From Apple:
About Digital Camera RAW Compatibility Update 4.04:
This update adds RAW image compatibility for the following cameras to Aperture 3 and iPhoto '11:
Download the Digital Camera RAW Update 4.04 here.
This is The-Digital-Picture.com's Weekend Recap for the week ending February 9th, 2013In the news...
Sigma started this week with a brand new, redesigned website. The site now features an all-new product finder, redesigned photo galleries, a comparison tool, and an expanded Sigma lounge.
On Monday, Sports Illustrated published a Gigapan image captured during the first quarter of Super Bowl 47. The overall Gigapan image is made up of 220 individual images and is roughly 3,800 megapixels in total size.
On Wednesday, we reported that Canon confirmed a firmware fix is in the works for the 1D X and 5D Mark III DSLR cameras. The firmware fix will address slow autofocus performance when using the AF assist beam feature of a shoe-mounted Canon Speedlight.
In reviews…
On Thursday, Bryan published a set of standard-thickness, 82mm circular polarizer test results to the site’s vignetting comparison tool. Using the comparison tool, visitors can now see the how much “mechanical vignetting” to expect when using a circular polarizer with lenses such as the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM lens.
On Friday, lens distortion and vignetting test results were added for the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG HSM lens, while vignetting test results were added for three other Sigma lenses.
And, for our deal of the week…
Also on Friday, we published a deal from BuyDig.com where you could get a Canon 40mm f/2.8 STM lens for $144.00 with free shipping – that’s a $55.00 savings off the normal retail price.
This has been the The-Digital-Picture.com’s Weekend Recap. Thanks for listening, and as always, happy shooting!
Lens distortion test results have been added to the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG HSM Lens page.
Lens vignetting test results have been added to the following review pages:
Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG HSM Lens
Sigma 50-150mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM Lens
Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM Lens
Sigma 150mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM Macro Lens
From Sports Illustrated:
Sports Illustrated photographer David Bergman and Josh Lehrer created [a] Gigapan during the Baltimore Ravens 34-31 victory over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII at the Mercedes Benz Superdome in New Orleans on Feb. 3, 2013. The image is made up of 220 individual photos (20 across by 11 down) taken over a 38-minute span in the first quarter. The final high-resolution image is 101,800 x 37,419 pixels, or 3,809 megapixels.
Check out the huge Super Bowl XLVII Gigapan here.
With a standard thickness B+W 82mm Circular Polarizer filter recently added to our lab inventory, we now have 82mm Circular Polarizer filter vignetting results included in the following reviews:
Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM Lens (compare)
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM Lens (compare)
Tamron 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD Lens (compare)
Tokina 17-35mm f/4 AT-X Pro FX Lens (compare)
Coming soon: Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG HSM Lens
Because of the thickness of standard circular polarizer filters, mechanical vignetting is sometimes an issue when they are used on wide angle lenses. These tests allow comparison between the bare lens and the with-CP filter results (typically the last option in the focal length drop-down box).
In the above examples, the two Canon lenses show some additional vignetting when used with the standard thickness CP filters. While a slim circular polarizer filter is a great option, I much-prefer B+W's flagship B+W's XS-Pro Circular Polarizer Filters (B&H) (Adorama). These top-of-the-line filters are slim, but include front threads that will hold a standard lens cap in place.
Nikon has posted their Financial Results for Q3 for the year ending March 2013 [February 6, 2013].
Financial Results (PDF:320KB)
Financial and Business Data (PDF:84KB)
Presentation Material (PDF:628KB)
1. Financial Results for the Third Quarter of the Year Ending March 31, 2013 (PDF:321KB)
2. Estimation for the Year Ending March 31, 2013 (PDF:364KB)
3. Reference Data (PDF:239KB)
From Sigma:
Welcome to the redesigned website of Sigma Corporation of America. Over the past several month, our team has been hard at work to redesign, refresh, upgrade, and refine the overall look, feel, and user experience on our website.
Take a look around and you’ll see our focus is on ease of navigation, with a very image-forward design. Photography is our business–our only business, and that focus shows in our redesign philosophy.
We’re especially excited about the redesigned Product Finder, which now includes the full Sigma line including cameras, strobes, and accessories, in addition to lenses. This has always been one of the most popular features on our website, and we hope you appreciate the upgrades.
We focused on creating a more visually appealing website, and there are more than 2,000 photos currently on the site–and each one was captured with Sigma products.
We’ve added several new photo galleries to the website to inspire and educate. And all the shots–from the product images, to our Fan Photo of the Week and X3 Gallery, it is all shot with Sigma. And of course, we’d also love to showcase your amazing photos in our Photoshare and Fan Photo of the Week galleries!
And be sure to check out “Video Tips from a Pro” with Sigma Pro Lindsay Adler, our new series of informative videos by this inspirational member of the Sigma team. Her expert advice should help many photographers make smart purchase decisions.
We are very excited about the look and feel of our new website, and we’d love to hear your feedback!
B&H carries Sigma lenses.
A thread on Canon's forums regarding Canon EOS 5D Mark III and 1D X DSLR cameras being slow to acquire focus when using a Speedlite's AF Assist Beam prompted this response from a moderator (Stephen):
"Canon has confirmed that, depending upon the shooting conditions, it may take slightly longer for the EOS 5D Mark III and EOS-1D X digital SLR cameras to acquire focus when using the Speedlite's AF Assist Beam, compared with that of the EOS 5D Mark II and EOS-1D Mark IV digital SLR cameras using the Speedlite's AF Assist Beam. We are developing a firmware update to enhance the focusing feature for the EOS 5D Mark III and the EOS-1D X. The schedule for release of this firmware update will be announced shortly."
Stay tuned for more info...
From DxO:
02/06/2013
98 new lens / camera combinations have been added to the DxO Optics Modules library, providing supports for Canon, Panasonic, Sigma and Sony lenses, for Canon, Nikon, Olympus and Sony cameras.
To see supported and planned combinations, click on the link bellow then select the second tab.
Supported or planned combinations
B&H carries DxO Optics Pro software.
From RØDE:
RØDE Microphones is announcing the release of the smartLav, a new lapel microphone that connects directly to the headset jack of Apple iOS devices. Compatible with the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, smartLav delivers premium quality audio capture in a compact and accessible form factor.
The smartLav is a professional-grade wearable microphone designed for use in a wide range of film, television and broadcast scenarios, or wherever professional quality audio is required in a discreet, portable format without the complication and expense of additional wireless equipment, particularly where multiple talent is involved. With the smartLav the user simply mounts the microphone on the talent, connects it to the iOS device’s headset jack and records via the RØDE Rec or RØDE Rec LE apps.
By employing a high quality omni-directional condenser capsule the smartLav captures sound in a forgiving 360 degrees, allowing for versatility when mounting and ensuring a high degree of user-friendly operation .
“The smartLav is an exciting solution that makes professional quality audio available to anyone with access to an Apple iOS device,” explained Damien Wilson, RØDE’s Marketing and Sales Director. “For filmmakers or wedding videographers that have struggled to simultaneously record multiple talent this product truly is an incredibly simple and cost effective solution.”
A foam pop shield is included to minimise wind noise and vocal plosives (hard ‘b’, ‘t’ and ‘p’ sounds), as well as a durable mounting clip with in-built cable management. The smartLav has been designed to pair perfectly with the RØDE Rec app for Apple iOS devices, and is also compatible with any iOS audio app that accepts input from the headset connection. RØDE Rec turns the user’s iOS device into a fully-featured field recorder, with a wide range of equalisation pre-sets to suit various recording situations, in addition to professional editing functions and the ability to publish to SoundCloud and Dropbox directly from the app.
“Both the smartLav and the recently announced RØDE iXY stereo microphone showcase the possibilities of the RØDE Rec app as more than an isolated piece of software,” Mr Wilson explained, “but also as a platform and hub for a range of professional grade audio devices. This platform leverages the portability and popularity of Apple’s iOS devices to make content creation easier than ever.”
The smartLav is shipping to authorised RØDE retailers worldwide this month, at a suggested retail price of US$60.
B&H carries RØDE microphones.
From LPA Design/PocketWizard:
ControlTL MiniTT1 / FlexTT5 Canon Beta Firmware
Beta Firmware Version: 6.201
New Key Features:
Compatibility with Canon EOS-1D X:
The following Canon gear is now supported in this beta firmware release:
The Canon 1D X will work in the ControlTL® system with some important operational considerations:
For instructions on downloading the Beta Firmware 6.201, click here.
B&H carries the PocketWizard MiniTT1 radio transmitter and PocketWizard FlexTT5 radio slave.
From PocketWizard:
PocketWizard G-Wiz Vault gadget bag perfect for the safe and convenient storage of multiple radios, cameras and accessories
LPA Design, manufacturers of PocketWizard Photo Products, the world leader in wireless control of cameras, flash lighting and light meters, announces today the new G-Wiz Vault bag. Designed for use with the PocketWizard MultiMAX®, Plus® II or FlexTT5® Transceivers and accessories, this padded gear bag is also the perfect size to protect a full-sized DSLR camera.
“Many photographers own several PocketWizard radios and the new G-Wiz Vault bag offers them a storage solution that keeps them safe when not in use.” said Dave Schmidt, LPA Design’s VP of Marketing. “We’ve also designed the G-Wiz line as a convenient storage solution for other photo gear and the G-Wiz Vault is sized to fit any full size DSLR camera body or other accessories.”
The new PocketWizard G-Wiz Vault bag holds up to six MultiMAX or Plus II radios with connector cables, ten FlexTT5’s, or one full-size DSLR camera body. The Vault features three movable or removable hook-n-loop padded dividers allowing photographers to customize this bag to fit their gear-packing needs. Available in three colors, the G-Wiz Vault opens from the top allowing photographers to ensure at a glance that all their PocketWizard gear is neatly and safely packed away.
Features include: three movable hook-n-loop padded dividers, zippered inside pocket, Super-Snap closure attachment straps with grab handle and durable rip-stop nylon construction.
Dimensions: 6" x 6" x 3.5". Capacity: 126in3
B&H carries PocketWizard G-Wiz storage bags.
Nikon USA has published the GP-1A GPS Unit Manual (PDF).
Nikon has released the Capture NX 2.4.0 software update.
Modifications enabled with Ver. 2.4.0
Modifications that apply to both the Windows and Macintosh versions
Additional modifications to the Windows version
Additional modifications to the Macintosh version
Installation
Windows
Macintosh
Download the Capture NX 2.4.0 software update: Windows | Macintosh
B&H carries Nikon's Capture NX 2 photo editing software.