Canon and Sony News for Mar 2016 (Page 3)

B&H has a Sigma f/1.8 Art Zoom Bundle available for preorder with a $160.00 savings and free expedited shipping.

Bundle Includes

• Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM Art Lens
• Sigma 50-100mm f/1.8 DC HSM Art Lens
• Sigma USB Dock

With a Canon EOS 80D in my hands, the first task is to setup the camera for my use. Following are the 32 steps I took to make an out-of-the-box 80D ready for use.

1. Open the box, find the battery and charger and plug it in. If you have another charged LP-E6/LP-E6N battery available, you can continue to the battery-required steps without a wait.
2. While the battery is charging, unpack the other items you want from the box. This is also a good time to grip the camera, taking in the new-camera grippyness that is right up there with new car smell.
3. Download and install the latest Canon EOS Solution Disk software on your computer to get support for the latest camera(s). Canon Digital Photo Pro (DPP), EOS Utility, Photostitch and Lens Registration Utility are the options I manually include in the install.
4. Attach the neck strap.
5. Insert the battery (after charging completes).
6. Power the camera on.
7. The date and time setup screen will show at startup the first time. Use the Rear Control dial and the Set button to update this information.
8. Insert a memory card (don't forget to format the card via the tools menu option before taking pictures).
9. Set the camera's mode to one other than fully auto (the GreenSquare A+ mode only provides a small subset of available menu options), C1, C2 or C3 (Custom modes do not retain settings for use in other modes).
10. Scroll through all of the menu tabs to configure the cameras as follows:
11. Shooting Menu, Tab 1: Image quality: Use top dial to set RAW to "RAW" and Rear Control dial to set JPEG to "–"
12. Shooting Menu, Tab 1: Image review: 4 sec.
13. Shooting Menu, Tab 1: Beep: Disable
14. Shooting Menu, Tab 1: Release without card: Disable/off
15. Shooting Menu, Tab 1: Lens aberration correction: All disabled (though I suggest leaving CA correction enabled for most uses – all can be applied in DPP)
16. Shooting Menu, Tab 2: ISO Speed Settings: ISO Speed range: 100-H(25600), Auto ISO Speed range: 100-6400
17. Shooting Menu, Tab 2: Auto Lighting Optimizer: Off
18. Shooting Menu, Tab 2: White balance: AWB-W (Auto: White priority)
19. Shooting Menu, Tab 3: Picture Style: Neutral with Sharpness Strength set to "1" (Note: the low contrast "Neutral" picture style provides a histogram on the back of the camera that most-accurately shows me blown highlights and blocked shadows on the camera LCD. I usually change the Picture Style to "Standard" in DPP after capture.)
20. Shooting Menu, Tab 3: Long exposure noise reduction: I usually have this option set to "Auto", but my choice varies for the situation.
21. Shooting Menu, Tab 3: High ISO speed noise reduction: Off (noise reduction is destructive to images details – I prefer to add NR sparingly in post)
22. Shooting Menu, Tab 5: Grid display: 3x3
23. Playback Menu, Tab 3: Highlight alert: Enable (flash portions of images that are overexposed)
24. Playback Menu, Tab 3: Playback grid: 3x3
25. Playback Menu, Tab 3: Histogram disp: RGB (I want to monitor all three color channels for blown or blocked pixels)
26. Tools Menu, Tab 1: Auto rotate: On/Computer only (this provides the largest playback image size on the camera LCD)
27. Tools Menu, Tab 2: Viewfinder display: Viewfinder level: Show, VF grid display: Show, Flicker detection: Show
28. Tools Menu, Tab 4: Custom shooting mode (C1-C3): Auto update set: Enable (see also: Configuring Custom Shooting Modes)
29. Custom Functions: C.Fn II:Autofocus: AI servo 1st image priority: Focus
30. Custom Functions: C.Fn II:Autofocus: AI servo 2nd image priority: Focus
31. Custom Functions: C.Fn II:Autofocus: Orientation linked AF point: Separate AF pts: Pt only
32. My Menu: Add the first tab; Register the following options for Tab 1: Long exposure noise reduction, Mirror lockup, Format card, Date/Time/Zone (great for monitoring what time it is), Sensor cleaning, Expo.comp./AEB (back up near the top of the list)

To copy this configuration would mean that you intend to shoot similar to how I shoot – including shooting in RAW-only format. While my setup works great for me, your best use of this list may be for tweaking your own setup.

If you can't remember your own menu setup parameters, keeping an up-to-date list such as this one is a good idea. Anytime your camera goes in for a service visit, the camera will be returned in a reset-to-factory state (unless you request otherwise). Your list will ensure that you do not miss an important setting when putting the camera back into service.

More Information

Canon EOS 80D

From the B&H YouTube Channel:

"Knowing the rules and then being able to break them,” describes Monica Stevenson’s approach to her photography and creative direction. Curiosity in the concept and passion for her subjects, whether it be horses, the movement of water or the “poof” of powder informs her work and, in this video, we are treated to an insightful chat with her and delightful behind-the-scenes moments of her image creation.

Note from Sean: The sample picture showing a high heeled shoe – created from the random formation of paint thrown in front of the camera – is absolutely captivating. Check out the 1:23 mark to see for yourself.

With the EOS 80D soon to be hitting doorsteps across the country, we expected that a new version of Digital Photo Professional and EOS Utility would be released with added support for the new DSLR. Unsurprisingly, we were right.

What was surprising, though, is that the new version of DPP and EOS Utility haven't shown up as individual download links across the DSLR lineup on Canon USA' website. Instead, the updated programs are only available by downloading the EOS Digital Solution Disk Software on the EOS 80D Support Page.

Consequently, there's no indication of what changes were made to each individual program contained within the software package download. As such, we have no idea what changes have been implemented in the new versions of the software besides the most obvious guess (that support for the EOS 80D has been added), but it's likely that support for the 1D X Mark II and Rebel T6 have also been added (the EOS Software Disk is available for download on the T6 page but no software is available for download on the 1D X Mark II page). Update: From our understanding, this version of DPP does not support the 1D X Mark II.

Note that DPP's new version number indicates that it's probably more than a minor upgrade; the previous version released (with the Rebel T6s) was 4.3.31.

The EOS Digital Solution Disk Software for the 80D contains:

• Digital Photo Professional 4.4.0
• EOS Utility 3.4.0
• EOS Utility 2.14.20
• EOS Lens Registration Tool 1.4.0
• EOS Web Service Registration Tool 1.4.0
• EOS Sample Music
• Picture Style Editor 1.16.0

Download: EOS Digital Solution Disk Software 31.1A*

Update: Although the EOS 7D RAW files are indeed supported by DPP 4.4.0, the original 7D's serial number will not allow you to download the software. [thanks Bruce]

* A DPP v4 compatible DSLR serial number is required to download the software. Supported models include:
EOS M10, PowerShot G9 X, PowerShot G5 X, EOS Kiss X6i / EOS REBEL T4i / EOS 650D, EOS Kiss X5 / EOS REBEL T3i / EOS 600D, EOS Kiss X50 / EOS REBEL T3 / EOS 1100D, PowerShot SX60 HS, EOS-1D X, EOS-1D C, EOS-1D Mark IV, EOS 5DS, EOS 5DS R, EOS 5D Mark III, EOS 5D Mark II, EOS 6D, EOS 7D Mark II, EOS 7D, EOS 70D, EOS 60D, EOS 60Da, EOS 8000D / EOS REBEL T6s / EOS 760D, EOS Kiss X8i / EOS REBEL T6i / EOS 750D, EOS Kiss X7i / EOS REBEL T5i / EOS 700D, EOS Kiss X7 / EOS REBEL SL1 / EOS 100D, EOS Kiss X70 / EOS REBEL T5 / EOS 1200D / EOS Hi, EOS M3, EOS M2, EOS M, PowerShot G3 X, PowerShot G1 X Mark II, PowerShot G7 X

From Adobe:

Lightroom on the web makes it possible for you to access all of your Lightroom images from nearly any computer around the world, and today we’re announcing the addition of Technology Previews, a series of features that will let you test drive new functionality before it’s officially available. The first Technology Preview we’re making available is Search, which coupled with our new image analysis technology, lets you search through any image you have synchronized online, either with Lightroom for mobile, Lightroom on the web, or with Lightroom desktop through a synchronized collection. We’ll be releasing new Technology Previews as they’re ready, which you’ll be able to use and even provide feedback on the functionality, helping to shape the feature.

To access search, launch Lightroom on the web, and log in. Then, click on the Lr menu in the top left to open the menu and select Technology Preview. Toggling Search on will start indexing your photos, which makes it possible for you to search through your photos. Don’t worry, at no time will anyone else be able to search through or find your photos. Searching is only available in English for now, but will be available in other languages once we launch the final feature. The functionality will also grow and improve before we release it, adding in the ability to search through an image’s metadata and more, making the search even more powerful and able to find a specific image precisely. Try searching your library for things like food, temples, flowers, animals, and more.

Using Lightroom on the web, you can organize your images, flag and add star ratings, perform basic edits using the same quality found in Lightroom desktop and Lightroom for mobile, and share your photos and collections with your friends, family, and clients.

We’re eager to hear what you think about search and look forward to sharing more Technology Previews with you in the near future.

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

With 4K steadily gaining traction, you might wonder what kind of computer hardware you may need to render and edit the higher resolution video and which upgrades will likely be of most benefit. If so, B&H has an Explora post just for you.

"With all the buzz surrounding 4K (dubbed UltraHD in the home theater world) many filmmakers, videographers and digital content creators are anxious to understand just what a switch to 4K will mean in terms of new investments. In this article we will explore what 4K means to the editor and colorist; the kind of hardware that might be required and what to consider when building a fresh system or upgrading and existing setup. As we will show, a lot will depend on the specific application; therefore this article will attempt to provide a general overview of post production hardware as it relates to 4K rather than a comprehensive blueprint for building a system."

From Adobe:

Strong Cloud Product Adoption in Q1 FY2016 Fuels 25 Percent Year-over-year Revenue Growth

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Mar. 17, 2016 — Adobe (Nasdaq:ADBE) today reported financial results for its first quarter fiscal year 2016 ended Mar. 4, 2016.

First Quarter Financial Highlights

• Adobe achieved record quarterly revenue of $1.38 billion, representing year-over-year growth of 25 percent.
• Diluted earnings per share were $0.50 on a GAAP-basis, and $0.66 on a non-GAAP basis.
• Digital Media segment revenue grew by 33 percent year-over-year to a record $932 million, with Creative revenue growing 44 percent year-over-year to a record $733 million.
• Strong Creative Cloud adoption drove Digital Media Annualized Recurring Revenue (“ARR”) to $3.13 billion exiting the quarter, an increase of $246 million.
• Adobe Marketing Cloud achieved strong bookings growth, and record revenue of $377 million that represents year-over-year growth of 21 percent.
• Year-over-year operating income grew 78 percent and net income grew 200 percent on a GAAP-basis; operating income and net income both grew 48 percent on a non-GAAP basis.
• Cash flow from operations was $498 million, and deferred revenue grew to $1.61 billion.
• The company repurchased approximately 1.5 million shares during the quarter, returning $133 million of cash to stockholders.

A reconciliation between GAAP and non-GAAP results is provided here.

The Creative Cloud Photography Plan (Photoshop CC & Lightroom CC) is an excellent value at only $9.99/month and, as shown above, is a big reason for Adobe's success right now.

From the Canon Digital Learning Center:

In today’s digital era, where Instagram is king, “likes” are a form of digital currency, and outdoor corporate brands are among the best platforms for content distribution, planning adventure travel is a highly valued skillset for freelance photographers. Whether capturing a tiny person amidst a big mountainous landscape, a selfie next to a Great White, or an exploding volcano in the heart of Africa, the adventure lifestyle brand covers a huge genre and is categorically in high demand. The final output can be magical, alluring, and seemingly effortless. So much so that it often masks the tireless hours of hard work necessary to identify a location, create an expedition, plan the logistics and then quest forth like a modern-day frontiersman into a foreign land.

To fill in the blanks around what’s required to “get the shot,” I’m [Ted Hesser] going to share the details of one of my latest trips to ascend Mt. Nyiragongo, the most active volcano in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

From the Canon Professional Network:

Belgian filmmaker Matthew Vandeputte is rapidly emerging as one of the leading exponents of motion timelapse photography. CPN Editor David Corfield caught up with him to find out how technology, social media, and Canon’s high-resolution EOS 5DS R have helped take his work to exciting new heights...

Note: Don't miss seeing the timelapse captured on the observation deck of Dubai’s Burj Khalifa. [Sean]

B&H carries the Canon EOS 5Ds R (review) which currently qualifies for a $300.00 instant savings.

From the Adobe Photoshop Lightroom YouTube Channel:

Lightroom tips and tricks in 60 seconds or less from longtime Lightroom team member Benjamin Warde.

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

Image quality results from the EOS 5Ds R and EOS 7D Mark II have been added to the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM Lens Review.

The lens that overshadows this one in optical performance and versatility (and price) is the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM Lens. Here is the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L vs. f/2.8L IS II Lens comparison.

B&H has the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM Lens in stock with a $100 instant rebate and 4% B&H rewards.

B&H has the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM Lens in stock with a $150 instant rebate and 4% B&H rewards.

From EPI:

27’’ Monitor Delivers 50 Percent More Color Than Traditional LED Displays

Fremont, California – March 15, 2016 – Today EPI (North America brand license partner for Philips Monitors) announces the world’s first quantum dot-based monitor (E-line 276E6ADSS) is now available in North America. The new 27-inch monitor delivers 99% Adobe RGB color - 50 percent more color than traditional LED displays - thanks to Color IQ technology from QD Vision. The new E6 is ideal for entertainment, gaming, professional photography and design. It combines Color IQ optics with full HD resolution, resulting in a professional quality display at the price of mainstream monitors. The Philips 27-inch Quantum Dot display is now available on Amazon for $299.

QD Vision's Color IQ solution uses an innovative new semiconductor technology called quantum dots to precisely and efficiently convert light, delivering bluer blues, greener greens and redder reds. The result — vibrant, dynamic, “you-gotta-see-it-to-believe-it” color.

Most of today's high-end monitors are capable of displaying only 95% of the Adobe RGB color gamut, while mainstream models are often limited to showing 70% of the Adobe spectrum. Using QD Vision's Color IQ solution, the Philips 27-inch Quantum Dot Display will deliver over 99% of the Adobe RGB spectrum - more than 100% of the standard sRGB color gamut - but at a fraction of the price of commercial displays.

The IPS-ADS display offers 1920 x 1080 resolution, 60Hz refresh rate, 1000:1 static contrast, 5ms response time and 178°/178° viewing angles, making it possible to view the display from almost any angle. Unlike standard TN panels, IPS-ADS displays give you remarkably crisp images with vivid colors, making them ideal not only for photos, movies and web browsing, but also for professional applications that demand color accuracy and consistent brightness at all times. Ports include; VGA, DVI-D, HDMI (with MHL) and a 3.5mm audio output jack.

From Adobe:

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

• Canon EOS-1D X Mark II
• Canon EOS 80D
• Canon EOS 1300D (Rebel T6, Kiss X80)
• Nikon D5
• Nikon D500
• Olympus PEN-F
• Olympus SH-3
• Panasonic DMC-CM10
• Panasonic DMC-GF8
• Panasonic DMC-ZS100 (DMC-ZS110, DMC-TZ100, DMC-TZ101, DMC-TZ110, DMC-TX1)
• Samsung NX3300
• Sony Alpha a6300 (ILCE-6300)
• Yuneec CGO4

Download: Windows | Macintosh

From Adobe:

Lightroom CC 2015.5 and Lightroom 6.5 are now available on Adobe.com. Our focus with this release was to add support for new cameras and lenses, and also fix many bugs that existed in previous versions of Lightroom.

Thank you for all your feedback and passion for Lightroom.

Bugs Fixed in Lightroom CC 2015.5 / 6.5

• Bug fixes related to Panorama Merge
• Scared that pesky sensor dust spots will ruin your perfect pano? No problem, remove spots in 1 image and then merge to pano. Lightroom takes care of the rest.
• Boundary Warp gets better as we fixed a bunch of bugs
• Removed the ‘auto’ projection option. Turns out, it always picked the same projection mode.
• Other Bug Fixes
• Rename failed if raw+jpeg pairs were copied to a second location
• Shooting tethered, shutter button will not move to top of the screen
• The video cache was not correctly limited to the size set in Preferences
• Photomerge fails with virtual copies
• Droplets no longer work with Export Actions
• Impromptu slideshow gave error message “video support is disabled”
• Import didn’t work if you weren’t signed in
• Certain dates couldn’t be entered in Edit Capture Time dialog (1966, 1969, 1999, etc.)
• Videos wouldn’t play on some systems
• Slideshow module wouldn’t work on some systems
• Fixed a ton of sync errors. Faster sync to the Lightroom iOS and Android apps
• Scrolling through images in Loupe view with your mouse is back! (sorry that it went away in the first place)
• Slideshows are back in high-resolution. Fixed a bug that caused them to appear much lower res than expected
• Books are made for browsing. We’ve reinstated scroll bars so that you can browse faster in the Book module
• Incorrect value for EXIF:ColorSpace in exported TIFFs
• After export shortcut CTRL+ALT+S not working in Develop
• Crashes when tethered to Canon cameras (5dm3, 5ds, 1dsm3)
• SDK broken edit_field’s validate function, disabling existing plugins
• Months in non-English configurations show in English
• Secondary Window blocks mouse clicks even when closed after switching desktop spaces
• Can’t import DNG files from Parrot Bebop drone
• Watermark loses setting after Edit dialog opened

New Camera Support in Lightroom CC 2015.5 / 6.5

• Canon EOS-1D X Mark II
• Canon EOS 80D
• Canon EOS 1300D (Rebel T6, Kiss X80)
• Nikon D5
• Nikon D500
• Olympus PEN-F
• Olympus SH-3
• Panasonic DMC-CM10
• Panasonic DMC-GF8
• Panasonic DMC-ZS100 (DMC-ZS110, DMC-TZ100, DMC-TZ101, DMC-TZ110, DMC-TX1)
• Samsung NX3300
• Sony Alpha a6300 (ILCE-6300)
• Yuneec CGO4

New Lens Profile Support in Lightroom CC 2015.5 / 6.5*

Installation Instructions

Please select Help > Updates to use the update mechanism in the Creative Cloud app.

Direct download links: Win | Mac

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

Image quality results from the EOS 7D Mark II have been added to the Tokina 14-20mm f/2 AT-X Pro DX Lens page.

If you are shooting APS-C format and have been wanting an aperture wider than f/2.8 in focal lengths wider than 18mm, your only option has just arrived.

B&H has the Tokina 14-20mm f/2 AT-X Pro DX Lens in stock.