Canon and Sony News for Sep 2010 (Page 4)

Adobe Pixel Bender Plug-in for Adobe Photoshop CS5 is now available for download from Adobe Labs.

Carl Zeiss has announced the Zeiss Compact Prime CP.2 50mm/T2.1 Makro Lens and CP.2 100mm/T2.1 CF Lens.

I was testing a Canon EF 600mm f/4 IS USM Super Telephoto Lens on a Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III Camera body for a new lens comparison tool (coming to the site in the near future). After completing a short test procedure, I removed the 600mm lens from the body - only to be greeted with a very-dishearteningly-noticeable amount of smoke.

I obviously had the 600mm lens framed too close to the sun for too long of a period of time - which I'm guessing was a minute or so. Here is a look at the blistered plastic in the 1Ds III.

Imagine taking an $8k lens off of a $6k camera and seeing a plume of very-black smoke come out. Wish I had video'd that! The good news is that the camera is fine - just cosmetic damage was done.

Details of the camera can be found in the Canon UK IXUS 1000 HS Digital Compact Camera Press Release. (thanks David)

Cine Lenses with Maximum Flexibility

Compact Prime CP.2 lenses from Carl Zeiss now also with F-mount

OBERKOCHEN/Germany, 08.09.2010.

In 4th quarter of 2010, ZEISS Compact Prime CP.2 lenses will be available with F-mount. The Compact Prime CP.2 series, presented last April, were the first lenses developed especially for shooting with HDSLR cameras. Since then, the lenses have been highly sought after by cinematographers and film photographers alike. In addition to the PL-, EF- and F-mount, Carl Zeiss will soon also be offering the Compact Prime CP.2 lenses with Micro 4/3 and A-mount.

The Compact Prime CP.2 lenses’ inter- changeable mount means the lenses can be used for many purposes. The lenses have a compact and robust build so that they can handle any demand on the film set.

“With the new enhancement of mounts we want to meet the needs of our customers”, says Michael Schiehlen, Head of Sales of Carl Zeiss AG Camera Lens Division. “The possibility of using our CP.2 lenses flexibly for three different camera systems is not only interesting for new customers. Stores that rent cameras and camera equipment also benefit from the lenses’ enhanced flexibility.”

Just in time for the IBC in Amsterdam, Carl Zeiss has announced two new focus lengths that will also be available with F-mount: Compact Prime CP.2 50 mm/T2.1 Makro and CP.2 100mm/T2.1 CF. They complement the seven focal lengths from 18 to 85 millimeters that are already available.

The SD Association has announced a new memory card design.

This is "... a new, dual-row pin memory card design achieving bus interface speeds of up to 300 megabytes per second for SDXC and SDHC devices and memory cards. It is fully backwards compatible, allowing equipped devices full use of any SD, SDHC and SDXC memory cards."

"New high speed interface signals will be assigned on the second row of pins of select SDXC and SDHC memory cards offering the new speed. This option will be available in both full-size and micro form factors and does not change the physical size or shape of the cards. This design will be part of the forthcoming SD 4.0 specification, expected in early 2011."

Adorama has the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV in refurbished condition (like new in my experience) for only $4,199.00 shipped. Act fast if you want one of these!

Just announced: Zeiss Filters and Camera Strap.

I could easily see the filters coming, but I have to admit that the camera strap blind-sided me.

We are approaching holiday season for B&H. To receive prompt shipment of your order, standard-shipping orders must be placed before 6:00 PM EDT today and rush-shipping orders must be placed before 11:00 AM EDT Wed. Orders placed after these cut-off times will be shipped when B&H reopens. Online ordering will not be available during this holiday.

Order your gear now: B&H Photo

The Canon EOS 60D Owners Manual (9 MB PDF) is now available for download.

Datacolor has announced the SpyderLensCal - "New Tool Enables Photographers to Measure and Improve Autofocus Performance"

It's back. Canon USA's Why Do You Love Football Challenge 2010 is on.

Redrock Micro Introduces Redrock|Ops - Camo-style camera rigs for video DSLR cameras.

The Canon Expo 2010 New York Press Release has been made. See you at the show!

Carl Zeiss has announced 35mm f/1.4 Distagon T* ZE Lens (press release). This lens is expected to be available in 2011/Q1.