Currently being tested?
“We’re told that at the SWPP convention in the UK, Steve Allen during his presentation stated that he is currently testing the pre-production version of the Canon EF 24-105mm f4L IS USM Mk II lens. He had the 5D Mk II camera pre-production model since November 08.”
From [NL]
Keith makes the obvious point… NDA?
I’ve heard nothing about this lens outside of this in a long while.
cr
It´s finally here
Well, we were right about them not continuing with the current A470 type of camera, wrong about the model number.
Specs
10mp
3.3x Zoom
2.5″ LCD
DIGIC III
Simplified Layout
Various Colors (Silver, Red, Blue, Black)
Motion Detection Technology
30fps VGA Movies with long play mode
15 Shooting Modes
AA Batteries
This looks like an intelligent $100 camera for our cheap grandparents and for our hapless teenage children. Good upgrade.
Image from DPReview
Press Release and more images from DPReview
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0901/09011504canonpowershota480.asp
cr
Update
From a usually solid source. I´m told to expect an update to the 17-40 sometime in 2009. The current lens a cash cow for Canon and any replacement is sure to be a hot seller. The main purpose for the upgrade is to improve full frame performance. The replacement will not have IS.
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GJ Canon
The first presidential portrait ever taken with a digital camera. That camera was the 5D Mark II.
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From an email
“Canon will definately launch a small flash for PMA, it will be called the 300 EX.”
CR2 rating on this one, I don’t recognize the source. I have heard other rumblings about it over the last few months.
cr
Follow-up to the GX Rumor
A good source that is right most of the time wrote me a pretty lengthy email about the “G”MOS type compact a lot of people are looking forward to seeing.
He said such a camera will not see the light of day in 2009. There is folks at Canon paying close attention to how successful Olympus and Panasonic are with their Micro 4/3 system.
In my opinion, if Panasonic had put more marketing muscle behind the G1 for the holiday season, they would have sold a ton of them. I do know the local store here did move a half dozen or so since its release.
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From Reuters
Canon’s Mitarai Calls Holiday Sales, Outlook Weak, Reuters Says
By Patrick Rial
Jan. 11 (Bloomberg) — Canon Inc.’s 2008 holiday sales were “disappointing†and the world’s largest maker of digital cameras expects 2009 to be its “worst year,†Chairman Fujio Mitarai said, according to a Reuters report.
“This year must be the worst†for camera sales and the economy, Mitarai said, speaking in Seoul, South Korea, according to the report. Mitarai is also chairman of Keidanren, Japan’s largest business lobby.
Assessment
Well this is great news! Seriously though, I think a lot of Chairman’s are saying the same thing.
I don’t expect this outlook to alter product launches all that much. The new Rebel and compacts are a given.
What about the pro stuff? There will definately be a new pro body and pro lenses introduced in 2009. We have the winter Olympics and World Cup in 2010. You can’t be going into these events with sparse stock levels. It all needs to be out the door before the end of the year.
cr
From an email
“The already classic 300 f/2.8 IS is going to be replaced in the first quarter of 2009. Canon has upped the already great optical quality and improved the IS.”
I heard this a few months ago from a pro North American sports photographer, but he wouldn’t go too indepth about it. NDA’s and whatnot. I do expect all of Canon’s big white lenses to get updated over the next 24 months.
Barcelona
I’ll be in Barcelona, Spain for the week. Leaving tomorrow. There might be a little lag in posting, we’ll see what the internet access is like.
cr
We just may see it in 2009
According to a report [NL] there is a hold up with the new 1D and its movie capabilities.
quote
“…Canon has a replacement for the 1D MKIII ready to launch during the second quarter of 2009. What’s holding Canon back is a decision from FIFA … to allow pro-cameras with video capability ( see 5D MKII) during sporting events. FIFA is currently looking into the legal implications with television rights and contracts with broadcasters. If FIFA give the green light then Canon will release the camera.”
I’ve waited to comment on it until I heard some first hand info. “It’s not a huge deal and won’t delay the launch of the camera.”
Announcement
What I also heard was a possible announcement date of May 19, 2009.
I have no spec outlines yet, but they’ll be coming.
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From Dave Jackson
Dave sent over this comparison of the two cameras and their ISO performance.
http://www.davidejackson.com/blog/
Check out Dave’s work as well, very good photographer.
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