From Manfrotto Distribution (for Bowens):
Upper Saddle River, N.J. (October 5, 2016) – Manfrotto Distribution, Inc., distributor of Bowens products in the United States, proudly announces the launch of the new Generation X flash range by Bowens. These innovative units will debut in the U.S. at PhotoPlus Expo in New York City later this month and mark a renaissance for the legacy lighting manufacturer.
Generation X comprises two new flash systems: XMT – an all-in-one battery unit for location lighting and XMS – engineered to be the go-to system for photographers who need a function-rich and completely reliable flash in the studio.
Announcing the launch, David Hollingsworth, Marketing Manager, said, “Generation X is just the first step in relaunching Bowens to the imaging world. These barrier-breaking new products combine state-of-the-art technology and cutting-edge design and are the result of many months of very intense market research and product development. They will be the vanguard of our plans for ongoing and regular new unit roll-outs in coming months and years.”
Added Hollingsworth, “We believe these are simply the best lights in their class available on the market today. New-look Bowens is creating beautifully designed and engineered products, tailored to our customers’ needs.”
John Gass, Technical Director said, “Generation X is the result of highly-focused analysis of our customers’ feedback through the years. These new units are revolutionary products which we believe are absolutely unbeatable in their class in terms of functionality, aesthetics and cost.”
He added, “For decades, customers have frequently described our products as ‘workhorses’ in the studio and on location. Now the workhorse has been transformed into a stallion; we tested the XMS at full power every five seconds over consecutive days and we couldn’t force this product to overheat.”
Generation X – at a glance
The all-new 500Ws XMT boasts TTL and high speed sync functionality (up to 1/8000s) compatible with Canon, Nikon and Sony cameras: 9-stops of flash power adjustment; flash durations as short as 1/10309s: faster recycle times than ever before (as rapid as 0.01s): easy swap lithium-ion battery provides up to 500 full power flashes per charge: rear curtain sync; sync delay and strobe mode allow creative set-ups on the move.
The XMS, available in 500,750 and 1000Ws models (all fully controllable via the XMSR 2.4 Ghz radio control and trigger) features multi-voltage operation. These units offer outstanding specification with faster recycling times and flash durations. The XMSR model includes groundbreaking Bowens ‘Sync Offset’ functionality, enabling photographers to embrace any brand of camera to shoot at high sync speeds – up to 1/8000s.
The following models will be available this fall:
Flash | MSRP |
XMT 500 | $1,799.99 |
XMS 500 | $1,099.99 |
XMS 750 | $1,299.99 |
XMS 1000 | $1,499.99 |
XMSR Trigger | $289.99 |
From Gitzo:
We are proud to inform you about the official launch of our new Monopod range.
Gitzo monopods continue to set the standard for professionals and advanced amateurs. The ideal monopod needs to be rigid, lightweight, extremely fast to open and close, fast and precise in height adjustments for rapid changes in shooting position. Thanks to Carbon eXact and G-lock Ultra, the new Gitzo monopods have all these features.
Rigid and lightweight – Carbon eXact tubes
Carbon eXact tubes optimise fibre composition for each tube size, to make the narrower tubes stiffer, and the wider tubes lighter compared to the predecessors’ Carbon 6X tubes. Series 4 (top leg diameter 37.0mm) models replace the previous Series 5 models; the slimmer top tube contributes to easier gripping and lighter weight, while ensuring rigidity from the stiff Carbon eXact tubes.
Improved ergonomics – new leg locks
G-lock Ultra has even more comfortable operation and reduced risk of dust entering the locking mechanism.
Smooth movement, solid footing - new big foot
The new big foot (diameter 50mm) realizes solid footing on any surface, while providing smooth movement with its integrated ball. This big foot can be removed and replaced by optional feet and spikes. This big foot is also available as an accessory (GSF50M).
Product range
B&H carries the new Gitzo Monopod range (see above product codes for links).
From Gitzo:
We are proud to inform you about the official launch of our new Systematic tripods – Gitzo’s top of the range tripod family, the choice of exacting professional photographers who use long lenses and heavy cameras.
Not only are Systematic Gitzo’s strongest and most stable tripods, they’re also modular, with a top casting element that opens and closes to allow each tripod to be configured with a flat disk, geared or sliding center column, video half-ball adaptor, leveling base or other Systematic accessories.
The latest range features Carbon eXact tubes, new ultra-stable feet and the Easy Link attachment, making the Systematic even more stable, versatile, and ergonomic.
Modular system
New Easy Link attachment
New Ultra-stable Feet
Other new features
Product Range
New Systematic Tripods
B&H carries the new Gitzo Systematic tripod range (see above product codes for links).
Just posted: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV Review.
Let me know if I missed anything important to you.
B&H has the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV in stock.
by Sean Setters
I recently ran across a Canadian Geographic article – How We Chose the Wildlife Photography of the Year Winners – and realized that longtime friend of the site Jonathan Huyer (huyerperspectives.com) had been awarded top honors in the "Animals in Action" category for his picture of two polar bears perched atop an iceberg.
Because he is such an active member in our own Community Forum, I was not suprised (but of course impressed) by the accolade. As such, I reached out to Jonathan to ask if he'd answer a few questions regarding his winning image (seen above) and the challenges associated with photographing in such challenging conditions.
How did you get into photography?
I've always been a bit of a gadget geek, and I fell in love with cameras at an early age. The digital revolution really helped fuel my passion. If I can identify a single turning point, it would probably be when I went on a sea kayaking trip in the Great Bear Rainforest of British Columbia in 2008. A professional photographer was along for the journey, and I marveled at his technique and results. As soon as I got home I started investing in better gear, pushing my creativity, and booking more trips!
The trip to Baffin Island was an exploratory adventure, to look for polar bear mothers with cubs on the ice. Local Inuit had indicated that bears were plentiful in that area, and for me that was all the advice I needed to hear to sign up. Arctic Kingdom, an experienced northern travel company, handled all the logistics. The story behind this particular shot is, to be honest, almost embarrassing. We spent three days cruising around by snowmobile and qamutik (sleds), before we finally came across a mother with her yearling cub on a frozen-in iceberg. I spent the first half hour gleefully taking gigabytes of close-ups with my 500 mm lens, not even thinking of any other photo opportunities. Then a buddy of mine who was on the trip with me asked if I could take his picture in front of the bears. So I pulled out my second camera with the wide-angle lens, which I had been using mostly for aurora images at night. I took his picture, and it was only then that I realized that the wide-angle view was kind of interesting. So I then asked him to step aside, and I fired off some more images to capture the entire scene. When I got home I showed the picture to a pro wildlife photographer, and he nearly fell off his chair. But I still didn't realize the potential of the image. I went ahead and entered it in the contest, thinking that one of my other pictures would stand a better chance. I was just too fixated on the mindset that the only good wildlife shots are taken with telephoto lenses.
What preparation was necessary to get the shot? What gear did you use?
The preparation consisted mostly of knowing how to survive and function efficiently in extremely cold weather. I've made several trips to the Arctic, and each time I go I learn something new... usually through mistakes! The biggest factor is probably mental --- just being prepared for long days of waiting, and the potential for not seeing anything at all. At the same time, you need to be ready to jump into action in an instant, should you happen across an opportunity. For this shot, I used a Canon 5D Mark III handheld, with a 24-70 mm f/2.8 lens at a focal length of 45 mm. For the majority of my images, I was using a Canon 1DX with a 500 mm lens mounted on a tripod.
My 500 mm f/4 L II lens is definitely my first choice for wildlife, and I usually carry a 70-200 f/2.8 L II lens on a second camera just in case the animal gets too close, or if I want to capture a wider scene. My favourite landscape lens is the 24-70 f/2.8 L II, due to its incredible sharpness and versatility. I also really like the 82 mm filter diameter, which lets me use graduated neutral density filters without risk of vignetting. I shoot with full-frame bodies, so typically the 24 mm focal length is wide enough. On a crop-sensor body, I'd look for something a bit wider.
Tough question! I sure enjoy landscapes in my beautiful mountain town of Canmore Alberta, but it would be hard to give up the adrenaline rush of wildlife photography. The downside to looking for wildlife is that it always entails long hours of waiting, with many more missed opportunities than successes. But perhaps that makes the results all the more worthwhile, when everything comes together. There is an incredible appeal to being able to spend brief moments with an animal in the wild, quietly capturing images while at the same time leaving it completely undisturbed. That is the gold standard of wildlife photography, and every time it happens for me I get more and more hooked.
A while back you authored an article for us, Cold Weather Photography Tips, which I would consider a must-read for anyone planning to shoot in extremely cold conditions. Overall, what's the most challenging and/or surprising aspect of shooting in sub-zero conditions?
I've found that it's a battle of endurance, both mental and physical. You need to be able to put up with a large amount of discomfort, and be mentally prepared to tough it out for an extended period of time. We went several days on the Baffin Island trip without any success, and it was crucial to stay optimistic and hopeful. The physical side was surprising for me, since you don't normally equate photography with anything athletic. But I found that in the Arctic, being in good physical condition was a great benefit. You are weighed down heavily by the bulky clothing, and often need to slog through deep snow carrying your big lens and tripod to get in position for a shot. On this trip, lack of sleep was also a major issue as we had the good fortune of photographing auroras almost every night. I'm a former marathon runner and triathlete, but after a week up north, I was totally spent. On the plus side, I was definitely grinning like a kid!
I'm not sure that the goal should be to "stand out", rather I think the goal should be to find your passion. For me, I love the Arctic and I will definitely be going back as soon as I can. But no matter what it is you enjoy, go after it! You might later find yourself developing a creative style that makes you stand out from the crowd, and if so, great. But that is the secondary objective. The first is simply to shoot your passion, and enjoy the experience.
Check out more of Jonathan Huyer's work at huyerperspectives.com.
From Adobe:
The Elements team is excited to announce the release of Photoshop Elements 15 & Premiere Elements 15.
Over the years, the Elements products have emphasized easy photo and video organization, editing, creation, and sharing. Elements combines powerful behind-the-scenes technology magic adapted from our professional apps with a user friendly UI and modes for every level of user to deliver an ideal mix of power and ease-of-use for creating and sharing your special moments.
For this release we focused on further automating the organization and editing process so that Elements does the heavy lifting and you can focus on creating and sharing. We’ve also expanded our selection of Guided Edits so it is even easier to get started and continue to bridge the gap between photo and video editing by bringing familiar photo features and terminology to life in Premiere Elements As you’ll see, there are a number of exciting new features and enhancements to make your photos as amazing as your memories.
Here’s what’s new:
Adobe Elements Organizer 15
Adobe Photoshop Elements 15
Adobe Premiere Elements 15
These are just some of the new and enhanced features in Photoshop Elements 15 and Premiere Elements 15. For a complete list of what’s new and improved, please visit here. Be sure to check out project tutorials here and follow us on Facebook.
We hope you’re as excited about this release as we are and look forward to your feedback.
B&H carries Adobe Photoshop Elements 15 and Premiere Elements 15.
October 4th, 2016 - Huntington Beach, CA - HOYA USA introduces SOLAS, a new series of IRND (Infrared Neutral Density) filters for photo and cinema cameras. Through the use of advanced materials and precision Japanese manufacturing the SOLAS series maintains neutral color transmission throughout the 1 to 10 stop density range while suppressing infrared contamination.
Hoya understands that today’s digital sensors are increasingly sensitive to all forms of light making it necessary to use neutral density filters to create the desired creative effect during exposure. Using a ND filter that maintains a consistent color balance throughout the density range is critical to the post-production process, saving time and money for photographers and cinematographers alike. The Solas series not only maintains a consistent color balance it also suppresses infrared radiation which often presents itself in the form of red noise or difficult to correct color-shift in the shadow areas of the exposed image.
Exclusive to the USA, the Solas IRND fitlers are available in the following densities and sizes:
0.3 (1-stop) – 49mm ~ 82mm
0.6 (2-stop) – 49mm ~ 82mm
0.9 (3-stop) – 46mm ~ 82mm
1.2 (4-stop) – 49mm ~ 82mm
1.5 (5-stop) – 49mm ~ 82mm
1.8 (6-stop) – 46mm ~ 82mm
2.7 (9-stop) – 49mm ~ 82mm
3.0 (10-stop) – 46mm ~ 82mm
Retail pricing starts at $48.90 and are available in stores and online retailers now.
B&H carries Hoya SOLAS IRND filters.
From the Canon Digital Learning Center:
by Eric StonerRead the entire article on the Canon Digital Learning Center.If you’ve ever made an online purchase, you know images matter! Strong, impactful photography is super important to make your products stand out to buyers. It differentiates you from the competition, it shows the condition of the product along with its unique details and it can tell a story – a picture is worth a thousand words and maybe a thousand dollars!
In this multi-part series of articles, I’m going to start by sharing some quick tips to help you get the quality of your photography to a higher level so your products look their best. Then, I’ll share several techniques to get you started VERY inexpensively. Finally, I’ll progress into other techniques that require some investment – but are totally worth it to make your product photos truly stand out to potential buyers.
See our Canon Macro Lens Recommendations to find out which macro lens is best for your needs.
B&H carries Canon macro lenses.
According to the Egami blog, Canon has filed a patent for a CN-E 60-800mm f/4-5.6 optical formula.
Patent Details