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nationalparkposters · 4 years

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Best Things To Do at Joshua Tree National Park

Best Things To Do at Joshua Tree National Park: Joshua Tree National Park boasts a fascinating variety of plants and animals that live where two distinct ecosystems of the Colorado Desert and the Mojave Desert meet. Sculpted by strong winds and occasional torrents of rain, the surreal geologic features of twisted rock add to the wonder of this vast wilderness in Southern California. Joshua Tree also protects a rich cultural history: the area has been inhabited by humans for over 5,000 years. But it wasn't until 1984 that it was established as a national park. Located just a few hours outside of Los Angeles, this desert wilderness is an ideal location for many outdoor activities such as rock climbing, hiking, bird watching, and the dark night skies make for excellent stargazing. The national park spans about 800,000 acres, and sees more than 2.8 million visitors each year. My name is Rob Decker and I'm a photographer and graphic artist with a single great passion for America's National Parks! I've been to 51 of our 62 National Parks — and Joshua Tree is a unique park — given its geographical and geological significance. I have explored most areas of the park — so I'm ready to help! So if this is your first time to the park, or you're returning after many years, here are some of the best things to do in Joshua Tree National Park! Rock Climbing Joshua Tree National Park is one of the world's most popular climbing destinations. Thousands of cracks, slabs, and boulders, all piled across a vast desert landscape that attracts climbers from around the globe. The climbing opportunities in Joshua Tree consist of varying levels of difficulty, making it an ideal location for both new and experienced climbers. At Climber's Coffee, visitors can meet Joshua Tree's climbing ranger and socialize with other visiting climbers. Located at the Hidden Valley Campground from 8:00-10:00 am on Saturdays and Sundays from mid-October through April, visitors can bring their own mug and enjoy a free cup of coffee, tea, or cocoa. Looking to learn how to climb or just want to improve your climbing skills? You may want to consider a guided day or class. Be sure that your guide is permitted to work in Joshua Tree, as there are various certifications and requirements guides must possess in order to work within the park. A guide can also take you to the most suitable spots for your climbing level, as well as provide another level of safety for new climbers or those new to Joshua Tree. If you are unfamiliar with the park, you can purchase a climbing guide or hiking map at the park visitor centers and at various outdoor shops in the nearby communities. For beginners, some of the best climbing spots include Intersection Rock, Quail Springs Rock, Atlantis Wall, and Thin Wall. More experienced climbers can find overhanging face climbing like Big Moe, steep crack climbing such as Clean and Jerk and Wangerbanger, vertical face climbing on thin edges such as Loose Lady or Possessed By Elvis, and multi-pitch climbing up on Lost Horse Wall and Saddle Rock. Climbing in Joshua Tree is great all year round, but the best time is October-November and March-April. During the winter, the conditions in the middle of the day are quite comfortable, while in the summer, climbers can avoid the extreme heat by climbing in the early-mid morning and late afternoon-evening. Hiking Joshua Tree National Park has a wide range hiking opportunities with over 300 miles of trails. There is an assortment of trails ranging from mild (10 minute loops) to challenging (6 hour backcountry) and everything in between. It is important to note that pets are not permitted on any trails in the park, except for the paved Oasis of Mara Trail. It is also recommended that hikers bring plenty of water, as natural water sources are scarce. Barker Dam Loop Trail One of my favorite hikes is this easy, 1.1 mile loop with minimal elevation gain. The presence of standing water brings a unique set of freshwater species to this trail, which you see in and around Barker Dam. The trail winds through bouldery outcrops with pinyon-oak woodlands, desert willow riparian corridors, and loamy basins dominated by Joshua tree woodlands or creosote bush scrub. Hidden Valley Trail Hidden Valley is just one of the many trails suited to a shorter but scenic hike. This low-impact, 1 mile loop provides a unique opportunity for those interested in seeing the vast vegetation found in the park. On this scenic trail, you can find Joshua Tree, pinyon, juniper and oak trees, as well as mesquite, yucca, nolina, and various cacti. This trail also winds among massive boulders making it a popular spot for rock climbing. Cholla Cactus Garden This quarter-mile loop is ideal for viewing thousands of densely concentrated, naturally growing cactus. Be sure to stay on the trail, wear closed-toe shoes, and be aware of surrounding prickly cactus. Lost Horse Mine The Lost Horse Mine trail is a popular destination for Joshua Tree visitors looking for a moderate hike. The 4 mile loop follows the road developed by gold miners used to haul ore and supplies before the Gold Rush. Although the site has been stabilized, the mine shafts are still considered dangerous and the historic structures are easily damaged, so be sure to stay on the trail in order to help protect this historic site. Boy Scout Hiking Trail One of the most challenging hikes in Joshua Tree, this one way 8 mile trail takes hikers deep into the Wonderland of Rocks. It is encouraged that visitors stay on trail to avoid getting lost among the boulders. Vehicle shuttle is strongly recommended for visitors planning on hiking the full length of the trail. Bird Watching Joshua Tree is home to various southwestern bird species that are sure to excite any visiting bird watchers. Throughout the year, visitors may see any of the 250 different species that visit the park, such as the greater roadrunner, phainopepla, mockingbird, verdin, cactus wren, rock wren, mourning dove, Le Conte's thrasher, and Gambel's quail. Local birds of prey include the red-tailed hawk, American kestrel, Cooper's hawk, and prairie falcon. During winter and into March, the white-crowned sparrow, dark-eyed junco, sage sparrow, cedar waxwing, American robin, and hermit thrush can be seen in the park. Summer species include the Bendire's thrasher, ash-throated flycatcher, western kingbird, Scott's oriole, northern oriole, and western bluebird. Some popular birding spots include Barker Dam, the Oasis of Mara, Cottonwood Spring, and the Smith Water Canyon. Stargazing For those wishing to escape from artificial light and witness the beautiful night sky, Joshua Tree National Park offers some of the darkest nights for stargazing in Southern California and the chance for visitors to admire the Milky Way for the first time in their lives. There is also an annual Night Sky Festival consisting of over 20 telescopes, music, Constellation Tours, and Sky Stories. The festival typically takes place in the fall and tickets go on sale in early summer. Camping & Lodging Joshua Tree visitors have many options for camping both in and out of the national park. There are over 500 campsites located inside of Joshua Tree. From May-September, many of the campsites are first-come, first-served, but there are also group campsites available for larger parties that allow for reservations. Campgrounds usually fill up quickly so it is recommended that you have an alternate overnight plan or visit during September-May when many of the campsites are available for reservation only. If you choose to stay somewhere outside of the national park or if you can't find a campsite, there are also private campgrounds outside of the park and you can find lodging in 29 Palms and the town of Joshua Tree. Scenery & Photography Joshua Tree National Park is home to some of the most stunning views for sightseers and photographers alike. Arch Rock Found slightly off of trail at the White Tank Campground, Arch Rock is a large 30-foot granite rock situated within a large boulder field. The Arch Rock trail is a short 0.5 mile loop and you can reach the arch by veering slightly off trail. At the base of the arch, one can find stunning views framed by the magnificent natural arch, perfect for anyone seeking a phenomenal view within the park. Rock Keys View Keys View is one of the most popular viewpoints within Joshua Tree - and for a good reason. From this viewpoint, visitors can get a bird's eye view of the national park as well as slights of the Coachella Valley, the San Andreas Fault, the Santa Rosa Mountains, and San Gorgonio Mountain. This drive-up and wheelchair accessible viewpoint makes it a perfect opportunity for any visitor to enjoy the beauty of Joshua Tree. Skull Rock A notable favorite within the park, Skull Rock is located along the main east-west park road and is accessible from within Jumbo Rocks Campground. This 1.7 mile loop is an easy hike for those wishing to stretch their legs and capture an amazing photo of this unique rock formation. Parking is located just across the road from the rock making it a bit more accessible for those who wish to travel by car rather than on foot. Some Important Things To Know Before Your Visit There is no cell phone service throughout the park, so it is recommended that visitors bring an ample supply of water (at least one gallon per person) as well as provide adequate sun protection (sunscreen, hat, and sunglasses). The summer heat can make outdoor activities more strenuous, so the ideal time to visit Joshua Tree National Park is October-May. Click here to see the Joshua Tree National Park poster. Rob Decker is a photographer and graphic artist who had the rare privilege of studying under Ansel Adams in Yosemite National Park when he was just 19 years old. Now, Rob is on a journey to explore and photograph all of America's National Parks. He's creating WPA-style posters to help people celebrate their own national park adventures — as well as encourage others to get out and explore! https://national-park-posters.com/blogs/national-park-posters/best-things-to-do-at-joshua-tree-national-park?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=Sendible&utm_campaign=RSS

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costomi-blog · 5 years

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Drone sales are on the rise with each passing year and more and more people are embracing the idea of owning such devices. With all the attention, these unmanned aerial vehicles are now finding more practical and innovative drone uses.

Drones are no more just for the supreme enthusiasts as these devices have penetrated the world of technology and a lot of businesses are looking forward to utilize the capacities of these machines to the best effects. There are some very basic uses while there are also some really creative ideas that you could make use of. Let us find out how you can put these drones to work.

Military uses of drones

Drones have found a number of applications in the military and defense world. This is especially true in the case of the defense of the United States of America.

In fact, the US Government was first known to start its experiments with the unmanned aerial vehicles way back in 1917.

Bomb detection

Owing to the small size of the drones, they can usually penetrate into constricted spaces. Add to that, effective cameras and this makes the drones suitable for purposes of bomb detection. Thus, these aerial vehicles are apt for making us aware of unexploded bombs and save lives.

Surveillance

The defense of any country usually tends to conduct regular surveys in order to ensure protection of the people and the place.

Using drones, in this case, could be an interesting idea. This reduces manual labor and you get a wider field of view. This also does not hamper the normal lives of the people making it easier for them.

Air strikes

These unmanned aerial vehicles are also used for the purpose of air strikes. It had once been confirmed by President Obama that they used drones regularly to attack militants in the tribal areas of Pakistan. They hover around suspected areas, as controlled by the defense personnel and they can be operated in particular areas in order to fulfill military operations. For much more information on this topic, we suggest checking out our article about law enforcement drones.

Non-military uses of drones

Filming and journalism

The world of media has really conquered the idea of using drones to their fullest extent. A lot of movies these days are shot using quadcopters and other drones.

This idea has given the movie industry a completely new look and some of the names that come up when we talk about filmography with drones are James Bond’s Skyfall, the well-acclaimed Leonard Di Caprio’s The Wolf of Wall Street, the evergreen Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, the popular television series Game of Thrones and the likes.

Besides, the ability of the drones to reach places where reporters cannot reach has heightened their use in the world of journalism. Aerial footage for live broadcast is becoming increasingly useful these days, and you can get much more familiar with this topic by reading our article about the best drones for filming.

Shipping and delivery

Even though the shipping and delivery applications of the drones are still under process, this idea could be revolutionary for the world. This could significantly improve delivery times and reduce human labor. Be it delivering pizzas, letters, or even small parcels, these programmed drones could do the work for you.

In fact, Amazon is working on its resources to facilitate 30-minute delivery services by means of drones. If this is brought to fruition, more than half of your shopping and food orders could be done within a span of a few minutes, with drones delivering your packages at your doorstep. You can find out much more about these type of drones by reading our article about delivery drones.

Disaster management

One of the most important applications for these unmanned vehicles lies in disaster management. It is often seen that there is utter chaos and mismanagement of resources soon after a disaster, be it a man-made or a natural calamity. Drones could help you significantly here.

With powerful cameras, these devices could collect information and pictures of the debris working in a specific area. You would get clearer footages of the accident site without having to spend a lot of money on helicopters. Add to that, owing to their small size, they are able to penetrate into places that would otherwise be difficult for helicopters to enter and provide close-up views.

Rescue operations and healthcare

Usually, a rescue operation is a fight against time. You need to get the work done fast and smoothly. This is where drones come in handy. With the help of thermal sensors, drones can locate lost persons and are especially useful at night or even in challenging terrains.

These can be deployed quickly and can travel through small spaces. Besides, these aerial vehicles are also useful for sending in food or medical supplies to unreachable locations before the rescue team comes in to help. Thus, drones can be the first to arrive and collect information for rescue operations.

Archeological surveys

Over the years, a lot of people have spent a lot of time and energy over archeological surveys. Now, drones have made this work easier since they can bring us important footage and essential details about these archeological sites.

This has significantly helped the archeologists in their mission of discovery.

Geographic mapping

Drones also have had an enormous effect in the field of 3D geographic mapping. There are regions on the earth that are not easily accessible to humans. This might include some dangerous coastlines or unattainable mountain tops. But for the purpose of studying the terrain and preparing 3D maps, drones have been put to use.

This technology is now available to everyone to capture imagery for mapping these locations. Thus, geologists now find it easier to collect data from these sites to pursue mapping processes.

Law enforcement

Drones have a lot of potential in terms of law enforcement – these devices have the innate ability of hovering around locations without drawing much attention from the people. Thus, this can be used for surveillance or for public safety.

Crowds of people can be monitored and criminal activity can be detected in case there is an emergency. These can also be used for law enforcement officials for crime scenes where a more detailed view can give us more information about the situation. Besides, situations of fire outbreak could also be curtailed by the help of drones. It is always better to send drones first in a fire outbreak to see the situations before humans get inside.

Moreover, drones are also used by border patrol officials who work towards monitoring criminal activity at the border especially the transport with drugs. Uses of drones for traffic monitoring could also be another idea. Traffic surveillance with drones could be one of the biggest applications for this device.

Safety inspections

Some companies need to carry out regular inspections in order to ensure safety of their infrastructure. This includes surveying power lines, oil and gas pipelines, wind turbines, bridges and buildings under construction and the likes. Drones are being put to use for these purposes.

Regular aerial monitoring can lead to significant improvements in constructing infrastructure leading to improved performances. Besides, if the drones are small enough, they can get close to capturing imagery that can give us a more detailed idea of the construction.

Agriculture

Drones have also found applications in the field of agriculture. This is especially true for large scale farmers who have reported significant improvements in crop yields with the use of these drones. Regular aerial monitoring of agricultural lands can provide us with a more in depth analysis of crop performance.

With the help of the near infrared sensors, one could study the health of these crops and farmers could act accordingly. Moreover, drones can perform this analysis at low costs with no impacts on the fields or the surrounding areas. This not only leads to healthy crop growth, but also increases their yield.

Wildlife monitoring

Just like how drones are working on agricultural lands to improve their yields, these unmanned aerial vehicles are also striving towards monitoring the fauna of the regions.

There are two specific advantages of this. Firstly, wildlife monitoring could lead to the prevention of poaching, which is one of the reasons why a lot of animals are getting endangered these days. Secondly, the footage from the aerial devices could help us study animal behavior and analyze their patterns.

The best thing about using drones for these services is that they do not affect or disturb wildlife. Besides, they can also be used at night with thermal camera sensors to monitor them at all times. A lot of wildlife sanctuaries and conservation parks are thus resorting to drones to ensure safety.

Weather forecasting

One of the most important uses of drones lies in weather forecasting. This has, once again, given new light to the concept of predicting the weather conditions. With exceptional cameras and effective sensors, these drones can collect important information that could aid in weather forecasts.

For instance, sending drones into the hurricanes, tornadoes and the likes could bring us essential footages to study their patterns and occurrences. These can focus in on detailed weather parameters and are also apt for the job owing to their unmanned nature.

Aerial photography

This is indeed one of the first known applications of drones. Because of improved technology, more and more drones are now well equipped to carry heavy camera gear that could really help enthusiasts in delivering aerial views of the specific regions.

Besides, the drones, these days, are stable and can give you crisp and clear images. With the features of live Wi-Fi streaming, you are also entitled to get First Person Views of the drone’s movements.

If you can add a gimbal, it stabilizes the camera to get you better pictures. Besides, you can control what the camera sees and captures right from your smartphone and get HD video recording for best results.

Unique and creative uses of drones

So far, we have discussed the essential and practical applications of drones. Let us now focus on some of the most innovative uses that could change the way we look at drones. Here are some ideas.

The drone selfie or the dronie

Have you ever imagined what it would be like to capture a ‘selfie’ with a drone from a certain height?

The selfie is the word of the decade now with more and more people engaging into this. With selfie sticks doing the rounds now, it would be a rather great idea to use a drone for this purpose. This is indeed one of the best uses of a drone. This would mean a lot more people could fit into the picture and you would get a real aerial view. Besides, you could control the camera functions right from the base. This could well work as the longest distance selfie.

Drone racing

This is another popular activity that is making its way into our lives. A lot more people are now engaging into this sport and pursuing it as a hobby. It is like video game racing except that you encounter real situations and you are controlling a real drone.

Drone racing in the woods is not an uncommon activity. Besides, it can closely resemble real bike racing with a lot more thrill since you would be controlling the device from a distance. For this purpose, you would need an agile drone that can make swift turns and acrobatic movements.

In conclusion

Drones have found a number of applications in different sectors. They are no longer limited to just military uses and different businesses are now investing in these devices for a swifter and more responsive customer service, especially in the case of parcel deliveries.

Drone racing has become rather popular now, but drones are still used as a toy. Small scale tricopters and quadcopters are still used for flying indoors and also outdoors just for gaining some flight experience. Having said that, drones have the ability and potential to change the way sports, military operations, and businesses work.

Do let us know how you are planning to use your drone in comments.

http://mydronelab.com/blog/drone-uses.html

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sinbugs · 6 years

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Are smartphones the future of filmmaking?

20 February 2019

Steven Soderbergh’s basketball drama High Flying Bird is the latest feature film to be shot entirely on an iPhone. As hand-held technology grows ever more powerful, TOM CHURCHILL asks if we're seeing the start of a seismic shift in the movie industry.

Steven Soderbergh uses an iPhone on the set of High Flying Bird, with and Bill Duke and André Holland | Photo © Netflix

High Flying Bird, a micro-budget drama about a sports agent taking on the establishment, isn’t the first movie to be shot entirely on smartphones. It’s not even the first Steven Soderbergh movie to be shot entirely on smartphones - his 2018 psychological horror Unsane was made the same way.

But it does mark a significant step towards mainstream acceptance for a practice that has, until recently, been seen as a gimmick that’s unlikely to challenge the conventions of Hollywood.

It's one of the most liberating experiences that I’ve ever had as a filmmaker

Steven Soderbergh

Soderbergh shot to fame in 1989 with Sex, Lies and Videotape and since then has juggled blockbuster hits (the Ocean's Eleven series, Magic Mike) with more experimental fare (Contagion, Side Effects) and TV drama (The Knick, The Girlfriend Experience).

As a longstanding champion of digital photography, in the past two years he has become the highest-profile advocate of smartphones for serious filmmaking.

“I think this is the future,” he declared at Sundance last year while promoting Unsane, which he shot in two weeks for just $1.5 million using the iPhone 7 Plus. “I look at this as potentially one of the most liberating experiences that I’ve ever had as a filmmaker.”

For High Flying Bird, released through Netflix to critical acclaim earlier this month, the budget was upped to $2m - still minuscule by Hollywood standards, where blockbuster Black Panther weighed in at $200m and even a 'low-budget' film like The Favourite cost $15m - and Soderbergh pushed the iPhone even further, using wide-angle lenses and capturing lengthy hand-held tracking shots.

Discussing the film on the Bill Simmons Podcast in January, Soderbergh said: “If I had a traditional camera package […] the film I think would not have been any better. It might have been worse. It certainly would have taken longer.” He’s not wrong about the last point. A tweet from Soderbergh’s ‘secret’ account reveals the first cut was completed less than three hours after filming wrapped.

Claire Foy, Juno Temple and Joshua Leonard in Unsane | Photo: AF archive/Alamy Stock Photo

After the release of Apple’s iPhone 4 - the first model to shoot HD video - in 2010, tech-savvy, budget-conscious filmmakers were quick to tap into its potential. Thanks to dedicated add-on lenses and apps such as FiLMiC Pro - as well as each new iteration of the iPhone improving on the last - these tiny devices were increasingly capable of rivalling large cameras that cost far more.

The iPhone itself does have a certain aesthetic that was unnerving

Joshua Leonard on Unsane

And while current technological limitations mean there is still a particular 'look' associated with smartphone footage - they perform less well in low-light conditions, and tend to put the entire frame into unnaturally sharp focus - this can be used to creative effect.

Actor Joshua Leonard, who starred in Unsane alongside Claire Foy, told The Ringer: “The iPhone itself does have a certain aesthetic that was unnerving. The profound depth of field that you get in every shot, where every single piece of the frame is in focus, made for an uncomfortable experience in a way that I think served [Unsane] quite well.

“To me, the technology hasn’t advanced to the point where an iPhone movie won’t look like an iPhone movie. I think anybody using the iPhone technology right now will be integrating that aesthetic that the phone gives into their movie.”

For Soderbergh, the advantages outweigh any limitations. “What’s great about the iPhone is I can put it anywhere,” he says. “Literally, I can Velcro it to a ceiling, I can do whatever I want, and that’s very liberating.”

Sean Baker filming Mickey O’Hagan and Kitana Kiki Rodriguez with the iPhone 5S on the set of Tangerine, 2015 | Photo: TCD/Prod.DB/Alamy Stock Photo

Sean Baker, whose acclaimed iPhone-shot film Tangerine, about a transgender prostitute hunting her cheating boyfriend-pimp, marked a major breakthrough for the technology, has also highlighted its advantages over traditional cameras.

To me it’s more about using this device to catch candid moments

Sean Baker

He told Fast Company: “While [the iPhone] has helped me become more mobile, no pun intended - running around, finding tight areas and different ways of moving the camera - to me it’s more about using this device to catch candid moments. That’s the biggest thing. Because nobody takes the iPhone as seriously as a regular camera, so they have lowered inhibitions.”

While we're not yet at the point where an iPhone-shot movie isn't a newsworthy story in itself, the technology is rapidly closing the gap to conventional setups, and it seems inevitable that phone footage will be used more and more in the coming years - particularly in documentaries, where its unobtrusive size and ease of use offer obvious advantages.

But as well as allowing established directors to experiment with new techniques and work with lower budgets, perhaps the most important contribution of the smartphone is the way it has opened up the art of filmmaking to anyone with a phone, a laptop and an imagination. As Soderbergh says: “You really don’t need much more than what’s in your pocket and some software, and off you go.”

High Flying Bird is available on Netflix now

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flyerthan-you-blog · 6 years

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Samsung Galaxy S9 review

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– Here’s the new Galaxy S9 and S9+ from Samsung. And if you squint even slightly. You might think you’re looking at last years Galaxy S8. Because the differences between it and the S9 are minimal at best. (casual music) But this is the Android phone that more people will buy than any other this year. And it does come with a few new things that those people will appreciate. And besides, it’s not like the S8 is a bad phone to start from. The overall design of the S9 in unchanged from last year. It’s still a glass and metal sandwich. It still has curved glass in the front and back. It still has an extra wide by 9 display and minimal bezels. It’s really nice and it’s really well made.

But the glass back is kind of a fingerprint magnet and it can be slippery to hold. The smaller S9 is inch screen. While the S9+ is a inches display. Both are super amulet panels with 2960 X 1440 pixels of resolution. Both are really nice to look at with vibrant colors. Sharp resolution and excellent viewing angles. They’re also slightly brighter this year which is always appreciated if not always noticeable. And they still remain the best displays you can get on any Android phone. They’re even up to par with the screen on the iPhone 10. Provided you don’t mind slightly more saturated colors. The S9 has the same fast wired and wireless charge it had before.

The same IP 68 water resistance as before. And the same millimeter headphone jack as before. And if you’re looking for high end phone with a headphone jack in 2018. Your choices are fewer than ever. So it’s kind of great to see Samsung stick with it for the S9. The big design change is the placement of the fingerprint scanner. Which has been moved from the side of the camera to just below it. It’s much easier to use than the S8. Especially if you’re using a larger plus model. But it’s still weirdly small and too close to the camera. I frequently swipe on the camera lens when I’m trying to use the fingerprint gesture to see my notifications. Which is kind of annoying. And then of course there’s that dreaded Bixby button which is still there. Still in the same spot just below the volume buttons on the left side. Now you can disable it from launching Bixby Now which is progress. But Samsung still doesn’t provide a native way to reprogram into something more useful. Now at its worse, it’s annoying.

And at it’s best it’s a little fidget button that you can press without having to worry about doing anything if you actually disable Bixby. The other new hardware feature is stereo speakers. Which basically catches Samsung up to what everyone else has been doing for a couple of years. They are noticeably louder and fuller than the single speaker on the S8.

And they’re really great for watching video. So I’m not gonna say they’re the best phone speakers I’ve ever heard. But they’re still great and I’m happy to see them here. The rest of the hardware improvements are all on the inside. It’s got Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon E45 processor. Either four or six gigabytes of RAM. Depending on which model you choose. And the new LTE modem that’s of course even faster at gigabytes speeds. Those are specs we’re gonna see in virtually every Android flagship this year. But Samsung is the first out of the gate with them. Performance, at least during my review has been great. Everything is really fast and responsive. And the network performance is just as impressive as last years and to be honest. Noticeably better than the iPhones. Though unchanged in the size of the battery and the internal storage.

You get a 3,000 million power battery in the S9 and a 3,500 million power battery in the S9+. Both of them has 64 gigs of storage and micro SD card support. I really would have liked to see Samsung increase the battery size this year. It’s not to say that the battery life is bad on either model. But it’s not the best you can get and heavy users are gonna even deplete the S9+ battery after a long day. So despite all that sameness. Samsung did upgrade one important aspect of the S9 and it did so in a pretty big way.

The S9 rear camera is all new. It’s got an improved sensor and a new variable aperture lens. That can physically switch between a really bright Fand a smaller Faperture. The S9+ gains a second telephoto lens for portrait modes stuff like Samsung used on the Note 8 last year. On top of that everything is optically image state wise. Samsung claims significant improvements in low light photography over the S8 camera. And it’s true that the S9 definitely can take some really great photos in low light.

The Faperture lets in more light than last years Flens. And the improved processing helps reduce noise overall. And I’m less impressed with the switching aperture feature. It feels more like a parlor trick than anything else. Now since a digital camera can just compensate its shutter speed for how much light is in the room. I don’t really ever feel like I would ever need to shoot at F2.4. Now if you’re in the pro mode of the camera app you can actually switch between the two modes. So here for an example. I shoot this image at 1.5. And then I’m gonna shoot this image at 2.4. And overall there really isn’t much difference between the two images. The Fis a slightly blurrier background than the F2.4. Which has a little bit longer depth of feel. But in terms of sharpness.

It really isn’t any difference there. So, I’m not sure why I would ever shoot an Fon this phone. I’d probably just leave it at and forget about it. The S9+’s second telephoto lens is similarly gimmicky. Samsung’s live focus portrait mode just isn’t as good as Apple’s or Google’s at separating a subject from the background. And in challenging lighting conditions. Image quality is kind of bad. The S9 gives you 4K video at 60 frames per second or slow motion 1080p video at 240 frames per second. Which catches it up with what the iPhone can do. Now both loads produce nice quality video. But you have to make sure you have plenty of light for the slow motion mode.

Where you’ll see a lot of noise in the video. Overall, the S9’s camera is definitely improving and it’s very good on it’s own. But if you weren’t a fan of Samsung’s image processing before. You still won’t like it now. Sure, there’s less noise than before and the colors are pleasing. But all of the images definitely have Samsung’s look to them.

Which is different to what Apple or Google’s camera produced. At this point it really comes down to personal preference. But it’s definitely something to be aware of. And I wish Samsung did spend some time on is the front camera on the S9. It’s the same 8 megapixel camera as seen on the S8. It does have auto focus which no other front camera has yet to replicate. But its portrait mode just isn’t as good as Google or Apple’s. So all of that stuff is great and it’s gonna keep the S9 at the top of phone rankings for most of 2018. But there’s a ton of other things that Samsung is pushing with the marketing for the S9 this year. And to be honest, you’ll probably never use them. It’s almost as if Samsung just couldn’t help itself. The first up is AR emoji.

Samsung’s take on the iPhone 10’s Animoji feature. Here’s how it works. It scans your face and then it produces a bit emoji character based on the hundred points to your face that kind of maybe looks like you. Then it takes this character and it creates a bunch of reaction goes with it. You can then send in messaging apps. Then there’s also some weird looking animals that you can create video clips with. That you can do with Animoji on the iPhone. Now there’s a couple of issues with Samsung’s AR emoji. First off, Samsung isn’t using any special tactic to capture your face or movement. It’s just relying on the camera. So tracking is really bad. Second, the characters it creates are just the wrong kind of creepy. And nobody I’ve tested it with has been like that’s something I like. And then the animals on top of that are just kind of weird. It’s definitely something that Samsung built just to compete with Apple and frankly it’s not very good.

Now Samsung is also trying to ape the iPhone 10 face ID with its new intelligent scan feature. It combines iris scanning and face protection to unlock the phone. But it’s still slow and now it shines a bright red light in your face when it scans. Good thing there’s a fingerprint scanner that’s easier to reach on the back because it’s faster and more reliable than Samsung’s face scanning option. Next is a new super slow motion mode in the camera. The S9 can shoot up to 960 frames per second. Which sounds really neat. But it can only do so for .2 seconds at a time and only at 720p resolution.

There’s two ways you can shoot it. You can try to manually trigger it to capture the .2 seconds of action you want. Or you can use an automatic mode that looks for a specific movement in an area of the frame and then captures slow movement and detects it. But in practice both are really hard to use. And they’re really more frustrating than anything else. Worse, you need a ton of light to make it work and even if you have lots of light. Image quality is kind of crappy. And if that wasn’t enough. There’s the awful music the app overlays on the clip automatically if you don’t bother to edit it after the fact. (slow music) Now Bixby. It’s not new but it’s still here and it’s still bad. It’s got a fresh coat of paint and it’s slightly faster than before. But it’s still way slower than the Google Assistant and it isn’t as good at parsing my voice commands.

There’s a couple of new features like an integrated makeup store that let’s you try makeup out virtually and then buy it directly from Sophora or Cover Girl. But I really can’t image anyone using that more than once. Anyways, here’s what I look like with a face full of makeup. And then there’s the perennial complaint with Samsung’s software. Why are there so many duplicate apps? The unlock the S9 that I’ve been testing has two email apps, two gallery apps, two browsers, two app stores and two payment apps. Now a couple of Samsung apps is good. Mostly the Samsung browser and Samsung Pay. But the rest are inferior to the Google Apps that are also installed on the phone.

Which just makes it kind of annoying. And if you care at all about software updates. Samsung is one of the worst manufacturers when it comes to delivering new versions of Android. As of this review. Last years Galaxy S8 still doesn’t have Android in the US. And that was released by Google over six months ago. Alright, so it sounds like I just took a huge dump on the S9 but like I said. Most of these bad things can be ignored. You can turn off Bixby. Never bother to use AR emoji or super slow mo. And disable most of Samsung’s apps. The only real sticky point for some people will be Samsung’s poor update history. But that leaves the rest of the S9 which is actually really great. Still has a modern design. Has great performance. Great screen and a very good camera. Outside of the display the S9 isn’t a class leader in any category.

But it’s good enough in all of them that the whole package makes for a great phone. Chances are if you’re spending between $700 and $900 on a new phone this year. The S9 is gonna be one of the best options you can get. But if it doesn’t do it for you. You might want to wait for Samsung’s next big thing. – Sick. Wasn’t that cool? .

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Management of DNA Sampling in Rape Incidents

Investigation of crime with scientific and forensic vigour ensures transparency in evidence collection abiding by the oftquoted aphorism “Not only must justice be done; it must be seen to be done”.[1] Both victim and accused are entitled to fair criminal proceedings with scientific investigation braced by forensic corroboration. Transparency in evidence processing builds faith in criminal justice apparatus. “Locard’s Exchange Principle”, the citadel for forensic sciences, says that when any person comes in contact with any object or any other person, a cross-transfer of physical evidence does occur.[2] Admissibility of expert opinion is conditioned upon the inviolability of forensic sample which necessitates infallible procedural management to avoid tampering, manipulation and mishandling of samples. The procedural protocol must invoke evidence dynamics to annul scope of any influence to modify, obscure, relocate or obliterate physical evidence, regardless of bona fide or malicious intent.

Rape is a global challenge for public safety and protection of women and children. Sexual offences suffer from under-reporting and poor rate of conviction for want of credible evidence. Forensic corroboration of the sole testimony of the prosecutrix in sex crime becomes significant since these crimes occur in isolation, practically eliminating possibility of finding ocular witness. Since 1986, DNA has emerged as a potent evidentiary tool for corroboration of sole testimony of the prosecutrix. Matching of DNA profiles of biological contents exchanged between the prosecutrix and the accused has credible probative value. Touch DNA technology, especially Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), adds value especially when biological content is in traces. In forensic world, selection, collection, packaging, labelling, storage, preservation, transport and maintenance of chain of custody are vital steps for handling physical samples with utmost care and expertise aiming to avoid risk of contamination, destruction, loss or potential fiddle.

Serving Member of Indian Police Service from Uttar Pradesh and currently on deputation to the Government of India. Also pursuing research activities at Gujarat Forensic Sciences University (GFSU), Gandhinagar 382 007, India. Email: [email protected] (Corresponding Author)

This article is primarily intended to emphasise upon the importance of maintaining sanctity of forensic samples by timely conducting forensic medical examination (FME) of individuals or relevant spots to maintain sanctity and reliability of samples. Proposed standard operating procedures (SoP) would be a beacon of light for foot soldiers of law enforcement agencies to handle forensic samples without any legal or scientific procedural lapses. It further aspires to homogenise forensic intervention to improve competence of medicolegal experts for conducting FME; and assist courts to undertake comprehensive procedural evaluation of expert opinion in order to rebuild faith of common mass in judicial processes.

EMPIRICAL OBSERVATIONS

Police in India recommended prosecution in 96% cases of sexual offences in 2016 but secured conviction in only 25% cases.[3] The pendency for trial of these cases is nearly 88%.[4] The grim scenario of low rate of conviction coupled with delayed trial can be addressed by improving quality of investigation especially adducing corroboration by forensic evidence. Hostility of the prosecutrix due to various factors including acquaintance and proximity of the accused with rape survivor is a prominent reason for acquittal, which may be aptly addressed by forensic and medicolegal corroboration.[5] Forensic tools would further brace prosecution story by cross-examination of a hostile witness in courtroom, in order to secure conviction. However, conducting scientific investigation needs skilled manpower trained in forensics and legal procedures supported by standard protocol for management of forensic footprints.

Synthesis of this protocol derives its focus from recent empirical study conducted to investigate role of DNA in administering justice in sexual assault cases in the State of Uttar Pradesh in India which has a population of approximately 200 million.[6] The incidents of sexual violence in India are exceeding threshold level when compared to global scenario, emphasising for academic enquiry. A total of 998 investigating officers, 310 supervisory police officers and 350 Public Prosecutors responded during this empirical study through interview guides and questionnaires. 114 stakeholders as key informants such as forensic scientists, medicolegal experts, attorneys and Judges were interviewed for qualitative feedback. Specific case studies of rape incidents were also carried out to learn the status of DNA as evidence.

The study revealed that first responders to crime scene are not adequately trained in handling forensic samples and standard protocols are missing, consequently, investigators used DNA evidence only in 5% cases. On an average, investigators train only for around three days in their entire career on DNA evidence still 25% of them believe that they have sufficient skills for conducting scientific investigation. This mindset probably restricts them from learning and upgrading their investigative proficiency.

FORENSIC SAMPLES: NATURE AND SIGNIFICANCE

Forensic evidence may be traced and collected from various sources such as victim, accused or the environment. Physical samples after forensic analysis may furnish credible information used as secondary evidence helping in pursuit of truth. Forensic evidence validates fairness in investigation by reconstruction of crime scene, corroboration of oral statements and facts, identification of unknown victims or perpetrators with greater precision in blind cases. DNA evidence since inception has proved to be a panacea for correctional justice to secondary victimisation due to false accusation and wrongful conviction.[7]

Indeed transforming forensic sample into admissible piece of evidence is an art requiring strict procedural regime including protection of crime scene from unwanted incursions. Mainly two types of physical evidence, either having non-biological origin such as fingerprint or footprint, shoe impression, tyre mark, soil, gunshot residue, cigarette butts, bottle, cans, glass, note, etc., or evidence of biological origin such as blood, semen, vaginal fluid, saliva, sweat, condom content, nail clips, bite marks, scrotal swab, etc. may be collected. Pollen grains, wood and plants may also have vital forensic links. Biological samples are potential source for DNA.

Nomenclature of forensic samples

Forensic sample collected from scene of crime or other source for matching is referred as Unknown/Questioned Sample.[8] Standard/Reference Sample is collected from a known source of origin (like victim, accused, and other verifiable sources), mainly used for identification of unknown samples and accreditation of procedures. Controlled/blank sample has known source of origin used for comparative analysis for the purpose of inclusion or exclusion.[9]

Consent for collecting DNA sample

Subject’s consent to collect DNA sample constitutes cornerstone of the right to privacy, protected by constitution in most of the jurisdictions. DNA discloses a catena of personal genetic information, hence prior consent of subject becomes overarching. Section 53-A of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 of India enables medicolegal expert to collect DNA sample of an accused of rape on advice of police officer. However, to collect biological sample and for conducting medicolegal examination of rape survivor, informed consent is mandatory.[10] In the interest of justice, courts are provided with overreaching powers for balancing competing interests of individual and community in obtaining biological sample provided procedure of sample extraction is non-invasive in nature.[11] However, issue of consent becomes more prominent in the light of the recent judgment of K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India[12], whereby the Supreme Court of India has recognised privacy as fundamental right, an integral part of right to life with dignity under Part III of the Indian Constitution.

Scope of forensic samples in rape incidents

In sexual violence, the history of incident helps a forensic examiner to locate and to collect samples of forensic significance. During sexual assault, semen, blood, saliva and hair may get exchanged between perpetrator and victim and may also be traceable on articles in contact. During physical examination, Wood’s lamp and Polilight help to detect stains of biological content.[13], [14] Video and photography of crime scene help to preserve the location of evidence.

Brief forensic importance of semen, blood and saliva is discussed below:

Semen.—Transfer of semen from male perpetrator to victim is a potent forensic marker. Semen is highly fluorescent under UV light and Wood’s lamp helps to detect semen stains. Indeed semen contains spermatozoa suspended in the seminal fluid. The chance of getting spermatozoa in oral, anorectal and vaginal cavities diminishes after 6, 24 and 72 hours respectively after sexual contact.[15] In pre-pubertal girls, half-life of spermatozoa is comparatively shorter due to absence of cervical mucus.[16] In post-pubertal girls, sperms may be motile in vaginal secretion for 6 to 12 hrs and in the cervix may be traced as long as 5 days.[17] The dried stains of seminal or other body fluids on clothes or hard surface are relatively stable and may be detected even after one year.[18] The motility of spermatozoa depends on several factors such as perpetrator may be azoospermic or vasectomised, hence, semen smear analysis under optical microscope may provide deceptive results because spermatozoa may be absent. Prostate-specific Antigen (PAS) is considered most sensitive marker for semen detection including azoospermic samples in addition to DNA analysis.[19]

Blood.—Forensic serology mainly serum antigen and ABO group analysis traditionally provides clues for human identification. Blood being potent source of DNA, preferred as controlled sample for DNA forensics but it must be avoided subject has recent history of blood transfusion or bone marrow transplant.[20] Blood stains on body, clothes and articles must be collected for DNA source. Blood or tissues from aborted foetus or pregnant dead victim may be potential source for DNA match.

Saliva.—In sexual assault cases, saliva provides vital forensic clue since perpetrator commonly kisses, sucks or bites the victim and oral fluid may prevail on the victim’s skin especially on her breast, neck, face, throat, abdomen, groin, etc. In case perpetrator intensively kisses the victim, DNA may be recovered up to one hour from buccal cavity of victim provided FME is accomplished soon and victim has not wash her mouth for hygiene.[21] Butts of cigarettes, can/bottle of beverages, glass, etc. are also potential sources for this purpose. Phadebas test detects ?-amylase activity to identify saliva.[22] Saliva contains epithelial cells to conduct DNA analysis.[23]

Stability factors for DNA sample

DNA is relatively stable genetic molecule found in the nucleus of body cell. Various factors like time, chemical contact (washing of linen by soaps or detergents), external conditions (temperature, humidity, microbes) may adversely affect the stability of DNA. If FME is conducted within 72 hours of rape incident, chances of yielding credible forensic results are higher.[24] Possibility to collect foreign DNA from different parts of body is contingent with time span as given below:[25]

DNA from vagina/cervix may ideally collect within three days but up to seven days under certain circumstances.

DNA from anus — up to three days.

DNA from penis — vaginal epithelial cells of victim may be recovered on glance penis within 12 hours.

Fingernail scrapings — two days.

Buccal cavity (saliva and mouth swabs) — two days.

DNA from skin to skin contact (e.g. bruises or kissing) may be detected up to two days but up to seven days provided the subject has not showered.

Lubricant from a condom — up to thirty hours.

These life spans are only indicative since factors like quantum of transfer of biological content may vary from case to case. Further, washing, bathing, urination, brushing, etc. may also impinge on finding trace DNA.

Advice to rape survivor before forensic medical examination (FME)

The rape survivor must persistently be provided psychological support by domain experts. FME must be conducted at the earliest to avoid obliteration of forensic evidence. The victim of sexual violence may be advised to refrain from following activities, as far as possible, before undergoing FME:

Mouth wash or brush teeth, shower or cleaning any body part.

Change, wash or destroy clothes, if already done, then preserve clothing worn at time of incident.

Cutting or combing paint (sticky) hair.

Cutting or cleaning fingernails.

Drink, eat, chew or smoke.

Urinate, defecate or vomit, if unavoidable, then collect in clean container with lid.

Sport or athlete activities.

SOURCES OF DNA SAMPLES IN RAPE CASES

The medicolegal experts conduct detailed inspection of the bodies of the victim and the accused of sexual assaults for recording injuries and other vital information necessary for medicolegal report (MLR) and also conduct FME for collection of forensic samples from bodies and clothes of victim and the accused. Forensic experts collect relevant artifacts having forensic significance from crime scene.

The sources for DNA sample collection are as under:

Victim.—Vaginal swab, anal swab, buccal swab, breast swab, bite marks, pubic hair combing, saliva or semen stains, clothes especially undergarments to search for biological content for DNA analysis. Fingernail clips beneath hyponychium provide valuable evidence including hair, body fluids, fibres, vegetation, etc.

Accused.—Penal swab, buccal swab, bite marks, saliva or blood stains, fingernail clips, scrotal scrap, pubic hair combing, clothes.

Crime scene (place of occurrence).—Variety of biological tissues like plucked hair, stains of blood or semen, linen, fingerprints, etc. may be collected from condoms, sunglasses or eyeglasses, mobile or any other electronic device, bottles, cans, glass, cigarette butts, toothpick, chewed gum, food items, keys, vehicles, etc.[26] Menstrual products, tampons, condoms from garbage may provide DNA content, however, vomit residue around toilet rim may be analysed for drug facilitated sexual violence. A clear fingerprint may be a potent source for touch DNA analysis.

Place other than crime scene.—Articles such as clothes of the victim or accused, weapon, mobile phone, wallet, etc. recovered from any other place on advice of the accused/suspect (recovery under Section 27 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872) or witness may provide credible forensic evidence.

DNA KIT FOR EVIDENCE COLLECTION

Challenges of contamination and procedural inviolability of DNA sample may be addressed by using DNA kits having specialised items for forensic sampling. DNA kit must contain the following items:

Instructions for the user

Forms for documentation

Bags and sheets for large sample collection

Sterile sample containers

Latex or nitrile disposable gloves and other Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) including eye protection, paper mask that covers nose and mouth, hair net, white paper body suit, sleeve protectors, shoe covers

Blood collection devices including syringes and needles

Tubes, vials, vacutainers for blood samples

Swabs (sterile) of different size, shape and design to use for sample collection. Synthetic swabs made up of flocked nylon are preferred over cotton swabs.

Wooden or plastic containers for collection of fluids from lips, cheeks, vagina, anus, thighs, buttock, etc.

Swab boxes or other suitable container for packaging of swabs

Tweezers

Disposable razor blade or scalpel

Scissors

Distilled water

Bleach sterilisation solution (1:10), prepare fresh when needed

Alcohol pads for cleaning

Envelopes or bindle paper

Paper wrapping and paper bags

Pens/markers

Evidence tape

Biohazard labels

Lac (sealing wax) sticks for sealing

SEXUAL ASSAULT FORENSIC EVIDENCE (SAFE) OR RAPE TEST KIT[27],[28]

SAFE Kit is a customised version of DNA kit to assist in collection and safe preservation of forensic evidence gathered from prosecutrix, accused/suspects and the crime spot of sexual assaults. In addition to items in DNA kit, SAFE kit generally contains the following additional items:

Nail pick for scraping debris from beneath the fingernail hyponychium

Comb used to collect hair and fibres from the victim’s body

Ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid (EDTA), sodium fluoride

Self-sealing envelopes for preserving the victim’s clothes, blood samples, pubic hair and head hair

Clear glass slides

White sheets to collect physical evidence stripped from the body

Clean clothing, shower hygiene items for post-examination use by the survivors.

Other items for forensic/medical examination may include:[29]

Colposcope (to examine cervix, vagina and vulva)

Vaginal speculums

Camera (35mm, digital with colour printer)

Microscope

Magnifying glass

Wood’s lamp or a torch

Surgilube (lubricating agent)

Post-It Notes[30] to collect trace evidence

Toluidine blue dye

Urine Pregnancy Test Kit

Patient gown, cover sheet, blanket, pillow

Drying rack for wet swabs and clothing

COLLECTION OF BIOLOGICAL SAMPLES

Preserving samples from contamination and degradation is crucial precaution at any crime scene. Biological evidence may suffer from cross-contamination due to unprotected exposure to investigators, visitors or due to interface between biological specimens. In forensics, collection procedure may depend upon situation, location other than the nature of a sample. In sexual offences, tracing a biological sample is very critical, and alternate light source may be useful. The location of each stain found at crime scene must be duly documented (video-record and photograph). Priority must be given to collect biological material and trace evidence of fragile nature. It is preferable to submit the entire item, but if it is very large in size, then after photograph, relevant part of forensic worth must be collected for sampling.

Probable circumstances for collection of biological evidence are listed below:

Wet stain on absorbent surface.—A sterile dry cotton swab must be used for wet stain. Alternately, area of surface having wet stain must be cut by a clean and sterilised razor and for control sample adjacent area of surface (substrate sample) must be preserved.

Wet stain on non-absorbent surface.—One or more clean sterile swabs (or sterile gauze for larger stains) to soak up the stain must be used. Concentrate the stain on one portion of the tip of the swab (wooden or plastic swab stick), moisten the swab with distilled water and rub an area of the surface in an unstained region near the stain. Control sample must also be collected for the purpose of matching.

Dry stain on absorbent surface.—Cut the stained area and pack in a clean and dry white paper and collect a portion of unstained area as a control sample.

Dry stain on non-absorbent surface.—It is preferred to submit the entire item, if possible. In case not possible, then use a new or clean scalpel blade to scrape the stains from the surface on a clean white paper and fold properly for wrapping.

Sample from a smear.—A slightly dampened (with distilled water) sterile cotton swab must be used. In case of small stains, rubbing must be avoided and swab over the surface of entire stain; instead, apply constant pressure on the tip of the swab against the stain. Also collect a control sample by swabbing unstained adjacent surface areas with a new sterile swab moistened with a drop of distilled water. Allow the swabs to air dry and then package and label both swabs separately in envelopes or bindle paper.

Saliva and bite marks.—The interior and exterior areas of a bite mark should be swabbed with separate sterile swabs slightly moistened with distilled water and both swabs should be labelled accordingly. A clean sterile swab must be use to absorb wet saliva or mucous. The swabs must be dried in air before packaging them in separate envelopes followed by proper labelling.

Hair and fibres.—Three methods for collection of these trace evidence may be used:

(i) Visual collection.—In case hair and fibres are seen with naked eye on a surface, with the help of clean forceps and trace paper, the sample may be collected on to a clean piece of paper that must be folded and packaged in a paper envelope.

(ii) Tape lifting.—Trace tapes may be used to the location of probable area for collection of trace hair and fibres. The tapes carrying samples must be packaged in separate envelopes.

(iii) Vacuuming.—The area where the targeted samples are located must be vacuumed and evidence will be collected from filtered trap attached to the vacuum. These samples must be packaged in a clean trace paper. Vacuuming is the least desirable collection method because there is a risk of cross-contamination, if the equipment is not properly cleaned between each use.

Cigarette butts.—The butts must be handled after wearing gloves and never with bare fingers. The cigarette butts must be air dried before packaging. Cigarette ashes have no evidentiary DNA, but it may provide other forensic inputs like narcotics.

Underneath fingernail.—A damp and small thin tip swab must be used which may reach under the fingernails.

Sexual assault on bed or car.—In case, sexual assault happened on a bed or car, top surface of bed linen or seat fabric should be collected, especially the portion holding any stain, fibres and hair. An alternate light source may be used to locate hidden stains on bed linens or clothes invisible to naked eye. If wet stains are visible, a permanent marker must be used to discretely mark the location of wet stain and duly photographed. In case towel or tissue is used by the suspect and/or victim to clean up after the assault, it must be collected for getting trace evidence.

Controlled sample.—Biological samples like buccal swab, hair or blood is collected from the victim, accused/suspects and other related persons (acquainted with crime scene) for the purpose of inclusion or exclusion. In case of blood transfusion or bone marrow transplantation done to the subject, collecting blood for controlled sample is not preferable. In case of hair, at least seven hair with roots intact should be pulled out.[31] In case of oral-genital contact or deep kissing by perpetrator, collecting buccal swab of the victim must be avoided for known sample since it may be contaminated by perpetrator’s DNA. In such circumstances, root intact hair or buccal swab are preferred.

Precautions during sample collection.—Forensic team must use disposable mask, powder free glove, gown, etc. and avoid talking, sneezing, coughing, eating-drinking, smoking to prevent contamination of samples. New gloves must be used while handling each artefact. Microbial contamination may be avoided by collecting samples under aseptic conditions. Double-tipped swabs must be avoided. For preventing sample loss, one swab for each item of evidence must be preferred because more swabs may reduce concentration.[32] If any stain is cut from large clothes, new razor or blade must be used. Tape lifter should never be used to collect dry stains.

PACKAGING, LABELLING/TAGGING AND SHORT-TERM STORAGE

The sample must be properly dried up before packaging. If drying is not possible, samples (like tampons with blood, condom content, etc.) may be frozen. During packaging of biological material, due precaution depending on nature of evidence must be observed to prevent contamination, loss and degradation. Plastic wrappers, bags or containers should be avoided and self-sealing paper packages, foldable racks or bags must be preferred for sample packaging or storage. Wet or moist body fluids should not be stored in plastic bags for long time to avoid bacterial growth and contamination resulting into DNA degradation. The sample, especially clothes having biological fluids, stains or swabs collected from the subject must be properly dried in air before packaging. If blood or any other body fluid is soaked on a linen or garment, it should be wrapped with a sheet of clean white paper to protect stain patterns and prevent from possible cross-contamination, and inadvertent transfer of stains to unstained portions of the linen. A bindle may be used for packaging hair, fibres and leaves. All evidence should be packaged and sealed individually. Before sealing the package, the examiner/IO should put request form together with sample inside the kit. Packages should not be stapled and must be signed across the seal in order to detect possible tempering.

Labels list specifies the details from whom and where from the evidence was collected and may also include biohazard information. After proper labeling by biohazard designation, each sample must have a label/tag (ideally a bar coding/RFID) having following information:

Case reference: FIR No., police station, district, State, etc.

Item number.

Sample type

Location of recovery

Date and time of recovery

Investigator’s initial with name and date

The inventory of all labelled samples duly signed by two independent witnesses must be prepared and each sample must be photographed for maintaining chain of evidence. DNA may be degraded by adverse environmental factors such as heat, sunlight, bacteria and mould, hence, due precaution is warranted for safe preservation of perishable samples. During transport from scene of crime, samples must be stored in cool and dry environment and trunk of a police car should be avoided to carry the packaged evidence since it may get heated. A secured and well-equipped temporary storage facility is necessary to prevent degradation or contamination of biological samples. Direct sunlight and warm conditions may fasten DNA degradation. Ideally DNA samples must be stored in a refrigerator at 4?C or a freezer at -20?C to reduce DNA degradation or microbial growth.

SECURING “CHAIN OF CUSTODY” (COC) AND SAFE TRANSPORTATION OF SAMPLES

Authenticity of a sample is the hallmark for credible forensic reporting. The chain of custody (CoC) or chain of evidence, a vital legal document (protocol), provides safeguards against any manipulation or tampering with forensic samples. The chain of evidence accounts chronological documentation having detailed notes of seizure, custody, control, transfer and subsequent stages of analysis and disposition of evidence establishing authentic continuity of possession of a sample. The Court of Appeal of the State of New York had observed that “it is necessary to establish a complete chain of evidence, tracing the possession of the exhibit … to the final custodian, and … if one link in the chain is entirely missing, the exhibit cannot be introduced or made the basis for the testimony or report of an expert or officer.”[33]

The chain of evidence protects against human error, securing probity and sanctity necessary for admissibility of evidence during court proceedings.[34] During entire journey of forensic evidence from collection at crime scene to courtroom via forensic laboratory, the chain of evidence must be duly maintained in a logbook demonstrating that the sample was in legitimate custody at each stage. Indeed CoC represents series of documents such as courier receipts, laboratory logs and work sheets. The length of chain of custody varies in different jurisdictions as discussed in Ohio v. Conley[35].

The content of chain of evidence includes:

Unique identifier

Item description

Identity of the person who collected the item

Time and date of collection

Acknowledgment with identity of persons who received the docket

Description of docket movement

During criminal proceedings, prosecution has to eliminate every possibility of alteration, substitution or tampering of sample by establishing chain of evidence custody. However, in civil disputes, the burden of proving the custody chain rests on the party offering the evidence. In People v. Connelly28, the Court of Appeal of New York held that “Admissibility generally requires that all those who have handled the item ‘identify it and testify to its custody and unchanged conditions’ ’’. Minimum number of individuals must handle the docket and every time docket exchange hands, it must duly record on CoD documents.

CONCLUSION

Scientific investigation is a precursor to fair trial to ensure justice. DNA as unstoppable witness has proved its credibility in courtroom provided sanctity of biological sample is beyond any doubt. Negligence is no excuse in handling forensic samples since it may nullify the very purpose of forensic analysis and has potential to result in imperfect justice either by exoneration or false conviction of the accused. All stakeholders handling DNA sample in sexual offence cases need to be professionally educated and equipped with kits and procedural protocol for ensuring best usage of DNA evidence for assisting courts in pursuit for truth. Legal provisions must be in place making use of DNA technology compulsory in handling cases of sexual assaults to minimise possible misuse of oral testimony. The standard protocols for DNA sample is a futuristic step in the direction of administering perfect justice in cases of sexual assaults and other violent crimes.

———

[1]R. v. Sussex Justices, ex p McCarthy, [1924] 1 KB 256.

[2] Chisum W.J. and Turvey B., ‘Evidence Dynamics: Locard’s Exchange Principle & Crime Reconstruction’, Journal of Behavioral Profiling, vol. 1, no. 1, January 2000, pp. 1-15.

[3] Magalhães T, Dinis-Oliveira RJ, Silva B, et al., ‘Biological Evidence Management for DNA Analysis in Cases of Sexual Assault’, Scientific World Journal, 2015.

[4] Bureau TNCR, Crime in India, Ministry of Home Affairs, India (2016).

[5] ‘Proximity of accused to rape victim reason for hostile cases’, PTI, 2017.

[6] Goswami G.K., ‘Ensuring Justice in Sexual Offences: Role of DNA Profiling’, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, India, 2018.

[7] Connors, Lundregan, Miller and McEwen, ‘Convicted by Juries, Exonerated by Science: Case Studies in the Use of DNA Evidence to Establish Innocence After Trial’, US Government Printing Office, Washington DC, 1996.

[8] Carter D.L., Law Enforcement Intelligence: A Guide for State, Local and Tribal Law Enforcement Agencies, US Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, Washington DC, 2004.

[9] Wilson O.W. and McLaren R. C., Police Administration, New York. McGraw-Hill, 1963

[10] Selvi v. State of Karnataka, (2010) 7 SCC 263.

[11] Nandlal Wasudeo Badwaik v. Lata Nandlal Badwaik, (2014) 2 SCC 576.

[12] (2017) 10 SCC 1.

[13] Santucci K.A., Nelson D.G., McQuillen K.K., et al., ‘Wood’s Lamp Utility in the Identification of Semen’, Pediatrics, vol. 104, no. 6, 1999, pp. 1342-1344.

[14] Vandenberg N. and Van Oorschot R.A., ‘The Use of Polilight® in the Detection of Seminal Fluid, Saliva and Bloodstains and Comparison with Conventional Chemical-based Screening Tests’, Journal of Forensic Sciences, vol. 51, no. 2, 2006, pp. 361-370.

[15] Jenny C., Child Abuse and Neglect E-Book: Diagnosis, Treatment and Evidence, Elsevier Health Sciences, 2010.

[16] Kellogg N., ‘The Evaluation of Sexual Abuse in Children’, Pediatrics, vol. 116, no. 2, 2005,

506-512.

[17] Gould J.E., Overstreet J.W. and Hanson F.W., ‘Assessment of Human Sperm Function after Recovery from the Female Reproductive Tract’, Biology of Reproduction, vol. 31, no. 5, 1984, pp. 888-894.

[18] Kellogg N (n 16).

[19] Khaldi N., Miras A., Botti K., et al., ‘Evaluation of Three Rapid Detection Methods for the Forensic Identification of Seminal Fluid in Rape Cases’, Journal of Forensic Science, vol. 49, no. 4, 2004, pp. 749-753.

[20] Caldas I.M., Magalhaes T. and Afonso A., ‘Establishing Identity using Cheiloscopy and Palatoscopy’, Forensic Science International, vol. 165, no. 1, 2007, pp. 1-9.

[21] Kamodyová N., Durdiaková J., Celec P., et al., ‘Prevalence and Persistence of Male DNA Identified in Mixed Saliva Samples after Intense Kissing’, Forensic Science International: Genetics, vol. 7, no. 1, 2013, pp. 124-128.

[22] Auvdel M.J., ‘Amylase Levels in Semen and Saliva Stains’, Journal of Forensic Science, vol. 31, no. 2, pp. 426-431.

[23] Rogers N.L., Cole S.A., Lan H.C., et al., ‘New Saliva DNA Collection Method Compared to Buccal Cell Collection Techniques for Epidemiological Studies’, American Journal of Human Biology: The Official Journal of the Human Biology Association, vol. 19, no. 3, 2007, pp. 319-326.

[24] Magalhães T, Dinis-Oliveira RJ, Silva B (n 3).

[25] Magalhães T, Dinis-Oliveira RJ, Silva B (n 3); Connors, Lundregan, Miller and McEwen (n 7); Taylor T., ‘Extending the Time to Collect DNA in Sexual Assault Cases’, NIJ Journal, 2010, pp. 22-27.

[26] Raymond J.J., Van Oorschot R.A., Gunn P.R., et al., ‘Trace Evidence Characteristics of DNA: A Preliminary Investigation of the Persistence of DNA at Crime Scenes’, Forensic Science International: Genetics, vol. 4, no. 1, 2009, pp. 26-33.

[27] Rape Test Kit was first developed by Louis R. Vitullo in late 1970s to provide uniform protocol for forensic evidence collection in sexual assault cases.

[28] Guidelines and Protocols: Medico-legal care for survivors/victims of Sexual Violence, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, (2014).

[29] Ibid.

[30] Also known as sticky note is a small piece of paper having re-adherable strip of glue on one side, used for temporarily attaching to the artifact for brief notes.

[31] Pinheiro MdF, ‘A perícia em genética e biologia forense–criminalística biológica’, CSI Criminal Porto: Universidade Fernando Pessoa, vol. 1, 2008 pp. 1-40.

[32] Hochmeister M.N., Budowle B., Sparkes R., et al., ‘Validation Studies of An Immunochromatographic 1-Step Test for the Forensic Identification of Human Blood’, Journal of Forensic Science, vol. 44, no. 3, 1999, pp. 597-602.

[33] People v. Connelly, (1974), 316 NE 2d 706, pp. 708 (NY).

[34] Robinson v. Commonwealth, (1971), 183 SE 2d 179 (Va).

[35] (1971), 288 NE 2d 296 (Ohio Ct App).

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pauldeckerus · 6 years

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A Guide to Switching from Nikon to Sony for Wedding Photography

After almost a decade of photographing weddings with Nikon cameras, we decided to trade our D750 cameras for the Sony a7 III. Here are a few thoughts on how the process went and why we feel it was the right decision.

We’ve been shooting with Nikon cameras for a long time. Our first Nikon camera was the D700, and over the years we’ve owned everything from the really amazing D3s and D4 to the totally pants D610 and D800. For the last few years we’ve shot with the D750, a brilliant DSLR that is small and light (for a DSLR), and capable of superb images. We’d always assumed that someday we’d be updating our D750 to whatever Nikon came up with to replace it.

When I first tried the a7 III, I was expecting not to like it. I’d tried various A7 iterations over the years that were ergonomic nightmares. I’d also heard endless talk of the a7 III’s ‘horrible’ menu system. We’ve owned a few Fuji mirrorless cameras (X100, XT2) over the years which I’ve loved but have led me to believe mirrorless is still some way off challenging DSLRs for so-called ’real’ work. I also had a full Nikon system that has served me really well and helped me capture some of the best images of my life. While I’m generally not a fanboy, I like when something works well. And having shot Nikon for 10 years, I would always consider their offerings first. I loved, and still love, the D750. So, in short, I wasn’t actually objectively fair to the Sony when I first grabbed it.

Now, in the past, we’ve contemplated changing system only twice. Both times to Canon and both times, after long consideration, we didn’t do it. This time was different. After a day with the a7 III, we made the decision to put ourselves through the abject hell and financial turmoil of changing a full camera system for two people at the height of wedding season.

There was a method to our madness…

What’s the Sony a7 III like Ergonomically?

The first thing that surprised me about the a7 III was how it felt in my hand. The important disclaimer here is that I’m 5ft 9 and have dainty little Trump-esque hands. It felt really perfect nestled in my delicate digits. The grip is nicely recessed like the D750, and I didn’t have the ‘pinky problem’ I’d had using other Sonys, where my littlest of little fingers would dangle in the air below the grip. Within a minute or two I was entirely at ease with how everything was placed — many controls are just like Nikon D750 which is a massive help.

So the much-maligned ergonomics, for me at least, were as good as or better than my beloved D750. It’s important to remember that there were some ergonomic complaints about the D750 when it came out as well — we all love a good whinge about something. While the D750 kinda short-changed back-button shooters, the a7 III gets it spot-on offering dedicated AF-ON and AEL buttons on the back. The back button on my D750 (assigned AEL button) required a bit more reach, but the a7 III has it positioned perfectly

Using the Sony a7III Menu System

Ah, the supposed horror show that is the Sony camera menu system. I’d been warned about it so much that I imagined it would be like navigating my way through Mordor. You’ll read stories online of how people have ventured into it never to be heard from again.

The Sony menu system is daunting at first. There are around 14 billion menu pages to navigate, and some items have been given what appears to be deliberately obscure names. It feels like it was designed by the kind of person who can conceptualize quantum mechanics but can’t microwave popcorn. With that said, I quickly grew to enjoy the depth of it. Sony has left the camera pretty open to customization, and as a result, the menu is extensive. It would speed things up significantly had it been a touchscreen menu. For some inexplicable reason, the Sony a7 III has a touchscreen that doesn’t work when navigating menus. In an age where practically everyone from toddlers to centenarians uses a touchscreen daily, this strikes me as daft.

Like Nikon, you can assign things you’ll often use to a custom menu area cutting out stuff that you won’t need on a shoot. If you do this when first setting up the camera, you’ll have little need to descend into the murky depths of the menu system on a shoot. Added to this, the mini function menu accessed quickly from a dedicated button, is brilliant. It allows you to change many of your most-used features without taking an eye off what you’re shooting.

Sony a7 III Customization and Set Up

Setting up the customizable buttons and menus on the a7 III makes you wonder why all camera manufacturers don’t design their cameras this way. The customizable buttons are utterly brilliant. In fact, pretty much everything is customizable in some shape or form — this again flew in the face of my ergonomics concerns. I remember marveling that I could assign my movie Rec button to control ISO on the D750. The Sony is next-level in that regard, and it’s a very clever way of doing things.

It was only over the course of shooting my first few weddings I began to realize what I wanted on the menus and which things needed to be a button press away. While I first set it up to mimic my D750, after a while, I realized other things were more important and adjusted accordingly. I now have a quick way of quickly turning the brilliant silent shutter on and off. I have one-touch ISO control, and I can quickly turn face-focus on and off. By default, I have the camera set to EVF only because I prefer to manually switch to Live View only when I want to use it — a habit from the D750.

Focusing Ability of the a7 III

This is what everyone has asked me about the Sony, so I’ll get to the point: The focusing ability of the a7 III is brilliant. I will add the caveat that Ireland has been experiencing ridiculously beautiful weather since I bought the camera (we’ll put that one down to coincidence, not Sony) but I’ve still had to use it in some challenging situations where it faired as well as or better than the brilliant D750. When it gets good focus (practically all the time), it’s as sharp as anything I’ve seen from a camera.

Does the Sony a7 III Eye-Focus Actually Work?

I had been ready to dismiss Eye-Focus as a gimmick, but it is a proper delight, especially during portraiture, leaving you to concentrate on framing. When a bride walks up the aisle, you can lock on to her eye and rarely miss a shot as she walks towards you.

Eye AF is particularly good at tracking couples as they pass through confetti lines.

There is still room for improvement though. In large groups it can sometimes get a bit lost, choosing to jump to a face/eye in the distance rather than the logical one so I often still shoot candids with spot focus. It would be good to allow you to cycle through the recognized faces or for the camera to pick the closest eye to the AF center point.

The camera also has a face recognition system. Basically, you take a picture of the Bride/Groom in the morning and can at any stage set the camera to prioritize her face in any large groups throughout the day. You can do this for up to 6 people and set them in order of priority. I think this feature is still in its infancy, and I’m not convinced from using it that it’s beneficial in current form. It does give us a great idea of where Sony technology is going and could probably improve with future firmware updates.

The edge to edge tracking is incredible. We’ve tested this with people walking running and jumping towards us, and 90-95% of the shots are generally usable. This has made it more fun to shoot confetti shots and kids running about, especially when combined with Eye Focus. The D750 gets nowhere near the Sony in this respect.

Tankardstown House wedding photos

Being able to shift your focus points right to the edge of the frame is excellent. One of my biggest gripes about the D750 was the limited spread of AF points — especially as I’d come from a D4 which had a wider spread (though still nowhere close to the Sony).

How Well Does the a7 III Focus in Low Light?

Backlit, low-light situations provided no significant problems for the camera.

In low light, I found it to equal or beat the D750 regarding both AF and high ISO ability. I didn’t find the camera hunted for focus in conditions that had me shooting 6400 ISO, unlike the Fujis I had owned (and many DSLRs). In fact, eye focus was often working accurately. In post, I found more color depth in high ISO than on the D750.

If you’re an Irish wedding photographer, you have to get used to shooting in dark pubs.

The Nikon also missed focus more than the Sony in low light (it was still great though, given its age). With low noise at high ISO, coupled with the Sony’s great in-camera stabilization, I can see this camera getting me out of a few tight spots.

Shooting with Live View on the a7 III

Don’t listen to any curmudgeonly old pro that tells you live-view is for amateurs. Any feature that your camera gives you is worth exploring to see how it can improve your shooting. The D750 is responsible for making me enjoy using LV. On the Nikon, I both loved the feature (flippy screen and exposure preview) and hated it (piss-poor AF and what seemed like an eternity of screen blackout).

Unlike the D750, Live-view focusing has amazingly accurate AF.

Being able to use the same incredible focus you get on the EVF to shoot in LV is a gift. I love shooting from a variety of perspectives and angles, as well as shooting through things. Doing this on the D750 was a fight for focus, on the a7 III it’s a total joy. You can even use the touchscreen to select your focus point quickly and accurately, right to the edge of the screen.

LV opens up all kinds of framing possibilities while helping you to remain discreet.

I’ve found it allows me to be more subtle during weddings too — often shooting candids from the hip instead of having the camera up to my eye. Coupled with the silent shutter, you can really blend into the background more.

Editing a7 III Files Compared to Nikon

I edit using Lightroom, and annoyingly I had to finally cave in and subscribe to Adobe’s creative cloud so I could edit the a7 III files — Adobe isn’t updating their standalone Lightroom anymore, forcing you into a subscription if you buy any new camera body. Admittedly, CC is reasonably good value, but not having the option to purchase the software outright sits uneasily with me. Alternatively, Capture One has special offers for their Sony standalone program that makes it an utter bargain. Alien Skin has also updated Exposure to support the cameras and have the added bonus of some fantastic film emulations built in.

In terms of editing, it took me around 30 minutes to adjust my Nikon presets to work with Sony files — I may tweak them more over time. They’re not a million miles away from the D750, probably in part due to Sony manufacturing many Nikon sensors (the D750/D810/D850 and others contain sensors made by Sony). If you already went through the mental anguish of transitioning from a Nikon D700/D3s to a D750/D850, you’ll find it relatively easy to adjust to the color of Sony Files.

What Lenses are Best for Wedding Photography on the Sony a7 III

In all honesty, I’m not a big pixel peeper. I don’t do ‘wall tests’ or compare bokeh side-by-side for ‘creaminess.’ I often keep or sell lenses based on factors I can’t articulate. When shopping for lenses, I was drawn to the same focal lengths that I used on Nikon. We shoot primes exclusively, and most of our work is shot on 35mm or 85mm. I was lucky my friend was selling a mint condition Zeiss 85mm F1.8, and it’s absolutely gorgeous to use. Because of its shape and design, one of our brides referred to it as the ‘bell-end lens’ — I’m still not sure if I love or hate that nickname.

The Zeiss Batis 85 1.8, AKA the Bell-end lens…

Brideen shoots with Sony’s own 85mm FE 1.8, and it’s every bit as good as the more expensive Zeiss. Because we had already spent gazillions of pounds changing everything, we settled on Sigma Art lenses for 35mm, which are much cheaper than Sony’s 35 1.4 and ridiculously sharp. The Zeiss Batis 25mm (little bell-end?) is excellent but rather expensive for an F2. Its small size, quick AF, and sharpness make it worth it, but I can see the 24mm 1.4 Sigma giving it some competition. The 55 1.8FE is so sharp, quick and light that it had me wishing for a similar sized 35mm 1.8.

The Sigma 35mm Art. A hefty lens but incredible value for money.

The best thing about using native FE mount lenses is that they have no need for focus micro-adjustments. With our D750 we had to manually fine-tune every lens for every camera body. Some back-focused, some front focused. It was a tedious process that took endless hours. With the a7 III, any native prime lens we use is sharp and accurate straight out of the box.

Zeiss Batis 85mm

It is worth noting that there just isn’t as many native lenses for the Sony as there are for Canon/Nikon cameras, and some (not all) of the Sony glass is very expensive. That said, I know people who are happily shooting with an adapter and their Canon glass with no issues, and we’ve kept hold of our old manual Nikon lenses to use with Sony via an adapter. Sigma has made a big statement by supporting the FE mount on the Art range and offering a quality alternative to the often pricier Sony lenses.

Nikon 45mm tilt shift. Focus peaking and focus zoom make this manual lens easier to focus.

How Does the Build Quality of the a7 III Compare to Nikon?

When the D750 came out, there was much whining about how it felt like a toy compared to other FX Nikons. How it was cheap and wouldn’t be robust. The same criticism is now being leveled at the Sony a7 III, with its build quality being questioned by D750 users. It’s too early to comment on how well built they are, but first impressions are very good. I don’t expect them to be like our old Nikon D4 which I’m pretty sure could survive a nuclear apocalypse, but the bodies have a surprising solidity. I do think that the black metal finish will be susceptible to scuffs and scratches over time, though.

Whether it will be as robust as the D750 over the years remains to be seen, but it is worth pointing out that all 4 of our D750 bodies were recalled by Nikon for warranty repairs.

a7 III Buffer and High-Speed Shooting

The buffer, a big gripe of mine with the D750 from day one, is perfect on the a7 III. It has never once stopped shooting before I wanted to. Too many times I’ve found myself covered in confetti and watching a couple kiss while cursing at my D750 that had decided to go on strike while it emptied its buffer.

The A7 can shoot compressed RAW at 10fps should you need it. And it can do it silently. That is utterly ridiculous. You can adjust the drive mode for Lo, Med, Hi, and Hi+ (aka insane). I generally find the Med or Hi setting is quick enough for most wedding burst-shooting.

How Silent is Silent Shutter Mode?

In the past 5 years, Canon and Nikon introduced DSLRs with quiet modes. In the case of Nikon at least, quiet modes were crap. It did little to make the camera much quieter — giving it a curious elongated sound that always made me feel more conspicuous. With mirrorless cameras, silent means silent. There is no sound whatsoever. Silent shooting is a revelation and now allows me to do Unit Still Photography without a blimp, or become discreet when a wedding/event requires it.

There is a significant downside to it, though. When shooting indoors, you can (often) get banding from modern artificial light sources. In these cases, the camera throws up a flicker alert on screen and you know to adjust to a slower shutter speed (helped by Sony’s inbuilt stabilization) or switch to the mechanical shutter. The more expensive A9 is much better at reducing banding in silent mode, so I imagine when we see the next iteration of the A7 it’ll be less of a problem.

It’s also not advised to shoot really fast moving objects with the silent shutter as you can get a shutter roll effect that distorts images. For the average wedding photographer, this shouldn’t be a significant issue.

Shooting with an Electronic Viewfinder (EVF)

The EVF will polarise people more than Brexit, but I think it’s great (the EVF, not Brexit). There’s no more chimping to double-check exposures — I know I’ve nailed it (and likely the focus too). With the a7 III there is a millisecond blackout when taking a shot that some get annoyed by, but it doesn’t really bother me. When in silent mode it’s actually quietly reassuring to see that flicker and know you’ve taken the shot!

I recall being disappointed that the D750 didn’t have focus peaking. Shooting my manual Nikon lenses on the Sony is more enjoyable than shooting them on Nikon, thanks to peaking. I have no issues with lag or disorientation that I’ve heard from some. And reviewing images on the EVF in harsh sunlight is really helpful compared to cupping your hands over an LCD screen to reduce glare.

Focus peaking makes it easier to focus manual lenses, such as this Nikon Tilt-shift lens.

I should give a nod to Fuji at this point — their split-screen EVF is incredible when it comes to shooting with manual lenses. It would be nice if Sony could nick that feature!

What’s the a7 III Battery Life Like?

It was rare that I needed to use a second battery in my D750s while shooting a wedding. With our shooting style, the a7 III takes two batteries to cover an extended 12 hour+ wedding day so you will definitely need to buy a backup. But in saying that, the battery tech is superb considering it’s powering an EVF and screen constantly. If I heavily use my D750 screen, the battery depletes quickly.

You can charge the a7 III via USB or USB-C, meaning that those big battery packs or your car USB ports can top you up should you need it. USB charging, in general, is a handy failsafe if you’ve traveled for a shoot and forgotten to pack your battery charger (more on the charger later, grrrr) or if you shoot destinations and want to save weight. We have an Anker charger that’s capable of charging 4 a7 III bodies and a MacBook simultaneously from the one plug.

What Are the Flaws and Downsides of the Sony a7 III?

Remember earlier when I said we all love a whinge? Well, every camera has flaws, and the a7 III is no different with some ranging from trivial (the SD card slots are the wrong way about) to the more serious which I’ve discussed below. Some of you will struggle to change to Sony from the D750 because of these things, while many will tell me to bugger off and quit complaining. So yeah, this is pretty subjective and deliberately extensive, but here it goes.

The same people who complained about the D750 body being too small will hate the size of the a7 III. With heavier zoom lenses, I can imagine it would feel terribly unbalanced. Although, that being said, a friend is a 6-footer with big manly, man-hands and he loves it. And you can always buy a battery grip to give it more weight, bigger grip, and better battery life. Ergonomically, the main irk for me is that the tilt screen is difficult to articulate as it really doesn’t have much for your nails to grip onto. And I would’ve liked another customizable button or two at the front of the camera — I miss the Preview and function buttons on the front of the D750.

As a cost-saving measure, the a7 III is missing the handy drive-mode/AF selector dial that features on the Sony A9. If you’ve come from a D750, you may find yourself missing that when it comes to quickly changing to continuous high-speed shooting or bracketing/timer modes.

The Sony A9 has a Drive select wheel which the a7 III lacks.

While I like the levels of customization, including being able to assign ISO to a jog, there is one major flaw for me: There’s no way to quickly turn on/off auto ISO. Instead, you have to scroll down to the lowest ISO value before turning it on. This is poor design that can lead to accidentally knocking it on and off. Also concerning auto ISO, you cannot set your minimum shutter speed to 1/3 stops so, for example, you can only choose between 1/250 or 1/125 but nothing in between. Hopefully, Sony addresses these things with a firmware update.

An initial complaint as a back-button shooter was the proximity of the REC button to the AF-ON button. No doubt this is great for video shooters, but on my first wedding, it led me to accidentally record a dozen blurry, expletive-ridden videos. Delving into the menus sorts this out. You can turn off that button for stills mode — although it would’ve been nice if you could customize it instead.

The clock inexplicably has no seconds counter (even though it records time to the second) so syncing 4 cameras is unnecessarily awkward. Not only has every Nikon camera I’ve owned had a second counter, many could be synced to your computer clock using bundled Nikon software.

In a colossal PR misstep, Sony decided not to bundle a dedicated charger with the a7 III prompting angry buyers to take to the streets in violent protest (well, kinda). The official charger from Sony costs $88/£70, which is pretty mean when you’re shelling out $2,000/£2,000 for a camera. I bought Hahnel’s amazing ProCube2 charger which is around the same price but can charge two batteries simultaneously. It also looks cool — an important consideration when buying any battery charger…

The Hahnel ProCube2 charger for Sony.

In terms of the files themselves, there is currently no 14-bit lossless compressed RAW format, which is really poor in 2018. This leaves you with the choice of shooting 50mb uncompressed RAW files or 12bit lossy 25mb ones. In my experience, the compressed files are perfect for the majority of moments at a wedding, but where I need more dynamic range, I switch to uncompressed RAW. Be sure to read up on this from some excellent writers and geeks out there who’ve gone into much detail on the subject before deciding which to shoot with.

Although I’ve had no problems editing Sony files, when reviewing images in Photomechanic, the extracted JPEG previews are small — only 1616x1080px. This makes it very difficult to check photos for focus and adds time to any culling. Nikon NEF files, by comparison, include a full-sized JPEG preview. There are workarounds (shoot RAW+JPEG or convert to DNG), but none of them satisfactorily resolve the issue. It would be great if somewhere in the labyrinth of menu items, we were given the choice of JPEG preview size.

The good news is that most of the issues with the a7 III can be fixed with firmware. The bad news is that Sony might not bother their arse to fix them. Here’s hoping…

Should I Wait for Nikon’s Mirrorless Camera or Switch Now to Sony?

Well, obviously I decided not to wait, but its good to be aware that at least one Nikon mirrorless body will be released later this year — maybe two. I had a few reasons for not waiting, and they were based entirely on conjecture at this stage.

While I fully expect Nikon’s mirrorless camera to be amazing, it’ll almost certainly not be cheap. The a7 III is so aggressively priced at the minute that I can’t imagine Nikon getting close to it on price. If it costs (the currently rumored) £2,500-£3,000, that would make it too expensive for me and put it dangerously close to the grey market price of the excellent Sony a9. As a photography duo, when we buy into a system we buy 4 bodies, so a £500 price difference ends up being £2,000.

Nikon’s own mirrorless camera is set for launch in August.

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Secondly, the Nikon mirrorless camera will have a new mount so unless Nikon has been working on it for a decade, we’ll likely see only a handful of lenses at launch. To use our old Nikon lenses with it will require adapters which will probably be quite expensive and make them bulkier. Using Sony as an example, adapted glass generally doesn’t perform as well as native glass.

Finally, over the years, being an early adopter of Nikon products hasn’t been fun. The D600 and D800 were deeply flawed, prompting quick revisions. The D750 has suffered QC problems and recalls. Nikon is new to the full frame mirrorless party, while Sony has been developing their mirrorless products for almost a decade.

I’m fully prepared for the schadenfreude should Nikon release a flawless 24mp mirrorless camera that costs the same as the a7 III, alongside killer 24/35/85 primes, but I really don’t see it happening. Right now, I mirrorless camera is on the market that does everything I want it to while having all the lenses I need available. There’s no guarantee that Nikon will manage that: will it have eye-focus? will the battery life be as good? will it offer the same level of customization?

Ultimately, it’ll only help the consumer if there are more great full-frame mirrorless cameras out there, so hopefully, Canon and Nikon get it right.

Should I Switch to the Sony a7 III from the Nikon D750?

I believe that the Sony a7 III is objectively better than the Nikon D750 in almost every department, but this is precisely what you’d expect of a camera that is more expensive and four years younger. The question of ‘should I change to Sony’ is a more subjective one.

Right now you can pick up a mint condition used D750 for under £900 and use it with a range of lenses and accessories going back decades. At that point it becomes a question of economics — the D750 is still an incredibly capable camera for wedding photography. Will spending over twice the money on a Sony a7 III make your images twice as good?

Nikon D850 and Canon 5D Mark IV shooters will laugh their balls off at this puny little toy camera and continue on as they are with their ‘more-professional’ big DSLRs. It’s all horses for courses.

Personally, I’m really enjoying using the a7 III and excited by what Sony’s next steps are. Whereas my years of buying DSLRs felt like evolutionary steps, this feels revolutionary. Over long days carrying two camera bodies, my back and shoulders are thanking me for switching to Sony. I’m picking it up more when not working whereas before I’d opt to use an iPhone instead of a big, bulky DSLR. If you shoot destination weddings, like us, the lighter, smaller bodies make things easier. Everything we need for the two of us to shoot a wedding can now fit in a single carry on bag.

If money isn’t a problem, then yeah, consider the switch. I don’t think you’ll regret it. If money really is no object, get yourself a couple of Sony A9 and A7rIII bodies too, for the hell of it.

Tips for Using the Sony a7 III for Wedding Photography

Although the battery life is impressive, you can get more life out of it by switching the camera to airplane mode (just like your phone). Unless you really need any of the connectivity features, you’re merely wasting your battery. Also, mechanical shutter takes more battery power so switching to electronic front curtain or silent shooting modes will give you more shots between charges.

Focusing modes are subjective, but I find that Flexible Spot (S) in AF-C alongside Eye Focus is an excellent combination for weddings.

Metering type is less important than ever when you have an EVF. Set the EVF brightness to standard, and you’ll find that metering will be accurate just by looking at the screen. If you like to use spot metering, make sure you change spot metering point to ‘focus point link.’

The spot meter can be linked to the focus point, just like the Nikon.

Not to everyone’s taste, but I like to have the ISO set to the back jog-wheel so it can be changed without having to press a button.

If you’re a back button focuser, turn off the REC button in stills mode to avoid a build-up of 2-second sweary video clips.

The Video REC and AF-ON buttons are very close.

You can set the touchscreen to enable a pad mode. This allows you to use the screen to move your focus point while looking through the EVF. This won’t be to everyone’s taste, but it is a bit quicker than using the joystick.

Before shooting anything, set up the ‘FN menu’ and the ‘My Menu.’ Your couples will physically age while you try to find items in the main menu during a shoot unless you have all your shortcuts in place. Some of the things I have in ‘My Menu’ include Format, Date/Time, Airplane mode, RAW format, Custom buttons etc. Find out the things you might need quick access to and put them in these menus.

If you intend to use silent shooting, definitely assign it to one of the custom buttons. I have it assigned to C1.

Use the custom shooting settings (U1 and U2, if coming from a D750). I don’t care how you use them, but they’re great so use them!

Turn off all audio signals. Having any kinds of beeps coming from your camera is bad, especially during a ceremony. You may as well shout ‘LOOK AT ME’ really loudly.

Gridlines aren’t to everyone’s taste, but I like them. Turn on Rule of Thirds grid, and it will be overlaid on your screens. It can help you compose your shots — placing your subjects better, keeping horizons straight — meaning less cropping in post.

Unless shooting really high contrast scenes, I’ve found compressed RAW to work perfectly well. If you’re not sure, switch to uncompressed during high contrast scenes or portrait sessions.

Compressed RAW appears to work well in most situations.

You can rate images on the fly using the a7 III. Assign a button (I use C3) and you can quickly give images a star rating that will be picked up when you import to computer. This is really handy if you’ve just taken an image that you want to use as an online preview for the couple, or if you want to start culling the wedding during any downtime.

That big full-frame sensor doesn’t have a mirror in front of it so, if you can, keep lens switching to a minimum during shoots to stop it getting dusty. Also, have a rocket blower on hand to clean it out before every shoot.

Maybe don’t get a massive speedlight — it’ll feel weird. We bought the Godox TT350s and its the perfect accompaniment for the a7 III.

Conclusions

My opinion is that the a7 III is currently, pound for pound, the best full-frame camera for wedding photography that you can buy new at the time of writing.

It manages to provide speed and accuracy along with exceptional customization all in a small, sleek package. Its sensor is brilliant, giving the perfect balance of IQ, DR, resolution and file size for high-volume shooters — I still believe 24mp is currently the optimum sensor size for weddings.

The a7 III feels like a pivotal moment in the evolution of mirrorless professional cameras. With a few tweaks, mostly firmware, it could be near flawless.

Full disclosure: I am not a representative for Sony or Nikon, nor do I work with either company. I buy all my gear and the generally the only contact I have with camera companies is when something goes tits up. That being said, I’d welcome any free s**t that I could get from either company to try out.

These comparisons are based on our real-world shooting — all the pictures are from real weddings/couple shoots. I haven’t shot one single red-brick wall. I haven’t extensively commented on weather sealing, quality control or durability of the a7 III because it’s too early for me to say how it performs in those departments.

Check out more of Christin and Gareth’s wedding here.

About the author: Deci Gallen is a wedding photographer based in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. Gallen and his wife Brideen are the husband and wife photography duo behind Simple Tapestry wedding photography. You can find more of their work on their website, Instagram, Facebook, 500px, and Flickr. This article was also published here.

from Photography News https://petapixel.com/2018/07/30/a-guide-to-switching-from-nikon-to-sony-for-wedding-photography/

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