Canon EOS 5D Mark II Firmware Update V2.0.3 Available

Canon just announced the released update firmware for the EOS 5D Mark II digital SLR now marked as update 2.0.3.

What you will get with this update:

Firmware Version 2.0.3 incorporates five enhancements to the movie function and a fix to the manual sensor cleaning function of the EOS 5D Mark II camera.

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.)

The new firmware is available for download on the link below FREE:
Firmware 2.0.3 download or here.
You can also check the official page with more detail information about this update View it here.
You can also get the Instructions Manual here.
And a Pocket Guidehere.

LM Workshop for Small Flashes at Vega Studio

Just started with a Sunday small flash sessions and workshops.

This Workshops are pointed to the fans of Strobist and to those who do not have a great deal of knowledge on how your small flash works and how to use them.

I will be teaching some basic on camera as well as some basic Strobist techniques that you can use at home or at a location with friends.

The concept idea is to anyone who is curious about this and would like to learn in some easy steps and start using your flash at your own pace and right out of the class.

Feel free to contact me if you like to have this Workshops outside Portugal or Lisbon area, since I'm planning on creating an advanced module for those Strobist fans out there with some more advanced techniques.

Read the rest for more information about them. (Also in Portuguese)


The main idea of this series and project is to start out has a very basic approach to the on camera flash and then evolve into a more mature situation where you will have several strobes, or not, to create different situations for your projects.

With some great models helping out this would be a blast.

Contact by email below.

--- Portuguese ----

Já pensaram quantas vez utilizam o vosso flash de sapata e não tiram partido das suas potencialidades em reportagens, eventos sociais (casamentos, aniversários).

Propomos uma formação com o fotojornalista Rui M. Leal sobre o tema, para além disso propomos uma introdução com prática do metodo Strobist com o qual podem criar os seus próprios sets de luz e fazer fotografias de elevada qualidade.


Strobist Flash Experience - Modulo 0 - Iniciação


Objectivos:

FLASH SAPATA: No final da acção de formação os participantes deverão ser capazes de utilizar o flash de sapata em modo manual, decidir qual a potência a atribuir em função do local a fotografar e compensa-lo com a luz ambiente existente.



STROBIST: Deverão ser capazes de conhecer o diverso material a utilizar no método Strobist e como organizá-lo na montagem de um set básico de retrato.

Conteúdos programáticos:


Flash Sapata

1) Aprender a utilizar o flash de sapata (Canon, Nikon, Vivitar, Sigma....) em modo TTL e essencialmente Manual.

2) Compreender a utilização do flash e da potência a definir em função do local a fotograr e o ambiente.

3) Compreender e praticar a utilização do flash com disparo á primeira cortina e segunda cortina e quando utilizar estas funcionalidades.

4) Prática de utilização de flash em várias situações práticas.


Método Strobist (flash fora da maquina)

1) Apresentação do diverso material necessário: Flashes, Tripés, Sombrinhas, Disparadores, Filtros, Diversos modificadores de luz, bem como aprender a fazer os teus próprios modificadores de luz.

2) Montagem de um set com luz principal, recorte e zenital, com prática com modelo.

A anunciar brevemente nova formação.

Informações e Inscrições através do mail: vega.studioslx@gmail.com
ou MSN: vega.studios@hotmail.com
http://www.vegaestudio.com/

Exemplo do que vais ser capaz de fazer no final:


Passar de uma simples foto com o Flash na camera ou na sapata (directo ao modelo).


Para uma bastante mais interessante efectuada com uma simples sombrinha e um flash fora da camera, tudo isto numa primeira aula.

No fim desta simples formação conseguirás montar o teu set e melhorar as tuas fotos com o flash na camera.

Aparece, esperamos por ti.

First Hand: Canon EOS 1DMarkIV Custom Manual

To better understand the 1D MarkIV Servo AF Custom Functions & ISO Speed Settings I want to share with all of you out there, FREE of charge, the never seen before Manual with a Capital M.

Just click on the image that will take you to the rapidshare pdf file with 5 Mb size.

Added another link to my account on 4shared due to traffic overload on rapidsahre and you can find it here.
If even with this link you cannot get it, email me and I will send it to you by email.

Direct links
MediaFire
4shared.com

I just hope this could help anyone in need of such features, has myself, or have any doubts concerning the new firmware 1.0.6 issues. You can follow more of that at one of the very active Fred Miranda Foruns here.

I would like to thank Canon CPS Germany for supplying me the Manual as per issues with firmware 1.0.6. This will make a much better understanding of what each Custom.Fn can do and what are the more appropriate shooting circumstances for a particular area.

I'm still learning to configure mine by trial and error but sure this would give a much clearer vision on what the functions were created for.

Hope this could help you out too.

I also made available the Firmware versions 1.0.4 and 1.0.6 here (25Mb) in one single package just in case you wanted to revert yours to a previous one.
Canon does not supply the 1.0.4 so this is another exclusive offer from Lighting Mods to you.

When reversing the firmware version to 1.0.4 pay attention that the language of your camera will be taken to chinese so before you update or downgrade be sure to know where that menu is so you can change the language setting of the camera back to waht you want. (It's the 6th counting from the left and 2nd yellow one, 3rd row down). Enjoy.

And the latest, for me one of the best so far (for the focusing issues and sharpness), 1.0.8 you can download from Canon official web page here.

Canon unveils EOS E1 video plug-in for Apple’s Final Cut Pro

Hello and GREAT WONDERFUL news from Canon HDSLR department.

If you are using Final Cut to edit your videos the suffering has ended... well at least that's what Canon is planning by releasing this piece of software.

They Call it EOS E1 video plug-in for Apple’s Final Cut Pro. The plug-in is compatible with Final Cut Pro 6 or higher and currently supports Canon EOS 5D Mark II, EOS 7D and EOS 1D Mark IV cameras.

The plug-in will be introduced in a free Beta release in March 2010.

This third party plug-in allows simple and easy transfer of video content from Canon’s EOS DSLR cameras directly into Final Cut Pro. The EOS E1 video plug-in takes advantage of Final Cut Pro’s powerful Log and Transfer feature, which allows users to select and mark the video directly while it is still on the camera, add custom metadata and ingest the clips in the background so the editing can begin immediately.

The third party EOS E1 video plug-in it's a Yupiiiiiii!!!, FREE download.

Meanwhile and while waiting for the Canon plugin You can download this plugin that can help you with your files directly by clicking here or go to apple website Here and download it from there.

About 5DtoFCP
This unique workflow package allows the user to choose to edit in 1080p, 1080i or straight to standard definition 16x9 25fps. Custom droplets give one click access to compressor that will convert the H264 files into ProRes for editing. The user also has a choice whether to make the clip realtime (i.e. 30fps to 25fps) or timestretch so that one frame in 30fps is one frame in 25fps. This will result in a slowdown of 20% for pin-sharp results.

Compressor droplets are supplied to get the final 1080p/i self contained movie into standard definition 16x9 too. Easy to follow workflow diagrams help plot the conversions needed to get the best quality from a Canon camera’s 30fps HD files to 25fps.

Give it a try and let me know how it's working for you.

Here is the direct link to Canon Plugin available as a Beta version during March 2010.

Europe Gear: Online Stores

------// Lastest Stores Update 01-01-2012 //------

If you are starting out Strobist I think this may interest you.

Here you will find a selection of some of the European stores I came across that sell gear for the Strobist enthusiasts. This list was a push pull menu on the right side of the blog, but I thought it would be much better to see the complete list on a single page.

When I started the blog back in 2007 not too much gear was available, well at least Strobist gear anyway, now in 2012 the stores brought a boom of lighting accessories for the small flashes that became almost impossible to track them down over the web so I decided to merge all store groups into a big collection of stores available in Europe so you can search and browse for the contents you need for your Strobist adventure.

I still divided them by countries and abandoned the idea of putting the gear separated since the stores are always changing their product links.
I think this would give a BIG source of information on European stores for all kind of Strobist gear, and if you find any other out there, not mentioned, please send me the link so I can update this.

*** Austria ***
foto-mueller

*** Belgium ***
studio73
fotorubens
nl2.conrad_Battery Chargers Voltcraft IPC-1L 700mA

*** France ***
prophotofrance
missnumerique
foto-oehling
objectif-bastille
bogenimaging
nouveauxobjets_Battery charger Lacrosse RS-900
nouveauxobjets_Battery charger Lacrosse RS-700

*** Germany ***
digitalwonderworld
hama
fotokoch
alles-foto
lumiere_shop
genius-versand
foto-erhardt
ebay_Umbrellas w/folding Ebay
foto-walser
studioexpress
fotoguenstiger
fotoinsel-hecht
pdm-licht-ton
fotoimpex
ltt-versand
calumetphoto
zilz
fotostudiobedarf
thomann_Spannflex
spannfix_Spannfix
studioexpress_Velcro black cable ties
thomann_Lee Filters
modulor_Rosco Filters
akkushop_Batteries All Sizes
laantec_All Kind of Batteries
amazon_Lacrosse Tech BC-700
amazon_Lacrosse Tech BC-900
conrad_Battery Chragers LADEGERAET
laantec_All Kind of Chargers

*** Hong Kong ***
Gadget Infinity

*** Italy ***
condor_foto

*** Netherlands ***
fotokonijnenberg
fotoshopaalten
cameranu

*** Portugal ***
colorfoto
jvalles
studiolightworld
niobo
EstudioPT

*** Spain ***
cromalite
Reina de Copas (Straws)
Reina de Copas (500 Straws)
Rones del Mundo (500 Straws)
Rones del Mundo (500 Mini Straws)

*** UK ***
teamworkphoto
onestop-digital
warehouseexpress
speedgraphic
hiltonphoto
robertwhite
karlu
7dayshop
theflashcentre
firstcall-photographic
Morris
cameraworld
photomart
microglobe
creativevideo_Westcott Umbrellas(Send mail asking quotes)
cke
fotosense
tarpaulinsdirect_Ball Bungees (UK)
flashgels_Ball Bungees & Pre-cut Flash Gels
velcro_Velcro
rosco_Rosco Filters
studiolighting_Gels and Filters
lxstore_Lee, E-Colour, Rosco, GAM
stage-electrics_Rosco, Lee filters & Cinefoil
flints_Cinefoil
warehouseexpress_AA Energizer Lithium
component-shop_Eneloop and Instant
7dayshop_AA & AAA Batteries w/hard case
maplin_All Kind of Batteries
smallbattery.company_All Kind of Batteries
batterycompany_All Kind of Batteries
component-shop_LaCross,Energizer, Ultra-Rapid,Univ.Chargers
maplin_All Kind of Chargers
smallbattery.company_All Kind of Chargers

*** Worldwide ***
davidhonl_Snoots, Gobos, Grids & Gels

*** Make Your Own ***
lightingmods_Black Straw Snoot Grids
lightingmods_Grid Snoots Templates

You can check for more DIY at the pull down Articles Menu on the right side of the Blog, there are a lot of great information there. Go check them out!!!


Hope you enjoy the updated page.