Welcome, creator friends!

Captured any jaw-dropping portraits yet? The Nikon Z 135mm could make the job easier. Discover why here...

In today's rundown:

• 📸 Nikon's uncannily sharp lens!

• 📱Boost for iPhone Pro Max filming!

• 🤖 AI: New age Picasso?

• 🔥 Protests ignite over DALL-E 3.

• 🎬 Indie revolution in filmmaking!

Read time: 3 minutes

📸 Nikon's Sharpest Lens Yet!

The Nikon Z 135mm f1.8 S Plena lens is making waves in the photography sphere, boasting an unrivaled sharpness that is turning heads among portrait photographers. Its defining feature is its exceptional sharpness, even when wide open, making it arguably the sharpest lens Nikon has ever brought to the market. This powerhouse, paired with the Expeed 7 processor, delivers rapid autofocus, making it a shutterbug's dream for capturing immaculate portraits.

Despite its size, which might be mistaken for the Nikon 70-200mm F2.8 VR S lens, the Z 135mm f1.8 S Plena is not overly heavy, although it does command attention in public spaces. The lens's ergonomics and build quality match its premium price tag, with a cold metal feel and solid construction reminiscent of the Nikon Noct 58mm f0.95 S. With its creamy bokeh and superb image quality at f1.8, this lens has set a high benchmark for upcoming products in Nikon's Plena series.

Read time: 2 minutes

The results from yesterday's poll are below 👇

📱New SmallRig Cage Boosts iPhone 15 Pro Max Filming

SmallRig, in collaboration with filmmaker Brandon Li, has unveiled a new ergonomic cage for the iPhone 15 Pro Max. The aluminum alloy cage enhances the smartphone's usability for professional video capture, offering MagSafe charging support, multiple accessory attachments, and full access to iPhone buttons. The cage also includes detachable side handles and an optional magnetic variable neutral density filter. It can accommodate M-Mount lenses and magnetic filters, expanding the iPhone's filming capabilities.

Read time: 2 minutes

🤖 AI: The New Artist on the Block?

How do we feel about AI-generated text or images? Initial reactions may be of skepticism or discomfort, but this could be generational. In a world where AI is increasingly involved in creating everything, the younger generation may find this normative. Will AI-generated content become 'fit for purpose' in mainstream life while human-created content turns niche and nostalgic, much like vinyl records today? The real question is, can AI enhance our art creation process? For many, the answer is 'yes'.

Read time: 2 minutes

🔥 DALL-E 3 Users Ignite Censorship Protest

DALL-E 3 users are planning an online protest over "absurd" censorship levels, particularly in the Bing version. The protest, announced via Reddit, targets OpenAI and Microsoft, with users decrying the system's frequent rejections of seemingly harmless image requests. The protesters aim to demonstrate the irrationality of the censorship system with the hashtags #UncensorDALLE3 and #FreeDALLE3. They call for a review of DALL-E's terms, suggesting user responsibility for generated images instead of the current corporate accountability.

Read time: 2 minutes

🎬 Ehrenreich's Indie Revolution in 'Shadow Brother Sunday'

Challenging the norms of big budget filmmaking, 'The Creator' DP, Ehrenreich, leverages an indie mindset in his directorial debut 'Shadow Brother Sunday'. Using an extended pre-production period due to the pandemic, Ehrenreich meticulously crafted detailed relationships and visuals. His focus on the rehearsal process and embracing the editing room's surprises underscore his commitment to authentic storytelling, demonstrating the power of indie filmmaking in creating compelling family dramas.

Read time: 3 minutes

THAT’S A WRAP

Results from yesterday’s poll

The question: Do you believe Adobe's 'Content Credentials' will significantly curb the spread of deepfake content?

🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️ Yes ✅ (25%)

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 No ❌ (50%)

🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️ Unsure 🤔 (25%)