Canon and Sony News for Nov 2019
Sony a7R IV and Epic Rocky Mountain National Park Milky Way The Sony a7R IV and Sony FE 24mm f/1.4 GM Lens teamed for an epic Rocky Mountain National Park Milky Way on this September evening. While chasing elk in rut was our top priority during the RMNP workshops, photographing the night sky was also on the to-do list and a clear RMNP night sky never fails to wow us.
For the Milky Way to reach down close to its reflection requires the reflecting surface to have little obstruction above it. Large bodies of water have distant shores and that distant perspective usually results in lower shoreline sky obstructions. Small bodies of water are more likely to have a calm surface than large bodies but trees and mountains typically get in the way of the little-obstruction requirement. Mountains often bring elevation gain that tends to bring reflection-erasing wind.
This particular small mountain lake is set high enough for the southern view to open up to the sky while being protected from the wind for the perfect combination. I love pointed spruce treetops and always welcome their great character on the horizon. Reflections can be counted on to double the value.
A larger version of this image is available on Flickr.
ISO 6400
6336 x 9504px
B&H has the Godox AD400Pro Witstro All-In-One Outdoor Flash for only $419.00 after $230.00 instant savings.
We use the 600 version of this flash constantly in our studio. It works great. Like most of the deals I'm sharing today, this would be a great gift.
From Sony:
TOKYO, Nov. 19, 2019 – Sony Corporation ("Sony") today announced the establishment of Sony AI. This new organization, with offices globally in Japan, Europe, and the United States, will advance fundamental research and development of AI (artificial intelligence).
Sony's Purpose is to "Fill the world with emotion, through the power of creativity and technology." Recognizing that AI will play a vital role in the fulfillment of this Purpose, Sony AI is being established with the mission to "unleash human imagination and creativity with AI."
Sony AI will combine world class fundamental research and development with Sony's unique technical assets, especially in Imaging & Sensing Solutions, Robotics and Entertainment (Games, Music and Movies), driving transformation across all existing business domains and contributing to the creation of new business domains. In addition, one of Sony AI's long-term goals is to contribute to the resolution of shared global issues extending beyond Sony's business domains.
Sony AI will drive the research and development of AI in both physical and virtual space through multiple world-class flagship projects as well as other explorative research projects, including AI ethics.
Initially, Sony AI will launch three flagship projects in the areas of gaming, imaging & sensing, and gastronomy. The adoption of new AI technologies developed through these flagship projects will be critical to further enhancing the value of Sony's gaming and sensor businesses in coming years. This research will be pursued in close collaboration with the relevant Sony Group business units.
In order to drive these projects and achieve truly innovative research, Sony is eager to work with top global AI talent with an aim to attract world-class AI researchers and engineers. Sony believes that extraordinary innovation requires diversity of both talent and approaches, and this will be reflected in the composition and operation of Sony AI. Recognizing the power and influence of AI technologies, Sony AI will contribute to society through the development of AI that is fair, transparent, and accountable.
Sony AI will be headed globally by Hiroaki Kitano (President and CEO, Sony Computer Science Laboratories, Inc.; Corporate Executive, Sony Corporation), and the American site will be headed by Peter Stone.
Just posted: Canon RF 24-70mm F2.8 L IS USM Lens Review.
I would have been very disappointed if this lens was not a great performer. Fortunately, expectations were met.
The Canon RF 24-70mm F2.8 L IS USM Lens is in stock at B&H | Adorama | Amazon USA | WEX
Rent the Canon RF 24-70mm F2.8 L IS USM Lens from Lensrentals.
From Nikon:
Nikon Z 7 / Z 6 Firmware v.2.10
Changes from “C” Firmware Version 2.01 to 2.10
- Added supported for optical VR with NIKKOR Z DX 16–50mm f/3.5–6.3 VR and NIKKOR Z DX 50–250mm f/4.5–6.3 VR Z-mount lenses. Note that attaching these lenses disables the Mechanical shutter option for Custom Setting d5 (Shutter type) in Group d (Shooting/display) of the CUSTOM SETTING MENU, leaving a choice of Auto and Electronic front-curtain shutter options only.
- ISO sensitivity can now be adjusted using the lens control ring, and ISO sensitivity has been added to the options available for Custom Setting f2 (Custom control assignment) > Lens control ring in Group f (Controls) of the CUSTOM SETTING MENU.
- As of November 14, 2019, the aperture display in the lens info panel for NIKKOR Z 24–70mm f/2.8 S and NIKKOR Z 58mm f/0.95 S Noct lenses shows both the current aperture and adjacent aperture values in modes A and M.
- When On was selected for Auto ISO sensitivity control and an option that does not include “slow sync” was selected for Flash mode, shutter speed was formerly restricted to values between those chosen for Custom Settings e1 (Flash sync speed) and e2 (Flash shutter speed), but this has now been changed to match the behavior of digital SLR cameras, with the result that the minimum shutter speed now corresponds to the value selected for Auto ISO sensitivity control > Minimum shutter speed.
- Fixed an issue that in extremely rare cases resulted in the camera failing to correctly record movies with 1920x1080; 120p selected for Frame size/frame rate.
- Fixed an issue that occasionally resulted in “noise” in the form of white lines at the bottom of the display when the electronic viewfinder was on.
- Fixed an issue that in rare cases resulted in “noise” in the form of fine horizontal lines appearing throughout the frame in movies and the live view display.
- Fixed errors in the UTC time zones for the following three cities in the Time zone and date > Time zone display in the SETUP MENU:
- Caracas: was -4:30, is now -4:00
Casablanca: was 00:00, is now +1:00
Ankara: was +2:00, is now +3:00 - Fixed an issue that resulted in an incorrect date of creation being displayed in the Windows 10 “properties” dialogs for movies and time-lapse movies created with the camera, as well as copies created with camera movie editing controls.
Download: Nikon Z 7 Firmware v.2.10 | Nikon Z 6 Firmware v.2.10
One of the visual comparisons I wanted to create was that of the current mirrorless full frame 24-70mm f/2.8 lenses. I got that task done and thought you might also find the image interesting.
Canon RF 24-70mm F2.8 L IS USM Lens
Nikon Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S Lens
Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM Lens
Note that these lenses are aligned on their mounts, not their caps.
The same lenses are shown below with their hoods in place.
One of my favorite subjects to photograph is the Milky Way. The required long exposures provide plenty of time to simply watch the spectacular sky show (unless I'm running two cameras), taking in the awesomeness, and the pictures captured are usually among my favorites. I was blessed with the opportunity to photograph the Milky Way from several top-notch locations this year, including during the Rocky Mountain National Park and Acadia National Park workshops. The image shared here was captured from the coast of Acadia NP.
Seldom can the reflection of the Milky Way be seen in an ocean as the water movement completely blurs everything during the required long exposure. However, tidal pools are often still and can make great reflectors (though not at high tide) for a variety of coastal photography needs including reflecting the night sky. Adding value to this particular tidal pool was the low surrounding rock with good character, adding jaggedness to the rock line and its reflection.
To photograph the night sky, I usually want a wide-angle lens with an f/2.8 or wider aperture available with sharp wide-open image quality. The Canon RF 24-70mm F2.8 L IS USM Lens, with an EOS R behind it and a Really Right Stuff TVC-24L Mk2 Carbon Fiber Tripod and BH-40 Ball Head under it, met those needs superbly.
Photographing the Milky Way is easy and very addicting. This image was captured using the 2-second self-timer feature with settings of f/2.8, 15 seconds (longer exposures increase star trail length), and ISO 6400 (with a low amount of noise reduction applied). I opted to brighten the result a bit in post and brightened the foreground by an additional stop for a single-image HDR. Just after sunset, the sky still had some color in it and a slight saturation increase (+1 in DPP and +7 in PS) made those colors pop. Auto white balance was used. Increasing contrast via an S-curve adjustment always makes the Milky Way stand out.
As I was searching through the over-a-thousand images captured with the RF 24-70, selecting a few to share in the review, this one stood out as my favorite and thus I'm sharing it with you here. Add the RF 24-70mm lens to the list of good night sky lenses.
A larger version of this image is available on Flickr.
ISO 6400
4480 x 6720px
Sony USA has issued a service advisory for the Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM Lens:
Dear Valued Sony Customer,
Thank you for your interest in Sony products.
Some SEL1635GM FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM E-mount lenses may cause the camera to not operate correctly when the lens is attached.
To address this issue, subject to the terms and conditions in the Limited Warranty that accompanied the Affected Lenses, we will repair your Affected Lens, free of charge, until March 31, 2023.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, and thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
Symptoms
- The camera may not operate while the lens is attached.
- The camera's rear screen may not display correctly while the lens is attached.
Affected Lenses
- Some SEL1635GM E-mount lenses with serial numbers between 1800502 and 1823192.
- Note: Not all lenses within the serial number range are affected.
Use the form below to check the serial number of your SEL1635GM lens to see if it is affected by this issue.
Canon USA has made security firmware updates available for the following 11 cameras:
- Canon EOS 6D
- Canon EOS 6D Mark II
- Canon EOS 7D Mark II
- Canon EOS 70D
- Canon EOS 80D
- Canon EOS M50
- Canon EOS M6 Mark II
- Canon EOS Rebel SL3
- Canon EOS Rebel T6s
- PowerShot SX70 HS
- PowerShot SX740 HS
From the Adobe Photoshop YouTube Channel:
Welcome back to Photoshop’s newest tutorial series, #PHOMO! In this episode, Adobe Evangelist Paul Trani shares how to integrate text, logos or designs into your photos and make them look realistic within a scene using Photoshop. Watch this video for helpful tips and tricks to end those feelings of #PHOMO when it comes to design.
B&H carries Adobe Photography Plan subscriptions.
Skylum has officially released Luminar 4.
Luminar 4 works as both a standalone application or as a plug-in for Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Photoshop Elements, Adobe Lightroom Classic, and Photos for macOS Extension
Skylum's Luminar software has become quite popular. Browse the Luminar 4 home page to learn about the impressive-looking AI and other features built into this application.
Don't forget to use our coupon code THEDIGITALPICTURE to get a $10.00 discount.
As with any new camera, the first task with a new Sony a7R IV in hand is to set it up for use. Following are the 39 steps I took to make an out-of-the-box Sony a7R IV ready for use (including tweaks made after roughly 15,000 frames of use).
- Charge battery
- Install neck strap (if opting to use one)
- If your current image processing software does not support the Sony a7R IV, download and install Capture One (for Sony) and/or Sony Imaging Edge
- Insert charged battery and power on the camera
- Set the time zone, date, time, timeformat (note that the AM/PM setting is not directly able to be changed – the hour setting must be scrolled 12 hours to change this)
- insert memory card (don't forget to format it)
- Scroll through all of the menu tabs to configure the camera as follows:
- Camera Menu 1, Tab 1: Quality: RAW
- Camera Menu 1, Tab 1: RAW File Type: Uncompressed (unless taking advantage of the about-50% smaller RAW file size)
- Camera Menu 1, Tab 2: Long Exposure NR: Off
- Camera Menu 1, Tab 2: Lens Comp.: All Off
- Camera Menu 1, Tab 3: Bracket Settings: Self-timer during Bracket: 2 Sec
- Camera Menu 1, Tab 3: Bracket Settings: Bracket Order: ->0>+ (makes selecting images for HDR processing easier)
- Camera Menu 1, Tab 3: Memory: I set the 3 Custom dial modes to my standard landscape, sports, and wildlife settings later
- Camera Menu 1, Tab 5: Priority Set in AF-S: AF
- Camera Menu 1, Tab 5: Priority Set in AF-C: AF
- Camera Menu 1, Tab 5: Focus Area: Flexible Spot: S
- Camera Menu 1, Tab 5: Swt. V/H AF Area: AF Point Only
- Camera Menu 1, Tab 6: Face/Eye AF Set.: Face/Eye Frame Display: On
- Camera Menu 1, Tab 6: Aperture Drive in AF: Focus Priority
- Camera Menu 1, Tab 9: Reset EV Comp.: Maintain
- Camera Menu 1, Tab 10: Spot Metering Point: Focus Point Link
- Camera Menu 1, Tab 12: DRO/Auto HDR: Off
- Camera Menu 1, Tab 12: Creative Style: Neutral, Sharpness = 1 (I usually process with the Natural creative style in Capture One)
- Camera Menu 2, Tab 4: Release w/o Lens: Disable
- Camera Menu 2, Tab 4: Release w/o Card: Disable
- Camera Menu 2, Tab 7: Grid Line: Rule of 3rds Grid
- Camera Menu 2, Tab 9: Dial Setup: TV/Av (I adjust Tv while shooting more frequently than I adjust Av and the front dial is easier to access quickly)
- Camera Menu 2, Tab 11: Audio signals: Off (How to turn off the loud and usually-annoying AF beep sound)
- Network Menu 1, Tab 2: Airplane Mode: On
- Setup Menu, Tab 1: Delete confirm: "Delete" first
- Setup Menu, Tab 2: Touch Operation: On
- Setup Menu, Tab 3: Touch Panel/Pad: Touch Panel+Pad
- Setup Menu, Tab 3: Touch Panel/Pad Settings: Touch Pos. Mode: Relative Position; Operation Area: Right Half of Screen
- Setup Menu, Tab 5: Write Serial Number: On
- Setup Menu, Tab 5: Copyright Info: Write Copyright Info: On, Set Photographer: {name}, Set Copyright: {name}
- My Menu: Px. Shift Multi Shoot.; Anti-flicker Shoot; Format; Silent Shooting; Steady Shot; Format; Face/Eye AF Set
- Mount a lens, focus on something with detail, and adjust the viewfinder diopter to your vision
- Check for sensor dust (this was an issue with the two a7R IV cameras I received).
I of course make additional menu and other setting changes based on current shooting scenarios, but this list covers my initial camera setup process.
To copy this configuration would mean that you intend to shoot similar to how I shoot – including shooting in RAW-only format. While my setup works great for me, your best use of this list may be for tweaking your own setup.
If you can't remember your own menu setup parameters, keeping an up-to-date list such as this one is a good idea. Anytime your camera is reset-to-factory state for some reason, such as when being serviced, you will be ready to restore your setup quickly while ensuring that you do not miss an important setting. If you purchase another same or similar camera, you will be able to quickly set it up.
More Information
The Sony a7R IV is in stock at B&H | Adorama | Amazon | WEX.
Rent the Sony a7R IV from Lensrentals.
From the Adobe Photoshop YouTube Channel:
Julieanne Kost shares all the new ways you can use the Warp tool to transform your images in Photoshop.
B&H carries Adobe Photography Plan subscriptions.
From the Adorama YouTube Channel:
In this episode, Mark Wallace explains how to create a simple gobo to create patterns on a white background for more interesting portraits. Mark also goes into detail about setting up lighting for beautiful portraits using an octobox, grid, and a white panel to bounce light. This episode is packed with lighting tips.
Gear Used
- Profoto B2 250 AirTTL To-Go Kit
- Flashpoint XPLOR 600 TTL Exclusive Kit
- Flashpoint Grid Set, for 8" Reflectors, Consists of 1 each: 10 deg., 20 deg., 30 deg.and 40 deg. Grids
- Profoto Air Remote Transceiver
- Profoto 2' Octagonal Off-Camera Flash Softbox
- Profoto Off-Camera Flash Speedring for Profoto B1 and B2
- Profoto 2' Octagonal Off-Camera Flash Softgrid
- Sekonic L-858D-U Speedmaster Light Meter
- Tether Tools Rock Solid 11" Articulating Arm with Center Lock
Suggested Accessory
From Canon Global:
TOKYO, November 8, 2019—Canon Inc. and Canon Marketing Japan Inc. announced today that Canon-brand equipment comprised an approximately 70% share of cameras1 used by press photographers at match venues during the knock out stage of Rugby World Cup 2019. Throughout the tournament, Canon has empowered professional photographers aiming to capture decisive moments and contributed to the success of the tournament.
Professional photographers demand comprehensive assistance from camera makers, including state-of-the-art technology, top-class performance, customized service and a strong support network.
Canon is active behind the scenes at a wide variety of sporting events, aiming to achieve "zero downtime" for professional photographers so they're never forced to stop and miss definitive moments of these intense competitions. For decades, the Company has built a reliable reputation and helped support journalists on the front lines through a wide range of services. Thanks to such efforts, Canon-brand equipment comprised an approximately 70% share of cameras1 used by press photographers at match venues during the knock out stage of Rugby World Cup 2019.
At each of the matches held between the 12 tournament venues, Canon has aimed to help realize a successful tournament as an official sponsor by establishing service stations within stadium grounds to provide fast maintenance and repair of equipment. In addition, the Company provided such services as on-site emergency repair and equipment loans.
Canon will continue striving to create competitive, highly reliable products and, through such on-site support of journalists as equipment maintenance, contribute to the further advancement of photographic and videographic expression.
Comment from Paul Gilham, Director of Getty Images, the official photo agency of RWC 2019, and camera service booth user
Getty Images is delighted to continue working with official Rugby World Cup Partner, Canon. Our photographers demand cutting edge technology and a camera they can rely on. Canon's amazing service and support during the tournament in Japan has ensured our photographers were equipped to capture the images that will tell the story of Rugby World Cup, creating a lasting legacy of iconic moments.1 Average of data obtained from the 8 matches of the knock out stage. Based on a Canon survey.
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