Canon and Sony News for Oct 2020
Canon has made Canon EOS-1D X Mark III firmware update version 1.2.1 available for download.
Firmware Version 1.2.1 incorporates the following fixes and enhancements:
- Fixes a phenomenon, in which, after updating the camera’s firmware to version 1.2.0, the Smart Controller may respond slowly or not at all on some cameras. The phenomenon described above may occur in cameras whose first two digits of the serial number are "01" "02" "03" or "04".
In the 2.5 Seconds, 70mm, No Tripod, Cadillac Mountain Moonrise post, I shared that I had locked a Canon EOS R5 and RF 15-35mm F2.8 L IS USM Lens on a Really Right Stuff TVC-24L Mk2 Carbon Fiber Tripod and BH-40 Ball Head into a sunrise-ready position. It seemed logical to share the image that setup captured next.
I love photographing when the sun is below me and visible. In this case, a location with significant unshaded area (sloping toward the sun) (and void of people) was selected. Granite rock provides a solid foundation, and the evergreens on the right aid in framing the scene.
When the sun is in the frame, an HDR capture is often the ideal strategy. This capture involved using auto exposure bracketing (AEB) set to 5-shots 1-stop apart with the exposure adjusted so the brightest and darkest images had detail in the shadows and highlights, respectively. With the 2-second self-timer enabled, the shutter release simply needed to be pressed for the bracketed sequence to be captured, followed by shooting a few more frames with the other camera. Repeat until the scene decreased in photogenic value.
I use a variety of HDR software but selected Lightroom for this one. The set of images that seemed optimal (the sun reflecting in the water influenced this choice) were selected and processed.
You likely already noticed that this image is not in the typical out-of-the-camera 3:2 aspect ratio. There are two ways to get the aspect ratio shared here. Ideal from a final resolution perspective is to stitch multiple images together. Capturing and processing an HDR pano adds complications, and with the ultra-high resolution of the R5, the other option, cropping, proved easier with a very sufficient final resolution. The primary reason for this final aspect ratio was that the cropped away sky was not adding value to the image.
Some minor cleanup in Photoshop resulted in the picture shared here.
Why f/16? At 15mm, f/11 would have provided adequate depth of field for this scene and exhibited less softening from diffraction, but f/16 is a compromise that provides a stronger sunstar, a strong element in this image.
Go big. A larger version of this image is available on Flickr.
ISO 100
8047 x 4283px
Image quality test results have been added to the Canon RF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM Lens page.
This lens is a great value. I'll get your comparisons started:
Canon RF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM Lens compared to Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM Lens
The Canon RF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM Lens is coming soon to B&H | Adorama | Amazon USA | WEX
Rent the Canon RF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM Lens from Lensrentals.
Please share!
On the Acadia National Park bucket list is to be the first person (or more accurately, among the first group of people) in the USA to see the sun on that day. Checking off that item requires an early morning drive to the top of Cadillac Mountain. Leading a small workshop on this day meant my priority was to make sure each participant was in their preferred location with their camera set up and ready for the action to start. With that goal accomplished, I moved into the next-best location and locked a Canon EOS R5 and RF 15-35mm F2.8 L IS USM Lens on a Really Right Stuff TVC-24L Mk2 Carbon Fiber Tripod and BH-40 Ball Head into a sunrise-ready position.
During this setup, the incredible scene unfolding on the horizon had my attention. A tiny crescent moon is a great supporting element. Combine that feature with a strong, colorful pre-sunrise or post-sunset gradient in the sky and throw in some water and mountains, and images I like are easy to create.
While this scene was in my locked-down composition, even 35mm does not render the moon a substantial size in the frame. Fortunately, the Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8 L IS USM Lens and another R5 were in my MindShift Gear BackLight 26L. What was not along was my second tripod, and I did not want to lose the locked-down composition held by the first. So, I sat down on the rocks, rested arms on knees, and began shooting with the settings that would have been used if tripod-mounted. Those settings were ISO 100 for the least noise, f/8 for considerable depth of field and reduced vignetting, and the shutter speed necessary to yield a right-aligned histogram.
That shutter speed was 2.5 seconds, a very long 70mm exposure without a tripod. Amazingly, all of the dozens of images captured at this and, later, faster shutter speeds were sharp. There was no need to use a higher ISO or a wider aperture setting — or a tripod. This is impressive performance from the R5 and RF 70-200 combination.
It is often easy to create nice landscape images with telephoto focal lengths, and the Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8 L IS USM Lens is a great landscape lens. This image is simple — minimalistic. The dark mountain provides a base to the image, and the waterline is positioned approximately 1/3 into the frame. The position of the 3.2% waning crescent moon and silhouetted evergreen trees work together to create an overall balance to the scene. While many rules can be used for composition, overall balance is what I usually look for first.
Go big. A larger version of this image is available on Flickr.
ISO 100
8192 x 5464px
Canon has releases 3rd quarter financial results that can be downloaded from their Investor Relations page.
Presentation Material
Results
Supplementary Data
Some Relevant Highlights
"As for cameras, we saw a faster-than-expected market recovery partially due to an increasing need to capture images at home since more time is being spent there. Furthermore, we raised profitability partially through the launch of competitive new products."
"For both cameras and inkjet printers, as our performance in the third quarter was better than planned, we raised our outlook for the Imaging System business unit and will work for full-year growth in profit."
"As for camera demand, amid ongoing market contraction, we expect a significant drop in demand due to COVID-19 this year. However, in the third quarter, the camera market was stronger than expected thanks to a gradual increase in image capturing opportunities as people became more active. Taking this into account, we raised our full-year projection for the interchangeable-lens camera market by 0.5 million units to 5.9 million units."
"Although we expect our full-year sales to decline in line with the market to 2.7 million units, the EOS R5 and EOS R6, new cameras equipped with full-frame sensors that we launched in the third quarter, have recorded strong sales since their introduction thanks to the high marks they have received for their revolutionary video recording function, AF performance, and image stabilizing function. Furthermore, for our enhanced lineup of lenses, we are achieving sales growth and improving product mix through synergy with camera bodies."
"In addition to shifting to high value-added interchangeable-lens cameras like the EOS R5, we will expand sales of other cameras based on new design concepts that actively incorporate the various ideas of our young employees."
"A recent example of this is the PowerShot Zoom, a hand held camera that combines the functions of a telescope and camera. We started crowdfunding this camera on a Japanese site in September. This gave us access to a new user base that was able to make advance purchase reservations for a limited number of cameras which was reached soon after we started taking orders."
"We will deploy this kind of product strategy and focus on improving profitability by streamlining product development, production, and market in preparation for decreasing sales"
"At the end of September, total inventory turnover in days was longer, reflecting the low level of sales over the past six months. However, in value terms, we show a general decrease, particularly in Imaging System."
"For cameras and inkjet printers, as the level of sales is exceeding our plan, we are augmenting production volumes while closely managing inventory to maintain appropriate levels."
From Sigma:
Firmware update for SIGMA Global Vision lenses in Canon EF mount
Thank you for purchasing and using our products.
We would like to announce that a new firmware update is now available for the SIGMA Global Vision lenses in Canon EF mount listed below.
For customers who own the SIGMA USB DOCK UD-01 and applicable products listed below, please update the firmware via SIGMA Optimization Pro.
[Applicable product]
·SIGMA 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 DC MACRO OS HSM | Contemporary in Canon EF mount
[Benefits of the update]
·It has optimized the exposure during viewfinder shooting when used in combination with the EOS 90D.
·It has improved the AF accuracy when using SIGMA MOUNT CONVERTER MC-11 EF-E and SIGMA MOUNT CONVERTER MC-21 EF-L.
[Applicable product]
·SIGMA 70-200mm F2.8 DG OS HSM | Sports in Canon EF mount
·SIGMA 100-400mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM | Contemporary in Canon EF mount
[Benefits of the update]
·It has optimized the exposure during viewfinder shooting when used in combination with the EOS 90D and the EOS-1D X Mark III.
[Applicable product]
·SIGMA 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM | Sports in Canon EF mount.
[Benefits of the update]
·It has optimized the exposure during viewfinder shooting when used in combination with the EOS 90D and the EOS-1D X Mark III.
·It has fixed a rarely-occurring communication problem during Live View shooting when mounted on the EOS-1D X Mark III.
[Applicable product]
·SIGMA 20mm F1.4 DG HSM | Art in Canon EF mount
[Benefits of the update]
·It has optimized the exposure during viewfinder shooting when used in combination with the EOS 90D and the EOS-1D X Mark III.
·It has reduced the operating sound of the lens diaphragm blades when attached with the SIGMA MOUNT CONVERTER MC-11 EF-E and used for shooting movies.
·It has reduced the operating sound of the lens diaphragm blades when used for shooting movies on Canon cameras. *
*The degree of improvement differs depending on the camera used.
[How to update]
Connect the lens to a computer via the SIGMA USB DOCK UD-01 (sold separately), then open SIGMA Optimization Pro*. If the lens firmware isn’t the latest version, the following message will appear: ‘The latest lens firmware is available’. Click ‘Yes’ to update.
* Before updating lens firmware using the SIGMA USB DOCK UD-01, please ensure you update SIGMA Optimization Pro to the latest version.
From Sigma:
Firmware update for the SIGMA MOUNT CONVERTER MC-11 EF-E
Thank you for purchasing and using our products.
We are pleased to announce that a firmware update for the SIGMA MOUNT CONVERTER MC-11 EF-E is now available.
[Applicable product]
·SIGMA MOUNT CONVERTER MC-11 EF-E
[Benefits of the update]
·It makes the converter compatible with the SIGMA 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 DC MACRO OS HSM | Contemporary in Canon EF mount, that has the latest firmware Ver.2.03
·It makes the converter compatible with the SIGMA 70-200mm F2.8 DG OS HSM | Sports in Canon EF mount, that has the latest firmware Ver.1.02.
·It makes the converter compatible with the SIGMA 100-400mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM | Contemporary in Canon EF mount, that has the latest firmware Ver.2.07.
·It makes the converter compatible with the SIGMA 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM | Sports in Canon EF mount, that has the latest firmware 2.02.
·It makes the converter compatible with the SIGMA 20mm F1.4 DG HSM | Art in Canon EF mount, that has the latest firmware 2.01.
[How to update]
Connect the SIGMA MOUNT CONVERTER MC-11 to a computer with the included USB cable, then open SIGMA Optimization Pro*. If there is a newer firmware version available than the one currently installed on your converter, you will see the message ‘There is the latest firmware for the converter’. Click ‘Yes’ to update.
?Before attaching the updated SIGMA MOUNT CONVERTER MC-11 to the camera body, please remove the battery pack from the camera then reinsert.
*Please be sure to update SIGMA Optimization Pro to the latest version when updating the MC-11 firmware.
From Manfrotto:
Discover the new Manfrotto Professional Batteries and Chargers
The NEW Manfrotto Professional Batteries and Chargers go above and beyond your average charging solution! With higher quality batteries, and faster, more efficient charging to ensure content creators are never without the power they need.
Professional Batteries
Peak performance, durability & quality! The Manfrotto Professional rechargeable batteries offer an ultra-high capacity of 2000 mAh for a wide range of Canon and Nikon cameras. Using Lithium ion technology, you can recharge the battery at any point.
Injected with silicone for a shock-absorbing construction, Professional batteries are built to withstand extreme tough environments, and are drop proof up to 9ft! Never lose your batteries to the bottom of your bag again, thanks to the signature Manfrotto red coloured housing.
Think all batteries are the same? Think again.
ProCUBE Chargers
The Manfrotto ProCUBE is a DSLR twin charger made for a range of Canon, Nikon or Sony fit batteries. It features quick top up charge, a high-end LCD display, battery health check and can charge 1 or 2 batteries simultaneously! Each ProCUBE comes with a 12V car lead, an integrated 2.4A USB charger, numerous battery plates, and AA tray which charges 4 x AA batteries simultaneously.
The tray can also be used to store AA batteries when not in use, which makes the Manfrotto ProCUBE perfect for travelling, and is supplied with interchangeable US, Euro and UK plug heads.
No matter where your work takes you, you’ll never be without power!
Check out the new Manfrotto Professional Batteries and Chargers at B&H.
Sometimes, an ultra-wide-angle lens becomes a requirement to get the shot. Sometimes, a wide aperture is also required. Both were requirements down in Monument Cove, Acadia National Park, on this night. The Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8 GM Lens had the credentials to get the job done.
As I climbed down into the cove, the plan was to capture the monolith in front of the milky way. Upon arrival, I decided that the rock on the other side of the frame also had great character and wanted it included in the image. Even at the extreme 12mm full-frame angle of view, keeping everything seen here in the frame meant my back was against the rock wall.
The milky way is typically photographed against a black sky. However, if the sky is dark and the milky way is in view, it can be photographed at the end of the blue hour. This image was captured about 7 minutes after "nautical end." Despite a bit of light showing in the sky, it was very dark in the cove, and the f/2.8 aperture proved very helpful, keeping the ISO setting down to a still-high 8000.
This pic especially looks better big. A larger version of this image is available on Flickr.
ISO 8000
9600 x 6336px
Check out the new Manfrotto Element MII collection of tripods and monopod, in stock at B&H and Adorama.
Canon has made Canon EOS 5D Mark IV firmware update version 1.3.0 available for download.
Firmware Version 1.3.0 incorporates the following fixes and enhancements:
- Enables NFC connection with smartphones running Android 10 operating system.
*For Android running v6.0 or later, use Camera Connect v2.7.10 or later.
*For Android running v5.0 or older, use a connection method other than NFC. - Enables support for the .CR2 image file format on image.canon.
- Fixes a phenomenon in which some camera operations may not be possible or an error may occur after an insufficient flash output is produced when shooting with the flash.
Canon has made Canon EOS 6D Mark II firmware update version 1.1.0 available for download.
Firmware Version 1.1.0 incorporates the following fixes and enhancements:
- Enables NFC connection with smartphones running Android 10 operating system.
*For Android running v6.0 or later, use Camera Connect v2.7.10 or later.
*For Android running v5.0 or older, use a connection method other than NFC. - Enables support for the .CR2 image file format on image.canon.
ProMediaGear has just introduced the BH50 Ball Head. Get more details on ProMediaGear's website.
From Think Tank Photo:
Think Tank Photo has just released their new The Essentials Convertible Rolling Backpack. This rolling backpack goes where other rollers can’t. Roll it easily over smooth surfaces, or simply deploy the backpack straps to carry it over rough terrain.
Sized to meet most airline carry-on requirements, the Essentials fits two DSLR or Mirrorless bodies, a mounted 70–200mm, multiple lenses, and a 16-inch laptop. And because it’s from Think Tank, the bag will roll long into the future.
Use our link to get the detail and to receive a free Think Tank product and free U.S. shipping on all orders over $50.00.
Update: Canon USA has published a press release that does not require translation:
Canon U.S.A. Announces Three New Industrial Imaging Sensors
MELVILLE, NY, October 19, 2020 – As imaging sensors continue to be an essential component of industrial processes, Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, is excited to announce three new CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductors) sensors: the ultra-high-resolution LI8020 series, the ultra-high sensitivity LI3030 series, and the LI7050SAC. These sensors help expand the company’s lineup of industrial vision products while offering integrators and end-users additional capabilities when developing solutions for various applications.
LI8020SAC/LI8020SAM
The LI8020SAC (color)/LI8020SAM (monochrome) ultra-high resolution CMOS sensor features a pixel pitch of 1.5 µm (micrometer) and a resolution of approximately 250 million pixels, which provides detailed images in a wide range of applications and situations. The sensor will help meet the needs of manufacturers to inspect flat panel displays, which frequently exhibit 4K and sometimes even 8K content. The sensor can also be a tool for video production, digital archiving, wide-area monitoring, and the medical industry by providing ultra-high resolution and ultra-high-speed signal readouts. Due to the ultra-high pixel count of the sensor, images can be captured that maintain incredible image quality, even if an area of the moving or still image has been cropped and enlarged using an electronic zoom.
The new sensor can capture video at an ultra-high-resolution that is approximately 125 times higher than Full HD (1920 × 1080 pixels) and about 30 times higher than 4K (3840 × 2160 pixels). Still images can be captured at a speed of approximately five frames per second even when reading all the pixels. A fast signal readout of 1.25 billion pixels per second helps to avoid the potential of any signal delay or deviation. The rapid signal readout is achieved by advancing circuit miniaturization and signal processing technology. When the Read Return on Investment (Region of Interest) feature is utilized, the frame rate of the sensor can be increased by selecting an area and reducing the amount of information to be read. If a user doesn’t need the input of every pixel, the ROI readout function allows you to read every pixel at five fps, 8K at 24 fps, 4K at 30 fps, and Full HD at 60 fps. The sensor also features a "thinning-out read function" that enables high-speed readout by reducing the number of vertical pixels to be read out of the full shooting area, allowing selection of an output data format that suits users’ needs.
LI3030SAI/LI3030SAM
The LI3030SAI (RGB-IR)/LI3030SAM (monochrome) sensor is a 35mm full-size ultra-high sensitivity CMOS sensor with a large pixel size of 19 µm that allows for image capturing in low-light environments where it can difficult for the naked eye to identify the subject. The sensor can read 2160 × 1280 pixels, which is wider than Full HD (1920 × 1080 pixels), enabling it to be a suitable solution for astronomical observation applications and the monitoring and industrial applications that require high-resolution images with a specific aspect ratio.
Compared to similar Canon models, the sensitivity of the LI3030SAI and LI3030SAM sensor is approximately 2.3 and 3 times higher in the near-infrared range, respectively. The sensitivity capabilities of the LI3030SAI allow users to see the pupil of a human-eye through sunglasses. The LI3030SAM sensitivity capabilities enable users to capture monochrome moving images and can reduce the appearance of dust, enhancing astronomical observation. By assigning one pixel of the color filter as a pixel for the near-infrared region, it is possible to simultaneously acquire color and near-infrared motion images with a single sensor even under low-light conditions. In addition, since the differences in the reflectance and absorbance of light in the near-infrared region can be detected from weak signals and the state of the inside of a substance can be observed, the sensor can be used in a wide range of industrial and medical fields. Use-case examples include long-distance monitoring at night, observation of crop growth in a wide area, inspection of foreign matter contamination in food factories, and visualization of biological tissues.
LI7050SAC
The LI7050SAC is a high resolution CMOS sensor that is ideal for security camera use because of its high sensitivity and price point. Featuring a pixel pitch of 4.1 µm and a resolution of approximately 2.12 million pixels, the sensor provides a High Dynamic Range (HDR) of equivalent to up to 20 stops with frame rates of 30fps and 60fps. What’s more, the sensor features a 54,000 green sensitivity level and can read 1936 × 1096 pixels, which is slightly higher than HD resolution.
For more information on Canon sensors including how to talk to a sales representative, please visit canon-cmos-sensors.com.
Original post:
From Canon Japan via Google Translate:
Released "LI8020SAC / LI8020SAM", an ultra-high resolution CMOS sensor with approximately 250 million pixels
October 19, 2020
Canon Inc.
Canon Marketing Japan Inc.
As a new product of APS-H size (about 29.4 x 18.9 mm) CMOS sensor, Canon will release "LI8020SAC (color) / LI8020SAM (monochrome)" capable of imaging about 250 million pixels (19,568 x 12,588 pixels) in 2020. It will be released in late October of the year.
LI8020SAC / LI8020SAM
Main features
The new product is an ultra-high resolution CMOS sensor with approximately 250 million pixels, which enables you to capture detailed information in an image while shooting a wide range. In addition, by setting the pitch of one pixel to 1.5 µm (micrometer), we have achieved approximately 250 million pixels in APS-H size, making it possible to use it for various purposes. It can be used for various purposes such as FPD (flat panel display) inspection, which has become higher definition due to the development of 4K / 8K video technology, industrial inspection, video production, digital archive, wide area surveillance, microscope, etc. Meet the needs of users.
Get detailed information even in a wide range of shooting with ultra-high resolution of about 250 million pixels
The new product is capable of imaging at ultra-high resolution of about 250 million pixels, which is about 125 times that of full HD (1,920 x 1,080 pixels) and about 30 times that of 4K (3,840 x 2,160 pixels), and can be taken in any shooting range. Sufficient resolution can be obtained by trimming the area and enlarging it with an electronic zoom.
Achieves ultra-high-speed signal reading of approximately 1.25 billion pixels / second
With CMOS sensors, the amount of signal increases as the number of pixels increases, causing signal delays and slight timing deviations. The new product has an ultra-multi-pixel structure of approximately 250 million pixels, but by refining the circuit and advancing signal processing technology, it has achieved an ultra-high-speed signal readout of approximately 1.25 billion pixels per second. This enables ultra-high resolution imaging at a speed of approximately 5 frames / sec even when all pixels are read out.
Supports data output according to user needs with "ROI read function" etc.
The new product is equipped with a "ROI (Region of Interest) read function" that selectively reads only an arbitrary area. If you want to read only a specific area at high speed, you can use the "ROI read function" at 24 fps for 8K (7,680 x 4,320 pixels), 30 fps for 4K (3,840 x 2,160), and 60 fps for full HD (1,920 x 1,080). Video recording is possible. It also has a "thinning out reading function * " that thins out the entire image area in the vertical direction to read out, so you can select the data output method that suits your needs.
* 4 patterns of thinning are possible. 1/3 is about 15fps, 1/5 is about 25fps, 1/7 is about 35fps, and 1/9 is about 45fps.
CMOS sensor market trends
Digital technologies such as image processing are also undergoing rapid evolution as high-definition technology is advancing for FPD inspection equipment. High resolution is also required for CMOS sensors, which are the eyes of inspection equipment, and manufacturing sites are demanding inspection equipment equipped with ultra-high resolution sensors. In addition, ultra-high resolution sensors are expected to be used in applications such as wide area monitoring. (Research by Canon)
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