Canon Rumors

New PocketWizards Around The Corner

Joy
We use them, we love them. They’re bringing us new ones.

See the teaser: http://www.pocketwizard.com/

We just have to wait until Monday to learn about them.

thanks moophisto

cr

PMA 2009 Predictions [CR3]

All predictions are based on rumors I have received
So what is Canon giving us next week? A lot of people want the world, unfortunately I don’t see it happening.

So what will be launched?

DSLR
Canon Rebel 500D

mp: 15.1
ISO: 100-3200
Proc: DIGIC IV
LCD: 3″ VGA LCD
crop: 1.6
FPS: 3.5
AF: 9 Point AF
AF: Face Detection
Battery: LP-E5
Feature: LiveView
Feature: Movie Mode w/contrast detect AF

Possibly a jogwheel added to the body.

What’s not coming?
We will not see a new 1 series body. End of 2009 perhaps? It’s been suggested it could be early 2010 before we do.

As pointed out by a reader, 2010 is a winter Olympic year as well as the World Cup. There SHOULD be a new 1D for those events.

Lenses
I think the community is more interested in what lenses are rolling down the pipe. I’ll put the rumors in order of likelyhood.

Most Likely
EF 35mm f/1.4L II USM
- We’ve seen the 50L launched and upgrades to the 14mm and 24mm L’s. This is a logical next step.

TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II
- It’s generally accepted the current lens has been discontinued. I reported it could be f/2.8, I think it’s more likely to be 3.5 because of design limitations.

Don’t be shocked if a 2nd focal length Tilt-Shift is launched.

Possible
EF 100-400 f/4-5.6L II IS
- The Canon community wants this lens pretty badly. I just don’t think it’s coming. Kinda hope I’m wrong.

EF 24-70 f/2.8L II IS
- Possibly the most sought after lens Canonites are lusting after. Match Nikon’s optics and add IS? You’d have a massive sales success. It almost wouldn’t matter what it cost.

EF 50 f/1.4 II
- Heard various reports about low stock of this lens. A couple of places have said they can’t get them anymore. I’ve heard nothing concrete, nor would I really understand replacing this lens at the present time. Possible that they’ll just dump it and replace it with an EF-S 35? I’ve heard that theory before.

One or two of the big white lenses gets redone. I wouldn’t be shocked to see the 300 and 400’s get version II’s. However, that’s more likely to happen in 2010.

Not happening
EF 17-40 f/4L II
- I don’t think Canon needs to replace this hot selling lens just yet, there are too many other lenses that people want follow-ups to.

EF 150 f/2.8L IS Macro
- I never reported on this lens because it seemed way far fetched. It makes sense to make a lens like this, I just don’t think now is the time for it.

EF 24-105 f/4L II IS
- There’s bee murmurs about this lens for a year or so, nothing substantial has come of it yet. I think the current one sticks around for  a while. People would go crazy if they upgraded this and left the 24-70 alone.

From Left Field
A new wide angle prime in the 17mm-21mm range.
- There’s been a few people around the web talking about such a thing. Even a comment on this site. It’s a great idea, nothing concrete.

EF-S Lenses
- I’ve received no information about a new EF-S lens at this time. Will Canon suprise and follow what Nikon just did with a new 35 for crop cameras? Possible.

Flashes
250EX
- I think a new small flash makes a ton of sense for Canon. You put flash shoes on the G, S and SX cameras, and don’t give the people a viable option for a small flash that can bounce? Seems poorly thought out to me. Nikon has one, why doesn’t Canon?

700EX
- I reported the possibility of a higher end flash from Canon. I think it’s out there and more likely to be launched with a 1 series camera.

PowerShots
Expect the following PowerShots to be replaced.

SD1100 IS
SD890 IS
SD770 IS
SD790 IS
A580
A590 IS

Expect more of the same type of upgrades from Canon for the above cameras. I’m not sure we’ll see a direct replacement of either the 580 or 590.

We’ve received a bunch of information about a waterproof/shockproof camera finally being launched. There’s also been a bit of information about a possible new CMOS camera being launched at PMA.

Canon have any surprises in store?
If they do, they’ve hid it extremely well. I don’t think this is the time for Canon to pull a rabbit out of a hat. We all hope I’m wrong with that assessment!

cr

EOS & Lenses at PMA [CR3]

500D?
Just had another source saying there will be no 500D as originally planned at PMA. I still don’t have any [CR4] level information on this topic.

Lenses
A good source says to still expect 2 lens announcements at PMA. Nothing definite on which lenses. Actual launch of new lenses could still be a few months off.

Flashes
The only flash I think is realistic for PMA would be the 300 EX style flash.

cr

Speedlite 300EX [CR2]

From an email
“Canon will definately launch a small flash for PMA, it will be called the 300 EX.”

CR2 rating on this one, I don’t recognize the source. I have heard other rumblings about it over the last few months.

cr

New 2xx Series Flash [CR2]

Is one coming?
I think one of the biggest missing items in Canon’s lineup is a useful small flash for the likes of the G10 and SX10IS. There aren’t too many people that will spend about the same amount of money on a flash as they did the camera.

I was told last year that a new 2xx series flash was coming. I have nothing concrete that it’ll be introduced at PMA, but hold tight.

Flickr
I’ll add easy linkage to the top of the site shortly, my internet is a bit wiggy this week.

cr

Speedlite 700 EX [CR2]

New flash coming?
I received an email about the possiblity of a new flash being added to the Speedlite lineup. It won’t be a replacement of the 580 EX II.

Specs (very few)

• Higher Guide Number
• 1.6, 1.3, 1.0 Crop Modes
• Better Vertical Swivel
• Metering from 10mm(EF-S)-250mm
• Weather Sealed
• New Battery Door

I could see this coming at PMA, There’s definately a market for higher end flashes.The p

UPDATE
The previous 1Ds post wasn’t supposed to appear, I had it set as a draft. The rumor is old and one of them recycled from here already. Thanks for the heads up Adam, posting from an iPhone can be annoying.

cr

ETTL-3? [CR2.5]

New Flash?
I received some information that Canon is working on a higher end flash unit. It will replace the 580II. It will have a new metering system… ETTL3?

The flash will have a much higher guide number than the 580 II.

I'll keep pressing for more information.

Canon EX 430 II Speedlight

New flash from Canon
It looks to be pretty much the same as the 430 except for a metal mount, fast locking, manual flash exposure in 1/3 EV and the ability to operate the flash from the DIGIC III Camera bodies.

Retail price should be about the same.

Canon 430EX II & Canon 230EX

I have been told both could be coming shortly.

Canon Speedlite 430EX II
- Metal Shoe
- Quick Release
- New Interface

Canon Speedlite 230EX
- Swiveling Flash Head
- Slightly more power

The 230EX could be a direct aim at G-series and S5IS users who don't want a full size flash. The current 220EX is pretty useless without the swivel.