Canon and Sony News for Oct 2011 (Page 4)

Jill-e Designs press release:

Go Anywhere, Do Anything with Jill-e Designs Everywear Gadget Bag

ORLANDO, October 5, 2011

Newest Addition to Classic Collection 'Looks Like a Purse, But It’s So Much More'

Jill-e Designs, the leading maker of sturdy, stylish camera and carry bags for today’s technology-rich, on-the-go lifestyle, has come up with something entirely new: The Everywear Gadget Bag – a sassy blend of purse-like features and camera bag capabilities that’s the newest addition to the company’s quality Classic Collection.

The Everywear Gadget Bag has the dimensions of a typical purse – 12.0"L x 7.0"W x 10.0"H – and is equipped with dual 9.5” drop leather carrying handles. But inside it features pro-quality padding and dividers, with room for a DSLR camera body, two lenses and a flash unit – plus photo accessories and personal items. There’s also a protective sleeve pocket to secure a tablet, e-reader or similar device.

“Our new Everywear Gadget Bag looks like a purse, but it’s so much more – and that’s the idea,” said Gail Backal, president and co-founder of Jill-e Designs. “Wherever you go, whatever you do, no matter what you want to take with you, you can do it all with the Everywear Gadget Bag.”

Available in stylish nougat or black microfiber with rich leather handles and trim, the Everywear Gadget Bag features multiple pockets, pouches and compartments to securely hold all your lifestyle essentials from a pen and a pair of glasses, to an iPad and a complete DSLR camera set-up. Its quality design is strong on convenience, easy access, and head-turning good looks.

The New Everywear Gadget Bag features:

• Stylish, high-quality, weather-resistant nylon exterior

• Durable top-grain leather accent trim

• Dual 9.5” drop leather carrying handles for great control, comfortable grip

• Quality top zipper guards entry, makes access to your belongings easy

• Padded exterior walls and internal dividers organize and protect your gear

• Protective sleeve pocket is perfect for iPad, e-reader or similar device

• Multiple internal and external pockets for all your lifestyle essentials Task-specific and hideaway pouches for pens, glasses, personal items

• Exterior wipes clean with a damp cloth

• Maximum weight capacity: 15.0 lbs.

• Dimensions: (LxWxH) 12.0" x 7.0" x 10.0"

• Weight: 1 lb., 5 oz.

• Suggested price: $99.99

The Everywear Gadget Bag is currently available for purchase worldwide on the Jill-e Designs web site and at popular retailers, photo specialty shops and online stores.

B&H carries the Jill-e Designs Everywear Gadget Bag.

iPhoto 9.2 supports compatibility with iCloud and iOS 5. This update also addresses minor stability, performance and compatibility issues, including:

• Left and right swipe gestures can now be used to navigate between photos in Magnify (1-up) view

• Previously imported photos are now displayed in a separate section of the Import window

• Book/calendar themes and card categories can now be selected using a pop-up menu in the carousel view

• Resolves an issue that could cause some pages of books to print incorrectly

• Rebuilding a library now correctly preserves saved slideshows and books

The update is recommended for all users of iPhoto '11.

Aperture 3.2 supports compatibility with iCloud and iOS 5. This update also addresses minor stability, performance and compatibility issues, including:

• Aperture now automatically relaunches into Full Screen mode if the application was in Full Screen mode when last quit

• Pinch-to-zoom gesture now automatically activates Zoom mode in the Viewer

• Left and right swipe gestures can now be used to navigate between photos in the Viewer

• Microsoft Outlook can now be chosen in Preferences as the application used by Aperture for emailing photos

• Fixes a problem that could cause Aperture, running on OS X Lion, to quit unexpectedly when using brushes to apply adjustments

• Loupe now correctly displays magnification levels between 50-100%.

• Fixes an issue that could cause Aperture, running on OS X Lion, to display the incorrect color profile on externally edited images

• Import window now includes an option to delete photos from iPhone and iPad after they have been imported into Aperture

• The Lift & Stamp tool now displays the correct cursor icons when being used in Split View and Viewer only modes

The update is recommended for all users of Aperture 3.

For detailed information on this update, please visit this website: http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2518

A Bloomberg Businessweek article discusses the effect of the flooding on Nikon's ability to deliver DSLR cameras.

"Nikon’s inventory of SLR cameras will probably last for about a month and the effect on earnings would be negligible should the company resume the plant’s operation within a month, Hisashi Moriyama, a JPMorgan analyst in Tokyo, said in a report dated yesterday."

"Suspensions lasting two months could cut Nikon’s revenue by 30 billion yen and operating profit by 5 billion yen to 10 billion yen, he said."

Not mentioned was the disruption to Canon production. At this point, I'm only aware that Canon's inkjet production has been affected.

Location to Serve as Western Hub for Education, Service & Training Operations

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., October 12, 2011 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging, today announced the opening of the Canon Hollywood Professional Technology and Support Center to better serve its film and television production clients. The office, located on the historic Sunset Gower Studio lot at 6060 Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles, will provide a local site to foster support, research, service and training for Hollywood’s thriving entertainment industry.

“We want to offer a one-stop shop where our clients can come to ask questions and explore our various products with the help of our highly qualified technical and engineering staff members. The Canon Hollywood Professional Technology and Support Center provides a well-equipped venue for working with professionals in a range of imaging industries, from film and television production to still imaging and professional output,” stated Yuichi Ishizuka, executive vice president and general manager, Imaging Technologies and Communications Group, Canon U.S.A.

Comprehensive product repair services for Canon professional products will be available in the new Hollywood facility starting in late 2011. On-site repair operations will include two state-of-the-art camera body and lens adjustment rooms, Canon’s most advanced adjustment and calibration equipment, local spare parts inventory, and an experienced professional repair staff that will look to quickly return Canon’s professional products to their original factory condition and operation.

The Canon Hollywood Professional Technology and Support Center will also serve as a field extension of Canon’s Research and Solution Engineering Department, dedicated to ensuring that current and future products meet or exceed the demands of our clientele. As a local research and development center, staff will assess market demands and expectations for new professional imaging technology and look to build them into future product generations and customer support provisions. This represents only one of many initiatives and investments that Canon has planned to solidify its commitment to the film and television production community.

The facility will also support business opportunities by offering 1:1 meetings with major clients (studios, production houses, television networks, rental facilities, and others) to further build relationships and assess their needs. The new facility and local Canon staff will also offer hands-on education to current and potential clients on the latest Canon professional products. Courtesy visits by both existing and potential clients in the industry can be arranged to explore opportunities and assess Canon’s full capabilities. Guilds, unions or organizations affiliated with film and television production are encouraged to inquire about hosting seminars, events and industry gatherings at Canon’s Hollywood center as well.

The Canon Hollywood Professional Technology and Support Center will also host Canon Live Learning (CLL) workshops – fee-based seminars for professionals and enthusiasts looking to further their imaging education. In addition, the Hollywood center will offer other industry-related events covering a wide range of technical and creative topics within the professional production segment.

In addition to the business and Hollywood industry support mentioned above, the service and support facility located in the Canon’s new Hollywood center will also be part of Canon’s industry-leading nationwide customer service and support network. Canon’s customer service and support network includes Factory Service Centers in Irvine (Calif.), Jamesburg (N.J.) and Newport News (Va.) as well as five broadcast lens service centers located strategically throughout the United States. Canon service centers’ reputation for excellence is based on industry-leading repair turnaround times, high-quality repair services, personalized service and 100 percent US-based call center support operations, all based on Canon factory standards and processes and designed to provide complete customer satisfaction.

Ready for some bird photography? Next up in the forum-sourced photography tips: Backyard Bird Photography Setup Tips by Joel Eade.

Get 10% off of 14 "Select Sigma Lenses" at Abe's of Maine. Try using coupon code LOYALTY15 for a possible additional $15 off.

Also at Abe's, use coupon code LOYALTY15 and this link to get the Tamron 18-270mm Di II VC PZD Lens for only $529.95 shipped after rebate.

ISO 12233 test results showing Tokina 16-28mm f/2.8 AT-X Pro FX Lens image quality have been added to the site.

Nikon press release:

Notice on the damage from the flood in Thailand

October 11, 2011

Nikon (Thailand) Co., Ltd., a consolidated subsidiary of Nikon Corporation in the Rojana Industrial Park in Ayutthaya Province located in Central Thailand, is submerged by the flood caused by torrential rainfall since last July.

The latest situations at Nikon (Thailand) Co., Ltd. are as follows:

1. Damages

The 1st floor of all buildings at the premises are presently submerged. Details of the damages are now under investigation. As for the employees, the human damage has not been reported so far. The factory is suspending its operation since October 6.

2. Estimated impact to our business performance

We are now doing our utmost to estimate the impact of the flood to our group companies and business performance. We assure you to immediately advise the findings once it is judged there will be an important change in our forecast.

3. Recovery

We are continuing to investigate details of the damage, but are unable to predict how soon operation will be resumed. We will set up our recovery support system and endeavor to restart its operation as early as possible. We are now requesting drainage of the industrial park to the Thai government, together with the Rojana Industrial Park authority, other companies in the Park and Japan External Trade Organization.

Based on feedback from so many of you, the site index will now, by default, show at the bottom of each page (home page excluded).

If this is not your preference, simply click on the button in the bottom navigation bar to toggle this display.

Thanks!

ISO 12233 test results showing Samyang 35mm f/1.4 US UMC Lens image quality have been added to the site.

Again, this is a full manual lens - including manual aperture with stopped-down metering.

ISO 12233 test results showing Samyang 85mm f/1.4 Lens (Rokinon/Bower) image quality have been added to the site.

These results are not bad at all for such a cheap lens. Remember that this is a full manual lens - including manual aperture with stopped-down metering.

From B&H:

The B&H SuperStore and Offices will close Wednesday, October 12, at 1:00PM EDT through Sunday, October 23 at 10:00AM EDT.

The B&H SuperStore and offices will close in observance of the Succos Holiday on Wednesday, October 12, at 1:00PM EDT, and will reopen on Sunday, October 23 at 10:00AM EDT.

All orders placed before Wednesday, October 12, at 7:00AM EDT will be processed normally.

Orders placed after the above times will be processed when we reopen.

Online ordering will be unavailable from Wednesday, October 12, at 6:15PM EDT through Saturday, October 15, at 7:30PM EDT and from Wednesday, October 19, at 6:00PM EDT through Saturday, October 22, at 7:15PM EDT.

Again, to have your order shipped before Succos, place your order before Wednesday, October 12, at 7:00AM EDT

Bob Williams has been lining up some reference forum posts for the site's Photography Tips section.

First up is Bob's own Hummingbird Photography Tips.

Results from the Zeiss 35mm f/1.4 Distagon T* ZE Lens have been added to the Flare Tool.