Archive for June, 2011

Canon EOS 50D Firmware 1.0.8

50D Gets a Minor Update
Below are the following fixes/features of the new EOS 50D Firmware. I guess it’s nice to see new firmware for a discontinued product.

• Improves the writing/reading speeds when using UDMA 7-compatible CF cards.
• Fixes incorrect indications in the Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Arabic, Swedish, Spanish, Portuguese, Thai and Turkish menu screens.

thanks Qing

Download Here (Win) | Download Here (Mac)

cr

B&H Launches a Wedding Photography Guide

Need some help or a refresher?
B&H Photo has launched a wedding photography guide. It is part of their B&H InDepth series.

The guide is a pretty indepth look at preparation, execution and post wedding work. You’ll find all sorts of gear suggestions that will fit your shooting style as well.

It’s a worthwhile read for anyone getting into wedding photography, or just likes to consume all the information that they can about the subject.

You’ll find articles as well as a few videos.

Click for the article

cr

PowerShot G13 [CR1]

The Next “G”
A small spec list has shown up for the next incarnation of the massively successful “G” series.

Specifications

• 12mp
• 1080p Video
• 6x Zoom
• New Flash Placement
• Higher resolution LCD

This is not as solid of information as the S95 post a few days ago.

cr

Canon 4K Sooner Than Later?

4K For Real?
Various mentions lately that Canon is working on a real production 4K camera. This is beyond the concept they have shown previously at Canon Expo’s.

Lots of people would be obviously interested.

Most information seems to state it won’t be a DSLR, but instead a standard video camera.

More info is promised to me soon.

cr

Canon EF-S 18-270 f/3.2-5.6 IS Coming Soon?

A New Superzoom
The 18-200 didn’t light any sales fires for Canon. Omitting USM was a mistake and the lens has never gained the popularity of its Nikon counterpart.

An updated version of the lens has shown up in a patent.

Canon EF-S 18-270 f/3.2-5.6 IS

There is no mention as to whether or not this lens will get the USM treatment. Omitting it for a second time would be a mistake.

cr

Canon Patents This Week

New Macros and Tilt Shifts Coming?
Recent patents have shown new Macro and Tilt-Shift lenses. Below I’ve listed them.

Explain a patent
You cannot patent a lens per se, but you can patent an optical formula. I think it’s safe to talk about patents, as many of them have turned into actual consumer products.

Canon 50mm 1:1 f/2.8 Macro

Canon 90mm f/2.8 Tilt Shift

Canon 35mm f/2.8 1:2 Macro

Patent Publication No. 2011-107313
Published 2011.6.2
Filled 2009.11.16

50mm f/2.8 1:1 Macro

• Focal distance f=50.20mm
• Fno=2.90
• Half angle of view 23.32 deg.
• Image height 21.64mm
• Lens length 84.64mm
• Back focus 40.01mm
• Macro -0.950x

90mm f/2.8 Tilt Shift

• Focal distance f=90.40mm
• Fno=2.90
• Half angle of view 17.90 deg.
• Image height 29.20mm
• Lens length 117.18mm
• Back focus 65.43mm
• Macro -0.480x

35mm f/2.8 1:2 Macroa

• Focal distance f=35.20mm
• Fno=2.90
• Half angle of view 31.58 deg.
• Image height 21.64mm
• Lens length 102.44mm
• Back focus 40.10mm
• Macro -0.480x

cr

Large Sensor PowerShot? [CR1]

Just a dream?
From the “a rep said” files, an email today said Canon would introduce a larger sensor PowerShot for the fall. It will apparently end the perceived love affair the world has with the Fuji X-100.

Possible?

I’m not sure. Has Canon ever struck you as a company to get into niche markets in the photographic world? Unless the next “G” camera has a larger sensor for maybe $100 more, I just don’t see it.

cr

PowerShot Rumor: S95 Replacement [CR2]

Canon PowerShot S100
A brief bit of information in regards to the replacement of the S95. Apparently an S100 has shown up in an inventory system.

Brief Specs

• 12mp
• 5x Zoom
• Available in September

This would mark a small increase in MP (2) and a small increase in zoom. No mention of video resolution.

cr

The Land of Crazy or…. ? [CR1]

Rumors are flooding my inbox. Most of which I cannot substantiate to any degree. I figured it would be fun to post the most recent “roadmap” type of rumors.

Some of the below stuff has appeared on other rumor sites, as well as various blogs and tweets I’ve seen. I’ll give you my opinion on this stuff at the bottom.

August 2011 7D Mark II

• 24 Mega pixel Full Frame
• Dual Digic V
• Will be a partial replacement for the discontinued 1D Mark IV

September 2011 1D Mark V

• 32 Mega pixel Full Frame
• Dual Digic V
• Will be a partial replacement for the discontinued 1D Mark IV and complete the merging of the 1D line

March 2012 5D Mark III

• 32 Mega pixel Full Frame
• Digic V
• New 11 point AF system
• Will have the best video features of the EOS line

CR’s Take
7D Mark II being a fullframe camera and “partially” replacing the  1D Mark IV? Not likely for a couple of reasons.

• The model name “7D” would go against Canon’s naming strategy. I can’t see a Mark II of the current camera, overtaking the 5D Mark III in pricepoint and features. Name this camera “3D” and it makes sense. It was said the 70D would move to where the 7D current sits, an APS-C camera with lots of features above the Rebel. There could be some truth to that, the price difference between the 60D and T3i is tiny. I’m going to wager that any 7D direct replacement will remain an APS-C camera.
• The other issue I see with this theory is folks that currently have a 7D with EF-S lenses. A lot of 7D buyers are very likely to have purchased a 10-22 and/or a 17-55 f/2.8 IS, not allowing them to bring their lenses to a Mark II version would be silly.

The 1D/1Ds merger talk comes around a fair bit. I do believe it’s going to happen. When? Not sure.

5D Mark III not until 2012? There has been A LOT of talk in regards to the release of the 5D Mark III. Everything recently has said it will be announced next year. Next year is a Photokina year, although I’m not sure that influences Canon’s marketing. There is going to be a lot of talk about the camera, and none of the regulars that are correct have sent me any information.

One constant remains from the stream of stuff I’m receiving, there will be a shakeup in the lineup.

cr

Canon USA Instant Rebates, PowerShot & EOS

Canon USA Instant Rebates
Save some cash with Canon USA instant rebates. Below are the qualifying products.

HD EOS
Save up to $300 on select EOS digital camera kit combinations. Purchases must be made between June 19, 2011 – September 3, 2011.

Official .PDF

EOS 7D $1599 @ B&H (Save $100 on body)

EOS 60D $899 @ B&H (Save $100 on body)

EOS Rebel
Save up to $200 on select EOS Rebel digital camera kit combinations. Purchases must be made between June 19, 2011 – July 30, 2011. Download .pdf for complete details.

Official .PDF

EOS PowerShot
Save up to $30 on select PowerShot digital cameras. Purchases must be made between June 19, 2011 – July 9, 2011. Download .pdf for complete details.

Official .PDF

thanks Eyal

cr