Canon, Nikon and Sony News for Oct 2018 Report News & Deals ►
Wednesday, October 31, 2018
From the Vox YouTube Channel:
Horseshoe Bend used to be a little-known roadside view of the Colorado River in Page, Arizona. But over the past few years, the spot has witnessed a dramatic increase in popularity. The main culprit for that uptick? Instagram. It’s now one of many hidden treasures across America that have become too popular for their own good — requiring extensive redesign to protect the visitors and the environment. With visitation at a record 84 million in 2017, America’s national parks are more popular than ever — and social media is rewriting the rules of how and why people visit them.
Category: Photography Education Videos
Permalink: What Happens When Natural Wonders Go Viral?
Post Date: 10/31/2018 12:47:19 PM CT Posted By: Sean
I have to wonder what a model thinks when the assignment to wear a parachute dress at Dragon's Teeth (Kapalua, Maui, HI) comes in.
"I get to wear an enormous dress designed to blow in the wind while standing barefoot on sharp rocks in extreme wind next to an ocean with occasional rogue waves that send salt water spray over everything nearby for an entire very hot, sunny day!"
Pick me! Pick me! [Finding Nemo]
This model obviously accepted Canon's request and she managed the assignment very professionally. Parachutes are designed to ease the landing, but in this case, the parachute was more likely to cause a liftoff (followed by a perilous landing). I would have been more comfortable if she had a crash pad beside her, but she stayed on her feet through even the strongest wind gusts.
A 50mm lens does not create the extreme background blur that long telephoto lenses can create, but the 50mm angle of view allows a closer camera position that provides a more intimate look while the f/1.2 aperture still provides a strong background blur that makes the subject stand out. The look is unique in a very positive way.
The extremely wide f/1.2 aperture allows handholding in very low light levels but with a white dress in the sun, even a 1/8000 shutter speed is not always fast enough to avoid blown highlights at f/1.2 and ISO 100. In direct sunlight, a neutral density filter or, as used in this example, a circular polarizer filter on the lens.
When water is on the horizon, I usually want the image framed with the horizon level. Electronic viewfinder levels have greatly improved my original captures in this regard, but with the wind and unstable footing, I still managed to get a small degree of tilt that needed to be corrected in this image.
An ultra-wide aperture lens is generally selected to make use of those ultra-wide apertures. Often, especially with 50mm ultra-wide aperture lenses, the image quality at the widest apertures is not good and often describable as "dreamy". While dreamy can be nice on occasion, it is not usually what I am going for. With this lens, f/1.2 results are very sharp, showing good resolution and contrast. I have not hesitated to use this lens wide open and ... haven't stopped it down very often. The Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM Lens is a compelling reason to get a Canon EOS R camera.
A larger version of this image is available on Flickr.
This model obviously accepted Canon's request and she managed the assignment very professionally. Parachutes are designed to ease the landing, but in this case, the parachute was more likely to cause a liftoff (followed by a perilous landing). I would have been more comfortable if she had a crash pad beside her, but she stayed on her feet through even the strongest wind gusts.
A 50mm lens does not create the extreme background blur that long telephoto lenses can create, but the 50mm angle of view allows a closer camera position that provides a more intimate look while the f/1.2 aperture still provides a strong background blur that makes the subject stand out. The look is unique in a very positive way.
The extremely wide f/1.2 aperture allows handholding in very low light levels but with a white dress in the sun, even a 1/8000 shutter speed is not always fast enough to avoid blown highlights at f/1.2 and ISO 100. In direct sunlight, a neutral density filter or, as used in this example, a circular polarizer filter on the lens.
When water is on the horizon, I usually want the image framed with the horizon level. Electronic viewfinder levels have greatly improved my original captures in this regard, but with the wind and unstable footing, I still managed to get a small degree of tilt that needed to be corrected in this image.
An ultra-wide aperture lens is generally selected to make use of those ultra-wide apertures. Often, especially with 50mm ultra-wide aperture lenses, the image quality at the widest apertures is not good and often describable as "dreamy". While dreamy can be nice on occasion, it is not usually what I am going for. With this lens, f/1.2 results are very sharp, showing good resolution and contrast. I have not hesitated to use this lens wide open and ... haven't stopped it down very often. The Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM Lens is a compelling reason to get a Canon EOS R camera.
A larger version of this image is available on Flickr.
Camera and Lens Settings
50mm f/1.2 1/8000s
ISO 100
4448 x 6672px
ISO 100
4448 x 6672px
Category: Photo Tips and Stories
Post Date: 10/31/2018 9:32:37 AM CT Posted By: Bryan
B&H has the Samson C01U Pro Podcasting Pack available for $69.99 with free shipping. Regularly $139.99.
Product Highlights
Product Highlights
- C01U Pro USB Studio Condenser Microphone
- Large 19mm-Diaphragm
- 16-Bit, 44.1/48 kHz Resolution
- SR850 Semi-Open Studio Headphones
- MD2 Desktop Microphone Stand
- Plug-and-Play, No Driver Required
- Solid Die-Cast Metal Construction
- USB Cable
- Convenient Carry Case
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Post Date: 10/31/2018 8:15:01 AM CT Posted By: Sean
Roger Cicala has posted the LensRentals teardown of the Nikon Z 7. Here's what they found:
This is not marketing department weather resistance. This is engineering department weather resistance. Anything that can be sealed has been sealed. I’m impressed, and I will say for future cut-and-paste blurbs: this is as robustly weather sealed a camera as we’ve ever disassembled.B&H carries the Nikon Z 7.
I don’t believe in weather resistance myself. I believe like life; water will find a way. I believe in plastic baggies and rubber bands. I am, however, a great believer in the idea that if you claim to do something, then [you'd better] do it right. This is done right.
I’m impressed by the very solid construction of the chassis and IBIS unit. I’m impressed with the neat, modern engineering of the electrical connections. Yes, I’m aware that soldered wires carry electricity just fine, but to me, there’s something reassuring about seeing neat, well thought out, 2018 level engineering.
I’m not here to tell you which camera is best to use or has the best performance. I’m just here to say this is a [very] well-built camera, the best built mirrorless full-frame camera we’ve taken apart. (For the record, I haven’t torn down a Leica SL.)
Posted to: Nikon News
Categories: LensRentals News, LensRentals Teardowns
Post Date: 10/31/2018 6:14:56 AM CT Posted By: Sean
Through midnight tonight Eastern Time, B&H has the Genaray LED-7100T 312 LED Variable-Color On-Camera Light available for $119.00 with free expedited shipping. Regularly $189.00.
Product Highlights
Product Highlights
- Genaray Professional Series LED Light
- 3200-5600K Adjustable Color Temperature
- Up to 1400 Lux Brightness at 3 ft
- 100-10% Flicker Free Brightness Dimmer
- Smooth, Stepless Color/Brightness Dials
- Dual Sony L Series Battery Mount
- Hot-Swappable
- Batteries, Charger, AC Adapter Included
- Magnetic, Snap-On Diffuser Included
- Ball Head and Carry Case Included
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Permalink: Genaray LED-7100T 312 LED Variable-Color On-Camera Light - $119.00 Shipped (Reg. $189.00)
Post Date: 10/31/2018 5:38:36 AM CT Posted By: Sean
Through midnight tonight Eastern Time, B&H has the E-Image EK60AAM Fluid Drag Video Head and Tripod available for $149.00 with free expedited shipping. Regularly $299.00.
Product Highlights
Product Highlights
- 17.6 lb Capacity Fluid Drag Tripod Head
- Sliding Balance Plate with Safety Lock
- Spring Loaded Counterbalance System
- Fixed Tilt and Pan Drag
- 75mm Claw Ball
- 2 Stage Tripod with Mid Level Spreader
- 31 to 63" Height Range
- Independent Leg Adjustments
- Removable Anti-Slip Pads / Spike Covers
- Travel Soft Case
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Post Date: 10/31/2018 5:36:12 AM CT Posted By: Sean
Tuesday, October 30, 2018
B&H has the new Apple iPads, MacBook Air Notebooks and Mac MINIs available for preorder with free shipping.
Want to know what's new? See the details here.
Want to know what's new? See the details here.
Category: Preorders
Post Date: 10/30/2018 3:04:30 PM CT Posted By: Sean
Through tomorow, B&H has the ZEISS Distagon T* 18mm f/3.5 ZE for Canon EF available for $895.00 with free expedited shipping. Regularly $1,395.00.
Product Highlights
Product Highlights
- For Canon EF Mount Cameras
- Ultra-Wide Angle Coverage (99°)
- ZEISS T* Anti-Reflective Coating
- Superior Color Correction
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Posted to: Canon News
Categories: Photography Deals, Zeiss Deals
Post Date: 10/30/2018 11:36:40 AM CT Posted By: Sean
Through tomorrow, B&H has the Samyang AF 35mm f/1.4 FE Lens for Sony E available for $549.00 with free expedited shipping. Regularly $799.00.
Product Highlights
Product Highlights
- E-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
- Aperture Range: f/1.4 to f/16
- Two Aspherical Elements, Two HR Elements
- Ultra Multi-Coating
- Linear Super Sonic Motor AF System
- Internal Focusing Design
- Nine-Blade Diaphragm
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Posted to: Sony News
Categories: Photography Deals, Samyange Deals
Post Date: 10/30/2018 11:33:38 AM CT Posted By: Sean
After spending over a decade trying to establish milkweed plants on our property (what monarch caterpillars eat), healthy plants finally emerged a couple of years ago – in the flower beds next to our house, not close to where we were trying to grow them.
While most "weeds" are not welcome in the flower beds, we embraced what we got and allowed them to prosper in place.
This year, milkweed plants started growing randomly throughout the yard, though frequent lawn mowing kept their visibility near nothing. After an especially long period of rain, the yard crop started showing leaves and my observant daughter spotted a monarch laying eggs on them. Prior to the next lawn cutting, she and my wife removed over 40 eggs from the rogue plants.
Most of the eggs were transferred to the being-tolerated flower bed plants and several were raised indoors, which produces perfect specimens for photographic purposes. The ideal time to photograph butterflies is just after they emerge as their wings are in perfect condition and they remain mostly still for a couple of hours. Knowing when that time is coming involves observing the monarch chrysalis color. Newly-formed chrysalises are bright green in color, but they turn very dark just prior to emergence of the butterfly stage.
I saw this opportunity coming and had some gear ready. When your camera is an EOS model with a hot shoe, the set of lighting accessories available, both Canon brand and third party options, is vast. For this image, I used a Canon Macro Ring Lite MR-14EX II Flash for a very even light on the subject. With the dual MR-14EX flash tubes configured for equal power, this flash creates a flat light, often void of shadows. When the subject is as vibrantly-colored as this one, flat lighting works quite well.
The background is a piece of orange paper (I tried a variety of colors) being held with a Delta 1 Grip-It Single Arm with 1" Clamp (extremely useful accessory) and lit with a remotely-controlled Canon Speedlite 600EX-RT Flash. Alternatively, I could have used a white paper and gelled the flash to create the desired color.
The background light being positioned behind the foreground light meant that it did not influence the lighting on the subject and the background being far enough behind the foreground meant that the foreground light did not influence the background brightness.
While I didn't expect the Canon EOS R to have any trouble with Canon's Speedlite system (other EOS models don't), it is always nice to have reassurance, especially for a new camera line. Or, maybe this test was just the excuse I needed to spend a couple of hours photographing the monarch.
At macro focus distances, depth of field becomes very shallow. One of the keys to capturing this image was to align the camera so that the wing was perfectly parallel to the imaging sensor, perpendicular to the center of the lens' image circle. Still, f/16 was needed to obtain the depth of field necessary to keep almost the entire butterfly sharp.
A larger version of this image is available on Flickr.
This year, milkweed plants started growing randomly throughout the yard, though frequent lawn mowing kept their visibility near nothing. After an especially long period of rain, the yard crop started showing leaves and my observant daughter spotted a monarch laying eggs on them. Prior to the next lawn cutting, she and my wife removed over 40 eggs from the rogue plants.
Most of the eggs were transferred to the being-tolerated flower bed plants and several were raised indoors, which produces perfect specimens for photographic purposes. The ideal time to photograph butterflies is just after they emerge as their wings are in perfect condition and they remain mostly still for a couple of hours. Knowing when that time is coming involves observing the monarch chrysalis color. Newly-formed chrysalises are bright green in color, but they turn very dark just prior to emergence of the butterfly stage.
I saw this opportunity coming and had some gear ready. When your camera is an EOS model with a hot shoe, the set of lighting accessories available, both Canon brand and third party options, is vast. For this image, I used a Canon Macro Ring Lite MR-14EX II Flash for a very even light on the subject. With the dual MR-14EX flash tubes configured for equal power, this flash creates a flat light, often void of shadows. When the subject is as vibrantly-colored as this one, flat lighting works quite well.
The background is a piece of orange paper (I tried a variety of colors) being held with a Delta 1 Grip-It Single Arm with 1" Clamp (extremely useful accessory) and lit with a remotely-controlled Canon Speedlite 600EX-RT Flash. Alternatively, I could have used a white paper and gelled the flash to create the desired color.
The background light being positioned behind the foreground light meant that it did not influence the lighting on the subject and the background being far enough behind the foreground meant that the foreground light did not influence the background brightness.
While I didn't expect the Canon EOS R to have any trouble with Canon's Speedlite system (other EOS models don't), it is always nice to have reassurance, especially for a new camera line. Or, maybe this test was just the excuse I needed to spend a couple of hours photographing the monarch.
At macro focus distances, depth of field becomes very shallow. One of the keys to capturing this image was to align the camera so that the wing was perfectly parallel to the imaging sensor, perpendicular to the center of the lens' image circle. Still, f/16 was needed to obtain the depth of field necessary to keep almost the entire butterfly sharp.
A larger version of this image is available on Flickr.
Gear Used
Camera and Lens Settings
100mm f/16.0 1/200s
ISO 100
4480 x 6720px
ISO 100
4480 x 6720px
Category: Photo Tips and Stories
Post Date: 10/30/2018 8:07:31 AM CT Posted By: Bryan
Even though there's not a sitewide percentage-off sale, there are several refurbished items at the Canon USA Store that are currently reduced. See below for details.
On Sale Refurbished Items
On Sale Refurbished Items
Posted to: Canon News
Permalink: Canon USA Refurb. Markdowns – Oct. 30, 2018
Post Date: 10/30/2018 8:29:24 AM CT Posted By: Sean
B&H has the Dracast Silkray 800 Bi-Color LED Panel Light available for $299.00 with free expedited shipping. Regularly $425.00.
Product Highlights
Product Highlights
- LEDs with CRI of >96+
- 23 x 15 x 0.6" Panel, Weighs 3 lb
- Slim Profile
- Color Temperature: 3200-5600K
- 0-100% Dimming Control
- Soft Light Quality
- 100-240 VAC or Battery Operation
- V-Mount Battery Plate
- Digital Display and Aluminum Frame
- Carry Bag
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Post Date: 10/30/2018 6:44:02 AM CT Posted By: Sean
B&H has the HP DesignJet Z3200ps 44" Large-Format Inkjet Photo Printer available for $2,499.00 with free shipping. Regularly $2,999.00.
Product Highlights
Product Highlights
- Max Resolution: 2400 x 1200 dpi
- Max Printable Width: 44"
- Print Speed: 22 x 34" D from 120 sec
- HP Thermal Inkjet Technology
- 12 Photo Inks with Gloss Enhancer
- HP Quad-Black Ink Technology
- Professional PANTONE Color Emulation
- Adobe PostScript/PDF Support
- Embedded Spectrophotometer
- USB 2.0 and Ethernet Connectivity
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Permalink: HP DesignJet Z3200ps 44" Large-Format Inkjet Photo Printer - $2,499.00 Shipped (Reg. $2,999.00)
Post Date: 10/30/2018 6:33:56 AM CT Posted By: Sean
Through midnight tonight Eastern Time, B&H has the Vello Canon EF Lens to Sony E-Mount Camera Accelerator AF Lens Adapter available for $109.00 with free shipping. Regularly $499.00.
Product Highlights
See today's full list of B&H Deal Zone Deals for excellent savings opportunities.
Product Highlights
- Canon EF Lens to Sony E-Mount Camera
- Full-Frame Lenses to APS-C Format Camera
- Increases Aperture by 1 f/Stop
- Increases Angle of View by 0.71x
- Enables Autofocus and Auto Exposure
- Retains Image Stabilization Functions
- Control Aperture from Camera Body
- Transfers Exif Data to Camera
- Removable Tripod Foot and 1/4"-20 Socket
- Matte Black Interior; Metal Construction
See today's full list of B&H Deal Zone Deals for excellent savings opportunities.
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Post Date: 10/30/2018 5:51:31 AM CT Posted By: Sean
Monday, October 29, 2018
The Canon USA Store has the following refurbished EOS M models significantly reduced, thanks to the also-significantly-reduced new/retail models:
Canon USA Store EOS M Deals
Canon USA Store EOS M Deals
| Item | Refurb. Sale Price | Compare at New |
| Refurb. Canon EOS M5 (Body) | $478.99 | $579.00 (after $400.00 IR) |
| Refurb. Canon EOS M6 (Body) | $378.99 | $479.00 (after $300.00 IR) |
Posted to: Canon News
Post Date: 10/29/2018 3:30:15 PM CT Posted By: Sean
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