Nikon News: new 200–400mm f/4G ED VR II lens

Nikon have launched new zoom lens - the AF-S NIKKOR 200-400 F/4G ED VR II:
Key features:

• Versatile super-telephoto zoom lens
  Powerful super-telephoto zoom lens that’s perfect for sports and wildlife shooting offering constant maximum aperture and VR II Image Stabilization.

• Nikon VR II (Vibration Reduction) Image Stabilization
  Vibration Reduction, engineered specifically for each VR NIKKOR lens, enables handheld shooting at up to 4 shutter speeds slower than would otherwise be possible, assuring dramatically sharper still images and video capture.

• Nano Crystal Coat
  Further reduces ghosting and interior flare across a wide range of wavelengths for even greater image clarity.

• 4 Extra-low Dispersion (ED) Elements
  Offers superior sharpness and color correction by effectively minimizing chromatic aberration, even at the widest aperture settings.

• Three Focus Modes
  A/M mode joins the familiar M/A and M modes, enhancing AF control versatility with fast, secure switching between auto and manual focus to accommodate personal shooting techniques.

• Internal Focus (IF)
  Provides fast and quiet autofocus without changing the length of the lens, retaining working distance throughout the focus range.

• Exclusive Nikon Silent Wave Motor (SWM)
  Enables fast, accurate and quiet autofocus.

• Nikon Super Integrated Coating (SIC)
  Enhances light transmission efficiency and offers superior color consistency and reduced flare.

• Rugged Construction
  Featuring enhanced dust and moisture-resistance, magnesium die-cast barrel construction and a protective meniscus front lens.

• Close Auto Focusing to 6.6 feet at all focal lengths
  Focus to 6.6 feet using AF or 6.4 feet using manual focus enabling striking image perspectives.

• Rounded 9-Blade Diaphragm
  Renders more natural appearance of out-of-focus image areas.

• Compatible with TC-14EII (AF/MF), TC-17EII (MF), TC-20EII (MF) and TC-20EIII (MF) Teleconverters.

More details available here.

What (and when) will Canon respond with...?

Canon News: EOS 7D Firmware 1.2.1 released

Canon have released a firmware update to their EOS 7D DSLR. The following updates have been included:

• Extends the timing at which the high temperature warning indicator is displayed and the timing of automatic shut down of the camera due to a rise in internal temperature during Live View or EOS Movie functions.
• Optimizes program shift when the ISO setting of the camera is set to AUTO.
• Corrects a misspelling in the French-language menu.
• Corrects a phenomenon in which vertical magenta-colored banding appears in still images taken in movie-shooting mode.
  (This only occurs when in Manual exposure mode and when the ISO speed is set to "H". Note that this phenomenon only affects units with Firmware Version 1.2.0)

Avilable to download from here.

Canon News: EOS 5D MkII Firmware v. 2.0.3 released

***19th March 2010 - Problem (manual sound recording in C1/2/3 modes) resolved - latest version of firmware is 2.0.4***

***18th March 2010 - sounds like Canon have found a problem with the firmware - don't upgrade yet. Please refer to the external link below for an update***

Canon have released the much anticipated firmware upgrade for its popular full-frame 5D Mk II EOS DSLR, hoping to please the growing community who are exploring the video possibilities of the camera.

Version 2.0.3/2.04 includes the following enhancements:

1. Adds or changes the following movie frame rates.
NTSC:
• 1920×1080 : 30 fps (changed - actual 29.97 fps)
• 1920×1080 : 24 fps (added - actual 23.976 fps)
• 640×480 : 30 fps (changed - actual 29.97 fps)
PAL:
• 1920×1080 : 25 fps (added - actual 25.0 fps)
• 1920×1080 : 24 fps (added - actual 23.976 fps)
• 640×480 : 25 fps (added - actual 25.0 fps)


2. Adds a function for manually adjusting the sound recording level (64 levels).
3. Adds a histogram display (brightness or RGB) for shooting movies in manual exposure.
4. Adds shutter-priority AE mode (Tv) and aperture-priority AE (Av) mode to the exposure modes for shooting movies.
5. Changes the audio sampling frequency from 44.1 KHz to 48 KHz.
6. Fixes a phenomenon where communication between the camera and the attached lens is sometimes interrupted after manual sensor cleaning. (This phenomenon only affects units with Firmware Version 1.2.4.)

Update is available from Canon's Japan site here.

Tamron News: 70-300 f/4-5.6 USD VC

Tamron have launched a new 70-300 zoom lens. It's got vibration compensation (VC) and uses their new ultra-sonic silent drive (USD), as well as as an extra-low dispersion (XLD) element. Full name is SP 70-300mm F/4-5.6 Di VC USD (Model A005)


Initally launched with a Nikon mount, Canon and Sony to follow.

More details here.

Panasonic News: New Micro Four Thirds launches

Panasonic have continued to innovate in the relatively new 'micro four thirds' format (between a true SLR and a compact) with three new products:

Lumix G Vario 14-42mm (28-84mm equiv) F3.5-5.6 ASPH Mega O.I.S (H-FS014042)



Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10





Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2

Microstock News: Bigstock site relaunch

Bigstock Photo have relaunched their website, with improved features. More details are available here*.

Sigma News: New lenses and DSLR

Whilst I was away in Cuba with my camera, it was PMA 2010 in California. Sigma took the opporuntity to launch five new lenses, a DSLR (SD15) and a couple of compacts (DP1x, DP2s). The detailed press release is available to view here.

The lenses are:

• 8-16mm F4.5-5.6 DC HSM
• 17-50mm F2.8 EX DC OS HSM
• APO 50-500mm F4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM
• APO 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM
• 85mm F1.4 EX DG HSM

Nikon News: new D3S firmware

New firmware (v1.01) has been launched for the Nikon D3S - Windows and Mac versions available.

Nikon News: new lenses - AF-S 24mm f/1.4 G ED and 16-35mm f/4 G ED VR

Nikon have introduced a couple of new lenses:

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24mm f/1.4G ED (more details)

• Professional ultra-fast aperture wide-angle lens
• 24 mm focal length (DX equivalent 36 mm).
• Bright viewfinder image
• 9-blade rounded aperture produces soft and pleasing blur characteristics.
• Nano Crystal coat reduces ghost and flare.
• ED (Extra low Dispersion) glass and aspherical lens elements ensure high resolution and superior contrast.
• SWM (Silent Wave Motor) for fast, quiet autofocus.
• Durable magnesium body with rubber mount seal.

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 16-35mm f/4G ED VR (more details)

• Ultra- wide-angle zoom lens with constant f/4 aperture.
• 16-35mm zoom range (DX equivalent: 24-52mm).
• Vibration Reduction II (VR II) stabilization system. Lets you use shutter speeds that are up to 4 stops slower.
• Exceptionally high optical performance.
• Nano Crystal coat reduces ghost and flare.
• ED (Extra low Dispersion) glass and aspherical lens elements ensure high resolution and superior contrast.
• SWM (Silent Wave Motor) for fast, quiet autofocus.
• Durable magnesium body with rubber mount seal.

Canon News: New EOS 550D / Rebel T2i DSLR

Canon have released details about their new DSLR, updating the popular xxxD line-up. The headlines are:

• 18Mp
• Full 1080p HD recording
• iFCL metering (first seen in 7D)
• 3.7fps shooting

Full details can be found here, with the UK site update here.

Available to pre-order in the UK via Amazon (for Feb 28th release):



Helps set expectations high for any upcoming 60D, if there's still room in the lineup between the 550D and the 7D...

Microstock News: DepositPhotos launches paying photographers to upload!

DepositPhotos* is a recently-launched player in the microstock market and is marketing hard to attract photographers to sign-up, with a tempting package:

• Attractive commission rates
• Being paid up to $100 ($0.20 per photo) just for uploading approved photos
• FTP upload
  

All good news for buyers of course, as it should mean the library of RF images available will grow quickly.

Microstock News: Fotolia launch microstock plugin for Wordpress

Fotolia have launched an innovative new plugin for Wordpress bloggers - allowing users to easily license relevant images for their blog postings. Not only that, it also offers affiliation options, so bloggers can earn additional income. More information at MicrostockPhotoPlugin.com

Microstock News: Goodbye to StockXpert

Hot on the heels of Getty's announcement of a new subscription microstock site Thinkstockphotos.com, they have announced that they will be shortly moth-balling StockXpert.

For purchasers of microstock, credits can be transferred over to iStockphoto. Getty also have their free microstock site, Stock.Xchng.com which may serve your needs.

(Yes - it's complicated!)

Microstock News: New Getty microstock subscription site

Getty Images have launched a new subscription microstock site - thinkstockphotos.com. It will source its images from the sister sites iStockphoto, Jupiterimages and Getty itself. You can find Thinkstock here and specifically my images (sourced from iStockphoto) here.

Canon News: Updated EOS 1D Mark IV firmware

Canon have updated the firmware for the Canon EOS 1D Mark IV - to version 1.06. It improves AF performance for approaching and receding subjects.

Nikon news: New firmware for D300S, D700, D3 and D3x

Nikon have launched new firmware for a series of their DSLRs, to support 64Gb CF cards:

• D700, 1.02 (Windows, Mac)
• D3, 2.02 (Windows, Mac)
• D3x, B 1.01 (Windows, Mac)
  
• D300S, V1.01 (Windows, Mac)

Canon News: EF 70-200 f/2.8 L IS USM II announced

After much rumour and anticipation, it's great to see that Canon have launched a new version of their L-series workhorse - the 70-200 f/2.8 L IS USM II. Although the current version is considered an excellent, versatile lens, Canon have raised the bar further.
The revised features include:

• Faster autofocus algorithm
• Minimum focus distance reduced to 1.2m
  
• Four-stops of IS (image stabilisation)
  
• A flourite element and 5 UD elements to minimise CA
• Added strength (with only a 20g increase in weight)
• A slightly redeisgned bayonet mount for securing the supplied lens hood
• A wider focussing ring

I currently have the lowest-spec version of the 4 L-series 70-200 lenses (the F/4 non IS version), so I'd love to upgrade one day.

Apparently available in the US from April, in the UK, I'd expect it to retail initially at around £1700, but soon setlle around the £1500 mark. ***UPDATE: 5th Jan - Warehouse Express have it as a pre-order for £2799 !!! And so do Park Cameras***

Press release available here.

Microstock Experiment - 2009 Summary

Well, after the first proper year into my microstock experiment, I'm pleased to share the summary of my earnings (or lack of!!).

I had set myself a 'finger-in-the-air' target of £250 and as was evident pretty early on, unless I uploaded a considerably higher number of images, I would never make it. In the end, I made £180.89, which was 72% of my target. It worked out at about 50p per day.

Here's the summary of the earnings by the different sites:





It's interesting to see such a wide range between sites (although slightly unfair to BigStockPhoto, as I only joined them late in the day). For me, Shutterstock and iStockphoto are not only the most revenue-generating, but also the easiest to upload to.

The images I've generated the most revenues across sites are:






A lot of part-time microstockers like myself wonder whether it's worth it and as you can see, from a financial perspective, it certainly isn't! However, I am going to continue, as I've defintely developed my photography skills over the last 12 months and who knows if any other doors will open longer-term...

For 2010, I'm not going to aim for the £250 again, as I can't see myself finding much more time to upload more images. But I'll set an approximate 10% increase in revenues on 2009, so my target is a nice round £200. Wish me luck...

Happy New Year!!

Canon News: Firmware updates

Hard for me to get too excited about this post as I don't own any of the equipment, but Canon have launched new firmware, helping with compatibility with wireless controllers:

• 1D Mark III Firmware 1.3.0
• 1Ds Mark III Firmware 1.2.0
• 5D Mark II Firmware 1.2.4
• WFT-E2 and WFT E2A Firmware 2.0.0

Pentax News: New weather-resistant 100mm macro lens

Pentax have just announced a weather-resistant 100mm Macro lens, the D-FA 100 mm f/2,8 Macro WR.