Canon and Sony News for Dec 2020
Image quality and distortion test results have been added to the Canon RF 50mm F1.8 STM Lens Review.
Aside from additional product images coming as soon as I can source the lens hood, this review is completed. Here is the comparison of most interest (visualize the modest resolution difference):
Canon RF 50mm F1.8 STM Lens compared to the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens
Order the very affordable Canon RF 50mm F1.8 STM Lens from B&H | Adorama | Amazon USA | WEX
Rent the Canon RF 50mm F1.8 STM Lens from Lensrentals.
Please share!
The annual Christmas tree photo session was late this year, but ... I'll take satisfaction that it happened before Christmas.
Our space calls for an ultra-wide-angle focal length, and a wide max aperture lens typically makes the starburst effect from individual lights pronounced at narrow apertures. Last year, the impressive Canon RF 15-35mm F2.8 L IS USM Lens got the call for this job. Another impressive lens, the Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8 GM, was a recent addition to the kit and a perfect choice for this year. That lens choice made the Sony a7R IV the easy camera choice.
When shooting the same scene every year, the composition selection tends to become established, and I didn't get too creative this year vs. last year, choosing again to utilize the wall unit as a right-side frame to the full room scene. The straight vertical lines of the wall unit lead me to a level (for pitch and roll) camera as those lines need to be straight along the edge of the frame (or they can be angled enough to appear intentionally so). The leveled camera position then determines the composition.
Note the lack of geometric distortion in this uncorrected 12mm capture.
With the close foreground, this composition requires f/16 for adequate depth of field, and narrow apertures produce larger starbursts. However, f/16 is considerably narrower than the a7R IV's DLA (Diffraction Limited Aperture), meaning that the image becomes very noticeably soft at f/16. Since this lens produces nice starbursts at f/11, I opted for this aperture for the base image and composited the closest subjects and the candle starbursts from an f/16 image via layers in Photoshop. Otherwise, this image is right out of the camera.
With that, another Christmas tree photo is in the archives.
ISO 125
9504 x 6336px
From Sigma:
Operating conditions of the SIGMA 24-70 mm F2.8 DG DN | Art for SONY E-mount with the SONY a7S III
Thank you for purchasing and using our products.
We would like to share the results of our investigation regarding unto the operation of the SIGMA 24-70 mm F2.8 DG DN | Art for SONY E-mount, when used on the SONY a7S III.
[Applicable products]
SIGMA 24-70 mm F2.8 DG DN | Art for SONY E-mount
[Confirmed phenomenon]
The MF Assist is cancelled on the SONY a7S III when shooting in the manual focus (MF) or direct manual focus (DMF) mode.
We are planning a firmware update to address this issue, which will be announced in due course. We apologize for any inconvenience caused to customers who are using this product combination.
For further information, please contact your nearest authorized SIGMA subsidiary / distributor.
https://www.sigma-global.com/en/about/world-network/https://www.sigma-global.com/en/about/world-network/
We appreciate your continued support for our company and products.
When you have to look down to see the sun rising, you know you are in a great location, and Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park is such a location. This particular morning greeted our group with extraordinary sky color – this image is practically right out of the camera.
Telephoto lenses are excellent choices for filling the frame with the color of a sunrise or sunset. The Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8 L IS USM Lens was the choice for this morning. It's a superb lens. At least that is the lens I originally thought I captured this image with. I later realized that the EXIF indicated the Canon RF 24-70mm F2.8 L IS USM Lens was the lens responsible for this image. The two lenses are interchangeable at this focal length.
A larger version of this image is available on Flickr.
ISO 100
8636 x 6148px
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 SIGMA Global Vision lens 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 28mm F1.4 DG HSM | Art in Canon EF mount
- SIGMA 70mm F2.8 DG MACRO | Art in Canon EF mount
- SIGMA 85mm F1.4 DG HSM | Art in Canon EF mount
- SIGMA 135mm F1.8 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.
[Applicable product]
- SIGMA 30mm F1.4 DC 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.
[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.
SIGMA Optimization Pro Download page
https://www.sigma-global.com/en/download/lenses/sigma-optimization-pro/
For further information, please contact your nearest authorized SIGMA subsidiary / distributor.
https://www.sigma-global.com/en/about/world-network
We appreciate your continued support for SIGMA products.
From Sigma:
Firmware update for SIGMA 35mm F1.2 DG DN | Art in SONY E-mount
Thank you for purchasing and using our products.
We would like to announce that a new firmware update is now available for SIGMA 35mm F1.2 DG DN | Art in SONY E-mount.
[Applicable product]
·SIGMA 35mm F1.2 DG DN | Art in SONY E-mount
[Benefits of the update]
Improved the phenomenon that the focus does not work on rare occasions when the focus mode is set to AF-C (Continuous AF).
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.
For further information, please contact your nearest authorized SIGMA subsidiary / distributor.
https://www.sigma-global.com/en/about/world-network/
We appreciate your continued support for our company and products.
From Sigma:
Firmware update for the SIGMA MOUNT CONVERTER MC-11
Thank you for purchasing and using our products.
We are pleased to announce that a firmware update for the SIGMA MOUNT CONVERTER MC-11 is now available.
[Applicable product]
- SIGMA MOUNT CONVERTER MC-11 SA-E
[Benefits of the update]
- It makes the converter compatible with the SIGMA 120-300mm F2.8 DG HSM | Sports in SIGMA SA mount, that has the latest firmware Ver.1.02.
- It has improved a rarely-occurring blinking phenomenon during movie shooting.
[Applicable product]
- SIGMA MOUNT CONVERTER MC-11 EF-E
[Benefits of the update]
- It makes the converter compatible with the SIGMA 30mm F1.4 DC HSM | Art in Canon EF mount, that has the latest firmware Ver.2.01.
- It makes the converter compatible with the SIGMA 28mm F1.4 DG HSM | Art in Canon EF mount, that has the latest firmware Ver.1.02.
- It makes the converter compatible with the SIGMA 70mm F2.8 DG MACRO | Art in Canon EF mount, that has the latest firmware Ver.1.01.
- It makes the converter compatible with the SIGMA 85mm F1.4 DG HSM | Art in Canon EF mount, that has the latest firmware Ver. 2.03.
- It makes the converter compatible with the SIGMA 135mm F1.8 DG HSM | Art in Canon EF mount, that has the latest firmware Ver.2.03.
- It has improved a rarely-occurring blinking phenomenon during movie shooting.
[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.
SIGMA Optimization Pro Download page
https://www.sigma-global.com/en/download/lenses/sigma-optimization-pro/
For further information, please contact your nearest authorized SIGMA subsidiary / distributor. https://www.sigma-global.com/en/about/world-network/
We appreciate your continued support for our company and products.
Translated from Canon Japan:
Notice of postponement of release of "RF 70-200mm F4 L IS USM"
Publication date: December 17, 2020
Regarding the "RF70-200mm F4 L IS USM" announced on November 4, 2020 and scheduled to be released in late December, due to production reasons, we cannot prepare a sufficient supply amount for the release. Therefore, we have decided to postpone the release in early March 2021.
We would like to inform you and deeply apologize.
Scheduled release date
(Before change) Scheduled to be released in late December 2020
(After change) Scheduled to be released in early March 2021
We apologize for the inconvenience caused to the customers who are waiting for us, but we will do our utmost to launch it, and we appreciate your continued patronage.
From Skylum:
LuminarAI Reinvents the Photo Editing Experience for Creative Artists
New AI-centric tools help drive a refined workflow, offering creatives the solutions they need without the manual, tedious tasks often required
NEW YORK – December 15, 2020 – Skylum is excited to announce that LuminarAI, the revolutionary new photo editing program for creatives of all levels, will ship December 15, 2020. LuminarAI features several AI-powered technologies that help to automate processes, without getting rid of a human-centric approach.
Built for beginners and pros alike, LuminarAI offers creatives a workflow driven by artificial intelligence. LuminarAI also intelligently knows where to apply each effect, letting artists enhance images without tedious, manual work, and includes new, state-of-the-art tools – all of which were heavily researched and developed in tandem by Skylum and professional photographers.
“Our approach to AI lines up with that of the best minds in the field. What differentiates it, however, is our human-centric application of this incredibly powerful technology. In my experience, only 30% of our time is actually spent being creative,” said Alex Tsepko, CEO of Skylum. “LuminarAI uses artificial intelligence to flip those metrics. We created LuminarAI so people can focus on the outcomes and photos, and not worry so much about the editing process.”
New AI-Forward Templates
A new Templates system automatically scans each photo for subject and problem areas, and then recommends Templates that challenge an artist’s creativity, while also helping them achieve common tasks. Artists can then choose to utilize a Template, tweak it for a custom look or skip the Template process altogether and edit manually.
Manual AI Tools
Portrait tools like BodyAI let creatives mold a subject’s body, increasing or reducing volume in a realistic way. Eyes can become transformed with IrisAI, allowing artists to change the color of an iris or add a twinkling catch light. FaceAI and SkinAI put the emphasis on fine-tuning the details of a subject’s face, while also offering options to reduce blemishes and shine.
On the landscape side, SkyAI lets artists reinvent their skies like never before, automatically recognizing the sky in an image and offering various replacement tweaks to make for a truly memorable photograph. AtmosphereAI allows artists to add realistic effects like fog, mist and haze, while automatically recognizing depth and other elements to the image.
All images can also take advantage of LuminarAI’s AccentAI, which intelligently enhances photographs, and CompositionAI, which helps artists achieve the perfect crop for their image by utilizing the golden rules of photo composition, including the rule of thirds.
Starting at $79 USD, LuminarAI is available now. It is available as a standalone application, a plugin for Lightroom Classic and Photoshop and an Apple extension. For more information, visit skylum.com/luminar-ai.
Our coupon code, THEDIGITALPICTURE, is often active for a $10.00 discount.
The Canon RF 50mm F1.8 STM Lens Review is posted and mostly completed. An extensive amount of information is available now with the lab test results expected later this week.
It is compact, it is light, and it is inexpensive. How does RF 50 F1.8 perform?
Order the Canon RF 50mm F1.8 STM Lens from B&H | Adorama | Amazon USA | WEX
Rent the Canon RF 50mm F1.8 STM Lens from Lensrentals.
I finally got a Canon ET-77 Lens Hood, enabling the standard product images to be added to the Canon RF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM Lens Review.
This lens is popular and backordered everywhere.
The Canon RF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM Lens is available for order at B&H | Adorama | Amazon USA| WEX
Save the tax, use the B&H Payboo payment card (at B&H, I use this card exclusively)
Rent the Canon RF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM Lens from Lensrentals.
From Capture One:
COPENHAGEN, Dec 8th, 2020: Capture One, the premier name in photo editing software, celebrates the release of the newest version, Capture One 21.
Linking our heritage to our future, this new version of Capture One reimagines the relationship between form and function to create a seamless bond between creator and creation. Combining its best-loved elements like personalized Workspaces and powerful Color Editor with new and exciting features like Speed Edit for immersive editing and Dehaze, to improve atmospheric conditions, Capture One 21 brings a new type of user experience; one that helps creators push the boundaries of their creativity by removing distraction and making it easy to exploit one’s creative potential.
Carrying on the tradition of development driven by user feedback, Capture One 21 is rooted in developing solutions to current challenges and anticipating tomorrow’s needs. With new ProStandard Color Profiles Capture One 21 introduces color technology that preserves authentic colors to overcome the challenge of unwanted hue changes when applying adjustments, and new HEIC support means Capture One is ready to work with cameras of today and tomorrow. It is also now easier than ever to learn Capture One with enhanced tooltips and easy access to tutorials right from within the software. Complimenting this suite of new features are improvements to current ones, bringing faster asset management and an improved importer to make organization effortless and quick.
Furthering its commitment to providing unparalleled raw processing and tethering with more than 500 different camera models, Capture One is delighted to launch a new collaboration with Leica Camera AG to bring industry leading tethering support to a growing catalog of Leica cameras, starting off with the Leica SL2 and Leica S3.
"Capture One 21 bridges our heritage to the future, carrying forward the achievements of our team and the creative community we are inspired by,” says Jan Hyldebrandt-Larsen, VP Product Management, CPO at Capture One. “We understand that art and tastes don’t stop evolving, so we provide performance that won’t stop advancing. We are very excited about Capture One 21 and look forward to seeing what photographers create with it, and to embrace new generations of creatives.”
New features and tools in Capture One 21
Speed Edit
Revolutionize how fast you edit photos. Speed Edit lets you work seamlessly without touching a slider on the interface – simply hold down selected hotkeys and scroll, drag or use the arrow keys to make rapid edits. You can even adjust multiple photos at once for the fastest ever batch edit.
Dehaze
Eliminate haze and the most undesirable atmospheric weather conditions with the ease of moving one slider. The groundbreaking new Dehaze tool uses deep analytic algorithms to assess and automatically adjust contrast, saturation and a matrix of other parameters to remove haze and reveal the image you want.
Faster Asset Management
Get seamless asset management. With increased power and speed, it’s now faster than ever to import, search and browse photos in Catalogs and Sessions.
Improved Importer
With better selection, high-resolution thumbnails, and faster importing, it’s smoother, easier, and quicker to select images directly in the importer – and cull the ones you don’t want. Plus, import images from different folders all at once.
Enhanced Tooltips
The onboarding experience and familiarization with Capture One is now smoothest it has ever been, thanks to the new enhanced tooltips. Navigate the Capture One interface with ease – simply hover over a tool for a quick explanation of how it works and links for more learning. Enable or disable them from Preferences as you like.
Learn
It’s never been easier to get started and master Capture One. Together with the enhanced tooltips, the new “Learn” button allows users to quickly access a curated selection of tutorials designed to help you learn step-by-step, right from within the software, and immediately put new skills into practice.
HEIC Support
With support for HEIC files (8-bit), you can now edit photos from your Apple devices and more in Capture One.
ProStandard Profiles
Stay true to real life with the most authentic colors yet, using the new color science/technology in the new ProStandard Profiles. These new camera profiles overcome the challenge of unwanted color shifts while making adjustments, protecting hues from changes caused by contrast. This is a true game changer for portrait and product photography – and any image that relies on authentic color.
Available for select camera models that can be found at support.captureone.com
Easy Brush Adjusting
It’s now possible to easily change the size, hardness, opacity, and flow of any brush by using modifier keys and a mouse / trackpad / pen, removing the need to right-click.
Capture One & Leica
Unlike other raw processors, Capture One’s camera profiles are uniquely developed for each specific camera model, a process that requires the use of the camera in and out of a controlled lab in Copenhagen, where a team of specialists engage each new model in various scenarios. They then evaluate all the performance parameters such as color, sharpness, and noise across hundreds of images and uses that data to deliver a truly tailored profile, which ultimately provides the best post-processing experience. Capture One 21 brings this level of support to a growing list of Leica cameras, and for the first time brings tethering capabilities to those models.
Read all about Capture One 21 at: www.captureone.com
New camera and lens support
Capture One provides users with the most accurate and powerful image editing available, and the wide-ranging support of cameras and lenses is a hallmark of the software. For enthusiasts and professionals alike, Capture One continually evolves to handle the newest cameras and lenses.
Capture One carefully evaluates and interprets each camera’s RAW formats, allowing Capture One to present images with the utmost fidelity, often bringing out nuances that other programs can’t even perceive.
Currently offering RAW support for more than 500 cameras, Capture One also provides profiling and image correction support for more than 500 lenses. As with the RAW file interpretation, Capture One carefully measures the optical characteristics of each supported lens and builds correction algorithms that compensate for the various optical imperfections of various designs. As a result, Capture One can correct for numerous common optical issues such as vignette, and chromatic aberration as needed for each of the supported lenses, providing you the best version of your image possible. And they are always adding support for the newest camera bodies and lenses.
Availability
Capture One 21 release date is December 8th, 2020.
Pricing
Capture One 21 is available as a perpetual license or subscription:
Capture One Pro 21:
Perpetual License: $299
Upgrades from select previous generations starting at $159
Subscription starting at $20/month
Capture One 21 for Nikon, Capture One 21 (for Sony) and Capture One 21 for Fujifilm
Perpetual License: $129
Upgrades from select previous generations starting at $109
Subscription starting at $9.99/month
For a complete list of all products and licensing options, visit: www.captureone.com/store
For a 30-day fully featured free trial of Capture One 21, visit www.captureone.com/download
Order
Support us and get a great deal by ordering Capture One today from B&H for only $174.95 after $125.00 instant savings! Note: "With purchase of Capture one V20 (current version) you are automatically eligible for a free upgrade to the soon to be released V21 of Capture One."
Just posted: Sony a7C Review
The a7C is a compact, high performing full-frame mirrorless interchangeable lens camera that doesn't cost a fortune.
Order the Sony a7C at
B&H |
Adorama |
Amazon |
WEX.
Rent the Sony a7C from
Lensrentals.
Direct sun on snow delivers an extremely bright subject. Evergreen trees in the shade are an extremely dark subject. This scene provided both.
While an overhead sun is a bit brighter than a setting sun, this a very intense sunset scene. Bracketing exposures for potential HDR use is the safe way to photograph such a scene, but I was shooting handheld with the Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM Lens and relied on the Canon EOS R5's capabilities to capture all of the brightness levels in this scene in a single exposure.
When photographing landscape at sunrise and sunset, the red channel is usually the one to watch. The light is strongly warm-toned, and the directly lit portion of the scene will push the red channel high on the histogram.
In Canon Digital Photo Professional (DPP), this image's exposure was reduced by 1 stop, bringing the red channel in the brightest pixels to at or just below 255, with detail remaining in this channel. The foreground was then processed at a brighter setting and combined in Photoshop.
The setting sun hitting the tops of the Alaska Range and the clouds whisping over it in Denali National Park was breathtaking. Or, maybe I was just holding my breath too much while shooting furiously.
A larger version of this image is available on Flickr.
ISO 200
7206 x 4807px
From Tamron:
Tamron Announces World’s First1 17-70mm F2.8 Wide Range 4.1x Standard Zoom Lens with VC For APS-C Mirrorless Cameras
17-70mm F/2.8 Di III-A2 VC RXD (Model B070)
Tamron announces the launch of the 17-70mm F/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD (Model B070), a high-speed standard zoom lens for Sony E-mount APS-C mirrorless cameras on January 14, 2021 at approximately $799. Due to the current global health crisis, the release date or product supply schedule could change.
The new 17-70mm F2.8 is Tamron's first high-speed zoom lens for mirrorless cameras with APS-C size sensors. It features a maximum aperture of F2.8 across the entire 4.1x zoom ratio covering a focal length of 17-70mm (a full-frame equivalent of 25.5-105mm) ideal for everyday use, and superb optical performance. It is a small, lightweight lens that is also equipped with Tamron's VC (Vibration Compensation) mechanism to minimize camera shake. This VC mechanism leverages AI technology when shooting video.
The lens features Moisture-Resistant Construction, Fluorine Coating and a Ø67mm filter size – the same as the Tamron series of lenses for full-frame mirrorless cameras. Compatible with many of the features that Sony builds into its cameras, including Fast Hybrid AF and Eye AF, the lens is the ideal everyday zoom for a multitude of situations. It is a highly practical lens that enables photographers to attain high image quality while enjoying the benefits of the large F2.8 aperture.
PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS
1. World’s first high-speed standard zoom lens for APS-C cameras with the focal length range of 17-70mm 4.1x zoom ratio
The Model B070 has a focal length range of 17-70mm, equivalent to 25.5-105mm on full-frame cameras. It is the first F2.8 high-speed zoom lens in the world for APS-C mirrorless cameras to achieve a 4.1x zoom ratio.
2. Outstanding optical performance
The optical construction of the new 17-70mm F2.8 features 16 elements in 12 groups. Two GM (Glass Molded Aspherical) lens elements and one hybrid aspherical lens element are precisely arranged to maintain high-resolution performance from edge to edge.
3. Upgraded VC effective in combination with Sony APS-C mirrorless cameras, leveraging AI for video shooting
The 17-70mm F2.8 features Tamron's proprietary VC mechanism. Additional sophisticated algorithms optimized for this model and a dedicated, independently operating MPU all combine to superbly compensate for vibration. This feature is available when the lens is used with cameras with or without in-body image stabilization. When shooting video, by leveraging AI technology, image stabilization performance improves compared to conventional models.
4. Close focusing-MOD is just 7.5” at the wide-angle end
The 17-70mm F2.8 zoom focuses close, down to 7.5” MOD (Minimum Object Distance). This is far superior to the performance achieved by conventional high-speed zoom lenses for APS-C cameras. In addition, the 15.4” MOD at the 70mm telephoto end ensures good close-range shooting performance allowing photographers to enjoy compelling close-up shots.
5. A highly portable compact design
The 17-70mm F2.8 zoom measures a scant 4.7” in length and 74.6mm in maximum diameter and weighs only 18.5 oz. The lens also maintains the same small Ø67mm filter size of each lens in the Tamron mirrorless lens line-up. This is remarkable for a lens with built-in VC image stabilization. When used with Sony's APS-C mirrorless cameras, this zoom is nicely balanced and provides a comfortable user experience.
6. The RXD (Rapid eXtra-silent stepping Drive) stepping motor unit is exceptionally quiet and perfect for video use
7. Moisture-Resistant Construction and Fluorine Coating provide extra protection
8. Compatible with many camera-specific features and functions, including Fast Hybrid AF and Eye AF
1 Among interchangeable F2.8 standard zoom lenses for APS-C mirrorless cameras (As of November 2020: Tamron)
2 Di III-A: For APS-C format mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras
SPECIFICATIONS
Model: B070
Focal Length: 17-70mm (for APS-C frame mirrorless format) (25.5-105mm full-frame equivalent field-of-view)
Maximum Aperture: F2.8
Angle of View (diagonal): 79° 55'-23° 00' (for APS-C frame mirrorless format)
Optical Construction: 16 elements in 12 groups
Minimum Object Distance: 7.5" (WIDE), 15.4" (TELE)
Maximum Magnification Ratio: 1:4.8 (WIDE) / 1:5.2 (TELE)
Filter Size: Ø67mm
Maximum Diameter: Ø74.6mm
Length*: 4.7"
Weight: 18.5 oz
Aperture Blades: 9 (circular diaphragm)**
Minimum Aperture: F22
Standard Accessories: Flower-shaped hood, Lens caps
Compatible Mounts: Sony E-mount
* Length is the distance from the front tip of the lens to the lens mount face.
** The circular diaphragm stays almost perfectly circular up to two stops down from maximum aperture.
Specifications, appearance, functionality, etc. are subject to change without prior notice.
This product is developed, manufactured and sold based on the specifications of E-mount which was disclosed by Sony Corporation under the license agreement with Sony Corporation
B&H will be taking Tamron 17-70mm F/2.8 Di III-A2 VC RXD Lens orders.
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