Firmware Version 1.1.2 incorporates the following fix :
Corrects the phenomenon in which remote shooting with the Camera Connect App is not possible after connecting the EOS 7D Mark II to a smartphone via the Wi-Fi Adapter W-E1.
This phenomenon only occurs when the firmware was updated from Version 1.0.5 or earlier to Version 1.1.1.
There is no need to update the firmware if the firmware was updated from Version 1.1.0 to Version 1.1.1, or if the EOS 7D Mark II was equipped with Firmware Version 1.1.1 at the time of purchase.
One of the biggest challenges in wildlife photography is camera shake, especially when one is in a bouncy jeep, zodiac or small boat, trying to take pictures of animals. In recent years, one of the most useful advancement in digital photography is Image Stabilization (IS). Some manufacturers put that in the camera body but Canon has chosen to put it in their EF lens.
Actually this is a misnomer in terminology. There is no way to stabilize an image, say a hummingbird bird in flight or a breaching whale. The animal is going to do whatever it wants to do. The only thing technology can offer the wildlife photographer is to help stabilize the camera and lens. It is more accurately to describe the technology as Camera Stabilization (CS).
Below is an excerpt from Canon describing how their IS technology works. It makes interesting reading since almost all Canon photographers these days have at least one lens with built in IS :
Camera shake is the thief of sharpness. If you are hand-holding a camera and lens, they will move as you press the shutter release. Movement during exposure blurs the image. Much of the time, you will not notice the effects of camera shake. If you are shooting with a fast shutter speed or a wide-angle lens, the blurring may not be significant− but it will still be there, and might appear if you have a big enlargement made from the image. The only way to overcome camera shake is to eliminate the movement of the camera and lens during the exposure. The obvious way to do this is by taking the camera out of your hands and fixing it to something that will not move, such as a photographic tripod. However a tripod is only effective if it is sturdy, which usually means heavy. Fortunately, Canon offers another method of reducing, if not eliminating, the effects of camera shake. Image stabilised lenses, first seen in 1995, approach the problem laterally. Rather than trying to stop the movement of a hand-held camera, they seek to introduce an opposing movement within the lens. The aim is to keep the image static on the sensor or film, despite the movement of the camera. How image stabilisation works Image stabilisation was available for camcorders long before it was introduced in EF lenses. Both electronic and optical systems were available, but size or weight constraints meant that neither was suitable for EOS cameras. So Canon went back to the drawing board and took a fresh look at the problem. Its solution is a group of elements inside the lens that moves perpendicular to the lens axis. The movement of this special lens group is controlled by an on-board microcomputer and counteracts the shaking of the camera. The following sequence of events takes place when the camera shutter release button is partially depressed :
The special stabilisation lens group, which is locked in a central position when not active, is released.
Two gyro sensors start up and detect the speed and angle of any camera movement.
The sensor data is passed to a microcomputer in the lens that analyses it and prepares an instruction for the special stabilisation lens group.
This instruction is transmitted to the stabilisation lens group that moves at a speed and direction to counteract the camera movement.
This complete sequence is repeated continuously so that there is an instant reaction to any change in the amount or direction of the camera shake. When the first EF lens with IS was introduced, it was the first time that a high speed 16-bit microcomputer had been incorporated in a lens. The computer simultaneously controls the Image Stabilizer, Ultrasonic Motor (for focusing the lens) and the electromagnetic diaphragm (for setting the lens aperture). This is the IS unit that moves the floating lens element inside an image stabilised lens to keep the image steady on the surface of the sensor or film. Image stabilisation is effective with movement from 0.5Hz to 20Hz (1Hz is one movement cycle per second). This will cope not only with situations from simple camera shake (0.5Hz to 3Hz), but also the engine vibrations encountered when shooting from a moving vehicle or helicopter (10Hz to 20Hz). There is no reduction in the optical performance of the lens Power for image stabilisation lenses comes from the camera battery, so there will be fewer exposures per battery charge when an image stabilisation lens is attached to the camera and switched on. Camera shake is detected by two gyro sensors in the lens; one for yaw and one for pitch. The sensors detect both the angle and speed of the movement. When the camera is static, the rays of light pass through the lens and form an image on the film or digital sensor. When the camera moves, the rays of light from the subject are bent relative to the optical axis and the image shifts slightly on the film or digital sensor. You can see this effect in the camera viewfinder if you gently shake the camera while viewing a subject. With an IS lens, the gyro sensors detect the camera movement and pass the data to a microcomputer in the lens. This instructs a special group of lens elements to move at right angles to the lens axis. The amount and direction of this movement is just enough to counteract the amount and direction of the camera shake. The result is that the paths of rays of light passing through the lens are adjusted so that the image remains stationary, relative to the film or digital sensor. An enlarged section of the main image shows significant blurring from camera shake when image stabilisation is not used. The image taken with the Image Stabilizer switched on is much sharper. Image Stabilizer modes One problem with the first two EF lenses with IS produced is that the system regards panning as camera shake, and tries to overcome it. This causes the viewfinder image to jump about, making it difficult to see and frame the subject accurately. On the later lenses, you have the option of two IS modes. Mode 1 is the same as before and is used when you are shooting static subjects. Mode 2 can be set when following a moving subject with the camera (panning). The lens detects the sweeping movement and switches off the IS correction in that direction (horizontal or vertical). IS correction in the direction perpendicular to the panning movement continues as normal to help give a sharper image. When panning the camera to follow a moving subject, use Mode 2, if available. This switches off the Image Stabilizer in the direction of camera movement to avoid confusing the image stabilisation system. Image stabilisation for movement at right angles to the direction of panning is not affected. IS Mode 3 IS Mode 3 was announced with the EF-300mm f/2.8L IS II USM and EF-400mm f/2.8L IS II USM lenses, and is also in the EF-400mm f/4 DO IS II USM, EF-500mm f/4L IS II USM and EF-600mm f/4L IS II USM telephoto lenses. The EF-100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM and EF-200-400mm f/4L IS USM EXTENDER 1.4x telephoto zoom lenses also feature Mode 3. IS Mode 3 takes the benefits of standard IS (effective for both horizontal and vertical camera motion) but, instead of it being active all the time, it only activates when you fully press the shutter button to take an image. It is especially useful for sports photography where you are likely to be moving between subjects quickly. In IS Mode 1 this can create a bump or jump within the viewfinder as the IS motor races to keep up with extensive lens movements. Instead, by not activating until the shutter button is fully pressed it saves the system trying to compensate for random, rapid lens motion and only compensates at the point you are taking an image. Hybrid IS Introduced with the EF-100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM lens, Hybrid IS takes the image stabilisation concept and applies to it to macro photography. When using longer lenses or for general purpose shooting, any camera shake appears to be rotational - i.e. an up and down or side-to-side movement around a point - that point being the camera. This is effectively corrected by the IS motors contained in the lenses. However, when you move in close for macro photography the camera shake motion appears to be less rotational and more shift based - as if the whole frame is shifting up and down or side-to-side parallel to the subject. This is what Shift IS, found in the Hybrid IS system of the EF-100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM lens, aims to correct. How effective is image stabilisation? The earliest IS lenses give a gain of about two shutter speed steps. This means, for example, if you shoot with a shutter speed of 1/60th of a second with IS, it will be the equivalent of 1/250th of a second if you shoot without the Image Stabilizer switched on. Or if you can obtain a sharp image without image stabilisation at a shutter speed of 1/60th of a second, you will produce results of similar sharpness at 1/15th of a second with image stabilisation, other factors staying the same. One of these factors is focal length. Increasing focal length not only magnifies the subject − it also magnifies the effects of camera shake. A useful guide is that you should use a shutter speed at least equal to the reciprocal of the focal length when holding the camera and lens by hand. So if the focal length of the lens is 200mm, the shutter speed should be at least 1/200th of a second. More recent IS lenses have improved their effectiveness, giving a three-step, four-step or a five-step gain (a five-step gain is found in the EF-200mm f/2L IS USM lens). A four-step gain means that shooting with a shutter speed of 1/15th of a second with image stabilisation gives the same image sharpness as shooting at 1/250th of a second without image stabilisation. Recent lenses also have the IS system up and running within 0.5 second of partial pressure on the shutter button, rather than the 1 second delay with earlier lenses. Keep in mind that image stabilisation only reduces the effect of camera shake − it has no effect on subject movement. Camera compatibility IS lenses work with all EOS cameras, regardless of when they were introduced. The IS system − gyros, microcomputer and special lens group − is part of the lens, not the camera. However, there is some communication with the camera and there are some operational differences between the EOS SLR models. If you are using the EOS 10, 1000-series, 600, 620, 650 or RT, you will see the viewfinder image shake a little immediately after an exposure. This does not affect the sharpness of the exposed image. If you are using the built-in flash of early EOS models (EOS 10, 100, 1000-series, 700, 750), you will see the viewfinder image shake while the flash is recycling. This will not affect the sharpness of an exposed image. There is some shaking of the viewfinder image after exposures in the DEP mode with the EOS-1, 1N, 10, 100, 5, 600, 650 and RT. This does not affect the sharpness of the exposed image. When an extender is attached to the lens, image stabilisation does not operate with the EOS 1, 10, 100, 1000-series, 5, 600, 620, 650, 700, 750, 850 and RT cameras. During a bulb (B) exposure, image stabilisation does not operate with most EOS models. It continues with the EOS 1000-series, 5, 500 and 700. It stops immediately after the exposure starts with the EOS 1, 10, 100, 600, 620, 650 and RT. In all cases, image stabilisation is unlikely to be effective with long exposures. Canon recommends that the Image Stabilizer is switched off for bulb exposures. With the EOS 3, 50, 50E, IX and IX7, image stabilisation does not work when the self-timer is used. With the EOS 10, 5, 600 and RT set to AI Servo, and with the film advance mode set to continuous, autofocusing will not resume after the AF Stop button has been used until partial pressure is reapplied to the camera shutter button. This also applies to the EOS 5 and 10 set to Sports mode. We do not have full data for every IS lens/EOS camera combination. Before taking a picture, look through the viewfinder to check that the IS system is operating correctly (remember to allow up to 1 second for the system to start up after the shutter button is partially depressed). If there does not appear to be any increase in the steadiness of the image, or the image is jumping around in the viewfinder, there is probably an incompatibility. Movement of the image in the viewfinder immediately after an exposure is not usually a problem and will not affect the sharpness of the exposed image. Accessories for IS lenses IS lenses work well when used with accessories. Add an EF extender and you can increase the effective focal length of the lens by 1.4x or 2x. Increased focal length means that the effects of camera shake are also magnified, so the image stabilisation is very useful. EF extenders are compatible with L-series and DO lenses of focal length 135mm and greater, and a small number of wide-aperture telephoto zoom lenses. Image stabilisation also remains effective when extension tubes or close-up lenses are used. An extender can be used with many IS lenses. Image stabilisation remains effective with most recent EOS camera models. Keep a tripod Although an IS lens gives more opportunities for hand-held shots, there will still be times when the support of a tripod is needed − with exposure times of several seconds, for example, or when working with heavy EF 500mm or EF 600mm lenses. With some of the earlier lenses, you need to switch the IS off when using a tripod. The lack of movement confuses the system and the image starts to jump around the viewfinder. However, using a tripod in high wind or with super telephoto lenses, often results in some camera movement, and the IS system can be invaluable. Later IS models are able to sense the use of a tripod and automatically disable the IS, if necessary. You should also leave the Image Stabilizer on when using a monopod, as it is unlikely you will be able to keep this type of support perfectly still.
Canon EOS-7D Mark II APS-C camera with W-E1 WiFi Adapter card
MELVILLE, N.Y., August 25, 2016 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, announced today the new Canon EOS 7D Mark II Kit, featuring the new SD card-sized Wi-Fi® Adapter W-E1. This new Wi-Fi adapter, when placed in one of the camera’s SD card slots, provides the EOS 7D Mark II with Wi-Fi capabilitiesi like easy transferring of images and MP4 videos as well as use of the Canon Camera Connect App for remote capture of still images via a compatible smartphone or tablet.
The Wi-Fi Adapter W-E1 will be sold with the EOS 7D Mark II body as well as sold separately, and can also be used with the EOS 5DS and 5DS R as well as previously purchased EOS 7D Mark II camerasiii. When used with EOS 5DS and 5DS R cameras, the Wi-Fi Adapter W-E1 functionality is limited to the transfer of still images only. The W-E1 will support 802.11 b, g and n using the 2.4 GHz band.
Additionally, for the first time the EOS 7D Mark II camera will be conveniently bundled with the Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM lens. This lens has been optimized for high-speed autofocusing when shooting stills and quiet and smooth zoom when shooting video. This is the first Canon lens equipped with Nano USM technology providing high-speed autofocus for shooting stills and silent, smooth autofocus when shooting video. The Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Lens also provides up to four stops of optical image stabilization.
The new Canon EOS 7D Mark II Lens Kit is currently scheduled to be available in October 2016 for an estimated retail price of $2,449.00*, with the body-only version also currently scheduled to be available in October 2016 for an estimated retail price of $1,849*. The Wi-Fi Adapter W-E1 is scheduled to be available in early September 2016 for an estimated retail price of $50.00*. A firmware update to enable compatibility with the W-E1 for previously purchased cameras is currently scheduled to be available in early September 2016 for the EOS 7D Mark II camera and November 2016 for the EOS 5DS and 5DS R cameras.
I am back from my Alaska/Canada Wildlife Photo Tour. It was my annual shoot and this time I put the Canon EOS-1D X Mark II camera to more real world tests. In addition to the EOS-1D X Mark II, I brought the EOS-7D Mark II, EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II and EF 400mm f/4 DO IS II lens. You can see my equipment bag and my works on MichaelDanielHo.com. MELVILLE, N.Y., August 3, 2016 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, will be bringing their service and support expertise to Brazil to help maximize the uptime and performance of its users’ professional imaging equipment. From pro DSLR cameras and EF lenses to broadcast television lenses, Canon’s award-winning service and support staff will be providing preventative maintenance and repairs to help professionals who have put their trust in Canon imaging equipment.
Canon’s team of over 70 highly trained technicians and support staff will be in Brazil for nearly a month to support professional photographers and broadcasters, just as they do throughout the year. Canon Professional Services (CPS) is set to provide comprehensive equipment maintenance and repairs, extensive equipment loans and expert technical support.
“Canon is proud to offer professional photographers and broadcasters high quality image-making solutions that are thoughtfully designed and versatile so that they can capture sharp, clear, detailed images and video,” said Elizabeth Pratt, director, Professional Client Development and Support, Canon U.S.A. “Knowing that iconic images will be captured, seen and shared by people around the world really drives Canon to provide professionals with not only high quality equipment but the customer support they need to help ensure they never miss a beat if anything happens to their equipment.”
Canon EOS DSLR cameras and EF lenses are the camera and lenses of choice of a majority of the top U.S.-based news agencies and professional sports photographers.
The Associated Press will be using Canon cameras and lenses exclusively, including cameras which are integrated with advanced robotics systems. The robotic camera systems can be mounted both in the rafters high above a field of play and underwater in pools, all fully controlled remotely over a network. “High-speed and high-performing digital imaging solutions like the EOS-1D X Mark II camera and L-series EF lenses are key to our team’s success,” said Santiago Lyon, vice president and director of photography, Associated Press. “Canon provides innovative technology and world-class optics that give us the solutions we need to create compelling images.”
A majority of Reuters photographers from around the world will be using Canon DSLR cameras and lenses and trust Canon products and award-winning support team to keep them up and running. “Photographing large sporting events for thousands of news outlets and an audience of billions requires meticulous planning and technical resilience. The staff and engineers from CPS help ensure that the Canon cameras used by the world’s top sports photographers receive precision treatment that allows them to take pictures that capture key moments and illustrate the spirit of competition,” said Kevin Coombs, editor-in-chief for Thomson Reuters.
The Canon EOS-1D X Mark II DSLR camera and ultra-wide zoom EF 11-24mm f/4L USM lens were selected to be used for Getty Images’ new high-tech, remote-controlled underwater robotic system. The camera provides Getty Images with a fully networkable solution that features precise white balance, a blazing fast frame rate and impressive low-light capabilities, which make the camera ideal for capturing fast action. When combined with the durable and rugged EF 11-24mm f/4L USM lens, the system will allow Getty Images to capture images at extremely wide perspectives with incredible sharpness and minimal distortion from the center of the image to the periphery, all across the entire zoom range. “As the world’s leading visual communications company, we believe that our world class sports photographers must have the most up-to-date photographic technology that empowers them to do their job, and to do it exceptionally well.
Getty Images is using Canon’s EOS-1D X Mark II cameras and EF 11-24mm f/4L USM lenses in a unique, remotely-controlled underwater camera system that gives us the flexibility to follow and capture action from beneath,” said Ken Mainardis, vice president of Sport at Getty Images. “We recently used the new underwater system and the images were remarkable. We’re looking forward to using our Canon gear to capture more fantastic underwater imagery.”
“The European Pressphoto Agency (EPA) will have a photographic team of 40 capturing incredible moments. Months ago, EPA’s entire U.S. contingent switched over to the Canon EOS System,” explained Gernot Hensel, EPA’s long-standing head of sports and deputy editor-in-chief. “The EPA team is comprised of colleagues from all over the world, and the majority of them will be using Canon equipment, including robotic systems, to capture the action.”
Simon Bruty, an award-winning sports photographer and Canon Explorer of Light is one of the best sports photographers in the world. “As a professional photographer, I have to be able to capture every moment of the action because a hundredth of a second can mean the difference between capturing or missing the winning moment or race finish, and Canon cameras, like the new EOS-1D X Mark II, deliver the stunning image quality and speed I need while working,” said Mr. Bruty. “The 14 frames per second that the EOS-1D X Mark II camera can capture, which enables over 12 seconds of continuous RAW shooting without buffering, means that I could shoot an entire 100 meter dash without taking my finger off of the shutter release. If I shot in JPEG mode and have a large enough memory card, I could do it for the entire 2+ hours of a marathon race!”
Canon EOS-7D Mark II vs Nikon D500 APS-C camera comparison
My readers know I have picked the Canon EOS-7D as the best value APS-C camera for wildlife photography 4 years in a row. When the EOS-7D Mark II came out in September 2014, I bought it immediately and put the camera through some global wildlife photo shoots to test the new body.
The Nikon D500 was announced in January, 2016. It represented the closest challenge to the Canon DSLR. You can read my complete review of the EOS-7D Mark II. I just came back from a photo tour to the High Arctic. Met a photographer with the Nikon D500 and AF-S 200-500mm f/5.6 VR lens. We spent a few days together and I got the opportunity to see the Nikon equipment first hand.
The feeling I came away is this. Both APS-C cameras are excellent. The Canon EOS-7D Mark II may have finally met its match. It really boils down to one's preference and investment in lens inventory. The EOS-7D Mark II came out over one and a half year's ago so one would expect the Nikon D500 may have some of the latest features unavailable to the Canon. I expect Canon to come out with a major firmware upgrade late this year to increase the functionality of the Mark II and keep it competitive until the Mark III arrives in 2017.
There is a highly-rated merchant on eBay selling the Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II lens for $1,649 including free shipping. The normal price is $2.099 after $100 rebate. As The Wildlife Ho-tographer, this is my favorite 'L' medium zoom lens in Canon's EF lens line up. You can read my review of this glass here.
You will not find a link to this merchant because I do not accept any advertisement, commissioned link and tracking cookies on my Blog or website. I am completely unbiased in my recommendation and have no conflict of interest. You can find the listing easily by Googling it yourself. See my equipment bag, works and images taken with this lens on MichaelDanielHo.com
There is a highly-rated merchant on eBay selling the Canon EOS-80D camera for $899 including free shipping. As The Wildlife Ho-tographer, I consider this to be a worthwhile upgrade for those who have a Rebel T6i / EOS-60D or earlier models. You can download the User Manual and take a look at the camera closely yourself.
You will not find a link to this merchant because I do not accept any advertisement, commissioned link and tracking cookies on my Blog or website. I am completely unbiased in my recommendation and have no conflict of interest. You can find the listing easily by Googling it yourself. See my equipment bag, works and images taken with this lens on MichaelDanielHo.com
There is a highly-rated merchant on eBay selling the Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II lens for $1,699 including free shipping. As a wildlife photographer, this is my favorite 'L' zoom lens in Canon's EF lens line up.
You will not find a link to this merchant because I do not accept any advertisement, commissioned link and tracking cookies on my Blog or website. I am completely unbiased in my recommendation and have no conflict of interest. You can find the listing easily by Googling it yourself. See my equipment bag and works on MichaelDanielHo.com
Just a few quick note to let me readers know the latest photography news. As reported earlier, I still expect the Canon EOS-5D Mark IV to be announced some time before Photokina, perhaps in August. In addition, as my readers know from my previous posts, Canon is getting serious with their mirrorless camera line. The EOS-M4 will also be launched around the time of Photokina, rumored to share the same sensor as the recently announced EOS-80D plus a few new EF-M lenses, primarily faster primes and zoom glass, to round out the line.
I am off to India for a wildlife photo shoot. Will be visiting a few national parks and Tiger reserves and doing some travel photography as well. Modes of transportation include jeeps and elephants looking for Tigers, other wildlife and birds plus trying to locate Gharials, a fish eating crocodile native to the Indian sub-continent. This will add more variety to a strictly tiger photo shoot in Incredible India.
India is the largest democracy, second most populous country in the world and possesses a rich history spanning thousands of years. All travelers will have some opinions (either way) about this country and few visitors can be unaffected after their trip. The country has a chaotic and creative blend of cultures, religions, races and tongues. One's senses are constantly 'bombarded' by fascinating sights, sounds and colors. It is a window into our planet and humanity.
This time I will be traveling light. Bringing my Canon EOS-7D Mk II , EOS-5Ds , EF 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6L IS , EF 400mm f/4 DO IS II and EF 16-35mm f/2.8L lenses. Too bad I will not have the EOS-1D X Mark II camera with me. The delivery should start late this month. My readers know I have chosen its predecessor, the EOS-1D X as the best wildlife camera, four years in a row. You can see my equipment bag here.
My Indian guide has been getting good Bengal tiger sightings with cubs in various national parks in the last few months. I look forward to viewing and photographing these magnificent animals in the wild and get more information on the fight against poachers and smugglers from the National Tiger Conservation Authority. It will be difficult for me to keep in touch because there are few Internet access in the jungles and countryside but I will do my best. Have to wait till I return in mid April to reconnect and write my blog again.
In the meantime, you can see more of my works on MichaelDanielHo.com and photos from previous trips to India and around the globe. Wish me luck on my trip. My India tour last year was just average. I need a break to get some spectacular sightings and encounters this time.
Canon announced a one-off, Studio Version of its EOS 7D camera in 2010. It enabled embedding of barcode details in the EXIF information of images taken with the camera via a specially modified WFT-E5A Wireless File Transmitter.
Apparently, Canon has also developed a Studio Version of the EOS 7D Mark II. The video below talks about its capabilities when paired with a WFT-E7A. Canon USA Technical Advisor Mike Gurley talks about the overview of the EOS 7D Mark II SV Studio Version with a barcode solution. He goes over key camera features and discusses how the camera can be used for different workflows in event photography. Mike also shows how to set up the camera to sync with a compatible barcode scanner. As you can see, the Studio Version has a identification label on the battery door.
My readers know I have picked the Canon EOS-7D as the best APS-C camera for wildlife photography four years in a row. The EOS-7D Mark II has been my favorite cropped frame body for wildlife photo shoots for over two years now and is an excellent value. I expect Canon to release a major firmware (perhaps late 2016) to counter the recently released Nikon D500 camera.
As reported earlier, the Canon EOS-5D Mark IV camera will most probably get a mention at the NAB 2016 show coming up next month but my latest info indicates the camera is designed to really wow videographers and filmmakers (at least the ones who do not want to buy the Cinema C300 or C500 camcorders) .
The video performance is apparently designed to exceed the EOS-1D X Mark II, which already has a very good 4K video capability. I am still on mu Costa Rican photo tour. The weather is extremely humid and wet. Below are a few photos from CR. Don't have much time everyday after the shoots because I am so tired from the heat and dampness. Visit MichaelDanielHo.com to see more of my works from previous wildlife photo shoots around the globe.
The new Samsung S7 promises unparalleled low light and AF performance in a smartphone, with the two sub-pixel inside senor working together to acquire fast Auto Focus lock on subjects.
BARCELONA – February 21, 2016 – Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd today announced the newest additions to the Galaxy family of products, Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge. Created for today’s consumer lifestyle, Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge lead the industry with a refined design, more advanced camera, streamlined software functionality and unparalleled connectivity to a galaxy of products, services, and experiences.
“We believe in a world that is brighter, sharper, more convenient, and more fun. We strive to deliver on that vision with the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge by marrying elegant design with functionality and providing a seamless mobile experience,” said DJ Koh, President of Mobile Communications Business, Samsung Electronics. “We empower consumers with technology to help them get more out of life and will continue to push the frontier of what’s possible.”
Advanced Camera: High Quality Images No Matter the Time of Day or Location
Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge introduce the first Dual Pixel camera on a smartphone, delivering brighter and sharper images, even in low light. Thanks to the revolutionary Dual Pixel technology, brighter lens with wider aperture, and bigger pixel, the camera has a faster shutter speed and a more accurate autofocus even in low-light conditions. Motion Panorama, a new camera mode, brings movement to traditional panoramic photos, giving the user a completely immersive visual experience.
Refined Design and Function
The 5.1-inch Galaxy S7 and 5.5-inch Galaxy S7 edge are constructed with 3D glass and metal – all in a sleek design with durability and ergonomic curves for a comfortable grip. From work to play, the device’s new Always-On Display, gives users a simplified, zero touch experience where they don’t need to worry about missing a call or important notification.
Without compromising design, Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge both have increased utility with IP68 water and dust resistance. Edge UX, the advanced edge experience available on Galaxy S7 edge, provides convenience and increased efficiency by creating easy shortcuts to users’ most loved functions such as email, selfie mode, panorama mode or third party applications.
Enhanced Performance: From Charging to Gaming
Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge deliver fast wired and wireless charging technology. Additionally, the hybrid SIM card tray allows users to insert a microSD card for up to 200GB of additional storage and in some select countries, the tray can be used with a dual SIM card.
Samsung also made significant hardware and software updates to optimize gaming performance on Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge. The powerful processer and bigger battery capacity ensure longer playing time, and the internal cooling system keeps the device from overheating. Game Launcher, a new add-on for gamers, allows users to manage battery consumption and minimize notifications. Additionally, users can record their gaming experience or share their screen to play with others. Paired with Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge, Vulkan API gives users the ability to play high-performance graphic games with lower battery consumption.
The Galaxy Experience
Samsung continues to push the boundaries of hardware, software and services to create devices that are designed to improve how consumers connect, share, organize and get more out of life. The company is redefining what is possible, beyond the limits of today’s technology, by introducing a constellation of seamless mobile experiences.
Whether it’s the seamless connection between Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge and the new Gear S2 Classic to monitor fitness, or connecting with Gear VR to “travel” the world – Samsung redefines what’s possible for the mobile experience and beyond.
Beyond the phone, Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge users can also get the best mobile payment service with Samsung Pay; it’s secure, easy-to-use and accepted almost anywhere. Protected by Samsung KNOX, fingerprint scanning and advanced tokenization, Samsung Pay works with NFC (Near Field Communication), MST (Magnetic Secure Transmission) and Barcode technology, making mobile payments available to more merchants and consumers than ever before.
Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge will be available starting mid-March 2016.
Canon EOS-7D Mark II camera with EF 50mm f/1.4 lens
There is a top-rated merchant on eBay selling the Canon EOS-7D Mark II camera for $1,099 including free shipping. The list price in the USA is $1,799. If you are interested in buying one, don't delay too much longer. My readers know I have picked its predecessor and now this camera to be the best APS-C body for wildlife photography four years in a row.
You will not find a link to this eBay item because I do not accept any advertisement or commissioned link on my Blog or website. I am completely unbiased in my recommendation and have no conflict of interest. You can find the listing on eBay easily yourself.
Last week, I returned from my South Africa Wildlife Photo Tour. It was quite a successful trip and there are many close encounters with the Big Five plus other animals and birds. The Canon EOS-7D Mark II performed flawlessly in an extremely hot and dusty environment. I have been posting some new pics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and will add new photos to my website once I have more time. Keep checking back for the latest images and you can see my works on MichaelDanielHo.com
Day 9 of my Photo Tour in South Africa. Wildlife sightings are quiet good. Came across 4 big male lions and their giraffe kill, a male leopard and its warthog kill, numerous Elephant, Rhinos, Cape Buffaloes and their calves plus an assortment of other animals and birds.
No time to keep up with what's happening with the myriad of photography news but want to pass on the 'news' the long awaited Canon EOS-5D Mk IV may be announced just before the big WPPI Show in March of 2016. This show is geared towards wedding photographers, who are a big constituent of the current EOS-5D Mk III. However, I expect Canon to announce the EOS-1D X Mk II before the EOS-5D Mk IV but after Nikon announces their top-of-the-line D5 camera.
My Canon equipment is working reasonably well. There was a last minute substitute for me and I brought the EOS-1D Mk IV instead of the EOS-1D X and the EF 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6L IS instead of the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II lens. It was a good move since most wildlife encounters are fairly close and with the Mk IV plus the 28-300mm, I am getting the rough equivalent of a 40 to 400mm focal length camera/lens combo, all in one package.
Call of the Wild - Male Leopard in Sabi Sand
2 month old White Rhino calf
The 3 Amigos - 3 of 4 male lions in a coalition pride
The most endangered large carnivore in Africa - Wild Dog
Male Bull African Elephant traversing a water hole
I am off on a wildlife photography tour in South Africa. My readers know I was scheduled to go on this trip about 3 weeks ago but was prevented from boarding the plane at the airport due to some obscure South African Immigration rule requiring a certain number of blank passport pages. Right now is the high season for wildlife safaris down there. It took me a long time and additional expenses to sort things out with the lodges, airlines and U.S. Passport Office. With the help of my travel planner, I am finally able to re-book the trip.
My journey takes me to Kruger National Park and several neighboring game reserves. Kruger is one of the largest national parks in Africa, with an area of about 7,600 square miles. That is larger than a few states in the New England region of the U.S. The reserves adjacent to Kruger National Park, Timbavati and especially Sabi Sand and Mala Mala are famous for its populations of Leopards and Cheetahs.
The park and surrounding reserves are excellent places to capture 'Big Five' images of Lions, Leopards, Elephants, Rhinos and Cape Buffaloes plus Giraffes, Zebras, Cheetahs, Hippos and many more. There are also hundreds of species of birds to marvel and photograph for the ornithologist in many of us.
The reserves are characterized as ‘savanna bushveld’ with 6 different landscape types : acacia woodland, open woodland, mopane woodland, combretum woodland, mixed combretum woodland and mixed veld. The critically endangered African wild dog is also a regular visitor to these areas. The larger and rarer antelopes such as Roan, Eland and Tsessebe may also be seen but their numbers are still critically low.
Today is World Rhino Day. South Africa is the epicenter for the fight against poaching of endangered Rhinos. They have the most number of Rhinos left in the wild so poachers are flocking to Kruger National Park from neighboring Mozambique. The park rangers are doing a valiant job trying to stop the carnage but it is an arduous battle since their limited resources are over-whelmed by the poachers' increasing savagery and sophistication.
In the last few years, I have been keeping things simple and down sizing the equipment I bring on wildlife photo shoots. My safari equipment bag will have the EOS-7D Mk II , EOS-1D X , EF 400mm f/4 DO IS II , EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II , EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II , EF 1.4x III Extender and the usual accessories of filters, spare memory cards and batteries.
I will try and make a few blog posts and keep you abreast of any breaking photography news. time and energy permitting. In the meantime, you can visit my website MichaelDanielHo.com to see more wildlife photos from my previous trips.
I will be off on a safari photo shoot in South Africa. My journey takes me to Kruger National Park and several neighboring game reserves. Kruger is one of the largest national parks in Africa, with an area of about 7,600 square miles. That is larger than a few states in the New England region of the U.S. The reserves south of Kruger National Park, especially the area of Sabi Sand and Mala Mala are famous for its populations of Leopards and Cheetahs.
The park and surrounding reserves are excellent places to capture 'Big Five' images of Lions, Leopards, Elephants, Rhinos and Cape Buffaloes plus Giraffes, Zebras, Cheetahs, Hippos and many more. There are also hundreds of species of birds to marvel and photograph for the ornithologist in many of us.
The area is characterized as ‘savanna bushveld’ with 6 different landscape types : acacia woodland, open woodland, mopane woodland, combretum woodland, mixed combretum woodland and mixed veld. The critically endangered African wild dog is also a regular visitor to the Reserve. The larger and rarer antelopes such as Roan, Eland and Tsessebe may also be seen but their numbers are still critically low.
In the last few years, I have been keeping things simple and down sizing the equipment I bring on wildlife photo shoots. My safari equipment bag will have the EOS-7D Mk II , EOS-1D X , EF 400mm f/4 DO IS II , EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II , EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II , EF 1.4x III Extender and the usual accessories of filters, spare memory cards and batteries.
While I am away, the big, once-every-five-year, Canon EXPO 2015 will be taking place in New York and Paris. Sorry I have to miss this event and the Canon EOS-5D Mk IV and EOS-1D X Mk II may be mentioned during the show. I will try and make a few blog posts and keep you abreast of any breaking photography news. time and energy permitting. In the meantime, you can visit my website MichaelDanielHo.com to see more wildlife photos from my previous trips.
For over a quarter of a century, my passion for the environment and conservation has centered on my love of travel and wildlife photography. Many animal and plant species are going extinct at an alarming rate. My mission is to promote the understanding and appreciation of the world's biodiversity and the need for its conservation, through the lens of wildlife imagery. Powerful wildlife and nature images are effective and emotive tools in building public awareness and education in combating this worrisome decline.
Sunrise in the sub Arctic tundra, Hudson Bay, Canada
Bull African elephant in Chobe River, Bostswana
My readers know me as The Wildlife Ho-tographer using Canon equipment for over 25 years. Through the decades, I have used almost all of Canon's cropped and full frame, film and digital cameras, EF and EF-S lenses. You can see what gear I pack in my equipment bag. I started my website, MichaelDanielHo.com and blog a few years ago to share my photos, travel experience and tips with fellow enthusiasts. There are no annoying banner ads, tracking cookies, commissioned links to online retailers, giveaway gimmicks to attract eyeballs and collect email addresses for future spamming or even solicitation for donations, on my site. I am not affiliated with any equipment manufacturer or camera retailer and receive no compensation or commission of any kind, from any company. What you will find are images from my global photo shoots, impartial photographic tips, independent reviews and opinions, plus the latest industry rumors and news.
Iceberg from the LeConte Glacier, South East Alaska
Jaguar walking along the bank of Cuiaba River, Pantanal, Brazil
It takes a lot of time and effort to prepare for photo shoots around the world. In addition, I have to process thousands of photographs from all my travels, plus maintain the website and blog to keep in touch with my readers. On top of that, I lead a hectic, urban lifestyle like most people. If you enjoy seeing stunning wildlife and travel images and value the information I provide on my website and blog, please tell your friends and spread the word on social media. There is no better way for me to re-double my efforts by knowing others, like you, are sharing my passion for conservation, wildlife photography and nature.
Machu Pichu, Peru
Male Cheetah in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa
You can follow me on Facebook , Twitter , Flickr , Instagram , this Blog and accompany me on wildlife photo shoots. Also be sure to visit MichaelDanielHo.com often because new photos are added all the time. I appreciate all your comments and support and look forward to many more years of photography and travel with you. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year for 2017.
