Canon and Sony News for Oct 2014 (Page 4)

From Canon UK:

Canon introduces new 4K cine-servo, ultra-telephoto lens with world’s longest focal length

United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, 16 October 2014 – Canon today bolsters its cine servo lens line-up with the new CN20x50 – a high performance, ultra-telephoto zoom lens for sport and nature TV production. Leveraging Canon’s long-standing and unparalleled expertise in lens design, the CN20x50 delivers superb image quality and exceptional creative control, and is the first lens of its type to combine a built-in 1.5x extender, class-leading 20x magnification and a removable servo drive, with a native 50-1000mm focal range that expands to a huge 75-1500mm.

Designed to be a portable solution for broadcast productions using super 35mm cameras – whether HD, UHD or 4K – the CN20x50 is a tool of unprecedented quality, versatility and usability. Featuring a completely removable updated servo drive unit that enables an agile shooting style that’s difficult to achieve with typical cine lenses, the new cine-servo lens helps to meet growing demands for Ultra High Definition (UHD) resolution sport and nature television production.

Versatile and reliable
With productions today expected to shoot in demanding and unpredictable environments, a huge level of lens flexibility is required. For wildlife television, operators typically work in hostile and sensitive conditions which often necessitate shooting from extremely long distances, while sports productions typically require extremely high resolution for close-to-the-action stadium work. In both situations, operators require fast, reactive positional changes, shooting flexibility and nimble hardware that allow them to respond to changes in the scene.

Weighing just 6.6kg, the CN20x50 is conveniently portable and lightweight and offers an unrivalled focal length and zooming capabilities for its class. It enables sport and documentary crews to capture footage at a distance, while maintaining the highest quality throughout the zoom range. The lens’s huge zoom range also significantly reduces the volume of hardware that crews are required to carry, offering a superb solution for location shoots.

The latest in Canon’s cine-servo lens line-up, the CN20x50 is also user-friendly and robust. The design has been developed to ensure high levels of ruggedness and reliability, even in unforgiving broadcast environments – combining the finest quality optics with a weather-and-shock-proof construction that makes it suitable for use in the most hostile conditions when on location, to the same level as conventional Canon broadcast lenses.

Flexible operability
Compatible with a wide range of cameras, the CN20x50 also supports communication between lens and camera and will be available in both EF-mount and PL-mount variants. The EF-mount version utilises Canon’s own system, while the PL-mount variant supports Cooke’s /i Technology standard. Both models feature a 12-pin serial connection for integration with typical broadcast equipment.

The focus ring rotation is 180 degrees, balancing the accuracy required for 4K imaging with the speed needed for broadcast use. In scenarios where every second counts – and operators only have one opportunity to capture a shot – high speed zoom, iris and simple focusing operation mean that even rapidly changing scenes can be captured with ease and accuracy.

The lens’ design supports a range of cinema and broadcast accessories including operational zoom and focus controls, matte boxes and 0.8- and 0.5-type gear module accessories such as follow focus units, to provide a truly versatile solution.

CN20x50 key benefits:

• Ultra-telephoto lens with class-leading focal length
• Capture every detail in sports and nature TV broadcast
• Achieve stunning shots in outstanding 4K quality
• Enjoy a wide variety of shooting and expression
• Portable and durable with intuitive operation

Check out more information about the CN20x50 on the Canon Professional Network's dedicated page.

From the Canon Professional Network:

"Adobe now offers a Creative Cloud Photography bundle that includes Lightroom editing software and Photoshop CC for photographers who want to organise, edit, enhance and share their images via desktop or their mobile devices – this package currently comes bundled with the Canon EOS 5D Mark III and EOS 6D DSLRs, plus the PowerShot G1 X Mark II and G7 X compact cameras. In a four-part CPN series of articles and video tutorials Richard Curtis (a Principal Solutions Consultant in Digital Imaging for Adobe UK) will examine the workflow between Lightroom software and Photoshop CC to help you to understand the benefits of working with both in tandem. In Part 1 of this series Richard Curtis explains how to use Smart Objects within the Lightroom and Photoshop CC workflow and, in a special video, he reveals how Smart Objects ensure your image edits are non-destructive for longer. Please click on the play button in the window above to watch the video..."

Adobe's Photoshop Photography Program is only $9.99 per month (Photoshop CC + Lightroom).

From Nikon Europe:

In this video pro-photographer, film maker, & director of DEDICATED, Corey Rich highlights why the D4S allows him to focus only on content and not the technology; the three most meaningful improvements made on the D4S; & how its features helped capture scenes that were previously impossible to capture. 'Hollywood crews could do this but not guys like me.' - Corey Rich.

Note from Sean: Oh my goodness! Why didn't I ever think to use Auto ISO when shooting video to compensate for transitioning from very dim environments to very bright ones (or vice-versa)? The EOS 5D Mark III works in the same way; it changes ISO on the fly when set to Auto ISO. The Nikon D4s's algorithm may allow for smoother ISO changes, but otherwise, the 5D III does the exact same thing.

B&H carries the Nikon D4s and the Canon EOS 5D Mark III.

International Awards Exhibition Printed with Epson Printers and Papers Opens at Smithsonian on Oct. 24

LONG BEACH, Calif. – Oct. 15, 2014 – Epson today announced it is a global sponsor of the 2014 Nature’s Best Photography Windland Smith Rice International Awards Exhibition for the third consecutive year. As the official inkjet printer and paper partner for the ongoing print exhibition, Epson’s professional printing technology allows visitors to celebrate the beauty and diversity of nature through the art of photography. On the second floor of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C., museum guests will see award-winning photographs displayed from one of the world’s most prestigious nature photography competitions.

“The annual Nature's Best Photography Windland Smith Rice International Awards program began as a creative tool to celebrate the beauty and diversity of nature and encourage greater public interest in outdoor enjoyment and conservation stewardship,” says Awards Director, Steve Freligh. “The high caliber of photographic prints we are able to achieve through using Epson printers, inks and papers bring these images to life in a way that truly showcases the spectacle of nature and the creative talent delivered by photographers in the field."

The Smithsonian exhibition opens on Oct. 24, 2014, and features winners from the annual Windland Smith Rice International Awards program. Chosen from more than 20,000 entries from photographers in 50 countries, the exhibition will showcase the Grand Prize winner, the Photographer of the Year and the Youth Photographer of the Year, as well as finalists selected in 13 separate categories. The images are displayed as large format prints ranging in size from 2x3 feet to nearly 4x6 feet in the nation’s most visited museum, which welcomes more than eight million visitors annually.

“We are honored to be supporting one of the most highly-respected and visually compelling nature photography competitions in the world,” said Larry Kaufman, product manager, Professional Imaging, Epson America, Inc. “Our goal is to provide these photographers with access to the most advanced printing technology and pro-quality papers to produce true-to-life output that accurately and completely conveys the true vision and story behind their photographs.”

The exhibition-quality prints were created with Epson’s award-winning 44-inch wide Epson Stylus Pro 9900. With the precision of its Epson MicroPiezo TFP printhead and the performance of Epson UltraChrome HDR ink, the printer delivers superb photographic prints with an extremely wide color gamut and incredible sharpness. Used with Epson Professional Papers, this advanced printing technology produces the richest blacks and smooth tonal transitions.

The exhibition will be viewed by millions of visitors at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. and is open daily, free to the public. The annual photo competition is open to the public and encourages submissions from photographers at all levels of expertise – pros, amateurs and youth. For more information, visit www.NaturesBestPhotography.com.

From the Canon Digital Learning Center:

In our new Quick Tips series, you get to watch and learn right from Canon Digital Learning Center experts!

Each video will feature a Canon Technical Advisor offering a helpful imaging tip, sharing a unique product insight, or explaining a key technology. New videos will be added regularly, so check back to keep expanding your Canon knowledge base.

Quick Tips Videos Available

• Highlight Tone Priority
• Dust Delete Data
• Wireless File Transmitter
• RAW Image Fundamentals
• High Speed Sync
• Quick Control Menu
• Picture Style explained
• Radio-Based Wireless Flash
• Radio Wireless Group Mode
• ...and more!

From Nikon:

Updates included with 1.0.3

Updates that apply to both the Windows and Macintosh versions

• When images were adjusted in any of the following ways using Edit palette functions, and Capture NX-D was then launched again, the results of adjustments were not reflected. This issue has been resolved.

• When White Balance was fine-tuned after selecting Use Gray Point or using the Gray Point Sample Tool
• When the Quick Adjust setting under Picture Control was changed
• When the luminosity curve was adjusted by moving the black-point input slider to a setting other than "0" with Master Lightness selected for LCH
• When the chroma curve was adjusted by moving the output slider to a setting other than "0" with Chroma selected for LCH
• When the tone curve was adjusted by moving the Levels & Curves black-point input slider to a setting other than "0"

• When a settings file, with which the Quick Adjust setting under Picture Control had been changed, was saved, the value saved for Quick Adjust only was "0". This issue has been resolved.
• When RAW images captured with cameras that support the Better Quality 2013 option for Noise Reduction in the Edit palette were adjusted, and the Intensity setting under Luminance was once changed to "0", subsequent changes to the Intensity setting were not reflected. This issue has been resolved.
• When the output slider was moved to a setting other than "0" with Chroma selected for LCH in the Edit palette, anchor points could not be added to the chroma curve at the intended positions. This issue has been resolved.
• When multiple images were captured with a User Custom Curve modified using a camera that does not support Picture Controls applied, changes made to the User Custom Curve during shooting were not reflected in images captured after the User Custom Curve had been changed. This issue has been resolved.

Additional modifications to the Windows version

• When Capture NX-D was launched with a single-display system after having been used with a multi-display system, an error was displayed and the application could not be launched. This issue has been resolved.
• An issue that sometimes caused Capture NX-D to freeze when keyboard operations were performed while working with the Edit palette has been resolved.

Additional modifications to the Macintosh version

• When the keyboard shortcut (SHIFT + 0) was used to delete ratings, labels rather than ratings were deleted. This issue has been resolved.

Download
Capture NX-D 1.0.3 Update

Canon Asia has posted a Developer's Interview series explaining various aspects of the EOS 7D Mark II.

7D Mark II Developer's Series

• Concept
• Body
• Technology
• Shooting

B&H has the Canon EOS 7D Mark II available for preorder.

From MindShift Gear:

Mindshift Gear rotation180° Trail Bag

MindShift Gear’s New rotation180° Trail Backpack Provides Quick Access to Outdoor Exploration Necessities

This fall MindShift Gear will be making its award-winning rotation technology available in a smaller, lighter new backpack, the rotation180º Trail. Accessing gear has never been easier for outdoor photographers and action-enthusiasts. With the rotation180º Trail they can hike, mountain bike, ski, and birdwatch without breaking stride. No more removing a cumbersome backpack to access camera gear or trail essentials. In one swift motion, they can rotate the beltpack and grab their gear without taking their eyes off of wildlife or disrupting their creative momentum.

The intuitive functionality of the small yet spacious rotation180º Trail keeps the day's necessities organized and ready for quick access. It fits any 1.5 liter or a 2 liter CamelBak water reservoir, a light jacket and an extra layer, binoculars, compass, trail books, maps and more. This 2-in-1 bag's beltpack can be worn on its own for traveling light.

“The rotation180º Trail ends the tiresome on-and-off again of other backpacks and lets enthusiasts enjoy the outdoors more,” said MindShift Gear CEO and lead designer Doug Murdoch. “It is another example of our commitment to reinventing backpack access. It employs the same patented technology that recently won two of Europe’s top design awards, the Red Dot Award and the OutDoor Industry Award 2014.”

Key Features

• Rotating beltpack for accessing trail essentials: compact DSLR or mirrorless camera system, 8” tablet (iPad mini), binoculars, maps, guide book, energy bars, food, and more.
• Dedicated zippered hydration compartment fits any 1.5 liter reservoir or a 2 liter CamelBak reservoir
• 2 bags in 1: Removable beltpack can be worn on its own for traveling light
• Backpack holds jacket, layers, hat, gloves, lunch and more
• Front stretch pocket provides flexible carrying options for quick access
• Small tripod carries easily on the side panel
• Top pocket for quick access to small items
• Mesh stretch pocket fits a water bottle
• Bike-light attachment
• Beltpack compression straps
• Lightweight materials
• Breathable padded airflow harness with adjustable sternum strap
• Optional rain cover (sold separately) functions with rotation technology

Mindshift Gear rotation180° Travel Away Bag

MindShift Gear’s New rotation180° Travel Away Backpack Provides Global Travelers Added Security and Quickest Access to Gear

MindShift Gear, developer of the world’s first patented rotating backpack, announces it will be releasing the first rotating backpack for global travelers and outdoor explorers, the rotation180° Travel Away. When traveling in unfamiliar places, knowing where critical items are and protecting them from prying eyes are very important. In one swift motion, only the wearer can rotate the concealed beltpack to the front for instantaneous and secure access to cameras, passports, guidebooks, tablets, or other travel essentials. No more being forced to stop in front of strangers to remove a backpack to gain access to essential travel items.

Travelers will enjoy peace of mind, knowing that their critical and most valuable items are stowed away securely and are inaccessible to others due to the rotation180° Travel Away's innovative design. The backpack also has dedicated pockets to conceal a 15” laptop and 10” tablet, while the beltpack can fit an 8” tablet.

“As someone who spends a great deal of my life traveling around the globe, I know the joy of travel as well as its challenges,” said MindShift Gear’s CEO and lead designer Doug Murdoch. “We designed the rotation180° Travel Away for the discerning traveler who wishes to keep their eyes on the wonders unfolding in front of them, safe in knowing that their essential gear is protected from prying eyes and ready for quick access with just a twist of the lower beltpack.

Murdoch added, “The rotation180° Travel Away employs the same patented technology that recently won two of Europe’s top design awards, the Red Dot Award and the OutDoor Industry Award 2014.”

Key Features

• Rotating beltpack for accessing travel essentials: 8” tablet (iPad mini), large point and shoot, maps, passport, currency, etc.
• Backpack has dedicated pockets to conceal up to a 15” laptop and a 10” tablet.
• 2 bags in 1: Removable beltpack can be worn on its own for traveling light.
• Size qualifies as a personal carry-on item for air travel.
• Side compression straps enable carrying of trekking poles, a small tripod, or jacket.
• Locking sliders on the main compartment secures valuables with a travel lock (not included).
• Backpack rear pocket provides quick access to a camera, AC adapters, large sunglasses, books or other large items.
• Additional room for books, jacket, extra clothing, hat, gloves, food, etc.
• Ultra-Stretch pocket for water bottle.
• Durable materials hold up in harsh conditions.
• Breathable padded airflow harness with adjustable sternum strap and attachment points.
• Curved back panel with single aluminum stay for pack stability.
• Optional seam-sealed rain cover functions with rotation technology (sold separately).

MindShift Gear has the rotation180° Trail and rotation180° Travel Away bags available now.

Ever since the EOS 7D Mark II's announcement, a small resolution sample of "Cello" has been available on various Canon websites. However, Canon USA has posted a full 1080p version for us to enjoy [I may be using the term "enjoy" a little loosely].

I'm not really a fan of the the video's concept; I may not be artistic enough to appreciate its quirkiness. However, being able to analyze the 1080p resolution version proves one thing – this will be a fantastic tool for filmmakers. If you have a Roku/Chromecast and a big HDTV, be sure to take advantage of the larger real estate available to you instead of watching the video on your computer or laptop monitor.

While Movie Servo AF isn't exactly new, the EOS 7D Mark II brings a very important feature to the party – the ability to customize focus speed and responsiveness while shooting video. Take a look at the focus pull at the 2:13 mark; it's absolutely beautiful. The ability to slow down the camera's focus transition allowed for a very natural-looking focus pull.

And that's a huge reason why I'm preordering. The customizable Movie Servo AF feature will allow for much more flexibility when shooting with stabilizers like the Glidecam HD4000 (where using a second hand for manual focus pulls is not pragmatic). [Sean]

B&H has the Canon EOS 7D Mark II available for preorder.

From the Adobe Photoshop YouTube Channel:

Learn how to adjust lighting in post production using Photoshop with Photoshop Principal Product Manager Bryan O'Neil Hughes in this episode of the Photoshop Playbook.

Adobe's Photoshop Photography Program is only $9.99 per month (Photoshop CC + Lightroom).

From Nikon:

Updates included with 1.0.2

• Support for the D750 has been added.
• When File > Convert Files... was used to convert images to JPEG or TIFF format with the Resolution box under Output settings checked, resolution in the converted files was reduced. This issue has been resolved.

Download
Nikon Capture NX-D 1.0.2

Sigma Corporation would like to announce that there are two types of new tele converters to be released on October 24th, 2014. Please note that the SIGMA 120-300mm F2.8 DG OS HSM | Sports requires an update to the firmware to make it compatible with the SIGMA TELE CONVERTER TC-1401 and SIGMA TELE CONVERTER TC-2001.

For those who own the SIGMA 120-300mm F2.8 DG OS HSM | Sports and considering using it with either the SIGMA TELE CONVERTER TC-1401 or SIGMA TELE CONVERTER TC-2001, please follow the steps below to update the firmware of the lens.

Please be advised that the updated version of firmware will make it compatible with the new tele converters, however it will also make it incompatible with conventional APO TELE CONVERTER 1.4x EX DG and APO TELE CONVERTER 2x EX DG. For further information, please contact your nearest authorized subsidiary / distributor of SIGMA.

For customers who own the SIGMA USB DOCK
Please start up the SIGMA Optimization Pro software and update the firmware of the SIGMA USB DOCK. There will be the optimized firmware compatible with the new tele converters (Sigma: Ver. 1.01, Nikon: Ver. 1.02, Canon: Ver. 1.03), currently scheduled for release on October 24th.

For customers who do not own SIGMA USB DOCK
We are going to start the service for update on October 27th. Please contact your nearest authorized subsidiary / distributor of SIGMA.

B&H carries the Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM Sports lens and USB Dock. B&H also has the Sigma TC-1401 1.4x and TC-2001 2x teleconverters available for preorder.

From Sigma:

Sigma USB Dock v.1.02 Firmware Changes

Compatible with SIGMA 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM S014 and 18-300mm F3.5-6.3 DC MACRO OS HSM C014.

* If SIGMA Optimization Pro is Ver. 1.2, it will display the message for firmware update when you start up the software. Please follow the indicated steps and update the firmware of SIGMA USB DOCK accordingly.
* If SIGMA Optimization Pro is Ver. 1.1 or earlier, please firstly update the version of the software to Ver. 1.2.

Download
Sigma USB Dock v.1.02 Firmware

B&H carries the Sigma USB Dock and has the Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Sports and 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 DC MACRO OS HSM lenses available for preorder.

From the Nikon Asia YouTube Channel:

Set in beautiful Cape Town, South Africa, and shot exclusively with the Nikon D810 DSLR, this video follows world-renowned South African extreme athletes as they perform impressive stunts for adventure sports videographer Craig Kolesky and his team. From high-speed action in Full HD to adapting to different light settings as the scenes shift from sunrise to midday, Kolesky was able to consistently capture stunning image quality in every frame.

Check out the behind the scenes video below:

B&H carries the Nikon D810 DSLR Camera.

From Photoshelter:

You decided you want to start making money from your photography, but now what?

In The Ultimate Guide to Starting Your Photography Business, learn how to focus your niche, market your work, lock in clients, and manage your finances. Also hear from seasoned photographers on what it takes to turn your passion for photography into a thriving career.

In this guide, you’ll also learn:

• The 4 most important questions to ask before launching your business
• How to use social media to attract the audience you want
• Secrets to selling your work and bringing in revenue
• 11 essential tips all freelance photographers should know
• Plus more!

Whether you’re dreaming of shooting for high-end publications, opening your own brick-and-mortar studio, or documenting stories around the world, launching a successful career will require you to hone your business skills. This guide will help you make smart decisions moving forward and build the successful photo career you want.

Download your copy of The Ultimate Guide for Starting Your Photography Business today!