Canon and Sony News for Feb 2025 (Page 3)
Just posted: Kondor Blue 501 Arca-Type Pivot Camera Plate Review.
John Reilly shares the solution to his fluid head mounting problem.
Support this site by ordering the Kondor Blue 501 Arca-Type Pivot Camera Plate (or anything else) from B&H | Adorama | Amazon (all available countries)
"Your Ultimate Camera Companion" [Lowepro]
Learn more about the Lowepro ProTactic Lite SLX 120 AW III Sling Bag (Black, 5L) at B&H (in stock, used model available at huge savings).
Check out today's B&H Deal Zone for big savings on:
- Peak Design Travel Camera Cubes – save up to $35.00
- More!
From Sony Electronics:
Sony Electronics Enhances Creators’ Cloud with Addition of Direct Transfers to Google Drive or Adobe Lightroom
SAN DIEGO, CA – Feb. 4, 2025 – Sony Electronics Inc. has made updates to its Creators’ Cloud platform, enhancing the Creators’ App1 to streamline content management for creators with new automated cloud transfer options. Based on feedback from the creative community, this latest update simplifies workflows by enabling direct uploads from select Sony cameras2 to Google Drive or Adobe Lightroom, empowering creators to seamlessly integrate their work into widely used editing and storage solutions.
This release of version 2.6.0 of the Creators’ App marks another step forward in Sony’s ongoing commitment to supporting the creative process with practical, user-driven enhancements, that give creators powerful, intuitive tools to move from shooting to sharing with minimal steps, with fewer technical barriers.
Overview of Creators’ Cloud System Capabilities:
The Creators' Cloud platform enhances flexibility, control, and efficiency for photographers and videographers by offering an all-in-one platform for remote camera operation, content management, and seamless media transfer. This comprehensive ecosystem empowers modern content creators with a suite of innovative apps designed to streamline every stage of the creative process.
From capturing footage to editing and finalizing projects, the platform offers specialized tools that cater to the unique needs of photographers and videographers. The Monitor & Control (M&C) app provides real-time, mobile-based control over camera settings, ideal for complex shooting environments, while the Creators' App acts as a central hub for connectivity, facilitating camera-to-phone transfers, live streaming, and cloud uploads3. Then, for postproduction, the Catalyst Prepare Plugin accelerates workflows with metadata-driven tools for fast, precise edits, compatible with DaVinci Resolve and Adobe Premiere Pro, simplifying the editing process while delivering professional-grade results.
What’s New:
The recent updates brought further optimized workflow with features like a USB connection for stable monitoring, a Shutter Angle Display, improved iris control, and enhanced smartphone transfer options. In addition, upgraded live streaming capabilities streamline YouTube integration for faster setup and operation.
Key Feature Highlights of Creators’ App v2.6.0:
- Automatic Cloud Transfer to Google Drive or Adobe Lightroom: In response to creator requests for a faster, more seamless workflow, this new feature allows users to automatically transfer images and videos to external cloud storage providers, offering immediate accessibility for collaborative editing and organization across platforms.
- Enhanced Smartphone Transfer and Efficiency Options: The latest smartphone transfer feature enables creators to move content to their devices while shooting, ensuring uninterrupted productivity. With “differential transfer,” only new or unsent files are transferred, maximizing efficiency and reflecting Sony’s commitment to streamlining repetitive tasks.
- Expanded Storage Options Tailored to User Needs: Creators’ Cloud now provides four cloud storage plans, including a free 5GB for all Creators’ Cloud users (25GB free for Sony camera owners), and premium tiers up to 500GB, addressing the storage demands of both casual users and professionals4. This flexible structure responds to feedback for scalable, affordable storage solutions.
- Enhanced Remote Control via Smartphone: With advanced control options, users can now adjust camera settings directly from their5 mobile devices, enhancing creative flexibility. This feature continues to evolve based on the needs and insights of the Sony creator community.
These updates are available immediately and continue Sony’s mission of fostering an inclusive ecosystem that grows in response to the needs of the creator community.
To download the latest Creators‘ Cloud updates and for further details on compatibility, please visit:
https://creatorscloud.sony.net
To download the latest version of the Creator’s App, please visit: https://creatorscloud.sony.net/catalog/en-us/creatorsapp/index.html
Notes:
1 Download app at Google Play and the App Store. Network services, content, and operating system and software subject to terms and conditions and may be changed, interrupted or discontinued at any time and may require fees, registration and credit card information.
2 Creators’ App supported cameras include FX3, FX30, a1 II, a1, a9 III, a7R V, a7S III, a7 IV, a7CR, a7C II, a6700, ZV-E1, ZV-E10 II, ZV-1 II, ZV-1F, ILX-LR1. For other models not listed, Imaging Edge Mobile app is available. Monitor & Control App supported cameras include BURANO, PXW-Z200/HXR-NX800, FX6, FX3, FX30, a1, a9 III, a7R V, a7S III, a7 IV, ZV-E1. App compatibility may require a camera firmware update. See sony.com/electronics/support/downloads to download the latest camera firmware.
3 Download app at Google Play and the App Store. Network services, content, and operating system and software subject to terms and conditions and may be changed, interrupted or discontinued at any time and may require fees, registration and credit card information.
4 A portion of which is used for data management functions.
5 Creators’ App supported cameras include FX3, FX30, a1 II, a1, a9 III, a7R V, a7S III, a7 IV, a7CR, a7C II, a6700, ZV-E1, ZV-E10 II, ZV-1 II, ZV-1F, ILX-LR1. For other models not listed, Imaging Edge Mobile app is available. App compatibility may require a camera firmware update. See sony.com/electronics/support/downloads to download the latest camera firmware.
Entire careers are made around photographing vehicles, so most of us will not go beyond dabbling in this genre. Still, dabbling is great fun (and could generate a profit if you get good at it).
To get started, you need a vehicle subject. Fortunately, these are plentiful and available nearly everywhere. Find something old, new, special (such as because you own it), or just for sale. The car can be yours, a friend's, a client's, or someone willing to trade car time for pictures.
Next, you need a place to put the car, and the background matters. Even with the car filling the width of the image (with some breathing room on both sides and the bottom), the background (and some foreground) is often a huge percentage of the image. A supportive background will minimally be nondistracting, especially void of strongly contrasting lines intersecting the perimeter of the vehicle that compete for attention. Even if blurred, the background should be void of clashing colors. Mow the grass and remove leaves and other distractions/detractions.
Even small cars are large, so a large space is optimal, and that option is often outdoors, including in yards, parking lots, etc. For inside shoots, find a large garage (including a commercial parking garage), warehouse, airplane hanger, etc.
Clean the car. Of course, one of Bryan's Laws of Photography is that if you wash the car, it will rain. Still, give it a go.
Show love to the wheels and tires as they are the car's soul and have a primary role to play. Tire shine will give the tires a deep, rich, better-than-new look, but understand the penalty. The tire shine I've used holds dirt and makes the tires virtually uncleanable, creating an always-dirty look. The easiest way to get them clean is to replace them.
In some locations and times of the year, insects landing on the vehicle can be problematic, and they seem to be attracted to a clean vehicle. Usually, they are easy to remove in post-processing, but when they start accumulating in greater numbers or land on features that are not easily replaced by the healing or cloning brush tools, chasing them away is a better idea.
Cars (most, at least) are reflective, so consider what is reflecting in the body and windows. A large open space often works well, leaving primarily the sky to reflect. Also, consider using a circular polarizer filter.
Lighting a large subject is challenging. The easiest high-quality lighting is a broad sky immediately after the sun sets or, for those preferring to get started early, before the sun rises. A cloudy day and a low sun at your back also work well. Light painting the exterior at night provides a different look and, potentially, a different look to every image.
Especially if shooting at dawn or dusk, turn on the car lights to add life to the vehicle. Adding a touch of interior light can work well.
Camera selection is easy. Unless the car is in motion, even entry-level cameras can perform this job well.
Lens selection is more critical, but there are many good options depending on the desired look.
The basics always apply, and perspective plays an especially big role for big subjects that are easy to get close to. 2x farther from the camera means 2x smaller in appearance. If the camera is close to the front of the car, the back of the car will be rendered considerably smaller. That size difference is OK if that is the look you want.
Shooting from a high position, such as from a ladder, enables a top view with reduced perspective distortion (and a different looks at the vehicle's shape). Shooting at car level from the front, back, or side and not too close can reduce visible perspective distortion, and moving back is always certain to reduce perspective distortion.
Select the focal length or focal length range that supports the desired perspective and composition within the working space. Select the aperture for thedesired depth of field and background blur.
This BMW image was captured just after sunset on a clear day, with the car strategically positioned to show only sky reflection in the windows. The 85mm f/1.2 combination yielded a strong background blur despite the relatively distant subject. The slightly forward of straight on camera position meant that most of the visible portion of the car was within the plane of sharp focus.
A larger version of this image is available here.
ISO 100
8192 x 5464px
Check out today's B&H Deal Zone for big savings on:
- Lexar 128GB Professional 1800x UHS-II SDXC Memory Card (GOLD Series, 2-Pack) – only $54.99 after $40.00 instant savings
- More!
Worth browsing: Deals of the Week at B&H.
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The massive Imaging USA Show Sale at B&H is worth browsing.
Now is a great time to upgrade your kit's capabilities. What items would improve your capture and post-processing?
Just posted: Canon RF 16-28mm F2.8 IS STM Lens Review.
This lens is a great addition to the RF lineup.
Support this site by ordering the Canon RF 16-28mm F2.8 IS STM Lens (or anything else) from B&H | Adorama | Canon USA | WEX | Camera Canada
Rent the Canon RF 16-28mm F2.8 IS STM Lens from Lensrentals.
Learn more about the new Benro GH2FL Folding Gimbal Head at B&H.
High quality Robus brand products are great values at regular price and outstanding values during the B&H sale.
Reviews:
Robus RC-5570 Vantage Carbon Fiber Tripod
Robus RC-8860 Vantage Carbon Fiber Tripod
Robus RCM-439 Carbon Fiber Monopod
Check out today's B&H Deal Zone for big savings on:
- Ruggard 15 x 15" Padded Equipment Wrap (many colors available) – only $7.95 after $4.00 instant savings
- Exascend 1TB Essential Pro CFexpress 4.0 Type A Memory Card – only $589.00 after $110.00 instant savings
- Sirui T-1205 Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod with K-10 II Ball Head – only $99.95 after $150.00 instant savings
- GVM LED Video Soft Light (Daylight-Balanced) LS-p80s LED 2-Light Kit with Filters – only $158.00 after $90.00 instant savings
- Studio 26 Solecarry /26 Duffel Bag (Stone/Black) – only $49.00 after $130.00 instant savings
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The Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8 L IS USM Z Lens in white is back in stock at B&H.
Incredible lens: Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8 L IS USM Z Lens Review.
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Highlighting some just-arriving gear in the B&H Used Department. Be the first to check out tonight at 6:30 PM ET tonight (Sat) to score these deals.
| Category | In Stock at the Moment |
|---|---|
| Canon EOS Cameras | R6 II kit |
| Canon RF Lenses | 15-35, 200-800 |
| Sony Alpha Cameras | a1 II |
| Sony FE Lenses | 28-70 F2, 85 F1.4 II, 200-600 |
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