Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Sigma unveils three new MFT and Sony E-Mount lenses

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/29/sigma-unveils-three-new-mft-and-sony-e-mount-lenses/

Sigma reveals three new MFT and Sony EMount lenses

Despite the raves that recent micro four-thirds and Sony E-Mount cameras have received of late, there's still a dearth of lenses for the fledgeling systems compared to their more entrenched counterparts. Luckily, Sigma's just added to the pool of autofocus-equipped models for each system: updated 19mm F2.8 DN and 30mm F2.8 DN models along with an all-new 60mm F2.8 DN telephoto lens. Each Japan-made model has a "telecentric" optical design to minimize CMOS color issues, a metal exterior with silver or black color options, and a linear autofocus motor that Sigma claims is quiet enough to use for video. Meanwhile, the imaging outfit also announced an updated 30mm, F1.4 DC HSM model for Canon APS-C, Nikon DX and its own Sigma mount. All that's great news, though we're still waiting for an AF/electronic F1.4 or faster lens for E-Mount (there's only one on MFT as well) -- though this might tide us over, in the meantime. See the PR after the break for more info.

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Sigma Corporation announces four new lenses at CP+ Camera and Photo Imaging Show 2013
January 29, 2013

Sigma Corporation announces four new l! enses at CP+ Camera and Photo Imaging Show 2013

APS-C format, E-Mount and Micro Four Thirds lenses feature sleek new 'Art' product line design

YOKOHAMA, Japan - Jan. 29, 2013-Sigma Corporation of America a leading researcher, developer, manufacturer and service provider of some of the world's most impressive lines of lenses, cameras and flashes, today announced the release of four new lenses for the ART product line, including three lenses for mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras and one lens for DSLR cameras with APS-C size sensors. This announcement comes at the start of the CP+ Camera and Photo Imaging Show 2013 this week in Yokohama, Japan.

The new and updated Sigma lenses include the 30mm F1.4 DC HSM, which will be available in Sigma, Canon and Nikon mounts, and the 30mm F2.8 DN, 19mm F2.8 DN and 60mm F2.8 DN lenses, which are available for both Micro Four Thirds and Sony E-Mount camera systems. Pricing and availability on all of these lenses has yet to be announced.

The 60mm F2.8 DN lens is entirely new to the Sigma lineup, while the 30mm F1.4 DC HSM and the 30mm F2.8 DN and 19mm F2.8 DN lenses are existing focal lengths that have been redesigned with enhanced optical performance and included as part of Sigma's new Global Vision category restructuring. All three DN lenses incorporate telecentric optical designs and a linear, auto focusing motor that ensures accurate and quiet focusing for video recording. They also boast metal exteriors and a simply shaped focus ring, with varying textures to distinguish each part of the lens. In addition, DN users can choose between a black or silver finish to match their favorite equipment.

"We're really proud of the super sharp lenses we've produced in the past year and these new Art lenses will continue to impress our fans and critics alike. They're ideal for the landscape, portrait, still-life, close-up and casual photographer who values creative, dramatic outcomes above! compact ness and multifunction," said Mark Amir-Hamzeh, president of Sigma Corporation of America. "The lenses are entirely made in Japan and they boast the new product line's sleek design and enhanced quality control. We're quite proud of these changes - and additions - to our lens lineup; they're further evidence of Sigma's forethought in this fast-moving industry."

Here are more details on these new lenses from Sigma:

· 30mm F1.4 DC HSM Sigma's new USB Dock, which will enable firmware updates and focusing adjustments, is expected to be available in coming months.- Sigma pioneered the large-aperture, APS-C format, standard lens category with its 30mm F1.4 lens in 2005. With new optical configurations of nine elements in eight groups, as well as rounded aperture blades, this updated lens delivers pleasing sharpness and a beautiful bokeh background. Its angle of view is equivalent to 45mm on a 35mm camera (which is similar to that of human vision), its minimum focusing distance is 11.8 inches and its maximum magnification ratio is 1:6.8. The lens' optimized power distribution helps to minimize field curvature, prevent a loss of image quality at the edges of photographs and produce outstanding image quality. Its double-aspheric lens minimizes spherical distortion, astigmatism and coma, and its rear focus system prevents focus-dependent variation in aberration. Together, the new optimized auto focus (AF) algorithm and rear focusing system ensure smooth and accurate focusing. The new 30mm F1.4 is also compatible with Sigma's new USB Dock, which will enable firmware updates and focusing adjustments, is expected to be available in coming months.

· 60mm F2.8 DN- Featuring the natural perspective of mid-range telephoto lenses, together with a shallow depth of field, this lens allows the photographer to capture a single part of a subject with great bokeh effects. It has an angle of view equivalent to 120mm on the Micro Four Thirds system and 90mm on the E-mount ! system ( 35mm equivalent focal length). The minimum focusing distance is 19.7 inches; the maximum magnification is 1:7.2. This lens also contains Special Low Dispersion (SLD) glass, which helps minimize axial and transverse chromatic aberration.

· Sigma 19mm F2.8 DN - This high-performance, wide-angle telephoto lens has an angle of view equivalent to 38mm on the Micro Four Thirds system and 28.5mm on the E-mount system (35mm equivalent focal length). As a wide-angle lens with excellent mobility, it is ideal for studio photography, architecture and starry skies. Its minimum focusing distance is 7.9 inches and its maximum magnification is 1:7.4.

· Sigma 30mm F2.8 DN - This high-performance, standard telephoto lens has an angle of view equivalent to 60mm on the Micro Four Thirds system and 45mm on the E-mount system (35mm equivalent focal length). This lens, which is perfect for casual and formal portraiture, documentary photography, travelogues and everyday shooting, includes a double-sided aspherical lens that enhances its optical performance. Its minimum focusing distance of 11.8 inches and its maximum magnification is 1:8.1.

For information about Sigma Corporation of America, visit www.sigmaphoto.com. For the full press releases for each of these new lenses, visit Sigma's news section at www.sigmaphoto.com/sigma-news.

About Sigma Corporation
For more than 50 years, Sigma Corporation's expertise and innovation has driven the company's core philosophy of "knowledge, plus experience, plus imagination,"with anemphasis on producing high-quality, high-performance photographic technology. This family-owned organization is the largest, independent SLR lens manufacturer in the world, producing more than more than 45 lenses that are compatible with most manufacturers, including Sigma, Canon, Sony, Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic and Pentax. Sigma Corporation also produces digital SLR cameras and high-definition digital compact cameras. The company is ! headquar tered in Japan, with offices strategically located throughout Europe, Asia and North America. For information, please visit www.sigmaphoto.com.

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Via: Sony Alpha Rumors

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Monday, January 28, 2013

The biggest 1080p phone so far: Pantech's 5.9-inch Vega No. 6

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/28/pantech-vega-no-6/

The biggest 1080p phone so far Pantech's 59inch Vega No 6

It's been such a mighty, mighty long time since the Vega No. 5 came out to tug on the Dell Streak 5's coattails, but Pantech has just announced the next installment in its phablet series: the 5.9-inch Vega No. 6. The Android 4.1 handset opts for an IPS LCD display, alongside a 13-megapixel rear camera capable of 1080p30 video and a hefty 2-megapixel front-facer. The battery is pretty big too at 3,150mAh, and it's powering a Snapdragon S4 Pro, which means the only thing we're missing right now is some concrete release info -- the official announcement has so far been entirely Korea-centric.

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Via: FarEastGizmos

Source: Pantech

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Sunday, January 27, 2013

The New H.265 Video Format Will Help Chew Up Video So Your Network Can Swallow It

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5979308/the-new-h265-video-format-helps-chew-up-video-so-networks-can-swallow-it

The New H.265 Video Format Will Help Chew Up Video So Your Network Can Swallow It Streaming video is the future. Well, it's the present, but the future too. And as resolutions increase, it's going to be a tougher and tougher proposition to pipe all that data to your screen of choice in a timely fashion. Fortunately, the new H.265 standard has been approved by the ITU and it's here to help.

Also known as High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC), the H.265 standard should make HD video streaming easier and could make even UHD (formerly known as 4K) streaming feasible whenever that becomes a thing that people actually might want to do. Ideally, new compression techniques that come along with the H.265 standard should make 1080p streaming possible while only requiring about half as much of the data that's required today.

On top of making it easier to stream increasingly high definition content, the new standard should also make it easier to stream stuff on less-than-zippy networks, bringing higher quality video content to mobile devices with less of a wait on buffering.

But of course, the effects won't be instant. Sure, software encoders are imminent, but we won't really start reaping the benefits until the standard gets adopted down in the chips. H.265 won't be able to shoulder the whole burden of increasingly mammoth streaming video loads, but it should be able to lend a hand, and that's worth something at least. [ITU via Engadget]

Image by XYZ/Shutterstock

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Saturday, January 26, 2013

First Ubuntu smartphone will keep things simple, launch without an app store

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/25/ubuntu-smartphone-will-launch-without-app-store/

DNP First Ubuntu smartphone will launch without an app store

While RIM throws checks at developers, and Steve Ballmer invades other people's press conferences to shout about apps, the folks behind the Ubuntu smartphone project are taking a very different tack. According to Richard Collins, product manager at Canonical, the first device -- expected by early next year -- will target basic users and only run pre-installed software:

"In terms of our first go-to-market product strategy, the intention is not to have an application store full of ready-made applications that are there to download. We have a very definite approach in terms of addressing a very important part of the market where users are primarily interested in being able to use a core set of applications."

Let's be clear, though: this entry-level phone will be capable of accessing a storefront for third-party apps at some point in the future. A huge part of Canonical's long-term plan is to capitalize on its relationships with developers and the fact that existing Ubuntu desktop apps should be relatively easy to port to the new breed of phones and tablets. It's just that this isn't going to be the priority to begin with. Check out our full interview with Richard Collins for more.

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Samsung plays favorites, blesses Korean Galaxy Grand with quad-core and LTE

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/25/samsung-korean-galaxy-grand-quad-core/

DNP Samsung plays favorites, blesses Korean Galaxy Grand with quadcore and LTE

After being unveiled at the close of 2012, yesterday Samsung announced the Galaxy Grand for its native South Korea. At a glance the domestic build of this handset looks nearly identical to its foreign counterpart, however the device's spec sheet tells a different story. Opposed to a meager dual-core chip and faux 4G connectivity, the Korean version of the Galaxy Grand sports a beefy 1.4GHz processor, along with LTE network support. Additional unique features include NFC capabilities and USB 3.0. Aside from these hometown enhancements, the device's 5-inch WVGA display, dual-cameras and Android 4.1 operating system remain intact. Set to be available on three unannounced Korean carriers at an undisclosed time, potential suitors can pick up this superior version of the Galaxy Grand for 350,000 won (around $325).

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Via: Android Headlines

Source: Samsung (translated)

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