From DxO:
07/24/2013 - 257 new lens / camera combinations have been added to the DxO Optics Modules library, providing support for Canon, Nikon, Sigma, Tamron and Zeiss lenses for Canon, Nikon, Pentax and Sony cameras.
To see supported and planned combinations, click on the link below then select the second tab.
Supported or planned combinations
Canon | Fujifilm | Nikon | Pentax | Samsung | Sony
Adorama carries DxO Optics Pro.
Canon has released 2Q 2013 Financial Results (PDF).
The Presentation Material is usually my preferred method for getting the information (PDF).
From Reuters:
From Datacolor:
A photographer should pay special attention to the gear they bring when traveling on safari. It is important to think about the story you’re trying to tell and properly expose the images once they are captured. Color management is just as important in wildlife and nature photography as it is in the studio. Animals seem healthier and friendlier when they’re showcased in warmer tones. It may seem strange, but those who view your images will have more of a connection to your subjects in warmer tones.
Join Datacolor Experts David Cardinal and C. David Tobie in a discussion about Safari Photography, cosponsored by Sigma Lenses. David Cardinal, a longstanding Safari organizer and award-winning nature and travel photographer, will share his experience regarding what gear and preparation are critical for a successful safari shoot; including cameras and tripods, with special focus on lenses. Techniques and workflows for safari shooting and tips for creating award-winning images of your own will also be covered. If you've ever considered signing up for a photo safari, or if you are trying to decide what to purchase or pack for your next one, then this is the right webinar for you!
An interactive Q&A will take place throughout the webinar to answer any questions you may have.
Webinar attendees will have the chance to win a free SpyderCAPTURE PRO or an original Sigma 120-300mm F2.8 EX DG OS APO HSM lens ($4700 Value) as well as receive exclusive discount offers!
Title:Safari Photography: Gear and Workflow co-sponsored by Sigma
Date:Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Time:2:00 PM - 3:00 PM EDT
Adorama carries Datacolor products.
On Friday, NASA's Cassini spacecraft turned its imaging sensors toward Earth to capture the view from 900 million miles away. It's a bit humbling to think that everything you've ever seen, heard, smelled, and touched is contained within those few pixels.
Check out more of Cassini's images at NASA's Jet Propulsion Labratory Page
From Corel:
Latest Release Builds on Realistic Painting Experience with New Jitter Brushes, Crosshair Cloning and Perspective Guide Tools
Ottawa, ON-July 23, 2013 - Corel today announced the availability of Painter® X3, the world's leading digital art software known for its hundreds of brushes, paper textures and media that perfectly emulate real-world art materials. As an innovator in digital art, Painter X3 continues to inspire artists with unique tools such as new Jitter brushes that produce more organic art and flow maps that direct the saturation of wet media as it interacts with the canvas. In addition, artists will save more time with workflow enhancements when cloning with crosshairs, drawing in perspective and transforming multiple layers. For both new and experienced Painter users, the Brush Search engine now makes it easier to find the perfect brush, while the advanced brush controls simplify the customization options.
Created by Artists for Artists
"Painter X3 is the result of an immensely collaborative effort with professional artists across the world to understand how we could improve the user experience, optimize the existing workflow and add new technologies to push the boundaries of digital art," said Andy Church, Senior Product Manager for Corel Painter. "What we've created with this version is more than digital art software; it's a platform for inspiration, creativity and reflection."
Painter® X3 Feature Highlights
Every day, artists around the world trust Painter to explore their creativity, produce stunning work with ease and deliver art that wows their clients. Whether for photo art, traditional art, illustrations, concept art or designs, Painter X3 introduces new tools to further enhance the ultimate digital art studio:
Meet the Artists: Live Paint Jam Sessions
Art is not always about the end result-it's also a process of inspiration, creativity and reflection-and we want you to join us for live Paint Jam sessions online to learn from our Painter Masters. Each month, the Paint Jam sessions will focus on a different style of art and we'll be inviting professional artists to share their artistic process with you. The first series, hosted by Jeremy Sutton, Claudia Salguero and Heather Michelle, will focus on photo-fine art and will kick off on Wednesday, August 14, 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM EDT. To learn more about the upcoming Paint Jam sessions, visit www.corel.com/paintjam.
Pricing and Availability
Corel Painter X3 will start shipping in two weeks. In North America, the full version of Painter X3 is $429 (USD and CAD) and the upgrade, for registered Painter 11 and 12 users, is available for $229 (USD and CAD). Commercial and education volume licenses are also available.
Adorama carries Corel Painter 12.
From Canon USA:
New PIXMA All-In-One Printers from Canon U.S.A Provide High-Quality Output to Encourage Creativity
MELVILLE, N.Y., July 23, 2013 - Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, today introduced two printers, the PIXMA MG3520 Wireless Photo and the PIXMA MG2420 All-In-One (AIO) printers, both featuring excellent image quality for crisp and stunningly vivid prints to inspire creativity. These easy-to-use models are ideal for the user looking for superb quality and functionality at an affordable price.
The wireless-enabled Canon PIXMA MG3520 printer allows users to easily and conveniently print memories from almost anywhere.1 In addition, the PIXMA MG3520 printer offers an Auto Power On/Off function, so even if the printer was not previously in use, print requests can be quickly fulfilled. For added efficiency, the unit’s built-in Automatic Duplex printing feature can save time and resources with the ability to automatically print on both sides of the paper. The MG3520 also uses the FastFront feature for easy changing of ink and paper from the front of the printer. The sleek and affordable PIXMA MG2420 printer is also an ideal accompaniment to any home-office environment with improved print, copy and scan features compared with previous models.
“With outstanding functionality and versatility, the new PIXMA printers are intuitive, high-quality devices that inspire us to share more with loved ones, and tackle a variety of at-home tasks - such as building an efficient office space, accomplishing do-it-yourself projects, preserving memories through scrapbooks and more,” said Yuichi Ishizuka, executive vice president and general manager, Imaging Technologies & Communications Group, Canon U.S.A.
Convenient Connectivity and Sharing Capabilities
With built-in wireless technology, the Canon PIXMA MG3520 printer can print or scan documents, photos and more from virtually anywhere in the home. The printer supports Google Cloud Print for printing from Gmail and Google Docs on a mobile device and from the Google Chrome browser for Mac, Windows, Linux, and Chrome computers.
Inspire Creativity
The PIXMA MG3520 and PIXMA MG2420 printers produce high-quality output that is crisp, clear and vibrant. With the Canon FINE Cartridge system, output will shine with brilliant color and detailed gradation expression. Both new PIXMA AIO printer models also come with My Image Garden software to offer a variety of features designed to inspire and enhance creativity while empowering the sharing of images. One function of the software allows photos stored on computers to be easily organized into three categories: Calendar, Event and People. With Calendar view, images can be sorted by the dates they were captured while with Event view, images captured at a special event can be easily stored in a separate folder and accessed to share with friends and family. For People view, once a person's likeness has been registered with the software, Image Assorting technology and Face Recognition technology is utilized to automatically upload all images of a specific person to their respective folder for easy access.
My Image Garden also features Full HD Movie Print software to help users produce clear images of frames from videos captured on compatible Canon HD EOS and PowerShot Digital Cameras along with HD VIXIA Camcorders. In addition, Fun Filter Effects such as Fish-Eye, Miniature and Toy Camera can be applied for further image customization.
Compact and Refined Design
Compact with a refined, family-friendly design and attractive matte finish, the PIXMA MG3520 Wireless Photo AIO Printer is available in black, red or a mirror-finished white, while the PIXMA MG2420 AIO printer is available in white. The printers will have an estimated retail price of $79.99 and $69.99, respectively.
Adorama carries Canon PIXMA Printers.
From Canon USA:
Customer Care Center Functions as Convenient Locale for Canon Product Solution Needs
MELVILLE, N.Y., July 22, 2013 - Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, today announced that its new headquarters in Melville, New York now features a walk-in Customer Care Center. This new center serves as a Canon product-solutions center for consumers. Trained professionals will offer customer repair options, cost estimates, upgrade possibilities, and recommendations. While repairs cannot be made on site, arrangements for shipment to one of Canon's national service centers as well as arrangements for the return of the repaired product to the user's home or to the Customer Care Center in Melville will be coordinated.
"We want to provide our local customers with the best customer service. This is why we have decided to open a service center at our Melville headquarters, so that we can personally interact with our customers, answering product questions and resolving any operational difficulties," stated Joe Adachi, president and chief executive officer, Canon U.S.A.
The Customer Care Center at One Canon Park is open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday- Friday, excluding holidays. It accompanies Jamesburg, N.J., Newport News, Va., and Irvine Calif. as Canon U.S.A. service locations. For more information about Canon U.S.A. customer service and support please visit: http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/standard_display/support
"This is The-Digital-Picture.com's Weekend Recap for the week ending July 20th, 2013In the news...
On Monday, we reported on Canon USA’s updated warranty policy regarding refurbished gear. The warranty on refurbished DSLR cameras, lenses, flashes and camcorders increased from 90 days to a full year. According to a representative I spoke with at Canon USA, the 1-year warranty applies to all eligible refurbished gear purchases made after June 24th.
On Tuesday, we posted a news piece on LensTag - a new website devoted to protecting photographers from purchasing stolen gear and aiding in recovery. The service is free and highly recommended. Check out the news post for more details.
On Friday, Canon celebrated the official grand opening for its new Canon USA headquarters in Melville, NY. The 500 million dollar, five-story facility covers 700,000 square feet and will house well over 2,000 employees once operating at full capacity. And one more interesting fact - it’s located only about a mile from Nikon’s own USA headquarters.
In site news and reviews...
On Monday, Bryan posted his full review of the Sigma USB Dock and asked, “Why wasn’t this product introduced a long time ago?” For owners of Sigma’s new global vision lenses, the dock proves to be a valuable tool in ensuring your lenses works optimally now and provides insurance that the lenses will play well with future bodies.
On Wednesday, Bryan posted his review of the Canon EOS Rebel T5i - but it came with a caveat. As the T5i shares so many similarities with its predecessor, Bryan simply adapted the T4i’s review to cover the essential changes between the two cameras. Check out Bryan’s review for more details.
On Thursday, Bryan posed the question, “What is going on with the EOS M camera and EF-M lens line?” First, the new EF-M 11-22mm lens was never announced by Canon USA - meaning it’s not scheduled to be available in the US market (at least not yet). Then the price of the EOS M camera plummeted. As inventory was depleted, the camera was listed as “discontinued” by several retailers. However, a Canon representative told us adamantly, “The EOS M is not a discontinued product…”
Does this strange line of events mean a new EOS M camera is on the horizon? We don’t know - but it’s fun to speculate. I mean, a new EOS M with the 70D’s Dual Pixal AF system sounds like a match made in mirrorless heaven. Just a thought…
And, for our deal of the week…
On Friday, we posted a deal from Adorama where you could get a Refurbished Canon EOS 6D DSLR Camera for $1,599.95 with free shipping. That’s nearly a $400.00 savings off the normal, new retail price.
This has been the The-Digital-Picture.com’s Weekend Recap. Thanks for listening, and as always, happy shooting!"
From Canon USA:
MELVILLE, N.Y., July 19, 2013 - Celebrating a monumental step in the Company's history, Canon U.S.A. Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, today held a grand opening ceremony of its Canon Americas Headquarters in Melville, N.Y. Joined by Fujio Mitarai, chairman and CEO of Canon Inc., Joe Adachi, president and CEO of Canon U.S.A., welcomed state and local officials to show appreciation for their support of the headquarters project.
Among those officials in attendance were Senator Charles Schumer; Kenneth Adams president and CEO of Empire State Development, representing Governor Andrew Cuomo; Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone and the Huntington Town Supervisor Frank P. Petrone. The new 700,000 square-foot headquarters serves as a symbol of Canon's commitment to growth, innovation and the Long Island community.
"The official opening of the Canon Americas Headquarters is an exciting time for our Company and we are grateful for all of the local support we have received along the way," said Joe Adachi, president and CEO of Canon U.S.A. "Canon's dedication to the environment and the community is an integral part of our corporate culture. The headquarters, which is designed to meet LEED® gold certification, will serve as a symbol of this commitment."
"It is an exciting day for the Canon family as we officially celebrate the grand opening of our new home on Long Island," said Seymour Liebman, executive vice president, chief administrative officer and general counsel, Canon U.S.A. "Canon has proudly called Long Island home for 42 years and we are grateful for the support we have received from those who helped us reach this milestone."
"Today's grand opening ceremony marks a picture perfect moment for Canon U.S.A. and all of Long Island," said Senator Charles Schumer. "'One Canon Park' will be an anchor business for the Route 110 corridor and attract business visitors from across the world. When I first met with senior Canon officials years ago, I knew this project would be a success. I fought hard, along with officials from Long Island, to secure millions of dollars for road improvements in-and-around this heavily commuted corridor and worked to secure millions of stimulus dollars so that Canon could relocate to Melville. With over 1,400 jobs on Long Island, Canon is an asset to the local economy and I am proud to have seen this project through to fruition. Congratulations to the chairman and CEO of Canon, Fujio Mitarai and all of the local leaders who made today possible."
"The grand opening of Canon's Americas headquarters is great news for Long Islanders and all of New York State. Empire State Development is working harder than ever to help companies create and retain much-needed jobs and Canon is certainly doing just that with hundreds of new jobs on the way and over 1,000 New Yorkers retaining their positions," said Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Kenneth Adams. "As a proud supporter of this project, I congratulate Chairman and CEO Fujio Mitarai and Canon, the local leaders and the people of Long Island on this accomplishment."
"Canon's grand opening of its new headquarters in Melville will help strengthen Long Island's workforce and ensure that Route 110 continues to be a successful business corridor for all Long Islanders," said Congressman Steve Israel, who was not in attendance. "I proudly fought for federal infrastructure funding to make this project possible and keep jobs on Long Island. Having Canon's headquarters on Long Island is a victory for our community and is estimated to indirectly bring up to 10,000 jobs to the region. I look forward to Canon's continued success in the years ahead."
"Today is a great day as we celebrate the grand opening of Canon U.S.A.'s corporate headquarters here in Suffolk County," said Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone. "Creating and retaining high-quality jobs is paramount to our success as a County and as a region and Canon U.S.A. is contributing to that success. Canon is a welcome addition to the Suffolk County business community and I look forward to continuing to work with our federal, state and local officials to attract and retain businesses on Long Island."
"The Town of Huntington has long awaited this day, when we can officially welcome Canon and its dedicated workforce to Huntington," said Huntington Town Supervisor Frank P. Petrone. "We thank Canon for choosing Huntington as the site for its Americas headquarters and look forward to a long and close relationship as the company cements its status as an integral part of the community and the local economy."
Joining London and Tokyo as one of the three worldwide headquarters locations, the Canon Americas Headquarters serves all North and South American countries and stands as a model for environmental stewardship and innovation. The Melville, N.Y. facility features several environmentally conscious elements including daylight harvesting, drought resistant vegetation and electric vehicle charging stations.
The new Canon Americas Headquarters also has an onsite state-of-the-art Showroom, which will be used for product demonstrations for customers, dealers, media and students.
Fast Facts about Canon Americas Headquarters:
From AdoramaTV:
July 18, 2013 - Ever heard of Parkour? It's an athletic discipline that has one of Joe McNally's friends literally climbing the wall. Joe shows how he shot and lit the action.
In this episode of
Gear Used in the Video:
Companies Offering Advanced Options for Gigapixel Photography
Portland, Ore. - July 17, 2013 - Gigapan and Promote Systems have united to help photographers simplify their workflow process when creating High Dynamic Range (HDR) and focus stacked gigapixel imagery. The Promote Control, an all-in-one, advanced remote control for digital SLR cameras, enhances the Gigapan EPIC Pro robotic camera mount by increasing the flexibility in exposure bracketing needed to create high-quality images.
The EPIC Pro and the Promote Control automatically capture high-resolution panoramas with almost any camera and lens combination. The Promote Control connects to both the camera and the EPIC Pro, allowing the EPIC Pro to manage the exposure time at each image location, while the Promote Control triggers the camera. The EPIC Pro automatically shoots hundreds or thousands of photos, as the Promote Control assists with HDR and focus stacking. The Promote Control also manages the camera’s image capture and lens focal plane adjustment.
A new instructional video demonstrates the EPIC Pro and the Promote Control working together, and a new gallery on gigapan.com has also been added, featuring images shot using both technologies.
With the EPIC Pro and Promote Control, photographers have the ability to:
“Combining the Promote Control with the EPIC Pro takes shooting HDR and focus stacked imagery to a higher level,” said Josh Friedman, CEO of Gigapan. “It makes it immensely easier for photographers to capture stunning and highly technical shots with more control and options when shooting high-resolution panoramic images.”
“In my desire to document the drastic changes the climate continues to have on the Columbia Icefield in the Canadian Rockies, I envisioned panoramic images that not only captured high resolution, but also allowed exposure brackets to shoot in HDR to show depth and clarity,” said Joe Poulton, professional photographer, Columbia Icefield Gigapixel Project. “The combination of Promote Control and the Gigapan EPIC Pro helped create my initial image of the Athabasca Glacier. I will continue to capture aspects of the Columbia Icefield, as weather permits, using this combined system."
“The Gigapan EPIC Pro is a perfect companion for panoramic imaging professionals and amateurs alike,” noted Artyom Kamshilin, inventor and chief designer of the Promote Control.
“When paired with a Promote Control, the combination offers unparalleled flexibility, reliability and ease of use for both HDR and focus stacked panoramas.”
Adorama carries the Gigapan EPIC Pro and Promote Control.
From Canon Professional Network:
Canon’s Digital Photo Professional (DPP) is a free, and surprisingly powerful, image organising and editing application that ships in the box with every EOS camera. You’ll find DPP on the EOS Digital Solution Disk alongside other very useful Canon developed software, such as EOS Utility. CPN writer George Cairns takes a closer look at the capabilities of the DPP software up to version 3.13.0.
See the entire article at the Canon Professional Network site.
From Tether Tools:
Combination of products creates an accessible photo booth for weddings and events
July 17, 2013 – SCOTTSDALE, AZ – Tether Tools is excited to announce the introduction of the Vu Booth – a simple, portable and affordable photo booth solution for weddings and events. Designed with photographer ease in mind, the Vu Booth serves many photo display needs, travels easy and affords the photographer various options for set up.
By providing a modular booth setup that leverages Tether Tools’ Vu Monitor Mounts, the Vu Booth helps photographers offer a photo booth option to their clients without having to invest in a major casing/housing. The Vu Booth system includes a choice of one of the Vu mounts – Studio Vu, Local Vu or Go Vu Mount – and includes a Camera Platform, Articulating Arm and Rock Solid ProClamp. The system is designed to utilize a monitor, DSLR and studio stand of choice.
The Tether Tools Vu Booth sets up in minutes. Easily connect any VESA compliant monitor to the Vu Monitor mount of choice. Once mounted, the monitor can easily rotate from landscape to portrait position. Then connect the Pro Clamp and Articulating Arm to a tripod leg or studio stand column. The camera platform mounts any camera, which can be positioned on top, below or to the side of the monitor. When not being used as a photo booth the same equipment can be dismantled and utilized in a number of other capacities and situations in the photography and video workflow.
Choosing the right Vu Mount
The Vu Booth offers 3 different mount options – Studio Vu, Local Vu or Go Vu – to connect the monitor, depending on size/weight, to the stand of choice. The Studio Vu mounts easily to a studio stand’s standard 5/8” (16mm) stud and has a maximum weight capacity of 80 lbs. (36.5kg)*. The Local Vu mounting options include 1/4”-20 thread tripod/ballhead mount, 3/8” tripod mount, 5/8” (16mm) stud as well as an Arca-style plate mount. The Go Vu offers a 1/4”-20 thread tripod/ballhead mount as well as an Arca-style plate mount. The maximum weight capacity of both the Local Vu and Go Vu is 35 lbs (15.88kg).
“Photo Booths can be large, cumbersome and expensive. Tether Tools VU Booth introduces a solution that allows photographers to integrate gear they already have on hand to create a portable and streamlined photo booth for their clients. With the Vu Booth, photographers can use their photo booth software of choice and users can see their images immediately, generating instant gratification and encouraging more event attendees to participate.” said Josh Simons, president of Tether Tools.
The Vu Booth contains:
Choice of one (1):
Also includes:
Adorama carries Tether Tools products.
First, Canon USA did not announce the EF-M 11-22mm lens. Canon USA later stated that this lens is not going to be imported to the USA: "Thank you for your inquiry regarding the EF-M 11-22mm f/4-5.6 IS STM lens. We can certainly understand the confusion surrounding this release! Unfortunately, this specific lens will not be sold or serviced by Canon USA."
Then the big retailers dropped the EOS M price to an insane level.
Then the EOS M was marked as discontinued at Adorama. Adorama confirmed to me that their buyer's understanding is that EOS M has indeed been discontinued.
This, however, is in contrast to what my Canon USA PR rep is telling me: "The EOS M is not a discontinued product and this is also true for the lenses associated with this product." Canon USA will of course not disclose any future plans.
We are left to speculate the future of the M.
If Adorama's buyers are right, it seems strange to have two EF-M lenses available without a camera to sell them with. Is a new EOS M coming soon? Next week will mark the 1 year announcement anniversary of the EOS M, but I've only had my first-available "M" since November. This camera is not very old.
But, what the EOS M cameras need is the new Dual Pixel CMOS AF Canon has recently announced as coming in the Canon EOS 70D. Although the EOS M's AF performance is much improved with the recent firmware update, the Dual Pixel CMOS AF would make it an even better camera. So, introducing a new M model makes a lot of sense.
Introducing a "new" lens along with a new camera also makes sense – this happens frequently. Also having precedent is bringing a "new" lens to the USA after it has been available elsewhere in the world. I'm of course referring to the EF-M 11-22.
What makes sense to me is the introduction of an EOS M II featuring Dual Pixel CMOS AF and at the same time, announcing the EF-M 11-22mm f/4-5.6 IS STM lens in the USA.
Amazingly still in stock is the Canon EOS M with EF-M 18-55mm Lens at Amazon – for $349.00 shipped. And the Canon EOS M with EF-M 22mm Lens for $299.00 shipped is available for backorder. Jump on this awesome deal if you have not already done so. Start your Christmas shopping early.
Read the Canon EOS M review for more information on this extremely good camera value.
Just because Canon USA is not importing the EF-M 11-22mm lens to the USA doesn't mean USA residents cannot get this lens. DigitalRev will be happy to send you one.
Side note: Your browser zoom setting has probably not changed. I increased the font size of much of the text on the site, including the Site Index page, to make reading easier. Spacing between lines of text is also slightly increased. Most in-text links now have a blue color to make them easier to identify. Hopefully you find the changes to be improvements. Thanks for your support!
From Nikon:
Distortion control data are used to correct barrel and pincushion distortion during shooting and editing. They can be loaded into cameras that support distortion control.
Supported Cameras: D4 / D90 / D600 / D800 / D800E /D3100 / D3200 / D5000 / D5100 / D5200 / D7000 / D7100