Canon Rumors

Canon Studio Solutions Software

STUDIO SOLUTION SOFTWARE FROM CANON U.S.A. SIMPLIFIES WORKFLOW FOR PHOTOGRAPHY BUSINESSES
Canon Software Helps Manage Administrative Processes in Photo Studios from Appointments to Image Processing in One Simple Software Solution

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., March 8, 2010 – Canon U.S.A. Inc., a leader in digital imaging technology, is today launching the highly anticipated Studio Solution software for workflow efficiency in professional photo studios. Canon’s Studio Solution software helps professional operations take full advantage of Canon’s core imaging and printing technologies with fully automatic workflows to simplify studio operations and integrate appointments, invoicing, image enhancement and printing into one administrative program. Through electronic input and filing, Studio Solution software helps consolidate scheduling, contracting, image capture, ordering, retouching and printing into one program. Canon will be demonstrating its Studio Solution software today in Booth #401 at the Wedding & Portrait Photographers International (WPPI) trade show, March 8th – 10th in Las Vegas.

Designed to make everyday tasks easier for photo studio managers and staff, Studio Solution allows for greater staffing efficiencies with improved turnaround time, for increased profitability. The software integrates with Canon EOS cameras, imagePROGRAF and PIXMA Pro printers, and helps ensure studio owners and operators are maximizing their time and equipment.

“We are proud to introduce our Studio Solution software as a powerful tool for photographic studios to help them maximize the efficiencies of their Canon equipment,” said Yuichi Ishizuka, executive vice president and general manager, Consumer Imaging Group, Canon U.S.A.

The simple-to-learn software solution is made possible by combining Express Digital’s technology and workflow along with Canon’s proven image processing expertise. Beginning with administrative scheduling, customer information is entered into the Canon software and will follow all customer jobs through ordering and invoicing. A file is created for each customer with complete order details. Images are then attached to each customer job order for optimal filing efficiency. The Studio Solution software then transitions to a studio sales tool by providing on-screen image previews on various Canon media to give the customer an accurate rendering of how their final print will look on various substrates to assist in the print ordering process.

The most integral software feature is Canon’s core image processing, providing automatic color management, image resizing and image re-touching for stunning prints with minimal monitoring needed. These automatic processes help reduce the need for timely and expensive image editing, allowing for greater margins and uptime in any Canon-equipped photo studio. Once the final job is printed through the software, an invoice is automatically generated, complete with order details and customer information, without additional manual input.

How Much?
Adorama has it listed at $1499.

Check it out

cr

Canon DPP 3.8.1 Available

Woo
Canon as posted the latest DPP on their web site for download.

They’ve added support for the T2i and image rotation features.

thanks skip

cr

New Codecs and Plugins

Canon E-1 Plugin (From Planet5D)
Canon releases a free EOS E1 video plug-in for Apple’s Final Cut Pro. The plug-in is compatible with Final Cut Pro 6 or higher and currently supports Canon EOS 5D Mark II, EOS 7D and EOS 1D Mark IV cameras.

This new plug-in allows simple and easy transfer of video content from Canon’s EOS DSLR cameras directly into Final Cut Pro. The EOS E1 video plug-in takes advantage of Final Cut Pro’s powerful Log and Transfer feature, which allows users to select and mark the video directly while it is still on the camera, add custom metadata and ingest the clips in the background so the editing can begin immediately.

The EOS E1 video plug-in is a free download and will be available here but so far, they haven’t posted it yet. We’ll let you know when they do.

http://blog.planet5d.com/2010/02/canon-announces-eos-e1-video-plug-in-for-apples-final-cut-pro/

Canon Introduces MPEG-2 Full HD Codec
Canon on Tuesday said it would be releasing an MPEG-2 Full HD (4:2:2) file-based recording codec that would debut in an unannounced but upcoming professional video camera from the company. The MPEG-2 Codec would bring with it twice the color resolution of the HDV profile format and be compatible with industry-standard editing and processing software. The codec would also have 50Mbps data recording speeds.

The new format would let users record 1920×1080 HD videos and include the open-source Material eXchange Format (MXF) used by broadcasters to edit recorded content. To make the system widely and quickly accepted, Canon is working with Adobe, Apple, Avid Technology and Grass Valley.

File-based recording, including the one in Canon’s new codec, is flexible as it can be used across a wide range of editing software and applications.

http://www.usa.canon.com/templatedata/pressrelease/20100202_mpeg2_full_hd.html

cr

Predictions for 2010 Part 3 – PowerShot & Accessories

Be sure to scroll down for Parts 1 & 2
So here we go, last predictions post and then back to the rumors (it’s been quiet).

What’s going on in PowerShot?
I don’t think there’s going to be too much revolutionary from Canon. They make the best selling compacts on earth and that probably won’t change. I think we’ll see a couple new models.

G Series?
The G12 will be announced next summer and will probably be about the same with the addition of HD video. Could we see a CMOS sensor added to the camera? It’s possible. There’s always a few “G”Mos rumors floating around.

I don’t expect any large sensor G series camera.

S Series
The S90 is doing quite well for Canon and will have an incremental update next summer. HD Video most likely. I don’t see a 2nd “S” series camera added to the lineup.

D Series
The D10 and it’s love/hate design has been a huge success for Canon. I expect a D20 with an array of colors and HD video. The accessory kit for $100+ was a stupid idea.

I could also see an elph sized waterproof camera. Perhaps with a 3 meter rating and slim design.

SX Series
There will be an update to the SX200 that will probably be incremental. The camera has sold quite well. It needs a bit of a boost in image quality and the popup flash annoys people.

There will be an SX130 I expect, we know how I feel about that camera. Hey, it’s cheap with a big zoom.

SX20 IS will get another incremental upgrade. Canon sells so many of these cameras. I can’t help but think they’re going to lithium battery these cameras eventually. Another chipped battery. I’m personally a AA fan for the line.

A Series
A lot of people were upset when manual controls were removed from the A series. I can see a 2100 update getting the manual controls back, but not the 1100 update.

I also expect to see an “A” series camera with an articulating screen come back. I think a lot of people missed it.

A480 update will be…. zzzz

ELPH
A very popular series of cameras. I think the most creative stuff will appear here.

I can see an ELPH with the G11/S90 sensor announced soon. Perhaps with 5x zoom.

I think we’re going to see a small 8x zoom camera launched sometime this year. No other large zoom ELPH camera will be introduced.

The touchscreen camera will get a facelift. It needs some more creative uses for the touchscreen like Nikon has.

The SD780 and Sd1200 will receive subtle upgrades. I could see the screen getting larger on both and the optical viewfinder removed.

As I mentioned earlier, perhaps a waterproof ELPH.

E & TX Series
I can’t even wager a guess if Canon will try to resurrect these lines. I do know of a few TX1 fans. I haven’t met an E1 fan. :)

I don’t predict anything too crazy.

Flashes
I think we’ll see a 580 EX II replacement or an addition to the flash lineup above it. ETTL3 metering. I also expect a higher guide number.

I expect the cameras could receive firmware upgrades for such a flash if needed. I’d be interested to see if the 1D Mark IV has any firmware clues about a new flash.

The 430EX II and 270EX will remain current.

Accessories
What the heck, I predict we’ll see a GPS addon for Photokina for the EOS line. :)

Software
This is more of a wish. I want to see DPP redone and have an interface line Aperture & Lightroom. I love the quality of files I get from DPP, I just hate using it.

That’s it, that’s all. Predictions done. If I hit 50% correct, I’ll consider that a success.

Enjoy 2010 and good look in all your photography endeavours.

cr

Odds & Ends

Canon X-Ray Camera
I didn’t know such a thing existed, I’d like to add it to the collection. I’ll wait for a cheaper auction.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?….

Thanks Cape

Camera Raw 5.3 & Lightroom 2.3 Betas
You can download the beta’s of Camera Raw 5.3 and Lightroom 2.3.

http://blogs.adobe.com/lightroomjournal/

Thanks Ed

Olympus Rumors
It’s being said Olympus may be releasing 2 Micro 4/3 cameras at PMA. I only write about this because I want the rangefinder shaped orange one Olympus displayed at Photokina. The Panasonic G1 is far too busy and “techie” for what I desire. I think a lot of other Canon users will be interested in such a camera.

The coming M4/3 20mm f/1.7 would go fantastic with it.

Read more about it at 1001 Noisy Cameras.

If enough of us buy them, maybe Canon will make one for us. Doesn’t hurt to wish.

cr

5D Mark II Impressions – From a Reader

A review by regular contributor sfwrtr
I like real world impressions from people. Sometimes review sites get a bit too blase when doing reviews. It’s bound to happen when you do 100 of them a year!

I also can’t seem to get my hands on a production model, so this is all I have to go on.

http://www.luiswatkins.com/5dmarkii/index.htm

Thanks for the link sfwrtr

Canon Software
A reader sent in a comment with something that annoys him with Canon.

“What about canon software? Its about time they release a bundle that is upgradeable by the click of a button like all other softwares. Who is not sick of looking through the website for the correct update. come on lets make this happen!!”

Canon Rumors agrees.

DXO Sensor Testing
A reader (our new Nikon guy!) has sent in some impressions about DXO’s sensor testing and what is inside Nikon & Sony cameras.

http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/eng/DxOMark-Sensor

“Now check the D3 (D700) sensor and the Sony A900. Close enough in performance to be identical. D3 (D700) and A900 use the same sensor but use different processing, hence the insignificant difference. How can a 12MP and a 24MP have identical performance? Hmm, if the sensors used in the cameras were identical then the performance would be identical. The D3X uses the same Sony 24MP FF sensor as the D3 and when DXO gets a D3X the test result will be the same. D3 = A900 = D3X. How have your search results gone for a Sony 12MP FF Cmos Sensor?”

To answer your question, I’ve found nothing about a FF 12mp Sony Sensor. I keep hearing from various sources that Sony is manufacturing Nikon designed sensors. I’m not sure if I’m fully behind the idea that a Sony sensor factory is producing stuff that Sony can’t use. That just isn’t a very Sony thing to do. :)

Switzerland Pricing
Apparently the Swiss think so highly of the original 5D, they have priced it accordingly!

Pricing Link

5D – 3115 CHF = $2554 USD
5D Mark II – 2982 CHF = $2445 USD

Thanks Marcel

cr