First Look: ROKINON SP 35mm F1.2 Lens For Canon

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December 3, 2018

Samyang Optics recently announced the ROKINON SP 35mm F1.2 lens (the official name is ROKINON SP 35mm F1.2 Full Frame High Speed for Canon EF but that’s a bit of a mouthful). Keep scrolling for a rundown of specs and ordering information.

Table of Contents

High-res Shooting

This lens is only available for Canon’s EF mount as indicated by its title. Despite the lens’s exclusivity, its specs indicate that Samyang wants a bigger piece of the high-resolution mirrorless camera and DSLR space. The ROKINON 35mm F1.2 works with high-resolution sensors up to 50MP and can shoot video in 8K. It also incorporates Extra-Low Dispersion, Aspherical and High Refractive lens components.

Low-light Friendly

This lens is ideal for low-light shooting. The ROKINON SP 35mm F1.2 lens boasts a remarkably bright f/1.2 aperture and nine-blade diaphragm; combined they provide selective focus control, enhanced bokeh, and starburst effects.

Form & Function

This 35mm is also aesthetically appealing—Samyang’s 40 years of experience combining form and function are evident in this lens. Its manual focus control is ergonomically designed to facilitate precision shooting. Additionally, the exterior is a high-quality aluminum alloy that keeps all of the lens’s delicate internal components safe and in one piece.

Samyang’s Compatibility

Don’t despair if you like the look of Samyang’s products but aren’t a Canon devotee. Samyang has a wide spectrum of products that work with every major camera company including Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm, Pentax, Samsung, Yashica, and Olympus. The ROKINON SP 35mm F1.2 lens is the latest in a string of new releases from Samyang Optics. This past July they announced the release of two new lenses: the AF 24mm F2.8 Compact Lens and Rokinon AF 85mm F1.4. You can watch our video review of those lenses here.

Where Can I Get It?

This lens is available for preorder now on Focus’s website. It’s on sale for $999.00 and starts shipping January 2019. If your New Year’s resolution is to up your photography game, this is a great way to start.

First Look: The DJI OSMO Pocket Camera

By

Keith Rodman

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November 30, 2018

Table of Contents

Introducing The DJI OSMO Pocket Camera

DJI is working hard to establish themselves as the most advanced name in drone technology; when the DJI Mavic 2 Pro dropped in late 2018 it made waves with a slew of advanced features, updated specs, and absurdly beautiful footage. Now, the company is moving into GoPro territory with the DJI OSMO Pocket.

The OSMO is available now on Focuscamera.com.

Specifications

Weighing in at 116 grams, the OSMO Pocket is a mini 3-axis stabilized camera that features a 1/2.3-inch sensor, 80° FOV, and f/2.0 aperture. It can also shoot 4K/60fps video at 100 Mbps and photos at 12 MP with a pixel size of 1.55 μm.

The 3-axis mechanical gimbal is exciting for a couple of reasons. First, it works in tandem with a new algorithm that ensures a control accuracy of ±0.005° and a maximum control speed of 120°/s; it adjusts in moments to adapt to your movements. Second, it enhances NightShot mode and allows for tripod-free, handheld long exposure shots in Pro mode.

Features

For such a tiny camera, DJI really packed in the features. The basic breakdown is as follows:

FPV: first-person view is exactly what it sounds like. It follows the gimbal’s orientation to shoot smooth footage from your perspective at any angle.
Active Track: tap a subject on OSMO Pocket’s touchscreen interface to automatically track while filming.
Panorama: capture crystal-clear 3×3 panorama shots.
Motionlapse: take time-lapse footage and add a splash of drama with a smooth slow pan across your vista of choice.
NightShot: as mentioned above, you can now take clear, tripod-free photos with an extended 2-3 second exposure. The OSMO Pocket also automatically detects and illuminates low-light shooting scenarios.

Compatibility

The DJI OSMO Pocket boasts universal compatibility. That’s right. Against all odds, Apple and Android users can create content and share hardware in harmony. In the past, DJI has been good about making their products inclusive to all, regardless of digital loyalties. We’re glad to see that the OSMO Pocket perpetuates that trend. The universal port also allows you to connect with a host of other DJI shooting accessories.

Preorder it on Focuscamera.com now and be one of the first people to own this handy new cam.

Review: Rugged G-Technology External Hard Drives

By

Keith Rodman

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November 30, 2018

G-Technology G-DRIVE mobile SSD R-Series Portable Drive

Photographers and videographers shoot an incredible amount of content to keep up with our increasingly digital landscape. Naturally, that content needs to be stored somewhere safe and reliable that fits our individual needs. We put together this review for G-Technology external hard drives so you can explore a range of sizes and specs for one of the toughest data storage brands on the market.

We recommend G-Technology external hard drives to creators who travel extensively and shoot in volatile or outdoor locations. They’re also great for those who want to be really, really sure their data is crushproof.

Table of Contents

G-Technology G-DRIVE mobile SSD R-Series Portable Drive

The G-Technology G-DRIVE mobile SSD R-Series Portable Drive is a durable, hyper-portable storage solution for photos, videos, music, documents and anything else you need to store in bulk. It’s available in 500GB, 2TB, and 1TB iterations and boasts transfer speeds of 560MB/s for fast and efficient saving.

For all the Apple users out there, this hard drive was made with newer Macs and other USB-C compatible devices in mind. It has a reversible USB-C port with a USB 3.1 Gen 2 interface and a USB 3.0/2.0 cable adapter for reverse compatibility.

G-Technology external hard drives are great for creators trying to outsmart the unexpected. This model has an IP67 rating (this number indicates dust and water resistance). It can go on a casual trip to the beach or withstand a sandstorm; no matter the conditions, the internal components will remain unharmed. It can also be safely submerged in up to 3 feet of fresh water for 30 minutes; it’s water resistant, not waterproof. Finally, it has 9.8-foot drop protection and a 1,000-pound crushproof rating. We’re not sure why your external drive would need to withstand that much weight, but that’s your business.

G-Technology G-DRIVE mobile Pro SSD Portable Drive

This G-Technology hard drive is, in a phrase, incredibly fast. It’s available in 500GB and 1TB versions and boasts data transfer rates up to 2,800MB/s through a single Thunderbolt 3 port. At that rate, you can edit multi-stream 8K footage at full frame rate, transfer up to a terabyte of content in seven minutes or less, and render a VR project from anywhere.

And we do mean anywhere; this external drive has a shock-resistant case and—like it’s R-Series counterpart—features 9.8-foot drop protection and a 1,000-pound crushproof rating. It also has an aluminum core that keeps the device from overheating inside and out, facilitating high-level sustained use.

Influencer Approved Lighting For YouTube Videos & Instagram Posts

By

Keith Rodman

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November 28, 2018

There are four lighting accessories that almost every major influencer uses to highlight their perfectly contoured features. Despite what they’d like us to believe, our favorite YouTubers and Instafamous friends are not born with the supernatural ability to find their perfect light. They create it. In this post, we talk about how to create the best lighting for YouTube videos and Instagram posts.

Don’t be nervous or intimidated if you’re new to the world of photography and vlogging! These items—and your beginner DSLR of choice—are straightforward and easy to use.

Table of Contents

LED Ring Light

When you watch beauty vlogs and Insta-stalk your favorite fashion influencers, you’ll notice they have a bright ring of light reflected in their eyes. These people don’t have night vision—they’re using an LED ring light.

This is easily the most common lighting accessory used by the Internet elite. A ring light sits directly behind your camera and evenly illuminates your entire face from the camera’s point of view. It helps eliminate unflattering shadows and gives your skin a glowing, angelic look. Most professional content creators use them but they’re especially beneficial for close-up shots, fashion photography, and makeup demos.

Softboxes + Diffusion Fabric

Photographers love natural light but nature is both unforgiving and unpredictable. It does not care that you want a consistent lighting scheme and it will send inclement weather to mess with your perfect shot. Nature is very rude. Lighting for YouTube videos and Instagram content needs to be consistent.

This is where softboxes and diffusion fabric come in handy. A softbox covered with diffusion fabric simulates the look of light coming through a window. It’s standard to have two: one on your right and left positioned on either side of a ring light. For bonus highlights, you can place one above you to give your hair extra shine.

White Umbrellas

One lighting scheme doesn’t work for every photographer. The products you choose are dependent on the space and the specific look you’re going for. So, if you’re not thrilled with what you’ve read about softboxes, white umbrellas are a great alternative. When you face an umbrella backward it produces a broader light than a softbox. The effect it creates resembles something closer to a ring light; the light is more evenly distributed. That said, you’re still going to need two of them (and probably a ring light) to effectively illuminate your space.

If you have a favorite accessory that creates great lighting for YouTube videos and Instagram posts please leave it in the comments!

Review: LaCie d2 Professional External Hard Drive

By

Keith Rodman

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November 27, 2018

Experienced professionals know that a reliable external hard drive is an investment in your future. The longer you work, the more horror stories you hear about colleagues who didn’t do their due diligence, neglected to save their work in multiple places and lost everything.

Case and point: I know a sound designer who dropped a drive containing his entire sound library off the side of a boat into the Pacific Ocean. That is a true story. What? How does that happen? It’s easy to hear these stories and think, well I would never dangle my most valuable possession over the sea. To those people, I say: you never know.

No one ever plans to lose their data. That’s why—whether you’re a new photographer or seasoned professional—you need reliable places to store it; the LaCie d2 Professional is a perfect example of a nearly fail-safe solution.

The Focus team took a look at the d2 Professional for you and found it to be a solid addition to the LaCie family. We recommend it if you’re looking for an upgrade to your current model, need more space, or want a stationary standing hard drive for your desk.

Storage & Speed

The LaCie d2 Professional external hard drive we tested holds 4 TB; it’s also available in 6 TB and 10 TB iterations. They all house the highest capacity desktop drive on the market: a Seagate® BarraCuda® Pro enterprise-class drive.

Its interface transfer rate (or host transfer rate) is up to 240MB/s. It also boasts 7200 RPM. For those wondering why that’s important, spinning drives like this one are usually either 5400 or 7200 RPMs. An RPM refers to “revolutions per minute” so the higher the RPM, the faster the hard drive. In short, this little guy zooms.

Compatibility

We hesitate to call any tech “future proof” but LaCie made a valiant effort with this model. It has USB-C to USB-C compatibility and a USB-C to USB-A adapter that can be used on any Mac or PC. This is a major asset in an age when specialized ports and cords are hugely prohibitive to what kind of gear you can own.

Materials

If you’re looking at the LaCie d2 Professional, there’s a good chance you’ve owned a standing external hard drive before. Thus, you probably know these devices can get very hot to the touch and noisy. I mean really, concerningly, this-drive-is-about-to-take-off-into-space loud.

LaCie addressed the noise and heat issues with two key changes to the d2 Professional. First, the body is made of a single sheet of aluminum; it doesn’t conduct heat and it’s rigid. Second, the built-in fan that pulls heat away from the hard disk drive (HDD) is incredibly quiet. Gone are the days when you could propel a fan boat with a drive fan.

All in all, we would recommend this drive to anyone who needs to store and/or transfer images and footage in bulk. It’s quick, quiet, reliable and comes with a 5-year limited warranty that includes Rescue Data Recovery Services so you can prepare for the unexpected.

Focus’ Top 5 Black Friday Deals 2018

By

Keith Rodman

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November 20, 2018

Nothing fills us with holiday cheer quite like a good Black Friday bundle. We all scramble to get our holiday shopping done as quickly and as cost effectively as possible. The easiest way to do that? Get the perfect gift and everything that goes with it in one neat, curated kit. Scroll down to get a sneak peek at our best Black Friday Deals 2018.

Table of Contents

#1 Canon EOS Rebel T6 w/ 18-55mm & 75-300mm Lenses

~~$749~~ $399

This core bundle includes the EOS Rebel T6 body, a shoulder bag and two lenses: the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II and EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III.

Canon EOS Rebel T6

The Rebel T6 is great for smartphone or point-and-shoot camera owners who want to upgrade their equipment to something more serious. It has an interchangeable lens mount, shoots HD video, and houses an 18.0 Megapixel CMOS image sensor and DIGIC 4+ Image Processor that ensure your photos are crisp and colorful. It is also WiFi and NFC enabled so you can shoot, connect and share in real time!

Lenses

This bundle comes with two lenses. First, the EF-S18-55mm F/3.5-5.6 IS STM is a reliable, standard lens with built-in image stabilization that works while you’re shooting photos or recording video. The Canon EF 75-300mm f/4.0-5.6 III Zoom is a lightweight telephoto lens that is ideal for shooting sporting events and wildlife.

Our Black Friday deals 2018 include bulkier bundles with everything listed above plus a host of other useful accessories. Among other items, the first bundle has a 5-piece digital accessory kit, additional card reader, memory cards and a flash. The second bundle includes additional memory cards as well as a Corel Software Kit.

#2 Sony Alpha a6000 Mirrorless Camera w/ 16-50mm & 55/210mm Lens

~~$998~~ $598

This is the lowest price ever for this bundle! It includes the Sony Alpha a6000 mirrorless camera and two lenses: the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II and EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III.

Sony Alpha a6000

This mirrorless camera does not sacrifice features for size. The small and powerful Alpha a6000 boasts a 24.3 MP Exmor® APS HD CMOS sensor, the world’s fastest autofocus, and a BIONZ X Image Processing Engine that reproduces details in real time as seen by the human eye (woah). Usability highlights include a 3 inch tilting LCD screen, customizable UI, and One-Touch remote sharing capabilities.

Lenses

This bundle includes a standard and telephoto lens. The standard is a 16-50mm lens that’s a great balance to the Alpha a6000’s lightweight body. The 55-210mm telephoto lens is equipped with 3.8x magnification, built-in image stabilization and is ideal for long-range photography.

We have three additional options if you want the camera and need more gear. Our three kits include a 16-50mm Lens and Gadget Bag, Gadget Bag and 32GB SD Card, and 16-50mm Lens & Four 32GB SD Card.

#3 Sony Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones with Portable Wireless Speaker

~~$446~~ $198

It’s not all about the cameras! Invest in this bundle for perfect sound at home and on the go. This bundle includes the Sony WH- 1000XM2 Wireless Noise-Canceling Headphones and Sony SRS-XB21 Portable Wireless Bluetooth Speaker.

Sony Noise-Canceling Headphones

The Sony Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones have industry-leading noise canceling technology and automatically adjust to provide an individual, optimized listening experience. It responds to a wide range of external factors including atmospheric pressure and your current activity (walking, standing outside, etc.).

Sony Wireless Bluetooth Speaker

This sleek, portable speaker features extra bass and live sound mode, up to 12 hours of battery life, and can connect with up to 100 other true wireless speakers with Wireless party chain. That is not a typo, it truly connects to 100 speakers. It’s also lightweight, waterproof, dustproof, and rustproof making this the perfect beach speaker.

#4 Canon 5D Mark IV w/ Battery Grip

~~$3,299~~ $2,799

This bundle includes the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV DSLR camera (body only) and a Canon BG-E20 battery grip.

The Canon 5D Mark IV

This camera features an ISO range of 100–32000 (expandable to 50–102400), making it the perfect camera for low-light photography. Other highlights include a 30.4 megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor, 4K video, a brilliant 3.2” LCD touchscreen and advanced autofocus and imaging technology that allows the 5D Mark IV to shoot up to 7.0fps. Use the built-in WiFi and NFC so you can capture and share in real time.

The Grip

When you’re out shooting all day you don’t want to stop and switch out your battery. Pausing might not even be an option depending on the situation. This grip is designed to fit your hand perfectly and load one or two LP-E6 battery packs.

#5 Sony a7r III

~~$3,198~~ $2,799

We are offering one of Sony’s most popular cameras—the Sony a7r III—at its lowest price of the year! This model provides pro-level settings in a strong, compact body designed for portability. It features a back-illuminated 42.4 MP full-frame sensor, high-res 4k HDR and shoots up to 10 fps with AF/AE tracking. It also supports WiFi and NFC functionality for quick, easy sharing on the go.

Like the cameras above, our Black Friday deals 2018 will also include Sony a7r III bundles. The first includes the a7r (body only) a 64GB Class 10 UHS-II SD Card, weatherproof base and Wasabi Power Charger. The second bundle includes all the same items except for the memory card; this kit includes a 128GB UHS-II SD. Finally, the third bundle features a host of items including a video tripod, four 64GB Ultra UHS-I Class 10 SDXC memory cards, battery packs, the Digital Treasures creative & office software (for PCs) and more.

These are only some of our favorite Black Friday 2018 deals! Check out our homepage to explore additional products and holiday deals.

Is the Nikon D3500 a good beginner DSLR camera?

By

Keith Rodman

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November 14, 2018

Investing in your first camera is stressful. There are a lot of considerations—including price and numerous specifications—that leave people wondering which beginner DSLR camera is the best? While there are a wide array of options, Nikon consistently offers exceptional and affordable cameras in the amateur category.

Table of Contents

Bye Bye, Buyer’s Remorse

The Nikon D3500—Nikon’s latest and greatest entry-level DSLR camera—is made with beginners and family use in mind. It’s hyper-portable and gives you even better specs for your money than its impressive predecessor, the Nikon D3400. It’s also cost-effective; the Nikon D3500 price falls around the $500 mark, an important factor if you’re not quite ready to spend thousands on a pro camera.

There are a few key upgrades to the Nikon D3500 specs that make it a definitive upgrade from the previous model: it has an Expeed 4 processor, better battery life and it weighs less than the D3400. It’s a small camera, but it packs a punch. If you want to take a closer look at the last model, we also have a detailed Nikon D3400 review.

Photography 101

Guide Mode is a key feature that makes this an easy-to-use, beginner DSLR camera. Just toggle to Guide Mode on your dial and choose from a long list of easy and advanced actions that will automatically adjust your settings. Examples include: softening a background, taking lighter or darker photos, bringing a larger area into focus and reducing blur. Now you can spend less time Googling and more time shooting.

A Perfect Fit

The D3500 feels great in your hands. It’s very light (12.9 oz.), balanced, and has a substantial handgrip. That said, this model sacrifices screen versatility for size. It isn’t a deal-breaker, but the LCD screen on the back of the body isn’t a touchscreen and it’s fixed, so it can’t pivot or tilt. Two minor inconveniences for the sake of portability.

Stay Focused

When you’re still learning how to frame the perfect shot, taking time to manually focus your camera is a huge pain (especially in low light). This model has quick, 11-point autofocus that—combined with the D3500’s 24.4MP sensor—picks up an incredible amount of detail.

It also has built-in 3D focus tracking for continuous shooting at 5 frames per second. Tracking analyzes your subject’s speed and direction then predicts their position at the moment an image is captured. Pair it with a telephoto lens like the Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED to get perfect shots of once-in-a-lifetime moments.

Battery Boost

The D3500 has an impressive 1,550 shot battery life. This means that in one sitting, you can take 1,550 shots of your cousin’s wedding, the vacation destination of choice or your dog’s birthday party. In short? It provides more than enough shooting time.

Lights, Camera, Full HD

We can’t always plan when video-worthy moments occur. Sometimes, extraordinary things just happen. While this beginner DSLR camera is primarily meant for still photography, you can also shoot up to 20 minutes of high-quality footage in 1080p. It has a built-in speaker so there is no need to attach a mic—just switch to recording mode and start capturing.

Stay Connected With SnapBridge

Many first-time camera owners are looking for a step up from their smartphone. Nikon’s free SnapBridge app gives you the best of both worlds; it uses Bluetooth® to transfer and sync images from the D3500 to your smartphone in real time. This is an amazing feature if you want to share images with your family, friends and social media followers in real time.

That concludes our Nikon D3500 review. If you tried this model and have additional feedback or critiques for would-be camera owners, let us know in the comments below. Similarly, if you have any questions about Nikon D3500 specs, please feel free to leave them in the comments section.

Sample Nikon D3500 Photos

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3 Best Podcasting Mics & Vlogging Mics (2018)

By

Focus Camera

-

November 12, 2018

In this roundup, we look at best podcasting mics and vlogging mics from 2018. These models are perfect for new and experienced practitioners interested in upgrading their recording setup.

Table of Contents

Samson Q2U Handheld Dynamic USB Microphone

If you’re looking to start a new podcast, the Samson Q2U is the best choice for creating a production studio on a budget. The Q2U delivers high-quality audio effortlessly with minimal setup. In terms of versatility, it’s great if you’re recording a solo broadcast on your laptop or multi-person interviews through a mixing desk.

It comes with a mic clip, desktop tripod stand with an extension piece, windscreen, XLR cable, and USB cable… A package with everything you need to start recording right out of the box at a price of $59.99.

Blue Yeti Nano Premium USB Microphone

The next microphone we have here is the Blue Yeti Nano microphone. It is inspired by the popular Blue Yeti microphone and features 24-bit sound quality and plug-and-play operation for instant streaming with your PC or Mac. The Nano is designed for broadcast-quality podcasting, YouTube productions, game streaming, Skype/VoIP and voiceover work.

The Blue Yeti NANO mic has a premium finish that looks great on camera or on any desktop. In terms of functionality, it features a no-latency headphone output and controls for headphone volume. Plus, the mic mute and pickup pattern makes the Yeti Nano THE essential mic for modern broadcasters. It comes in at the price of $99.99

Rode NT-USB USB Condenser Microphone

The last item on our list of the best podcasting mics is the Rode NT-USB. This is a highly versatile, side-address microphone ideal for recording musical performances, podcasts, and voice-overs. It is fully compatible with all mainstream recording applications on both Windows and Mac OS based computers. If you’re recording on-the-go, you can also record via the Apple iPad using RØDE Rec, GarageBand, or any other recording apps that accept an external microphone.

The body of the NT-USB features a zero-latency stereo headphone monitoring (3.5mm) jack, which allows you to monitor the microphone input in real-time, along with dials to adjust the monitoring level and mix between the computer/iPad audio and the microphone input. Rode is kind enough to include a premium pop-filter. The filter fits onto the base of the mic and positions it at the ideal distance from the capsule to minimize plosives (or harsh sound).

Also provided are a high-quality stand mount with industry-standard 3/8” thread, desktop tripod stand that allows the NT-USB to sit at a comfortable height on a tabletop, and a pouch for storage of the microphone when not in use. It comes in at a price of $179.99 making it the most expensive of the three.

Best Bluetooth Speakers of 2018

By

Focus Camera

-

November 12, 2018

In this video, we talk about the best Sony wireless headphones on the market right now. Whether you’re an audiophile searching for new premium headphones or just looking to take a step up from earbuds, Sony does a great job tiering their products for every interest level.

First, let’s take a look at the XB950B1 extra bass wireless headphones. These are great for someone who wants reliable headphones with minimal frills. They provide 18 hours of battery life and have a built-in mic for wireless calls. These aren’t noise cancelling, but they do have an extra bass switch and customizable sound through the Sony Connect app if you’re trying to drown out the people around you. It sells for $178 in black, blue and red. It also comes with a soft carrying case, headphone cable and USB cable. The great thing about Sony is that you don’t sacrifice good sound quality when you invest in a less expensive model.

The big difference is features, which brings us to the Sony h.ear on 2 Wireless NC Hi-Res Audio Headphones. These cost $298 and have major feature additions. They last for up to 28 hours, have built-in music and call controls, and digital noise cancellation. You can even hover your hand over their sensor to active Quick attention which lowers your music when you want to have a conversation. On the spec side, their digital sound enhancing engine DSEE HX restores high-range audio lost during compression. They feature LDAC technology which can transmit more data via bluetooth than most other headphones. These come in the same colors–black, blue and red–and are paired with the same case, headphone cable and USB cable.

Finally, these are the WH-1000XM3 Wireless Noise-Canceling Headphones. These are $348.00 with roughly the same features as the Sony h.ear Headphones with a few important differences. First, they have 1.57” drivers with Liquid Crystal Polymer diaphragms; in short, top-of-the-line bass and frequency reproduction up to 40 kHz. Sony’s proprietary LDAC tech supports a transfer rate of 990 kbps. That’s 3x more data than Bluetooth can normally transmit; before now that’s only been possible with a wired connection. It also features 30 hours of battery life, specialized pressure-relieving earpads and lightweight design. But arguably the most impressive factor is noise cancellation. The headphones have an HD Noise Canceling Processor that provide a truly customized listening experience. Their tech factors in everything from head size and glasses to atmospheric pressure.

Best Sony Wireless Headphones of 2018

By

Focus Camera

-

November 12, 2018

In this video, we talk about the best Sony wireless headphones on the market right now. Whether you’re an audiophile searching for new premium headphones or just looking to take a step up from earbuds, Sony does a great job tiering their products for every interest level.

First, let’s take a look at the XB950B1 extra bass wireless headphones. These are great for someone who wants reliable headphones with minimal frills. They provide 18 hours of battery life and have a built-in mic for wireless calls. These aren’t noise canceling, but they do have an extra bass switch and customizable sound through the Sony Connect app if you’re trying to drown out the people around you. It sells for $178 in black, blue and red. It also comes with a soft carrying case, headphone cable, and USB cable. The great thing about Sony is that you don’t sacrifice good sound quality when you invest in a less expensive model.

The big difference is features, which brings us to the Sony h.ear on 2 Wireless NC Hi-Res Audio Headphones. These cost $298 and have major feature additions. They last for up to 28 hours, have built-in music and call controls, and digital noise cancellation. You can even hover your hand over their sensor to active Quick attention which lowers your music when you want to have a conversation. On the spec side, their digital sound enhancing engine DSEE HX restores high-range audio lost during compression. They feature LDAC technology which can transmit more data via Bluetooth than most other headphones. These come in the same colors–black, blue and red–and are paired with the same case, headphone cable and USB cable.

Finally, these are the WH-1000XM3 Wireless Noise-Canceling Headphones. These are $348.00 with roughly the same features as the Sony h.ear Headphones with a few important differences. First, they have 1.57” drivers with Liquid Crystal Polymer diaphragms; in short, top-of-the-line bass and frequency reproduction up to 40 kHz. Sony’s proprietary LDAC tech supports a transfer rate of 990 kbps. That’s 3x more data than Bluetooth can normally transmit; before now that’s only been possible with a wired connection. It also features 30 hours of battery life, specialized pressure-relieving earpads and lightweight design. But arguably the most impressive factor is noise cancellation. The headphones have an HD Noise Canceling Processor that provides a truly customized listening experience. Their tech factors in everything from head size and glasses to atmospheric pressure.

High-res Shooting

Low-light Friendly

Form & Function

Samyang’s Compatibility

Where Can I Get It?

Introducing The DJI OSMO Pocket Camera

Specifications

Features

Compatibility

G-Technology G-DRIVE mobile SSD R-Series Portable Drive

G-Technology G-DRIVE mobile Pro SSD Portable Drive

LED Ring Light

Softboxes + Diffusion Fabric

White Umbrellas

Canon EOS Rebel T6

Lenses

Sony Alpha a6000

Lenses

#3 Sony Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones with Portable Wireless Speaker

Sony Noise-Canceling Headphones

Sony Wireless Bluetooth Speaker

#4 Canon 5D Mark IV w/ Battery Grip

The Canon 5D Mark IV

The Grip

#5 Sony a7r III

Bye Bye, Buyer’s Remorse

Photography 101

A Perfect Fit

Stay Focused

Battery Boost

Lights, Camera, Full HD

Stay Connected With SnapBridge

Sample Nikon D3500 Photos

Samson Q2U Handheld Dynamic USB Microphone

Blue Yeti Nano Premium USB Microphone

Rode NT-USB USB Condenser Microphone

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