Sony Smooth Reflection App
p.1 #1Sony Smooth Reflection App
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Smooth Reflection: This app replaces ND filters.
Basically the technique used on the app stacks all images using mean blending. Astrophotographers have been using this concept for years to combine multiple photos of dim objects in the night sky to reduce the noise. That is one of the benefits.
Instead of using the app, you could do it in Photoshop:
Open each of the images in your stack as layers.
Align them (Edit → Auto-Align Layers…). Auto should work fine here.
Select all of the layers and turn them into a Smart Object (Convert to Smart Object).
Now apply the Mean Stack mode (Layer → Smart Objects → Stack Mode → Mean).
The issue here is that you may need 32 images to mimic a 5-stop ND filter and even more for more blurring. Mimicking a big stop is almost unpractical.
So, storing all these exposures in camera, bringing them to LR, exporting to Photoshop and running the above steps is very time consuming. That is where the app starts to sound interesting. It combines the images in-camera and the results are very similar. All you end up with is ONE RAW file. The downside is that the app does not align the images so you MUST have a very sturdy tripod and stable floor.
From my calculations here are the number of images needed to match the equiv. ND filters:
- 1 stop (2 shots)
- 2 stops (4 shots)
- 3 stops (8 shots)
- 4 stops (16 shots)
- 5 stops (32 shots)
- 6 stops (64 shots)
- 7 stops (128 shots)
- 8 stops (256 shots)
If you play with the app, avoid using any presets. Go straight to "custom", press menu and choose "Smoothing". There you will be able to select the number of shots you need. Also make sure to set the file to "RAW".
Another benefit from this technique is a significant improvement of signal to noise ratio.
If you "mean" average 4 photos, you'll have 1/2 the noise (technically S/N, signal to noise ratio). 100 photos will be 1/10 the noise. (Imagine how clean your final image will be).
I will post examples from both apps on this thread. Post yours as well!
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BTW: For those using the App to complement their filters here is a quick table:
Starting with a 3-stop filter:
- 4 stops (2 shots)
- 5 stops (4 shots)
- 6 stops (8 shots)
- 7 stops (16 shots)
- 8 stops (32 shots)
Starting with a 6-stop filter:
- 7 stops (2 shots)
- 8 stops (4 shots)
- 9 stops (8 shots)
- 10 stops (16 shots)
- 11 stops (32 shots)
Dec 18, 2015 at 05:58 PM
p.1 #2Sony Smooth Reflection App
So it actually saves as RAW? I'll have to check it out then.
Dec 18, 2015 at 06:40 PM
p.1 #3Sony Smooth Reflection App
If it's not the usual JPEG like from other apps this is pretty sweet
Dec 18, 2015 at 06:43 PM
p.1 #4Sony Smooth Reflection App
The RAW makes this a game changer for me. Here Sony, take even more of my money ....
Dec 18, 2015 at 06:52 PM
p.1 #5Sony Smooth Reflection App
Will it compatible with flash? Interested in using it to shoot portraits under starlight...
Dec 18, 2015 at 07:26 PM
p.1 #6Sony Smooth Reflection App
I keep on getting an error message stating "cannot switch camera to download mode". I use the USB cable supplied by Sony and I successfully upgraded the firmware just today with it. I set the USB connection to MTP and the USB LUN Setting to single, just like I am supposed to do but still getting that error message. I restarted my Mac, just in case to no avail. That sucks....
Dec 18, 2015 at 07:44 PM
p.1 #7Sony Smooth Reflection App
AGeoJO wrote:
I keep on getting an error message stating "cannot switch camera to download mode". I use the USB cable supplied by Sony and I successfully upgraded the firmware just today with it. I set the USB connection to MTP and the USB LUN Setting to single, just like I am supposed to do but still getting that error message. I restarted my Mac, just in case to no avail. That sucks....
I would download the app straight from the camera instead.
I keep on getting an error message stating "cannot switch camera to download mode". I use the USB cable supplied by Sony and I successfully upgraded the firmware just today with it. I set the USB connection to MTP and the USB LUN Setting to single, just like I am supposed to do but still getting that error message. I restarted my Mac, just in case to no avail. That sucks....
I would download the app straight from the camera instead.
Dec 18, 2015 at 07:45 PM
p.1 #8Sony Smooth Reflection App
wenkanzhu wrote:
Will it compatible with flash? Interested in using it to shoot portraits under starlight...
Yes, Flash mode and Flash compensation are supported.
Will it compatible with flash? Interested in using it to shoot portraits under starlight...
Yes, Flash mode and Flash compensation are supported.
Dec 18, 2015 at 07:45 PM
p.1 #9Sony Smooth Reflection App
Fred Miranda wrote:
I would download the app straight from the camera instead.
Thanks, Fred. It woks now but it should work the other way, too. Oh, well.
Sony limits the number of apps you purchased to 10 devices. I have installed the apps on 4 units already now. At the rate Sony is coming out with new cameras, I will have to buy the apps all over again in 2-3 years
. They should do it like Apple. They limit it to 5 but when you sell/get rid of some devices, you free up the spot or spots.
AGeoJO wrote
I keep on getting an error message stating "cannot switch camera to download mode". I use the USB cable supplied by Sony and I successfully upgraded the firmware just today with it. I set the USB connection to MTP and the USB LUN Setting to single, just like I am supposed to do but still getting that error message. I restarted my Mac, just in case to no avail. That sucks....Thanks, Fred. It woks now but it should work the other way, too. Oh, well.
Sony limits the number of apps you purchased to 10 devices. I have installed the apps on 4 units already now. At the rate Sony is coming out with new cameras, I will have to buy the apps all over again in 2-3 years
. They should do it like Apple. They limit it to 5 but when you sell/get rid of some devices, you free up the spot or spots. Dec 18, 2015 at 08:06 PM
p.1 #10Sony Smooth Reflection App
AGeoJO wrote:
I would download the app straight from the camera instead.Thanks, Fred. It woks now but it should work the other way, too. Oh, well.
Sony limits the number of apps you purchased to 10 devices. I have installed the apps on 4 units already now. At the rate Sony is coming out with new cameras, I will have to buy the apps all over again in 2-3 years. They should do it like Apple. They limit it to 5 but when you sell/get rid of some devices, you free up the spot or spots.
I could never get it to work from my computer either...Another app you should try is the "Smooth Reflection". It also yields a RAW file.
Sky HDR should be called "GND" and Smoother Reflection "ND".
Fred Miranda wrote
AGeoJO wrote
I keep on getting an error message stating "cannot switch camera to download mode". I use the USB cable supplied by Sony and I successfully upgraded the firmware just today with it. I set the USB connection to MTP and the USB LUN Setting to single, just like I am supposed to do but still getting that error message. I restarted my Mac, just in case to no avail. That sucks....Sony limits the number of apps you purchased to 10 devices. I have installed the apps on 4 units already now. At the rate Sony is coming out with new cameras, I will have to buy the apps all over again in 2-3 years
. They should do it like Apple. They limit it to 5 but when you sell/get rid of some devices, you free up the spot or spots. I could never get it to work from my computer either...Another app you should try is the "Smooth Reflection". It also yields a RAW file.
Sky HDR should be called "GND" and Smoother Reflection "ND".
Dec 19, 2015 at 12:33 AM
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p.1 #11Sony Smooth Reflection App
Raw? Cool, so this is more than just a gimmick?
Dec 19, 2015 at 12:46 AM
p.1 #12Sony Smooth Reflection App
TheEmrys wrote:
The RAW makes this a game changer for me. Here Sony, take even more of my money ....
Polariser next, thanks.
The RAW makes this a game changer for me. Here Sony, take even more of my money ....
Polariser next, thanks.
Dec 19, 2015 at 02:16 AM
p.1 #13Sony Smooth Reflection App
This sounds like a pretty cool and unique feature for sure... well worth trying out at the very least
My questions with it will be 1) if it takes longer to select everything through the interface that it would take me just to take a shot at say -2 EV for the sky and then +3 for the foreground or whatever, which I'm used to doing on the fly, for the purposes of blending later
2) if it saves the two differing exposures in addition to the blended RAW file. I would like to still have the files to blend on my own in post, if it so happens I didn't like the transition zone, or if there was some objects on the horizon that required some manual blending around etc
My questions with it will be 1) if it takes longer to select everything through the interface that it would take me just to take a shot at say -2 EV for the sky and then +3 for the foreground or whatever, which I'm used to doing on the fly, for the purposes of blending later
2) if it saves the two differing exposures in addition to the blended RAW file. I would like to still have the files to blend on my own in post, if it so happens I didn't like the transition zone, or if there was some objects on the horizon that required some manual blending around etc
Dec 19, 2015 at 09:05 AM
p.1 #14Sony Smooth Reflection App
I just downloaded it and played around with it a bit. It's pretty cool. Yes, I had to fuss around with it a bit initially to learn the process but once you do it a couple times it's pretty easy. With the sensors' DR capability and this app, who needs GND anymore? Of course, this app is for tripod use.
Now Sony, give us a focus stack app.
Merry Christmas to all!
Douglas
Now Sony, give us a focus stack app.
Merry Christmas to all!
Douglas
Dec 19, 2015 at 09:27 AM
p.1 #15Sony Smooth Reflection App
kdrk888 wrote:
I just downloaded it and played around with it a bit. It's pretty cool. Yes, I had to fuss around with it a bit initially to learn the process but once you do it a couple times it's pretty easy. With the sensors' DR capability and this app, who needs GND anymore? Of course, this app is for tripod use.
Now Sony, give us a focus stack app.
Merry Christmas to all!
Douglas
I'm having no luck downloading it, I get in an endless cycle of "verifying connection". I know my connection works because I just upgraded to 3.0 on the A7RII. What OS and browser are you using?
I just downloaded it and played around with it a bit. It's pretty cool. Yes, I had to fuss around with it a bit initially to learn the process but once you do it a couple times it's pretty easy. With the sensors' DR capability and this app, who needs GND anymore? Of course, this app is for tripod use.
Now Sony, give us a focus stack app.
Merry Christmas to all!
Douglas
I'm having no luck downloading it, I get in an endless cycle of "verifying connection". I know my connection works because I just upgraded to 3.0 on the A7RII. What OS and browser are you using?
Dec 19, 2015 at 09:53 AM
p.1 #16Sony Smooth Reflection App
Fred Miranda wrote:
I would download the app straight from the camera instead.Thanks, Fred. It woks now but it should work the other way, too. Oh, well.
Sony limits the number of apps you purchased to 10 devices. I have installed the apps on 4 units already now. At the rate Sony is coming out with new cameras, I will have to buy the apps all over again in 2-3 years. They should do it like Apple. They limit it to 5 but when you sell/get rid of some devices, you free up the spot or spots.I could never get it to work from my computer either...Another app you should try is the "Smooth Reflection". It also yields a RAW file.
Sky HDR should be called "GND" and Smoother Reflection "ND".
I bought the Smooth Reflection ND earlier but frankly, I haven't used it. I agree with the naming, Fred.
AGeoJO wrote
Fred Miranda wrote
AGeoJO wrote
I keep on getting an error message stating "cannot switch camera to download mode". I use the USB cable supplied by Sony and I successfully upgraded the firmware just today with it. I set the USB connection to MTP and the USB LUN Setting to single, just like I am supposed to do but still getting that error message. I restarted my Mac, just in case to no avail. That sucks....Sony limits the number of apps you purchased to 10 devices. I have installed the apps on 4 units already now. At the rate Sony is coming out with new cameras, I will have to buy the apps all over again in 2-3 years
. They should do it like Apple. They limit it to 5 but when you sell/get rid of some devices, you free up the spot or spots.Sky HDR should be called "GND" and Smoother Reflection "ND".
I bought the Smooth Reflection ND earlier but frankly, I haven't used it
. I agree with the naming, Fred.Dec 19, 2015 at 10:03 AM
p.1 #17Sony Smooth Reflection App
Cometsoft wrote:
Now Sony, give us a focus stack app.
Merry Christmas to all!
DouglasI'm having no luck downloading it, I get in an endless cycle of "verifying connection". I know my connection works because I just upgraded to 3.0 on the A7RII. What OS and browser are you using?
That's the exact same issue I encountered. So, I followed Fred's suggestion and downloaded the app directly onto the A7r II and it worked. Just a pain to enter the ID and password using the alphanumeric "keyboard" of the camera.
kdrk888 wrote
I just downloaded it and played around with it a bit. It's pretty cool. Yes, I had to fuss around with it a bit initially to learn the process but once you do it a couple times it's pretty easy. With the sensors' DR capability and this app, who needs GND anymore? Of course, this app is for tripod use.Now Sony, give us a focus stack app.
Merry Christmas to all!
Douglas
That's the exact same issue I encountered. So, I followed Fred's suggestion and downloaded the app directly onto the A7r II and it worked. Just a pain to enter the ID and password using the alphanumeric "keyboard" of the camera.
Dec 19, 2015 at 10:06 AM
p.1 #18Sony Smooth Reflection App
AGeoJO wrote:
Now Sony, give us a focus stack app.
Merry Christmas to all!
DouglasI'm having no luck downloading it, I get in an endless cycle of "verifying connection". I know my connection works because I just upgraded to 3.0 on the A7RII. What OS and browser are you using?That's the exact same issue I encountered. So, I followed Fred's suggestion and downloaded the app directly onto the A7r II and it worked. Just a pain to enter the ID and password using the alphanumeric "keyboard" of the camera.
Thanks, just did it and that worked. A lot of typing though, had an Apple suggested password which was a real nightmare to enter on camera screen.
Cometsoft wrote
kdrk888 wrote
I just downloaded it and played around with it a bit. It's pretty cool. Yes, I had to fuss around with it a bit initially to learn the process but once you do it a couple times it's pretty easy. With the sensors' DR capability and this app, who needs GND anymore? Of course, this app is for tripod use.Now Sony, give us a focus stack app.
Merry Christmas to all!
Douglas
Thanks, just did it and that worked. A lot of typing though, had an Apple suggested password which was a real nightmare to enter on camera screen.
Dec 19, 2015 at 10:18 AM
p.1 #19Sony Smooth Reflection App
Cometsoft wrote:
Now Sony, give us a focus stack app.
Merry Christmas to all!
DouglasI'm having no luck downloading it, I get in an endless cycle of "verifying connection". I know my connection works because I just upgraded to 3.0 on the A7RII. What OS and browser are you using?
I used Internet Explorer, Windows 10. Good luck.
kdrk888 wrote
I just downloaded it and played around with it a bit. It's pretty cool. Yes, I had to fuss around with it a bit initially to learn the process but once you do it a couple times it's pretty easy. With the sensors' DR capability and this app, who needs GND anymore? Of course, this app is for tripod use.Now Sony, give us a focus stack app.
Merry Christmas to all!
Douglas
I used Internet Explorer, Windows 10. Good luck.
Dec 19, 2015 at 10:19 AM
p.1 #20Sony Smooth Reflection App
Stoffer wrote:
Raw? Cool, so this is more than just a gimmick?
I don't think it's a gimmick. It lets you selectively control exposure of the different sections of the picture and save it in raw, how cool is that?
Raw? Cool, so this is more than just a gimmick?
I don't think it's a gimmick. It lets you selectively control exposure of the different sections of the picture and save it in raw, how cool is that?
Dec 19, 2015 at 10:22 AM