Deal: CyberLink PowerDirector 15 Ultra (DVD) – $39.95 (reg. 74.95)

CyberLink PowerDirector
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CyberLink PowerDirector 15 Ultra at a glance:

  • Advanced & Intuitive Prosumer NLE
  • Sophisticated & Express Editing Tools
  • New Action Camera Center
  • New 360° Video Toolkit
  • Motion Tracking, Color Correction & More
  • New Vertical Mobile Video Workflow
  • Video Blending Modes
  • Includes 5 Different Effects Packages
  • 25GB CyberLink Cloud Service for 1 Year
  • Windows Compatible

B&H Photo DealZone dal of today is the CyberLink PowerDirector 15 Ultra (DVD edition), on sale at 39.95, Compare at $74.95. Free shipping, today only.

There is more…

To celebrate National Photography Day, the Canon Direct Store has all refurbished lenses 10% off. The offer lasts for the whole week but you can be sure that the best deals will be over soon, so hurry up and look out for the lens you are thinking about. For the time being most lenses are still in stock.

More refurbished gear listings at Canon Store:

Today’s Gold Box and one day only deals at Amazon US, Amazon DE, Amazon UK, B&H Photo, eBay and Adorama

Canon full-frame mirrorless camera eventually coming in 2018 with a sensor over 30MP?

full frame Mirrorless
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The long running speculations and rumors about a Canon full-frame mirrorless camera got a new push.

I’ve been told (thanks) that 2018 may indeed be the year Canon will announce the company’s first mirrorless camera with a full-frame sensor. For sure such a camera is highly anticipated by the community.

In the past there were all sort of rumors, sometimes one contradicting the other. One of the more interesting suggestions was given to us in January, and it said Canon’s full-frame mirrorless camera may have the same sensor and electronics as the EOS 6D Mark II. While this could be considered at least plausible back in January it no longer does in August. There was no announcement of a Canon full-frame mirrorless and I strongly doubt there will be one before end of 2017.

A full-frame mirrorless camera set to go to market in 2018 will not have the same internals as the EOS 6D Mark II, let alone the same sensor. Canon needs to catch up with the competition (Sony, mostly) and the high resolution sensors delivered. 2018 will be the year when Canon will start delivering image sensors with resolutions well over 30MP for all their full-frame cameras.

So, what do we know about Canon’s mirrorless camera? A few things we do:

  • Different sources and sites were reporting that early prototypes exist, at least to be tested inside Canon’s labs. This intel came in 2016 and early 2017.
  • Canon is possibly working on a full-frame mirrorless camera with EF mount. There have been rumors saying that Canon is delaying this camera because of issues in implementing the EF mount. There is a lot of talk about this. If Canon manages to engineer a full-frame mirrorless camera with EF mount, thus allowing us to use our beloved EF lenses on a smaller and hopefully performing body, it will be a winner. Imagine what you could do with a MILC that goes along with your EF lenses. There is serious a chance we may see this.
  • The latest bit of info I got suggests Canon will announce a full-frame mirrorless camera with a sensor having a resolution of 36-38MP.
  • A possible announcement date is around Photokina 2018, which happens in September.
  • And for all those 4K fans out there: we have been told that, yes!, most likely it will feature 4K video.

I think the most interesting bit among the very scarce information we have so far is related to the EF mount. Given Canon’s incredible laziness in producing dedicated lenses for their EOS M system, I can only hope Canon’s engineers manage to build a mirrorless camera with EF mount.

What do you think, will we see a Canon full-frame mirrorless camera in 2018? And do you think it will have an EF mount? Sound off in the comment section, I am curious to know your thoughts.

Refurbished Lenses at Canon Store are 10% off for the whole week (but hurry up)

refurbished
Refurbished Canon EF 100-400mm F4.5-5.6L IS II are in stock

To celebrate National Photography Day, the Canon Direct Store has all refurbished lenses 10% off. The offer lasts for the whole week but you can be sure that the best deals will be over soon, so hurry up and look out for the lens you are thinking about. For the time being most lenses are still in stock.

More refurbished gear listings at Canon Store:

Today’s Gold Box and one day only deals at Amazon US, Amazon DE, Amazon UK, B&H Photo, eBay and Adorama

Canon gets 3 EISA awards for EOS 5D Mark IV, EOS 77D, and EF 16-35mm F2.8L III

Eisa awards
Three EISA awards for Canon, respectively for the EOS 5D Mark IV, the EOS 77D, and the EF 16-35mm F2.8L III lens.

Canon press release:

Canon recognised as a class-leader by the 2017 EISA awards

London, UK, 15 August 2017 – Canon Europe, world leader in imaging solutions, is honoured to today announce it has been awarded three prestigious accolades from the European Imaging and Sound Association (EISA). The EOS 5D Mark IV has been named ‘EISA Professional DSLR Camera 2017-2018’, the EOS 77D has been awarded ‘EISA Consumer DSLR Camera 2017-2018’ and the Canon EF 16-35mm F2.8L III USM has been awarded ‘EISA Professional DSLR Lens 2017-2018’.

Canon recognised as a class-leader by the 2017 EISA awards

London, UK, 15 August 2017 – Canon Europe, world leader in imaging solutions, is honoured to today announce it has been awarded three prestigious accolades from the European Imaging and Sound Association (EISA). The EOS 5D Mark IV has been named ‘EISA Professional DSLR Camera 2017-2018’, the EOS 77D has been awarded ‘EISA Consumer DSLR Camera 2017-2018’ and the Canon EF 16-35mm F2.8L III USM has been awarded ‘EISA Professional DSLR Lens 2017-2018’.

EISA Professional DSLR Camera 2017-2018: [shoplink 40051]Canon EOS 5D Mark VI[/shoplink]

EISA Consumer DSLR Camera 2017-2018: [shoplink 43814]Canon EOS 77D[/shoplink]

EISA Professional DSLR Lens 2017-2018: [shoplink 40054]Canon EF 16-35mm F2.8L III USM[/shoplink]

Voted by a panel of editors representing over 50 internationally-respected magazines from across 20 European countries, plus USA and Australia, EISA celebrates new products that combine the most advanced technology and desirable features with class-leading performance.

“Canon has a long-standing reputation within the industry for delivering high-quality products that enable users to tell the best story of their lives through unlocking their creative shooting potential with the support, reliability and consistency needed,” commented Lee Bonniface, Marketing Director, Consumer Imaging, Canon Europe. “Feedback on our products through award recognition such as EISA, is paramount as we strive to produce pioneering and class-leading solutions that enable photographers around the world to discover, capture and share their own unique stories through photography.”

In recognition of Canon’s award-winning products, the EISA judging panel commented with the following citations:

EISA Professional DSLR Camera 2017-2018: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV

The Canon EOS 5D Mark IV is the tool of many professional photographers all over the world. Compared to its predecessor, Canon has increased the still image quality significantly with higher resolution and wider dynamic range, while the autofocus has become more sensitive. The video function is also much more advanced with quality 4K recording and fast autofocus in live view mode. The Canon EOS 5D Mark IV also features the innovative new Dual Pixel Raw feature, which allows sharpness and background blur to be fine-tuned later. All in all, the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV will remain a class-leading camera for several years to come.

EISA Consumer DSLR Camera 2017-2018: Canon EOS 77D

The Canon EOS 77D adopts many key features from the semi-professional EOS 80D. The 24.2 million pixel CMOS-sensor achieves a better dynamic range than its predecessor. A big advantage is that the Dual Pixel CMOS AF that enables a very fast and smooth autofocus during live view and video. Combined with STM or Nano USM lenses, the focus is very quiet. The viewfinder autofocus is also greatly improved, with 45 cross-type points. The new DIGIC 7 processor delivers enough power for fast continuous shooting (6 frames per second) and Full HD-video with high frame rates (1080/60p).

The top place LCD and the quick control dial allow fast operation. Other modern features are the articulated touchscreen and Wi-Fi, which is accompanied by Bluetooth for easy access.

EISA Professional DSLR Lens 2017-2018: Canon EF 16-35mm F2.8L III USM

The Canon EF 16-35mm F2.8L III USM has been long awaited by many professional photographers and exceeds expectations. It’s better built than its predecessors and gives astounding sharpness over the entire image, even at its full opening of F2.8. At 16mm it outperforms many ultra-wide-angle prime lenses. Distortion is low, while the anti-reflective coating very effectively reduces ghosting and flare. The Canon EF 16-35mm F2.8L III USM is built for everyday professional use and delivers an image quality that will satisfy even the most demanding users.

Canon EOS 6D Mark II firmware update coming September 2017?

Canon eos 6d mark ii deal
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Canon EOS 6D Mark II: [shopcountry 46185]

EOS 6D Mark II at a glance:

  • 26.2MP Full-Frame CMOS Sensor
  • DIGIC 7 Image Processor
  • 45-Point All-Cross Type AF System
  • Full HD Video at 60 fps; Electronic IS
  • 3.0″ Vari-Angle Touchscreen LCD
  • Dual Pixel CMOS AF and Movie Servo AF
  • Native ISO 40000, Expanded to ISO 102400
  • 6.5 fps Shooting; Time-Lapse & HDR Movie
  • Built-In GPS, Bluetooth, & Wi-Fi w/ NFC
  • Dust and Water Resistant; SD Card Slot

We have been told (thanks) that Canon will soon release a firmware update for the new Canon EOS 6D Mark II.

I doubt the firmware update will solve the alleged issues concerning limited dynamic range and poor high ISO performance of the Canon EOS 6D Mark II, though I’ve been told that it will. Most likely it will be a bug fix.

I have a hard time figuring out how a firmware update could solve what appears to be limits of the sensor itself, i.e. of the hardware. While it is true that you can correct some thing via software (firmware is software), I guess the limits of the 6D Mark II sensor are here to stay.

It seems Canon did well in disappointing many reviewers and potential customers. The lack of 4K video likely is the most criticized aspect of the EOS 6D Mark II, followed by the supposedly “poor” sensor performance at high ISO settings and a somewhat reduced dynamic range at low ISO.

One thing is sure: the firmware update will not bring 4K video to the EOS 6D Mark II.

Canon EF-S 35mm f/2.8 Macro IS STM reviewed by Photography Blog

35mm f/2.8 macro
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Canon EF-S 35mm f/2.8 Macro IS STM at a glance:

  • Standard macro prime designed for APS-C-format Canon DSLRs, this lens offers a 56mm equivalent focal length.
  • One glass-molded aspherical element is featured in the optical design to control spherical aberrations and deliver a high degree of sharpness and clarity.
  • Maximum 1:1 magnification and a minimum focusing distance of 5.1″ permits making life-size imagery of close-up subjects.
  • Built-in front-facing Macro Lite LED can be used to produce additional illumination to subjects when working at close distances. The light can be configured to illuminate only the right or left side, or both sides, and the brightness can be adjusted in order to produce greater visual depth and reduce shadows caused by the close proximity of the lens to the subject.
  • Hybrid IS image stabilization minimizes the appearance of camera shake for sharper imagery when shooting handheld.
  • Lead-screw-type STM stepping motor offers fast, quiet, smooth, and accurate autofocus performance that is ideal for video recording as well as still shooting.
  • Full-time manual focus mode (AF+MF) lets you instantly switch to manual focus control in AF mode for making fine-tuned adjustments.
  • Rounded seven-blade diaphragm and bright f/2.8 maximum aperture help to render smooth and pleasing bokeh to benefit shallow depth of field imagery.

One of the less talked about recent Canon lenses, the Canon EF-S 35mm f/2.8 Macro IS STM, got reviewed by Photography Blog. It’s a relatively inexpensive lens, it sells for $349 at Amazon US, and it seems it delivers for the bucks.

From the conclusion:

With a 35mm focal length giving you an equivalent of 56mm, it doubles up as an every day or walk around lens, giving you extra flexibility. Those who have a keen interest in macro photography will of course be particularly drawn towards it though.

The addition of the inbuilt macro lights is great news for anybody who likes to shoot extremely closely, and certain subjects, such as jewellery really benefit from the direct source of light. Certainly, anybody who needs to regularly shoot product photography may find this lens to be particularly useful.

Image quality is excellent, producing very sharp images with a high level of detail, as you would expect from a macro lens. Out of focus areas are also rendered very nicely, with attractive bokeh which would make this lens ideal for creating shallow depth of field shots – portraits would also be a good subject to shoot with it.

 Canon EF-S 35mm f/2.8 Macro IS STM: [shopcountry 45147]