Mr Galbraith says “No, it’s not better”.
I stopped reading his reports about the 1D/1Ds autofocus issues after I couldn’t replicate them. 300 2.8′s, 500 f/4′s, telelconverters… I couldn’t make the camera AF as poor as he claims it does. I have no idea what to think really.
Here’s his report anyway.
http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/multi_page.asp?cid=7-8740-9068-10086
cr
Get a 5D2 on the cheap (In some states)
Add the 5D2 to the cart to see the $2499 price.
thanks Craig
cr
24p omission explained?
This source explains why there’s no 24p at the moment. I’m trusting the information is legit, I personally lack the technical knowledge of HD video in the 5D2.
“The 5D MarkII will have 24p, it is already in a firmware running in testing. It was not released due to time but it was planned to be released with the manual control. This is not as easy as some people tend to believe. The codec data rate has 6 frames of spare bandwidth and the file size was still the same as the 30p in the cam I tested. They have to re-code the compression routine in order to run at full speed and not waste file size. This has introduced some problems in stability because the chip can only handle 30p natively and this is basically a hack. No Audio control planned or in the firmware as of yet.
The 60D will have 720p, 1080p video modes. 30p is already in the firmware and the Mark II hack could be used in this camera easily. Much better CMOS than the 500D improved even from the 5D Mark II.
Nikon is adding most of the same features soon in their cameras, Canon just wanted to release and get the claim of being first.”
cr
It’s here
LONDON, UK, 27th May 2009: Canon announced today it will release a firmware update for the EOS 5D Mark II allowing users to manually control exposure when shooting video. The new firmware will be available for download from 2 June 2009 on Canon Europe’s support web site.
Following the launch of the EOS 5D Mark II in September 2008, Canon’s Research and Development team has listened closely to customer feedback to develop additions to the camera’s movie recording functionality.
Allowing EOS 5D Mark II owners to achieve even more stunning video results with the camera, the firmware update will include the following manual controls when shooting video:
* Full aperture selection
* ISO speed: Auto, 100 – 6400 and H1
* Shutter speed: 1/30th – 1/4000th second
The EOS 5D Mark II integrates full HD movie capability into a high-end 21.1 Megapixel camera; opening a multitude of new possibilities for photojournalists and news photographers.  Since its launch the camera has proved its appeal to professionals working in diverse fields, from studio and wedding to nature and travel. Now, following customer feedback, Canon has improved functionality for professional video users, further unleashing the potential of the EOS 5D Mark II for cinematographers and photographers alike.
CR’s Take
Great work Canon, you listened and it looks like you have delivered.
Still no 24p it looks like.
Download (June 2, 2009): http://web.canon.jp/imaging/eosd/firm-e/eos5dmk2/firmware.html
cr
Native 5D Mark II Video
“Folks. I think I have been sitting on this news long enough. As you all know, one of the most frustration thing about video editing in HD is that you can never work directly with the original clips without some serious performance hit and frame skipping.
The solution to this issue, so far, has been to either use proxies or transcode the clip into a format that can be rendered in real time (ex: ProRes 422). Each of these solutions has a disadvantage. Proxies add complexity to the workflow (I wish Premiere or FCP would handle them like After Effects does) and if you transcode to another codec, you are losing some image quality (they don’t handle the color the same way). The lost might be minimal but it is there. That is why some people just keep editing in H.264 and accept the ever present render bar as a necessary evil.
Well, it is time to rejoice because very soon all of these issues are going to be history! I have learned that the next version of Quicktime (coming with Snow Leopard) is going to allow real time editing of the Canon 5DMrkII H.264 clips!”
Read More: http://www.canon5dtips.com/2009/05/h264-realtime-editing-in-fcp-rumor/
cr
Available everywhere!
"Don't let your images live only as jpgs"
If you’ve been waiting to jump into home printing, the 2 new prosumer printers appear to be available everywhere.
Both printers produce great results. If you’re into b&w photography, the 9500 is the way to go.
If you already own a 9000 or 9500, they aren’t worth an upgrade.
I currently use the 9500 and Hahnemuhle papers, I’ve never been happier with a printer.
cr
Movie Mode
The 60D will certainly see movie mode added to the model when its announced in the fall (or so we’re told).
There will be no manual aperture control, but there will be 24p & 30p modes at 1080p.
We may finally see the paradigm shift to SD cards for the line (For better or worse).
I’ve actually started to use an SD card in my 1D3 on a daily basis, I just wanted to know if it would annoy me. So far it hasn’t.
Larger VF
Expect to see a larger and brighter VF in the 60D. I have no info as to whether or not it will be 100%.
cr
Onscreen Audio Meters
“It isn’t perfect by a long shot, but we’re making very swift progress this holiday weekend. I found the VRAM and was able to write a small task that monitors the audio levels at 30 Hz and draws a very simple level meter on the top of the screen. It is calibrated with 5 dB tick marks, but the ballistics are bad and it isn’t synced with the redraw period (causing it to flicker), but we’re running real code doing real work on the camera!”
From Cinema5D
cr
Japan
There’s a cash back program in Japan on the 50D. Save about $220 on a 50D with an 18-200 and $125 on a 50D with a 17-85.ÂÂ
http://cweb.canon.jp/camera/campaign/50d/cashback/apply.html
Canada
No rebates to announce yet, I can’t remember the last time Canada didn’t have a rebate program in the summer months.
There’s an instant rebate on the T1i at the moment with multiple lens kits. Saving a few dollars anyway.
thanks jose
cr
TOKYO - Japan’s Canon Inc reported an 88 per cent fall in quarterly profit, hit by slumping demand for copiers and printers, but it raised its annual outlook on cost cuts and a weakening yen.
Demand for office machines and their supplies such as toner cartridges remained weak as the global financial crisis made the replacement cycle of copiers and printers longer and prompted corporate clients not to use them as heavily as before.
Fujifilm Holdings, a rival in digital cameras and office equipment which has been hit much harder by the economic downturn, forecast a ¥90 billion ($A1.30 billion) annual operating loss as it scraps equipment and cuts 5,000 jobs.
Canon, whose other competitors include Xerox Corp and Ricoh Co Ltd, earlier this month delayed the construction of a toner cartridge components plant in western Japan for a second time, underscoring weak demand.
But Canon’s overseas sales have been boosted by softer-than-expected yen. The company also said it would aim to cut Â¥172 billion in costs this year, Â¥60 billion more than originally planned.
Canon raised its 2009 operating profit forecast by 12.5 per cent to ¥180 billion, in line with an estimate in the Nikkei newspaper last week. But it lowered its sales forecast by five per cent to ¥3.33 trillion.
Mizuho Securities analyst Ryosuke Katsura said the operating profit forecast change was effectively a downward revision after stripping out currency effects but that the results show Canon is holding up relatively well.
“Some had expected losses for Canon’s first quarter, so I think it’s positive that the firm managed to post profits,” he said. “Its cost-cutting efforts should be given some credit, but I have yet to see how the company achieves growth.”
Rival Xerox last week forecast a weaker-than-expected quarterly profit and cut its annual outlook nearly in half, while Ricoh predicted a 13 per cent fall in operating profit for the year to March 2010.
Ricoh last October bought major US office equipment distributor Ikon Office Solutions for $US1.6 billion ($A2.2 billion), delivering a heavy blow to Canon, whose machines had represented 60 per cent of the products Ikon handled before the October acquisition but have rapidly been replaced with Ricoh equipment since then.
Operating profit at Canon, the world’s largest digital camera maker ahead of Sony Corp and Nikon Corp, came in at Â¥20.03 billion in January-March, compared with a Â¥170.83 billion profit a year earlier.
Sales fell 32 per cent to ¥687 billion.
Sony is set to announce results for the previous financial year through March on May 14, and Nikon plans to report on May 13.
Canon shares closed up 6.1 per cent at Â¥2,950 before its earnings announcement, outperforming the Tokyo stock market’s electrical machinery index, which rose 4.4 per cent.
The shares have recovered nearly 40 per cent since hitting their lowest level in more than seven years in early March. The electrical machinery sub-index has risen about 36 per cent from a low hit in late February.
