Beyond the table top: 5 mini tripods reviewed

With very capable cameras getting smaller and lighter with each iteration, photographers and camera bags have adapted to hold these smaller systems. Eventually, even thatcarbon fiber travel tripod starts to seem excessive. When traveling with limited space and increasing weight restrictions, larger camera support becomes more of an issue. Enter the mini tripod; a class of legs and head that can hold up tiny cameras and flashes, but is also strong enough to provide a stable platform for the same full-sized gear that might otherwise go without support.

In this group review we look at five tripod and head combinations that are larger and more adjustable than the common 'pocket' tripod, but still more packable than a travel tripod. The basic requirements for this group are: can hold up at least 8.8 lbs (4kg) to accommodate many different cameras and lenses; height adjustable so they aren't limited to shooting a few inches off a surface; yet they can be expected to fit inside a mid-sized or smaller bag.

• Joby Gorillapod Focus & Ballhead X
• FLM CP10-A1 & CB-24E head
• Novoflex BasicBall & Ball 30
• ProMaster TTS522
• Sirui 3T-35R

Use the arrows or table of contents below to read each tripod kit review. On the last page, we make a final recommendation.

Joby Gorillapod Focus w/ Ballhead X
$130 / £85  www.joby.com

In 2006, Joby of San Francisco grabbed the tabletop tripod market and twisted it into new shapes with the introduction of its original Gorillapod. Soon after, compact cameras could be wrapped around poles, branches, or even skateboards, before action cameras and phones took over those duties. Today, Joby creates six different, bendable Gorillapods, along with camera straps, ball heads, and a variety of accessories for, yes, action cameras and phones. The Gorillapod Focus is the largest and most capable of the company's tentacled support devices, and is reviewed in a kit with Joby's Ballhead X.

Specifications

MSRP	$130
Folded length	14.4" (36.5cm)
Maximum height	11.8" (30cm)
Minimum height	4.9" (12.5cm)
Weight	1.7 lbs (762g)
Load limit	11 lbs (5kg)
# of leg angles	---
Angle degrees	---
Warranty	1 year

Size comparison

The Gorillapod Focus with the Ballhead X on top is a long and hefty package. Although the legs can be squished and reformed in many different arrangements, the overall packed size is still a relatively gigantic 14.4" (36.5cm) long tube of metal and rubber, that is also 3.6" (9cm) thick. This makes the Joby difficult to pack inside a modest bag for walking about, even if that bag can accommodate a 70-200mm F2.8 lens. This stretches the definition of 'mini-tripod' a bit, but then a Gorillapod isn't easily categorized anyhow.

Available heights*

*Approximate, given the flexible nature of the ball-and-socket legs.

Compared to the original Gorillapod (shown above), the Focus model is more 'giant robot' to the former's 'friendly toy' build quality. The platform and the 24mm balls under each leg joint are made from very solid ABS plastic, while the Ballhead X and the socket for each leg joint are made from well-machined aluminum. The result is a very solid feeling device that is larger than its weight would suggest. The hard, but grippy rubber encircling each joint and the foot-balls, feels equally durable.

The functional result of these relatively hefty parts is three multi-joint legs that do not bend easily at first, but then give way to a slightly more fluid rotation. Slightly sticky is one way to describe how each joint wants to stay in its original position (at whatever angle), which is very good for keeping their overall leg forms in place once set. The side-effect is that it can require a minor feat of strength to get more than one joint to bend at a time, which occasionally makes packing and unpacking the Gorillapod Focus a trial.

Long and short of it: Tamron 16-300mm F3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD Macro review

Tamron 16-300mm F3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD Macro review
$629/£450

Of the numerous incarnations of Tamron's famous superzoom concept that we've seen over the last couple of decades, the latest 16-300mm F3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD Macro looks like one of the bigger steps forward. It offers a lot more than the incremental increase in focal length that has characterized most of its predecessors, starting at 18-200mm with the first version for APS-C format cameras in 2005, rising to 250mm, then 270mm, and now up to 300mm.

This time though, the focal length range also extends wider, from 18mm to 16mm (28mm to 24mm equivalent), bringing serious wide-angle capability to the superzoom category for the first time. A couple of millimeters improvement over the previous Tamron 18-270mm F3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD may not sound like much, but it makes a very useful difference at short focal lengths and the extended range now sets a new record with a whopping 18.8x zoom ratio. Closest focusing distance has also been reduced to earn the 'Macro' designation (even if it's hardly macro in the true sense of allowing 1:1 reproduction). 

Additionally, the new lens has had a thorough mechanical overhaul with several welcome changes. The PZD (Piezo Drive) auto-focusing and VC (Vibration Compensation) image-stabilization systems are both improved. The focusing ring is better positioned close to the camera and it no longer rotates during auto-focusing. The build quality goes up a notch too, with 'moisture-resistant' construction. Both size and weight have increased slightly, but it's still a very handy package.

Headline features

• Class-leading 16-300mm focal length range (approx 24-450mm equivalent)
• Swift and quiet PZD ultrasonic-drive autofocus
• Effective VC (Vibration Compensation) in-lens image stabilization
• Close focusing to 0.39m, maximum magnification 0.34x
• Weather-resistant build
• Compact size (for focal length range)
• APS-C format only, in fittings for Canon, Nikon and Sony DSLRs

In the DSLR sector, Tamron faces superzoom rivals in every camp, and some of the designs are notably similar. Alphabetically, the Canon EF-S 18-200mm 3.5-5.6 IS looks a little behind the curve these days, though it's a proven good performer. Nikon has a history of occasional cooperation with Tamron and matches the long-end reach with its Nikkor 18-300mm F3.5-6.3G AF-S DX ED VR. The Pentax SMC DA 18-270mm F3.5-6.3 ED SDM bears more than a passing resemblance to the superseded Tamron 18-270mm. Not to be outdone, Sigma joins the up-to-300mm superzoom club with its revamped 18-300mm F3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM C, and Sony has the DT 18-250mm F3.5-6.3. 

Angle of view

This is what superzooms are all about - one lens, that goes from wide-angle, through the standard focal length range, and on to a very respectable telephoto. Tamron has even trade-marked the term 'all in one' and its 16-300mm lens leads the class with an 18.8:1 zoom ratio.

Tamron 16-300mm F3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD Macro compared to Tamron 18-270mm F3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD

	Tamron 16-300mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD Macro	Tamron 18-270mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD
Principal specifications
Lens type	Zoom lens
Max Format size	APS-C / DX
Focal length	16–300 mm	18–270 mm
Image stabilisation	Yes
Lens mount	Canon EF-S, Nikon F (DX), Sony/Minolta Alpha	Canon EF-S, Nikon F (DX), Sony/Minolta Alpha DT
Aperture
Maximum aperture	F3.5–6.3
Minimum aperture	F22–40
Aperture ring	No
Number of diaphragm blades	7
Aperture notes	Circular diaphragm
Optics
Elements	16
Groups	12	13
Focus
Minimum focus	0.39 m (15.35″)	0.49 m (19.29″)
Maximum magnification	0.34×	0.26×
Autofocus	Yes
Motor type	Ultrasonic	Micro-type ultrasonic
Full time manual	Yes	No
Focus method	Internal
Distance scale	Yes
DoF scale	No
Physical
Weight	540 g (1.19 lb)	450 g (0.99 lb)
Diameter	75 mm (2.95″)	74 mm (2.93″)
Length	100 mm (3.94″)	88 mm (3.46″)
Materials		Plastic barrel, metal mount
Sealing	Yes	No
Colour	Black
Zoom method	Rotary (extending)
Power zoom		No
Zoom lock	Yes
Filter thread	67.0 mm	62.0 mm
Hood supplied	Yes
Tripod collar		No
Other
Notes	Sony version will not have image stabilisation, and will be called '16-300mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II PZD Macro'

DxOMark Mobile Report: Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+

DxOMark Mobile Report: Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+

Summary

The Galaxy S6 edge+ is an enlarged version of its smaller cousin Galaxy S6 edge and uses the same hardware in the camera department. A 1/2.6-inch 16MP CMOS sensor is combined with a fast F1.9 aperture and an optical image stabilization system. In video mode the camera is capable of recording 4K footage and the OIS is supported by a new and improved digital stabilization algorithm.

With a DxOMark Mobile score of 87 the Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ achieves the same score as the Sony Xperia Z5 and takes a joint number one spot in the DxOMark smartphone rankings. During testing the DxOMark team liked the "very good detail preservation in outdoor conditions, very good white balance and the good exposure behavior and color rendering". When shooting with flash images showed "good exposure, good detail preservation and low noise levels". Without additional light sources white balance and color preservation in flash captures was good as well. On the downside, "strong ringing is visible, slight noise is noticeable in all conditions and some pictures show slight aliasing". 

In video mode the DxO team liked the "very high level of detail in bright light conditions, good exposure and color rendering, good tracking and good autofocus behavior". However, footage also showed a "visible loss of detail in lowlight condition" and "temporal luminance noise is visible on edge transitions". Testers also noted "jitter artifacts with indoor walking movement" and that the autofocus is "slightly slow at scene change detection in low light conditions".

Still Photography

Color, Exposure and Contrast

The DxOMark team found that the Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ images showed "good exposure and dynamic range and very good white balance transition in bright light". Testers also noted "vivid, pleasant and realistic colors in all conditions". However, "in very bright scenes some highlights are clipped" and "very slight color shading is visible under low tungsten light".

Overall DxOMark awarded the Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ scores of:

• 4.6 out of 5 for Exposure
• 4.7 out of 5 for White Balance accuracy
• 4.3 out of 5 for Color shading in low light*
• 4.5 out of 5 for Color shading in bright light*
• 3.0 out of 5 for Color Rendering in low light
• 4.5 out of 5 for Color Rendering in bright light

*Color Shading is the nasty habit cellphone cameras have of rendering different areas of the frame with different color shifts, resulting in pictures with, for example, pinkish centers and greenish corners.

Noise and Details

DxOMark's engineers reported that the Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ images show "very good detail preservation in outdoor conditions" but there is also "some noise noticeable in all conditions".

Texture Acutance

Texture acutance is a way of measuring the ability of a camera to capture images that preserve fine details, particularly the kind of low contrast detail (such as fine foliage, hair or fur) that can be blurred away by noise reduction or obliterated by excessive sharpening.

Sharpness is an important part of the quality of an image, but while it's easy to look at an image and decide visually whether it's sharp or not, the objective measurement of sharpness is less straightforward.

An image can be defined as "sharp" if edges are sharp and if fine details are visible. In-camera processing means that it's possible to have one of these (sharp edges) but not the other (fine details). Conventional MTF measurements tell us how sharp an edge is, but have drawbacks when it comes to measuring fine detail preservation. Image processing algorithms can detect edges and enhance their sharpness, but they can also find homogeneous areas and smooth them out to reduce noise.

Texture acutance, on the other hand, can qualify sharpness in terms of preservation of fine details, without being fooled by edge enhancement algorithms.

Lens shootout: Sony RX10 III destroys the competition

When the RX10 III was revealed as the 'top secret' Sony product launch in San Francisco earlier this year, I felt a bit cynical. 'Another RX10, Sony? Really?' I cried, along with a few bored commenters. 'The last one is hardly a year old!'

Then I saw some telephoto sample images and was immediately impressed, wondering if I had been underestimating the 1" bridge camera segment. Then Barney described the RX10 III to me as 'magic', which is high praise indeed and warranted further investigation. Which is exactly what we've done, below. Note that our results here are only indicative of the one copy of each camera we have on hand, some of which appear to be slightly decentered.

The Shootout

Starting at the wide end, which is around 25mm for all the cameras tested, we see in the center of the image (where our RX10 II appears to perform as expected) improvements over the RX10 II aren't incredibly pronounced. Other areas of the scene show the advantage of the RX10 III, especially when it is stopped down from its maximum aperture of F2.4 to F2.8. Its performance is definitely a step up from the Panasonic FZ1000, and is miles ahead of the Canon G3 X.

Where crazy zoom lenses like these typically struggle is in the extremes of the frame, with neither the RX10 III or the FZ1000 being an exception. The sharpness fall-off is less severewith the RX10 III, though, and all in all, the RX10 III is the best performer on the wide end.

Moving on to 400mm, the maximum focal length for the Panasonic FZ1000, we see a similar amount of detail between the Panasonic and Sony near the center of the image. Sharpness and resolution change for both throughout the frame, with the Sony showing a slightly iffy left side, and a better right side. Through most of the scene the two are practically neck and neck, with the G3 X turning in comparable performance as well, but let's not forget the Sony and Canon still have more zoom range to go. 

The real reason people consider bridge cameras is for the reach, and Sony extended the RX10 III's reach by a full 400mm over the RX10 II. That means it now offers the same amount of reach as the G3 X's 600mm equivalent maximum focal length. The RX10 III's lens is clearly sharper, but it has another thing going for it: its faster maximum aperture helps it combat diffraction. Remember that F4 and F5.6 on 1"-type cameras are equivalentto F11 and F15, respectively. Both cameras are limited by atmospheric distortion at these focal lengths (hence the drop to 'print' resolution in the previous comparison link), but it's clear that the RX10 III exceeds the G3 X's performance, while offering just as much zoom versatility. The Canon PowerShot G3 X's trump card has been trumped.

In all, it seems the RX10 III does offer a bit more than similar 1" bridge cameras from other manufacturers. It exceeds, or at least matches, the competition with respect to zoom range, while offering sharper images, and brighter apertures than all but Sony's own RX10 II. Importantly, sharpness performance appears to be maintained throughout the zoom range, from wide to tele, which cannot be said for any of the other cameras in this test. Feel free to explore through these images and post your own findings below.

Things to Consider

As you look at the comparison widget, bear in mind that It appears our copy of the RX10II appears to be slightly decentered. This isn't really noticeable in normal shooting but it's obvious in a controlled test like this. 

The second caveat to these results is the weather. Light varied over the course of the test, and had darkened so much that the Panasonic, the final camera tested, needed 2/3rds more exposure to produce a comparable image. All the exposures were processed in ACR with default sharpness and the 'Adobe Standard' profile used across the board.

We'll be adding the RX10 III to our standard database of studio test images very soon - watch this space!

Dual-cam Duel: Sony and LG Innotek rumored to be competing for Apple orders

Judging by the number of rumors buzzing around the internet it seems almost certain that at least one version of the upcoming iPhone 7 will come with a dual-camera setup. Word on the street until now has been that in addition to the standard model Apple is planning to offer a premium version of the larger 'Plus' model with a dual-cam designed by Linx, an optical engineering company that was bought by Apple last year.

According to new information this might be, at least partly, incorrect. Financial publicationBarron's quotes Citi Research in saying that all 5.5-inch iPhone models coming this fall will have dual-cameras on the back, not just a premium model.

Barron's also quotes Chris Chan of Asia-based financial services group Nomura:

'We think Sony may not be able to deliver its full share of dual cameras to Apple due to: (1) lower-than-expected yield, and (2) damage to its production facility from the April earthquake in Kumamoto. As a result, we think LGI will gain majority share of the initial dual camera orders from Apple...'

Looking at the amount of information out in the open there is almost no doubt that whatever the manufacturer of the modules, we'll have a dual-cam iPhone to play with in September. The question is if the dual-lenses will be used for optical zooming, as on theLG G5, or to enhance image quality and simulate a shallow depth-of-field, as we've seen in the Huawei P9.  We'll only have to wait a few more months to find out...

LG introduces live-streaming action cam with LTE built-in

Korean electronics manufacturer LG has announced a new action cam that can stream live content to the internet via built-in 3G and LTE connectivity. The LG Action CAM LTE allows users to connect directly from the camera to a chosen video hosting website without using a mobile device as the middle man. The camera will also offer remote access, so it will also function as a CCTV camera or security monitor.

Capable of recording video in up to UHD quality at 30fps and of shooting 12.3MP stills, the Action CAM LTE is dust and weather proof and can cope with being submerged for up to 30 minutes at a depth of 1 meter. It will be available first in Korea, with plans to launch in the rest of the world after. No price information has been released yet.

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Press release:

LG INTRODUCES ACTIVE LIFESTYLE CAMERA WITH LIVE STREAMING OVER 4G

Action Camera with LTE is the Latest Addition to the LG Friend Ecosystem

The newest addition to LG Electronics’ (LG) Friend ecosystem is the first action camera to be available globally with LTE connectivity built-in, allowing for users to stream directly to sites such as YouTube Live without a smartphone. The device, LG Action CAMLTE, will launch in South Korea next month followed by key markets worldwide including North America and Europe.

In addition to its live streaming feature, LG Action CAMLTE will offer remote access*functionality via 3G and LTE which will enable the device to be used as a CCTV camera for home monitoring or as an automobile dash camera. Action CAMLTE users can download recorded images and videos on their paired smartphones.

With a rating of IP67, the LG Action CAMLTE is completely protected from dust, sand and can be immersed in up to one meter of water for up to 30 minutes. A completely waterproof case (available in the third quarter) will enable the camera to participate in more vigorous activities such as surfing and scuba diving. With the optional mount, the LG Action CAMLTE can capture smooth videos while attached to helmets, bicycles, cars and other fast moving objects. With a generous 1,400mAh battery the camera boasts an industry-leading Full HD recording time of up to four hours.

“We are committed to expanding the LG Playground ecosystem with both modules and standalone accessories and Action CAMLTE is one of many more that we plan to announce this year,” said Juno Cho, LG Electronics and Mobile Communications Company president. “Action CAMLTE is an example of the kind of innovation we will be bringing to market, devices that offer features unavailable in other competing products.”

Prices, specifications and carrier details will be announced locally at the time of launch.

Key Specifications:

• Camera: 1/2.3-inch 12.3MP / 1.55 x 1.55?pixels
• Connectivity: LTE / 3G / Wi-Fi 802.11 b, g, n / USB Type-C 2.0 / Bluetooth 4.1
• Video Recording: UHD 30fps / FHD 60fps / HD 120fps
• Video Live Streaming: HD 30fps
• Memory: 2GB RAM / 4GB ROM (OS only) / microSD (up to 2TB)
• Size: 35 x 35 x 77.9mm
• Weight: 95g
• Battery: 1,400mAh
• Others: IP67 / GPS / Accelerometer / Gyroscope
• Color: Light Gray

* Remote access feature available after software update coming in July 2016.

Yi action camera updates original with 4K video

Updated 5/20/16: An earlier version of this article incorrectly identified Xiaomi as the maker of the Yi action cam.

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Chinese company Yi has updated its action camera with a Sony IMX377 12MP 1/2.3" sensor, improving its top resolution to 4K compared to the original model's 1080p maximum. The Yi 4K Action Camera also features an Ambarella A9SE75 chipset, a 155-degree wide-angle 7-layer optical glass lens and a 2.19" LCD rear touchscreen display.

According to Yi, the internal 1400mAh battery allows for up to 120 minutes of video recording in 4K. Content is stored on a removable media card, with capacities of up to 64GB supported. Other features include a built-in speaker and microphone, dual-band Wi-Fi, and three color options: Rose Gold, White, and Black.

The international version of the Yi II Action Camera offers the following recording options:

• WVGA/240fps
• 720p/240fps
• 960p/120fps
• 1080p/120fps
• 1440p/60fps
• 2.5K/30fps
• 4K/30fps

The camera can be pre-ordered from Yi Technology, which offers international shipping. The camera costs $249.

Xiaomi initially tried its hands at action cameras, a market traditionally dominated by GoPro, last year with the launch of Yi Action Camera priced at dirt cheap CNY 399 (roughly Rs. 3,900). The Chinese company has now upgraded its action camera range with the Xiaomi Yi Action Camera 2 model pricedat CNY 1,199 (approximately Rs. 12,000). It is also available to pre-order via a third-party online retailer.

The new Yi Action Camera 2 is also being referred to as Yi 4K action camera by the company, considering the device sports 4K video recording capabilities at 30fps. It can also record full-HD videos at 120fps as well as HD videos at 240fps.

The Yi Action Camera 2 sports a 12-megapixel Sony IMX377 sensor which comes with f/2.8 aperture and 155-degree wide viewing angle. The device features a 2.19-inch display and also sports Corning Gorilla Glass for protection. The company says that the display on Yi Action Camera 2 comes with 160-degree wide viewing angles.

One of the highlights of the new Yi Action Camera 2 packs 1400mAh battery which is claimed to offer more battery life than GoPro Hero 4. The company touted that the new Yi Action Camera can record for up to 2 hours of continuous video recording. It comes with microSD card slot and supports Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.0.

Another notable feature of the new action camera from Yi is it packs EIS (electronic image stabilisation) which is a feature the company touts misses out on the GoPro Hero 4.

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