount (strangely) is durable and mostly resistant to the knocks and scratches most beginner users may subject this to . The camera is , like most Canon bargain bin offerings , feature mostly obsolete hardware including the 18mp sensor technology from the 9 year old EOS 7D and the Digic 4+ processor from 2014 , this list also includes the 2.7” LCD which was last seen on Canon entry level cameras from 2011 , although the camera is mostly assembled from the parts bin , there will be an audience – especially beginners who may enjoy using the camera to its highest potential . Video features include 1080p recording and don’t expect any Dual Pixel...

Canon has officially announced a speedlight with brains – the new Canon 470EX-AI . The new speedlight , designed for both beginners and professionals , determines the distance to the subject and the ceiling by measuring reading based on a pre flash , then based upon the reading , the flash will automatically reposition itself to the best suitable position for bounce flash . The flash also has a orientation sensor which can detect whether the user has shifted from portrait to landscape orientation , once the orientation of the camera is changed , all the user has to do is double tap the shutter button to allow the flash to position itself to its previous bounce setting . The flash also has a memory setting where you can automatically set the flash to a pre-set position set manually . The flash also supports manual override so if you want to bounce it manually , all you have to do it turn the head . The flash , which is expected to go on sale for $400 (in April 2018) has a gu...

Canon has finally decided to include 4k in one of their entry level cameras , the new M50 , a spiritual successor to the EOS M5 from last year is now the latest Canon mirrorless camera (and the only one currently) to shoot the much requested video format . The camera , on the outside , looks similar to previous EOS M cameras as It has a 3” vari-angle LCD with 1.04 million dots and a 2.36 million dot EVF similar to most EOS-M’s of the past , but this time , the camera features 4K UHD (with a 1.6x crop) and 1080p at 120fps thanks to the new Digic 8 processor. The rest of the camera specs include Canon’s trusty 24MP APS-C sensor with 143 AF points , the camera also supports EF/and EFS lenses with Canon’s proprietary adapter , which will allow you to have almost perfect autofocus capability even with glass made for DSLR’s . Pricing for the EOS M50 starts at $780 body only , this , with the EF-M 15-45mm f3.5-6.3 IS STM lens will go on sale for $900 or $1250 for the 15-45 kitle...

The Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ are official ,the two phones , designed to refine the almost perfect S8/S8+ ,focuses on providing a better camera ,a faster heart and subtle design changes which are aimed at providing a better user experience (oh ,it still has Bixby - improved and more refined now ) . The design is still somewhat S8 esque ,the major difference is the fingerprint reader which now sits below the camera unit unlike the pervious version which had the reader placed at the side . Other design elements include IP 68 ingress protection , a headphone jack , and a front mounted 3D touch module for feedback .Both the front and back of the S9 and S9+ are covered with a sheet of Gorilla glass 5 and this the front panel provides protection to a new well placed IRIS scanner and a 5.8” 2690x1440p Super AMOLED panel on the S9 and a 6.2” 2960x1440p Super Amoled panel on the S9+ . Both displays support HDR10 . The main selling point of the New S9 and S9+ are its new camera modu...

Pentax has officially launched the Pentax K1 Mark II - a successor to the original K1 from 2016 , the camera ,designed around a 36.4 MP full frame sensor , features a  SAFOX 12 image processor and PRIME IV image processor which help the camera achieve better autofocusing thank the pervious model . The ISO range , which is set from 100 - 819200 allows better low light performance and even video ISO has been raised to 25600 . The sensor , which is housed inside a magnesium -alloy body , is fully weather sealed and this also includes the new 3.2" Tilt-able display unit at the back which has a 1027k dot resolution.  . The camera also has a optical viewfinder which has 100% viewfinder coverage . Rest of the specs include support for K mount lenses such as the  KAF4, KAF3, KAF2 (power zoom compatible), KAF, KA mount lenses as well , the sensor features 5 axis image stabilization therefore the camera will have a definite advantage over other DSLR peers when it comes...

With 4K slowly becoming the new norm in modern cameras , resolutions such as 8K are probably going to be the next high-end format of future camera systems as the demand for high end content from both content creators and content viewers are on the rise .Red , a household name when it comes to cinema cameras is apparently rumored(By Nikkei) to be in talks with tech industrial giant – Foxconn to produce affordable 8K systems for the general public . And According to Foxconn’s Chairman Terry Gou “We will make cameras that will shoot professional-quality films in 8K resolution but at only a third of current prices and a third of current camera sizes,” indicating that such an idea is not really that far off . Source - Nikkei via - Petapixel

Fuji has officially released two new lens mount options for their MK 18-55mm t2.9 and MK 50-135mm t2.9 cinema lenses . The new duo , designed for the Fuji X mount , are released in the same timeframe as the Fuji X-H1 , indicating that Fuji is indeed making a serious push into video. Both The MKX 18-55mm t2.9 and the MK 50-135mm t2.9 – feature 22 glass elements in 17 groups and it has six super ED lens elements and two ED lens elements as well , Both lenses have a 9 bladed iris , allowing for more rounded “bokeh” in your videos . Both lenses feature a minimum aperture of f2.8 and they can be manually stopped down to f22(keep in mind that these lenses are all manual ) . Pricing for the MKX 18-55mm t2.9 is $3,999 while the MK 50-135mm t2.9 costs $4,299 , not bad considering their low price , both lenses will ship in Summer of 2018 . Written by Rakitha for MasHD Source - DPreview Press Release - Fujifilm

Fujifilm has officially announced their first cinema focused Mirrorless camera – the X – H1 . This model , which supplants the X-T2 as Fuji’s current flagship offering , gives users the ability to shoot DCI 4K in 23.97P or 24P and UHD 4K in 30 P along with Fuji’s F-Log profile , the 24MP APS-C - X-Trans CMOS III sensor, which is supported by a 5 axis IBIS stabilization system , gives users the ability to shoot stabilized video with any lens or shoot in slower shutter speeds with minimum vibration . The camera is capable of 14 fps on its electronic shutter and it can shoot 8 with its mechanical one (11 with an external battery grip) . Fujifilm has officially announced their first cinema focused Mirrorless camera – the X – H1 . This model , which supplants the X-T2 as Fuji’s current flagship offering , gives users the ability to shoot DCI 4K in 23.97P or 24P and UHD 4K in 30 P along with Fuji’s F-Log profile , the 24MP APS-C - X-Trans CMOS III sensor, which is supported by a 5...

Zeiss has officially announced a new compact -manual focus prime lens for their FE mount Loxia range , the new Loxia 25mm f2.4 is the fifth member of the lineup which consists of a 21mm F2.8, 35mm F2, 50mm F2, and a 85mm F2.4. The lens , designed with great precision , features 10 elements in 8 groups and features 1 APD element and 2 Aspherical elements with a special T* nanocoating . The new Zeiss Loxia 25mm f2.4 is expected to retail at $1299 and will be available from March 2018 . Written by Rakitha for MasHD Source - DPreview

Leica has announced a special edition Leica Q variant with the Olympics in mind , designed with creative cues from Iouri Podladtchikov,a Swiss Olympic and professional halfpipe snowboarder brings all the goodness of the full frame 24.2MP sensor and the Leica Maestro II Image Processor which gives the camera a maximum of ISO 50000 and 10fps shooting . Priced at £4,300 , the camera is limited to 300 units - making it more of a collectors item than a standard off the shelf Leica Q . Source - Trustedreviews

Panasonic has officially announced their latest M4 / 3 mirrorless camera – the Lumix GX9 , this camera , designed with compact mirrorless shooters in mind , is somewhat related to the Panasonic GH / G lineup as it shares a similar 20MP Micro 4 / 3 sensor with no low pass filter . The camera ,unlike its predecessor – the GX8 , is now capable of delivering reduced shutter shock ( 90 % reduction from its predecessor ) and this is achieved  thanks to a new electromagnetic drive system . The camera , in some regards is still capable of 4K 24 / 30p like the previous model , and this , combined with the IBIS allows 5 axis stabilization for video and photo . Another improvement is the viewfinder which  is now upgraded to a 2 . 7 million dots ( good news for those who want to shoot video or photos with it ) , there is also an improved Vari - angle LCD unit which has a 1 . 2million Dot resolution   . The GX9 sadly lacks wea...

Say hello to the new Zoom F1 - a small , yet capable audio recorder which can work with your DSLR and still become pocketable for any situation. The F1 , which features a Audio in and an audio out jack for monitoring audio or giving a line out ,is perfect for cameras which sometimes lack a dedicated headphone jack . This , combined with the fact that the F1 supports all Zoom accessories with Zoom’s audio interface means that you can convert this from an basic recorder to a shotgun or lavalier set-up with ease . Powered by two AAA batteries , the recorder can power something like a lav set up for about 10 hours , but keep in mind that this decreases with the type of accessory . Overall the F1 recorder is basically a must have if you are the sort of videographer who wants a compact , light weight and easy to use set up for not much money , speaking of money , the F1 costs $199 and this comes with a Lavalier mic and a belt clip . Two-channel audio recorder Compatib...

Panasonic has unveiled their official successor to the ZS100 . The new Panasonic ZS200 , armed with a 1" CMOS sensor and a Leica Vario-Elmar F3.3-6.4 24-360mm equivalent lens  with a 15x zoom  and 5 axis image stabilization. The ZS200 , which is capable of 4K recording in 30 or 24fps is also capable of recording 1080p in 120fps as well . The camera , which has a maximum ISO range unto 25600 and a hybrid AF system with 10fps when AF is locked . The camera is also capable of 4K photo (8mp still) from a burst . The camera also has a 0.21" OLED viewfinder and this is paired with a touch capable 3" 1240Dot LCD giving sharp touch AF and control over the camera menu . This , combined with the in camera RAW processing for the 20.1mp stills shot from the camera , makes this an ideal option for those who want to pack light and still have great image quality . Pricing for the Panasonic Lumix LS200 is $800 ,almost in the same ball park as Sony's RX100 series of cameras . ...

Blackmagic has officially announced the URSA Broadcast - 4K camera . The system , designed on the successful URSA Mini platform is now optimized for Studio and broadcasting environments and therefore it has a smaller 13.056mm x 7.344mm (Somewhat close to the Nikon 1's custom sensor) and a B4. mount for broadcasting lenses (But there is support for PL, EF and Nikon F mounts as well) . The camera , which has an internal carousel ND with 1/4, 1/16th and 1/64th stops works in the same way as the Ursa Mini . The camera records 1080i and goes all the way unto UHD 2160p in DNx145, DNx220X or ProRES with record formats in .Mov or .Mxf. The camera is also capable of recording to two CF cards or 2 SD cards as well . Pricing for the camera is $3500 which makes this quite a bargain if you want a Multicam set up without breaking much bank. Written by Rakitha for MasHD Source - news shooter

Panavision has officially announced their latest 8K capable camera system . The Millennium DXL2 8K , designed around a RED MONSTRO 8K VV CMOS sensor , the camera shoots 8K 8192 x 4320 full sensor 60fps and 8K 2:4:1 in 8192 x 3456 in 75fps Super35 .The RED sensor , capable of 16 stops of dynamic range and has a native base ISO of 1600 . The camera also has a new color science - Light Iron Color 2 and is capable of working with all popular color gamuts . Pricing details are not available at the time of writing . Written by Rakitha for MasHD Source - Cinema5d DXL2: In Action from Panavision on Vimeo .

Olympus has officially announced the new E - PL9 . The new mirrorless camera , designed to succeed the E-PL8 , the new system incorporates 4K UHD recording , a 16MP Live-CMOS  M43 sensor and a TruepicVIII image processor a la EM10III . Designed to work with a 121 contrast detection AF system with eye detection , the camera supports ISO 200 - 6400 in auto and is capable of reaching ISO 100 - 25600 boosted . The camera supports 8.6fps and it can hit shutter speeds of 1/4000 and 1/16000 in electronic shutter , and this coupled with the fact that the camera supports 1/250 flash sync speed ,makes the camera quite capable for casual photography . The 3" touchscreen at the back of the camera is backed up by new and improved user interface by Olympus, the screen supports touch AF as well as touch to enable photo modes and filters built in the camera . The camera priced at €549/£579 body only and €699/£649 with the Olympus 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 EZ power zoom lens . Written by Ra...

Designed around ARRI's new LF - Large format sensor with a 36.7 x 25.54 mm size m the new ARRI Alexa LF is the latest 4.4K capable cinema camera from the German manufacturer . The new camera , designed to record 4K in 3 different sensor crop options - LF 16:9 Sensor Mode - Maximizes lens options while meeting 4K deliverable standards in UHD 4K. LF 2.39:1 Sensor Mode - Combines a cinematic widescreen image with high frame rates for slow motion LF Open Gate Sensor Mode - Delivers the ALEXA family's optimal pixel size for highest overall image quality results in a 4448 x 3096 picture . The ARRI LF ,with theoretically shoots 4.5K also has a Log C color profile and has a 16bit color depth. The camera has a F-LCOS -with 1280 x 768 pixel resolution viewfinder and also supports ARRI's 5GHZ video wireless transmission protocol (WVS), the camera also has dual audio channels and has a maximum broadcast range of 600m . Designed around the ARRI LPL mount , the camera suppo...