Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon has released EOS 5D Mark II Firmware Update Version 2.0 which fixes the following bugs:

1. Fixes a phenomenon in which movies are not taken at the shooting mode registered in the user’s settings if a shooting mode Aperture priority (or Shutter priority) is registered in any of the camera’s user settings (C1, C2, C3) and the user attempts to shoot a movie.
2. Fixes a phenomenon in which the shutter will not release when pressing the shutter button when the auto power off function is set to “on”.
3. Fixes a phenomenon in which overexposure occurs when shooting a Live View shooting simulation with the ISO speed set to L.
4. Fixes a phenomenon in which the settings of the Speedlite transmitter ST-E2 revert to the default settings when both the camera and the ST-E2 are set to auto power off.
5. Fixes a phenomenon in which the Macro Ring Lite (MR-14EX, MT-24EX) and slave flash do not sync while shooting wirelessly.

The Version 2.0.8 firmware being released this time is for cameras with firmware up to Version 2.0.7. If the camera’s firmware is already Version 2.0.8, it is not necessary to update the firmware.

For more info, and to download the firmware, go to: Canon

Macworld September 2010 Cover

The Apple iPhone 4 has really set a new standard in the mobile phone camera. The image quality of both stills and video is now good enough for even professional production work, well kind of. Indeed, the iPhone 4 (just the phone, not the whole cover) on the September 2010 Macworld magazine cover was photographed and post-processed entirely on another iPhone 4 by photographer Peter Belanger.

[@clickzilla1]

This is all the more remarkable because normally Peter shoots Macworld covers with a Phase One P65+ digital camera which, at 60MP resolution, has 12 times the resolution of the iPhone 4′s 5MP camera. To reduce the need for any cropping (and thus resolution loss when resized back), he photographed the iPhone 4 as close to the size of the Macworld cover as possible.

Of course, it does not mean — as some headlines and content so happily (and misleadingly) suggest — that anyone can pick up an iPhone 4 and suddenly churn out masterpieces. Here’s what he says on his blog post:

For the most part, my strategy for photographing the cover didn’t change from how I normally would photograph with the Phase One digital camera. I still had my normal set with lots of lights, flags and stands. I did have to change my light source from strobes to tungsten lights because the iPhone can’t sync with studio strobes. I did end up making my own camera mount for the phone to go on my tripod (monopod). I hadn’t seen one that would do exactly what I needed (even if I did I didn’t think it would ship to me in time) so I picked up some parts from the hardware store and rigged one myself.

For “post production,” Peter could not use Photoshop on his Mac, and chose the following software, er apps:

• PhotoForge by GhostBird Software ($2.99) – to remove a slight green cast from the image
• Resize-Photo by iLegendSoft ($0.99) – to increase the photo from 216 dpi to 290 dpi in order to meet MacWorld’s printing requirements.
• One app that he wished he had but was yet unavailable is Camera+ 1.2 by tap tap tap ($1.99) – for separate touch exposure and touch focus.

Editor’s notes:

• The MacWorld article has surprisingly received more No recommendation votes than Yes recommendation votes. Are there so many disgruntled iPhone 4 users out there — or is this a vote against pros hyping the stills and video capability of the iPhone 4?

For a glimpse of what actually goes on into a cover creation, here’s one for the 2009 iPhone 3Gs cover:

Related Links:

• PCWorld
• Peter Belanger Blog

Canon 24mm f1.4 mk2
Nikon 80-200mm f2.8 Zoom
Zeiss ZF 50mm f1.4
Zeiss ZF 85mm f1.4
Sigma 20mm f1.8

[ProfessionalPhotographer]

See the images at: Photography Bay.

[ via 1001 Noisy Cameras ]

[ via Planet5D ]

[ via Planet 5D Blog ]

Nikon D700

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

[And, no, Virginia, it has nothing to do with the size of the pictures here.]

You can read the full Nikon D700 vs. Canon EOS 5D Mark II review at: KenRockwell.

Read the story at: Rob Galbraith.

Samsung NX10 Firmware (Ver. 01.15) addresses the following improvements:

• New EVF selection function in menu
• New MF Asist On/Off selection function
• MF usage function when using K-Mount Adapter
• Improved Auto White Balance function of Low color temperature condition
• Improved SD Card Read/Write speed
• [Improved] System stablization

Canon EOS 5D Mark II Firmware Update Version 2.0.7 incorporates the following improvements and fixes for cameras with firmware up to Version 2.0.4:

• Fixes a phenomenon in which the aperture exhibits abnormal movement when shooting movies in manual exposure mode and Aperture Priority AE (Av mode) using some Canon lenses (such as macro lenses)
• Fixes a phenomenon in which the exposure level shown in the LCD panel differs from what is shown in the viewfinder when shooting still images in manual exposure mode
• Fixes a phenomenon in which the Wireless File Transmitter (WFT-E4 or WFT-E4 II) may not automatically power off when used for FTP transfers

Finally, FinePix HS10 / HS11 Firmware (camera control software) Update Ver.1.02 incorporates fixes for the following problems:

• In Raw data a line is visible where colors slightly change when developed by Raw File Converter
• Battery indicator turns on too early
• When “Image Disp.” in set-up menu is set to “Zoom”, sometimes image corrupts

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

“The Canon 5D Mark II is the world’s best DSLR for nature and landscape shooting.”

We’ve added another Canon 5D Mark II [Specs] Review to our Reviews Matrix.

KenRockwell has posted their review of the Canon EOS 5D Mark II, a DSLR with 21.1MP resolution using a full-frame (24 x 36mm) CMOS sensor, ISO in the range of 100-6400 (expandable to ISO L:50, H1:12800 and H2:25600) with full-frame HD video capture at 1920×1080 pixels resolution for up to 4GB per clip, an extra large 3.0-in. high resolution LCD (920,000 dots), Integrated Cleaning System, Live View for stills and video, 3.9fps continuous shooting, 9 AF points plus 6 AF assist points, a new 98% coverage optical viewfinder, and an improved weather-resistant body.

You can read the full Canon EOS 5D Mark II Review at:

KenRockwell.

Read the article at: BMWBlog

[ via PDNPulse ]

I missed this news completely but apparently House, the popular American television medical drama about the unconventional, cantankerous and maverick medical genius Dr. Gregory House (Hugh Laurie) who heads — and frequently clashes with — his boss, the hospital surgeons, and clueless patients — and ends up saving said patients to the amazement of his medical peers and adoring viewers… is being filmed entirely using a Canon EOS 5D Mark II [Specs]. The finale, that is, to air May 17.

Read the article at: Cinema5D

[ via @eclectictrains, @CaliLewis, greekbrief.tv ]

Related Link:

• In depth interview with Greg Yaitanes