First Black Friday deals pages go live

Black Friday

Black Friday is coming. Some major retailers have already put online the landing ages where deals and bargains are listed.

B&H Photo‘s page with Black Friday deals on Canon gear

B&H Photo‘s page with Black Friday deals on Sigma gear

Adorama‘s page with Black Friday deals on Canon gear

Amazon’s page with Black Friday deals

Today’s Gold Box and one day only deals at Amazon USAmazon DEAmazon UKB&H Photo, eBay and Adorama

X-Rite i1Display Pro and ColorChecker Passport Bundle deal – $209 (reg. $299, today only)

x-rite

At a glance:

  • i1Profiler Software – Wide Compatibility
  • Unlimited White Point, Luminance Control
  • Broadcast Video Standards Support
  • Ambient Light Measurement, Control
  • Profile Optimization: Custom Patches
  • Creative Enhancement Target
  • Classic Target
  • White Balance Target
  • Camera Calibration Software
  • Protective Pocket-Sized Case

B&H Photo’s DealZone deal of today is the X-Rite i1Display Pro and ColorChecker Passport Bundle, on sale at $209. Compare at $299.

Today’s Gold Box and one day only deals at Amazon USAmazon DEAmazon UKB&H Photo, eBay and Adorama

Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Review (ePhotozine)

Sigma 85mm f/1.4

Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG HSM Art: [shopcountry 41663]

At a glance:

  • EF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
  • Aperture Range: f/1.4 to 16
  • Two Low Dispersion Elements
  • One Aspherical Element
  • Super Multi-Layer Coating
  • Hyper Sonic AF Motor, Manual Override
  • Rounded 9-Blade Diaphragm
  • TSC Material, Brass Bayonet Mount
  • Compatible with Sigma USB Dock

Another positive review for the new Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art lens by ePhotozine.

The Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art lens is a high class, highly competent design that performs confidently and efficiently. It is of the modern breed of 85mm lenses, sharp from open aperture, as opposed to older designs that were intended to be softer wide open for the purposes of flattering portraits. This new lens is sharp throughout, although not cruelly over-sharp, so subjects should be pleased enough.

It is also delightful to use, the only omissions being vibration reduction and weather sealing, but the performance itself is not in question. Read the review…

The Sigma 85mm f/1.4 Art is a highly anticipated lens, and it just started shipping.

Canon product advisory for PowerShot ELPH 180/IXUS 175

PowerShot ELPH 180

Product advisory for the Canon PowerShot ELPH 180 (IXUS 175 in Europe)

Thank you for using Canon products.

In rare cases, the AF function on some PowerShot ELPH 180 compact digital cameras may not operate properly and focus may not be achieved. Customer support for this phenomenon is described below.

We take great pride in the quality and performance of our products. We offer our sincerest apologies to any customers who may be inconvenienced.

Phenomenon

In rare cases, when shooting still images or movies with the PowerShot ELPH 180 compact digital camera, the AF function on the camera does not operate properly, and focus is not achieved in the captured image or movie, even if the AF frame is displayed.

Affected Products

Only some PowerShot ELPH 180 compact digital cameras are affected by this phenomenon.

The phenomenon may occur in cameras whose  first two digits in its  serial number are “11”, “12” ,“21”,“22”,”23” or”24”.
(Examples of serial numbers for  cameras that may be affected:
“11xxxxxxxxxx” , “12xxxxxxxxx”, “21xxxxxxxxxx”,  “22xxxxxxxxxx”,  “23xxxxxxxxxx”, “24xxxxxxxxxxx”
(‘x’ can be any number)).

PowerShot ELPH 180

If the camera has a black marking on the inside of the battery cover, as shown in the image below, this indicates that your camera has been checked and the issue has been corrected.

PowerShot ELPH 180

Support

If the camera meets the serial number criteria listed above and does not have a black marking on the inside of the battery cover, and if the phenomenon occurs and is confirmed by CUSA we will repair the unit free of charge. If you own one of the affected cameras, please contact our Customer Support Center.

If you have not already done so, please register your PowerShot ELPH 180. By registering, we will be able to notify you via email about future service upgrades.

This information is for residents of the United States and its five territories only. If you do not reside in the USA or its five territories, please contact the Canon Customer Support Center in your region.

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Canon patent for 400mm f/2.8L IS lens with built-in extender

canon patent

Canon’s labs are working without interruption. Here we have a Canon patent for a 400mm f/2.8L IS lens with built-in extender.

  • Patent publication number 2016-191761
    • Release date 2016.11.10
    • Application date 2015.3.31
  • Main lens
    • Focal distance 392.57
    • F number 2.90
    • Field of View 3.15
    • Image height 21.64
    • Lens total length 371.15
    • BF 44.00
  • Example 1
    • First state magnification 1.40
    • Second state magnification 1.70

Excerpt from the patent literature:

[Claim(s)] [Claim 1] In a rear converter lens expandable to a long focal length by equipping the image surface side of a main lens,
Magnification can be changed by switching some or all of the rear converter lens,
Magnification of the n-th state of a rear converter lens from an installing surface which guarantees mechanically a relative position on an optic axis of beta_n, a rear converter lens, and a main lens, When average value of Sk_n and Sk_n of each state is made into Sk_ave for distance to a paraxial image surface position of the n-th state when a main lens is equipped with a rear converter lens
| (Sk_n-Sk_ave) x beta_n | < 0.10
A satisfied rear converter lens.
[Claim 2] When a focal distance of a rear converter lens of f_max and a minimum magnification state is made into f_min for a focal distance of a rear converter lens of a maximum magnification state of the aforementioned rear converter lens
1.5 < |f_min/f_max| < 10.0
The satisfied rear converter lens according to claim 1.
[Claim 3] When a forward side principal point position of ho_max and a minimum magnification state is made into ho_min for a forward side principal point position of a maximum magnification state of the aforementioned rear converter lens
0.05 (ho_max -ho_min) < /root(f_max^2+f_min^2) < 0.28
The satisfied rear converter lens according to claim 1.
[Claim 4] The rear converter lens according to claim 1 in which the aforementioned rear converter lens is characterized by some or all of a rear converter lens changing to optical axis direction and vertical direction at the time of magnification change.
[Claim 5] The rear converter lens according to claim 1, wherein the aforementioned rear converter lens has the 1st lens group Lfix of fixing at the time of magnification change in order, and the 2nd switchable lens group Lex from the object side.
[Claim 6] When a focal distance of a change group of fex_max and a minimum magnification state is made into fex_min for a focal distance of a change group of a maximum magnification state of the aforementioned rear converter lens
1.1 < |fex_min/fex_max| < 5.0
The satisfied rear converter lens according to claim 5.
[Claim 7] A focal distance of the n-th lens of a change group of a maximum magnification state of the aforementioned rear converter lens, a refractive index of d line, and magnification, respectively f_max_n, When a focal distance of the n-th lens of a change group of nd_max_n, betamax, and a minimum magnification state, a refractive index of d line, and magnification are set to f_min_n, nd_min_n, and betamin, respectively
-(sigma(1/(nd_min_nxf_min_n))/ sigma(1/(nd_max_nxf_max_n))-1) 0.7 < *(beta min/beta max) < 0.7
The satisfied rear converter lens according to claim 5.
[Claim 8] A focal distance of the n-th lens of a change group of a maximum magnification state of the aforementioned rear converter lens, an Abbe number of d line, and magnification, respectively f_max_n, When a focal distance of the n-th lens of a change group of vd_max_n, betamax, and a minimum magnification state, an Abbe number of d line, and magnification are set to f_min_n, vd_min_n, and betamin, respectively
-(sigma(1/(vd_min_nxf_min_n))/ sigma(1/(vd_max_nxf_max_n))-1) 0.7 < * (beta min/beta max) < 0.7
The satisfied rear converter lens according to claim 5.
[Claim 9] From an installing surface guaranteed mechanically, a relative position on an optic axis of the aforementioned rear converter lens and a main lens, Most average value of Dex_n of each state when distance to a point on an optic axis of a surface on the object side is made into Dex_n of the n-th status-switching group of the aforementioned rear converter lens Dex_ave, When average value of Sk_n of each state when distance from an installing surface which guarantees mechanically a relative position on an optic axis of the aforementioned rear converter lens and a main lens to a paraxial image surface position of the n-th state when a main lens is equipped with a rear converter lens is made into Sk_n is made into Sk_ave
0.08 < Dex_ave/Sk_ave < 0.40
The satisfied rear converter lens according to claim 4 or 5.
[Claim 10] From an installing surface guaranteed mechanically, a relative position on an optic axis of the aforementioned rear converter lens and a main lens, Most distance of a fixing group of the aforementioned rear converter lens which it is to a point on an optic axis of a surface on the object side Dfix, When average value of Sk_n of each state when distance from an installing surface which guarantees mechanically a relative position on an optic axis of the aforementioned rear converter lens and a main lens to a paraxial image surface position of the n-th state when a main lens is equipped with a rear converter lens is made into Sk_n is made into Sk_ave
-0.20 < Dfix/Sk_ave < 0.00
The satisfied rear converter lens according to claim 4 or 5.
[Claim 11] The rear converter lens according to claim 5, wherein the aforementioned rear converter lens has an aspheric surface in the 1st lens group of fixing to the time of magnification change.

canon patent

[via Egami]