Canon Rumors

10 Million Canon DSLR’s

Canon EOS Rebel T1i

Press Release:
April 3, 2009

Canon has announced that it has produced over 10 million consumer D-SLRs (digital single-lens-reflex) worldwide since the launch of the EOS 300D in 2003. Canon’s D-SLR products have achieved consecutive no.1 rankings in GfK’s consumer hitlist since 2004. Starting with the Canon EOS 300D, the market-leading spot was passed to the 350D in 2005, the EOS 400D in 2006 and the EOS 450D in 2008 (GfK WEU14 Jan~Dec for each respective year) and it is hoped the trend will continue following the recent release of the EOS 500D.

“Canon remains at the forefront of this consumer market growth with a market share of 40 per cent in Europe (GfK WEU14 Jan~Dec 2008) which we account for our commitment to consumer demand and our passion for high-quality image,” said Rainer Fuehres, Head of Canon Consumer Imaging (CCI), Canon Europe. “We hope that the release of the EOS 500D will further strengthen our market position this year.”

The increasing volume of consumer-orientated D-SLR models on the market has also driven an increase the volume of lens sales. Canon’s EF lens portfolio is now the world’s most extensive and popular range of D-SLR lenses, with over 60 models and 40 million sales worldwide.

Canon recently celebrated the 50th anniversary of Canon SLR (single lens reflex) cameras, having launched the Canon Flex in May 1959. Over 50 million Canon SLRs have been sold worldwide and Canon SLR cameras are accepted as the benchmark standard for amateur and professional photography.

cr

Canon 60D/7D

Coming in 2009
I’ve posted before that I had information that the xxD line of cameras would take a bigger step forward than the 50D did over the 40D.

The 60D will still be an APS-C camera, but we could see DIGIC V introduced with it.

I have no specs outside of wishlists, but information about the next incarnation should start coming soon.

cr

Where are my Canons?

They’re coming
A few people wonder when their new PowerShots are coming.

The SX200 IS is already shipping, it’s probably backordered already.

The D10 will be hitting shores sometime in the next 7-10 days. Expect full coverage by the 20th or so of April. The North American version of the SX1 IS will be arriving around the same time.

Tilt Shifts
They’re still on track to be showing up sometime in May. Full stock coverage may be into June. Like with all Canon high end lens products, initial quantities will be limited.

T1i
The new T1i will be seen sometime near the end of April.

270EX
They’ll be coming in April.

There’s a bunch of other PowerShots coming, these are the only ones people keep asking about.

cr

10 Best Canon Digital SLR’s

What say you?
I was flipping though emails trying to find some worthy news, nothing came up. So I decided to give my top 10 Canon DSLR’s.

1) Rebel/300D
It was the first sub $1000 SLR, it could be easily hacked to unlock a pile of 10D features and it had great image quality. This camera really opened the doors for digital SLR’s

2) 20D
Tough call vs the 5D, but the 20D was the first “prosumer” camera to really break open the whole segment. Plenty of 20D owners went to the next camera on our list.

3) 5D
The first “affordable” full frame camera. It also boasts some of the best image quality ever produced by a digital SLR. Pictures taken with the 5D can still look magnificent today.

4) 1Ds Mark II
Massive resolution for the time and unparalleled image quality. This camera converted a lot of film users.

5) 40D
I just loved this camera. I think the IQ is fantastic and 10mp is just about pefect.

6) 1D Mark II/IIn
Blazing fast, fantastic autofocus and a staple of sports photography.

7) Rebel XSi/450D
This Rebel really matured the line I think. I think it’s the best built Rebel to date. We’ll see what the T1i has on offer.

8) D30
It has to be on the list, so I put it here. :)

9) 5D Mark II
Some say it’s missing features and sexiness for specs, I don’t really agree. It’s a camera with fantastic image quality. I have to put it on the list just for its video mode.

10) 1D Mark III
I love mine.. so it’s here!

cr

40D Done?

Canon Canada

RIP 40D

The 40D has been removed from a couple of Canon price lists, but not all.

Canon Canada is offered refurb 40D’s to dealers, this is usually a good sign a camera is done. They carry a 90 day warranty in Canada, so be careful if you buy one.

You should see refurb bodies appearing for $749 – $799 CAD or so.

It’s still not officially discontinued by Canon.

cr

Boring Site Stuff

Zzzz
I’ve added the Rebel T1i to the Price Watch page. Some sites don’t yet have body only pricing up, I’ll add them when the pricing pages become available.

A lens price watch is coming, I’m just figuring out how to organize it so it loads quickly. It should be up for next week

cr

2000D in May?

Rebel XS

Coming up on one year
The 2000D will be a year old come June, will Canon be releasing a new one?

Northlight points out the Aussie PMA being in June, so perhaps a May announcement?

2000D? I havent heard anything about it. I think Canon may just keep the 1000D around through to Christmas. A $399-$499 dslr perhaps?

Nikon has discontinued the D40, so there’s a hole in the really cheap SLR segment from the big 2. I’ll assume that the D60 will be the new cheapy when Nikon makes their announcements on the 14th of April.

I haven’t seen any imminent discontinuation of the XSi or XS yet. I’ll have to keep an eye on price sheets.

I admit I laughed at Sony for having 3 entry level cameras, but here we are with 3 Rebels. I think at their current price points, they’ll sell a lot of each of them.

cr

Canon EF 20-400 f/2.8 IO USM IS

Har Har

EF 20-400 f/2.8 IO USM IS

Canon have just announced the first of a line of ground breaking new optics that actually intensify the light as it passes through the lens. This results in smaller lighter lenses which can have longer zoom ranges but still retain a f2.8 maximum aperture.

This technology has been in development for many years, but achieving a blend of high optical quality with a good amount of light gain and a realistic manufacturing cost has only just become possible with a revolutionary new manufacturing process

Canon are not able to release details of exactly how they make the lenses but, have said that the whole process of manufacturing has to take place in total darkness until the new Starlight Spectra Coating, which is the key to the intensifying of light, has time to develop its light gathering ability.

From what we have gleaned this is the first of a whole new series of IO (Intensifying Optics) Lenses and more lenses are expected in the range later this year.

We were lucky enough this week to be able to handle one of the first lenses into the country and so are able to bring you some details about the new lens. We were unable to shoot any images with the lens as it was pre-production and unfortunately the production models will not be available.

Read more about this fascinating lens here (not written by CR)

thanks Jan

cr