Canon and Sony News for Jan 2020

From Profoto:

Hi Android users, connect your Profoto B10 and B10 Plus to your smartphone via Profoto Control app available on Google Play Store. You can view and control your B10 and B10 Plus settings, and install new updates in seconds.

Wherever your shoot takes you, Profoto B10 series provides you with the power to create with seamless smartphone connectivity – get your Profoto B10 lights today!

B&H carries the Profoto B10 Plus.

Just posted: Tamron 35mm f/2.8 Di III OSD M1:2 Lens Review.

Tamron is on a roll with their Di III lenses.

The Tamron 35mm f/2.8 Di III OSD Lens is in stock at B&H | Adorama | Amazon USA | WEX

Rent the Tamron 35mm f/2.8 Di III OSD Lens from Lensrentals.

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I'm pretty sure we've shared this tip before on a video posted to the site, but this tip is valuable enough to warrant reiteration. Years ago I assigned a custom shortcut (ALT+F1) to the Trim tool in Photoshop and it has definitely helped to streamline my typical worklow with the site. Over time, the seconds saved add up nicely. [Sean]

B&H carries Adobe Photography Plan subscriptions.

The knobs are gone. Check out the innovative Ergo and Elite tripod heads just introduced by Platypod.

Just posted: Sony FE 35mm f/2.8 ZA Lens Review.

Ultra-light and ultra-tiny has big value.

The Sony FE 35mm f/2.8 ZA Lens is in stock at B&H | Adorama | Amazon USA | WEX

B&H has this lens available in used condition for an up to $214.00 savings.

Rent the Sony FE 35mm f/2.8 ZA Lens from Lensrentals.

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Just posted: Sony FE 35mm f/1.8 Lens Review.

This is a very nice little lens.

The Sony FE 35mm f/1.8 Lens is in stock at B&H | Adorama | Amazon USA | WEX

Rent the Sony FE 35mm f/1.8 Lens from Lensrentals.

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Just posted: Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 ZA Lens Review.

Find out how this ultra-wide aperture Sony lens stacks up!

The Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 ZA Lens is in stock at B&H | Adorama | Amazon USA | WEX

B&H also has multiple copies of this lens available in used condition.

Rent the Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 ZA Lens from Lensrentals.

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From the Adorama YouTube Channel:

Last week, Pye taught us the first 5 couples poses every photographer should know. In Part II of his Couples Crash Course, you'll see how you can achieve 20+ couples poses using the Foundation Posing Framework.

LensRentals' latest podcast – How to Break a Camera with Aaron Closz, Joey Miller & Roger Cicala – is an entertaining and informative discussion on camera life expectancy.

From LensRentals:

Impact damage, sensor scratches, and shutter failure, oh my! Roger, Aaron, and Joey are back and this time they’re talking about all the ways you can break a camera, what can be fixed and what is always a kiss of death. From discussing the most common damage they see on returned gear, to repairs you might be able to tackle at home, Roger, Joey, and Aaron discuss how to take care of your camera bodies, and what do expect when something breaks.

The team at LensRentals is great; we highly recommend utilizing them for all your rental needs.

From the B&H YouTube Channel:

In this lighting tutorial, David Flores shows you indoor and outdoor studio lighting setups for portrait photography. You'll also learn strobist photography techniques, such as camera settings to balance studio strobe light with ambient light.

Gear Used:

• Profoto B10 OCF Flash Head
• Godox AD600Pro Witstro All-In-One Outdoor Flash
• Profoto Air Remote TTL

From the Adobe Photoshop YouTube Channel:

In this episode of #PHOMO, Paul Trani explores the new Capture from Image functionality in Photoshop. Watch how Photoshop automatically creates patterns, shapes, color themes and gradients from your images using the Capture functionality. 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.

From SIGMA:

SIGMA announces the shipment schedule for SIGMA CINE LENS /i Technology-compatible PL mount lens in the FF High Speed Prime Line.

• Shipment schedule:February, 2020

Optimized for large-format camera systems and 8K shooting, the FF High Speed Prime Line lenses deliver stunning image quality in compact construction. A new addition to this prime lens lineup comes with electronic contacts that supports Cooke’s /i Technology communication protocol for Art Prime PL mount lenses. By using an /i Technology-compatible cine lens with a cine camera that supports the same protocol, users can see and record lens metadata such as focus distance, focal length, and aperture. This helps streamline compositing in the post production process. This is particularly suitable for the latest forms of filmmaking, such as VFX, that call for detailed shooting data. Prototypes of this /i Technology-compatible FF High Speed Prime lens were used for shooting “Top Gun: Maverick”, scheduled to be released in 2020, showing that the new lens is already in commercial applications.

For SIGMA customers who has already purchased a SIGMA PL mount lens, Mount Conversion Service is available to convert the lenses to /i Technology-compatible PL mount. In order to apply for the service, please contact your nearest authorized SIGMA subsidiary or distributor.

B&H has the SIGMA CINE LENS /i Technology-compatible PL mount Lenses available for special order.

Image quality test results have been added to the Canon RF 85mm F1.2 L USM DS Lens page.

We were told that this lens could be slightly sharper than the excellent Canon RF 85mm F1.2 L USM Lens and it is that.

Check out the Canon RF 85mm F1.2 L USM DS Lens vs. Canon RF 85mm F1.2 L USM Lens comparison to see that impressive performance.

The Canon RF 85mm F1.2 L USM DS Lens is available for order at B&H | Adorama | Amazon USA (1 in stock!) | WEX

Rent the Canon RF 85mm F1.2 L USM DS Lens from Lensrentals.

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From Tokina:

Thank you for using Tokina products.

We have thoroughly tested all current Tokina interchangeable lenses (Nikon F mount) with the Nikon Z 6, Nikon Z 7 and Nikon Z 50 mirrorless camera using the Nikon mount adapter FTZ.

The results confirm that current Tokina lens models showed no issues in general operations with the following exceptions:

• Tokina opera 50mm F1.4 FF
  Issue: Compared with general conditions depending on aperture value AF speed might be slower.
• Tokina AT-X 70-200mm F4 FX VCM-S
  Issue: AF communication error. However, the lens will operate normally in manual focus mode.

Please, note that due to mount adapter FTZ specifications, the following Tokina lenses do not AF but will operate in manual focus mode:

• Tokina AT-X M100 AF PRO D
• Tokina AT-X 107 AF DX NH Fisheye
• Tokina AT-X 107 AF DX Fisheye

For any question about compatibility of Tokina interchangeable lenses with Nikon Z 6, Nikon Z 7 and Nikon Z 50 mirrorless camera contact us via contact form.

From SIGMA:

Firmware update for SIGMA 45mm F2.8 DG DN | Contemporary for Sony E-mount (v02)

Benefit of the update:

• It has corrected the phenomenon whereby the image rarely blurs when using the in-body image stabilization.

To update the firmware, please refer to this link.

* After the update, please remove the battery pack from the camera and put it back in again.

For customers who own the SIGMA USB DOCK and applicable products listed below, please update the firmware via SIGMA Optimization Pro.

Benefits of the update:

• It has optimized the operation of Mode 2 in Optical Stabilizer when used in combination with the SIGMA MOUNT CONVERTER MC-21 EF-L.

SIGMA Optimization Pro Download page

Benefits of the update:

• It has become compatible with the SIGMA 14-24mm F2.8 DG HSM | Art for SIGMA SA mount, that has the latest firmware Ver.1.01.
• It has become compatible with the SIGMA 100-400mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM | Contemporary for SIGMA SA mount, that has the latest firmware Ver.1.04.
• It has become compatible with the SIGMA 85mm F1.4 DG HSM | Art for SIGMA SA mount, that has the latest firmware Ver.1.03.
• It has become compatible with the SIGMA 500mm F4 DG OS HSM | Sports for SIGMA SA mount, that has the latest firmware Ver.1.02.

SIGMA Optimization Pro Download page

Just posted: Really Right Stuff MC-34 Monopod Review.

The leg locks are awesome and contribute heavily to making this the best monopod I've used.

The Really Right Stuff MC-34 Monopod is available for order (in stock soon) at B&H.

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From Nikon:

Nikon WT-7 Firmware 1.4

Changes from Firmware Version 1.3 to 1.4

• Added support for the D780.

Download: Nikon WT-7 Firmware 1.4

Just posted: MindShift Gear BackLight 18L Review.

This is a great little backpack for a mirrorless or a small DSLR kit.

The MindShift Gear BackLight 18L is in stock at B&H | Think Tank Photo / MindShit Gear | Adorama | Amazon USA

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Ready to be impressed?

Roger Cicala of LensRentals has shared a teardown of the Nikon Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S Lens. Below is from the conclusion section:

As you can probably tell from our struggles doing this disassembly, the Nikon Z lenses are very different than their legacy lenses. They’re also different than what we’ve seen from other manufacturers. That suggests Nikon Z lenses, like Canon R lenses, are a completely new optomechanical design, probably done entirely in-house.

The engineering itself is incredible in most ways. The neatly laid out and solidly adhered flexes reflect the careful design. The taping of every possible point that Loctite or anything else could get in the lens does, too. The design is logical and clean; the difficulties in the tear-down were ours. Now that we know our way around, disassembly won’t be bad at all.

From Tamron:

SP 85mm F/1.8 Di VC USD Firmware v.4

• This update improves the stability of control signal communication in continuous shooting.

Lens firmware can be updated using TAP-in Console.

From Kenko Tokina Co., Ltd.:

Tokina atx-m 85mm F1.8 FE worldwide sales date announcement

Jan 17, 2020

The Tokina atx-m 85mm F1.8 FE is the first lens debuting in atx-m series designed to fit Sony E-mount full frame cameras. It is a completely newly designed medium tele photo prime lens in Tokina line-up featuring popular 85mm focal length and fast f/1.8 aperture that is excellent spec combination for shooting portraits, landscapes, street snaps and close up shots.

Sales will commence on February 7, 2020.

High-Lighted Features

• Simple and sophisticated design and high build quality based on anodized semi-satin finish metal and optical glass materials.
• Smooth and beautiful bokeh, comparatively round light points in out of focus area thanks to fast aperture f/1.8, large diameter of front glass element and low light fall-off performance.
• Outstanding resolving ability from corner to corner thanks to 10 glass elements including 1 SD element.
• Effective ghost and flares care thanks to Tokina's exclusive Super Low Reflection Coating with water, oil&dust repellent abilities.
• Quiet, speedy and accurate focusing realized by ST-M focus motor actuation.
• Smooth and precise manual focusing thanks to all-metal made unit and high standard grease materials.
• Complete data correspondence with camera body that provides full advantage of the latest features of the Sony A7 series such as 5-axis image stabilization, MF assist, Face/Eye Priority AF, Real-time Eye AF and the electronic distance scale.
• Developed and manufactured in accordance with Sony-licensed specifications.

B&H is taking preorders for the Tokina atx-m 85mm f/1.8 FE Lens for Sony E.

From the Adorama YouTube Channel:

A textured wall in your studio could well be the perfect background for your portrait photos. Even a slight texture can add the feeling of depth and interest to a portrait that a plain wall often can't. Of course not many photographers have the space of a permanently textured wall, so in this video Gavin Hoey walks you through a shoot in his small home studio, where he plans to replace a simple, smooth fabric background with some texture.

After the shoot, Gavin takes you into Photoshop where he passes on some simple tricks to add a gentle texture over the original portrait. He then goes on to blend everything togther by means of a quick color toning technique.

If you're looking to enhance a smooth background with a small amount of texture, this technique opens up a whole new world of background styles.

From Nikon:

ViewNX-i v.1.4.1

Changes from Version 1.4.0/1.4.0a to 1.4.1

• Added support for the D780 and COOLPIX P950.
• Ended support for Windows 7.

Download: ViewNX-i v.1.4.1

Changes from Version 1.6.0/1.6.0a to 1.6.1

• Added support for the D780 and COOLPIX P950.
• Fixed an issue that caused Capture NX-D to crash when opening pictures edited in Capture NX2.
• Ended support for Windows 7.

Download: Capture NX-D v.1.6.1

Changes from Version 1.1.0 to 1.1.1

• Added support for macOS Catalina version 10.15.
• Ended support for macOS Sierra version 10.12.

Download: IPTC Preset Manager (Mac) v.1.1.1

Unfortunately, detailed information regaring this update was unavailable, but it's likely that new camera or lens profiles were added.

Download: Distortion Control Data Version v.2.018