Redoing the Tilt Shifts?
From an anonymous email:
A collegue has been testing a new tilt-shift lens from Canon….. It’s 24mm and a bit faster than the current lens offered by Canon
The results have been a big improvement over the current model.
I have no idea when this lens could or would be released
It’s a niche market product that a lot of people would be very much into. I’d be interested.
cr
A different source
A new source is saying Canon will be sticking with the 100-400 focal length for any update they do to the lens.
No word whether or not to expect it at PMA.
Disclaimer
It seems every photo show this lens is slated for replacement. The current model sells extremely well for Canon. I have one and would have no interest in replacing it, my copy is silly sharp. I haven’t received any information from bang on sources about such a lens yet. I am bugging them for info though.
EF 200-400 f/4L IS
This seems to be a lens a lot of people would like, I just don’t think a lot of those people would pony up the $4K-$5K it would cost. I haven’t heard any rumor about such a lens being in development.
EF 400 f/4L IS
This is a lens I have heard two bits of information about over the last few months. I think it’d be more likely you’ll see a non diffractive optics version of the 400 than another 400mm zoom added to the lineup.
cr
Woops
You should all be able to reply to specific comments now. I had it set to only allow the admin and original poster to do so. That should make the threaded discussions a lot easier to read.
Sorry about that.
cr
The Camera and Imaging Products Association (CIPA), which represents the various Japanese camera manufacturers, has released their outlook for digital camera sales, 2009-2011:
2009-2011 Outlook on the Shipment Forecast by Product-Type Concerning Cameras and Related Goods
The Camera & Imaging Products Association (CIPA, President: Tsuneji Uchida) has announced the outlook on the shipment forecasts by product-type concerning cameras and related goods for the term from 2009 to 2011.
I. Outlook on Shipments in 2009
1) Digital Cameras
The total shipments of digital cameras in 2008 (the cumulative total of shipments from January to December) exceeded the performance in 2007 when shipments broke through the 100 million unit mark for the first time since CIPA began compiling statistics. A total of 119,757,000 units were shipped, representing an increase of 19.3% on the previous year’s performance based on volume.
The growth was exhibited across both categories of product type with shipments of interchangeable lens digital SLR cameras reaching 9,687,000 units (a year-on-year increase of 29.7%) and shipments of digital cameras with built-in lens reaching 110,070,000 units (a year-on-year increase of 18.5%).
Nevertheless, the effects of the rapid economic slowdown since the autumn of 2008 have begun to manifest themselves in the digital camera market. On the basis of these changes, the forecast for 2009 envisages total overall shipments including digital cameras with built-in lens and the sales driver interchangeable lens digital SLR cameras declining by approximately 790,000 units to 118,971,000 units (a year-on-year decrease of 0.7%).
In terms of the breakdown in shipments by product type, the forecast anticipates shipments of interchangeable lens digital SLR cameras increasing by approximately 660,000 units to 10,349,000 units (a year-on-year increase of 6.8%) and shipments of digital cameras with built-in lens declining by approximately 1,450,000 units to 108,622,000 units (a year-on-year decrease of 1.3%).
2) Interchangeable Lenses for SLR Cameras
The total shipments of interchangeable lenses for SLR cameras in 2008 was underpinned by significant growth in shipments of interchangeable lens digital SLR cameras associated with the expansion of the SLR camera user base. Lens shipments exhibited firm growth with a total of 15,655,000 units shipped on a volume basis (a year-on-year increase of 25.1%).
The forecast for 2009 anticipates that lens shipments will continue to grow due to the continuation of sustained strong demand for interchangeable lens digital SLR cameras. Shipments are expected to increase by approximately 960,000 units to a total of 16,610,000 units (a year-on-year increase of 6.1%).
II. Outlook on Shipments in 2010 and 2011
1) Digital Cameras
The forecast for total shipments of digital cameras in both 2010 and 2011 reflects the effects of gradual moves toward economic recovery anticipated. Continued overall growth can be expected albeit at lower rates than the high levels recorded up until 2008. In view of the growth potential in Asia and Other Areas, the forecast envisages total shipments increasing in 2010 to 122,449,000 (a year-on-year increase of 2.9%) and in 2011 to 125,954,000 (a year-on-year increase of 2.9% year-on-year).
By product type, the forecast anticipates that the sustained steady growth in shipments of interchangeable lens digital SLR cameras will continue with 2010 shipments reaching 11,242,000 units (a year-on-year increase of 8.6%) and 2011 shipments totaling 12,029,000 units (a year-on-year increase of 7.0%). Shipments of digital cameras with built-in lens are also predicted to increase with 2010 shipments reaching 111,207,000 units (a year-on-year increase of 2.4%) and 2011 shipments totaling 113,925,000 units (a year-on-year increase of 2.4%).
2) Interchangeable Lenses for SLR Cameras
The forecast for total shipments of interchangeable lenses for SLR cameras in both 2010 and 2011 envisages that the growth in lens shipments will track the robust growth path of interchangeable lens digital SLR cameras with 2010 shipments reaching 17,972,000 units (a year-on-year increase of 8.2%) and 2011 shipments totaling 19,151,000 units (a year-on-year increase of 6.6%).
In view of the unavoidable effects of the rapid economic slowdown on the shipment forecast, as described above, we will continuously assess the forecast based on updated results and
announce a revised forecast on the basis of the results for the first quarter of 2009.
From Fastlens
Nikon not immune?
It appears the Nikon D3x is running into some issues according to Thom Hogan and some other owners of the camera.
Story at Nikon Rumors: http://nikonrumors.com…
I don’t get too bent out of shape when cameras don’t work 100% out of the box. There’s so much going on, it’s nearly impossible to get it right the first time. Hopefully Nikon irons out the issues and owners of the D3x don’t go insane like some of us Canon folks have in the past.
I will say how a company handles issues with their products go a long way with consumers. The 1D3 issues were handled quite poorly by Canon, in contrast I think the 5D2 issues were handled great by Canon. The big reason it went so well is because Canon communicated that they agreed there was an issue, and were working as quickly as possible to fix it.
There will be more issues with new cameras for the rest of time. Lets just hope the companies do right by the consumer.
Prague, Czech Republic
I’m just waiting to board an airplane out of Prague. I had a great time in the city.
There was a photography store in the city that had a Canon Model 7 with a 50 f/0.95 on it. Had it been for sale, I’d probably own it now.
Thanks Prague
cr
February Announcements
The following lenses have been slated for announcement from a few sources.
EF 35 f/1.4L II USM
- availability in the summer
EF 80-400 f/4-5.6L IS USM
- avalability in the summer
We know the 35L replacement is coming, I was initially told it would be in the fall of 2009. Expect a long delay on purchasing the lens after announcement.
As for the 80-400, this is the first time I’ve heard about this focal range for the replacement of the 100-400. Take this with a bigger grain of salt than the 35L II.
No info about a 24-70 replacement with IS.
cr
Fall 2009
Just received some information about the replacement of the 50D.
The camera is to be launched in the fall of 2009 and on sale for Christmas.
You can expect it to be branded “7D” the source says. The “xxD” moniker is going away. There is a perceived confusion with customers between Canon and Nikon model numbers. I actually hear people saying model numbers wrong all the time.
Specs:
Some might say “why would Canon put DIGIC V in the 7D and not 5D2?”. Remember Canon has outspecced xxD cameras with Rebels in the past. People also scoffed at the 21mp notion of the 5D2 with the 1Ds3 around. You’re only as good as your latest camera I guess.
This is a new source, so CR2 folks.
cr
2009 is a possibility
I’ve been told from two sources that a 1D Mark IIIn is a definite possibility. Most people at Canon feel the AF system is fine, as does a large percentage of owners. An improved LCD, Buffer and possibly a movie mode could be added to the 1D3n.
I was told there was a newspaper that ordered 20+ 1D3 bodies and attempted to cancel the order at the height of the AF controversy. Canon shipped them 1/3 of the order to test the cameras out. A month later the newspaper requested the rest of the order and called them the “best cameras it had ever owned”. The camera has also been selling very well for the last 6-8 months.
Why no 1D4?!
As been talked about in the past, there is a murmur that Canon could be merging the EOS-1 line in Q4 2010. The motivation to lower production costs by manufacturing one camera. I think most people would agree it would be a good move. I’m not sure exactly how much money Canon could save having one body.
EOS-3D
I know some people are thinking it, I’ve never been sent any credible information about such a camera.
cr
Nifty Fifty Gets Some Love
DPR has completed their review of the 50 f/1.8 II. Generally glowing review for a sub $100 lens.
I owned one of these for a little while a few years ago. It was really an experiment for myself to see if I liked prime lenses. Turns out it started me on the road to becoming a “prime snob”. I think everyone that is getting into photography should own this lens. I think it can improve technique and creativity. The added workout of “manual zoom” is also a bonus.
cr
I’ll bite
Some folks have started an online petition to Canon to “fix” the 5D Mark II movie mode. Since the community has been so good to me, I’ll return the favor on this one.
What the community wants from you Canon
I have heard from various people Canon is actually addressing at least one of those requests. We’ll see what happens.
Head on over to the site and get involved.
Google Ads
I answer a lot of the same questions in emails countless times. I love doing it as its part of being the guy that writes on this site.
I will answer this question/concern for the 4th time on this site.
I do not have total control over what ads appear via Google Adsense. I know various bait and switch sites pop up from time to time. I have 200 scam sites currently blocked with Google, unfortunately that is the maximum I can block. These scam sites find various ways to slip through the cracks and there’s nothing I can do about it.
Canon Rumors Public Service Announcement
If it’s too good to be true, it is. There are no bargains in photography.
Thanks again.
cr
