Apple's Home Button is dead and gone: iPhone 16e

 I've been using Apple devices with a Home Button since the 2nd generation iPod touch around 2009.

With the iPhone 16e, the Home Button is gone.  There is still a fingerprint reader in some iPad Power Buttons but that's it.  The iPhone 16e has Face ID, along with a passcode to secure the device.

As someone who has kept with the original aesthetic through the 2022 iPhone SE, I'm not sure that I want to switch, but will probably do it just to arrive sooner than later.  I dislike the inane gestures, and there won't be any substitutes as there are on Android.  People around me have switched and when they need help, we struggle a fair amount.

The price is up US$170 with a minimum storage size of 128 GB in contrast to the 64 GB base of the 2022 iPhone SE.  When I bought the 2020 and 2022 models, I paid the extra $150 up front to get the 256 GB model.  Then, the 2020 was $0.00 per month (for 18 months) with credits and the 2022 as $1.25 per month (for 24 months) with credits.  If I remember correctly, I had a pay off at the end of the 2020 plan.  I would expect to pay something like $3.75 per month for the iPhone 16e.

What's good is that it has a version of the iPhone 16 SoC (System on a Chip), just as the 2022 iPhone SE had a version of the iPhone 13 SoC.  It's probably not as powerful, but better than the competition and 40% faster than the 2022 iPhone SE.  It has more RAM for games and AI.  I have zero use for AI right now.  In 30 years, it will probably be very useful.  Right now, it's an infant and I don't want to change diapers.

It also has the Apple-developed 5G cellular modem that they bought from Intel who bought from someone else. The modem in the 2022 iPhone SE isn't particularly quick but it is reliable.  This new one is the first of its kind.  It might work okay.  Supposedly, there are some outstanding patent issues they need to settle.  It does not support the infamous mmWave, which is just fine with me.  Who will be close enough to the tower, without obstructions, to actually use mmWave connections?

I hope that the OLED technology is at least as reliable as the LCD is on the current model.  It's a 60 Hz OLED display and that could mean problems scrolling.  I've seen how bad that could be with the Google Pixel 6a.  I don't care to revisit such a situation with an iPhone.

They replaced the 12 MP camera sensor with 48 MP and a 26 MP telephoto mode.  That's more than either of my camera bodies and they will still have better image quality because they're not trying to squeeze so much into a small space.  I have referred to this as a noisy bus.  The bus is nice and quiet with a few passengers, but when you overload it and have people standing in the aisle, people will be unhappy and complain.  The size of most phone sensors is tiny.

All that said, if you're looking for an iPhone, the 16e is a place to start.  It's only US$100 cheaper than the next available phone.  You can get less expensive Android-based phones.  If you're looking for something Android, take a look at OnePlus.

OM System OM-3: Is it for you?

 Those of us who have been using micro Four-Thirds for a while have been waiting for this HUGE announcement of a retro camera.  The company showed the original, 135 Format OM-3.

 I've been happy with the way the E-M1 worked but not necessarily its shape.  The grip was a bit cramped for my fingers and the rear display out in the open meant that I could change settings with my nose.  They fixed the rear display, and they slightly changed the grip with the E-M1 Mk II.

Time passed and the photographic division of Olympus was sold to a holding company.  They paid to finish updates that had already been through the engineering phase, and they created the OM-1.  Then, the time ran out for using the "Olympus" name and they modified it to say "OM System" and slightly modified it otherwise.

The other day the OM-3 arrived, as slippery as my old OM-1N from the 1970s.  Nikon has two bodies like that, the Z f (135 Format) and the Z fc (APS-C) .  I don't understand why, except for nostalgia, anyone would want a slippery camera body.  They're too expensive to drop. 

At US$2000, it's way too expensive to drop.  I immediately thought about buying an E-M1 Mk III to get much of the functionality without the risk.  The OM-3 is priced between the OM-5 and the OM-1 Mk II.  The functionality is between the two.

The one difference that the OM-3 has is the Creative Dial.  This is something they added to the Pen-F, a model which won hearts but didn't sell well enough for a follow-on camera body.

I've seen a few of the first impressions videos on YouTube.  Most of them are sales pitches, which isn't a good idea.  PetaPixel's Chris Nicholls and Jordan Drake tell it how it is but OM Digital probably doesn't appreciate that.

It's a good camera body.  The Creative Dial gives it interesting options that no other camera has.  I like my Panasonic S5 Mk II for the ability to use LUTs to change the look of photos or video.  It's color grading in the camera.  The OM-3 Creative Dial goes further.  You can play with the color as you're looking at the scene to create your own look right there.  That's impressive, but who will spend the time to use it?

There are a lot of Pen F users who feel abandoned by the lack of a Pen F Mk II.  Would they spend US$2000 for the OM-3 to get an update?

Android 15 on a Pixel 6a

 It's been about a week since Android version 15 arrived on my Pixel 6a.  I just got a security update, as well.

I haven't seen a difference, positive or negative.  Being a stable operating system is the best thing about Android right now.

My replacement Razer Edge is still on Android version 12 and recently got a security update.

When will new dSLRs no longer be sold?

 Recently, I've seen a few Japanese quarterly sales listings where the Nikon D7500 is still fairly popular.  Everything else listed is a mirrorless camera or the latest version of the Ricoh GR.

It's interesting to me that things have changed so much in 16 years.

When Panasonic introduced the G1, no one was sure what to think.  For me, Panasonic had only recently got into interchangable lens cameras with the DMC-L1 that was announced with the Leica Digilux 3 and the Olympus E-330.  They had no real history in stills photography before 2007.

I waited until 2012 to trust them with my money and I wasn't completely satisfied.  By 2014, Olympus' E-M1 arrived and I could see mirrorless cameras pushing out dSLRs eventually.

Being that Pentax doesn't have any mirrorless cameras now, and those they tried were awful, will they go away?

Nikon and Canon seem to have a new model or two every few months.  Their first 135 Format models were setbacks for mirrorless cameras in general, they are finally finding their way with third generation models.  They both have a few dSLRs available, mostly in the bargain basement.

I don't believe I'd used a dSLR since 2016 and that was a necessity because the Olympus E-M1 did not cooperate with my Four-Thirds lenses and micro Four-Thirds didn't have the focal lengths I needed.

Imagine people from the 1970s, when ASA(ISO) 400 film was new, being shown a modern camera body that is huge in contrast to the typical SLR of the time.  Leica users, though, will probably be at home for the most part because of the M-series.  Don't show them the L-mount bodies.

Do you think by 2030 that dSLRs will only be part of the used camera sales?

Solo Leveling Arise: A New Beginning, On to Jeju Island without leaving home

 Another Wednesday has passed and the game shows improvement.

Thanks to the developers for speeding up the animation slowdown in the shop and elsewhere!  I haven't seen that ugly blue progress circle since the new release.  It's been slightly more than seven months, so progress should be expected.  In development, it's always better to get it working correctly first and then, speed it up.  Trying to make it fast from the start often requires re-working it far down the line when there isn't time or money for it.

Now, Jeju (pronounced chey ju) Island is a real place in South Korea.  So far the game hasn't talked about much but Seoul and Jeju Island.  Now, the ant king is another matter.  I don't remember a king ant in biology, but a queen ant.  We'll see.

The whole year has been put into future plans.  I was wondering if the game would last a year with the quick progression toward maximum levels.

My Sung Jinwoo is quite strong and the Hunters are showing their strength, also.  It was good to see that they have new light-oriented weapons for Sung Jinwoo.  For so long, I had one R-ranked weapon and then, one SR-ranked weapon.

Now, I have several weapons in both categories that are at level 100.  I've eliminated all of the R- and SR-ranked weapons except for Hunters, and those that remain are for Hunters I have rarely used.

Our tiny, 3-member Guild is going strong, on the way to C-rank.  With the re-balancing last month, it's become easier to finish every daily task.

I'm still unable to enhance/enchant artifacts.  Also, I have three cores, already assigned, but I'm slow to learn how to enhance those.  Being that I started playing the first official day, I should be picking it up better, but I'm sure people with school or jobs are having much more difficulty.

I hope you're all having fun.

Update 2024.12.21: I started on the journey to Jeju Island.  I'm a little concerned about some of the language.  I'm Japanese and I've had Korean friends.  I have the audio in Japanese, but I'm using English subtitles.  All along, when Korea is mentioned, the characters say in Japanese "Japan", which is very confusing since there is at least one word for Korea.

Ahead of the trip to Jeju Island, the Japanese Hunters meet the Korean Hunters in Korea.  There is some dialogue which is aggressive, as though our countries are not friendly.  I'm surprised, especially since this is a video game.

In any case, the first few episodes have been okay, but I'm not to the point where the characters met the queen ant or rather, king ant yet.

Update 2024.12.24: Character level is up to 91 and Army of Shadows is up to level 55 of 72.  Reputation level is 59.

Update 2024.12.28: The Army of Shadows is up to level 57 now.  Battle Tier is up, as well.  Plus, our little three person Guild ツムツム is up to C-rank level 2 and will probably be at C-rank level 1 by Wednesday.

I'm working on getting weapons upgraded with better skills, and getting the Hunters' skills up as well.

Update 2025.01.06: Character level is up to level 92 and Army of Shadows is up to level 60.  I've been fighting the Ant King, but without enough success.  He was down to level 15 when I ran out of time, so I have to have different Hunters, different weapons, a better strategy.  I'm not sure what else I can do, but, as with the rest, I'll figure it out.

 Getting the Hunters skills up to level 10 would be nice.  I still have some level 5 skills, so I definitely need to continue to upgrade them.  Resources take time or money and sometimes, you can spend money and still not get what you want.  I could have concentrated on three Hunters but I typically use nine regularly.  Also, I've been using the SSR-ranked healers lately.  Getting everything up to maximum is difficult for so many.

Update 2024.01.13: Got through the entrance to The Workshop of Brilliant Light.  Therefore, I have four more Cores for a total of seven now.  Trying to fill out those trophies to get to the next level.  Got the Gold-Tailed Fox for my second light-oriented weapon, finally, and it's at level 100 now.  Getting Hunters' weapons also to level 100 is happening slowly.  Getting the skills of Sung Jinwoo's weapons up takes time, also.

Update 2024.01.14: Up to character level 93. Resources are few right now, but I'm doing my best to continue to upgrade anything and everything that the character use regularly.  I have an SSR-ranked healer for Dark, Wind, and Light now.  Min Byung-Gu is the newest and most of his skills are at level three, so he's okay, but isn't quite as useful as he will be and he still needs his own weapon.  The other two have skills at level five, which is somewhat better.

  

Update 2024.01.15: New raid style, Esil Radiru is being added as a character.  About 3.5-4.0 hours until maintenance is finished.  Also, found that Tower of God, another Netmarble game, is under maintenance.  I suppose it's easier to do all of them at once, if new server hardware is involved.  Lag has improved.  After playing five different games from Netmarble, I'm down to two.  I removed Genshin Impact, as well but I still have Honkai: Star Rail.

 

I got a couple of surprises, Esil Radiru and Truth: Kasaka's Venom Fang.  It will be a while to get them up to max levels, but it's interesting to get the latest and greatest.

Update 2025.01.16: Also have Esil Radiru's weapon.  Working on Workshop of Brilliant Light again.  Have more Cores to add to Hunters.

 

Update 2025.02.09: Character level is 95.  Reputation level is 62 and Army of Shadows is at level 66.  I'm still working to level up Hunters' skills to level 7 or higher.  Having so many Hunters in use every day makes it difficult to find the resources.  Trying to do everything required for more of everything.

 

Update 2025.02.11: Got through Jeju Island and defeated the Ant King.  Still working on the Ant Queen in a side chapter.  It's clear but not complete. 

 

Update 2025.02.13: Another Live Stream and more codes.  CM Prizm is still out, but they showed him going to get chicken through their promotional deal.  He wasn't even good at that.

Guild Boss is now the Queen Ant.

Three good reasons to use micro Four-Thirds

 

I've been using micro Four-Thirds seriously since 2014 and I was dabbling from 2012.

I've been hearing "Full Frame" chants since 2004, even when there weren't any such bodies available.

I have three good reasons to use micro Four-Thirds.

• Weight
• Telephoto reach
• Variety of available lenses
• Video on Panasonic bodies
  

Weight is not difficult to understand.  if you have a light system, you can photograph more effectively and travel further with more equipment.  You can find select equipment that is smaller than typical for various sensor sizes, but overall, micro Four-Thirds has the smallest combinations.  Even with the GH7 and G9 MkII, the equipment is fairly light in contrast to APS-C or 135 Format.

Telephoto reach is not difficult, either.  Having a multiplication factor of 1.94x over 135 Format, a telephoto lens with the same reach is smaller.  400mm is effectively 800mm and yes, the Depth of Field is deeper, which is actually preferable when shooting from a distance.

micro Four-Thirds started around 2008, so it has a lot of lenses available over 16 years.  The original lenses were just sufficient.  Since then, some unique lenses such as the Panasonic 10-25mm f/1.7 lens and the Olympus 8mm f/1.8 fisheye lens.

Best photography with micro Four-Thirds

You can do anything with any camera, if you have the determination, the money, and the skill and sometimes, the luck.  However,  If you're in micro Four-Thirds for wide landscape photography, you're in the wrong format.  If you're photographing weddings or doing portraits, there are better sensor sizes.  However, if you're doing video for weddings or practically anything else, micro Four-Thirds, especially Panasonic, has you covered.

Since the GH4, Panasonic put a lot of its professional knowledge into a camera body that was easy to handle.  Up through the GH7, they have added stabilization, waveforms, and more to make it easier to get video recorded consistently.  The 135 Format Panasonic S5 Mk IIx is equivalent to the GH7, but the GH7 has fewer downsides.  I have the regular S5 Mk II, but I'm not doing much video these days.  Even then, I suspect that Panasonic has a few more firmware updates for the series.

Doing video with the GH4 was better than okay but the auto focus wasn't reliable and the body didn't have IBIS (in-body image stabilization).  For someone with a gimbal stabilizer, it would be less of a problem.  Most film makers don't use auto focus, so there isn't a problem for them, either.  The GH7 and G9 Mk II both have hybrid (PDAF + CDAF) auto focus and amazing Dual I.S. when using Panasonic lenses with O.I.S.

Panasonic S5 Mk II with Tamron SP 180mm f/3.5 macro for Canon + adapter

 I've been wanting a telephoto lens of some sort.  Spending another US$1000 or more wasn't happening.  I have too many questions about what will suit me.  On Four-Thirds and micro Four-Thirds, I had a good selection of telephoto zoom lenses, including one that was exceptional for any format I've ever used.  The Olympus ZD SHG 35-100mm f/2.0 is an amazing lens.  Comparing every 70-200mm f/2.8 lens to it makes me think that I'm just not going to get what I want.

 

Switching to 135 Format, I don't have any telephoto lenses, not even from my old film days.  I took a chance on a Tamron SP 180mm f/3.5 macro lens.  The lens was introduced in 2003 and I'm not sure how old this one is.  Considering how clean it is, without weather-sealing, it's probably quite new.  To use it properly, I bought a Viltrox EF-mount to L-mount Pro adapter, the one that has the electronic connections for AF, IS, and aperture control.  The lens doesn't have any image stabilization, but it does have auto focus, with a clutch on the lens that you pull toward the body to enable manual focus.  Manual focus sounds a little grindy.  I seem to remember reviews complaining about all focusing making some noise.

 

It didn't arrive with the lens, so I bought a K&F Concept manual adapter in the meantime.  The lens and the camera fit together, and I can focus and shoot, but because there is no aperture ring, it's stuck at the default aperture, and there isn't much else.  It worked but defaulted to ISO 6400, which probably wasn't that bad.  The adapter seems sturdy enough and I was interested in their quality for an inexpensive circular polarizing filter, as well.

The Viltrox adapter arrived today, after Adorama sent a second one since the first one was lost at the UPS facility.  Getting it about a week late is no joke.  2nd Day Air usually works better.  I appreciate that Adorama went out of its way for me.  I'm just glad I wasn't counting on the mount adapter for a job, like in the old days.

 The adapter has electronic connections, a switch on the side to indicate to the camera to notice the combination of lens and adapter as a native lens or to let the adapter be seen by itself.  Unfortunately, the switch is hidden by the handgrip and it's safer to remove the lens, set the switch, and reattach the adapter.

The Viltrox adapter also has a USB type-C port for software updates.  I took a look at the website and it mentioned lens updates and strangely, didn't even mention this adapter.  It was surprising that they had an electronic adapter.  They've been selling lenses lately, but not for L-mount.  They had some adapters for micro Four-Thirds and probably wanted to show Panasonic that they were still out there.

What's pretty amazing about this mount adapter is that it has an extra collar to tighten the lens to the mount.  It's a little tricky to get everything right, but you don't want an expensive lens jiggling and losing contact just when that perfect photo is about to be captured.

It's raining outside (neither are weather-sealed) but the little bit of testing I did with the Viltrox adapter shows it to be good.  The AF of the lens was never incredibly fast, so I think it's as good as it would be on a Canon dSLR body.  Maybe, it's even better because there probably isn't a calibration problem, as we used to have where the lens was just a bit too close or too far for focus to be exact.

 Now, if Viltrox will put out their new 135mm f/1.8 LAB lens for L-Mount, I'll be set.  I'm fairly certain that Samyang's 35-150mm f/2.0-2.8 would be a better choice, though.

Update 2024.12.15: It's a bit less rainy today and I noticed that the local park has an added duck pond.  After shopping, I went there to take a few photos.  I need to adjust for the weight, as the IBIS isn't good for long distances.

The photo of the tree seems to be more in focus.  The water and ducks seem just out of focus, but on the edge.  I probably should have chosen more carefully but it was below 50 degrees F and I don't handle cooler temperatures all that well after having frostbite years ago.  I just exported a JPEG version of the raw files to add here.  Color is good.  At one point, the auto focus went the whole range to figure out where it needed to be.  Macro lenses have the oddest AF.

For a fixed focal length of 180, it feels heavy enough to be a 70-200mm f/2.8 lens.  Maybe, I'm just out of practice.

 

Update 2025.01.03: The moon and one planet were out and it was so clear last night as I was walking to the store.  I hesitated but kept going.  Tonight, it's a bit hazy, unforunately, but I tried.  I had to give up on AF because it just wouldn't lock onto anything.  Manual focus makes a lot of noise, as if there is something wrong, but I seem to remember these lenses doing that even when they were new.