Canon and Sony News for Apr 2016 (Page 7)
Nikon has updated the D800's firmware to v1.01 and the D810's firmware to v1.11 with the following change:
- Fixed an issue that sometimes caused the camera to stop responding when attached to a WR-R10 wireless remote controller running firmware version 3.00.
Download: Nikon D800 Firmware v1.01 | Nikon D810 Firmware v1.11
Warning: You might want to go here. "Here" is Mudjin Harbor in Middle Caicos (Turks and Caicos, British West Indies), where there are surprisingly few people and the scenery is amazing. Capturing my attention for the large part of a day were the large cliffs and the rugged landscape bordering the brilliant turquoise waters of the Atlantic Ocean here. And, who is the landscape photographer that can pass up a cave framing the ocean?
By moving deep into this cave and zooming the Canon EOS 5Ds R-mounted Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM Lens out to 16mm, I was able to completely frame some of the most-beautifully-colored water found anywhere.
Caves are (usually) very dark and that was case here. This image is composed of three separate exposures – one for the water and sky (slight blinkies in cresting waves), one for the cave walls and another for the upper right portion of the cave wall as it was even darker and needed some detail brought out. With a handful of exposure variations available, I experimented with differing cave wall brightness during post processing. In the end, I opted for noticeable walls, but not bright enough to distract from the idyllic beach and water scene being framed.
Because the sun is constantly moving, multiple exposures intended for combining via HDR that include a shadow line should be captured in quick succession due to that line moving. The always moving and always different waves determined the primary exposure timing. The other exposures were simply captured very close in time to the primary ones.
A circular polarizer filter played an important role in capturing this image, making the sky and water colors pop.
A larger version of this image is available on Flickr, Google+, Facebook and 500px. If reading from a news feed reader, click through to see the framed image.
ISO 100
8688 x 5792px
From Nikon:
World Class Photographers Joel Sartore, Matthew Jordan Smith, Deanne Fitzmaurice and Joey Terrill are the Latest to Join Nikon’s Group of Influential Modern Storytellers
MELVILLE, NY – Today, Nikon Inc. announced the addition of four new photographers to the prestigious Nikon Ambassador program, a group of influential visual artists and leaders in modern photography. The newest additions include four photographers who make significant contributions to their respective fields, including; wildlife photographer Joel Sartore, celebrity and portrait photographer Matthew Jordan Smith, Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist Deanne Fitzmaurice and commercial and portrait photographer Joey Terrill.
“Nearly three years after the foundation of the program, Nikon Ambassadors have worked to educate and empower photographers while continuing to celebrate their passion and love for photography through the power of visual storytelling,” said Mike Corrado, NPS Manager, pro relations and product marketing, Nikon Inc. “These new additions all define what it takes to be considered one of Nikon’s most elite photographers, with unparalleled commitment to both their craft and the imaging industry.”
The four newest photographers continue to expand and demonstrate the discipline represented in the program, all while bringing their unique perspective and style. Already considered prestigious photographers and mentors, they each embody the philosophy of Nikon’s Ambassador Program, which is to empower photographers through education and inspiration, and work directly with Nikon to communicate the needs of an evolving photo industry.
About Nikon’s Newest Ambassadors:
Joel Sartore – Wildlife photographer Joel Sartore is a mentor, conservationist, author and National Geographic Fellow who is best known for founding the Photo Ark Project, which aims to document and preserve endangered species and habitats through photography. Since its creation more than 20 years ago, Sartore has visited more than 40 countries to create portraits of more than 6,000 individual species for the project. These striking portraits put an emphasis on the animal’s expression and eye contact, helping to foster compassion by emotionally engaging the viewer with the subject. This Nebraska-based photographer has also authored four books and frequently contributes to numerous other books and publications.
Matthew Jordan Smith – Los Angeles-based celebrity and portrait photographer and author Matthew Jordan Smith is well-known for his work with major magazines, advertising agencies and some of the most famous actors and models in the world. A teacher of numerous photography workshops, Smith has also won several accolades for his work throughout his photographic career and recently published his third book, titled Future American President; 50 States, 100 Families, Infinite Dreams which features portraits of children from numerous families, from every state in America. The goal of the book is to inspire children to dream as big as they can, knowing there are endless possibilities in the world.
Deanne Fitzmaurice – As a Pulitzer Prize-winning documentary photographer and storyteller, this San Francisco-based photographer is most known for her unique ability to go behind the scenes to discover and convey personal, intimate and emotional stories through images. Fitzmaurice represents a wide variety of publications, including creating content for Sports Illustrated and ESPN,while continuing to shoot assignments for National Geographic and many other respected outlets. In addition to her editorial work, she also holds a very impressive portfolio of commercial photography with a myriad of major brands and is a highly decorated storyteller. She has been awarded the 2013 Award of Excellence from Communication Arts, the American Photography Award, TIME Magazine’s “Pictures That Mattered” Award in 2008 and the Pictures of the Year International Award of Excellence, just to name a few.
Joey Terrill – Joey Terrill is a Los Angeles-based editorial and commercial photographer that has worked with celebrities and major brands, including Coca Cola, Red Bull and Disney. Terrill uses creative, dramatic lighting to create truly unique and memorable portraiture and pens the Penumbra Project, a website dedicated to “pixels, photons and the process of making pictures” through engaging stories. When not shooting, Terrill is also a mentor for editorial portraiture and lighting, teaching week-long workshops at Colorado-based Summit Photography Workshops and has been a guest presenter at the Brooks Institute of Photography, WPPI, the Atlanta Photojournalism Seminar and the SportsShooter Academy.
To learn more about Nikon’s Ambassador Program, please visit the website at nikonusa.com/ambassador.
From Dire Studios:
April 4, 2016 – The ShutterCount app is now available on iOS!
It runs on 64-bit devices running iOS 9 or later (that is: iPhone 5s or later, iPod touch 6, iPad Air or later, iPad mini 2 or later, iPad Pro).
Since Apple does not provide a way to control a camera via USB from an iOS device, ShutterCount Mobile relies on Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection and thus supports cameras having one of those. Either built-in, or utilizing an external Wireless File Transmitter.
So at the moment it will work with the following Canon EOS cameras: 6D, 70D (using built-in Wi-Fi); 5D Mark III, 7D Mark II (using WFT-E7 transmitter); 1D X, 1D C (using built-in Ethernet or WFT-E6 transmitter).
Feature-wise it is equal with the Mac version – besides a simple reading it sports history logging, with the ability to copy the logs into Apple’s Numbers or Microsoft Excel. Plus you can access these logs through iTunes file sharing.
Because of the network connection required to the camera, you’ll need to do an extra step before the reading – pair the app and the camera. ShutterCount relies on the camera’s more advanced EOS Utility connection mode (and thus will not work with the simple smartphone connection mode). Mind this when establishing the connection.
I’ve recorded a short video showing the entire pairing and reading procedure between an iPod touch and my EOS 7D Mark II. The camera is connected through a Canon WFT-E7 transmitter using an Ethernet cable to our office network, while the iPod is connected to the same network via Wi-Fi.
The ShutterCount app is availble for iOS 9 or later and Max OS X for $2.99; the Windows version of the software is $3.99.
From the Canon Digital Learning Center:
We've highlighted how the EOS 80D is a great choice as a step-up camera in an earlier article on Canon USA’s Digital Learning Center. And, how that applies whether you’re an experienced DSLR user who’s working with an older camera, or a first-time but well-informed DSLR customer who’s looking to move beyond today’s lightweight, entry-level models.Read the entire article on the Canon Digital Learning Center.One aspect of the advanced possibilities a camera like the EOS 80D offers is extensive fine-tuning and control of its continuous autofocus for moving subjects, called AI Servo AF. In a far less expensive package than Canon’s high-end models — such as the EOS 5D series or even the EOS-1D X models — the EOS 80D offers the action photographer a truly extensive array of in-camera adjustability and control. We’ll discuss what’s available in the EOS 80D in this article, and explain how it might be used in various real-world shooting situations.
B&H has the Canon EOS 80D in stock with free expedited shipping.
From the Profoto YouTube Channel:
Lin & Jirsa Photography shares their secrets to achieving unique and creative wedding imagery in this behind-the-scenes video series. Learn how they use Profoto Off-Camera Flash to control light to match their creative vision and overcome wedding day challenges.
B&H carries the Profoto B2 and OCF Beauty Dishes.
Photographing amazingly-colored wood ducks has been on my bucket list for a long time and, when I located some potential subjects, I dropped everything and made the 6-hour round trip drive to photograph them.
While I had done some intelligence gathering (via a friend), I went prepared for the full range of bird photography scenarios. This included taking the just-reviewed Canon EOS 80D mounted to a Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Lens and a Canon EOS 5Ds R mounted to a Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM Lens with a Canon EF 1.4x III Extender behind it in a MindShift Gear FirstLight 40L Backpack.
Upon arrival, I was able to quickly locate the wood ducks. However, they proved to be a big challenge to photograph due to their constant, often-quick movements and the ideal lighting angle required, minimally, for their iridescent colors to show.
I ended up using the 600 with 1.4x on the 5Ds R the entire time due to the distance and rather small size of the ducks. The 840mm focal length gave me a deep ideal subject framing distance. I captured environmental portraits when the birds were distant and tight portraits when they came close, a logical tactic that provided a variety of subject framing in the take-home.
The subjects were in constant motion and that means AI Servo AF mode was required to keep them in focus. Specifically, a focus point needed to be constantly placed on the wood duck's eye. I shot in Case 1 (general purpose) and Case 5 (instant adjustment for erratic motion) AF Modes on this day with Case 1 showing the best results. I also used the 5 fps burst drive mode, in part because birds blink with some frequency. Capturing minimally a few frames at a time usually results in at least one fully opened eye.
In the end, the daytrip was very worthwhile, with hundreds of keeper-grade images resulting from the effort.
As seems often the case (I think that Murphy has a law to cover this), the image with my favorite pose had some minor motion blur due to the drake raising its head rapidly. To counter this, I reduced the overall size of the image (down-sampled) modestly. Along with some modest cropping, the remaining 5Ds R-captured image still has about 15 megapixels of resolution, an adequate amount for many uses. I used a layer mask to darken the background modestly, helping to place emphasis on the drake.
A larger version of this image is available on Flickr, Google+, Facebook and 500px. If reading from a news feed reader, click through to see the framed image.
ISO 840
4741 x 3161px
Just posted: Canon EOS 80D Review
The feature-packed EOS 80D is a very nice follow-up the very popular EOS 70D and a great general purpose DSLR choice.
B&H has the Canon EOS 80D in stock.
APRIL 04, 2016 – Benro announced today they will be introducing 75mm and 100mm video hi-hats for filmmakers at NAB 2016. Both sizes will be on hand for live demonstrations at Central Hall Booth #C1307.
Both the 75mm and 100mm hi-hats feature a small footprint that allows them to be used in tight spaces and on smaller surface areas. These aluminum leg/magnesium bowl hi-hats can be placed low to the ground, on stairs or even secured to a wooden board.
Each leg can be independently positioned at one of the three locks located on the outside of the bowl. In addition, each leg features oversized rubber twist locks and telescoping sections for height adjustments. When combined, these two features allow for easy set up on uneven terrain and stairs.
Accepts Video Heads & Half-ball Adapters
The 75mm version will accept a 75mm video head and includes a 3/8"-16 low profile, tie-down adapter for getting low to the ground shots. A 75mm half-ball adapter (BL75) can be added to mount any standard 3/8"-16 flat base video head or photo head.
Likewise, the 100mm version will accept a 100mm video head and also includes a 3/8"-16 low profile, tie-down adapter for getting low to the ground shots. A 100mm half-ball adapter (BL100) can be added to mount any standard 3/8"-16 flat base video head or photo head.
Both models feature large rubber feet attached to a metal ball joint for quick positioning, which can be removed for attaching the included metal spiked feet. The feet also have pre-drilled holes for securing to wooden octagon boards when using on top of apple boxes or securing the board to the top of a ladder. There are three accessory mounts on the outside of the bowl so you can attach monitor arms. Each 3/8"-16 male to 1/4"-20 female insert can be used to convert any standard 1/4"-20 screw to 3/8"-16 in addition to being removed for attaching 3/8"-16 accessories. Transporting the hi-hat is easy with the included carrying case.
Needing no special setup or tools, the Benro Hi-Hat has been engineered to smoothly fit the workflow of today's on-the-go filmmakers straight out of the box.
B&H has the Benro Hi-Hat Tripods available for preorder.
Photographers Can Fit Lighting Equipment and Large Light Modifiers in One Rolling Bag with Think Tank Photo’s New Production Manager 50
Santa Rosa, Calif. – Think Tank Photo has released the largest rolling photography equipment case on the market, the Production Manager 50. Designed to hold an immense amount of gear, including lighting equipment and large light modifiers, one photographer will now be able to transport what it used to take up to at least two assistants. It is easy to move, carry, work out of, and stack among other gear.
This large rolling bag features stabilizing, wide-set, shock-absorbing wheels that roll smoothly and hold up under the toughest conditions, the ability to lock the main compartment and secure the bag with the included lock and cable, and a fully customizable interior with dividers to protect small and large lighting equipment including c-stands and large modifiers.
“Pro photographers usually travel by car or van to where they are going to shoot,” said Doug Murdoch, Think Tank’s CEO and Lead Designer. “Once a shoot is completed the set needs to be torn down and moved to the next location. Often times, there can be a time crunch where all the gear has to be loaded quickly. Carrying these bags up and down stairs and over rough terrain can be very cumbersome and often takes two people. The Production Manager 50 makes this time-sensitive, cumbersome process easier and quicker.”
KEY ADDITIONAL FEATURES
- Large front zippered pocket for reflectors, umbrellas, extension cords, cables, etc.
- Attachments for lightstands or tripods on both sides (straps included)
- Rigid shell and stiffened dividers ensures gear protection
- Robust handles on four sides for easy loading and unloading by two people
- Heavy-duty aluminum side-frame protects axle from impact
- ID plate can be registered on the Think Tank site that may allow lost or stolen bag to be returned
- YKK RC Fuse zippers, 1680D ballistic nylon, and super-stick velex (interior) contribute to one of the most robust products on the market.
- Large interior mesh pockets for organizing pocket wizards, gels, cords, tape, batteries, and other accessories
- Ergonomic top handle for rolling or carrying by two people.
- Velex wrapped dividers for extra durability and longevity.
- Adjustable lid straps keep bag open and accessible
- Rear skid rails and custom wheel housings allow for loading and unloading from a vehicle with ease
- Business card holder for easy identification on top panel
- User replaceable wheels & hardware
- Seam-sealed rain cover included
MATERIALS
External: All fabric exterior treated with DWR while fabric underside is coated with PU for superior water resistance, 1680D ballistic nylon, YKK RC Fuse (abrasion resistant) zippers, custom designed extra tall skid plates, replaceable custom-designed wheels, antique nickel plated metal hardware, nylon webbing, 3-ply bonded nylon thread
Internal: 210D silver-toned nylon, PU backed velex liner & dividers, 2x PU coated nylon 210T seam-sealed taffeta rain cover, closed cell foam & PE board stiffened dividers, belly-o mesh pockets, 3-ply bonded nylon thread
PRODUCT DIMENSIONS & WEIGHT
Exterior Dimensions: 17.3” W x 53.1” H x 12.6” D (44 x 135 x 32 cm)
Interior Dimensions: 15.6” W x 49.2” H x 10” D (39.5 x 125 x 25 cm)
Weight: 20.7 – 29.8 lbs (9.4 – 13.5 kg)
Think Tank Photo has the Production Manager 50 in stock.
From the OpenTable YouTube Channel:
Tasting is believing. Try lickable photos before you book. Exclusively available on the OpenTable app. Download for free for iOS & Android. #lickablephotos
From the Google Blog:
Putting the “real” in “virtual reality”
March 31, 2016 – Virtual reality has brought us to places ranging from the bottom of the ocean to the surface of Mars. But as good as VR is, it’s never been quite as real as, well… real life. Google Cardboard Plastic, launching today, changes all that. It’s our latest step toward truly immersive technology—a new viewer that lets you see, touch, smell and hear the world just like you do in real life.
Cardboard Plastic is the world’s first actual reality headset, complete with 4D integrated perspective, 360° spatially accurate sound, 20/20 resolution, and advanced haptics for realistic touch sensations. Expertly crafted from polymethyl methacrylate, Cardboard Plastic is lightweight, waterproof, and engineered to last a lifetime—no batteries, no wires. And unlike other VR headsets, it integrates seamlessly into your life—so you’ll never miss a thing. Unless you blink.
Find more about Cardboard Plastic at google.com/cardboardplastic. The future is clear.
From the Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Youube Channel:
Lightroom tips and tricks in 60 seconds or less from longtime Lightroom team member Benjamin Warde.
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