Still on my road trip in Canada. Leaving the Rockies and heading to Vancouver Island for some Killer whale photography. I am still having trouble with my new
Microsoft Surface 3 tablet. It is not easy to look at the photos and process them a bit to for posting.
Still on my road trip in the Canadian Rockies. I am using my new Microsoft Surface 3 tablet on the road for the first time and it is not easy to look at the photos and process them a bit to for posting.
The second half of 2015 will be decision time for Canon. They want to introduced the EOS-1D X Mk II, EOS-5D Mk IV and EOS-6D Mk II, three full frame cameras that need a replacement soon.
The EOS-6D Mk II will still be the least expensive full frame camera in Canon's line up and may go slightly upmarket with a new sensor, more AF points and higher native ISO with better weather sealing, higher quality material, powered by the DIGIC 6 processor(s).
The EOS-5D Mk IV may come with a low 20MP sensor but will be equipped with a new AF system, perhaps sharing it with the new EOS-1D X Mk II. It will be powered by new processors, most probably dual DIGIC 6+ but DIGIC 7 is also possible but unlikely for now. It will boast superior ISO performance and 4K video is still a possibility.
The EOS-1D X Mk II will be a Nikon D5 slayer. It will have a new mid 20MP sensor, state of the art AF system accompanied by unmatched dynamic range and native ISO performance. Multiple new processors will power the camera to a slightly higher frame rate, perhaps up to 14 fps without the need to lockup the mirror. It will have improved ergonomics and a slight weight and shape change due to improved material.
Everything is still very fluid in the Canon's decision making process. Nothing has been firmed up yet and I suspect once Nikon announce their D5 later this year, we will know more about Canon's plans. Test cameras are out in the wild with selected contract photographers and I hope to get more information as the summer and autumn months roll around. Keep checking back for the latest development. I am still on my road trip in the Canadian Rockies doing some travel photography. Visit my website MichaelDanielHo.com to see photos from my past trips and you can follow my travel on Twitter and Facebook.
Canon and Nikon are both expected to release their respective top-of-the-line camera - EOS-1D X Mk II and D5 some time in late 2015 or early 2016. I have written about the upcoming EOS-1D X Mk II but so far there is no real specific information about its capabilities.
Nikon Rumors claims the new Nikon D5 will have 4K video, 20MP full frame sensor, native ISO of 102,400, 15 fps and 173 AF points. The first three features sound plausible but the last two sound like a wish list. I will be very surprised Canon will let Nikon trump their Mk II camera.
My guess is Nikon will announce first, follow by Canon and delivery will start some time in Q1, 2016 for both cameras. My readers know I have picked the EOS-1D X as the best sports and wildlife photography full frame camera 3 years in a row. I expect the Mk II to keep that title again in 2016.
I am on the road traveling in the Canadian Rockies for some travel photography. Ending my trip in the Gulf Islands of British Columbia for some Killer whale photography.
Visit my website MichaelDanielHo.com to see photos from my previous trips and I will try and keep in touch now and then.
Sigma has announced its new 24-35mm f/2 DG HSM Art lens for Canon, Nikon and Sigma mounts.
The new 24-35mm zoom is the second large aperture zoom lens Sigma has launched recently. It follows the impressive Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM Art lens for APS-C cameras and is the first time we’ve seen an f/2 zoom for a full frame DSLR.
Sigma claims that optical performance of the new zoom lens is comparable to Sigma’s 24mm F1.4 DG HSM Art and 35mm F1.4 DG HSM Art lenses. As such, Sigma suggests that it can replace 24mm, 28mm and 35mm prime lenses in your camera bag with this single zoom lens.
Sigma 24-35mm f/2 DG HSM Art Key Features
Large-diameter, aspherical lens elements, which require advanced technologies to produce, one “F” Low Dispersion (FLD) glass, and seven Special Low Dispersion (SLD) glass elements with two aspherical lenses. The advanced optics and optimized lens power distribution minimizes spherical aberration, axial chromatic aberration and field curvature, resulting in outstanding optical performance.
A video-friendly, inner focusing system that eliminates front-lens rotation, enhancing the lens’ stability and allowing use of circular polarizing filters
A Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM) that ensures a silent, high-speed AF function. Smoother AF is achieved when the this AF algorithm is optimized
Full-time MF by rotating the focus ring of the lens while auto focusing
A nine-blade, rounded diaphragm creates an attractive blur to the out-of-focus areas of the image
Specifications: Lens construction containing 18 elements in 13 groups; a weight of 33.2 ounces; a diameter and length of 3.4 inches by 4.8 inches, respectively; a minimum aperture of F16; and angle of view (35mm) of 84.1° to 63.4°; minimum focusing distance of 11 inches; and a maximum magnification ratio of 1:4.4
The Sigma 24-35mm f/2 DG HSM Art lens is compatible with Sigma’s USB DOCK, which allows photographers to update the lens’ firmware, adjust focus points and customize full-time MF function settings by using Sigma’s Optimization Pro software.
The Canon EOS-5Ds and EOS-5DsR production model cameras are steadily shipping, first to buyers who have placed their pre-orders and then to other customers as orders come in.
Click here to see more JPEG and RAW photos taken with a production EOS-5Ds camera running firmware version 1.01. The glass used was the Zeiss Otus 85mm f/1.4 lens.
Roger at LensRental.com decided to tear down a production model of the EOS-5Ds to reveal its internal parts. You can read his article here.
I will not be getting this camera. Waiting for the EOS-5D Mk IV and the EOS-1D X Mk II, coming the second half of 2015.
Comparing Canon EOS-7D Mk II (left) and EOS-7D (right) cameras
Canon announced the EOS-7D Mk II on September 15, 2014. I have owned the camera for about eight months now and have taken it on real world photo shoots from the sub Arctic to the Southern Ocean and many places in between, often under extremely harsh environment. You can read my review and see many wildlife photos on MichaelDanielHo.com
I have chosen the EOS-7D as the best APS-C camera 4 years in a row for wildlife photography and the Series II successor is beginning to head that way. Canon has released a new firmware, Version 1.0.4 on May 12, 2015 to address some AF issues. Here are some quick tips and tricks and tutorial videos from Canon on how to get the most out of this new camera. Take a look because it will be worth your while.
Roger at LensRental.com decided to tear down a production model of the EOS-7D Mk II to reveal its internal parts. You can read his article here.
Egami, the Japanese photography blog has discovered a new Canon patent that appears to involve the movement of drones and cameras. It carries an altimeter and can pinpoint the location of the camera (via translation).
Patent Publication No. 2015-106840
Published 2015.6.8
Filing date 2013.11.29
Canon patents
And control the angle of the vertical and horizontal direction of the camera
The analysis of the position coordinates from the GPS satellite
The Canon EOS-5Ds and EOS-5DsR production model cameras are steadily shipping, first to buyers who have placed their pre-orders and then to other customers as orders come in.
Click here to see more JPEG and RAW photos taken with a production EOS-5Ds camera running firmware version 1.01. The glass used was the Zeiss Otus 85mm f/1.4 lens.
I will not be getting this camera. Waiting for the EOS-5D Mk IV and the EOS-1D X Mk II, coming the second half of 2015.
Canon has revealed the new PowerShot G3 X compact – the first superzoom model to join Canon’s ‘Premium Expert’ range of cameras – which combines a 25x optical zoom lens, a large, 1.0-type, 20.2 Megapixel sensor, a dust-proof and drip-proof body and an extensive range of manual controls over exposure settings to deliver advanced performance for shooting stunning stills and recording Full HD movies.
The 25x lens of the PowerShot G3 X gives a zoom range of 24-600mm (35mm equivalent) and includes an intelligent, advanced 5-axis Image Stabilizer for capturing sharp photos and videos at all focal lengths.
The PowerShot G3 X’s bright f/2.8-5.6, 25x optical zoom gives an amazing focal length range of 24-600mm, and also features a 9-blade aperture, to ensure the camera is ideal for capturing an incredibly wide range of subjects; everything from wide-angle landscapes to stunning portraits with beautiful background blur and distant subjects in exquisite detail at the telephoto end of the zoom range.
Richard Trestain, Photo and Video Product Launch Manager, Canon Europe explained: “The PowerShot G3 X is an impressively specified and robust superzoom camera that puts photographers and filmmakers in control of all shooting settings. It will appeal to both enthusiast and advanced photographers who want to shoot a wide variety of subjects and represents the latest major development in the PowerShot ‘Premium Expert’ camera range; it delivers superb quality for shooting stills as well as Full HD movies.”
SUPERB IMAGE QUALITY
A large 1.0-type, back-illuminated, 20.2 Megapixel CMOS sensor and DIGIC 6 processor combine in the HS System to deliver exceptional image quality (up to ISO 12,800) even in extreme low-light conditions, making it easy to capture the real atmosphere of the moment with great detail.
Thanks to an intelligent, advanced 5-axis Image Stabilizer, the PowerShot G3 X automatically adapts and ensures sharp, detailed photos and videos even when shooting at the telephoto end of the zoom or handheld in low-light.
ADVANCED MOVIE FEATURES
Shooting stunning Full HD movies is easy with the PowerShot G3 X with full manual control over aperture, shutter, ISO and focus pull plus a choice of variable frame rates of 24p, 25p, 30p, 50p or 60p.
Filmmakers can achieve perfect focus with the MF Peaking function and use Aspect Markers to frame in popular movie formats; your creativity can be easily monitored whilst shooting with HDMI live output to an external monitor.
High quality stereo sound can be achieved via a range of versatile sound recording options that allow the use of an external microphone and headphones (via 3.5mm jacks) and Full HD movies are recorded in MP4 container format for improved compatibility with mobile devices.
EXPERT MANUAL CONTROL
The PowerShot G3 X offers full manual control over settings and features a dedicated mode dial and exposure compensation dial on its top plate.
A large, 8.0 cm (3.2”), 1.62 million dot, tiltable touch screen has an EOS-like interface and ensures excellent colour accuracy, image clarity and contrast. The touch interface enables more intuitive control, with pinch zoom capability in review mode and Touch AF for instant selection of focus points and for ensuring accurate and smooth focus pull in movies.
Quick access to advanced manual controls and settings is made easy thanks to a dedicated mode dial, an exposure compensation dial and a customisable, smooth, Lens Control Ring that allows for control over subtle focus adjustments – the Lens Control Ring also allows you to incrementally adjust settings such as aperture and shutter speed. Full Manual and RAW with multi-aspect support can be used to get just the shot required, whilst there’s also a BULB exposure mode, plus a built-in 3-stop ND filter extends shooting capabilities, such as shooting in daylight with slower shutter speeds.
A HOST OF CREATIVE FEATURES
The PowerShot G3 X boasts a host of other features including ultra-fast focusing thanks to a super-responsive 31-point Ai autofocus system and high-speed, sustained continuous shooting at up to 5.9 frames-per-second.
The camera also features an impressive array of creative modes including a choice from seven different Creative Filters, Star Mode, Creative Shot Mode and Background Defocus Mode to achieve beautiful, SLR-style background blur.
CONNECT & SHARE STILLS AND CLIPS
The PowerShot G3 X is compatible with a wide range of Canon accessories, including Speedlite flashguns and a high-resolution electronic viewfinder.
A new Short Clip movie mode allows users to record short clips (between 4 and 6 seconds) that can easily be shared via social media networks. These can be recorded with a choice of playback effects: Constant, Double speed, Slow (half) speed or Action Playback.
Using the Mobile Device Connect Button or Dynamic NFC makes it quick and easy to wirelessly transfer images to smart devices via WiFi while Image Sync can automatically back up to cloud-based services, such as Canon’s own irista and Flickr. A new Canon Camera Connect app (which is also compatible with Canon EOS WiFi-enabled cameras) enables advanced remote shooting with the camera, including Touch AF and access to most creative modes.
POWERSHOT G3 X - KEY FEATURES AT A GLANCE
20.2 Megapixel HS System with 1.0-type CMOS sensor and DIGIC 6 processor for stunning low-light results up to ISO 12,800.
25x 24-600mm* f/2.8-5.6 Canon optical zoom lens with 9-blade aperture.
Intelligent IS adapts to the situation for sharp shots.
Expert handling with smooth action Lens Control Ring, customisable menus, shortcut buttons and dedicated exposure compensation dial.
WiFi with Dynamic NFC and Mobile Device Connect Button. Remote shooting possible via smartphone or tablet.
Wireless image back-up to the cloud using Image Sync.
8.0 cm (3.2"), high-resolution (1620k dots), tiltable PureColor II G LCD touch screen with Touch AF.
Super-fast 31-point AiAF and sustained continuous shooting at up to 5.9fps.
Multi-aspect RAW file support, built-in ND filter and BULB exposure mode.
Full HD movies with variable frame rates (24p, 25p, 30p, 50p and 60p); 5-axis Dynamic Image Stabilizer for steady movie footage.
Manual control in movie for extended creativity (Aperture, Shutter speed and ISO sensitivity); MF Peaking for accurate focusing.
HDMI live output. Support for external microphone and headphones.
Dust-proof and drip-proof body.
Creative Filters, Star Mode, Creative Shot Mode and Background Defocus.
Compatible with optional accessories including a high-resolution electronic viewfinder and EOS Speedlite flashguns.
There are many shortcuts in Photoshop and Lightroom built into the keyboard but who can remember them all. Below are two very handy cheat sheets for all the keyboard shortcuts in the latest version. It's already in a jpg file format. Click here to save the Lightroom shortcuts and Photoshop shortcuts as full sized jpg files and keep them handy for future reference.
The gang at DigitalRev put out the video below to parody the types of photographers we may encounter while on an outing. My readers know I am a wildlife photographer. You can see my equipment bag and my works at MichaelDanielHo.com
SAN JOSE, California, June 16, 2015 — Adobe today launched a milestone release of its flagship Adobe Creative Cloud tools and services. The 2015 release of Creative Cloud includes major updates to Adobe’s industry-defining desktop tools, including Photoshop CC, Illustrator CC, Premiere Pro CC and InDesign CC; as well as new connected mobile apps for iOS and Android. The company also shipped Adobe Stock, the industry’s first stock content service to be integrated directly into the creative process and the tools creatives use every day. In addition, Adobe announced an expanded Creative Cloud enterprise offering that includes enterprise-grade administration, security, collaboration and publishing services for design-driven brands, businesses and large organizations.
“The 2015 release of Creative Cloud is packed with innovation. Adobe Stock, our brand new stock service, makes 40 million photos, vector graphics and illustrations accessible directly within your favorite CC desktop apps. Our CreativeSync technology deepens the connections between desktop apps and mobile apps on iOS and Android; and major updates to Creative Cloud’s infrastructure and administrative capabilities make this an essential upgrade for enterprise customers,” said David Wadhwani, senior vice president, Digital Media, Adobe. “Creative Cloud 2015 is our most powerful and comprehensive release to date.”
At the heart of Creative Cloud is Adobe CreativeSync, a signature technology that intelligently syncs creative assets: files, photos, fonts, vector graphics, brushes, colors, settings, metadata and more. With CreativeSync, assets are instantly available, in the right format, wherever designers need them – across desktop, web and mobile apps. Available exclusively in Creative Cloud, CreativeSync means work can be kicked off in any connected Creative Cloud mobile app or CC desktop tool; picked up again later in another; and finished in the designer’s favorite CC desktop software.
Adobe Creative Cloud Photography Bundle
Desktop Tools Take Giant Leap Forward
With the 2015 release of Creative Cloud, Adobe magic and Mercury performance provide speed and technology breakthroughs across 15 CC desktop applications, including :
Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, Photoshop CC introduces Artboards, the best way to design cross-device user experiences in a single Photoshop document and quickly preview them on a device; and a preview release of Photoshop Design Space, a sleek new work environment focused on the needs of mobile app and web site designers.
Lightroom CC and Photoshop CC both gain the new Dehaze feature, which appeared first as a MAX sneak in October 2014. Dehaze, eliminates fog and haze from photos, including underwater shots, for startlingly clear images. Haze can also be added to a photo for artistic effect.
Premiere Pro CC furthers its lead in the market with the addition of the Lumetri Color panel for powerful color corrections using intuitive sliders and other simple controls; and Morph Cut, which makes it easier to deliver polished interview content by smoothing out jump cuts in talking-head shots to create a cohesive, polished sequence.
After Effects CC now has Uninterrupted Preview to allow artists to adjust a composition’s properties and even resize panels without impacting playback. Also, the groundbreaking Adobe Character Animator brings 2D figures to life using a webcam to track facial movements, record dialog and apply movements in real time onto a pre-configured character.
Illustrator CC is now 10 times faster and 10 times more precise than CS6. Powered by dramatic boosts to its Mercury Performance Engine, users can now pan and zoom smoothly without delays. With the new Chart tool (preview), designers can also create beautiful custom charts and share them with others via CC Libraries.
InDesign CC gets its own Mercury performance surge with zooming, scrolling, and paging through complex documents now twice as fast. InDesign now also allows users to publish and distribute documents with a single click.
Dreamweaver CC has new responsive web design capabilities that let designers quickly lay out and build production-ready sites that adapt to any screen size.
Adobe Muse now includes instant access to premium fonts from Typekit.
And much, much more. Additional updates to these and other CC desktop applications make this one of the biggest releases in years.
Mobile to Desktop Workflows Enhanced with Android Support, New Mobile Apps
Since Creative Cloud was introduced in 2012, Adobe has championed the idea that mobile devices should be integral to the creative process, with free companion mobile apps working seamlessly with CC desktop tools. Adobe today released Brush CC, Shape CC, Color CC and Photoshop Mix on Android for the first time, bringing connected mobile workflows to millions of creatives worldwide. Adobe has also updated many of its popular Creative Cloud mobile apps for iPhone and iPad, including Adobe Comp CC, Photoshop Mix, Photoshop Sketch, Illustrator Draw, Brush CC, Shape CC and Color CC.
In addition to these updates, Adobe debuted Adobe Hue CC today. Hue CC provides an easy way to capture and share production-quality lighting and color schemes – for video, film and broadcast – by using an iPhone camera and then applying these light and color moods into a Premiere Pro CC or After Effects CC project.
Adobe Stock Content Service Launched, With Deep Creative Cloud Integration
Adobe Creative Cloud is evolving into a vibrant global marketplace. Adobe Talent, introduced in 2014, connects the world’s best creatives with work opportunities from major brands and agencies; and today the company launched Adobe Stock, the first stock content service to be integrated directly into the creative process and the tools that creatives use every day (see separate press release). Now creatives can jump-start projects, with access to 40 million images, right within tools such as Photoshop CC, InDesign CC and Illustrator CC. Adobe also announced it will offer industry-leading rates to photographers and designers contributing content to Adobe Stock.
Creative Cloud Enabling the Digital Transformation of Enterprises
Major enhancements to Creative Cloud for enterprise were also announced today: a solution for large commercial, education and government customers who must radically speed the development and publishing of customer experiences, as part of their digital transformation strategies. This edition includes all the product features from today’s Creative Cloud 2015 release, plus expanded security options and deep connections with Adobe Digital Publishing Solution (DPS) and Adobe Marketing Cloud. Two new security capabilities ensure protection of corporate assets, including customer-managed encryption keys and a new managed service hosting option, which offers dedicated storage behind a customer’s firewall. Creative Cloud for enterprise also supports an upcoming release of DPS, empowering existing teams in organizations to rapidly design and publish mobile apps without writing code. A public beta of this major update to DPS is available this week, with more information available at http://adobe.ly/dpsnextgen. Content from Creative Cloud for enterprise also syncs with Adobe Experience Manager (AEM), a key component of Adobe Marketing cloud, to accelerate marketing campaigns by streamlining creative-to-marketing workflows.
Pricing and Availability
Today’s updates to CC desktop and mobile apps are immediately available for download by Creative Cloud members as part of their membership at no additional cost. Membership plans are available for individuals, students, teams, educational institutions, government agencies and enterprises. When adding Adobe Stock to any paid yearly Creative Cloud membership plan, creatives can save up to 40 percent over purchasing stock content separately. For pricing details, visit: https://creative.adobe.com/plans. An innovative web experience for customers showcases the new features and capabilities launched today, at makeit.adobe.com.
"The Canon EOS 5DS R’s 50.6MP sensor represents a real step-change for Canon users, compared to the 22.3MP offered by the 5D Mark III. The increase in detail is striking, and improved in-camera sharpening means that it can all be delivered in the camera’s JPEG output. This does come at the cost of high ISO capability, but even at the extended setting of ISO 12,800 images are perfectly useable. This suggests that the limited ISO range available is a rather conservative decision on Canon’s part, presumably to help differentiate the 5DS twins from the 5D Mark III. Colour rendition is typical Canon, with an attractive palette in the default JPEG mode that’s saturated without being unrealistic, aided by reliable auto white balance. Dynamic range, while not class-leading, is still very respectable, with plenty of detail recoverable in the shadow regions of low ISO images. Overall the 5DS R gives exceptional images. Resolution As we’d expect from a 50MP sensor with no optical low-pass filter, the 5DS R gives remarkable results in our resolution tests. At ISO 50 it resolves very close to its theoretical maximum of 5600l/ph, although with some aliasing and false colour around this point, and plenty of false detail at higher frequencies. This impressive resolution drops only slightly as the sensitivity is increased, with 5200l/ph still attained at ISO 800, and 4800l/ph at the top setting of ISO 12800."
I will not be getting this camera because it is not the best tool for wildlife photography. Waiting for the EOS-5D Mk IV and the EOS-1D X Mk II, coming the second half of 2015. If you are interested in buying this camera, now is a good time because Canon is doubling the rebate of some 'L' lens when purchased as a companion to the EOS-5Ds and EOS-5DsR,
The Canon EOS-5Ds and EOS-5DsR cameras are beginning to trickle into North America. Rudy Winston from Canon USA, will be joined by Gregory Heisler and Larry Becker on Monday, June 15, 2015, to hold a live streaming panel discussion for the launch of the Canon EOS 5Ds and EOS 5DsR cameras.
Egami, the Japanese photography blog has discovered a new Canon patent for an EF 10mm f/2.8 USM lens. Canon already has a very wide zoom lens, the EF 8-15mm f/4L but this new patent is a prime, non fish-eye lens.
Now that the Canon EOS-5Ds and EOS-5DsR cameras are starting to ship, albeit at a slow pace, the talk has turned back to the next big full frame cameras coming down the pipeline, namely the EOS-1D X Mk II and EOS-5D Mk IV.
Both cameras are expected to have new sensors and processors with unmatched dynamic range and high ISO performance. The EOS-1D X Mk II is expected to be announced first, perhaps in Q4 with an end of year to Q1 2016 delivery date. The EOS-5D Mk IV may be announced Q1 to Q2 of 2016, with delivery in the following quarter. Canon is putting on an invitation only Exposition (once every 5 years) in New York City and Paris in September, 2015. There may be some development coming out of these two events. Keep checking back for the latest development.
The My Menu option is one of my favorite features built into Canon cameras. Over the years, I have used or owned every one of their SLR and DSLR bodies. The following article is written by Michael Sheras from Canon Digital Learning Center. It talks about the advantages and ease of using My Menu.
Did you know that, instead of scrolling through a ton of menu options, you could personalize it with your favorite commands? In your EOS camera, go to “MY MENU SETTINGS,” hit “REGISTER TO MY MENU,” and select the settings you want. Then exit and press the “SET” button to quickly access your new custom menu. It's as simple as that!" What to set : Now that I have explained how to create a “MY MENU” screen, I would like to give you my suggestions for what to put in your “My Menu” screen. Here are my six favorite items that I believe are most important. I will list them in the order I would place them in the “MY MENU” list. Please remember that these are my suggestions and you can use ANY six items you want in any order you wish. That is what makes the “MY MENU” feature so useful. – it’s user customizable. Format Card : The original idea for “MY MENU” was conceived as a quick and easy way to reformat a memory card when you first put it in your camera. If you place it first on your list, leave the green highlight box around it, and set “ENABLE” in the “Display from my menu” option in the “My Menu” setting screen, you will create a quick and easy way to reformat a new memory card when you insert it in your camera. All you will need to do is insert the card, push the “Menu” button once and the “SET” button twice and your new card will be quickly and easily reformatted for use. Battery Info : [All cameras that use an LP-E6 or LP-E4 battery] All the current EOS cameras, except the Rebel series, have a “Battery Info” item in the menu list that will show the amount of battery charge as a percentage from 1 to 100. This is a good thing to be able to monitor so you should keep it easily available on your “MY MENU” screen. Record func+card/folder sel. : [All cameras with two memory card slots] This is also an item you will want to have at your fingertips. It allows you to select which of the memory cards is playing back in your camera. It also allows you to choose whether you want to record separate resolutions on the two cards or want to double record your images on both cards simultaneously for back-up purposes. It also allows you to create new folders for your images in case you want to place them in separate folders when you first shoot them. If your camera has only one memory card, then the menu item is called “Select folder.” It is still valuable because it gives you the ability to place your images in separate folders, even if you only have one memory card. Custom Controls : Another valuable option. This item allows you to assign different functions to most of the buttons on your camera. All of the buttons that have assignable features are listed in this item. In addition to being able to assign functions to each button, this feature is also useful so you can easily check what you assigned to each button, in case you forget. It is an option you will tend to use a lot and, therefore, should have a place in your “MY MENU.” NOTE : The Rebel series cameras do not have a “CUSTOM CONTROLS” item in the menu. Instead, they have two items listed in the “Custom Functions” area. Because Rebels do not have a “Battery Info” tab, you can add both the items that relate to the customizable buttons to your “MY MENU” [See Figure 5]. Highlight Tone Priority : This is an example of a menu item that you would want to use sometimes, but not all of the time. Because you will be turning it “on” or “off” while you are in the middle of shooting, it would be very convenient to put it in “My Menu” for easy access. Highlight Tone Priority expands the dynamic range of an image from 18% gray to bright highlights and makes the gradations smoother. It is very useful for bright items, such as a bride’s dress against a white background. However, it could result in increased noise in some shadow areas and limits the ISO range to 200-3200, so you do not want to use it all the time. That is why it is useful to put it in the “MY MENU” area so you can switch it “on” or “off” more easily. External Speedlite Control/Flash Control : This item gives you easy access to the controls of your Canon external Speedlite by transferring the controls to the rear LCD of the camera for easier setting. If your camera has a built-in flash, it is called “Flash Control.” If your camera does not have a built-in flash, it’s called “External Speedlite Control.” Either way, it always works with an attached Canon Speedlite (Speedlite 580 EX II or newer). It also allows you the ability to have more control over your built-in flash (if equipped) and is an item you would always want to be easily accessible when using flash. NOTE : Because the EOS 7D Mark II has a special button to bring up the Speedlite menu, it need not be included in “MY MENU.” Additional "My Menu" features on EOS-7D Mk II & EOS-5Ds and EOS-5DsR cameras There is one new additional feature added to the “MY MENU” function on the new EOS 7D Mark II and EOS 5DS and 5DS R cameras. Instead of there just being one “MY MENU” screen with six possible items on it, you can expand the green tap up to five “MY MENU” screens, giving you up to 30 possible items in five “MY MENU” screens. There is an additional screen available which gives you the option of adding between 1-5 “MY MENU” screens and naming each one separately. Figure 6 shows how I would configure the “MY MENU” screen if there were only one, while Figure 7 shows the additional menu screen available to set up more “MY MENU” screens, if you want them. I hope I have convinced you that using the “MY MENU” tab on your EOS DSLR will make your camera easier to operate and therefore enhance your photographic experience.
The Canon EOS-5Ds and EOS-5DsR cameras are beginning to trickle into North America. Rudy Winston from Canon USA, will be joined by Gregory Heisler and Larry Becker on Monday, June 15, 2015, to hold a live streaming panel discussion for the launch of the Canon EOS 5Ds and EOS 5DsR cameras.
A firmware update has been released by Canon for the GPS accessory, GP-E2
Firmware Version 2.0.0 incorporates the following fixes and improvements :
Fixes a phenomenon in which, in rare cases, the signal acquisition indicator on the GPS Receiver GP-E2 displays “Slow blinking (Signal acquired)” even if a signal is not yet acquired
Fixes a phenomenon which new log files may not be saved correctly if the built-in memory of the GPS Receiver GP-E2 becomes full
Support for the EOS Rebel T6s / EOS 760D and EOS Rebel T6i / EOS 750D cameras has been added
Support for the EOS 5Ds and EOS 5Ds R cameras has been added
“Battle of the Ages,” shot on the recently announced Canon XC10 4K digital camcorder, is an action-packed comedy from YouTube filmmaker Scott Winn. Riffing on the 1980s crime drama trope, “Battle of the Ages” features two young thugs who learn the hard way that appearances can be deceiving and age is nothing but a number.
Scott captured his fearless cast of three professional parkour athletes through an exhilarating chase and an epic fight scene with the XC10 mounted on a Freefly MoVI M5. They also mounted the XC10 on a DJI Spreading Wings S1000 drone with a MoVI gimbal to get a bird’s eye view of all the action. You can see a review of the camera here.
There is a highly-rated merchant on eBay, selling the Canon EOS-7D Mk II camera for $1,249 including free shipping. Hurry, it won't last. This is an excellent deal for those who want an advanced APS-C camera for sports and wildlife photography.
My readers know I have picked the EOS-7D as the best cropped frame camera 4 years in a row. The Mk II is fast becoming the camera to inherit that title in my book. Canon released a new firmware, Version 1.0.4 last month to address some AF issues. Click here to see some great tricks and tips for this fine camera.
You will not find a link to this eBay item because I do not accept any ad or commissioned link on my Blog or website. I am completely unbiased in my recommendation and have no conflict of interest. You can read my review of the camera, see my equipment bag and my works on MichaelDanielHo.com
Sony announced their new A7R II camera today, with the world's first, back illuminated, 42MP sensor. Canon has been working on this type of sensor as far back as 2012.
The upcoming EOS-1D X Mk II and EOS-5D Mk IV are expected to have unmatched performance in high ISO performance. We will have to wait and see whether Canon chooses to follow Sony and release their version of a back-illuminated sensor.
Rudy Winston from Canon USA, will be joined by Gregory Heisler and Larry Becker on Monday, June 15, 2015, to hold a live streaming panel discussion for the launch of the Canon EOS 5Ds and EOS 5DsR cameras.
At the Worldwide Developers Conference, Apple announced their newest version OS X operating system, called El Capitan, named after the famous vertical rock formation in Yosemite National Park, California.
The new OS X version will include Apple’s Metal framework, which will enhance graphics performance tremendously over OpenGL.
Adobe claimed they have seen big improvement in rendering for After Effects. Similar improvement may be experienced from Photoshop and Lightroom. Full support will be provided by Adobe for Metal in all of its CC applications when the new OS X is available this Autumn.
Canon EOS-5Ds and EOS-5DsR 50MP full frame cameras
Limited quantities of the Canon EOS-5Ds and EOS-5DsR production model cameras are reaching buyers who have placed their pre-orders in after the announcement.
Click here to see more JPEG and RAW photos taken with a production EOS-5Ds camera running firmware version 1.01. The glass used were Sigma ART 24mm, 35mm and 50mm lens.
I will not be getting this camera. Waiting for the EOS-5D Mk IV and the EOS-1D X Mk II, coming the second half of 2015.
There are about 10,000 species of birds in the world. Bird photography and watching have become a very popular past time and profession for many. Identifying the birds correctly every time can be quite a challenge because of the lighting and angle, etc.
Merlin Bird Photo ID is a project attempting to identify birds via a photograph. It is a collaboration between Cornell University Lab of Ornithology and Visipedia. The database is very limited right now and I find it less useful than buying a good bird field guide and peruse it thoroughly. However, it may get better with time and more funding. Below is an excerpt of their story.
At one time or another, everyone asks the question, “What is that bird?” Finding the answer can be remarkably challenging. Part of the mission of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology is to help people find that answer. We know it is hard to figure out the name of the bird you saw when sorting through a massive field guide, using search engines, and other resources. Merlin is designed to be a birding coach for beginning and intermediate bird watchers. Merlin asks you the same questions that an expert birder would ask to help solve a mystery bird sighting. Notice that date and location are Merlin’s first and most important questions. It takes years of experience in the field to know what species are expected at a given location and date. Merlin shares this this knowledge with you based on more than 70 million sightings submitted to eBird from birders across the United States and Canada. Merlin also asks you to describe the color, size, and behavior of the bird you saw. Because no two people describe birds exactly the same way, Merlin presents a shortlist of possible species based on descriptions from Cornell Lab experts as well as thousands of bird enthusiasts who helped “teach” Merlin by participating in online activities. They’ve contributed more than 3 million descriptors to help Merlin match your input with the most likely birds. When you identify a species and click “This is My Bird,” Merlin also saves your record to help improve its future performance. We launched Merlin with 285 species most commonly encountered in North America. Our goal is to add more species and more features to keeping improving Merlin’s accuracy through time. High on our wish list is a prompt enabling you to give Merlin a hint about the shape or type of bird you saw (e.g., songbird, shorebird, raptor). We appreciate your feedback about what’s working for you, what isn’t, and features you’d like to see. If you’d like to support our efforts to continue developing Merlin, please consider making a donation. We hope you enjoy using Merlin and sharing it with your friends and family! Meet the Merlin App Team Jessie Barry has a passion for bird identification and sharing it with others. A birder since age 10 and now top bird ID expert in North America, Jessie thinks that leading the Merlin team is just like living a dream. David Bell is a lifelong birder who has spent his career in businesses devoted to improving the environment. His expertise ranges from birds to physics and machine learning. Dave leads the team at Birds in the Hand, LLC, which partnered with the Cornell Lab to develop Merlin. Alex Chang is known as “Tech Norris” by the Web Communications team he leads at the Cornell Lab. There isn’t a technical question, business strategy, mountainous trail, or rock wall Alex won’t tackle. Miyoko Chu leads the Cornell Lab’s Communications team and is the principal investigator of the NSF-funded Merlin project. She has been amazed to see Merlin go from an idea to reality, thanks to a talented team and thousands of contributors. Scott Haber reviewed every photo in Merlin and still has not tired of looking at birds! As the content manager, Scott’s knowledge of birds and organization of rich media formed the backbone of Merlin and All About Birds. Will Morris is an interface and visualization designer at the Cornell Lab. He leads design for eBird, Birds of North America Online, and Neotropical Birds. Sarah Seroussi created the look-and-feel and led the UX strategy for the Merlin Bird ID app. She also built this responsive app marketing website, to showcase the app. Sarah has designed several major citizen-science websites for the Cornell Lab. She has over 10 years in user experience and interactive web design. The Merlin team at the Cornell Lab includes Steve Kelling, Rick Bonney, Tina Phillips, Tim Levatich, Ben Barkley, and Luke Seitz. Special thanks to John Fitzpatrick, Adriane Callinan, Mary Guthrie, Sean Scanlon, Nicola Leckie, Hugh Powell, France Kehas-Dewaghe, Syed Rehman, Greg Desile, and Marshall Iliff. Merlin Photographers Brian Sullivan: In between leading eBird and serving as the photo editor for the Birds of North America Online, Brian manages to snap a few shots on his travels. By a few, we mean thousands! He has 18,000 Red-tailed Hawk images. Can you guess Brian’s favorite bird? Gerrit Vyn: Few photographers have the artistic eye, patience in the field, and bird expertise to come back from expeditions with stunning images, sounds, and videos every time. Gerrit is a cinematographer and photographer in the Cornell Lab’s Multimedia program. Christopher Wood: Chris has been carrying a camera on his birding trips since he was in the 5th grade, documenting one rare bird after another. Chris serves as project leader for eBird and Neotropical Birds. In addition to Brian, Chris, and Gerrit, we thank the following people for contributing images for the app: Laura Erickson, Kelly Colgan Azar, Steven G. Mlodinow, Penny Bauer, Gerry Dewaghe, Timothy Lenz, Scott A. Haber, Sam Hough, Tony Leukering, David Waltman, Mark Eden, Margo Goetschkes, William Edward Kendall, Thomas B. Johnson, Susan E. Newman, Luke Seitz, Shawn Billerman, Judy Crawford, Jim Cummins, Jason Daly, Tripp Davenport, Jim Dubois, Susan Edmiston, Olivia Graves, Cory Gregory, Dan Haas, Wanda Harnish, Burney Huff, Marshall Iliff, Evan Jackson, Adam S. Johnson, Marty Jones, Larry Jordan, Alex Lamoreaux, Thomas Meinzen, Carol Miller, April Molina, Tom Murray, Carol O’Neil, Laurel Rezeau, Arlene Ripley, Will Stuart, Jeremiah Trimble, Jim Williams, Liam Wolff, Ginnie Yerkovich, Cameron Rognan, Donna Bragg, Herb Helmstaedt, Mairis Kilcher, Michael Henry, Nancy Merrill, Tony and Louisa Katlubeck, Ed Kendall, Terry Johnson, Bill Thompson. Recordists and Contributors Audio recordings: Recordings from more than 85 recordists who have contributed to the Macaulay Library are featured in this app. The majority of the recordings in this app were recorded by Geoffrey A. Keller, William W. H. Gunn, Wilbur L. Hershberger, Gerrit Vyn, Michael J. Andersen, and Randolph S. Little. Audio engineer Matt Young led the charge selecting recordings. You can explore more than 150,000 sounds and videos on the Macaulay Library website. Identification text: Jessie Barry and Luke Seitz crafted text for each species specifically for Merlin. The text is tailored for those moments when you are watching a bird in the field and using Merlin to pick among species. Thanks to Hugh Powell and Chris Wood for their valuable comments. Maps: Sourced from the Birds of North America Online. Special thanks to Brooke Keeney for updating and reformatting the maps. Intro video: Produced by the Cornell Lab’s Multimedia program. We appreciate the creative work of John Bowman, Tom Swartwout, Karen Rodriguez, Eric Liner, and Yula Kapetanakos. Our Thanks Merlin is made possible by support from the National Science Foundation (grant number DRL-1010818), Pennington® Wild Bird Food, the Faucett Catalyst Fund, and friends and members of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. We would like to express our gratitude to them as well as to the photographers who generously donated more than 2,000 images included in the Merlin app. We also give our heartfelt thanks to the dedicated volunteers who made this app possible: eBird participants, visitors to All About Birds, and sound recordists who contributed their audio recordings to the Macaulay Library.
