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› archive for February, 2011

EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM EXTENDER 1.4x Lens, not a typo.

Nature photographers in need of a 200-400 / 560 focal range are about to get their moisture-wicking thermal socks rocked. Canon announced development of the EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM EXTENDER 1.4x Lens.
I know when I first saw the name of this super-telephoto zoom in an e-mail from Jody I tried to give him a ration about failing to insert a carriage return. Oh ho, he replies, that’s the lens’s name and there’s an integrated 1.4x teleconverter.
Further emphasizing the lens’s suitability for outdoor work is the dust and water-resistant construction.
Canon intends to show off a prototype (I love the word prototype) later this week at the CP+ trade show in Yokohoma.


Canon announces new, svelte, 500mm and 600mm f/4 lenses

Today Canon announced two new Super Telephoto Lenses, the 500mm f/4L IS II USM and EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM. Each featuring the Flourite optics and lighter weight Magnesium and Titanium body elements mentioned back in August in relation to the faster models of the 300 and 400.

More after the break. And pictures! read more



Canon Celebrates 60 Million EOS Lenses

Why, it seems like just three hundred and seventy-two days ago Canon was celebrating another arbitrary milestone, albeit with a smaller number. Today’s milestone is the production for their 60 millionth EOS lens (a 70-300mm f4-5.6L IS USM, if you must know.) I suppose technically they made it last month, but the press release was today, so…

So, if you’re a Canonista, today’s the day to go to your bag, take out your Canon lenses, stroke them lovingly and try to guess what production number they were. They’ll appreciate the attention.



Canon Also Announces EOS Rebel T3i (EOS 600D)

OK, continuing the odd naming scheme the poor Rebel line has to suffer through, this is the EOS T3i, which sits above the EOS T3. This makes less sense in Europe where these’ll be called the EOS 600D and EOS 1100D respectively, but whatever. The T3i will be the new flagship of the Rebel line, and come with an 18 megapixel sensor and DIGIC IV processor same as its immediate predecessor. It’ll have 9 autofocus points and 63 zone metering just like it’s cheaper stablemate. Things get more exciting once you get to where it has wireless commander support for Canon flashes finally, and a 3″ tilt/swivel LCD with a whopping 1.04 million pixels. It’ll shoot 1080 HD, instead of just 720. Also, it has a new A+ auto mode that’ll select your scene, style, and dynamic shadow lightening for you, in case you’re just wanting to point at things and have pictures appear from the ether. Not that we’re judging, mind, sometimes that’s really all you want from a DSLR is the picture to happen.

You’ll have three purchasing options with the T3i: body only, body with 18-55mm IS Mk II, or body with 18-135mm. The prices will be around $800, $900, or $1100 respectively.



Canon Announces New Entry-Level Rebel: The T3 (1100D)

Canon today, reminding us that intelligible naming schemes are for chumps, announced two new entry-level DSLRs with increasingly perplexing names depending on where in the world you are. The lower of these is the Rebel T3 (also known as the EOS 1100D).

The Rebel T3 will sport it a 12.2 megapixel CMOS sensor with a DIGIC IV processor and the ability to mount EF and EF-S lenses. It’ll have a 2.7″ LCD with 230,000 pixels, which was good when I bought my camera a few years ago but looks pretty budget-oriented on paper these days. It’ll shoot 720 video, have 9 auto-focus points, and a 63-zone metering system.

It’ll ship in a kit with the 18-55mm IS Mk II lens for around $600.



Schneider Kreuznach Joins Micro Four-Thirds Consortium

Schneider Kreuznach has apparently thrown their lot in with Olympus and Panasonic in the Micro Four Thirds Consortium Group. Like Four Thirds before it, Micro Four Thirds is a semi-open standard for development, shared by all the companies on board. The goal continues to be the mirrorless system, sensor size, and mount-size to enable the creation of more flexible, smaller cameras and lenses.

Schneider Kreuznach is an old name in the lens business, going back to 1914 and currently owning B+W, Rollei, and Century Optics. Their decision to join Micro Four Thirds is possibly a little less surprising for their affiliation with Kodak, who are listed as partners for the original Four Thirds group.



New Photo Contest Theme: Marriage

We’ve finally announced our first new photo theme in a while. And, since we’re a couple days late in a short month, we’re lobbing an easy one at you: marriage. Now, we would like to point out that marriage is the act of taking two or more different things and making them one, so, it doesn’t all have to be about weddings. I know later tonight I might go participate in the wonderful marriage of Guinness and Bass, myself. And if you have a really stellar shot of a black-and-tan on hand, well, that’d count as far as we’re concerned. Be creative.

Also, we’re working on judging the massive turnout for Dec-Jan’s combined theme, we’ll get back to you soon with a winner. We haven’t forgotten, just been seeing some departmental shake-ups around here that knocked our schedule off.

If you’ve got a marriage photo ready to post the heck now, go here: http://blog.robertsimaging.com/monthly-photo-contests/marriage/#axzz1D0XfQ0Pz




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