Archive for November, 2010
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cr
Where have they gone?
There have been reports from folks that Canon has removed standard date codes from their lenses. Chuck Westfall, Canon USA’s tech guru confirms the reports.
The new 70-200 f/2.8L IS II is reported to have a 10 digit serial number for some people. All of my stock at Lens Rentals Canada has a 6 digit serial number. Would the 10 digit number have a date code system? We’re still waiting to hear.
Source [TDP]
cr
UPDATE #2
New Information about that phenomenon, which is not just a Tamron phenomenon anymore. A guy at the DSLR-forum replaced the Lens-IDs with an EF adapter and found out that the cross-type sensors won’t work on Lenses with the following IDs: 27, 30, 35, 37, 38, 193, 194, 195).
So Tamron was just unlucky by taking the wrong IDs.
The following Canon lenses are also affected:
- 27 = Canon EF 35-80mm f/4-5.6 (I)
- 30 = Canon EF 35-105mm f/4.5-5.6
- 35 = Canon EF 35-80mm f/4-5.6 II
- 37 = Canon EF 35-80mm f/4-5.6 III
- 38 = Canon EF 80-200mm f/4.5-5.6
- 193 = Canon EF 35-80mm f/4-5.6 USM
- 194 = Canon EF 80-200mm f/4.5-5.6 USM
- 195 = Canon EF 35-105mm f/4.5-5.6 USM
Link: http://www.dslr-forum.de/showpost.php?p=7463669&postcount=407
thanks Jorg
UPDATE
The Tamron 70-200 f/2.8 is also confirmed to have the issue with the 40D, 50D and 7D outer focus points not being crosstype.
7D Affected
A few days ago we reported some Tamron lenses weren’t using the outer crosstype sensors on the Canon 50D.
Tamron Europe has confirmed the Canon 7D and Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 VC also exhibit the same issue.
We’re still waiting for an official response from Tamron in Japan.
cr
The hits keep on coming.
It has recently been suggested to me that there will not be a 1Ds Mark IV at all.
The 5D Mark III (or whatever it’s called) will be aimed to take over the market for 1Ds users.
I know a couple of 1Ds3 users that are using 5D Mark II‘s most of the time now. Both folks say if the 5D3 ups its build quality and AF, they’d never buy a 1Ds again. If it’s priced at under $3000, a lot of people will probably feel the same way.
The same person says it’s possible that a new camera at the top of the lineup aimed solely at the medium format market, but not a medium format camera, will come to fruition. The design will be a radical departure (possibly modular).
CR’s Take
We’ve heard rumblings about this in the past.
Canon fans say all the time that they want Canon to be “revolutionary again”. However, when a rumor points to a big departure (which doesn’t happen frequently), it’s generally put down for being untrue or unrealistic.
I have a lot of trouble seeing a point to the 1Ds line as its currently implemented, I’d say a radical departure is a strong possibility.
cr
*Busted!*
A couple of knowledgeable people wrote in and basically said all of this is poppycock. As with most highly detailed rumors, this one appears to be a rehash of old rumor wishlists.
Fun to talk about though!
Seriously though, this is where my lack of pro video knowledge rears its ugly head. I’ll figure something out in regards to video.
Pretty detailed stuff
I received a pretty detailed rumor from an anonymous person. Usually when something is very detailed, it tends not to be true. However, I sent this information to a video guy and he gave me his opinion on what we’ve got here.
The rumor is a direct copy/paste from the email I received. Canon is apparently testing these 3 video cameras. The opinion of my friend is in italics.
1. Based upon the APS-C chip size (new sensorchip design) this new cam comes in a body which roughly looks like the XLH1 series. EF lens mount. Problems with moire are solved. Video looks much better than 7d vids, about 12 stops of dynamic range, clean pictures up to ISO 3200. 3 ND filters on board. 1920x1080p up to 60fps over HD-SDI out. 2K and 4K output possible, but not in the beginning, will be sold as additional hardwareupgrade. Codec: 4:2:2 50 MBit MPEG-2 Full HD . CF-Card slot and optional SD-Proxy. Pricerange $6-8K. Release scheduled for june/july 2011.
This sounds very much like a competitor to the panasonic af-100. All plausible specs to me based on the fact that the sensor they showed at the Canon EXPO was an aps-c sensor doing 4k video. I wouldn’t doubt that Canon is working on a video camera body that would challenge both af100 and the Red (which is where this rumor seems to be going).
2. Maybe most interesting to know, a revolutionary new 3-chip design (fullframe chips, new sensorchip design) is being tested. Absolutely stunning image quality in both laboratory and field tests (snowy + green nature); crisp sharp + most neutral colors with many distinguishable snow-whites, no clipped highlights even without ND’s (no build in ND). Up to about 20 stops of dynamic range possible (14-20 switchable + shiftable and special highlights preserving function). 2K and 4K raw output. over dual HD-SDI. Chrystal clear images up to about ISO 6000. This cam (intern codename, non official: “Yamato”) will sell for $20+K. Body design not finished yet, but will offer modular options.
20 stops of dynamic range is over the top. I don’t doubt that Canon’s working on some chip advances to get there, they’d be silly not to be trying to expand dynamic range! But 20? Most people put film at 15-16 stops. It almost sounds like they’re embedding some processing to prevent clipping of whites but I don’t know enough to understand. Though using different processing chips might explain that. Quite the rumor you’ve got there. I would also suspect that something like what is being talked about here might be out 2 or so years… my suspicion is that is still a testing platform for the future.
3. Same 3-chip design as Yamato but with smaller APS-C chip size in testing, but not finished yet. No known pricerange yet.
With the number of sensors they showed off a the Expo – one of them being 120m pixel sensor on an aps-c chip, I wouldn’t really put some of this out of the realm of the future.
Take this with a grain of salt, I expect some follow-up contact from this post.
cr
Beyond 2011?
It’s said Canon has introduced a 3rd camera category to its internal designations; DSLR, compact and mirrorless.
However, there is no current timeline or product to fit into the mirrorless category.
We’ve heard in the past that any mirrorless solution would be in the distant future i.e. 2012.
Source [NL]
cr
Interesting issue with Tamron Lenses
I received this information a while back, I didn’t post it until there was some kind of response from Tamron.
The following is a direct quote from the folks that found the problem. Tamron’s response is at the bottom.
i am a member of the german dslr-forum (www.dslr-forum.de), which is probably the biggest german speaking community regarding all DSLR-topics (not only Canon). We observed a phenomenon where the followings lenses won’t use the outer cross-type sensors of EOS 40/50/60/7D cameras right.
The lenses that show this problem are (all Tamron):
- 17-50 f/2.8 VC
- 60 f/2 Macro
- 70-200 f/2.8
- 10-24 f/3.5-4.5
To get a bit more into the detail of the problem – on the 40/50/60D cameras the outer cross-type sensors only work as line-type sensors. To be a bit more correct, they actually work in the same direction as they would work on cams like the 30D or like the 400/450/500/550D. When it comes to the 7D the outer sensors are also only working as line-type sensors (but it seems, that the EF 50 1.2L also has problems to use them correct).
The center cross-type sensor does work at least as a single-cross type sensor (infact we don’t now how to test if the center sensor is working as a dual-cross-type sensor like it’s supposed to work with those f/2.8 and better lenses).
Tamron seems to not know about this behaviour so far. Well – at least, they didn’t confirmed the problem and only said, that they will investigate this.
Maybe a small addition – the Tamron 17-50 VC uses the same lens-ID as the EF 35-80 – maybe you’ll have the chance to check whether this Canon-lens performs correctly or not.
The link to the thread is: http://www.dslr-forum.de/showthread.php?t=732360
Tamron Europe’s Official Response
Dear Mr. S.,
we were able to reproduce the situation where the Tamron 17-50 VC (B005) and the Tamron 60 Macro (G005) won’t use the Canon EOS 50D cross-type sensors correctly.
We have given this information to Tamron in Japan and we are expect an answer very soon.
Best regards
Tamron Europe GmbH
Thanks Joerg
cr
Woo!
The new EF 70-300 f/4-5.6L IS is generating a decent amount of buzz, more than I thought it would.
A CR reader picked up his copy today and told me he’d be doing some shooting. All I asked was he didn’t post a shot of a brick wall, he agreed!
Gallery: http://www.pbase.com/mjlamoon/canon70300l
thanks Martin
The lens is shipping next week in Canada, so I would expect it at US retailers as well.
Another reader who has played around with the lens says the following (Thanks Bruce):
Compared witht the 70-200/2.8, it is a featherweight.Zooming was smooth and the focus was quick and accurate at all focal lengths. The image quality was good over the full frame and IS worked superbly.
On the down side, it drops away from f/4 quite quickly (if I recall correctly around 100mm) which will influence it’s autofunction capabilities on less expensive cameras (Bruce tested with a 1D3 and could be talking about teleconverters).
So – it’s probably a terrific lens for someone with a high end camera who is getting on a plane. The limited focal ratio will probably constrain it more than most realise.
Buy From: B&H / Adorama / Amazon
Post your own samples
There is a thread on the forum for EF 70-300 f/4-5.6L IS lens samples. Please feel free to post your images there.
http://www.canonrumors.com/forum/index.php/topic,285.0.html
cr
Available for preorder in the USA
The new Canon EF 70-300 f/4-5.6L IS is finally available for preorder in the United States. There have been reports that this lens has popped up in a few stores in Europe. They should be shipping soon.
Product Highlights
- L-Series Optics
- Optical Image Stabilization System
- 2 Ultra Low Dispersion Lens Elements
- Fast Ultra-Sonic Motor (USM) Autofocus
- Floating Focus System
- Dust and Water Resistant
- Inner and Rear Focusing System
- Close Focus – 3.9′ (1.2 m)
- Removable Tripod Collar
- Protective Fluorine Lens Coating
Amazon $1599
Adorama $1599
B&H $1599
We’re all still waiting for the mountain of reviews that will follow the release of this lens. For $1599, I expect it to be great.
cr
The first spec list
I am not going to post every spec list I see from anonymous sources. However, it’s slow going at the moment. There’s also a couple of interesting concepts in this list.
It could be a wishlist, it could be legit. Discuss!
Specifications (Japanese to English Google Translated)
- 28megapixel CMOS sensor. Achieved by introducing new technologies such as low-noise photodiode
- Sensor Size 36.0 × 24.0mm 1.0x
- Wide low-noise ISO sensitivity ISO100 ~ 12800 (extension L: 50, H1: 25600, H2: 51200, H3: 102400)
- The six frames * Dual DIGIC4 / s provides continuous shooting
- 98 percent of the viewfinder field of view, magnification 0.71 times. With the electronic level
- A high-speed AF system. Double Cross Centre, Cross assists 19 points – 26 points. 5 AF point selection mode, types of automatic. Advanced AI Servo AF
- 63-segment metering. 1920 × 1080 30/25/24 frame Video
- Crop video feature. 10X SD, HD four times, three times in full HD.
Source: [2ch]
cr
