Η ΓΝΩΣΗ ΤΗΣ ΣΤΟ ΣΧΟΛΕΙΟ ΚΑΙ ΠΕΡΑ ΑΠΟ ΑΥΤΟ
The S'Mouse City Model offers a modern tiny house take on the traditional shepherd's hut. Featuring a very compact but comfortable interior layout, the towable dwelling also comes with optional off-the-grid upgrades.
Category: Tiny Houses, Lifestyle
Tags: Tiny Footprint, Building and Construction, House, Home, Micro-House
Nikon has talked about targeting 'creators' with each of the four APS-C Z-mount cameras it's launched so far, but has generally made sure the results are solidly photographer-friendly, too.
Its Z50 and Zfc models were differentiated primarily by the Zfc having a fully articulated rear screen, along with throwback styling and controls, which meant that the decision between the two was primarily a question of style. The Z50's built-in flash was the other key feature to set them apart.
With the launch of the Z50II, even the difference in rear screen movement has been eliminated, which might make the choice seem even harder. But the Z50II is based on a newer generation of technology than the Zfc, so we thought we'd take a look at what that means, so you can work out how much it matters for your needs.
SpecsBoth the Zfc and Z50II are based around the same 21MP CMOS sensor, first introduced in 2016's D500 DSLR. We've seen 26 and 40MP APS-C sensors arrive in the intervening years but although these can capture more detail, they don't generally do any better in terms of tonal quality, noise and dynamic range, so we're not overly concerned about its age.
The main respect in which the two cameras differ is in terms of processor. The Z50II is built around the newer, more powerful Expeed 7 processor, helping it deliver a level of capability and performance the Zfc simply can't match.
FeaturesThe newer, more powerful processor gives the Z50II much improved autofocus (which we'll look at later in this slideshow) as well as enabling faster shooting and much more flexible video.
In stills mode the Z50II can capture 15 or 30fps bursts of JPEGs with full autofocus, making it much better for capturing action than the Zfc, which topped-out at 11fps in JPEG (9fps in Raw). Also on the Z50II's side is its pre-burst capture mode that starts buffering images when you half-press the shutter, letting you record up to one second of action from before you fully press the button.
The Z50II can also capture 10-bit video, which expands your output options, and 4K/60p from a 1.52x crop region of the sensor. We'll look into the implications of this later.
The cost of the new processor is a precipitous drop in battery life. The Z50II is rated as delivering around 38% fewer shots per charge than the Zfc, using the same battery. This is a slightly unfair comparison, given the Z50II has a flash and the Zfc doesn't, but it's still rated to give at least 25% fewer shots per charge than the original Z50.
HandlingBeyond the difference in capabilities, the two cameras also differ in terms of controls and handling. The Zfc has dedicated dials for shutter speed, aperture and ISO, along with a P/A/S/M switch. It also has two command dials, so can be used in the same way as the Z50II, if you prefer. We found the Zfc's dedicated controls to be somewhat quirkily implemented – you'll often end up using the command dials to fine-tune the settings and the Auto ISO implementation is downright peculiar – but it looks distinctive and attractive in a way it's hard to argue the Z50II does.
The Z50II has an updated viewinder that, while it shares the same resolution and magnification as the Zfc (and its own predecessor), has a new OLED panel that can reach a peak brightness twice as high as the older cameras. This means there should be a less jarring transition when you start and stop using the viewfinder in bright conditions.
AutofocusAutofocus is another area in which the Z50II benefits from a newer processor and five years more development.
The most obvious difference is that the Z50II has been trained to recognize nine different subject types (up from three) and gains an 'Auto' subject mode that prompts the camera to check for all the different subjects it can identify. This risks slowing the AF down a fraction in the very fastest-moving circumstances, at which point you can select the type of subject you're trying to capture, but for the most part, you can just leave it set to Auto and know the camera will use its full capabilities when needed.
But perhaps a bigger deal for day-to-day photography is the return of 3D Tracking, which mimics Nikon's quick and easy-to-use tracking system from the DSLR era. This helps bring the Z50II up to the standards of the latest Canon and Sony cameras in terms of speed and ease of use, whereas the Zfc's tracking was a little slower and more fiddly to use. The Z50II's tracking is generally less prone to drifting off its subject than with the Zfc.
All this makes the Z50II a quicker and easier to use camera in a wide range of photographic situations.
Image qualityGiven they're based around the same 21MP CMOS sensor, we're not surprised not to have seen any obvious differences in image quality between the two cameras. This is no bad thing, as it's a chip that does a good job of balancing the demands of stills and video, even if it does fall a little behind some of the newer Fujifilm and Canon models in terms of detail capture.
However, while the image quality is directly comparable, the Z50II gains a button giving you direct access to the camera's Picture Control color modes and lets you download alternative color recipes from Nikon's cloud service. This should prompt much more experimentation with color modes than you're likely to remember to with the Zfc.
Finally, the Z50II can output 10-bit HEIF files conforming to the HLG standard, allowing you to take advantage of the greater capabilities of modern high dynamic range displays.
Neither camera would be our first choice for, say, landscape photography or situations that really benefit from additional detail capture, but they're both very capable for most requirements.
VideoThe Z50II ends up being a significantly more capable video camera than the Zfc, despite them being based around the same sensor and both being aimed at a stills and video creator audience.
The Z50II gains the ability to capture 10-bit video. This allows it to shoot N-Log video that tries to maintain as much of the camera's captured data, to boost creative flexibility for color grading the footage. It also lets the camera capture Hybrid Log Gamma (HLG) video which is designed to take advantage of the wider range of colors and brightness that high dynamic range displays can offer.
It also gains a waveforms display that is especially useful for setting exposure when shooting Log footage. But the thing that's likely to have the biggest impact for the largest number of video shooters is that the Z50II has a headphone socket for monitoring audio (whether setting levels before recording or listening for distractions during recording), which the Zfc lacks.
Perhaps the most critical difference, though, is that the Z50II's video autofocus is much more reliable.
LensesIn this article we've assumed you're interesting in buying into the APS-C line of Nikon's Z mount. Obviously there's no difference between the Z50II and Zfc in terms of available lenses, but it's still worth looking at what's available.
Now that Nikon has allowed Sigma to introduce some additional primes and Viltrox has just gone ahead and made some anyway, the baby Nikons are a much more interesting prospect than they were a few years ago. In terms of zooms you're currently stuck with Nikon's rather pedestrian variable aperture options, but there are plenty of primes to pick from.
Other companies offer more own-brand APS-C lens lineups and higher-end models with higher res and image stabilization that Nikon lacks, but we're no longer in the position of Nikon making nice-enough bodies with very limited lens choices.
ConclusionThe decision between the original Z50 and the Zfc primarily came down to a question of how much importance you gave to the style and traditional controls of the Zfc, vs the value of the built-in flash offered by the Z50.
The Z50II makes enough of a leap forward, in terms of speed, autofocus sophistication and video that most people will be better served by the new camera, rather than the Zfc. You have to be really attracted by the styling (and unwilling to wait to see if there's going to be a ZfcII) to opt for the smaller, more retro model, at this point.
Honda’s presence in the electric two-wheeler space has long been limited to one-off scooters and bikes. But all that is set to change with the Japanese maker unveiling a performance electric motorcycle called the EV Fun Concept at this year’s EICMA motorcycle trade show.
Category: Motorcycles, Transport
Tags: Honda, Honda Motorcycles, Electric Motorcycles, Concept Motorcycles, EICMA 2024, Scooter
Ever been caught in the crossfire of a wet dog firing droplets of water away from their fur with a mad shake? Well, they can't help it. Scientists have discovered the underlying mechanism that drives dogs – and many other hairy mammals – to vigorously shake water out of their fur, in a fascinating look at the genetics that trigger this involuntary behavior.
Tags: Harvard, Neural Network, Neuroscience, Genetics, Evolution, Dogs, Animal science
7Artisans has announced the 10mm F2.8 II, a full-frame fisheye lens for Canon RF, Nikon Z, Sony E and L-mount camera systems, which replaces the company's existing 10mm F2.8 lens. 7Artisans suggests the lens should be good for applications like landscape, architecture and astrophotography.
Optically, the 10mm F2.8 II comprises 11 elements in 8 groups, including one aspherical and one ED element. The lens is manual focus with an internal focus design, and the minimum focus distance is 0.15m (5.9"). It features a 10-bladed aperture.
The lens is constructed of metal and has a de-clicked manual aperture ring. It also has distance and depth of field scales.
The new lens weighs 602g (1.3 lbs), or about 6% more than its predecessor. It's 75mm (3") in diameter and 95mm (3.7") long.
The 7Artisans 10mm F2.8 II is available immediately. 7Artisans did not disclose the lens's price prior to launch.
We're kicking off this week with a treat for your peepers. Unlike their usual settings, Harvard University staff photographer Niles Singer pointed a camera and a strobe flash at some of the school's athletes and performers as they ran, jumped, and danced in the dark.
Category: Photography, Consumer Tech, Technology
CFMoto's engineers have had their hands full. Its booth at EICMA had quite a few new releases on display, but the star of the show was a brand new, state-of-the-art 1,000cc V4 and a 'Master of Speed' superbike concept signalling the company's WSBK intentions.
Category: Motorcycles, Transport
Tags: CFMoto, V4, Concept Motorcycles, Superbike, EICMA 2024, WSBK
Traction device specialist Kahtoola is preparing to launch its most portable Microspike wearable to date, one so light it calls it the Ghost. The new design builds on the company's popular lineup but replaces stiff chains with a collapsible TPU frame that disappears away in your pack until it's needed for a slick, sketchy traverse. Within seconds, basic hiking boots gain toothy, ice-biting steel spikes to keep you secure, stable and confident on otherwise treacherous terrain.
Tags: Traction, Hiking, Winter, Snow, Backpacking, Running, Footwear
In good news for those averse to injections, GLP-1 agonist medication is a step closer to being offered in oral pill form, with AstraZeneca revealing "encouraging data" out of its Phase I study of its obesity and diabetes drug AZD5004.
Category: Obesity, Illnesses and conditions, Body & Mind
Tags: AstraZeneca, Ozempic, Obesity, Weight Loss, Diabetes, GLP1, Drugs, clinical trials
Ice wreaks havoc on surfaces, but we might have a new way to prevent it building up. Scientists at Northwestern University have shown that textured surfaces with thin layers of graphene oxide can stay completely frost-free for long periods.
Tags: Ice, new material, Surfaces, Northwestern University, Snow, Biomimicry
While growing evidence suggests that there’s a link between blood iron levels and the development of Alzheimer’s disease, new research investigating the effects of an available iron-reducing drug has raised concerns about its use as a treatment for the condition.
Category: Alzheimer's & Dementia, Brain Health, Body & Mind
Tags: Iron, clinical trials, Alzheimer's disease
This week, Nikon announced its latest APS-C camera, the Z50II. It's an update to 2019's Z50, using the same sensor but with an upgraded processor. With it comes Nikon's 3D tracking autofocus system, which can recognize up to nine subjects and automatically switch between them.
During our brief time with the camera, we were able to put it to the test shooting some wildlife around Seattle, as well as a variety of landscapes and other subjects.
You can read our overview of the Z50II and our initial review here.
Buy now:
$906 at Adorama$906 at B&H PhotoCalifornia's Aventon hauled itself into the utility bike world last year with the Abound cargo ebike. Now the company has added a short-tail version, which comes with an all-new smart system for peace-of-mind security as well as enhanced connectivity.
Tags: ebikes, Pedal-assisted, cargo bike, Security
UK startup Space Solar has signed an agreement with Reykjavik Energy that could see Iceland become the first country to receive power beamed from a space-based solar power plant. The 30-MW demonstrator is scheduled to go online by 2030.
Category: Energy, Technology
Tags: Solar Power, Iceland
Fascinating new findings into how clusters of 'brain stars' retain memories has changed what we know about how they're held in our minds.
Tags: Baylor College of Medicine, Neuroscience, Brain, Memory, Alzheimer's disease, PTSD, Neural Network, neurons
Researchers at the University of Mississippi have come up with a faster, more efficient method for detecting landmines – millions of which pose a lethal threat to people in war-ravaged countries all over the world. This breakthrough, which uses lasers and acoustic vibration, has the potential to save thousands of lives a year.
Category: Technology
Tags: Landmine Detection, Land Mines, Laser, University of Mississippi
We naturally pick up microorganisms as we move about the world. Now, researchers have developed an AI tool that accurately links you to a particular location using a sample of the bugs you’ve collected on your travels – like a bacterial satellite navigation system.
Category: AI in Health, Medical Innovations, Body & Mind
Tags: Microbiome, Bacteria, Location, Satellite Navigation, Lund University
The guys over at Thermal Master sent us its new NV300 thermal imaging unit for your car to give it a thorough test and a review. Here are my thoughts: A thermal imaging dash cam is pretty darn tootin' cool ... The NV300 just misses the mark though.
Category: Automotive, Transport
Tags: Dashboard Devices, Thermal Imaging, Camera
To celebrate the 85th anniversary of the Batman franchise, Warner Bros. is making 10 drivable replicas of the Caped Crusader's iconic Tumbler armored vehicle available for a cool US$3 million apiece.
Category: Automotive, Transport
Tags: batman, Batmobile, Memorabilia, Car
Sharp Imaging has added a new family member to its pro-level X Series projectors. The dual-laser XP-X171Q should provide, ahem, sharp 4K visuals even in brightly lit rooms.
Category: Technology
Tags: Projectors, 4K UHD, Laser, Sharp, bRight
