Canon Launches RAISE, An AI-Integrated Online Photo Community

Raise

Unstoppable Canon. After finally putting a serious dent into the mirrorless market with their EOR R system, they are tackling the lucrative market of online photo communities. Welcome RAISE.

An Adobe Lightroom plugin version of RAISE, which is compatible with Adobe Lightroom Classic CC, is currently scheduled to be released next month. This will further enhance the usability of the RAISE features such as auto-tagging images within a user’s Lightroom library through RAISE collections in the platform. RAISE will be showcased at WPPI 2019 at Canon booth #121. 

Press release:

Canon U.S.A. Launches RAISE, Its First Online Photo Community

New AI-Integrated Platform Can Help Photographers Advance Their Craft, Save Time with an Improved Workflow as well as Easily Organize and Share Their Photos

MELVILLE, NY, February 27, 2019 – In 2017, approximately 1.2 trillion photos were taken; turning millions of people into prolific photographers1, who are spending a tremendous amount of time arranging and searching through their library of photos. To help photographers streamline their workflow and continually improve their craft, Canon U.S.A., a leader in digital imaging solutions, today announced the company’s first online photo-community platform – RAISE. This new platform utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) to help photographers organize and categorize their photos through auto-tagging. 

Features and benefits of RAISE include: 

  • Organize – Through the use of Canon’s AI engine, photos uploaded to the platform can be auto-tagged through category and subject tags, as well as photo-centric tags such as the composition, style, emotion and color. Users can upload high-resolution JPEG images to the platform and all photographers retain ownership of all images uploaded to RAISE.
  • Explore – Photographers can receive insights from the RAISE community to learn and help improve their skills to step-up their photography. They can also draw inspiration from the platform with a feed personalized for them based on their own uploaded photos, tags and preferences.
  • Share – Photographers can create Collections within RAISE to privately share with current and prospective clients as well as loved ones, who may not be a part of the RAISE community. A photographer’s work can also be shared publically within the community to receive recognition as well as photo-centric compliments from other photographers, like “great lighting,” beautiful composition,” etc.

An Adobe Lightroom plugin version of RAISE, which is compatible with Adobe Lightroom Classic CC, is currently scheduled to be released next month. This will further enhance the usability of the RAISE features such as auto-tagging images within a user’s Lightroom library through RAISE collections in the platform. 

“Creativity is born from community – from collaboration with like-minded individuals,” said Kazuto Ogawa, president and chief operating officer, Canon U.S.A., Inc. “With RAISE, we are building that community for photographers. Through this new platform, photographers from all different professional backgrounds and skill sets can come together to share their talents and connect with others in the community. Simply put, we hope RAISE will inspire the next generation of photographers to RAISE the bar and propel their creativity to new heights.”

The new platform along with Canon’s latest solutions will be showcased at this year’s Wedding Portrait & Photography Show (WPPI) in Las Vegas from February 27 – March 1 in the Canon booth #121. 

For more information about RAISE and/or to join the community, please stop by the Canon booth at WPPI or visit, raise.usa.canon.com.

Canon EOS RP in Stock and Ready to Ship at Major Retailers

Canon Eos Rp Best Mirrorless

At a glance:

  • 26.2MP Full-Frame CMOS Sensor
  • DIGIC 8 Image Processor
  • UHD 4K and Full HD 1080 Video
  • 2.36m-Dot OLED Electronic Viewfinder
  • 3″ 1.04m-Dot Vari-Angle Touchscreen LCD
  • Dual Pixel CMOS AF, 4779 AF Points
  • ISO 100-40000, Up to 5 fps Shooting
  • Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Connectivity

The new Canon EOS RP in stock and ready to ship at Adorama and B&H Photo and Canon USA, while the situation is a bit unclear at Amazon US. Note that if you order the EOS RP you are still getting the RF/EF adaptor and the EG-E1 extension grip for free.

World wide pre-order links for the Canon EOS RP (most should have the RP in stock):

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

Canon USA Honored As One Of The World’s Most Ethical Companies

Canon Rumors Canon Full Frame Mirrorless

Press release:

Canon U.S.A. Honored as One of the 2019 World’s Most Ethical Companies® by Ethisphere for Second Consecutive Year

Recognized for Its Positive Influence and Impact in Business Communities Across the Globe

MELVILLE, NY, February 26, 2019 – In its continual strive to take a proactive approach to corporate social responsibility initiatives and maintain strong standing as a good corporate citizen, Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, received recognition as one of the 2019 World’s Most Ethical Companies. For the second year in a row, the Ethisphere Institute, a global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices, bestowed the honor upon Canon as a company that makes it a mission to affect positive change in business communities across the nation.

“Today, employees, investors, and stakeholders are putting their greatest trust in companies to take leadership on societal issues,” said Timothy Erblich, chief executive officer, Ethisphere. “Companies that take the long view with a purpose-based strategy are proven to not only outperform but last. I congratulate everyone at Canon for earning this recognition.”

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Sigma Announces L-Mount Versions Of ART Lenses, And A New Mount Converter

Sigma Mount Converter MC-21

If you still wonder if the L-mount is to be taken seriously, be assured it is. Sigma thinks it is, and announces an L-mount version of 11 of their Art lenses. They also announced the Sigma Mount Converter MC-21, which allows you to mount Canon EF lenses on an L-mount system.

Sigma Announces Art Prime Lenses in L-Mount & Mount Converter MC-21

The new products include 11 Art prime lenses for full-frame cameras in L-Mount and a converter for Sigma’s SA mount and Canon EF mount lenses on L-Mount camera bodies.

Ronkonkoma, NY – February 26, 2019 –Sigma Corporation of America, a leading still photo and cinema lens, camera, flash and accessory manufacturer, today announced 11 of its Art prime lenses will soon be available in L-Mount. Sigma also announced the launch of the Sigma Mount Converter MC-21, which will allow Sigma’s SA mount and Canon EF mount lenses to be used on the L-Mount camera bodies. The expansion of the beloved Sigma prime lens line along with the MC-21 converter will increase the extensibility of the L-Mount system and further Sigma’s role in the strategic L-Mount Alliance alongside Leica and Panasonic.

Sigma Art Prime Lenses in L-Mount

Features:
The L-Mount lineup consists of 11 Art prime lenses for full-frame cameras ranging from 14mm to 135mm, allowing Sigma’s award-winning high-performance lenses to be enjoyed by even more shooters on L-Mount cameras. The lineup features high-speed AF and is fully compatible with AF-C mode, in-camera stabilization and in-camera aberration correction. The native L-mount allows for a much more stable feel than using an adaptor. Additionally, the lenses are equipped with a surface treatment to enhance strength, a brass bayonet mount offering exceptional durability, and rubber sealing at the mount connection for dust- and splash-proof construction.

Product Lineup:

  • Sigma 14mm F1.8 DG HSM Art ($1,599.00) – World’s First and Only Full-Frame F1.8 Ultra-Wide-Angle
  • Sigma 20mm F1.4 DG HSM Art ($899.00) – Bright & Sharp Wide-Angle
  • Sigma 24mm F1.4 DG HSM Art ($849.00) – Front Filter Compatible, Fast-Aperture Wide-Angle
  • Sigma 28mm F1.4 DG HSM Art ($1,399.00) – Best in Class Performance
  • Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM Art ($899.00) – Groundbreaking Flagship Wide-Angle
  • Sigma 40mm F1.4 DG HSM Art ($1,399.00) – Beyond Art Series Performance
  • Sigma 50mm F1.4 DG HSM Art ($949.00) – Redesigned for High Megapixel DSLRs
  • Sigma 70mm F2.8 DG Macro Art ($569.00) – First Macro to Join the Art Line
  • Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG HSM Art ($1,199.00) – Award-Winning Ultimate Portrait Lens
  • Sigma 105mm F1.4 DG HSM Art ($1,599.00) – The “Bokeh Master”
  • Sigma 135mm F1.5 DG HSM Art ($1,399.00) – Award-Winning Prime with Reach

Full technical specifications are available here and images here. Pricing and availability will be announced later.

Sigma Mount Converter MC-21

Features:
The Sigma Mount Converter MC-21 allows Sigma’s SA mount and Canon EF mount lenses to be used on L-Mount camera bodies, allowing more freedom of choice for L-Mount cameras from Sigma, Leica and Panasonic. The MC-21 increases the number of interchangeable lenses manufactured by Sigma to be used with the L-Mount system by 29 lenses.

Find the full list of compatible lenses and technical specifications here and images here. Pricing and availability will be announced later.

Canon EOS RP Starts Shipping On Wednesday February 27, 2019

Canon Eos Rp Best Mirrorless

At a glance:

  • 26.2MP Full-Frame CMOS Sensor
  • DIGIC 8 Image Processor
  • UHD 4K and Full HD 1080 Video
  • 2.36m-Dot OLED Electronic Viewfinder
  • 3″ 1.04m-Dot Vari-Angle Touchscreen LCD
  • Dual Pixel CMOS AF, 4779 AF Points
  • ISO 100-40000, Up to 5 fps Shooting
  • Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Connectivity

The Canon EOS RP will start shipping in two days, i.e. on Wednesday February 27, 2019.

If you order your Canon EOS RP before March 31st, 2019 you’ll get the Canon EG-E1 extension grip and the Canon RF to EF adapter for free (around $200 value).

Pre-order the Canon EOS RP in USA:

Pre-order the Canon EOS RP in UK: Park Cameras

Pre-order the Canon EOS RP in Germany: Amazon DE | Canon Germany

World-wide pre-order links:

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