EOS 5D Mark III Firmware 1.1.3 Released

Canon released a new firmware (version 1.1.3) for the EOS 5D Mark III. To download it click here (you have first to select your operating system). This upgrade introduces the following:

Firmware Version 1.1.3 incorporates the following improvements and fixes.

1. Supports the single focal length EF40mm f/2.8 STM lens that is to be released at the end of June, 2012.

2. Fixes a phenomenon in which an image may become underexposed when using the Auto Lighting Optimizer for continuous Auto Exposure Bracketing (AEB) shooting.

3. Fixes a phenomenon in which the backlight of the LCD monitor may not turn off depending on the camera settings and timing.

4. Fixes a phenomenon in which the camera’s power may not turn on when a super-telephoto lens*1) is mounted to the camera with an extender*2). *1) EF 300mm F2.8L IS II USM / EF 400mm F2.8L IS II USM *2) Extender EF 1.4X III / Extender EF 2X III

5. Corrects mistakes in the Dutch, Italian, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, and Swedish menu screens. Firmware Version 1.1.3 is for cameras with firmware up to Version 1.1.2. If the camera’s firmware is already Version 1.1.3, it is not necessary to download this firmware.

EOS 5D Mark III price check (should be in stock everywhere, at least in the US): B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA

[Software] Canon Digital Photo Professional 3.11.31 Available For Download (T4i/650D, 60Da, 18-135mm IS STM supported)

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Canon released Digital Photo Professional 3.11.31 updater for Windows and Mac OSX (click here to download). You have first to select your operating system, then you can download the software.

Changes for Digital Photo Professional 3.11.31 Updater […]

Supports images taken with EOS Kiss X6i / EOS REBEL T4i / EOS 650D, EOS 60Da. – Supports new lens (EF-S 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 IS STM). – Fixed a phenomenon where the camera’s serial number that is displayed in the shooting information of the image is not displayed correctly for some of the EOS 60D. – Fixed a phenomenon where the buttons for HDR tool cannot be displayed under specific settings of the display. – Fixed a phenomenon where check mark or rating that is set using Quick Check Tool may not be displayed correctly.

[Pre-Order] New Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS Available For Pre-Order

Both Adorama (click here) and B&H (click here) have the brand new Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS ready for your pre-ordering pleasure. Price tag is $499. The lens has a wide zoom range and covers wide angle, telephoto and macro photography. One size fits all! Moreover: minimum focusing distance is 35cm. The lens is made of Thermally Stable Composite (TSC), a material that has characteristics similar to metal (and thus avoids problems with thermal contraction). The OS (Optical Stabilizer) is said (by Sigma) to give you 4 stops. What else? The lens has a Hyper Sonic Motor for fast and silent focusing, maximum magnification ratio is 1:2.9. For a hands-on by ephotozine click here.

Focal Length 18mm – 250mm
Angle of View 6.5° – 76.5°
Max Aperture f/3.5 – f/6.3
Min Aperture f/22
Filter Size 62mm
Min Focus
35cm
Elements 16
Groups 13

Press Release

Sigma Corporation of America announces new 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM lens

Sigma Corporation of America announces new 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM lens
New Thermally Stable Composite material offers wide range of photography in compact, stabilized, macro lens

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[Gear] The New Apple MacBook With Retina Display – A Game Changer For Photographers?

I think it is, or at least will be in the next future. Since Apple’s new MacBook Pro with Retina display was announced yesterday at WWDC in San Francisco, the hype is big, and it’s getting bigger by the day. Apple really had a radically innovative approach when engineering the new MacBook Pro flagship. Not only it’s thinner and lighter than all its predecessors and does it have sheer power never seen before on a portable computer, the real innovation, the thing that each and everyone would like to have is the Retina display. Let me explain this. The new MacBook Pro Retina has a resolution of 2880×1800 pixels (3 million more than HDTV) on 15.4 inches; that’s over 5 million pixels! Amazing, isn’t it? It’s easy to figure out what that means for photographers. It means that you can see every detail in your image, at a level you couldn’t before. Moreover, Apple claims that the Retina display has better contrast, better viewing angle, less reflections. Apple also updated its photo applications, iPhoto and the more professionally oriented Aperture. Both will very soon be ready for the Retina Display. Others are following, Photoshop CS6 is already amazing on this new display.  And now the good news: B&H has a limited quantity of Retina MacBook Pros available for pre-order (click here to see all available MacBook Pro Retina models):

  • 15.4″ MacBook Pro Notebook Computer with Retina Display, nVIDIA GeForce GT 650M Graphics (1GB), 2880 x 1880 Native Resolution

There are lots of hands-on reviews and people sharing its thoughts about the new Retina MacBook Pro (I list some made from a photographers point of view): British Journal of Photography, DPreview, fstoppers, and engadget’s review: We just know one thing: the new display is gorgeous. Absolutely gorgeous. Text is incredibly sharp and clear, 1080p video is amazing and images, of course, look great.

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EOS 1D-X and EOS 5D Mark III Auto-Focus Guide Updated

I wrote about this cool guide time ago. Now the AF Settings Guidebook has been updated:

This guide offers a wealth of information about different possible settings and when to apply them. It explores the basic characteristics of the new AF system, shows the differences that occur when various lenses are mounted, and even gives suggestions for instantly changing from one AF point or AF area mode to another.

The Guidebook can be downloaded from this site (scroll down to find the links).

[via IR]