Canon Rumors

*UPDATE* New Canon Video Camera & dSLR Features

Some more info and corrections (From the source)

• 120hz means 120 full frames. The camera will only be specced for 60fps. The chip may be used in the future for a higher end camera.
• The CMOS sensor is an entirely new design based on the previous work on APS-C it refreshes much faster and can be deemed a much improved sensor for video applications. Hence it will have very low rolling shutter effect.
• As far as dSLR’s. People in charge think that 30fps on 720p and 1080p is very good and will not improve it on this generation. PAL 25p is too close to 24p and is not contemplated as an option for now.
• The upcoming replacement for the 50D will have 1080p 30 for sure and 720p 30 also. I have no info on any Mic port for this product yet.
• The 5D II might get 720p 30 as a firmware update since the only reason it was //not included is because of rushed development of the video spec. Might never come but it’s possible.
• The source says don’t take that comments about dSLR video modes as absolute fact. That stuff is pretty guarded.

So there you have it.

cr

5D Mark II – Digital Camera of the Year

Engadget Awards
Oh joy. Even after all the hate this camera has received it has won the coveted Engadget Digital Camera of the year award!

Woooooooo!

True, there was some Nikon fanboy vote splitting with the D90 and D700, but who cares… we win!

Seriously…. I nominated the Panasonic G1 as camera of the year and I stand by that. It’s nice to see some real innovation.

Speaking of which; Olympus? Where’s my micro 4/3 camera? I want that orange thing with the 20 f/1.7. It’d be like a new age digital Canonet QL17 GIII!

Read about all the gadget winners: http://www.engadget.com/…

Overlooked (Thanks for pointing it out)
The fine folks at Engadget chose the Nikon D90 as the digital camera of the year!

cr

New Video Camera?

From an email

Canon is working on a pro video camera that has a 1x APS-C CMOS sensor able to capture up to 120hz or full frames a sec. Fab specs show 12.1MP. The body will be similar to that of the XL H1 with an EOS mount fully manual controls. Canon is working on 2 lenses for the system launch that have quick video AF motors and be compatible with Instant AF like their current video line. One will be a wide starting at 16mm and the other will be a tele zoom starting at 70mm.

While I can’t directly comment on the dSLR video modes being restricted, I believe they are lowering the options for this system to be launched sometime in 2010.  Other specs on the firmware of the camera are: 720p 60,30 1080p, 24, 30 and 60. EF and EF-S lens compatibility including Teleconverters. Will not work with Sigma as the mount communication protocol is somewhat changed, those lenses will have to be sent in for an updated firmware. Tamrons seem to be unaffected or at least not mentioned.  The video format will be a flavor of MPEG 4 with a roof at 56Mbits/sec. Work is being done on a video RAW format that will be 12bit only, and will need a special IO module separate from the default package.

While no pricing has been set, they target under 8k for the base system with the 16mm WIde and 4k or more for the IO module with uncompressed SDI Out and USB 3.

Storage system will be based on the CFast Spec! One Slot Only.

More info available as things progress.

Don’t expect EOS vDSLRs to get any better at recording exotic frame rates or get manual control.

Specs may change but I’ll keep you updated.

cr

Canon Pro9500 ICC Profiles for Epson Papers

Personal Project

Canon Pixma Pro 9500

I’ve printed the color charts for a couple of 5 star Epson papers that I plan to profile tomorrow for the Pro9500.

- Ultra Premium Presentation Paper Matte
- Ultra Premium Photo Paper Luster

If anyone wants to try out my ICC profiles for these papers, drop me an email and I’ll send them off when I’m finished on Sunday.

I’m also redoing the profile for the Canon Fine Art Matte paper. Canon’s profile is horrible for me. I’ll do the profile to eliminate the 35mm margin Canon requires for the fine art papers. If anyone wants this profile as well, just let me know.

I’d be curious to know if others had success with my profiles.

cr

PowerShot SX1 IS Review – DPR

Finally Done

CMOS Based PowerShot SX1 IS

Now that the camera is hitting North American shores, a review of the SX1 IS has come out from DPReview. This is a landmark camera as it uses Canon’s own CMOS sensor for a PowerShot for the first time.

From DPR
“In the last few months there have been a number of new superzoom cameras announced; all feature fast capture times, more and more new features, and wider and wider zoom ranges. It is too early to say how the SX1 IS stands up against these new cameras, and it will be interesting to see how this market segment shapes up. As it stands the SX1 – whilst interesting – offers too little to justify its high price, and while I’m sure that as its price falls it will become more attractive to a wider range of potential buyers, at the moment it’s impossible to see why you would buy one over the SX10 IS.”

It’s not an overly positive review. Probably for good reason.

Read more at DPR: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canonsx1is/

cr

Zeiss 18mm f/3.5 Distagon for ZE in 2009

It’s coming
The one lens in the Zeiss lineup I’m interested in actually using is the 18mm f/3.5 Distagon.

Zeiss is showing the lens at the Photo Expo show in Tokyo and will be available near the end of 2009.

Probably looking in the $1300 range for the lens.

A small Luminous Landscapes review of it: http://www.luminous-landscape.com/…

I’d like to know when the Makro-Planar 100mm f/2 is coming for ZE. This is another lens that I would seriously consider. I seem to spend a lot of time in MF with my Canon 100 Macro, I probably wouldn’t miss a beat.

cr

5D Mark II Price Increase – Canada

Wooo
Canon Canada is raising the price of the 5D Mark II on May 1, 2009.

$3299.99 Body
$4149.99 w/24-105 f/4L IS Kit $4149.99

So buy it now!

cr

End of the 70-200 f/2.8L IS USM?

What the?
The word is out. Canon, after seeing a downturn in global sales of its venerable 70-200 f/2.8L IS USM, is soon to discontinue its production.

This is a lens that has prompted many an owner to affirm their allegiance to their precious 70-200s, despite their loved ones packing their things and vanishing in a trail of dust. After all, dust won’t stick to a Canon 70-200 L IS USM.

Read more here: Cameras Direct

This story is one of three things.

1) Some kind of satirical joke? (not very funny at the comedic level)

2) They know something that is true!

3) A great way to get some traffic to their site. (Gullible sites like ours will link to this story, ahhh drats.)

I’m not sure what it is, but you can all decide.

Thanks for the tip Rodrigo

cr