Canon and Sony News for Oct 2018 (Page 3)

From the Adobe Photoshop Lightroom YouTube Channel:

With this new command in Adobe Camera Raw, you’ll be able to create beautiful, raw, high-dynamic-range panoramas using Merge to HDR Panorama.

B&H carries Adobe Photography Plan subscriptions.

From LensRentals:

by Roger Cicala

I’ve wanted to look inside the new Canon and Nikon mirrorless cameras since the moment they were announced, so I’m probably more excited about this than you guys are. I’m really not sure what to expect. Early on, when we took apart a Sony A7R, we were struck by how clean and straightforward mirrorless cameras were compared to DSLRs. Later, we took apart an A7RIII and found that increased capabilities led to increased complexity, although still not as complex inside as a DSLR.

So we expected things not to be too complicated – no mirror box, optical prisms, off-sensor AF system, etc. We know Canon cameras to have clean, even elegant, engineering; like the 5D IV teardown shows. We haven’t done a Nikon SLR teardown in quite a while (the D7000 was the last one), but their camera engineering is pretty similar to Canon’s, although being Nikon they still like to leave some soldered-wire connections here and there. So we figured that the new Canon and Nikon mirrorless full-frame cameras would be more straightforward than their SLR cameras, and perhaps Nikon set down the soldering gun and slowly stepped away.

But really we had no idea how things would look inside, if we might see some cool new engineering, what the weather resistance would be like, etc. So we took apart both a Canon EOS-R and a Nikon Z7 just to have a look around. (The Z will get written up as soon as I can get to it.)

LensRentals has the Canon EOS R and Nikon Z 7 available for rent.

From Tokina:

Thank you for using Tokina products.

We have thoroughly tested all current Tokina interchangeable lenses (Nikon F mount) with the Nikon Z 7 mirrorless camera using the Nikon mount adapter FTZ.

The results confirm that current Tokina lens models showed no issues in general operations with the following exceptions:

• Tokina opera 50mm F1.4 FF
  Issue: Compared with general conditions AF speed is slower.
• Tokina AT-X 70-200mm F4 FX VCM-S
  Issue: AF communication error. However, the lens will operate normally in manual focus mode.

Please, note that due to mount adapter FTZ specifications, the following Tokina lenses do not AF but will operate in manual focus mode:

• Tokina AT-X M100 AF PRO D
• Tokina AT-X 107 AF DX NH Fisheye
• Tokina AT-X 107 AF DX Fisheye

For any question about compatibility of Tokina interchangeable lenses with Nikon Z 7 mirrorless camera contact us via contact form.

B&H carries the Nikon Z 7 and Tokina lenses.

A general purpose lens is the most important and most-used lens in most photographers' kits. With a highly useful focal length range and a wide to moderately wide aperture, 24-70mm lenses can cover everyday needs, portraits, landscapes, cityscapes, food/travel and much more. Sony has two high-performing, 24-70mm constant max aperture zooms in its lineup – the FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM and FE 24-70mm f/4 ZA OSS – and we're going to take a closer look at them to see which may be better suited to fill your general purpose needs.

Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM and Sony FE 24-70mm f/4 ZA OSS Shared Primary Features

• Mount: Sony E (full frame)
• Focal Length Range: 24-70mm
• Minimum Aperture: f/22
• Dust and moisture resistant construction

Primary Advantages of the Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM Lens

• Wider Max Aperture: f/2.8 vs. f/4
• More Aperture Blades: 9 vs. 7
• Higher Max Magnification: 0.24x vs. 0.20x
• AF/MF Switch vs. N/A
• Zoom Ring Lock Switch vs. N/A
• AF Hold Button vs. N/A

Primary Advantages of the Sony FE 24-70mm f/4 ZA OSS Lens

• Built-in Optical SteadyShot Stabilization vs. N/A
• Smaller: 2.87 x 3.72” (73 x 94.5mm) vs. 3.45 x 5.35” (87.6 x 136mm)
• Lighter: 15.2 oz (430g) vs. 31.3 oz (886g)
• Costs significantly less

Other Differences: Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM vs. Sony FE 24-70mm f/4 ZA OSS

• Elements/Groups: 18/13 vs. 12/10
• AF Motor: Direct Drive Super Sonic Wave vs. Linear
• Front Filter Size: 82mm vs. 67

Image Quality Differences: Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM vs. Sony FE 24-70mm f/4 ZA OSS

From a sharpness perspective, the "sharpest lens" title will depend on the specific aperture/focal length being compared. There isn't really a clear winner when the entire range of tests is taken into consideration. The FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM shows slightly less vignetting at 24 & 70mm (vignetting is similar at the middle focal lengths) when the lenses are compared at their widest apertures.

When compared at f/4, the f/2.8 lens shows significantly less vignetting. The f/2.8 lens has less severe distortion over the zoom range (the difference is most noticeable at the lenses' widest and longest focal lengths), but most will prefer the f/4 lens' flare performance.

Who should opt for the Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM?

There are many drawbacks to an f/2.8 constant max aperture lens compared to an f/4 constant max aperture lens, including increased size, weight and cost. However, the Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM's twice-as-wide max aperture will allow you to freeze motion in half as much light at the same ISO setting compared to the FE 24-70mm f/4 ZA OSS. If you're a wedding/event photographer, or prefer not to pack a tripod for nighttime cityscape/street photography adventures, the increased size/weight/cost associated with the f/2.8 lens will prove more than worthwhile. Portrait photographers will also appreciate the better subject-to-background separation provided by the 1-stop wider aperture and the smoother bokeh/better starbursts created by its 9 bladed aperture (vs. 7).

Who should opt for the Sony FE 24-70mm f/4 ZA OSS?

If you don't often need to capture moving subjects in low-light situations, and can tolerate higher ISO use when the need arises, then the Sony FE 24-70mm f/4 ZA OSS offers many of the benefits of the Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM at less than half the price. For static subjects, when combined with Sony alpha-series cameras' IBIS (In-Body Image Stabilization), the Sony FE 24-70mm f/4 ZA's Optical SteadyShot should provide even more effective stabilization compared to a lens without built-in IS.

As you can see by the product pictures and specs listed above, the size and weight differences between these two lenses are substantial. Photographers who will benefit from the FE 24-70mm f/4 ZA OSS's smaller size/lighter weight include anyone carrying their gear for long periods of time (for backpacking, vacations, long events, etc.) and those wanting to pack more gear in a similar amount of space.

Summary

With many full frame Sony a-series cameras having built-in sensor stabilization, one of the Sony FE 24-70mm f/4 ZA OSS Lens's major benefits – optical stabilization – is diminished. However, it does have a few advantages remaining over the Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM that aid in boosting the f/4 lens' popularity – smaller size, lighter weight and a much lower cost. If any of those features is a priority for you, then the Sony FE 24-70mm f/4 ZA OSS is the lens to get. Otherwise, a 24-70mm f/2.8 zoom has been a must-have lens for a wide variety of professional photographers over the years, and for those choosing Sony gear, the FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM is one of the first lenses they'll be adding to their kits.

Relevant Info

• Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM Lens Review
• Sony FE 24-70mm f/4 ZA OSS Lens Tests

From the B&H YouTube Channel:

Join AB and Doug as they discuss the different challenges and techniques faced when recording and mixing audio for video. They cover topics such as equipment choice, EQ, compression, room acoustics, and more, and there are in-depth demos with screen captures that show how to go from an initial draft to a completed product.

From Nikon:

TOKYO - Nikon Corporation (Nikon) is pleased to announce that entries for the Nikon Photo Contest 2018-2019 will be accepted from 1:00 p.m. today, October 18, 2018 until 1:00 p.m. on January 31, 2019 (all dates and times JST).

Nikon Photo Contest is an international photo contest that aims to provide an opportunity for photographers around the world to communicate, as well as to enrich photographic culture for professionals and amateurs alike. Since the first Contest was held in 1969, photographers from countries and regions around the world have participated and shown their support. To date, more than 410,000 photographers have submitted over 1,620,000 imaging works, making it a truly international event.

In the previous (36th) Contest, a total of 21,511 photographers from 170 countries and regions submitted 76,356 works, marking a new record for the Contest in terms of the number of countries and regions from which entries were submitted.

Nikon Photo Contest 2018-2019 Overview

The Nikon Photo Contest 2018-2019, the 37th Contest since its beginning, will be comprised of three categories — Open, Next Generation, and Short Film.

The theme for the Open Award is "Change". We live in a time full of great changes in a variety of contexts, from our work and lifestyles, to the climate. We are calling for entries that express changes that you want to share with the world.

The theme for the Next Generation Award, open to photographers aged 25 or younger, is "Identity". We look forward to entries unique to younger generations that explore who they are.

The theme for the Short Film Award is "Hope". In this category, we await entries that shine a hopeful light on the path to the future.

We plan to announce winners of the Nikon Photo Contest 2018-2019 in August 2019, and to also hold an awards ceremony.

Eligibility

The Contest is open to all professional and amateur photographers, regardless of age, gender, or nationality.

Entry period

1:00 p.m. on October 18, 2018 to 1:00 p.m. on January 31, 2019 (all dates and times JST)

How to enter

Enter the contest by providing the required information in the entry form on the Nikon Photo Contest 2018-2019 website. Visit the Nikon Photo Contest 2018-2019 website for further details regarding Contest eligibility, submission rules, judging, etc.

From Nikon:

Changes from “C” Firmware Version 1.02 to 1.03

• Fixed an issue that in rare circumstances would delay the shutter release or the start of the autofocus operation.

Download: Nikon D850 Firmware v. 1.03

Just posted: Canon EOS R Review.

I have a lot to say about this camera and most of it is very positive.

Note that I plan to add more images captured with the R to this review, but won't delay annoucing it for these.

The Canon EOS R is in stock at B&H | Amazon | Adorama | WEX.

Not sure what you think about this camera? Want to experience the fun without the purchase cost? It probably costs less that you expect to rent the Canon EOS R from Lensrentals.

From SIGMA:

This firmware update makes the SIGMA MOUNT CONVERTER MC-11 EF-E compatible with the latest SIGMA interchangeable lenses firmware. For customers who own the SIGMA MOUNT CONVERTER MC-11 EF-E, please update the firmware via SIGMA Optimization Pro* by connecting it to a computer using the supplied USB Cable.

*Before updating the SIGMA MOUNT CONVERTER MC-11 firmware, please ensure SIGMA Optimization Pro has been updated to ver. 1.4.1 or later for Windows, and ver. 1.4.0 or later for Macintosh.

Applicable product

• SIGMA MOUNT CONVERTER MC-11 EF-E

Benefits of the update

• It has become compatible with the SIGMA 105mm T1.5 FF EF mount Cine lens from the FF High Speed Prime Line.
• It has become compatible with the SIGMA 24-105mm F4 DG OS HSM | Art for Canon which has the latest firmware Ver.2.00.

From SIGMA:

This firmware allows compatibility with Canon’s in-camera Lens Aberration Correction function to enable correction matching the optical characteristics of each lens. It also corrects the phenomenon that abnormal images appear or operation errors occur when the function is enabled.

For customers who own the SIGMA USB DOCK and applicable product listed below, please update the firmware via SIGMA Optimization Pro*.

*Before updating the firmware using the SIGMA USB DOCK, please ensure to update SIGMA Optimization Pro to Ver.1.4.1 or later for Windows, and Ver.1.4.0 or later for Macintosh.

Applicable product

• SIGMA 24-105mm f/4 DG OS HSM | Art for Canon

Benefits of the update

• It has ensured compatibility with Canon’s in-camera Lens Aberration Correction function, which enables correction matching the optical characteristics of the attached lens. **
• It has corrected the phenomenon that abnormal images appear or operation errors occur when Canon’s in-camera Lens Aberration Correction function is enabled.

**Compatible Canon camera models: EOS-1DX mark II, EOS 5Ds, EOS 5DsR, EOS 5D mark ?, EOS 6D mark II, EOS 80D, EOS 8000D(EOS Rebel T6s, EOS 760D), EOS 9000D(EOS 77D), EOS Kiss X8i(EOS Rebel T6i, EOS 750D), EOS Kiss X9i(EOS Rebel T7i, EOS 800D), EOS Kiss X9(EOS Rebel SL2, EOS 200D)

Some of you may be wondering, "What's New in Lightroom Classic CC, Lightroom CC and Photoshop CC 2019?" If so, here's a quick overview of the changes.

Lightroom Classic CC

Depth range masking

Beginning this release, a new range mask option is added to the local adjustment tools. Make selections based on a range of depth values in supported HEIC photos that contain embedded depth map data.

Using the Depth Range Mask, after making an initial selection mask on your photo with Adjustment Brushes or Radial Filter/Graduated Filters, you can refine the mask area based on the depth range of the selection:

1. From the Brush settings area in the Adjustment panel, choose the Range Mask type as Depth from the drop-down list. By default, Range Mask is set as Off.
2. To sample a depth range within the mask area, do any of the following:
• Adjust the Range slider to define the endpoints of the selected depth range.
• Select Depth Range Selector from the Range Mask panel. Click+drag an area on the photo you want to adjust.
3. Select the Show Depth Mask check box to view the depth of the image in black and white representation and use the Smoothness slider to control the falloff at either ends of the selected depth range.

For more Help information, see Depth range mask.

Single-step HDR Panorama merge

Create HDR Panos faster now that you can merge multiple bracketed exposures into multiple HDR photos and then stitch them into a panorama — all in one step.

Simply select your exposure-bracketed pano source photos in the grid and select Photo > Photo Merge > HDR Panorama. In the HDR Panorama Merge Preview dialog box, you can adjust other settings using Boundary Warp slider, Auto Crop and Create Stack checkboxes.

For detailed information, see Create panoramas and HDR panoramas.

Faster tethering for Canon camera

Experience greater speed and stability when tethering supported Canon camera models to Lightroom Classic CC.

1. Connect a supported Canon camera to your computer and choose File > Tethered Capture (Canon) > Start Tethered Capture.
2. In the Tethered Capture Settings dialog box, specify how you want to import the photos using: Session, Naming, Destination, Information, Disable Auto Advance, Save A Copy To Camera.
3. Click OK to start the photo-capture session.
4. Use the floating tethered capture bar to adjust the camera controls and develop settings.

Additionally, tether support for the following Canon camera models has been provided in this release:

• Canon EOS 2000D (Rebel T7)
• Canon EOS M50

For a full list of cameras that can be tethered to Lightroom Classic, see Tethered camera support.

Process version improvements

With Process Version 5 update, Lightroom Classic's raw image processing has been updated to include improvements to image quality for high ISO raw files that reduces purple color cast in your low-light shots and you see less noise when you move the Dehaze slider to the left of zero (negative dehaze).

To check the process version in Lightroom Classic, switch to the Develop module. In the Calibration panel, select the Process drop-down list to see a list of available versions.

For related information, see Process versions.

HEVC file support (macOS)

Beginning with this release, Lightroom Classic CC supports Apple's HEVC video format (High Efficiency Video Coding, also known as H.265) on macOS High Sierra v10.13 or later.

For related information, see HEIC and HEVC media files support in Lightroom and Camera Raw.

Support for new cameras and lenses

For a full list of supported cameras and lens profiles, see these resources:

• Supported camera models
• Supported lens profiles

People View

(Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, and ChromeOS)

Quickly find the people you care about with Adobe Sensei-powered People View. Lightroom CC automatically tags people in photos and provides you with an easy way to see all the photos the person appears in.

Improved Search

(Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, and ChromeOS)

Get better search results with automatic search suggestions provided to you as you type in the search box. Lightroom CC provides suggestions for metadata like cameras, lenses, aperture, ISO, locations, keywords, and more.

Share Tab

(Mac, Windows, iOS)

The new Share tab gives you an easy way to browse and access shared albums and images that you made through lightroom.adobe.com.

Connectors

(Mac and Windows only)

As part of the new Share tab, you can also share albums directly to your portfolio hosted on Adobe Portfolio from within Lightroom CC using the new Connector feature.

We’re building out the Connector service to have a full menu of third-party services (like photo labs, photo book printers, and others). Please get in touch if you’re interested in working with us.

Apple Photos Migrator

(Mac only) Use the new Apple Photos Migrator to easily migrate your Apple Photos library into Lightroom CC on your desktop.

Additional Sharing Options

(iOS and Android only)

When sharing your albums to Lightroom Web you can now choose to only share images that are flagged or that have a certain star rating or higher, while controlling the display theme, directly from Lightroom CC.

Display View

(lightroom.adobe.com only)

The new Display view within lightroom.adobe.com lets you see a preview of the page, exactly how your viewers will see it. While in the Display view, you can control the layout and background color while inserting breaks between images and text to help tell the story that accompanies your photos. When you’re done setting up the layout, you can then share the album using the controls under Sharing.

Content-Aware Fill reimagined

Choose which pixels to use in your fills using a new, dedicated workspace, and rotate, scale, and mirror your source pixels thanks to Adobe Sensei technology. You can even create fills on separate layers to preserve your original images.

Frame tool for easy masking

Turn shapes or text into frames that you can use as placeholders or fill with images. Easily replace an image by dropping another one into the frame — it automatically scales to fit.

Multiple Undo

Use CMD-Z to undo multiple steps, just like in other Creative Cloud apps.

Usability improvements

Now you can hide your reference point, double-click the canvas to edit text, and efficiently crop, transform, and place and enter text faster with auto-commit. Plus, Photoshop transforms pixel and type layers proportionally by default and makes it harder to move panels by accident.

Live blend mode previews

No more guessing which blend mode to use. Just scroll over the different options to see how they look on your image.

Symmetry mode

Paint your brush strokes in a perfectly symmetrical pattern — even on curves. Symmetry mode lets you define an axis or axes and then choose from preset types, including circular, radial, spiral, and mandala.

Color wheel

Visualize the color spectrum to choose complementary colors more easily.

Home screen

Get started quickly with the Photoshop home screen. Access it at any time to find out about new features, connect to learning content, and jump right to your open documents.

Improved in-app learning

Use your own assets while working through tutorials to get the looks you want in less time.

Top customer requests

You asked, we delivered. Now you can distribute the spacing between objects, type simple math operations into fields that require numeric values, see the end of long layer names, and find Japanese fonts with Match Font and Font Similarity.

UI size preference

Get more control when scaling the Photoshop UI, and adjust it independent of your other apps to get the UI size just right.

Better “Export As” experience

The “Export As” menu loads faster and offers a streamlined UI to make things easier. And you can preview multiple artboards at one time.

And so much more

Also includes: A Flip Document view that lets you flip your canvas horizontally, a Lorem Ipsum text mode for quickly placing sample text, and customizable keyboard shortcuts for the Select and Mask workspace.

B&H carries Adobe Photography Plan subscriptions.

From Adobe:

Major Updates to Flagship Apps, Launch of Premiere Rush CC for Social Video and Previews of Photoshop CC and Project Gemini on iPad Accelerate Creative Cloud Innovation and Value

LOS ANGELES – Today at Adobe MAX, the Creativity Conference, Adobe (Nasdaq:ADBE) announced major updates to Creative Cloud applications including Photoshop CC, Lightroom CC, Illustrator CC, InDesign CC, Premiere Pro CC and Adobe XD. Adobe also introduced Adobe Premiere Rush CC, the first all-in-one, easy-to-use video editing app for social media creators, simplifying video creation and sharing on platforms including YouTube and Instagram. Adobe previewed new iPad versions of Adobe Photoshop CC and Project Gemini, a drawing app, reinforcing the company’s commitment to delivering high-performance apps that work seamlessly across surfaces.

“Today, we unveiled a portfolio of next-generation creative apps that deliver meaningful value to our community by transforming creative workflows across devices and platforms,” said Scott Belsky, chief product officer and executive vice president, Creative Cloud, Adobe. “By continuing to innovate in our flagship apps, extending into exploding segments such as experience design and social video creation, and pioneering in emerging mediums like touch, voice, 3D and augmented reality, Adobe Creative Cloud has truly become the creativity platform for all.”

Expanding Innovation Across Creative Cloud Applications and Services

Adobe introduced major updates to its desktop applications, including: a new Content-Aware Fill workspace in Photoshop CC; performance and workflow improvements across Lightroom CC and Lightroom Classic; the ability to design with photorealistic, Freeform gradients in Illustrator CC; a powerful Content-Aware Fit in InDesign CC; the power to instantly create and animate unique, stylized puppets using a webcam and reference artwork with Character Animator’s new Characterizer; a new rendering engine for improved render preview performance in Dimension CC; and new Sensei powered search features and exclusive content in Adobe Stock, including a new library of clips from GoPro. In addition, Adobe announced it is addressing the needs of the video animation industry with new workflows and integrations across apps, including Animate to After Effects, Animate to Character Animator and Adobe XD to After Effects.

Adobe XD, the all-in-one UX/UI solution for designing websites and mobile apps, now features new capabilities leveraging recently acquired Sayspring technology to empower designers to prototype experiences and apps for voice-powered devices, such as Amazon Echo. New voice capabilities, including voice triggers and speech playback, enable designers to create powerful experiences with screen and voice prototyping now in one application. In addition, developers can now leverage Adobe XD APIs to build plug-ins and app integrations that add new features, automate workflows and connect XD to the tools and services designers use every day.

Unleashing Social Video Content Creators with Premiere Rush CC

Designed specifically for online video creators, Premiere Rush CC integrates capture, intuitive editing, simplified color, audio and motion graphics with seamless publishing to leading social platforms, such as YouTube and Instagram, all together in one easy-to-use solution. With Premiere Rush CC, content creators do not have to be video, color or audio experts to publish professional-quality videos. Premiere Rush CC harnesses the power of Premiere Pro CC and After Effects CC, offers built-in access to professionally designed Motion Graphics templates in Adobe Stock to get started quickly and features a Sensei-powered, one-click auto-duck feature to adjust music and normalize sound. It also allows access anywhere, enabling users to create compelling video projects – optimized for social distribution – on one device and publish from another with a consistent user experience across desktop and mobile.

Previewing High-Performance Creative Imaging and Drawing Apps Across Devices

Adobe previewed two future mobile apps designed to usher in a new era of multi-surface creation while complementing workflows across Adobe’s existing flagship desktop applications:

• Photoshop CC on iPad: Redesigned for a modern touch experience, Photoshop CC on iPad will deliver the power and precision of its desktop counterpart. Photoshop CC on iPad will let users open and edit native PSD files using Photoshop’s industry-standard image-editing tools and will feature the familiar Photoshop layers panel. With Photoshop CC across devices, coming first to iPad in 2019, you will be able to start your work on an iPad and seamlessly roundtrip all of your edits with Photoshop CC on the desktop via Creative Cloud.
• Project Gemini: A new app designed to accelerate drawing and painting workflows across devices, Project Gemini, coming first to iPad in 2019, combines raster, vector and new dynamic brushes into a single app experience built for drawing. Project Gemini enables artists to use and sync their favorite Photoshop brushes and works seamlessly with Photoshop CC.

Unparalleled Productivity Enhancements with Adobe Sensei

The 2019 release of Creative Cloud delivers more than a dozen new Adobe Sensei-powered features and productivity enhancements – building on dozens of existing Sensei-powered features already available to Adobe Creative Cloud, Document Cloud and Experience Cloud customers. Sensei-powered features in the 2019 release include:

• An expanded Content-Aware Fill workspace in Photoshop CC that offers greater precision and control to save editors valuable time when working with their images.
• A new Content-Aware Fit feature in InDesign CC that intelligently detects an image and crops or fits it to an image frame automatically.
• New Freeform Gradients in Illustrator CC that enable the creation of natural gradients.
• A new tool in Character Animator CC, Characterizer, that transforms any style of portrait into a vivid, animated character.

Designed to make creatives more successful and supercharge their productivity, the 2019 Creative Cloud release delivers significant performance and usability improvements, greater cross-application integration, intuitive collaboration features and faster access to file assets and services. Among the new capabilities, Adobe is optimizing the in-app Start experience to accelerate customer on-boarding with new apps and improve discoverability of new features and product capabilities.

Additional workflow improvements include a contextually-aware Properties Panel in InDesign CC to display options based on the object selected, expanded Undo and auto-resizing in Photoshop CC, a customizable toolbar in Illustrator CC and a modern UI in Bridge CC with support for bulk uploads of libraries. Creative Cloud members also get the all new Adobe Acrobat DC, which provides a completely reimagined way to share work and get it reviewed and approved without sending email attachments or managing version control.

Previewing the Future of Immersive Design

Adobe previewed Project Aero, a new cross-device AR authoring tool that enables creators to design augmented reality experiences. Project Aero is the first AR app built for designers and artists and was first sneaked on-stage at Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference earlier this year. Project Aero enables optimal delivery of AR experiences, empowering creatives to place digital content in the real world. At Adobe MAX, Adobe showcased an AR-powered retail store of the future, revealing the exciting possibilities of immersive design experiences.

Empowering Enterprise Customers

Adobe announced deeper integrations between Creative Cloud and Adobe Experience Cloud that unify creative and marketer workflows. With these integrations, brands can now easily access assets in Experience Manager within Creative Cloud apps, Adobe Stock images can be leveraged in Experience Manager, and 3D content designed with Dimension CC can be adjusted in Experience Manager and published as marketing assets.

For a comprehensive feature summary and overview of Creative Cloud innovation and new features visit:

• Digital and Creative Imaging: including Photoshop CC, Photoshop CC on iPad, Dimension CC, Project Aero and Project Gemini
• Photography: including Lightroom CC and Lightroom Classic
• Digital Video and Audio: including Premiere Rush CC, Premiere Pro CC, After Effects CC, Audition CC and Character Animator
• Design and Visual Storytelling: including Adobe XD, Illustrator CC, InDesign CC and Adobe Spark
• Services: including Adobe Stock, Adobe Portfolio and Adobe Fonts

Pricing and Availability

Updates to Creative Cloud desktop software are now available to all Creative Cloud subscribers, including membership plans for individuals, students, teams, educational institutions, government agencies and enterprises. Adobe’s mobile apps are available for download from the iOS App Store and Google Play.

Photoshop CC on iPad, Project Aero and Project Gemini on iPad will be available in 2019. Spark Post on Android, previously available as a public beta, is now available as a 1.0 app in the Google Play store.

The all-new Premiere Rush CC, available now on Windows and macOS and via the iOS App Store (Google Play store availability coming in 2019), is offered across a series of plans tailored for customers’ unique needs.

• Premiere Rush CC is available for $9.99/month to individuals, $19.99/month to teams and $29.99/month to enterprise customers. Premiere Rush CC is also included as part of All Apps, Student and Premiere Pro CC single app plans and comes with 100 GB of CC storage. Additional storage options, up to 10 TB, are also available for purchase.
• Premiere Rush CC Starter Plan: Available for free, the Starter Plan gives customers access to all Premiere Rush CC features, use of desktop and mobile apps and the ability to create an unlimited number of projects and export up to three projects for free.

B&H carries Adobe Photography Plan and Creative Cloud subscriptions.

Image quality test results have been added to the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM Lens Review.

A high quality 70-200mm f/2.8 image stabilized lens is one of the most important and most frequently used lenses in many photographers' kits. Canon's 70-200mm f/2.8L IS lenses have long been some of my own most-used lenses and have tradtionally been my first choice for a great variety of needs.

Here are a few comparisons you may find interesting:

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM Lens vs. Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM Lens
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM Lens vs. Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G2 Lens
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM Lens vs. Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens

The Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM Lens is in stock at B&H | Amazon | Adorama | WEX.

Rent the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM Lens from Lensrentals.

by Sean Setters

I've been shooting a moderate amount of indoor studio portraits over the last couple of years and I am consistently impressed by the impact a fan has on the quality of my images. Take the shot above, for example. In it, I'm using six flashes to illuminate the subject and background (with various modifiers). Good lighting is a key to producing a high quality studio portrait. But the finishing touch, the element that makes this photo really interesting, is the hair movement provided by the fan placed just in front of the subject.

In this case, the fan is a oscillating, variable height/variable speed pedestal model that my dad gave me when he was moving [downsizing] a few years ago. He used it to minimize his home cooling expenses; I use it to get shots like this:

Of course, for a fan to have an impact on portraiture, it must influence at least a part of the composed scene in some way. You can use the fan to introduce movement in hair, fabric/clothing or props (such as leaves). The opportunities for capturing dynamic, fan-induced movement in your portraits are too numerous to list.

If shopping for a fan for studio use, from my personal experience, a pedestal model with an adjustable height is ideal as you can easily set it to an optimal height for your subject. However, a pedestal-style fan certainly isn't a requirement. If you already have a floor model or tabletop fan, you can simply place it on a higher surface (table, apple boxes, etc.) if needed. While some may appreciate an oscillating feature (especially if the fan is doing double duty as a cooling device), I typically lock my fan into a static position so that it's always blowing air in the desired direction.

Note that constantly blowing air at a subject's face can cause uncomfortable dry eyes. To prevent this, tell your subject to keep his/her eyes closed right up until the moment a photo is taken and use an audible countdown to alert the subject of an impending shutter release.

A fan is an inexpensive tool that can have a big impact on the quality of images delivered to your clients, making it a must-have item for any studio photographer.

It has been raining and mostly cloudy here on the USA east coast practically all summer. The funny saying goes something like this: "It rained twice here this summer, once for 6 weeks and once for 7 weeks." Those dark weather conditions greatly challenge outdoor camera and lens testing as any clouds in the sky can mean unequal shot-to-shot lighting.

At the other end of the spectrum is Colorado, currently experiencing an extreme drought with reservoirs at historic lows (Crater Lake in the Maroons Bells Scenic Area was empty). So, it would make sense that clear skies could be found there.

Amazingly, the day I flew out to Colorado, it was clear here and I arrived to heavy clouds, rain and snow that lasted practically my entire time there (note: I'm available to hire for rain-making). Thankfully, the night before I left was clear and I was able to do some night sky camera and lens testing.

Focusing on stars at night is always a challenge and the Canon EOS R's EVF proved up to that task. I have been very impressed by the R's low light AF capabilities, especially with the Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM Lens mounted and when that lens took its night sky turn, I decided to try autofocusing on a bright star. Under my local modestly-dark sky (this light pollution map shows this location as between yellow and green and some town glow is seen in the bottom of the included image), the EOS R with the center AF point selected successfully and repeatedly autofocused on bright stars. This task does not get easier.

Before you ask me about specific EOS R and lens combinations being able to do this, know that I returned back east to heavily clouded skies and it has been raining heavily all morning.

The Canon EOS R is in stock at B&H | Amazon | Adorama | WEX.

Rent the Canon EOS R from Lensrentals.