A Canon Watch’s Special: Get 20% Discount On Kuuvik Capture Tethering Software

I am proud to offer a special deal to all Canon Watch readers. A 20% discount on the retail price of Kuuvik Capture, a newly released tethering software for the Mac. All you have to do is enter the coupon code canonwatch.com when checking out in the webshop. The discount program starts today, June 3th and runs through June 12th. For ten days. Instruction are at the end of the post

kuuvik capture
Advanced live view

What is Kuuvik Capture? It’s a feature-rich tethering application for Mac OS X. It has all the remote shooting functionality you find in other similar software, but it offers much more than simple live view. Kuuvik Capture offers some functionality that can make a difference in your workflow:

  • easy and intuitive interface
  • advanced live view
  • split view of the live view image with simultaneous evaluation of focus and depth of field
  • parametric sharpening along with focus peaking overlay – in real time and applied to the camera’s live view stream
  • unique raw-image-based histogram completed with over and underexposure warning
  • ability to program your camera’s custom white balance
  • exposure sequence automation (HDR, time-lapse)
  • and much more…

Currently, Kuuvik Capture is available at an introductory price, so you get an even better bargain when applying the coupon code (see below how to).

  • Licenses for Canon EOS 60D, 650D, 600D, 550D, 1100D: $79.99 – with coupon code: $63.99
  • Licenses for Canon EOS-1D X, 1D Mark IV, 1Ds Mark III, 5D Mark III, 5D Mark II, 6D, 7D: $99.99 – with coupon code $79.99

How to get the 20% discount. First, download the 30 day trial version of Kuuvik Capture here (scroll down to the bottom of the page). Then, you can buy the license from within the application following the Kuuvik Capture->License path. After that you click on the “Buy” button. The coupon code (canonwatch.com) needs to be entered right before checkout in the webshop. The discount will be applied against the purchase price. Happy tethering! :-)

kuuvik capture
Split view

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

  • Apple Mac or MacBook computer with a 2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo or better processor.
  • 2 GB RAM (4 GB is highly recommended).
  • 100 MB free disk space for the application, and gigabytes for your photos.
  • Calibrated monitor with minimum 1280 x 800 pixels resolution.
  • OS X 10.6.8, 10.7.5, 10.8.3 or later.

CAMERA SUPPORT

  • Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III 2,3,4,5, EOS-1D Mark IV 6, EOS-1D X 1,6
  • Canon EOS 5D Mark II 6, EOS 5D Mark III 1, EOS 6D 1, EOS 7D 6
  • Canon EOS 60D 6
  • Canon EOS 550D 6, EOS 600D 6, EOS 650D
  • Canon EOS 1100D 4,6

(1) Split view is available and fully supported.
(2) Live mode AF is not supported.
(3) Picking white balance from the live image is not supported.
(4) Remote mirror lock-up is not available or not supported.
(5) Displaying exposure metering result is not supported.
(6) Displaying exposure metering result is not supported in manual mode.

kuuvik capture

Mitakon Lens Turbo Adapter For EF Mount Will Be Released End Of June

[shoplink 13302 ebay]

Mitakon Lens Turbo

[/shoplink]

I reported about the Speed Booster clone, the Mitakon Lens Turbo for [shoplink 12535]Sony Nex[/shoplink] cameras. Now, MXcamera released the full Lens Turbo for Sony NEX roadmap. The lens turbo adapter for Canon EF mounts will be released on 4th week of June.

Save this search in Slidoo to get notified when there will be an auction.

Currently,  the [shoplink 13300 ebay]Canon FD (here one Bay)[/shoplink] adapter is out of stock, it will be restocked on 1st week of June.

[via sonyalpharumors]

Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS 1.4x Starts To Ship (and reviews and Canon DLC article)

EF 200-400mm f/4L IS 1.4x

It appears that Adorama and B&H started shipping pre-orders of the EF 200-400mm f/4L IS 1.4x lens. The lens has a price tag of $11,799 – just like a small car. Nevertheless, I am sure this lens will sell well with professional photographers.

There are some good reviews about the 200-400mm f/4L IS 1.4x. Canon Explorer of Light Peter Read Miller had the opportunity to test the lens at the London Olympics 2012 (source: pixsylated). He says:

So, how does the lens perform? The copy I had was fantastic. I’m not an empirical tester—I just shot the lens daily at the London Olympics for 16 days on my EOS-1D X bodies, almost always wide open and usually under challenging lighting conditions. I think without the extender the sharpness is a match for any Canon prime telephoto and with the extender the performance is as good or better than any prime lens plus extender combination I have ever used. The auto-focus speed on the 1D X body is on a par with the latest Series II lenses. The image-stabilization allowed me to make a sharp photo of the Queen during the opening ceremonies at a shutter speed of 1/100 of a second at 560mm on a monopod.

French site Le Monde de la Photo posted a in-depth review (Google translated) of the EF 200-400mm f/4L IS 1.4x.

EF 200-400mm f/4L
Image courtesy: Le Monde de la Photo

B&H also posted their own review:

The lens is certainly aimed at those who need the ability to work quickly and deftly, and aside from the handling and speed afforded by it, the lens is also capable of producing imagery of the highest quality. The array of low-dispersion elements, fluorite and USD, coupled with the optimized optical structure and lens coatings resulted in imagery that left little to be desired. As with other L series lenses, the quality of imagery, overall performance, and design of the lens is suitable for any working situation, and the added benefit of this lens being able to produce such imagery with the convenience of both a zoom design and integrated 1.4x extender make it truly an effective tool that is ideally situated for sports, wildlife and nature photography.

Finally, for those who want to know the technical background of the lens, there is an article by Canon Digital Learning Center.

The lens should soon be available for rent at Borrow Lenses.

Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS 1.4x: Amazon(click here) | Adorama (click here) | B&H (click here)

 

New Version Of Canon DPP (3.13.0) Available For Download

A software update for Canon’s Digital Photo Professional (version 3.13.0) is available for download (click here). Select first your operating system in order to download the software.

Changes:

  • Supports images taken with [shoplink 11242]EOS Kiss X7i/EOS REBEL T5i/EOS 700D[/shoplink] and EOS-1D C.
  • Supports new lens ([shoplink 8253]EF 35mm f2 IS USM[/shoplink], [shoplink 11699]EF-S 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 IS STM[/shoplink]).

Canon DLC Article: Reading and understanding lens MTF charts

MTF charts
MTF charts of the highly popular [shoplink 230]Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM[/shoplink] lens (image credit: Canon USA)
Canon Digital Learning Center posted an interesting article about MTF (Modulation Transfer Function) Charts.

Most photography and video enthusiasts have seen “MTF” (Modulation Transfer Function) charts for different lenses, but perhaps have not been entirely clear on exactly what they communicate. We know they’re supposed to give an indication of a lens’ expected optical performance, but beyond that it may be a bit of a mystery. We’ll try to move past the technical terms and explain them here in a real-world way.

[via CDLC]

Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM Lens In Stock And Ready To Ship (and review)

Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8

The image stabilized Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM is in stock at B&H for $3,599 (click here). The lens gets good reviews, for instance at ephotozine were they write:

Although the performance of this lens isn’t of the same absolute brilliance of the Nikon and Canon fixed super-telephoto lenses, it isn’t all that far behind. Add in the flexibility afforded by the zoom and it still makes a compelling alternative to the camera manufacturer’s own fast telephoto glass.

They point out the good sharpness, low chromatic aberration, high build quality, fast AF. Excellent value for the money.