DxO set to release a new version of Nik Collection in 2018

nik collection

After Google announced it would no longer develop and maintain the very popular Nik Collection software, it came as  good news that DxO acquired the software a few months ago, and now plans to release a new version in 2018.

DxO states:

Dear Nik Collection users,

We at DxO are very pleased to welcome the Nik community! We wish you a very happy holiday season and a healthy and prosperous New Year: may you be inspired to take spectacular photos in 2018!

Like you, we are passionate about photography and image quality. That’s why we view this opportunity with Nik as a commitment to ensure that you — that all of us who enjoy taking photos — are guaranteed to have the very best solutions at our disposal.

You’ll be happy to know that our developers are enthusiastically working on a new version of the Nik Collection to be released in 2018!

So, there is a future for Nik Collection’s U Point technology. The U Point technology is implemented in Snapseed, one of the best free photoeditors for the iPad/iPhone and for Android.

B&H Photo’s best deals of 2017 are back for two days (exp. 12/28/2017)

deals

As they did last year, this year too B&H Photo is offering their most popular DealZone deals for two days. It’s today and tomorrow (expires 12/28 at 11.59pm EST), then it’s over.

B&H Photo’s most popular deals are listed in these categories:

Here are the featured Canon deals:

More noteworthy deals on display calibration systems:


Our select deals are listed here. Please note that as good as all deals have an expiration. We try to always date them precisely also in the text but we may miss some hits.

Today’s Gold Box and one day only deals at Amazon US, Amazon DE, Amazon UK, B&H Photo, eBay, Adorama, and refurbished lenses and DSLRs at Canon Store (check the refurbished listings at Canon Store whenever you have time for it, the best deals hide there).

Amazon US Holiday Season Deals    –    B&H Photo Holiday Season deals    –    Adorama Holiday SeasonDeals    –    Canon Store Holiday Deals

Amazon EU and Amazon US holiday deals pages are up and running: Amazon US, Amazon CA, Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon FR, Amazon ES and Amazon IT.

All B&H Photo’s Canon deals for the holidays are listed here   –   All Adorama Canon deals for for the holidays are listed here.

Macphun Luminar 2018 update released, support for Canon EOS M100 & PowerShot G1 X Mark III added

Luminar 2018
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Macphun releases an update for Luminar 2018.  New camera models have been added (among them the Canon EOS M100 and PowerShot G1 X Mark III), and new features and improvements have been introduced.

You can purchase Luminar 2018 and get a $10 discount using code WATCH (so you pay $59 instead of $69). 

This is how you update (more info here):

  • Mac – launch Luminar 2018, on the Top Menu Bar choose Luminar 2018 > Check for updates.
  • Windows  – launch Luminar 2018, on the Top Tool Bar choose Help > Check for updates.

Features and improvements after the break.

Click here to open the rest of the article

Canon patent for EF 17-35mm f/4-5.6 IS STM lens

canon patent

Here is a patent application that could make it into production, more sooner than later.

Canon patent application in Japan 2017-16156 describes the optical formula for an EF 17-35mm f/4-5.6 IS STM lens. Since Canon started to build non-L, STM lenses for their full-frame cameras, it was to expect that this popular focal length would follow. We usually point to the fact that most patent never make it into production. This one may be different.

  • focal distance: 17.50  25.12  34.09
  • f numbers: 4.00 4.85   5.88
  • half field angle (degree): 51.03  40.73  32.40
  • image height: 21.64  21.64  21.64
  • length of the lens: 130.88 128.52 134.05
  • BF: 37.60  49.75  64.06

Here are two more patents (1 and 2) that could likely go into production.

Source

Canon patent for stacked sensor design (AF and image data off the sensor)

canon patentCanon patent application US20170366776 describes several stacked sensor designs.

The patent focuses on separating auto-focus and image data pipelines from the chip on the image sensor. Such a design has several advantages: less bandwidth to transfer data from the sensor, which leads to more speed and reduced power consumption (hence also less heat).

The patent abstract:

An imaging element having a layered structure including a first chip having a pixel portion in which pixels for photoelectrically converting an optical image of an object and generating a pixel signal are arranged two-dimensionally and a second chip in which a drive means of the pixel portion is arranged, and having a first output path to output the pixel signals of at least a first pixel group in the pixel portion and a second output path to output the pixel signals of a second pixel group, comprises the a conversion means for converting the pixel signals of the first and second output paths into digital signals and a control information generation means for generating control information of a photographing operation of the object by using the digital signal converted by the conversion means, wherein at least a part of the conversion means is arranged in the first chip.

Please note that patent applications do not mean a company will implement the described technology any time soon. Indeed, most patents never make it into production. An example of a Canon patent describing a technology that might be featured on a future Canon DSLR can be seen here, another one here.

Canon’s full-frame mirrorless camera might be called M3 and sell for $3500, T. Northrup predicts

canon

Tony & Chelsea Northrup shared their predictions for cameras that will or might be announced in 2018.

Among other stuff, he makes some speculations on how Canon’s full-frame mirrorless camera might be shaped. These are the cameras discussed in the video: Canon EOS 5DS R Mark II, Canon EOS 7D Mark III, Canon EOS 90D, Canon EOS M3, Nikon D650, Nikon D850A, Nikon M700, Sony a5200, Sony a7 III, Sony a7S III, Fujifilm X-H1, Pentax K-1 II, Panasonic GH5-S, Olympus E-M5 Mk III.