Silica Gel sucks! You know it, and I know it. When you’re trying to use it to keep your camera storage dry in the long term, you need to dry out your silica gel weekly. That can be a pain. Ask me. I know. So, what’s the more sensible option? How can you store your camera body and expensive lenses long term without a fuss, yet avoid getting fungus on them? The answer is simple: use a Dry Cabinet made especially for your camera gear.

What is a Dry Cabinet or Dry Box?

A dry cabinet for cameras is an airtight, humidity-controlled cabinet that actively removes moisture from the air.

You can put your camera in and take it out as many times as you need, and each time it will continue to remove excess moisture. There’s no refreshing of desiccant medium needed, no heating, nothing to do but to close the door properly and turn it on.

When you close it seal is properly airtight, it will automatically remove excess humidity from the air and maintain it at the pre-set level.

How Does a Dry Cabinet Work?

Unlike passive silica gel packets that get saturated over time, dry cabinets use electronic dehumidifiers with built-in hygrometers to actively monitor and control humidity levels indefinitely.

Most quality models allow you to set your desired relative humidity (typically between 35-45% for camera gear) and will maintain that level automatically.

The cabinet works through either a desiccant rotor system (used less) or Peltier technology (used more frequently) that continuously extracts moisture from the interior.

This means no more checking, baking, or replacing desiccant packets while your camera equipment is stored away. Just plug it in, set your desired humidity level, and let the cabinet do its job.

Why Your Gear Deserves Better Than Silica Gel

Fungus and mold are the silent killers of expensive camera equipment. They thrive in environments with humidity levels above 60%. Read more about preventing fungus, and maintaining your camera equipment in our dedicated article.

Once Fungus takes hold on your lenses, it can permanently etch the glass coating, rendering lenses unusable or significantly reducing image quality. I’ve faced this multiple times, especially on older equipment that I’m not actively maintaining. The difficulty is in maintaining Silica Gel weekly or monthly.

With Silica Gel:

• You must constantly monitor humidity levels
• Packets need frequent reactivation (baking)
• Effectiveness varies widely between brands
• It’s easy to forget until it’s too late

A proper dry cabinet eliminates these worries entirely.

Choosing the Right Dry Cabinet for Your Collection

When selecting a dry cabinet, consider:

1. Size: Measure your collection including future additions. Consider how many camera bodies, lenses, and accessories you need to store.
2. Humidity Range: Look for cabinets that can maintain 35-45% RH (relative humidity), which is ideal for photographic equipment.
3. Power Consumption: Modern dry cabinets are quite energy efficient, typically using less electricity than a standard light bulb, because of the use of Peltier Technology, so this isn’t as much of a concern anymore.
4. Additional Features: Some models offer adjustable shelving, lockable doors, or even LED lighting to showcase your collection. In my opinion lockable doors and adjustable shelves are quite basic needs, so don’t settle for less.

Popular manufacturers include Ruggard, Forspark, Sirui, and Slinger (affiliate link), with options ranging from compact 30L models to professional-grade cabinets exceeding 200L.

Cost vs. Value: Why It’s Worth Every Penny

Yes, a high-quality dry cabinet will cost more upfront than a container of silica gel packets. Entry-level models start around $150, while larger, feature-rich cabinets can exceed $500. But consider this an investment against the value of your gear:

• A single professional lens affected by fungus could cost $1,500+ to replace.
• Most serious photographers have collections worth thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars. Protecting that investment with proper storage is simply smart economics.
• Dry cabinets typically last many years with minimal maintenance, making them much more cost-effective in the long term than constantly replacing and reactivating silica gel.

Beyond Cameras: What Else Can You Store?

Dry cabinets aren’t just for cameras. They’re perfect for protecting:

• Film stock
• Vintage cameras
• Audio equipment (think Audio & Video Cassettes that are also vulnerable to fungus)
• Watches and jewellery
• Electronics
• Cigars
• Important documents

Anything that benefits from controlled humidity can find a home in your dry cabinet.

The Bottom Line

If you’re serious about protecting your camera investment, ditch the silica gel hassle and upgrade to a proper dry cabinet. Your future self (and your lenses) will thank you.

Photography equipment represents a significant financial investment. Ensuring that it is permanently protected against fungus (especially if you live in a humid area) is sufficient return on investment in my book!

Your camera and lenses are the tools of your creative passion; they deserve better than makeshift humidity control.

Remember, when it comes to protecting precision optics and electronics, prevention is always easier and less expensive than repair or replacement. Make the switch today, and enjoy peace of mind knowing your gear is protected for years to come.

PS: If you really love Silica Gel and enjoy the process of heating it up to recharge it, you can keep some even if you have a dry cabinet… You’ll be able to use it in your camera bag when travelling, and of course, that will mean that you’ll have to recharge it more frequently.

Image Credits: Ruggard.com

This post: Why Silica Gel Sucks! What To Use Instead For Camera Storage was first published on Beyond Photo Tips

Many of us use Adobe tools regularly. I’ve used them since 1995, and I still do. But there was a time, a few years ago, when I was very frustrated with Adobe, and that I moved away from the Creative Cloud ecosystem. In the video coming up, Jazza explains why Adobe is so widely used in the creative industry, and why clients – both businesses and individuals – are currently quite upset with the way Adobe has treated them. Is Adobe in Decline?

Here’s the video:

I myself have a love-hate relationship with Adobe and their tools at the moment. There are a few reasons for this:

1. As a small business owner, I love the fact that I do not have to put down a large amount upfront to be able to use their tools. However, it means that I spend a lot more over a course of a few years, if I do use them. In the past, I could just buy a single version of Photoshop or Lightroom and use it for many years … as long as my hardware was compatible, and my requirements were met. That is no longer possible. We must pay Adobe even if we don’t use their tools for a month.
2. As a photographer, Adobe has used the millions of photographs uploaded to Adobe stock to be used as the raw materials for their Firefly Generative AI tool. Adobe does pay something for the use of these images, and has stayed away from using copyrighted material off the net; all good stuff. But there is little clarity about how much they pay per use of an image, and no idea about how remunerative it will be in the long term.
3. Adobe’s campaign to promote firefly, has actually put down some of their oldest and most loyal customers – photographers. The campaign urged users to “Skip the Photoshoot”. This, of course, was not taken well by many users.
4. Their monopolistic behaviour when it comes to allowing users to close their subscriptions, and not accept their AI policies, have been very off-putting.

Check out this video by YouTuber Jazza, where he does a deep dive into how Adobe became a household name and why their client base is right now quite upset with them – and looking for alternative solutions.

What do you think about this topic? Adobe is still making huge profits off their SAAS business, but do you think they’re in decline? Leave a comment and tell us what you think.

This post: The Rise, And Fall, Of Adobe? was first published on Beyond Photo Tips

Recently while editing some images in Adobe Camera RAW (ACR), I noticed an additional, new, “.acr” sidecar file. In the past, I’ve written about the .XMP files that are created by Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic and Adobe Camera RAW when you edit raw images. This .ACR file was created in addition to the .XMP file, and that made me curious. So what are “.ACR files”? And can you delete them if you don’t like them? In this article, I’m sharing what I’ve learned about the .acr file format through experimentation, trial, and error…

What We Know About the .ACR File Format

A little research and experimentation brought up the following details about .ACR files:

1. .ACR files are created by Adobe Camera RAW (often abbreviated to ACR) when certain features are used. This could be a part of the new AI powered masking tools (subject selection or Sky Selection), or “Lens Blur” features.
2. When you open a RAW file from your camera in Photoshop or Bridge, Adobe Camera RAW (ACR) opens up, so that you can process the RAW file. If you’re not using a .dng file, ACR writes the settings that you use in your processing into .xmp files (which are quite useful) – I’ve written about earlier xmp files earlier – and in the last few versions of ACR, it also writes files with the .acr extension when needed.
3. Unlike .XMP files, which are readable text files, .ACR files are binary. This means that we can’t see the data that they hold.
4. .ACR files seem to hold information like filter presets, and Depth Mask information for each photograph, ie: data that can’t be stored in a .xmp file as text settings. This comes into use when masking facial features, using “lens blur” etc.
5. It is an additional file, that is created with the same file name as your RAW file, in addition to .xmp files. When you rename your RAW file in Adobe Bridge, the .xmp and .acr files also get renamed.
6. If you don’t copy .acr files, to a new folder, then the depth map information will have to be regenerated to use lens blur, and this could take additional time, especially if you are doing it for many photographs at the same time. That said, you don’t have to copy the .acr files if you don’t want to.
7. Adobe has not shared much technical information about .acr files created by Adobe Camera RAW (ACR), so we have to guess, and speculate based on software behaviour. If, and when Adobe decides to release any technical documentation, I’ll update this page so that you’re made aware of the development.
8. .acr files don’t seem to be created when using a .dng file, or if you’re using the same features in Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic (LrC). It’s limited to Adobe Camera RAW for now. Lightroom Classic seems to store this data in the Lightroom Catalog file. I’m not 100% sure about this, so I’m open to new information about Lightroom Classic and .acr files.

Should You Keep The .ACR file?

If you’re editing RAW files, and you’re using ACR’s masking tools, or Lens Blur, then it makes sense to keep the files if you’re not short of disk space, and would prefer to work fast. When using lens blur, the adding depth map information for a 21 Mpx image, added about 1.5MB in file size to the associated .acr file…

Next, let’s explore what happens if we delete the file.

What Happens if You Delete .acr files?

When I deleted the .acr file and then re-opened my .cr2 raw file, I saw no difference. The lens blur, and all my edits were intact. I’m on a reasonably fast computer, so I didn’t notice any speed differences when opening the file. When I checked my edits and closed ACR by pressing the ‘done’ button, the file was recreated…

So, in short, you can safely delete, or not copy .acr files if you choose to do so. Camera Raw will recreate the files if it needs to.

If you’re short on space, delete the files.

More Information

.acr files seem to have come on the scene with Adobe Camera Raw 14.0 and later, when the AI masking tools were introduced.

If you, or anyone you know has more information about .acr files and how they’re used by Adobe Camera Raw, please leave a comment, or connect with me via email. I’d love to learn more about these files.

References

• Masking In Adobe Camera RAW (ACR)
• Lens Blur In ACR

This post: What Is The “.ACR” File Format? was first published on Beyond Photo Tips

Ever fished out those little packets from a new camera bag and thought, “What on earth is Silica Gel?” Well, buckle up, because we’re about to dive into the wonderful world of these moisture-munching marvels! You might think they’re just pesky packaging, but let me tell you, Silica Gel is about to become your camera gear’s new best friend.

So, what is Silica Gel, exactly? It’s like a super-sponge for humidity, sucking up moisture faster than you can say “fungus on the lens.” In this article, we’re going to unpack the mystery of these tiny tech saviors. Whether you’re battling foggy lenses, or trying to preserve your vintage camera collection, Silica Gel is the unsung hero you never knew you needed. Stick around, and you’ll soon be singing the praises of these little moisture-zappers to anyone who’ll listen!

What Is Silica Gel?

Silica gel is amorphous Silicon Dioxide, also known by its chemical formula SiO₂. It’s made from sodium silicate and sulfuric acid. It’s a relatively inert substance that is highly porous, with a high capacity to adsorb material. It can adsorb up to 37% of its weight in water vapor, depending on the specific formulation.

Silica gel is also resistant to mold and bacteria. While Silica Gel itself is non-toxic if ingested, it often contains added moisture indicators (like cobalt chloride) that can be harmful if consumed in large quantities. Therefore, packages often carry “do not eat” warnings.

Silica gel is available in different forms: beads, granules, and powder. For photographers, I would suggest using the beads as they’re the least likely form to leave a powder residue.

As mentioned, Silica Gel is an adsorbent – a substance that removes moisture from the air. It can be used to maintain low Relative Humidity (RH) in an enclosed space – that’s what we’re interested in, right.

In this way, it prevents fungus growth on camera lenses. Over time, the beads or granules become saturated with the moisture that it has adsorbed, and lose their ability to continue removing humidity from the air. At this point they need to be recharged by careful re-heating and subsequent cooling of the beads.

Silica Gel can be reused many times, in this way, and continues to work with high efficiency, even after hundreds of reuses.

Types of Silica Gel:

You can get Silica Gel beads in a few different types:

1. White, non-indicating Silica Gel
2. Blue to Pink Indicating Silica Gel
3. Orange to Green Indicating Silica Gel

We suggest using the orange-green indicating silica gel beads. This is a good option for a number of reasons.

• It’s easy to know when it needs to be recharged
• It’s less toxic, and safe to be used at home
• Usable in a comfortable temperature range

How Much Moisture Can Silica Gel Remove From the Air?

Silica Gel is very efficient at pulling moisture out of the air. It can adsorb up to approximately 37% of its own weight in moisture. This means that every 1,000 grams of Silica Gel can adsorb up to 370ml of moisture from the air around it.

Note that color-indicating Silica Gel changes color when it has gained 8-10% of its weight in moisture. Even if the color changes at 8% of its weight, Silica Gel will continue to adsorb moisture up to 37% of its weight. This gives you a good buffer, so don’t worry if the color of the indicating silica gel has just changed. It’s probably still absorbing moisture even after the color changes, but don’t wait too long.

How Efficient Is Silica Gel at Removing Moisture?

At room temperature and high humidity, Silica Gel is remarkably efficient at removing moisture from the surrounding air. It is more efficient at removing moisture from the air at higher humidity levels than at low humidity levels.

• Silica Gel will reach maximum saturation in about 5 hours at 25°C and 77% RH.
• As long as the Silica Gel is not saturated, it can reduce RH (Relative Humidity) to less than 40% RH.

This means that you will get a better result by using more Silica Gel in your dry box, rather than less. I use about 4.5 lbs for a box that is about 6 cubic feet in size because it is quite cheap.

Quick TIP: You can keep track of how humid your camera storage box is, by using a Digital Hygrometer. I highly recommend using one.

How Much Silica Gel Do You Need for Your Dry Box?

Silica Gel quickly absorbs moisture and can hold up to 40% of its weight in water. To keep the level of relative humidity consistently low, it is advisable to use more than may be required.

Silica Gel reduces the humidity of the air to around 40% RH (Relative Humidity), but does not go much below that level.

To calculate how much water must be removed from the atmosphere, we must first know how much is present, then we can calculate how much Silica Gel would be required to remove it. We can do this easily with a Relative Humidity (RH) to Absolute Humidity calculator.

With such a calculator, we can easily calculate how much water is in the air when the Relative Humidity and air temperature are known (easily done with a hygrometer). Then, we can calculate the difference between the current RH and the ideal RH (40% or so), to arrive at the amount of water to be removed, and from there, how much Silica Gel is needed.

Calculation Example:

At an air temperature of 25 °C and Relative Humidity of 75%, there will be about 17.2 grams of water per cubic meter.

In contrast at 40% RH, and the same temperature there will be only 9.2 grams per cubic meter. The difference is about 8g/m³. In this situation, one would need at least 20 grams of Silica Gel per m_³ to reduce the relative humidity to 40%, and ideally, one would use more to ensure that any humidity that seeps in is kept under control.

Wrapping Up

Well, there you have it! Silica Gel might not be the most glamorous item in your camera bag, but it’s certainly one of the unsung heroes of gear preservation. This humble moisture-absorber is a real asset for keeping your prized lenses and bodies in top condition, especially if you’re fond of shooting in challenging weather conditions!

Remember, a few packets of this stuff can mean the difference between crystal-clear optics and a fungi-infested nightmare. It’s inexpensive, reusable, and with those handy color-changing varieties, you’ll know exactly when it’s time to give it a quick refresh in the oven.

So, next time you’re packing for a shoot or storing away that expensive piece of equipment, don’t forget to throw in some Silica Gel. Your gear (and your wallet) will thank you in the long run. Happy shooting, and keep those cameras dry!

Psst: If you don’t like using silica gel because of the need to frequently recharge it, consider buying a dry cabinet instead for a more hands-off long-term camera storage solution.

This post: What Is Silica Gel? How Does It Work? was first published on Beyond Photo Tips

Canon announced their update to the EOS R5, the EOS R5 Mark II today. As expected, the specs are a step up from the original R5. The sensor size is the same, though it is a new sensor with higher readouts. The Auto-Focus (AF) has been improved, with eye-control AF and new AF tracking options, but the video resolution is the same (8K) though the frame rate has been improved (30FPS to 60FPS). The camera now has a cooling-grip, and ethernet-grip options, which will allow it to record 8K video for up to 2 hours, instead of just 30 minutes.

For those who were pushing the limit of their R5, and needed a little more breathing room, this camera is the upgrade that will give them a little lee-way until a huge step up is delivered. The EOS R5 Mk II is available at $4,299 on preorder (aff.). Now that you have a brief overview of what to expect, let’s see the Canon EOS R5 mk2’s tech specs in detail.

Canon EOS R5 Mark II Key Specs

The specs listed below are the highlight features that are often sought after. The full list is further down in this post.

Canon EOS R5 Mark II Full Tech Specs

Here is the complete set of tech specs for the EOS R5 Mk2.

Our Thoughts

Looking at the detailed specs of the Canon EOS R5 Mark II, it’s clear that Canon has made several updates to the original R5 model. The improvements in AF capabilities, increased frame rates for video, and the addition of the cooling grip option for extended recording times address some of the feedback from users of the previous model.

While the core sensor spec remains unchanged, the enhancements in processing power and new features like eye-controlled AF and expanded subject detection brought in from the higher-spec cameras like the EOS R3, and now the EOS R1, show Canon’s efforts to refine the camera’s performance. The R5 Mark II continues to position itself as a hybrid camera, aiming to meet the needs of both still photographers and videographers.

For those considering an upgrade or looking at high-end full-frame mirrorless cameras, the EOS R5 Mark II presents an option with improved capabilities over its predecessor. However, as with any technology purchase, potential buyers should carefully consider whether these updates align with their specific needs and workflow requirements.

If you were about to buy yourself a backup camera, it’s likely that this one will become your main shooter, with the original R5 becoming the backup. If you found the specs constraining, then it’s likely that the Mk2 will give you a bit more freedom. The original R5 is now cheaper than at release, so if are happy with it, the lower price may be the right option for you. The choice is yours.

As the camera market continues to evolve, the R5 Mark II represents Canon’s latest offering in the competitive full-frame mirrorless segment. Time and real-world use will ultimately determine how these specifications translate into practical benefits for photographers and videographers, and we’ll keep you updated as we learn more about this camera.

Images: Courtesy Canon.

This post: Canon EOS R5 Mark II Specs was first published on Beyond Photo Tips

Today, Affinity and Canva, together announced the acquisition of Serif, the makers of the Affinity apps, by Canva. This is a significant development in the progress of the Affinity suite, and we are both excited, and hesitant at this development.

What Is Affinity?

Affinity is a suite of apps that allows designers, photographers, and publishers to make amazing creative work, with a one-time purchase format, that their customers have loved. I myself have written quite a bit about their raster image editing app, Affinity Photo.

What Is Canva.com?

Canva, on the other hand is an online platform that allows you to quickly assemble and create artwork for social media or other purposes using pre-defined art, or to create your own artwork very quickly with simple, easy to use tools that anyone can pick up very quickly. Canva.com

Why Is This Important?

The Affinity apps have been a shelter from the flood of ‘subscription’ based software that has taken over the market. Affinity Photo, Designer, and Publisher have a full-set of features to produce professional artwork rivaling that of Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.

With the purchase of Serif, the company behind Affinity, by Canva, users are left wondering whether that’s all about to change. Notably, Canva is a subscription based service, even though it does have a rather generous functionality even if used free.

Both Canva and Serif have published statements that say that they’re committed to the user base. In fact, Serif CEO, Ashley Hewson states in their announcement:

Since the inception of Affinity, our mission has been to empower creatives with tools that unleash their full potential, fostering a community where innovation and artistry flourish. We’ve worked tirelessly to challenge the status quo, delivering professional-grade creative software that is both accessible and affordable. 

None of that changes today.

Ashley Hewson, CEO, Serif

The FAQ section goes on to say that no changes in pricing model are expected for v2, and current owners will be able to use the apps in perpetuity. However, there is no mention of pricing for future versions. It also mentions that we can expect to have some integration with Canva in the future.

Proponents of Perpetual Licensing

Historically, Serif have been strong proponents of a single purchase fee for their software, with updates for each version being free until the next version is released.

This has been a huge selling point for customers who are fed-up with paying for monthly subscription fees for image editing software, and a refuge for people who do not want to pay large sums of money over the years. Users love it, and hopefully Ashley Hewson’s statement today means that the pricing model is not going to change in the longer term, although that question is left open-ended.

Possibilities for The Future

Having been acquired, Affinity is now in a place to gain wider exposure, and usage, as well as the financial backing to be able to integrate more tools into their existing suite. We look forward to seeing what the team at Affinity are able to do, and we wish them well in this transition.

Useful Links

• Canva’s announcement of the Affinity acquisition
• Serif’s announcement of their Acquisition by Canva

This post: Affinity Acquired by Canva.com was first published on Beyond Photo Tips

You might have seen some of my articles about Affinity Photo and how it is a wonderfully cost-effective solution for both advanced amateurs and professional photographers when it comes to retouching images. Well, if you have been holding out for a discount on purchase of Affinity apps, then now might be the right time to make that purchase, with the Affinity Spring Sale ‘24.

Affinity apps are on sale, currently, with the apps getting a discount of 30% and add-ons getting a discount of up to 50%. It is a one-time purchase.

What Are Affinity Apps Good For?

In addition to having the Affinity Photo 2 app, Affinity has two other apps, called Affinity Designer 2, and publisher.

Affinity Photo 2 is similar to Adobe Photoshop and can be used to retouch images or create raster artwork, Affinity Publisher 2 is similar to Adobe InDesign, and can be used for creating text publications, and Affinity Designer 2 is similar to Adobe Illustrator and is great for creating vector artwork.

Features and Abilities

In addition to being cost-effective, especially in the long term, the apps are full-featured, and in my experience are not a compromise in quality, or ability… In fact, there are some features that Affinity Photo has, that Photoshop struggles to keep up with.

Learning Curve

Though there is a great deal of similarity to Photoshop in the interface, menus, and features, there are enough differences that there is a bit of a learning curve. If you’re new to image editing, that makes it a great time to learn how to use Affinity Apps.

If you’re a long-time Photoshop user, it might take a little more time to get over your learned muscle memory. I know because I’ve experienced this myself. However, in the end, I find that Affinity apps is certainly worth the time invested.

Affinity V2 Universal License

Unlike Adobe apps, which have a subscription format, Affinity sells the apps at a reasonable one-time price. This means that you can continue to use the app as long as you have it without any further payment. Updates are provided free of cost, at regular intervals.

Affinity Photo 2.4 has just been released and brings with it some interesting new features and quality of life updates. If you already have Affinity Photo, or any of the affinity version 2 apps, then you do not need to pay anything, until their version 3 apps are released, and you find that v2 isn’t making the cut. Or, if it has a feature that is interesting to you. However, this won’t be for a while.

Affinity also has a V2 Universal License for the version 2 apps, which means that you get all their desktop and iPad apps both for macOS and windows. this is an incredible deal and you can also install them on as many computers as you personally own and control. I have explained this in dedicated article on the topic, linked above.

Where You Can Buy

You can purchase Affinity apps from their website directly, or download the app from the Apple App Store or The Microsoft Store, and then purchase the app. Either way you can avail the 30% discount until the spring sale closes. Affinity have not mentioned an end date, so don’t delay.

This post: Affinity Spring Sale: Up to 50% Off was first published on Beyond Photo Tips

Luminar Neo has been on my radar for quite a while. Previously, as a non-user, I had a few apprehensions about using it, but now that I’ve used it for a while I can give you a deep-dive series of articles about Luminar Neo starting with this overview of the application. In this article, I’m going to explore Luminar Neo as it exists in early 2024, and share my opinions and observations about how the application works, the features, and functionality that it provides. So, let’s get to it.

While I have purchased Skylum tools in the past, like Aurora HDR, this copy of Luminar Neo was provided to me for evaluation purposes… I was approached around a year ago to take a look at the new Luminar Neo, and for various reasons I didn’t get around to it. Over that span of time, the team at Skylum have been busy adding on modules and features to the base application that expand its functionality. The results are quite impressive, and I really have to share this app’s functionality.

The most recent additions have been AI and Generative AI tools that seem really interesting… But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Let’s start at the very beginning.

Luminar Neo – What is it, really?

Luminar Neo is a RAW and JPG image processing program brought to you by Skylum, which also has image management, cataloguing and selection features. In some ways it is similar to Adobe Lightroom, but there are notable differences.

Luminar Neo can be used as a standalone program if you want to use the file management aspect of the tool, or as a plug-in to Adobe Lightroom or Photoshop if you just want to use some of its other features or presets.

Luminar starts off as a simple image processing tool, with the main interface dominated by the Catalog, Presets, and Edit tabs in the middle of the screen.

The workflow is simple:

1. You add images that you have photographed to the Catalog
2. Once the images are in the catalog you will be taken to your library of Presets. You can choose to apply these presets to your images…
3. …or edit them yourself, in the Edit tab.
4. Once you have selected images that you want to export, you can export them via the “Share to…” button in the top right corner of the app window (to your disk, mail, messages, or to your hand-held device via the accompanying mobile app), or navigate to File > Export… to export files that you can share with others.

File Management – The Catalog

When you start using Luminar Neo as a standalone RAW/JPG editing app, the first step is to add your images to the file management section. In Luminar Neo, this is called the Catalog. This is your home base, with images viewable as a grid in the middle, flanked by albums and folders to the left, and image EXIF, generative AI tools, and extensions on the right.

From the catalog, you can select favorite images or mark rejects, create albums, sync adjustments across a group of images, or flip/rotate images. You can also double-click images to see an enlarged version, with small thumbnails of the other images in the current album lining the bottom of your screen.

Left Column

The left panel allows you to sort through your images by year, month and date, or the date that you imported/edited images, useful!

You can also import entire folders directly, in which case, these folders will show up under the “Folders” section in the left column. Of course, these images are also sortable by date higher up in the same column.

Albums are selections of edited and unedited images that can be collected from different folders and dates. This allows you to organize images as you see fit… For example, an album of a loved-one over the years, or a house restoration that happened over a span of months.

Middle Column

The middle column displays images in a grid. There are a number of filters across the top that can change which images you see… You can choose to see just the rejected images, to check if you’ve accidentally missed out any important image. You can sort by time, so that you see images sequentially. Or you can choose to sort by file name, type, or size.

What they don’t have in Neo, are file ratings. So you can’t mark some as 5-star, others as 4-star, etc. This used to be a part of Luminar 4, so it seems to be a conscious design decision to keep the interface simple for the intended audience of amateur photographers. You also can’t give them color labels to group them.

While star ratings and labels are useful tools for professional photographers who go through and grade hundreds and thousands of images per photoshoot, these aren’t very useful to amateurs, and only serve to confuse them.

Right Column

Finally, the right column serves to display important EXIF data for the selected image, and below the EXIF data, you will find colorful shortcuts to various generative tools, and extensions. The entire right column can be hidden using a button above the image grid, to free up more space for image review; useful.

Presets

In my work, I don’t really use presets much, but I did explore the presets that were provided with Luminar Neo.

You can click on the “Presets” tab, once you’ve selected an image. You’ll be taking to a screen where your image is shown large in the main window, with a column displaying various presets on the right.

You can choose a preset that you think suits the image, and a preview is immediately processed for your entire image. On my MacBook Pro with M3 Pro processor, this happened really quick, with very little processing time.

Luminar Neo comes with a few presets already installed, but you can purchase more, or even create your own presets (I’ll tell you how, later in the article).

Once you have a preset that you like, you can move on to the “edit” tab, to fine tune the edit. In my case, I didn’t use any presets, I just went on to the edit tab directly… Let’s move on to that, shall we?

Core Image Editing Functionality – The Edit Tab

This is the real meat and potatoes of the app. Once you have the preset that most closely matches your vision for the image (or if you’re like me and just want to edit the image directly), you can click on the Edit tab.

The edit tab also opens up with three columns. Layers on the left, a preview of your image in the middle, and “Tools” & “Edits” (the various editing sliders and panels) on the right.

Let’s start with Tools.

Tools

Luminar Neo has a rather impressive set of tools. They’re organized under the headings:

• Favorites
• Extensions
• Essentials
• Creative
• Portrait
• Professional

Each of these groups has a number of features under it. For example, essentials starts off with the Develop panel which by itself is quite impressive.

Under Develop alone, you’ll find features like Camera Profile, Light, Blacks & Whites, Curves, Color, Sharpness, Noise Reduction, Optics, and Transform. This one panel will allow you to perform most of the edits that are needed for an image. You’ll be able to fine-tune your exposure, contrast, colours, and even do some perspective correction if needed.

You’ll find a number of other tools that you can use for processing landscapes, for noise reduction, and so much more.

In many instances, you will notice that the tools have their own masking options. This is a small detail that can hide very interesting functionality, because it means that each tool can be applied to a specific region of the image, and that means that each tool can be applied multiple times.

To be able to edit the settings of each tool with multiple applications, we need a different tab, and that’s where the Edits tab comes into play.

Edits

This is where things get a little confusing… at the same time, having an edits panel like this is quite useful. Edits is where you can see all the changes that have been applied to an image on various tools. The tool panel is where you start editing, but the edits panel is where you should be once you have selected all the tools that need to be applied.

The reason for this is because when you switch between the edits and tools panels, you sometimes see one of the tools such as noise reduction has suddenly lost its settings. This is not the case. If you see that your tool has suddenly been reset, it’s most likely that you are applying settings to that tool for the second time.

The solution is to go to the edits panel where you will be able to see whether a particular tool has been applied multiple times or not. This will take a little getting used to because at first glance, it seems like the Tools panel is where all the settings should live permanently. However, that is not the case and one should remember that.

Clicking through, and using the various tools in the edits column is a slightly disconcerting experience. For example, if you click on the initial Develop (RAW) tool in the Edits column, all the tool effects that have been added after that (like vignetting, etc) … disappear, and you are shown the image as it was at the time that you used the Develop tool.

In a way this is useful, it helps you understand exactly what you’re doing when you push each slider, but unless you know that you should expect this, it can be confusing for a first time user.

After you have finished editing an image, you must come back to the catalogue tab, select the next image and click edit to start editing the next image.

Layers

now we haven’t forgotten the layers panel that is to the left of the image preview. By default when you’re editing an image, it appears as a square icon with an equally sized plus icon above it. If you click on the plus icon, you will be shown a number of assets which you can click to overlay on top of your existing image. These assets are translucent and transparent images like Lens Flares, Bokeh, Light Leaks, Textures and more.

You can customize these layers further, using the various tools that we have already discussed, but you can also add masks to each of these layers, and resize them as needed to make them look natural in your image.

An Interesting Ability – Extending Functionality

You can add on features to Luminar Neo, via the ‘extras’ button that you will see displayed prominently in the top-right of the application window, right next to the “share” icon…

The Extras take the form of “Extensions” and “Marketplace” offerings. The “Extensions” are special features like HDR creation, Focus Stacking, Panorama Stitching and other AI features, that can be purchased directly from Skylum at an extra price. The “Marketplace” is a section where one can buy various Presets, Skies, LUTs, and Overlays that are on offer from third parties.

Luminar Neo’s Extensions

As mentioned earlier, Luminar Neo allows you to expand its functionality with ‘plugins’ that they call ‘extensions’. These extensions add functionality that the base application does not have. I’ve listed out the 8 extensions that are currently available, in no particular order.

• HDR Merge: Combines multiple images of different exposures to create a high dynamic range (HDR) image with enhanced details in both highlights and shadows.
• Focus Stacking AI: Automatically merges multiple images with different focus points to create a single image with extended depth of field, ensuring sharpness throughout the entire scene.
• Panorama Stitching: Seamlessly merges multiple photos of a scene taken from different angles to create a panoramic image, capturing a wider field of view.
• Noiseless AI: Utilizes artificial intelligence to effectively reduce noise and grain in photos while preserving important details, resulting in cleaner and more professional-looking images.
• Upscale AI: Enhances image resolution and sharpness using advanced AI algorithms, allowing for upscaling of images without significant loss of quality.
• AI Background Removal: Automatically identifies and removes the background from an image, making it easy to isolate subjects for compositing or editing purposes.
• Supersharp AI: Enhances image sharpness and clarity using AI-powered algorithms, producing crisp and detailed photos with improved overall quality.
• Magic Light: Intelligently adjusts lighting conditions in an image to enhance its visual impact, providing greater control over the mood and atmosphere of the scene.

Each of these tools deserves a deep dive in itself, and there is just not enough space in this article to give them sufficient detail.

Generative AI Features

Today, it seems like everybody is coming up with generative AI features, and Luminar Neo is no slacker here. At the same time, I wouldn’t say that generative AI features are the reason why you should explore or by luminar Neo. These are additional features that are in keeping with current trends, and add on to the substantial feature set that the app already has.

There are three generative AI features in Luminar Neo, they are GenSwap, GenErase, and GenExpand. at the time of writing GenErase is my favorite but GenSwap comes a close second. Let’s take a look at how these tools work.

All three generative AI features have a similar interface. You start by brushing in the area that you want affected. It appears as a red translucent overlay on top of your image. Once this is done, you can either ask Luminar Neo to erase, or swap the object selected.

GenExpand works slightly differently, and starts off with a bounding box that looks like the crop tool. You can use this to expand the size of your image, thereby defining the area that Neo will have to fill in.

Both GenSwap and GenExpand have text fields where you can describe what you want filled in to the space. GenErase does not have this text field.

An image that has generative AI applied is saved as a separate image in its own folder – “Generative Creations”.

GenSwap – Fill in Pixels With AI Generated Imagery

GenSwap allows you to replace an object or a space in the image with something that you describe in the text field that they provide. you use a brush to make a selection, type out a textual description of what you want in that space, and GenSwap tries to merge the existing image and the requested generated image in as realistic as possible.

While this does work often enough, it is not perfect and doesn’t always come out exactly as you imagine. This means that you have to, sometimes, re-run the process. Other applications, like Adobe Photoshop, have a feature where they show three different options for each generation; Luminar Neo does not do that. As a result you may spend additional time creating options if the first one isn’t to your liking.

GenErase – Remove Objects With Generative AI

As mentioned earlier, GenErase is one of the features that I like. Neo does have an ‘Erase’ feature in the essentials section of the Edit tab. Is this a duplication of features? I don’t think so.

I feel like the Erase feature is more of an automated clone tool, and it does an excellent job in most circumstances. However, it does fail at times. Perspective, and textures sometimes challenges the tool, and makes the result look artificial.

On the other hand, GenErase actually takes into account the area surrounding the selected space and fills in new content. This means that there are no repetitive textures, perspectives seem a little better, and it all can look a little more seamless than the existing erase tool.

However, there are some downsides too. Resolution can be low if you select too large an area (we will touch on this later), and sometimes it misunderstands the subject of the image, and you need to run the command again.

GenExpand – Expand an Image, Use Your Imagination

GenExpand is useful when your image needs to be a little wider or taller, and the content isn’t a gradient or texture that can easily be cloned.

The interface is similar to other generative AI tools, but the image starts off with crop handles on the border. You can re-frame the image to get the size and ratio that you need, and describe the content that needs to be filled in to the space that’s added.

This is a useful tool for graphic design, where an image needs to be extended vertically or horizontally to fit a website banner, blog featured image, report cover, etc. However, the feature can also be used creatively to re-frame a photograph and experiment with composition.

What Stands Out in Luminar Neo?

Luminar Neo stands out as a simple to use, yet comprehensive, image editing tool, which allows amateur and beginner photographers to really explore the capabilities of their cameras, and the RAW files that they create.

Luminar Neo is relatively simple to use, and I expect that beginners in photography will find its feature set easy to get started with, and to explore their creative ideas with. As they progress in skill and equipment, the ability for Luminar Neo to add on features like creating HDRs, Panoramas, and more, will allow them to explore new techniques for creative image creation, that would otherwise have taken much longer to experiment with and master.

This ability to expand features means that Luminar Neo does not come with a heavy initial overhead price, but one that can be spread over time as the photographer develops their ability and skill. A very valuable feature, IMO.

Luminar Neo is Ideal for Hobbyists & Advanced Amateurs

At Beyond Photo Tips, we aim to provide useful information and guides for the Advanced Amateur photographer. Luminar Neo is placed right in that space.

It’s ideal for the casual photographer who wants to process their travel, photographs, family memories, occasional wildlife and bird photographs, event photos like birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, etc.

It has all the makings of a comprehensive, high-quality image editing tool, but not the complexity that these tools usually come with, when created for professionals.

As you might be able to see, there is still a lot left to be unpacked with Luminar Neo. And that is just not possible in a single article like this. Instead, I will be doing deep-dives into certain aspects of Luminar Neo so that these features can be discussed in detail.

Remember to bookmark Beyond Photo Tips, and to come back for more Luminar Neo content in the future.

A Professional’s Perspective

Luminar Neo, in my experience, has the ability to create high-quality images and sometimes rivals like Adobe Lightroom in image output quality. I brought in some commercial photography images that were taken in the studio, and I was surprised by how easily and quickly I was able to create usable images with Luminar Neo’s Supercontrast and Vignetting Tools alone (no, Develop was not used).

However, the software is clearly targeted towards hobbyists and amateur photographers, as it lacks some important features like keywording, tagging, ratings, labelling, etc. I’ve written about Capture One Pro in the past, and I feel that either Capture One Pro, or Lightroom Classic are more appropriate tools for the professional photographer (of course, those are not the only options).

For anyone getting into serious photography, bordering on early freelance work, Luminar Neo still provides a solid platform on which to build, and create images that are very sale-able.

Stock Photographers will find many of the features that Luminar Neo offers to be useful, and I suspect that it will actually speed up their ability to process a high number of images per hour, compared to more complex tools.

Luminar certainly has come a long way since Luminar 4, and Luminar AI.

Having said that, I would not recommend Luminar Neo to hard-core professional photographers, who would need more advanced features, and higher levels of control for their image, processing and workflow.

In the coming weeks and months, I will be exploring Luminar Neo’s workflow, and sharing important insights into how you can get higher-quality output, as well as some hidden features that others might not touch upon. Stay tuned for upcoming articles by subscribing to our RSS feed, or connecting with us on social media like, Facebook or Twitter.

If you’re interested in taking up some photography challenges, remember that we have an entire section dedicated to photography projects that you can set for yourself, to upgrade your photography skills and visual thinking process.

How To Get Luminar Neo

Find out more about Skylum Luminar Neo (aff.).

Download Luminar Neo

Luminar Neo Discount Code: BPTNEO10 We’ve got a special discount code for you to use. Enter the code to get a 10% off on your purchase of Luminar Neo lifetime license, as well as the annual Pro and Explore subscriptions.

This post: Luminar Neo ’24 – An Introduction was first published on Beyond Photo Tips

Sony announced the Sony A9 iii on 07 November 2023, a 24.6 Megapixel Full-frame mirrorless camera with the world’s first global shutter full-frame stacked CMOS image sensor capable of shooting at 120 frames per second. The camera also boasts a processor, the BIONZ XR, that is 8 times faster than the previous Sony BIONZ X processor in the Sony A9 II… The camera also has an AI processor for enhanced subject and movement recognition for focusing. All in all, a formidable camera if everything turns out as expected. The camera will be available in Spring 2024.

Global Shutter, Full-Frame Stacked CMOS Sensor

Conventional sensors read sensor data line by line, vertically. This creates distortion when there are moving objects in the frame, creating the well-known rolling shutter distortion. In comparison, a global shutter reads the data from every pixel’s gathered data at the same time, ensuring that there is no distortion.

On the Alpha 9 III, the newly developed Exmor RS global shutter full-frame stacked CMOS sensor has built-in memory. Combined with the formidable capacity of the BIONZ XR image processor, the camera is able to provide blackout-free shooting up to 120 FPS, along with full AF/AE functionality for every shot. This high-speed shooting is available with a limited set of lenses in AF-C mode, published by Sony.

An interesting point to note is that the ISO range of the sensor is ISO 250–25600 (expandable to ISO 125–51200).

Benefits of A Global Shutter

• No Rolling-Shutter distortion for moving objects, or while panning.
• Fast top shutter speed of up to 1/80,000 sec
• Flash sync at all shutter speeds, even up to 1/80,000 sec, without the need of HSS. This means that even 3rd party flashes are able to sync at these speeds.
• No banding from artificial/LED lights.

AI Processor

Sony cameras have recently come with a dedicated AI processor which handles the processing of identifying subjects, and movement, to help predict focus accurately. The processor is able to ensure that AF and AE calculations are performed accurately to maintain the 120 FPS shooting, and accurately track subject motion.

The AI processor is also able to recognize humans, and human poses even if the subject is not turned towards the camera, or even if they occupy only a small portion of the frame. The most important benefit is reliable recognition and tracking of subjects despite camera or subject movement in a variety of subjects such as Human, Animal, Bird, Insect, Car, Train, and Airplane. In car/train mode, the camera is able to recognize the helmets of drivers, and in bird mode, it is now able to identify and lock on to the eyes of a larger number of birds.

Video Features

• Up to 4K video 120p without cropping. 3840 x 2160 (4:2:2, 10bit) (Approx.): 59.94p (600 Mbps)
• RAW 16-bit video feed available on HDMI output (type A connector).

Other Notable Features

• 8-stop IBIS: The A9iii camera body has an image stabilization unit that claims 8.0 stop stabilization with the IBIS alone, and even better stabilization with compatible Sony OSS lenses.
• Pre-Capture: The configurable pre-capture setting allows you to capture images that you might have otherwise missed. It can be configured up to 1 second of pre-capture, up to 120FPS in any file format.
• Customisable Focus Spot Size: to ensure that you get the right spot in focus, Focus area’s sizes can now be configured up to XL and XS sizes.
• High resolution, and responsible EVF: A high eyepoint viewfinder, with a 9.44 million dot OLED viewfinder and 0.90x magnification. Viewfinder frame rates can be customised from 60 to 120, or 240fps.
• Revised Ergonomic Grip: The Sony A9 III features a redesigned grip that is contoured to fill the user’s hand more comfortably, reducing strain. The shutter button has also been placed strategically to be more comfortable when in use. The optional VG-C5 Vertical grip also features this same design, and the C5 customisable button.

Pricing and Availability

The Sony Alpha 9 III will be available for Preorder Starting on November 8, 2023, for US$ 5,999.99

The VG-C5 Vertical Grip will also be available for preorder on Nov 8, 2023, for US$ 399.99

Specifications

Sony A9 iii Product Page – Sony

Sony A9 iii Full Specifications – Sony

Official Sony Alpha 9 iii Press release – Sony Electronics

Product Images: Courtesy Sony Electronics

Sony Product Announcement Videos

Sony A9 iii Hands-on Videos and Reactions

This post: Sony A9 III: Game-changing Full-Frame Global Shutter, 120FPS 24.6MPx Camera was first published on Beyond Photo Tips

Welcome to Beyond Photo Tips’ very first photography link roundup. In this brand new series of weekly posts, we are going to bring you, a glimpse of everything that we found interesting in the week gone by.

This last week has been especially busy, with a number of cameras being announced by some of the major camera manufacturers like Canon, Sony, Fujifilm, and OM-Systems.

Apart from the tech news, we are also going to be sharing the best photography-related content from websites that we love to visit ourselves.

We hope you enjoy this new segment, and welcome your feedback, and submissions for inclusion. Now, without further ado, let’s get into the links!

• Fujifilm X-T5 Initial Review by Chris Niccolls at DPreviewTV – As usual, DPreview is among the first to give us a preview of what the brand-new Fujifilm X-T5 camera looks and feels like.
• The Nikon Z 600mm f4 TC VR S reviewed by Thomas from Cameralabs and a detailed list of specs for the same by Spencer Cox of Photography Life.
• The Canon RF 135mm f/1.8 L IS USM Lens Review by Bryan Carnathan from the Digital Picture.
• Comparing light modifiers to natural light for your photos by Patrick Hall at Fstoppers helps you understand what helps.
• Pantone Colors are now behind a paywall in Adobe Photoshop.
• AI is Killing Photography? read Matt Kloskowski’s views on the matter.
• Dahlia Ambrose helps you get creative with your photographs using Pareidolia. Pareidolia is a tendency to perceive or interpret meaningful things in inanimate objects that we see around us.
• Use your Fujica GL690 bayonet lenses on mirrorless cameras with this Fotodiox adapter.
• New and improved Yongnuo FE mount 85mm f/1.8S DF DSM autofocus lens for Sony E-mount.
• Fujifilm X-T5 40Mpx Camera, and 30mm f/2.8 Macro Lens – Official announcement & coverage.
• DJI’s Mavic 3 Classic – a cheaper alternative to the Mavic 3
• Hillary Grigonis writes about her love for her Fujifilm XT4 at The Phoblographer
• Get started with Real Estate Photography in this article by Timothy Ross at The Photo Argus
• How to Fix Overexposed Photos – a detailed guide by Ana Mireles
• The Best Double Exposure Experts in Film Photography. Feroz Khan compiles a list of some incredible talent.
• Nikon announces MC-N10 remote control grip for Z mirrorless cameras – detailed cover by John Aldred.
• Confusing Sony Firmware Updates strategies – CineD, Philip Bloom, and Gerald Undone talk about their views on it.

So, that’s our roundup for this week. Let us know what you enjoyed from it, and whether we missed anything significant that you would have liked us to include.

This post: Link Roundup #001 was first published on Beyond Photo Tips