OK, so, this was actually posted yesterday, which means most of you 5D mark II shooters probably already have it, but, if you haven’t heard yet there’s a new firmware in town. This one is for the video shooters, adding new frame rates (including real NTSC instead of the machine-perfect 30fps), new audio sampling quality, and an on-screen levels mixer for the audio.
Anyway, the firmware is up on Canon’s site. So, hit the external link below if you want to grab that.
Canon has announced it’s newest Rebel, the reasonably (for once) named Rebel T2i. Updates? Well, it’s up to an 18.0 megapixel sensor, new wide-aspect LCD, 3.7 frames-per-second shooting, the 1080p shooting gets 30/25/24 fps selectable, there’s a stereo mic jack, ISO goes from 100 – 6400, and something about some hand-me-down techs from the 7D. So, evolutionary? Yeah, of course, but that’s still a pretty solid set of features for this newest Rebel.
It’s set to be released as a kit with the usual 18-55mm IS currently, and we’re of course taking preorder allocations over at our site. So, if you want your name on the list, best to shuffle over to http://www.robertsimaging.com/preorder.jsp and get that going.
So, Canon has announced the production of its 50 millionth EF lens. I was surprised at this—Nikon did celebrate 50 million first, despite Canon being a larger company—until I remembered that Nikon was celebrating the F mount, which they’ve never abandoned, but Canon’s only been running on the EOS/EF mount for some 20ish years, having used the wildly different FD mount before. So, congrats, Canon, on this your newest milestone, and hopefully many more to come.
Oh, and that 50 millionth lens? It was one of the new EF 100mm f 2.8L Macro IS USMs. Just for the record.
Canon’s firmware update for the
EOS 1D Mark IV is available for download from Canon immediately.
What’s the update do you ask?
This firmware update (Version 1.0.6) incorporates the
following enhancement:
Firmware Version 1.0.6 enhances the AF tracking performance.*
*AF performance has been enhances[sic] for receding subjects and for subjects that are approaching at a low speed.
Right on, Canon.
Just a quick update to yesterday’s confusion over the disparity between the press release and the product page as to whether Canon’s newly announced 70-200mm f2.8 IS lens comes with a hood. Today the product page agrees with yesterday’s press release, and the hood is listed as a supplied accessory. Glad that’s settled. Now go get on our wait list for one.
Canon’s covering their bases in HD camcorders this year. Three each in three ranges: There’s the flagship line of HF S with the HF S21, HF S20, and HF S200, the Compact line of HF M featuring the HF M31, HF M30, and HF M300, and the budget conscious HD user’s line of HF R wherein we find the HF R11, HF R10, and HF R100. The two digit lines (HF S21, HF M30) record to internal memory and external media, and the three digit lines record to removable (SD/SDHC) media only.
All of them record full 1080p HD video, the HF S and HF M series have the touch screen and Touch-Track tech (3.5″ screen on the S series and 2.7″ on the M series)
The HF S series starts with the HF S21, owning a 64gb internal drive with two slots for SD/SDHC cards, the 3.5″ touch screen LCD, an HD to SD downsampling function to ease your uploading (and presumably your use of the EyeFi wireless SD cards). The S21 has a 24p cinema mode, native 24p mode, and a 30p mode. Canon’s also included their Video Snapshot mode, which allows 2, 4, and 8 second clips for the guys and gals who don’t know when to quit taking footage. On top of that it takes 8MP stills. The HF S20 has all the same features but records to a 32GB internal drive -the HF S200 skips the internal drive and goes right to the dual SD slots.
The HF M series top model is the M31 and drops to a 32GB internal drive with one SD slot, 3.3 megapixel stills, a 2.7″ touch LCD, and records 60i with 24p and 30p progressive modes which record at 60i. The M30 has an 8GB internal drive with the same specs as the 31, and the M300 again skips the internal and goes right to the SD slot.
The budget conscious HF R series kicks off with the R11 with an internal 32GB drive, one SD/SDHC slot, a 20x Canon genuine HD video lens, keeps the video snapshot function, but lacks the touch screen of the above models. The R10 has the 8GB internal drive, three color options, and the same digs as the R11 otherwise. The R100, following the trend records directly to SD/SDHC cards.
For the full press release, read here.
Canon's newest L offering, mm tasty. But whence this nudity?
Today we get wind of the new Canon 70-200 2.8L IS the version II. Boasting a closer minimum focus distance than its predecessor (1.2m/3.94 ft vs 1.3m / 4.3 ft.) and a purported 4-stops of Optical Image Stabilization against the 3-stop of the version I. Hot diggity it’s exciting, but no word this morning of price.
Canon’s specs table indicates that it doesn’t ship with the new ET-87 lens hood, but their press release says it’ll come with a tripod collar, lens hood, and lens pouch.
Pricing and Availability
The Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens is supplied with a detachable tripod collar, a reversible bayonet mount lens hood and a lens pouch. The new lens is scheduled to be delivered to U.S. dealers in April, price to be determined.
Read more about this at Canon’s press release page: here. Get on our waiting list here.
Lotsa announcements today, so occasionally we’re going to just give you the corporate press release until we’ve had time to look it all over and parse out the useful bits in our usual helpful, Roberts fashion. Such it will be for now with Canon’s 4 new entries to it’s popular A-Series of PowerShots, famous of course for using AA power still. They’re also considered the entry market, but these days they’re becoming so highly specced that they’ll work for most people out there just looking to record some memories and do it well. Anyway, press release and gallery below. They are gorgeous this year, so take a look.
CANON U.S.A. ANNOUNCES FOUR NEW A-SERIES CAMERAS WITH CREATIVE EFFECTS FOR PERSONALIZING A PHOTOGRAPHIC JOURNEY Lake Success, N.Y., January 5, 2010 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging, today unveiled four new PowerShot A-Series digital cameras offering entry-level consumers the opportunity to step-up their shooting experience with exciting new creative effects. In addition, for the first time, Canon offers a new rechargeable lithium-ion battery in two A-Series models, extending the battery lives of the cameras. The A-Series lineup, comprised of the PowerShot A3100 IS, A3000 IS, A495 and A490 Digital cameras, offer consumers enhanced photo-taking capabilities through an array of creative modes to help shape one’s personal photographic style. “With the introduction of the new PowerShot A-Series cameras, Canon brings a new aesthetic design to our entry-level line and new features that enhance the camera’s overall performance and functionality,” said Yuichi Ishizuka, senior vice president and general manager, Consumer Imaging Group, Canon U.S.A. “The new creative modes are designed to offer consumers the ability to customize their captured images and add personalization to the time-honored art of photography.”
Anybody who knows me knows that I’m not a professional sports photographer and that putting a 1D Mark IV in my hands would be about as useful as putting me behind the wheel of any car that’s won a NASCAR race in the last decade. Can I figure things on the exposure triangle? Sure. Much past that, things get iffy.
Fortunately, Canon puts samples in the hands of guys like Brad Mangin, who is a professional sports photographer. You can see his first hand use of the EOS 1D Mark IV with the 400 f/2.8 (on and off the 1.4x tele-converter) in the Detroit Lions vs San Francisco 49ers game here, complete with a RAW file downloadable from his server.
© Calin Leucuta
So, who’s willing to exercise their credulity muscles this morning in favor of a change from the usual? I know I get tired of the usual stream of product recalls, firmware upgrades, and general nay-saying you’ll find about any camera made ever on your average online forum. So, I’m willing to shoot this story the benefit of belief until proven otherwise because I want to.
FM member Calin Leucuta has a story posted about his skydiver friend who’s helmet mounted video camera and Rebel XT came loose during a dive and plummeted to the earthy-face of ol’ Gaia in their own freefall. From approximately 3,000 feet. The video camera is apparently scrap, but reportedly the Canon, banged up and ugly, still, well, works.
Video evidence might be coming. Or this might be a hoax. But right now, let’s just give it the benefit of a doubt and declare that Rebel XT the proven toughest camera in the world.
Via Engadget via Canon Rumors via Fred Miranda.
