By now, you may be sick of hearing us talk about how useful a portable SSD can be. They’re fast enough that you can edit directly off of them and they keep your computer’s internal drive nice and tidy. Right now, Amazon has some of Samsung’s most popular portable SSDs at deeply discounted prices that are worth jumping on. You’ll find a solid selection of discounted memory cards as well.

SAMSUNG T7 Shield 4TB, Portable SSD $219 (was $429)

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I have personally been using one of these as my main portable SSD for a few months now, and it has been absolutely rock solid. It promises read and write speeds over 1,000 MB/s, and it’s absurdly tough. It has an IP65 rating, which means it’s resistant to water and dust. Plus, it can survive a fall from just under 10 feet without losing all your data. Let’s see a portable HDD with a spinning platter inside do that. Even with all that speed and ruggedness, it’s light and tiny. It weighs roughly 3.5 ounces, and it’s small and flat enough to fit in the fifth pocket of your jeans (depending on the jeans, of course).

If 4TB is too much for you, you can also get the 2TB for a very cheap $119 or the 1TB version for $74.

More Samsung portable SSD deals

• SAMSUNG T7 2TB $114 (was $149)
• SAMSUNG SSD T7 Portable External Solid State Drive 1TB $79 (was $139)
• SAMSUNG MUF-256AB/AM FIT Plus 256GB $25 (was $33)
• SAMSUNG Type-C™ USB Flash Drive, 128GB $16 (was $23)

Samsung SD card deals

• SAMSUNG EVO Plus Full Size 256GB SDXC Card $22 (was $40)
• SAMSUNG EVO Plus Full Size 128 GB SDXC Card $14 (was $20)
• SAMSUNG PRO Plus Full Size SDXC Card 128GB $16 (was $20)

Samsung MicroSD card deals

• SAMSUNG EVO Plus w/ SD Adaptor 512GB Micro SDXC $40 (was $100)
• SAMSUNG EVO Select Micro SD-Memory-Card + Adapter, 256GB microSDXC $18 (was $40)
• SAMSUNG PRO Endurance 256GB MicroSDXC Memory Card with Adapter $26 (was $54)
• SAMSUNG EVO Select Micro SD -Memory -Card + Adapter, 64GB microSDXC $8 (was $11)
• SAMSUNG PRO Plus + Reader 128GB microSDXC $18 (was $40)
• SAMSUNG PRO Plus microSD Memory Card + Reader, 128GB MicroSDXC $18 (was $25)
• SAMSUNG PRO Plus SD Full Size SDXC Card Plus Reader 128GB $20 (was $36)

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Samsung typically uses its flagship Galaxy S smartphone line to show off its latest and greatest mobile camera tech. Now, the company has introduced its new Galaxy S23 line of smartphones and the S23 Ultra comes packing its most advanced mobile camera system so far.

You’ll find a total of five different camera modules on the backside of the Galaxy S23 Ultra. The main camera offers a familiar 23mm (equivalent) wide-angle perspective and an f/1.7 aperture. The sensor (called HP2) offers a total of 200 total megapixels, but you won’t always get huge 200-mp images. Pixel binning allows it to essentially combine 4×4 pixel squares into one larger capture area in order to improve details and low-light performance. You can capture full 200-mp photos, but each image checks in at more than 15 megabytes and they take longer to process than their lower-res counterparts.

Low-light gets brighter

In addition to the hardware improvements for low-light shooting, Samsung says it has enabled an AI-powered system specifically designed to identify and eliminate digital noise that typically comes from shooting in the dark. That kind of tool can sometimes get overzealous and start eating into detail or making things look unnatural, so I’m particularly interested in how it performs in the real world.

In addition to the main camera, the S23 comes toting a 12-megapixel ultra-wide, as well as two dedicated telephoto lenses, one with 3x optical zoom and another with 10x optical zoom and a slower fixed aperture. This is a fairly familiar overall camera offering by now, but Samsung says all the imaging hardware here is new for the S23 Ultra.

Expert Raw gets better

For photographers who would rather eschew some of the AI-powered and automated assistance, the Expert Raw functionality makes that possible. The raw photo mode only captures up to 50-megapixel images—you can’t squeeze the whole 200-megapixel resolution out of the sensor. That’s likely a good thing in terms of practicality when it comes to editing. Samsung has also now tapped Adobe Lightroom as the default raw editing software, which should make the whole raw capture and editing process feel more robust right out of the box.

Video improvements

From a video standpoint, you can still expect 8K video at 30 fps or the much more useful 4K at 60 fps. The zoom capabilities include up to 10x optical and 20x hybrid zoom when shooting motion. The Super Steady video mode raises the maximum resolution up to QHD from the paltry 1080p in the previous model. It works in both the standard and ultra-wide cameras. Plus, you can now zoom up to 6x with the image stabilization turned on. I’m very curious to see how effective that is.

Price and availability

We’ll be running a deeper dive into the camera performance in the coming weeks as we get a chance to test out Samsung’s Galaxy S23 Ultra smartphone. Right now, the flagship model starts at $1,199. There are cheaper versions. The standard Galaxy S23 starts at $799 and the Galaxy S23+ starts at $999, but neither device offers the top-tier 200-megapixel camera found in the Ultra.

The post The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra brings a 200-megapixel sensor, raw mode upgrades appeared first on Popular Photography.

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The 2023 Consumer Electronics Show kicks off this week, which means we can expect every electronics manufacturer across the globe to unleash a torrent of shiny new products for us to covet. The first fancy new device out of the gate comes in the form of Samsung’s new 5K monitor, which is aimed at creatives and competes with Apple’s Studio Display. The ViewFinity S9’s native 5,120 x 2,880 resolution makes it one of just a handful of 5K monitors on the market at the moment. That’s useful for creative work because it allows editing software to display high-resolution previews of photos or videos with room left over around the edges for palettes and editing tools.

Keeping colors accurate

In addition to its high pixel count, the ViewFinity S9 also offers some color-specific features to ensure accuracy when editing photos or videos. Samsung claims it ships from the factory with a Delta E rating of roughly 2. Delta E represents how much an on-screen image differs from a standard output value defined by the International Commission on Illumination. The lower the Delta E value, the closer the monitor’s performance is to the ideal set forth by the Commission. Careful calibration can get values even lower than that, but generally, Delta E of three or less won’t be noticeable for the vast majority of people.

The monitor’s color gamut includes 99 percent of the P3 color space, which should come in handy for high-end video editors. As photographers, we primarily rely on the AdobeRGB or sRGB color spaces, which fit well inside the DCI-P3 color space.

Other ViewFinity S9 monitor features

In addition to the color-specific features, Samsung also fully outfitted this display with high-end utilities. It offers several USB-C and Thunderbolt connections for quickly moving high-res files off of cameras and onto storage devices. Plus, the built-in webcam works natively with popular video apps, so you don’t need to keep an external camera clamped to the top of the screen.

This is a CES announcement, which means hard availability and pricing aren’t currently available. But we expect to see it this year, and it will have to compete with the $1,599 Apple Studio Display. We’re looking forward to trying it out to see how Samsung’s new screen compares.

The post Samsung’s ViewFinity S9 is a 5K monitor with built in color calibration appeared first on Popular Photography.

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Black Friday isn’t far off now, but you don’t have to wait to get some excellent savings on memory cards and storage drives from Samsung. A selection of SD, microSD, and portable solid state drives (SSD) are discounted on Amazon right now, offering up to $100 in savings. Memory cards are easy stocking stuffers for photographers, almost as good as a box of candy, so it’s a great time to pick up a few.

SAMSUNG T7 2TB, Portable SSD $169.99 (was $269.99)

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Photographers can never have enough storage, and SSDs are the best choice to carry around since they are so stable and reliable. They are the more expensive storage choice, so it is more of an investment. But they are very handy to keep with you to back files up immediately after a shoot or to help you work on the go. This particular Samsung SSD offers two terabytes of storage, is super speedy, and comes in three colors (red, blue, and Titan Gray).

SAMSUNG PRO Plus + Reader 256GB microSDXC $29.99 (was $59.99)

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A fast card is a must for anyone shooting video or transferring lots of files between devices. This Samsung 256GB microSDXC offers read and write speeds up to 160/120MB/s, respectively. It will be able to keep up with the 4K footage from a GoPro or DJI drone. And Samsung backs it up with a 10-year warranty should something happen to it.

Additional Samsung memory deals:

• SAMSUNG EVO Select Micro SD-Memory-Card + Adapter, 256GB microSDXC $23.99 (was $39.99)
• SAMSUNG PRO Endurance 128GB MicroSDXC Memory Card with Adapter $16.99 (was $27.99)
• SAMSUNG PRO Plus Full Size SDXC Card Plus Reader 256GB $33.99 (was $62.99)
• SAMSUNG T7 Shield 1TB, Portable SSD $89.99 (was $159.99)

More deals from Amazon’s Stock Up & Save program

Right now, Amazon is offering a 20 percent discount on orders from its Stock Up & Save store. It has everything from common drug store necessities and pet accessories. But, it also has some essentials that belong in just about every camera bag. Here are some Stock Up and Save deals you might want to jump on before your next shoot.

Amazon Basics No Residue, Non-Reflective Gaffers Tape

Amazon Basics 4-Pack AAA Performance 800 mAh Rechargeable Batteries

Amazon Basics Rollerball Pen, Micro Point (0.5mm), Assorted, 12 Pack

Amazon Brand – Solimo 70% Isopropyl Alcohol

Amazon Basics Calligraphy Brush Pen,Fine Point, Black

Amazon Basics 12 Pack CR2025 3 Volt Lithium Coin Cell Battery

Amazon Brand – Solimo Sport Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 50

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For such expensive devices, Samsung’s eye-catching Galaxy Z Fold phones have long lagged the field when it comes to their camera setup. That’s perhaps understandable, as the folding screen tech is both expensive and bulky, leaving less room and cost for decent cameras. It’s sad news for photographers, though, as it’s meant you have to choose between a huge screen or great cameras. But that’s about to change, to some degree, with the launch of the new flagship Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 was also simultaneously-announced, but given its camera specification is much lower, we’ll just focus on the Fold4 in this article.

How does the Z Fold4 fit into Samsung’s lineup?

Related: The era of the ‘always-on’ smartphone camera is here

Let’s start off with the not-so-great news: The just-launched Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 still isn’t the equal of other flagships, with Samsung’s own Galaxy S22 Ultra among the phones that can still beat it in terms of specs, for far less money. But while it’s still not a top-tier setup, the Fold4 should still best everything else in Samsung’s current smartphone lineup.

What’s new since the Fold3?

The Fold4’s camera setup has been mostly rethought since the Fold3 and is effectively now on parity with the non-folding Galaxy S22 and S22 Plus. The main camera sensor has been upgraded from 12 to 50 megapixels, and its size increased such that Samsung says it can now gather 23% more light than before.

The previous 12-megapixel, 2x zoom telephoto camera has also been replaced by a 10-megapixel, 3x zoom camera. (Coupled with 10x digital zoom, this now allows a maximum of 30x zoom, up from 20x in the previous model.) Finally, there’s a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera that carries over from the Fold3.

All three main cameras retain the same apertures as before, with the main camera being the brightest at f/1.8, the ultra-wide in the middle at f/2.2, and the telephoto being an f/2.4 optic. The wide-angle and main cameras also retain the same pixel pitches and fields of view, with a 123˚ FOV and 1.12μm pixels for the ultra-wide and an 83-degree FOV with 1.8μm pixels for the main camera. The telephoto camera retains a 1.0μm pixel pitch, and Samsung has yet to publicly state an FOV range for the uprated zoom lens.

Loads of other tweaks, some of which will make imaging better too

Of course, even for the unchanged ultra-wide camera, there will likely be changes to Samsung’s image processing algorithms, and perhaps image quality improvements to be found. The company is also noting some UI improvements. Among software changes, Samsung is calling attention to both its “nightography” and portrait modes, which it says offer better low-light image quality. Samsung has also added video digital image stabilization and added support for recording videos at up to 8K resolution.

Of course, there are many other changes throughout, including a current-gen Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor upgrade, which should make for a snappier performance across the board. There’s also an improved hinge, more durable displays, and a stronger frame. Samsung has further made numerous upgrades to the operating system itself, including a new taskbar that aims to make better use of the generous screen real-estate.

Where the S22 Ultra still bests the Fold4

So how does the S22 Ultra still better the Z Fold4? The biggest differences are that the S22 Ultra’s main camera has double the sensor resolution 108 megapixels vs. 50 megapixels), and the Fold4 lacks its 10-megapixel, 10x periscope zoom camera altogether. The newer phone replaces that with a non-zooming 10-megapixel selfie camera for use when folded, and there’s also a secondary four-megapixel selfie camera hidden under the screen when the phone is used unfolded. (This latter is now said to be harder to see through the screen itself.)

On the one hand, it’s not a great look that the company’s flagship folding phone *still* lags noticeably behind its flagship traditional smartphone. But at the same time, this is already a pretty bulky, hefty, and extremely expensive phone. Had Samsung shoehorned in the full camera setup from the S22 Ultra, it likely would’ve broken the psychologically important $2,000 barrier not just for its 1TB phone, but likely for the 512GB variant too, while making the phone even chunkier in the process.

This compromise means you’ll still get a pretty decent camera experience alongside the folding form factor. If you’re focused mostly on photography, though, the S22 Ultra will remain a much better option. And that fact is likely why Samsung isn’t doing that much to call attention to its new camera setup. As of right now, the company has uploaded eight promo videos for the Fold4 to its YouTube channel, but none even mentions the camera, instead focusing on changes to the screen, hinge design, and Android 12L operating system.

Price & availability

Available in the US market from August 26, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 is priced to start from $1,799.99 for the base 256GB model. The 512GB model is ordinarily $1,919.99 but is currently discounted to the same price as the 256GB model for preorders, while you’ll pay $2,159.99 for the top-of-the-line one terabyte model.

Color options will include Graygreen, Phantom Black, Beige, or Burgundy. Burgundy models are available only in the lower two capacities, and these as well as the 1TB model will all be available only directly from Samsung.

The post Samsung’s new folding smartphone flagship gets a much-needed camera upgrade appeared first on Popular Photography.

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For the folks over at Samsung Semiconductor, the mighty megapixel reigns supreme. Not content to rest on the laurels of the 108-megapixel sensor it co-developed with Xiaomi back in 2019, the company launched the record-breaking 200-megapixel ISOCELL HP1 sensor late last year. In the process, it set a new benchmark for smartphone camera resolution.

As the ISOCELL HP1 sensor nears retail—the rumor mill currently has it landing next month in a new Motorola handset—its maker is looking for ways to emphasize the level of quality available from the chip. And as everyone knows, if you want the internet’s attention, it’s usually helpful to stick a cat in there somewhere. That’s precisely what Samsung’s marketing team has done, using an early copy of the new sensor to take an exceptionally high-res feline photo. They then turned it into an absolutely epic banner and wrapped it around a Korean high-rise building.

Capturing the shot and creating the print

Of course, since the ISOCELL HP1 hasn’t yet reached the market, Samsung couldn’t use it in an actual phone as none have been officially revealed. Hence, it used a camera module containing the new sensor mounted on a development board instead. Multiple engineers were needed to handle the framing, exposure, focus, and cat-wrangling.

Initially, the company says it used various SLR camera lenses in front of the sensor, and indeed the video shows an unidentified lens in use, although curiously it appears to be exposing the lens built into the camera module, rather than a naked sensor. Either way, the company says that the final image was taken without using an accessory lens.

Creating the banner was no less of an ordeal. With dimensions of approximately 92 feet wide by 72 feet tall, it is roughly the same length as a basketball court, and a fair bit wider to boot. (The total area works out to roughly 6,630 square feet.) Clearly, it couldn’t be printed in one go. Instead, Samsung printed off a dozen strips, each containing a 7.5-foot wide slice of the final image. These then had to be sewn together to create the end result, and a crane was needed to lift the completed banner into place before the big reveal.

Impressive resolution, but being forced to view from afar helps

There’s no denying that the amount of detail in the image is impressive, and it seems to hold up to examination even from a relatively close distance. With that said, Samsung is also taking advantage of the fact that it’s impossible to get truly up close to the print. With a sensor resolution of 16,384 by 12,288-pixels and assuming no cropping, the final output resolution would be roughly 14 to 15 pixels per inch, making each pixel large enough to be easily visible from very near.

Still, that would be true regardless of the capture device. A sensor resolution of 200 megapixels goes far beyond any DSLR or mirrorless camera, which would have required multiple shots to yield the same output resolution without additional interpolation. Of course, most of the time that much resolution is going to be overkill. There’s not much call for basketball court-sized prints from the general public, and so you may be wondering what the point of all this is.

You mostly won’t use the full 200-megapixel resolution directly

One of the key advantages of such a high-resolution sensor is the ability to use pixel binning to improve light-gathering capability. Pixel binning combines information from groups of adjacent pixels together so that they act as one much larger pixel. This in turn allows them to gather more light than they would otherwise be able to individually. More light = better image quality. This process has the benefit of reducing the resolution of the output image to a more manageable size.

The 200-megapixel resolution additionally allows for a higher-quality “zoom” to be achieved by cropping the image and then downsampling slightly less for the final shot. That zoom can operate entirely silently, making it great not just for stills but also video. The extra resolution also provides finer-grained data on which focus, exposure, and AI algorithms can potentially operate as needed.

Future product plans have yet to be revealed

So where can we expect to see this device show up first? Some sources predict that Lenovo-owned Motorola will likely be the first to employ the ISOCELL HP1, debuting it with the launch of the Motorola Frontier next month. It’s also pretty much a given that the chip will feature in one of Samsung’s phones, just as we saw for the previous-generation chip. Presuming those rumors aren’t too far off the mark, watch this space for more news in the not-too-distant future!

The post Me(w)ow! Samsung’s new 200-megapixel smartphone sensor shot this larger-than-life-cat print appeared first on Popular Photography.

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