Canon and Sony News for Oct 2016
This week, we discuss public speaking, mispronunciation of words, and the new show Atlanta. Adam also tells the story of how he recently fixed Norm's broken camera lens (an EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM on a 5D Mark IV) with some unorthodox problem solving. Plus, a new book recommendation!
From Sean: For less severe stuck filter problems, we suggest keeping some of these in all your camera gear bags.
Canon's CarePAK PLUS promotion has been extended for eligible purchases made through the end of the year.
CarePAK PLUS Benefits Include
- Protection from Accidental Damage
- Additional Hardware Coverage
- Priority Service and Free Returns
- Service & Support Directly from Canon
- $0 Deductible
- Transferable
Eligible Canon Products
- EOS-1D X Mark II Body
- EOS-1D X Body
- EOS 5D Mark IV Body
- EOS 5Ds Body
- EOS 5DS R Body
- EOS 5D Mark III Body
- EOS 6D Body
- EOS 7D Mark II Body
- EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM
- EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM
- EF 17-40mm f/4L USM
- EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM
- EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM
- EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM
- EF 50mm f/1.2L USM
- EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM
- EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM
Considering that most of the items listed above also qualify for instant and/or mail-in rebates, now seems like a great time to fill out one's photography kit.
From the Adobe Creative Cloud YouTube Channel:
Photographer Andrew Scrivani shares his top 5 tips on how to improve your food photography.
Note from Sean: In Andrew's second tip, "Soften light with a diffuser," I would call the tool he uses a "diffusion panel," "scrim" or "diffuser," but not a "flag." A flag is typically used to entirely block light from an area, while the other terms are used for tools that modify the light that actually hits a scene. Also, the "light cutter" tool Andrew uses is typically referred to as a "black card" used for negative fill.
B&H carries Adobe Photography Plan subscriptions.
Tamron has published their 3Q FY2016 financial results. Unfortunately, they do not provide the easier-to-read presentation material, but... you may still get a sense that the previous quarter was not as good as last year's 3rd quarter by comparison.
Tamron 3rd Quarter Financial Results FY2016 (PDF 140KB)
B&H carries Tamron lenses.
From the Canon Digital Learning Center:
An important part of creating a botanical photograph with impact is one of the areas that people often ignore – COLOR. The use of color in your floral images can help create mood, vibrancy, electricity or tension. Choosing the soft pastel palette can create a restful, peaceful feeling. It can create a calmness that allows a respite for your eye, a certain soothing of the soul.Read the entire article on the Canon Digital Learning Center.
From Canon USA:
MELVILLE, N.Y., October 28, 2016 – Canon U.S.A. Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, is proud to announce that Academy Award winners Leonardo DiCaprio and Fisher Stevens chose Canon EOS Digital Cinema cameras and lenses, including the Cinema EOS C300 Mark II camera, for their new documentary Before the Flood. Directed by Stevens and produced by DiCaprio, the film presents a riveting account of the dramatic changes now occurring around the world due to climate change, as well as the actions individuals and society can take to help prevent catastrophic disruption on our planet. Before the Flood premieres on National Geographic Channel this Sunday, October 30th at 9 pm ET/8 pm CT in 171 countries and 45 languages. Coinciding with the television premiere, Before the Flood will also be released commercial free on a number of digital and streaming platforms around the world, including NatGeoTV.com and Nat Geo TV Apps.
The two filmmakers, known for their environmentally themed documentaries, joined forces for Before the Flood’s two-year production, which follows U.N. Messenger of Peace DiCaprio as he travels to five continents and the Arctic speaking to scientists, world leaders, activists and local residents to gain a deeper understanding of the complex issue of climate change and investigates concrete solutions to the most pressing environmental challenge of our time.
“Canon is honored to have been selected as the camera and lenses of choice in the creation of this documentary,” said Yuichi Ishizuka, president and COO, Canon U.S.A., Inc. “Viewers will see on Sunday, with the clarity of the imagery produced with Cinema EOS products, a compelling picture of the current environmental conditions around the world.” To capture the stunning visuals of the documentary, cinematographer Antonio Rossi relied on a mix of Canon EOS Digital Cinema cameras. He began production with the EOS C500 and EOS-1D C Digital Cinema Cameras, the latter often rigged to a handheld camera stabilizer. They shot portions of the documentary in RAW 4K using the EOS C500 camera in conjunction with an external recorder.
When the EOS C300 Mark II camera was introduced, the production adopted it as their new “A” camera. “The switch to the C300 Mark II camera was seamless and easy, and we were happy to have on-board 4K recording as well as extended color gamut options,” Rossi said. “Overall, we found that Canon Cinema EOS cameras were the perfect tools for this project, as they enabled us to shoot in a variety of configurations while maintaining a consistently beautiful look and image quality.” Before the Flood mixes interviews with some of the most influential world leaders, with chilling but beautiful footage from locations impacted by our changing global climate. Rossi and his team traveled north of the Arctic Circle to Greenland and to Canada’s Baffin Island to show the rapid ice melts, as well as to Sumatra to capture some palm oil farmers burning rain forest habitat, among other shooting locations.
Rossi primarily outfitted his cameras with the Canon CN-E 30-105mm T2.8 compact zoom lens and the CN-E 17-120mm T2.95-3.9 CINE-SERVO lens.
“Before the Flood is vital viewing for anyone who has any doubts about humanity’s role in global climate change,” Rossi said. “Working with Fisher Stevens and Leonardo DiCaprio on the film was a magical and elucidating journey.”
B&H carries the Canon Cinema EOS C300 Mark II.
From Canon USA:
Digital Photo Professional 4.5.10 for Windows
Changes for Digital Photo Professional 4.5.10 for Windows :
- Supports EOS M5.
- Supports EF-M18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM, EF24-105mm f/4L IS II USM, EF16-35mm f/2.8L III USM.
- Improves accuracy of the lens data of Digital Lens Optimizer for EF35mm f/1.4L II USM.
EOS Utility 3.5.10 for Windows
Changes for EOS Utility 3.5.10 for Windows :
- Supports EOS M5.
- Supports EF24-105mm f/4L IS II USM, EF16-35mm f/2.8L III USM.
Picture Style Editor 1.17.10 for Windows
Changes for Picture Style Editor 1.17.10 for Windows :
- Supports EOS M5.
Download: DPP 4.5.10, EOS Utility 3.5.10 & Picture Style Editor 1.17.10
We were expecting the arrival of the Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II USM lens next week and anxious to begin testing, but... evidence suggests that we may be waiting a bit longer for the highly anticipated lens. The lens was originally scheduled for availability in "late October," but B&H now lists an expected availability date of December 10 for EF 24-105L update. Amazon expects the lens December 6.
Will the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV DSLR Camera with 24-105mm f/4L II Lens Kits, which were originally supposed to be available at the same time, be delayed as well? We're not sure, but neither B&H nor Amazon have changed their originally posted "Oct 31" expected availability date. If that's the case, we'll be ordering a 5D IV kit in order to get our hands on the lens ASAP.
B&H has the Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II USM Lens available for preorder.
Image quality, vignetting, flare and distortion test results along with specs, measurements and standard product images (both sizes) have been added to the Tamron 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2 Lens Review page.
I've spent a lot of time with this lens this week and hope to have the full review completed early next week.
B&H has the Tamron 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2 Lens in stock.
B&H has the new Apple MacBook Pros available for preorder with free shipping.
From Nikon:
October 27, 2016 – Nikon AG (Zurich, Switzerland), a subsidiary company of Nikon Corporation (Tokyo, Japan) had been disputing the Swiss Competition Commission (COMCO)'s 2011 decision regarding infringement of Swiss competition law by Nikon AG in an appeal before the Swiss Federal Administrative Court. On September 28, 2016, the Swiss Federal Administrative Court rendered its judgment dismissing Nikon AG's appeal.
As a result of the review of the judgement as well as an overall analysis of the legal proceedings, Nikon has decided not to appeal the judgment to the Swiss Federal Supreme Court, and consequently, to make a payment of a fine of approximately CHF 12 million (approximately 1.3 billion yen).
For us, the Nikon Group, compliance with applicable laws forms part of our most important company principles, and is the basis of the trust of our shareholders, customers and other stakeholders. We have therefore already taken all steps necessary in order to ensure that all employees of the Nikon Group are fully aware of and comply with the provisions of competition law, and intend to increase our efforts in this respect.
Nikon has published another video in its series, "Philosophy of NIKKOR." I find it interesting when I can associate names, faces and manufacturing environments to lens production. I really appreciate seeing the details of production, including the people responsible, first-hand. [Sean]
B&H carries Nikon lenses.
From the Canon Professional Network:
World Press Photo Foundation revealed this week the launch of exciting new activities, including a new contest, a year-long talent scouting program and a new platform for debating industry issues. CPN Web Editor Deniz Dirim reports...See the entire article on the Canon Professional Network
From the COOPH YouTube Channel:
Here are some fun DIY ideas, tips & hacks to raise your photography game to the next level!
From Photoshelter:
Discover how photographers use Snapchat to tell stories and showcase their personality
If you’ve dismissed Snapchat as a mysterious social app only for teens, it’s time to think again. Photographers have jumped on board using Snapchat as a marketing tool, a new creative outlet and even an additional source of revenue. Plus, it’s fun.
In The Photographer’s Guide to Snapchat, get the rundown on how and why photographers are using Snapchat for their photo businesses.
Inside, check out interviews from photographers who share:
- How to use Snapchat to make your personality shine through
- Tips to be a master storyteller
- What it’s like to manage Snapchat takeovers for brands
- Pros and cons when weighing Snapchat vs. Instagram Stories
- Plus more!
Photographers are using Snapchat as the go-to app to showcase their personality - one of the most important factors to getting hired these days. But it’s up to you to decide which stories will engage your audience and get them excited about who you are.
Sports photography allows you to record pivotal game-changing momentum swings, capture the thrill of victory or illustrate the agony of defeat. When it comes to sports, being well prepared (and comfortable) can make the difference in getting key shots or missing golden opportunities. Following is a list of five key accessories to help outdoor sports photographers stay on the top of their game (pun intended).
1. Monopod
Take a look at the sidelines in any large field pro sport and you'll likely see a collection of big white lenses and the monopods used to support them. Typically speaking, camera supports are used to stabilize the camera so that longer shutter speeds can be used. However, because sports photographers generally use very fast shutter speeds to freeze action, the primary benefit of using a monopod is to reduce fatigue. Anyone who has handheld a Canon super telephoto lens for an extended period of time knows how exhausting it can be. A monopod relieves the photographer's arms by transferring much of the support responsibility to the ground, yet it is easy to set up, adjust or break down allowing for maximum versatility compared to a tripod.
2. Photography Backpack
These days there are a number of options when it comes to photography gear transport. And while hard cases, rolling cases & messenger style bags certainly have their uses, many sports photographers prefer a good old fashioned backpack.
Why? Because sports photography may require you to constantly move in order to follow the action. I've shot several football games over the last few years and the ability to stay mobile is a big plus. Using a backpack means that your gear moves with you relieving the worry that your expensive gear may suddenly go missing if unattended.
3. Sling Strap Especially when photographing large field sports, you may find your long telephoto lens limiting when it comes to capturing other aspects of the event, such as sideline interactions, the crowd, fireworks and halftime demonstrations (just to name a few). That's why many sports photographers carry a second (and possibly third) body with a general purpose or wide angle lens attached to cover these needs.
My particular favorite is the BlackRapid Sport Breathe Camera Strap (an update to the RS-Sport Extreme). This strap dramatically lessens the burden of carrying a camera for long periods of time and even feels comfortable (to me, at least) while wearing a backpack at the same time.
4. Weather/Dust Protection
Yes, it's true that the Canon L-series lenses typically used for sports photography feature some type of weather sealing. While the sealing can protect your gear from the unexpected storm, it's not a feature you should rely on for extended exposure to the elements. A simple rain cover is easy to pack, relatively inexpensive and can save your gear from damage when the light rain turns into a massive downpour. But not only can a rain cover protect from downpours, it can also shield your camera from the fine dust particles that fill the air at events such as dirt track racing. Trust me – cleaning a plastic bag after events like this is 10x easier than cleaning your DSLR camera and/or lens.
5. LCD Loupe
Trying to review images in the bright sun can be problematic (to say the least) because of glare. The solution is simple – use an LCD Loupe to provide glare-free viewing of your images. My particular favorite is the Hoodman Compact HoodLoupe Optical Viewfinder for 3.2" LCD Screens which packs down to a compact size for storage and features a strap for hanging around the neck for easy access.
If you can't decide on which lens to use for sports photography, check out Bryan's Canon Outdoor Sports Lens Recommendations.
So that's our top 5 sports photography accessories. Do you have other suggestions? Let us know in the comments.
Canon has released their 3Q 2016 financial results.
- Conference on results for 3Q 2016 Presentation material (PDF)
- Speech Summary (PDF)
- Results for 3Q 2016 (PDF)
An excerpt from the speech summary details some of the issues Canon faced this quarter:
The U.S. economy, despite showing signs of weakness in investment and other areas, remained on a path of gradual recovery, supported by continued improvement in employment and consumer spending. As for the European economy, although consumer spending and export activity was firm, we could not take an optimistic view as there are concerns over the U.K.’s withdrawal from the EU. In Japan, and in emerging countries like China, no material changes in economic activity were seen. Overall, the global economy was limited to gradual recovery.Additional Resources (Source: Reuters)Under these conditions, the yen, which at one point in August fell below the 100 yen-to-U.S. dollar mark and remained high throughout the quarter, had a large negative impact on net sales and profits. On top of this, within our businesses, sales of laser printer consumables declined significantly, as they did in the first half of the year, and for cameras, we recorded a 50% decline in compact camera sales. As a result, net sales and profits declined.
In this short video, Canon highlights their trademark red line (though I like the phrase "red ring" better) as an indicator of image quality and professional reliability. Want to know more? See the Canon L Story on Canon Japan's website.
B&H carries Canon L-series lenses.
From Canon:
TOKYO, October 25, 2016—Canon’s initiatives to tackle climate change have been recognized by the international non-profit organization CDP, based in the United Kingdom, earning the Company its first inclusion on the Climate A List.
Since 2003, the CDP has evaluated major companies worldwide on their efforts to tackle climate change. The evaluations are based on information disclosed in response to questions sent to the companies regarding business risks and opportunities associated with greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. In 2016, approximately 6,000 businesses were assessed, of which 500 were Japanese. The evaluation ranks companies on a scale from A to F, with A being the highest, and Canon was declared one of the 193 companies in the world to make the A List.
Under its Action for Green environmental vision, introduced in 2008, Canon set a goal of annually reducing lifecycle CO2 emissions for each product by 3%, and is proactively making efforts through such initiatives as energy-saving activities at manufacturing bases, a modal shift in distribution, reduced energy consumption during product use, product remanufacturing, reusing parts and recycling consumable goods. As a result, in 2015, lifecycle CO2 emissions per product were approximately 30% of those in 2008—successfully achieving an average reduction of approximately 5% a year.
Canon’s Action for Green environmental vision aims to realize a society that promotes both enriched lifestyles and the global environment through technological innovation and improved management efficiency. Throughout the entire product lifecycle—Produce, Use, Recycle—Canon continues to expand activities with its customers and business partners to reduce environmental burden in pursuit of this environmental vision.
by Sean Setters
Let's have some fun this morning with a little guessing game. I photographed the item seen above yesterday in the studio. Here's what I want to know:
- What is the device and what is the device's purpose?
- How was the item lit?
- What post-processing technique was used to create the final look of the image?
For those that frequent the site regularly, the first two answers may be relatively easy to guess. The third [rather vague] question may not be.
Provide your guesses in the comments. I'll post the answers at noon today.
Update: The Reveal
As many of you guessed, the item pictured was indeed a Speedlite flash grid. It was lit using a single, radio triggered Canon 580EX modified with a blue gel. The light was positioned below the grid, but I had to create some distance between the light and the grid so that there would be even illumination across the grid's surface (that's where the glasses come in). I also used a 1-stop ND gel beneath the blue gel to knock down the flash's power even more.
You'll likely also notice the device attached ot the camera. That's my DIY battery operated Wi-Fi tethering solution. With it, I was able to use the DSLR Controller app to capture incrementally focused images used for focus stacking. In all, I combined 65 incrementally focused images in Helicon Focus to achieve the full depth of field I was looking for.
Gear Used
- Canon EOS 7D Mark II
- Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM
- Canon Speedlite 580EX
- Radio Trigger
- Flash Gels (similar product)
EXIF for images: f/32, 1/160 sec. ISO 100
I sharpened the image and brightened the upper half in Photoshop CC.
Sweden's highest court has ruled that unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with onboard cameras are illegal for use in the country's public spaces unless a permit is obtained. In the same ruling, the Supreme Administrative Court found that video recording devices placed in windshields or on bicycles were permissible because the cameras could be controlled locally rather than remotely.
With the US Federal Aviation Administration [generally] loosening restrictions on drone use, it will be interesting to see if Sweden's ruling will be enough to sway other governments to protect personal privacy over personal liberty.
From the Canon Digital Learning Center:
When’s the best time for photography? When others are sleeping.Read the entire article on the Canon Digital Learning Center.Yes, yes, that extra two hours or so in the morning may be tempting. But don’t fall victim to the siren song of sleep – this really is the best time of the day to photograph.
My day trip to Ricketts Glen was carefully planned. A pair of calls to the park office gave me redundant information. Both individuals indicated that the leaves in the falls ravines were going to be peak and one said that the water flow was good (that was necessary for waterfalls of course). This information aligned perfectly with the weather forecast calling for very light wind (enabling flora to remain still for long exposures), heavy cloud cover (keeps lighting low and free of harsh shadows) and light rain likely throughout the day (keeps the crowds at home, out of the frame and provides saturated colors).
After driving 1.5 hours in the fog, I arrived to find ... no wind. The leaves were indeed peak, but they were peak at the top of the mountain – not down in the deep falls ravines. The fog cleared to a mostly sunny sky and my opinion of a good water flow differs greatly from the person I talked to.
Fortunately, there are always great photo opportunities in this park. And, after photographing in the early morning shade for over an hour, the clouds eventually came and were present for a number of hours, creating good light.
Especially high up in the falls trails, there were some good leaves, but ... many of them were on the ground. However, the ground can be a great place to photograph leaves, especially when they are wet from a stream they have fallen into or nearby. During the fall, especially late in the local fall foliage season, look for colorful leaves on the ground that can be worked into an image.
Don't forget to use a circular polarizer filter to reduce glare and increase saturation of these leaves. The Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM Lens was the only lens I used this day. I didn't need a focal length that it didn't contain and the image quality coming from this lens is very impressive.
Fall, my favorite photography season, has just arrived in the northern hemisphere. Just as photographers consider the bookmarks of daylight to be the golden hours, I have a set of golden weeks of the year, bookmarking the leaf season. The beautiful bright light green new foliage (and abundant water flow) of late spring marks one of them. The other is marked by the changing leaf color of late summer/early fall and this one is easily my favorite.
Read our Fall Photography Tips for ideas and inspiration, select a great location, pack some great gear and go capture some portfolio-grade imagery! Whether that foliage is the primary subject or a backdrop to another subject, we are in the golden weeks.
A larger version of this image is available on SmugMug, Flickr, Google+, Facebook and 500px. If reading from a news feed reader, click through to see the framed image. If you find these tips useful, please share them in your circle of friends!
ISO 100
8688 x 5792px
There are few landscape photography locations more popular than Oxbow Bend, near Moran in Grand Teton National Park. This location is especially favored during the week or two in late summer when the aspen trees take on their brilliant fall colors. However, on a calm morning with interesting clouds in the sky, those colors are just icing on the cake.
When the wind dies down, most often early and late in the day, the Oxbow Bend area of the Snake River becomes glassy and only the jumping fish and feeding ducks remain to mar the mirror-like surface of the water. The highlight of this location is Mount Moran along with the other nearby mountain peaks and a telephoto lens best emphasizes distant mountains. I took a few telephoto pics here, but ... I couldn't resist framing the scene wider, including the reflections of the photogenic clouds present on this great morning.
I always say that a great landscape scene can be made greater by reflecting it and I think this theory holds true at Oxbow Bend. Within this theory, vertically centering the top edge of a large reflecting surface (such as a body of water) usually works very well.
Even though there are many dozens of photographers targeting Oxbow Bend at sunrise, there is plenty of room for everyone to find a good shooting location. Schedule your presence here for mid-late September (this image was captured on the 19th) if you want the yellow aspens in your frame.
I'll likely feel compelled to share a few more images captured at this location on this morning.
A larger version of this image is available on SmugMug, Flickr, Google+, Facebook and 500px. If reading from a news feed reader, click through to see the framed image.
ISO 100
6720 x 4480px
From the Jimmy McIntyre YouTube Channel:
You can download my free sharpening action here.
The buttons you see down the left hand side are quick buttons so I can use Photoshop on my Surface Pro without a keyboard.
Download Raya Pro here.
Download the Free Easy Panel here.
- Another Update: Canon RF 100-300mm F2.8 L IS USM Lens In Stock at B&H
- Estimated Availability Dates for the Canon RF-S 10-18mm, RF 24-105mm F2.8, and RF 200-800mm IS Lenses
- Update: B&H Expects Canon RF 100-300mm F2.8 L IS USM Lens Availability on Dec 7th
- Save $200.00 on the Sigma 14mm F1.4 DG DN Art Lens
- Capture One 23 (16.3.2) Released, Including Support for Sony a7C R and a7C II, On Sale for Only $139.00 (Reg. $299.00)
- Hot Canon USA Refurbished Camera Deals Still Available!
- Just Arriving Used Gear at B&H: EOS R3, RF 24-105 F4, RF 24-105 F4-7.1, 28-70, 50 F1.2, 85 F1.2, Alpha 1, a7R V, a7C R, a7C II, a6700, FE 600 F4, More!
- Deal Zone and Other Memory Card Deals, Lensbaby Pro Kits – Half Price
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