Canon and Sony News for Jun 2016
From Eyefi:
To Our Eye-Fi X2 and Earlier Generation Product Customers:
This message is for customers that purchased an Eye-Fi Pro X2 or earlier generation products prior to March 2015. Effective today, June 30th 2016, we will no longer be offering support for our legacy product lines, a complete list of which appears below. This notice formally begins the final stage of the “end-of-life” (EOL) process started in mid-2015 for the affected products. It’s very important that customers cease using these products no later than September 16, 2016 as some key services these products rely on will be shut down at that time. All customers who have a Mobi or Mobi Pro products purchased since 2013 are not affected by this announcement.
We began EOL on these product lines in 2015 largely driven by technological obsolescence of some of the key technologies included in these products. The primary technologies relate to Internet security and authentication mechanisms that were state-of-the-art in 2007 when we built them into our products but have since proven to be vulnerable. Since mid-2015 we have been offering migration services free of charge for Customers who have paid Eyefi Premium accounts. We will continue to offer this service migrating your Eyefi View data to Eyefi Cloud. You can request a migration here. For those customers that wish to use an Eyefi Mobi Pro card in place of their earlier generation products, we have also made a limited quantity available at a deep discount, see details here if you wish to take advantage of this offer.
Please note that we will maintain our customer service Web site and content for all customers. The support site includes detailed explanations for how to accomplish migration to Eyefi Mobi/Mobi Pro and Eyefi Cloud services. We are grateful to all the customers around the world that used Eye-Fi products in the past as well as for our newest customers. The EOL of a product line is always difficult and we have made every effort to minimize the impact of this change on our customers. Thanks for your loyalty and understanding.
LISTING OF IMPACTED PRODUCTS
Customers with Eye-Fi 1.0 product line and Eye-Fi Premium subscriptions will be impacted by this EOL process. Effective September 16, 2016 the following products may no longer operate:
Eye-Fi 1.0 Products:
- All original pre-X2 products (Original, Home, Share, Explore, Video Share, Video Explore, Pro)
- 4GB Geo X2
- 4GB Connect X2
- 8GB Explore X2
- 8GB Mobile X2
- 8GB Pro X2
- 16GB Pro X2
- Visioneer X2
- Sandisk X2
- Eye-Fi Windows desktop software (Eye-Fi Center)
- Eye-Fi Mac desktop software (Eye-Fi Center)
- Eye-Fi app for iOS
- Eye-Fi app for Android
- Eye-Fi Center web app
The Mobi, Mobi Pro and Eyefi Cloud products and applications are unaffected and will remain operational with continued future developments.
Frequently Asked Questions
- I just purchased an X2 card, why isn’t it supported?
Eye-Fi began phasing out sales of the X2 product line in 2012. The last version produced by the company were sold through authorized channels in the United States in March, 2015. Although Eye-Fi stopped shipments of these products via authorized channels, some units were still available from third party sellers and after-market resellers. Eye-Fi’s warranty period for the affected products purchased through our authorized channels has expired. - Will I still be able to create an Eye-Fi Center account after September 16th?
No, you will not be able to create an Eye-Fi Center account or log in to an existing Eye-Fi Center account. - Can I still download and install Eye-Fi Center applications after September 16th?
The Eye-Fi Center applications can be installed, but since account creation and logging in will no longer work, these applications will not be functional. - Will I be able to use my Eye-Fi 1.0 card after September 16, 2016?
Certain functions, such as Direct Mode, may not be directly impacted by our end of life process. If you wish to try Direct Mode you will need to set it up prior to the end of life date. You can find instructions on how to set up direct mode here for Android and here for iOS. Please note that while Direct Mode may not be directly affected, Eye-Fi applications will no longer be updated for operating system updates, and their functionality is not guaranteed - additionally, no support will be provided either for the setup or functionality of Direct Mode.
THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT DIRECT MODE CONFIGURATIONS WILL CONTINUE FUNCTIONING AFTER THE SEPTEMBER 16, 2016 SHUT DOWN.
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Image quality results from the Canon EOS 5Ds R, 1Ds Mark III and 7D Mark II have been added to the Samyang 135mm f/2 ED UMC Lens (also branded as Rokinon, Bower, etc.) page.
You are going to like what you see from this lens, especially for the price. Here are some comparisons:
Samyang 135mm f/2 compared to the Canon EF 135mm f/2L lens
Samyang 135mm f/2 compared to the Zeiss 135mm f/2 lens
A full review of this lens is planned.
B&H has the Samyang 135mm f/2 ED UMC Lens in stock.
If you are a USA resident, I am sure you are keenly aware of the explosive holiday that is approaching. Of course, I'm talking about Independence Day (July 4th) and with it brings an excellent opportunity for festive image making.
As you enjoy the colorful explosions this year, be sure to bring along your camera to capture the action. Here are a few basic tips:
- Arrive early and find out exactly where the fireworks will be setting off from at your chosen location. Use this information to plan your optimal shooting location, keeping in mind various elements that might be used as a background.
- Choose a wider focal length to capture background elements in your fireworks photos; choose telephoto focal length to isolate the explosions. A general purpose zoom works well and allows you to capture a wide range of framings without the need to change lenses.
- Use a sturdy tripod to allow you to capture the fireworks from their lift off point to explosion. The trails leading back from the explosions will help viewers' eyes wonder around the image.
- Bring a shutter release cable for a more relaxed style of shooting. It's easy to enjoy the fireworks from a folding chair and still get compelling images with a cable release trigger in your hand.
- Fireworks Photography Tips
- Creative Fireworks Photography Using Rack Focus (must read!)
- Using Multiple Exposures and Photoshop Blending for Fireworks Photos
And if you plan on shooting off fireworks off this year (or plan on being in close proximity to them), please BE SAFE and enjoy the celebration!
From Sigma:
Thank you for purchasing and using our products.
We would like to announce the availability of a new firmware update for the SIGMA 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM | Sports in Nikon mount and the SIGMA 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM | Contemporary in Nikon mount. This firmware update can be installed using SIGMA Optimization Pro.
The lens firmware update corrects the phenomenon of overexposure when the lens is attached to the SIGMA TELE CONVERTER TC-1401 on Nikon Digital SLR camera “D500”, released by NIKON CORPORATION.
For customers who own the following applicable products and also SIGMA USB DOCK, please update the lens firmwareusing SIGMA Optimization Pro.
For customers who do not own SIGMA USB DOCK, the lens firmware update will be provided free of charge. Please contact your nearest authorized subsidiary/distributor of SIGMA.
Applicable products
- SIGMA 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM | Sports – Nikon mount
- SIGMA 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM | Contemporary - Nikon mount
Benefit of this firmware update
- It has corrected the phenomenon that it shows some overexposure when it is attached with SIGMA TELE CONVERTER TC-1401 on Nikon D500.
* For customers who are using SIGMA Optimization Pro Ver1.1 or earlier, please ensure to update it to Ver1.3 from the Optimization Pro download page before updating the lens firmware.
B&H carries the Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Sports, 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary & USB Dock.
From Nikon:
Changes from Firmware Version 1.0 to 1.1
- Fixed an issue that in rare cases would prevent the camera turning on even when a battery with sufficient charge was inserted.
- Updated some help text.
Download: Nikon COOLPIX A300 Firmware v1.1
From the Google Maps Blog:
Three years ago we introduced a cloud-free mosaic of the world in Google Earth. Today we’re rolling out an even more beautiful and seamless version, with fresh imagery from Landsat 8 satellite and new processing techniques for sharper images than ever before. Satellite images are often cloudy, but not always over the same place, so we looked at millions of images and took the clearest pixels to stitch together this cloud-free and seamless image.Higher Quality Imagery
Landsat 8, which launched into orbit in 2013, is the newest sensor in the USGS/NASA Landsat Program—superior to its predecessors in many ways. Landsat 8 captures images with greater detail, truer colors, and at an unprecedented frequency—capturing twice as many images as Landsat 7 does every day. This new rendition of Earth uses the most recent data available -- mostly from Landsat 8 -- making it our freshest global mosaic to date.
Our previous mosaic used imagery from Landsat 7 only, which at the time was the best imagery of its kind. Unfortunately, Landsat 7 images captured after 2003 were affected by a hardware failure, resulting in large diagonal gaps of missing data You can see this effect in the subsets of two Landsat 7 images captured over Oklahoma City, OK, in 2000 and 2003.
Processing imagery with Earth Engine
To produce this new imagery, we used the same publicly available Earth Engine APIs that scientists use to do things like track global tree cover, loss, and gain; predict Malaria outbreaks; and map global surface water over a 30 year period.
Like our previous mosaic, we mined data from nearly a petabyte of Landsat imagery—that’s more than 700 trillion individual pixels—to choose the best cloud-free pixels. To put that in perspective, 700 trillion pixels is 7,000 times more pixels than the estimated number of stars in the Milky Way Galaxy, or 70 times more pixels than the estimated number of galaxies in the Universe.
Open data is good for everyone
This update was made possible in a large part thanks to the Landsat program and its commitment to free and accessible open data. Landsat, a joint program of the USGS and NASA, has observed the Earth continuously from 1972 to the present day and offers a wealth of information on the changes to the Earth's surface over time. And it's all available in Earth Engine!
The new imagery is now available across all our mapping products. To check it out, open up Google Earth, or turn on the satellite layer in Google Maps.
Post authored by: Chris Herwig, Program Manager, Google Earth Engine
From Canon USA:
YouTube Personality and Actress Gave the Crowd at VidCon 2016 a Sneak Peek At What Makes Her a Rebel With A Cause
MELVILLE, N.Y., June 29, 2016 – Anna Akana and Canon U.S.A., Inc., together announced that Akana will become the latest personality featured in the "Rebel With A Cause" initiative, which celebrates 25 years since the introduction of Canon's first EOS Rebel SLR camera. Following in the footsteps of American daredevil Nik Wallenda and GRAMMY Award winning record producer Swizz Beatz, Akana, a strong proponent of anti-bullying and suicide prevention, will be featured in a video dedicated to her own unique cause, debuting in September.
"As someone who loves creating comedic content with a message, I'm excited to be partnering with Canon as their next Rebel With A Cause," said actress and filmmaker Anna Akana. "The cause I'm advocating is one that hits home for me, and I'm very passionate about creating awareness and effecting change however I can."
In 1990, the iconic "Image is Everything" campaign introduced the Canon EOS Rebel, an SLR camera born with a cause — to put the power of pro photography into the hands of the public and level the playing field forever. Twenty-five years later, Canon launched "Rebel With A Cause," embarking on a journey to follow modern day rebels who challenge convention in their own unique way, capturing their causes through the eye of a Canon EOS Rebel T6i DSLR camera. "Rebel With A Cause" invites people into their worlds to celebrate the imagery that makes their causes shine and motivate others to join their movements.
"Canon has been a leader in the industry for years and partnering with a content creator is something that just comes as a natural fit for our 'Rebel With A Cause' campaign," said Yuichi Ishizuka, president and COO, Canon U.S.A., Inc. "Anna embodies the Canon mentality of creating inspiring content and we're excited to share that passion with someone who is a positive role model for young creators today."
Canon will conclude the year-long "Rebel With A Cause" program in October with a consumer Rebel, whose cause will be chosen from the recently closed contest searching for the next great inspiration. In addition to a cash prize, the winner will have the opportunity to bring their cause to life with a documentary production, similar to those of the previous Rebels.
To learn more about "Rebel With A Cause", which was shot entirely on the EOS Rebel T6i DSLR camera, visit:
http://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog/rebelwithacause
Want to know more about Canon's Rebel-series lineup? Learn all you need to know right here.
B&H carries Canon Rebel-series cameras.
From the Federal Aviation Administration:
KEEP YOUR DRONE AWAY FROM WILDFIRES
There are lots of great places to fly your drones, but over or near a wildfire isn’t one of them. In fact, drone operators who interfere with wildfire suppression efforts are subject to civil penalties of up to $27,500 and possible criminal prosecution.
Here’s why it’s important: Aerial firefighting aircraft, such as airtankers and helicopters, fly at very low altitudes, just a couple hundred feet above the ground and in the same airspace as hobby and recreational drones. This creates the potential for a mid-air collision that could seriously injure or kill wildland firefighters in the air or on the ground.
As a result of unlawful drone operations near fires this year, fire managers have temporarily grounded all aerial firefighting aircraft on several occasions for safety reasons. Shutting down firefighting operations could cause wildfires to become larger and can threaten lives, property, and valuable natural and cultural resources.
The bottom line is “If You Fly, We Can’t."
Please fly responsibly – keep your drone away from wildfires.
Looking for great access to photograph a car race? Your local dirt track may hold that key for you. Sprint car racing and other dirt track events provide great photography experiences with typically easy access and lots of freedom. Check out the Dirt Track Racing Photography Tips page to learn much more about this topic.
The 1D X Mark II and EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II make a great combo for this event.
A larger version of this image is available on 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!
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Learn out to create a photo booth with Raspberry Pi!
Learn more about Raspberry Pi components here.
From Nikon:
Changes from Version 1.2.1 to 1.2.2
- Upload of MP4 files to NIKON IMAGE SPACE is now supported.
- Fixed the following issue:
- The Convert Files option in ViewNX-i would produce solid gray images when applied to photos shot with the D500 and later processed using the Fisheye option in Capture NX-D.
Download: ViewNX-i v.1.2.2
From Western Digital:
IRVINE, Calif., June 28, 2016 – Western Digital Corporation (NASDAQ: WDC) today announced the launch of its My Passport Ultra, and upcoming My Passport for Mac and My Passport Ultra Metal portable hard drives, with up to 4TB capacity, filling the need for people to physically carry massive personal collections of videos, photos and other content with them, in a device roughly the size of a smartphone. The perfect blend of style and functionality, these My Passport portable hard drives meet the needs of today’s consumers with features people love like easy-to-use backup software, password protection and portable style in multiple colors, coupled with USB 3.0 connectivity.
Perfect for students, business people and general consumers on-the-go who prefer to carry their device with them, these My Passport portable hard drives are dependable, with easy-to-use WD Backup automatic backup software1 with cloud-ready Dropbox integration and 256-bit AES hardware encryption with password protection to help safeguard against unauthorized drive access. With these My Passport drives, it's now easier than ever to have a content protection plan that fits everyone’s busy life.
“The increasingly mobile lifestyle has consumers capturing their lives with smartphones and high-resolution cameras, growing their personal content collections and creating demand for even more storage capacity,” says Sven Rathjen, vice president of marketing, content solutions, Western Digital. “At WD, we’re committed to providing our consumers with space to take their digital lives with them through high-capacity and high-quality devices.”
Pricing and Availability
My Passport Ultra 4TB portable hard drives have a 3-year limited warranty and are available now at select retailers and distributors. The My Passport Ultra 4TB hard drive has a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price of $159.99. The My Passport for Mac and My Passport Ultra Metal 4TB hard drives will be available next quarter.
B&H carries the My Passport Ultra 4TB hard drives.
From Canon USA:
MELVILLE, N.Y., June 28, 2016 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, today announced that the Canon Hollywood Professional Technology & Support Center currently located at 6060 Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood, Calif., will be relocating to 3400 West Olive Ave., Burbank, Calif.
In this new central location, Canon will greatly enhance its already award-winning service and support to further assist the growing number of professional filmmakers and broadcast production clients in Southern California. The Burbank facility will also serve as a hub for product training, educational events, expedited repairs and hands-on technical support for Canon's business partners, rental houses and professional clients.
"Since our 2011 launch of Cinema EOS, Canon has been steadfastly committed to exceeding the high expectations of our professional clients in the production community. With this new facility, we reinforce that commitment to our professional imaging clients as well as our investment to support film and broadcast production. In Burbank, we will support our clients' productivity through a dynamic mix of product evaluation and testing, training, industry events and expedited repairs," said Yuichi Ishizuka, president and COO, Canon U.S.A., Inc. "Additionally, our new Burbank location will be yet another extension of Canon Professional Services' powerful support network for the region's professional photojournalists, fashion, studio, commercial and sports photographers."
The approximate date for completion of the move is early 2017.
Image quality results from the Canon EOS 5Ds R, Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III and Canon EOS 7D Mark II have been added to the Samyang 14mm f/2.8 Lens (also branded as Rokinon, Bower, etc.) page.
The first comparison I wanted to see was the Samyang 14mm f/2.8 vs. the Canon 14mm f/2.8 L II Lens. The second was the Samyang 14mm f/2.8 vs. the Zeiss 15mm f/2.8 Lens. While the Samyang comes up short of these other two lenses from an images quality standpoint, it is a FAR lower-priced lens. Stopped down modestly, many are going to find the lower price to more than offset the modestly lower image quality. Especially those who only infrequently need a focal length this wide will find the Samyang a very attractive option.
A full review of the Samyang 14 is planned for the near future.
B&H has the Samyang 14mm f/2.8 Lens in stock. Note that the Nikon mount version of this lens is $50 more expensive than the Canon mount version, apparently due to the addition of a focus confirmation chip. Prices for other mounts vary.
From Canon:
Thank you for using Canon products.
It has been confirmed that when shooting still images with the EOS-1D X Mark II digital SLR camera launched in April 2016 with SanDisk CFast cards, the following phenomenon will occur. We would like to offer our sincere apologies to users who have been inconvenienced by this issue.
Phenomenon
If a SanDisk CFast card is inserted into the camera or a card reader, the bottom part of still images recorded may be corrupted. This phenomenon is confirmed in images recorded in both the RAW and JPEG formats.
- In the RAW file, the image corruption may appear in the bottom right corner of the image.
- In the JPEG file, the image corruption may appear in the lower third area of the image.
Please Note:
- Movie recording is not affected by this phenomenon.
- Still images or movies recorded to CF cards are not affected by this phenomenon.
Cause
This phenomenon is caused by SanDisk CFast cards. The camera does not cause this phenomenon.
Affected Products
Image corruption may be experienced with the cards listed below*:
- SanDisk Extreme PRO CFast2.0 64GB (SDCFSP-064G-xxx)
- SanDisk Extreme PRO CFast2.0 128GB (SDCFSP-128G-xxx)
- SanDisk Extreme PRO CFast2.0 64GB (SDCFSP-064G-xxxA)
- SanDisk Extreme PRO CFast2.0 128GB (SDCFSP-128G-xxxA)
- SanDisk Extreme PRO CFast2.0 64GB (SDCFSP-064G-xxxB)
- SanDisk Extreme PRO CFast2.0 128GB (SDCFSP-128G-xxxB)
* The “xxx” at the end of the product number varies depending on the sales region.
Market Support
Although it has been confirmed that this phenomenon is caused by SanDisk CFast cards, to prevent the occurrence of this phenomenon, Canon is considering releasing camera firmware on the Web for a download service in early July.
We would like to apologize for the inconvenience, but we would like to ask our customers to refrain from using SanDisk CFast cards when shooting still images until the new camera firmware becomes available.
Workaround
It is our understanding that image files of 16MB or larger recorded immediately before the camera’s power is turned off may become corrupted. Below are the methods available to help avoid image corruption when powering off the camera:
The Camera can be powered off in four ways:
- When the power switch is set to OFF
- When the card slot cover is opened
- When the power is turned off due to the Auto Power Off setting
- When the battery is removed
Before powering the camera off, please take extra shots because the extra shots taken immediately before the camera is powered off may experience the corruption and not the images taken before the extra shots were taken.
The table below shows the most popular file types used and how many extra shots are recommended.
| File Size (Approx.) | How many extra shots do I need to take in order to meet the 16MB or larger requirement? |
| [RAW] 23.2MB | 1 |
| [JPEG] L:6.2MB | 3 |
| [JPEG] M1:4.3MB | 4 |
| [JPEG] M2:3.4MB | 5 |
| [JPEG] S:2.2MB | 8 |
Thank you,
Customer Support Operations
Canon U.S.A., Inc.
From Cactus:
Go high-speed sync! Cactus launches the V6 II, a newest version of its popular Wireless Flash Transceiver to add cross-brand HSS and the V6 IIs, a dedicated Sony version.
Hong Kong, June Hong Kong, June 24, 2016 – After two years in the making, Cactus V6 II & IIs - the second generation of the World’s First cross-brand wireless flash transceiver, NOW supports high-speed synchronisation (HSS)! Besides the revolutionary remote power control of Canon, Fujifilm, Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic and Pentax flashes all at the same time, the new models now support HSS / FP mode in the same cross-brand environment.1 This unique function gives photographers flexibility undreamed of. Matching flashes with same camera system for off-camera flash photography is over.
Two High-Speed Sync Modes
- 1. Normal HSS: Supports shutter speed up to 1/8000s.
- 2. Power Sync: Boosts flash contribution above camera’s x-sync speed, perfect
- for extreme conditions where Normal HSS is not powerful enough.
AF-assist
Both the V6 II and IIs now has an automatic LED AF-assist light that makes autofocusing in dark environments possible – even in pitched-black! Besides the cameramounted V6 II/IIs, off-camera units will also activate the AF-assist light, which helps focusing even when camera is far from the subject.
V6 IIs for Sony
The dedicated Sony version – V6 IIs, embodies all the desirable functions of its sibling V6 II but with a Sony compatible hot shoe on the transceiver body, ensuring a seamless and secured connection with Sony cameras and flashes. Mounting the V6 IIs on a Sony Alpha camera allows the photographer to shoot above camera’s maximum x-sync speed and control power and zoom of Sony, including those with a Minolta/Sony hot shoe via an adapter, and other V6 II compatible flashes. 4 It is the perfect wireless flash trigger for existing and new users of Sony Alpha cameras, especially those who may still have non-Sony system flashes in their camera bags.
Highly Intelligent
V6 II and IIs can now auto-detect the on-camera portable flashes at device start-up by selecting the system the flash belongs to and assigning an Auto flash profile.
Similarly, the V6 II will auto-detect the camera and selects the system accordingly. This simple plug-and-play makes the setting up extremely quick and easy that both amateurs and professionals appreciate.
Expands Flash Compatibility
Remote zoom control now applies to all compatible TTL flashes, gives the photographer much quicker controls. Better still, previously unsupported digital TTL flash models on the V6 are now being supported.
Features at a Glance
- Cross-brand wireless manual power and zoom control with HSS support of Canon, Fujifilm, Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic, Pentax and Sony flashes;
- Two cross-brand high-speed sync modes:
- Normal HSS supports shutter speeds up to 1/8000s;
- Power Sync boosts flash contribution above camera’s Power Sync x-sync speed;
- Multi-master supports up to 20 photographers firing the same set of flashes at their own power settings;
- AF-assist light assist light assist light assists focusing in low light environment;
- Flash profile customization ensures accurate power Flash profile customization output;
- Work seamlessly with the RF60 series to support HSS Work seamlessly with the RF60 series and Power Sync;
- Other useful features inherited from the V6 useful features inherited from the V6 useful features inherited from the V6 including:
- Low Power
- Absolute Power
- TTL Pass-through
- Group Sequence
- Sport Shutter
- Remote Shutter
- Relay Mode
- Delay Mode
- Firmware Update support
Cactus V6 II and IIs are currently scheduled to be available in 2016 July and August respectively and both are priced at US$95.00 (ex VAT).
B&H carries the original Cactus V6 Flash Transceivers.
B&H has uploaded additional Optic 2016 event presentations to YouTube. Below is a list of the presentations availalbe.
Newly Available Presentations
- Photographing the Brown Bears of Alaska with David Cardinal (above)
- Walk on the Wild Side - Adventure and Wildlife Photography with Ron Magill
- Night Visions of National Parks
- Small, Medium, Large with Katrin Eismann
- Dance Photography in the Streets with Omar Z Robles
- Photography as a Conservation Tool with Ron Magill
- Capturing Culture with Erika Larsen
- Travel Light - Take Great Pictures with Katrin Eismann
- Traveling Light with Mirrorless with Krista Rossow
Previously Posted Presentations
- Photography After Dark with Roman Kurywczak
- Capturing the World as You See It, and Using Visual Narrative to Tell Your Story
- Advanced Travel Photography with Brenda Tharp
- Essentials of Creative Composition in Landscape Photography with Robert Rodriguez Jr.
- Africa - the Ultimate Photo Safari with Ron Magill
- Photographing the Brown Bears of Alaska with David Cardinal
- Wildlife Photography in the Digital Age with Ralph Lee Hopkins
- Transforming Central Park with Sara Cedar Miller
- A Paradigm Shift in the World of Bird Photography
- How to Think Like an Editor with Krista Rossow
- Insight into Two Generations of Master Artists with John Paul and Paul Caponigro
- Seeing Beyond Traditional Travel Images with Ira Block
- Photographing Whales and Marine Life with Flip Nicklin
- Somewhere over the Chromatic Rainbow with Vincent Versace
- Black and White Mastery with John Paul Caponigro
Want to know more about DLSR infrared conversions? Look no further!
I've had my LifePixel IR-converted EOS 7D for about 8 months now and I've used it substantially over that time. An IR-converted camera has been an inspiring tool to have at-hand, and I've been able to create intriguing imagery that I never would have been able to create otherwise.
Check out our Infrared Camera Conversion by LifePixel Review for an overview of IR photography and how LifePixel can help you create unique imagery. [Sean]
The Canon EOS-1D X Mark II is an amazing camera, but I continue to use the Canon EOS 5Ds R a considerable percentage of the time. The primary benefit of the 5Ds R is its incredibly high resolution. Lighter weight, especially without the battery grip installed, is another advantage.
When planning my fawn photography trip to Big Meadows in Shenandoah National Park, I expected the higher resolution to be my preference and packed a pair of 5Ds R bodies along with many spare batteries. I also packed the 1D X Mark II, with expectations for this camera being more for additional in-the-field experience in support of the currently published review.
The Big Meadows meadow is thick with vegetation. Thick patches of thigh-high briars are found throughout and grass covers much of the balance of the meadow area. The grass is not exceptionally thick, but it sends stems and seed heads up rather high and there are few openings void of the tall grass.
While somewhat attractive, these seed heads create problem. The fawns are short – shorter than the grasses. While the fawn may be easily visible, a very high percentage of my fawn photos include a grass across an eye or blocking enough of the fawn's face to detract significantly from the image. With the sun at my back, the ideal lighting for wildlife photography, the grasses created shadows directly on the fawns and the shadows were just as detracting as the grasses themselves, creating double trouble. With careful timing, images could be captured when the fawn passes between the grasses. That is if the fawn was moving slowly and if the wind wasn't blowing.
The problem was that the fawns were seldom still or moving slowly and the grasses move in even the lightest wind, making accurate timing nearly impossible and even challenging with the fawn standing still. Compounding the problem was that grasses close to the camera were not so visible in the viewfinder, but they still contributed to a noticeable contrast reduction in the image. There are a lot of things to concentrate on when photographing a randomly moving animal (focus point selection to mention one) without having to keep track of blowing grasses and their shadows. Shooting from a higher position than ideal (ideal being level with the subject) was often helpful in getting above some of the grasses, but ... the 1D X Mark II's fast frame rate delivered a much greater number of keeper images than the 5Ds R was capturing.
Capturing images at 14 fps, there was often the right combination of body and grass positions in at least one of the frames from a burst. Or, subsequent frames captured so quickly could potentially allow portions of one image to be composited with the other, such as for removing an offending blade of grass.
I'm not sure if this fawn was playing or experimenting with a new food, but it was adorable for sure. I held the shutter release down for the short period of time it was holding the branch in its mouth. While I captured well over a dozen images, only one image gave me a clear view of the fawn's head.
Grass was my #1 nemesis in Big Meadows and was responsible for the delete button being pressed on thousands of images, but the 1D X II ensured that there were plenty of great shots remaining in the keeper folder.
Overall, the success of my three days in Shenandoah National Park was largely due to the 1D X II's capabilities. Even when the grass interfered visually, I was impressed at how adept the Canon EOS-1D X Mark II was at focusing on the fawn. Foreground obstructions are notorious for grabbing AF's attention, but very frequently the 1D X II figured out that the fawn was the real subject and remained locked onto it.
A larger version of this image is available on 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!
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Just posted: Droll Yankee B72 Executive Wild Bird Feeder Review.
This feeder has been bear-tested.
Amazon has the Droll Yankee B72 Executive Wild Bird Feeder in stock.
The Ben Franklin Bridge in Philadelphia, PA has been on my to-photograph list for a long time and earlier this year, I was technically able to check this attraction off of my list (I decided to keep it on the list for images from a different angle).
Having not been to this location before (aside from driving across the bridge), I needed some daylight time to scout for the evening's photos. I knew the basics of the area based on my research, but onsite finalization of the plan is usually needed. Even though very far from the bay and roughly 90mi (150km) from the Atlantic Ocean, this location on the Delaware River is tidal. I knew that there was a tide and that the tide would be going out during my shooting time (incoming tides require more concern). What I didn't know was the significance of the water level change. My scouting determined that locations close to the early evening water appeared best and I had lots of flowing water in the foreground for the image I envisioned.
As prime time approached, I watched the water level rapidly decrease a significant amount until my side of the river became nearly empty. There was nothing I could do about the situation and I was not about to attempt walking out into the quicksand-like muck. As photographers must always be ready to do, I embraced what I had to work with. The good news is that, as the water level dropped far enough, I had wet mud and pools of water that nicely reflected the bridge and city, creating a look that I may like even better than the image I had visualized.
On a good day, Philadelphia is an over-3-hour drive for me. The ideal time of the day to photograph the city lights with at least a little color in the sky is only a small fraction of that time duration. Life is busy and when it comes to good images, more is rarely worse than less. If you are a professional photographer, you count on your images for your income. If your primary income is not generated by photography, you probably cannot spend as must time in the field as you wish. To maximize your image volume relative to effort expended, perhaps close to a doubling effect, run two complete camera setups.
If you read my Canon EOS 80D review, you saw an image showing one angle of the Ben Franklin bridge. With a very short period of time to capture images and each image taking approximately a minute to capture (a 15-30-second exposure followed immediately by a same-length long exposure noise reduction process), having at least a second complete camera and tripod setup nearly doubled my images for this evening. While the 80D and Canon EF-S 18-135mm IS USM came out of the MindShift Gear BackLight 26L later in the evening, I mostly used the 5Ds R and EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II on a Gitzo GT3542LS with an Arca-Swiss Z1, set up close to the bridge.
About 100' (33m) to the north, I had another 5Ds R mounted to an EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM Lens on an Gitzo GT1542T Traveler with an Acratech GP-s Ball Head as my second primary camera and lens combination.
I very frequently utilize a pair of cameras when shooting landscapes and cityscapes before sunrise, after sunset or even when working with strong neutral density filters under bright sunlight. The process is simple. I find a unique composition for each camera. Upon finishing one camera's setup and triggering the shutter release, I run to the other camera (well, I sort-of ran and stumbled over the big rocks in this case) and did the same. By the time I return to the first camera, it is usually finished or nearly finished with its processing. I quickly evaluate the image captured, make any adjustments I feel are warranted and repeat the process.
If running two camera setups not immediately within reach, safety for the gear must be considered. I wouldn't call the area below the Camden, NJ side of the Ben Franklin Bridge the safest I've been in. It was dark, there were no other people around and I kept a very close eye on the second camera setup, watching for anyone sketchy approaching. Having the cameras setup this far apart gave me very different perspectives of the bridge and city vs. simply different framing of the same perspective. The 5Ds R would permit strong cropping to achieve a similar framing adjustment, so I wanted something completely different from the second camera.
With so many images that I like captured that evening, I struggled to pick out one to share (part of the problem of having perfectionist tendencies). Three months later, I forced myself to pick one. This was it. Hope you like it and hope even more that you can increase the number of great images that you capture.
A larger version of this image is available on Flickr, Google+, Facebook and 500px. If reading from a news feed reader, click through to see the framed image.
ISO 400
5792 x 8688px
From Reuters:
Canon Inc. Chief Executive Fujio Mitarai said on Friday he was "very dismayed" by Britain's shock decision to leave the European Union, saying the move hurt Japan's economic growth prospects."In Japan, while we can expect to see a temporary surge in the value of the yen, the U.K.'s decision could also bring a halt to the economic recovery that had been underway," Mitarai, head of the camera and printer maker, said in a statement.
"We look to the Japanese government to implement strong monetary measures."
Europe accounted for 28 percent of Canon's sales in 2015, although it does not provide details by country.
(Reporting by Ritsuko Ando; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
The Tamron TAP-in Console User's Manual (PDF) is now available for download.
The TAP-in Console allows lens owners to update lens firmware and adjust settings of compatible Tamron lenses.
Compatible Lenses
- SP 35mm f/1.8 Di VC USD
- SP 45mm f/1.8 Di VC USD
- SP 85mm f/1.8 Di VC USD
- SP 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro 1:1 VC USD
B&H carries the Tamron TAP-in Console.
From Nikon:
TOKYO - Nikon Corporation announced delays in the release of new digital cameras and the effects of the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes in a press release dated April 20, 2016. The following is an update on the release of the new COOLPIX A900 and B700 compact digital cameras (announced on February 23, 2016).
On April 20, we announced that release of the COOLPIX A900 and B700 would be delayed until July as more time was required for software adjustment. However, due to the effects of the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes, release of these cameras is now scheduled for October 2016.
We sincerely apologize to our customers, business partners, and all those who have expressed interest in these models for the delays.
B&H has the Nikon COOLPIX A900 and B700 available for preorder.
From Nikon:
Changes from Version 2.23.0 to 2.23.1
Added support for D5 firmware C version 1.10, including the following features:
- Dynamic-area AF (9 points)
- Electronic VR
- Flicker reduction
- Movies with files sizes over 4 GB
Download: Camera Control Pro 2 v.2.23.1
- 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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