The Grey Wagtail is a captivating chook fairly generally discovered alongside streams and rivers. Its fixed tail wagging has impressed related names in lots of languages. This week, the Czech Ornithological Society named it Hen of the Yr. They identified the chook’s relationship to essential pure waterways, lots of which have contracted dramatically, making it more durable for the surroundings to retain water. In only a month, the wagtails will likely be getting back from their wintering grounds. I can’t wait to wade into the cool waters of the streams once more and watch their fascinating lives.
Latest Bulletins
- Nikon Z 28-135mm f/4 PZ: That is the primary Z-mount lens designed particularly for skilled video, that includes an influence zoom lever, geared focus and zoom rings, and optical options aimed toward videography. Zooming may be managed in a number of methods: by way of the lever (with 11 selectable zoom speeds), programmable buttons on the digital camera physique, a standard zoom ring, or remotely by Nikon’s cellular and desktop software program. To fight ghosting and flare, Nikon has utilized its finest anti-reflection coating – the Meso Amorphous Coat. You possibly can learn extra in our announcement article. The lens is accessible for pre-order at $2,600.
- RED V-RAPTOR [X] and KOMODO [X] for Z-Mount: A brand new fruit of Nikon’s acquisition of RED is right here. The cameras as such are usually not new, however now they add an choice to buy them with a Z Mount. The V-RAPTOR [X] ($29,995) is a beast with full-frame (40.96 x 21.6 mm) sensor with international shutter, 17+ stops of dynamic vary, and excessive body charges like 8K 120p. The extra reasonably priced and compact KOMODO-X ($6,995) has a smaller Tremendous-35 (27.03 x 14.26 mm) sensor that additionally has a world shutter and shoots as much as 6K 80p or 4K 120p. Along with the flexibility to make use of RED cameras with Nikon lenses, RED additionally introduced a brand new Z to PL adapter ($3,500) with an digital ND filter. When enabled, its density may be set in a spread of two to 7 stops.
- Tokina 11-18mm f/2.8 ATX-M: This lens has been accessible for fairly a while for Sony customers (and is presently discounted from $599 to $399). Nevertheless, beginning in mid-March, Fuji shooters will even have the ability to buy this lens for $599. For them, this lens is especially fascinating since Fujifilm doesn’t provide a local different that covers an analogous focal size vary (full-frame equal of 16.5-27mm) with a continuing f/2.8 aperture. The optical development consists of 13 parts in 11 teams. It has a 67mm filter thread and weighs 318g.
- Seagate Extremely Compact SSD: A drive for conditions the place each ounce and each little bit of saved house in your backpack issues (I instantly considered Spencer and his trek within the Chilean Andes)! With dimensions of 70mm × 20.40mm × 12.50mm and a weight of simply 24g, it’s extraordinarily transportable. But 1TB and 2TB capacities can retailer a whole lot of pictures or movies. Seagate’s 3-meter drop safety and IP54 mud and water resistance recommend that this SSD can endure in robust circumstances. Switch speeds attain as much as 1,000MB/s by way of the built-in USB-C. Pricing is ready at $100 for the 1TB model and $180 for the 2TB model.
The Rumor Mill
ZEISS plans a comeback to the photograph lens enterprise
It has been six years since Zeiss final launched a photo-oriented lens. Now, two intriguing posts have appeared on its Instagram profile. Each characteristic owls. The primary exhibits an grownup owl with the textual content “Touchdown quickly,” whereas the second shows two juvenile owls alongside the date “02.25.2025.”
Zeiss famously names its lens lineups after birds, such because the Otus (Scops-owls), a genus with over 50 species. May this be a teaser for a brand new Otus sequence of lenses? The primary teaser picture was even taken with an Otus 85mm f/1.4. It looks as if we’ll discover out quickly.
By way of Zeiss Digital camera Lenses
Lumix S1R II gained’t be a finances twin of Leica SL3
No less than, that’s the case in response to a supply from L-Rumors. Till now, it was extensively anticipated that Panasonic’s long-awaited launch would characteristic the identical 60MP sensor as Leica’s present SL-series flagship.
Will Panasonic persist with the 47.3 MP decision of the S1R as a substitute? Or will it have the 60MP sensor however variations in different areas? That might be revealed later this month on the CP+ commerce present.
By way of L-Rumors
Good Offers and New Gross sales
It can save you as much as $300 on a few of the latest MacBook Professional fashions with the M4 chip at B&H Photograph till February 21, 2025. The deal applies to the next high-end laptops:
- Apple 16″ Macbook Professional, M4 Max 16-Core Chip, 48GB Unified RAM, 1TB SSD was $4,000, now $3,800
- Apple 16″ Macbook Professional, M4 Professional 14-Core Chip, 48GB Unified RAM, 1TB SSD was $3,100, now $2,800
- Apple 14″ Macbook Professional, M4 Professional 14-Core Chip, 48GB Unified RAM, 1TB SSD was $2,800, now $2,500
- Apple 14″ Macbook Professional, M4 Professional 14-Core Chip, 24GB Unified RAM, 1TB SSD was $2,400, now $2,150
And since we’re already on the computing wave, right here’s my number of high-quality SSDs presently accessible at good costs. To make comparisons simpler, all chosen drives have the identical capability of 2TB. The velocity, sturdiness, and different characteristic units do have some variations.
Different Pages of Curiosity
Small, remotely managed quadcopters have discovered quite a few functions lately. Let’s put aside their utilization in warfare and give attention to their peaceable makes use of. Past capturing gorgeous aerial footage, drones will also be used for conservation actions similar to monitoring endangered animal populations. Within the article Observe that Hen! How Drones Are Serving to Scientists Monitor Wildlife, you’ll find out how a drone geared up with an infrared digital camera and a radio sign receiver adopted a radio-tagged Sharp-tailed Grouse.
If you happen to’re excited about journalistic and documentary images, you need to check out the successful images from Czech Press Photograph 2024. As anticipated, many prizes have been gained by works documenting present occasions in Ukraine and the Gaza Strip. Nevertheless, in a stunning twist, the foremost prize went to a sports activities photograph from final yr’s Olympic Video games in Paris. My private favourite, although, is the black and white portrait sequence A Clown’s Life, which gained within the portrait class.
Within the vibrant gallery of the sixth annual Shut-up Photographer of the Yr 2024, you’ll discover 100 of the most effective photos, chosen from over 11,000 submissions by photographers from 61 international locations. Seize a magnifying glass – or at the very least your studying glasses – since you’re about to enter a world of some very tiny creatures. Though, you’ll additionally discover topics of a considerably greater nature, similar to a bear or a large sequoia, among the many winners. You can too obtain a 27-page catalog with detailed details about the successful photos. You possibly can pair it with a few of the most effective insect pictures, as chosen by the Royal Entomological Society.
Photograph Theme Problem, Week #89
Final week’s theme was winter, and you’ll see the outcomes on this thread. Thanks to everybody to your submissions! This week’s theme is breaking guidelines, and you’ll submit your outcomes on this thread by Saturday, February 22, 2024!
Week #88 Outcomes
Let’s take a look at a few of the pictures we acquired for the “winter” theme, beginning with Nightjar’s photograph:
I wouldn’t have anticipated to see a Heron within the snow, and this one is framed very properly, virtually as an extension to the tree!
Subsequent, we now have AndrewGusew’s photograph:
Right here, the indicators of winter are refined, however the steam and high quality of the sunshine provides it away!
Lastly, we now have Mark Fulton’s submission:
I keep in mind seeing this photograph in our month-to-month photograph critique session on the Member Web page! My first thought was how the background is simply the correct amount of out-of-focus to supply some fascinating context to the scene, with out drawing the viewer’s eye away from the topic.
Thanks everybody for submitting their pictures within the problem, and we hope to see extra subsequent week within the breaking guidelines theme.