Canon and Sony News for Jul 2015 (Page 3)

A new messsage is now adorning the top of Rode's homepage:

Important information about purchasing from Amazon in the US.

RØDE Microphones does not authorize Fulfilled By Amazon. If you purchase any RØDE microphone from an unauthoized dealer via Fulfilled By Amazon you will not receive any US warranty or technical support.

From SanDisk:

With more capacity and improved user experience, the new SanDisk Connect Wireless Stick gives consumers even greater flexibility to share and access photos and videos between their favorite devices

MILPITAS, Calif., July 14, 2015 – SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ: SNDK), a global leader in flash storage solutions, today expanded its mobile storage portfolio with a new wireless mobile flash drive, the SanDisk Connect Wireless Stick. This new drive enables easy sharing, transferring and accessing of photos and videos between mobile devices and computers. Building on its award-winning SanDisk Connect Wireless family, the SanDisk Connect Wireless Stick features a higher capacity, up to 128GB, a new app and cool, compact design – all at a great price.

The SanDisk Connect Wireless Stick now gives consumers even more freedom to save and access photos, videos and other files from their favorite Wi-Fi-enabled devices. As consumers continue to embrace premium mobile features such as high-quality photo capture and Full HD video, SanDisk’s new wireless storage device is designed to meet their quickly growing storage needs, at an affordable price. The availability of up to 128GB of capacity allows users to effectively double their mobile storage for greater flexibility on the go.

“We live in an era where we are truly living a mobile lifestyle. We use our devices to capture life’s moments, and work in a way that was never before possible - all of which has created the need for a new generation of mobile storage,” said Dinesh Bahal, vice president, product marketing, SanDisk. “The SanDisk Connect Wireless Stick is designed to give people a simple, intuitive way to save and access all of the great content they create and consume across multiple devices, without breaking the bank.”

Share Wirelessly With Multiple Devices
The SanDisk Connect Wireless Stick works with smartphones, tablets and computers1. Whether in a briefcase or in a pocket, the new drive allows users to wirelessly access media or transfer large files; save and share photos and videos; or stream HD videos and music to and from mobile devices – up to three at a time. The SanDisk Connect Wireless Stick is capable of supporting a single stream for up to 4.5 hours on a single charge. With its USB connector, users can also connect directly to a computer to save and transfer files instantly. The SanDisk Connect Wireless Stick delivers access that empowers users to take control of their content anytime, anywhere.

Seamless App Experience
The SanDisk Connect Wireless Stick features an intuitive app, the SanDisk Connect app, which enables nearly effortless management of content between people’s favorite devices including, iOS and Android devices; Fire tablets; and Macs and PCs – all via password-protected Wi-Fi connectivity. Available for download through the App Store, Google Play Store and Amazon Appstore for Android, the new app also enables other cool features like auto-back up of photos and videos from the camera roll to the drive.

Pricing and Availability
The SanDisk Connect Wireless Stick features a one year warranty is now available in capacities of 16GB, 32GB, 64GB and 128GB at U.S. MSRPs ranging from $29.99-$99.99.

Amazon carries the SanDisk Connect Wireless Stick.

From SanDisk:

microSD format instrumental in expanding market for smartphones, extreme photography and other devices

July 13, 2015, MILPITAS, Calif. & SHANGHAI – SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ:SNDK), a global leader in flash storage solutions, today announced it has shipped more than two billion microSD cards since it started commercial shipment of the technology ten years ago. The company commemorates this milestone on the eve of Mobile World Congress Shanghai.

Invented by SanDisk in 2004, the microSD format was initially known as TransFlash. In 2005 SanDisk contributed the technology to the SD Card Association who renamed and released the final specifications for the microSD format on July 13, 2005. This format has become the most popular removable memory card in SanDisk’s history. Collectively, SanDisk’s two billion microSD cards could store an estimated 11,103 billion megabytes (MB)* worth of memory – the equivalent of more than 100MB of flash storage for every man, woman and child that ever lived on Earth.

The microSD card —which reduced the size of removable memory cards by approximately 75 percent —has played a pivotal role in a wide variety of consumer markets. For example, the vast majority of “point of view” or action cameras — the fastest-growing segment in digital imaging — are based around the microSD format.

The microSD format has also helped propel the smartphone market by giving both manufacturers and consumers greater flexibility and freedom. Approximately 75 percent of smartphone models on the market today contain microSD slots, according to data from Strategy Analytics1. Google included microSD slots in two of its fastest-growing and largest mobile product segments — Android One, its mobile operating system for sub-$200 phones, and phones designed for emerging markets. Android M, Google’s next mobile operating system, and Windows Mobile both permit consumers to run applications directly on microSD cards and/or increase the primary storage capacity of their devices.

“Demand for storage never stops growing. We will soon see smartphones with multiple-aperture lenses, phones capable of shooting UltraHD video and applications for taking and viewing virtual reality environments,” said Shuki Nir, senior vice president, corporate marketing and general manager, Retail, SanDisk. “microSD memory cards will also be instrumental in the growth of the Internet of Things by lowering the barrier to experimentation. Two billion is just the beginning, and we look forward to contributing to future technologies enabled by the microSD format.”

A decade of SanDisk microSD technology:

• The first microSD cards featured capacities starting at 32MB. SanDisk’s latest microSD form factor card is a microSDXC that offers up to 200GB of capacity, a 6,250x increase in just 10 years.
• It took three years for CompactFlash cards to reach one million shipments. By contrast, over one million microSD cards were shipped in the first full quarter of availability.
• On average, SanDisk has shipped 6.34 microSD cards every second since the formal unveiling of the specifications.
• If you lined up SanDisk’s two billion microSD cards end-to-end, they would extend 18,451 miles or three-quarters of the way around the world.
• In 2014, SanDisk announced the 128GB SanDisk Ultra microSDXC UHS-I memory card, a twist on the format that enabled the company to vertically stack up to 16 memory die in the same card and expand capacity without changing the footprint of the device. Each memory die in this microSDXC card is thinner than a strand of hair.
• In 2015, SanDisk introduced the 200GB SanDisk Ultra microSDXC UHS-I memory card, Premium Edition, a high capacity for the form factor, upping capacity by 56 percent in just one year.
• SanDisk flash memory cards have held the number-one market share position worldwide for 13 straight years.

With more than 5,000 patents, SanDisk positively impacts many markets through its flash memory innovations. In recognition of its achievements, SanDisk was named a Thompson Reuters 2014 Top 100 Global Innovator, an honor the company has received for four consecutive years.

B&H carries SanDisk microSD memory cards.

From NASA:

"NASA's New Horizons spacecraft is at Pluto.

After a decade-long journey through our solar system, New Horizons made its closest approach to Pluto Tuesday, about 7,750 miles above the surface -- roughly the same distance from New York to Mumbai, India - making it the first-ever space mission to explore a world so far from Earth.

"I'm delighted at this latest accomplishment by NASA, another first that demonstrates once again how the United States leads the world in space," said John Holdren, assistant to the President for Science and Technology and director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. "New Horizons is the latest in a long line of scientific accomplishments at NASA, including multiple missions orbiting and exploring the surface of Mars in advance of human visits still to come; the remarkable Kepler mission to identify Earth-like planets around stars other than our own; and the DSCOVR satellite that soon will be beaming back images of the whole Earth in near real-time from a vantage point a million miles away. As New Horizons completes its flyby of Pluto and continues deeper into the Kuiper Belt, NASA's multifaceted journey of discovery continues."

"The exploration of Pluto and its moons by New Horizons represents the capstone event to 50 years of planetary exploration by NASA and the United States," said NASA Administrator Charles Bolden. "Once again we have achieved a historic first. The United States is the first nation to reach Pluto, and with this mission has completed the initial survey of our solar system, a remarkable accomplishment that no other nation can match."

Per the plan, the spacecraft currently is in data-gathering mode and not in contact with flight controllers at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physical Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland. Scientists are waiting to find out whether New Horizons "phones home," transmitting to Earth a series of status updates that indicate the spacecraft survived the flyby and is in good health. The "call" is expected shortly after 9 p.m. tonight."

From B&H:

OPTIC 2015 featured dynamic presentations by the world's top outdoor photographers and gear from the premier manufacturers over three days in New York City brought to you by B&H and Lindblad Expeditions.

Couldn't attend in person or want to review at your own pace? Now you can view all the presentations of your favorite speakers from the conference.

Presentations Available

Travel

• The Inspirational Traveler
• Building a Travel Story
• Create a Body of Fine Art Travel Photography
• Great Voyages: Photo Expeditions
• Shooting for National Geographic
• Super-Telephoto Lens System for Traveling Nature Photographers
• How to Become a Successful Travel and Adventure Photographer
• Tips for Traveling Light and Finding New Perspectives
• Photographing Wild Alaska and Japan's Winter Wildlife

Techniques

• Tips and Techniques for Creating Memorable Landscape Photographs
• Infrared Landscape: The Art and Technique
• Tips for Using the iPhone Camera as a Creative Sketchpad
• How to Master Flash Photography for Location Lighting
• Photography for the Greater Good: Making a Difference
• Tips and Strategies for Mastering Color in Photoshop
• Strategies for Creating Meaningful Stories Through Photographs
• Tips for Creating Compelling Stories Through Video
• Visual Flow: Mastering the Art of Composition

Wildlife

• How to Prepare and Photograph in National Parks
• Tips for Photographing Small Animals
• Tips for Zooming in on Wildlife and Improving Your Macro Photography

Food

• Food Photography that Captures the Local Flavor

Check out the B&H OPTIC 2015 Presentations page for access to all the videos.

From Phottix/MAC Group:

North White Plains, NY – July 10, 2015 – Effective July 10th, Phottix, international industry-leading manufacturer of TTL flash triggers and lighting solutions is joining MAC Group and together will be working to change the photographic lighting category forever.

“Phottix is the new standard for cutting-edge innovation and excellence in photographic TTL lighting triggering accessories. Together, we are committed to changing the industry and making TTL flash solutions easy and accessible to everyone,” said Jan Lederman, MAC Group President.

Holder of 40 patents, Phottix achieved acclaim for its award-winning Phottix Odin TTL Flash Trigger – the first trigger to feature full TTL, manual power, and flash zoom control. The revolutionary Phottix Mitros+ TTL Transceiver Flash combines a radio TTL flash trigger and receiver into a hot shoe flash that is now on the scene and exciting photographers worldwide. The recently introduced Indra500 TTL Monolight and Indra 360 TTL Monolight portable studio flashes will soon be the standard for the wedding and portrait market.

Phottix also offers an extensive line of electronic accessories including the Strato and Ares series of flash triggers, remotes, shutter releases, and lighting and studio solutions. All Phottix products are developed with feedback from professional photographers to make them totally intuitive and easily integrated into any shooter’s workflow. The Phottix products and in-the-field support are already becoming things of legend. Their stable of professional photographers and photo-educators is growing daily.

Together with MAC Group, our combined commitment will be on providing best-in-class education and inspiration to photographers looking to take their work to the next level.

B&H carries Phottix gear.

Just posted: Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens Review.

The 50mm f/1.8 STM is not a perfect lens, but it is nearly Canon's smallest and lightest lens. And that it is Canon' least expensive lens we can all appreciate.

B&H has the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens in stock.

From Canon UK:

LONDON, 13 July 2015 – Canon Europe will be demonstrating its end-to-end professional 4K workflow at IBC2015, the leading global tradeshow for media and broadcast professionals in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Canon, having exhibited at IBC for more than three decades, will showcase its first-class 4K range in its entirety for the first time in Europe – with 4K lenses, sensors and reference displays, all on show to demonstrate the company’s advanced glass-to-glass 4K workflow.

The Canon stand will include dedicated areas for live capture, providing visitors with the opportunity to get hands on with Canon’s 4K and Full HD product range through a series of shooting scenarios, review and editing processes. A variety of live demonstrations including cinema shooting and documentary shooting will also be available to visitors.

Canon’s Cinema EOS range has transformed the professional video industry since its introduction in 2011, with leading sensor technology, lens heritage and innovative product updates. In April 2015, the range expanded with the introduction of the next generation of 4K imaging devices, including the EOS C300 Mark II, a 4K video camera, and the DP-V2410, a lightweight and robust 24” 4K reference display. Both will be on display in Europe for the first time at IBC.

“As the industry realises the benefits of 4K within a professional workflow, Canon has been developing our product range to meet the needs of our professional imaging customers,” said Kieran Magee, Marketing Director, Canon Europe. “Canon recognises that demand for higher quality production is going to grow. This year at IBC Canon will be displaying the full set of tools needed for this next step forward in versatile 4K content production.”

At the show, broadcast and cinematography professionals will be able to get hands-on with Canon’s full range of 4K and Full HD products including the recently launched XC10 and the EOS C300 Mark II cameras, as well as having the opportunity to experience the full power of its optics portfolio. Industry professionals will also be able to experience the full power of the company’s optics portfolio with the opportunity to touch and try Canon’s extensive range of lenses, from broadcast to cinema and EF lenses.

Canon’s IBC stand can be found at Hall 11, stand E50.

The Canon Digital Learning Center has just posted another Canon Quick Guide, this one titled "Mobile Guide to EOS Speedlite Custom and Personal Functions."

Quick Guides provide an excellent resource that you can download to your phone and thereby have it with you when you need it most. Check out all the handy quick guides at the Canon Digital Learning Center.

B&H carries Canon Speedlite flashes. For more information regarding Canon Speedlites, check out Bryan's Flash & Lighting Accessory Reviews.

Roberts Camera is currently selling the following Nikon Factory Refurbished cameras on eBay:

• Refurb. Nikon D800 - $1,699.88 Shipped
• Refurb. Nikon D800E - $1,899.88 Shipped

The items come with a 6-month warranty via Roberts Camera.

From Apple:

This update adds RAW image compatibility for the following cameras to OS X Yosemite:

• Canon EOS M3
• Fujifilm X-T10
• Fujifilm XQ1
• Fujifilm XQ2
• Leica M Monochrom (Typ 246)
• Nikon 1 J5
• Nikon D810A
• Olympus STYLUS SH-2
• Olympus STYLUS TG-4 Tough
• Panasonic LUMIX DMC-G7

For more information on supported RAW formats, see http://support.apple.com/kb/HT6476.

Download: Apple Digital Camera RAW 6.05

From Epson:

San Francisco Gallery Created Using the Epson SureColor P600 and P800 Wide-Format Printers

July 09, 2015 – Epson today announced it has partnered with DJI, the market leader in easy-to-fly drones and aerial photography systems, to create photographic prints for the upcoming “Perspectives by SkyPixel” gallery. Leveraging the exhibition-quality prints of the Epson SureColor P600 13-inch and P800 17-inch printers and Epson Signature Worthy Exhibition Canvas Natural Gloss media, the upcoming gallery features photos and stories from the SkyPixel community, a platform dedicated to the art of aerial photography. The exhibit will run from July 11-19 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the La Boutique, l’Art et la Mode in San Francisco, Calif. The prints will be auctioned off at the completion of the gallery, with proceeds to benefit Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area.

“DJI aerial photography solutions empower artists to elevate their craft, both literally and figuratively, and this gallery captures images and perspectives that were once out of reach, highlighting the artistic capabilities of creators who see the world from a different angle,” said Reed Hecht, product manager, Professional Imaging, Epson America, Inc. “The SureColor P600 and P800 take advantage of the exceptional print longevity of Epson UltraChrome HD ink to preserve the legacy of the print and deliver gallery-quality art with outstanding color reproduction, making them a perfect match for showcasing photography that pushes the limits of what is thought possible.”

The “Perspectives by SkyPixel” exhibit is touring art galleries in leading cities in the United States, Europe and Asia. The galleries will consist of aerial photos and stories submitted by its community of users – offering the world a glimpse into the photographer’s vision and how it was captured. Select aerial photos and stories will be displayed at galleries during the tour, and will then be auctioned off to benefit local charities.

“The Epson printers were an ideal choice for this gallery, as they produce exceptional output that accurately conveys a photographer’s vision,” said Romeo Durscher, Director of Education, DJI. “In addition, the UltraChrome HD ink offers color stability and exceptional print permanence so we are confident in auctioning off the prints to benefit charity, knowing the photos will last for years to come.”

For additional information about the “Perspectives by SkyPixel” gallery and upcoming cities and locations, visit SkyPixel’s website or Facebook page.

B&H carries the Epson P600 and P800 wide-format printers as well as DJI products.

From the B&H YouTube Channel:

In this travel-related video produced during the 2015 B&H Optic Imaging Conference, photographer Art Wolfe talks about what it takes to become a successful travel photographer. Topics include art education, the connection between painting and photography, developing and pursuing personal interests, the logistics of travel photography, and techniques for creating dynamic travel photographs.

From Canon:

“We’re proud to know that nearly 90 percent of professional photographers chose Canon equipment to capture exciting moments during Copa America,” said Yuichi Ishizuka, president and COO, Canon U.S.A., Inc. “And we were happy to be on site providing service and support to these professionals if and when they needed it.”

Canon knew our professional camera users would be out in force, and so we committed to supporting the pro shooters who use our products, by providing onsite service and support to the photographers and broadcasters using our cameras and lenses to capture the iconic moments of Copa America.

Canon's professional onsite service and support included simple equipment repair, clean and check service and equipment loans to outfit professionals with the proper gear to capture the drama on and off the field. Service and support was available in the media centers in each of the nine stadiums hosting matches in the tournament.

The international soccer tournament took place in Chile from June 11- July 4, 2015 in eight cities, with 12 countries participating, including Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Jamaica, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela.

Stats from Copa America

• More than 89 percent of the professional photographers covering the most dramatic moments of each game from the sidelines of the soccer fields and throughout each stadium were using Canon DSLR cameras and lenses.
• Out of 1,245 professional photographers covering Copa America, more than 1,111 were shooting with Canon equipment
• During the June 15th Chile vs. Mexico match, out of 85 pro photographers covering the game, more than 77 were using Canon (that’s a whopping 91 percent)

B&H carries Canon DSLR cameras and lenses.

Want to know more about those big white lenses seen on the sidelines? Check out the site's Lens Reviews for an in-depth look at Canon's super telephoto lineup.