Canon EOS-1D X Mark II announcement January 2016? [CW2]

EOS-1D X
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Another rumor suggesting the Canon EOS-1D X Mark II might get announced in January. Canon Rumors writes they have been told…

[…] by a couple of people that Canon is gearing up for a “significant” DSLR announcement in January of 2016.

If it is “significant” then it may well be the EOS-1D X Mark II. Not the first mention of a January 2016 announcement, though March 2016 may be a more realistic date. The Canon EOS-1D X Mark II could feature new sensor technology.

Modula Optical’s 33mm f/2 Lens Fuses Classic and Modern Optical Tech for Mirrorless Cameras (EOS M)

CM33
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A new lens for mirrorless cameras got a start at Kickstarter, and it’s an innovative concept that seems to be pretty interesting.

Modula Optics developed a really unique, pancake-like 33mm f/2 prime lens for mirrorless cameras (Fujifilm X, Sony E, and Canon M) called the CM33. The cool thing about the CM33 is a range of modular upgrade options. The most unique option is what is called “Mods” — special optical elements (filters, lenses, etc.) that can be inserted into the middle of the lens near the aperture stop, rather than screwed on the front ring. This lets you create some really interesting optical effects in a completely “as needed” way, rather than requiring a specialized lens to, for example, get a bokeh apodization effect or well-controlled soft focus effect.

If this cool idea captures your attention, head over to Kickstarter to back up the project. Have a look at the video below for an overview.

Press release:

Plano, Texas (PRWEB)December 08, 2015

Today Modula Optical introduces the CM33 33mm f/2 lens for mirrorless cameras on Kickstarter. The CM33 brings the best elements of classic manual focus lenses to a modern ultra-compact design that is optimized specifically for today’s mirrorless cameras from Fujifilm, Sony and Canon *. The CM33’s proprietary optical design offers superb image quality and macro capability in a pancake form factor, and the lens forms the basis of a modular optical platform for a range of add-on optical effects in the form of Mods, as well as usability customizations and adapters.

Focusing the CM33 is unapologetically manual-only. It offers the kind of precision and feel found in great SLR and rangefinder lenses of the past which is lacking with the electronically-controlled manual focus in many of today’s autofocus lenses. The CM33 pairs that manual control with its Focus Finder feature: an external switch that holds the aperture fully open to temporarily decrease the depth of field so photographers can pinpoint their desired focus point precisely – a sort of reversal of the typical depth-of-field preview button. Used hand-in-hand with the manual focus aids built into mirrorless cameras, the CM33’s focus, aperture, and Focus Finder controls provide quick and robust creative control over captured images.

Click here to open the rest of the article

Camera Raw 9.3.1 now available for download

lightroom

Adobe released Camera Raw 9.3.1 to the public. You can update via the update mechanism in the Creative Cloud app (Help>Updates), or do a direct download (Mac | Win).

From Lightroom Journal:

Camera Raw 9.3.1 is now available through the update mechanism in Photoshop CC and the Creative Cloud application.  This version fixes a bug that resulted in inaccurate tiles, such as black or white squares when not expected, when opening images in Photoshop. Please note that this bug typically only appeared when using both the Camera Raw plug-in and Photoshop for long running sessions.

Thank you for all your assistance in helping us find and fix this issue!  Thanks!

Download Links: Direct download (Mac | Win)

Camera Raw 9 – Please select Help>Updates to use the update mechanism in the Creative Cloud app.

Please note – If you have trouble updating to the latest ACR update via the Creative Cloud application, please refer to the following plugin installation: http://helpx.adobe.com/x-productkb/multi/camera-raw-plug-in-installer.html

Stormscapes 3, another jaw-dropping journey into the world of superstorms

More or less one year ago I featured Stormscapes 2, a time-lapse video by Nicolaus Wegner. Now Wegner published Stormscapes 3, another incredible journey into the world of storms, supercells and other amazing weather phenomenons.

Stormscapes 3 is for those that enjoy the visual aspect of our beautifully unique Blue Marble’s fascinating weather, or those wishing to experience elemental nature in some of its most surreal and chaotic forms. Particularly focusing on severe weather located in the northern high plains region (and adjacent ranges) of the USA. This video showcases a variety of supercells and other rotating storms, spooky night based mesoscale convective systems, atmospheric optics such as rainbows and crepuscular rays, various forms of lightning, and even a rare Shirley Basin, Wyoming tornado.

Wenger notes that “if you suffer from any negative photosensitive reactions to strobing or flashing lights, it might be advisable to skip the night focused lightning sequences” at the end of the video.

[via DIY Photography via Nicolaus Wegner]

More on the Canon vs Grey Market Retailers Legal Action

canon

Photography Bay posted an update to the Canon vs. grey market retailer legal action started by Canon. Canon USA has filed an amended complaint against F&E Trading, which represents BigValueInc, Electronic Valley and other grey market retailer. According to Photography Bay the amended complaint is about…:

In its Amended Complaint, Canon USA doesn’t really add on any additional egregious actions, but rather takes aim at pinning the alleged misconduct on Albert Houllou, who appears to be the principal owner/operator of F & E Trading.

Canon USA slices out several facts in an attempt to paint Houllou as the real wrongdoer in its trademark violation case. This strategy is a common tactic in lawsuits against companies.

[…]

As someone who used to practice corporate law, I can tell you that it is always a big win to get an individual (typically an owner or executive) on the hook for the wrongdoing (aka “piercing the corporate veil”). This allows the plaintiff (e.g., Canon USA) to hold a person (not just a company) personally liable for the wrongdoing. If you can get at a person’s assets, then you can apply a whole lot more pressure in settlement negotiations or drive them into bankruptcy.

Canon refers to the video below to claim that Mr. Houllou is the sole responsible and in the charge of F&E’s actions.

Photography Bay also published the PDF of the amended complaint (below).

Canon USA v. F & E Trading, LLC

[via Photography Bay]

Canon’s 250MP APS-H sensor is based on column parallel ADC technology

canon 250mp sensor

Do you remember the 250MP sensor Canon showed off last year? I am pretty sure the sensor is based on column parallel ADC technology.

There is an interesting paper presented at ISSCC 2016 (2016 IEEE international Solid-State Circuits Conference) by a team of Canon researchers, with title (thanks Richard)

“An APS-H-Size 250Mpixel CMOS Image Sensor Using Column Single-Slope ADCs with Dual-Gain Amplifiers” (H. Totsuka, T. Tsuboi, T. Muto, D. Yoshida, Y. Matsuno, M. Ohmura, H. Takahashi, K. Sakurai, T. Ichikawa, H. Yuzurihara, S. Inoue -Canon, Kawasaki, Japan)

Unfortunately the paper will be presented in January, when the conference takes place, and is not yet available to the public.

I posted a few days ago that Canon filed a slew of patents regarding column parallel ADC technology, and that I got a hint this technology may be implemented in future Canon pro bodies (which in the meantime has been reposted by some sites). I am currently studying more Canon patents that all refer to column parallel ADC technology. Given the sheer amount of such patent, I think it is safe to assume that Canon has some plans with this technology.

2016 will be an exciting year for Canon, with new pro bodies coming (EOS 5D Mark IV and EOS-1D X Mark II) along with the EOS 6D Mark II and possibly a full-frame mirrorless camera. It’s too early to speculate on which cameras Canon will feature a sensor with column parallel ADC technology, but they will. I believe we may see this technology first on the EOS 5D Mark IV and EOS-1D X Mark II.

The video below (by Fotografiapuntoit) gives an overview on Canon’s 250MP sensor. Stay tuned for more…

[via Image Sensors World]