RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM to Ship on October 22nd


B&H, Amazon, Adorama, and the Canon Store are all showing a ship-date on the RF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM of Thursday, October 22nd, even for new orders placed now.

This is good news for this particular new-release lens. Canon has been plagued by supply issues recently. The new EOS R5 and R6 bodies as well as mount adapters are the most visible shortfall, but most RF and EF lenses have also been backordered and on tight allocation for months.

This points to broader supply issues that can’t be explained just by the unprecedented demand for the new releases. We’re curious to see how this will impact the upcoming holiday deal season.




5DayDeal: Free Webinars with the Bundle Content Creators

This year, 5DayDeal is offering a unique opportunity — today and tomorrow, they are hosting a number of free webinars with the content creators of their “Complete Photography Bundle”. It’s a great opportunity to meet some of the photography minds behind this great education bundle, learn more about it, and ask any questions that you may have!

This year’s “The Complete Photography Bundle” (the 8th one, if you’ve been counting) is a “classic” bundle of eBooks, videos, and software focused on making you a better photographer. It’s available for only $89 for five days only — the deal expires on October 20th at 3 PM ET, and this specific bundle will never be offered again!

Even if you’re not buying this year’s bundle, please don’t forget to signup for their free giveaway contest where they are giving away $10,000+ of software and gear — Peak Design Travel Tripod and Everyday Backpacks, subscriptions to SmugMug, Flickr, or CreativeRaw, or even a MacBook Pro!



Adorama Daily Deal: SpyderLensCal Autofocus Calibration Aid for $39


For today’s Deal of the Day, Adorama is discounting the Datacolor SpyderLensCal Autofocus Calibration Aid to $39.00, which ties for the lowest price seen yet.

This deal is until tomorrow 10 AM ET, or until sold out.



5DayDeal “Photography Bundle” $89, Includes SmugMug Portfolio!

The 5DayDeal “The Complete Photography Bundle” is back for the 8th straight year! This is their “classic” bundle of eBooks, videos, and software focused on making you a better photographer. It’s available for only $89 for five days only — the deal expires on October 20th at 3 PM ET, and this bundle will never be offered again!

One of the best values in this year’s bundle is a SmugMug “Portfolio” Account for 6 months (for new customers only). This is a top-tier account ($162 value) at SmugMug that makes it easy to sell your photos, providing a turnkey e-commerce storefront — one photo sale could pay for the bundle itself!

We spent some time watching, reading, and reviewing the rest of the bundle. We list a summary of the bundle below. While most content is in the basic $89 bundle (10% goes to charity), some items listed below are available at the two additional bonus levels (charity bonus and pro add-on bonus).

  • This year, the focus is on light! Seven different courses feature photographers talking through how they use light, ranging from studio portraiture in “Dramatic Single Light Portraiture” or “Illuminating The Face: Lighting for Headshots and Portraits”, to leveraging natural light with “Magic With Any Light”. We particularly enjoyed “How To Photograph Landscapes In All Lighting Conditions” which showed the subtle art of capturing with available natural light.
  • Many resources for how to edit photos, as usual! There is a range of guides on Photoshop and Lightroom, ranging from the basic, to advanced techniques (such as time-blending, automation, sky replacement, or editing of night shots). It’s always a treat to watch other photographers edit, as you learn many techniques to apply to your own photos. This is also supported by thousands of presets and LUTs that can be used to speed-up your time in post.
  • Shooting guides follow a photographer through a particular variant of photography — some of the best include “Street Photography Masterclass”, “Creative Baby Wrapping”, and “The Astro Timelapse Guide & The Ultimate Timelapse Guide”.
  • Business guides to help you crack the business of photography. “Pricing Your Photography Workshop” helps you set appropriate pricing points; “Office Organization for Photographers” sets you up with an organized workflow.
  • Introductory material covers photography basics (“Scott Kelby’s Complete Bundle”, “Photoshop Basics for Photographers”, “Composition Secrets”, and the “Beginners Guide to Manual Mode Course”) geared towards the beginner.

As usual, the “The Complete Photography Bundle” is great value at $89. We think it’s worth a purchase if one or two of the items catch your interest, and perhaps something unexpected in the bundle will inspire you. As before, 10% goes to charities so you are also supporting very worthwhile causes. Check out the bundle before it’s gone!



Refurbished EOS RP + RF 24-240mm Added to Canon Store, $1199


The Canon Direct Store is listing the refurbished EOS RP with RF 24-240mm for the very first time. The price is $1199.00 — which is an excellent deal for this kit, given that the refurbished lens goes for $629 and the refurbished RP goes for $900 — a $330 savings when you buy the refurbished kit together!



Hot: Refurbished EOS 5Ds $1039.20, 5Ds R $1199.20, Canon Store


The Canon Direct Store is clearing out refurbished EOS 5Ds at $1039.20 and EOS 5Ds R at $1199.20. A limited quantity is available, and we don’t expect it to be restocked when gone!

Canon recently lowered the price on this camera by $2400, clearing out brand new cameras at $1299/$1499, but most dealers are already sold out!



Amazon Prime Day: Meike Arca-type Grip for EOS R $32 (20%-off)


Voking Digital via Amazon is discounting the Meike MK-EOSRG Hand Grip for Canon EOS R for $31.99, a 20% prime day discount from the regular price of $40.

This metal grip has an Arca-type compatible base, which attaches to the bottom of your camera via the threaded camera mount. In addition to making it easier to hold your camera, it can be used as a tripod quick release plate.