Canon, Nikon and Sony News for Dec 2018 (Page 2) Report News & Deals  ►

B&H has a Used Really Right Stuff TVC-24L Series 2 Mk2 Carbon Fiber Tripod (Condition: 9) available for $749.95 with free shipping. Compare at $1,030.00 new.
 
Product Highlights
 

• Load Capacity: 40 lb
• Max Height: 66.1"
• Min Height: 3.7"
• Folded Length: 23"
• Leg Sections: 4
• Weight: 3.7 lb
• Twist Locks
• Bubble Level
• Rubber Ball Feet
• Ratcheting Angle Stops

B&H typically offers a 90-day warranty on used items. Please check the product listing above to verify.

Do you want more opportunities to photograph colorful birds? Do you want those opportunities without having to travel long distances?
 
Is your back yard close enough?
 
Today, Amazon is featuring Perky Pet Bird Houses as one of its Gold Box Deals of the Day.
 
If you live in bear-prone areas, Bryan recommends investing in the very durable Droll Yankee B72 Executive. However, if bears aren't a significant problem in your area, one (or more) of the bird feeders above will likely do the trick.
 
Note that several hummingbird feeders are on sale. If interested in hummingbird photography, be sure to check out our Hummingbird Photography Tips, authored by site visitor Bob Williams.

B&H has the Crucial 1TB MX500 2.5" Internal SSD available for $118.99 with free expedited shipping. Regularly $168.99.
 
Product Highlights
 

• 1TB Storage Capacity
• 2.5"/7mm Form Factor
• SATA III 6 Gb/s Interface
• Up to 560 MB/s Sequential Read Speed
• Up to 510 MB/s Sequential Write Speed
• Silicon Motion SM2258 Controller
• Micron 3D TLC NAND Flash Technology
• AES-256 Data Encryption, TCG Opal 2.0
• Acronis True Image Included

From Sigma:
 
Benefits of SIGMA Optimization Pro 1.5
 
SIGMA Optimization Pro 1.5 for Windows
 

• It has added the “AF function button setting” to the customization menu. With this setting, it is possible to allocate various functions to the AF function button incorporated in the SIGMA 70-200mm F2.8 DG OS HSM | Sports.

SIGMA Optimization Pro 1.5 for Macintosh
 

• It has added the “AF function button setting” to the customization menu. With this setting, it is possible to allocate various functions to the AF function button incorporated in the SIGMA 70-200mm F2.8 DG OS HSM | Sports.
• It has become compatible with Mac OS Mojave (10.14).
• It has corrected the display error of the customization menu in traditional Chinese language.

SIGMA Optimization Pro 1.5 is available for download here.

Through tomorrow, B&H has the Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 AT-X PRO DX-II Lens available for $349.00 with free expedited shipping. Regularly $499.00.
 
Discounted mounts included Canon EF, Nikon F & Sony A.
 
Product Highlights
 

• Aperture Range: f/2.8 to f/22
• Designed for Cameras with APS-C Sensors
• Internal Focusing AF Motor
• One-Touch Focus Clutch Mechanism
• Two Aspheric Lens Elements
• Two Super-Low Dispersion Lens Elements
• Multi-Layer Coating
• 77mm Filter Thread

From Adobe:
 
This release of Lightroom Classic CC rolls out new features and enhancements such as customization of Develop Panel, Add to Collection option in auto-import settings, Grid Snap option in book module, other enhancements, support for new cameras and lenses, and bug fixes.
 
Customize the order of Develop panels
 
With this release, you can now drag the Develop module panels in the order you would like to see them in.
 
To customize the Develop panel menu, do the following:
 

1. Right-click (Win) / Control-click (Mac) on the header of any panel.
2. Select Customize Develop Panel from the context menu that opens.
3. In the Customize Develop Panel dialog box that opens, drag the panel names in the desired order.
4. Click Save. To restore the default order, click Default Order before Save.
5. Relaunch Lightroom Classic to see the Develop panels in the new order in the Confirm dialog that opens.

For detailed information, see Customize the order of Develop panels.
 
Add photos from a watched folder to a Collection with Auto Import
 
In the Auto Import settings, you can now use the Add To Collection option to directly pull photos from a watched folder into a specified Collection.
 
The Auto Import feature monitors a watched folder for photos and automatically imports them into the Collection you've set as the destination. After you set up a watched folder and specify a destination Collection in the auto-import settings, you can simply drag photos into the watched folder. Lightroom Classic CC automatically imports those photos in the specified Collection, allowing you to bypass the import window.
 
To add photos from a watched folder to a Collection, do the following:
 

1. Go to File > Auto Import > Auto Import Settings.
2. In the Auto Import Settings dialog box, set up a watched folder and select the Enable Auto Import option.
3. In the Destination area of the dialog box, select the Add to Collection check box. Lightroom Classic now displays a list of all your Collections.
4. Select any Collection as your destination for auto-import.
5. Optionally, you can also click Create Collection to create a new collection and select it as the destination for import.
6. Click OK.

For detailed information on photo import on tethering, see Import photos automatically.
 
Align photos in a Book layout with the Grid Snap guides
 
You can now easily align photos in a Book layout using the Grid Snap option in the Guides section. In Grid Snap, choose either Cells to align the cells of two photos with respect to each other, or Grid to align photos with the grid guide lines.
 
On moving the photo, it would snap into place based on the selected setting. By default, the Grid Snap option is set to Cells.
 
For more helpful information, see Create photo books.
 
Duplicate preset handling
 
With this release of Lightroom Classic CC, if you attempt to create a duplicate preset with the same name under the same group, a Duplicate Preset Name dialog box opens with options to:
 

• Replace - Select this option to keep only the latest preset with the same name in the group
• Duplicate - Select this option to keep two presets with the same name listed in the same group
• Rename - Select this option to append a numeric extension to the name by default or rename it yourself

For detailed information about working with Develop presets, see Work with Develop presets.
 
Show partially compatible presets
 
On opening a photo in the Loupe view in the Develop module, some presets may not appear in the Presets panel due to incompatibility with the selected photo, such as camera profiles that are not applicable to the current photo or presets that only apply to raw files. The non-compatible presets are shown as faded and in Italics style in the Presets panel in Develop.
 
To see all presets even if they are not compatible with the current photo, do the following:
 

1. Open a photo in Loupe view and click Edit.
2. Select Preferences from the drop-down menu.
3. Select Presets under the Preferences panel.
4. In the Visibility section, select/deselect Show Partially Compatible Develop Presets to show/hide partially compatible develop presets.

For detailed information about working with Develop presets, see Work with Develop presets.
 
Photo merge enhancements
 

• Photo merge: Requirements for merge operations that could have led to merging failures in earlier versions have now been relaxed. Now you can merge images with differing dimensions, focal lengths, and orientation.
• Photo merge preview caching: Lightroom Classic now caches the previews generated for Photo Merge operations. This improves performance and provides a better user experience.
• Single-step HDR-Pano merge: Now you can perform single-step panorama HDR merge using smart previews.

For more helpful information on merge operations, see Create Panoramas and HDR Panoramas.
 
Performance enhancements
 

• Improved sync reliability and stability.
• Improved performance while doing batch operations such as import, preview generation, DNG conversion, and export.
• Improved grid scrolling performance on Hi-DPI displays.
• Improved performance when switching between Develop and Library Loupe.

Other enhancements
 

• Cancel on exit: With this release, you would see a confirmation dialog on exit so that you can choose to cancel exiting from Lightroom Classic CC. If you select Don’t show again checkbox from the confirmation dialog, you need to reset warning dialogs (Preferences > General > Reset All Warning dialogs) to see the confirmation dialog on exit again.
• Color Labels for folders: Support has been added for color labels for offline folders. For more helpful information, see Create and manage folders.
• Support for Photoshop Elements 2019 catalogs: Support has been added for importing Photoshop Elements 2019 catalogs in Lightroom Classic CC. For more helpful information, see Import photos from Photoshop Elements.

Support for new cameras and lenses
 
Newly added camera support:
 

• Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (2018 model)
• Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2018 model)
• Apple iPhone XR
• Apple iPhone XS
• Apple iPhone XS Max
• Canon PowerShot SX70 HS
• Google Pixel 3
• Google Pixel 3 XL
• GoPro HERO7 Black
• Huawei P9 Lite
• Leica D-Lux 7
• Leica M10-D
• Leica M10-P
• LG G7 ThinQ
• Nikon COOLPIX P1000
• Nikon D3500
• Nikon Z 6
• Samsung Galaxy Note 9
• Samsung Galaxy S6
• Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge
• Sony DSC-HX95
• Sony DSC-HX99

Newly added lens support:
 

Lens	Mount
Apple iPad Pro (11-inch) back camera 3mm f/1.8 (DNG+JPEG+HEIC)	Apple
Apple iPad Pro (11-inch) front camera 2.87mm f/2.2 (JPEG+HEIC)	Apple
Apple iPad Pro (12.9-inch) (3rd generation) back camera 3mm f/1.8 (DNG+JPEG+HEIC)	Apple
Apple iPad Pro (12.9-inch) (3rd generation) front camera 2.87mm f/2.2 (JPEG+HEIC)	Apple
Apple iPhone XR back camera 4.25mm f/1.8 (DNG+JPEG+HEIC)	Apple
Apple iPhone XR front camera 2.87mm f/2.2 (JPEG+HEIC)	Apple
Apple iPhone XS back camera 4.25mm f/1.8 (DNG+JPEG+HEIC)	Apple
Apple iPhone XS back camera 6mm f/2.4 (DNG+JPEG+HEIC)	Apple
Apple iPhone XS front camera 2.87mm f/2.2 (JPEG+HEIC)	Apple
Apple iPhone XS Max back camera 4.25mm f/1.8 (DNG+JPEG+HEIC)	Apple
Apple iPhone XS Max back camera 6mm f/2.4 (DNG+JPEG+HEIC)	Apple
Apple iPhone XS Max front camera 2.87mm f/2.2 (JPEG+HEIC)	Apple
Canon EF-M 32mm f/1.4 STM	Canon
Google Pixel 3 Rear Camera (DNG+JPEG)*	Google
Google Pixel 3 XL Rear Camera (DNG+JPEG)*	Google
HERO7 Black (Raw+JPEG)	GoPro
HERO7 Silver	GoPro
Hasselblad XCD 1,9/80mm	Hasselblad
Hasselblad XCD 2,8/135mm + 1.7x	Hasselblad
Lensbaby Velvet 85mm f/1.8	Canon, Sony, Nikon
LG G7 ThinQ Front Camera (DNG+JPEG)	LG
LG G7 ThinQ Rear Main Camera (DNG+JPEG)	LG
LG G7 ThinQ Rear Wide Camera (DNG+JPEG)	LG
Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Rear Camera 26mm F1.5-2.4 (DNG+JPEG)	Samsung
Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Rear Camera 52mm F2.4	Samsung
Samyang AF 24mm F2.8	Sony
SIGMA 40mm F1.4 DG HSM A018	Canon
SIGMA 60-600mm F4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM S018	Canon, SIGMA
SIGMA 105mm T1.5 FF HIGH-SPEED PRIME	Canon
SIGMA 56mm F1.4 DC DN C018	Sony
Sony FE 24mm F1.4 GM	Sony
TAMRON SP 15-30mm F/2.8 Di VC USD G2 A041	Canon, Nikon
Voigtlander VM 40mm f/1.2 Nokton Aspherical	Leica
Voigtlander VM 50mm f/1.2 Nokton Aspherical	Leica
Voigtlander NOKTON classic 35mm F1.4	Sony
Zeiss Batis 2/40 CF	Sony

B&H carries Adobe Photography Plan subscriptions.

The following information was provided by Datacolor; we are sharing it for the benefit of our readers. Color calibration is a vital part of the photographic process and we personally rely on Datacolor products (purchased online/retail) for our own display calibration needs.
 
From Datacolor:
 
The need to have a calibrated monitor is of paramount importance, but very often overlooked. Every photographer knows they should be calibrating their monitor, yet many still don’t bother with it, seeing it as a complex and time-consuming task that will hinder instead of help their workflow process.
 
You want to be able to trust your monitor, as it’s the window to your digital photography and the gateway allowing you to view the true image. However, this would not be the case if you have a non-calibrated monitor, as your colors might not look how you intended due to skin tones being off, crucial shadow detail being missed or whites not being as pure as they should or need to be.
 
Photography Workflow
 
Making monitor calibration a key part of your photography workflow eliminates factors such as tiredness, human error, and the lack of dependability you will have by solely relying on your eyes to adjust the monitor correctly.
 
You want all on-screen images to match the initial shot taken, and using a screen calibrator is crucial to this process. Datacolor’s Spyder5 will measure light and color that appears from your screen, and make corrections to ensure the colors and details of your image are displayed as accurately as possible.
 
Using Different Monitors
 
Every monitor displays colors differently. Just because your images look accurate on one monitor doesn’t necessarily mean they will be the same on another screen you use. As they are not built ready-calibrated, their colors will in fact shift over time. Not calibrating properly and using different monitors can lead you to wasting unnecessary time editing, with your images on screen not displaying the true colors or details of your photos.
 
Using a colorimeter to an industry color reference standard not only gives you refined color accuracy for better print matching, but will eliminate the guesswork out of image editing, helping you to save time and efficiently manage your workflow better.
 
Regular Calibration
 
Staying up to date with calibration is vital, as making a regular habit of calibrating your display on a monthly basis will give you confidence your edited images will always match your prints best as possible. Also determining optimal monitor brightness, calibration will keep your monitor fresh with the display’s output intensity and stops you from needlessly buying abundant amounts of ink and paper.
 
Without calibrating your monitor, you can’t fully trust the colors you see on-screen, which then leads you to make questionable editing decisions, and waste time, paper and ink on re-printing as the color on your images don’t appear right.
 
To ensure printed images are as close of a match as to what you see on screen, an accurate color calibrated screen is the best starting place.
 
Datacolor’s eBook
 
If you’re serious about photography, taking advantage of color management tools in your workflow to prepare your images will save you time, effort and money. Furthermore, if you’re planning to edit or view your images, using a reliable colorimeter to profile your monitor and calibrate any device can only help improve your process and photos.
 
To help photographers and videographers of all standards understand color management better, Datacolor has launched an extensive color management eBook, ‘Spyder5 eBook: Color management can be easy’. All six chapters are available for you to download here.

The Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM Sports Lens is available for preorder at B&H, Adorama, Henry's and Wex Photo.
 
Product Highlights
 

• Full-Frame Format
• Aperture Range: f/2.8 to f/22
• Nine FLD Elements, One SLD Element
• Super Multi-Layer Coating
• Hyper Sonic AF Motor
• Intelligent OS Image Stabilization
• Removable Arca-Type Tripod Foot
• Dust- and Moisture-Sealed Construction
• Rounded 11-Blade Diaphragm
• Compatible with Sigma Teleconverters

 
This is a great idea. Start your DIY project with a camera lens mug from Amazon.

Through the end of today Eastern Time, Adorama has the The Green Pod Camera Platform available for $17.99 with free shipping. Regularly $27.99.
 
Product Highlights
 

• Malleable shape allows you to set up the Green Pod on any surface, such as benches, cars, ledges, rocks, the ground, etc
• A hook & loop position pad on top of the Green Pod reduces camera slippage
• Straps can also be used to attach the Green Pod itself to a rig or other object
• Non-marking, non-slip base

Through midnight tonight Eastern Time, B&H has the Teradek VidiU Pro available for $599.00 with free shipping. Regularly $999.00.
 
Product Highlights
 

• Stream Broadcast Quality HD Video
• Deliver to Platforms and RTMP Addresses
• Accepts Any HDMI Camera Source
• Bluetooth Configuration via Tablet/Phone
• Two Hour Internal Lithium-Ion Battery
• Record to SD Card via Built-In SD Port
• Get Max Bandwidth via Teradek ShareLink

See today's full list of B&H Deal Zone Deals for excellent savings opportunities.

Through midnight tonight Eastern Time, B&H has the Auray IPU-108 Universal Tablet Stand Adapter available for $19.95 with free shipping. Regularly $44.95.
 
Product Highlights
 

• Holds 7 to 14" Tablets
• Holds 12.9" iPad Pro
• 180° Tilt & 360° Rotation
• Mounts to Mic Stand Shaft or 5/8" Mount
• Compatible with Tripod Legs up to 35mm
• Supports up to 6.6 lb

Super Hot Deal: Through midnight tonight Eastern Time, use coupon code YOUGO2BH ($50.00 off) at B&H to get the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens for $799.00 with free shipping. Compare at $1,199.00.
 
Discounted mounts include Canon EF, Nikon F and Sony E.
 
This is an excellent lens for portraiture; check out our full review for more details.
 
Product Highlights
 

• EF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
• Aperture Range: f/1.4 to 16
• Two Low Dispersion Elements
• One Aspherical Element
• Super Multi-Layer Coating
• Hyper Sonic AF Motor, Manual Override
• Rounded 9-Blade Diaphragm
• TSC Material, Brass Bayonet Mount
• Compatible with Sigma USB Dock

Want a really inexpensive 35mm f/1.4 prime lens with AF? This may be the lens you've been looking for.
 
Amazon has the Yongnuo 35mm f/1.4 Lens for Canon in stock and and it has an MSRP that's almost $1,400.00 less than its Canon L-series counterpart (without rebates).
 
So how well does the Yongnuo 35mm f/1.4 perform? We have no idea, but we'd love to hear your thoughts if you pick one up.

Today only, B&H has the Apple 12.9" iPad Pro (Mid 2017, 512GB, Wi-Fi Only, Space Gray) available for $799.00 with free shipping. Regularly $1,149.00.
 
Product Highlights
 

• 12.9" Multi-Touch Retina Display
• 2732 x 2048 Screen Resolution (264 ppi)
• Apple A10X 64-Bit SoC + M10 Coprocessor
• 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2
• Front 7MP FaceTime HD Camera
• Rear 12MP iSight Camera
• Touch ID Fingerprint Sensor
• Lightning Connector, Smart Connector
• iOS 10