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Thursday, February 28, 2013

Canon EOS-70D Coming End Of March


Canon EOS-70D coming by the end of March

Leaks are beginning to come out now. There is a better than even chance Canon will announce a new APS-C camera, most likely the EOS-70D by the end of the first quarter. This is in line with my expectation and you can read my earlier post and the latest post  on this topic.

MichaelDanielHo.com

DxO Optics Adds 129 New Camera/Lens Modules




129 new lens / camera combinations have been added to the DxO Optics Modules library, providing support for Canon, Nikkor, Sigma and Konica lenses for Canon, Nikon, Fuji and Sony cameras.

Click here to access their website and view all the supported equipment.

MichaelDanielHo.com

Canon PowerShot S110 Firmware 1.0.2.0 Update


Canon PowerShot 110 camera

Canon released a Firmware Version 1.0.2.0 update to the PowerShot S110 camera. Click here to access Canon's website and obtain the software.

The new Firmware contains the following fixes and improvements :

1. Fixes a phenomenon in which the focal length may not change when the control ring's function is to control the step zoom, and the control ring is turned slowly, click-by-click.

(In AUTO, SCN, or Movie mode, the default function for the control ring is to control the step zoom.)

* Please note that this phenomenon does not always occur with every affected product.

2. Changes the camera's specification in accordance with the specification of iOS 5/6 so that the Wi-Fi connection between the camera and an iOS device will not disconnect after one minute, when the PowerShot S110 is set as an Access Point and an iOS device is connected to that Access Point.

The latest version of Canon Camera Window iOS App (1.2.0 or later) is available for download from Apple's App Store. Please perform this update. Sharing images on social media sites may not be possible with Canon CameraWindow. However, sharing images on social media sites is possible through the application installed in the iOS device, at this time.

Firmware Version 1.0.2.0 is for cameras with firmware Version 1.0.1.0 or Version 1.0.0.0. If the camera's firmware is already Version 1.0.2.0, it is not necessary to update the firmware.

Please note that, once the camera is updated to the latest version, it cannot be restored to a previous version.

How to Identify Cameras eligible for the Firmware Update :

Please check the serial number on the bottom of the camera.

This firmware update is for products with the following serial numbers.

Cameras whose sixth digit from the left is “4″ or less [*****4******]

Products with eligible serial numbers that contain a blue marking inside the battery cover near the hinge have had this firmware update already applied.

MichaelDanielHo.com

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Adobe Photoshop Touch Available On SmartPhones




SAN JOSE, CALIF. - Feb. 27, 2013  —  Adobe Systems Incorporated today announced the immediate availability of a new version of Adobe Photoshop Touch, optimized for iPhone, iPod touch, and Android smart phones. Inspired by the highly successful Photoshop Touch for tablets, the phone app brings core features of Photoshop desktop software to mobile devices and offers similar intuitive, touch-based gestures and features.

“Mobile phones are increasingly becoming the primary tool for people to take and edit photos," said Winston Hendrickson, vice president products, Creative Media Solutions, Adobe. “Adobe is dedicated to serving our customers’ evolving creative workflow and we heard, loud and clear, that Photoshop fans wanted some core Adobe imaging magic on their smartphones.”

Adobe Photoshop Touch for phone offers powerful new capabilities for smartphone users

  • Enhance images using popular Photoshop features such as layers, selection tools, filters, tonal and color adjustments
  • Apply effects and add graphical text for endless creative possibilities
  • Edit images as large as 12 megapixels with layers
  • Combine images together quickly using the Scribble Selection feature, and easily refine your selection with the Refine Edge tool
  • Automatically sync images to Adobe Creative Cloud™ with free 2GB of storage

"Photoshop Touch is a great way to work on an image on my mobile phone. The 400 percent touch zoom and organized interface in Photoshop Touch for phone made enhancing my images fun and easy,” said Brian Yap, creative director, Boxing Clever. “Working with curve adjustments and filters that use slider controls is especially intuitive."

“Adobe Photoshop Touch for phone offers great depth and value with layering and blending features,” said Richard Gray, mobile photographer, educator and blogger, iphoggy.com. “I’ll be using Photoshop Touch for phone in class with my students this year as we look at the more artistic end of the creative process with dreamscapes and surreal images.”

“The depth of selection tool options offered in Adobe Photoshop Touch for phone is unique to the photo compositing app market,” said Dan Marcolina, Marcolina Design & MarcolinaSlate LLC, author of iPhone Obsessed. “Now I, and other iPhonegraphers, can do even more exacting edge editing on the device where the image originated—our mobile phones.”

Adobe Create Cloud Workflow Integration

Photoshop Touch for phone is integrated with Adobe Creative Cloud and includes access to 2GB of Creative Cloud storage with a free account. Users can sync photos and projects to Creative Cloud, and then continue working with the files from a tablet or Photoshop desktop software. Creative Cloud is a radical rethinking of the entire creative process and an industry-defining shift in creative expression and inspiration, where members can explore, create, publish and share their work across devices, the desktop and the Web. Visit Adobe Creative Cloud for more information.

Pricing and Availability

Adobe Photoshop Touch for phone is immediately available in the Apple App Store and Google Play for US$4.99. For iOS devices, the app requires iOS 5, iPhone 4S and iPod touch 5th generation; Android phones must run Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) or later.

Adobe Create Cloud Workflow Integration

Photoshop Touch for phone is integrated with Adobe Creative Cloud and includes access to 2GB of Creative Cloud storage with a free account. Users can sync photos and projects to Creative Cloud, and then continue working with the files from a tablet or Photoshop desktop software. Creative Cloud is a radical rethinking of the entire creative process and an industry-defining shift in creative expression and inspiration, where members can explore, create, publish and share their work across devices, the desktop and the Web. Visit Adobe Creative Cloud for more information.

MichaelDanielHo.com

Canon EOS-5D Mk III, Mk II and Mk I Camera Comparison





As most of my readers know, I have picked the Canon EOS-5D Mk III camera as the best value in full frame photography today. When the original EOS-5D came out in 2005, I bought it and still own the camera today. I have used the EOS-5D Mk II and the EOS-6D cameras as well and the results reinforced my continued faith and confidence in the Mk III model. Visit my website MichaelDanielHo.com  to see travel and wildlife photos taken with all the EOS-5D models. 

EPHOTOZINE has put out an interesting comparison of the three cameras. You can read the article here. 

Canon EF 12-24mm f/2.8L Lens




Currently, Canon's widest zoom lens (excluding fisheye) is the EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II. There are rumors and perhaps sightings of prototype zoom lenses as wide as 12mm being tested. An f/4 model will save weight and cost over the f/2.8 version but Canon will still have to decide on the narrow end of the lens - perhaps 12-24mm?  These are early days yet for another wide angled 'L' zoom. Canon needs to put out some of the more urgently required zooms, like the EF 100-400mm f/4-5.6L II and the EF 200-400mm f/4 L lenses.

I have the Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II lens. It is my favorite wide angle zoom lens and goes into my equipment bag every time I go on a photo shoot. Visit my website MichaelDanielHo.com to see travel and landscape photos taken with this lens.

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Canon Refurbished Store's Big Discount




The Canon Refurbished Store has great savings going on right now. If you have not purchased refurbished equipment before, please read my earlier post on this subject. Otherwise, visit the Canon website and save.

MichaelDanielHo.com

Couple Finds And Returns Expensive Camera And Cash


The impeccably honest Mr. and Mrs. Landeros

On Valentine's Day, Barbara and Carlos Landeros were visiting a vista point near the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco and discovered a black camera bag with no apparent owner. They waited for someone to return and when no one showed up, they looked inside and found a wallet with Chinese currency, credit cards, an 'expensive-looking' camera and lens, plus about $11,000 in cash.

The couple waited longer for the owner to show up before turning the bag into the police station in downtown San Francisco. A few days later, the Landeros learned that the police had located the owner of the bag by using information found on an airline ticket inside. The rightful owner is a college student who was visiting San Francisco with his extended family. The grateful owner thanked the Landeros and offered to be their tour guide if they ever visit China in the future.

The Vallejo Times Herald quoted San Francisco Police Department spokeswoman Albie Esparza as saying, 'It is just really good to know that people nowadays still have the integrity to do the right thing and turn in something that is not theirs.'

I have a similar incident a few weeks ago when I was in the San Diego Zoo photographing the baby Panda. My equipment bag was beginning to get heavy so I put it down on a bench and walked off with the EOS-1D X and another lens I was using, leaving the bag behind without much thought. Inside was a Canon EOS-1D Mk IV camera and the EF 400mm f/4 DO IS lens plus some other gear. About 10 minutes later, my companion asked about my equipment bag and it dawned on me I left it sitting on the bench! I ran back and found the bag still there but I hate to think what would happen if someone came upon it first.

It is very heart warming to hear stories about the Landeros couple. Their honesty and concern for others is a real breathe of fresh air and if I ever misplace my equipment bag again, I hope it will be found by them.

http://MichaelDanielHo.com

Adobe Photoshop Camera Raw 7.4 Available




Welcome to the Adobe® Photoshop® Camera Raw 7.4 plug-in release candidate on Adobe Labs. A "release candidate" label indicates that this update is well tested but would benefit from additional community testing before it is distributed automatically to all of our customers. The Camera Raw 7.4 update includes support for many new cameras and lens profiles. Click here to download software.

The Camera Raw plug-in provides easy access within Adobe Photoshop CS6 to the raw image formats produced by many leading professional and midrange digital cameras. For more information on the Camera Raw plug-in please visit the Camera Raw pages on Adobe.com.

The Camera Raw team would like the community to help verify the quality of the plug-in through normal usage as this will ensure that the plug-in is tested on a diversity of hardware and software configurations not available internally at Adobe. If you do experience an issue with this release candidate please report it within the Camera Raw discussion forum.

Features :

Camera Raw 7.4 Release Candidate includes a correction to the demosaic algorithms for Fujifilm cameras with the X-Trans sensor. This specifically impacts the following cameras :
  • Fujifilm X-Pro1
  • Fujifilm X-E1
  • Fujifilm X100S
  • Fujifilm X20
  • New Camera Support

 The following new cameras are now supported :
  • Canon EOS 1D C
  • Casio Exilim EX-ZR700
  • Fujifilm X100s
  • Fujifilm X20
  • Hasselblad Lunar
  • Leica M
  • Nikon 1 V3
  • Nikon 1 S1
  • Pentax MX-1

Fixed Issues :

The following issues have been fixed in Camera Raw 7.4 release candidate :
  • The grayscale visualization associated with Noise Reduction Luminance was visible after mouse release. This occurred when positive Clarity was present.
  • The command/control + A “select all” keyboard shortcut did not select all photos.
  • Modifying the brush size using the Right-click + Drag method did not increase or decrease the brush size by the desired amount.
  • The crop overlay tool resized incorrectly when used in conjunction with the “Constrain to Crop” checkbox in the Lens Correction panel.
  • Hovering the mouse over a local adjustment pin would turn off the desired mask.
  • Horizontal artifacts occasionally appeared in DNG files.
  • Improved interactive performance at intermediate zoom levels (e.g., 33% and 66%)


Adobe Lightroom Version 4.4 Available




Adobe released the latest 'beta' version 4.4 of Lightroom ( download here ). The version has a ‘release candidate’ label, meaning that the update is well tested but would benefit from additional community testing before it is distributed automatically.

The new release adds support for the Canon EOS 1D C camera, and delivers the following fixes :

The following bugs that were part of the Lightroom 4 releases have been corrected. The team appreciates the very detailed feedback the community has provided on Lightroom 4 and we’re excited to correct a number of issues experienced by our customers.

These issues have been FIXED :

  • The crop overlay tool resized incorrectly when used in conjunction with the “Constrain to Crop” checkbox in the Lens Correction panel
  • Background graphics were not correctly rendered within the Book Module
  • The supplied lens profile for the Sony RX-1 did not contain vignette information
  • Previews of photos in portrait orientation were blurry when viewed in the filmstrip in the Develop module. (Mac only)
  • Stack badges displayed the wrong count when creating new stack that included a preexisting stack.
  • The Filter scrollbar within the Library module was not rendering properly.
  • Auto-tone was not working properly when used in conjunction with the Exposure adjustment slider. (Win only)
  • The Black&White button was not creating a History state within the Develop module. (Win only)
  • RGB color readouts were specified in the Adobe RGB colorspace rather than the ProPhoto linear colorspace. This occurred when working in Soft Proofing within the Develop module.
  • Adding a page behaved inconsistently in the Book module depending on the method used to add a page.
  • The state of the “Remove Chromatic Aberrations” checkbox within the Lens Correction was not persistent between sessions of Lightroom.


Monday, February 25, 2013

Canon SpeedLite Custom Flash Diffusers


'Home made' custom flash diffuser for Canon SpeedLite 580EX II

Ever though of making your own flash diffuser? Now you can with 3D printing and make your own relatively simple plastic gear items such diffusers and other light modifiers. Eric Chu at MAKE recently observed a photo intern using a piece of paper as a cheap flash bounce. It gave him the inspiration of producing his own flash bouncer using 3D printers.

After doing some research into good shapes for flash diffusers, he turned to AutoDesk Inventer and had two designs printed out in 3D using corn-based plastic.

The first version, seen above, was a standard rectangular version that companies like Stofen sells for under $15. Next, he followed up with another triangular model that maximizes surface area for greater light diffusion.

Chu says that the 3D-printed diffusers have held up under daily use for over a month and work well. Photos taken with the diffusers appeared in MAKE.

He has made his designs freely available for download over at Thingiverse.com. They are designed for the Canon SpeedLite 580EX II, but for those who are tech savvy, one should be able to modify them for other flash units as well.

MichaelDanielHo.com

Canon's New Center Pinch Lens Caps


Canon's new line of center pinch lens caps

Canon announced a new line of center pinch lens caps for their entire lineup last November. The newly designed Mark II lens caps incorporate a hook mechanism in the middle of the cover. Depressing the hook allows quick removal and installation of the cap, especially when the lens hood is in place.

The new lens caps are beginning to ship in March, so place your order now or visit your camera stores soon. Starting January 2013, all new lenses have come with the new caps. Additional caps are also available for purchase separately.

MichaelDanielHo.com

Canon EF 24-70mm f/4L IS and EF 35mm f/2 IS Technical Report


Canon EF 24-70mm f/4L IS and EF 35mm f/2 IS USM lenses

The Canon Museum has published a technical paper on the EF 24-70mm f/4L IS and EF 35mm f/2 IS lenses. You can read the report by visiting the Canon Museum website.

The EF 24-70mm f/4L IS and EF 24-105mm f/4L IS lenses are two of my favorite Canon lenses and have a semi permanent space in my equipment bag, depending on type of photo shoots. Visit my website MichaelDanielHo.com to see wildlife and travel photos taken with both lenses.

Canon Patent EF 14mm and EF 17-35mm With Flourite


17-35mm f/2.8-4


14mm f/2.8

Egami, the Japanese photography blog discovered two new Canon patents involving a wide angle flourite concept. Such a patent could be part of a new ultra-wide zoom lens, perhaps a EF 14-24mm or a replacement to the EF 16-35mm f/2.8 IS II. Egami also thinks it’s possible this patent could be for the EF-M mount. It’s an interesting concept and speculation. You can see a video from Canon on using flourite in high performance leses. Read the full  patent in Japanese here.


Patent Publication No. 2013-37339

  • 2013.2.21 Release Date
  • Filing date 2011.7.12

Example 1
  • Zoom ratio 1.00
  • Focal length f = 1.00mm
  • Fno. 2.90
  • Half angle of view ω = 56.66 °
  • Image height Y = 1.52mm
  • 9.51mm length lens
  • BF 2.82mm
  • 6 aspherical surfaces, the first surface 25
  • Punctually

Example 3
  • Zoom ratio 2.06
  • 2.06mm – f = 1.00 focal length
  • Fno 2.79 -. 4.00
  • Half angle of view ω = 51.27 – 32.82 °
  • 1.33mm – Y = 1.25 image height
  • 8.55mm – 8.79 length lens
  • BF 2.41 – 3.46mm
  • Aspheric first surface, the fifth surface, the first surface 26
  • Positive and negative positive negative

Example 6
  • Zoom ratio 1.00
  • Focal length f = 1.00mm
  • Fno. 2.90
  • Half angle of view ω = 87.35 °
  • Image height Y = 21.60mm
  • 9.51mm length lens
  • BF 2.82mm
  • 6 aspherical surfaces, the first surface 25
  • Punctually


Sunday, February 24, 2013

Next Generation Canon EOS-M Camera




It is no secret that Canon's EOS-M mirrorless camera is less than a success so far and management is determined to amend their mistakes and make the EOS-M into a successful line in the near future.

Now there is rumor Canon may be introducing segmentation to the EOS-M line by introducing a higher end camera in addition to an entry level model, much like what they did with the current DSLR bodies but not to the same degree.

Rumored new higher end EOS-M camera specifications :

  • 24 MP APS-C Sensor ( Too much. 20 MP is enough )
  • New AF system ( sorely needed )
  • DIGIC 5 processor ( DIGIC IV is so yesterday )
  • Removable Electronic Viewfinder ( Definitely a viewfinder, perhaps high resolution )
  • 5 fps ( Most welcomed )
  • Slightly larger than the current EOS-M ( offers better grip for larger hands )
  • Comes with additional lenses, like primes and longer zooms
  • Price undetermined at this time.


FireFly Digital Sensor Cleaner



FireFly Digital Sensor Cleaner


One of the most annoying things about digital photography is dust on the sensor, causing spots on the photographs. Getting dust out of camera bodies, and especially off the sensors, can be a tricky process. It’s not that there are shortages of options out there, but most of them put your sensor and other sensitive parts of your camera at risk. Even the Giotto Rocket Air Blower has something left to be desired. Now comes the FireFly's digital sensor cleaner.

This high tech cleaner uses power from a nine volt battery to blow ionized air into your camera body. These ions will, in turn, neutralize any static charge that your camera may posses, allowing dust particles to fall away. In case you are concerned that the air itself may have particles in it, the FireFly cleaner also comes with a 20 micron filter attached to keep that from happening. There is an automatic shut off after 15 seconds, allowing you to use the cleaner with one hand.

So, if you are tired of removing dust particles using Photoshop, or have $130 to burn, you might consider buying the FireFly gadget. I am fortunate enough to live within driving distance from the Canon Factory Service Center and receive free sensor cleaning from them. Thanks Canon.

MichaelDanielHo.com

Hi Tech Victorian Spy Camera Watch


Victorian 'high tech' spy camera watch

The word photography, which is derived from the Greek words for light and writing, was first used by Sir John Herschel in 1839, the year the invention of the photographic process was made public. During the previous decades perhaps as many as ten individuals had tried to make a photograph. At least four were successful : Joseph Nicephore Niepce, Louis J. M. Dagurre, and Hippolyte Bayard in France, and William Henry Talbot in England. Each of them employed two scientific techniques that had been known for some time but had never before been successfully combined.

Fast forward a few decades and the photography business had gone 'high tech.' The Lancaster Watch Camera and its little sister, the ladies version, offered some of the earliest, 'state-of-the-art' spy cameras. They represented the ingenious Victorian camera engineering of the 1890s.

The watch pictured above is the ladies version, a rarer and smaller type that sold for $36,000 at the Bonhams auction in 2007. Only four of those are known to exist, but not because they were particularly difficult to make, but because they were nearly impossible to use.

According to Bonhams’ camera expert, Mr. Lionel Hughes :

"It would have been very inconvenient to use as four very small catches had to be released in order to remove the glass screen and to fit a separate metal sensitized material holder for each exposure."

Constructed of engine-turned metal with nickel plating, the watch/camera expanded on its own when you opened it up. And if you could get them to work, the ladies version took 1.25 inch by .25 inch by 1 inch exposures, with the larger gentleman’s spy cam capturing 2 inch by 1.5 inch snaps. My favorite detective, Sherlock Holmes surely must have one of these cameras at his disposal when he matched wits with Professor Moriarty.

MichaelDanielHo.com

Canon PowerShot Macro Snowflake Photos





Russian photographer, Alexey Kljatov shoots stunningly beautiful macro photos of snowflakes on the open balcony of his apartment with a custom compact camera kit. According to him, he does not have any professional equipment. Kljatov uses a Canon PowerShot A650 equipped with a 12.1 MP sensor and some home made macro gear that he cobbled together.

Kljatov said he works mostly on a glass surface with an LED flashlight illuminating the snowflake from the other side of the glass. For other shots, he uses natural light and dark woolen fabric as a backdrop in addition to the flashlight.

When he was just starting out, Kljatov would employ the standard macro mode on the A650, using a plastic bottle tube to stabilize his camera while it’s pointed straight down onto the snowflake at the minimum focusing distance. He would press the shutter with one hand (with a delay so he could shoot hands free) while using the other to point the flashlight at the snowflake.

Above is a photo of another one of his simple, no frills setup. He built a “super-macro adapter” using a Helios 44M-5 lebs from an old USSR Zenit SLR camera. Visit the Flickr postings and see more of his works.

MichaelDanielHo.com

Saturday, February 23, 2013

Refurbished Canon EOS-7D For $979


Canon EOS-7D camera with EF line of lenses

The refurbished Canon EOS-7D camera is now down to $979 including shipping within the United States. This camera has been my pick for the best value in DSLR photography for three years running. Before you sneer at buying refurbished equipment, please read my earlier post on buying used camera gear and take a look at my review of the EOS-7D here.

MichaelDanielHo.com

Canon C300 New Price At $13,999




Canon C300 price drop. Now down to $13,999 for EF and PL mounts


Bringing Canon’s expertise and decades of experience designing sensors, lenses, image processing and design to the world of motion picture capture, the EOS C300 camera has been designed to meet the demanding needs of cinema industry professionals, providing a modular, portable and eminently adaptable system of cameras, lenses and accessories built for moviemaking in the 21st century.

Featuring a unique Super 35mm Canon CMOS sensor, revolutionary Canon DIGIC DV III Image Processor and 50 Mbps 4:2:2 codec, the EOS C300 provides outstanding cinema quality movie capture. Compact, modular and compatible with Canon’s existing line-up of EF and new EF Cinema lenses as well as accessories from third parties, the stunningly simple to operate EOS C300 is designed to please cinematographers for any production large and small, on location or in the studio, from shoestring to Hollywood budgets.

The EOS C300 has a Canon EF lens mount and is compatible with all of Canon’s new EF Cinema lenses and current EF lenses, including compact primes, super telephotos, specialty tilt-shift, macro and fisheye – over 60 in all. Designed with SMPTE HD production standards, its MPEG-2 codec is an internationally recognized standard compatible with major NLE applications while additional features such as Canon Log ensure seamless integration with existing production workflows, making post-production easy. And with an entire support infrastructure designed to help you get the most from your equipment before, during and after production, the EOS C300 is ready to go to work.

MichaelDanielHo.com

Canon EOS-70D vs. Nikon D7100


Canon EOS-70D APS-C camera is here


* * * Canon EOS-70D is out. Click here to see the Reviews and Sample Photos * * *

Nikon announced their D7100 camera a few days ago. A mid range, cropped frame camera for 'advanced enthusiasts' and is the flagship of their DX format DSLR lineup. The list price is $1,200 for the body and $1,600 when bundled with a 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6 kit lens. The camera will be available for sale some time by the end of the first quarter of 2013.

Nikon D7100 key features :

  • 24.1MP DX format CMOS sensor, with no OLPF
  • EXPEED 3 processing
  • ISO 100-6400 standard, up to 25600 expanded
  • Max 6 fps continuous shooting in DX mode, 7 fps in 1.3X crop mode
  • 51 point AF system, 15 sensors cross type
  • 2016 pixel RGB metering sensor
  • Two SD memory card slots
  • Spot white balance in live view mode
  • 1080 60i/30p video recording, built-in stereo mic, mic jack and audio monitoring jack
  • Pentaprism with 100% coverage and 0.94X magnification
  • 3.2", 1.2m-dot LCD screen (640 x 480 X RGBW)
  • Front and rear IR receivers
  • Equivalent water and dust resistance to D800/D300S

On paper, this looks like an impressive camera and a very good value. It will put pressure on Canon to announce its EOS-70D sooner rather than later, perhaps about the same time when the D7100 hits the retail market.

I believe Canon has been pressured by Nikon in the last few years on the price-to-performance benchmark. Most people like to get the most bang for their buck, especially when the camera specs look good on paper and comes with a 'lower' price. This may explain why Canon has been 'lowering' the price of their full frame cameras while loading them with advanced features. The EOS-5D Mk III is the perfect example of a higher price-to-performance ratio and is my pick for the best value in full frame DSLR cameras today.

Please read my earlier post and the latest post on the Canon EOS-70D. My guess is Canon will have to equip the upcoming 70D with at least the following features : 20+ MP sensor,  an all-cross type 19-points AF system, 6 fps, ISO 25600 expanded, powered by the Digic 5 processor and a list price of between $1,300 to $1,500. I think we will get some leaks soon and should know more in about a month or two.


Friday, February 22, 2013

Canon EOS-7D and EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II break a record


320GB panaromic photo of London, England

Canon EOS-7D and EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II break world record

An amazing image of London taken from the top of the BT Tower has set a new record for the world’s largest panoramic photo. The image shows a full 360 degree view of London in incredible detail. Take a look at the video showing the operational setup.

The 320 gigapixel image, taken by expert photography firm 360Cities, comprises more than 48,000 individual frames which have been collated into a single panorama by a powerful workstation. It is the first time that an image of this magnitude has ever been attempted, and it took several months to create due to the scale of the endeavour. If printed at normal photographic resolution, the BT Tower panorama would be 98 meters across and 24 meters tall, almost as big as Buckingham Palace. In comparison, the last record attempt for a London panorama was 80 gigapixels, taken from Centrepoint in 2010.

Project by numbers :

  • 320 – the number of gigapixels in the photo
  • 48,640 – the number of individual images shot
  • 3 – the number of days it took to shoot all the individual photos
  • 3 – the number of months over which the computer processed the final result
  • 60,000 – times bigger than an iPhone 4 photo
  • 98 – the number of meters long if printed in normal photographic resolution
  • 24 – the number of meters high if printed in normal photographic resolution
  • 29th – The floor at the BT Tower where the photos were taken
  • 20 – number of miles distant to the viewable horizon

Technical photographic information, and how the photo was taken :

Working over a period of three chilly days in 2012, the 360Cities team spent hours on the 29th floor outdoor platform of the BT Tower working with four cameras to record the 48,640 images comprising the panorama.

Four Canon EOS 7D cameras with EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II USM lenses and Extender EF 2x III teleconverters were mounted on Clauss company Rodeon VR Head ST robotic panorama heads and positioned in four secure locations around the 29th floor platform.

The Clauss company robotic panorama heads are capable of 72,000 steps in a single 360 degree arc, and in this case were set to fire four frames a second.

Laptops monitored a live preview of the progress of the shoot, which was accomplished in the teeth of sub-freezing temperatures and occasional 50 mph winds high above London.

The 360Cities photography team of Jeffrey Martin, Tom Mills and Holger Schulze ensured that not a single individual frame from the more than 48,000 planned was missed.

The raw images were then processed over a multi-week period using Fujitsu Technology Solutions’ Celsius R920 workstation with 256GB of RAM and 16 cores at 3.1GHz, and Autopano Giga panorama stitching software from Kolor.

The resulting online interactive version of the photo is presented in multi-layered, tiled resolution that permits zooming in to view extreme details, and is composed of millions of individual image tiles.

I love wide angle and panoramic photos. Did you notice they used the Canon EOS-7D cameras, my pick for the best value in DSLR photography three years running? See the full 320-gigapixel panoramic photo here.

http://MichaelDanielHo.com

Professional Photographer Kit For $15.35


Sears, Roebuck catalog of Autumn, 1900


Yes, a complete professional Photographer's kit for $15.35 appeared in the Sears, Roebuck catalog in the Autumn of 1900. Two of the pages inside the catalog are for view camera kits that can help anyone “start in a pleasant and good paying business.”

Back then, photography is still a little understood profession. Ansel Adams was not even born. The market was not crowded with aspiring photographers like today, so it may have been easier to stand out with your photography services as long as you had some 'professional' equipment.

Taking into account inflation and the year 1900, $15.35 was still a bit of money then, but it was not an unaffordable amount for those who are serious in pursuing a profession. Roughly speaking, it would be equivalent to about $420 in 2012 money. That’s how much high-end professional cameras cost those days.

When I bought my Canon EOS-1 in 1989, it cost me over $1,000. The first Canon digital camera, the D30 cost me over $3,000 in 2000 and the Canon EOS-1Ds Mk III cost me $8,000 in 2008. Now one can buy the Canon EOS-5D Mk III for less than $3,000 and it outperforms the 1Ds Mk III with little difficulty. That's enough to make me Wax Nostalgic and send chills up my spine next time I pull out my wallet to buy the latest professional Canon camera equipment.

Visit my website MichaelDanielHo.com to see travel and wildlife photos taken over the decades, around the world with many different camera equipment.

320GB Panoramic Photo Of London


320 GB 360 degrees photo of London, England


Canon EOS-7D and EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II break world record

An amazing image of London taken from the top of the BT Tower has set a new record for the world’s largest panoramic photo. The image shows a full 360 degree view of London in incredible detail. Take a look at the video showing the operational setup.

The 320 gigapixel image, taken by expert photography firm 360Cities, comprises more than 48,000 individual frames which have been collated into a single panorama by a powerful workstation. It is the first time that an image of this magnitude has ever been attempted, and it took several months to create due to the scale of the endeavour. If printed at normal photographic resolution, the BT Tower panorama would be 98 meters across and 24 meters tall, almost as big as Buckingham Palace. In comparison, the last record attempt for a London panorama was 80 gigapixels, taken from Centrepoint in 2010.

Project by numbers :

  • 320 – the number of gigapixels in the photo
  • 48,640 – the number of individual images shot
  • 3 – the number of days it took to shoot all the individual photos
  • 3 – the number of months over which the computer processed the final result
  • 60,000 – times bigger than an iPhone 4 photo
  • 98 – the number of meters long if printed in normal photographic resolution
  • 24 – the number of meters high if printed in normal photographic resolution
  • 29th – The floor at the BT Tower where the photos were taken
  • 20 – number of miles distant to the viewable horizon

Technical photographic information, and how the photo was taken :

Working over a period of three chilly days in 2012, the 360Cities team spent hours on the 29th floor outdoor platform of the BT Tower working with four cameras to record the 48,640 images comprising the panorama.

Four Canon EOS 7D cameras with EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II USM lenses and Extender EF 2x III teleconverters were mounted on Clauss company Rodeon VR Head ST robotic panorama heads and positioned in four secure locations around the 29th floor platform.

The Clauss company robotic panorama heads are capable of 72,000 steps in a single 360 degree arc, and in this case were set to fire four frames a second.

Laptops monitored a live preview of the progress of the shoot, which was accomplished in the teeth of sub-freezing temperatures and occasional 50 mph winds high above London.

The 360Cities photography team of Jeffrey Martin, Tom Mills and Holger Schulze ensured that not a single individual frame from the more than 48,000 planned was missed.

The raw images were then processed over a multi-week period using Fujitsu Technology Solutions’ Celsius R920 workstation with 256GB of RAM and 16 cores at 3.1GHz, and Autopano Giga panorama stitching software from Kolor.

The resulting online interactive version of the photo is presented in multi-layered, tiled resolution that permits zooming in to view extreme details, and is composed of millions of individual image tiles.

I love wide angle and panoramic photos. Did you notice they used the Canon EOS-7D cameras, my pick for the best value in DSLR photography three years running? See the full 320-gigapixel panoramic photo here.

http://MichaelDanielHo.com

Luxi - Incident Light Meter For iPhone





What is Luxi?

Luxi is a small diffusion dome that fits securely over your iPhone’s front-facing camera. When attached and used with a light meter app, Luxi will help you determine the best settings for your DSLR or other camera so that you can take perfectly exposed pictures.

What does it do?

With Luxi, your iPhone becomes a convenient and easy to use incident light meter. Professional light meters with the same features can cost several hundred dollars and require you to carry a whole separate device.

Incident light meters, like Luxi, measure the amount of light falling on the subject you are photographing, not the light reflected by the subject. Incident light meter readings are independent of the subject's reflectance and cannot be fooled by tricky lighting situations like back-lit subjects (e.g. sunset portraits).

Patent and Funding pending 

I am not endorsing this product, just bringing it to my readers' attention, especially for those who are interested in photography. If you would like to know more about this invention, visit the product's website.


Thursday, February 21, 2013

Canon USA Introduces System For Mixed Reality


Canon MREAL system

MELVILLE N.Y., February 21, 2013 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, today announced the introduction of its Canon MREAL System for Mixed Reality (MR), a new imaging solution that simultaneously merges virtual objects with the real world, at full scale and in three dimensions. By combining the rich, visual information of the real world and the flexibility offered by computer-generated images, MR offers an imaging experience that is a step ahead of existing virtual reality technology, which currently only produces computer-generated environments. The MREAL System and its associated professional services inclusive of MR implementation, integration to customer systems, and custom development can benefit companies in a variety of industries, including manufacturing, automotive, construction, aerospace, medical, defense, and entertainment, to name a few.

“In today’s competitive markets, companies are constantly looking for solutions that can help them introduce new products to market in a timely and efficient fashion. The new Canon MREAL System for Mixed Reality allows decision-makers to evaluate a product’s design and operability like never before,” said Sam Yoshida, vice president and general manager, Marketing, Business Imaging Solutions Group, Canon U.S.A. “Canon has a very strong commitment to the augmented reality space, and by leveraging our strong heritage and leadership in optics, we intend to deliver solutions based upon Mixed Reality for use in industries including manufacturing, aerospace and entertainment.”

Key benefits of the MREAL System are :

Productivity : Effective product lifecycle management places an emphasis on maximizing productivity to help reduce time to market, optimize designs, improve product quality, and save time, cost and resources. The MREAL System enables customers to develop digital prototypes, identify potential design concerns to reduce prototype iterations, incorporate required characteristics more quickly and get products to market sooner.

Interaction : The MREAL System allows customers to make the leap from screen to seen. With this new system, you can experience, examine, modify, manipulate, discuss, analyze, or present designs with a level of realism that allows complicated ideas and plans to come to fruition quickly and efficiently.

Attention To Detail : The MREAL System brings users to a 3D world where they can interact with virtually any given scene, landscape, environment or object. Designers can closely examine how components manufactured at different locations are expected to come together, or see how light will reflect off the interior trim of a car. Users can view intricate details of the 3D image from almost any angle.

Feedback : When the audience is immersed in the MR experience, users gain tremendous insight. Whether collaborating on ideas, discussing new product designs, securing customer input, generating investor interest, winning management buy-in, or just entertaining an audience, MR brings many levels of value to all participants.

The Canon MREAL System for Mixed Reality — which consists of a head-mounted display (HMD) HM-A1 and the MR Platform Software MP-100 — creates the illusion that computer-generated visuals exist within the real world by deploying the following Canon technologies:

Head-Mounted Display (HMD)

Two video cameras inside the head-mounted display (HMD), located in front of each eye, capture video from the real world, which is then processed and sent to a computer. Using state-of-the-art Canon image processing and directional-sensor data, the computer-generated graphics and the real world are combined with high precision and are displayed on the small monitors located inside the head-mounted display (HMD).

An advanced optical system enlarges the video displayed on the small monitors to create high-impact, three-dimensional images. The innovative and patented free-form prism features a unique three-sided configuration that produces clear, solid-looking images with low distortion, reducing the impact of optical aberrations, even in peripheral areas, and further enhances the realism of the experience.

MREAL Product

The MR Platform is designed to enhance a company’s existing design workflow. The software integrates with leading design applications including Siemens PLM Software’s NX™ software, a leading integrated solution for computer-aided design, manufacturing and engineering (CAD/CAM/CAE), and the 3D visualization software RTT DeltaGen, which renders mixed reality images through the Canon head-mounted display, in lifelike realism.

Through Canon’s Developer Support program, Canon also offers a MR Platform Software Development Kit. The MR SDK enables users to create software applications capable of leveraging Canon’s MREAL System. The MR Platform SDK provides an ideal way to tightly integrate existing CAD and Graphic Design software with the Canon MREAL System.

“Canon’s MR Platform SDK has proven to be an effective way of tightly integrating RTT’s DeltaGen software with MREAL Product, said Hillary Forsythe, marketing director, RTT USA Inc. “The combination of RTT DeltaGen and Canon’s MREAL Product provides an ideal solution to customers focused on lessening overall product development time, driving rapid prototyping and shortening go-to-market cycles.”

A multitude of industries can leverage this enhanced rendering technology throughout the product lifecycle management (PLM) process to help streamline design processes, which can help get products to market quicker and can ultimately reduce costs. Automotive and manufacturing companies can utilize this solution at all stages of product development and a wide array of applications, including, but not limited to, digital prototyping, service training, plant design and factory layout. The Canon MREAL System has the capacity to expand virtually any existing design application in all sectors, including university research, entertainment and museum exhibits.

Availability

The Canon MREAL System for Mixed Reality, along with the services required to integrate into existing customer environments and applications, will be available immediately. Pricing will vary depending on system configurations and in accordance with usage requirements. More information on the Canon MEAL System for Mixed Reality can be found at www.usa.canon.com/mixedreality.

Canon PowerShot N Design Process

The innovation Canon PowerShot N camera

The PowerShot N camera was unveiled last month. Canon has provided some insight into the minds of their product design team by providing early hand-drawn sketches for this innovative, compact camera and released a introductory video. Four people from Canon’s Japanese team were responsible for the PowerShot N’s design. Mr. Miyabi Orihashi is the Chief Product Designer of the PowerShot N. "This camera is not only for consumers who want to record memories but also for those who are eager to capture beautiful, artistic photos for others to appreciate. I hope people who don’t have a deep knowledge of camera functions and settings will find they are able to take a range of interesting and expressive images using this camera.”

Canon PowerShot N specifications :
  • 12.1 MP High Sensitivity CMOS Sensor
  • DIGIC 5 Image Processor
  • 8X f/3.0 Optical Zoom Lens
  • 28-224mm Focal Length Equivalency
  • 2.8″ Capacitive Tilt-Touch LCD Panel
  • 1080p Full HD Video Capture
  • Built-in Wi-Fi Connectivity
  • One-Touch Mobile Device Connect Button
  • Creative Shot Mode

Canon Patent For Additional Contacts On Lens






Egami, the Japanese photography blog, has discovered a new Canon patent involving a second row of electronic contacts on the lens mount. The patent suggests the second row of contacts is dedicated to the video signal, avoiding loss of signal strength could be the reason. Perhaps the video signal needs more power supply. You can read the original article in Japanese here. It is important to point out Canon files thousands of patents every year but few of them actually turn into a finished product eventually. They are mostly used to stake a claim and deny their competitors the opportunity to exploit the technology.

MichaelDanielHo.com

Patent Publication No. 2013-21391
  • 2013.1.31 Release Date
  • 2011.7.7 filing date

Canon Patent
  • In addition to the conventional first electronic contact, new second electronic contacts are added
  • Contact each other first and second non-overlapping corresponding to the new system
  • In addition to the video sync signal
  • In the serial clock, eliminating the need for transformation of the communication level
  • Focus of video requires a larger power supply

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Canon EOS-1D X Body For $6,240 Shipped


Canon EOS-1D X full frame DSLR camera


I came across the Canon EOS-1D X selling for $6,240 including free shipping with the United States, on eBay from a top rated seller. Canon's list price is $6,799 and this body is my pick for the best full frame DSLR camera on the market. You can read my review on the EOS-1D X here.

MichaelDanielHo.com

Canon EOS-5D Mk III For $2,890 Shipped


Canon EOS-5D Mk III full frame DSLR camera

I came across the Canon EOS-5D Mk III selling for $2,890 including free shipping with the United States, on eBay from a top rated seller. Canon's list price is $3,499 and this body is my pick for the best value in full frame DSLR cameras. You can read my review on the EOS-5D Mk III here.

MichaelDanielHo.com

Ansel Adams' 111th Birthday




Ansel Adams was born one hundred and eleven years ago today. He began his career as a photographer in the early 20th century selling snapshots of Yosemite National Park in California. Obsessed with fine-tuning his craft, the San Francisco-born artist was known to dabble in everything from soft-focus imagery to etching before settling on a photographic style marked by sharp contrast and intense exposures.

Over the course of his 60-year career, he worked closely with fellow photographers Fred Archer and Alfred Stieglitz, showed his work at a major retrospective at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and helped to found the major photography magazine, Aperture.

MichaelDanielHo.com

Canon EOS-1D X and EOS-5D Mk III AF Assist Beam Advisory


Canon EOS-1D X cameras

As I have reported in my earlier post, Canon USA has now officially acknowledged the Speedlite AF assist beam issue on EOS-1D X and EOS-5D Mk III cameras.

Affected Products

EOS-5D Mk III DSLR Camera
EOS-1D X DSLR Camera

Details

Depending upon the shooting conditions, it may take slightly longer for the EOS-5D Mk III and EOS-1D X digital SLR cameras to acquire focus when using the Speedlite's AF Assist Beam, compared with that of the EOS-D Mk II and EOS-1D Mk IV digital SLR cameras using the Speedlite's AF Assist Beam.

We are developing a solution to enhance the focusing feature for the EOS-5D Mk III and EOS-1D X and plan to release a firmware update based on following estimated schedule :

EOS-5D Mk III : (estimated) Late April, 2013
EOS-1D X : (estimated) Late May, 2013

Support

This information is for residents of the United States and Puerto Rico only. If you do not reside in the USA or Puerto Rico, please contact the Canon Customer Support Center in your region.

If you have not already done so, please register your Canon EOS 5D Mark III Digital SLR Camera or your Canon EOS-1D X. Digital SLR Camera. By registering, we will be able to notify you via email about future service upgrades.

Thank you,
Customer Support Operations
Canon U.S.A., Inc.

Contact Information for Inquiries
Canon Customer Support Center
Phone : 1-855-246-3367 (toll free)
TDD : 1-866-251-3752
Email : CinemaEOS@cits.canon.com

MichaelDanielHo.com

Canon 2013 Announcement Predictions By Nippon


The prediction page from Nippon magazine


Nippon, a Japanese photography magazine, has published a 'prediction calendar' page on new product announcements from major camera manufactures like Canon, Nikon, Sony, etc.

As you can see, the manufacturers' names are on the top and the months are on the left hand side. According to this magazine, the Canon EOS-70D and the EOS-7D Mk II will be announced in March and August, respectively. The ever elusive Canon EOS-3D will appear in October together with the Nikon D4X.

I cannot vouch for the accuracy of this prediction, just enclosing this page for your entertainment and add some levity to the photographers' watch list.

MichaelDanielHo.com 

Canon USA New Headquarters






MELVILLE, N.Y., February 18, 2013 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, is proud to announce the new address of its new Americas headquarters. One Canon Park, located in Melville, New York will consolidate nearly 1,400 Canon employees into one central location. Nearly half of all Canon U.S.A. employees have relocated to the Melville headquarters while the remaining employees will complete the move in March. The new headquarters will serve all North and South American countries and will be one of Canon's three worldwide headquarters, with the other two located in London and Japan.

"We are so proud to be moving to our brand new, state-of-the-art headquarters at One Canon Park," said Seymour Liebman, executive vice president, chief administrative officer and general counsel, Canon U.S.A. "One Canon Park will be a symbol of not only our dedication to our employees, but also our dedication to the Long Island community we have called home since 1971."

Remaining on Long Island was always a top priority for the company to help retain the highly skilled and dedicated workforce. One Canon Park is a 700,000 square-foot facility and is located approximately 16 miles east of the current headquarters in Lake Success, New York.

The mailing address will be: One Canon Park, Melville, NY 11747, USA

MichaelDanielHo.com

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS for $840 delivered


Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM zoom lens

I found one of my favorite EF lens from Canon selling for $840, including free shipping within the United States, on eBay from a top rated seller. This is an excellent lens for travel photography and the deal is equally tempting because the list price is $1,149. This lens goes into my equipment pack on every photo shoot.

EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM specifications :

  • Weight: 1.5 lb (670 grams)
  • Length: 4.2″ (107 mm)
  • Filter Size: 77 mm
  • F/Stop Range: 4-22
  • Minimum Focus Distance: 1.48′ (0.45 m)
  • Magnification: 1:4.3
  • Angle of View: 84 – 23° (full-frame cameras)
  • Groups/Elements: 13/18
  • Maximum Diameter: 3.3″ (83.5 mm)
  • 1 Super UD glass element and 3 aspherical lenses minimize chromatic aberration and distortion
  • Ring-type USM system delivers silent but quick autofocus (AF); full-time manual focus
  • Image Stabilizer technology steadies camera shake at up to 3 stops 

Visit my website MichaelDanielHo.com to see travel and landscape photos taken with this lens from all over the world. 

Canon EOS-7D Mk II Camera Specifications


Canon EOS-7D Mk II camera and EF lenses

There is a bit more news about the long awaited, long overdue, Canon EOS-7D Mk II camera. Just a recap first. The current EOS-7D is over three years old and has been my pick as the best DSLR camera value on the market for years. You can read my review here but the camera's technology is getting old and its Achilles' heel is the mediocre high ISO performance. Read my earlier post on the EOS-7D Mk II here.

There are different prototypes of the EOS-7D Mk II out there and they have been spotted now and then. This is nothing unusual and Canon may not have finalized on which model to produce, including the exact specifications and the MP of the sensor. The EOS-7D Mk II will be the leader of the pack for Canon's APS-C lineup. It will borrow technologies from the unparalleled EOS-1D X camera and the EOS-6D.


Possible Specifications Of The EOS-7D Mk II camera :

  • 24 MP APS-C Sensor ( Too many, if true. I prefer 21 MP )
  • Dual DIGIC 5+ processors ( Excellent for speed processing )
  • 10 fps ( Most welcomed by me ) 
  • Dual Memory Card Slots ( One CF and one SD. I prefer 2 CF slots )
  • 61 AF Points ( Perhaps the same as the EOS-1D X )
  • 3.2″ LCD monitor ( Excellent for reviewing images )
  • Similar build quality as the EOS-5D Mk III with much better weather proofing
  • GPS and WiFi ( Not necessary, in my opinion ) 
  • ISO Performance may equal EOS-5D Mk III ( Most welcomed by me )
  • Plenty of latest video features borrowed from current Canon models
  • Selling price between $2,000 to $2,199. Not finalized yet

The new camera may make its appearance some time in the summer and there is no one more eager to buy it than myself. The current EOS-7D is my favorite wildlife camera when the action is far away but its modest high ISO performance limits the use to good lighting conditions. When the Mk II model arrives and has similar ISO performance to the EOS-5D Mk III and the EOS-1D X, it will really make me a happy photographer. If the new camera sells in the low $2,000s and comes with all the features mentioned above, it will again prove to be the best value in APS-C DSLR on the market. Visit my website MichaelDanielHo.com to see many wildlife and travel photos taken with the EOS-7D from around the world.