I received the following today.

Sony Creative Software Inc. ("SCS") is pleased to announce that MAGIX Software GmbH (“MAGIX”) has purchased substantially all of the software products and other assets of SCS (“SCS Assets”). As part of this sale, and in accordance with our Privacy Policy, MAGIX will acquire our customer database, including your personally identifiable information, previously collected through our website or otherwise (“Customer Database”). This information was included in the sale to assist MAGIX in providing you with products and services, including those that are no longer offered by SCS.

Its common for companies to do this, occasionally, they get slapped down.

http://www.dxomark.com/Lenses/Compare/Side-by-side/Zeiss-Carl-Zeiss-Milvus-F14-50mm-ZF2-Nikon-on-Nikon-D810-versus-Zeiss-Carl-Zeiss-Distagon-T-STAR-Otus-55mm-F14-ZF2-Nikon-on-Nikon-D810__1605_963_1242_963

On the same camera body, they demonstrated the same sharpness, transmission and vignetting, and had very close distortion and chromatic aberration values.

Yet one is considered 8 points better in their aggregate score.

#dxo #fairandbalanced

- A

For anyone who has followed DPR's relentless persecution of Canon's "low DR" then their review of the D5 is up and offers great giggles in how they worm their way around the fact that the D5 has the same low ISO DR as the 6D.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikon-d5-pro-dslr-review/8

But that doesn't really matter because the high ISO DR is so good, and this is what really matters. (Now). And it didn't really effect their picture taking.

The camera is simply stunning in every way (judged by to day's standards, and not those of the last eight years) and gets a "score" of 89%. Unfortunately there are no under exposed images taken half and hour after a clear sunset where the shadows have been lifted to reveal a rather ugly kaleidoscope pattern. There is an image where the sky is totally blown, got a bit of a rishi stamp on it, but that makes for a better image, especially as the shadows are dark. You know, skies around sun set exposed correctly were so....well 5Ds-isn really. Much better to blow them out, and concentrate your attention on the lovely lady

"Setting a new standard" - isn't it an old standard ? Or maybe you could argue it's a new one for Nikon - relatively speaking ;D

Would you buy a small sensor DSLR in order to take macro images with greater depth of field?

I've been in awe of some macro/close up images taken with smart phones as the detail continues far beyond the 5-8mm I generally get with my 7Dii and was thinking perhaps Canon should consider a designed for macro DSLR.

What you guys think? Good idea or weak idea?

Noticing that the 1DX II seems to be in short supply in many areas of the world and that in the U.S. it seems to go in and out of availability quite quickly, got me wondering if this is typical of newly released 1D models.

I was never in the market before, so never paid any attention. Just a question for those who bought past 1D models: is this limited availability typical or are we seeing something new with the 1D X II.

And, for further speculation, anyone want to make a guess as to why it's in short supply? Demand exceeding supply, obviously, but would that mean it's more popular than Canon expected or simply typical supply chain issues for a camera that has a very limited production run in the first place.

Just something to talk about.

Centuries ago, my parents bought me a film SLR. I liked its viewfinder, but I was too lazy to learn how to use it: I shot in Full Auto mode. : : :
In 2004, I bought a Canon Powershot A80, and the film camera was soon buried in my cellar. :-[
In the meantime, after a Powershot S5, I learnt (more or less) something about shutter speed, aperture, ISO etc.
I bought a 5D classic (used), then a M and now a 70D.
Sunday I disinterred (exhumed?) my film camera.
I read the manual, and discovered that the camera has an exposimeter, 3 (three!) focus points, no AI Servo, 1/2000 minimum shutter speed, and a built in flash (Canon full frame bodies with built in flash DO exist! ;D ).

I bought two 123 batteries, and the camera seems alive. The kit 28-80mm lens doesn't focus, but it's not a big deal: it seems to be (or to have been) cheap, and I can pair my 500N / Rebel G with 4 L lenses and with the 50mm STM.
I ordered a B/W roll (Ilford HP5 Plus 400), and Amazon.it will deliver it to me in one week (is there only one warehouse in the whole Europe?).
I plan to take a few family portraits, and... what else?
I also realize I'm a complete ignorant.
A few doubts:
1) Do film camera need to be checked for AF microadjustment?
2) What if I put a 400 ISO film in the camera, and then choose (mechanically) to shot at 100, 200, 800 or 1600 ISO?
3) How can be the lowest eligible ISO be just 6 (six)?
4) How will this experiment impact on my coolness 8) ? Will legions of women harass me as soon as they discover that I shoot film? Should I wear one earring in order to look even more like "an Artist with the capital A"? Should I also stop taking regular showers?

[I think I'm afraid that this will disturb some of the Canonrumors forumers, but I won't print my pictures in a dark-room: I'll take my roll to one of the few shops that still takes care of this].

Thank you for the suggestions, my fellow friends from Canonrumors.

So here is my first camera, the AE-1 bought new in 1978 for £220 and the camera I did my first paid jobs with, and my current camera, a 1Ds MkIII I got secondhand in 2009 for $4,250 that I am still working with.

I had many bodies in between but never seemed to sell the 'backup' that normally had B&W film in rather than colour, I never had the T series film bodies as I used F-1n's at that time. The one body I sold and would have been nice for the image was a 1D, but other than that I have mostly used these models, the AE-1, A-1, F-1n, 1VHS, 1D (missing) and 1Ds MkIII.

Thought it was a fun image that might be interesting to some. Lets see what you have

I found that the lens selections Canon put on sale on their refurb site are very similar to the rumors we are hearing about.

Here's what they have on sale:

70-300 IS USM
24-105 IS USM
50 1.4 USM
85 1.8 USM
17-40 USM

We've been talking about an updated FF non L zoom, a lens update that might be surprising (24-105), a new 50mm on the horizon, Sigma's coming out with a new 85, and the 17-40 is a gimme since the 16-35 F/4 came out.

I'm thinking that these are your lens updates that we are going to see for the remainder of the year (other than the 17-40). But I may be smoking something too....

Just got a 6d and haveing some problems already. Not completely happy with the high iso still having a lot of noise, the whole point of buying the 6d was to get good photos from 6400 or 800, but the pix i saw on the internet were obviously misleading me into buying it, because i don't see a major leap from my 5d2.

But my main questions are when i'm taking photos and f4, sometimes i take a few shots and look at the lcd and they're all dark, because the f stop has moved itself up to f14 or whatever, is there a way to lock the aperture or move the control from the dial at the back, so i don't accidentally or unintentionaly change it, as its damn awkward in niteclub situations when you take 2-3 photos and then it moves itself.

and the 2nd question, exposure compensation, on the 5d2, I just changed it through the top dial, but thats doesn't work on the 6d, anyway to fix that?

Thanks.

p.s this is while shooting manual.

I just got my 1Dx M2 and as I go through the menu, most of the menu choices appear to be similar or identical to the 1Dx. Of course the exception is the multiple My Menu tabs.

Has anyone found any differences? I have not set down with the 1Dx and 1Dx M2 to do a head to head comparison.

What are you putting on each My Menu tab? I photograph mostly wildlife with this camera.

All,

I'm off to finally get to the Rain Room exhibit that's been traveling to various US art museums. Basically, via sensors, you can walk in the rain and (more or less) not get wet.

On the odd chance that anyone has been to this exhibit, could anyone recommend the appropriate glass to put on my 5D3? I ask as you only get a limited time window in there to shoot and I don't want to waste any of it changing out lenses.

Rules at this incarnation of the installation: cameras are welcome, but no tripods/monopods/supports and no flash. The sensors are not guaranteed to keep my gear dry, either.

A fast (and sealed) prime would seem to be the best option, but none of those that I own are sealed. I'm leaning towards the 16-35 f/4L IS for sealing, but an f/4 lens will drive atmospheric ISO levels to freeze the raindrops.

Ideas? I don't want to bag up my 35 f/2 IS or 50 f/1.4 for this unless it's absolutely necessary.

- A

Zach at LR have put up a short review at their blog

Conclusion:

What I Liked

• Incredible Focusing System
• Impressive High ISO Capabilities
• 4K Video output at 60fps
• Robust Build Quality

What Could Be Improved

• Price (Cause you know, I want my cake and eat it too)

Overall, the Canon 1DX Mark II is without a question, the best Canon camera I’ve ever used. The images looked great, the speed of the camera is unbelievable, and the build is unparalleled. Canon took what everyone loved about the Canon 1DX classic, and improved it on every single level, and managed to do it and keep it cheaper than the Nikon competitor (which in my opinion, is not as good). If you’re a sports photographer, this is your Ferrari.

At present I have the Canon 70D, which I use mainly for landscape and architecture.
The 70D is OK for this although the dynamic range is not that great, which can give limitations in certain landscape photos.

But last year I picked up bird and plane photography again, after many years.
For birds and planes the 70D’s AF system is not bad, but I missed several good pictures due to bad AF – although I must say that if I had known the situation in advance, I could probably have made the shot with different AF settings.

So I want a camera with a sensor with good dynamic range and an AF system that can quickly and accurately lock on and track fast and sometimes erratically moving objects.
I am aware of the fact that erratically flying birds are the biggest challenge for any AF system to track (to acquire focus and then keep in focus), but planes usually have speeds that exceed the speed of birds and therefore also pose a challenge for any AF system (including the lens) to track them.

Because of this, I want to upgrade to another camera and I am in doubt about which is the best for my needs.
I should mention that I make almost no videos, so that part of the specs is of no importance to me.
A FF camera is no option due to the lenses I already have (all EF-S). So I can choose between the 80D and the 7D MKII. The 7D MKII has a stellar AF system, but it’s sensor is not that good when a decent dynamic range is required. The 80D apparently has a better sensor than Canon has ever had (if I summarize correctly what I have read), but it’s AF system for tracking objects is not that good.

My plan was to wait for the test results of the 80D's sensor by DXOmark.com, so I could compare that to the results of the 7D MKII. Alas, on the DXOmark website for the Canon 80D someone asked why it was not tested yet, on which the following reply by some other visitor came.
“DXOmark have don't publish camera tests any more. I guess its not profitable. They just use the results for their software now. They didn't even bother to publicly announce that they don't publish camera tests any more.”
So apparently no more camera sensor tests by DXOmark, the only objective sensor test there was to my knowledge.

So now I have a problem to make a good comparison between the 80D and the 7D MKII. I have seen some reviews that speak of a better dynamic range of the 80D, but I never see a test that is done with equipment so there is some element of objectivity.
Some reviews say the 80D‘s dynamic range is far better than that of the 70D. Other reviews say it is better, but not by a huge margin (I read only one stop more). Other reviews say the 80D’s dynamic range is quite good ‘for a Canon’, which does not give much confidence about the 80D’s actual performance.

I hope that someone can help me with answers to the following questions that I have – so I can decide which of the two (80D or 7D MKII) is the best compromise for me.
1. Is there a test/review somewhere on the internet where the dynamic range of the 80D is tested in the same manner (preferably in the same test) as the AF system of the 7D MKII?
2. Is there a test/review somewhere on the internet where the AF system of the 80D is tested in the same manner (preferably in the same test) as the AF system of the 7D MKII – preferably where tracking moving objects is part of the test?

Thanks in advance for any help.

A highly interactive view of the economic upheaval caused by the recession in the U.S. economy, ...including amongst other industries "Video and photography services".

Probably not news to CR readers who are professional practitioners of photography. For the remainder of us it's interesting viewing. Likely there is a description the recession has had (and is still having) on the category that includes your day job.

The production is extraordinarily well done, with real data and interactive timelines. Think Lord Kelvin, "To measure is to know."

Link " http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/06/05/upshot/how-the-recession-reshaped-the-economy-in-255-charts.html?action=click&contentCollection=The%20Upshot&region=Footer&module=WhatsNext&version=WhatsNext&contentID=WhatsNext&moduleDetail=undefined&pgtype=Multimedia"

I know it's a big jump in prices, but If anyone has any opinions on the matter, please do so. Or if anyone has better lens suggestions. I shoot on a 70d.

I'm looking for a fast lens and these lenses caught my attention. Overall which of these will have a significant advantage over the other. Thanks a bunch!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQp_0b2umto

Interesting but they could show a bit more about the manufacturing process. (I'm sure Nikon and Sigma wouldn't take a sneaky peak )

There you go:

http://photorumors.com/2016/05/25/confirmed-sigma-85mm-f1-4-art-lens-to-be-released-soon/

Non-immediate term statements are not something PR usually posts. They post hearsay until the week prior to a launch, get a leak (often from another site) and share it with a definitive 'here it is'.

But -- if the rumor is true -- Sigma is sticking to its f/1.4 guns with 85mm. We know it will be sharp, but the longer these lenses get, the more demanding the AF will be. Here's hoping they get it right.

- A

My 1DXII shipped today from B&H, and hopefully will be here before weekend. That naturally got me to thinking about accessories.

What did you buy for yours, what works, what doesn't, What can you not live without and why?

Anyone buy the B&H 5 year warranty?

Let's hear from you and let's have fun.

sek

SAR posted the up coming FE 70-200GM might be in $3500 USD.

For those shooting with Sony a7 series, what do you think about the price tag?

I personally feel it's HIGH for 70-200f2.8 lens.

Many websites use Imatest to measure resolution of lenses. They never state what lines/mm or cycles/mm the measurements are so we don't know whether they are reporting on contrast or resolution. Could someone please enlighten us.

1dx2 - no t working in live view/video with Tamron 15-30

I sent mine in...they are looking into it...
I expect it back about june 1st...
....

the lens works fine on my 5d3....

and does fine on 1dx2 in SLR mode...but live view drops out if you try the tamron 15-30 on the 1dx2....

....

has anyone else seen this behavior...

the tech there..... said there are some notes to not use perif correction ...or any lens correction on that lens...
it confuses their 'reverse engineering' [my words].....


..
but since I had an early 1dx2 AND had the Tamron.. this may be the first noticed behavior...
///

please make a comment if you have 1dx2 experience with it.

Thanks

TommyLee

I know why I stay with Canon:
If Sony Alpha rumors is right, the 70-200mm 2.8 lens will cost incredible £2999! - what is about 3950€! Or "just " 3000€ if you trust the other source....

Wow. How good will this lens be? How much will be an 600mm lens from them? 20.000?

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikon-d500


DpReview scores incredible 91%!
What a score! I hope Canon will strike back!

On my browser, the compare-function does not work. But I think, in many categories, the D500 is superior to the 7DII

I recently decided to do something about the loose hood on my Sigma 180mm macro. It is still under warranty and the hood has always been loose. First I logged into the Sigma website and sent a message. No response in one month.

I also contacted one of their repair centers and was told it would cost me $X just to look at it under warranty. And it took some convincing just to get an answer.

I am not impressed. This is the factor that may keep me from buying another Sigma lens. And I am intrigued by the 50-100 and was hopeful that they would come out with a 500/5.6.

Please share your experiences.

John