Messages

16

EOS Bodies / Re: Canon to Announce 2 Cameras in June [CR2]

« on: May 16, 2012, 03:08:00 PM »

I'm expecting G1X sensor. I'm thinking they will pull a Nikon 1, just less extreme. Unlike Nikon, I hope they can actually capitalize on actually smaller lenses for the smaller sensor.

17

Canon General / Re: Patents: Canon 55-110 f/2 Optical Formula

« on: January 19, 2012, 10:55:07 PM »

If the lens is smaller than the 24-70 and 24-105 it could be a nice middle ground walking video lens.

Even if it was the same size as the 24-70 or 24-105, that would be more than enough for me.

18

Lenses / Re: Sigma APO 50-150mm F2.8 EX DC OS HSM

« on: September 12, 2011, 05:09:05 PM »

I emailed Sigma USA via their web form and got this response:

Thank you for contacting Sigma Corporation of America.
 
We are expecting shipments to start at the end of September.

[rep name removed]
Customer Service/ Technical Support
Sigma Corporation of America

As I don't even see pricing on Sigma's site or pre-order listings anywhere, I think this is an optimistic date. I would not be surprised if it shipped November or later.

On another note, the physical size seems to be the same as Sigma's own full frame 70-200 OS and the image posted also implies it. I hope that the specs are a sloppy copy-paste and that the image of the 50-150 is a photoshop job.

19

Lenses / Re: EF Lens Adaptor for iPhone 3 & 4!

« on: July 11, 2011, 06:57:34 AM »

I agree with it being called a "steal". For $250 I expect aperture control.

It seems almost like a parody of the mirrorless category.

20

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

« on: June 29, 2011, 05:09:31 PM »

I completely agree that leaving out USM was a mistake. When you pay $500 for a lens, you kind of expect at least that much from it.

But :X on the micro-USM. Damn marketing. FTM ring-type only please.

21

EOS Bodies / Re: T2i Replacement?

« on: October 19, 2010, 10:33:44 PM »

Just as a thought exercise, the last few Rebels (450D & 500D) have spent a year as the top Rebel, which means that the T2i's year will be up early next year, if the schedule holds.

Seeing that the T2i already has the best APS sensor Canon has available, I'm thinking the Rebel schedule will slip next year. Or will Canon put a non-MP upgrade into the Rebel line for once? Or would they rather debut a new sensor?

22

EOS Bodies / Re: Lenses in 2011 [CR2]

« on: October 08, 2010, 07:41:17 PM »

Why is this posted in the bodies forum? Meh...

Year of the lens... like 10+ new introductions? That would really be something. I want more than one EF-S per year. I don't think Canon is gonna hit even that much this year.

EF-S 30mm f/1.8 USM
EF-S 60mm f/2.8 IS USM Macro
EF-S 15-55mm f/2.8 IS USM
EF-S 50-150mm f/2.8 IS USM
etc...

If the EF-S zooms were weather sealed to match the 7D, that would be quite godly.

(Cross your fingers!)

23

Lenses / Re: Perfect first EF-S "L"

« on: September 28, 2010, 06:36:31 AM »

I would get behind this, though in my head the successor lens I was picturing is slightly more modest:
EF-S 15-60mm f/2.8 IS USM

Actually, it could top out at the current 55mm and I'd be happy with that too. The difference between your range and mine is an extra zoom factor (4x vs 5x), which I think ends up being pretty important to the design of a constant f/2.8 lens (somebody correct me). I mean, if you think about it, f/2.8 zooms currently can only do about 3x or less, regardless of format:

Nikon 14-24 f/2.8, 1.7x
Canon 16-35 f/2.8, 2.2x
Canon 17-55 f/2.8, 3.2x
Canon 24-70 f/2.8, 2.9x
Canon 70-200 f/2.8, 2.9x

An f/4 zoom is better, but still only the newest one hits your requested 5x ratio:

Canon 24-105 f/4, 4.4x
Nikon 24-120 f/4, 5x

Envelopes are meant to get pushed of course, but going straight from 3x to 5x for fast pro glass is asking too much at once, I think. I would imagine your lens to be closer to $2.5k than $1.5k even as a non-L because of all the large and exotic glass/fluorite elements you would need. Make it "L" and it balloons to $3k and gains another 500g at least. And who knows what kind of distortion and/or vignetting you would get anyway. And god forbid the flare resistance could be even worse.

The current 17-55 doesn't focus especially close IMO. If the MFD of the successor is similar (likely), I don't see much benefit for including an H-IS design. It would probably be even more expensive and fragile to boot. (You want another reason for repairs?) Even the new no-holding-back EF 70-200 f/2.8L IS II doesn't bother having it. I don't think anything other than lenses designated as macro will ever get H-IS. Maybe if Canon gets a manufacturing breakthrough, but that's pure chance from our perspective as customers.

Now, if your 14-70 was f/4, though, then you have something there. It would be what I think the 15-85 should have been. I would have bought that in a heartbeat, even priced at the 17-55's level. f/4 vs f/5.6 is something I can really feel at the tele end. I can give up one stop for tele (and "get it back" from the 7D sensor), but not two.

24

Lenses / Re: 24-840mm zoom

« on: September 27, 2010, 06:32:22 PM »

I'm repeating myself (from other posts) but I really think we will see a Canon SLR in the not too distant future that will give the user the option to crop in and use just a fraction of the sensor to extend the apparent focal length of a lens.

I dunno about other brands but my Panasonic compact already does this and it drives me nuts. I can't shoot tele at less than full MP to save on memory space. If I wanted to crop, I'd do it in post!

That said, the 60D does have in camera post so I actually agree with your prediction. Just that like with scene modes, I don't really see the point of it other than to clutter things up.

25

EOS Bodies / Re: Photokina 2010 Report

« on: September 22, 2010, 04:18:26 PM »

I emailed Canon USA about the AWESOME calculator mouse. Here is their reply:

Dear [name removed]:

Thank you for contacting Canon product support.  We value you as a Canon
customer and appreciate the opportunity to assist you with your
question.

The Canon USA Marketing Department has not announced any plans to
release a U.S. equivalent of the X Mark I Mouse.  I would, however, be
glad to forward this message to one of my superiors on your behalf, as a
suggestion bring this product state side.

Please let us know if we can be of any further assistance with Canon's
products and services.

Thank you for choosing Canon.

Sincerely,

[name removed]
Technical Support Representative

It's too bad. I might have to import one from Canon UK, where it looks like they will carry it. I think it would be a great nerd gift. I personally could use it in my day job...

26

EOS Bodies / Re: CR Rates The Product Announcements Part 1

« on: September 16, 2010, 06:36:47 PM »

If i'm not mistaken, if i remember right when the 40D came out people were upset that the D300 had a better AF and more MP than the 40D, and grumbles were so loud that Canon basically rushed the 50D to shut up the outcry about the 300D with a HD screen, all 9 cross type AF sensors, and more MP... who says Canon doesn't listen to the clients...

Nitpick: the 40D already had all cross sensors. The 50D did not change the number or type.

Well, I think a lot of old-timer xxD users would say that there haven't been much in the way of significant changes in their preferred line. 40D similar to 30D, 50D similar to 40D and now 60D dumbed down from 50D. I guess none of them were really hailed as great during their time.

I dunno. Read new xxD specs and you feel worse as you go on. Read new prosumer Nikon specs and feel better as you go on. That's just my take on how the companies managed expectations for this market space.

27

EOS Bodies / Re: CR Rates The Product Announcements Part 1

« on: September 16, 2010, 04:12:38 PM »

if I'm not mistaken, 40D and 50D is exactly 1 year, while 50D and 60D is 2 years. they can randomly release a camera base on needs I think.

I actually think the 50D was rushed a bit so the design resources could contribute to the 7D. But I think it's worth remembering that at the time of the 50D's release, it too received a rather lackluster reaction. The only real additions were more MP and AF adjustment for several hundred dollars more. Everything else was basically the same.

Maybe the 60D will only last a year until the 70D. I think that's slightly more likely with the D7000 out there, but far from a done deal. I do expect the 60D to sell decently well anyway, especially if they cut $100 to respond to the D7000. $999 is kind of a magic number as prices go, after all. Even more so if they put in AF MA as a firmware upgrade.

I think it's rather funny that Canon was forced to reprice the 50D significantly during the D90's time and that they are repeating history in the next generation. I'm not quite sure what they were going for in designing the 60D to kill the D5000 and D90, as if Nikon wasn't going to update them...

I think it's a reasonable bet that Canon will update the EF 24-70mm and the EF 100-400mm next year.

I'm not trying to pick on you specifically, but everybody has thought this (including me) every year for the past few years...

28

EOS Bodies / Re: CR Rates The Product Announcements Part 1

« on: September 15, 2010, 11:01:01 PM »

May I ask why nobody thinks it is the 7D MKII that is coming? what is the product cycle of 7D?

Because the 7D will certainly last more than 1 year. The 7D is still a top of the line APS camera and newer models in the lesser lines won't really change that. The specs are still current and impressive today, 1 year later.

Rebels live for 1 year as the current model but stay in the catalog for about 2 years more. xxD cameras stay current for about 18 months--though how long Canon sells the older model at the same time varies. Full frame cameras stay current for about 3-4 years and clearly replace the previous model of their line. (1D has kind of a weird age history.)

The 7D Mk 1 will probably only start seeming outdated about the time we're rumormongering the 70D, which is quite a ways off as the 60D is still brand spanking new. I'd expect the 7D's cycle to be between the xxD and the full frame xD cameras, for about 3 years.

29

EOS Bodies / Re: Canon 60D v. Nikon D7000

« on: September 15, 2010, 04:55:44 AM »

SLRs have long since met the quality requirements for great images. Everything new in the past few years are just gravy really. Brand/spec arguments are just for fun.

30

EOS Bodies / Re: Canon 60D v. Nikon D7000

« on: September 15, 2010, 04:31:04 AM »

Saw the D7000. Quite impressed--it's 90%+ of the 7D. Then I saw a preorder link.

Holy cow! Only $100 over the 60D. I can't help but think Canon really shot themselves in the foot now! Before there was "hope" that Nikon would price too high. No such "luck"!

70D will be coming sooner rather than later methinks.