Canon and Sony News for Mar 2010

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS II USM Lens Review

You want the "II"!

ISO 12233 Chart results for a third lens copy have been added to the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS II USM Lens Review page. Select "Sample 3" in the ISO 12233 chart tool.

The results from the third lens are nearly indistinguishable from the first copy results. Simply excellent.

Onecall has the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV in stock.

Sold Out: B&H has the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV in stock.

Several RAW converter updates are now available:

Apple Aperture 3.0.2  |  DXO Optics  |  Phase One 5.1.1

Adorama has the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV in stock.

Canon EOS Movie Plugin E1 for Final Cut Pro is now available for download (select Mac OS X). (thanks Brian)

Redrock Micro has issued a press release describing the Canon EOS 7D being used to shoot "The Tonight Show" Opening.

Carl Zeiss Lenses Celebrate 120th Anniversary (press release)

Adobe has schedule a Creative Suite 5 Global Launch Event for April 12th. A "Register Now" option is available to join the online introduction.

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 Beta 2 is now available for download. This is a free download available for everyone to try - no prior license required.

Sold Out: B&H has the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV in stock.

The last batch sold out in a few minutes - act fast if you want one.

"Here in Japan, it is indeed still impossible to find the new 70-200 F2.8" [thanks Florian]

Canon Japan has announced a shortage (translated) of the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS II USM Lens due to higher than expected demand.

Since the 70-200 II remains in stock at many of the site's recommended retailers (which is surprising to me), I find Canon's statement perplexing. Unless Canon is talking about the future supply?

Canon RAW Codec 1.7.0 is now available for download (for Windows 32-bit OS).

Canon has posted EOS 5D Mark II Firmware Version 2.0.4 for download.

"We apologize sincerely for the inconvenience caused to our customers by suspending the availability of the Version 2.0.3 firmware.

We are now introducing the Version 2.0.4 firmware. This firmware corrects the malfunction that occurred in the previous Version 2.0.3 firmware, in which the manual recording level changed and made recording impossible.

Customers who have the Version 2.0.3 firmware on their cameras should update the firmware to Version 2.0.4."

"In the Version 2.0.4 firmware, the following phenomena that occurred with the Version 2.0.3 firmware (which was to enhance the movie functions) have been corrected.

There was a phenomenon in which the manual recording settings made in C1/C2/C3 were changed and sound could not be recorded if manual sound recording was used in the C1/C2/C3 settings and the camera was subsequently turned off (or if Auto Power Off was activated). This does not occur in modes other than C1/C2/C3." (thanks John)

Canon USA has posted a PDF indicating that some people are experiencing problems with the new version 2.03 firmware. Here is the full text of the announcement:

"Thank you for using Canon products.

We have learned that some users of the Canon EOS 5D Mark II digital SLR camera are experiencing issues with Firmware Update Version 2.0.3.

We are working on a new firmware update to address these phenomena, which will be available soon.If you have not registered your EOS 5D Mark II, please register so we will be able to notify you via email when future updates become available for download.

Canon always strives to provide the highest quality products to our customers. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience these phenomena may have caused. We appreciate your kind patronage and support." (thanks Hugh & neuroanatomist)

 
The Canon PDF is available for download.

Apparently the specific problem has to do with sound recording not working when a manual record volume is used in the C modes.

 
Update from Canon:

"Recently we have discovered a malfunction that occurs with Firmware Version 2.0.3, in which the manual recording levels for C1/C2/C3 are changed and the camera becomes unable to record audio if the power is turned off (or if Auto power off takes effect) after registering "Sound Recording: Manual" in the camera user settings.

We apologize very sincerely for the inconvenience, but we are going to stop making this firmware available for download. For customers who have already updated to the new firmware, when using the camera with the mode dial set to C1/C2/C3, please either set the sound recording settings to Auto.

We are currently preparing firmware that will correct this malfunction. As soon as those preparations have been completed, we will let you know on this Web site. In the meantime, we apologize for the inconvenience this represents, but please wait until the fixed firmware is ready."

This update is posted on the firmware download page.

ISO 12233 Chart results for a second lens copy have been added to the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS II USM Lens Review page. Select "Sample 2" in the ISO 12233 chart tool.

The second lens appears to be even sharper at f/2.8 at the 70mm end and slightly softer at f/2.8 at the long end compared to my first copy of this lens.

Vignetting results and a flare comparison test have also been added to the review. Vignetting performance appears mostly similar to the version 1 lens - slightly improved in the mid-range focal lengths. The flare comparison (posted by request and yet un-narrated - at bottom of the review page) shows another great advantage the new lens holds.

Sold out fast: B&H has the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV in stock.

The last batch sold out in a few minutes - act fast if you want one.

Canon EOS Rebel T2i / 550D DSLR Camera Review

The T2i is very similar to the Rebel models before it - with a few nice upgrades.

Think Tank Photo has launched a huge new equipment case - the Logistics Manager.

The Logistics Manager is available now from Think Tank Photo. I want one.

Canon has announced its intention to acquire the .canon gTLD (generic Top Level Domain) Name.

Canon has posted EOS 5D Mark II Firmware Version 2.0.3 for download.

Firmware Version 2.0.3 incorporates five enhancements to the movie function and a fix to the manual sensor cleaning function of the EOS 5D Mark II camera.

1. Adds or changes the following movie frame rates.

NTSC:
?1920×1080 : 30 fps (changed - actual 29.97 fps)
?1920×1080 : 24 fps (added - actual 23.976 fps)
?640×480 : 30 fps (changed - actual 29.97 fps)

PAL:
?1920×1080 : 25 fps (added - actual 25.0 fps)
?1920×1080 : 24 fps (added - actual 23.976 fps)
?640×480 : 25 fps (added - actual 25.0 fps)

2. Adds a function for manually adjusting the sound recording level (64 levels).

3. Adds a histogram display (brightness or RGB) for shooting movies in manual exposure.

4. Adds shutter-priority AE mode (Tv) and aperture-priority AE (Av) mode to the exposure modes for shooting movies.

5. Changes the audio sampling frequency from 44.1 KHz to 48 KHz.

6. Fixes a phenomenon where communication between the camera and the attached lens is sometimes interrupted after manual sensor cleaning. (This phenomenon only affects units with Firmware Version 1.2.4.)

For more about this firmware update, visit the Canon Digital Learning Center's EOS 5D II Firmware Version 2.0.3 page.

Adorama has both the Canon EOS Rebel T2i / 550D DSLR Body (sold out) and the Canon EOS Rebel T2i / 550D DSLR Kit in stock!

We have seen the with-kit-lens version of the T2i available before, but this is the first body-only version I've seen available. I plan to have the full Canon EOS T2i / 550D DSLR Review online this week.

ISO 12233 Chart results, measurements, product images (for comparison) and some additional product images have been added to the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS II USM Lens Review page.

I'm not comfortable making any final conclusions yet (and have a second copy of this lens arriving today), but the new lens is looking very good so far.

The version II lens is overall, sharper wide open than the version I - you can compare the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS I and II USM Lenses using the mouseover feature in the ISO 12233 chart tool. Increase the focal length for both lenses to see how this improved image quality carries over to extender results. CA (Chromatic Abberation) is also improved - noticeable in the corners (bottom crop) at 200mm.

The 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS II Lens focuses very fast - even faster than the version I lens. IS is quiet and well-behaved (very little jumping image in viewfinder). Build quality is excellent - though somewhat large, the lens feels great in use.

B&H Photo is accepting orders for theCanon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS II USM Lens (should ship soon).

Adorama is taking preorders.