Canon and Sony News for Dec 2014 (Page 2)

Standard product images are now available for the Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Lens.

Visually compare the 100-400 L II to your favorite lens. Here are a couple of comparisons to get you started:

100-400 L II between the 100-400 L and 70-300 L
100-400 L II between the 70-200 f/2.8L II and Tamron 150-600

Preorder your Canon EF 100-400mm L IS II now at B&H. Significant shipment quantities have been arriving – and leaving just as quickly.

From Canon:

Details
AA Lithium batteries cannot be used with any Speedlite or Macrolite products and compact battery packs including those listed below because certain AA lithium batteries, in rare cases, may become extremely hot during usage in such products.

Canon Products

Thank you,
Customer Support Operations
Canon U.S.A., Inc

Image quality results have been added to Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Lens review page. I think that you are going to like what you see.

Here are some comparisons that you might find interesting:

Compared to the Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM Lens
Compared to the Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM Lens
Compared to the Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Lens

Use the Image Quality Tool to create your own comparisons. Hint: Zooming your browser to a higher percent can make the differences clearer on some displays (Try CTRL+, CTRL- and CTRL-0 to reset). Share your thoughts in the comments section below this post.

B&H has significant quantities of the Canon EF 100-400mm L IS II USM Lens arriving regularly. Demand has been very high.

From the Canon Digital Learning Center:

The new Canon EOS C100 Mark II was designed with input from users like you. In these product overview videos, hosted by Canon Digital Learning Center contributor, Jem Schofield, take a look at the new internal and external features of this camera and how it compares and differs from its predecessor. These videos will give you the information you need to make the most of this camera system and hit the ground running in any production environment.

Topics include:

• OLED display panel
• Adjustable EVF
• DIGIC DV 4 Image Processor
• Dual Pixel CMOS AF
• Multiple recording formats

B&H carries the Canon EOS C100 Mark II Cinema Camera.

From Nikon:

A global download site supporting 43 languages from which imaging product manuals and software can be downloaded

TOKYO - Nikon Corporation is pleased to announce its launch of Download Center on December 17, 2014. Download Center is a global download site that offers software and manuals for Nikon digital cameras and related products.

Download Center consolidates and offers downloads of Nikon software and product documentation previously available from the websites administered by our regional subsidiaries around the world. The site supports 43 languages, and will provide information on the latest downloads. In addition, the site has been designed with consideration of the viewing and download of information to mobile devices such as smartphones. This means that visitors to the site will be able to choose their language and access important download information from these devices.

With the launch of Download Center, Nikon hopes to provide users of its products with even better service and increase customer satisfaction by consolidating and providing users with a download service supporting various languages.

- Some contents will not be available in all supported languages.
- Only product documentation, such as user's manuals, can be downloaded to mobile devices such as smartphones.

Download Center Overview

From the Canon Professional Network:

Canon has released an updated version of its Digital Photo Professional (DPP) software, which now supports – in addition to its current range of full-frame DSLRs – the EOS-1D Mark IV, EOS 70D, EOS 7D Mark II, EOS 7D, EOS 5D Mark II, EOS 700D and EOS 100D.

Launched in September 2014, Digital Photo Professional 4 was Canon’s first sweeping change to its popular RAW processing software since its original launch. The latest version of DPP – version 4.1.50 – is a response to feedback from owners of older full-frame and APS-C cameras who are looking for the very latest RAW workflow solution.

Additionally, DPP 4.1.50 supports the recently launched EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM and EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM lenses, the profiles for which are now available for use with the Lens Correction function.

Commenting on the update, Mike Owen, European Professional Imaging Communications Manager, Professional Imaging Department, Canon Europe, said: “DPP 4.0 has proved incredibly popular with our customers and this latest update further extends its appeal to a wider range of users, such as those using the highly successful EOS 5D Mark II. Canon remains firmly committed to offering a complete range of products to photographers and increasingly its software solutions are playing a vital role in delivering the ultimate in image quality from capture to output.”

DPP 4.1.50: KEY FEATURES

• Faster, real-time adjustments.
• Improved RAW file workflow.
• Better, more approachable user interfaces.
• Compatible with 64-bit native environments.
• Colour adjustments for specific colour gamuts.
• Improved highlight recovery provides expanded tonality.
• Improved shadow recovery function.
• Support for movie playback.
• Auto Lighting Optimizer can be applied to JPEG images.
• Better integration with EOS Utility.

You can download DPP 4.1.50 now, free of charge, from Canon Europe’s support site here. Just click on your camera – EOS-1D X, EOS-1D C, EOS 5D Mark III, EOS 5D Mark II, EOS 6D, EOS-1D Mark IV, EOS 70D, EOS 7D Mark II, EOS 7D, EOS 700D and EOS 100D – and select DPP 4.1.50 from the software options to download.

From Nikon:

Nikon D810 firmware C:1.02

Modifications enabled with this upgrade of firmware, release date December 17, 2014

• When playback zoom was applied to an image displayed in the camera monitor (image display enlarged) while the memory card access lamp was still lit immediately after capture, the image was not correctly displayed. This issue has been resolved.
• When menus were displayed with the camera connected to a 4K-compatible TV via HDMI, display in both the camera monitor and on the TV was not correct. This issue has been resolved.
• Noise that could sometimes be heard when Custom Setting d1: Beep was set to any option other than Off has been reduced.

Download: D810 firmware C:1.02

Modifications enabled with this upgrade of firmware, release date December 17, 2014

• When shooting with an optional Speedlight and Auto FP high-speed sync enabled with On selected for ISO sensitivity settings > Auto ISO sensitivity control in the photo shooting menu, images were sometimes over-exposed. This issue has been resolved. (Enabling auto FP high-speed sync: Select 1/200 s (Auto FP) or 1/250 s (Auto FP) for Custom Setting e1: Flash sync speed)
• When menus were displayed with the camera connected to a 4K-compatible TV via HDMI, display in both the camera monitor and on the TV was not correct. This issue has been resolved.
• Noise that could sometimes be heard when Custom Setting d1: Beep was set to any option other than Off has been reduced.

Download: Nikon D750 firmware C:1.01

B&H carries the Nikon D810 and D750 DSLR cameras.

Just posted: Canon EF 24-105mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM Lens Review

Is the 24-105 STM a lens introduced before its primary purpose?

B&H has the Canon EF 24-105mm IS STM Lens in stock.

From Think Tank Photo:

In February, we will release the most travel friendly, comfortable, and reasonably priced backpack for users of DJI Phantom 2, Phantom 2 Vision or other similar sized quadcopters. The Airport Helipak will easily hold a drone plus a 15” laptop, controller, GoPros, WiFi range extender, charger, spare rotors, extra batteries, and a Delvcam Camera-Top 7" HDMI LCD Monitor, while still complying with airline carry-on size requirements.

Movable dividers allow users to customize the fit of their gear in this fully featured backpack. The contoured adjustable harness with lumbar support and articulated air-channel, the adjustable sternum strap, and the removable padded waistbelt allow for extreme comfort even while trekking by foot or mountain bike into remote areas.

KEY FEATURES

• The custom divider set, designed specifically for the DJI Phantom series, allows you to reconfigure your bag.
• International and domestic carry-on size compatible
• Dedicated 15” laptop pocket
• Protective rotor thread caps included.
• Internal see-through mesh pockets for small accessories: rotor blades, screwdriver, cables, etc.
• Deluxe organizer for smart phone, wallet, pens, keys, business cards, etc.
• Water bottle pocket on side
• Height adjustable sternum strap
• Elastic pockets on shoulder strap for phone, energy bar, GU pack, and more.
• Robust handles on three sides ensure rapid and easy retrieval from overhead bins, car trunks, etc.

MATERIALS

Exterior: For superior water-resistance, all exterior fabric has a durable water-repellant (DWR) coating, plus the underside of the fabric has a polyurethane coating. It also has YKK RC Fuse (abrasion-resistant) zippers, 1680D ballistic nylon bottom panel, 600D polyester, 420D velocity nylon, 3D air mesh, ultra-stretch pockets, Y-buckles, antique finish metal hardware, big hole air mesh, nylon webbing, and 3-ply bonded nylon thread.

Interior: Removable closed cell foam dividers, 210D silver-toned nylon, polyurethane-backed velex liner, 2x polyurethane coated nylon 210T seam-sealed rain cover, Belly-O mesh pockets, and 3-ply bonded nylon thread.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

• Exterior Dimensions: 14” W x 20.5” H x 9” D (35.6 × 52.1 × 22.9cm)
• Interior Dimensions: 13” W x 18.8” H x 7.6” D (33 × 47.8 × 19.3cm)
• Laptop: 9.4” W x 9.8” H x 0.6”D (24 × 25 × 1.5)
• Weight (with all accessories): 4.6 lbs (2.1 kg)

From Nikon:

Notice regarding fraudulent Nikon D800E digital SLR (fraudulently modified D800) cameras

We have confirmed that there are cases in which D800E digital SLR cameras were received for repair, only to find that the cameras were actually fraudulently modified D800 cameras whose covers had been replaced with D800E covers. It seems that these fraudulently modified products are in circulation via Internet auctions and the like. As the Nikon warranty does not apply to fraudulently modified products, Nikon will not inspect or repair such products. In addition, Nikon cannot be held responsible in any way regarding the use of fraudulently modified products. Please take all necessary precautions to ensure the authenticity of a camera before purchasing one.

Identifying these fraudulently modified cameras
Display an image captured with your camera in the camera monitor. When the overview* display option is enabled in full-frame playback mode, the name of the camera used to capture the image is displayed in the top right corner. If "NIKON D800E" is displayed, your camera is an authentic D800E. If any other name is displayed, your camera is a fraudulent D800E.

*See the D800/D800E User's Manual for instructions on enabling overview display.

For more information regarding this matter, please contact Nikon Customer Support.

B&H has the Westcott Omega Reflector Kit available for preorder.

Product Highlights

• Innovative 10-in-1 Design, 38 x 45"
• 2:3 aspect ratio removable center frame
• White, Silver, Sunlight, Black Surfaces
• 1-Stop Diffusion Core

From Canon:

Affected Product
EOS 6D Digital SLR Cameras

Details
Firmware Version 1.1.6 incorporates the following fixes:

1. Fixes a phenomenon in which the camera may not first use the center AF point to focus, when the AF point selection is set to automatic in AI Servo AF mode.
2. Fixes a phenomenon in which focus cannot be finely adjusted with specific lenses when shooting remotely with EOS Utility software.
3. Corrects some Ukrainian language displayed on the menu for ISO Setting.

Please note: After the firmware update has been performed the following setting will be reset to default.
Menu > Custom Function> C.Fn II: Autofocus > AF Microadjustment> 1: All by same amount

When updating the firmware of the camera, please review the instructions thoroughly before you download the firmware.

Support
Download Firmware Version 1.1.6 for the EOS 6D Camera

Thank you,
Customer Support Operations
Canon U.S.A., Inc

News/2014/Gear-Up-For-The-Holidays-with-Zacuto.webpZacuto's Gear Up for the Holidays GiveawayZacuto Celebrates Holidays with Gear GiveawayZacuto will be giving away about $10,000 worth of prizes over the next four days. See below for info.

The Giveaways

• Monday’s Giveaway - VCT Universal Baseplate ($650 value) and $350 licensing credit at Music Bed
• Tuesday’s Giveaway - $1,250 Zacuto Gift Card and $625 credit at Borrow Lenses
• Wednesday’s Giveaway - Zacuto Next Gen Recoil Rig of Choice (up to $2,200 in value) and a SmallHD Monitor ($999 value)
• Thursday’s Giveaway - Gratical HD Micro-OLED EVF ($3,800 value) and Kessler’s Second Shooter ($1,399 value)

How to Enter the Gear Up For The Holidays Giveaway

Visit zacuto.com/gear-up-for-the-holidays on Monday December 15th, 2014 at 12:00 PM CST to find the first giveaway. It will be live for 24 hours and then the next giveaway will begin. Come back every day to enter for each product and increase your chances to win!

B&H carries Zacuto products.

From Adobe:

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5.7.1

The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5.7.1 update includes these enhancements:

• Fix for bugs related to camera support on the Samsung NX1 camera.
• Camera support for additional new lenses and cameras.

New Lens Profile Support in Lightroom 5.7.1

Download: Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5.7.1

Support for the following camera has been added. Visit the Camera Raw page for a complete list of supported cameras.

• Sony ILCE-7M2

Download: DNG Converter 8.7.1

Dear Canon,

Christmas is coming again and I'm hopeful that I remain on your "Nice" list.

After having reasonable success with my previous What I Want From Canon for Christmas lists, I decided to add a few more items this year. I present below my Christmas wish list for 2014 and will include the 2013 items that were somehow overlooked. I understand that technology development takes time and do not mind you taking the entire year of 2015 to grant these wishes.

Auto Focus Stacking
Sometimes a camera is not able to keep everything in the frame in sharp focus due to depth of field limitations. The lens may not have an aperture narrow enough to do this and the photographer may not want to use the narrowest apertures available to avoid the effects of diffraction. A common technique used to capture extreme depth of field is focus stacking. Multiple images are captured with the plane of sharp focus being adjusted from close to far (or vice versa) during the sequence.

While this technique can work well, it is at least mildly complicated to execute. I would like you to provide an auto focus stacking function that lets me focus on the closest part of the subject, register that focus distance and then focus on the most-distant part of the subject and register that focus distance. The tripod-mounted camera would then determine the number of pictures necessary for the proper focus stacking based on the DOF-determining parameters including the aperture currently selected. Really nice would be for the camera to understand and take into account for the in-use lens' focus breathing (if it has such).

Quick Detachable Neck Straps
Camera neck straps are very useful most of the time. But, sometimes straps become a liability (catching on things, getting in my eye, etc.) and I would like to remove them. Such times include when using the camera on a tripod or monopod. Or, for when using a big lens with its own neck strap.

Yes, all current straps are removable, but the standard Canon straps take too much time to unthread and then rethread for reinstallation. Some third party companies offer types of quick release systems, but all leave something hanging from/attached to the camera.

What I request is a camera version of what the sporting arms industry refers to as a flush mount push-button quick detach universal sling mount. In all magnesium alloy-framed camera models (at least), a tubular insert should be provided where the current neck strap holders are located. Inside that female insert will be a circular groove. A male adapter will be designed to fit into the insert when a button is pressed to allow its ball bearings to retract into the sides of the adapter. In place and push button released, the adapter will spin freely (for easy neck strap untwisting) with the bearings riding in the insert's groove, but will not release unless the photographer intends to release it (allow no accidental release).

A neck strap will be attached to the male adapter. I will be able to quickly remove or attach any of my straps to any of my cameras. Another huge benefit is that this setup will allow third parties to attach their own neck strap variants without cannibalizing my camera's tripod insert.

Arca-Swiss Compatibility Tripod Mount Rings for All
Every time I get a telephoto lens with a tripod mount ring, I add a lens plate to make it compatible with my Arca-Swiss-compatible support and flash gear. It seems like a simple process to simply machine the bottom of the tripod mount foot to add this compatibility during production.

The Arca-Swiss system is very popular (and great to use), so many of us would be well-served by the addition of this feature. Those not using this system would be little-inconvenienced and the additional production cost would be minor.

 
Canon, I'll roll up my unfulfilled 2013 wish list line items here, just so you can keep everything in one place.

I Want a Sharp Mode
I'll start my list with my biggest and most-complicated wish first. I want a new camera mode. Your marketing wizards will likely think of a good name for it, but I'll get you started: It can be called "Sharp Mode", "Pro Action" Mode, "Stop-the-Action Mode", "Bryan's Mode", etc.

Via this mode selection, I want to tell the camera to automatically select the slowest shutter speed that will deliver no subject or camera motion blur in my image. The camera will utilize the viewfinder imaging sensor to determine a subject's rate of motion across the frame (caused by either camera shake or subject motion). Based on this intelligence, the camera can instantaneously determine the slowest shutter speed necessary to capture a sharp image.

By using the slowest shutter speed necessary, the lowest ISO setting possible can be used – resulting in the lowest noise possible in an image. And of course, there would be no motion blur in the result.

I will always want to set the aperture manually in this mode. For overall image brightness, there should be manual and auto exposure options. In manual mode, the image brightness will remain as I set it. The ISO will always be Auto and the camera will use the lowest ISO setting possible to deliver proper image brightness. In auto mode, the camera will determine how bright the image should be (with exposure compensation available). In manual mode, the camera will maintain the brightness I set (with offsetting adjustments to brightness parameters). Once ISO 100 is reached in any mode, the shutter speed should not be further shortened – a too fast shutter speed is rarely an issue when stopping all motion is a priority.

This mode will work with or without image stabilization enabled. A menu option will allow me to adjust the sensitivity of the camera's motion detection – to tune the setting as desired.

A significant benefit from this mode will be the assurance of sharp results at the lowest ISO setting possible. Reduced noise will be the benefit of not having to shoot at insurance-level, faster than necessary shutter speeds.

Here is an example of how I would use this mode:

I am shooting a soccer match on a very cloudy day. I am shooting with a wide open aperture (say f/4) and using a 1/1600 shutter speed to insure that most action is stopped. This exposure requires an ISO setting of 3200 for correct brightness – high enough that noise is very noticeable in the images. But, not every shot captured at this match needs a 1/1600 sec exposure to stop the action. A ball carrier that has momentarily stopped, a portrait captured immediately after a big play, the keeper on the ground with the ball safely in his/her hands. These shots can safely be captured at far longer exposures with lower ISO settings that deliver higher image quality.

With Sharp mode selected, the camera can instantly and automatically shift-down the ISO setting to give me a higher quality, but still sharp, image. Some shots such as a hard kick captured at a close distance might need an even faster shutter speed than my 1/1600 and this mode would instantly adjust for this.

Another example:

I am high up on a mountain shooting handheld. It is mid-day under a partly cloudy sky and I am shooting landscapes with a circular polarizer filter installed. Since parts of the scenery are always under a full sun, I know the exposure I need. And I want an f/11 aperture. The big differentiator in determining the shutter speed necessary for sharp images is the strong gusting wind. Sharp mode can determine how much camera shake is showing in the viewfinder, even with the image stabilized lens I'm using, and can determine the shutter speed necessary to stop that shake – the instant the picture is taken. When the wind stops, I can possibly shoot at 1/10 sec or longer, but during gusts, I might need 1/80 or even higher. The camera can simply boost the ISO setting to give me always-sharp images.

Adding this capability (even to the fully-auto green square+ mode) would be a huge benefit – especially for beginners. This would be a game-changing feature that would sell a huge number of cameras.

I discussed Sharp mode with Chuck Westfall (Canon USA) at the PhotoPlus Expo in 2013. I don't expect to see a firmware update bringing this feature to us, but I do hope that Canon will include this feature in new DSLR camera models.

Tv Settings Longer than 30 Seconds
Why is 30 seconds the longest exposure allowed in-camera? There are plenty of uses for longer exposures and I am not aware of any limitation to today's cameras taking exposures much longer than this. I want Tv settings up to (at least) 5 minutes to be available in 1/3 stop settings in-camera. Allow a menu option for limits to be set shorter than this (those who do not need anything close to 30 seconds will also be accommodated).

Ultra-High Resolution Canon EOS-1Ds X DSLR
Simply take the current Canon EOS-1D X (or the Canon EOS 5D Mark III) and drop a 40MP (or similar) sensor into it. I'd rather give nothing up to gain this resolution, but ... you can take 1 fps if you need to. :)

Ultra-High Resolution Via Multiple Shots
Taking the ultra-high resolution DSLR camera wish one step further, I want Canon to utilize multiple images to composite a much higher resolution image and/or higher quality image. There are multiple ways to accomplish this goal, but adding a very tiny imaging sensor shift in the X and Y axis between each shot is a possible method. Limitations would be similar to those encountered with HDR photography including motionless subjects needed. I made this request to Chuck in person, so at least he is thinking about this one.

Effective ISO 7.25, 12.5 and 25
I no longer want to buy or carry neutral density filters in multiple densities and multiple thread sizes. Please figure out how to give me lower ISO settings with no loss of dynamic range. Throw away some photons or something.

And while you are working on this request, can you give me digital graduated ND filter capabilities in-camera? Allow me to use the touch-enabled LCD to show the camera the area of the frame that is to be made darker. Allow me to set the gradient shape, size, softness and density.

Can you also give me a built-in circular polarizer filter?

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM Lens
Canon has recently given us a pair of great 24-70 L lenses, but I still would like an f/2.8 IS version. Basically, add a 4-stop image stabilizer to the current Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM Lens and I would be a very happy camper. In addition to giving us an awesome lens, Canon would give those of us trying to decide between (or trying help others decide between) the 24-70 L II and the 24-70 f/4L IS or 24-105 f/4L IS a huge time savings. I asked for this lens a long time ago - and will keep asking until I get it or something better. If Tamron can make this product, I'm certain that Canon can.

Canon EF 500mm f/5.6L IS USM Lens
I would like to see a great bird and wildlife photography lens that is both smaller and much more affordable than the current supertelephoto lenses, but I am of course not willing to accept less than perfection from the image quality. The gap between the 100-400 L & 400mm f/5.6L lenses and the big white guns leaves a room for such a lens.

Canon Lens Hoods for All
I want the proper lens hood to come with all Canon lenses I purchase – not just L lenses. I don't need "flocking" – matt plastic inside the hood will be fine (and easier to clean).

 
Thanks Canon! Can't wait for my wishes to be fulfilled!

What do you want from Canon for Christmas?