Canon launches three new lenses

EF 24-70mm F2.8L II USM: Sealed against dust and moisture; ships in April for $2299

EF 24mm F2.8 IS USM:  ships in June for $849

EF 28mm F2.8 IS USM:  ships in June for $799

Click to read more ...

PhotoRadar has hands on reviews of Canon 600D/T3i & 1100D/T3

One of my favorite online photo sites, has just published a hands on review of the new Canon 600D and 1100D models just announced by Canon.  I learned about PhotoRadar by reading the great UK magazine “Digital Camera”, or “Digital Camera World” as it’s known here across the pond.

I’ve picked up some great Photoshop skills using tutorials on the PhotoRadar site, and in the included discs when I purchase the magazine.

Here are the links to these new articles:

Canon EOS 600D hands on

Canon EOS 1100D hands on

Canon reveals EOS-60D and some new "L" Glass

Canon today announced the new EOS-60D, the long-expected replacement for the 50D. Here are the specs:

• 18 Megapixel CMOS sensor (a scaled down version of the one on the EOS-7D)
• Supports EF and EF-S lenses with a 1.6X crop factor
• Flip-out, rotating 3-inch LCD display with 1.04 million pixels; live view supported, naturally
• Optical viewfinder has 0.95X magnification and 96% coverage
• Full manual controls, with ISO range of 100 - 6400, expandable to 12,800; three RAW sizes to choose from
• 9-point, all cross-type AF system, plus 63-zone metering system
• Continuous shooting at 5.3 frames/sec
• Electronic level available on LCD and viewfinder
• Refined controls (the Multi-controller is now inside the large Quick Control dial), with customizable buttons
• Full HD movie mode (1920 x 1080 at 24/25/30 fps) with manual controls, wind filter, and sound level adjustment
• Built-in wireless flash support
• In-camera RAW editing allows you to adjust Picture Style, white balance, color space, noise reduction, Peripheral Illumination Correction, linear distortion correction and chromatic aberration correction right in playback mode
• Creative Filters let you apply special effects to photos you’ve taken
• SD/SDHC/SDXC memory card slot (versus CompactFlash on the 50D)
• HDMI output
• Uses LP-E6 lithium-ion battery; battery life not available
• Optional battery grip
• Ships at the end of September for $1099 body only, or $1399 with an 18 - 135 mm IS lens

Four new L-series lenses and two new extenders:

• F4L, 8 - 15 mm USM fisheye lens - provides 180 degree coverage on full-frame cameras - anti-smear coating (all of these lenses have it) - ships in January for $1400
• F4.0-5.6L, 70 - 300 mm IS USM lens - better glass, image stabilization, and weather-sealing than previous versions - ships in October for $1500
• F2.8L, 300 mm IS II USM lens - 8% lighter than predecessor, with improved IS system , superior image quality, and better build quality - ships in December for $7000
• F2.8L, 400 mm IS II USM lens - 20% lighter than predecessor, same improvements as the 300mm - ships in December for $11,000 (I’ll take two!)
• 1.4X and 2X EF Extender III - faster autofocus, compatibility with newest super telephotos, and anti-smear coating - both ship in December for $500

source:dcresource

Dpreview tests the Canon Rebel T2i/EOS 550D

PROS

• Excellent detail and resolution (especially in raw mode)
• Lovely new LCD screen - the 3:2 format really makes a difference.
• Capable, flexible AF system in both phase-detection and live view modes
• High-spec video mode, including external microphone jack
• Highly intuitive operation, refined ergonomics
• Fast and responsive operation (although shooting in raw mode slows things down)
• Very reliable metering and white balance in most shooting situations
• Decent build quality for the price - no creaks
• Highlight Tone Priority works well, in both raw and JPEG mode.
• Excellent battery life for its class
• Acceptable - although not outstanding - image quality at highest ISO settings.
• Excellent supplied software suite - DPP is one of the best bundled raw converters around

CONS

• Auto Lighting Optimizer’s effect is subtle to the point of being unnoticeable
• No rear control dial (as found on higher-end Canon bodies)
• Entry-level ergonomics won’t suit everyone (the EOS 50D and 7D just feel nicer)
• No in-camera raw conversion option
• Slightly soft JPEG output at default settings (but this is far from unusual)
• Chroma noise takes a fairly big chunk out of resolution at ISO 12800 (but better than the 500D)
• AF assist strobe can be annoying

source:dpreview

Canon identifies problem with EOS 7D - firmware update soon

Canon has said it is investigating an issue with its recently released EOS 7D digital SLR. In a service notice it says there is an occasional issue where traces of a preceding frame may be visible in images captured in continuous shooting mode. The company says it will release a firmware update to resolve the problem.

Click here to read service notice from Canon.

Canon EOS 1D Mark IV with 1080p

Canon has finished its last major DSLR update of the past year and launched the EOS 1D Mark IV as its highest-end camera. The new model jumps from a 10-megapixel APS-H (near full-frame) sensor to a 16-megapixel, 1.3X crop unit and upgrades to twin DIGIC IV processors. The boost gives it 1080p video at 30 frames per second, or 720p at 60 frames per second, while still shooting full-quality still images at up to 10 frames per second. It can also match the Nikon D3s’ ISO 102,400 light sensitivity and so can shoot in extremely low light without invoking flash.
An overhauled 45-point autofocusing system is new and, like with the EOS 7D, can automatically group points together to speed up selecting the right area while still allowing the camera to focus on a more exact point. It can also track a subject locked in one point across any of the other points, even if it’s temporarily blocked.

Image quality should be improved with better noise reduction as the image leaves the sensor; 14-bit color conversion now occurs even at the maximum 10FPS photo shooting rate. A coating on the low pass filter should remove more dust from the sensor than in the past, and photographers can now capture smaller S-RAW or M-RAW shots to shoot faster or at reduced file size without losing compression.

The EOS 1D Mark IV arrives in a body-only kit at the very end of the year, in late December, and should cost $5,000. A companion add-on, the WFT-E2 II A, will give the Mark IV 802.11g Wi-Fi and Ethernet support to share photos over local networks and the Internet, including remote shooting with a live preview; Bluetooth is onboard to add geotagging with a wireless GPS receiver.

source:electronista

Canon unveils EOS-7D with 18MP, 8FPS shooting

As promised, Canon tonight launched the EOS-7D, its most advanced crop-frame digital SLR camera to date. The camera not only shoots at 18 megapixels, one of the highest resolutions for a camera that isn’t full-frame, but also gives it two DIGIC 4 processors that help it shoot more quickly than other cameras in its class. It can shoot bursts of 8 frames per second for up to 15 shots in RAW or 126 shots in JPEG. The advanced processing also gives it video advantages over even the EOS-5D Mark II: it can record 720p at up to 60FPS or 1080p at 24, 25 or 30 frames per second, letting filmmakers capture at native speed without having to convert later.

Optical quality regardless of mode has been given a boost with 19-point autofocus (up from nine on the 5D Mark II) with a special Zone AF mode that simplifies the selection into five areas, making it easier to track a moving subject without having to scroll across all of the points. This precision also applies to point expansion, which groups together points to track moving subjects, and a spot AF mode that narrows down an individual point for a very specific focus. A new macro tracking mode recognizes an appropriate lens and increases the amount of sampling to prevent blur at such a close range.

Extra improvements bring a new LCD overlay on the viewfinder that brings more information into the shot, a two-axis digital level to assist in orienting the shot, and a 63-zone, two-layer metering system that checks both the actual light and the coloring. It continues to offer an external mic input like the 5D Mark II and has light sensitivity between ISO 100 and 12,800.

The 7D arrives at the end of September at the rumored body-only price of $1,699. A kit version with a 28-135mm EF lens will cost $1,899.

Three new lenses are also shipping and are headlined by the EF 100mm f2.8L, Canon’s first ever Hybrid IS lens: the extra compensation for both angled shaking and shifting makes it possible to shoot very stable macro shots even when completely handheld, Canon insists. Also coming are a 15-85mm f3.5-5.6 general purpose but wide-angle lens and a low-cost 18-135mm f3.5-5.6 lens designed for moderate telephoto shooting while still allowing reasonably close shots. The macro and 18-135mm lenses ship in late September at prices of $1,049 and $500 each, while the 15-85mm lens appears in late October for $800.

Specs:

• 18.0 Megapixel CMOS sensor
• Dual DIGIC 4 processors
• Supports all EF and EF-S lenses with a 1.6 focal length conversion ratio
• Rugged magnesium alloy body has weather seals and a shutter rated to 150,000 cycles
• 3-inch LCD display with 920,000 pixels
• Intelligent pentaprism viewfinder has 100% coverage, a magnification of 1.0X
• An LCD is overlaid on top of the viewfinder to show AF points, composition grids, spot metering, electronic level, and the usual shooting info
• New 19-point, all cross-type AF system
• Supports AF point expansion (surrounding AF points used to track a moving subject) and Zone AF (divides all focus points into five selectable zones)
• Intelligent Macro Tracking detects when a macro lens is attached and adjusts the AI Servo sampling frequency to compensate for forward/backward camera movement
• New iFCL 63-zone dual layer metering system
• Full manual controls
• ISO range of 100 - 12,800 when fully expanded
• Shutter speed range of 30 - 1/8000 sec, plus a bulb mode
• Three RAW sizes to choose from
• Continuous shooting at 8 frames/second (15 RAW, 126 JPEG with UDMA card)
• Dual axis electronic level handles roll and pitch; data can be shown on LCD or viewfinder
• Pop-up flash has built-in wireless flash transmitter; external flash supported via hot shoe or flash sync port
• Dust reduction system
• Records movies in Full HD (1920 x 1080) with sound, using H.264 codec
• Frame rates at 1920 x 1080: 30p, 24p, 25p; at 1280 x 720: 60p, 50p; at 640 x 480: 60p, 50p
• Exposure and focus can be manually adjusted
• Dedicated movie recording button
• Stereo mic input
• CompactFlash Type I/II slot
• HDMI output
• Optional battery grip and wireless file transmitter (see below)
• Uses LP-E6 li-ion battery; 800 shots per charge
• Ships in late September for $1699 body only, or $1899 with the F3.5-5.6, 28 - 135 mm IS lens

Can’t forget the backside.  Oh, and of course DPReview.com already has the hands on preview on this just announced beauty.

Sony introduces full-frame Alpha DSLR-A850

Today Sony launches three more, covering the midrange and semi-pro markets. The one that is of most interest to me, is the Alpha DSLR-A850, which is essentially a slightly stripped-down version of Sony’s flagship A900 full-frame D-SLR. Here’s what it has to offer:

• 24.6 Megapixel, full-frame CMOS sensor (same as the A900’s)
• Support for all Minolta and Sony Alpha-mount lenses, with no focal length conversion ratio
• DT lenses can be used, though the resolution drops to 11MP, and exposure and vignetting may be issues
• Sensor-shift image stabilization
• Dual Bionz image processors
• Optical viewfinder has 98% coverage and 0.74X magnification (A900 has 100% coverage)
• 3-inch LCD display with 921,600 pixels; camera does not support live view
• AF system made up of 9 main and 10 assist points
• Full manual controls (obviously)
• Shutter speed range of 30 - 1/8000 sec, plus a bulb mode
• ISO range of 100 - 6400 when fully expanded
• Continuous shooting at 3 frames/second (compared to 5 fps on the A900)
• Hot shoe and flash sync port; camera does not have a built-in flash
• Dynamic range optimizer offers 5 steps of correction; user can also bracket for DRO
• Preview feature quickly takes a photo and lets you see the effects of adjusting white balance, dynamic range, and exposure compensation
• Dual memory card slots support CompactFlash and Memory Stick Duo media
• Optional battery grip
• HDMI output
• Uses NP-FM500H li-ion battery; 880 shots per charge
• Ships in September for $2000, body only.

It’s about time Nikon and Canon comes up with an answer to the $2000 24+MP camera.  I’m a Canon owner, and the best Canon can do is the $2600+ 5D MKII.  I’m looking to spend less than that.

Dpreview has posted review of Canon EOS 500D/T1i

Overall conclusion:

The EOS 500D is the latest incarnation of a highly successful line of cameras and although the ‘entry level’ market segment is these days much more crowded than it used to be, we would be very surprised if the new model would not sell like hotcakes.

All the major manufacturers cram more and more new features into their ‘budget’ offerings but the EOS 500D is arguably the currently best specced camera in the segment, which lifts it some distance above pure ‘entry level’ territory. It comes with the highest resolution sensor (15.1 effective megapixels) in its class, an excellent 3.0 inch high resolution screen, extended sensitivity up to ISO 12800 and the arguably for many users most attractive new feature, a movie mode that records 1080P/20fps or 720P/30fps High Definition video footage.

It combines all this with decent image quality and while its appearance might be a little plasticy and the handling can be difficult with larger hands the 500D’s main problem could be that it’s a little pricier than most of its direct competitors which, in these times of economic turmoil, might render it less attractive to some potential buyers.

For the most complete review of this camera, head on over to this link.

Firmware update for Canon EOS 5D Mark II available June 2, 2009

This from Canon today:

LONDON, UK, 27th May 2009: Canon announced today it will release a firmware update for the EOS 5D Mark II allowing users to manually control exposure when shooting video. The new firmware will be available for download from 2 June 2009 on Canon Europe’s support web site.
Following the launch of the EOS 5D Mark II in September 2008, Canon’s Research and Development team has listened closely to customer feedback to develop additions to the camera’s movie recording functionality.

Allowing EOS 5D Mark II owners to achieve even more stunning video results with the camera, the firmware update will include the following manual controls when shooting video:

• Full aperture selection
• ISO speed: Auto, 100 – 6400 and H1
• Shutter speed: 1/30th – 1/4000th second

The EOS 5D Mark II integrates full HD movie capability into a high-end 21.1 Megapixel camera; opening a multitude of new possibilities for photojournalists and news photographers. Since its launch the camera has proved its appeal to professionals working in diverse fields, from studio and wedding to nature and travel. Now, following customer feedback, Canon has improved functionality for professional video users, further unleashing the potential of the EOS 5D Mark II for cinematographers and photographers alike.

If you are reading this on or after June 2, 2009 hit the link below for update.

Click here to download the firmware update for Canon EOS 5D Mark II*
* The firmware will be available for download from 2 June, 2009