New Work From Home Deals and Products

By Louis Ferreira | Published: March 19, 2020


Many photographers are stuck at home and are having job after job canceled as countries continue to go on lockdown, so B&H Photo decided to provide some special savings for those stuck working from home. Apple also launched a new iPad Pro and MacBook Air, which seem to be a substantial step up over Apple’s last generation of products and they are also more affordable, but supply will likely be limited like many other things today.

It is interesting that Apple seems to be making the iPad Pro more of a laptop device with the newly announced keyboard and trackpad support. Even the last generation iPad Pro was capable of edition files from the cameras like the GFX so if you want a solid mobile workflow than the iPad Pro might be a better option than the new MacBook Air.

2020 iPad Pro: B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
2020 MacBook Air: B&H Photo / Amazon

https://youtu.be/09_QxCcBEyU

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Luminar 4.2 Released With New Blending Tool

By Louis Ferreira | Published: March 19, 2020


I personally use Luminar to polish the majority of my photos, because a lot of their AI tools are getting good for the kinds of photos I like to take. Readers interested in giving Luminar 4.2 a try can save $10 with our affiliate code FUJIADDICT at check out if you’re interested in giving it a try.

I personally have been getting away from Adobe tools, but I still prefer their library organization to others so I used Luminar like a plugin today, but I hope someday to move more fully to a Luminar workflow in the future. Below is the press release and an example video along with some demo images.

Luminar 4.2 opens up the doors to creativity with sky-based composite photography opportunities
With new AI Augmented Sky capabilities, photographers can create unique, one-of-a-kind digital art pieces.

NEW YORK, NY – March 19, 2020 — Today, Skylum announced the latest update for its flagship product, Luminar, version 4.2. This free update for all Luminar 4 users contains important enhancements across the application, plus a brand-new feature — AI Augmented Sky — to help photographers create incredible digital art.

While Luminar remains dedicated to being an award-winning photo editor, it also expands into being a creative powerhouse, allowing artists to express themselves through new, fun and unconventional ways of editing images.

The new AI Augmented Sky tool lets photographers transform their photographs to the new heights, by helping create unique digital art creations. The tool lets photographers place different objects directly on the sky, enabling creatives to make either a realistic landscape or transform it into something straight out of a fairy tale. Read More »

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Fujifilm RAW Studio 1.9 Released With Fujifilm X-T4 Support

By Louis Ferreira | Published: March 19, 2020


Fujifilm released Fujifilm X RAW Studio 1.9 with Fujifilm X-T4 support.

Windows FUJIFILM X RAW STUDIO Ver.1.9.0 Installer for Windows
  1. Applicable model for the “FUJIFILM X RAW STUDIO” is added.
    Applicable Model : FUJIFILM X-T4
  2. JPEG images can be saved with a specified area cropped.
  3. It can be used only on Windows (64 bit).
  4. Other improvements like performance and operability and fix of minor bugs.
Mac OS FUJIFILM X RAW STUDIO Ver.1.9.0 Installer for Mac
  1. Applicable model for the “FUJIFILM X RAW STUDIO” is added.
    Applicable Model : FUJIFILM X-T4
  2. JPEG images can be saved with a specified area cropped.
  3. Other improvements like performance and operability and fix of minor bugs.

Fujifilm X-T News, Rumors, and Collaboration
Fujifilm X-T Owners Group
Fujifilm X-T Page

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Fujifilm X-T4 Preorder: B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
VG-XT4 Vertical Battery Grip: B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
NP-W235 Battery:  B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Fujifilm BC-W235 Dual Battery Charger: B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama

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Photokina 2020 is Canceled

By Louis Ferreira | Published: March 18, 2020


Photokina 2020 is canceled
After intensive consultation, Koelnmesse GmbH has decided to cancel photokina 2020, originally planned to be held 27 to 30 May 2020. The next instalment of the leading international trade fair for photography, video and imaging will be presented from 18 to 21 May 2022. The Imaging Innovation Conference will not be celebrating its première in 2020 as originally planned; a new date will be coordinated.

In general the management team of Koelnmesse has decided not to organise any own events on the part of Koelnmesse until the end of June 2020. This decision is supported by the crisis management team of the City of Cologne, which also recommended in its meeting on 18.03.2020 to cancel the trade fairs during this period. Read More »

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China Embraces Fujifilm Avigan Wonder Drug For Coronavirus Treatment

By Louis Ferreira | Published: March 18, 2020

A few weeks ago I reported that the Japanese governement believed that the anti-influenza drug Avigan (Known as Favipiravir) developed by Fujifilm would be an effective treatment for the Coronavirus. Today Chineses officials said “an active ingredient of the company’s Avigan anti-flu drug appeared to help coronavirus patients recover.”

“Favipiravir has been effective, with no obvious side-effects, in helping coronavirus patients recover, Zhang Xinmin, an official at China’s Science and Technology Ministry, told reporters at a news conference on Tuesday.

But a Fujifilm spokesman said the company expects no direct earnings impact from potential sales growth of Favipiravir in China, at least for now, as its license for the key ingredient in the country already expired last year.

In Japan, Fujifilm manufactures Avigan only on receiving orders from the government and has no sales target for the drug, she said.”

Avigan is a very interesting drug and it was also successfully used off label to help combat the 2016 Ebola outbreak in Guinea. While it will not cure Coronavirus initial clinical trials in Shezhen have had very positive results:

“In a clinical trial in Shenzhen involving 80 participants, patients who took Favipiravir showed greater chest improvement and took less time to test negative for the genomic trace of the virus, compared with patients not given the drug, Zhang said.”

Let’s hope Avigan and the recent developments with vaccine trials and production capacity which we reported here help us improve mortality rates so we can all return to life as usual sooner rather than later.

via JapanToday

 

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Small Camera LEE85 Filter System Coming Spring 2020

By Louis Ferreira | Published: March 17, 2020


The LEE85 filter system is designed for landscape and cityscape photographers using CSCs, allowing them to travel light without compromising on quality or versatility.

The LEE85 filter holder can be easily attached, adjusted, and locked to the lens with just a finger and thumb; the locking dial can be set to neutral, half-lock or full-lock to offer full flexibility when rotating and adjusting filters. Available with one-, two-, or three-slot filter guides, the LEE85 system can be used with up to three filters plus a rapid-fitting clip-on Polariser.

“The LEE85 Filter System’s simple and intuitive design allows photographers to stamp their own creativity on their work and bring their vision to the frame,” says Paul Mason, Managing Director, LEE Filters. “Whether you’re shooting a beautiful landscape or a gritty urban scene, the LEE85 System enables photographers to enjoy all the benefits of LEE’s filter products on a very compact system.”

  • The LEE85 system is compatible with a full range of filters, including re-imagined LEE85 ND Graduated and Standard filters, which feature a grip tab that increases the visible area and keeps fingerprints off the filter zone.
  • The LEE85 Little Stopper and Big Stopper—neutral-density filters that cut six and 10 stops of light, respectively—also feature useful thumb guides to easily position them squarely within the holder.

The LEE85 Filter System will be available in a range of four kits: Discover, Develop, Aspire, and Deluxe. Included with each LEE85 Kit is the LEE85 System Pouch, which holds a LEE85 Filter Holder, Polariser, and filters; the Pouch features a concertina design with one slot per filter, and it comes with strap options for over-the-shoulder, belt-loop, and tripod configurations. Additionally, marking a first for LEE Filters, each kit will include three adaptor rings (72mm, 67mm, and 58mm) so that the system can be used straight out of the box. Adaptor rings will also be available for purchase in a range of other lens-thread sizes to support lenses from 37mm up to 72mm.

The LEE85 Filter System will be available to purchase beginning in late Spring 2020 through LEE Filters’ global dealer networks and, for UK-based customers, also through LEE Direct, LEE Filters’ new e-commerce website. The LEE85 will replace the existing Seven5 Filter System, which will be discontinued at the same time.

LEE Filters can be found at B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama

via LEE Filters, ephotozine

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