Canon and Sony News for Mar 2017 (Page 6)

 Friday, March 3, 2017

From Nikon:

March 3, 2017 – Nikon Corporation has decided at the Board of Directors’ Meeting held today to voluntarily adopt the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) for the consolidated financial statements of annual securities report from the fiscal year ending March 31, 2017, in place of the Japanese Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (JGAAP) previously adopted.

Nikon Corporation has decided to adopt the IFRS to improve international comparability of financial information disclosed to the capital markets and to strengthen the management foundation by unification of accounting standards within its group companies.

However, the JGAAP will be applied as before in preparation of the summary of consolidated financial results for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2017 as well as the consolidated financial statements constructed in accordance with the Companies Act of Japan for the same period.

The tentative disclosure schedule for voluntary IFRS adoption is as below:

Nikon International Financial Reporting Standards Adoption Schedule

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Post Date: 3/3/2017 5:48:02 AM ET   Posted By: Sean
 Thursday, March 2, 2017

B&H has Sony's SF-G SD memory cards – with read write speeds up to 299MB/s – available for preorder.

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Posted to: Canon News, Sony News   Category: Preorders
Post Date: 3/2/2017 9:57:32 AM ET   Posted By: Sean

We recently spoke with a high-level Canon representative about the benefits of using image stabilization when high shutter speeds are being utilized to stop fast action. While the information below should not be considered official Canon guidelines, they do represent the experiences of a person who has had a substantial amount of experience with Canon lenses and their IS systems.

Question: Is there a shutter speed above which image stabilization should be turned off? Should IS be turned off when shooting action under bright light with short shutter speeds, perhaps 1/1600 – 1/2500 using a 400 f/2.8L IS II or 600 f/4L IS II, as the benefits of stabilization may be reduced substantially?

Answer:

It's definitely true that there's a point, as shutter speeds get progressively faster, that the shake-prevention qualities of Image Stabilization really have little or no added effect. In other words, if you take a 600mm f/4L IS lens, mount it on a monopod (definitely NOT a totally stable platform, obviously!), and shoot at 1/8000th of a second, it's absolutely arguable that I.S. has no direct benefit in terms of minimizing camera shake. I think we can agree that with or without I.S., most users could get consistently shake-free pictures with that monopod-mounted 600 at 1/8000th of a second.

Turning I.S. off in situations like that (maybe not at 1/8000th, but perhaps at 1/2000th or thereabouts) will save a small amount of camera battery power... probably a minor consideration to most users, but perhaps a bit more relevant to someone working with a camera like an EOS Rebel or the new EOS 77D, which have smaller batteries with less capacity than, say, an EOS-1D X Mark II. Definitely a potential consideration for anyone shooting with a mirrorless camera like an EOS M5, which *always* have less battery life per charge, since they use more power-hungry LCD monitors or electronic viewfinders.

For sports, action, wildlife and so on, keep in mind the potential benefits of a more stable image in your viewfinder. Even if your shutter speed pretty much precludes any problems with camera shake, if I.S. is active and set to Mode 1 or Mode 2, you see a steadier, more stable view in your finder when working on a monopod or a gimbal-type tripod mount. This can be beneficial in a number of ways, from subtle benefits in frame-to-frame composition when following moving subjects, to being able to keep an AF point solidly upon a detailed area of a moving subject.

For those who consider the effect of visible stabilization during shooting to be an annoyance (for instance, it may seem to delay rapid lens movements to follow a moving subject), there is Mode 3 on lenses like the 400/2.8 II or 600/4 II. This is a specialized I.S. mode that does provide the shake-prevention effects, but ONLY when the shutter button is **fully** depressed, and a shot is actually being taken. Otherwise, at all other times, the effect of I.S. is disabled, although stabilization detection is continually taking place between shots, and the lens's moveable stabilization optical elements are held in a non-locked, "ready" position. In other words, in Mode 3, you don't SEE the effect of stabilization, but it still is there when you actually shoot each picture.

Here's one that never gets discussed among sports, action and wildlife shooters, but which our engineers HAVE said is a benefit of Image Stabilization, even at the fastest shutter speeds. Because Canon's I.S. is optical, if you do have your stabilization set to Mode 1 or 2, where it's continually active, the viewfinder isn't the only place where a steady, stabilized image is seen. The FOCUSING SYSTEM also gets the same benefit of a clean, steady and stabilized look at the subject, too. This matters, especially during fast, high-speed sequences, and even more so if/when you're shooting subjects that are (a) moving aggressively, and (b) may not have tons of detail, contrast and texture to them. The AF point or points being used must see some detail, and during a fast, AI Servo AF sequence, have less than 1/10th of a second in cameras like an EOS 7D Mark II, or certainly an EOS-1D X model, to read the subject between each frame. By using I.S., regardless of how fast the actual shutter speed is, the AF system gets a cleaner, steadier look at the subject during that interval between each frame, and is more likely to be able to read subject detail and provide continuous AF where most or all frames in a sequence are sharp (in terms of FOCUS).

I know there's a body of thought out there among some sports shooters that since they're already at fast shutter speeds, I.S. isn't needed, but they should contemplate what I just said. And, there's a body of thought that I.S. being active can slow down AF... I've directly asked our leading engineers that, and been told emphatically that this is NOT true, regardless of anecdotal "evidence" some shooters may feel they've experienced.

Bottom line, my basic suggestion would be to leave it on, unless you absolutely have deliberate reasons for not doing so. Consider the above points; remember the potential impact of Mode 2 (panning mode, so to speak) and Mode 3 (stabilization, but without visible effects in the viewfinder); and we do still suggest turning I.S. off if you know you'll be mounted to a completely rigid, locked-down position.

Question: Extending your engineering discussion … I understand the benefit of IS to the AF system. What about when the subject is moving rapidly and IS is trying to hold the image still? It seems to me that the AF system would be better having the exact subject framing present at the moment it is making its decision. And, isn’t the addition of Mode 3 supporting this concept?

Answer:

Like I said, if you have distinct reasons for shutting I.S. off, go for it. But, in the VAST majority of action-type situations, especially with human-subjects (football and similar sports), the likelihood the movement would be SO sudden that what I.S. projects into the viewfinder and the subject's actual composition at the same time or an instant later would be extremely different is probably pretty slim. At least, in my experience. Might be a little different for someone photographing small birds in flight with a big lens, from relatively close distances.

The addition of Mode 3 *might* bring some benefits if and when you feel this difference in what you see vs. what you shoot is happening, but it's not the sole reason for its existence.

Most of the time, I'm very comfortable to suggest using I.S. Mode 1 or 2, even at fast shutter speeds, and with nearly all moving subjects. But I repeat, if for whatever reasons you feel it's hindering your ability to compose in real time, either switching to Mode 3, or turning I.S. off completely, remain options as well.

So, there you have it. Even when using shutter speeds fast enough to negate camera shake, leaving image stabilization "On" is generally a good idea. If nothing else, it's providing a stable viewfinder scene for you and the AF system, allowing for easier tracking of moving subjects.

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Posted to: Canon News, Sony News   Category: Photo Tips and Stories
Post Date: 3/2/2017 8:00:00 AM ET   Posted By: Sean

From Nikon:

Changes from Firmware Version 14.001 to 14.002

Fixed the following issues:

  • Zoom (angle of illumination) did not function as expected at low temperatures.
  • When AF ONLY (AF assist illumination activated, flash function canceled) was selected for Custom (Custom menu) > AF (AF-assist illumination/canceling flash function), pressing the shutter-release button halfway after restarting the standby timer or after turning on the camera would not activate the AF-assist illuminator.

Updating the Flash Unit Firmware

  1. Create a folder on the computer hard disk and name it as desired.
  2. Download F-SB5000-V14002W.exe to the folder created in Step 1.
  3. Run F-SB5000-V14002W.exe to extract the following file to a folder named “SB5000Update”:
    • SB500014002.bin (the flash unit firmware)

  4. Using a card slot or card reader, copy “SB500014002.bin” to a memory card that has been formatted in the camera.
  5. Insert the memory card in the camera. If the camera allows you to select one slot as the primary slot and the other as the secondary slot, insert the card into the slot currently selected as the primary slot. Otherwise insert the card into Slot 1.
  6. Attach the SB-5000 to the camera and turn on the camera and flash unit.
  7. Press the camera MENU button, select Firmware version > Update in the SETUP MENU, and follow the on-screen instructions to perform the firmware update.
  8. Once the update is complete, turn off the camera and flash unit and remove the memory card.
  9. Turn on the camera and flash unit and confirm that the firmware has been updated to the new version.
Download: Nikon SB-5000 Firmware v.14.002

B&H carries the Nikon SB-5000 AF Speedlight.

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Posted to:    Category: Nikon Firmware Updates
Post Date: 3/2/2017 5:55:11 AM ET   Posted By: Sean
 Wednesday, March 1, 2017

Image quality, vignetting and distortion test results from the Canon EOS 5Ds R have been added to the Sigma 500mm f/4 DG OS HSM Sports Lens page.

Definitely follow (minimally) that first link. I think you will like what you see.

We do not yet have the Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II Lens tested on the 5Ds R but will have the Sigma results from the 1Ds III soon to make this direct comparison possible. However, the Canon 500mm f/4L IS II and the Canon 600mm f/4L IS II perform similarly and the Sigma 500mm f4 Sports vs. Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II Lens comparison is available now.

B&H has the Sigma 500mm f/4 DG OS HSM Sports Lens in stock (Nikon F mount is on backorder).

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Posted to: Canon News, Sony News   Category: Camera Gear Review News
Post Date: 3/1/2017 7:32:44 AM ET   Posted By: Bryan

Image via greatamericaneclipse.com

In just a few short months, the United States will be treated to a total solar eclipse on August 21, 2017, an event which hasn't been witnessed by the citizens of the US mainland in 38 years.

In other words, mark your calendars and start planning / preparing for your solar eclipse viewing now.

On August 21, assuming fair weather and an unobstructed view of the sky, those residing in or traveling to the pathway above will enjoy an experience of a lifetime (click to download a larger image).

Due to the fact that the total eclipse pathway will traverse the central part of the US from the Northwest to the Southeast, a large percentage of the US population lives within a day's travel to a total eclipse viewing point.

Of course, finding a hotel in one of the larger cities placed along the total eclipse pathway will be more challenging as the August event draws near, so start making your reservations now to avoid accommodation issues.

You'll likely also want to stock up on your solar eclipse viewing/photography supplies. With that in mind, B&H has created a special Solar Eclipse 2017 page with gear specific the rare event.

The Canon Digital Learning Center has been publishing articles on the upcoming event and will continue add more articles in the months ahead. Here's what they have posted so far:

If you miss the opportunity to see and/or photograph the August 21 solar eclipse, you'll have to wait another seven years for the next opportunity to roll around (April 8, 2024). Our advice is to try and view this rare event from a total eclipse vantage point if you can; assuming clear conditions, you will never forget the awe-inspiring scene.

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Posted to: Canon News, Sony News   Category: Photo Tips and Stories
Post Date: 3/1/2017 6:23:14 AM ET   Posted By: Sean
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