Canon and Sony News for Aug 2015 (Page 3)

We've had The-Digital-Picture.com Community for several years now and it has become a great venue for photographers to socialize, ask questions, share their images and compete in weekly contests.

One disadvantage to a forum-based system is that the images shared by the members appear in numerous different (themed) threads, meaning that viewing all the latest images posted is a rather tedious and time consuming process.

Therefore, we created The-Digital-Picture.com Flickr Group to serve as a repository of Community (and non-Community) members where site visitors can share their images in a centralized location.

So what are you waiting for? Go check it out and feel free to add some of your favorite [family friendly] images (up to 5 per day).

From SanDisk:

SanDisk SSD Concierge Service provides full support during SSD upgrade process

MILPITAS, Calif., August 18, 2015 – SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ: SNDK), a global leader in flash storage solutions, today introduced the first SSD upgrade service with live video support. The SanDisk SSD Concierge Service offers full support for SanDisk solid state drive (SSD) installations and is designed to simplify upgrades for consumers of all technical backgrounds.

“Many customers understand the benefits an SSD can bring to an aging laptop but they also feel anxious about performing an upgrade by themselves,” said Philippe Willams, director of product marketing, SanDisk. “The SanDisk SSD Concierge Service’s step-by-step live support will give consumers the confidence to install an SSD and enjoy the benefits of speed, performance and reliability.”

Upgrading an aging laptop with an SSD can greatly improve performance and is more cost effective than purchasing a new one. With advanced flash memory storage and significantly faster speeds, SSDs outpace traditional hard-disk drives (HDDs) in every performance category. In addition, SSDs run cooler, create less noise, and use less power, which helps extend laptop battery life, and reduce the strain on limited system resources.

Through the SanDisk SSD Concierge Service, consumers will have all of the tools required to upgrade their laptop successfully. This includes the hardware and software necessary to migrate data as well as install the new SSD. Once data has been successfully migrated, consumers will have the ability to schedule a video conference via mobile device with a SanDisk technician, who will walk them through the final steps of removing the existing storage device and installing their new SSD. The SanDisk SSD Concierge Service will support all SanDisk consumer SSDs.

Pricing and Availability
The SanDisk SSD Concierge Service is available through Amazon for $39.99*.
* SSD not included; sold separately.

From Kenko Tokina USA:

Kenko Tokina Asks Photographers: Is Your Shot Hoya Tough?

Kenko Tokina Debuts New Hoya HD3 Series of Professional Photographic Filters Designed for Extreme Environmental Conditions; 4X Stronger than Standard Optical Glass; 800% Harder Coatings than Previous Generations

Huntington Beach, CA – August 18, 2015 – Kenko Tokina USA, Inc. is proud to introduce the new Hoya HD3 series of professional photographic filters. The HD3 UV and Circular Polarizer filters give photographers the ability to capture high-quality images in extreme settings without loss of color balance, contrast, or clarity due to adverse environmental conditions. Additionally, the new filters’ light-weight and rugged design means no scratches, stains or damage to the front of the lens. The Hoya HD3 filters are 4X stronger than standard optical glass and the antireflective coatings are 800% harder than previous generations while offering a stunning 99.7% light transmission rate. To learn more about Hoya’s HD3 UV and Circular Polarizer filters, visit http://HoyaFilter.com/HD3

Professionals Agree: Hoya HD3 Filters Are the Amazing
Professional photographers are raving about the optical quality of their pictures using the new Hoya HD3 filters. Award-winning photographer Hudson Henry found the new filters vital for a recent European photo shoot.

“The UV filters are amazing. I leave it on while shooting sunburst photos without seeing any noticeable degradation,” says Hudson Henry. “These UV filters are like perfectly clear armor. It's especially handy for conditions with dust, crowds of people, salt spray, and sweat.”

Extreme photographer Stan Moniz, a longtime Hoya user, raved about the new filter series.

“These filters are so durable and so easy to clean, it allows you to do things other photographers haven’t done and get images that haven’t been captured before,” says Stan Moniz. “These filters are the bomb to use. I can’t understand why a professional photographer wouldn’t always have these on them.”

The HD3 Series of Filters
The new HD3 series of filters consists of a UV and Circular Polarizer in common sizes ranging from 37mm to 82mm. Building on the brand’s reputation for producing the toughest filters on the planet, Hoya engineers have developed a new ultra-hard nano-coating formula in addition to a new process for applying layers of antireflective coating to the HD3 glass. These two factors combine to yield a coating that is 800% harder than the optical coating on the previous generation of filters.

The HD3 UV professional filter features a new 32-layer proprietary coating system that greatly reduces or eliminates reflections on the surface of the glass and yields a 99.7% light transmission rate. This means the filter has virtually no effect on the color balance, contrast, or clarity of the final image. Additionally, the hardened, antistatic top-layer is water repellent, stain and scratch resistant, and cleans easily when smudges or fingerprints are introduced to the surface.

The optical glass in the new HD3 UV professional filter is made in Japan, using Hoya’s exclusive HD hardened glass that is 4x stronger than normal optical glass (UV only).

The filters in the new HD3 series utilize a lightweight, one-piece, low-profile aluminum frame to house the glass. This one-piece design allows the filter to maintain perfect parallel alignment to the sensor plane for maximum sharpness, while the low-profile frame eliminates vignetting when used on ultra-wide-angle lenses.

Hoya HD3 filters were developed in conjunction with Kenko Tokina USA, Inc. and intended solely for U.S. distribution.

B&H carries the Hoya HD3 filters.

Roger over at LensRentals.com has published a full teardown of two cinema primes, the Zeiss 85mm CP.2 T2.1 and more affordable Rokinon Xeen 85mm T1.5. Roger does a good job of explaining the differences between the two lenses and provides us his thoughts on the build quality of each.

From the ExpoImaging YouTube Channel:

Erik Valind demonstrates how to creatively add color to shadows with 3 flashes and some Rogue FlashBender 2 gear. Flash photography lighting video tutorial, techniques and tips.

Gear Used

• Rogue FlashBender 2 (Large)
• Rogue FlashBender 2 XL Pro

From Nikon:

TOKYO - Nikon Corporation is pleased to announce that its Nikon DX-format digital SLR camera, the Nikon D5500, is the recipient of the European Consumer DSLR Camera 2015-2016 award presented by the European Imaging and Sound Association (EISA).

This makes the second major award the D5500 has received this year, as it was also the recipient of the TIPA Awards 2015 Best Digital SLR Entry Level Award, presented by the Technical Image Press Association (TIPA).

The Nikon D5500 is a digital SLR camera that offers an effective pixel count of 24.2-mega-pixels, and is equipped with a Nikon DX-format CMOS sensor with no optical low-pass filter, and the EXPEED 4 image-processing engine. These features combine for superior image quality and rich power of expression. The D5500 is also equipped with a touch screen vari-angle LCD monitor that supports intuitive touch operation, as well as a built-in Wi-Fi function. In addition, adoption of a monocoque structure has helped to make this slim digital SLR the world's lightest with preserving strength durability.

Reasons the D5500 was selected as recipient of the European Consumer DSLR Camera 2015-2016 award (summary of EISA comments):
The D5500 is a digital SLR camera that offers a deep grip for a firm and steady hold despite its compact and lightweight size. It offers one of the highest effective pixel counts in its class, 24.2-megapixels, and is equipped with a number of advanced features, including a Nikon DX-format CMOS sensor with no optical low-pass filter, and an AF system offering 39 focus points, optimal for capturing moving subjects. It also supports a broad range of standard sensitivities, from ISO 100 to 25600. This camera is equipped with all of the features photo hobbyists require for capturing and sharing images, including a vari-angle LCD monitor, which supports shooting from any angle, as well as touch operation, and a built-in Wi-Fi function, which enables wireless transfer of images.

B&H carries the Nikon D5500 DSLR Camera.

The definition of "perfect" in regards to T6i/T6s (750D/760D) setup is of course referring to my own preferences. That there are so many setup options shows that not everyone is the same as me.

1. Open the box, find the battery and battery charger, connect the two and plug the charger in. A charged battery is needed for almost everything going forward.
2. While the battery is charging, the one step that can be accomplished is software installation. Canon Digital Photo Pro and EOS Utility are the two apps I load.
3. Another step that can be taken parallel to battery charging is installation of the neck strap.
4. Install the charged battery and power on the camera. Update the date, time and time zone as prompted.
5. To enable the full set of menu options, turn mode dial to P, Tv, Av or M. Then begin changes by pressing the Menu button.
6. Change "Image quality" to "RAW"
7. "Beep" to "Disable"
8. "Release shutter without card" to "Disable" (Important)
9. "Image review" to "4 sec."
10. Set all "Lens aberration correction" options to "Disable"
11. "Picture Style" to "Neutral" with "Sharpness" set to "1". Note that I select the Neutral Picture Style for a lower contrast histogram to better show the camera's available dynamic range in-camera. I usually change image to use the "Standard" style in DPP during post processing.
12. "Long exposure noise reduction" to "Auto". I frequently change this option when shooting, most often to "On".
13. "High ISO speed NR" to "Off". Noise reduction reduces image sharpness and very potentially destructive to image details. I apply NR to my taste (usually very lightly) during post processing.
14. Live View "Grid display" to "Grid 1" to get the thirds lines
15. Histogram disp from "Brightnes" to "RGB"
16. "Auto rotate" to "On/Computer". This allows images to fill the camera LCD regardless of the orientation they were captured in.
17. Viewfinder display: Set Electronic level, Grid display and Flicker detection to "Show"
18. "Feature Guide" to "Disable"
19. Custom functions: ISO expansion: On,
20. Setup My Menu to include: Long exp. noise reduction, Anti-flicker shoot, Format card, Date/Time/Zone, Mirror Lockup, Sensor cleaning

Regardless of your setting alignment with mine, I recommend that you maintain your own camera settings list. The list will be helpful if your camera requires reconfiguration (such as after returning from Canon service) or as a basis for configuring your next camera upgrade.

From Canon USA:

New features include improved initial set-up time, direct printing from Instagram and new ink formula

MELVILLE, N.Y., August, 18, 2015 - Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, today announced enhanced printers for its PIXMA printer line: the PIXMA MG7720, the PIXMA MG6800 series and the MG5700 series of Wireless Inkjet All-in-One (AIO) printers. Ideal for high-quality photo and document printing and creative applications, each model can connect to wireless networks easier than in the past for quick printing from the Canon PRINT Inkjet/SELPHY application with compatible mobile and tablet devices. Catering to the wants and needs of the everyday user, each model can also be used to create additional copies and scan important documents for archiving purposes as well. All of the printers utilize new genuine Canon inks, which provide deeper blacks and more vivid reds in photos for easy printing at home, and provide more visual impact for printing documents on plain paper than previous models.

To further expand upon the usability and effectiveness of the Canon PRINT Inkjet/SELPHY application and PIXMA Cloud Link, new features include the ability to print images directly from any Instagram feed, so special moments can live beyond the screen. In addition, Canon Easy-PhotoPrint+ and Creative Park web applications can be accessed from compatible smartphones and tablets to share and edit individual photos using cloud technology as well. Also, documents can be printed from SlideShare and users can send scanned documents directly to OneNote.

Improving upon initial setup time as compared to predecessors, users can install the printer drivers approximately 30 percent faster with the PIXMA MG7720 printer. All seven models also have an improved wireless printing experience for compatible smartphone and tablet users through the updated Canon PRINT Inkjet/SELPHY application, and can easily print and scan images and documents to several of the most popular online social platforms and services, such as Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, Photobucket, Dropbox, Evernote, Creative Park, Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive. In addition, these models support Google Cloud Print, for printing from Gmail and Google Docs on a compatible mobile device, and from the Google Chrome browser for Mac, Windows, Linux and Chrome OS operating systems.

"We are excited to announce these new PIXMA printer models, including a new flagship model, that are ideal for anyone looking for a multi-purpose printer with simple, direct wireless capabilities for easy printing of photos and documents," said Yuichi Ishizuka, president and COO, Canon U.S.A., Inc. "With an improved start-up process, new ink cartridges, and an increase in compatible applications available making the printing experience more seamless, these printers cater to those that want to create high quality prints at home or on the go."

The PIXMA MG7720 printer, which also includes the PIXMA Touch & Print feature that allows direct printing from compatible Android devices, along with the PIXMA MG6800 printer series, are the perfect creative tools for students who need to print on the go from just about anywhere using Canon Creative Park projects. Rounding out the new lineup, the PIXMA MG5700 printer series is the economical choice for printing homework assignments or other important documents at home while still providing creative features and quality photos. Each printer features Auto Power On/Off functionality, Auto Two-sided Print and PictBridge printing via wireless LAN for a direct connection to select Canon Digital Cameras.

All of the 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. My Image Garden also features Full HD Movie Print software to help users produce clear images of frames from videos captured on select Canon EOS Digital SLRs, PowerShot Digital Cameras, and VIXIA Camcorders.

PIXMA MG7720
In addition to the aforementioned features, the PIXMA MG7720 printer comes equipped with the Intelligent Touch System user interface and a 3.5-inch touch screen to easily navigate through various menus. This model also features six individual ink tanks to produce photo lab quality photos at home and professional looking documents. The PIXMA MG7720 printer will be available in black, white, gold and red and has an estimated retail price of $199.99.

PIXMA MG6800 series
The PIXMA MG6800 printer series features an easy-to-use, 3.0-inch TFT touch screen for easy navigation and a five color individual ink set. It is also equipped with a dual purpose paper tray for plain paper in addition to photo paper where a beautiful 4 x 6 inch borderless photo can be printed in approximately 41 seconds11. The PIXMA MG6820 printer will be available in white and black while the MG6821 is available in black/silver and the MG6822 is available in white/silver. Each model has an estimated retail price of $149.99.

PIXMA MG5700 series
The PIXMA MG5700 printer series includes the same five individual ink tank system as the PIXMA MG6800 series printer models where four of the inks are designed for use when printing a color document or image in addition to a dedicated ink tank for printing black and white text documents. These models are also capable of automatically printing a two-sided document to conserve paper. The PIXMA MG5720 printer will be available in white and black, while the MG5721 is available in black/silver and the MG5722 is available in white/silver. Each model has an estimated retail price of $99.99.

B&H carries Canon PIXMA printers.

I've used the Spiffy Gear Light Blaster periodically since authoring a review of the strobe-based projection aid nearly two years ago. Over that time I've used the Light Blaster in several different ways. With a brand new studio space (giving me more room to work than my previous place), I decided to illustrate some of the different ways you can utilize the Light Blaster for creative portraiture with a series of (yep, you guessed it) self-portraits.

The Standard – Using the Light Blaster for Backgrounds

The most common use for the Light Blaster is to project an interesting background for your portrait. It's relatively easy and straight forward to use the Light Blaster in this way. However, you need to make sure to control all the light sources in your scene as stray light can wash out the projected background. Notice that the left side of the image above is slightly more washed out than the other side which is a result of me using a reflector as opposed to a gridded softbox for fill.

Here was the setup:

The main light was provided by a Canon 580EX flash diffused by a gridded softbox while the fill light was provided by a reflector positioned just out of the frame. I used another 580EX (camera left, gridded) as a rim light and a final 580EX provided the light being projected by the Light Blaster. Note that I had to use my widest angle lens (a Rokinon 14mm f/2.8) to create a projection wide enough to fill the wall behind me and I had to pose carefully so as to hide the Light Blaster during the shot.

Projecting an Image onto the Subject and Background

This was one of the techniques I used when creating the Light Blaster Review. This is a relatively challenging technique because of the multiple planes of focus you must consider when creating this type of image.

One plane of focus you must consider is that of the lens attached to your camera. That one's pretty straight forward as you can increase (or decrease) depth-of-field by adjusting your camera settings. The other plane of focus is more troublesome because you can't vary the aperture of Canon AF lenses that aren't attached to the camera (in other words, the lens attached to the Light Blaster). Unless that lens is fully manual (and in most cases it won't be), your lens will be projecting the image using a wide open aperture meaning you must choose a working distance and focal length which are optimal in terms of making use of the projection and obtaining the depth of field necessary for the effect.

While I was eventually able to overcome the challenges and produce an effect I liked, the projection on the background was not perfectly in focus (although I think the slight out-of-focus text looked good in that particular image).

Projecting an Image onto the Subject (But Not Onto the Background*)

This is probably the second-most utilized technique when using the Light Blaster. If you have enough working space, you can position the Light Blaster so that it strikes the subject yet doesn't appear in the background. That may sound simple, but it's a little tougher than you may think.

The problem is that for a full-sized projection to cover your subject, pointing the Light Blaster straight ahead is best. However, that leaves you with the projection very noticeable in the background. You can compensate for this by independently lighting the background (blowing it out) or you can avoid the situation by angling the Light Blaster in such a way that its projection doesn't fall into the background of your composition.

Depending on the space you have available to you, it may be difficult to position the Light Blaster perfectly so that it lights the subject in a pleasing way while not also appearing the background. If you position the Light Blaster too high, it may not light your subject's eyes when looking at the camera. In my first attempt, the projection fell onto the lower part of my frame in the background when used at the height necessary to light my eyes. I dealt with it by cropping the image so as not to show that part of the frame. When showing the image to Bryan, he wasn't terribly impressed by the attempt. He challenged me to create an image with "more power."

More power, eh?

I'm glad that Bryan challenged me to make a better image, as the one shown above turned out to be one of my favorite self-portraits ever. The Light Blaster was positioned similarly as in my first attempt (high, pointed downward) and a couple of rim lights were used to help define my outline. Instead of cropping out the part that was "contaminated" by the Light Blaster's projection, I used it heighten the effect of the image. That's why there's an asterisk on this section – the projection did hit a small portion of the background (and that turned out to be a good thing).

The out-of-focus (OOF) areas of the projection which fell onto the background looked a little bit like flames to me, except that they were greyish in tone. The projection was not perfectly centered, either, which led to a black area on the left side.

Here's the straight-out-of-camera (SOOC) image:

I cloned a section of the OOF area on the right side, flipped it horizontally, set the layer blend mode to "Lighten" and placed it over the lower black portion of the left side of the frame. I then created a new layer set to "Color" blend mode and painted the OOF areas behind me with a yellow color. The alterations transformed the OOF areas into something reminiscent of flames which added to the overall intimidating, tyrannical look I was going for.

The setup looked similar to this except Speed Grids were used on the rim light flashes:

Using the Light Blaster with In-Camera Multiple Exposures

You can also use the Light Blaster when capturing in-camera multiple exposures to create interesting and creative images. For the above image, I pointed the Light Blaster at a wall and projected a slide contained in one of the Spiffy Gear Blaster Creative Kits (think it was the Backdrops one, but I'm not 100% certain). I then set my 5D III to Multiple Exposures (Additive) and chose the Light Blaster slide as my base image.

Using the Additive setting in Multiple Exposures mode will cause the lightest pixels in each exposure to stand out. I took advantage of this by using gridded rim lights to burn my profile into the original image. Full disclosure: I was really lucky with the placement of my eye within the frame. The fact that my eye just happened to occupy a dark area in the slide meant that it became a big focal point in the image. I converted the in-camera multiple exposure to grayscale in post.

Of course, you can achieve multiple exposures in post-processing simply by layering your images and changing the blend mode to "Lighten." And in that case, you certainly aren't limited to the specific Light Blaster slides you own. But there's a certain elegance to capturing the image you want in-camera, and it can certainly be more fun to do it that way.

As you can see, there are many different ways that a Spiffy Gear Light Blaster can be used for creative portraiture. Another great thing about the Light Blaster is that purchasing used 35mm transparent slides on eBay allows for an endless variety of backdrops and projections to use.

List of Gear Used

Spiffy Gear Light Blaster
Spiffy Gear Blaster Creative Kit
Canon EOS 5D Mark III
Canon EF 24-105mm f4L IS USM
Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art
Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 IF ED UMC
Induro 8X CT-314 Carbon Fiber Tripod
Arca Swiss Monoball Z1 Ball Head
Matthews Maxi Kit Steel Stand (9.5')
Avenger Light Stand (Black, 12.6')
Avenger F600 Baby Offset Arm
24" Collapsibe Softbox for Shoe-mount Flashes
Impact Collapsible Oval Reflector - Soft Gold/White - 41x74"
Radio triggers
Shoe Mount Umbrella Adapter & Umbrella Swivel
Female Hotshoe with Miniphone Jack
5/8 Inch Spigot with 1/4"-20 Threaded Stud
Honl Speed Strap
Opteka 1/8" Universal Honeycomb Grid
35mm Transparent Slides

From Tamron:

August 17, 2015 – Saitama, Japan – Tamron Co., Ltd. (President & CEO: Morio Ono), a leading manufacturer of precision optics, has announced that the European Imaging and Sound Association (EISA) has presented its "European DSLR Zoom Lens 2015-2016" award to the world's first* F/2.8 ultra-wide-angle zoom to offer image stabilization, Tamron SP 15-30mm F/2.8 Di VC USD (Model A012).

Excerpt from the Award Citation of the EISA Jury

"The Tamron SP 15-30mm F2.8 Di VC USD is quite simply a revolutionary design, being the first wideangle zoom to combine a fast f/2.8 maximum aperture with optical stabilisation. It covers a focal length range suitable for landscape photography, interiors and architecture thanks to the low optical distortion, but can also be used for street photography and atmospheric portraits. The optical performance is exceptional and provides a high level of contrast and detail. The autofocus and image stabilisation systems are highly effective, too. Build quality is high, with moisture resistant construction. It's a large and heavy lens, but great value for money."

Tamron Lenses that have received the EISA Award

The receipt of this prestigious award marks the 17th year Tamron has won an EISA Award, and the 10th consecutive year since 2006.

Year Awarded	Product Name
1992-1993	SP AF35-105mm F/2.8 Aspherical (Model 65D)
1993-1994	AF28-200mm F/3.8-5.6 Aspherical (Model 71D)
1997-1998	SP AF90mm F/2.8 MACRO [1:1] (Model 72E)
1999-2000	AF28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 Aspherical [IF] MACRO (Model 185D)
2000-2001	AF28-200mm F/3.8-5.6 Aspherical -IF Super? (Model 371D)
2002-2003	AF28-300mm Ultra Zoom XR F/3.5-6.3LD Aspherical [IF] MACRO (Model A06)
2003-2004	SP AF28-75mm F/2.8 XR Di LD Aspherical [IF] MACRO (Model A09)
2006-2007	SP AF17-50mm F/2.8 XR Di II LD Aspherical [IF] (Model A16 )
2007-2008	AF18-250mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II LD Aspherical [IF] MACRO (Model A18)
2008-2009	AF28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di VC LD Aspherical [IF] MACRO (Model A20)
2009-2010	AF18-270mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC LD Aspherical [IF] MACRO (Model B003)
2010-2011	SP70-300mm F/4-5.6 Di VC USD (Model A005)
2011-2012	18-270mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD (Model B008)
2012-2013	SP 24-70mm F/2.8 Di VC USD (Model A007)
2013-2014	SP 90mm F/2.8 Di MACRO 1:1 VC USD (Model F004) SP 70-200mm F/2.8 Di VC USD (Model A009)
2014-2015	16-300mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD MACRO (Model B016) SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD (Model A011)
2015-2016	SP 15-30mm F/2.8 Di VC USD (Model A012)

B&H carries the Tamron SP 15-30mm f/2.8 Di VC USD.

For a limited time, Woot has the Canon EOS Rebel T5i with EF-S 18-55mm IS STM Lens available for $529.99 + tax and shipping. Compare at $699.00.

Regarding Woot's Return Policy: "We only accept returns for damaged and defective items. You'll need to contact our Customer Support Team within 21 days of purchasing your product if it arrives damaged or defective."

From Sigma:

The Sigma Corporation is pleased to announce that the best-in-class optical performance lens "SIGMA 24mm F1.4 DG HSM | Art" and a masterpiece of hyper-telephoto zoom lens "SIGMA 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM | Sports" have won EISA Awards 2015-2016.

EUROPEAN DSLR LENS 2015 - 2016

SIGMA 24mm F1.4 DG HSM | Art
The Sigma 24mm F1.4 is a superb lens, combining exceptional resolution with very low distortion and chromatic aberration. However it's not just the incredible sharpness of this large-aperture wide-angle lens that’s impressive, but the overall look of the images, including the smooth, attractive rendition of out-of-focus regions. The construction is excellent too, with an ergonomic design and smooth manual focus ring, and autofocus is fast and silent. Available for the most popular DSLR systems, the Sigma lens is exceptional value compared to its direct competitors, and most importantly produces consistently attractive pictures with the minimum of fuss.

EUROPEAN DSLR TELEPHOTO ZOOM LENS 2015 - 2016

SIGMA 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM | Sports
Specially designed for wildlife and sport photographers, this state-of-the-art lens is a new standard for telephoto zooms. Build quality is exemplary, with dust- and splash-proof construction for use in the great outdoors, and the zoom can be locked at all marked focal lengths. Images are very sharp, aided by an improved optical image stabilizer (OS) that helps to avoid blurring from camera shake. Autofocus is fast and quiet, and compatibility with the Sigma USB dock gives scope for user customisation of settings, along with the possibility of firmware updates. For sports and wildlife photographers it's in a class of its own.

* EISA is the unique association of 50 special interest magazines from 20 European countries. All EISA member magazines meet to decide which of products analyzed in their publications during the past year deserve the coveted EISA Award. The six categories under consideration are: Photo, Video, Audio, Home Theater, and Mobile Electronics Equipment Devices.

From Canon UK:

Canon is recognised with three esteemed EISA Awards for EOS and EF-lens products

United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, 15 August 2015 – Canon today announces it has received three prestigious awards from the European Imaging and Sound Association (EISA). The EOS 7D Mark II has been named the ‘European Prosumer DSLR Camera 2015-2016’, both the EOS 5DS and 5DS R have been honoured with the title of ‘European Professional DSLR Camera 2015-2016’, while the Canon EF 11-24mm f/4L USM has been awarded ‘European Professional DSLR Lens 2015-2016’ – highlighting the outstanding quality of Canon products throughout its DSLR and lens range.

Voted for by panels of editors representing nearly 50 prominent magazines from across 20 European countries, the EISA Awards honour products which combine the most advanced technology, intuitive design and sought-after features, while also providing genuine value to end users. Each of the awarded products has been received with great acclaim since launch, and the EISA award recognition is further testament to their exceptional quality and performance.

“Canon has a warranted reputation for producing high-quality products that our customers really value,” said Steve Marshall, Product Marketing Director, Consumer Imaging Group, Canon Europe. “For us, photography is all about expression and discovery and as a company we consistently strive to produce pioneering, class leading products and technologies that enable people to tell their own stories through quality photography. Each of our awarded products is a fantastic example of our dedication and commitment to pushing boundaries and bringing new capabilities to both professionals and consumers, so we are truly honoured to receive such distinguished awards from the EISA panel.”

Discussing the three awards, the EISA panel said:

EUROPEAN PROSUMER DSLR CAMERA 2015-2016

Canon EOS 7D Mark II
The Canon EOS 7D Mark II is one of the best APS-C DSLRs ever made, offering features normally only available in professional full frame models. The 65-point AF system gives fast and responsive focusing in a wide range of conditions, even when tracking fast moving subjects. It can shoot at 10 frames per second, with a huge buffer even when shooting in Raw. The build quality is superb, with full weatherproofing that can cope with almost any conditions. Overall the 7D Mark II is perfect for sports, action and wildlife photographers who like to capture the most fleeting moments.

EUROPEAN PROFESSIONAL DSLR CAMERA 2015-2016

Canon EOS 5DS/5DS R
The Canon EOS 5DS and 5DS R are the highest resolution full frame DSLRs on the market. The two models give photographers a choice: the EOS 5DS includes an optical low-pass filter to suppress digital imaging artefacts, while the EOS 5DS R cancels its effect for the sharpest possible images. The 50.6-million-pixel sensor, dual DIGIC 6 processors, reduced mirror vibration and reliable metering deliver superb image quality, while the 61-point AF with 41 cross-type points ensures reliable and fast AF performance. These two cameras are the perfect choice for professional photographers for whom ultimate image quality really matters.

EUROPEAN PROFESSIONAL DSLR LENS 2015-2016

Canon EF 11-24mm f/4L USM
With the 11-24mm f/4L USM Canon’s engineers have constructed one of the best wide angle zooms ever made. The world’s widest rectilinear zoom provides class-leading image quality, with exceptional sharpness at all settings even on high resolution sensors. Distortion, chromatic aberration and vignetting are all kept reasonably low. Construction is superb, with weather sealing for outdoor use, and the autofocus is fast and silent. Full-frame users specialising in landscape, architectural or interior photography who demand exceptional optical performance need look no further. It’s bulky and expensive, but for those who can afford it, it’s an absolutely outstanding piece of glass.

B&H carries the Canon EOS 5Ds/5Ds R, 7D Mark II and EF 11-24mm f/4L USM.

The latest MTF chart upload includes just over 200 chart images. Included are MTF charts for the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM Lens and the Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G AF-S VR II Lens are now available in the Lens MTF Tool.

Stopped down results from the following lenses are now available:

Canon TS-E 17mm f/4L Tilt-Shift Lens
Canon TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II Tilt-Shift Lens
Zeiss 35mm f/1.4 Distagon T* ZE Lens
Zeiss 50mm f/1.4 Planar T* ZE Lens
Zeiss 50mm f/2.0 Makro-Planar T* ZE Lens
Zeiss 85mm f/1.4 Planar T* ZE Lens
Zeiss 135mm f/2 Apo Sonnar T* ZE Lens