Canon and Sony News for Apr 2016 (Page 6)

From DJI:

SHENZHEN, China, April 8, 2016 – DJI, the world's leading commercial drone manufacturer, Friday launched a new social platform called "DJI+ Discover."

Users can access DJI+ Discover via an iOS or Android app. The mobile app connects people socially and professionally by enabling drone-pilots and drone enthusiasts to start conversations and meet up while also functioning as a professional marketplace for aerial service providers and potential clients. Further, the app is a gateway to the broader DJI community, including an integrated version of the DJI Forum, the DJI online store, SkyPixel, upcoming DJI events and more.

"Drone pilots like to get together to fly, learn from each other and share experiences with like-minded people. In the same way, people want an easy way to find trustworthy professional aerial service providers nearby," said Paul Guo, Director of E-Commerce at DJI. "DJI+ Discover lets people in the same area connect socially and professionally in a way that will bind the drone community even tighter together."

The app is easy to use and divided into four sections: Nearby Search, Experience, Store and Forum. Users sign up by registering an email address. Their profile can be linked to an existing DJI account. The app is open to anyone - from those curious about the technology without any previous experience to professional service providers.

Nearby Search shows social and professional users nearby, as well as flying hotspots and geo-tagged photos from SkyPixel.

The Nearby Search section is separated for social and professional users. The platform offers social users a way to connect, chat and meet. In a similar way, professional users can introduce their offer and services and connect with new clients. Users of professional services can write reviews directly on service providers' profiles.

The Experience section guides users to nearby stores, and official DJI events. Other interactive features will be posted in this section.

The Store section takes users directly to DJI's online store.

DJI's official Forum is directly integrated in the DJI+ Discover app, making it easier for people to discuss, share best practices and get tips directly through their mobile phone.

The app can be downloaded for free on this link. The app is currently available in the U.S., the UK, Germany, Spain and Australia.

B&H carries DJI aerial imaging products.

According to the Egami Blog, Sigma has patented a 200mm f/2 DG OS HSM Sports lens and what seems to be a new, specifically designed 1.4x teleconverter.

Patent Details:

Patent Publication No. 2016-45314

• Published 2016.4.4
• Filing date 2014.8.21

The master lens

• Focal length 194.93
• F-number 2.05
• Full angle of view 2? 12.70
• The image height Y 21.63
• Overall length of the lens 231.33
• BF 60.2233

Complex lens

• Focal length 274.52
• F-number 2.89
• Full angle of view 2? 9.06
• The image height Y 21.63
• Overall length of the lens 252.18
• BF 39.5088

Not long ago, Canon released Digital Photo Professional 4.4.0 along with several other updated programs bundled in the EOS 80D EOS Digital Solution Disk Download. Now Canon is offering newer versions of DPP, EOS Utility and Picture Style Editor (with EOS 1D X Mark II & EF-S 18-135 IS USM support) as invidual downloads.

Digital Photo Professional 4.4.3

Changes for Digital Photo Professional 4.4.30 for Windows:

• Newly supported PowerShot G7 X Mark II, EOS-1D X Mark II, EOS Kiss X80 / EOS REBEL T6 / EOS 1300D, EOS 80D, EOS Kiss X4 / EOS REBLE T2i / EOS 550D, EOS Kiss X3 / EOS REBEL T1i / EOS 500D, EOS Kiss X2 / EOS DIGITAL REBEL XSi / EOS 450D, EOS Kiss F / EOS DIGITAL REBEL XS / EOS 1000D, EOS 50D, EOS-1Ds Mark III, EOS-1D Mark III, PowerShot G16, PowerShot S120, PowerShot G1 X.
• Supports EF-S18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM.

EOS Utility 3.4.30

Changes for EOS Utility 3.4.30 for Windows:

• Supports EOS-1D X Mark II, EOS Kiss X80 / EOS REBEL T6 / EOS 1300D, EOS 80D.
• Supports EF-S18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM.

Picture Style Editor 1.16.30

Changes for Picture Style Editor 1.16.30 Updater for Windows:

• Supports PowerShot G7 X Mark II, EOS-1D X Mark II, EOS Kiss X80 / EOS REBEL T6 / EOS 1300D, EOS 80D.

Download: DPP 4.4.30, EOS Utility 3.4.30 & Picture Style Editor 1.16.30

From Tamron:

A notice regarding compatibility issue with the EOS 80D and availability of firmware update service

Dear users and potential purchasers of Tamron interchangeable lenses for Canon.

Thank you for using Tamron products.

We wish to notify you that the AF functions of the following interchangeable lenses for Canon, which have been produced before May 11st, 2015 and have not updated firmware when there were the firmware update service announcements below, do not function in Live View mode when used on the EOS 80D which went on sale on March 25th, 2016 in Japan.

*Please see the below links for the previous firmware update service announcements regarding the EOS Rebel T6s/EOS 760D (EOS 8000D) / the EOS Rebel T6i/ EOS 750D (EOS Kiss X8i), the EOS 5Ds / the EOS 5DsR, and the firmware update service for SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD (Model A011) for panning shot.

http://www.tamron.co.jp/en/news/release_2015/0508_3.html
http://www.tamron.co.jp/en/news/release_2015/0508.html
http://www.tamron.co.jp/en/news/release_2015/0622_3.html

We sincerely apologize to all users and potential purchasers for any inconvenience the issue may cause.

Affected Models
Interchangeable lenses for Canon, which has been produced before May 11st

• SP 15-30mm F/2.8 Di VC USD (Model A012)
• SP 70-200mm F/2.8 Di VC USD (Model A009)
• SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD (Model A011)
• SP 90mm F/2.8 Di MACRO 1:1 VC USD (Model F004)
• 28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 Di VC PZD (Model A010)
• 16-300mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD MACRO (Model B016)

Serial numbers which have produced after May 11st, 2015
Firmware update will not be required for those lenses (serial numbers).
Please check the serial number from the links below.

• SP 15-30mm F/2.8 Di VC USD (Model A012)
• SP 70-200mm F/2.8 Di VC USD (Model A009)
• SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD (Model A011)
• SP 90mm F/2.8 Di MACRO 1:1 VC USD (Model F004)
• 28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 Di VC PZD (Model A010)
• 16-300mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD MACRO (Model B016)

For those who require firmware update service, please contact your local Tamron distributor for more details.

From the Phlearn YouTube Channel:

Light rays are fun to create, and can make a big difference in your photos! Learn how to identify the best place to put light rays and how to create them using a brush tool and a radial blur filter.

Use the Radial Filter to Create Light Rays

It is important that light rays come from a light source. Start by identifying the light source in an image, then duplicate the background layer.

Next, convert the duplicate to a smart object, this will make it possible to use a smart filter. Smart filters can be changed at any time, making them easier to work with than regular filters.

Go to 'filter - blur - radial blur' and choose 'zoom'. Next change the zoom level of the blur, anything over 90 should be good. Choose a blur center and hit 'ok'.

Chances are, the blur center you chose isn't perfectly in place. To adjust the blur center, double click on the smart filter and move the blur center. Repeat until you nail the center of the light source.

Now that the blur is set in place, it is time to make the light rays. Create a new layer and use the brush tool to paint daubs of white around the light source. Press CMD+F to apply the radial blur filter to the paint daubs, stretching them into light rays. Paint and blur until the light rays look perfect!

The Creative Cloud Photography Plan (Photoshop CC & Lightroom CC) is an excellent value at only $9.99/month.

Tamron has the SP 85mm f/1.8 VC USD Owner's Manual available for download.

B&H has the Tamron SP 85mm f/1.8 VC USD in stock with free expedited shipping.

According to the Egami Blog, Canon has submitted a patent for an optical design with two image stabilization control groups which work together to better reduce camera shake.

Patent Details

• Patent Publication No. 2015-203862
• Published 2015.11.16
• Filing date 2014.4.16
• Equipped with two vibration proof group
• Shake detection, determine the amount of correction from the shooting information
• Obtaining correction amounts of the two vibration proof group from the magnification ratio and the distance information of the lens

From Lexar:

Portable USB 3.0 Reader Easily Offloads RAW Images and 4K Video from XQD 2.0 Cards

Milpitas, CA, April 5, 2016 – Lexar, a leading global brand of flash memory products, today announced the Lexar Professional XQD 2.0 USB 3.0 Reader, which is designed to aid professionals in quickly transferring files from XQD 2.0 cards to computers. The reader leverages SuperSpeed USB 3.0 technology to improve the workflow of photographers and videographers.

With its compact, portable design, professionals are encouraged to travel with the Lexar Professional XQD 2.0 USB 3.0 Reader. It can easily slip into a pocket or bag, and offers a simple plug-and-play design with a USB 3.0 connector so content can be securely transferred on the go. For versatility, the reader is backwards compatible with USB 2.0 devices at USB 2.0 speeds.

Key Points:

• Provides professional-level high-speed transfer of RAW images and 4K video files
• Accelerates workflow, leveraging SuperSpeed USB 3.0 technology
• Designed for use with XQD 2.0 cards
• Compact, portable design for photographers and videographers on the go

“Given the rapid growth and widespread appeal of 4K video, we realized it was essential to create a reader for XQD 2.0 cards that provided professionals with a way to transfer great video and photo content without the wait time,” said Steffi Ho, product marketing manager, Lexar. “The Lexar Professional XQD 2.0 USB 3.0 Reader supercharges post-production content transfer, no matter what you’re shooting.”

This small, yet mighty reader comes with a limited five-year warranty. Furthermore all Lexar product designs undergo extensive testing in the Lexar Quality Labs, facilities with more than 1,100 digital devices, to ensure performance, quality, compatibility, and reliability. The Lexar Professional XQD 2.0 USB 3.0 Reader will be available in late April with a MSRP of $34.99.

B&H carries Lexar memory cards and card readers.

From the Canon Professional Network:

Don McCullin is one of the world’s greatest photographers and now, aged 80, is working on a project that he hopes will serve as a lasting legacy of a life well-lived. But, as CPN Editor David Corfield discovers in this exclusive interview, some truths will never be fully reconciled...

“I’m on the edge of the volcano. I’m standing on the precipice looking into the lava...” admits Don McCullin metaphorically, remarking on how he sees this latest chapter of an extraordinary life. A special three-volume retrospective of his work is due to be released soon. It’s taken two years to complete and, for McCullin, represents the very best of his photography. Called ‘Irreconcilable Truths’ the title is a nod to the soul-searching that went into the project as recollections of atrocities resurfaced in his darkroom as he reprinted many hundreds of images. It’s not been an easy journey, reliving some of those memories...

“There are some images that I will never print again, because I don’t think I’m able to,” he explains, citing one image in particular – of the starving albino boy taken in Biafra nearly 50 years ago. The memory, and the image, haunts him to this day.

Image quality results from the EOS 5Ds R and 1Ds Mark III have been added to the Tamron 85mm f/1.8 Di VC USD Lens page.

This lens is looking quite impressive, especially in the periphery, even wide open. Check out the lower three crops, showing mostly numbers from the center, mid and periphery, in the EOS 5Ds R f/1.8 image.

Here are some pre-built comparisons to get you started:

Tamron 85 f/1.8 VC compared to the Canon 85mm f/1.2L II (at f/2 on 5Ds R)
Tamron 85 f/1.8 VC compared to the Canon 85mm f/1.8
Tamron 85 f/1.8 VC compared to the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 EX DG (at f/2)
Tamron 85 f/1.8 VC compared to the Zeiss Milvus 85mm f/1.4 (at f/2)

Results from the 7D Mark II are coming soon.

B&H has the Tamron 85mm f/1.8 Di VC USD Lens in stock.

From Canon USA:

Live Speaker Sessions, Extensive Lens Exhibits and 8K Imaging Display are Just Some of the Highlights in the Canon Booth

MELVILLE, N.Y., April 6, 2016 – At the 2016 NAB Show in Las Vegas, Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, will showcase its full line of professional 4K and high-definition imaging equipment for motion picture, television production, video content creation, and still photography at booth C4325. Additionally, there will be presentations and panel discussions throughout the show featuring Canon Explorers of Light, ASC members, and other emerging voices in imaging culture. A unique, immersive event, 8K Ride Experience showcases Canon’s innovation in current, emerging, and future technology by providing a simulated journey through a realistic, panoramic landscape powered by Canon 8K imaging technology. Visitors will also have hands-on opportunities with the full range of Canon Cinema cameras, 4K reference displays, HD Video and DSLR cameras, including the recently announced EOS-1D X Mark II and EOS 80D DSLR Cameras. On the lens side, users can see the latest in Canon Cinema, Broadcast, and EF lenses. In addition, on display will be Canon’s line of high- resolution Projectors, including a 4K HDR Projector and its first laser model, the LX-MU800Z.

“The NAB show is Canon’s opportunity to show our valued customers and the industry our latest technology as well as the multitude of ways that Canon digital imaging solutions can help them achieve their vision,” said Yuichi Ishizuka, president and COO, Canon U.S.A., Inc. “NAB is an amazing show for us to connect with professionals in all aspects of video creation, editing, and distribution.”

A Beautiful Planet
Cinematographer James Neihouse, ASC will be presenting alongside Marsha Ivins, a former American astronaut and veteran of five space shuttle missions, about the making of the IMAX movie A Beautiful Planet. The film, premiering in April, was largely shot aboard the International Space Station using Canon EOS C500 and EOS-1D C Cinema Cameras in 4K. Neihouse has worked on more than 30 IMAX films including Space Station 3-D and Hubble 3-D. He has also trained more than 25 shuttle and space-station crews on the intricacies of large-format filmmaking. Ivins consulted on A Beautiful Planet drawing on her many years of experience with filming in space during her tenure with NASA.

8K Technology
Canon will be bringing its 8K Ride Experience to NAB as well. First introduced at the Canon Expo this past September in New York, The 8K Ride Experience projects video on large screens surrounding viewers to give them a unique sense of movement while sitting or standing still. By experiencing such high resolution imagery from all angles, the technology can simulate a physical journey often sparking a physical and emotional reaction. Additionally, Canon will be showcasing working prototype 8K cameras and lenses, with the stunning imagery shown on Canon 8K displays. Also on display will be a prototype 4K Projector capable of covering up to 100 percent of the DCI color space.

Canon Professional Services
Canon’s Professional Services (CPS) will again be hosting the Canon Hospitality Suite, in Room C201. The Canon Hospitality Suite is open to all NAB tradeshow attendees with priority support for CPS Gold, Platinum, Cinema, and Enterprise members. Visitors to the suite, located just off of the tradeshow floor, can experience Canon’s commitment to service and support for the professional imaging community.

Visit Canon at the 2016 NAB show at Booth C4325 in the Central Hall to see first-hand the latest products, hear from the Explorers of Light and the enjoy the 8K Ride Experience. For more information on the booth and an up-to-date schedule of the speaker schedule, please visit www.usa.canon.com/NAB2016. Follow Canon throughout the show on Instagram at @CanonUSA and Twitter at @CanonUSApro.

From Induro:

The Baby Grand Induro is for those seeking the highest level of stability. Period.

North White Plains, NY – April 6, 2016 – Induro today announced two new Baby Grand Induro Tripods. These no nonsense, ground level tripods incorporate a flat, modular head-mounting platform made of lightweight magnesium alloy. This platform accepts photo heads including gimbal, ball, three-way or geared and accessories like a leveling base or video bowl. These accessories are secured with a ratchet style lock lever as well as a safety catch to protect the gear. Each Baby Grand Induro tripod includes a machined aluminum top plate with hard anodizing, a removable oversized weight hook and a set screw for secure lockdown of the tripod head.

Perfect for Ultra Low Angle Shots

The Baby Grand Induro Tripods are available in both a 75mm (Series 3) and a 100mm (Series 4) platform. Perfect for those ultra low angle shots, they are designed to be used with all lenses including ultra long lenses and all formats including large formats and video cameras. The ulitmate in strength and rigidity, they are ideal for macro photography and unique low angle perspectives whether you are in the studio or in the field.

Both units can be converted to video bowls. The 75mm version converts using the MVB23S accessory and the 100mm version coverts using the MVB45S accessory.

Each leg can be independently positioned at one of the three locks located on the outside of the shoulder. In addition, each leg features oversized rubber twist locks and is telescoping for adjusting the height. Quick and convenient set-up is achieved in any location.

The large rubber feet are attached to a metal ball joint for quick positioning, which can be removed for attaching the included metal spiked feet. The feet also have pre-drilled holes for securing to wooden boards or staking it to the ground. Transporting is easy with the included carrying case.

Features & Benefits

• Stealth Carbon Fiber Tubes and magnesium castings – Super strong materials with amazing weight to strength ratio provide superior strength and portability.
• Shoot Low – Easily remove the weight hook and spread out the legs for low to the ground shots.
• Safety lock – The flat modular head mounting plate is held securely with a ratchet style lock combines with a spring-loaded safety catch.
• Travel Friendly – Includes a custom carrying case and is small enough to fit in any carry on size luggage.
• Small Footprint – The small footprint allows it to be used in tight spaces and on smaller surface areas.
• Mounting Options – The feet have pre-drilled holes for securing it to the ground or boards.
• Multiple independent leg positions – Each leg can be independently positioned at one of the three locks located on the outside of the shoulder. This allows you to easily set up for use on uneven terrain.
• Telescoping legs – Each leg features oversized rubber twist locks and is telescoping for adjusting the height.

B&H has the Induro Baby Grand Carbon Fiber Tripods available for preorder.

Nikon Europe has announced that they will no longer be including printed (complete) owner’s manual with their digital cameras. Instead, freely downloadable .PDFs will take their place.

Printed owner's manuals will still be be available for purchase from the regional Nikon websites. However, they do not appear to be inexpensive. Below is a screenshot from the Nikon UK D750 product page:

Nikon's decision does make us wonder, on a larger scale, if the days of the printed manual are quickly coming to an end in our ever-evolving digital world. It'll be interesting to see how soon other camera manufacturers jump on this green/cost-savings bandwagon. [Sean]

Lytro CEO Jason Rosenthal has announced that the company is abandoning the consumer camera market to focus on virtual reality products.

It seems that Lytro finally read the writing on the wall – that low-resolution, expensive, gimmicky cameras don't have wide market appeal. [Sean]

The Lytro Illum Light Field Digital Camera (originally released at $1,600.00) is available for $379.00 at B&H.

From Canon UK:

Discover how to get the most from your EOS 7D Mark II and use its advanced features creatively.

Introducing the companion app for your EOS 7D Mark II camera

Master the advanced features of your EOS 7D Mark II and shoot your most creative photography yet.

• Set up the camera’s autofocus system to match your subject’s movements and your own style of shooting
• Learn to customise the controls and handing of your EOS 7D Mark II, so it works exactly how you want
• Discover new ways to get creative, with Exercises and Tutorials
• Check out EF and EF-S lenses that match the EOS 7D Mark II perfectly

Currently the Canon 7D Mark II Companion app is optimized for smartphone devices only.

Download: Android | iOS

B&H carries the Canon EOS 7D Mark II DSLR Camera.