Canon and Sony News for May 2017 (Page 7)

Image quality, vignetting, flare and distortion test results along with specs, measurements and standard product images have been added to the Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/4-5.6 IS STM Lens Review page.

While this lens is not on most people's most-wanted list, it serves a purpose.

Here is the image quality comparison between the Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/4-5.6 IS STM Lens and its predecessor, the Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM Lens. Obviously, the 7D II and 60D test cameras have a modestly different resolution, but ... I trust that you can visualize the differences.

One of the benefits from the new 18-55 is the smaller retracted size. Here is a size comparison showing the new version alongside the two prior version lenses. As you will notice in the comparison (and confirmed by our measurements), the new lens zoomed/extended to 55mm is nearly the same length as the prior lens at this focal length.

The Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/4-5.6 IS STM Lens is in stock at B&H | Amazon | Adorama.

From the ReefBum YouTube Channel:

It is easy to use a smartphone to stream live to Facebook but a DSLR will provide a much more vivid video experience. However, some solutions out there for the DSLR option require expensive hardware and software and are complicated to execute.

Well, I did a lot of research and found a low cost solution that is easy to follow in this step by step video guide.

For more information, please read this article I wrote to learn where you can find the programs and apps you will need to get this to work:
https://reefbum.com/photography-videography/how-to-use-a-dslr-for-facebook-live/

Are you signed up for the site's email newsletter? If so, you are entered in the (international) prize drawing to win my favorite backpack, the MindShift Gear BackLight 26L (Charcoal), courtesy of MindShift Gear!

Not signed up? That problem is easy to fix. Just put your email address in the site's newsletter signup form, found near the top right of any page on the site, and then press the enter key or click on the submit button. If reading this post from a page on the site (vs. in a newsreader or social feed), the form provided below should work for you.

Please Note: our mailing list utilizes a double opt-in method for ensuring that the newsletter is only sent to those who want to receive it. Clicking the verification link in the welcome email is required to complete the signup process and become eligible for the drawing.

Don't worry about our emails filling your inbox – we send newsletters only infrequently.

Don't want to wait for the drawing? The MindShift Gear BackLight 26L is in stock at MindShift Gear | B&H | Amazon | Adorama.

The Details
Nothing complicated here. We have one backpack to give away and someone is going to get it. Approximately on, but no earlier than, Tuesday morning, May 9th, 2017, a random number will be computer-generated and correlated to the then-current newsletter signup list. The winner will be notified via email and will have 1 week to acknowledge the win and provide a shipping address (international). Upon receiving the delivery address, MindShift Gear will send this awesome backpack to the winner. If no reply is received from the first winner, new winners will be chosen using the same process until a successful delivery can be made.

Just posted: Canon EOS M6 Review.

In brief, remove the EVF from the Canon EOS M5 and you get the M6. Well, it is a little more complicated than that, but ... not much more so. My preference? Get the M5.

The Canon EOS M5 is in stock at B&H | Amazon | Adorama.

From the Canon Australia YouTube Channel:

Canon Master Kelly Brown has been a professional baby photographer for the best part of a decade. Here she shares her baby photography tips to help parents capture beautiful photos of their little angels’ precious first moments.

From the Canon Digital Learning Center:

Welcome to Part 2 of our series on concert photography. I hope you have had a chance to read Showtime: A Beginner’s Guide to Concert Photography. Whether or not you are a beginner, it is a good set-up for step 2 in becoming a concert photographer.

If you’ve made it this far, you’ve likely gone through a few things that the majority of concert photographers have gone through. If you’ve been using an entry-level DSLR, you may have begun to feel some limits in what it allows you to do. You have come past the point of being that fan-tographer at shows, smiling and cheering for artists you love, and have learned to focus on the job at hand. When people ask you what you are doing at a show, you don’t think twice about saying you are a concert photographer. You likely have a base of settings you know to start with at every show. And you probably have some images you used to love and now look back at and wonder why you liked them in the first place.

If most of this is true for you, welcome to Phase 2 of your growth in becoming a concert photographer. We will spend some time today talking about what to focus on in order to advance your journey to the next step. From more advanced camera settings, tricks to getting even better photos, approach and strategy in the photo pit, and what I consider equipment standards.

Boulder, CO (April 12, 2017) — Alpine Labs, a leader in next generation camera accessories, is pleased to announce the launch of Spark: the most compact, adaptable and affordable camera remote ever designed. Currently available at a pre-­sale discount on Kickstarter, Spark is the easiest way to upgrade your favorite DSLR and Mirrorless cameras for capturing the world around you.

Spark is designed with three distinct shooting modes for unrivaled versatility. The ultracompact unit can be used as a quick infrared trigger from 30’ away, as a wired trigger via a camera’s trigger port, or as a more powerful app based camera controller (iOS & Android). The user decides which mode best fits their creative needs and then deploys Spark to either capture a quick selfie, shoot a long-­exposure in manual bulb mode, or to set a timelapse via their favorite smartphone or tablet. “Spark adapts to whatever situation you are shooting in and the three control modes are what make that possible. Its kind of like the swiss army knife of triggers,” commented Greg Horvath, Alpine Labs CEO.

A Bluetooth Low Energy connection allows for dependability when using Spark’s intuitive mobile app and Spark can last for an incredible 2,000 hours of continuous use on the same replaceable coin cell battery. Also, with the ability to control a wide variety of DSLR and mirrorless bodies, Spark opens the world of wireless camera control for users of Sony, Fujifilm, Hasselblad, Pentax, Olympus, Canon, Nikon and more.

In 2015 Alpine Labs unveiled its first camera remote — Pulse — which resulted in a viral campaign that netted more than 1MM+ crowdfunding. Returning to Kickstarter for the first time since the release of Pulse, Alpine Labs is thrilled to bring their latest innovation and camera remote technology to the Kickstarter community via Spark. Commenting on the relationship with Kickstarter, Horvath continued, “We were born on Kickstarter and love being a part of a community where creative projects can grow. The support of backers has allowed us to keep chasing our own ideas, and after launching four products on Kickstarter we have a history of transparency and execution.”

Even at a MSRP of $59, Spark is by far the most affordable way to upgrade your camera. However, backers on Kickstarter can receive a Spark unit for $44, a discount of 25%, for the remainder of the Kickstarter campaign.

Through June 30th, DxO is offering free activation licenses for DxO OpticsPro 9. Granted, DxO OpticsPro 11 is the current version, but... you may find DxO OpticsPro 9 a great option if you own a DSLR that's a couple of years old do not want to invest in an alternative batch editing program (like Lightroom).

You can learn more about DxO OpticsPro 9 via press release or find its supported cameras here.

From the KINETEK YouTube Channel:

Director/Cinematographer Matthew Rosen demonstrates 3 cool techniques for lighting everything.

Just posted: Canon EOS Rebel T7i / 800D Review.

If you read the Canon EOS 77D review, the T7i review is going to sound very similar. These two cameras are nearly identical. What are the differences between the 77D and the Rebel T7i / 800D? Here is the primary feature difference list:

• Top LCD Data Panel vs. none
• Top mode dial and power switch on left vs. right
• Rear Control Dial vs. only Cross Keys
• Multi-function Lock Switch vs. none
• Auto Display-Off Sensor by the viewfinder vs. none
• AF On button vs. none

A big additional advantage from my perspective is that all localities get to call the 77D by the same name whereas the Rebel T7i may also be confusingly referred to as the 800D or Kiss X9i depending on the country where you live. Please note that the T7i review was not hands-on, but created based on experience with the 77D.

The bottom line is that, like the flagship Rebel models before it, the Rebel T7i is a lot of camera for the price.

The Canon EOS Rebel T7i is in stock at B&H | Amazon | Adorama.