<p>Canon and the rest of the web have mentioned before that the company is going to become more aggressive with their mirrorless camera system the EOS M. We’re eager to see what “aggressive” truly means, because as it sits right now, we’re pretty tepid about EOS M.</p>
<p>We’re told Canon will introduce two new EF-M prime lenses in Q1 of 2016. Both of these lenses will be slightly upmarket in build and design when compared to the current crop of EF-M lenses.</p>
<p>No specifications were given at this time.</p>

<p>While Canon themselves have confirmed an “enthusiast” mirrorless camera will come from Canon eventually, no one is quite sure what that means.</p>
<p>We’re told that Canon is actively working on a full frame mirrorless camera, but that Canon may first announce a higher end APS-C sensor EOS M camera first. The full frame camera would retain a version of the EF-M mount we’re told, though it would likely require its own set of lenses due to image circle issues with the current crop of EF-M lenses.</p>
<p>No timeline has been given, but we expect Canon to become more aggressive in the mirrorless space in the coming 12-18 months.</p>
<p>I do wonder if all of this is being held back as they try to figure out how EF lenses fit in with mirrorless.</p>

Not to be outdone by Canon’s <a href="http://www.canonrumors.com/canon-me20f-sh-available-for-preorder/">4,560,000 ISO sensor equipped ME20F-SH camera</a>. Sony is showcasing a new high sensitivity sensors called STARVIS, which looks to be for surveillance applications, but I’d imagine such technology will make its way to other image sensors in Sony’s lineup.</p>
<blockquote><p>The STARVIS is back-illuminated pixel technology used in CMOS image sensors for surveillance camera applications. It features a sensitivity of 2000 mV or more per 1 µm<sup>2</sup> (color product, when imaging with a 706 cd/m<sup>2</sup> light source, F5.6 in 1 s accumulation equivalent), and realizes high picture quality in the visible-light and near infrared light regions.</p></blockquote>
<p>A video demonstration of the new sensors capabilities is available after the break.</p>
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<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TfA9-s4LdXQ" width="728" height="409" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>

<ul>
<li>Q3 operating profit falls 21 pct to 71.8 bln yen</li>
<li>Steep fall had been flagged by Nikkei business daily</li>
<li>Investments in new businesses also weighed on profit</li>
<li>Full-year earnings forecast lifted on weaker yen</li>
</ul>
<p>By Sophie Knight</p>
<p><strong>TOKYO, Oct 27 (Reuters)</strong> – Japan’s Canon Inc said quarterly operating profit fell by a fifth as demand for digital cameras slumped and it spent more on developing new businesses, but it nudged up its full-year earnings estimates on a sharply weaker yen.</p>
<p>The consumer shift to smartphones for casual photo taking has pummelled demand for compact cameras, while the growing popularity of lighter mirrorless cameras has taken away market share from higher margin single-lens reflex cameras.</p>
<p>Operating profit for the July-September quarter came in at 71.8 billion yen ($665 million), not far off figures flagged by the Nikkei business daily earlier this month.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/10/27/canon-results-idUSL4N0SM25K20141027" target="_blank">Read More…</a></p>

We’re told that there is a chance Canon will announce another L lens before the end of the year featuring <a href="http://www.canonrumors.com/canon-develops-new-camera-lens-optical-element/">Canon’s new Blue Spectrum Refractive (BR) element</a>. The announcement could fall into Q1 of 2016 as well.</p>
<p>Which lens would be announced wasn’t known by the source, but they did say it was likely going to be a zoom. The only L zoom that we’ve heard that is coming “soon” is a replacement for the EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II. That lens is used a lot by event photographers, and with the EOS-1D X and EOS 5D Mark III set to be replaced in 2016, the timing is right.</p>
<p>More to come…</p>

From Reuters:</p>
<p>Toshiba Corp is set to sell its image sensor business to Sony Corp for around 20 billion yen ($164.68 million) as part of a restructuring plan laid out earlier this year, sources with knowledge of the deal said on Saturday.</p>
<p>Toshiba, whose businesses range from laptops to nuclear power, is undergoing a restructuring after revelations this year that it overstated earnings by $1.3 billion going back to fiscal 2008/09.</p>
<p>Image sensors, which are used in digital cameras and smartphones, are part of Toshiba’s system LSI semiconductor business. Toshiba plans to sell its image sensor manufacturing plant in Oita, southern Japan, and pull out of the sensor business altogether, said the sources, who declined to be identified.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/10/24/us-toshiba-divestiture-sony-idUSKCN0SH2N320151024" target="_blank">Read More…</a></p>
<p><em>Photo Credit // REUTERS/YUYA SHINO</em></p>

<p>Usually around the time of a DSLR announcement, there’s talk about Canon using a third party sensor in the camera. We have always dismissed those rumors and sure enough, the announced camera comes with a Canon sensor.</p>
<p>We’re being told that Canon is actively testing a third party full frame sensor in a DSLR. Along with the third party sensor, they’re testing the same camera with Canon made sensor.</p>
<p>After <a href="http://www.canonrumors.com/canon-develops-aps-h-size-cmos-sensor-with-approximately-250-megapixels/">Canon’s recent development announcement of a 250mp sensor</a>, it’s obvious Canon is not getting out of the sensor business altogether, but I suppose it’s possible that some non flagship products could see a third party sensor. We don’t know the business advantages of using a third party sensor, but we’d imagine it would lower the cost of development.</p>

<p>The recent announcement for the 20mm f/1.4 Art from Sigma was somewhat of a surprise, considering there’s already a 24mm f/1.4 Art. Though the 20mm perspective should provide enough difference from the 24mm to be a popular addition to the Art series line of lenses.</p>
<p>We’re told Sigma will continue to be aggressive with new lens releases into 2016 and that the following lenses should be expected some time during the year. 2016 is a Photokina year, and Sigma usually announces a good number of products for the German, bi-annual trade show.</p>
<ul>
<li><em>Sigma 85mm f/1.4 Art</em>

This is easily the most requested addition to the Art series of lenses. Most, including us, expected it to be the next Art prime from Sigma. We’re told to expect it in the second half of 2016 and that the lens is in prototype form.</li>
<li><em>Sigma 24-70 f/2.8 Art OS</em>

Sigma is actively working on a 24-70 f/2.8 Art OS lens. We’re told it’s a completely new optical formula for the focal range from Sigma. With Nikon releasing a VR version of their 24-70 f/2.8, we expect Sigma to get on the stabilized bandwagon.</li>
<li><em>Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 OS Sport</em>

We’re told this lens has been in active development for quite some time and that Sigma is working diligently on the autofocus performance such a lens would demand. This could be a Photokina 2016 lens.</li>
</ul>
<p>Sigma is actively working on about 12 lenses we’re told and we should also expect a new art series wide angle prime, as well as new supertelephoto lenses over the next 12-18 months.</p>
<p>The bad news? There is no active development of a follow-up to the Sigma 200-500 f/2.8.</p>