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› archive for September 1st, 2009

New Canon Lenses – Hybrid IS

canon-100mm-macro-2.8As mentioned briefly earlier, Canon announced a few new lenses today: the EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM, EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM, and EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

Obviously the 100mm macro there is the highlight of the bunch, and features Canon’s new Hybrid IS system; From the press release:

The EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM lens could very well be the essential multipurpose lens for every camera bag due to its ability to capture sharp close-up images of small objects as well as beautiful portrait-length telephoto shots. The incorporation of Canon’s new Hybrid IS in this L-series macro lens allows it to compensate more effectively for camera shake during close-up shooting and marks a significant improvement for professionals and advanced amateurs utilizing macro photography for portrait, nature or wedding shoots.

New Hybrid IS Technology: Designed Especially for Macro Photography

The world’s first* optical image stabilizer for SLR cameras was introduced in the EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM in 1995. Since then, Canon has made continual advancements in IS systems to enhance panning capability and improve compensation for camera shake. Now, in a move aimed at extending image stabilization to the macro realm, Canon introduces its Hybrid IS in the new EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM — another first for Canon and the world.

Conventional image stabilization technology is useful for reducing the effects of camera shake in non-macro shooting situations. When shooting hand held close-ups at 1x, however, camera shake makes it difficult to achieve acceptable results even with lenses incorporating conventional image stabilizers. Now, thanks to the Hybrid IS found in the EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM, Canon extends IS technology to the macro realm, making it easy to obtain clear hand held close-ups — a world first* and a definite advantage in environments where use of a tripod is not an option.

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Canon’s EOS 7D Gets Real

7dCanon’s new shooter, the 7D, is official now. In a rare event for Canon, this model doesn’t upgrade anything, but slots in as a new option in their line-up. The 7D sits above the 50D but below their 1D series. It retains the 1.6x crop APS-C sensor of their Rebel and xxD series, but pumps in other pro features. It’s crop sensor pro lite, really. It was announced today with a new wireless file transmitter just for the 7D and three new lenses (including a 100mm f2.8 macro which is Canon’s first lens to use their Hybrid IS system, w00t!).

We’ll have more the lenses soon, but for now here are some key specs on this new Canon beast:

  • 18 MP CMOS Sensor
  • Dual DIGIC IV Processors
  • Supports EF and EF-S lenses
  • Magnesium, weather-sealed body
  • Shutter rated to 150,000 actuations
  • An LCD is overlaid on top of the viewfinder to show AF points, composition grids, spot metering, electronic level, and the usual shooting info
  • 3″ 920,000 Dot LCD
  • New 19 Point all Cross-Type AF Sensor
  • New iFCL 63-zone dual layer metering system
  • ISO 100 – 12,800
  • 30 – 1/8000 second shutter speeds, plus bulb
  • 3 RAW sizes
  • Dual-Axis Virtual Level
  • 8 Frames Per Second Continuous Drive
  • Full HD Recording (with manula controls this time)
  • Mic Jack

Should be up on our site very shortly, these new fly-by-night cloak-and-dagger product announcements and embargos make it rough on us poor vendors, since we’re increasingly often finding out these things are official from the same sources you are, leaving us scrambling to get them up

But, while we scramble, hit us up at 1-800-726-5544 if you want on our wait list for the 7D or any of the new lenses.



Photo Walkabout Goes Down By The Water’s Edge

walkabout

We’re going walkabout yet again this week, this time Thursday night. Yup, night. Put on your capes and practice your Bela Lugosi impersonations, we’re shunning the light for the dark and shooting the Canal. As always, this is a wonderful opportunity for students, hobbyists, and pros alike to get out and just shoot because it’s there to do. There’s no charge, but you might wanna bring a tripod along for this one.

If you’re down, meet us at the intersection of West and New York, downtown Indy, Thursday by 9:00PM. We’ll be the goobers standing by the Canal Square apartments with diaper bags of camera gear. We hope to see you there, but by a bit after 9:00 we’ll be wandering over to the canal, so be sure to get there early.