Canon and Sony News for Jan 2018

From Skylum:

Luminar 2018 1.1.1 version for Windows:

• Added support for the following languages:
• English
• German
• Spanish
• French
• Portugal
• Chinese
• Korean
• Russian
• Japanese
• Added shift + scroll hotkey for brush size adjustment
• Curves filter improved
• Merge layers feature released
• Saving cropped image to document issue fixed
• Fixed several issues with Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom plugins usage
• Sidebar UX improvements

Luminar 2018 version 1.1.1 for MAC:

• Fixed issues with Photos Extension
• RAW Develop support improved, added Leica Monochrome .DNG , HEIC formats, fixed support for Hasselblad and several other cameras.
• Fixed several issues with Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom plugins usage
• Fixed issue with Dodge & Burn mask from documents created on Windows

The update is completely free to all Luminar 2018 users, and here is the instruction how to get it:

On Mac: Please, launch Luminar 2018, on the Top Menu Bar choose Luminar 2018 > Check for updates.
On Windows: Please, launch Luminar 2018, on the Top Toolbar choose Help > Check for updates.

Purchase Link: Luminar 2018

From Canon USA:

Changes for Digital Photo Professional 4.7.21:

• Fixes a phenomenon in which Dual Pixel RAW Optimizer may not be started.
• Fixes a phenomenon in which Filter/Sort pane may have malfunctions in displaying when the high-resolution monitor is being used. [Windows version]

Download: Canon Digital Photo Professional 4.7.21

According to the South Korean Yonhap News Agency, Reuters photographers have been banned from covering the opening ceremony of the 2018 Winter Olympics after they published several unauthorized photos of the rehearsal.

From the Yonhap News Agency:

The London-based media company transmitted several photo items showing the Olympic cauldron being lit up with fire during a rehearsal conducted late Sunday at the Olympic Main Stadium in PyeongChang. The company later pulled the items following protests from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the PyeongChang organizing committee.

As penalty, the IOC "disapproved the issuing of passes towards Reuters in reporting and photographing the opening ceremony," the organizing committee of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics said in a statement. The IOC also revoked the media accreditation of the photographer representing Reuters.

Canon has released their finanicial results for the Full Year 2017. See below for more information. As usual, we suggest checking out the Presentation Material for getting a concise view of the highlights.

• Results (PDF | 0.64MB)
• Presentation Material (PDF | 0.96MB)
• Speech Summary (PDF | 0.13MB)
• Supplementary Data (PDF | 0.28MB)

Related Article

• Canon sees 2018 profit jumping to decade high on cost cuts, medical unit (Reuters)

Facebook is making some changes and if you want to continue seeing TDP's posts in your Facebook news feed, it is important that you select the "See First" option under the "Following" button as shown. So, head over to the Facebook page right now and select that option before you forget!

Not following us on Facebook? Now is a good time to start: The-Digital-Picture.com Facebook page

For those of you who purchased a Solar ND filter to photograph the total solar eclipse we enjoyed in August of last year, you may be looking for more opportunities to use the highly specialized gear before the next total solar eclipse graces North America in April 2024. Thankfully, there's a large articificial satellite orbiting overhead which begs to be photographed as it crosses paths with the sun.

Of course, I'm talking about the International Space Station (ISS), a 239 x 356 x 66 ft (72.8 x 108.5 x 20 m) platform in low Earth orbit that circles the earth about 15.5 times per day. The frequency of the ISS's orbits means that there's a decent chance that its path will fall between you and the sun in the not-so-distant future. When exactly will the next ISS transit occur in your area? There's a website designed to answer that very question.

Simply enter your coordinates on the ISS TRANSIT FINDER website (or give it permission to auto-detect your location), enter a start date and an end date (up to 30 days in the future), and a travel range from your location (up to 149 mi / 240 km), and the website will show you the dates and times of all solar (and lunar) ISS transits available for viewing from nearby locations. If you never purchased a solar filter, you can still take advantage of the lunar transits occurring in your area or you can simply pick up a solar ND filter to take advantage of all available transits.

WARNING: Use only ND filters certified for solar photography. Do not look directly at the sun. Do not frame the sun using your camera's optical viewfinder while using telephoto lenses. Use Live View for framing your composition and focusing.

Most of the tips shared for capturing the solar eclipse apply to photographing an ISS solar transit, with the main difference being the duration of the events. When positioned in the middle of a total solar eclipse, the entire event may take several hours (with totality ranging from seconds to 7.5 minutes). However, an ISS transit of the sun or moon will last no longer than about 1.75 seconds (with typical transit times being significantly shorter). That means that you'll want to have an accurate clock available (down to the seconds), with a wired (or radio remote) trigger in your hand and your camera set to high speed continuous burst mode.

by Sean Setters

While casually looking through the Play store yesterday, Google suggested I take a look at an app called ASCII Art. As Google seems to know me fairly well (we've spent a lot of time together), I thought I'd give the app a shot. After about 20 minutes of throwing various images at the app to see its results displayed in glorious monospaced text, the point about Google knowing me very well was reiterated once again.

From Wikipedia:

ASCII – Abbreviated from American Standard Code for Information Interchange, is a character encoding standard for electronic communication. ASCII codes represent text in computers, telecommunications equipment, and other devices. Most modern character-encoding schemes are based on ASCII, although they support many additional characters.

After conversion, the file can be saved or shared as a .PNG, .TXT or HTML document (you'll need to change the file name extension from ".txt" to ".html" after saving). Click here to see the full resolution ASCII image from above.

I haven't done extensive testing, but my guess is that simpler images with a strong subject will work better than more complex ones. If you download and try out the app, share your favorite ASCII-converted (G-rated) image below.

I've lowered the prices of most items in the fundraising sale. This is your last chance – I'll be moving this gear on to other outlets soon.

Items available include:

• A mint Canon 400mm f/2.8L IS II Lens
• Other Canon lenses
• A mint Sony a7R II
• A couple of excellent Gitzo tripods
• A Gitzo ball head
• Nikon extension tubes
• Much more!

Take a look at the list!

From the Adobe Photoshop Lightroom YouTube Channel:

Lightroom tips and tricks in 60 seconds or less from longtime Lightroom team member Benjamin Warde.

B&H carries Adobe Photography Plan subscriptions.

Learn about fluorite, aspherical ED and phase fresnel lens elements along with nano crystal/fluorine coatings, vibration reduction and more.

B&H carries Nikon NIKKOR lenses.

From Cascable:

Industry-leading photography automation tools and a modern camera SDK, available now

STOCKHOLM — January 18th, 2018 — Cascable AB is happy to announce the release of two new products that will revolutionise the automation of complex photography tasks, from building custom time-lapse routines to building entire custom photography applications.

Shutter Robot Recipes is the most powerful photography automation tool available on mobile platforms, providing complete freedom and creativity when building that perfect time-lapse, exposure bracket sequence, or any other series of shots you can think of. Alongside a powerful and intuitive recipe editor, Cascable provides tools to ensure your recipe works exactly as intended, including a built-in camera simulator—perfect for checking your multi-hour time-lapse recipe before you hike up that mountain!

CascableCore is a Software Development Kit (SDK) for iOS and macOS that provides the power and flexibility of Cascable’s industry-leading camera connectivity to your public or internal applications. Using one set of unified and modern APIs, the CascableCore SDK allows you to concentrate on building great applications while we handle interfacing with well over 100 supported cameras.

CascableCore is available with a 30-day evaluation for products and companies that meet our partnership criteria, with pricing depending on the application. Please visit http://developer.cascable.se for more information on CascableCore.

Download: Cascable

From LibRaw:

In order to streamline the workflow with the raw shots taken in the new Pixel Shift Multi Shooting mode offered by the new Sony A7R-III camera, and provide a way to use popular RAW converters (Adobe Camera Raw/Lightroom, Capture One, and some others) for processing these shots, we’ve developed the SonyPixelShift2DNG application, which converts Sony A7R-III shots taken in Pixel Shift mode to DNG, supported by most (but not all) programs that process RAW files.

SonyPixelShift2DNG performs the two following tasks:

• Combine 4 source ARW files taken in Pixel Shift Multi Shooting mode and save the result as a DNG;
• Convert the ARQ files resulting from Sony’s Imaging Edge Viewer software (so, already-combined quartets of ARW files) to DNG

The resulting DNG files can later be processed in familiar applications like Adobe Lightroom and Camera Raw, CaptureOne, Iridient Developer, Luminar, and others.

This is time-limited beta version. It will expire on May 01, 2018

Mac OS X/macOS 10.6 - 10.13, 64-bit: SonyPixelShift2DNG-0.8.0.29.dmg
Windows 7-10/64 bit: SonyPixelShift2DNG-0.8.0.29-x64-Setup.exe

System Requirements

• OS and Processor*:
• Windows 7 – Windows 10, 64-bit;
• Mac OS X/macOS 10.6-10.13, 64-bit processor (so, all Intel Macs, except for some models from 2005-06 with Core Solo and Core Duo processors).
• Screen resolution no less than 1600x900.
• 50MB of disk space for the application.
• Disk space for writing DNG files (110-140MB per file)

* There is no 32-bit version right now: to work, the program needs 700+MB of free RAM, which is unlikely on a 32-bit system.

In the video above, the first line the narrorator says is, "Manfrotto's created the XUME system, a revolutionary way of attaching filters to lenses." The only problem is, the way I see it, they didn't actually create the XUME system. Instead, they acquired the XUME brand in September 2016, which had already been on the market for at least 5 years. And let me be clear, there's nothing wrong with acquiring a company's technologies so that you can market them along with your own product portfolio. However, taking credit for the invention is... a bit tacky, in my opinion.

Regardless of who created the system, the now-Manfrotto-branded XUME filter products are quite intriguing, potentially saving you some time and frustration in the field when switching between filters. [Sean]

B&H carries Manfrotto XUME products.

What are your thoughts? Would it make a difference if Manfrotto hired the inventor of the XUME system when it acquired the company? Let us know in the comments.

Image quality test results have been added to the Tamron 100-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di VC USD Lens page.

It was interesting to see Tamron announce a 100-400mm lens not terribly long after the Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary Lens introduction. The Sigma was a big hit, delivering great image quality in a small, lightweight package that was nicely built and well-featured for an especially-popularity-driving low price. With these two lenses being very similar, including the same street price, I am anxious to learn which is the best. The image quality results are a good start in that determination.

Of importance is a short discussion of the corner performance equivalency of this lens copy at the wider half of the focal length range. As long as the lens elements are properly constructed/dimensioned, a properly-aligned lens will deliver equal image quality in each corner. The Tamron 100-400 we are testing modestly favors the left corners. That of course places it at a disadvantage in the site's image quality tool as the right corner shows there.

For clarification, here is the top-left vs top-right corner comparison:

Because the Sigma 100-400 is this lens' closest competitor, I added that lens' wide open 100mm sample to the bottom. While the Sigma crop appears slightly sharper than the Tamron crop, I doubt that most will find that difference to be of significance in the overall comparison.

Most of our review lenses are off-the-shelf retail and your chances of getting a slightly misaligned one are as good as ours. This defect can happen, but ... no one is happy when they learn that their lens has an issue (and it costs us a lot of time to minimally explain what is happening and ideally to re-test another lens). We'll try to find time to test another lens copy at some point, but for now, try to visualize the above differences when viewing the following comparisons.

Tamron 100-400mm Lens compared to Sigma
Tamron 100-400mm Lens compared to Canon
Tamron 100-400mm Lens compared to Sony (different resolution cameras used)

The Tamron 100-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di VC USD Lens is in stock at B&H | Amazon | Adorama.

We'd love to hear your thoughts on the new Tamron 100-400mm VC Lens. Leave them in the comments section!

From the Canon Digital Learning Center:

Using two or more Canon Speedlites is a tremendously effective way to make exquisite wildlife images. My journey in wildlife photography began with multiple Speedlites four decades ago. The key is setting the exposure, placing the lights for the best lighting, and getting them to all fire instantly.

In the beginning, I wired photoelectric triggering devices to each flash, and then advanced to using PC sync cords to wire all the Speedlites and camera together. Both systems were fraught with problems. Then optical wireless systems became available and things improved considerably. And with the new radio controls, it is the best time for working with multiple Speedlites. It is so easy today with modern flash gear, so I hope you will take advantage of it.

B&H carries Canon Speedlite Flashes.

From Nikon Europe:

What does it take to break into a career as a sports photographer? For pro sports photographer, Joel Marklund, it all started at the tender age of 16. Listen in, as he shares his story.

Based in Stockholm, Joel Marklund is currently Chief Photographer at Sweden’s number one sports photography agency, Bildbyran. He is also a Nikon Europe Ambassador and is product ambassador for the Nikon D5.

Although the device has yet to be officially announced (as far as I can tell), B&H has the Zoom F1 Field Recorder available for preorder with free expedited shipping.

Product Highlights

• 2-Channel Field Audio Recorder
• Attach On Belts, Slip Into a Pocket
• LMF-1 Omnidirectional Lavalier Mic
• 1/8" Stereo Mic/Line Input
• 24-Bit / 96 kHz Audio, WAV and MP3
• On-Board Limiter and Auto-Level Control
• One-Touch Controls, Easy-To-Read Display
• Up to 32GB on microSD or microSDHC Card
• 2 x AAA Batteries Record 10 Hours
• Windscreen, Belt Clip, Mic Clip

The Zoom F1 looks to be very similar to the Tascam DR-10 except the F1 has a larger LCD screen (with more details), requires an extra AAA battery and records two channels instead of one.

Update: Zoom just added this F1 introductory video to its Vimeo channel:

SIGMA Corporation is proud to announce the launch of its first online magazine, SEIN Online. The magazine launches today, January 24, 2018, and can be found at the following address: sigma-sein.com/en

SEIN Online is an original web magazine created by SIGMA, manufacturer of digital cameras and interchangeable lenses for creative artists. The magazine’s aim is to share with its readers our passion and respect for visual culture and the art of photography, highlight our unique approach to manufacturing, and introduce the challenges and innovative ideas involved in our continuous quest to create the world’s best optical instruments.

Available in English

SEIN Online succeeds SEIN, a quarterly print magazine we started in 2014 to great success. In addition to the content already created for the printed SEIN our newly launched web magazine SEIN Online will see new categories and a constant addition of new articles in English and Japanese each month.

Original content capturing the heart of photography culture & expressing our brand philosophy

SEIN Online’s central theme can be summed up as “Life with photography, Scenes with SIGMA”. Employing a variety of forms — interviews, essays, special features and more — we aim to explore the joy and depth of taking photographs, of actively looking at the world. We aim to introduce our readers to new and fresh ways of thinking and imagining, and to illustrate SIGMA’s constant pursuit of innovative optical equipment of the highest quality.

Regular updates & new Instagram account

SEIN Online will be updated with new content four to five times each month, consisting of both newly created articles as well as material from SEIN’s archives.

Additionally, SIGMA launches an official SEIN Online Instagram account in order to further improve the reach and accessibility of SEIN Online’s content. We also plan to collaborate with other sites and services both in and outside of Japan.

From Nikon USA:

Market Bolstered by Exceptional Demand for the Award-Winning Full Frame (FX-format) D850 DSLR

MELVILLE, NY – Imaging leader Nikon attained the #1 position for both market share and revenue for December 2017, in the full frame digital camera with interchangeable lens (DCIL) category in the U.S.1 The overwhelming success of the powerful new Nikon D850 DSLR as well as the acclaimed D750 DSLR helped contribute to the brand’s strong growth within the full frame camera segment for December 2017. According to The NPD Group, Nikon achieved double-digit unit and dollar sales growth within the full frame camera segment in December 2017 vs. December 2016.2

This market category comprises all full frame digital cameras with interchangeable lenses (DCIL), including DSLR and mirrorless cameras. December is a significant month for sales because of the large volume of units sold during the holidays; industry-wide, DCIL full frame unit sales for the month of December 2017 were almost equal to unit sales from January through March of 2017, according to The NPD Group.3

“Nikon has returned to an emphasis on high-end products for advanced and professional users. These users appreciate Nikon’s full frame offerings because of their amazing image quality, reliability, low-light capability and high-speed performance,” said Bo Kajiwara, President and CEO, Nikon Inc. “Nikon is an innovative, diversified company with a clear, long-term strategy to thrive into 2018 and beyond.”

Since the beginning of 2017, the camera industry has seen strong growth in the full frame segment, with consumers gravitating toward Nikon’s innovative offerings for advanced and professional photographers. The month of December alone saw an overall increase of 69% in units and 59% in dollars compared to the same period in 2016.2 Nikon specifically experienced an 81% increase in units, and 88% growth in dollars for this segment.2

For the month of December, the top two selling DSLR cameras in this segment were the Nikon D750 and the Nikon D850.4 There has been exceptional demand for the extremely versatile, highly acclaimed D850, which is the ultimate combination of speed and resolution. This 45.7-megapixel full frame DSLR is a tool for serious photographers with robust construction, unparalleled imaged quality and proven reliability. Both the D850 and the D750 have won a myriad of industry and consumer accolades, and both are perfectly complemented by the vast NIKKOR lens system, which offers the best in optical excellence.

“Premium segments are leading the imaging market, as consumer demand for features like full frame are on the rise,” said Ben Arnold, executive director, industry analyst for The NPD Group.

Kajiwara also added, “We want to sincerely thank our customers and our fans for making this achievement possible.”

B&H carries the Nikon D850 DSLR camera.

From Adobe:

Today we are excited to announce the release of Photoshop 19.1, with improvements for customers on both Mac and Windows. Here is a quick list of all the new features. Read about the complete release below or scroll to your favorite parts:

• Select Subject
• Select and Mask Improvements
• Better SVG Compatibility with Adobe XD
• Support for Microsoft High-Density Monitors and Improved Surface Dial Support

Windows High-Density Monitor Support

With this release, Photoshop on Windows 10 Creator’s Edition now offers a full range of choices for UI scale factors from 100% through 400%, in 25% increments. This means that the Photoshop user interface will look crisp, beautiful, and the right size no matter the density of your monitor. Photoshop will now automatically adjust itself based on your Windows settings, making it simple to set up.

We collaborated closely with Microsoft to enable this important functionality so you (and I) can wring maximum value out of every tiny pixel on our high-end, high-density screens. This is one of the top requests from Photoshop customers on Windows devices. It’s been a huge improvement for me on my screens, and I hope it is for you, too.

In addition, we worked very closely with Microsoft to provide per-monitor scaling across monitors with different scale factors. This means that a high resolution (HiDPI) laptop now works seamlessly alongside a lower resolution desktop monitor (or vice versa). One monitor can have a scale factor of 175% and another a scale factor of 400%. This allows Windows users to choose either the highest-end 13-inch laptops with 4k screens, the more affordable 1080p models, or tap into the new 8k desktop monitors, each with an uncompromised experience within Photoshop. It is wonderful to work with Microsoft and its hardware partners to make that long-desired WYSIWYG dream come true.

“The desire to support and create beautiful experiences is something the teams at Adobe and Microsoft have in common. It’s one of the reasons we’ve been working together closely to ensure Photoshop scales perfectly on any Windows 10 device, from the 12.3-inch Surface Pro all the way to the 28-inch Surface Studio. Details matter, both in the creation of products and the creation of art, and we’re excited to continue our partnership to deliver visually exquisite experiences for all our shared customers,” said Panos Panay, Corporate Vice President of Microsoft Devices.

For resolution geeks who want to know more about pixels and density, go here.

While I was focused on pixels, the rest of the Photoshop team was also hard at work and today we deliver even more exciting and useful new features for both Mac and Win customers, including:

Select Subject

It’s available in all the places you start selections:

• Select > Subject.+
• Select the Subject button in the Quick Selection tool and Magic Wand options bar.+
• Select the Subject button in the Select & Mask workspace options bar while using the Quick Selection tool.

For more info, go here.

Select and Mask Improvements

A decontamination slider has been added to Select and Mask that allows the user to control the amount of decontamination applied to an image. This feature was also available in Refine Edge and has now been brought to the Select and Mask workspace.

Better SVG compatibility with Adobe XD

Previously, when copying text with multiple styles and effects, only the first-used style was getting copied. Now, when Photoshop users copy and paste SVG from Photoshop to XD, multiple text styles and effects are supported.

Improved Microsoft Surface Dial support

Now you can change brush settings while you paint using the Microsoft Surface Dial. Previously, brush settings could only be changed between brush strokes. Now you can assign the Microsoft Surface Dial to control opacity and then adjust opacity as you paint. Assign any dynamic control in the Brush Settings panel to Microsoft Surface Dial, including size, roundness, angle, scatter, texture depth, foreground and background color, opacity, flow, wetness, and mix.

Microsoft Surface Dial support is no longer a Technology Preview. (Learn more about tech previews here.) It is now enabled for all users. Enjoy!

Customer-Reported Bugs

This release also fixes a long list of customer-reported bugs. You can see the full list here.

After 21 years on the Photoshop team, every new release is still a pleasure to deliver to our customers. Thank you for continued support.

B&H carries Adobe Photography Plan subscriptions.

From DJI:

The Most Portable 3-Axis Gimbal 4K Camera Drone Features SmartCapture, FlightAutonomy 2.0 And Advanced Pilot Assistance Systems

January 23, 2018 – DJI, the world’s leader in civilian drones and aerial imaging technology, today introduced Mavic Air, an ultra-portable, foldable camera drone that delivers higher performance, more intelligent features and greater creative possibilities than any other consumer drone. Developed with the traveler and outdoor enthusiast in mind, Mavic Air inherits the best features of DJI’s iconic Mavic series with a 4K camera for superior image quality, new QuickShot modes and SmartCapture for easier, more intelligent photo and video capturing, and FlightAutonomy 2.0 with Advanced Pilot Assistance Systems for smarter, safer flight. A marvel of engineering and design, Mavic Air enables limitless exploration wherever adventure takes you.

“When DJI introduced the Mavic Pro, it reinvented what a consumer drone could be: powerful, yet portable, accessible, but advanced,” said Roger Luo, President at DJI. “Today, with the introduction of Mavic Air, we have pushed these attributes to the next level to create our best consumer drone yet.”

Designed for Portability and Power
Weighing just 430 grams, Mavic Air is the most portable DJI drone ever created. Its folding arms and propellers sit flush against its slender aerodynamic frame, making it so compact that its footprint is nearly the size of a modern smartphone when folded.

Every aspect of Mavic Air’s camera has been designed for maximum performance. Its recessed three-axis mechanical gimbal is suspended from dampeners to further reduce vibration providing superior protection and steadier shots. A powerful camera housing a 1/2.3” CMOS sensor and the equivalent of a 24mm F2.8 lens (on a 35mm full frame sensor) captures high-quality photos and videos.

Mavic Air photographs crisp 12-megapixel still images utilizing new HDR algorithms that preserve more highlight and low light details, allowing you to capture stunning aerial pictures from sunrise to sunset. It also shoots smooth stabilized 4K video at 30 fps, capturing the highest quality video of any DJI consumer drone with a maximum bitrate of 100 Mbps. Preserving the action in dramatic fast-paced scenes is now possible through its ability to shoot 1080p slow-motion video at 120 fps.

Mavic Air is DJI’s first drone with 8 GB of onboard storage letting you save photos and videos directly to the aircraft on the go, plus a microSD card slot for additional storage capacity. The newly added USB-C port makes exporting captured footage easy and fast.

Expand Your Creativity
Mavic Air’s intelligent camera system creates new possibilities for anyone regardless of their photography and drone piloting experience. Photo enthusiasts who want to capture their surroundings in complete detail can use the new Sphere panorama feature to automatically shoot and stitch together 25 photos, creating a crystal-clear 32-megapixel panoramic image within one minute. Mavic Air also supports multiple panorama modes, creating horizontal, vertical, and 180-degree images.

QuickShot intelligent video modes make creating professional videos fun and easy with predefined flight paths that automatically keep your subject in the frame. Use Rocket, Dronie, Circle, or Helix plus two new modes Asteroid and Boomerang, to effortlessly create videos that once required significant piloting skills and sophisticated editing software. Asteroid starts with a spherical image that zooms in as it descends toward the subject on the ground, while Boomerang circles the subject in an oval-shaped flight path with the video finishing at the start point. Mavic Air photographs crisp 12-megapixel still images utilizing new HDR algorithms that preserve more highlight and low light details, allowing you to capture stunning aerial pictures from sunrise to sunset. It also shoots smooth stabilized 4K video at 30 fps, capturing the highest quality video of any DJI consumer drone with a maximum bitrate of 100 Mbps. Preserving the action in dramatic fast-paced scenes is now possible through its ability to shoot 1080p slow-motion video at 120 fps.

Mavic Air is DJI’s first drone with 8 GB of onboard storage letting you save photos and videos directly to the aircraft on the go, plus a microSD card slot for additional storage capacity. The newly added USB-C port makes exporting captured footage easy and fast.

Expand Your Creativity
Mavic Air’s intelligent camera system creates new possibilities for anyone regardless of their photography and drone piloting experience. Photo enthusiasts who want to capture their surroundings in complete detail can use the new Sphere panorama feature to automatically shoot and stitch together 25 photos, creating a crystal-clear 32-megapixel panoramic image within one minute. Mavic Air also supports multiple panorama modes, creating horizontal, vertical, and 180-degree images.

QuickShot intelligent video modes make creating professional videos fun and easy with predefined flight paths that automatically keep your subject in the frame. Use Rocket, Dronie, Circle, or Helix plus two new modes Asteroid and Boomerang, to effortlessly create videos that once required significant piloting skills and sophisticated editing software. Asteroid starts with a spherical image that zooms in as it descends toward the subject on the ground, while Boomerang circles the subject in an oval-shaped flight path with the video finishing at the start point.

Mavic Air’s ActiveTrack intelligent flight mode has been improved to automatically sense multiple subjects, following your subject and keeping it in the frame with more precision, especially during high motion activities like running and cycling.

Powered by machine learning technology, SmartCapture[1] is an ultra-responsive control mode that makes shooting photos and videos effortless. With a maximum range of up to 20 ft (6 meters), you can give hand gesture commands to launch, follow, photograph, record, push, pull and land, letting you capture the moment from any angle without the need for a remote controller.

Smarter, Safer Flight
More powerful computing capabilities and optimized algorithms help Mavic Air fly smarter and safer through obstacles and terrain. FlightAutonomy 2.0 processes data gathered from seven onboard cameras and infrared sensors to construct a 3D map of its environment for more precise hovering and better flight performance. The improved forward and backward dual camera vision systems can sense obstacles up to 66 feet (20 meters) away. To help navigate through more complex outdoor environments, Mavic Air has newly developed Advanced Pilot Assistance Systems that helps pilots avoid and bypass obstacles automatically, providing an extra layer of reassurance during flight.

Mavic Air has a maximum flight time of up to 21 minutes. It can fly stably in windy conditions of up to 22 mph (36 kph) and at high elevations of up to 16,404 ft (5,000 m) above sea level[2]. Mavic Air’s remote is the first to feature detachable control sticks that can be stored inside the remote controller for added portability. Its omnidirectional antennas placed on the foldable landing gear help increase signal coverage to deliver a maximum range of up to 2.5 miles (4km)[3] with 1080p real-time video transmission when flying with the remote controller. When in Sport mode, Mavic Air flies at exhilarating speeds of up to 42 mph (68 kph) and is compatible with DJI Goggles for an immersive FPV flight experience.

Price and Availability
Mavic Air will be available in three colors: Onyx Black, Arctic White and Flame Red. The US retail price including the drone, battery, remote controller, carrying case, two pairs of propeller guards and four pairs of propellers, is $799 USD. The Mavic Air Fly More Combo includes the drone, three batteries, a remote controller, a travel bag, two pairs of propeller guards, six pairs of propellers, a battery to power bank adapter and battery charging hub, for $999 USD. The DJI Mavic Pro Air will be available at authorized retailers starting January 28.

B&H has the DJI Mavic Air available for preorder.

With the release of the Sony a7R III, many may be wondering how Sony's latest high-resolution full-frame mirrorless camera stacks up against Canon's latest 5-series camera, the EOS 5D Mark IV, and which camera might suit their needs best. So, let's dig into the details and find out.

First, let's take a look at some differentiating specifications between the two cameras.

Size, Weight and Battery Life

As indicated by the table above, the Sony a7R III is smaller and lighter than the Canon 5D Mark IV, traits that many will appreciate. But, there are drawbacks to the a7R III's smaller size and lighter weight.

The first drawback is that the smaller design leads to a smaller battery, which in turn results in a shorter battery life. The second drawback is that the smaller design can also lead to an uncomfortable grip for those with medium-sized hands (or larger) when using the a7R III with many pro-grade lenses.

The Sony a7R III's smaller size and lighter weight will surely be appreciated by those who must hike significant distances to their desired photo locations. And for those shooting landscapes with a tripod, the comfort of a camera's grip may be a low priority. But for those shooting weddings, festivals or events – situations requiring that the camera be handheld for long periods of time – may appreciate the 5D Mark IV's more comfortable grip as well as its roughly 50% longer battery life.

Viewfinders

Viewfinder implementations differ significantly between the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV and the Sony a7R III, where the Canon body offers a traditional optical viewfinder (with customizable overlays) and the Sony body features an electronic viewfinder. Each type of viewfinder has benefits and drawbacks compared to the other (such as an EVF's elimination of viewfinder blackout times), and Bryan shared his thoughts on the advantages/disadvantages of electronic/optical viewfinders in his article, "Comparing Electronic Viewfinders to Optical Viewfinders". Be sure to check out the preceding information to determine which of these systems you may prefer.

Durability & Reliability

The time span between Canon's first 5-series camera to its latest iteration, the Mark IV, was 11 years (2005 - 2016). The time span between Sony's first a7R and the introduction of the a7R III was 4 years (2013 - 2017).

Canon rates the 5D Mark IV's shutter at 150,000 actuations; Sony claims the a7R III can withstand 500,000 actuations. If both companies are using similar procedures for determining shutter reliability, then Sony's significantly higher shutter rating will be comforting.

The Canon EOS 5D Mark IV and the Sony a7R III are solidly built and both are billed as "weather resistant" cameras. However, Canon has had significantly more time to refine their camera design for optimal protection from water and dust. We didn't test the thoroughly test the cameras' weather resistance, but we'd personally feel more confident shooting with the 5D Mark IV in adverse conditions.

Autofocus Performance

Sony's mirrorless cameras' AF performance has dramatically improved over the last couple of years, resulting in the gap between mirrorless and traditional DSLR AF performance quickly diminishing. But while the Sony a7R III focuses faster in one shot mode compared to its predecessor, it still isn't as fast as the 5D Mark IV. That's because the a7R III must defocus in order to obtain focus, causing a noticeable delay even when little has changed in the scene between shutter clicks.

In AF tracking mode, both cameras perform similarly well (either in viewfinder mode or LCD/Live View focusing).

Menu System

Having used Canon cameras for a number of years, we've grown acclimated to Canon's logical, easy to use menu system. Unfortunately, the Sony a7R III menu system seems needlessly complicated with 45 subtabs under the 5 main tabs. That Sony has included a customizable "My Menu" option has helped, allowing for quick access to your most-used menu items. Even so, we still greatly prefer the Canon menu system.

Video

While both cameras allow for 4K recording at 30p, there are some distinct differences between the cameras' video features. First, the 5D Mark IV records 4K video in .MOV (Motion JPEG) format with a crop factor of 1.74x; the a7R III in XAVC S:MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 using the full senor width (no crop). This difference alone may be the deciding factor between the two cameras if wide angle, 4K video is a top priority for you. The Sony camera is also capable of recording Full HD (1080p) video at 120 fps, while the Canon DSLR tops out at 60 fps.

Video shooters will also love the Sony a7R III's built-in 5-axis stabilization, allowing for smoother video recording regardless of the lens that's attached, as well as its tilting LCD screen for odd-angle shooting. The a7R III also features S-LOG 3 and HLG (Hybrid Log Gamma) Picture Profiles, while Canon Log is only available as an add-on (more expensive) upgrade for the 5D mark IV.

Customer Support

Canon is widely recognized as having an excellent support system, including (not not limited to) Canon Professional Services, the division which specifically caters to those who make a living with their imaging gear. The support we have received from Canon USA and Canon Professional Services has over the years has been very good. Canon USA's Customer Service Technicians have been eager to help and knowledgeable when we have needed phone support, and our experience with Canon's repair department (in the few times we've needed a repair) has been equally satisfying.

On the other hand, Sony is still in the building process when it comes to customer support for their E-mount camera system. As such, they don't necessarily have a reputation for exemplary customer service [yet, though things seem to be getting better].

Price

At the time of this comparison, the Sony a7R III's retail price is roughly $300.00 less expensive than the EOS 5D Mark IV, not counting instant rebates which can make the cameras much closer in price. But when considering the cost of the camera, it's also wise to think about the cost of the whole camera kit you may be considering.

Therefore, let's take a look at two comparable kits based on the two cameras.

Sony a7R III
Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM
Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM
Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS
Total MSRP: $10,192.00

Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM
Total MSRP: $9,696.00 ($8,996.00 with current rebates)

Of course, MSRP values and the availability (and values) of instant rebates can change over time (possibly changing the advantage), but the above represents a current advantage of the Canon kit. Interesting is that the difference in weight between these two kits is only 9.6 oz (272 g), with the Canon kit being slightly heavier.

Wrap Up

There's no doubt that you can use either of these cameras in a professional setting to create high quality images or video. If you primarily shoot video, though, the Sony a7R III's advanced video features will likely make it the best overall choice for your needs. And, if you aren't heavily invested in the Canon ecosystem already, choosing the a7R III may make a lot of sense.

However, if you already have a decent Canon camera kit and you're not primarily a video shooter, I'm not convinced that the Sony a7R III offers enough advantages over the 5D IV to justify the cost, time and energy of completely switching brands. In which case, the Canon 5D Mark IV would most likely be the better option.

Note: Because of the performance limitations experienced when using Canon lenses on Sony cameras (via adapters), we don't consider that to be a viable solution (yet) for most serious photographers.

So what are the differentiators that keep you from switching from one of these cameras to the other? Let us know in the comments.