Canon, Nikon, and Sony News for Jan 2011

Just a heads up to let you know that, due to an increase in manufacturing costs, the prices for the Zeiss 21mm f/2.8 ZE Distagon Lens and Zeiss 35mm f/2 ZE Distagon Lens will increase Feb 1st.
 
These are two really nice lenses. If either is on your shopping list, now would be the time to place the order.

Canon EF 1.4x III Extender Review

Phase One has released Capture One 6.1. This update includes new features and additional camera RAW formats are supported. The update is free for licensed users of Capture One 6.

Canon USA has announced the winners of the Amateur Football Photo Contest (press release).
 
More information is available on the Canon USA NFL site.

Canon has posted their financial results for 2010.
 
For a 26 page summary primarily consisting of charts and tables, download the presentation material PDF.
 
If you want to dive deeper, the full results PDF is for you.

ISO 12233 resolution chart test results for the Nikon 35mm f/1.4G AF-S Lens are now available on the site. Nice lens.

A Chipworks Nikon D7000 teardown reveals a Sony IMX071 Sensor on board. Just in case you were wondering.

Lowepro Pro Trekker 400 AW Camera Backpack Review

Nikon has posted D3100 Firmware v1.01 (Europe: Macintosh / Windows).
 
Modifications enabled with this firmware upgrade, release date January 25, 2011:
 
• A magenta tint was present at the bottom of still images captured at high sensitivities after shooting in live view mode or recording movies for an extended length of time. The occurrence of this magenta tint has been reduced.
 
• When images captured with continuous shooting in live view mode were played back, in some very rare cases, some of the images were not properly displayed. This issue has been resolved.
 
• When shooting in live view mode with AF-area mode set to Subject-tracking AF, in some very rare cases, the focus point slipped off the subject with autofocusing after the intended tracking subject had been selected. This issue has been resolved.
 
• When images edited using camera retouch functions were played back in calendar playback mode, they were assigned to dates based not on the date of capture, but rather the date on which they were edited. This issue has been resolved.
 
• When white balance for RAW images created using the camera’s image overlay function was fine tuned with Capture NX 2 or ViewNX 2, the images acquired a magenta cast. This issue has been resolved.
 
• A portion of the error message displayed when live view mode could not be initiated because the camera’s internal temperature was too high has been revised.
 
• When Noise reduction in the shooting menu is set to On, operation is as follows.
 
Processing to reduce noise is performed at all ISO sensitivity settings. Noise reduction is especially effective with shooting at high ISO sensitivities.
 
Processing to reduce noise is performed immediately after shooting in any of the situations noted below. While processing to reduce noise is performed, "Job nr" blinks in the viewfinder display. Shooting is not possible until "Job nr" is no longer displayed. The time required for noise reduction processing is roughly equal to the shutter speed used to capture the image.
 
• Shooting at shutter speeds slower than approximately 8 seconds
 
• Shooting at high ISO sensitivities when the internal temperature of the camera is high
 
• The Help information displayed for the Noise reduction item in the shooting menu has also been revised in accordance with these modifications.

David Hobby and Joe McNally have announced The Flash Bus Tour featuring small flash training in 29 cities in 6 weeks. Should be a highly entertaining tour.

I added many items to Used DSLR Cameras, Lenses and Acessories for Sale page. Let me know if you want anything.

Bibble Labs has announced the availability of Bibble 5.2 Pro & Lite.
 
"This free update for all current Bibble 5 customers adds support for 14 new RAW formats, including Nikon D3100, D7000, P7000 and Panasonic LX5, GF2 and GH2, and includes significant improvements to Bibble 5's already powerful Selective Editing capability, along with many other enhancements."
 
Check out the press release for more information.

I have uploaded some sample pictures to the Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM Lens Review.
 
The weather and landscape have not been very outdoor-photo-friendly here recently, but I intend to use this lens a lot more this year - including on a couple of photo trips I have planned. So, I should have more (and more varied) sample pictures to share later.
 
Be sure to check out the comments and tips for each picture.

ISO 12233 chart test results have been added to the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM Lens Review page.
 
Be sure to find the short, must-read commentary on the review page.

onOne Software has made Free Photoshop Album Templates and Backgrounds available to us:
 
"At onOne Software, we are committed to providing photographers with easy-to-use, time-saving solutions to make digital photography easier, faster and better. Now, we're happy to provide you with free album templates, layouts, backgrounds and edges to save you time in Photoshop designing and developing them yourself."
 
"Simply register or log in below and you'll have full access to all of the content we've created so you can get back to shooting."
 
onOne Software Album Templates and Backgrounds

"DxO Labs is pleased to announce the immediate availability of DxO Optics Pro v6.5.3 for Mac and Windows that adds RAW support for the Panasonic DMC-GH2 and for the Sony SLT-A55 in both its Standard and Elite editions."
 
"Further, 95 new DxO Optics Modules are now available to DxO Optics Pro users, covering numerous Canon, Nikon, Panasonic, Pentax and Sony cameras."
 
DxO Optics Pro v6.5.3 Press Release
 
DxO Optics at B&H

ISO 12233 resolution chart results for the Canon Extender EF 1.4x III and Canon Extender EF 2x III have now been added to the reviews of all compatible lenses (the III results are the last pair of the ISO 12233 Chart Tool focal length options for each lens):
 
Canon TS-E 17mm f/4L Tilt-Shift Lens Review
Canon TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II Tilt-Shift Lens Review
Canon TS-E 45mm f/2.8 Tilt-Shift Lens Review
Canon TS-E 90mm f/2.8 Tilt-Shift Lens Review
Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0 L USM Lens Review
Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0 L IS USM Lens
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM Lens Review
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM Lens Review
Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM Lens Review
Canon EF 135mm f/2.0L USM Lens Review
Canon EF 180mm f/3.5L USM Macro Lens Review
Canon EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM Lens Review
Canon EF 200mm f/2.0L IS USM Lens Review
Canon EF 300mm f/4.0 L IS USM Lens Review
Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM Lens Review
Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM Lens Review
Canon EF 400mm f/4.0 DO IS USM Lens Review
Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS USM Lens Review
Canon EF 500mm f/4.0 L IS USM Lens Review
Canon EF 600mm f/4.0 L IS USM Lens Review
Canon EF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM Lens Review
 
Update: The missing results are now in place. Sorry!

SanDisk has announced Extreme Pro SDHC UHS-I Cards (press release) along with the Extreme Pro ExpressCard Adapter designed for these and other SDHC cards.

Rode has announced the Videomic Pro, a great new option for HDSLR video sound capture.
 
Visit the Videomic Pro product page for more information. (thanks Mike)
 
B&H is taking Rode Videomic Pro preorders.

Zacuto has announced the DSLR Z-Cage (Zacuto product page). Check out some of the loaded-rig examples on this page.

Sony has announced the CLM-V55 (Sony press release), a flash shoe-mounted 5" WVGA tilt-swivel video monitor designed for HD video use. (thanks Ed)

Adobe has made Premiere Elements 9.0.1 Macintosh Update available.
 
This update improves stability and consists of the fixes for some of the issues as reported by the users through various forums. Also, this update provides an improved importing of media on Mac. It resolves the following issues:
 
1. Crash on Exit after Full Screen view
2. Crashes on launch from Standard user.
3. Provides fix for "Import from iPhoto"
4. Other Bug Fixes

Interested in seeing the processes used by Lexar to make memory products? Check out their How We Make Our Products video (YouTube).

The Canon Camera Museum presents Making of Camera Design, a Flash-based presentation of the design process behind a Canon PowerShot digital camera.

ISO 12233 resolution chart results for the Canon Extender EF 1.4x III and Canon Extender EF 2x III have been added to the following reviews (the III results are the last pair of focal length options for each lens):
 
Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0 L USM Lens Review
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM Lens Review
Canon EF 135mm f/2.0L USM Lens Review
Canon EF 180mm f/3.5L USM Macro Lens Review
Canon EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM Lens Review
Canon EF 200mm f/2.0L IS USM Lens Review
Canon EF 300mm f/4.0 L IS USM Lens Review
Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM Lens Review
Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM Lens Review
Canon EF 400mm f/4.0 DO IS USM Lens Review
 
Canon 1.4x III and 2x III results for the rest of the compatible Canon lenses are coming soon.
 
ISO 12233 resolution chart results have also been added to the following Nikon lens review placeholder pages:
 
Nikon 24-120mm f/4G AF-S VR Lens Review
Nikon 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S VR Lens Review
Nikon 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G AF-S DX VR Lens Review
Nikon 85mm f/1.4G AF-S Lens Review
 
I've had some setbacks in getting full the Nikon lens reviews going, and I remain committed to Canon reviews as my priority, but I am making a significant time-related life change that will (hopefully) allow me to begin these full reviews soon. Enjoy the ISO 12233 chart results in the mean time.