Archive for July, 2010

Canon’s Profits Triple

July 9 (Reuters) – Japan’s Canon Inc is likely to post a near three-fold jump in its group operating profit for the January-June period, boosted by better-than-expected sales of digital single-lens reflex cameras and laser printers, the Nikkei business daily reported.

The digital camera and office equipment maker’s group operating profit for the first half is expected to be up 180 percent at about 182 billion yen ($2.07 billion), the daily said.

Full-year sales are seen up 15 percent at around 1.7 trillion yen, helped by brisk demand for entry-level digital SLR cameras and strong sales in China, the daily said.

Renewed spending on information technology by clients helped the office equipment division, which struggled a year earlier, it said.

Canon’s gross profit margin likely returned to levels from before the financial crisis, the daily said.

For the full year ending in December, sales are forecast to rise 17 percent to about 3.75 trillion yen, with operating profit predicted to surge 66 percent to about 360 billion yen, the daily said.

Canon, which uses U.S. accounting standards, aims to absorb the blow of a weak euro through cost cuts and increased sales of highly profitable products, such as digital cameras, Nikkei said.

There are signs of a recovery in photolithography devices amid strong demand from LCD panel makers in China, the daily said. ($1=87.75 Yen) (Reporting by Shailesh Kuber in Bangalore; Editing by Gopakumar Warrier)

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Rebel T2i/550D Firmware 1.0.8

Download: http://web.canon.jp/imaging/eosd/firm-e/eosdigital7/download.html?submitButtonName=I+Agree

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1D Mark IV Firmware 1.0.8

Lenses, Lenses, Lenses [CR1]

More reports of what’s coming in glass
We’ve already seen information for 2 lenses that are highly anticipated as well as expected.

The ever popular EF 24-70 f/2.8L IS  and EF 60 f/2.8 IS Macro .

There is a report today at NL of an EF 200 f/4L IS Macro coming down the immediate pipe as well.

It would make a lot of sense to have the entire macro lineup redone (outside of the 50 compact Macro). That’ll be Canon set for the next 10 years.

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The Canon Wonder Camera

A Canon Concept
This is a concept camera from Canon. The idea behind it is one camera, one lens, do everything. It could go from Macro all the way to 500mm and still be fast.

Canon displayed this concept at EXPO 2010.

Follow this link the video

engadget via gizmag

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More 60D Conflicting Information [CR1]

60D Specs
18mp
Slightly different form factor than 50D.
No articulating screen
6.5fps
New AF System

Expect an announcement during the 3rd week of August

EF 60 f/2.8 IS Macro
This lens will be released at the same time. Notice it’s not EF-S.

EF 24-70 f/2.8L IS
I’m told the testing phase of the lens is complete and manufacturing will start in the next 30 days.

Announcement in August.

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CMOS in PowerShot [CR1]

PowerShot News
Received some information today about new PowerShot cameras.

G12
Backlit CMOS sensor
10mp again
HD Video
Minor ergonomic changes

S95
Same as the G12, with some ergonomic changes.

SX30
New backlit CMOS sensor.
24x Zoom
Lithium Ion Battery
1080p HD
Weight reduction

D20 & D30
Two new Waterproof models.
One will have HD video.
Unknown sensor and zoom.

Do not expect any of these cameras before September I’m told.

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Adobe Photoshop 12.0.1 Update.

Get your update on
Adobe has released PS CS5 version 12.0.1.

The most significant fixes in the Photoshop 12.0.1 update include the following:

http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/detail.jsp?ftpID=4732

thanks Edwin

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