Canon and Sony News for Aug 2018

 Friday, August 31, 2018

From the LensRentals Blog:

Canon ‘refreshed’ the ever-so-popular 70-200mm f/2.8 lens from a ‘II’ to a ‘III’ with new optical coatings and paint, but no major changes. While the price is higher than the current II, it actually is the same price as the II was sold at for most of its life. A meh moment for almost everyone except those who scooped up the ‘II’ at reduced prices.

I did wonder if perhaps there might be a bit more under the hood than what Canon had announced. These are arguably the most popular lenses Lensrentals.com stocks; hundreds of copies with constant turnover. Since we do in-house repairs, over the years we’ve noticed some minor upgrades that have taken place; an internal ring and some gears have changed, etc. Internally, the 70-200mm f/2.8 is also one of the ugliest bits of engineering in the Canon fleet. We can understand why it had to be that way; it’s an incredibly complex lens. But we figure this bothered Canon’s optomechanical engineers as much as it did us, so maybe they snuck some changes in.

See the entire article on the LensRentals Blog.

LensRentals has the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM Lens for rent or you can pick up the lens at B&H with free expedited shipping. You can also snag the very similar Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM Lens with a nice instant rebate right now.

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Post Date: 8/31/2018 12:21:28 PM ET   Posted By: Sean

Tamron's recently released SP 15-30mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G2 press release is, quite frankly, painful to read. It looks like Tamron outsourced its marketing for the lens to the LensRentals' Random Photo Marketing Generator.

Just for fun, I hit the tool's "Generate" button a few times to come up with my own Tamron 15-30mm f/2.8 G2 press release:

This is a true advance that will inspire your craft and create new opportunities in your imaging world. Now you can possess a single wide-angle lens that coaxes you to seize images that are both extraordinary and impressive. Its performance is unquestioned with regards to tonal depth yet it provides astounding flare control. Like all of our products, this lens incorporates our extensive expertise. This lens provides a classic focal length, offering a unique opportunity to enhance your natural creativity.

We have created a galvanizing new benchmark in photography that will dramatically improve your images. This is a new breakthrough that will revolutionize your craft and create new opportunities in your imaging world. Like all of our products, this lens is in a class of its own. We have combined intuitive control with unsurpassed technology to provide you a singular experience. Catch an instant and make it your revenue photoGenerator forever.

Using advanced technology including multiple floating elements and the industry’s most accurate autofocus system, this lens can take your imaging to new achievements. Discover detail that you never saw was around you. Whatever the subject matter, in any working condition, in all lighting conditions, this lens offers amazing definition while maintaining excellent vignetting control. Designed for the connoisseur, it offers the finest craftsmanship most only wish for, at a price that most can’t afford. Capture images in a way you’ve always wished you could.

Well, that was easy.

The funny thing is, Tamron doesn't mention in their own press release that the G2 model features the exact same optical formula as its predecessor. Want proof? Check out the optical formula diagrams taken from Tamron USA's product pages.

Tamron SP 15 30mm F/2.8 Di VC USD vs SP 15 30mm F 2.8 Di VC USD G2 Optics

So what's actually new in the G2 model? Here's a quick rundown of the updated features, sans marketing mumbo jumbo:

  • New coatings on the same ol' lenses
  • Improved Vibration Compensation - G2 model provides up to 4.5 stops of compensation; previous model's VC assistance was never specified
  • Improved autofocus performance through, primarily, a new AF algorithm
  • Possibly better weather sealing - the original model had some sealing that included a rear mount gasket, but the internal seals diagram was never provided
  • Rear filter holder
  • Updated exterior to match other G2 lenses
  • Compatibility with the TAP-in console

As usual, the improvements listed above come at a cost; the G2 version's MSRP is $100.00 more than the original one's and the price difference is even larger considering the current $100.00 instant savings on the G1 model. Check out our Tamron 15-30mm f/2.8 Di VC USD Lens Review for more information on the G2's predecessor.

Preorders

Tamron SP 15-30mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G2 Lens - B&H | Adorama

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Posted to: Canon News, Sony News   Category: Tamron News
Post Date: 8/31/2018 11:16:01 AM ET   Posted By: Sean

From Tamron:

August 31, 2018, Commack, New York - Tamron announces the launch of a new high-speed ultra-wide-angle zoom lens, the SP 15-30mm F/2.8 Di VC USD G2 (Model A041), for full-frame DSLR cameras. The new model will be available in Nikon mount on September 21st and in Canon mount October 12th at a suggested retail price of $1299.

With a well-established reputation for ultra-high-quality wideangle zoom lenses with its Model A012, Tamron carries on the tradition of high optical performance with the new SP 15-30mm F/2.8 Di VC USD G2 (Model A041). By incorporating an XGM (eXpanded Glass Molded Aspherical) lens element, as well as multiple LD (Low Dispersion) lens elements, the distortion and lateral chromatic aberrations so common in wideangle shooting have been greatly minimized. Furthermore, a newly developed AX (Anti-reflection eXpand) Coating has been applied to reduce ghosting and flare more thoroughly than ever before. The optical performance in this high-speed F/2.8 ultra-wideangle zoom lens is outstanding. In addition, the built-in Dual MPU (Micro-Processing Unit) enables vastly improved AF speed and precision and image stabilization. This is a next-generation super high-quality, high-speed ultra-wideangle zoom lens with first-rate optics and a wide range of features that serve to revitalize the user's shooting experience. With the release of this model, three of Tamron's high-speed F/2.8 zoom lens with VC (Vibration Compensation) are now G2 (Generation 2).

PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS

Super high-quality high-speed ultra-wideangle zoom lens
The Model A041 is an F/2.8 ultra-wideangle lens with a focal length starting at 15mm that offers high resolution even in the peripheral area of the image. By incorporating an XGM (eXpanded Glass Molded Aspherical) lens element and multiple LD (Low Dispersion) lens elements to curtail distortion and lateral chromatic aberrations, Tamron has achieved a degree of resolution throughout the range that is just as good as a fixed focal length lens.

Newly developed AX Coating
The AX (Anti-reflection eXpand) Coating, especially effective for wideangle lenses that tend to let in harmful light from peripheral areas, was developed to control rays that affect image quality. It is a revolutionary new proprietary coating developed in-house by Tamron using specialized deposition technology. The new coating keeps the reflection factor for peripheral areas at the same high level as that for the center area, not only overcoming standard curvature issues, but even overcoming the problems of conventionally produced convex surface with large curvatures for which uniform deposition has always proved difficult to achieve. Furthermore, the Model A041, along with eBand (Extended Bandwidth & Angular-Dependency) Coating utilizing nanotechnology, and BBAR (Broad-Band Anti-Reflection) Coating, makes effective use of three different types of coatings, thereby enabling unsurpassed curtailment of ghosting and flare and consequently enabling superlative, exceptionally clear image quality edge to edge.

High-speed, high-precision AF
Superb AF speed and precision is delivered by equipping the lens with a Dual MPU (Micro-Processing Unit) system and employing an enhanced AF control algorithm to improve performance. The AF drive uses proprietary Tamron technology, USD (Ultrasonic Silent Drive), enabling high torque, high response, and silent operation. And because it comes with a Full-time Manual Focus override system, manual focus adjustments can be made on the fly.

VC promises sharp images for all varieties of shooting
Tamron released the first high-speed F/2.8 ultra-wideangle zoom lens in the world equipped with a VC (Vibration Compensation) mechanism, the original Model A012. The new Model A041 has been further improved with a newly developed VC mechanism that surpasses former versions and reaches 4.5 stops, according to CIPA standards. This makes it possible to shoot sharp photos over a wide range of photographic scenes, including indoor and outdoor shots as well as handheld shots at stopped-down aperture settings for landscape photography.

Rear filter holder
The Model A041 made for use on Canon (EF-mount) cameras comes with a filter holder as a standard feature that lets you insert gelatin and other sheet filters into the rear side of the lens. This makes photography using filters much easier and simpler by overcoming the problem of the curvature of the front lens elements that made shooting with filters so difficult in the past.

Vastly improved highly durable Fluorine Coating
Abrasion resistance capability has been vastly improved on the new Model A041. The front surface of the lens element is coated with a Fluorine Coating based on a newly developed fluorine compound with high water- and oil-repellent properties. The lens surface is easier to wipe clean and is less vulnerable to the damaging effects of dirt, dust, moisture, and fingerprints, and enabling your important lenses to be continually protected on a long-term basis.

The new design provides greater operability and design consistency
With the new SP design applied, Model A041 shares the same feel of high quality and operability as the other two models in this series, SP 24-70mm F/2.8 Di VC USD G2 (Model A032) and SP 70-200mm F/2.8 Di VC USD G2 (Model A025). Tamron has merged beautiful craftsmanship with intuitive design in this new high-speed ultra-wideangle zoom lens. Even details like the shape of the switch box, distance-scale window, and the precision and stability of the metallic mount reveal a commitment to functionality, as well as design. The result is a next-generation lens that's easy to use yet loaded with cutting-edge technology.

Compatible with TAMRON TAP-in ConsoleTM, an optional accessory
The new Model A041 is compatible with the TAMRON TAP-in Console, an optional accessory product that provides a USB connection to a personal computer for easy updating of the lens's firmware as well as customization of features including fine adjustments to the focus position of AF and VC control.

Moisture-Resistant Construction
Seals are located at the lens mount area and other critical locations to prevent infiltration of moisture and/or rain to provide Moisture-Resistant Construction. This feature affords an additional layer of protection when shooting outdoors under adverse weather conditions.

Manufacturing innovation with thorough attention to details based on the rigorous quality standards worthy of the SP series
Tamron has enhanced the SP series lenses to fulfill high-level photographic requirements and provide the pleasure of ownership. While introducing a new exterior design, Tamron reviewed the SP series standards. The new SP series has been developed by setting rigorous standards for design, manufacturing and quality that apply to the optical design and mechanical design as well as such wide-ranging areas as the product's robustness and improvements in a variety of individual functions. This has helped to achieve a more consistently superb optical performance, making it a lens that fulfills the demand for higher image quality that is compatible with the latest high-pixel cameras. To maximize the optical performance of the SP series, Tamron will continue to enhance the accuracy of the component parts of each lens element unit and improve the mechanical precision of the entire lens, thereby achieving a high overall performance.

Preorders

Tamron SP 15-30mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G2 Lens - B&H | Adorama

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Post Date: 8/31/2018 8:04:40 AM ET   Posted By: Sean
 Thursday, August 30, 2018

Just posted: Sigma 105mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens Review.

It is what we've come to expect from the Sigma Art series: an excellent lens.

The Sigma 105mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens is in stock at B&H | Amazon | Adorama | WEX.

Rent the Sigma 105mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens from Lensrentals.

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Posted to: Canon News, Sony News   Category: Camera Gear Review News
Post Date: 8/30/2018 9:35:35 AM ET   Posted By: Bryan

Photolemur is the world’s first fully automated solution for creating perfect photos.

It works on Mac and PC, automatically analyzes and perfects your images, and doesn’t require any manual involvement.

Photolemur is powered by artificial intelligence that recognizes objects, faces, trees, sky, foliage and more; distinguishes between portraits, landscapes and macro photographs; and applies the appropriate enhancements for each type of image.

Photolemur 3.0 includes the world's first fully automatic processing and retouching of faces: skin smoothing, removing skin defects, smart eye enlargement and hair structure.

The new Photolemur 3.0 version has six new styles along with the ability to impose them on images. The program is also able to enhance a large number of photos simultaneously: more than 200 images at the same time, which will speed up a workflow considerably.

Photolemur 3.0 is possibly the greatest time-saver in the history of photo editing!

Here are the most essential changes in Photolemur 3.0:

  • Automatic Face Enhancement with skin retouching and teeth whitening
  • Smart Eye Enlargement
  • Adding Styles to photos
  • New menu for opacity settings
  • Quick access menu for face enhancement, lens correction and eye enlargement
  • Apply settings from one image to all images in batch
  • SmugMug Export (for Mac version)
  • Performance and stability boost

Photolemur 3.0 will be available for pre-order on August 28, and released on September 14.

Pre-Order Pricing:

  • New users can purchase Photolemur 3.0 Family at a special pre-order price of $49
  • A collection of bonuses will also be included in every purchase.

Photolemur 3.0 Regular Pricing:

  • Current users may upgrade at a price of $19
  • New users can purchase Photolemur 3.0 Family at a price of $59
  • New users can purchase Photolemur 3.0 Single at a price of $39

Pre-order bonuses:

  • The Shotkit EBook
  • The 2018 Gear Guide
  • $300 Off a multi-day (3+ day) Iceland Photo Tours

Preorder Photolemur

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Posted to: Canon News, Sony News   Category: Photolemur News
Post Date: 8/30/2018 7:39:51 AM ET   Posted By: Sean

From Nikon USA:

The Redesigned Nikon D3500 is the Most Portable Entry-Level Nikon DSLR Ever, and the Easiest Way to Capture the Moments that Matter Most

MELVILLE, NY – Today, Nikon unveiled the new Nikon D3500, a compact, entry-level DSLR that makes capturing the world easier and more convenient than ever. The 24.2-megapixel D3500 features an updated CMOS image sensor and Nikon EXPEED image processor to capture sharp details and vivid colors, and is packed with easy-to-use features that help first-time DSLR users start capturing better photos and video right away. With its ergonomic and lightweight body, approximately 1,550 shots on a single charge and convenient features like Nikon SnapBridge and helpful Guide Mode, the Nikon D3500 is a great option for parents, travelers and photo enthusiasts who are eager to take their photography to the next level.

“The Nikon D3500 is ideal for consumers who are looking to easily capture the kinds of images that their smartphone simply cannot match, and share them seamlessly with family and friends,” said Jay Vannatter, Executive Vice President, Nikon Inc. “The D3500 reaffirms our commitment to releasing convenient DX-format DSLR options for those just discovering photography.”

Capture Stunning Images and Video with Ease

The Nikon D3500 is bursting with high-performance features that help first-time DSLR users capture amazing images in a variety of situations. The camera’s broad ISO range of 100-25,600 makes it easy to capture sharp, clear images in low-light shooting situations with very little noise, while the 11-point autofocus (AF) System locks onto subjects, even fast-moving pets or children to help ensure that fleeting moments aren’t missed. The D3500 also features built-in Effect Modes to help entry-level users discover and express their personal creative vision.

Additionally, the Nikon D3500 is capable of continuous shooting up to five frames-per-second (fps), helping to capture candid moments with ease. The Nikon D3500 is also equipped with Full HD 1080/60p video capability. Users can switch from shooting photos to video at the press of a button, allowing them to capture spur-of-the-moment memories that will last a lifetime with stunning sharpness and clarity.

To further expand creativity, the in-camera Guide Mode gives new DSLR users the tools they need to learn about their new camera’s capabilities and become better, more knowledgeable photographers.

All these amazing features have been incorporated into a new ergonomic and lightweight design featuring a more comfortable, deeper grip and the slim monocoque body design similar to the Nikon D5600. The new design also features a more beginner-friendly and intuitive control layout, with a larger playback button and the most frequently-used controls all relocated to the right side of the camera’s LCD where they are easiest to access.

The redesigned Nikon D3500 is ideal for a fast-paced on-the-go lifestyle, making it the perfect companion for any family event or travel adventure.

Always Connected for Easy Sharing

Sharing photos with the ones you love is easier than ever with the Nikon D3500 and Nikon SnapBridge app. The D3500 uses Bluetooth to create an always-on connection between the camera and a compatible smart device, making it possible to seamlessly share 2MP images to social media as they are captured. Additionally, D3500 users will now be able to trigger their camera remotely via Bluetooth using SnapBridge. Nikon SnapBridge users can also access Nikon Image Space, a free online image sharing and storage service that preserves memories in the cloud.

Pricing and Availability

The Nikon D3500 will be available in a two-lens kit option, including the AF-P DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR and AF-P DX NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED, for a suggested retail price (SRP) of $849.95 in September 2018. A Nikon D3500 single-lens kit with the AF-P DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR will also be available for (SRP) of $499.95 in September 2018.

Preorders: Nikon D3500 – B&H | Adorama | Wex

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Posted to:    Category: Nikon Announcements
Post Date: 8/30/2018 5:49:44 AM ET   Posted By: Sean
 Wednesday, August 29, 2018

In this video, Nikon Optical Engineer and Technical Liaison Atsushi Suzuki explains the merits of the new mirrorless Z-mount.

What I found particularly impressive was Suzuki writing backwards on plexiglass so that the text could be read by someone on the other side. As I watched him do this, I was immediately reminded of my father, a 20-year Air Force veteran, who used to write backwards on dry erase boards (as a party trick) as I was growing up. He learned to write backwards quickly and accurately to convey aircraft movements to the "higher ups" on the other side of a glass wall while working as a Control Center Plotter in Okinawa. [Sean]

Preorder the new Nikon mirrorless cameras and lenses here.

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Posted to:    Category: Photography Education Videos
Post Date: 8/29/2018 11:09:21 AM ET   Posted By: Sean

From Sony:

Fastest SD Card Completely Sealed One-Piece Molded Structure and Ribless, Switchless Design Keeps Images Safe and Guards against Drops, Bends, Water and Dust

Sony’s new “SF-G series TOUGH specification” UHS-II SD cards are designed to keep images safe in any shooting environment, combining the world’s fastest read and write speeds with an ultra-rugged design that is bend-proof, drop-proof to 5 meters, water-proof and dust-proof. The new cards are 18 times stronger than SD standard (180N compared to 10N rating) to guard against bending and dropping, and use the world’s first monolithic structure with a completely sealed one-piece molding that leaves no empty space in the card and prevents dust or debris from entering. The TOUGH spec. series uses materials of high-grade hardness, unlike conventional SD which uses a thin, 3-part ensemble. They are protected against typical physical damage that can affect conventional SD cards such as a broken plastic casing, broken data protection lock and broken connector ribs.

For photographers fighting the elements to get the perfect shot, the TOUGH spec. SD cards are also waterproof with an IPX8 rating and dustproof with an IP6X rating.

As the world’s first ribless SD card with no write protection switch, the new cards’ design ensures that easy-to-break parts are removed entirely.

Unleash the power of the camera

Continuing an industry trend driven by Sony, full-frame mirrorless cameras such as the a9 and a7 series are packing more and more performance into stills and video performance. These high-end cameras rely on fast memory cards to maximize their performance and with professional photographers now using SD cards more frequently, users are demanding higher levels of reliability and durability associated with other professional card types. With the world’s fastest write speed of up to 299MB/s, buffer clearing time is minimized, allowing photographers to shoot at the highest burst speeds.

The TOUGH spec. SD cards also support V90, the highest standard of video speed class, making it an ideal companion for shooting high-resolution video.

Transferring high-capacity photo and video files is made simple with the TOUGH spec. cards, thanks to a read speed of up to 300MB/s, another world’s fastest, which dramatically streamlines the post-shooting workflow. Addressing the practical needs of photographers, the SF-G series TOUGH specification range feature a bright yellow banding design, making the card easier to spot in dark shooting conditions.

Ultimate Assurance

The TOUGH spec. series SD cards include a SD Scan Utility, allowing the user to check that the card is in good condition and File Rescue Software to recover accidentally deleted data and photos. The new cards are also X-ray proof, magnet proof, anti-static, temperature proof and feature UV Guard.

Pricing and Availability

The new SF-G TOUGH series of memory cards are planned to be available in October, at the following suggested prices:

  • SF-G32T/T1 – 32GB – $72.99
  • SF-G64T/T1 – 64GB – $131.99
  • SF-G128T/T1 – 128GB — $275.99

B&H carries Sony SDXC memory cards.

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Posted to: Canon News, Sony News   Category: Sony Announcements
Post Date: 8/29/2018 9:43:11 AM ET   Posted By: Sean

From the Phlearn YouTube Channel:

Today, we show you how to easily color match in Photoshop to create realistic composites. Nothing beats manual color work, but in some cases this automatic trick can make matching colors simpler than ever.

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Post Date: 8/29/2018 7:24:11 AM ET   Posted By: Sean

Update: Adobe has clarified its statement below.

Most Creative Cloud applications receiving updates in the next major release will still support Windows 7. It is only Adobe video and audio tools that aren’t supporting Windows 7 – Lightroom and Photoshop will still support [Windows 7].
From Adobe:

As we prepare for our next major release of Creative Cloud, we wanted to share some information on updated operating system requirements. To take advantage of the latest operating system features and technologies, the next major release of Creative Cloud will not support Windows 8.1, Windows 10 v1511 and v1607, and Mac OS 10.11 (El Capitan). For more detailed information about operating system requirements for the next major release of Adobe video and audio tools, see this post.

If you’re running Windows 8.1, Windows 10 v1511 and v1607 or Mac OS 10.11 (El Capitan), you can continue to run and install current and previous versions of Creative Cloud applications. However, you will not be able to install or run the next major release of Creative Cloud unless you’re on a supported version of Windows or MacOS.

Creative Cloud Desktop, which manages application installs, will continue to be supported on Windows 7 or later and Mac OS X v10.9 or later.

Focusing our efforts on more modern versions of Windows and Mac operating systems allows us to concentrate on developing the features and functionality most requested by members, while ensuring peak performance that takes advantage of modern hardware. Visit this site for detailed information on current Creative Cloud app system requirements.

B&H carries Adobe Photography Plan subscriptions.

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Posted to: Canon News, Sony News   Category: Adobe News
Post Date: 8/29/2018 6:50:54 AM ET   Posted By: Sean
 Tuesday, August 28, 2018

From Think Tank Photo:

Think Tank Photo’s Upgraded Retrospective Shoulder Bags Feature Increased Photography Gear Security and Lighter Weight

Santa Rosa, Calif. – When Think Tank Photo first released the Retrospective shoulder bag series, they took the photo industry by storm. Think Tank has now upped the ante with the Retrospective V2.0. While retaining the soft, form-fitting design, they are lighter than the original. For greater security, the Retrospective shoulder bags now feature a zippered opening under the main flap that tucks away when not in use. Each bag has a dedicated interior tablet or laptop pocket, luggage handle pass-through, and a compressible water bottle pocket. Think Tank also improved its innovative “Sound Silencer” closure, allowing photographers to work more quietly.

The Retrospective V2.0 shoulder bags come in five sizes:

  • Retrospective 5 V2.0 – Fits a standard DSLR or Mirrorless body with a 17–40mm f/4 lens attached and a 9” tablet. Examples include a Canon 5DMIV with a 50mm f/1.8 attached, 24–70mm f/2.8, and an iPad Mini; or a Sony a7RIII with a 24–70mm f/4 attached, 16–35mm f/4, 55mm f/1.8, and an iPad Mini.
  • Retrospective 7 V2.0 – Fits a standard DSLR with a 24–70mm f/2.8 attached, 70–200mm f/2.8 unattached, flash, 10” tablet, and a 13” laptop. Examples include a Nikon D850 with 24–70mm f/2.8 attached, 70–200mm f/2.8, and a SB-5000 AFSpeedlight; or a DJI Mavic Pro drone, controller, batteries and accessories.
  • Retrospective 10 V2.0 – Fits a gripped DSLR with a 24–70mm f/2.8 attached, 10” tablet, 12” laptop, 70–200mm f/2.8 unattached, and a flash. Examples include a Nikon D5 with a 24–70mm f/2.8 attached, 70–200mm f/2.8 unattached, and a SB-5000 AFSpeedlight.
  • Retrospective 20 V2.0 – Holds a gripped DSLR with 70–200mm f/2.8 attached or a 300mm f/2.8 unattached, 24–70mm f/2.8, 10” tablet, 12” laptop, and a flash. Examples include a Nikon D5 with a 70–200mm f/2.8 attached, 14–24mm f/2.8, 50mm f/1.8, and a SB-5000 AFSpeedlight.
  • Retrospective 30 V2.0 – Fits two gripped DSLRs with a 24–70mm f/2.8 and 16–35mm f/2.8 attached, 70–200mm f/2.8 unattached, and a 15” laptop. Examples include two Nikon D5 bodies with a 24–70mm f/2.8 and 14–24mm f/2.8 attached, 70–200mm f/2.8 unattached, and an iPad.

“Reflecting on your past work helps you be more creative in the future,” said Doug Murdoch, Think Tank’s President and lead designer. “When we designed the original Retrospective shoulder bag series, we looked back on our personal experience for inspiration. We wanted to bring back the classic canvas look that is soft yet durable — but doesn’t look like a camera bag full of expensive gear. The Retrospective V2.0 series combines all our experience as photographers and product designers into a highly functional yet timeless camera bag.”

KEY FEATURES

  • Dedicated pocket fits a tablet or small laptop (size dependent)
  • Luggage handle pass-through
  • Collapsible water bottle pocket
  • Hook-and-loop “Sound Silencers” offer discretion when needed
  • Webbing rail to accommodate modular pouches or carabineer
  • Additional dividers to sub-divide compartments for smaller lenses
  • Front pocket fits a 10” tablet (Retrospective 7, 10 and 20 only)
  • Organizer pocket
  • Wide storage pocket on back
  • Removable carrying handle
  • Zippered pocket for valuables and small items
  • Adjustable shoulder strap with cushioned non-slip pad
  • Seam-sealed rain cover included

MATERIALS: Exterior

  • Durable water-repellant (DWR) coating
  • Polyurethane coating
  • Sand-washed 100% cotton canvas
  • YKK RC Fuse (abrasion-resistant) zippers
  • Antique plated brass hardware
  • Nylon webbing
  • 3-ply bonded nylon thread

MATERIALS: Interior

  • Closed-cell foam and PE board reinforced dividers
  • 210D silver-toned nylon
  • Polyester 300D two-tone twill ripstop liner
  • Polyurethane backed velex liner and dividers
  • 2x polyurethane coated nylon 210T seam-sealed rain cover
  • 3-ply bonded nylon thread

SPECIFICATIONS

Retrospective 5 V2.0
Internal Dimensions: 9.5” W x 7.8” H x 4.9” D (24 x 19.5 x 12.5 cm)
Exterior Dimensions: 10” W x 8.5” H x 6” D (25.5 x 21.5 x 15 cm)
Tablet pocket (fits 9” tablet): 9.1” W x 6.3” H x 1.0” D (23 x 16 x 2.5 cm)
Weight: 2.0 lbs. (0.9 kg) including all accessories

Retrospective 7 V2.0
Internal Dimensions: 12.5” W x 8.8” H x 5.4”D (31.8 x 22.4 x 13.8 cm)
Exterior Dimensions: 13.5” W x 9.5” H x 7” D (34.3 x 24.1 x 17.8 cm)
Laptop Pocket (fits up to 13” laptop): 12.2” W x 8.7” H x 1.0” D (31 x 22 x 2.5 cm)
Weight: 2.7 lbs. (1.2 kg) including all accessories

Retrospective 10 V2.0
Internal Dimensions: 12” W x 9.5” H x 6.7” D (30.5 x 24 x 17 cm)
Exterior Dimensions: 13” W x 10.5” H x 7” D (33 x 26.7 x 17.8 cm)
Laptop Pocket (fits up to 12” laptop): 11.4” W x 9.1” H x 1.0” D (29 x 23 x 2.5 cm)
Weight: 2.7 lbs. (1.2 kg) including all accessories

Retrospective 20 V2.0
Internal Dimensions: 12” W x 11.75” H x 6.7” D (30.5 x 29.8 x 17 cm)
Exterior Dimensions: 13” W x 12.5” H x 7” D (33 x 31.7 x 17.8 cm)
Laptop Pocket (fits up to 12” laptop): 11.4” W x 11” H x 1.0” D (29 x 28 x 2.5 cm)
Weight: 2.8 lbs. (1.3 kg) including all accessories

Retrospective 30 V2.0
Internal Dimensions: 15” W x 10.5” H x 6.7” D (38 x 26.7 x 17 cm)
Exterior Dimensions: 16” W x 11.2” H x 7” D (40.6 x 28.5 x 17.8 cm)
Laptop Pocket (fits up to 15” laptop): 14.2” W x 9.8” H x 1.0” D (36 x 25 x 2.5 cm)
Weight: 2.8 lbs. (1.3 kg) including all accessories

Think Tank Photo has the new Retrospective v2.0 shoulder bags in stock.

Use the link above for Think Tank Photo and you'll get a free gift with your purchase ($50.00 minimum purchase required).

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Posted to: Canon News, Sony News   Category: Think Tank Photo News
Post Date: 8/28/2018 12:15:33 PM ET   Posted By: Sean

Most higher-end image editing programs now feature automated panorama stitching, but if you don't rotate the lens on its nodal point while capturing the individual images for your spherical panorama, even the best image editing programs will find it challenging to stitch all of the images perfectly. Instead, portions of the stitched areas don't precisely line up, a result of parallax errors. Rotating the lens on its nodal point allows you to avoid those parallax errors, ultimately leading to a better panoramic image.

But how do you find the nodal point for your lens? The solution is probably easier than you think. Yesterday I determined the nodal points for eight lenses (one at two different focal lengths) using my pano rig.

To find your lens' nodal point:

1. Set up your camera along with aligned subjects.
Set up your tripod-mounted pano rig so that it is level and pointed at two objects that are perfectly lined up in the center of your viewfinder/frame using Live View at max magnification. For me, that was two light stands set up in my studio about 6' (1.83m) apart. The farthest light stand was extended just a little bit higher than the closest light stand to make aligning the two subjects easier.

2. Rotate the camera left or right and move the camera forward/backward to create an identical view.
Move your magnified live view frame all the way to the left or right, then rotate the camera so that the front object is within the magnified view. Now, move the camera forward or backward using the nodal rail until the two objects are lined up just as they had been in the center of the frame view.

3. Record your results.
Record the position of the nodal rail in your clamp, such as "Clamp centered on 49mm rail mark," the lens being used and (if using a zoom lens) the focal length setting of the lens. If using a zoom lens for your panos, you'll need to determine the nodal points for all focal lengths you intend on using for your panos. Typically speaking, I usually calculate the nodal points for the shortest and longest focal lengths of a zoom lens. I find it handy to record the measurements in a cloud-based document so that they can be accessed from any location where data services can be accessed. Also, keep in mind that your nodal point calculations may be different depending on whether your camera is in portrait orientation or landscape orientation. Typically, you'll want to orient your camera vertically to maximize your panorama's resolution. However, if shooting horizontally, the plates in your L-brackets may be offset from one another. For 5D Mark III L-bracket, the offset is 15.5mm, meaning I have to subtract 15.5mm from my vertical orientation measurement to get the landscape oriented one. If planning to travel to remote areas to capture panoramic images, storing the nodal point measurement values locally on your smartphone in a notepad app (or alternately in a traditional paper notepad) would be best.

My particular pano rig consists of a bidirectional clamp and a multi-purpose rail. Instead of moving the rail in the tripod's head, I move the bidirectional clamp that's connected to the camera. Therefore, I have to ensure that the rail is clamped into the index rotator's clamp at the exact same position each time if I ever entirely break down the setup. While that sounds a bit complicated, it's not in practice. I just make sure the first measurement mark on the rail is lined up with the front edge of the index rotator clamp, and all is well.

After calculating the nodal points for several of my lenses, I got the itch to create another 360-degree panorama. After a short time thinking about the possible locations to photograph, as you can see from above, our renovated second bedroom was the subject I chose. To capture the image, I used a Canon EOS 5D Mark III and Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 lens a 3-shot exposure bracket at each 20° interval. I then combined the exposure brackets in Lightroom (using identical settings for each HDR blend) and compiled the panoramic image with Hugin.

Want to step into our nursery? Download and install FSPViewer and open this high-resolution version of the image above in the app for a cool virtual experience.

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Posted to: Canon News, Sony News   Category: Photo Tips and Stories
Post Date: 8/28/2018 7:52:41 AM ET   Posted By: Sean
 Monday, August 27, 2018

From the Southwest Airlines YouTube Channel:

Photographer Jon Carmichael captures The Great American Eclipse onboard a Southwest Aircraft at 39,000 feet.

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Post Date: 8/27/2018 12:01:58 PM ET   Posted By: Sean

From Rokinon:

August 27, 2018 – New York, New York – Rokinon has announced its new Digital Photo 85mm F1.8 Compact Prime Lens, the 7th in its compact lens series. The new 85mm is sized and optically designed specifically for mirrorless cameras to deliver high resolution performance from the center of the image to its corners. It is a high speed telephoto lens that delivers equivalent focal lengths of approximately 128mm with APS-C Sony E and Fuji X cameras, 136mm with Canon M cameras, and 170mm with Micro 4/3 cameras.

Optically, the Rokinon 85mm F1.8 is constructed of 9 elements in 7 groups and features a High-Refractive Index element and an Extra-low Dispersion element. Additionally, it uses UMC ultra multi-coating to help minimize chromatic aberrations and unnecessary light dispersion. Intuitive, damped and precise manual focus control combine with its fast 1.8 aperture and rounded 9 blade diaphragm for exceptional low light, bokeh and selective focus capabilities.

The compact and light-weight design of this fast telephoto offers excellent portability and comfort that is perfect for travel, candid, portraits, and close up photography with mirrorless cameras. Additional features include a non-rotating 62mm filter mount, a reversible for storage lens hood and a soft pouch case.

  • Coverage: APS-C/Four-Thirds
  • Optical Construction:
  • 9 Glass elements in 7 Groups
  • Aperture Range: F1.8-22
  • Diaphragm Blades: 9
  • Coating: Ultra Multi-Coating
  • Minimum Focusing Distance: 2.13ft (0.65m)
  • Filter Size: 62mm
  • Lens Hood: Removable
  • Maximum Diameter: 2.66” (67.5mm)

The new Rokinon Digital Photo 85mm F1.8 compact prime lens is expected to be available in September with a street price of only $399.00.

B&H has the Rokinon 85mm f/1.8 Lens available for preorder.

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Posted to: Canon News, Sony News   Category: Rokinon News
Post Date: 8/27/2018 10:25:08 AM ET   Posted By: Sean

Just posted: Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS Lens Review.

This lens deserves a role in most Sony kits.

The Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS Lens is in stock at B&H | Amazon | Adorama | WEX.

Rent the Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS Lens from Lensrentals.

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Posted to: Sony News   Category: Camera Gear Review News
Post Date: 8/27/2018 7:30:00 AM ET   Posted By: Bryan
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