Canon’s New Zoom…
Canon have today announced a new lens. Its focal lengths and promised image quality should make it popular. Here are the official details.
EMBARGO: 13th June 2011 for immediate release
Canon unveils the EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS II – the ideal telephoto lens for aspiring photographers
Image © Canon Inc
United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, 13th June 2011 – Canon today announces the launch of its latest high-quality telephoto zoom lens. The new EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS II is a compact and affordable lens, offering powerful telephoto performance combined with high image quality, making it ideal for photographers wanting to get closer to the action.
The versatile new lens enables photographers to shoot a variety of subjects due to its variable focal range. It’s ideal for shooting anything from portraits to longer-distance subjects, such as wildlife, sports, or even features within a landscape – ensuring the moment is always captured in impressive detail.
The EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS II will be available separately and also as part of a double lens kit, bundled alongside the recently-announced EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II with EOS 550D, EOS 600D and EOS 60D bodies, providing beginners with a fantastic start to their photography system, all in one box.
Designed and manufactured to exacting standards, the EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS II reflects Canon’s premium design philosophy, with an enhanced exterior design and a number of premium technologies to ensure leading image quality. Canon’s four-stop Image Stabilizer (IS) counters image blur during low light and handheld shooting, and the inclusion of an Ultra-low Dispersion (UD) lens element and Canon’s Super Spectra Coatings also ensure beautifully crisp, high contrast and glare-free images. The latest EF-S lens to be added to Canon’s range is ideal for photographers seeking an affordable and versatile lens for general-purpose telephoto photography.
Pricing and Availability
The EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS II will be available from July 2011, priced at £329.99/€369.99 RRP incl. VAT.
End. (13/06/11).
Rescheduled Course…
My apologies to those who were contemplating but had not yet booked on our ‘Mastering Portable (Strobe) Flash’ workshop for this Saturday with Park Cameras.
This has been rearranged for Saturday July 2nd.
For more details or to book: Click Here.
End. (09/06/11).
Nikon Speedlight Workshop…
Our next Nikon Stage 1 Speedlight Workshop is taking place on May 3rd, using the companies Kingston-Upon-Thames training suite.
If you are interested in this very popular event, then just to let you know, places are being taken up quite quickly, although there are some spaces left.
For more information: Click Here.
To book: Click Here.
End. (14/04/11).
Studio Lighting Workshop…
This week (March 25th), will see our next Studio Lighting From The Ground Up workshop with Park Cameras.
So for those who wish from the basics, in a step-by-step way to understand in practical terms, how to use studio lighting, this is a fine solution.
Apart from covering the basics of what, where, when and why, delegates are often surprised just how much ground we cover and the images created on the day.
For more information: Click Here.
For information and to book: Click Here
End. (21/03/11).
Portable Flash Course London…
Also coming up soon (March 22nd) is our ‘Mastering Portable Flash’ seminars at Calumets Drummond Street branch.
This is an ever popular crash course on using Speedlights and Speedlites for any brand.
It covers far more than people realise and caters for those using flash across numerous subjects and situations.
For more information: Click Here.
To book: Click Here.
End. (11/03/11).
Glasgow filling up…
Attendee numbers are growing on a daily basis for our Studio Lighting From The Ground Up workshop in Glasgow on March 3rd. Its not full up yet, but we anticipate it being so before too long.
Calumet hope to have their web site booking pages operating again soon. In the meantime you can contact the branch direct on: 0141 353 0875.
End. (22/02/11).
Studio Lighting Workshop Manchester…
I am pleased to say that back by popular demand, we are once again going to be presenting our Studio Lighting Workshop from the ground up at Calumet Manchester on December 1st. Details will be live on the Calumet site soon.
Event Details:
John Clements Studio Lighting Workshop
When:
December 1st 2010
Where:
Calumet Manchester
Level Of Content: Stages 1-2
For more information: Click here.
Monochrome Magic…
We are once again going to share some wonderful techniques and ideas for those interested, and dare I say passionate about achieving quality monochrome images.
Park Cameras are our hosts again for this previously very well received event on November 12th.
For more information: Click Here.
Event Details:
John Clements Black & White Digital Photography Workshop
When:
November 12th 2010
Where:
Park Cameras Burgess Hill Sussex
Level Of Content: Stage 1-2-3
Nikon Wins Again…
Image © Nikon Corporation
Nikon have just issued confirmation that they once again have won some respected accolades at the 2010 TIPA awards. These are annual awards that are voted on by respected pan European photographic press titles, including some from the UK.
Here is the official announcement:
NIKON REPEATS SUCCESS AT THE TIPA AWARDS
Nikon UK April 2010: For the third year in a row, Nikon has claimed the DSLR top spot in the TIPA (Technical Image Press Association) Best D-SLR Professional award – this year picking up the award for the D3S. The Best Professional Lens prize was claimed by the AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II.
Robert Cristina, Manager, Professional Products at Nikon Europe, comments: “We are delighted that for the third time in a row, a D3 series camera has won the Best DSLR Professional award. We invested a huge amount of time implementing feedback from customers to ensure that the D3S keeps them ahead of the game.” He went on: “The AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II builds on the success of the ground breaking AF-S 14-24mm f/2.8, which won the TIPA award in 2008. Both products continue to ensure that today’s photographers enjoy the best in the business”.
TIPA is Europe’s leading image press association. Its awards are chosen by Europe’s 29 leading photographic magazines in 13 countries and given to products that the jury consider to be the very best in their category in terms of overall quality, performance and benefit for the defined end-user. The awards further underpin Nikon’s leadership position in high-end photography and recognise the company’s continued pursuit of excellence.
Best D-SLR Professional: the Nikon D3S
The TIPA jury comments: “Taking up most of the functions that made the success of the Nikon D3, the D3S marks a milestone in the history of photography: it is indeed the first DSLR to feature the record “push” sensitivity of 102 400 ISO. Superbly constructed, with an excellent viewfinder and a top-level autofocus system, it is an ideal D-SLR for the pros, in particular for reportage and sport photography.”
Image © Nikon Corporation
Best Professional Lens: the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II
The TIPA-jury comments: “The AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II telephoto zoom lens has been developed for use with digital and film based Nikon SLR cameras. A number of unique Nikon technologies have been adopted for this lens, including the use of seven ED glass elements, Nano Crystal Coat, a vibration reduction (VR II) system that provides camera shake compensation equivalent to increases in shutter speed by four steps, and a Silent Wave Motor (SWM)”. For more technical information click here.
* Under Nikon test criteria.
End. (28/04/10).
Best Talks @ Focus?
I listen too other photographers speak so rarely, that at Focus, I try to catch a few minutes here and there when I have a break.
There was not ever going to be a chance to listen completely or to all speakers on the Nikon stand, but thought both Will Cheung talking about monochrome imagery (D700 shooter), and Jon McMurtrie about his time as the official photographer with Iron Maiden were very good (D3 shooter).
While I have no interest in that groups music, Jon’s story and experience shooting with Nikon equipment is one to see if it is repeated.
Off the stand I just caught a couple of minutes of Joe Cornish talking on the Phase One stand. One great little thought provoking comment came up. A question from the audience went along the lines of “do you wait for the best light”‘? In reply Joe was honest and said that he no longer does. He would rather make something of the light than not go out looking for shots at all if the forecast is not great.
This may not please the purists, but with post capture software it is possible to create something eye catching even from mundane originals. That said, I would rather be out taking shots than in front of a computer screen for too long. And when we shoot our landscapes, reaching for those graduated filters or one to polarise the light, it amounts to the same thing in my book.
End. 12/03/10).
Studio Lighting Workshop In February
Event Details:
John Clements Studio Lighting Workshop
When:
February 22nd 2010
Where:
Park Cameras Burgess Hill
Stages Of Content 1-2
On February 22nd I will once again be presenting my Studio Lighting from the ground up event. Our hosts this time will be Park Cameras who have proved to be an excellent venue for this previously.
End. (02/02/10).