Image quality test results have been added to the Sony FE 28-60mm f/4-5.6 Lens Review.
I think you will be impressed with these results. This tiny, affordable lens is a good performer.
Initially, the Sony FE 28-60mm f/4-5.6 Lens is only available in a kit with the Sony a7C. This kit is in stock at B&H | Adorama | Amazon USA | WEX
Eventually, the Sony FE 28-60mm f/4-5.6 Lens will be individually available. B&H says preorders start Feb 15th. Adorama and Amazon USA are not saying. WEX is taking preorders.
What are the differences between the Sony a7C and a7 III? Size and the features directly related to size aside, these cameras are nearly the same. This sameness includes the imaging sensor and the resulting image quality. While the similarities reflect very positively on the a7C, the differences must be understood.
Let's look at the a7C vs. a7 III differences, starting with some visual comparisons.
The Sony a7 III is a very popular camera, and those already familiar with it now have a very good understanding of the a7C.
More Information
Order the Sony a7C at B&H | Adorama | Amazon | WEX.
Rent the Sony a7C from Lensrentals.
I love a challenge, and photographing outdoors often presents many challenges. When planning my Rocky Mountain National Park trip, I considered many factors for the timing. Smoke was not one of them.
Smoke filling the air was troublesome overall, but this scenario illustrated making the most of a unique situation. The decreased air clarity meant that contrast decreased rapidly with distance, creating distinct layers of mountains.
I love a tight portrait of a beautiful animal, but it is often more challenging to include that animal in a beautiful landscape. Environmental wildlife images require the photographer to think like a landscape photographer – and a portrait photographer.
My favorite Canon lenses for environmental wildlife photography are the RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM Lens and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Lens.
Sony camera owners should consider the FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS Lens for this purpose. While the FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS Lens is a great wildlife lens and has a long end advantage, I sometimes find 200mm to not be wide enough for this type of imagery. That said, this range would have worked great for this photo.
A larger version of this image is available on Flickr.
From Canon USA:
To Our Valued RAISE Members,
Thank you for being a member of RAISE, our online photo community platform for photographers.
The purpose of this email is to inform you that the RAISE Photo Community Platform (“RAISE”) will be shut down on Wednesday, December 30, 2020, 11:59AM PST. Canon will continue to assess the needs of the photography community and seek ways to provide industry-leading education and inspiration in the future.
It is important to note that after Wednesday, December 30, 2020, 11:59AM PST, you will no longer be able to access your RAISE account at https://raise.usa.canon.com/ and any images you uploaded onto RAISE will no longer be available. We encourage you to download your images that are currently on RAISE before that date.
For those photographers with Image Connect accounts, Canon is planning to re-launch Image Connect in 2021, and Canon will migrate your Image Connect account to the new Image Connect platform located at https://imageconnect.usa.canon.com/. Therefore, if you have an Image Connect account, please do not delete your RAISE account before the shutdown date.
We hope you have enjoyed the RAISE experience and we look forward to engaging with you more in the future. For any questions, please visit here.
Sincerely,
Team Canon
As long as the correct exposure and basic compositional skills are applied, it is hard to take a bad picture of the milky way.
Here is a list of steps for photographing the milky way.
Amazingly, and out of the norm for me, was seeing a meteorite streak by while the shutter was OPEN, without using the continuous drive mode technique. While I welcome meteorites, I do not fancy satellites. They get removed (this is easy with Photoshop's healing brush and clone tools).
As mentioned, the earth rotates, causing the milky way to move across the sky like everything else up there. On this evening, I followed the heart of the milky way around Bear Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park until Hallett Peak was a foundational element in the composition. Despite the 4:30 AM alarm, it was well after midnight before exhaustion overcame excitement.
What is my favorite milky way lens? Currently, the Sony FE 24mm f/1.4 GM Lens holds that title for me. The 24mm focal length fills a significant portion of the frame with the heart of the milky way. The f/1.4 aperture is extremely wide, permitting lower ISO settings for less noise. This lens's image quality at f/1.4 is excellent. The size is compact enough that I can take it along as a lens dedicated to this purpose.
A larger version of this image is available on Flickr.
From Sigma:
Firmware update for SIGMA Global Vision lenses in Canon EF mount
We would like to announce that a new firmware update is now available for SIGMA Global Vision lens in Canon EF mount listed below.
For customers who own the SIGMA USB DOCK UD-11 and applicable products listed below, please update the firmware via SIGMA Optimization Pro.
[Applicable product]
[Benefits of the update]
[Applicable product]
[Benefits of the update]
[Applicable product]
[Benefits of the update]
[Applicable product]
[Benefits of the update]
[Applicable product]
[Benefits of the update]
[How to update]
Connect the lens to a computer via the SIGMA USB DOCK UD-11 (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-11, please ensure you update SIGMA Optimization Pro to the latest version.
SIGMA Optimization Pro download page: https://www.sigma-global.com/en/download/lenses/sigma-optimization-pro/
Firmware update for SIGMA 16mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary in Sony E-mount
[Benefits of the update]
To update the firmware, please refer to the following link: https://www.sigma-global.com/en/download/lenses/firmware/
* After the update is complete, be sure to remove the battery pack of the camera and reinsert it.
Firmware update for the SIGMA MOUNT CONVERTER MC-11 EF-E
[Benefits of the update]
[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.
There is something incredibly photogenic about a huge, dangerous animal emerging from dense cover. Seeing the large paddles approaching through the brush is a bucket list-grade experience.
Often, the key to wildlife photography is predicting where the animal is headed, selecting a photogenic environment along that path, and being in that place with a ready camera. Though highly simplified, that plan sometimes works, as in this case. Getting non-obstructed moose images meant finding the next opening on the moose's route.
The Canon EOS R5 and Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM Lens were a perfect handheld combination for this run-and-gun pursuit.
A larger version of this image is available on Flickr.
From Kenko Tokina Co., Ltd.:
Tokina atx-i 17-35mm F4 FF sales date announcement
Nov 20, 2020
Kenko Tokina Co., Ltd. is pleased to announce the sales release of Tokina atx-i 17-35mm F4 FF lens.
Sales will commence on December 11, 2020.
Tokina atx-i 17-35mm F4 FF is designed to fit Full Frame DSLR cameras and supports Nikon F and Canon EF mounts. With its wide angle properties this lens is a perfect gear for shooting landscapes, street snap, architecture and time-lapse. Constant f/4 aperture, robust design while maintaining a reasonable size and weight provide a new option for professional photographers who are especially active in travel.
Highlighted Features
B&H carries Tokina lenses.
Roadmap (November 2020 update)
Canon has made Canon EOS R5 firmware update version 1.2.0 available for download.
Firmware Version 1.2.0 incorporates the following fixes and enhancements:
Canon has made Canon EOS R6 firmware update version 1.2.0 available for download.
Firmware Version 1.2.0 incorporates the following fixes and enhancements:
Canon has made Canon EOS-1D X Mark III firmware update version 1.3.0 available for download.
Firmware Version 1.3.0 incorporates the following fixes and enhancements:
Canon has made Canon EOS R firmware update version 1.8.0 available for download.
Firmware Version 1.8.0 incorporates the following fixes and enhancements:
Canon has made Canon EOS RP firmware update version 1.6.0 available for download.
Firmware Version 1.6.0 incorporates the following fixes and enhancements:
Canon has made Canon EOS Ra firmware update version 1.8.0 available for download.
Firmware Version 1.8.0 incorporates the following fixes and enhancements:
Canon has made Canon RF 50mm f/1.2 L USM Lens firmware update version 1.0.5 available for download.
Firmware Version 1.0.5 incorporates the following fixes and enhancements:
How does a lens firmware update reduce image noise? Scratching my head on that one.