Canon and Sony News for Jun 2012

Just added to the site: Canon EF 500mm f/4.0 L IS II USM Lens Review

The 500 L IS II review is going to sound similar to the Canon EF 600mm f/4.0 L IS II USM Lens Review.

These lenses are more similar than different, with size, weight, price and focal length being the significant differentiators.

University at Albany press release:

Scientists Develop Method for Authenticating Digital Images by Analyzing 'Noise'

ALBANY, N.Y. (June 25, 2012) – University at Albany Computer Scientist Siwei Lyu and colleagues, working in partnership with the New York State Center for Information Forensics and Assurance (CIFA), have identified a new method using “noise” to authenticate digital photography. The research is supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF).

The team presented its findings for exposing digital image splicing by measuring "noise" levels discerning discrepancies in photos at the IEEE International Conference on Computational Photography.

"Whenever a photo is manipulated digitally, the underlying characteristics of the image pixels are disturbed in a way that they become unnatural,” Lyu explains. “Though human eyes may not be able to detect such subtle changes, they can be readily picked up by computer algorithms. The techniques developed aim to make sure that more significant manipulations can be detected."

Noise, the digital equivalent of film grain, exists in all digital photography, and is generally invisible to the human eye. Numerous factors during and after a photo is taken introduce noise, such as temperature and thermal conditions, sensor saturation, quantization, compression, and transmission. While an unaltered image is expected to have uniform noise strength across all pixels, inconsistencies in noise variances in altered photos become telltale evidence of tampering.

Using statistical and computational analysis, Lyu's team developed techniques that effectively measure noise strength across a photo to determine which parts of the photo originated from different sources.

According to Lyu, the method is advantageous in that it does not explicitly rely on the knowledge of image format, camera model, or tampering procedure, and has a high level of detection accuracy.

The past decade has witnessed significant advances in digital image processing and computational photography, resulting in sophisticated image-editing software systems such as Adobe Photoshop and GNU Image Manipulation Program. Yet the ease of digital image manipulation has also posed new challenges, with digital images becoming more vulnerable than their non-digital counterparts to malicious tampering.

"Collectively," Lyu said, "the digital image forensic community aims to provide a series of tools that can significantly limit the extent of undetectable manipulations, or increase the real cost, in terms of time and technical sophistication, of making a believable forgery."

Learn more about Lyu's work in digital forensics, or explore UAlbany's College of Computing and Information. For more UAlbany news, visit the News Center.

Nikon has updated distortion control data for the following Nikon DSLRs:

D90, D3100, D3200, D5000, D5100, D7000, D4, D800, D800E

Download the update here.

via BT

Apple has made Aperture 3.3.1 available for download.

What's New in Aperture 3.3.1

• Fixes an issue that in rare cases could cause Aperture to hang or quit unexpectedly when upgrading libraries.

(Thanks Justin)

Flare, vignetting and distortion test results along with specs and measurements are now available on the Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM Pancake Lens Review page. This lens continues to looks very good.

More product images are also available on that page.

From Canon USA:

Thank you for using Canon products.

It has been confirmed that some PowerShot S100 digital cameras encounter a lens error caused by a disconnected part inside the camera. This announcement conveys the details of the issue and Canon’s service policy for affected cameras.

Canon continuously strives to provide our customers with high quality, reliable products that can be used with confidence. We offer our sincerest apologies to any customers who have been inconvenienced.

Phenomenon

Some PowerShot S100 units (with the serial numbers listed below) may encounter a lens error due to a part becoming disconnected inside the lens. In particular, this lens error may occur when the camera is used in certain environmental conditions such as high temperature and/or humidity.

Affected Product

Some PowerShot S100 Digital Cameras within the following serial number range:

The first and second digits of the camera’s serial number are any number from"29" through"41."

For example: "29xxxxxxxxxx", "30xxxxxxxxxx"………"41xxxxxxxxxx"

(The [x] characters shown above represent the remaining characters of the product’s serial number.)

Market Support

Affected products that exhibit this phenomenon will be repaired free of charge, regardless of the warranty status, if it is confirmed that the lens error has been caused by disconnection of the part inside the lens. However, please note that affected products which are received by Canon after their service period ends (the period during which such products are expected to be serviceable), will no longer be eligible for free repair service and will be handled in accordance with Canon's then general repair standards and regulations

Support

This information is for residents of the United States and Puerto Rico only. If you do not reside in the USA or Puerto Rico, please contact the Canon Customer Support Center in your region. Please register your PowerShot S100. By registering, we will be able to notify you via email when future firmware updates become available for download.

Thank you,
Customer Support Operations
Canon U.S.A., Inc

Contact Information for Inquiries
Canon Customer Support Center
Phone: 1-800-OK-CANON 1-800-652-2666
TDD: 1-866-251-3752
Email: carecenter@cits.canon.com
For additional support options: www.usa.canon.com/support

Canon USA has announced, complete with a special website, a significant firmware upgrade for the Canon EOS 7D.

NEW FIRMWARE ENHANCES FUNCTIONALITY OF EOS 7D DIGITAL SLR

Free Update Increases Buffer Capacity to 25 RAW Images,

Adds In-Camera RAW Processing and Many Other New Features

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., June 28, 2012 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, announced a firmware update for the EOS 7D Digital SLR camera that adds new functionality to improve its performance for serious photographers and semi-professional users. The update, free to all EOS 7D owners, gives the camera more advanced shooting options, including an increase in the maximum number of burst images taken in the RAW file format (from 15[i] frames to 25[ii] frames) as well as the ability to process RAW image files directly in the camera and the option to set a maximum ISO setting in ISO Auto mode. The firmware also adds the ability to adjust up to 64 audio levels manually prior to recording video, supports custom file naming, and allows for compatibility with Canon’s newly introduced, optional GPS Receiver GP-E2.

“By introducing this firmware we want our customers to know that we are always looking to enhance the user experience for all of our current products in the marketplace,” said Yuichi Ishizuka, executive vice president and general manager, Imaging Technologies & Communications Group, Canon U.S.A. “The latest firmware for the EOS 7D Digital SLR enhances the capabilities of the camera and brings new possibilities to its users, making it a more valuable tool for their craft.”

Enhancing the Imaging and Audio Capabilities

For budding action photographers who use the EOS 7D as their camera of choice, being able to capture the perfect shot comes down to a matter of milliseconds. The EOS 7D is capable of taking photos at a high-speed burst rate of up to 8 frames per second (fps). With the firmware installed the camera captures up to 25 consecutive frames when shooting in RAW and up to 17[iii] consecutive frames when taking RAW+JPEG images.

Once the firmware is installed the EOS 7D will also be able to process RAW images directly in the camera, allowing dynamic adjustment of exposure compensation, white balance, picture style, noise reduction at high ISO speeds, distortion correction, and other processing parameters. For mobile photographers, this ability to adjust RAW images quickly and re-save them as JPEG files can be a huge time-saver as opposed to downloading files to a computer and making adjustments later. The camera will also be able to re-size JPEG image files in-camera. These features will be accessible through the Quick Control functions which will be accessible while the camera is in playback mode. When viewing images on the camera, image files can also be given a star ranking for easy sorting during post processing. The firmware will also enable faster scrolling of images when displayed in a magnified view on the camera’s LCD screen.

The new firmware enables photographers to have more control over the maximum ISO speed when the camera is in ISO Auto mode by setting a maximum ISO range. In certain low-light scenarios, such as during a sunset, where light changes each minute, photographers can lose the brilliance and color if the ISO setting is too high. Now, photographers can ensure their ISO setting will remain within specific parameters allowing them to concentrate on the moment, knowing that they will achieve the desired photographic results. The firmware also adjusts the available ISO Auto range, previously 100-3200 and now ISO 100-6400.

In addition to these enhancements, the new EOS 7D firmware enables manual adjustment of audio levels prior to recording video, similar to the functionality found on the EOS 5D Mark II. Videographers can now manually adjust up to 64 audio levels on the EOS 7D so that they can refine the captured audio to match their particular needs.

Similar to the new EOS 5D Mark III, a new submenu provided with the EOS 7D firmware update enables photographers to modify the first four characters of file names, in the camera. This valuable feature makes it easier to use the EOS 7D camera in multi-camera shooting situations by providing a way to identify the files coming from a particular camera without opening each image individually.

Canon GPS Compatibility

The new firmware adds full compatibility for the EOS 7D with Canon’s GPS Receiver GP-E2. This GPS Receiver can be mounted to the camera’s accessory shoe or clipped to a belt and tethered via a USB cable. The GP-E2 was created to serve outdoor photographers; it records shooting locations including latitude, longitude and altitude, as well as camera direction. The camera’s internal clock can now synced through the GPS unit using UTC (Coordinated Universal Time), the primary standard by which time is regulated, for accurate time recording or syncing clocks on multiple cameras. A GPS Logging function can display the photographer’s route on a map, using supplied software.

Availability

The new firmware upgrade for the EOS 7D Digital SLR camera together with installation instructions will be available in early August at no charge through Canon U.S.A.’s website. For more information please visit the following link to view an online video about the new EOS 7D firmware features, www.usa.canon.com/eos7dfirmwareupgrade

 
Canon Europe has also posted this announcement.

Canon USA has removed the Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III and the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV from their website.

Removed from the Canon USA lens page were the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM Lens, Canon EF 24mm f/2.8 Lens, Canon EF 28mm f/2.8 Lens and most of the big white IS version I super telephotos.

Apple Digital Camera RAW Compatibility Update 3.14 is now available for download.

This update adds RAW image compatibility for the following cameras to Aperture 3 and iPhoto '11:

• Canon EOS Rebel T4i / 650D / Kiss X6i
• Sony Alpha SLT-A37

For more information on supported RAW formats, see http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4757.

Just finished: Canon EF 600mm f/4.0 L IS II USM Lens Review

As you probably expected, this is an incredible lens.

ISO 12233 Resolution Chart sample crops have been added to the Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM Pancake Lens Review page.

These results would be quite good for a lens at any price, but they are very impressive for a tiny $200.00 lens.

The Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM Pancake Lens is in stock at B&H, Adorama and Amazon.

From Adobe:

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Now Available in Creative Cloud

Photography Workflow Software Joins Other Leading Tools as Part of Adobe Creative Cloud Membership

SAN JOSE, Calif. — June 26, 2012 — Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq:ADBE) today announced Adobe® Photoshop® Lightroom® 4 software is now available as part of Adobe Creative Cloud™ membership. Lightroom is the essential digital photography workflow solution helping amateur and professional photographers quickly import, manage, enhance and showcase images. A new membership-based offering centered around the company’s design, Web, video and digital imaging tools, Adobe Creative Cloud is a hub for making, sharing and delivering creative work.*

“The addition of Lightroom to Creative Cloud delivers on our promise to bring the best in Adobe innovation to Creative Cloud members,” said Winston Hendrickson, vice president products, Creative Media Solutions, Adobe. “Over the next few months we’ll continue to add new products and services, keeping Creative Cloud members up to date with the latest advancements in Adobe software and services.”

With a paid membership, Adobe Creative Cloud can give members everything they need to create, publish and share their work virtually anywhere with anyone, including:

• Access to download and install any of the new Adobe Creative Suite® 6 applications including, Photoshop CS6 Extended and Adobe Premiere® Pro CS6, plus a host of additional tools and services including Adobe Acrobat® and Adobe Muse™
• Integration with Adobe Touch Apps, headlined by Photoshop Touch, that allow users to create on a variety of tablets and further refine on the desktop**
• 20GB of space and the ability to store and share content across desktop, mobile devices and the cloud
• Create stunning websites without writing code using Adobe Muse software and the option to host and manage up to five sites using Adobe Business Catalyst®
• Use Digital Publishing Suite, Single Edition (coming soon) to deliver stunning digital publications to the iPad
• Access to application upgrades before they are launched as part of a major update, as well as new products and services, as they emerge

Pricing and Availability

Adobe Creative Cloud membership for individuals is US$49.99 per month based on annual membership and US$74.99 per month for month-to-month membership. A special introductory offer of US$29.99 per month for existing customers who own a qualifying version of CS3, CS4, CS5 and CS5.5 is also available. To learn more, visit the Adobe Special Offers page. Education pricing is also US$29.99 per month.

B&H carries Adobe Photoshop Lightroom.

I've received a question about the Canon EOS 5D Mark III DSLR's write speed using SDHC and CF Cards simultaneously. I thought I would share the answer with you.

With a Lexar Professional 32GB 1000x UDMA-7 CompactFlash Memory Card installed alone, the 5D III will deliver a burst of 33 RAW images (photographing a dim scene).

The 5D III's max SDHC/SDXC write speed is slower than its CF max write speed - and the UHS-I standard is not supported. With a Lexar Professional 32GB 133x SDHC Memory Card installed alone, the 5D III will deliver a burst of 16 RAW images (photographing the same dim scene).

Put both cards in the camera at the same time and the 5D III's write speed will be the speed of the card being written to. Writing to the 1000x CF card will result in a 33 RAW frame burst and the 133x SDHC card will take 16 RAW frames.

By default, the 5D III will write to the last card slot used. You can change this card slot designation in the first tool menu tab (Record func+card/folder sel). The card slot numbers are indicated on the memory card door. CF is slot 1, SDHC is slot 2.

ISO 12233 Chart sample crops and flare test results have been added to the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG HSM Lens Review page.

From CPN:

"Canon's flagship EOS-1D X DSLR and two new wide-angle lenses with Image Stabilizer (IS) technology – the EF24mm f/2.8 IS USM and the EF28mm f/2.8 IS USM – have started shipping to selected Canon Pro Dealers across Europe."

"Photographers should note that at this point in time there is limited stock of the EOS-1D X and the two lenses, so they may not be available in all countries."

PocketWizard has made ControlTL MiniTT1 and FlexTT5 Nikon Beta Firmware Version 3.110 available for download.

The Beta Firmware Release Bulletin has more details, but version 3.110 includes new Nikon camera model support, feature improvements and bug fixes. (thanks Mike)

From Datacolor:

Capture Consistent Color Day-to-Day and Camera-to-Camera with Updated SpyderCheckr™ from Datacolor

First Color Reference System to Support Hasselblad Phocus™ Now Available in Bundle Package; Offers Photographers Inclusive Solution for Camera and Scene Color Control

Lawrenceville, NJ – June 21, 2012 –– Datacolor® (www.datacolor.com), a global leader in color management solutions, today announced SpyderCheckr™, an advanced color reference and gray card system, now supports Hasselblad’s Phocus™ software. In addition, the improved system will be included in the new SpyderCheckr Pro, a bundle package that includes both the SpyderCheckr and the SpyderCube, a pocket size RAW calibration tool that eliminates the need for traditional 18% gray cards and includes a Black Trap for shadow detail control. Together, SpyderCheckr and SpyderCube offer a comprehensive solution for camera and scene color control. SpyderCheckr Pro is currently available at a special introductory offer of $139.

Spectrally engineered with 48 color patches and user-friendly profiling software, Datacolor SpyderCheckr enables photographers to achieve consistent, predictable color control from capture to edit. The only color reference system that supports Hasselblad’s Phocus software, SpyderCheckr allows photographers to obtain consistent, accurate color within a standard RAW processing workflow, perform precision in-camera white balance, create custom camera calibration and record known color references.

Features of the Datacolor SpyderCheckr also include:

• Consistent color control for RAW workflow, giving a color standard for any camera and decreasing post production time
• Neutral gray target and gray ramp for in-camera white balance and visual neutrality
• Extensive skin tone samples for portrait and fashion photography including 48 spectrally engineered color patches with extensive skin tones
• Durable, eco-friendly self-casing construction for easy transport and field use, with replaceable targets, first-in-class tripod mount and an innovative built-in fade strip indicator that issues a warning when target inserts need replacing
• Easy-to-use software that interacts with Hasselblad Phocus, Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop and Camera RAW to produce calibration presets that fit directly into a digital workflow
• FadeCheckr is a light sensitive patch which allows you to track the light exposure of the color targets and warns you when it is time to replace the color cards.

“The SpyderCheckr is a vital tool for photographers who are looking for accurate and predictable color without having to spend hours adjusting color in post-production,” said Dave Faulkner, Product Manager for Imaging Color Solutions at Datacolor. “Combining the SpyderCheckr with the SpyderCube in the newly released SpyderCheckr Pro product bundle provides photographers the essential tools to control color and contrast at the capture stage, as well as streamline their workflow to produce reliable and consistent color resulting in beautiful images.”

Availability and Pricing

The SpyderCheckr Pro bundle is now available for a special promotional offer of $139 (regular price $179). For more information please visit spyder.datacolor.com.

B&H carries the SpyderCheckr.

This is a very minor firmware update (unless you are using the simplified Chinese language).

From Canon USA:

Canon has released a firmware update for the EOS C300/C300 PL Cinema EOS Cameras.

Affected Products

EOS C300 Cinema EOS Camera
EOS C300 PL Cinema EOS Camera

Firmware

Firmware Version 1.0.6.1.00 incorporates the following features:

1. Genlock synchronization can now be used to synchronize the camera’s 24.00P, 24.00PsF, 23.98P, and 23.98PsF input signals.

2. Adds the Korean language to the camera’s menu.

3. Minor corrections to simplified Chinese language menus.

Note: Firmware version 1.0.5.1.00 incorporates item 1 and 2 above.

The new firmware (1.0.6.1.00) for the EOS C300 camera can be downloaded by clicking here.

For the EOS C300PL camera the new firmware (1.0.6.1.00) can be downloaded by clicking here.

Canon ZoomBrowser EX 6.9.0a Updater is now available for download.

Changes in ZoomBrowser EX 6.9.0a:

Fixed a phenomenon where the camera's serial number that is displayed in the shooting information of the image is not displayed correctly for some of the EOS 60D.

Canon RAW Codec 1.10.0 is also available for download.

Changes in Canon RAW Codec 1.10.0:

Now supports the following products: EOS Kiss X6i / EOS REBEL T4i / EOS 650D, EOS 5D Mark III, EOS-1D X, EOS 60Da, PowerShot G1 X, PowerShot S100, PowerShot S100V

(thanks Scott)

From ILFORD:

Free Webinar: How to print like an ILFORD Master

Pre register now for the latest ILFORD Webinar.

Thursday, June 21, 2012 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM EDT

Thursday, June 21, 2012 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM EDT

We would like to teach you about our new papers and also give you a chance to ask all the questions you’ve ever had about getting the best prints possible. Joshua M Fischer, ILFORD Product Marketing Manager in the US and an expert on colour management will give a short presentation about the new ILFORD GALERIE Prestige line and delve into the topic of printing like a true ILFORD Master.

Check out our previous ILFORD webinars.

From DxO:

DxO Optics Pro v7.5.1: 5 new cameras supported and 7,000 DxO Optics Modules available

DxO Optics Pro v7.5.1 now supports the Nikon D800E (Elite edition only) and D3200, the Sony SLT A35 and SLT A57, and the Panasonic Lumix DMC GX1. DxO Optics Pro 7 now contains more than 7,000 DxO Optics Modules.

MORE EFFECTIVE MOIRÉ REMOVAL FOR THE D800E

Since the Nikon D800E does not have an antialiasing (AA) filter, it can be more susceptible to moiré. DxO Optics Pro v7.5.1’s RAW conversion algorithms have been fine-tuned such that the "Remove color moiré" tool works more effectively for this camera to restore the finest details.

More information can be found here.

B&H carries DxO Optics Pro.

From The Nielsen Photo Group:

The Nielsen Photo Group (NPG) announced today that registration for its PDN PhotoPlus International Conference + Expo -- October 24-27, 2012 at the Javits Convention Center in New York City -- is now open.

Read the full press release here (PDF).

Register here.

View the seminar schedule here.

From PMA:

PMA@CES 2013 Registration and Housing Now Open at Early Bird Discount Rates

JACKSON, Mich. – PMA – The Worldwide Community of Imaging Associations, announces early member registration is now open for PMA@CES 2013, being held January 8-11, 2013, and the 2013 DIMA and PSPA /SPAA Conferences, on January 6-7. Members registering by September 1, 2012, pay just $249, a $50 discount off the normal $299 member fee, for an All-Conference pass and entry to both PMA@CES 2013 and the 2013 International CES.

In addition, a limited number of rooms are available at a discounted rate at Bally’s Las Vegas, where the DIMA and PSPA/ SPAA Conferences will be held. Bally’s also offers easy access to the Las Vegas Monorail system for convenient transportation to the new home of PMA@CES – the LVH, formerly known as the Las Vegas Hilton – as well as the Las Vegas Convention Center, home of CES International.

With PMA@CES, the biggest photography show is now part of the biggest consumer electronics event. Register now for PMA@CES and get access to the PMA@CES Exhibits, as well as hundreds of other exhibits at the 2013 International CES.

The 2013 DIMA Conference is the premier educational event for digital imaging professionals. Topics and tracks for the DIMA 2013 Conference include social media, retail strategy and marketing, photo publishing and custom photo products, professional tips and tricks, and all the new trends happening in photo.

The 2013 PSPA/SPAA Conference, which will be held together with DIMA 2013, is the premier educational event for school and sports photographers. Sessions will cover an array of professional photographic topics to help to grow your business and assure profitability. The conference also provides opportunities to network with your peers and learn from industry leaders.

Canon has made EOS 5D Mark III Firmware Version 1.1.3 available for download.

Firmware Version 1.1.3 incorporates the following improvements and fixes.

• Supports the single focal length EF40mm f/2.8 STM lens that is to be released at the end of June, 2012.
• Fixes a phenomenon in which an image may become underexposed when using the Auto Lighting Optimizer for continuous Auto Exposure Bracketing (AEB) shooting.
• Fixes a phenomenon in which the backlight of the LCD monitor may not turn off depending on the camera settings and timing.
• Fixes a phenomenon in which the camera’s power may not turn on when a super-telephoto lens *1) is mounted to the camera with an extender *2).

  *1) EF 300mm F2.8L IS II USM / EF 400mm F2.8L IS II USM
  *2) Extender EF 1.4X III / Extender EF 2X III

• Corrects mistakes in the Dutch, Italian, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, and Swedish menu screens

(thanks Niklas, Martin, Sean & Shan)

Canon has made EOS 60D Firmware Version 1.1.1 is now available for download.

Firmware Version 1.1.1 incorporates the following fixes and improvements.

• Fixes a phenomenon where the camera's serial number that is displayed in the shooting information of the image does not display the correct serial number. *1)
• Corrects errors in the Greek, Italian, and Portuguese menu screens.

*1) If the camera's serial number is 2147483648 or higher and the camera firmware is Version 1.1.0 or earlier, the images captured with the camera will be affected by the phenomenon listed in 1. above. This phenomenon only affects the EOS 60D, and does not affect the EOS 60Da. Both of these cameras are equipped with the same firmware. To obtain the serial number correctly in the shooting information of images that are already captured using the old firmware, we are preparing updates for Digital Photo Professional and ZoomBrowser EX /ImageBrowser applications. Once the software updates are ready, we will make an announcement on our Web site.