Canon and Sony News for Nov 2016

From the LensRentals Blog:

Author: Roger Cicala

I like to start articles by stating my expectations, because, like everyone, my expectations going in color my opinion after seeing the results. Given Canon’s recent series of home-run lens upgrades, I expected the Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 IS II would be a superb lens. I was particularly expecting improvement at 105mm, which was the weak point of the original lens.

And, I usually put my conclusions at the start of an article so those of you who don’t like MTF graphs and spirited discussion about optical results don’t have to scroll down to the bottom. The new Mk II version is a bit better than the original version, but I was expecting a lot more. I wouldn’t rush out and upgrade from the 24-105mm f/4 IS if your goal is amazingly better optics. There may be other reasons to do so, but optics is not it.

Announced in September, Samyang's PREMIUM lens lineup will officially be known as "XP" lenses and will be available starting in December.

From the Samyang Optics Facebook Account:

Samyang Optics just announced the global availability and price of its long-awaited premium lens line-up, Samyang XP 14mm F2.4 and 85mm F1.2!

This series is known for its excellence in performance with unprecedented resolving power, matched with 50 megapixels photo and 8K video productions.

The lenses are available in Canon mount and will be on the market from December. The recommended retail price is EUR 949.00.

B&H has just informed us that they are preparing to carry Really Right Stuff products including the brand's very popular tripod lineup.

B&H is still creating the content for the product pages linked above (images to be loaded soon). But rest assured, it won't be long before your favorite RRS gear will be in stock at the nation's largest photography supply center.

Preorders are available now.

From the Canon Professional Network:

The EOS-1D X Mark II has won rave reviews since its launch back in February 2016 and to help users get more from its incredibly advanced focusing system, Canon has produced a handy downloadable AF Setting Guidebook for smartphone and tablets.

According to the Egami Blog, Canon has submitted a patent for a curved sensor designed to reduce peripheral darkening of the image (vignetting).

• Patent Publication No. 2016-197663
• Published 2016.11.24
• Filing date 2015.4.3
• The central portion of the light falloff is not noticeable to the flat shape
• The periphery light falloff is noticeable a curved shape

Canon has issued a number of DSLR firmware updates to address a lens correction profile bug relating to the EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM.

From the Canon EOS 6D firmware update:

Corrects a phenomenon in which when using the camera with the EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM lens, even if lens aberration correction is set to "Enable", correction will not be applied.

From the TIME YouTube Channel:

We don't know their names, nor the photographer who immortalized them, but these men lunching 800 feet up show the daredevil spirit behind Manhattan's vertical expansion.

From Canon USA:

Firmware Version 1.0.3 incorporates the following fixes and improvements:

• Corrects a phenomenon in which the color of images varies depending on the metering mode selected during flash shooting.
• Improves the reliability of communication when using the EF1.4X III or EF2X III extender.
• Corrects the level display when the camera is held in the vertical orientation with the hand grip pointing downward.
• Improves the reliability of communication via USB cable when using the Lens Data Registration function with EOS Utility 3.

Firmware Version 1.0.3 is for cameras with firmware Version 1.0.2 or earlier. If your camera's firmware is already Version 1.0.3, it is not necessary to update the firmware. When updating the firmware of your camera, please review the instructions thoroughly before you update the firmware. The firmware update takes approximately 4 minutes.

Download: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV Firmware Version 1.0.3

B&H has the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV in stock.

From Kickstarter:

GearEye is a smart gear management system for on-the-go professionals. It enables you to manage your equipment through thick and thin: organization, tracking, and making sure you always have everything you need whether at home or on the job. GearEye is a game-changer for anything from the smallest messenger bag to the largest camera suitcase.

The bond between professionals and their work equipment is special: anyone who’s experienced this can tell you that there are few things worse than losing your essential gear. We’ve been there too, and that’s why we created a system to put an end to this problem. Simply place the RFID GearTag on your gear, and voilá! Everything in your bag can now be easily accounted for, with a simple tap on your smartphone.

GearEye is more than just a safety net: it enables you to organize your most important equipment into gig specific groups - so that you always have exactly what you need when you need it. This way, you can quickly and easily make sure you have what you need for today’s studio session (not last week’s beach shoot).

Learn more on Kickstarter.

Image quality results have been added to the Sigma 12-24mm f/4 DG HSM Art Lens Review.

We'll be loading 1Ds III results for this lens soon, but here is the comparison to the Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 DG II HSM Lens, the 12-24 Art's predecessor, using the 5Ds R.

The Sigma 12-24 f/4 Art Lens vs. the Canon 11-24mm f/4L Lens was the first comparison on my list. All of the facts you need to know are not in yet, but ... would you pay $1,200.00 USD more for the Canon than the Sigma based on this comparison? Let us know what you think in the comments.

B&H has the Sigma 12-24mm f/4 DG HSM Art Lens in stock.

From the Kaiman Wong YouTube Channel:

After 7 years of working on DigitalRev TV, this is me officially checking out.

For the purposes of this post, we're going to assume that the friend, family member or loved one on your gift list already has camera, lens and a general purpose tripod (although more is always better!). With those items covered, below are a few items that can help augment just about any photographer's kit (even your own, if Santa leaves a bit of cash under the tree).

General Photography Accessories

The following tools are designed to augment a photographer's creative possibilities, protect his/her gear or simply make the life of being a photographer easier.

• Memory Card
• SDXC
• CompactFlash
• CFast 2.0
• Memory Card Case
• UV, Polarizing and/or Neutral Density Filter
• LenzBuddy Rear Lens Caps
• Feisol TT-15 Mini Carbon Fiber Tabletop Tripod
• Datacolor SpyderLensCal Autofocus Calibration Aid
• Droll Yankee B72 Executive Wild Bird Feeder (great for attracting feathered subjects)
• Camera Strap
• BlackRapid
• Peak Design
• Spider
• Custom SLR
• Sun-Sniper
• Joby
• Rain Sleeve
• Walkstool Comfort Folding Stool
• Sensor Cleaning Supplies
• Photography Gear Bag or Case
• Camera Trigger
• Miops Camera Trigger
• Triggertrap Mobile
• Canon W-E1 Wi-Fi Adapter or Nikon Wireless Mobile Adapter
• Timer Remote Switch
• Wired Remote Switch

Lighting Accessories

At its core, photography is all about capturing light. Being able to add light to or modify the existing light in a scene allows for the ultimate means of creative expression.

• Flash
• Studio Strobe
• Radio Flash Trigger
• Light Stand
• Light Modifiers (Flash / Studio)
• Spiffy Gear Light Blaster Strobe Based Projector
• Collapisble Reflector
• Studio Background

Photography Novelties

As if the EOS 5D Mark IV and EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM hanging around your neck weren't enough to inform others of your chosen profession/hobby, there's always the following:

• Photography Cuff Links
• Camera Tie Clip
• Photographer Wristband
• Camera Lens Mug
• Replica Crystal Camera

Do you have any suggestions for accessories that we failed to mention? Let us know in the comments.

Our friends at Think Tank Photo have announced two holiday special offers on their award-winning camera bags. The first is their Outlet Center, which is chock full of huge discounts. And second, through December 31st, whenever you buy a Think Tank rolling camera bag you will receive Road Warrior Kit for free. The Road Warrior Kit features 10 Red Whips cable ties, a Cable Management 10 pouch, an AA Battery Holder and a Travel Pouch. That’s $54.50 worth of accessories FREE!

And don’t forget, with our special relationship with Think Tank you will also receive a free gift and free shipping when you use our special URLs on an order of $50.00 or more.

According to the Egami Blog, Nikon has submitted a patent for a Cross-type AF system using a two-layer sensor.

Patent Details

• Patent Publication No. 2016-192645
• Published 2016.11.10
• Filing date 2015.3.31
• 2-layer sensor
• Phase difference detection direction of the first imaging device and the second imaging element differs
• The second imaging device receives the complementary color wavelength components

From Nikon:

Capture NX-D 1.4.3

Changes from Version 1.4.2 to 1.4.3

• Added support for the D5600.
• Added a Size of Text and Icon option to Preferences > View.
• Preferences > Open With Application now offers the following Conversion Format options for images opened using the selected application: JPEG, TIFF (8 Bit), and TIFF (16 Bit).
• The print dialog now offers Use thumbnail data (draft mode) and Specify color profile options.
• The Print information item in the print dialog now offers User Comment and Lens options.
• Fixed the following issues:
• Adjustments saved using the Register Updated Adjustments option in the Adjustments section of the Edit panel would not be correctly applied if the saved adjustments were selected after Capture NX-D was restarted.
• NEF (RAW) images saved to NAS could not be edited.
• The colors in images opened in Capture NX-D would differ from those of images opened in other applications such as Capture NX 2 or View NX 2.

Download: Capture NX-D 1.4.3

Changes from Version 1.2.3 to 1.2.4

• Added support for the D5600.
• Print > Advanced Print Information Settings now offers a Lens option.
• The colors of the Map pins have been changed to make them easier to see.
• The Convert Files and Contact Sheet options, formerly accessed via Export in the output bar, have been given their own icons.
• The KeyMission 360/170 Utility can now be launched from the output bar.
• Photos and movies shot with the KeyMission 360 are now identified with different icons.
• Fixed an issue that sometimes resulted in the Folder Naming option not being applied when sub-folders were created in the destination folder for the Convert Files option.

Download: ViewNX-i 1.2.4

Changes from Version 2.2.1 to 2.2.2

• Added support for the D5600.

Download: Picture Control Utility 2.2.2

Changes from Version 2.23.1 to 2.24.0

• Added support for the D5600.
• Added support for Custom Setting d3: Limit release mode selection on D5 cameras.
• The lens type (G, E, D, etc.) for lenses mounted on an FT1 is no longer included in the lens name when a Nikon 1 V3 camera is connected.
• Fixed an issue that resulted in type E lenses mounted on Nikon digital SLR cameras being listed as type G.

Download: Camera Control Pro 2.24.0