Canon, Nikon, and Sony News for Dec 2013

A handful of sample pictures have been added to the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG HSM Lens Review.

 
Just in case you missed yesterday's post, here's a look at what caught our eye this year - The-Digital-Picture.com's 2013 Year in Review.
 
Check out the original post for all relevant links.

S. Dirk Schafer over at CLICKittyCat.com created this flowchart to let us know when it's appropriate to click the shutter button. I hope you enjoy the humor as much as I did. ;-) [Sean]

From Canon Professional Services:
 
CPS will be on site at the game providing support for photographers with valid credentials authorized by the event organizers.
 
Pro Market Reps will be available to answer technical questions on Canon products.
 
Equipment evaluation loans will be available on a first come first served basis.
 
Canon Factory Authorized Service Technicians will provide complimentary clean and check service on your DSLR cameras and EF lenses. (Limited to two items)
 
Location
 
College Football Stadium
1001 Rose Bowl Dr.
Pasadena, CA 91103
 
Date and Time of CPS operations
 
1/6/2014
 
11:00 am - 15 minutes after Trophy Presentation
 
(Dates and times subject to change)
 
Thank you,
 
Canon Professional Services (CPS)
Canon U.S.A., Inc.
 
Not a CPS member? Sign up today!

 
How do you explain film photography to a generation of digital shooters? Watch as Buzz Feed tries to do just that.
 
On a personal note, I'm old enough to remember shooting with film cameras. But having been entrenched in the digital SLR world over the past decade, I would never go back to film. I believe the benefits of digitally captured images far outweighs the negatives.
 
And I must question Buzz Feed's Gizmo comparison when talking to people who aren't old enough to remember film. If they aren't old enough to know about film, then they certainly aren't old enough to remember a character from 1984's Gremlins... [Sean]

Both Sigma and Tamron's lens rebates are scheduled to expire tomorrow, December 31. Be sure to grab the lens you've had your eye on before time runs out!
 
It is our understanding that at least one of these manufacturer's rebates (if not both) are not going to be extended. Regardless, now is a great time to buy.
 
Sigma and Tamron Lenses with Rebates

Model	Rebate Amount
Sigma 8-16mm f/4.5-5.6 DC HSM Lens	$50.00
Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM Lens	$50.00
Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM Lens	$100.00
Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM	$200.00
Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG HSM Lens	$75.00
Sigma 50-150mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM Lens	$150.00
Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM Lens	$150.00
Sigma 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM Lens	$150.00
Sigma 85mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM Lens	$75.00
Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM Macro Lens	$300.00
Sigma 1.4x EX DG Tele Converter	$25.00
Sigma 2x EX DG Tele Converter	$50.00
Tamron 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5 Di II Lens	$50.00
Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II VC Lens	$50.00
Tamron 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di II Lens	$20.00
Tamron 18-270mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD Lens	$70.00
Tamron 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD Lens	$100.00
Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 Di VC USD Lens	$100.00
Tamron 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di VC USD Lens	$100.00

Sample pictures have been added to the Zeiss 50mm f/2.0 Makro-Planar T* ZE Lens Review.

 
As 2013 draws to a close, we take a look back at some of the most intriguing and unique product announcements from this past year. From the tiny SL1 to the uncomparable Otus, this year was full of announcements that put a big smile on our faces.
 
If you're in a place where listening to the audio is not possible for you, here's an abridged version of what caught our eye this year:
 
Canon Announcements:

• Canon EOS 7D L
• Canon EOS Rebel SL1
• Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x
• Canon EOS 70D

Nikon Announcements:

• Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 800mm f/5.6E FL ED VR
• Nikon AW1
• Nikon Df

Third-Party Announcements:

• Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM
• Zeiss Otus 55mm f/1.4
• Sigma 24-105mm f/4 DG OS HSM

And just in case you missed it, here's what we reviewed this year (order by date posted):

• Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens
• Canon EF 35mm f/2 IS USM Lens
• Canon EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM Lens
• Gura Gear Bataflae 32L Camera Backpack
• Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 SP Di VC USD Lens
• Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM Lens
• Tamron 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD Lens
• Samyang 24mm f/3.5 ED AS UMC Tilt-Shift Lens
• Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x Lens
• Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM Lens
• Canon EOS Rebel SL1 / 100D
• Sigma USB Dock
• Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM Sports Lens
• Canon EOS 70D
• Spiffy Gear Light Blaster Strobe Based Projector
• Tokina 16-28mm f/2.8 AT-X Pro FX Lens
• Tokina 17-35mm f/4 AT-X Pro FX Lens
• Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM Lens
• Zeiss 15mm f/2.8 Distagon T* ZE Lens
• Sigma 24-105mm f/4.0 DG OS HSM Art Lens
• Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG HSM Lens
• PocketWizard PlusX Transceiver
• Think Tank Photo My 2nd Brain 15
• Zeiss 50mm f/2.0 Makro-Planar T* ZE Lens

In addition to the reviews, we posted several tips and tricks:

• Helicopter Aerial Photography
• Rock Concert Shooting Tips and Musings
• Natural-Looking HDR Images Can be Easy to Create
• + 100's of Sample Images with Tips

We also updated several other pages on the site:

• Portrait Lens Recommendations
• Wedding Lens Recommendations
• Outdoor Sports Lens Recommendations
• Indoor Sports Lens Recommendations
• Macro Lens Recommendations
• Wildlife Lens Recommendations
• Landscape Lens Recommendations
• Bargain Lens Recommendations

• UV and Clear Lens Protection Filter
• Circular Polarizer Filter
• Neutral Density Filter
• Step-Up Filter Adapter Rings
• Lens Filter Wrenches

And as the curtain falls on 2013, we want to thank you for all the support you've given us this past year. We couldn't have done it without you! We hope to continue being your go-to source for news, reviews, deals, tips & tricks in the the year to come!
 
Think we missed something? Sound off on our Facebook Page and let us know what you think should have been included in our 2013 Year in Review.

If you have not completed our short photography gear shopping survey, this is your last opportunity – and last chance to win the $100 Visa debit card. As said before:
 
We would like your input in our short shopping survey. Answer three very short questions about photography gear shopping and get a chance to win a $100 Visa debit card!
 
At the close of this survey, we will randomly select one participant to receive a $100 Visa debit card. We of course need a way to contact the prize drawing winner, so an email address is required for entry. No worries – these email addresses will be used for the sole purpose of contacting the winner.
 
* Please note that we require a USA address for delivery of this prize.
 
Complete the survey!
 

My family and I wish you a very, very merry Christmas! We consider you part of our family and hope that your Christmas 2013 is filled with great meaning, great memories and, as always, great images!
 
The photo included with this post is from my annual Christmas tree photography session.
 
The tree itself is part of our family tradition and getting the tree is a large part of the fun. Each year I tell the kids that we need to get a smaller tree, but each year the kids convince me to get a bigger tree than the year before. This year, the kids somehow convinced me to cut down and take home our tallest tree yet – an 11' (3.35m) Frasier Fir. Needless to say, this tree carried on a Hitch Haul across the back of our SUV made a rather wide load. But it sure looks great in the house.
 
Each year, our Christmas tree must be photographed in all of its glory. This photo was captured with the Canon EOS 5D Mark III and Zeiss 15mm f/2.8 Distagon T* ZE Lens. This is a 30 second exposure at f/22. Diffraction causes the image to be soft at this aperture, but at the reduced 650px width shown in this post, you can't tell. But what you can see is the f/22-caused star effect coming from the angel on top of the tree. I of course have wider aperture captures of this composition for other uses. Shooting with a level camera (estimated at a 5.5'/1.2m height based on the height of the vertically-centered tree) allowed the right-side window frame to remain parallel to the frame border.
 
In addition to wishing you a "Merry Christmas", I want to take time out to thank so many of you for making end of year support donations to the site. These are an important part of what keeps us going. Thanks for them! And of course a big thanks also for using the links on the site for your Christmas shopping!
 
Merry Christmas!

Adorama has the Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD Lens available for preorder.

The Lens Product Images Comparison Tool and Big Lens Product Images Comparison Tool have been updated to show up to three lenses at the same time.
 
This unique tool is very simple to use. Select up to three of the hundreds of lenses in our database and select the size you want the images displayed at. Then drag your mouse over the lens setting options (just above the lens images) to see the similarities and differences in the selected lenses.

Just posted: Zeiss 50mm f/2.0 Makro-Planar T* ZE Lens Review
 
The Zeiss 50 f/2 delivers the sharpest 50mm f/2 images of any near-50mm lens I've used to date. And the build quality of this lens is equally impressive.

This is a repost, but I would like to have as much participation as possible. If you have not already completed the survey, please take a minute to do so:
 
We would like your input in our short shopping survey. Answer three very short questions about photography gear shopping and get a chance to win a $100 Visa debit card!
 
At the close of this survey, we will randomly select one participant to receive a $100 Visa debit card. We of course need a way to contact the prize drawing winner, so an email address is required for entry. No worries – these email addresses will be used for the sole purpose of contacting the winner.
 
* Please note that we require a USA address for delivery of this prize.
 
Complete the survey!
 

 
From Canon USA's YouTube Channel:
 
In the 3rd and final video of this 3-part series, you'll learn how simple it is to perform basic editing using Canon ImageBrowser EX software. Once your masterpiece is complete, you'll learn some simple ways to share your video with family and friends.
 
Check out Canon USA's other videos in this series:
Shooting Video with your Canon EOS Rebel Camera (Part 1)
Shooting Video with your Canon EOS Rebel Camera (Part 2)
 
Adorama carries Canon EOS Rebel DSLR Cameras.

From Canon:
 
Thank you for using Canon products.
 
The rubber of the viewfinder of some units of the Canon PowerShot SX50 HS compact digital camera may change color (turn white) after a short period of time. Customer support for this phenomenon is described below.
 
We take great pride in the quality and performance of our products. We offer our sincerest apologies to any customers who may be inconvenienced.
 
Phenomenon
The rubber section of the viewfinder of some PowerShot SX50 HS digital compact cameras produced in certain lots from September 1 through November 15, 2013 may turn white after a short period of time. We have determined after inquiry with the rubber manufacturer and internal analysis that the white substance is zinc bis (N,N’- dimethyldithiocarbamate).
 
Zinc bis is not used in the production of this product. The reason for the depositing of this material was the use of an improper rubber accelerator by the manufacturer of the rubber viewfinder. As a result the rubber section of the viewfinder may turn white due to a chemical reaction with the rubber accelerator and other substances. High temperature and high humidity may contribute to this condition. Zinc bis (N,N’- dimethyldithiocarbamate), which becomes deposited on the rubber surface, is created as a result of this chemical reaction.

Affected products
Only a small fraction of the PowerShot SX50 HS compact digital cameras – the ones containing the improper rubber accelerator – are affected by this phenomenon.
 
This phenomenon may occur in cameras of which the first and second digits from the left in the serial number are “69”, “70”, or “71” and the sixth digit of the serial number is “1”.
(Example serial numbers of cameras that may be affected: “69xxx1xxxxxx”, “70xxx1xxxxxx”, “71xxx1xxxxxx” (‘x’ can be any number))

Caution on use
The amount of zinc bis (N,N’-dimethyldithiocarbamate) deposited on the affected units is minimal. However, depending on one’s health and physical condition, in rare cases it is possible for zinc bis to cause allergic reactions, such as a rash, when it comes in contact with the skin of sensitive persons. In addition, if the eyes make contact with the substance, symptoms such as red eyes may develop.
 
As a precautionary measure, thoroughly wash your hands and rinse your eyes with water if they have come into contact with the rubber part of a viewfinder that has turned white. If any medical symptoms develop, please consult your physician immediately.
 
Support
If the camera meets the serial number criteria listed above, the product will be inspected and repaired free of charge. If you own one of the affected cameras please contact our Customer Support Center.
 
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.
 
Thank you,
Customer Support Operations
Canon U.S.A., Inc
 
Contact Information for Inquiries
Canon Customer Support Center
Phone: 1-855-226-3277
TDD: 1-866-251-3752
Email: carecenter@cits.canon.com
For additional support options: www.usa.canon.com/support

I spent a good part of this weekend with my extended family. We celebrated our annual "Christmas at Grandma's" on Saturday. As such, I didn't quite complete the video portion of this week's Recap. Oh well – enjoy the script if you want a rundown of the week's events!

"This is The-Digital-Picture.com's Weekend Recap for the week ending December 21st, 2013.
 
In the news...
 
On Wednesday, we highlighted a fast and easy way to resize and share your photos – with CoolTweak. Using CoolTweak, you can create custom right-click mouse actions for resizing, watermarking, or publishing your images to social media. I highly recommend trying it out!
 
On Friday, we learned that Lenstag had published mobile apps for iOS and Android. Using the Lenstag app, you can register your own gear, check the serial numbers of used items you wish to purchase, or flag your own gear as stolen. The Lenstag service is free, so there’s no reason not to protect your gear through registration with the site!
 
Also on Friday, we posted a YouTube video created by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center which explained the sequence of events that led up to Apollo 8’s iconic “Earthrise” photo. As it turns out, the photo would never have been captured if it weren’t for a fortunate coincidence and some quick teamwork by the astronaut crew.
 
In site news and reviews...
 
On Monday, Bryan posted his full review of the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG HSM Lens. Wide open, the Sigma is not a stellar performer. But its relatively low price and solid build quality will prove enticing for many photographers. Check out Bryan’s review for all the details.
 
On Tuesday, Bryan posted image quality results and some eye candy for the Sigma 17-70mm DC Macro OS Contemporary Lens. Tests results now available include ISO resolution, flare, vignetting and distortion.
 
On Wednesday, Bryan posted his review of the Think Tank Photo My 2nd Brain 15 Laptop Bag. Bryan liked the case’s compact design, rugged build quality and surprising amount of storage space. Check out the My 2nd Brain review for more information.
 
And, for our deal(s) of the week…
 
Instead of just picking one deal this week, I’m going tip my hat to Adorama for all their fantastic Canon camera and lens deals we posted on Thursday. Some of them are still active, yet even better – now with overnight shipping. Scroll through our news pages if you're needing a special gift to go under the tree!
 
This has been the The-Digital-Picture.com’s Weekend Recap. Thanks for listening, and as always, happy shooting!"

 
We've all seen the classic Earthrise photo taken by Apollo 8 on Christmas Eve, 1968. But do you know what events led up the photo's capture?
 
Watch the video to see how astronauts Frank Borman, Jim Lovell, and Bill Anders used teamwork and quick thinking to turn an unexpected site into one of NASA's most iconic images.

Lenstag, a website devoted to protecting your camera gear, has just released it's newest tool in the fight against theft - the Lenstag App for iOS and Android.
 
The Lenstag App allows you to register your own gear and check the serial numbers of cameras/lenses you are considering purchasing to see if the items in question have been flagged as stolen in the Lenstag system.
 
And if the worst happens to you, the Lenstag App allows you to quickly flag your gear as stolen from your mobile device.
 
For what it's worth, all my cameras and lenses are registered with Lenstag. I highly recommend taking advantage of this free, valuable service. Check out the Lenstag website for more information. [Sean]

Tamron has announced their upcoming holiday closing schedule.

Branch	Dates Closed
TAMRON Co., Ltd. (Japan)	Dec. 28, 2013 - Jan. 5, 2014
TAMRON USA, Inc. (USA)	Dec. 25, 2013 / Jan. 1, 2014
TAMRON Europe GmbH (Germany)	Dec. 24-26, 2013 / Dec. 31, 2013 - Jan. 1, 2014
TAMRON Industries(Hong Kong) Limited (China / Hong Kong)	Dec. 25-26, 2013 / Jan. 1, 2014 / Jan. 31, 2014 - Feb. 3, 2014
TAMRON Optical Shanghai Co. Ltd. (China / Shanghai)	Jan. 1, 2014 / Jan. 30, 2014 - Feb. 6, 2014
TAMRON (Russia) LLC. (Russia)	Dec. 31, 2013 – Jan. 7, 2014
TAMRON INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED (India)	Dec. 25, 2013 / Jan. 1, 2014

From Canon:
 
Canon has released a firmware update for the EOS C500/C500 PL Cinema EOS Cameras.
 
EOS C500 Cinema EOS Camera & EOS C500PL Cinema EOS Camera

1. When using the Magnify focus assist function, the ability to move the magnified viewing area around the LCD has been added.
2. Maximum ISO setting has been increased to ISO 80,000.
3. Cinema Gamut mode and DCI-P3+ mode have been added to provide expanded color gamut options in RAW capture.
4. 4096x1080-pixel RAW format resolution has been added.
5. A Key Lock menu setting has been added which now makes it possible to lock all operations, including the START/STOP button.
6. Using the optional Canon WFT-E6 Wireless File Transmitter, the camera’s remote-control application allows up to two users to access the same unit via a Wi-Fi link providing simultaneous and independent control of camera operation and metadata input.
7. Canon Log LUT support has been made possible for HD/SD SDI terminal output.
8. ACESproxy output from monitor terminal has been added.
9. [ND]/[ND-] have been added as functions that can be allocated to any assignable button.

EOS C500 Digital Cinema Camera only

1. Ability to assign the two control dials (body and grip) to operate either Iris or ISO sensitivity independently has been added.
2. Peripheral Illumination Correction Data has been added for seven (7) Canon Cinema lenses (EF mount) and eleven (11) Canon EF Lenses.

Cinema lenses (EF-mount) and Canon EF Lenses which benefit from the new firmware update:
 
The seven (7) supported Canon Cinema Lenses (EF-mount) are:

• CN-E15.5-47mm T2.8 L S
• CN-E30-105mm T2.8 L S
• CN-E14mm T3.1 L F
• CN-E24mm T1.5 L F
• CN-E50mm T1.3 L F
• CN-E85mm T1.3 L F
• CN-E135mm T2.2 L F

Please note this firmware version does not include the CN-E35mm T1.5 L F.
 
The eleven (11) supported Canon EF Lenses are:

• EF-S18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM
• EF500mm f/4L IS II USM
• EF600mm f/4L IS II USM
• EF28mm f/2.8 IS USM
• EF24mm f/2.8 IS USM
• EF40mm f/2.8 STM
• EF24-70mm f/4L IS USM
• EF35mm f/2 IS USM
• EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM
• EF24-70mm f/2.8L II USM
• EF200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x

Firmware Version 1.0.4.1.00 is for Cinema EOS C500 and EOS C500 PL cameras with Firmware Version 1.0.0.1.00 through 1.0.3.100. If your camera's firmware is already Version 1.0.4.1.00, it is not necessary to update the firmware. Once the camera is updated to the latest firmware version, it cannot be restored to a previous version.
 
Download:
Download Firmware Version 1.0.4.1.00 for EOS C500.
Download Firmware Version 1.0.4.1.00 for EOS C500 PL.
 
The Instruction Manual provides more information on the new features and benefits available in this firmware update.
Download the new version of the Instruction Manual for the EOS C500.
Download the new version of the Instruction Manual for the EOS C500 PL.
 
Adorama carries the Canon EOS C500 Cinema Camera.

Use promo code Thirt30y ($30.00 off) at Focus Camera to get the Canon EF 75-300/4-5.6 USM III Lens for $119.99 with free shipping. Regularly $149.99.

Yann Kerangueven, the author of CoolTweak asked if I wanted to try a handy piece of software that our site visitors might be interested in. Once I started reading about CoolTweak, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to try it out.
 
For the last couple of years I've been using a program called Faststone Photo Resizer to quickly resize photos for posting to social media or emailing. And I've been very happy with it – until now. CoolTweak is my new favorite [quick] resizing tool.
 
Installing CoolTweak adds the option to resize photos with a simple right-click action. But that's not all – you can also share your images to social media sites or add your watermark with a right-click action. You even have the ability to modify the output options to customize each right-click action to suit your needs.
 
So far, I've really enjoyed using CoolTweak. There's only one feature I'd like to see added – the option to dynamically change the size and placement of your watermark image based on the size of the image it's being applied to. Right now, you'd have to create different watermark presets based on specific image sizes or do it manually each time. I've contacted the developer and hope it's a feature he can implement in the near future.
 
Oh, and here's my recommendation for getting high quality images on Facebook – create a custom preset that uploads images that are 1024 (or 2048) pixels on the long side with a quality setting of 98 or higher. That seems to work really well for Facebook uploads.
 
From CoolTweak:
 
Everything is just a click away with CoolTweak !
 
Resizing, adding watermarks and sharing your pictures on social networks has never been so easy with COOLTWEAK.
 
Completely free, this smart software pops directly from the right-click contextual menu of all your images and process them in an trice.
 
No more time wasted, process all your files with a single click. All these very handy features make COOLTWEAK an essential tool to have.
 
Best of all, you can customize and manage all the menus and their actions with a really intuitive menu editor. Change them at will and build the menu you like.
 
Don't wait any longer to get your life simpler, let COOLTWEAK handle all the tedious tasks for you.
 
Resizing and sharing your photos from a single click... Sounds good to you ?
We often need to share pictures around us and we usually have to face the painful problem of reducing their weight before we can send them. For most of us, that is the beginning of lots of troubles and wasted hours, resizing one picture at a time with Microsoft Paint.
 
Fortunately those days are gone ! Let COOLTWEAK handle repetitive processing and watch it do this work for you in seconds. A single right-click on your pictures folder and voila.
 
Even better, it can publish your pictures on main social networks with the same ease.
 
Just build the right-click menu that suits you
COOLTWEAK is a mighty tool but keeps it simple.
 
You have the full control of what will be shown in your right-click menu. It comes out the box with a wide range of actions that you can customize any time you want to fit your needs.
 
Adding a new menu by choosing what action it will complete is an easy task thanks to COOLTWEAK menu editor. You can create an action (from the simplest to the most sophisticated one) and then make it appear in the right-click menu immediately.
 
(Everyday) Life saving features
Be able to manage ourselves right-click menu's contents, we honestly wonder why it has never been invented before ! All your shortcuts are anytime just a click away, that is the true strength of COOLTWEAK.
 
COOLTWEAK is a powerful toolbox that enables you to resize your pictures, protect them with a watermark and share them on main social networks (Facebook, Twitter, Picasa/Google+, Flickr et 500px.com).
 
You can even combine several operations to create your own « tweaks » (actions).
 
The time savings are real ! Just give COOLTWEAK a try and you will probably love it (and wish you had installed it way earlier).
 
Everything comes with a price... It’s 100% free
COOLTWEAK is a personal initiative designed to provide a free but valuable tool for Microsoft Windows users.
 
The license is entirely free, there is no advertising and no personal data gathering.
 
Download
CoolTweak for Windows

We would like your input in our short shopping survey. Answer three very short questions about photography gear shopping and get a chance to win a $100 Visa debit card!
 
At the close of this survey, we will randomly select one participant to receive a $100 Visa debit card. We of course need a way to contact the prize drawing winner, so an email address is required for entry. No worries – these email addresses will be used for the sole purpose of contacting the winner.
 
* Please note that we require a USA address for delivery of this prize.
 
Complete the survey!
 

From DxO:
 
16,800 DxO Optics Modules now available – Special Holiday Season sale on all DxO products through December 25, 2013
 
December 18, 2013 – DxO Labs announces the immediate availability of DxO Optics Pro v9.1.1 for Mac and Windows. This upgrade allows DxO Optics Pro 9 to provide support for the Nikon Df (Elite Edition), the Sony Alpha 7 (Elite Edition), as well as for the Sony DSC-RX10 and A3000, the Pentax K-3, and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LF1.
 
The image processing software of reference for all exacting photographers, DxO Optics Pro 9 integrates powerful tools for processing RAW and JPEG photos so as to bring out the best in photos in just a few clicks. Furthermore, the software offers the revolutionary new PRIME denoising technology that recovers details even in photos shot at the highest ISO; DxO Smart Lighting, an intelligent tool that optimizes exposure and contrast; and powerful lens and geometrical corrections.
 
New DxO Optics Modules
DxO Optics Pro v9.1.1 benefits from the addition of new DxO Optics Modules: more than 580 new camera/lens combinations have been added to the library, which now counts 16,800 available DxO Optics Modules.
 
Among the new lenses now supported are the Carl Zeiss Distagon T* Otus 1.4/55 for Canon and Nikon (which received very good scores on DxOMark), as well as the Carl Zeiss Apo Sonnar T* 2/135 for Canon and Nikon. Also note that six long-awaited Zeiss lenses for Nikon cameras are now also supported. 
DxO Optics Modules contain numerous information about the characteristics of each camera and lens. This extraordinary database enables DxO Optics Pro 9 to automatically correct distortion, vignetting, chromatic aberrations, and lens softness at an unrivaled level of quality.
 
Availability and special Holiday Season offer
The Standard and Elite editions of DxO Optics Pro v9.1.1 for Mac and Windows are now available at photo resellers at a special discount price through December 25, 2013:

• DxO Optics Pro 9 Standard Edition: $99 instead of $169
• DxO Optics Pro 9 Elite Edition: $199 instead of $299

Adorama carries DxO Optics Pro 9.