fabiochiu/medium-articles huggingface dataset:
Zeiss Sonnar T* 90mm f2.8 — A Long-Term Review
By: Aloysius Chow
Tags: Lenses, Review, Photography, Gear

The Contax G mount has a flange distance of 29mm. As this is shorter than the flange distance of common SLR mounts like the EF and F mount, lenses for the Contax G mount cannot be adapted to Canon and Nikon DSLRs. However, they can be adapted to most modern mirrorless camera mounts with a relatively thin adapter.

There are several adapters available for Contax G lenses, and they can be categorised into three types:

1. Thin-ring type: generally the cheapest and smallest. I have a no-brand one that is not smooth and often gets stuck thanks to poor tolerances. Trying to focus is a miserable experience. Even those under brand names seem to have the same design (the Kipon one might fare better). I would not recommend one of these unless you can get your hands on one in a store and ensure that it operates smoothly.

2. Thick-ring type: these use a much thicker ring that encircles the base of the lens. The increased size of the ring helps a lot with handling but contributes size and weight. These tend to be smoother and more well made. As far as I know, only the Fotodiox Pro, Metabones and Ulata fall into this category. I use the Ulata myself.

The Ulata Contax G to Fujifilm X adapter

3. Autofocus: Techart Contax G adapter. Only available for E-mount, unlike the others. A motor drives the screw in the lens to enable autofocus, but manual focus is also possible with a small dial on the side.

Image from Techart

For most, the second, thick-ring type is the most desirable kind of adapter. However, there is one more option, that is quite a bit more involved: a lens rehousing. Some folks have managed to rehouse the lens inside the body of another vintage lens, and make use of that lens’s helicoid to achieve manual focus in a fashion similiar to most other manual lenses. You can find more at this thread on Fred Miranda.
Vintage Marantz Receivers; 22xxB or not 22xxB, that is the question… every vintage HiFi collector asks.
By: Hifi Setup
Tags: Gear, Music, Vinyl, Vintage Marantz, Hifi

3. Design – aesthetics, style. It’s a tie.

The classic 22xx Marantz receivers have an undeniable holdover look from the 1960’s early 1970’s – a clumsy charming “trying to look modern” style, and it’s magic. Add the Marantz WC-22, Walnut Cabinet and you have a dramatic retro showpiece for any living room (we have another story you may like on that topic here). The 22xx series is purposely designed to not be missed, it is not a wallflower – the mix of black and white facing make it look heavy and powerful. We prefer the look of the classic 22xx series in the wood cabinet. To quote a vintage Marantz lover in an online forum “…the classic 22xx series without a wood case looks like a hairless cat.”

Our design favourites in the classic 22xx series are the Marantz 2270 for simplicity of design, almost delicate, and the Marantz 2275, same series and style but a different look – It has a more massive and heavy style large black tuner panel with silver buttons inset. Striking design.

The best way we can describe the Marantz 22xxB silver face series is “predicting the 1980’s design trend.” Gone is the faux wood metal cover – now we have matte black case, a full silver face, shiny “metal worked” knobs that catch the light and reflect a star light pattern onto the face… genius. The design overall is lighter, the tuner dial is now logically placed under the receiver tuner display – versus inline with the 22xx series – this gives the tuner panel a sleeker more modern look. The lighting is more delicate and muted, baby blue on silver – vs the brutish green/blue glow (that exact colour is defined by lights installed, LED, or fuse lamps and how old the velum paper behind your tuner panel on your 22xx series is). The Marantz 22xxB series also included an option for a new walnut cabinet – model WC-122, which were more modern interpretations and streamlined in design compared the classic WC-22.

We must admit the 2285B is the pinnacle of the 22xxB series design – ohhhh that never-ending row of buttons. We’ve owned a few – and when installed in the classic WC-22 walnut cabinet that mix of more modern design with the classic 1970’s cabinet is an amazing design juxtaposition.
This Often Overlooked $200 Full-Frame Canon DSLR is Amazing
By: Dylan Rollins
Tags: Review, Photography, Cameras, Gear, Canon

This Often Overlooked $200 Full-Frame Canon DSLR is Amazing

Shot On The Canon EOS 5D Classic.

A decent full-frame DSLR body for $200? You probably think I’m crazy by now, and I’ll admit, I thought it was absurd at first, myself.

I found out about this camera while looking for a DSLR body to take with me on a cruise back in early 2020. I mainly shoot and develop 35mm film, but buying film can get expensive, and I needed something to take along with me.

“There’s no way I found a good full-frame camera for $200”

While browsing the internet for a camera that suited my needs, I came across the Canon EOS 5D. The camera seemed like such a great deal that I thought it was too good to be true at first. “There’s no way I found a full-frame camera for $200,” I thought to myself.

The more I read about the camera, the more curious I became. I took the plunge and ordered one, not knowing what to expect of it.

After about a year of shooting with this camera, I really enjoy it and find myself picking it up more than any other camera body I own.
Studio One Remote on the Same Windows Machine
By: Alan Mendelevich
Tags: Gear, Music Studio, Gadgets, Touchscreen, Studio One

Since I’ve started using Studio One, I periodically see YouTube videos of people using Studio One Remote on their iPads or Android Tablets. I wanted to use it too but I got rid of all of my tablets a while back as they weren’t getting much use. And that would be the end of it.

But I got intrigued with really cheap prices on Fire tablets this Black Friday and went on to research if it was possible to run the Remote on them. Long story short — it’s possible but involves some work.

Then I looked at my touchscreen Windows laptop connected to an external monitor and thought that it would be great to run the Remote locally (pardon the oxymoron). Too bad they don’t make Studio One Remote for Windows… or do they?

I had this image stuck in may head:

Studio One Remote page

“Download on the App Store” and “Get it on Google Play” buttons jump at you so prominently that you can forgive me for ignoring the text that says “… or Windows® tablet, Surface, or Surface Pro…”

Long intro short — you can download Studio One Remote for Windows and it works great locally on a touchscreen Windows machine. There’s just one little (major) caveat…

As any normal window, Studio One Remote gets the Windows input focus when you touch it and then you have to alt-tab back to Studio One to continue working. Unfortunately, this makes the whole idea pretty much DOA and reinforces what’s in the name: Remote is meant to be used remotely.

But I’m a software developer and a geek. We don’t give up when faced with computer problems — we spend 3 hours trying to work around them. And that’s what I did.

There’s this great piece of software called AutoHotkey meant to automate things in Windows. I set out to write a script to automate returning control back to Studio One after each touch interaction with Studio One Remote. Unfortunately, AutoHotkey knows nothing about touch and Remote touches didn’t register as clicks (at least on my machine). So, I spent hours trying to solve that in some bizarre way… unsuccessfully.

But then I came to the simplest conclusion — I don’t actually care what happens in Remote (whether it’s touch, click or something else). I just care that it’s an active window. I ended up with a simple script that returns focus back to the Studio One window in 100ms after Studio One Remote window is activated. Here it is:

The only negative side-effect of it is that you can’t enter anything into the Remote app while the script is active. But the only things you can enter there are tempo and command button titles. Both aren’t something you will do often and when you need to do that you can just pause the script.

Now, it would be much nicer if PreSonus could bake a toggle for a more elegant version of this behavior right into the Remote app. If you agree, please upvote this feature request here.

Thanks!
Which one is a better down jacket? Ghost Whisperer/2 vs Cerium SL
By: Jonas Schneider
Tags: Gear, Menswear, Hiking, Outdoors, Camping

Photo by Scott Gummerson on Unsplash

After doing a thorough research on this subject, I thought it would be useful to share my findings with you. Those who want to buy a good down jacket for this winter season usually ask the question; Ghost Whisperer / 2 or Cerium SL? Which one is better down jacket. For this reason, before choosing one, my advice is to decide for what purpose you will use it.

I strongly recommend you to just visit the source I used. Camparest.com has a lot of graphs, pictures, pros and cons for the outdoor gears. They have side by side comparative analyisis of the product. I used their entry as a reference for my post.

Now, let’s compare them side by side:

Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer/2

-Pros: Ghost Whisperer/2 is lightweight, compact, warm for its size. It has effective hydrophobic down.

-Cons: It has no hood cinch and no chest pocket

-Weight of the jacket is just 8.5 oz

Ghost Whisperer/2 down insulation is 800-fill RDS®-certified.

I would suggest you to go and take a look at deeply to Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer/2.

Arc’teryx Cerium SL Hoody

-Pros:Arc’teryx Cerium SL is a Super Lightweight (SL) jacket. It is very stylish, and has a high warmth to weight ratio.

-Cons: it is not super durable, but this is the disadvantage of producing a super lightweight jacket.

-Weight of the jacket is just 8.4 oz

-It has 850-fill goose down

If you want to go and take a look at deeply to Arc’teryx Cerium SL Hoody, check this.

Warmth: People who compare the warmth rate of these two product stated that Gost Whisperer/2 is better than Cerium SL

Compressibility-Pacability: I do not know if there is a down jacket which will beat Cerium SL considering compressibility.

Cost: From cost stand point, both of them are almost the same. In the market place you can find Ghost Whisperer/2 at $243.71 and Cerium SL at $269.25, therefore what I can say cost is not a deal breaker while choosing.

I hope this entry is helpful for you to make the right choice for you.

Tags: Best Down Jacket of 2021, Arc’teryx vs Mountain Hardwear, Cerium SL vs Ghost Whisperer, Best Down Jacket for Men of 2021, Best Winter Jacket for Men, Arc’Teryx Cerium SL, Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer.
TMC Gen 3 Combat Trouser Review!
By: Simisdim Airsoft
Tags: Gear Review, Airsoft Gear, Gear, Airsoft Review, Airsoft

Good enough for Airsoft?

Welcome back finally to another gear review. This time of the TMC Gen 3 Combat Trousers, I picked these up from Weapon762 which seems to be my usual gear haunt as of late and put them to the test!

After a very muddy first outing.

So having recently had an operation on my right knee due to a bad injury I thought that built in knee pads are now a must. I already have a different branded Gen 3 style of trouser in AOR1 but wanted a different pair with a green flair.

(Specifically Multicam Tropic)

So I searched around to find a decent clone pair (as I think Crye is a bit overkill for Airsoft personally) and came across these on Weapon762.

My first impressions of the trousers were what I have come to expect from TMC branded products, Tough and well made for an Airsoft clone brand.

What I like is that you have alot of ways to adjust the trousers to your individual measurements with the ample velcro straps and cords so these now fully fit me for maximum comfort!

Great Quality Knee pads!

They also come with a set of knee pads which you can insert if you wish, however you don’t have to as they are 100% optional.

They fit very well and do not come out while on the field as they have small velcro tabs which mesh with internal velcro which is a great touch.

A very windy second outing.

I put these through their paces a bit before doing this review as they were my first pair of TMC branded trousers and I am quite happy with the results!

So far no ware and tear and no fading from being washed which is great!

Another great touch which I dont find alot of tactical trousers have is the front pockets.

Most have awkward front pockets near the waist line but these have pockets almost the same cut as pockets you would find on most pairs of jeans. Which makes storing things like car keys, phones, wallets etc easy and also easy to get to!

The side pockets on the thigh also have bands in them which can hold things like magazines firmly in them if you run out of space on your Plate carriers/ Belt rigs, creating even more storage space.

Take a look at the trousers here:

Knackered! (2nd from the right)

Overall I am very happy with these, for clones you cant go wrong!

Would I recommend this?

Honestly yes, if you dont have the money to buy Crye Gen 3 trousers then these will for sure do the trick and not break the bank!

So there we have it, let me know what you think of this review of the TMC Gen 3 Combat Trousers and don’t forget to leave your feedback in the comments below & check out the link to my channel below.

Simisdim out!
The Gear Jeff Davenport Uses to Keep a Low Profile Shooting the Streets of L.A.
By: Jessi Gowan
Tags: Los Angeles, Photography, Gear, Cameras, Street Photography

Can you tell us how you go about deciding which gear is essential to your work?

Jeff: It’s been a constant journey. I primarily shoot handheld, street-style at night, so something fairly compact with a low profile has been essential. Also, using a fixed lens with a wide aperture has been everything — I can get what I need with ambient light with a decent low shutter speed.

Overall, I try to keep it as simple as possible. I like working with limitations while constantly expanding my toolbox. I’m always wondering how I can get more out of less.

CAMERAS

I’m all Fuji. They have a vibe and a feel I can’t get enough of. Also, I prefer knobs over menus — I like to work fast with my hands.

Fujifilm X100F: The Fujifilm X100 series of cameras changed my life and have been the backbone of my work. The X100T was my only camera for years, and I moved up to the F model last year, after it was released. It’s a camera I almost always have with me and always regret when I don’t. It’s incredible in low light, and is completely silent and dark when I’m shooting at night. Fuji’s sensors have a special vibe to them that comes through. That camera has challenged me to become a better photographer — one lens, no zoom, and manual controls. I love the lack of lens options; you have to use your body to frame the shot.

Fujifilm XH-1: My newest camera and fast becoming my new best friend. I wanted to work with different focal lengths for portraiture, so it was time for me to make a jump to something new. Sticking with Fuji was a no-brainer for me, since so much of the coloring work I do is related to their sensors. I was really torn between waiting for the XT-3 or getting the XH-1, and I’m really happy with my choice. The image stabilization alone was a game-changer for me. The images I get out of this camera are just stupid amazing and I can shoot log video. Done.
My Year with the Fujifilm X-H1
By: Josh Rose
Tags: Fujifilm, Review, Photography, Cameras, Gear

In this multi-part set of camera reviews, I’m showcasing my three main cameras with the idea that each of them (a full-frame DSLR, a full-frame rangefinder and a cropped sensor rangefinder) all have distinct purposes in the arsenal of a photographer. I’m hoping this offers a unique way of reviewing three of today’s top cameras in a set of real-world shoots, spanning both personal and professional assignments.

For part one on my Nikon D850, click here.

Today I jump to my second most-used camera, the Fujifilm X-H1 — a cropped sensor rangefinder — that accompanies me nearly everywhere I go, no matter what my main camera is or what the occasion. While it remains, technically, the lower quality image of my three cameras, this means almost nothing in the real world. It is fully capable of shooting professional quality images (and video) in almost any scenario, making it — actually — probably the most versatile and useful camera I own.

I upgraded from the X-T2 (a beloved camera, which I gave to my daughter for her 14th birthday) to the X-H1 in May, 2018. So, the journey begins there:

May: Surf Safari
YETI Tundra 45 Review. Revv from EZAdventures.World
By: Ez Adventures
Tags: Yeti Cooler, Cooler, Yeti, Gear, Camping

YETI Tundra 45 Review

Review from EZAdventures.World

If you’re in the market for a new cooler you may be overwhelmed by the options. What brand is best? What size do I need? That cooler is HOW MUCH!? Today we’re going to review our YETI Tundra 45 cooler and take a look at what you need to know about camping coolers and what might work best for you.

For the last 3 years our primary cooler has been a YETI Tundra 45. The Tundra lineup comes in many different sizes denoted by the number in the name which, it should be pointed out, doesn’t actually correspond to the size. Our cooler is not 45 quarts, it’s actually about 37 quarts. The Tundra 45 weighs in at 23 lbs empty and according to YETI’s website can hold 28 cans of beer. If beer isn’t a unit of measurement you’re familiar with don’t worry, I’ll include some photos below of what it can hold. There are handles on either side made of a durable rope with rubber hand holds. The cooler is ultra insulated with up to 3” thick walls in some places and made via a process called rotomolding which refers to how the plastic parts were made. The result is a much stronger product than, say, injection molding.

Yeti Tundra 45 half full.

As shown: 6-pack cans, 1/2 Gallon Carton of Milk, 52 oz Bottle Juice, Pack of Mushrooms, Pack of Cherry Tomatoes

Review

In our experience this cooler lives up to just about every claim the company makes. It is strong; we use it as a step stool, chair, or table often with no signs of wear. It’s very efficient. We usually pack it with some frozen water bottles and empty our ice maker into it before leaving and can keep things cold on that alone for a few days. The size is…fine. When it’s just the two of us it holds everything we need but for a family trip it definitely struggles to hold groceries for four. Although we’d love the additional space, we couldn’t imagine lugging around anything bigger. This cooler is heavy. It comes with a small basket for dry goods which we never use and no thermometer. The last thing to consider is the price, as uncomfortably large as the weight, coming in at $299.99 retail.

Pros:

Ice lasts a long time. Efficient.

Holds up to wear and tear. Durable.

Cons:

The cost is very high. Poor value.

It weighs a lot. Inconvenient.

No temperature gauge. Simple.

Overall Impressions

The fact is that the same processes that make coolers like this efficient and durable also make them heavy. This cooler does what it says and we do like it. Hindsight, as they say, is 20/20 and if we were buying again we’d be looking at the dozens of other brands that are available with the same quality and features but for less money. RTIC, Igloo, and Engle are just a few brands that sell very similar coolers (some so similar they’ve been sued by YETI) at a smaller price point.
https://unsplash.com/photos/3paYH1ewz3s?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditSh
By: Myron Edwards
Tags: Photography, Gear, Equipment, People, Photographer

What Makes a Great Portrait

Do you really need to spend a ton of money on a better lens and why should you.

For decades photographers all around the world have been pursuing this passion of better quality camera’s and lenses..

Point is why do you think you need a better lens' and what are you trying to achieve by getting a better lens.

For me Learning about better quality camera’s and lenses have been an ongoing challenge for quite some time. Let me point something out to you that you just be aware of' the best Photographers in the world arnt pursuing better quality lenses or camera’s. We just clean the gear we have and maybe occasionally upgrade but we aren’t rushing out to get the top notch lens on the market' I’m assuming that’s the younger generations thing now.

I stick with my nifty fifty and maybe occasionally use my Rokinon 85mm 1.4 Lens but that’s rarely' you see the thing about Photography' is you want your portraits to be a delightful amazement to you and your clients.

This 50mm 1.8 Canon Lens serves all of my needs in pretty much whatever I do' so of course I’m not thinking about other lenses not has it let me down in anyway! Also every client I have ever photographed with this bad boy has always been happy with their work. Understanding your glass and camera are essential.

Clean Your Gear
How I Set-up My Garmin Edge 830
By: Peter Gold
Tags: Gravel Biking, Dartmoor, Gear, Travel

Garmin Edge 830

How I Set-up My Garmin Edge 830

I have worked in the technology sector for 20+ years but when I left school I did an apprenticeship as a commercial vehicle mechanic. Hence I like to tinker with things be they technology or physical. Over my years of learning to navigate, and I’ve made a lot of mistakes, I have “mastered” my GPS devices to work in the most efficient way.

My focus is multi-day events so I need my GPS battery to last as long as possible so I use the absolute basic functionality to preserve power. In this post, I’ll cover the things I do to meet my race needs. Obviously, when I’m just going out for a day on Dartmoor I don’t need to be quite so careful but practice makes perfect.

The welcome screen

As you’ll see at the bottom of this post, I have set my welcome screen to show my contact details in case either someone finds my GPS or worst case, they find me!

Navigating

Talky Toaster map

I don’t use the RIDE feature as it uses too much battery power and makes me over-reliant on the device. I prefer to be in a bit more control.

I create my tracks using Basecamp and then transfer them onto the Edge. I then do the following:

Set COURSE to “always display”.

Set the track colour to one I can see e.g. red, yellow or blue.

Set the recorded trail to an opposite colour e.g. red for track, blue for history.

Find a course > Select course > Settings.

By having the map set to always display, you can see where you are (blue arrow) in relation to your track rather than be reliant on the device telling you when to turn, or when to turn around to get back on course!

Device settings

I’m not a big fan of auto setting so I switch as many as these off or to manual.
Extending the life of your gearbox
Tags: Gear Review, Gear, Automotive, Transportation, Gearbox

I know you don’t have the whole day so I will make it concise and in point form to save time as they say time is money.

Replace ATF when (due) necessary(obviously this comes first)

Don’t Overload the vehicle above factory limit e.g when tuning the car don’t exceed torque limit value recommended by car maker… aggressive driving will shorten gearbox life way faster than anything else.

e.g when tuning the car don’t exceed torque limit value recommended by car maker… aggressive driving will shorten gearbox life way faster than anything else. In case of emergency, it’s not advisable to have the car towed by another vehicle because the lack of active lubrication may cause a serious defect (obviously due to friction ) in the gearbox, transportation with repatriation platform (on the back of a larger vehicle) is recommended for this purpose

advisable to have the car by another vehicle because the lack of active lubrication may cause a serious defect (obviously due to ) in the gearbox, transportation with (on the back of a larger vehicle) is recommended for this purpose diagnose the gearbox when buying a 2nd hand car or after every 40 000 km mileage or when you suspect a problem(noise) in the gearbox by a computer diagnosis and a technician.

car or after every 40 000 km mileage or when you suspect a problem(noise) in the gearbox by a computer diagnosis and a technician. In slippery places (mud, snow) don’t take off immediately you start the car as it leads to overheating in the gearbox the because of car throttling while stagnant in one place.

Taking care of your baby
Top 5 Easy to Use Self-Defense Tools
By: Jessica Jones
Tags: Self Defense, Protection, Gear, Everyday Life

This world is an unexpected place and you never know when you can become a victim of an attack. Many of us frequently hear that we are at risk of being victimized. Have you ever thought about what can be your best asset in such a situation? Do you know how to successfully defend yourself? Make sure to have a personal defense plan and get yourself ready for any circumstances.

1 Tactical Knife

A tactical knife is certainly one of the best personal-defense weapons you can conveniently carry. Within approximately 20 feet, a knife proves to be more lethal and effective than a gun. In addition to self-defense, it can help you with multiple indoor and outdoor chores. I recommend you to look for a knife that is long enough to help in defending yourself. Also, it should be lightweight to be easily carried around. Though make sure not to compromise on quality. Your one-time investment should serve you in the long run.

2 Pepper Spray

Among the most user-friendly self-defense items, pepper spray has received immense popularity. Not only they are easy to use but create serious irritation to the skin and eyes of the assailant. One important thing to remember is that the chemicals will not completely stop the attacker, it will slow down them. It’s a simple distracting weapon to help you run away and protect yourself.

3 Tactical Pen

One of the cleverest selections when choosing personal-defense gear! It is surprising to know that a simple everyday object is a practical option when you need to defend yourself against any potential attacker. It works like an ordinary pen and can take the hell out of the opponent with a concealed blade. If you are comfortable with carrying a blade, the pen certainly makes an excellent choice.

4 Personal Alarm

Self-defense gear is available in many forms and at times we need to depend on others for help. To let others know that you are in trouble, there should be something to alert them. For this purpose, a personal alarm is a reliable selection that immediately alert others to help you. You can choose a compact alarm that can be easily secured to the keys for quick access. The most important thing you should ensure that the alarm must be loud enough. I would consider it as a secondary personal protection item.

5 PANIK Application

It won’t be exaggerating to say that your smartphone can also work as a self-defense tool. Apart from just using the phone to contact the police, you will find many applications available both for Android and iPhone and here I would recommend PANIK. It’s a personal assault alarm that instantly activates a loud siren with turning on torchlight and multi-colored screen lights. Further, it requires a PIN password to close the app. What’s more interesting about it? The app can integrate your social media for the alarm and automatically alert people on your social media accounts whether it is Facebook, Twitter, or both. Again I would call it a secondary self-defense tool and you can always accompany it with primary protection gear.
Top Handles and Monitors
By: Aaron A
Tags: Film, Gear, Filmmaking, Monitor, Creators

Before this begins, top handles and monitors are not a necessity for filmmaking. They are not even needed for many people.

Top handles are becoming very popular as the cage revolution occurs. Many YouTubers and BMPCC users are constantly raving about rigging out with cages, top handles, batteries, and monitors. I believe that top handles have a purpose, but they have their issues as well. Here are some Pros and Cons:

Pros: The biggest pros that I see with top handles are that they let you get lower shots more easily and that carrying your camera is easier. Getting lower shots can add production value to your videos since most shots are from chest/stomach level. Getting low shots, especially where the camera is very close to the ground, can add a new perspective. Carrying a camera is easier with a handle, but if you are carrying your camera for a long time I would recommend either a strap or a peak design camera clip on a hiking backpack. Another pro could be added stabilization, but that I have actually noticed my footage being a bit less stable with a top handle if your rig is under 5 lbs.

Cons: The most obvious con is that a top handle will make your camera setup larger and a bit heavier. This could be an issue if you are making travel films or just trying to carry less gear. Top handles also encourage shooting from lower angles. I put this as a pro, but it could be a con as well. If you are trying to film people's facial expressions, something I wrote about in my last blog post, using a top handle can make this difficult. Finally, top handles interfere with using an EVF.

Sidenote: Something to make sure of when using a top handle is that the front and back of the camera should be balanced. If the lens is drastically heavier than the camera body, or vice versa, you will need to fight against the imbalance to be able to film. This will make your footage less stable. Also, make sure to keep one hand on the lens to get more stable footage.

Monitors are a useful tool for filming. They can help you get a clearer view of your composition, they can help you film from a lower angle if your camera’s screen doesn’t tilt, and they can be useful on gimbals. Monitors are in no way needed for filmmaking. Built-in screens are very good and so are EVFs. If you are in the market for a new monitor, here are some things to look out for:

If you use a log profile, make sure that your monitor has some way of inputting a LUT onto the monitor.

2. If you are in the price range of the Atamos Ninja V, look into whether its raw recording capabilities are useful for you.

3. If you film in broad daylight, make sure that the monitor is bright enough. Also, make sure for all monitors that they are color accurate.
Connected Max Smart LED review: Cree Lighting ups its game with a new line of color tunable bulbs
Tags: Home Tech, Deals, Gear

Connected Max Smart LED review: Cree Lighting ups its game with a new line of color tunable bulbs Laurie Dec 17, 2020·2 min read

The lighting mavens at Cree Lighting are pushing further into the smart home with the launch of the Connected Max line, a series of bulbs available in both dimmable (but not tunable) white and color-changing options. Color bulbs are available in BR30, PAR38, A19, and (unusually) A21 form factors. The tunable white is only available as an A19 bulb.



Today we look at the color A19 bulb, which serves as both a full color-changing bulb and a tunable white bulb. The bulb offers a now familiar, traditional design, with a large heat sink and an Edison style globe on top, roughly the same size as a typical incandescent. The bulb draws 9 watts and offers 800 lumens of brightness, making for a 60-watt incandescent equivalent.



This review is part of TechHive’s coverage of the best smart bulbs, where you’ll find reviews of competing products, plus a buyer’s guide to the features you should consider when shopping for this type of product.The bulb sets up initially via Bluetooth, but operates only on the 2.4GHz Wi-Fi band. Initial configuration went quickly via the Cree Lighting mobile app, and I encountered no issues with installation. I especially appreciated its detailed setup process, which walks you through its various configuration modes instead of leaving it all for you to discover later.



[ Further reading: The best bias lighting kits for TVs and monitors ] Christopher Null / IDG Cree’s “follow the sun” mode can be infinitely fine-tuned.



Those modes include “light to sleep” and “light to wake” modes, which slowly fade out or in at bedtime and the waking hour respectively. There’s also a “follow the sun” mode which adjusts the color temperature throughout the day to keep you energized in the morning and relaxed after hours.



Naturally, there’s a full range of tuning options to play with, including a white color temperature range of 2200K to 6500K and a capable dimmer. As well, an intuitive color wheel makes it easy to light the room for a holiday—and the bulb’s colors are impressive in brightness and vibrancy.



A full range of scheduling and timer options are available, and the app connects with both Alexa and Google Assistant to let you control the bulb via voice.



For the most part, the bulb is responsive, though I did encounter more than a few brief disconnects, stutters, and delays during my testing, but rarely did I have to wait more than a few seconds for things to right themselves. That’s all perhaps to be expected given the pricing of this bulb at all of $10, which is definitely on the budget side (though not the least expensive model on the market, even among name brands). Despite some minor bugginess, it’s definitely worth the outlay.



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Microphone-less Sonos Arc SL soundbar arrives exclusively at Costco
Tags: Consumer, Gear, Lighting

Sonos has quietly begun selling a new version of its Dolby Atmos-enabled Arc soundbar that comes without a built-in microphone, although you’ll have to venture out to Costco to snag one.



Mentioned in this article Sonos Arc Read TechHive's review$799.00MSRP $799.00See iton Sonos The Sonos Arc SL Shadow Edition is now available exclusively at “participating” Costco stores in the U.S. and Canada, and it will be available on Costco.com later this month, a Sonos rep told TechHive. The new Arc is selling for $749, versus $799 for the standard version (pictured above).



Word of the Arc SL first began spreading on the Sonos subreddit, where Reddit users posted images of the new soundbar sitting on store shelves. Sonos has yet to officially announce the Arc SL, and it’s not listed on the company’s website, but a Sonos rep confirmed its existence.



[ Further reading: The best soundbars ]Similar to the microphone-less Sonos One SLRemove non-product link, the Arc SL is identical to the standard Arc save for the lack of a built-in microphone for voice assistants. Both Alexa and Google Assistant are built into the original Arc, although you can use only one at a time. You can still use the Arc SL with a voice assistant if you pair the soundbar with a compatible smart speaker.



Besides the lack of a microphone and it’s “shadow-black” color, the Arc SL boasts the “same immersive sound experience” as the standard Arc, according to Sonos.



We praised the original Arc, which went on sale back in June, for its “exceptional” sound quality (an issue with buggy bass response was subsequently fixed via a software update). That said, we were disappointed that it only has a single HDMI input, which seems stingy for an $800 soundbar.



The new Arc SL might be a good choice for soundbar shoppers who want the sound quality of the standard Arc without voice assistants listening in, although at just $50 off the price of the original, the Arc SL isn’t a major bargain.



Updated shortly after publication to add that the Arc SL will be available on Costco.com later this month, as well as the fact that you can pair the soundbar with a smart speaker.



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HBO Max comes to Roku devices at last
Tags: Connected Home, Consumer, Consumer Electronics, Gear

Roku users will soon no longer need a workaround to watch HBO Max. Roku has announced an agreement with HBO that—starting tomorrow, December 17—allows Roku users to download HBO Max from the Roku channel store.



Roku and WarnerMedia have been feuding over HBO Max since the streaming service launched back in May, with the two sides at odds over several issues. Chief among them: Whether Roku would be required to provide HBO Max as a separate app, or if Roku users would use Roku Pay to buy HBO Max subscriptions. It’s not clear how those disputes were ultimately resolved, as both sides are mum over the terms of the agreement.



Hisense Roku streaming devices, including smart TVs running the Roku operating system, will soon be compatible with HBO Max.



[ Further reading: The best media streaming devices ] Mentioned in this article Roku Ultra (2020) Read TechHive's reviewMSRP $99.99See it Word of the settlement comes just a couple weeks before the COVID-delayed Wonder Woman 1984 debuts on HBO Max. The latest Wonder Woman epic will debut both on HBO Max and in theaters on Christmas Day, and it will mark HBO Max’s first 4K title. In addition to Wonder Woman 1984, all of Warner Bros’s upcoming 2021 movies will land on HBO Max the same day they arrive in theaters.



Now that HBO Max is coming to Roku, the streaming service is finally available on all the major streaming platforms. Amazon’s Fire TV was one of the last holdouts, but Amazon and WarnerMedia reached their own agreement last month.



Prior to the deal, Roku users were essentially high and dry when it came to HBO Max, although they could cast HBO Max videos to their devices via AirPlay.



Besides its movie offerings, HBO Max is the streaming home of such HBO shows as Game of Thrones, Big Little Lies, The Sopranos, Euphoria, Lovecraft County, Watchmen, and Last Week Tonight, as well as such syndicated shows as Friends and The Big Bang Theory.



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Connected Max Smart LED review: Cree Lighting ups its game with a new line of color tunable bulbs
Tags: Cutting, Security Cameras, Gear, Electronics

Connected Max Smart LED review: Cree Lighting ups its game with a new line of color tunable bulbs Missy Dec 17, 2020·2 min read

The lighting mavens at Cree Lighting are pushing further into the smart home with the launch of the Connected Max line, a series of bulbs available in both dimmable (but not tunable) white and color-changing options. Color bulbs are available in BR30, PAR38, A19, and (unusually) A21 form factors. The tunable white is only available as an A19 bulb.



Today we look at the color A19 bulb, which serves as both a full color-changing bulb and a tunable white bulb. The bulb offers a now familiar, traditional design, with a large heat sink and an Edison style globe on top, roughly the same size as a typical incandescent. The bulb draws 9 watts and offers 800 lumens of brightness, making for a 60-watt incandescent equivalent.



This review is part of TechHive’s coverage of the best smart bulbs, where you’ll find reviews of competing products, plus a buyer’s guide to the features you should consider when shopping for this type of product.The bulb sets up initially via Bluetooth, but operates only on the 2.4GHz Wi-Fi band. Initial configuration went quickly via the Cree Lighting mobile app, and I encountered no issues with installation. I especially appreciated its detailed setup process, which walks you through its various configuration modes instead of leaving it all for you to discover later.



[ Further reading: The best bias lighting kits for TVs and monitors ] Christopher Null / IDG Cree’s “follow the sun” mode can be infinitely fine-tuned.



Those modes include “light to sleep” and “light to wake” modes, which slowly fade out or in at bedtime and the waking hour respectively. There’s also a “follow the sun” mode which adjusts the color temperature throughout the day to keep you energized in the morning and relaxed after hours.



Naturally, there’s a full range of tuning options to play with, including a white color temperature range of 2200K to 6500K and a capable dimmer. As well, an intuitive color wheel makes it easy to light the room for a holiday—and the bulb’s colors are impressive in brightness and vibrancy.



A full range of scheduling and timer options are available, and the app connects with both Alexa and Google Assistant to let you control the bulb via voice.



For the most part, the bulb is responsive, though I did encounter more than a few brief disconnects, stutters, and delays during my testing, but rarely did I have to wait more than a few seconds for things to right themselves. That’s all perhaps to be expected given the pricing of this bulb at all of $10, which is definitely on the budget side (though not the least expensive model on the market, even among name brands). Despite some minor bugginess, it’s definitely worth the outlay.



Note: When you purchase something after clicking links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. Read our affiliate link policy for more details.
Exploring Technologies at Techsylvania
Tags: Ubuntu, Exploringtechnologies, Slack, Electron, JavaScript

Technology is evolving at a fast pace.

We keep repeating this because this aspect of technology affects the industry’s entire approach if we don’t make an effort to listen to our market’s needs, as they’re following technology’s course thoroughly. More specifically — the more rapid the technological development, the more diversified our customers’ needs, and companies can no longer stay for an important period of time on the market with just one type of product or service.

Thus, we turn to Exploring Technologies and go back to some of the most important pieces of advice we gathered from so many editions of Techsylvania:

Based on his experience with Slack, Jeremy presented the underlying of Electron, an open-source framework that gives you more freedom when creating an app and doesn’t limit you to create traditional desktop apps. Given that there’s a huge community that builds open-source projects with Electron, resources are easier to get to and it enables more users to connect their ideas.

“Electron enables you to build apps that your users will love.”

“The reason I do Ubuntu is that I cannot think of a better way to accelerate technology & entrepreneurship around the world.”

Entrepreneur, philanthropist, and space tourist — Mark Shuttleworth talked about how he can enable people faster towards their vision, through Ubuntu.

Ubuntu, or how they call themselves “the fastest way to go from development to production in IoT” is an open-source software operating system that runs from the desktop, to the cloud, to all internet-connected things. As Mark stated, this system can help people who are not satisfied with what technology is dong today and they want to create the next wave of things.

Eric Wood from Telenav dived deeper into the technicalities of UX, making sure first of all that everybody differentiates it from UI. Wherethrough great UX stands out through collaborative design, Eric pointed out the key collaboration moments:

Business goals

Persona & goals (UX research)

User epics, stories & UX concept design

Backlog grooming

Sprint planning + UX preflight review

“Focus on collaboration and shared understanding over detailed documentation artifacts.”
Upload attachment from slack channel to Oracle Digital Assistant
By: Aditya Prakash
Tags: Slack, Oracle Digital Assistant, Oda, File Upload

Are you looking to upload a file or an image as an attachment from Slack channel to ODA? This article will help you to achieve that.

When you are uploading a file or image as an attachment from different channels to ODA(Oracle Digital Assistant), the provider (like Facebook) will host the uploaded file and send the URL to the bot. Then the bot gets the file or image using that URL. However, things are little different in case of Slack.

When you upload an image or file using Slack as a channel, it first uploads the file to slack server. You can get the list of uploaded files from your slack app using API “https://slack.com/api/files.list”.

To use this API you need to append the OAuth Access Token.

Follow the below steps to upload attachment from Slack to ODA:

Go to Slack’s Your Apps page. Select app name and go to “OAuth and Permissions” section listed in Features. Copy the OAuth Access Token and append it to API.

4. Get the list of uploaded file by Slack channel using below API:

“https://slack.com/api/files.list? token=YOUR_OAUTH_ACCESS_TOKEN&count=10&pretty=1"

The above API return details of all the files uploaded from the slack app.

4. Get the shared public URL for the uploaded file using below API:

https://slack.com/api/files.sharedPublicURL?token=YOUR_ACCESS_TOKEN&file=files[0]['id']}&pretty=1

This API returns the detail of uploaded file after making it public. “files[0]” indicates the latest file uploaded using the slack app.

5. Take the value of “permalink_public” returned from above API. “permalink_public” contains the public URL of web page.

6. Using the “permalink_public” URL and cheerio(node js library), extract the downloadable link from the web page returned using the below code:

request.get(body[‘file’][‘permalink_public’], null, (err, res, html) => {var $ = cheerio.load(html); let srcData = $(‘img’).attr(‘src’); resolve(srcData); })

8. Send the value of “srcData” to Oracle Digital Assistant(ODA).

Summary

When a file or image is uploaded from Slack as channel to ODA, it will first be hosted to Slack server. The uploaded file is private by default. To make it public you need to call “file.sharedPublicURL” API. This API returns the public URL(permalink_public) of web page which contains the downloadable link of uploaded file. Use cheerio library to get the downloadable link. Once you get the downloadable link, pass this link to ODA. That’s it.

Useful links:

1. You can follow this link to integrate Slack as a channel to ODA.

2. You can test the Slack APIs using this link.

In case of issues implementing this or have questions, please reach me at aditya.ap.prakash@oracle.com.
You’re Not Welcome Here: Microsoft Bans Slack Over Security Concerns
By: Nextplane Inc.
Tags: Microsoft, Slack, Security, Team Collaboration

On the heels of Slack’s IPO, Microsoft announced that they are not allowing employees to use Slack while conducting work for the company. Slack is undoubtedly Microsoft’s biggest competitor, but the company claims the ban was due to growing security concerns.

As more employees are bringing their own collaboration tools to the office, IT experts aren’t always able to ensure the tech is set up securely. For a company as large and prominent as Microsoft, the concern is that sensitive information and intellectual property could potentially be leaked.

In a piece from Inc. on the Slack ban, columnist Jason Aten wrote, “The more technology helps businesses be more productive, the greater the risk that that same technology could lead to damaging consequences when it fails.”

Slack and other team collaboration platforms employ standard encryption, but at an enterprise level, that sometimes isn’t enough to combat the continuing trend toward BYOD (bring your own device) or BYOA (bring your own application). Implementing a formalized, universal policy with a specialty add-on software that helps alert IT to any improper or insecure usage can be a key step in the right direction, points out David Roe for CMSWire.

Another security concern not mentioned in any of these articles is around guest access. Many of the new team collaboration platforms such as Microsoft Teams or Slack include guest access, allowing anyone to invite an outside user (outside of a team or an organization) to join the platform and collaborate via chat, join channels, share files, and other functions.

After enabling guest access to external users, IT cannot control or dictate what security measures (such as password complexity, expiration, multi-factor authentication, etc.) external users will use to access their infrastructure. As a result, guest access can be risky.

Guest accounts can also cause end-user support issues when they do not work, increase the total cost of ownership, and create management challenges. We’ll be covering these issues more in-depth in an upcoming blog post about guest accounts.