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Digital Camera News, Reviews and Tips

Canon 5D Mark II Battery Grips: BG-E6 vs. Third-Party Grips

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Canon 5D Mark II Battery Grip

The Canon BG-E6 battery grip serves a couple of different purposes for the 5D Mark II.  As the name implies, it holds batteries – either two LP-E6 lithium-ion batteries or 6 AA batteries in the included battery holder.  Likewise, the BG-E6 serves as a grip for handling the camera in portrait orientation, featuring controls for the shutter release, scroll wheel, and focus point adjustments, among others.

Canon 5D Mark II Battery Grips

The BG-E6 is a nice accessory to have; however, it runs $250.  For some, that’s a little steep for a battery grip.  Third party grips are much more affordable at less than $100, but are they worth the compromise? This question comes up on forums quite a bit and finds its way in my inbox now and then.

In this little exercise, we are going to take a look at the Canon BG-E6 grip and see how a couple of third party grips from Vivitar and Zeikos stack up against it.

[UPDATE:  I’ve supplemented this review with a review of the Vello BG-C2 and BG-C4 grips for the Canon 5D Mark II and 7D.]

[Read more…]

 

Canon Wireless Transfer Units for 1D Mark IV, 5D Mark II and 7D

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Yesterday, Canon introduced Wireless File Transmitter units for 3 of its DSLRs – the 1D Mark IV, 5D Mark II and 7D.

The Canon 1D Mark IV will use the WFT-E2 II A unit.

The Canon 5D Mark II will use the WFT-E4 II A unit.

The Canon 7D will use the WFT-E5A.

All models offer 802.11a/b/g connectivity, FTP mode for transfer even remotely over the Internet, camera linking for firing up to 11 cameras simultaneously, and several other features.

The E4 II A and E5A is currently available at an initial retail price of $699.99.

The E2 II A should be available in the first quarter of 2010 at a yet to be announced price.

More details in the press release below. [Read more…]

Canon DSLR Firmware Updates for WFT-E2 II and WFT-E4 II Compatibility

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Canon WFT-E4 II

Canon has made available firmware updates on several DSLRs for compatibility with the recently announced, and soon to be available, WFT-E2 II and WFT-E4 II wireless file transmitters.

Note that the 5D Mark II firmware update also “Corrects a phenomenon in which visible noise may appear in images taken by continuous Bulb shooting.”

See the following links for the respective firmware update pages.

Canon 1Ds Mark III

Canon 1D Mark III

Canon 5D Mark II

Saturday Night Live Title Sequence Shot With Canon 5D Mark II and 7D

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We’ve known for a while now that SNL used the Canon 7D and 5D Mark II to shoot its opening sequence; however, Canon just dropped some more details about SNL’s use of these cameras.

One of the big advantages for shooting the title sequence with the 5D Mark II and 7D was the ability to use ambient light due to the cameras’ incredible sensitivity, which also helped them to operate more covertly.

More in the full press release below. [Read more…]

Canon 5D Mark II and Canon 50D White Paper

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Canon has published a white paper for the 5D Mark II and 50D cameras.  (White Papers are comprehensive documents detailing system enhancements — and the technological developments behind them.)

It is available for download from Canon’s website.

For more info on these cameras, see Photography Bay’s Canon 50D Reviews and Resources and Canon 5D Mark II Reviews and Resources.

Canon 5D Price Dropping

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The Canon 5D Mark II has not even begun to ship yet and we’re already seeing the original Canon 5D take a hit in price.  Just last week, I noticed the Canon 5D + EF 24-105mm L lens was around $2700 for the kit at Amazon.  Now, the original 5D combo is available for $2590.  Also, the Canon 5D body is now selling for under $2k.

So, if you can’t swing a 5D Mark II, you might consider the original 5D at a substantial discount.  Personally, I’m drooling over the kit’s price point right now.

Canon Evolution Phase 2 & September 17 = D-Day

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Canon has revealed just a little bit more of the mystery camera (aka, Canon 5D Mark II).  See this post for the original tease.

Nothing groundbreaking, but it appears that Canon is going to tease us all the way to the announcement of the new camera(s).

Finally, Neutral Day picked up a Canon announcement date of September 17 from Kamera & Bild.

And, yes Canon, we bit – hook, line and sinker.  You have our attention.

New Canon DSLR on August 26

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According to Kamera & Bild, who claims to have notice of the press conference, Canon will be dropping the bombshell on August 26th.  The only question is whether the new EOS will be the Canon 3D, 5D Mark II, 6D, 7D or some other model (or two).

Photography Bay will stay on top of the news and rumors to the bitter end and beyond.  Stay tuned.

Canon 5D Mark II Rumor Update

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The rumor mill is in full swing after the announcement of the Nikon D700. A poster on DPR, claiming to have “inside” info has posted “spoiler” specs of the Canon 5D Mark II. With a big grain of salt in hand, take a look at the following info:

– Will be announced Monday, September 8, 2008
– MSRP: $2,399.95 (SSP: $2,199.95), body only
– 16MP FF sensor
– 6 FPS
– Max ISO 25,600 (for what it’s worth…it’s more for marketing)
– Full weather sealing

– VGA-resolution display (from same supplier Sony uses for their new Handycams, except in 4:3 aspect ratio here)
– Pop-up flash
– Anti-dust features
– NO Live View
– NO pro AF from 1D (although all points are cross-type)
– NO video mode whatsoever (silliest rumor I’ve ever heard)
– NO compatibility with EF-S lenses (physically impossible anyway)
– NO electronic crop mode for faster shot rate
– NO HDMI-out
– NO UDMA CF support

As you can see, it’s by no means ground-breaking. It’s not going to out-do the Nikon D700 in performance or features (although overall IQ will be very close or indistinguishable). But it will be significantly cheaper. It’s aimed at the more “manual” shooter.

Original 5D will continue to be sold at $1,799.95 (SSP) without any rebates until stock is depleted.

[via DPR forums]

For the latest word on the Canon 5D Mark II, stay tuned to Photography Bay’s Canon 5D Mark II page.

Canon 5D Mark II Ad Surfaces

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A Canon 5D Mark II ad has surfaced in the DP Review forums. In the Japanese ad, you can see that AF assist beam is in a different location of the current camera and you also see a “Mark II” emblem in the bottom right corner of the camera. Fake? Probabaly. Still, it’s more fuel to the rumor fire for the Canon 5D Mark II. For the latest word on the Canon 5D Mark II, stay tuned to Photography Bay’s Canon 5D Mark II page.

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