I am still in Canada on my Alaska/Canada Wildlife Photo Tour. Online camera retailers like DigitalRev are trying to create a buzz by starting a Canon EOS-5D Mark IV camera page. My readers know Canon is expected to announce the Mark IV and EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II lens on August 25.
For more on what to expect from Canon for the rest of 2016, read my earlier post here. Yesterday, I had a rough day on the water in Johnstone Strait finding the resident Orcas. My zodiac was buffeted by 35+ knots winds and 4 foot waves. My EOS-1D X Mark II and myself were drenched by the spray. It reminded me of the time when I had my EOS-1D Mark IV on a zodiac in Cabo San Lucas photographing Humpback whales and was pounded by high waves and spray. The equipment came through with flying colors. That's why Canon calls these cameras professional grade. You can see my equipment bag and more of my works on MichaelDanielHo.com and follow my travels on Facebook and Twitter.
On both trips, I am impressed by the new body and you can read my review here. I will be away for the next few weeks on my annual Alaskan and Canadian wildlife photography shoot with the EOS-1D X Mark II again. This time of the year, the Humpback whales are back from Hawaii in full force. After giving birth or mated and gone without food for months, they will be feasting in the food rich waters of Alaska, especially the South East and trying to replenish their weight and bulk up for the winter when they have to repeat the cycle all over again.
The salmon runs are also beginning and the Brown Bears, Black Bears and Bald Eagles are out in force gorging themselves and putting on weight for the coming winter months and hibernation. The Killer Whales are also very active during the salmon season and there is no better place to see and photograph them than in Alaska and the northern half of Vancouver Island.
Some of the places I am going to are rather remote but if there's WiFi signal, I will try and stay in touch and post some photos and stories. You can see my equipment bag and works on MichaelDanielHo.com and follow my travels on Facebook and Twitter.
The Japanese photography blog, Egami has uncovered a new Canon patent that points to a compact APS-C camera. The lens has a focal length of 15-75mm f/2-5.6. Canon may be working on a Powershot model with the APS-C sensor.
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
I have just returned from my High Arctic Photo Tour testing the Canon EOS-1D X Mark II camera in the cold and sometimes damp Svalbard archipelago, deep inside the Arctic circle. Once again, I am impressed by the new body but now I have to take some time to get back to the daily routine, process the photos and get ready for my next trip to further test the camera in a different part of the world and environment.
The Arctic is melting fast, at least in the summer time. Global warming is real and worrisome, especially for some Arctic wildlife, like the Polar bears, which depends almost entirely on sea ice for its survival. You can see my equipment bag and more of my works on MichaelDanielHo.com
Click to compare the EOS-70D with the EOS-80D cameras. For more details on the EOS-80D camera, check out the links below from Canon Professional Network
My sources informed me the entry level, Canon EOS-6D Mark II full frame camera will be announced Q1, 2017 with a delivery date of Q2. It may have a new sensor in the mid 20MP range but details are hard to come by right now. Also, there is a possibility Canon may introduce a brand new designation, EOS-XD camera in 2017. This will certainly revive rumors about the EOS-3D, a nameplate that has been mentioned since 2005.
Canon has its hands full with the Canon EOS-1D X Mark II starting to deliver in higher volume now. Then the EOS-5D Mark IV will be announced around August, with a Q4 delivery date. The EOS-6D Mark II and EOS-M4 will be a 2017 story. Keep checking back for the latest info as I get them.
During the summer months in the high Arctic, there is 24 hour daylight and the weather and seas are unpredictable. It can range from a blustery, snowy day with 40+ knots winds and freezing temperature to sunny, T-shirt weather the next.
Polar bear foot prints on ice floes
The wildlife in Svalbard is diverse. There is a population of about 3,000 Polar bears on the islands, together with indigenous herds of Reindeer. Arctic foxes, Atlantic Walruses, many species of whales, dolphins, seals and pelagic birds can be found among the ice floes, cliffs and numerous islands and coves.
Polar bear leaping on ice floes
The erratic pattern of ice floes and weather conditions will be a challenge for the ship's captain and my equipment but the Arctic scenery, replete with glaciers and ice cliffs are so spectacular, I will be too engrossed to worry about the rough seas and temperatures, as long as I am properly dressed.
Virgin ice cliffs goes on for miles in the high Arctic
Lightroom CC 2015.6 and Lightroom 6.6 are now available. The goal of this release is to provide additional camera raw support, lens profile support and address bugs that were introduced in previous releases of Lightroom. This release also includes a new Guided Upright feature for Creative Cloud members.
Introducing Guided Upright
We included Upright as a tool that helped Lightroom customers easily straighten images, fix horizons, and reduce or eliminate the keystone effect in buildings. Upright works well when there are prominent vertical and horizontal lines. Not all images contain prominent lines, limiting the effectiveness of Upright.
Starting with Lightroom CC 2015.6, Guided Upright allows you to provide ‘hints’ that enable Upright to work its magic. You draw the vertical and horizontal lines directly on the image and Upright will automatically transform the image. Here’s how to get started.
Select an image and click on the Develop Module.
Enable Lens Profile Corrections. Upright works better with Lens Profile Corrections.
Notice that there is a new “Transform” Panel. Transform includes both Upright and the manual perspective correction sliders together in a convenient place.
Within Transform, click on the “Guided” button.
Draw 2-4 guides on the image. Upright will transform the image once you draw at least 2 guides.
Fine tune the results (if needed) with the manual transform slides, including the new X and Y transform sliders. They can be used for repositioning/moving the image within the canvas after applying strong perspective corrections to choose which part of the (warped, non-rectangular) image to show within the rectangular canvas.
New Camera Support in Lightroom CC 2015.6 / 6.6
Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II
Leica M-D (Typ 262)
Nikon COOLPIX B700
Panasonic DMC-GX85 (DMC-GX80, DMC-GX7MK2)
Also please note that Lightroom CC 2015.6/6.6 also includes camera matching color profiles for the Pentax 645Z, Pentax K-1, and Pentax K-3 II cameras.
Merge to Panorama and HDR now works with Smart Previews. Previously, Lightroom required the use of original images for the Merge to Panorama or HDR features.
The Preferences -> Lightroom mobile section now contains a “Pending Sync Activity” section. This area is useful for helping identify any potential issues related to image sync across the Lightroom family of applications (desktop, mobile and web).
Tethered Camera Support for the following cameras :
Last month, I reported the EOS-5D Mark IV pre-production camera is out on field tests with photographers who have signed Non Disclosure Agreement (NDA) with Canon. The photo above claims to be one of those people with a test camera. I have my doubts. Canon do not usually sign NDA with a big group of individuals like that.
Canon will be announcing the EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II lens with the new camera. This is my favorite Canon 'wide to short' zoom 'L' lens and it can really take advantage of an upgrade. Looks like Canon has decided to offer the new camera and lens as a kit. I have not decided whether to buy the EOS-5D Mark IV when it comes out. I view the new camera as a little brother to the EOS-1D X Mark II and a more agile cousin to the EOS-5Ds. However, I will definitely buy the EF 24-105mm f/4L IS Series II lens.
Below is the best information I have on the new camera right now. The EOS-5D Mark IV will most probably be announced in Q3, in time for the Photokina Show in Cologne, Germany on September 20. Keep checking back. More to come . . . . . .
New 28MP Sensor
DIGIC 6+ Processor (DIGIC 7 possible)
Dual Pixel CMOS AF technology
61 point AF system (same as EOS-1D X Mark II)
Red AF points in AI Servo (same as EOS-1D X Mark II)
Burst rate of 8 to 10 fps
Comes with WiFi and GPS
Canon Log and Wide DR gamut
Equipped with SD and CFast memory slots
Improved material and ergonomics
May come with tilting touchscreen LCD
4K video, slightly exceeding EOS-1D X Mark II's capability
New Battery Grip - BG-E20
New Battery - LP-E20
EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II offered as a kit with camera
MELVILLE, N.Y., June 7, 2016 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, is launching Canon Online Learning, a new program of immersive digital courses designed to help photo and video enthusiasts of all levels develop their skills at their own pace. The program, which expands upon Canon’s robust mix of existing free and paid educational offerings, looks to educate parents, travelers, imaging hobbyists and working professionals with proven techniques from recognizable industry talents.
Available now are these initial seven courses, suitable for all skill levels :
Understanding EOS Camera Operations
Photo 101 : How to Take Great Pictures
Printing Basics & Beyond
Great Landscapes Made Easy
Child’s Play : Simple Tips for Photographing Children
Getting Started with Flash Photography
Canon Insider Guide : EOS Rebel Series
These first seven courses, and subsequent classes to follow, will include video guides unique to each course with the option to download or print PDF materials. With the exception of Canon Insider Guide: EOS Rebel Series, courses will also include complementary resources such as bonus video content, lighting/shooting diagrams, shot lists, resource guides and interviews with course instructors. Additional interactive materials may include quizzes, assignments, interactive images and diagrams.
“Canon has always provided industry leading educational resources for our customers. Over the years, we have expanded our offerings to include live workshops, one-on-one in-person sessions and countless free lectures across the country. Now, for those passionate customers looking to take a deeper dive into photography or videography, we have developed a curriculum of content that addresses the various ways our customers use our products today, and it’s available at their convenience online, day or night,” said Yuichi Ishizuka, president and COO, Canon U.S.A., Inc. “This new program also helps familiarize the imaging community with our wide range of educational tools, allowing them to learn valuable tips from our technical experts, as well as our Explorers of Light professional photographers.”
There is a highly-rated merchant on eBay selling the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II lens for $1,599 including free shipping. As The Wildlife Ho-tographer, this is my favorite 'L' short 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, works and images taken with this lens on MichaelDanielHo.com
The latest CIPA (Camera & Imaging Products Association) numbers for data up to April 2016 are out. It indicates camera shipments of all types have increased slightly so far this year, but still down compared to previous years. 2016 figures are in Orange, 2015 in Black, 2014 in Blue.
The Yen has again 'strengthened' against the U.S. Dollar and other currencies even though the Japanese economy is in the doldrums. This will present headwinds to companies like Canon, Sony and Nikon, which are major exporting firms, selling their products overseas.
First you have to first identifies the Eligible batteries for the replacement, just look at your battery from backside and see where is written Li-ion01 or Li-ion015 and if they battery belongs to 01 version then you must replace your battery as soon as possible. Check Before you Buy New set out DSLR from Nikon are being supplied with the new Lithium ion 20 batteries so if you see a printed battery name is Lithium and 20 then you don’t have to replace it
Press Release To owners of the Nikon D500 digital SLR camera We have received reports indicating that when a fully charged, earlier generation of the Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL15 is used with the Nikon D500 digital SLR camera, the maximum number of shots possible is low (battery life is short). It was also reported that the amount of charge remaining, displayed by the D500’s Battery info option, is significantly less than that displayed by the Battery info function of other model cameras using the EN-EL15 battery. The later version of the EN-EL15 batteries supplied with the Nikon D500 have been tested in accordance with CIPA standards, and do support the maximum number of shots possible (battery life) indicated in brochures and other documentation. However, when some EN-EL15 batteries, either purchased separately or supplied with another model of camera, are used with the D500, those batteries may not be capable of the maximum number of shots possible (battery life) indicated in D500 documentation.* The electric discharge characteristics of the EN-EL15 rechargeable battery have been modified without changing battery capacity. If you have purchased a D500, the modified battery is included. If you have additional, EN-EL15 batteries, Nikon will replace them free of charge. Nikon USA Support Link In order for this offer to be fulfilled, a copy of the D500 sales receipt must be provided. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dear customer, According to our records you are a registered owner of a digital camera D500. With this announcement to you today to inform you that there is a firmware update available for your camera. We recommend that you update the firmware of your camera, so you have all the latest features of your product available. To get more information and detailed instructions for downloading the firmware and update your camera visit the Nikon Download Center. If you have questions, contact Customer Support. Please do not reply to this email, we can not respond to this e-mail address. We hope that you will continue to enjoy using your camera. Best regards Service and Support Nikon Europe Download the update – downloadcenter.nikonimglib.com/en/download/fw/184.html
Canon may be ready to announce a new high end Cinema EOS camera, perhaps called the C700, some time in late August or early September, to coincide with the International Broadcasting Convention (IBC) Exhibition, taking place in Amsterdam on September 8.
The new camera may be equipped with a new Super35 sensor and have a resolution slightly higher than 4K video, but not 8K. The new body will support anamorphic lens and cost more than the C500 Mark II. Keep checking back for the latest information. More to come . . . . .
The notice below from Sigma points out that some of their recently announced Canon compatible lens are not fully compatible after all. This is not unusual since Sigma is not an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) authorized by Canon. They use 'reverse engineering' and try to make their lens 'compatible' with all the Canon firmware codes. This is not a problem with some of the older bodies but the new ones, like the EOS-1D X Mark II are very complicated and Sigma is promising to issue firmware updates to the affected models. There may be other lens affected as well and they can only be corrected if they can use the Sigma USB Dock or a trip to the Service Center will be required. From Sigma :
Thank you for purchasing and using our products.
We have found that some SIGMA interchangeable lenses for CANON are not fully compatible with Canon EOS-1D X Mark II, which was released on April 28th. When certain lenses are attached to this camera, exposure of the image may not be accurate.
We are sorry for the inconvenience, and we will make a further announcement on our website when specific details are finalized. In addition, please also refer to the below usage notice related to this announcement.
Phenomenon
When the lenses listed below are used and either “Evaluative Metering” or “Center-weighted Average Metering” is selected in Metering Mode of the camera, the image could show some underexposure.
Products concerned
SIGMA 20mm F1.4 DG HSM | Art
SIGMA 35mm F1.4 DG HSM | Art
SIGMA 85mm F1.4 EX DG HSM
We are currently working on the firmware update for respective lenses, and the release dates will be announced later.
Usage Notice for customers who are using EOS mount SIGMA lenses on a Canon EOS-1D X Mark II
MO (Manual Override) function is unavailable with this camera (Full-time Manual function can be offered).
When using a SIGMA interchangeable lens for EOS, setting the corrections to [Disable] is recommended, as “Lens Correction” functions of the camera, such as Peripheral illumination correction, Chromatic aberration correction, Diffraction correction and Distortion correction, are not supported. If those functions are activated, the performance of lenses may not be accurate. This is not only for EOS-1DX Mark II, but also other camera bodies.
We appreciate your continued support for our company and products.
Things are about to heat up in the mirrorless camera world. For the last few years, Sony has been garnering most of the attention with their mirrorless cameras, especially the A7 series of models.
I have reported earlier Canon is finally getting serious about their mirrorless line and will offer more cameras and lens this year, perhaps including a full frame model to compete with Sony and the Leica SL. Now it seems Nikon is planning to do the same. The game plan seems to differentiate the line between a prosumer and a 'professional' model. Expect late August or early September to be the targeted month for any announcement. This is to tie in with the big Photokina Show taking place in Cologne, Germany on September 20, 2016
At the bottom of this post is a video by Tony Northrup comparing the Canon EOS-1D X Mark II and Nikon D5 cameras. Both bodies are exceptionally well made and produce incredible images in the right hands. The choice boils down to personal preference and time and money already invested in one's equipment bag.
Nikon announced their long awaited D5 camera just in time for the CES 2016. Almost 4 years to the day when they announced the D4 back in CES 2012. Canon released their EOS-1D X Mark II camera on February 1, 2016. Below is a brief comparison of the main specs between the two cameras. The EOS-1D X camera was announced back in October 2011 and my readers know I have picked it as the best DSLR for sports and wildlife photography four years in a row.
Nikon D5 main specifications :
Two D5 bodies - D5 XQD and D5 CF
New 20.82 MP CMOS sensor
EXPEED 5.4K processing engine
153 AF points, 99-point cross sensor, f/8 corresponding 15 points
Continuous shooting (continuous shooting up to 200 frames in 14bit lossless compression RAW) -12 fps in the AF / AE tracking
Continuous shooting speed with mirror lockup, 14 fps (AE / AF fixed)
New sensor technology subdividing high and low sensitivity pixels
One slot for each card - CFast and CF memory slots
New, 61 point AF system
Dual DIGIC 6+ processors
15 stops of dynamic range
Maximum burst rate 16 fps (14 fps w/o mirror lockup)
4K UHD video at 60fps
3.3 inch Super high resolution LCD
USB 3.0 Micro-B terminal
Finder coverage - 100%, magnification : 0.72x
GPS and Intervalometer
New LP-E19 battery. Backward compatible.
New LC-E19 battery charger. Backward compatible.
Unmatched weather sealing and ergonomics
List price - $5999
Shipping date : Camera is available now
The Nikon D5 camera specs look good at first glance. The burst rate of 12 fps and 14 fps with mirror lockup and matches the Canon EOS-1D X but the Mark II exceeds with 14 fps and 16 fps respectively.
Shooting at ISO 3280000 is playing the marketing numbers game but suffice to say the camera does have excellent ISO performance and both cameras are evenly matched at high ISO. Being a wildlife photographer, I hardly ever use ISO higher than 6400 out in the field. The noise level is simply unacceptable beyond that. Check out the the two cameras' ISO performance comparison.
The Nikon D5's 153 AF points is just another big number designed to grab attention. The dedicated processor for AF is good and the 15 AF points usable @ f/8 is a more meaningful number. All of the EOS-1D X Mark II's 61 AF points are accessible @ f/8.
The Nikon D5's list price of $6,500 is slightly over-priced in today's pricing formula. I still remember paying $8,000 for the Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III back in 2008 and now the EOS-5D Mark III, with a list price of $2,499, beats the old champ's performance in so many ways. The Canon EOS-1D X Mark II's list price of $5,999 is simply a 'bargain'.
Canon was founded in 1934 with the original name of Seikikgaku Kenkysho. One of their first products was a prototype camera called the Kwanon. In 1947, the company changed its name to Canon Camera Company and subsequently renamed Canon Inc. in 1969.
Nikon was founded in 1917 and the company celebrates its centenary next year. Their name was changed to Nikon around the early 1950s and the current and familiar yellow and black logo appeared in 2003.
In the last few months, Nikon has released their most advanced cameras, the D5 and D500, a top-of-the-line full frame and APS-C camera respectively.
I have just returned from my Upper Amazon/Peruvian Highlands Photo Tour testing the Canon EOS-1D X Mark II camera in hot, steamy jungles and cold, two miles plus high, Andean mountains. Overall, I am quite impressed by the new body but now I have to take some time to get back to the daily routine, process the photos and get ready for my next trip to again test the camera in a whole new part of the world and environment.
Twitter announced a big change yesterday by tweeting they will no longer count photos toward the 140-character limits for Tweets. 'Over the past decade, the Tweet has evolved from a simple 140-character text message to a rich canvas for creative expression featuring photos, videos, hashtags, Vines, and more,' Twitter tweeted.
The change will be coming 'in the next few months,' Product Manager Todd Sherman announced in a blog post. Those who tweet know photos currently take up a portion of the character limit and reduce the number of characters available for text. Attachments such as GIFs, videos, polls, quotes, etc. will also not count towards the character limit.
It is no secret Twitter has not been doing well in the last few years. Its stock price has tanked and the company changed CEO, with the founder returning to try and revive its fortune. Many younger users have abandoned Twitter in favor of Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and other platforms.
