Top Trends in Digital Cameras We Expect at CES 2017

Some camera manufacturers were quicker to embrace 4K video in their camera bodies than others, but at this point, most have a least one or two models that can shoot in this higher resolution.

Panasonic was an early leader, with its flagship Lumix GH4 mirrorless camera, which could capture 4K-resolution video in various frame rates (24p, 25p, 30p).

In the advanced point-and-shoot market, Sony's RX-series cameras, like the RX100 Mark V, also captures 4K but provides additional video features, such as the ability to capture slow-motion video, that previously were found only on very pricey, high-end camcorders. And the RX100's very wide, f/1.8-2.8 lens lets you capture video with a shallow depth of field, another feature found only on high-end camcorders.

Additionally, all camera companies are beefing up their image-stabilization systems to provide jitter-free video and better sharpness on still photos. 

Source: Top Trends in Digital Cameras We Expect at CES 2017

Review: Sony a6500

Three refreshes: that's how long it took for Sony to create a camera with a sensor that can keep up with its competitors. Granted, the processing engine in the Sony a6500 is very capable and a big part of it. But then we also beg the question: Why so many refreshes so suddenly?

Pros and Cons

Pros

Fast autofocus in most situations, but perhaps this is best showcased when using some of the newer prime lenses

Sony is trying to do things a bit different with a touchscreen

Great feeling in the hand

Simple to use for the most part

Great image quality up to 25,600 ISO

Compact

Survived being shot with in the snow

Cons

They're trying, but that touch screen isn't so up to par as what the competition offers

The a6xxx series of cameras desperately need a third exposure dial

They also need a thumb joystick to make focus area/point selection easier

Gear Used

We tested the Sony a6500 with the 24mm f1.8, 85mm f1.4 G Master, the Sony flash transmitter, the Impact Venture 600 TTL monolight, the 24-70mm f2.8 G Master lens, and the 70-200mm f2.8 G Master lens.

Tech Specs

24.2MP APS-C Exmor CMOS Sensor

BIONZ X Image Processor

XGA Tru-Finder 2.36m-Dot OLED EVF

3.0″ 921.6k-Dot Tilting Touchscreen LCD

Internal UHD 4K Video & S-Log3 Gamma

S&Q Motion in Full HD from 1-120 fps

5-Axis SteadyShot INSIDE Stabilization

Built-In Wi-Fi with NFC

4D FOCUS with 425 Phase-Detect Points

Up to 11 fps Shooting and ISO 51200

Ergonomics

Taken from our first impressions post

Fans of Sony's a6000 series will feel right at home with the a6500. The small, sleek design is largely unchanged when compared to other models in the lineup.

Where it differs is that it's borrowed a few features from the a7II series of full-frame cameras, and now includes a more robust lens mount, a recessed grip for better handling, larger release button, and up to 10 customizable buttons. The new magnesium alloy body feels rock solid.

It even gives the camera somewhat of a premium feel especially when compared to previous cameras in the lineup. This is meant to be a serious camera even pros will be proud to use on a daily basis. Lastly, the buttons/dials are all logically placed and a great size for those with larger hands.

Build Quality

Sony states that this camera has moisture and dust resistance. Of any of the mirrorless cameras on the market, the a6000 series have always felt the most hearty. Indeed, this proved to be true when I took the camera out into the snow for shooting time. It shrugged off the snow with ease.

To be fair, this wasn't one of NYC's worst snowstorms and only the worst it yet to come.

Real World Use

There are a few things about the Sony a6500 that sort of annoy me. For starters, these cameras have needed a third exposure control for a really long time. A dial on the front by the grip would be ideal and would allow me to control aperture, shutter speed and ISO with ease. Then there's Sony's attempt with the touch screen. In my efforts, I didn't find it to be so incredibly useful. Instead, it just became a nuisance.

When shooting sports in portrait mode, the camera detected that my nose was hitting the LCD screen and tried to change the focusing point. So I needed to turn it off when shooting in portrait mode. But then I couldn't even get through Sony's menu system via the touchscreen–or at least I couldn't figure out how to do this.

Then there are just weird things like reaching for the two custom function buttons on top of the camera It's just oddly positioned.

Sony's new color system and organization of the menu system however is pretty appreciated. But otherwise, there isn't a whole lot that I really like about this camera which I feel is limited by the real estate space. It's a small body and Sony is trying to do so much with it yet market it as a workhorse. I'd honestly be alright with it being Fujifilm X Pro 2 sized. Why? Because that's the most perfect camera on the market when it comes to ergonomics and is seconded by the Olympus Pen F.

Metering

According to Sunny 16 standards and tests, the Sony a6500 conforms. This means that setting it to the high contrast black and white mode while shooting in the NYC subways will be a breeze if you know a lot about shooting methodologies.

Autofocus

Cameras like this are really designed to be used with small primes and zooms. For the most part, that's what I stuck to. The autofocus performance I found to be fastest when using these lenses. It started to slow down a lot with big zooms for some odd reason.

Image Quality

The biggest competitors when it comes to image quality here are the Sony a6300, Fujifilm X-T2, Fujifilm X Pro 2, and the Nikon D500. Overall, they're all incredibly capable of getting a lot of details in the shadows and highlights. But when it comes to color rendition, Fujifilm takes the cake here. All f the cameras have high ISO output that is about on par with one another with the exception of the Sony a6300. The a6500 has high ISO output that is much cleaner than its predecessor.

JPEG Quality

One of the best qualities about Sony cameras are their JPEGs. They're pretty nice right out of the camera when the right white balance is set. Plus the camera can wirelessly port them to your phone or tablet using its built in WiFi.

RAW File Versatility

A fair amount of details can be recovered from the highlights and the color rendition is overall pretty manageable. The files are highly capable for the needs of most photographers.

High ISO Output

Here's where things become really amazing. The image above was shot at ISO 25,000. That's pretty clean when looking at the whole image, right?

Extra Image Samples

Conclusions Likes Dislikes

Pretty much everything I said in the pros and cons.

The Sony a6500 is a really solid camera. I can't sit here and deny that. But if you're a Sony a7 series camera owner, you'll see just how much better that is. In fact, I feel like the Sony a6500 was rushed in many ways. There was absolutely no point in updating the body this often in such a short amount of time and I genuinely hope that Sony will wait a while before they release the next update.

Is it a good camera? Sure. Is it a fantastic camera? In many ways yes, but I personally feel like Sony needs to start doing some things to boost the mojo of the a6000 series. The Fuji cameras look very tempting as does the Nikon D500.

We rate the Sony a6500 four out of five stars. Want one? See Amazon for the latest pricing.

Source: Review: Sony a6500

Three Kits: Wedding Photography With The Sony Mirrorless System

Now that it is the winter and Wedding photographers are in their off-season across much of the northern hemisphere, many are taking stock of their current kits. This is the time to look at what else is on the market, look into buying new gear, and trying out the latest technological achievements. Sony has been one of the most talked about brands of the last few years, and their current generation A7 series full frame mirrorless cameras offer what a lot of professionals are looking for. Here are our picks for kit options for wedding pros thinking about jumping into the full frame E mount (FE) system here in 2017.

Kit 1: The Prime Enthusiast

In wedding photography, as with every other photographic niche, there are those who prefer shooting with prime lenses and those who prefer shooting with zooms. Our first kit is for you prime shooting enthusiasts, and while Sony is not known for their affordable primes, there are still some great options for those of you who prefer to shoot at one focal length at a time.

The Camera: A7R II

The A7R II is certainly not a cheap camera, but in terms of all around performance, we feel like this is really the best options across the board for Sony wedding professionals. The AF performance is great, and combined with stellar low light, dynamic range and color this is a great camera ll around. If you are not so concerned about AF performance than the A7 II would also be a great option, its AF is good enough in most cases, making it a good b-camera in a two camera Sony kit with an A7R II as the primary.

The Lenses

These are a few of the best primes lenses available to a Sony FE shooter, and we recommended them entirely. Though your wallet may hate us for it.

Kit 2: The Zoom Freak

If you aren't all that into primes and prefer to just have a couple of lenses on you to handle a variety of situations than we have some great suggestions for you as well. Sony's lineup of professional level zooms is not the largest, but there are some great and needed options here for sure.

The Camera: A7R II

I am not going to repeat myself here, but really, if you are using a zoom lens then chances are you are going to need to be able to react quickly to changing scenes or moving subjects and the best camera equipped to handle that in Sony's current lineup in the A7R II.

The Lenses

The F4 16-35mm may limit you on the really wide end of things in a reception or low light, but the other two lenses are great in low light, and are top performers in terms of AF performance and image quality.

Kit 3: The All Arounder

Ok, this is the kit that most of you will be more interested in, a kit containing both zooms and primes, basically what we would consider to be the best all around Sony wedding kit currently. That is to say, this is an incredible kit for any form of photography, but particularly from the wedding perspective this kit has it all.

The Cameras: Sony A7R II & A7S II

Any wedding professional is likely shooting with multiple bodies, or at least has a secondary camera as a backup, so for our all-around kit we think pairing the A7R II with the A7S II would be a killer blend of power and low-light prowess that not even dark churches or pitch black reception halls can shake a stick at.

The Lenses

Two incredible and capable cameras, four stellar lenses, this kit is not cheap by any stretch of the imagination, but if you are looking for a great all around wedding setup for the Sony mirrorless system, we think this is about as close as you can get (short of owning all of their lenses and cameras).

Source: Three Kits: Wedding Photography With The Sony Mirrorless System

Optimize, Accessorize and Protect Your DSLR Camera with Sigma Lenses, Filters and Flashes This Holiday Season

(New York, NY--December 27, 2016) Sigma Corporation of America, a leading DSLR lens, camera, flash and accessory manufacturer, is the go-to for camera accessories following this holiday season's DSLR gift giving and receiving. The Sigma line of camera accessories, which includes lenses, filters and flashes, is designed to enhance the latest DSLR cameras on the market. Offering an accessory for every photographer's skillset and shooting situation, including architecture, portraiture, sports and wildlife photography, Sigma accessories are essential components for any photographer's toolkit — whether you are a beginner, enthusiast or professional.

"Sigma designs its accessories and lenses from the ground up to improve the performance of your DSLR, ensuring you capture the very best image with every shot," says Sigma Corporation of America President Mark Amir-Hamzeh. "Whether it's a Sigma Global Vision lens that brings new feature advantages and that signature image sharp quality, a ceramic filter that protects your investment or gift, or a Sigma flash that perfects the lighting for you, Sigma accessories complete your DLSR camera kit for photographic perfection."

For Those New to PhotographyThe All-In-One: Sigma 18-300mm F3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM Contemporary LensDesigned for APS-C cameras (27-450mm), the Sigma 18-300mm F3.5-6.3 Contemporary Lens is great for close-up shots as well as general travel, family and nature photography, effectively replacing two kit lenses with a compact and lightweight all-in-one lens. The Sigma 18-300mm F3.5-6.3 Contemporary Lens supports Canon, Nikon and Sigma mounts and retails for $499.00 USD.

Sigma 18-300mm F3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM Contemporary

For the Professional ShooterThe Ultimate Portrait Lens: Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG HSM Art LensThe high-performance optical system is purpose-built by Sigma R&D to produce the attractive bokeh effect sought after by discerning photographers. The lens' advanced architecture features two SLD (special low dispersion) glass elements and one glass element with a high rate of anomalous partial dispersion and refraction. The Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG HSM Art Lens supports Canon, Nikon and Sigma mounts and retails for $1199.00 USD.

Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG HSM Art

Wide Angle Photo Perfection: Sigma 12-24mm F4 DG HSM Art LensEncompassing the long history of Sigma wide-angle lens development expertise, the new 12-24mm F4 Art Lens' performance highlights include constant F4 brightness and the brand new Sigma AF system with 1.3X torque boost. With a minimum focus distance of 9.4 inches from the image sensor at 24mm, photographers can compose incredible close-up shots with expansive backgrounds. The Sigma 12-24mm F4 DG HSM Art Lens supports Canon, Nikon and Sigma mounts and retails for $1599.00 USD.

Sigma 12-24mm F4 Art

Mirrorless Cameras: Sigma 30mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary LensCombining outstanding optical performance and compact design, the affordable Sigma 30mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary Lens brings immense value to mirrorless cameras. Boasting crisp image quality with F1.4 brightness, this lens produces beautiful bokeh effects and is suitable for both video and photo capture scenarios. The Sigma 30mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary Lens is available in Sony E-Mount and Micro Four Thirds mount, and retails for $339.00 USD.

For Action ShootersSports and Wildlife: Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 Sports and Contemporary Lenses The 150-600mm F5-6.3 Sports Lens is renowned for its superior optics and durability in fast-paced, high-action photo scenarios. The Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 Contemporary Lens is a versatile lens that offers similar performance in a more compact and lightweight design. Performance capabilities common to both telephoto lenses include advanced two-mode optical stabilization, enhanced auto foc us algorithms, sophisticated Hyper Sonic Motor for quiet, and fast focusing, along with zoom locking at all marked focal lengths. The Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 Sports Lens supports Canon, Nikon and Sigma mounts, and retails for $1,999.00 USD. The Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary Lens supports Canon, Nikon and Sigma mounts, and retails for $989.00 USD.

Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 Contemporary

Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 Sports

Need Video Too?The Award Winner: Sigma 50-100mm F1.8 DC HSM Art LensThe five-time award-winning Sigma 50-100 F1.8 Art Lens covers three popular short tele prime focal lengths (85mm, 105mm and 135mm), offering a super quiet, mid-range, versatile zoom lens that is ideal for both photographers and videographers. The 50-100mm F1.8 DC HSM Art Lens supports Canon, Nikon and Sigma mounts, and retails for $1,099.00 USD.

Sigma 50-100 F1.8 Art

Optimize by ProtectingOptimization is key, but don't forget to protect your latest investments. All Sigma lenses listed above are complemented by Sigma's own line of filters, including the unique WR Ceramic Protector for serious lens protection. Delivering 10 times the strength of a traditional filters and three times the strength of chemically enhanced filters, Sigma's shock-resistant, scratch-resistant and water-repellant clear hardened glass filter guards against drops and other mishaps.

Very FlashyFurther complementing Sigma's vast array of lenses is its line of external flashes for greater control and range than a standard pop-up flash. Available flashes include: the EF-610 DG ST, equipped with auto-zoom functionality for precise lighting in any situation; the EF-610 DG Super Flash, featuring wireless TTL and modeling flash; the EF-630 Electronic Flash, touting features such as rear curtain flash and wide angle illumination; and the EM-140 DG Macro Flash, ideal for close-up photography. Press imagery is available for download here.

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About Sigma CorporationCraftsmanship. Precision. Dedication. Since 1961, Sigma has been devoted the pursuit of advancing photographic technology. Unique to the industry, the family-owned business produces its high-quality, award-winning camera lenses, Cinema lenses, DSLR cameras, flashes, filters and accessories from its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility located in Aizu, Japan. In 2012, the company introduced the Sigma Global Vision with three distinct lens lines: Art, Contemporary and Sport. Designed for industry camera mount systems including Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Pentax, Sony and Sigma, each lens is handcrafted and tested in Japan to ensure a high-performance, premium product that is purpose-built to last. In 2016, Sigma entered into the world of Cinematography lens production. Embodying the core optical DNA that has defined the Sigma benchmark of excellence, the Cine lenses meet need s of advanced 6k and 8k cinema production. Sigma continues its tradition of imaging excellence with the mirrorless sd Quattro, sd Quattro H and the compact dp Quattro camera line. Leveraging the ultra-high resolution Foveon sensor, the Sigma Quattro cameras are designed to produce the highest quality image with every shot. For information about Sigma, please visit www.sigmaphoto.com

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Source: Optimize, Accessorize and Protect Your DSLR Camera with Sigma Lenses, Filters and Flashes This Holiday Season

YI M1 Mirrorless Camera

Looking for an interchangeable lens camera that won't break the bank? YI's digital camera has a Micro-4/3rds Sony sensor that shoots 20MP stills, and 4K video, has built-in Wi-Fi, and can currently be had with two lenses for just about 550 bucks. Available in black or silver.

Source: YI M1 Mirrorless Camera

Taxes Reminder: Section 179 for Small Business Owners (Accelerated Depreciation): Deduct if In-Service by End Of Year

2016-12-26 - SEND FEEDBACK

Search for:Related: none

This is FYI ONLY. Consult your own tax adviser. See also Section 179.org.

Less than a week to act, see details I posted on Dec 22

Need help deciding/configuring? I am available with flexible hours through the end of the year for consulting on computer or photography.

For a small business owner, the US federal tax code contains a benefit: Section 179 of the internal revenue code.

In essence, you can write off (fully deduct) depreciable assets acquired and put into service in 2016 as expenses up to a limit of $500,000 (for federal tax purposes).

Source: Taxes Reminder: Section 179 for Small Business Owners (Accelerated Depreciation): Deduct if In-Service by End Of Year

New Canon EOS M Mirrorless Camera Coming in Feb 2017

By admin, on December 24th, 2016

According to tipster a new Canon EOS M mirrorless camera is rumored to arrive in February 2017.  The camera is expected to arrive before CP+ show in Yokohama, Japan which starts on February 23, 2017.

The camera will sit behind the recently announced EOS M5 camera that features same sensor as of Canon EOS 80D DSLR. It will placed somewhere between Canon EOS M3 and M10.

EF-M 15-45mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM, and the EF-M 18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM  are the name of two Kit lenses those are expected to be announced alongside the Canon EOS M camera.

Better late than never . It's really a nice thing to see Canon populating its mirrorless line-up with camera and lenses.

Stay with us and we will update you soon with more information.

And don't forget to read Canon Upcoming Camera.

STAY WITH ON FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOOGLE+ to get live news + Canon rumors 24X7

source – CR.com

Source: New Canon EOS M Mirrorless Camera Coming in Feb 2017

Mirrorless Cameras, Marble Tricks, and the Essence of Humanity

Welcome to this week's edition of our Friday Quality Linkage column. Please enjoy this week's collection of interesting and entertaining links. Brew a fresh cup of coffee, find a comfortable place, and relax.

Editor's Note: This is the last Linkage column before Christmas, so we'd like to wish all our readers a happy holiday this weekend. 2016 has been a rough one for everybody, so be sure to enjoy quality time with your loved ones all the more as we look forward to next year.

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Image: Álvaro Serrano

The Best Mirrorless Cameras »

This week, Álvaro Serrano — who in addition to writing the Analog Senses blog also contributes a lot of great articles here at Tools & Toys — published an extensive list of the current best mirrorless cameras for a variety of needs. Categories include travel, action/sports, landscapes, wildlife, portraiture, and more.

As our own reviews editor Josh Ginter put it, this is "Basically the Camera Guide To Rule Them All."

Domino-Style Tricks with Magnets and Marbles »

This is one of those videos that gets increasingly clever the longer it goes on. Some of the tricks really threw my brain for a loop.

Tricked Into Playing the Wrong Game »

Seth Godin, after listing a few examples of people (or archetypes, more like) who compromised their values:

Bigger isn't better. It's merely bigger. And the mass market might want what the mass market wants, but that doesn't mean that it's your market.

Hayao Miyazaki: The Essence of Humanity »

In this 17-minute video essay, filmmaker Lewis Michael Bond analyzes Hayao Miyazaki's approach not only to animation, but also the emotional depth of his characters, even down to their smallest mannerisms.

If you're a huge fan of Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli, there's probably nothing you don't already know or haven't thought about here, but it's a wonderful analysis regardless.

Twenty Thousand Hertz Podcast »

Like many 99% Invisible listeners, I was recently turned onto the Twenty Thousand Hertz podcast, which tells "the stories behind the world's most recognizable and interesting sounds." I've only listened to two episodes so far, but I'm already a fan:

"The NBC Chimes"

"The Voice of Siri"

How to Start Listening to Hamilton »

If you still haven't given the Hamilton musical a shot by now (see what I did there?), Merlin Mann has some good tips for diving in:

Proviso: This show is long and weird and overhyped and it is not for everyone. If you're not already a fan, you're certainly sick of hearing about it. Sorry. But if you maybe are interested, hey, here's a sane and scalable (if unorthodox and opinionated) way to decide if Hamilton is right for you.

When I decided to finally listen to Hamilton (which was long after it'd already taken the world by storm), my method was to lay on my bed one night and just listen all the way through; no iPhone in hand, nothing else to distract me, just me and the music. I rarely listen to anything like that anymore, but I imagined I could surely absorb it all in one sitting.

Boy, was I wrong.

I got the gist of the story, sure, but there were so many small (yet genius) things happening in the lyrics and between characters that a lot of it flew by without me even noticing until I listened again, and again, and again, and watched videos of the cast performing it live, and listened again, and read about how the show was made, then listened some more…you get the picture.

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Got any suggestions for articles, videos, stories, photographs, and any other links you think we should be posting in our weekly Quality Linkage? Please do let us know on Twitter.

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Source: Mirrorless Cameras, Marble Tricks, and the Essence of Humanity