For Photokina?
Another mention of a new and less expensive full frame camera from Canon for Photokina. We reported this a few times before here and here.
Specs mentioned include:
- 21mp
- Less weather sealing
- lesser AF system than the 5D3
CRs Take
While I don’t doubt a less expensive full frame camera in Canon’s future, I think most specs currently floating around will be of the wish-list variety. I would expect the camera to have the same 22mp sensor that is found in the 5D Mark III. After that , you can start knocking off about $1500 in “features” from the 5D3 to make the new camera.
Source: [CW]
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So they’re probably good enough for you!
Canon USA sent out a press release talking about how the 5D Mark II & 7D were used to film stunt sequences on the somewhat popular Avengers movie that just came out.
With intense action and visual effects captured by the Canon cameras, “Marvel’s The Avengers” required close-quarter action work with unrepeatable stunts. “The 5D Mark II and the 7D digital SLR cameras produce excellent, cinema-worthy images. They are great for shooting additional angles that give film editors more options for creating powerfully immersive and kaleidoscopic views of action scenes,” explained the film’s cinematographer, Seamus McGarvey.
You can read the whole press release here.
Thanks James
Double up rebates on the: Canon EOS 5D Mark II & Canon EOS 7D
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5D Mark III at B&H *Out of stock*
B&H has stock of the 5D Mark III w/24-105 f/4 L IS kit.
5D Mark III Kit w/24-105 f/4L IS @ B&H for $4299
5D Mark III at Adorama
Adorama has informed me that they will be filling all their preorders today, and will have stock of the 5D Mark III left over and ready for sale.
It shows out of stock at present, but there ARE some extras ready to go.
5D Mark III Body @ Adorama $3499
5D Mark III Kit w/24-105 f/4L IS @ Adorama $4299
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More vague information
Canon’s entry into the mirrorless market could be coming sooner than later. It’s suggested we could see an initial announcement before the summer, with another model announced in September.
With anything Canon at the moment, dates for release of existing products and future products are nearly impossible to nail down. Even people that always know, don’t know in 2012.
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Disclaimer
This is a non Canon post, if you don’t like reading about other camera brands, please skip this small article. Thanks!
From the minds of Leica
No other camera manufacturer is more polarizing than Leica. So I had to post todays announcement, because it’s going to bring about a lot of debate, intrigue and questions about what they’re doing in Solms.
A lot of you will know I do shoot with a Leica M9, and enjoy the camera as well as the M lenses I own. However, I do have a hard time answering “yes” to the inevitable question I get from people… “Is it worth the money?” So when I see them announcing a new segment of 35mm digital camera for $8000, and still retaining things like the 5 year old technology 230,000 pixel LCD displays, I’m not sure what to tell people about getting into Leica.
Why does this matter to the Canon user?
I have always said I think there’s a market for a full frame “mirrorless” camera, and the first one to do it for half the price of Leica, will have a big winner on their hands. Today Leica threw a curveball with a B&W sensored camera, as well as a staggering technical marvel with their new 50mm lens.
Leica M Monochrom
Today in Berlin, the Leica M Monochrom was announced. It is an 18mp black & white only digital rangefinder.
“It has a sensor designed exclusively for black and white photography. It has no color filter,” said Leica Chairman Dr. Andreas Kauffman. “This allows twice the amount of light to reach the sensor. So we combined this special sensor with our rangefinder system and we present you the M Monochrome with the maximized image quality available with Leica lenses.”
Main Specs
- 18MP CCD monochrome sensor (24 x 36mm)
- No anti-aliasing filter
- No color filter array
- ISO 320-10,000 (with a ‘Pull 160*’ option)
- 2.5″ 230,000 dot rear LCD
- Supplied with Adobe Photoshop Lightroom and Silver Efex Pro 2
Leica M Monochrom
Leica APO-Summicron-M 50 f/2 ASPH Lens
A $7200 50 f/2 lens? That’s exactly what Leica announced today. I find it intriguing, because it’s going to set lens testers and lens geeks into a tizzy waiting to get their hands on one. There are some bold claims about the performance of this lens.
This lens is a new milestone in the history of optical design that achieves previously unattainable values in all technical performance characteristics. For instance, there is practically no fall-off at the edges – even at full aperture – in the MTF curves for image sharpness. Even the finest details are rendered with more than 50% contrast – a previously unheard of value that confirms the exceptional properties of this lens.
Leica APO-Summicron-M 50 mm f/2 ASPH
Conclusion
The camera is an intriguing step, but hard to stomach the $8000 price tag without having addressed some of the biggest issues with the M9, the LCD screen being one and lack of focus confirmation for the optically challenged. We’ll have to wait and see if it’s more responsive than the M9.
The lens may be the greatest thing ever created by man, I am looking forward to the comparisons between it and the Noctilux and Summilux variants. Can lenses be made much better than they already are?
Neither is scheduled to ship until August 2012.
M10
That begs another question, if this camera isn’t out until August 2012, how can an M10 be coming a month later?
Now’s the time Canon, lets see the worlds first full frame autofocus mirrorless camera! Consider it preordered.
cr
From Norman Camera
The fine folks at Norman Camera have notified us that they have 5D Mark III (Body Only) in stock and ready to ship. They will be the fixed cameras with serial number notifier “3″ and not the affected “1″ or “2″.
The kit with the 24-105 f/4L IS is also in stock.
5D Mark III (Body Only) @ Norman Camera $3499
5D Mark III w/24-105 f/4L IS @ Norman Camera $4299
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They’re out there
We’ve been told by a couple of places, that the new EF 600 f/4L IS II is out there. Loaner copies of the lens have been sent to various manufacturers of accessories for measurement and that sort of thing. Multiple reports say they are fully functional production versions of the lens.
Lots of initial praise for the lens, especially how light it feels in comparison to the first IS version.
A very good sign indeed.
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Scheduled
There is apparently going to be new 5D Mark III firmware before the end of May. It will address a few bugs, as well as adding some “features”. No mention of what the features might be. It was mentioned there is a possibility of a bug fix firmware update before the “feature” update, a two part strategy if you will.
There have been no mentions of additional features for video.
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70D or 7D Mark II, or both?
Not a lot of talk about crop camera bodies, other than an imminent Rebel announcement with a couple of inexpensive lenses. However, over the last couple of days I’ve been sent a few things about the direction of the APS-C line of cameras. There is talk there will be an amalgamation of the 60D and 7D into one camera. Which means the xxD line would go back to being a higher end camera. No mention of whether it would be called 70D or 7D Mark II.
Do not expect a big megapixel jump from the current 18mp, though it was mentioned it would have a different image sensor than the T4i. The 60D and 7D may end up meeting in the middle as far as features and build quality. Especially if rumors of a new full frame camera in $2000 or less range are true.
I have heard in the past that there would be no direct 7D replacement, although I find that a little hard to believe. I do suspect there will be a shake-up of the APS-C lineup, as we’ve seen already with the EOS-1 and in the coming months the 5D.
There is no defined announcement date yet, but we’re told Canon may be announcing a new interchangeable lens camera every 6-8 weeks heading into Christmas.
EF-S Lenses
Beyond the coming 18-135 IS II, there isn’t a lot mentioned in regards to EF-S lenses. The only other EF-S lens that has been mentioned is an IS Macro. We’ve heard both 60mm and 85mm IS macro EF-S lenses exist.
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So you wanna spend a lot of money?
I am getting the same question everyday about the same thing. “When can I get the new 500mm or 600mm lenses from Canon?”. The best answer is.. I don’t know. Canon is still maintaining a release date of May 2012, and we still have 23 days left in the month. However, whether that ever meant in large quantity is unknown.
A few facts that don’t help too much.
- Both lenses do appear on price lists, however dealer NET is still listed at “TBA” on the lists I have seen.
- Neither lens was out from behind glass at NAB
- Through the grapevine, reps are saying “I don’t know” and not “May 2012″ in regards to release date.
- No large retailer I have spoken to has any idea when they’re coming.
Prediction?
A couple get released for photographers at Euro 2012 starting June 8, 2012 in Ukraine and Poland. Possibly along with a few final test bodies of the Canon EOS-1D X.
All this could change pretty quickly, I could get an email later today saying they’re coming and when they’re expected. I have had both on preorder since they were announced in 1972, hopefully inflation won’t make them even more expensive.
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