Canon EOS 5D Mark III Firmware Update Set To Be Released April 30

5D Mark III Firmware

The firmware update for the Canon EOS 5D Mark III (price & specs)announced last year, will most probably be available April 30. Canon updated their product page, click overview and you’ll see that the last line states:

A firmware update for EOS 5D Mark III is scheduled to be available on April 30, 2013. Please click here to learn more.

The firmware update will provide clean HDMI output and center focusing up to f/8.

Canon EOS 5D Mark III price check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA [via CR]

Rumor: Canon EOS 70D And EOS 7D Mark II Could Have A 21MP Sensor

New tidbits about the upcoming new Canon DSLRs, the EOS 70D and the EOS 7D Mark II.

It appears as if Canon is planning to feature a new 21MP sensor on the EOS 7D Mark II, and it is said that the same sensor may also show up on the EOS 70D. But wait! Canon is still planning to launch the Canon EOS 70D with the same (new) 18MP sensor features on the Rebel SL1/EOS 100D, but they are having second thoughts and are testing various prototypes.

An important concern for Canon is that mass production of the 21MP sensor is not yet really ready to start, and that is delaying all APS-C sensor DSLR announcements

[via CR]

Want A Macro, Need A Macro, Love Macro? Then Check These Deals On Tamron Macros (and new arrivals)

Tamron Macros
New arrival: Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 Di VC USD 1:1 AF Macro

Adorama has some concrete discounts going on on selected Tamron macros, and they have the new Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 Di VC USD 1:1 AF Macro in stock and ready to ship for $749 (click here). Best of all: Tamron offers a 6 year USA warranty.

The following Tamron macros get a mail-in rebate (expires 6/30/13):

  • Tamron SP 60mm f/2 Di II 1:1 AF Macro – $100n mail-in rebate on sale for $424 (click here)
  • Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 Di 1:1 AF Macro – $50 mail-in rebates on sale for $449 (click here)
  • Tamron SP 180mm f/3.5 Di Macro LD-IF Autofocus Telephoto Lens – $50 mail-in rebate on sale for $689 (click here)
Tamron Macros
Tamron SP 180mm f/3.5 Di Macro LD-IF Autofocus Telephoto Lens

Want To Protect Your Canon EOS 6D? Check These Silicon Covers

Canon EOS 6D

Want to protect your precious Canon EOS 6D full-frame DSLR (price & specs)? Then, if you like the aesthetics, these silicon covers made by Japan Hobby Tools may the right choice for you. Albeit the looking may not be anyone’s taste, the covers provide for sure a good protection for the camera body.

The silicon covers are on sale on eBay (click here).

Canon EOS 6D price check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA, and check this cool EOS 6D deal.

Canon EOS 6D

Canon EOS 6D

[via fareastgizmos]

UPDATE 2 – Announcement Of Sigma’s UFO (Unbelievable F-stop Object) May Be Matter Of Minutes

Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8

While there are still no information about the price so far, we have Update 2 about the world’s fastes zoom lens: Seaki P&C posted a lot of detailed pictures of the Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 on their blog. Some information also on their Facebook page. Sigma’s press release can be seen here:

To develop a large aperture zoom lens with a maximum aperture of F1.8, it was necessary to solve a variety of technical challenges. As the f-number decreases, so does the depth of focus, making it extremely difficult to minimize spherical aberration, axial chromatic aberration, astigmatism and field curvature. To minimize astigmatism across the zoom range, Sigma leveraged its extensive experience in reducing optical aberrations and designing advanced structural elements. Sigma gained this know-how when it developed such super wide angle zoom lenses as the SIGMA12-24mm F4.5-5.6 II DG HSM and SIGMA 8-16mm F4.5-5.6 DC HSM. Ongoing technological innovation at Sigma’s Aizu Factory has also contributed to further enhancements in lens production. Advanced production technologies have made possible a large-diameter molded glass aspheric lens, which teams up with SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass elements to optimize power distribution and minimize axial chromatic and spherical aberration and field curvature. Thanks to its hard-earned knowledge of lens design and advanced lens manufacturing techniques, Sigma has succeeded in creating a lens that offers F1.8 throughout the zoom range, as well as exceptional image quality at wide open aperture.

Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8
The x-axis represents image height (distance from center of image in mm), and the y-axis represents the relative illumination at the edge of the image (with illumination at the center of the image defined as 100%). When relative illumination is low, the corners of the image appear dark, resulting in vignetting.
Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8
Distortion

 

Update 1: The Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 is real! ephotozine posted a hands-on of the lens:

The lens is a solidly built lens with a metal and plastic construction, with rubber grips making it easy to adjust zoom and focus. The rear lens mount is made out of coated brass, and the lens feels extremely well built with a decent weight. Marked on the side is three digits of its release year so the lens can be identified by the date of launch. Focus was quick and silent and the front ring allows full time manual focusing adjustment. With just a brief period of time shooting with the lens, results look impressive with sharp images at both wide and telephoto ends of the lens, and good bokeh performance when using the lens wide open.

Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 Key Features

  • 18-35mm, 27.5-52.5mm equivalent
  • Constant f/1.8 aperture – f/16 minimum
  • 9 rounded diaphragm blades
  • 17 elements in 12 groups
  • Special Low Dispersion (SLD) glass
  • A – Art series lens
  • 72mm filter thread
  • Internal focusing and zooming
  • Super Multi-Layer Coating
  • AF/MF switch on side
  • 28cm closest focus distance
  • 1:4.3 maximum magnification ratio
  • Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM)
  • 78x121mm (diameter x length)
  • 810g
Image credit: ephotozine.com

In a few minutes the new Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 dc hsm lens, a zoom lens with a constant f/1.8!, may be announced by Sigma.

Some pictures of the lens already emerged on the web, in Czech site Digiarena (source: PetaPixel). The Korean Sigma distributor Seaki P&C shows the teaser you see above. On slrclub (translated) there is more information: it appears as if the Korean distributor is going to announce the new Sigma today. Moreover, a trusted source told me the announcement should happen at 2pm Korean time. More or less now.

Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8

Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8

Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8