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Nemorino · Mar 20, 2026

I took those pictures Wednesday in western Germany. Yes very early!

Dragon · Mar 20, 2026

homebodyMacro2 said:
You're engaging in the exact conflation that billions of dollars of marketing for generative AI have intended you to make.

Generative AI and classical ML approaches with actual design intent are not analogous or appropriately lumped together.

Classical deep learning applications like noise reduction, subject recognition, etc. do work, and they are used to defend "AI" generally, meaning generative AI, which is slop that has extremely little value outside of generating spam.

It is a classic motte and bailey. "AI" is a completely worthless label that doesn't reflect any of the technologies allegedly included under it.

Sorry if I didn't use the Generative vs ML labels, but I did point out that I have a pretty cheap machine that will do "generative AI" in my office and the consequence being that there is not likely a monetization option for data centers to do that kind of "work". Data centers built to do generative AI are really just an extension of the whole "cloud" mindset, which is all about control (marketed as convenience and safety). The number people compromised when a "cloud" facility gets hacked continues to get bigger. At some point, customers will figure out that safety is not really one of the features of the cloud. This is particularly true of generative AI, which is constantly integrating your every interface with it into its data base. At some point, your entire persona becomes public. Not a desirable outcome for most folks.

AlanF · Mar 20, 2026

Nemorino said:
First hummingbird moth of the year!
R5m2 + RF 100L
@ 1/3200s, f/13, iso 4000/2500
View attachment 228461 View attachment 228462

That's very early. I saw them first at the end of July last year. Are you home in Germany or travelling somewhere warm?

Nemorino · Mar 20, 2026

First hummingbird moth of the year!
R5m2 + RF 100L
@ 1/3200s, f/13, iso 4000/2500

first hummingbird moth of the year_03.jpg

first hummingbird moth of the year_04.jpg

JustGunner · Mar 20, 2026

So we are expecting an R6mk3 pricing? Then it will be disappointing if it doesn't have a BSI stacked sensor.

Askeladden · Mar 20, 2026

I am quite disappointed in my 24-70, not because of optical performance or anything like that, but because it has amassed internal dust in the optics after not that much usage. Even worse is that it was a replacement for another copy (brand new from retailer) that had a rather large brownish piece of debris that looked like tobacco behind the front element. Must have been a bad batch of Monday products or something, but it is beyond me that the first one even passed inspections. None of my other RF lenses except for the RF 28 2.8 has any dust in them. The 28 2.8 I can understand and forgive as it is quite a complicated little budget lens. I can live with some dust in the optics, but what bothers me is the hit i take with resale value.
I think Nikon did a smart move with their new 24-70 which is internal focusing.

neuroanatomist · Mar 20, 2026

homebodyMacro2 said:
You're engaging in the exact conflation that billions of dollars of marketing for generative AI have intended you to make.

Generative AI and classical ML approaches with actual design intent are not analogous or appropriately lumped together.

Indeed. I use ML routinely for scientific image analysis, virtual chemical library screening, etc. Very much value added. But even the companies that provide the software/services have taken to calling it AI. Customers expect it, venture backers ask if companies are using ‘AI-based drug discovery’, and the misnomer perpetuates itself.

homebodyMacro2 · Mar 20, 2026

Dragon said:
It depends on what the AI is being used for. All the hype is around artificial image creation and getting answers from the likes of Chat GPT. Neither of those are worth much, nor are likely to monetize well. I have a fairly small computer with an Intel B50 graphics card in it that I set up to do local AI. It will do most of the image generation that the big dogs do and Intel AI Playground is free for the loading, which really challenges the likelihood of huge data center monetization. Now the places where AI is useful. Nearly all modern cameras are using some form of AI to assist with autofocus and the relative improvement in AF over the last few years has been huge. If you do serious processing of photos, the Topaz suite (which uses AI extensively) is pretty much a must have, particularly if you shoot in difficult conditions at high ISO. The noise reduction and sharpening tools are unmatched. Even Adobe is using AI for noise reduction and object removal in Lightroom Classic. That is just in our little neck of the woods. You can question the value of the feature, but Tesla self-driving cars actually do work remarkably well. At the other end of the spectrum (and maybe the only place the data centers could see real revenue), AI driven warfare is currently being demonstrated and will only increase in capability in the future. That one is more than a little scary. In the end, I don't see any applications for AI that are going to pay for the enormous cap ex that is being thrown at data centers, not to mention the power bills. Virtually all the useful applications for AI to date are distributed functions that don't need data centers, except possibly once for training.

You're engaging in the exact conflation that billions of dollars of marketing for generative AI have intended you to make.

Generative AI and classical ML approaches with actual design intent are not analogous or appropriately lumped together.

Classical deep learning applications like noise reduction, subject recognition, etc. do work, and they are used to defend "AI" generally, meaning generative AI, which is slop that has extremely little value outside of generating spam.

It is a classic motte and bailey. "AI" is a completely worthless label that doesn't reflect any of the technologies allegedly included under it.

Brown · Mar 20, 2026

xmarijan said:
This AI bullshit has to be stopped. Governments have to step in and regulate this sector so the ordinary people can buy memory.

"Planned" economies would function even worse.

Brown · Mar 20, 2026

roby17269 said:
This creates a problem for junior developers, but also for the future as eventually there will be less senior developers, whom are still needed... but it is unfashionable to discuss such unsavory topics

They'll ride the old horses as long as they can and, eventually, drive the industry into the ground, just like in commercial aviation.

Brown · Mar 20, 2026

swingman said:
Time to switch to new Chinese brands. These compare making a killing at the expense of consumers. Time to boycott these greedy companies.

All for-profit corporations are "greedy".
That's what a profit is: excess.

Brown · Mar 20, 2026

Canon Rumors said:
This may be odd, but I feel bad for the kids that want to build gaming rigs. I remember spending every penny I made one summer doing my first one. Some of the PC builder groups are therapy sessions at this point.

If things are that tight, they should buy a used business machine and upgrade it.
That's what I did and still do.

roby17269 · Mar 20, 2026

CharlesB said:
Does anybody actually think AI is worth it? I don't, for the most part. I'm sure there's some good that can come from it but it seems like a lot of bad stuff. That being said, I don't know all of the uses, so I'm curious of others opinions or knowledge on the matter.

It also depends on which type of AI we are talking about.
The one that is behind most of what we're discussing here is Generative AI (a misnomer if you ask me, gen AI does not generate new content, it synthetizes from existing content) and a lot of economic benefits are touted as rationale for its current success, but the jury is still out on whether such benefits will justify the current mad rush.
Gen AI is good at refining content and at performing repetitive tasks, not so much at creating new content or taking decisions, especially if the content or the decision need an element of novelty.
Most human impacts nowadays are negative inasmuch companies are pushing Gen AI into coding and development activities to save on junior developers. This creates a problem for junior developers, but also for the future as eventually there will be less senior developers, whom are still needed... but it is unfashionable to discuss such unsavory topics

m4ndr4ke · Mar 20, 2026

dwkdnvr said:
It still seems entirely possible that Canon will feel that a partially stacked sensor with 13-15ms readout is more than enough to meet their requirements

Partially stacked? I like your optimism.

I'll shut up for now...

It wouldn't be bad to be wrong about this, though.

Ian K · Mar 20, 2026

I ordered a couple of 1TB CFExpress cards from Amazon around February. The price rose 10% before they were delivered. Obviously I didn’t pay any extra but it was a close call. I too did it to feed an eventual R7 Mark II. If it doesn’t have the slot I can use them in my R5 Mark II, or sell them. Rumours suggest a CFE/SD mix, which seems logical.

P-visie · Mar 20, 2026

AlanF said:
Following on from @becceric's comment, which of the three shots of the Kestrel do people think is the best? (Taken this morning with the R5ii and RF 200-800mm).

View attachment 228460

IMO: the third, the trees in the background are more interesting than the blue sky of the first. The white contour of the bird separates it from the trees. The branches in the second picture ‘touch’ the falcon and distract my view from the falcon.

Planterz · Mar 20, 2026

dwkdnvr said:
It seems pretty certain that '39MP' means 8K UHD. But I think it raises as many questions as it answers. If it's truly a stacked sensor with 10ms-ish readout, it effectively has the capabilities of the R5C but as a Super35. What does Canon see as the market for an 8K Super35 video camera when they've just introduced the ~$4k C50 that doesn't have 8k? Would they dare position it above the C50? If it's below do they gimp it?? What does it say about the price point of the R7II and how much of that capability do they allow to surface in the R7II? So many possibilities.

I'd imagine that heat/recording time would gimp any 8K ability the R7 II might have (and 6K or 4K for that matter). The R50 has a built-in fan for long recording times, as does the R5C. If the R7 II can shoot 8K, I'm pretty sure you'd be limited to short clips due to heat. But yeah, Canon still might give it a couple other whacks with the cripple hammer as well.

mimbu · Mar 20, 2026

xmarijan said:
This AI bullshit has to be stopped. Governments have to step in and regulate this sector so the ordinary people can buy memory.

That is never going to happen.

This also is far from the first time that shortages in tech have caused component prices to spike, and it won't be the last. The same thing as usual will happen where supply will ramp up and prices will eventually come back down. The earliest this is likely to happen is sometime in 2028, but it's difficult to predict, especially in today's very unstable world.

mimbu · Mar 20, 2026

CharlesB said:
Does anybody actually think AI is worth it? I don't, for the most part. I'm sure there's some good that can come from it but it seems like a lot of bad stuff. That being said, I don't know all of the uses, so I'm curious of others opinions or knowledge on the matter.

I use AI daily for work. It has valid & valuable use cases. It's also still in its infancy and will continue to get better over time. Where that leads us (good or bad) is anyone's guess, but it's not going away.

xmarijan · Mar 20, 2026

This AI bullshit has to be stopped. Governments have to step in and regulate this sector so the ordinary people can buy memory.

mb66energy · Mar 20, 2026

john1970 said:
The third wheel on the R7 II makes a lot of sense. Frankly, if I were Canon I would use the three wheel design on all cameras if physically possible because it would standardize the controls across the brand.

For us customers: Yes. But at the moment I have a mix of cameras which have unique properties due to the different ergonomics and features.
Maybe Canon will go to another strategy: Built cameras with a unified design for basic controls and sell updates for special features which can be done in software like S&F mode, automatic level, video aids, etc.

swingman · Mar 20, 2026

Time to switch to new Chinese brands. These compare making a killing at the expense of consumers. Time to boycott these greedy companies.

Dragon · Mar 20, 2026

CharlesB said:
Does anybody actually think AI is worth it? I don't, for the most part. I'm sure there's some good that can come from it but it seems like a lot of bad stuff. That being said, I don't know all of the uses, so I'm curious of others opinions or knowledge on the matter.

It depends on what the AI is being used for. All the hype is around artificial image creation and getting answers from the likes of Chat GPT. Neither of those are worth much, nor are likely to monetize well. I have a fairly small computer with an Intel B50 graphics card in it that I set up to do local AI. It will do most of the image generation that the big dogs do and Intel AI Playground is free for the loading, which really challenges the likelihood of huge data center monetization. Now the places where AI is useful. Nearly all modern cameras are using some form of AI to assist with autofocus and the relative improvement in AF over the last few years has been huge. If you do serious processing of photos, the Topaz suite (which uses AI extensively) is pretty much a must have, particularly if you shoot in difficult conditions at high ISO. The noise reduction and sharpening tools are unmatched. Even Adobe is using AI for noise reduction and object removal in Lightroom Classic. That is just in our little neck of the woods. You can question the value of the feature, but Tesla self-driving cars actually do work remarkably well. At the other end of the spectrum (and maybe the only place the data centers could see real revenue), AI driven warfare is currently being demonstrated and will only increase in capability in the future. That one is more than a little scary. In the end, I don't see any applications for AI that are going to pay for the enormous cap ex that is being thrown at data centers, not to mention the power bills. Virtually all the useful applications for AI to date are distributed functions that don't need data centers, except possibly once for training.

@zajicekpavel · Mar 20, 2026

Thanks, I bought a SanDisk CF card now, for a camera that is yet to come. I'm waiting for the R7M2 ... so I hope it has that slot

ImageWerkx · Mar 19, 2026

I am the proud owner of the RF 24-70 f/2.8L. It’s a great lens and I’m a HUGE fan of it. That said, and not surprisingly given its expense, I would want its successor to have more range on both ends say 20-85? Last fall, I picked up a 24-105 f/4L (a stupendous sale on Canon’s refurb site) and have found the additional reach beneficial for events and “less formal” photographic scenarios. I’m glad that Canon is trying different formulas and look forward to seeing what else, like the 45mm f/1.2 they’ll cook up!

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