Canon and Sony News for Mar 2014 (Page 4)
From Photoshelter:
Use Facebook to get people talking about your work!
In The Photographer’s Guide to Facebook, we break down tactics to help you increase awareness about your photography, engage potential clients, and encourage word-of-mouth referrals.
Learn how you can use Facebook to attract followers by:
- Showcasing your personality with a behind-the-scenes look at your latest shoot.
- Sharing great blogs, stories, and videos from outside sources that your audience will enjoy.
- Asking interesting questions to inspire conversation on your page.
- Offering giveaways and coupons to get people fired up about your products and services.
We also share some great examples of pages from photographers who have successfully used Facebook to build and grow their audience - and their client base - using simple, low cost strategies from posting regularly to showcasing images in a compelling way.
From the Canon USA YouTube Channel:
"Canon STM lenses have stepping motors that allow you to focus quietly and follow your subject smoothly. Photographer and educator Matt Kloskowski demonstrates the quiet smoothness of Canon's STM technology."
Check out the other videos in the EF 101 video series:
Canon STM Lens Reviews
From Canon Digital Learning Center:
Join Explorer of Light Vincent Laforet on location in New York City as he shares practical examples of how to use Canon's tilt-shift lenses for architecture, portrait, lifestyle, and tabletop photography. Learn how a tilt-shift lens can correct, enhance and dramatically change a composition.
In Episode 1, Vincent gives an overview of what a tilt-shift lens is and how it differs from other lenses in the EOS lineup.
In Episode 2, Vincent talks about the shift property of the lens and how it can be used to correct distortion and also aid in multi-shot stitching by showing a few practical examples from around the city.
In Episode 3, Vincent shows a few examples of how the tilt functionality of the lens can shift the plane of focus to create a miniature look as well as increase the focus plane.
You can watch the entire series at the Canon Digital Learning Center.
Tilt-Shift Lens Reviews
A handful of sample pictures have been added to the Tamron 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD Lens review.
This lens continues to see demand exceeding supply. Preorder now at B&H.
From Nikon:
IMPORTANT
- If you have a Lexar 400x or 1000x CompactFlash memory card, please click this link for information regarding compatibility with your camera.
- The firmware cannot be upgraded when Network > Network connection in the Setup menu is set to ON. Be sure to set Network connection to OFF before attempting to upgrade the firmware.
- Please be sure to use a FULLY charged EN-EL18 battery or EH-6 AC Adapter with EP-6 Power connector to perform this update.
- Do not load settings data saved with A:1.05/ B1.03 or earlier using the Save/ Load settings option in the setup menu after updating D4 firmware to A:1.10 / B:1.10. Settings data saved with D4 A:1.05/ B:1.03 or earlier is not compatible with D4 A and B firmware Ver. 1.10.
- When transferring images recorded to a memory card with a capacity greater than 128 GB to a computer using a card reader or similar device, be sure that the computer's operating system and the card reader support capacities greater than 128 GB. If they do not support capacities greater than 128 GB, it may not be possible to transfer images in this way. As support for memory cards with capacities greater than 128 GB is provided with D4 A:1.10 / B:1.10 firmware, images may be transferred by connecting the camera to a computer via USB cable.
Updates included with this release A:1.10 / B: 1.10 - dated March 18, 2014
- Custom Setting f17: Assign Remote Fn Button has been added * .
- Support for CompactFlash memory cards with capacities greater than 128 GB has been added.
- When an XQD memory card and one of certain CompactFlash memory cards were inserted in the camera at the same time, "Err" was displayed in the top control panel. This issue has been resolved.
- When AF-ON only was selected for Custom Setting a4 (AF activation) and the AF-ON button was pressed to initiate autofocus during viewfinder photography, focus remained locked even after the user took their finger off the button, and the shutter could be released at any time. However, specifications have been modified so that the shutter cannot be released under the following conditions if the camera fails to focus.
- Autofocus mode is set to AF-S (single-servo AF)
- AF-area mode is set to Single-point AF
- Custom Setting a2 (AF-S priority selection) is set to Focus
* - We have prepared a supplementary user's manual that covers this function. Click here to download the supplementary user's manual [T-D-P.com Note: Preceding link from Nikon was broken this morning]. Adobe's Acrobat Reader must be installed on your computer to view this file.
Download:
Nikon D4 Firmware A:1.10 / B:1.10 - Windows | Macintosh
B&H has the Nikon D4's successor, the D4s, available for preorder.
Samyang dropped a not-so-subtle hint on its Facebook page letting us know to expect announcements in the very near future.
"New stuff from Samyang coming soon, really soon. Stay tuned!"
What do you think it is? Let us know in the comments.
From X-Rite:
ColorTRUE App launch includes ColorTRUE Aware Partner Program allowing any app developer to include color management.
Grand Rapids, Michigan, March 17, 2014 – X-Rite, Incorporated, the world leader in color management, measurement and communication technologies, today announced the release of ColorTRUE for Apple iOS and Google Android platforms. ColorTRUE provides photographers, designers, and prepress professionals the ability to calibrate and profile their tablet and mobile devices for accurate color matching. ColorTRUE includes a Create Profile tool and an Image Gallery viewer and is currently available as a free download on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
ColorTRUE Calibration
ColorTRUE creates a custom display profile for iOS and Android mobile devices using a supported X-Rite measurement device. The user simply places the connected device on the tablet or phone when prompted and the measurement process begins automatically. The profile is applied to all images displayed through the ColorTRUE Image Gallery, providing the user with the most accurate color match to a desktop reference monitor, or other color managed monitors.
Steve Rankin, Product Manager, at X-Rite, commented: “While iOS and Android devices deliver pleasing color right out of the box, ColorTRUE is the first app that will provide photographers, designers, and prepress professionals with a true color match from desktop to mobile. Tablets have become increasingly important in imaging workflows and getting accurate color on the mobile device is now as critical as it is on the desktop. Whether showing your portfolio to a perspective client or soft-proofing an image before final run, ColorTRUE delivers color accuracy at the level X-Rite customers expect, while maintaining the speed and simplicity of use necessary in the mobile environment.”
ColorTRUE Image Gallery
ColorTRUE is the only mobile color management app that delivers an Image Gallery viewer with a unique set of tools that enables the highest level of color accurate viewing:
- Ambient Light Compensation – ColorTRUE will adjust to any ambient viewing condition ensuring that images are displayed correctly regardless of the lighting condition and display brightness setting
- Print Simulation – Preview or soft-proof images using different printer profiles and rendering intents
- White Point – Match your tablet to your desktop – to ensure you are assessing the same image on tablet and desktop, ColorTRUE lets you choose between D65, D50 and Native white point
- ICC Profile – Embedded image profiles are used or you can manually select correct working color spaces for your images (sRGB, Adobe RGB, ProPhoto RGB)
- Before and After – Toggle the calibration on and off to see the color accuracy improvements on your images
Coloratti George Jardine states, "It only makes sense that X-Rite would be first to the party with a super-easy mobile calibration solution that really works! ColorTRUE gives me the confidence that what I'm seeing on my iPad will match the corrections that I've made on my professional i1Display-calibrated and profiled desktop displays. And the best part is...ColorTRUE uses my existing hardware."
ColorTRUE Aware Partner Program
With the launch of ColorTRUE, X-Rite also announces its ColorTRUE Aware partner program. Unlike laptop or desktop operating systems, iOS and Android operating systems do not have system wide color management capabilities. This means each app must apply color profiles independently. X-Rite will soon release a Software Developers Kit (SDK) that will allow 3rd party app developers access to the ColorTRUE profile, enabling them to seamlessly deliver color management within their own app(s). ColorTRUE users can be confident any third party app such as image editing or viewing, inline production approval, or even creative sketching for proof of concept is color managed whenever they see the ColorTRUE Aware logo. More information can be found at xritephoto.com/colortrueSDK.
Steve Rankin, Product Manager, at X-Rite, continued, “As tablets and mobile devices increasingly permeate color and image based workflows, it has never been more important that these devices become truly color accurate. With ColorTRUE and the ColorTRUE Aware partner program, X-Rite now offers the missing color management components on iOS and Android platforms. Our goal is to enable app developers and help create an eco-system of color managed apps. We encourage all app developers where color is important to their users to contact us and learn more about our ColorTRUE Aware partner program.”
Supported X-Rite Devices
An X-Rite measurement device (sold separately) is required for the ColorTRUE calibration process. iOS phones and tablets support ColorMunki Smile, ColorMunki Display, i1Display Pro, and i1Pro 2, while Android phones and tablets support ColorMunki Display and i1Display Pro. Visit xritephoto.com/colortrue for complete specifications list.
B&H carries X-Rite color calibration products.
From Tamron:
100-City Tour Will Turn Photo Store Parking Lots Into A Full Day Photo Experience
March 17, 2014, Commack, New York – Tamron USA announced today that they are embarking on a 100-city national Tailgate Tour to promote photography and Tamron lenses. A fully equipped Tamron van will be visiting camera stores throughout the country, turning mundane parking lots into photo celebrations, complete with free photography mini-sessions, test drives on the latest Tamron products, full evening seminars, specials on Tamron lenses and complimentary tailgate lunches at most participating retailers. This casual and fun approach to photography education is designed to offer easy and free access to great information to anyone interested in photography.
"Our Tamron Tailgate Tour demonstrates our commitment to help all levels of photographers take better images," said Stacie Errera, Chief Marketing Officer of Tamron USA. "Everyone can use a little help with their photography, and we want to come to hometowns across the country to invite people to discover how new technologies and simple suggestions can improve their results."
The Tamron Tailgate Tour will work with local photo retailers to deliver this unique learning experience. The Tamron van will pull into the parking lot and set up for a full day of education with Tamron tech team members on-hand from 12pm to 4pm to help people with their photography questions. And each day will feature team members offering four free mini-sessions under the Tamron Tailgate Learning Tent - "Configuring Your Camera Bag," "Achieving True Colors," "Enhancing Your Image," and "Choosing Your Next Lens," offered every hour starting at 12:30 PM. Raffles will take place at the end of the last session that begins at 3:30 PM.
For those looking for even more tips to creating better photographs, Tamron will offer a two-hour evening seminar entitled "10 Steps to Epic Images," taught by experienced Tamron tech photographers. The cost of the seminars will be $25 dollars and will include a welcome bag with a reporter notebook and lens cleaning cloth. In select cities, an evening seminar plus an in-the-field workshop the next day will be offered for a total of $75.
Visitors will also see the latest in Tamron products, and be eligible to enter the #winatamron Instagram contest, where they can win one of three Tamron 16-300mm All-In-One 18.8X zoom lenses at the end of the tour. Full contest details can be found at the Tamron Tailgate website on April 13th for the kick off of the tour. A Tailgate lunch will be served at most locations from 12pm to 2pm.
"We hope that our Tamron Tailgate Tour will help inspire all of our attendees, from the casual snapshooter to the serious enthusiast, to take better images that will last a lifetime," said Errera.
For more information and to find out when the Tamron Tailgate Tour will be in your area, visit www.tamron-usa.com/tailgate.
B&H carries Tamron lenses.
A handful of sample pictures have been added to the Zeiss Otus 55mm f/1.4 Distagon T* Lens review. Some sample pictures include small tips to incorporate into your own photography.
by Sean Setters
I spent the majority of last week exploring the wonders of the Windy City on Lake Michigan – Chicago, IL. On this trip you could find me:
- Dangling 103 stories above the city streets on The Ledge
- Eating stuffed deep dish pizza at Giordano's
- Gazing up into the Cloud Gate
- Having a 7-11 Slurpee
- And snapping a picture of "Sue" (among other things)
I must admit something, though – I am directionally challenged. The phrase, "He couldn't find his way out of a paper bag" aptly describes my navigation abilities. My father spent 15 years as a truck driver and can tell you what direction he's facing with his eyes closed on an overcast day. Unfortunately, I didn't get that gene. But where genetics and experience fall short, software and technology step in to fill the void.
The first thing that made life so much easier in Chicago was a smartphone loaded with the Transit App. The Transit App proved essential in allowing me to find my way throughout the city. The app uses the GPS on your smartphone to calculate possible routes from your location to your destination using various forms of public transportation.
Want to go from the Skydeck to the Field Museum? Easy enough. The app gives you 4 possible routes, with this one being the least time-consuming:
- Walk 348 meters to the Monroe/Franklin bus stop.
- Take the J14 Bus toward 103rd/Stony Island.
- Get off the bus at 1100 S Columbus.
- Walk .6 km to your destination (follow the map).
The app estimates the entire trip to take about 24 minutes (I found time estimates to be fairly accurate). Other routes proposed by the app may take a little longer (with multiple transfers), but usually involve less walking.
Unfortunately, navigating constantly using your smartphone can be taxing on its battery. That, combined with other high-drain activities – like playing Candy Crush while waiting for the bus [hey, don't judge!] – may leave you with a dead battery before you get back to the AC outlets of your temporary living quarters.
That's where this second item came into play – an external battery pack for mobile devices. I purchased the RAVPower Element 10400mAh External Battery Pack in October of last year and it's come in very handy on many occasions. Fully charged, this external battery can charge my phone 4 or 5 times (from near 0% to 100%) before needing to be recharged itself.
This trip proved just how useful a tiny, relatively inexpensive external power device can be. Without it, I would have been lost nearly every day just after lunch!
So there you have it – a smartphone app and an external battery pack kept me navigating the city efficiently all week. Have any more suggestions? Alternate navigation apps? Leave us a comment!
The Nikon COOLPIX AW120 User's Manual (English - PDF, 13.9 MB) is now available for download.
B&H carries the Nikon COOLPIX AW120 Waterproof Digital Camera.
Just Posted: Vanguard BBH-200 Ball Head Review
This Arca-Swiss quick release plate-compatible ball head has great looks coupled with great functionality including a very smooth and strong ball and locking mechanism. It is one of the best heads I've used and is another contender for your kit.
From RØDE:
RØDE is excited to announce that it has commenced shipping its new Stereo Bar for precision microphone mounting in stereo arrays.
Spacing between the microphones is clearly indicated on both sides at 10cm, 15cm and 20cm, as well as the critical 17cm distance for ORTF stereo technique. In the middle of the Stereo Bar there is an angle indicator displaying both 90 degrees for X-Y stereo arrays and 110 degrees for ORTF placement, removing the need for guesswork and allowing the recording engineer to set up precision stereo arrays every time.
Constructed from durable PC-ABS plastic the bar can easily support the weight of two large diaphragm microphones at a capsule distance of up to 20 centimetres (7 3/4”). Microphones are mounted via two removable 3/8” threads that slide along the bar, with spacers mounted below the bar that can easily be relocated to the top of the bar to configure stacked microphone pairs.
When combined with RØDE’s Pivot Adaptor accessory the Stereo Bar can be tilted through 210 degrees for optimal versatility.
B&H carries RØDE products.
From Nikon:
Nikon Goes On Location with Leading Pro Photographers to Educate and Inspire Passionate Photo Enthusiasts with New Video Series and Online Community
MELVILLE, N.Y., March 11, 2014 – Nikon Inc. today launched the “Nikon Behind the Scenes” video series, dedicated to empowering and entertaining intermediate level photographers by equipping them with the skills they need to take their photography to the next level. The video series follows a diverse group of leading photographers into the field, including Nikon Ambassadors Joe McNally and Corey Rich and Nikon Professional Photographer Tamara Lackey. These pros provide insight on subjects ranging from lighting, lensing, posing models, shooting landscapes, working with different subjects and gearing up for a shoot.
“Nikon is committed to engaging our fans with interesting and informative content, and the ‘Nikon Behind the Scenes Video Series’ is an entertaining way to fulfill this promise,” said Lisa Baxt, Associate General Manager of Communications, Nikon Inc. “From the moment someone picks up their camera, they have in their hands unlimited creative possibilities and we hope this inspires them to make amazing images and videos. With this video series and the new community on Google+, Nikon is there to support photographers as they explore visual storytelling and tap into their creative potential.”
Nikon Behind the Scenes Starting with Nikon Ambassador and lighting expert Joe McNally, each featured photographer will focus on their area of expertise. In “Nikon Behind the Scenes: Light It Up with Joe McNally,” McNally will be exploring what is possible with Nikon Speedlights and off-camera flash techniques. Over the course of five videos, he will show viewers how to make the most of lighting in whatever situation a photographer may find themselves in.
“Nikon Behind the Scenes: High Altitude Adventure with Corey Rich” will focus on Nikon Ambassador Corey Rich’s techniques for shooting portraits, time lapse, action stills and video while high in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Whether suspended from a sheer cliff face or braving the elements, Rich’s penchant for adventure can inspire others to capture their extreme shot.
Finally, the series is rounded out with Nikon Professional Photographer Tamara Lackey, “Nikon Behind the Scenes: All in the Family with Tamara Lackey.” Lackey is well known for her family photography, and shares some of her secrets to a successful portrait, whether it’s coaxing an elusive smile from a rambunctious toddler or capturing a couples’ true personality.
The first video in the series will be go live on March 11 on the Nikon YouTube channel and the new NikonUSA Google+ page. A new video on a different topic will be posted every couple of weeks to both the YouTube channel and Google+ page for viewers to check out. The new Google+ page will feature work from Nikon Ambassadors and Professional Photographers, and serve as a hub for passionate photographers to share favorite photos, insights on techniques and behind the scenes stories. On this page, Nikon aims to help advanced, professional and aspiring photographers looking to further their craft and take their passion to the next level. Please find the official NikonUSA Google+ page at: plus.google.com/+NikonUSA
Video Series Schedule (subject to change)
| Launch Date | Video Segment | Pro Photographer |
| Tuesday, March 11 | Nikon BTS: Reading Light | Joe McNally |
| Thursday, March 20 | Nikon BTS: Golden Hour Expedition | Corey Rich |
| Tuesday, April 1 | Nikon BTS: Photos with the Family and Pets | Tamara Lackey |
| Monday, April 14 | Nikon BTS: Small Lighting, Big Results | Joe McNally |
| Thursday, April 24 | Nikon BTS: Extreme Action Shooting | Corey Rich |
| Monday, May 5 | Nikon BTS: Capturing an Authentic Smile | Tamara Lackey |
| Thursday, May 15 | Nikon BTS: Using Light to Tell a Story | Joe McNally |
| Monday, May 26 | Nikon BTS: Packing for an Outdoor Shoot | Corey Rich |
| Thursday, June 5 | Nikon BTS: Romantic Portraits | Tamara Lackey |
| Monday, June 16 | Nikon BTS: Dramatic Portrait Lighting | Joe McNally |
| Thursday, June 26 | Nikon BTS: Starry Night Time-Lapse | Corey Rich |
| Monday, June 30 | Nikon BTS: Little Kids, Big Personalities | Tamara Lackey |
| Thursday, July 10 | Nikon BTS: Advanced lighting | Joe McNally |
| Monday, July 21 | Nikon BTS: Action with Video | Corey Rich |
| Thursday, July 31 | Nikon BTS: Lenses for Great Portraits | Tamara Lackey |
B&H carries Nikon cameras, lenses and flashes.
Canon has updated Digital Photo Professional, EOS Utility and Picture Style Editor to provide support for new cameras as well as fix a couple of minor bugs. See below for more information. [thanks Marco]
From Canon USA:
Canon Digital Photo Professional 3.14.15
Changes for Digital Photo Professional 3.14.15 Updater for Windows:
- Supports images taken with EOS Kiss X70 / EOS Rebel T5 / EOS 1200D / EOS Hi, EOS M2, PowerShot G1 X Mark II.
- Supports Windows 8.1.
- Fixes the phenomenon where the shutter speed value and the aperture value indicated for an image displayed in the [Large thumbnail] mode may differ from the actual values if the image has been converted to the JPG or TIFF format from the RAW file (CRW file) format of the EOS D30, EOS D60, EOS KISS DIGITAL / EOS DIGITAL REBEL / EOS 300D DIGITAL or EOS 10D.
EOS Utility 2.14.0
Changes for EOS Utility 2.14.0 Updater for Windows:
- Supports EOS Kiss X70 / EOS Rebel T5 / EOS 1200D / EOS Hi, EOS M2.
- Supports the CN-E35mm T1.5 L F.
- Supports Windows 8.1.
Picture Style Editor 1.14.10
Changes for Picture Style Editor 1.14.10 Updater for Windows:
- Supports EOS Kiss X70 / EOS Rebel T5 / EOS 1200D / EOS Hi, EOS M2.
- Supports Windows 8.1.
Canon USA has the software updates available for download.
B&H carries the newly supported Canon EOS T5 DSLR camera.
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