03 Mar
Blog

Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 Review | Built for business

Headphones with Bose Noise Canceling 700

"The new Noise Canceling Headphones 700 from Bose offer an unbelievable demand for business class pleasure."

  • Excellent noise cancellation

  • Very convenient

  • Remarkable speech intelligibility for calls and voice assistants

  • Connect to multiple devices at the same time.

  • USB-C offers convenient quick charging

  • Boost to Lower Treble is tough

  • Requires the Bose Music app to control many functions

This review was last updated on February 19th, 2019 by Nick Woodard, employee of Digital Trends.

Since Sony defeated Bose in its own game with its WH-1000XM3, I've been looking forward to an update of the Bose QC 35 II. Now it has arrived.

With the Noise Canceling Headphones 700 (hereinafter referred to as "Bose 700”) Announced, Bose played better speech intelligibility for phone calls and interactions with voice assistants like Alexa from Amazon and Google Assistant. The company made no mention of changes in sound quality, but it turned out to be updated as well, and even a quick look reveals a new physical design. However, it's not immediately apparent that Bose's new Bose Music app offers additional touch controls and features.

As it turns out, there is something new about the Bose 700. But are they a smart buy for $ 400, especially when the award-winning QC 35 II is still available for at least $ 50 less? We dug deep to find out who wanted the Bose 700 and who could stick to the tried and tested QC 35 II or other items like the popular Sony 1000XM3.

Out of the box

You can immediately see that Bose has made some design changes. The Bose 700 case is much flatter than most of the competition, which makes it easier to slide the case into airline seat bags for in-flight storage.

The slim form factor is thanks to a somewhat wider housing, in which the headphones can be simply flipped in and out by simply turning the ear cups – no complex folding technique required. There is a hidden compartment in the protective cover, which is closed with a magnetic flap. Lift the flap and you will find a headphone cable and a short USB-C charging cable. Bose has digthe increasingly unnecessary airline adapter for this iteration.

The Bose 700 takes a different design approach, which is characterized in particular by the way the ear cups are attached to the headband. Instead of continuing the yoke-like bracket that allowed earlier models to swivel and tilt generously, the 700 are attached directly to the inner band of the headband on the outside of the ear cup. There is less adjustment potential, but I've found that this doesn't pose a problem for my head size or shape – the Bose 700 feels great to me.

The comfort factor seems to be a kind of debate among the reviewers. I've seen others claim that the Bose 700 isn't as light or comfortable as the Bose QC 35 II, but by numbers they're actually 2 ounces lighter (8.9 to 10.9 ounces). You put onYou also don't need a scale to feel lighter. Take a pair with each hand and you can feel the difference.

You don't need a scale to feel lighter.

The weight difference is less pronounced when worn, but comfort has always been heavily dependent on the weight distribution. If the right balance of clamping force meets a sufficiently wide and well-padded headband, a slightly heavier headphone can actually feel more comfortable than a slightly lighter option. As I mentioned before, the 700 are indeed lighter and in my opinion offer the perfect weight distribution. The headband is a bit muddy – if not covered with luxurious fabric – and the ear cups have a slightly larger circumference, which means that the clamping force is well placed around the ears and not on them.

Of course this is only a description of my Experience. Different head sizes and shapes as well as different ear sizes play a role in the feeling of the headphones. So my suggestion is that you try the headphones yourself and see if they feel like an improvement in comfort or a step backwards.

Features and other extras

Along with changes to the physical design, Bose integrated new controls for the 700. The controls for play / pause, title advance / rewind and volume are managed via a touchpad on the right ear cup. Only three physical buttons are found. With a button on the left you can adjust the intensity of the noise suppression at levels 0, 5 and 10. You can also turn off noise cancellation while pausing the music. Two buttons on the right offer controls for pairing power / Bluetooth and calling the voice assistant of your choice, including Alexa, Google Assistant and even Cortana on Windows computers.

Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 reviewJulian Chokkattu / Digital Trends

Then there's the new Bose Music app. I usually don't care about companion apps because they rarely add value to the experience. In this case, however, I recommend anyone who buys the Bose 700 to download the app that is available for iOS and Android, The Bose Music app allows users to pair the headphones with their phone (which is possible without the app), rename their headphones as they wish (the names suggested by Bose are hilarious. Thunder Flash, anyone?) And detailed control over them Exercise effectiveness of 0-10 noise reduction and paired device management.

The app also lets you manage all of your music services from one place, and save preferred playlists as convenient presets for one-touch access. If you own other connected Bose products, you can use this app to manage music playback through sound bars and wireless speakers individually or in groups.

There is no better headset for answering calls.

Like the Bose QC 35 II and Bose Frames Alto, The Bose 700 work with Bose AR, an interesting audio-based version of augmented reality. If you're using certain AR-enabled apps and an iOS device with location data enabled, users can enjoy experiences like advanced instructions in the Walc app. Instead of asking you to turn right in 0.2 miles, you may be asked to turn right on the walgreens. Or if you're looking for an amusing adventure on your way to work or home, try Komrad AR, a game that turns you into a secret agent standing in the way of an evil computer striving for global dominance. It sounds a bit tricky, but I would be lying if I said I wasn't looking forward to trying Bose AR.

Finally, a word about battery performance. With fast charge, the Bose 700 can play for 2 to 2.5 hours on a 15-minute charge. The total playing time with noise cancellation activated is approximately 20 hours. Without activated noise cancellation, this number increases to 40.

Noise Reduction Performance

As you'd expect, the Bose 700 are excellent noise cancelers. However, what you may not expect is that the noise canceling effectiveness may differ slightly from that of the QC 35 II. What I noticed is that the 700 seems to suppress more static high-frequency noise than previous models. I can see this works well for air travel as it picks up more hiss you hear from an aircraft's ventilation system.

However, I also noticed that more center frequencies went through than I am used to with Bose noise canceling headphones. I haven't had a chance to test the 700 on a flight yet – I had to use a noise machine and real sounds for this review – but I'm getting on a plane soon and will update this review accordingly. Right now I'm ready to say that the 700 will improve the already impressive noise cancellation technology for air travel, but for everyday use in the office or when commuting on a bus or train, I would prefer the QC 35 II.

S.quality

I honestly didn't expect the changes Bose had made here. The 700 have a very significant boost in the upper middle and lower treble range, which makes them sound very detailed with more relaxed tracks, but if you get a few cymbals or brass players going, they become a little aggressive – some even say hard. I want to point out that the 700 feels more spacious and sophisticated when it comes to audio placement – watching movies with these headphones is a blast – but the audiophile in me can't ignore that the 700 isn't nearly as good for everyday use sounds good as Sony WH-1000XM3 or Bose QC 35 II.

After all, I suspect that the Bose 700 will sound great on a flight. The forward-looking presentation in the high-end area helps to avoid noises that the cans cannot suppress and gives clarity to the dialogue in films, instruments and vocals in music. The more I listen to these headphones, the more I am convinced that they have been optimized for air traffic.

Voice / call quality

Simply put, there is no better headphone to take calls or interact with digital voice assistants. Bose microphone technology makes a remarkable contribution to suppressing background noise to provide clean, clear, and very good-sounding voice quality to those on the other end of the call. In fact, there's a good chance the Bose 700 will sound better than your phone's built-in microphone.

For anyone who answers a lot of calls on their phone, this single feature should be convincing enough to require a purchase.

warranty information

Bose offers a standard 1-year warranty on the Noise Canceling Headphones 700. However, this can vary depending on the product and region. Visit this page to learn more about Bose's warranty on a product and regional basis.

Our opinion

Is there a better alternative?

For audiophiles who need the best possible sound in noisy environments, I prefer the Sony WH-1000XM3. Overall, they offer superior audio quality. The 700 is the way to go for the most effective noise cancellation while flying and for anyone who appreciates headphones for phone calls and works with voice assistants beyond all other considerations.

The Bose QC 35 II are still a good choice and are now sometimes available for less than $ 300. That's a lot, although the Bose 700 upgrades are worth paying extra if you make it.

How long it will take?

Time will tell, but the Bose 700 seems to be built just as well as all of the company's earlier headphones. So far, they have held up well under my stress tests, which leads me to believe that these headphones last as long as the battery.

Should you buy it

Yes. If you're an entrepreneur who takes a lot of calls with headphones turned on and / or travels a lot by plane, be sure to buy the Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 – they're worth the $ 50 upgrade.

Editor's recommendations




03 Mar
Blog

Why Training Partners Are Essential

Someone is strange who takes a dangerous path or climbs the highest peak without the support of a team and the encouragement of a partner who goes on the hike with them. If someone hikes alone on a monstrous mountain, he has probably done it with others many times. They initially relied on the help of a guide and the help of a group of people who took on the task with them before they could do it themselves,

The desire to share an experience is practically the same for anyone starting a new physical or fitness practice. You might start a new sport or go to the gym for the first time to start exercising. And if you think, why should it be the same? It is human behavior, In both cases, you need guidance and companionship with others who share this experience and want to do the same work.

The typical gym

What membership fluctuation rates do big box gyms see? I imagine there are statistics somewhere, but even without them, it's a safe conclusion that it's high. Some health clubs have also created a structure in which members are automatically charged monthly fees, although they rarely, if ever, use the facility,

The entire membership funnel from marketing to after-sale is designed and set up for this. These health clubs are of course dishonest about their intentions. However, the entire framework fragments and isolates members from one another so that they can never group together or receive the support they need from each other to progress.

What we long for

Ultimately, most of our behaviors and motivation come from searching for connection, This includes ambitions to get in shape. When people can and can get together to participate in an activity such as lifting weights, they connect. But there is more than just a feeling of connection due to the common interest.

When you improve physically, your health, endurance, performance and appearance change for the better. and your mind, whatever you think, is not separate from your body or mind, When your physical health improves, your mental health improves, and vice versa.

When mind and body are in harmony,

  • You can connect more deeply with every experience and with every person.
  • You have a better direction of how you can live your life.
  • You can get the energy of shared experience.
  • You feel more comfortable with yourself and this will also be noticeable in others.
  • You will really connect with others if you work authentically.

With the connection, the experiences we share can become the narrative we all want to build with friends. We want to create a story together that we can remember later and relive together.

Gyms can be a great place to find this. Sharing physical battles undoubtedly brings friends closer. That is why we make training partners friends and we make our friends our training partners.

It is much more likely that the bonding experience will take place in a smaller independent gym than in a major company type. These smaller indie gyms with tight communities instantly connect to others working on this concentrated strength or high-intensity discipline.

And you should be working on finding a place like this where you can work out if you're looking for fitness in four walls, This is the time when we find a place where we can satisfy what we long for with people who can identify with that desire.

Fight, shared

The need for a struggle to deal with is built into people. We have not met this primary need and it is not a matter of opinion.

If we don't have an obvious external struggle to get involved with, we create a pseudo-struggle in our minds, our daily lives, our relationships, and sometimes in society. Creating an imaginary conflict is a way to self-sabotage – something I can talk about.

The selection and strategic challenge of some physical struggles that we have to face on a daily basis prevents us from creating artificial mental conflicts that are more harmful than instructive, But here's the problem: The physical struggle, by our standards, must be serious and significant enough in our minds to prevent us from creating more fictional mental conflicts that cause self-sabotage.

It seems that we all have an inner judge who decides whether what we do deserves our efforts and undisturbed focus. If not, our thoughts will wander and we will look for other conflicts.

But if we spend time with others who are participating in the same type of fight as we do, physically or otherwise, and we see that they are enthusiastic about wrestling with it, the mountain itself seems worthwhile.

It is essential for our group, so we believe that it is undeniably crucial. And that's why it is necessary to train a physical discipline or to do sports with teammates in order not to stop,

The role of the fight

My powerlifting trainer and employer, when I was a college strength trainer, was my training partner for many years. He decided to keep the fight as strong as possible and never deviated from it.

When I trained with him, my life was straightforward and my thoughts were clear. I had few concerns and thought about my work and training. I took up my coach's fight and focused my will on it and it kept me on a direct path, I have made unique improvements in this regard and my focus has kept me from unnecessarily complex in my life.

Then I left this job, this place, this training partner and this particular job. And without this worthy effort, I made my life complicated. The complications then drove me further away from training, and without anyone to share the practice with, I resigned from any concentrated physical pursuit.

Years passed; I started Olympic weightlifting again, but without consistency or diligence. Eventually, however, I was fortunate enough to bring great weightlifting trainers and former world-class Olympic weightlifters to my gym. I was taught by them and had the opportunity to train next to them.

I have to live out new stories and share them with new people. They provided support and friendship, and I made progress and matured in life lifting and weight lifting and learning to focus my energies.

I kept my goal of participating in a physical fight and added more. I teamed up with Muay Thai fighters and then with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu players. I spent time with more experienced opponents and learned how they thought about their work. I found that martial artists and martial artists have an unusual way of joining together to advance personally and individually.

In strength training, the training partners support each other to overcome some external obstacles. But in the martial arts school they test and fight against each other in order to push and grow internally, It's not just about contesting the person in front of you. It's about tackling your internal struggles and barriers and using the struggle with others as an instrument to do so.

Almost everyone in these places understands this, even if they don't recognize it. When sparring and practice are over, they feel more connected than before. You are grateful to the other person for the gift received, They shared an experience that will help both of them on their way to progress and understanding.

Designate your vehicle for growth

Jiu-Jitsu seems to be one of the best means for personal growth, and it is connected with the need for a community of supportive people. I speak as an absolute beginner with no experience and only with a new perspective to compare behavior patterns that I have observed elsewhere.

All martial arts can be described as physical chess between opponents. And jiu-jitsu seems to be one of the most difficult chess games, Confrontation and strikes require instinctive reactions that have to develop into a habit.

But there is also an active intellectual struggle when you change strategies, read your opponent and adjust your movement while the person opposite you reacts to your movements and actions.

The complexity and possibility of attacks and defenses in Jiu-Jitsu make this all the more complicated. So it is necessary to roll with different types of people in a school to train your strength and skills, Everyone on this mat understands this and it creates a completely shared recognition that this is a worthwhile struggle. They form a group of people who believe that this practice will produce a better person.

Share the successes

Everything that is done is better if it is shared with others. It makes the good better. People have a spirit when they win together and achieve something together in cooperation and support, When they move forward together, it is almost as if there is another force with them, a recognizable spirit that is independent of a person.

There is also responsibility when you share your efforts with a group, Not a person can be flawless in their efforts or absolutely objective about where they are neglected and where they need to focus on improvements.

Everyone needs training partners to be honest, to pull, push, pull, or sometimes pick them up – and they also need to learn what it's like to do that for others. If you do this, you will understand and get to know this spirit. By giving this, you can get it better and with greater impact.

This is the beauty of the group that shares the adventure. Therefore, it is undeniably important to find this group and your training partners, regardless of which fitness or exercise you choose, A partner will support you and give you meaning. And with that purpose, you can stay on the right path, even if life seems to do everything to keep you from going.

Jesse competes in Olympic weightlifting and used to be a powerlifter. It has been featured in major strength and fitness publications. You can read more of his work on his website.

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02 Mar
Blog

Samsung Galaxy Buds+ Review: Slick, Simple, Killer Battery

"With improved audio and a continuing commitment to convenience and ease of use, Samsung has done a lot more to improve the quality of its real wireless buds."

  • 11 hours of battery life

  • Comfortable, light design

  • Additional accessories for an ideal fit

  • Stellar customization app

  • The charging case contains only one charge

Sequels don't always have to be worse than the original. The Terminator 2 was the blockbuster of its predecessor in every way, and Red Dead Redemption 2 was a masterpiece. Now it seems Samsung's new real wireless earbuds could be one of the success stories of the second edition.

Samsung's Galaxy Buds + were unveiled at the company's Galaxy Unpacked event on February 11 and were available for sale on the Samsung website for $ 150 three days later. Judging by the modest price increase of the original Galaxy Buds ($ 129) and the look and functionality of the new buds, it's clear that Samsung knew the wheel didn't need to be reinvented. The company just needed to make some improvements and keep prices low enough to be a serious competitor to Apple AirPods.

The verdict on the G-Buds + is: The latest products from Samsung are just right.

Let's go

As has become the standard for brands like Samsung and Apple, packaging, accessories and the actual Galaxy Buds + adhere to a less-is-more-aesthetic. Opening the compact white box reveals an even more compact, pill-shaped charging case with the buds embedded in it. Also included are a USB charging cable, two additional pairs of earplugs and sports fins, and a quick start guide to guide you through the setup.

The setup is pretty painless by the way. Most major brands have finally made this a simple science, and Samsung is no exception. However, those who are not yet familiar with Samsung wearables have to go through some digital frames.

Riley Young / Digital Trends

First, you want to download the Galaxy Wearable app and give the app access to your phone. Next, download the Galaxy Buds + plug-in, allow a few more permissions for the buds themselves, and the buds will automatically connect to your device when you open the charging case.

From there, the next step pulls the buds out of the case and fits them in your ear.

The buds were a bit small for me with their initial earplugs because the seal didn't feel safe in my ears. After swapping larger tips, I found them to be as comfortable as their predecessors, with an extremely lightweight construction that would almost make you forget that they were there, if not the sound emanating from their double drivers.

That's a lot of battery

One of the biggest improvements that Samsung touted for its new buds was the improved battery, which it claims has a playtime of 11 hours between charges. With the original Galaxy Buds, it's 6 hours and miles away from the company's first pair of buds, the Gear IconX.

In fact, we still have to try a pair with a longer battery life per charge. They offer more than twice the playing time of Apple's more expensive AirPods (including the second-generation pair and AirPods Pro for $ 250). Unlike the AirPods, the Galaxy Buds + only offers a single charge in the case. However, since it is 11 hours per recording, playback is almost a full day and just under Apple's 24 hours.

The lifespan of these buds is as excellent as stated, but there is an interesting quirk.

In terms of this battery life requirement, the life of these buds is as excellent as stated, but there is an interesting quirk. The app offers you charging status for each bud as well as the charging case itself. I noticed that my right bud ran out of juice faster than the left one. It was a little difference, usually no more than two or three percent at a time. It's a puzzling feature, though not entirely surprising – we've noticed the same thing with older Samsung earbuds, including the Galaxy IconX 2018.

Custom grade

The Galaxy Buds + have standard programmed gestures for the touchpads of each bud. Touch once to play or pause music, tap twice to go to the next track, answer / end calls, and tap three times to go backward.

We feel obliged to point out that all these gestures failed on this first pass with these buds. However, after disconnecting and reconnecting, each gesture worked smoothly and has continued since then. We should also mention that a colleague had another pair of Galaxy Buds + in the office and had no problems with the controls.

Some other touch controls are also available. You can use the app to determine which earbuds control functions such as voice commands, switch ambient sounds on and off, switch playlists in Spotify and increase or decrease the volume. In our tests, each of these controls worked perfectly.

Riley Young / Digital Trends

In terms of Spotify, the integration here is both compelling and just makes us ask for a little more. With a long press on the Galaxy Buds + touchpad, Spotify continues to play the most recently played playlist. Another long press and the buds will go to the next playlist in your collection, although there doesn't seem to be a way to determine what that will be. This could be a playlist you created, a “Daily Mix” playlist curated by Spotify based on your listening habits, or a recently listened to playlist. It definitely kept us musically busy, and frankly that's not a bad thing, but more direction when switching between playlists wouldn't be bad either.

Sound and call quality

With two dynamic drivers – a woofer and a tweeter – as well as a new speaker and microphone system from the Samsung subsidiary AKG, the company has described its new buds as being able to produce studio-quality sound.

We wouldn't go that far and we wouldn't expect that at $ 150 either. Frankly, studio quality is a buzzword that shouldn't be used for any kind of wireless earphones.

The Galaxy Buds + immediately sounded clearer to our ears than the AirPods.

However, what we would say for the money is that the Galaxy Buds + present a very appealing sound stage with decent bass and a clear upper register. The app offers several equalizer presets that allow you to customize the sound to your liking.

For most tracks, from Blues Traveler & # 39; s Hook to Maroon 5 & # 39; s Girls Like You, the "dynamic" equalizer setting produced the best overall sound, avoiding the sometimes flat-sounding "normal" setting and less Brightness was offered as a "height boost". For us, this dynamic environment was the sweet spot. A few choices sounded a bit unnatural (I can think of a few classic rock songs), but for the most part, this setting best combined vocal clarity and unmixed instrumental music.

The Galaxy Buds + immediately sounded clearer to our ears than the AirPods, although they weren't as detailed or defined as the beautiful AirPods Pro. The latter has active noise cancellation, a feature that Samsung's wireless offerings have missed. At the price, however, it makes sense that the Galaxy Buds + left out the technology. The only earphones under $ 200 that have noise protection features are the Amazon Echo Buds, and even these only offer active noise reduction instead of full cancellation.

Riley Young / Digital Trends

For what it's worth, the Samsung Galaxy Buds + make a commendable contribution to suppressing outside noise.

With regard to the call quality, we are happy to report after a few test runs that the calls are received clearly and without great distortion from the outside environment. Voices on the other end sounded somewhat distant in some places, but it was minimal.

warranty information

Samsung's 12-month warranty covers defects in materials and workmanship.

Our opinion

If the Galaxy Buds + kept the same as the original Galaxy Buds and simply doubled the battery life, it would still be an improvement that is worth the cost. With improved audio and a continuous commitment to comfort and ease of use, Samsung has done a lot more to improve the quality of its real wireless buds.

Is there a better alternative?

While the Galaxy Buds + certainly offers more than enough features to hold its own against more expensive competitors, the $ 200 1More Wireless ANC and the $ 200 Jabra Elite 75t would be solid alternatives without breaking the bank completely. The Air Pods from Apple and the Echo Buds from Amazon also fit in the same category as the Galaxy Buds +. Depending on the ecosystem you are already invested in, both may be preferable.

Still, it's hard to find earphones that can do everything the Samsung Galaxy Buds + can do at this price.

How long it will take?

Samsung's products are generally a long-lived breed, and these Galaxy Buds + shouldn't be an exception. With replaceable earplugs and fins, they seem to be well equipped for the long haul.

Should you buy it

Yes. Samsung's successor to the original Galaxy Bud introduces groundbreaking battery life into the landscape of real wireless earphones, optimizes already solid audio performance and maintains an attractive price. This is a formula for success in our book.

Editor's recommendations




02 Mar
Blog

7 Effective Antioxidants To Add to Your Skin Care Routine

If you find that you justify this second glass of wine on a weekday with "the antioxidants", you may be on the right track – especially with regard to skin care. However, before uncorking another bottle or investing in a product with a variety of wellness buzzwords, it's important to understand what antioxidants really are and what effects they have on your body, and consequently on beauty.

What are antioxidants and free radicals?

As one of the most frequently mentioned health properties, we know that antioxidants are beneficial for our skin, but how exactly? Before we look at the solution they offer, let's start with the problem: free radicals. Certain environments (read: air pollution, intense solar radiation) can cause atoms in our body to split, causing the now singular electrons to jump around to find another electron to work with.

“Molecules strive to have a pair of electrons in their outer shells. So if they lose an electron, they become unstable, ”explains Dr. Hooman Khorasani, chief physician for dermatological and cosmetic surgery at Mount Sinai health system, "Free radicals try to regain this electron by oxidizing other molecules like the cell's own DNA, enzymes and proteins."

Benefits of antioxidants for your skin

oxidation affects the body as well as a car: it accelerates aging. In their search for a new coupling, free radicals damage healthy cells and damage our bodies. It is known that a higher content of free radicals catalyzes diseases such as diabetes, heart diseases and even cancer, and contributes to faster aging by weakening the elasticity of the skin. Fortunately, there are antioxidants that stop free radicals in their tracks without adding Dr. Khorasani added to become free radicals yourself. Preventing free radical damage isn't the only value of antioxidants. In maintaining our cell health, they naturally moisturize and reduce inflammation in our skin.

Antioxidant infographic

Types of antioxidants

While antioxidants occur naturally in our bodies, we can also increase our antioxidant levels with various naturally occurring nutrients. "Products full of antioxidants protect the skin in the long term." Eminence Organics Lead skin trainer Natalie Pergar explained. "Antioxidants benefit … by fighting both external and internal signs of aging, preventing free radical damage, reducing surface inflammation and increasing collagen production to keep skin cells firm and youthful."

Mangosteens

xanthones

It is a favorite fruit of wellness experts Mangosteen, which intuitively has nothing to do with mangoes. It was named Queen of Fruits by Queen Victoria for its superior taste. The super fruit is also full of antioxidants called xanthones, which protect the cells, reduce inflammation, lower blood sugar levels and prevent environmental and anti-fruit. inflammatory damage to the skin. Studies have shown that mangosteen extracts can protect against UV damage, which causes fine lines, wrinkles and age spots and supports the appearance of elasticity in the skin, which keeps the complexion radiant and full. However, the biological activities of this compound are not only antioxidative. It has also been shown to be anti-allergic, antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral.

Vitamin E.

Vitamin E is naturally produced and stored by your body as needed. It can also be consumed over avocados, almonds and leafy greens and is known for its effectiveness against dark spots and protecting the skin from Photoaging. It is also particularly strong when combined with vitamin C for an evening skin tone.

orange tree

vitamin C

Citrus fruits such as lemons, oranges, grapefruits and passion fruits stop cell degeneration with this powerful free radical neutralizer and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles Protection against and healing of UV damage (goodbye dark spots!) For more radiant skin.

All citrus fruits contain naturally occurring amounts of vitamin C, which serves as a powerful antioxidant with unlimited benefits for every skin type

"All citrus fruits contain naturally occurring amounts of vitamin C, which serves as a powerful antioxidant with unlimited benefits for every skin type," confirms Brian Goodwin, Eminence Organics International Trainer.

Increasing collagen production and cell regeneration – the common targets of free radicals – not only does this Vitamin C reduces the appearance of uneven skin tone, but smoothes the skin texture and improves the overall appearance of the skin, making you look younger and longer. In short: Vitamin C is one of the most valuable players in skin care, or, according to Natalie, "an all-round savior (of the skin)".

polyphenols

Like mangosteen, cocoa is considered an "antioxidant powerhouse" that contains antioxidants called polyphenols. "Cocoa not only smells delicious, it is also rich in antioxidants that work wonders to smooth your skin," says Natalie. polyphenols Defend plants against radiation (which means UV damage for us). This protection for your complexion Reduces fine lines and wrinkles and leaves your skin looking plump, hydrated and rejuvenated.

flavonoids

These natural pigments that Protective plants at the cellular level are also responsible for vibrant colored plants such as strawberries. They are one of the reasons why fruits and vegetables are nutritious, relieve inflammation and help us avoid UV damage and light aging.

Acai bowl

anthocyanins

This type of flavonoid occurs in foods that appear purple, blue or black like berries and acai and are associated with the treatment of a number of diseases such as high blood pressure and colds. It also slows down photoaging, protects against sun damage, stress and pollution, and prevents collagen loss.

lycopene

Lycopene is another pigment in red fruits and vegetables (like tomatoes and red currants). It protects plants from minor damage and helps manage the environmental impact on our own bodies. Ironic, Lycopene actually reduces the reddening of our skin caused by UV damage and also fends off light aging.

As we get older, you can incorporate several antioxidant-rich products into your everyday life (as well as a more comprehensive one in general) Daily routine) is crucial for the longevity of your skin. Whether you're reaching for a vitamin C serum, applying a cocoa mask at home, or upgrading your daily smoothie to an avocado almond milk mangosteen acai bowl, there are plenty of ways to get enough antioxidants into your system Filter to free radicals to stop their traces and you will soon reap the benefits both inside and out.

Find out more about the Mangosteen collection with antioxidants that improve the appearance of the vitality and radiance of your skin. Visit an Eminence Organics partner spa to receive personalized recommendations and learn how to incorporate antioxidants into your skin care routine.

02 Mar
Blog

Nerding Out on Muscle Growth, Strength, and Rep Schemes

Greg Nuckols is a record-breaking powerlifter, fitness author, podcaster and all-round training nerd owner of Stronger by Science. He wants to help lifters and trainers train smarter.

In this episode we discuss:

  • The predictors of muscle potential
  • Training guidelines for hypertrophy
  • The role of strength in hypertrophy
  • Why he doesn't drink the effective repetitions of Kool-Aid

If you liked this podcast and you cared about it, rate and rate it so that we can spread the word and motivate and inspire others to take their performance to the next level. More podcasts of this kind can be found on the Six Pack of Knowledge page.

02 Mar
Blog

2021 Kia Seltos First Drive Review: Great Tech, Great Value

2021 Kia Seltos

2021 Kia Seltos

"The 2021 Kia Seltos offers functionality and technology alike."

  • Spacious interior

  • Capable all-wheel drive

  • Peppy turbo engine

  • Great technical value

  • Control elements for driver assistance buried in the touchscreen

  • Mediocre handling

Variety can be the spice of life, right? But too much spice can cause heartburn.

In the media campaign for the Seltos 2021, Kia listed no fewer than 17 vehicles as potential competitors for its new subcompact crossover. This list includes prestigious models such as the Honda HR-V and the Hyundai Kona, the latter from Kia's parent brand. What did Kia do to differentiate the Seltos from this large group of rivals?

Shoppers may think they'll get sturdy SUVs, but vehicles in this class are essentially hatchbacks on stilts. Nevertheless, Kia made the Seltos as SUV-like as possible and gave it a more sophisticated all-wheel drive system than many of its competitors. Kia also emphasized the value and gave the Seltos a long list of driver aids and technical features.

Kia offers buyers a unique selection. The base price of $ 23,110 buys either an LX model with all-wheel drive or an S model without all-wheel drive (with more technical functions). Kia provided a four-wheel drive SX model with all-wheel drive for testing that starts at $ 29,010.

2021 Kia Seltos

Design & interior

The Seltos shares a base platform with the Hyundai Kona, but the two crossovers couldn't be more different when it comes to the exterior design. Where the Hyundai consists only of science fiction curves, the Kia looks more traditional and angular. It may be more like a compact hatchback, but the Seltos looks like an SUV.

It also offers more SUV-like benefits than many of its competitors. The Seltos offers significantly more space in the rear seats than its Kona platform mate and more cargo space than any direct competitor. However, the "Magic" folding mechanism of the Honda HR-V in the rear seat makes it easier to use the available cargo space. The Honda also offers more legroom in the rear seats than the Kia, while the Jeep Renegade offers more headroom in the front and rear. Regardless, the Seltos offers enough additional benefits to justify buying a car of comparable size – which is not always the case in this segment.

The interior of the Selto is also a nice place. It's not exactly fancy, but the materials feel reasonable for this price range. The upright roof leaves plenty of space for glass, offers a good view to the outside and gives the interior an airy feeling. The front seats felt decently comfortable in one day, and the back seats lean back.

2021 Kia Seltos

Tech, infotainment & driver assistant

The standard infotainment system includes an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. SX models receive a 10.25-inch touchscreen as well as integrated navigation and satellite radio. While the systems have Kia's Uvo branding, they have the same graphics as the BlueLink systems we saw in the last Hyundai models.

It is not a bad thing. It is typical for Kia (and Hyundai) that the infotainment interface is not a problem, but is still easy to use. The only big mistake is that Kia forces the driver to dive deep into the on-screen menus to turn the driver aids on and off. It's not exactly easy to drive while driving, and we'd like Kia to have some hard buttons instead.

Speaking of driver aids: The Seltos offers more than its sibling Hyundai Kona. The LX equipment variant is equipped as standard with autonomous emergency braking (including pedestrian and cyclist detection) and a driver's attention monitor. For the same basic price, the S equipment variant offers a lane departure warning system and an automatic high beam. However, you have to do without the all-wheel drive to get it.

The infotainment interface is a bit uncomplicated, but still easy to use.

The adaptive cruise control is available, but only in the upper SX equipment variant. This function is not available on the Kona at all, but is available on some competitors and on the Honda HR-V standard. The Nissan Rogue Sport is available with the automaker's ProPilot Assist system, which combines adaptive cruise control with automated lane centering.

The Seltos also has a lane keeping assistant, which gives the lane keeping assistant a little more functionality. As standard, equipment variant S shows the center of the lane and not the lane markings in order to keep the vehicle on the right track. This means that the system steers proactively instead of waiting for the car to get off track. You can feel how the tracking support works, almost as if there are another pair of hands on the steering wheel. However, the inputs are relatively gentle, unlike some of the more basic lane keeping assistants we've come across.

2021 Kia Seltos

Experience behind the wheel

The Seltos comes standard with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder naturally aspirated engine that delivers 146 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque. This engine is connected to a continuously variable transmission (CVT), which Kia calls the intelligent variable transmission (IVT). Our test car had the optional 1.6-liter four-cylinder with turbocharger. Thanks to turbocharging, this smaller engine delivers 175 hp and 195 lb-ft. Kia paired it with a seven-speed dual clutch transmission for a sportier driving experience.

The turbocharged powertrain is a winner. The engine offers a lot of grunt and the fast gear changes of the double clutch transmission help to form the post. This is basically the same as the Hyundai Kona Ultimate, and it was also a standout feature of this car.

However, the Kia lacks the sporty handling of the Hyundai. There's nothing wrong with handling the Selto, but it's not as sharp and precise as the Kona. However, the Seltos is more comfortable to drive than the Kona, and the target buyer is more concerned with it than with the ability to carve corners. If you want your little crossover to feel like a sports car, buy the Hyundai or even better the Mazda CX-30.

The turbocharged powertrain is a winner.

The Seltos is available with front or four-wheel drive, the latter offering more functions than many systems in this segment. It allows the driver to manually lock the torque in a 50/50 split front / rear to ensure that the car doesn't drive front-wheel as standard. Torque vectoring directs performance from side to side to turn the seltos into corners. Hill start assist and hill descent control are standard. The four-wheel drive system even has a cool name: Dynamax.

These functions should increase confidence in bad weather or on unpaved roads, but do not make the Seltos an off-roader. Kia quickly pointed out that the Seltos has a better approach angle than a Jeep Renegade or Subaru Crosstrek, which means you're less likely to smash the front end into something when driving over uneven terrain.

But the Seltos has less ground clearance than the Crosstrek or Renegade. On a dirt road that was part of the route, something scratched the floor of the car. It is therefore hard to imagine that you feel safe when driving the Seltos on an actual off-road trail. The Renegade remains the only vehicle in this segment with real off-road capabilities.

2021 Kia Seltos

Fuel consumption and security

The fuel consumption values ​​for the 2.0-liter / CVT combination are 31 mpg (29 mpg city, 34 mpg motorway) with front-wheel drive and 29 mpg (27 mpg city, 31 mpg motorway) with all-wheel drive. The 1.6-liter turbo engine and the dual clutch transmission are only available with all-wheel drive and have a total output of 27 mpg (25 mpg city, 30 mpg highway).

Fuel consumption is quite competitive compared to other vehicles in this segment, not to mention some conventional cars. Less aerodynamic body and extra weight usually result in crossovers being penalized for mileage, but this is not very serious.

The Seltos delivers the things that distinguish crossovers from ordinary cars.

The Seltos is a new model, so it is difficult to predict future reliability. However, Kia has an overall good reputation for reliability and offers generous warranty coverage. The Kia 10-year warranty on the drivetrain and the five-year warranty of 60,000 miles on the drivetrain are only covered by the parent company Hyundai.

Crash test assessments by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) are currently not available.

How DT would configure this car

The SX trim level seems to be the best option. It not only receives the livelier turbo engine and the fast-switching dual clutch transmission, but is also the only equipment variant from Seltos with adaptive cruise control. Since the SX is the top equipment variant, it also contains the technical features of the bottom equipment variants such as autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning and charging the mobile phone. Even with a base price that's about $ 6,000 higher than the cheapest Seltos, the long list of features of the SX is a good value.

Our opinion

Many crossovers in this price range claim to offer SUV robustness, but are really just glorified hatchback models. The 2021 Kia Seltos is the real deal.

The Seltos delivers the things that distinguish crossovers from ordinary cars. It offers impressive cargo space for a vehicle of this size and an all-wheel drive system that makes a real difference in bad weather. This is in contrast to the platform colleague of the Selto, the Hyundai Kona. While the Kona is a good vehicle, its lack of cargo space and car-like behavior make it difficult to buy a vehicle instead of a conventional hatchback.

In such a crowded field, competitors inevitably do certain things better than the Seltos. The Kia lacks the off-road capability of the Jeep Renegade or the off-road capability of the Mazda CX-30. While Seltos is available with many driver aids, the Honda HR-V offers more of them as standard. Although it may not be the best in some areas, the Seltos does everything well.

Should you get one?

Yes. The Seltos is an impressive value.

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02 Mar
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From Muscle Dysmorphia to Building a World-Class Set of Legs

Adam Bisek is a trainer who is at home both personally and online. He describes his job as an opportunity to change lives. To this end, he also believes that personal training should be exactly as described, personally.

In this episode we discuss:

  • How muscular dysmorphism shaped Adam's fitness trip
  • How he got perspective and realized that his struggles were indeed a blessing in disguise
  • The importance of intent if you want to succeed
  • How to build a premium leg set

If you liked this podcast and you cared about it, rate and rate it so that we can spread the word and motivate and inspire others to take their performance to the next level. More podcasts of this kind can be found on the Six Pack of Knowledge page.

02 Mar
Blog

Blackmagic Design Ursa Mini Pro 4.6K G2 Hands-on Review

blackmagic design ursa mini pro 46k g2 rating 5

Blackmagic Design Ursa Mini Pro 4.6K G2 to touch

"The hardware is great, but Blackmagic RAW is a game changer for indie and small budget productions."

  • Blackmagic RAW codec

  • 120 fps 4.6K

  • Accessible user interface

  • Built-in ND filters

  • Cumbersome placement of the iris dial

  • Some nickel and diming for accessories

"Bear" is a fitting name for the beast that is Ursa Mini Pro 4.6K G2 from Blackmagic Design, the flagship of the company's cinema camera. But it is a well-trained bear. The Ursa is docile where other such machines appear fearsome in their complexity. I've never been so amazed at how easy a camera is to take professional pictures.

It really feels like cheating. Turn it on, point it at something, press record, and there will be a picture for the big screen. If you know how to use a DSLR, you can find out the Ursa in minutes.

Okay, it takes a bit more work. You first need to decide which record button to press – there are approximately four of them. But once you've chosen your favorite, there's nothing standing in the way of making your director's dreams come true. At least from a technical point of view.

Despite my love of techno, the Ursa remains outside my league – and yet not alien to my budget. I won't buy one soon for a five under $ 6,000, but it's a lot cheaper than comparable movie cameras from other manufacturers.

I'm not sure why a Red or Arri, the camera of choice in Hollywood, is worth tens of thousands more. But as someone who shoots video with a mirrorless hybrid camera, I can see the value of climbing to Ursa. Six giants are a lot of money. But here, with the Ursa, it feels like a bargain.

Design and user interface

The original Ursa Mini Pro 4.6K was the first Blackmagic camera to feel ready. After a few years of eye-catching and bizarre designs, Blackmagic landed on a familiar shape that bridges the gap between a cinema camera and an ENG camcorder.

The G2 refines the formula with small but important improvements to the electronics without changing what has already worked. The result is not only a professional video camera that shames my aging but trustworthy Fujifilm X-T2, but also the best value in the cinema world.

Blackmagic gets a low price by selling you a bare bones camera. A viewfinder, a battery and a handle are add-ons that can add hundreds or thousands to the price. This can make cameras like the Canon C200 cheaper for $ 6,500 with viewfinder and battery. However, the Ursa has a hardware advantage: 15 levels of the announced dynamic range compared to Canon's 13, higher frame rates and a more versatile RAW format.

Although not new, the built-in filter control with neutral density is a key feature of the Ursa – and many dedicated video cameras. You can select 0, 2, 4 or 6 stops by turning an adjustment wheel so that you never have to deal with a screw-on lens filter. Think of sunglasses for your camera. ND filters reduce light and allow you to keep a slower shutter speed for smooth movements and / or a larger aperture for a shallower depth of field when shooting in bright environments.

The viewfinder may not be standard, but a touchscreen monitor is the most accessible user interface you can get with a camera. Blackmagic has set itself the goal of standardizing the user interface for all camera models. So if you have a pocket cinema camera, you will feel at home with the Ursa. The user interface is easy to learn if you have not used a Blackmagic camera before.

The Ursa has numerous physical buttons and toggle switches for access to frequently used functions such as ISO, shutter angle / speed and white balance. A complaint? The iris dial is hard to reach when the monitor is open, a design flaw that Blackmagic may have missed because cameramen who use real cinema lenses use the iris ring on the lens.

Not me. I used standard Canon EF lenses. Apart from the bizarre iris control, I love that about the Ursa. Camera lenses are much cheaper than their cinema counterparts, but often of no less optical quality. (However, the Ursa's autofocus features aren't good – stick to manual focus.)

For this test, Sigma lent me its 18-35mm and 50-100mm f / 1.8 lenses, a pair of zooms that make a strong case for being the only lenses you need. Together, they're worth about $ 1,900. Sure, that's a bit of a change, but it's a far cry from the $ 8,000 required for theatrical versions of these lenses. (In truth, this is still quite affordable in the field of cinema glass.)

In addition, the Ursa Mini Pro has interchangeable lens mounts. In addition to the active Canon EF mount, you can use PL (the standard for cinema cameras), B4 for broadcast lenses, or even a passive Nikon F mount. The latter opens up the Ursa to a decade-long legacy of photographic lenses. I have a small collection of Nikon glass from the film era that I would like to have tested on the Ursa. Next time.

Of course, cinema lenses have some advantages – mostly they make you look like an ass – but Blackmagic's willingness to let you mount any old DSLR lens natively is a big plus for the indie and student filmmakers. From news gathering to film production, the Ursa Mini Pro can be configured to fill a variety of roles. The Digital Trends video team even used it on the floor at CES 2020.

Performance and picture quality

The updated electronics of the Ursa Mini Pro G2 are all about speed. Above all, this means new slow motion HFR (High Frame Rate) options. 4.6K footage can be captured at up to 120 frames per second, while 1080p can reach 300 fps. The 4.6K / 120 film material is recorded across the entire width of the sensor and automatically played back in slow motion (up to 5 times with 24p pictures).

It looks absolutely awesome. I also appreciated how the camera records audio in HFR mode, which many smaller cameras don't. This way, you can either slow down the audio in the mail to adjust it to the footage (think of the dramatic “Noooooo!” Shouted by a character approaching a certain doom) or the footage back to real-time speed boot up and use it more or less -less like a normal clip if you have to.

The updated electronics increase the maximum ISO by 3,200. That's nothing compared to modern still cameras with ISOs by the hundreds of thousands, but it makes the Ursa usable indoors. It is important that this high ISO value is useful when shooting HFR footage. This requires a faster shutter speed and requires compensation by either opening the iris or increasing the ISO.

Footage shot with ISO 3,200 can look grainy, especially when you try to lift the shadows in the post, but I never thought it would look bad. It's what it is, and you should try to stay at lower ISOs if possible, but I appreciate having that extra stop when I needed it.

Thanks to faster processing, the readout time of the sensor is shortened and the "Jello Cam" effect of the electronic roller shutter is controlled. In practice, I didn't notice it at all, except in very fast pans where I specifically searched for it.

File quality and flexibility

When I tested the first generation Ursa Mini Pro 4.6K, it was before Blackmagic released its RAW video format. It could record Cinema DNG, an open RAW format from Adobe, but I didn't have the storage or processing power to handle it. With the G2, I have finally experienced the power of Blackmagic RAW first-hand and it is absolutely revolutionary.

This is a RAW video format for the rest of us. With selectable compression levels up to 12: 1, .braw clips can be recorded on standard SD cards. In fact, the bit rate at 12: 1 compression is lower than the 400 megabits per second non-RAW codecs in cameras like the Panasonic Lumix GH5s and the Fujifilm X-T3. You still want a fast V90 card to be safe, but you don't have to be a professional studio or have a big budget to work with RAW video. That's great.

Sample material taken with the Ursa Mini Pro G2 Daven Mathies / Digital Trends

I recorded all of my test material in .braw with 12: 1 compression and it looked great. I edited and colored the clips in Blackmagic DaVinci Resolve 16 on my eight year old iMac and it worked. Performance was problematic after adding more than the most basic color adjustment, but the fact that it worked at all is impressive.

If you're concerned about editing performance, Ursa can record proxy files in addition to RAW footage, so you don't have to create proxies when importing.

I am not an experienced colorist or even an experienced DaVinci Resolve user, but I come from the world of still photography, where RAW files have been common for many years. Working with RAW videos seems familiar to me. In some ways, it is easier to work with other codecs like h.264 or even ProRes, which are often recorded with a flat logarithmic tone curve to maintain dynamic range and look like garbage before color correction is applied.

In contrast, Blackmagic RAW material can be used directly from the camera. It is also flexible. Even at 12: 1 compression, I was amazed at how many details I could pull out of the shadows.

Not everyone needs RAW video, but as Blackmagic explained to me, Blackmagic RAW offers the best quality-to-file ratio at any compression level compared to non-RAW formats. There is no reason not to use it. Well, unless you want to import directly into Final Cut Pro X, which currently doesn't have a plugin to support .braw files. (There is a plugin for Adobe Premiere Pro.)

Conclusion

The Ursa Mini Pro G2 is proof that we are living in an incredible time for photo and video equipment. I am jealous of today's film students who may have access to it. They can produce large-screen films in their dormitories and never know how difficult it is to record and edit standard-definition footage on MiniDV tapes.

Of course, for many of us, $ 6,000 could just as easily be $ 60,000. If it's out of your budget, it's out of your budget. However, some of the Ursa's most important functions – such as Blackmagic RAW – are available in the cheaper Pocket Cinema Camera series. The Ursa Mini Pro may still be a desirable product for people like me, but unlike a Red or an Arri, it's not a dream. I can at least afford to rent it.

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The Underpinning Reason That Stops You From Building Muscle

Luke Leaman is a trainer, fitness trainer and founder of Muscle Nerds, the company he founded after getting angry about the industry and the lack of empathy and science in it. He is also an acolyte of the great Charles Poliquin, who is unfortunately no longer with us, and a highly regarded pioneer in hypertrophy.

In this episode we discuss:

  • The reason that keeps people from building muscle
  • How to measure your overall health and stress status with three simple metrics
  • Why Leas mode is a secret to unlock your beast mode and much more

This is the latest in a series of interviews with some of the leading minds and pioneers in the industry today. A few things make these podcasts unique and I hope they are fun and inspiring: I try to curate the world's greatest hypertrophy experts.

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Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-45mm F4.0 Pro Review: Size Hardly Matters

Olympus OMD E M1

Olympus M.Zuiko ED 12-45mm F4.0 Pro Test: Small but robust

"The Olympus 12-45 mm 1: 4 is the smallest in its class and a breeze."

  • Built to last

  • Very compact

  • Macro focus

  • Sharp

  • Affordable

  • F / 4 is limited to Micro Four Thirds

  • No manual focus switch or focus scale

  • Some barrel distortion

When you take the mirror out of the camera, a smaller housing is created. With lenses, however, nothing needs to be removed to achieve a smaller look. While some brands have been able to save a few ounces, lenses still lag far behind in portability. However, the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-45 mm F4.0 Pro is the most compact and lightest of all lenses in this class.

Part of that is thanks to the smaller Micro Four Thirds format, but this new 12-45mm is still impressively small. According to Olympus, there are almost 190 precision-made parts in the 2.76-inch long housing of the lens. Despite the size, Olympus managed to achieve the highest level of macroeconomic ability, excellent sharpness and weather protection.

The question is whether the smaller size and lower price can offset a narrower aperture compared to Olympus' existing f / 2.8 option. We combined the lens with the new Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III to find out.

Design features

Weighing just under 9 ounces, the Olympus 12-45mm 1: 4 Pro is a lens that feels well balanced on the front of a mirrorless body. Olympus says it's the most compact and lightest in its class, but the Four Thirds sensor with its 2-fold crop factor already gives it an advantage as the lens is compared to 24-90mm full frame lenses.

While the lens is light, Olympus hasn't left out the weather seal. My test device survived accidental dousing by an ocean wave and was no worse for wear.

The Olympus 12-45 mm 1: 4 consists of 12 elements in nine groups, including the optical Zuiko extra-low reflection coating to combat flares and ghosting.

The lens is made of metal and lies well in the hand. However, the smaller size leaves less space for controls, just the zoom and focus ring. Both are smooth and easy to adjust.

In contrast to many other Olympus lenses, the focus ring is not retracted to switch to manual focus. There is also no place for a focus scale.

The Olympus 12-45 mm 1: 4 Pro not only covers a decent zoom range, but also offers almost macro levels with a 0.5x playback ratio (35 mm equivalent) over the entire zoom range. This creates a high degree of versatility with such a small lens, so you can switch from wide-angle to medium-telephoto to macro without having to change the lenses.

The autofocus was able to keep up with the subjects quickly and accurately. It didn't seem to struggle or hunt back and forth even with limited lighting, a good sign of a relatively slow lens.

Image quality & examples

This pro in the name is small, but it brings the 12-45 mm in the high-end lens family from Olympus – and it shows. Overall, the lens takes some sharp, colorful pictures, while most distortion remains low.

The sharpness is excellent in the entire zoom range, even when the shots are wide open. There is a subtle difference between 1: 4 and 1: 5, but with such a small amount, this is probably not important for real recordings.

The lens has a slight vignette on the corners at 12 mm and 45 mm. Both are small enough to undo post-processing.

At 12 mm there is a noticeable barrel distortion, which decreases as you enlarge it. With a wide-angle zoom, the distortion is not out of the norm and can be corrected with a few changes afterwards. As soon as machining programs support the lens, a quick profile correction should be an even faster solution.

Overall, Flare is well controlled. At the wrong angle, the light creates a small green torch. Smaller light sources also tend to starburst.

Chromatic aberration was also difficult to find. I spotted some light purple and blue edges along high contrast objects on the edge of the frame, but I really had to look for them.

While the image quality is solid, the 1: 4 aperture is not very bright for a pro lens. In combination with the Micro Four Thirds format, it is therefore more difficult to obtain smooth, creamy backgrounds. It is also a bad combination for shooting in low light. Given the lens' focus on portability, these are compromises that customers are likely to accept.

Our opinion

The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-45mm F4.0 Pro, available for around $ 650 from April 7, is a solid little lens that lets you take great pictures. The robust construction and small size mix with the almost macro-capable functions and the long range to create a lens that is likely to spend a lot of time on the camera.

However, the smaller size eliminates some common design elements, such as simply switching from automatic to manual focus and a focus scale. The narrower aperture of 1: 4 is also not ideal in every scenario.

How long it will take?

The metal construction and weatherproofing should help this lens be used for several years and is unlikely to be replaced for many years.

Is there a better option?

Yes – if you have a larger budget and a little more space in your camera bag. The M.Zuiko ED 12-40 mm 1: 2.8 Pro has the same robust construction and is also designed for high-end image quality. However, it's 4.5 ounces heavier and about $ 350 more.

Should you buy it

Yes. Buy the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-45mm F4.0 Pro if you need a compact wide-angle zoom that delivers excellent image quality but doesn't require a large aperture.

Editor's recommendations




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