Photography Bay

Digital Camera News, Reviews and Tips

Canon 5D Mark II Unofficially Official?

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A poster over at fredmiranda.com forums pointed out that he was filling in the bug/feedback form on his Capture One beta 4 software when he noticed that the Canon 5D Mark II was an option to select as a camera model. If you recall, we saw similar leaks prior to the release of the Canon 40D earlier this year. Here’s a screen capture for the 5D Mark II:

You can see it for yourself on the Report a Bug page. Follow all the Canon 5D Mark II rumors on this page.

[tags]canon, eos, 5d mark ii, rumor, news, capture one, release, pma[/tags]

 

Canon 1D Mark IIIn or IV Rumors

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With the recent hoopla over Nikon’s new D3 and with the Canon 1D Mark III autofocusing issues, it shouldn’t come as a huge surprise that Canon shooters are calling for an all-out replacement of the camera with a new iteration of the camera. Well, the rumors weren’t too far behind. That’s right, rumors of a 1D Mark IV or Mark IIIn have started to rear their ugly head. Here’s some of the rumored specs floating around the web:

  • Same form factor as current 1D series
  • Full Frame 16MP sensor (no more 1.3x crop cameras)
  • ISO 100 to 6400 (expandable to 50 and 12800)
  • Live View with contrast detection AF and HD Video capture (It is rumored that this will revolutionize photo journalism and meet growing requirement for web news video and cross media feeds).
  • Capable of capturing stills from HD Video (but only at 2MP resolution)
  • 1.3x crop mode with viewfinder masking and reduced size RAW (10MP) with significantly improved buffer for cropped RAW images
  • 10 fps

Time will tell, but this could be out by Fall 2008. Photokina anyone?

As always, I’ll keep you posted.

UPDATES

2/22/09: More rumors of a 16MP sensor, no dates yet. Read more.

2/10/09: 1D Mark III replacement will not appear at PMA 2009. Read more.

2/2/09: Rumors of PMA 2009 release. Read more.

5/1/08: Rumored June announcement along with the Canon 5D Mark II.  Read more.

[tags]canon, 1d, mark, iiin, iv, rumor, af, autofocus, nikon, d3[/tags]

PMA 2008 Report

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PMA is the world’s largest annual photo trade show and it’s scheduled to take place January 31 – February 2, 2008. With over 650 exhibitors, it’s always full of the biggest announcements of the year. (You can see this year’s exhibitors here.)

After a rocking series of announcements this fall from Nikon (the D3 and D300), Canon (the 40D and 1Ds Mk III), Sony (the a700) and Olympus (the E-3), what more can we expect from major camera manufacturers at PMA 2008?


Below is the rundown of the latest developments from PMA. Please note that I will continue to update this page with the latest announcements throughout PMA (hence, I’ll delete rumors and speculations and replace it with news as the information becomes available).

Canon

Replacing the EOS Rebel XTi / 400D, Canon has announced the EOS Rebel XSi / 450D, which is a 12.2 megapixel DSLR. Along with the Rebel XSi, Canon announced the availability of the EF-S 55-250mm IS lens for US customers. This lens was announced in August 2007, however, it was previously unavailable in the US.

On the “pro” gear side of things, Canon launched the previously announced EF 200mm f/2L IS USM and EF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM lenses, priced at $6,000 and $12,000, respectively.

In the point & shoot realm, Canon announced the PowerShot A590 IS, A580 and A470 to update the popular “A” series digital cameras. Additionally, Canon updated the PowerShot SD1000 IS Digital ELPH camera with the PowerShot SD1100 IS Digital ELPH camera.

For details on all of these new products from Canon, please click on the respective links above to go to Photography Bay’s in-depth coverage.

Nikon

Nikon announced the new 10.2 megapixel Nikon D60 on January 29, 2007. Rather than creating an entirely new DSLR that’s a true “step up” from the Nikon D40x, Nikon settled on the solid 10.2 megapixel sensor that has made the D40x such a great camera and “upgraded” the rest of the camera to include next generation features like built-in sensor cleaning, built-in filter effects, Active D-Lighting (featured in the Nikon D3/D300) and 3D Color Matrix Metering II (also from the D3/D300). For more info, check out the reviews, resources and other info on the Nikon D60 page.

What most people were expecting before the Nikon D60 rumors got to full steam was a successor to the Nikon D80.  The D80 was introduced by Nikon in August 2006, which would have made PMA 2008 the proper timeframe for the typical 18-month product life cycle that we’ve grown accustomed to in consumer/prosumer DSLRs. Additionally, the D80 is sadly behind on the technology curve in light of the current offerings from Nikon and other DSLR manufacturers. The D80 remains the little brother of the D200. The introduction of the Nikon D60 seems to convey the message that Nikon has consolidate their line with only one entry-level DSLR.  However, you can find any further developments/rumors/etc. on the Nikon D90 page.

In addition, Nikon has added some new lenses for its DSLR lineup, which are as follows:

Finally, Nikon added a number of point and shoot cameras to its stable:

For details on all of these new products from Nikon, please click on the respective links above to go to Photography Bay’s in-depth coverage.

Sony

Sony is expected to fully roll out all the details on their flagship DSLR, believed to be called the a900. The a900 will be a step up over the a700, which is now available.

Additionally, Sony rolled out their next iteration of the Alpha a100 at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) earlier in January – the A200. Just prior to PMA, Sony announced the Sony A300 and A350, which share the consumer-oriented body of the A200 and weigh in at 10.2 and 14.2 megapixels respectively. Both cameras will be available in April – at $800 for the A300 with a 18-70mm kit lens and the A350 in a $900 kit or an $800 body-only package.

Sony has also announced several new point & shoot models, which include the following:

For details on all of these new products from Sony, please click on the respective links above to go to Photography Bay’s in-depth coverage.

Olympus

Olympus doesn’t really have much more to show us as far as DSLR bodies are concerned. We saw the introduction of the E-410 and E-510 last Spring, and the E-3 was introduced just last month. Their entire line is new. We could see updates for the E-410 and E-510 at Photokina next fall, but I wouldn’t hold my breath on any new bodies from Olympus at PMA ’08. Olypmus could (and should) continue to introduce lenses to beef up their 4/3 System. Their new Supersonic Wave Drive (SWD) lenses really boost focus speed, especially when coupled with the new E-3. Expect to see more of these, hopefully at PMA ’08.

Pentax

Pentax has replaced the K10D and K100D with new models – the K20D and K200D, respectively. The K20D has 14.6 megapixels and the K200D gets 10.2 megapixels and they are priced at $1299 and$799, respectively.

Additionally, Pentax has announced a number of new smc lenses to couple the with new K20D and K200D DSLRs. Details on the new lenses can be found on the K20D and K200D page as well. The lens pricing and shipping dates are as follows:

  • smc PENTAX DA* 200mm f/2.8 ED (IF) SDM will ship in March 2008 for $1099.95
  • smc PENTAX DA* 300mm f/4 ED (IF) SDM will ship in May 2008 for $1299.95
  • smc PENTAX DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED will ship in May 2008 for $399.95
  • smc PENTAX DA 35mm f/2.8 Macro Limited will ship in April 2008 for $599.95
  • smc PENTAX DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL II will ship as a kit lens with PENTAX K200D in March 2008 (value $199.95)

Finally, Pentax announced a four new Optio series cameras – the Optio M50, Optio S12, Optio E50 & Optio A40.

For details on all of these new products from Pentax, please click on the respective links above to go to Photography Bay’s in-depth coverage.

Samsung

Samsung has announced the new GX-20, the fraternal twin of the Pentax K20D, both of which tout nearly identical features but come in a different body, some display variations and other subtle differences. For further details, visit on the Samsung GX-20 page.

Sigma, Tamron & Tokina

We’re interested in what everyone’s favorite step-children are doing with their lens offerings. Sigma has rolled out more HSM lenses to go along with the Nikon D40(x) and D60.  Tamron has already announced a few internal focusing lenses that are compatible with Nikon’s consumer grade DSLRs (see below).  Now we’re just waiting on Tokina to jump on board.

Also, image stabilization is becoming more and more essential (and marketable) for Canon and Nikon cameras. This is due in part to the push we’ve seen from Sony, Olympus and Pentax to incorporate IS in the body of DSLRs. Sigma has a few lenses that offer Optical Stabilization, as Sigma calls it, including their new 18-200mm OS lens. Tamron’s got the superzoom 28-300mm VC (vibration compensation). Expect more of this feature as these companies introduce new lenses.

New Tamron Products 

New Sigma Products (via DPReview.com)

Stay tuned and I’ll keep you posted with the latest rumblings on the latest gear as it surfaces at PMA and elsewhere on the web.

More PMA Reports

PhotographyBLOG

DPReview.com

[tags]pma, nikon, canon, sony, olympus, sigma, tamron, tokina, 2008[/tags]

Canon Rebel XSi Rumor Archives

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Everyone fully expects this camera to be announced at PMA in January 2008. In fact, it would be downright odd if it didn’t show up then. Canon announced the current generation Rebel XTi in August 2006, which makes PMA 2008 the end of the 18 month product cycle for Canon entry-level cameras. There are some rumors surfacing that after the release of the Rebel XTi replacement, Canon will move to a 12 month life cycle for its entry-level cameras.

So what features can you expect on the Canon Rebel XTi replacement?

LiveView

I think LiveView is a surefire bet. I think Canon wants to stay ahead of the curve and will make LiveView a standard across all of its DSLR product lines.

Video Capability

There’s also rumors of video capture capability. I think this makes sense too. If you’re going to roll out video in DSLRs, why not start on your consumer grade camera? This will be a very popular feature for this market audience. If DSLR manufacturers can do LiveView, then they are capable of doing video as well. I expect this to be a standard feature for DSLRs in years to come, whether we really want it or not.

DIGIC III

An upgraded image processor is sure to come as well, likely to match the 40D’s 14 bit DIGIC III. This is just an evolution of technology and a hand-me-down to the little brother model.

Bigger LCD

I would also expect the LCD screen to go up from 2.5″ to a 3″ LCD. Again, now that the big brother has it, it will be passed down the line to the next Rebel XTi. This is another big marketing point, especially when considered in conjunction with LiveView and video capabilities.

ISO and FPS

Maybe the Rebel XTi replacement will get a boost in ISO to 3200 and an increase in frames per second rate up to 5 fps. I think both of these could be reasonably anticipated now that the Canon 40D has gone above and beyond these specs. It would certainly be welcomed by me.

Image Stabilization

What about Image Stabilization, you say. The question of whether Canon (or Nikon) will produce a camera with in-body IS has been asked time and time again in the various photography forums around the web. Well, I don’t really see that happening in Canon’s DSLR line . . . yet. Yeah, I know, Sony, Olympus and Pentax have it going on with in-body IS; however, Canon has taken the position in recent past that lens-based IS really is better. The tests that I’ve read seem to support this point.

What I would expect to see in the Rebel XTi replacement is a kit containing the new EF-S 18-55mm IS lens, which was announced in August. I think this is a viable option for Canon to market, not only as equivalent to the Sony, etc. kit, but as a better option because it’s lens-based IS. You may disagree with the statement; however, I think this is a viable marketing point that Canon can capitalize on.

Now, there are unsubstantiated rumors surfacing that Canon may move to some body-based IS for entry-level DSLRs in the future (i.e., 2009+); however, I think for present purposes we can look forward to the continued use of lens-based IS, pushed by this promising option of an IS kit lens.

Megapixels

I really don’t expect to see the Rebel XTi replacement moving above and beyond the 40D or the 1D Mk III in megapixels. I think 10 megapixels is plenty of prowess for all of us; however, I’m sure someone will jump out there in front with a 12 MP entry-level DSLR in 2008. I don’t think that someone will be Canon. I think Canon’s video feature and the IS kit lens will be big enough to market it past the megapixel crowd – for the generation at least. Maybe we’ll see 12 MP or more in 2009 from Canon.

Form Factor

I also don’t see Canon moving away from the small form factor body. A lot of people complain about the small size of the body on the Rebel series. It’s here to stay. Buy a BG-E3 grip if you don’t like it (I did), or better yet, a Canon 40D. Canon is not going to alienate women and entry-level users that prefer the smaller size of the Rebel series due to the cries of enthusiasts that really want a 40D for the price of the Rebel series cameras.

Conclusion

I think Canon has big things in store for the Rebel XTi replacement and I think we’ve only got a few more months to wait. If all this comes to fruition in early 2008, I may have to move on from my Rebel XT to the next iteration of the Rebel based on gadget factor alone. Expect the rumors to increase with frequency as we get closer to PMA 2008. As I see more rumors on the next Canon Rebel, I’ll post’em at the bottom of this post – so check back often.

UPDATES

1/16/08: Rumored specs surface on the “Rebel XTs”: same sensor, improved noise and dynamic range, UDMA support. (Read More)

1/5/08: Further support for the announcement of a Rebel XTi replacement / 450D at PMA. The 350D (Rebel XT) has been pulled from at least one 4th quarter ’07 Canon catalog. (Read more)

12/17/07: The Rebel XTi replacement may very well be announced by Canon on January 24th – just prior to PMA 2008. (Read more)

[tags]canon, rebel, xti, replacement, successor, 450d, xtx, eos, dslr[/tags]

Build Your Own 5D Mark II

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Overheard in the forums:

Base model: current 5D — $2000.

1) One stop ISO improvement with 14 bit RAW — add $500
2) High precision cross-type AF sensors on 11 spaced AF points — add $500
3) 16 MP — add $300
4) 100% viewfinder with on-demand grid lines — add $300
5) 50% less shutter lag — add $200
6) 5 fps — add $200
7) Weather sealing — add $200
8) 3″ high res LCD — add $100
9) TAv mode — add $20
10) Custom Button replacing Direct Print button — priceless. : )

(via DPReview.com forums)

[tags]canon, 5d, eos, mark ii, 6d, speculation, rumors, news[/tags]

Sony ?700

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The buzz on the next offering from Sony is in full swing now. Check out this post on the upcoming announcement, which I think is in Korean. Based on what I can translate with a little help from Google, it says the key features include:

  • APS-C CMOS (1.5X Crop) Sensor
  • Sony’s new Bionz image processor
  • Improved AF speed and efficiency
  • 5.5 frames per second
  • 1/8000s shutter speed
  • Up to ISO 6400
  • 3″ LCD Display
  • Super Steady Shot (in-body IS)
  • Weather-sealing

Announcement should be very soon. There’s plenty of buzz that Sony will announce on September 5th or 6th (apparently, at a press conference in the UK). The Korean site linked above mentions a availability date in November – not unlike the Nikon D300.

[tags]sony, alpha, a100, a200, a300, a400, a500, a700, news, rumors[/tags]

The Next Canon 5D

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It’s inevitable. It’s the next camera in Canon’s DSLR lineup due for replacement. The Canon 5D was announced on August 22, 2005. That’s 2+ years already. My guess is that the Canon 5D is a prime candidate for replacement at PMA 2008 (Jan. 31-Feb. 2) – that would make a 2 1/2 year life span for the 5D. Of course, it could also show up at Photokina 2008 (Sept. 23-28) instead, making it a 3 year ordeal.

The Canon Rebel and 10D-40D series have been on a consistent 18 month replacement schedule. The pro-level 1D and 1Ds series have been subject to longer replacement schedules overall. Being a first generation camera in its class, the Canon 5D has no precedent to follow. It is really more of a high-amateur/semi-pro level body. The 5D remains in a class of its own, although Nikon has began to apply a little pressure by finally entering the full-frame market with the Nikon D3. However, the 5D’s current price point at around $2500 is significantly less than the Nikon’s MSRP of $5000.

That said, 2 1/2 or 3 years is a long time in DSLR world. The Canon 5D is missing some features that are “standard” on the current generation of Canon’s other DSLRs:

  • Live View
  • Dust Reduction Sensor
  • DIGIC III
  • 3″ LCD (the 5D has a 2.5″ LCD)

I expect to see these features as a gimme and maybe a 2MP or so boost, up to 14-15MP. I imagine that there would be a few other tweaks along the way; however, I don’t really expect the current “form” to change a great deal. It’s most likely to be an evolution of the current generation 5D (e.g., 30D to 40D).

I imagine now that all the buzz of the Canon 40D and Nikon’s new cameras have died down, we’ll start to hear rumblings, rumors and speculations of the Canon 5D Mark II, 6D or whatever it’s called. I’ll update this post as word comes along. Stay tuned.

Follow the rumors for the Canon 5D Mark II on this page. 

[tags]canon, 5d, mark ii, 6D, 4D, 3D, news, rumors, speculation[/tags]

Sony expected to unveil A300 on September 4th

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Photoclub Alpha reports:

INSIDE sources – mainly people who have been invited to press launch events – confirm that Sony is to show its new Advanced Amateur camera, thought to be called the Alpha 300, on Tuesday September 4th. A press conference is being held in Italy, and journalists from European mainland countries have been invited to attend. As yet, I am unaware of any British journalists attending, and have not received an invitation myself.

. . . .

It is almost certainly APS-C format, 12.x megapixels CMOS, 5.5 frames per second, ISO to 3200, improved AF, 3 inch screen or very much improved 2.5 inch, 95 per cent view 90 per cent scale (or vice-versa) optical glass prism viewfinder, AF assist on the body, improved flash, same basic shutter speed range as A100, slightly altered mirror/shutter action, very fast card writing, some water and weatherproofing upgrades, generally better response, altered user interface; much better high ISO noise, further enhancements to SSS. . . . (read more)

[tags]sony, alpha, a100, a200, a300, a400, a500, news, rumors[/tags]