Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II firmware update released, enhances image stabilisation on EOS 5D Mark IV

EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II
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Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II: [shopcountry 40057]

Another important firmware release by Canon today. Firmware ver. 1.04 for the Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II enhances the image stabilisation when the EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II is used on a Canon [shoplink 40051]EOS 5D Mark IV[/shoplink] and a shutter speed between 1/100 sec. and 1/160 is used.

Changes in firmware

Firmware Version 1.0.4 is incorporated with the following correction.

Enhances the effects of image stabilization when using the EF 24-105mm F4L IS II USM
with the EOS 5D Mark IV at a shutter speed between 1/100 sec. and 1/160 sec.

Firmware Version 1.0.4 is for lenses with Firmware Version 1.0.3 or earlier.

You can download firmware 1.0.4 for the Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II here.

Canon EOS C300 and EOS C300 Mark II firmware updates available for download

Canon cinema EOS C300 Mark III
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Previously announced, the firmware updates for the Canon EOS C300 and EOS C300 Mark II are now available for download.

At a glance, the firmware updates provide the following (more in the video below):

  • The EOS C300 Mark II Digital Cinema Camera (EF-Mount) updates will allow various functions such as support for the Canon EVF-V70 OLED Electronic Viewfinder, WFT-E8 Wireless File Transmitter, Shutter Angle Priority, support for Zebra range at 65 percent or below, 2K Crop Audio Recording, Built-In Mic Audio off, and Peripheral Illumination Correction when using the new EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II USM lens.
  • The EOS C300 Mark II Digital Cinema Camera (PL-Mount) updates will allow various functions such as support for the Canon EVF-V70 OLED Electronic Viewfinder, WFT-E8 Wireless File Transmitter, Shutter Angle Priority, support for Zebra range at 65 percent or below, 2K Crop Audio Recording, and Built-In Mic Audio off.
  • The EOS C300 Digital Cinema Camera (EF-Mount) updates will allow various functions such as support for the WFT-E8 Wireless File Transmitter, Shutter Angle Priority, Grip Zoom Function when using CINE-SERVO 17-120mm EF-mount, CINE-SERVO 50-1000mm EF-Mount and COMPACT SERVO 18-80mm lenses, Auto Iris and Push Iris when using CINE-SERVO 17-120mm EF-mount, CINE-SERVO 50-1000mm EF-Mount and COMPACT SERVO 18-80mm lenses and Peripheral Illumination Correction when using the new EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II USM lens.
  • The EOS C300 Digital Cinema Camera DAF (EF-Mount) updates will allow various functions such as support for the WFT-E8 Wireless File Transmitter, Shutter Angle Priority, Dual Pixel CMOS AF (DAF) when using CINE-SERVO 17-120mm EF-Mount and COMPACT SERVO 18-80mm lenses, Grip Zoom Function when using CINE-SERVO 17-120mm EF-mount, CINE-SERVO 50-1000mm EF-Mount and COMPACT SERVO 18-80mm lenses, Auto Iris and Push Iris when using CINE-SERVO 17-120mm EF-mount, CINE-SERVO 50-1000mm EF-Mount and COMPACT SERVO 18-80mm lenses and Peripheral Illumination Correction when using the new EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II USM lens.
  • The EOS C300 Digital Cinema Camera (PL-Mount) updates will allow various functions such as support for the WFT-E8 Wireless File Transmitter and Shutter Angle Priority.

Canon EOS C300 Mark II: B&H Photo | Adorama

Off Brand: Sony no longer a “junk company”, Moody’s says

sony

Nikkei Asian Review reports:

TOKYO — Moody’s Japan has put Sony’s credit rating back up to investment grade, it announced on Tuesday.

The Japanese electronics maker’s credit rating was upgraded to Baa3, up one notch from the “junk” status of Ba1. Moody’s has also changed the ratings outlook to stable from positive.

“The positive rating action which reverts Sony’s rating to investment grade, reflects principally that the company’s financial profile has been dramatically repaired,” Masako Kuwahara, Moody’s vice president and senior analyst said in a press release. Read the article…

Moody’s also expects more good news from Sony as the company is “setting aside one-off factors — such as [the] Kumamoto earthquake“.

Mitakon Speedmaster 135mm f/1.4 lens shipping soon (world’s fastest 135mm lens)

Mitakon 135mm f/1.4
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At a glance:

  • Focal Length: 135mm
  • Max. Aperture: f/1.4
  • Min. focusing distance: 1.6m
  • Optical Structure: 11 elements in 5 groups (with 3pcs large ED elements)
  • Aperture blades: 11pcs
  • Clickless aperture ring
  • Filter thread: 105mm
  • Net Weight: 3kg (6.6lb)
  • Camera mounts: Canon / Nikon / Sony FE

The Mitakon Speedmaster 135mm f/1.4, made by Chinese manufacturer ZY Optics and announced in October 2015, seems to be close to ship and hit the shelves. ZY Optics’ Facebook page has a clear statement:

We are shipping this beast soon.

The price isn’t on a budget level, the Mitakon Speedmaster 135mm f/1.4 sells for $2,999, and you can pre-order it with a $500 deposit at ZY Optics. Not bad for a beast weighting 3kg (6.6lb) that’s also the fastest 135mm lens you can get. Please note that according to ZY Optics’ site there will be a first batch with just 100 pieces, and that the deposit is not refundable (except if the lens cannot be delivered).

Mitakon Speedmaster 135mm
Picture from ZY Optics’ Facebook page

A sample gallery shot with a pre-production model can be viewed at DPReview.

A Bit of Everything (EOS 5D4, Milvus 18mm, Rokinon 50mm, Canon 16-35mm, tutorials)

Above: 50mm vs 35mm vs 28mm – Best Street Photography Lens – Kaiman Wong

Tutorial: How to Use Canon’s Camera Connect App to Transfer Photos from Your 5D Mark IV to Your Cellphone – Fstoppers

Tutorial: Photographing Holiday Lights – Canon Digital Learning Center

Review: Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III – The Phoblographer

Camera of the Year 2016: Best Professional and High-End Cameras – Imaging Resource – IR names the EOS 5D Mark IV as “best professional DSLR” of the year:

In short, while it looks like a 5D Mark III, the design is refined, well thought-out, and most of all familiar, which to a professional is exactly what he or she wants and needs. They need a tool, and the 5D Mark IV is an exceptional one, for photography as well as for video

Review: Zeiss Milvus 18mm f/2.8 Distagon T* Lens – ePHOTOzine

Teardown: An Inside Look at the Rokinon 50mm AF FE Autofocus Lens – LensRentals

This lens was a pleasant surprise. No, it’s not built like a tank. But it is built like a small, efficient, well-constructed lens. With some of the previous Samyang / Rokinon lenses we disassemble them going “Oh, that’s going to break. This could be a problem.” We didn’t see any obvious weak points like that with this lens. It’s a clear step up in construction quality.

The Top 10 Photos, Cameras, and Tags on Flickr in 2016 – PetaPixel

Tutorial: Create a Faded 60s Effect in Photoshop – Lumoid Blog

Top 100 Photography Blogs Every Photographer Must Read – Feedspot

The Winners Of The 2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer Of The Year Contest – Bored Panda

Below: Tilt Shift Tutorial – CanonUSA

Below, tutorial: How to Turn a Boring Photo Into an Awesome Image With Lightroom! – Lightroom Photo Editing – YuriFineart

Interview with Sigma CEO Kazuto Yamaki Suggests Sigma May Build Video Cameras in Future

yamaki

Johnnie Behiri of Cinema5D interviewed Kazuto Yamaki, CEO of Sigma, during his last visit to Japan.

Behiri had a clear list of questions for Mr. Kazuto Yamaki. You can see the list below, and use the list as index for the video.

  • 00:17 – How was it to grow-up in a house with an enthusiastic father? (Mr. Michihiro Yamaki established the company in 1961 and passed away in 2012, at the age of 78).
  • 01:29 – Can you please share with our audience your daily routine?
  • 03:14 – How do you prioritise which mount and lenses to make?
  • 04:01 – How easy was the decision to start making the Art line of high-quality lenses?
  • 05:27 – In the past, Sigma lenses were considered affordable. Then you decided to hit the upper end of the market. What was the reason?
  • 06:53 – In such a crowded market, Sigma is producing a high-quality stills camera that does not offer any video functionality. Why is that?
  • 07:51 – Are you able to keep good sales is a declining market?
  • 09:07 – Why did you decide to produce cine lenses?
  • 09:57 – Where did people go? Why aren’t they buying lenses anymore?
  • 10:26 – What would be your dream zoom lens?

Johnnie Behiri sums up the interview:

In such a competitive business, I wouldn’t be AT ALL surprised if a Sigma mirrorless camera with high-quality video capabilities were to be announced. Although their current line of photo cameras is aimed at a certain niche, the obvious thing to do would be to step out and explore a market which Sigma can shine at as they have no upper market to protect. When it comes to cine lenses and the likelihood of Sigma expending their new line, a lot will depend on “how well the cine lenses be received by our industry”.

Personally, I hope Sigma will make many more outstanding lenses as in the ART line-up.

[via Cinema5D]