Guest Post: Canon EOS-1D Mark III and EOS-1D Mark II N – Two Budget Professional Camera Options

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This is a guest blog by Carl Garrard of Photographic Central. Carl is a photographer and gear reviewer with focus on cameras that are still highly capable despite their age. You can follow Carl on his blog. Carl’s post appeared first here. Carl also posted a pretty interesting review about the Canon EOS 40D.

Both cameras can be found on eBay: EOS-1D Mark II N | EOS-1D Mark III

Canon EOS-1D Mark III and EOS-1D Mark II N – Two Budget Professional Camera Options

This is a continuation of my series of articles about highly capable cameras for those of you on a budget. This article is for professionals, or those seriously seeking to be professionals. I chose these two cameras for review because you can get both for about $900.00 used if you play your cards right. Considering you’d have to pay about ten times that much when they were new to get both, I’d say they qualify as excellent subjects for my budget article series here. Warning: These are top quality professional instruments. If you haven’t held a Canon 1D series camera before (or a Nikon equivalent), you still don’t know what a top quality professional instrument feels like. I thought I did, I was wrong. And before those 5D guys jump on my case I say to them: Pick one up and use one before you reply, and you’ll know. Then, you’ll just agree and we can be friends again. 

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New Profoto Connect Wireless Transmitter for Canon (and other brands)

Profoto Connect
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Profoto announced a new wireless transmitter. Pre-order for $299 at B&H Photo | Adorama

Press release:

Profoto Connect – The button-free trigger

Profoto just made flash easy to use for every image creator. Introducing Profoto Connect; the button-free trigger. 

From time to time something comes along that changes everything, this is one of those rare occasions.

Profoto Connect is the trigger for flash that’s completely button free. This is so much more than an improvement; Profoto has rethought, reimagined and rebuilt the remote trigger from the hot shoe up to create something that makes the process of working with flash effortlessly simple.

“Profoto Connect came from a steadfast belief that flash can be every bit as beautiful as ambient light” commented Martina Nillenstedt, Profoto Head of Content and Brand, “What we needed to do was make it more accessible to more image creators – Profoto Connect does that – from today forward, working with flash couldn’t be easier.”

There’s almost nothing to the Profoto Connect – It’s just a small, smooth and discreet pod that sits on top of the camera. Albert Norelius, Profoto Product Manager explains, “When we sat down and talked with photographers, we recognized that all the buttons and menus you find on a typical remote trigger can seem a little complex – so we decided to get rid of them completely.”

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Canon Celebrates 16th Consecutive Year of Number 1 Share of Global Interchangeable-lens Digital Camera Market

Canon Rumors Color Calibration
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Press release:

CANON CELEBRATES 16TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR OF NO.1 SHARE OF GLOBAL INTERCHANGEABLE-LENS DIGITAL CAMERA MARKET

United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, 27 March 2019 – Canon Inc. today announces that the company’s interchangeable-lens digital cameras (digital SLR and mirrorless cameras) have maintained the No. 1 share of the global market for 16 consecutive years[1] from 2003 to 2018.

Canon develops the key imaging system components featured in its EOS series of interchangeable-lens cameras – CMOS image sensors, image processors and interchangeable lenses – under the core concept of ‘Speed, Comfort and High Image Quality’. Incorporating a wide-ranging product lineup – from high-performance flagship models that are highly trusted by professionals, to entry-level models that allow users to enjoy high image quality shooting with easy operation – Canon continues to support the diverse needs of customers.

In 2003, the dawn of digital SLR cameras, Canon introduced its breakthrough EOS 300D. This groundbreaking camera, which was competitively priced and featured a compact, lightweight design, captured the top share of the global market and set the stage for growth in the digital SLR market. Since that time, Canon has continued to launch a range of groundbreaking products, including the professional-model EOS-1D series and the EOS 5D series, which paved the way for digital SLR video recording.

In March 2018, Canon launched products such as the EOS M50 mirrorless camera and EOS 2000D DSLR, which allow entry-level users to effortlessly enjoy capturing professional looking images. In striving to further expand its line-up, Canon has once again secured the leading share of the global market in 2018.

In September 2018, in pursuit of further expanding the boundaries of image capture and new possibilities in visual expression, Canon launched the EOS R mirrorless camera, equipped with a full-frame sensor, as part of the EOS R System, a new imaging system with lenses at its core. What’s more, in February 2019 Canon launched the EOS RP – a small, light and practical full-frame mirrorless camera with impressive image quality – and announced six new RF lenses, currently under development, as part of its plan to expand the EOS R System.

Canon will continue to refine its diverse imaging technologies based on its core optical technology to expand and create an even stronger EOS System that offers new avenues of image capture to meet the needs of increasingly diverse users and to promote the ever-growing photo and video culture.

Alessandro Stanzani, Executive Vice President of Canon Imaging Technologies & Communications Group, Europe, Middle East & Africa, commented, “In addition to maintaining the number one share of the global market, Canon has continued to maintain its leadership position in unit and value share of the digital camera market in EMEA. We are continuing to push the boundaries of optical innovation and these results demonstrate the appetite for new technologies and camera systems.”

For more information on Canon’s digital interchangeable lens cameras, please visit

www.canon-europe.com/cameras/i…

[via Photography Blog]

Next Canon EOS R Firmware Update Coming April 2019

Canon Eos R Firmware Update
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Canon released an advisory about the next firmware update for the Canon EOS R.

The new firmware for EOS R (version 1.2.0) will be available on Canon website from middle of April, 2019.  

Firmware version 1.2.0 incorporates the following enhancements and fixes. 
Enhancements:
1. ​Eye-detection AF 
– Supports Servo AF when shooting still images.
– Now available when shooting movies regardless of “Movie Servo AF” setting.
2. Small AF Frame Size
– Supports Servo AF when shooting still images.
– Now available when shooting movies regardless of “Movie Servo AF” setting.

Fixes:
​1. Under certain conditions the electronic level displayed in the electronic viewfinder did not display properly.
2. Under certain conditions information displayed in the electronic viewfinder was not properly rotated.
3. Under certain conditions updating the firmware for the wireless file transmitter WFT-E7 was not possible.

Nikon Believes Mirrorless Will Catch Up With DSLRs But The Issue Is EVF Lag

Nikon Z 6
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In an interview with DPReview, Nikon execs share their thoughts about the company’s Z 6 and Z 7 cameras and about the state of the mirrorless nation.

As far as I know Nikon is the first company clearly and directly addressing the fact that EVFs (Electronic View Finder) still suck compared to an optical viewfinder.

From the interview (emphasis mine):

Question: How do you think the market for full frame mirrorless will evolve?

Answer: In terms of hardware, it is likely that mirrorless will catch up with DSLR. But one thing that is a challenge is the time lag of electronic viewfinders. Even though we have a great mirrorless [solution], we cannot beat the optical viewfinder.

For really high-level professional photographers at sports events and so on, I believe that the DSLR will survive. I think there will be a synergy between DSLR and mirrorless, so we can expand the market moving forward.

[…] we’re really trying to be the best and provide the ultimate performance of the viewfinder. The view through the viewfinder should be as natural as possible. To achieve that goal we did two things – we focused on the optics, and also on image processing.

Read the interview at DPReview…

Nikon Z mirrorless system:

America: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA
Europe & UK: Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon IT, Canon IT, WEX Photographic, Canon FR, Canon UK, Canon DE

Industry News: Sony Launches RX0 II, World’s Smallest and Lightest Premium Ultra-Compact Camera

Rx0 Ii
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The Sony RX0 II kit with the VCT-SGR1 Shooting Grip and bracket will ship in Europe in May 2019, priced at approximately €800/£730/$698. Pre-order the Sony RX0 II at B&H Photo and Adorama.

Sony press release:

Sony Launches RX0 II, the World’s Smallest and Lightest Premium Ultra-Compact Camera

  • Superb image quality delivered by 1.0-type stacked 15.3MP image sensor condensed into waterproof rugged, highly compact body
  • Featuring ZEISS® Tessar T* 24mm F4 fixed wide-angle lens
  • Movie shooting with 4K internal recording and new image stabilisation solutions
  • Advanced functionality for stills photography including up to 1/32000 sec. Anti-distortion Shutter and up to 16fps continuous shooting
  • Diverse range of shooting scenes enabled by waterproof 180 degree tiltable LCD panel and Clear Image Zoom 
  • Perfect for selfie with enhanced colour reproduction, new Soft Skin Effect mode and advanced Eye AF
  • Microphone jack and Shooting Grip (VCT-SGR1) delivers minimal and ideal Vlog shooting solution
  • Multi-camera solution that enables creative video expression from various viewpoints

Sony today introduced an exciting new addition to its highly popular compact camera line-up with the launch of the world’s smallest and lightest premium compact camera, the RX0 II(model DSC-RX0M2). Building upon the waterproof/dustproofii,shockproof, crushproof and ultra-compact qualities of the original RX0, thenew model now offers internal 4K recording, an up to 180-degree and down to 90-degree tiltable LCD screen that even works underwater,iiand new image stabilisation solutions for video recording.

At the heart of the RX0 II sits a 1.0-type stacked 15.3-megapixeli Exmor RS™ CMOS image sensor and an advanced BIONZ X™ image processing engine that offer enhanced colour reproduction including beautiful skin tones. This power packed combination have been optimised to deliver lightning fast performance and exquisite image quality for both stills and movie shooting across a wide sensitivity range of ISO 80-12800. The ZEISS® Tessar T* 24mmiii F4.0 fixed wide-angle lens has a shortened minimum focussing distance of 20cm, making it perfect for selfies or table-top photos. 

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A camera for all conditions

The RX0 II is truly a ‘worry-free’ camera that can be taken into places that no other camera can go. Measuring just 59mm x 40.5mm x 35mm[ and weighing just 132g, the RX0 II fitseasily into a pocket and is ready for whatever the elements can throw at it. It is waterproofii up to 10 metres deep, dustproofii, shockproofvii up to 2 metres and crushproofviii up to 200KG force. 

“The development goal of the original RX0 was to build a camera that enabled new forms of creative expression through its form factor and technical capabilities,” said Yann Salmon Legagneur, Director of Product Marketing, Digital Imaging at Sony Europe. “We have built upon this with the new RX0 II and added features and functionality that we believe make this an ideal camera for any type of travel and will perform equally well as a stills or video camera across a huge range of shooting and vlogging scenarios.”

Movies and More 

The RX0 II offers 4K 30p internal movie recordingiv with full pixel readout and no pixel binning to collect approximately 1.7 times the amount of data required for 4K video. This oversampling reduces the appearance of moiré and jaggies and delivers smooth, high quality 4K footage with exceptional detail and depth. Using the recently introduced Sony “Imaging Edge™”mobile applications, this footage can be transferred to a smartphone, edited and shared easily across social networks.

The RX0 II introduces in-body electronic stabilisation[xv] for steady footage, even when shot handheld. This can be enhanced even further when footage is exported to a smartphone or tablet running the ‘Movie Edit add-on’ application where the additional information captured during filming can be processed to produce a video with gimbal-like smoothness. An additional new feature that can be accessed via Sony ‘Movie Edit add-on’ is ‘Intelligent Framing’ where the selected subject is kept in the centre of the frame and image distortion is corrected in a final edit. Depending on where the video will be shared, the required aspect ratio can then be selected. 

Additional movie features of the RX0 II include Super Slow Motion recording at up to 1000 fps, uncompressed 4K HDMI output and simultaneous proxy movie recording. Users can utilise Picture Profile, S-Log2 and Time Code / User Bit functions to ensure a final result that exactly matches their creative vision. 

Precision Photography

The versatility of the RX0 II means thatit offers a host of stills photography features in addition to its video capabilities. It boasts an Anti-distortion Shutter of up to 1/32000 sec. and can shoot at up to 16 fpsv to capture any fleeting moment of emotion that passes across the subject’s face. In an upgrade from the original RX0, colour reproduction has been enhanced to reproduce natural and vivid colours of human skin, and the optional ‘Soft Skin Effect’ can be applied to cover minor blemishes and wrinkles.Rating and Protect functions can be applied in camera and a grouped display of continuously shot images can be viewed on the camera.

Sony’s EyeAF, that is proving hugely popular with portrait photographers across the world, has been upgraded on the RX0 II. Thespeed, accuracy and operation of the EyeAF has been improved to make it even easier to capture a stunning portrait; a simple half press of the shutter button will lock-on to the eye of the subject. The focussed eye can be selected (left / right / auto) in the menu or assigned to a custom button, allowing the user to concentrate on composition. 

The camera can be set for interval shooting, the results of which can be edited with Sony’s “Imaging Edge”desktop application ‘viewer’ into stunning time-lapse videos.

Multi-camera options

Upto 5 RX0 II camerascan be controlled wirelessly using Sony ‘Imaging Edge Mobile’ application and between 6 to 50 cameras will be able to be controlled via an access point (scheduled for Summer 2019.) The RX0 II is alsocompatible with the Camera Control Box CCB-WD1 which enables up to 100 cameras to be connected and controlled in a wired multi-camera setup. These multi-camera solutions unlock a whole new world of shooting opportunities and free video expression from any viewpoint that the user wishes to pursue.

Pricing and Availability

TheRX0 II kit with the VCT-SGR1 Shooting Grip and bracket will ship in Europe in May 2019, priced at approximately €800/£730.

For more information on the new RX0 II camera, please visit; https://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/cyber-shot-compact-cameras/dsc-rx0m2

A variety of exclusive stories, videos and exciting new content shot with the newest cameras and other Sony’sAlpha products can be found at https://www.sony.co.uk/alphauniverse. Sony’s European photography hub is available in 22 languages and details product news, competitions and an up-to-date list of Sony events in each country.

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