Update Firmware R3 1.41

Canon has corrected a bug in firmware v1.4.0 for the Canon EOS R3 and have released v1.4.1. If you haven't upgraded to 1.4.0, this new firmware will add the following features and fixes.

Firmware Version 1.4.1 incorporates the following enhancements and fixes:

1. Adds support for Speedlite EL-5.*
   *The automatic light intensity adjustment of the AF-assist beam is not supported.
2. Adds [Register people priority] to the camera menu.
   Pre-registered people can now be detected and tracked with priority.**
   ** This feature may not operate if faces are too small to detect, in profile or turned at an angle or partially hidden; for scenes where the subject is moving; or due to certain shooting environments.
3. Adds [Save/load comm. settings on card] to the camera menu.
   Network settings can now be transferred between cameras of the same model.
4. Adds [Panning Assist] to the camera menu. When a compatible lens is used for panning shots, image stabilization and subject blur correction are applied during the exposure.
5. Improves the Auto White Balance (AWB) setting to reduce the time it takes for the AWB result to be reflected in the camera’s viewfinder's display when looking through the viewfinder.
6. Adds Protect Images During [FTP Transfer] to the camera menu. Images transferred via FTP can now be automatically protected. The user can determine if images have already been transferred via FTP.
7. Fixes an issue in which Error 70 may occur when using the camera with certain EF lenses after having updated the camera firmware to Version 1.4.0.
8. Fixes an issue in which the original tracking performance of Servo AF cannot be attained depending on shooting conditions when performing high-speed continuous shooting using the electronic shutter after having updated the camera firmware to Version 1.4.0.
9. Fixes minor issues.

Download firmware v1.4.1 for the Canon EOS R3

The post was originally By Canon Rumors - April 24nd, 2023

Lens RF 100-300mm F2.8

MELVILLE, NY, April 20, 2023 – Today, Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, announced the launch of the RF100-300mm F2.8 L IS USM lens, answering calls from photojournalists and professional level customers for a modern 300mm f/2.8 equivalent lens.

“This lens is an absolute game changer! It gives you the most incredible range, but without sacrificing the f/2.8 aperture. To have this kind of performance at your fingertips is incredible!”

Roberto Valenzuela, fashion and wedding photographer

For decades, the 300mm f/2.8 telephoto lens has been an industry standard for photojournalists, professionals, and aspiring enthusiast photographers due to its outstanding image quality, excellent speed for indoor shooting, and relatively light weight for hand-holding. Now, with the launch of the RF100-300mm F2.8 L IS USM, Canon delivers the flexibility of a zoom lens design with the truly outstanding quality of a 300mm f/2.8 L-series telephoto lens. Exceeding the reach and potential of traditional 70-200mm lenses, and adding zoom flexibility to its Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS predecessor, the RF100-300mm F2.8 L IS USM lens brings new value to customers with the following features:

• Wide Focal Range — 100-300mm range
• Extended Zoom — Optional RF1.4x and 2x extenders are supported with this lens, enabling a zoom range of up to 600mm
• Spectacular Image Quality — f/2.8 constant wide aperture; Fluorite Aspherical and UD-glass design
• Reliable Stabilization — Up to 5.5 stops correction with in-lens Optical Image Stabilization and up to 6.0 stops correction with in-body coordinated Image Stabilization (CIPA standard)
• Weather and Dust Resistant — Durable in various environmental conditions
• Compact and Lightweight Design — Despite capabilities to zoom over 300mm, this lens is unusually lightweight, just barely heavier than the EF300mm f/2.8L IS II

This telephoto zoom lens is ideal for professionals who use a Canon EOS R3, EOS R5 or EOS R6 Mark II full-frame mirrorless camera, but can also be a catalyst for users who have developed into serious, aspirational enthusiasts and are looking to step beyond their traditional telephoto lens experience. Best use cases include, but are not limited to, indoor sports, motorsports, outdoor fashion, video and cinema, photojournalism and theater work. For high-level shooters and videographers particularly working in low-light settings and seeking a hand-holdable solution, this lens provides the total answer.

​​​Price & Availability

​​​​​​​The Canon RF100-300mm F2.8 L IS USM lens is expected to be available in May for an estimated retail price of $9,499.00*. For more information, please visit usa.canon.com.

Canon RF100-300mm F2.8L IS USM specifications

This article was originally posted by Canon USA - April 20th, 2023

Update Firmware 1DX III v1.7.1

Canon has released new firmware for the Canon EOS-1D X Mark III. This firmware fixes an issue that was present in version 1.7.0.

In firmware version 1.7.0, it has been confirmed that the power may not turn on immediately after the update is completed under certain conditions, so we will release a new firmware version 1.7.1 that incorporates the fix.

This firmware incorporates the following fixes:

1. Added [Save and read communication settings to card] to the menu. Network settings can now be transferred between cameras of the same model.
2. It is now possible to crop and resize images during image transfer to an FTP server.
3. Fixed an issue that caused some cameras that meet certain conditions to stop turning on immediately after the firmware version 1.7.0 update was completed.
4. Fixed minor bugs.

Download firmware v1.7.1 for the Canon EOS-1D X Mark III

This article was originally posted by Canon USA - March 30th, 2023

Body R10 Recall

Body R10 Recall-1

This article was originally posted By Canon USA - March 31st, 2023

Update Firmware R5 1.81

Firmware Version 1.8.1 incorporates the following fixes and enhancements:

1. Adds [IBIS High resolution shot] to the camera menu. By utilizing the in-body IS mechanism, it is now possible to record images with higher resolution.*
   *Use EOS Utility/Digital Photo Professional to check the images. EOS Utility/Digital Photo Professional will need to be upgraded.
2. Adds [Save/load comm. settings on card] to the camera menu.
   Network settings can now be transferred between cameras of the same model.
3. Adds the ability for images to be cropped and resized during transfer to the FTP server.
4. Adds Protect Images During [FTP Transfer] to the camera menu. Images transferred via FTP can now be automatically protected. The user can determine if images have already been transferred via FTP.
5. Fixes minor issues.

Firmware Version 1.8.1 is for cameras with firmware up to Version 1.7.0.If the camera's firmware is already Version 1.8.1, it is not necessary to update the firmware.

The User Manual on our website has been updated accordingly. Please download the User Manual as well as the latest firmware. You can download it from the official website.

Firmware download link:
https://www.usa.canon.com/support/p/eos-r5

This article was originally posted by Canon USA - March 15th, 2023

Body R8 & R50

MELVILLE, NY, February 7, 2023 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, announced today the launch of the new EOS R50 camera body, ideal for entry level users, and the EOS R8, an extremely compact, full-frame camera aimed at advanced amateur photo and video enthusiasts looking for budget-friendly options that don't sacrifice performance. Additionally, two new RF-Mount lenses are being introduced to the ever-growing R-mount lens lineup.

EOS R50

Compact, lightweight and ideal for those looking to step up their video quality, the EOS R50 provides an impressive movie-shooting experience thanks to the APS-C sensor, with 4K video, uncropped 4K capture (at all frame rates), and outstanding Dual Pixel CMOS AF technology. With the addition of whole area tracking, subject detection, and movie-prerecording, difficult photo and movie opportunities can be easier to capture with a 24.2-million-pixel, APS-C sized image sensor. In addition, the EOS R50 is equipped with an eye-level electronic viewfinder to help achieve shot steadiness and ease viewing in bright sunlight conditions. A great camera for those who are looking to lean into interchangeable lenses, the EOS R50 camera can capture travel adventures, family portraits, sports, wildlife and even help a small business with marketing imagery. For those who are budding content creators, the EOS R50 will be available later in 2023 as part of a Content Creator Kit – packaged with a microphone, lens and grip. Overall, the EOS R50 is truly a jack of all content creation trades.

EOS R8

The EOS R8 — affordable and functional — is a full-frame mirrorless camera aimed at the up-and-coming video or photo enthusiast. This camera comes with class-leading auto focus while still extremely capable for everyday and general photography use. Equipped with a 24.2-megapixel CMOS image sensor and DIGIC X image processor, the EOS R8 is optimal for full-frame RF lenses — allowing enhanced wide-angle field of views when compared to APS-C sensor cameras. Extremely lightweight and compact, the EOS R8 shoots up to 6-fps with 1^st-curtain Electronic shutter, and up to 40-fps with full electronic. For users who've already explored interchangeable lens cameras but haven't yet broken into mirrorless, the EOS R8 should be the camera that takes them over the threshold to capture events, weddings, still life, travel and pets.

Additional product specs include:

Video performance

• Uncropped 4K video to 59.94p (29.97p with EOS R50) (with 6k oversampling)
• Full-HD to 59.94 fps, and High Frame Rate to 119.8 fps (Full HD 180p with the EOS R8)
• Dual Pixel CMOS AF, with subject detection for people, animals and vehicles
• Up to 2 hours of continuous recording (one hour with EOS R50); no 30 min limit
• Focus breathing correction

Enhanced usability for video correction

• Vertical Video Metadata
• Movie Self Timer
• Audio Noise Reduction (only in EOS R8)
• UVC/UAC Support, for USB livestreaming
• Recording Emphasis
• Aspect Markers

Connectivity

• Easy wireless connection from camera to compatible smartphone
• Camera Connect with USB connection to compatible smartphone
• USB streaming direct to computer via Zoom™, Teams™, or Skype™
• MFI Certified (Apple); WPA3-Personal protected access
• Convenient firmware updates via compatible smartphone
• Cloud RAW processing

Alongside the camera bodies, Canon will release two new lenses. The RF-S lens line, optimized for the smaller APS-C sensor size, expands with the Canon RF-S55-210mm F5-7.1 IS STM lens. This is a telephoto zoom, giving coverage equivalent to an 88–336mm lens on a full-frame camera. The lens opens the door to telephoto photography and videography, with 4.5 stops optical image stabilization, and close-focusing that can fill the frame with a subject roughly 2x3 inches in size (at its 210mm zoom setting, and minimum focus distance). And it does all this in an incredibly lightweight and compact package.

The Canon RF24-50mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM is a new, compact standard zoom lens for full-frame EOS R-series cameras. Ranging from true wide-angle to traditional “standard lens” coverage at 50mm, the lens is a travel friendly design with an extremely compact exterior. The RF24-50mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM lens is just over 2 inches long when fully retracted, and under 3.5 inches when extended — weighing less than half a pound. Optical Image Stabilization, with 4.5 stops of shake-correction, further enhances its appeal for video and still-image shooting. It’s also useable on an APS-C sensor Canon camera, where the lens' effective coverage is equivalent to what a 38–80mm would deliver on a full-frame camera.

​​​Price & Availability

​​​​​​​The Canon EOS R8 camera body will be available for an estimated retail price of $1,499.00*. The Canon RF24-50mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM lens with the EOS R8 will have an estimated retail price of $1,699.00*. The Canon EOS R50 camera body will be available for an estimated retail price $679.99*. The EOS R50 with the RF-S18-45mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM lens will be available for an estimated retail price of $799.99*. The EOS R50 with the RF-S18-45mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM and RF-S55-210mm F5-7.1 IS STM lenses will be available for an estimated retail price of $1,029.00*. The RF24-50mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM lens will be available for an estimated retail price $299.99* while the RF-S55-210mm F5-7.1 IS STM lens will have an estimated retail price of $349.99*. All products are currently scheduled to be available in Spring 2023.

This article was originally posted by Canon USA - February 7th, 2023

Lens No 3rd Party

Since the story broke last week that Viltrox was told by Canon to cease making any auto focus lens for the RF mount, there has been a lot of chatter for obvious reasons. The lack of RF native auto focus third party lenses has become a growing concern amongst shooters.

One of the good things to come from multiple folks covering this issue, is people begin to talk a bit more candidly about the topic at hand.

I have spoken to two quality sources on the topic, from completely different geographical locations and they both have said very similar things.

The big one being, Canon has no plans to give permission to third party manufacturers to utilize their RF mount patents as they pertain to electronics and auto focus anytime in the near future.

We have been told that there are a few reasons for this, and please don't shoot the messenger.

• Canon doesn't feel the RF lineup is anywhere near maturity, and they want the lineup filled out with their own lenses first. Canon still has lots of work to do in both the non-L and L lineups.
• Canon believes the “more affordable” options are already covered by the hundred and whatever million EF lenses out there that work extremely well on the RF mount with Canon's line of adapters.
• Canon isn't done with tweaks and improvements to the RF mount.

One of the sources said not to expect anything from the third-party manufacturers until late 2024 at the earliest, and that not every manufacturer is going to be given the opportunity to make RF lenses.

Until Canon releases an official statement, please take the above report accordingly. We're hoping that this run of stories will push Canon to be more transparent on the topic in the near future. More to come in the future !!!!!!!

This post was originally By Canon Rumors - September 6th, 2022

Lens RF 15-30mm F4.5

RF15-30mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM at a glance

- Ultra-wide-angle zoom lens
- Has a variable maximum aperture: The widest possible aperture setting changes as you zoom.
- Full-frame lens designed for EOS R cameras (RF mount)
- Also fits on APS-C EOS R series cameras without a mount adapter (Equivalent angle of view: 24-48mm)
- Not an L-series lens: no weather sealing
- Smaller, lighter, and cheaper than the RF14-35mm f/4L IS USM and RF15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM
- 0.52x macro capabilities; close-ups up to 12.8cm closest focusing distance (MF mode)
- Optical IS: up to 5.5 stops; with Coordinated Control IS: up to 7 stops

A budget-friendly ultra-wide-angle zoom for the RF mount

Before the arrival of the RF15-30mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM, Canon had two ultra-wide-angle zoom lenses native to the RF mount: the RF14-35mm f/4L IS USM and RF15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM. Part of the f/4L and f/2.8L lens trinities respectively, these professional grade lenses are popular for their excellent image quality and build, but come with a price to match. With the non-L-series RF15-30mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM, users with a smaller budget now have an excellent option if they want a good ultra-wide-angle zoom lens to expand their arsenals.

Lens RF 15-30mm- vs Others

From APS-C to full-frame: A lens trinity that you can grow with

When combined with the existing RF24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS STM and RF100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS STM, you get a reasonably-priced lens trinity that covers a very large 15mm to 400mm focal length range in full-frame equivalent terms. On APS-C cameras like the EOS R7 and EOS R10, the RF15-30mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM offers an angle of view equivalent to 24 to 48mm in full-frame equivalent terms, which means a range of 24mm to 640mm on all three lenses. The best thing is that you can still use them if you decide to upgrade to a full-frame EOS R camera later on—and then, not only would you be able to shoot without the crop factor, you can also continue to enjoy shooting with the full image sensor resolution!

A wider view of the scene with the dynamic ultra-wide-angle perspective

The biggest draw of the RF15-30mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM is the dynamic look you can get at the 15mm wide end. This not only captures a larger area of grand landscapes unfolding before your eyes, but also provides a dynamic perspective that can be leveraged to create images with greater impact. Zooming in to the 30mm long end gives you an angle of view that is a traditional favorite for street and everyday photography, easily allowing for natural-looking compositions with good balance between the subject and surrounding context.

A handy standard zoom lens on APS-C cameras

The RF15-30mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM can be attached to APS-C EOS R cameras like the EOS R7 and EOS R10 without a mount adapter. It provides a 24mm to 48mm equivalent angle of view—slightly wider than the RF-S18-45mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM. The 48mm equivalent angle of view at the long end falls in the standard range, and provides a natural perspective well-suited for portraiture.

Up to 0.5x magnification: Semi-macro capabilities

When auto focusing (AF) is enabled, the RF15-30mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM has a closest focusing distance of 0.28m across its entire zoom range, and a maximum magnification of 0.16x at the 30mm end. Switch to manual focus (MF) mode and its close-up abilities increase to as much as 0.52x, with a closest focusing distance of 0.128m at the 15mm wide end. Get closer and boldly fill more of the frame with flowers and other tiny objects or details you encounter!

Up to 7 stops’ image stabilisation with Coordinated Control IS

The RF15-30mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM is equipped with the Optical Image Stabilizer (Optical IS) that achieves up to 5.5 shutter speed stops’ equivalent image stabilisation*. When combined with a camera with the In-Body Image Stabilizer (In-Body IS), such as the EOS R5 or EOS R6, the Optical IS and In-Body IS coordinate to perform Coordinated Control IS, which achieves enhanced image stabilisation of up to 7 shutter speed stops’ equivalent*.

You may have learned that to ensure sharp images, the shutter speed should be set no slower than 1/x, where x is the focal length used. In other words, you can go as slow as 1/15 second when shooting at 15mm and still avoid camera shake. This causes many photographers to believe that image stabilization is unnecessary on ultra-wide-angle lenses, but then again, imagine the possibilities that open up when you can shoot slower! For one, you can get cleaner, low ISO speed images in low light. For another, there’s creativity and mobility: you can try slow shutter photography handheld at shutter speeds that previously required a tripod, without sharpness being affected by camera shake.

Beautiful image quality that leverages on the RF mount design

The RF15-30mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM realizes clear images with barely any color bleeding or distortion across the entire zoom range. This makes it capable of sharp, high-quality images of landscapes, buildings, and other scenes that usually benefit from an ultra-wide-angle lens, all the way from the image center to the edges.

While the RF15-30mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM is not an L-series lens, it benefits from the large mount diameter and short back focus of the RF mount, which contributes to better image quality. It also incorporates special lens elements: one aspherical lens and two UD lenses. The aspherical lens works in combination with the in-camera digital distortion correction function* to correct the distortions that become more visible at wider angles, whereas the two UD lenses effectively correct transverse chromatic aberration, which usually manifests as discoloration, including color fringing.

Wide-angle + compact = ideal for video

The AF on the RF15-30mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM is driven by a lead-screw type stepping motor (STM), which moves the focus smoothly and silently—perfect for video. The 15mm to 30mm focal range captures a wide area of the scene even if you don’t have much space to step back, convenient for scenes where you need to capture yourself and other objects such as products on the table, all in the same frame. Filming alone with no assistant? With the short working distance, changing settings or adjusting the camera angle is just an easy reach away. The compact size of the lens contributes to a small, light setup—great for vlogging and filming snippets of your everyday life.

Lens RF 15-30mm F4.5 Weight Lens RF 15-30mm F4.5 Weight-1

RF15-30mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM: Key specifications

Lens construction: 13 elements in 11 groups
Closest focusing distance: 0.28m (during AF)/ 0.13m (during MF)
Maximum magnification: 0.16x (at 30mm, during AF) 0.5x (at 15mm, during MF)
No. of aperture blades: 7 (circular blade)
Filter diameter: 67mm
Size: φ76.6 x 88.4mm
Weight: approx. 390g

This post was originally published by Snapshot - July 22nd, 2022 

Photo Firmware Updates1

Canon has released updated firmware 1.6 for the R5 and R6 cameras.

The R5 finally gets a setting in which I've been wanting to see on the R5 camera since they first came out a "heat-gate" became a thing.  Canon needed to add the ability to have the cameras run at any temperature as long as it didn't damage the sensor or camera, just becuase that's what others do (looking at you Sony), and to have a level playing field, this was certainly needed.

It should be noted that you should wear gloves or be really careful with the camera with this setting turned on because you can get low-temperature burning if you are hand holding the camera with bare hands.

Both the R5 and the R6 have also some minor fixes and enhancements.

The full release notes of the R5 are as follows and you can download the firmware here.

Firmware Version 1.6.0 incorporates the following enhancements and fixes:
1. Adds [Auto Power Off Temp.: Standard/High] to the menu for movie recording. When [High] is selected, the camera will not automatically turn off when the temperature of the camera body and card become high, which may allow for longer movie recording than before, depending on the shooting conditions. Note that the temperature of the bottom surface of the camera may increase at this time.
2. Adds the ability to convert multiple HEIF images into multiple JPEG images.
3. Enhances the performance of "Movie Digital IS". It stabilizes the image when taking selfies or walking shots using a wide-angle lens.
4. Fixes minor issues.

The full release notes of the R6 are as follows and you can download the firmware here.

Firmware Version 1.6.0 incorporates the following enhancements and fixes:
1. Adds the ability to convert multiple HEIF images into multiple JPEG images.
2. Enhances the performance of "Movie Digital IS". It stabilizes the image when taking selfies or walking shots using a wide-angle lens.
3. Fixes minor issues.

This post was originally published by CanonNews - July 23rd, 2022
 

The Canon RF24mm F1.8 Macro IS STM lens is a large-diameter, wide-angle fixed focal length lens designed for capturing bright and clear images with beautiful bokeh and macro capabilities to get even closer, both features not possible with a standard kit lens. Will Cadena, wedding and portrait photographer touts the focal length saying, “I love this lens! It helps give you the feeling you are right there in the action, and the focal length really directs your eye to the center of the frame.”

Thanks to the wide-angle of view and built-in STM motor that tracks focus with natural movement, the new RF24mm lens is optimized for video use, particularly vlogging and other social media uses.

Lens RF 24mm F1.8

 Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM $599 | Canon RF 15-30mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM $549

Additional Features of the RF24mm F1.8 Macro IS STM Lens Include:

• Fast F1.8 maximum aperture for great control over depth of field and bokeh, low-light shooting, and video recording, with fast and reliable autofocus.
• Excellent image quality: highlights include a UD (Ultra-low Dispersion) glass element, one aspheric element, and Canon SSC (Super Spectra Coating) to help minimize ghosting and flare.
• Minimum focus distance of approx. 5.5 In./0.14 m; close-up magnification 0.5x at minimum focus distance.
• Optical image stabilization — up to 5.5 stops* of shake correction. Up to 6.5 stops Coordinated IS when paired with EOS R series cameras featuring In-Body Image Stabilizer (IBIS).
• Dedicated, programmable Control Ring with click-stop operation.
• Equivalent to approximately 38mm coverage when used on cameras with APS-C size image sensors.
• Impressively compact and light at only 0.6 lbs/270g.
• Circular (9 blades) aperture for beautiful, soft backgrounds.

The Canon RF15-30mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM lens is an ultra wide-angle zoom lens designed for a variety of image-capturing moments such as dynamic landscapes and natural snapshots. Travel vlogger Juliana Broste (@TravelingJules) says that a wide-angle lens is her go to, “I’ve got options–whether I’m standing super close to my subject or backing up to get a sense of a place, I’m covered.”

Like the new RF24mm, this new lens has macro capabilities and produces images with beautiful bokeh, with the added flexibility of a zoom range. The RF15-30 is another excellent option for photographers looking to go beyond the standard zoom lens.

Lens 15-30mm F4.5

Additional Features of the Canon RF15-30mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM Lens Include:

• Equivalent to approximately 24–48mm coverage when used on cameras with APS-C size image sensors.
• Excellent image quality: highlights include two UD (Ultra-low Dispersion) glass elements, one aspheric element, and Canon SSC (Super Spectra Coating) to help minimize ghosting and flare.
• Optical Image Stabilization — up to 5.0 stops* of shake correction. Up to 7.0 stops of Coordinated IS when paired with EOS R series cameras featuring In-Body Image Stabilizer (IBIS).
• Equivalent to approximately 24–48mm coverage when used on cameras with APS-C size image sensors.
• Minimum focus distance of approx. 11 in./0.28m (5.1 In./0.13m in manual focus at 15mm zoom position.)
• Canon STM (stepping motor) focus drive, especially suited for smooth, quiet video AF operation.
• Impressively compact and light — approx. 0.9 lbs./390g.

​​​Price & Availability

The Canon RF24mm F1.8 Macro IS STM, and Canon RF15-30 F4.5-6.3 IS STM lenses are scheduled to be available in late August 2022 for an estimated retail price of $599.99 and $549.99, respectively**.

This post was originally published by - CanonRumors / Friday, July 12th, 2022
 

Those eagerly awaiting the release of Canon's latest flagship camera could still have a long wait in front of them, as a new rumor indicates that the Canon EOS R1 will not materialize until the second half of 2023. 

While Canon has been busy developing the other end of its EOS R ecosystem, launching both the Canon EOS R7(opens in new tab) and Canon EOS R10(opens in new tab) recently, it has yet to fully expand the top of the platform's range with the Canon EOS R1 – set to be the mirrorless flagship and a replacement for the Canon EOS-1D X Mark III(opens in new tab). 

Body R1-1

The manufacturer's unconfirmed but inevitable 1-series mirrorless camera will follow in the footsteps – and have to be wary of cannibalizing sales – of the Canon EOS R3(opens in new tab). However, with both the Sony A1(opens in new tab) and the new Nikon Z9(opens in new tab) out-speccing the R3 in numerous areas, the industry is now waiting, and wanting to see what the R1 will do.

We originally reported(opens in new tab) that the Canon EOS R1 could set a new pro resolution record, thanks to rumored specs including an 85MP global shutter sensor, capable of continuous 20fps bursts at the full 85MP resolution and a crazy 40fps when cropped to 21MP.

In addition, the Canon EOS R1 will apparently possess Quad Pixel AF, an in-body image stabilization (IBIS) system capable of up to 9 stops of compensation, along with 15.5 stops of dynamic range with a maximum ISO sensitivity of 1.6 million!

All these spec are yet to be confirmed by any Canon official, but where there is smoke, there's fire and tough some of this spec list might not make it, it does get us all thinking of what the specs could be or what we would like to see on this new flagship Canon EOS camera.

This post was originally published by usa.canon.com - June 28th, 2022
 

Canon RF 135mm F1.4L USM lens has been on our rumored roadmap for quite some time, and patents for such lenses have also been filed. However, it seems that the F1.8 version will be released.

Lens RF 135mm F1.8

We haven’t heard anything about the RF 35mm F1.2 L USM, which has had a lot of rumors. We are actively working to get new information.

There have been rumors about the RF135mm F1.4L several times before, but it seems likely that the RF135mm F1.8 will actually appear. Even if the RF 135mm F1.4L is commercialized, it is certain that it will be a huge and extremely expensive lens, so it seems that the RF135mm F1.8L will be accepted by many people.

More to come on this lens!

This post was originally published by - CanonRumors / Friday, June 24th, 2022

Ideal for hobbyists and general photography enthusiasts, the EOS R7 is the quintessential camera to take your photography to the next level. It is a powerful camera choice for those seeking an upgrade to their travel and vacation photos or to capture life-long family memories while opening a new world of creative and professional possibilities. The EOS R10 is perfect for content creators looking for a camera option to capture high-quality action videos and images of sports, wildlife, and motorsports.

Body R7

As the market share leader for mirrorless cameras in the United States during Q1 of 2022¹, Canon looks to solidify their position with the addition of new offerings within the EOS R lineup. EOS R7 and EOS R10 provide enhanced video functions and accessories, such as the new multifunction shoe with EOS R7, while still maintaining a high-level ease of use. With a robust mirrorless system at their core, these cameras provide users with a powerful telephoto reach through both still image and video due to the 1.6x crop factor that comes with APS-C sensor cameras.
 

Body R10

In addition to its compact size and ease of use, the EOS R7 and EOS R10 also feature:

• 32 million pixels (EOS R7) and 24 million pixels (EOS R10), APS-C size image sensor
• Autofocus (AF): subject detection inherited from EOS R3
• Up to 15 frames per second (FPS) mechanical shutter
• First Canon APS-C camera with up to 7.0 stops Coordinated Image Stabilization
• Dual memory card slots (EOS R7 only)
• Full width 4K video recording at 60p (EOS R7 only), 30p and 24p
• Record each clip over thirty (30) minutes²
• Up to 30FPS with electronic shutter (EOS R7 only)
• Dust and moisture resistant (EOS R7 only)
• In-body image stabilization (EOS R7 only)

Alongside the camera bodies, Canon will release new RF-S lenses – a series of RF-mount lenses that are optimized for the smaller APS-C sensor size of the new EOS R camera system. Marked as the RF-S18-45mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM and RF-S18-150mm F3.5-6.3 IS STM lenses, these will be the standard zoom lenses for the EOS R7 and EOS R10 cameras. The RF-S 18-45mm provides an 18-45mm focal length, but users will experience a field of view equivalent to 29-72mm lens coverage on a full-frame camera. The RF-S18-150mm lens is a longer-range standard zoom, equivalent to 29-240mm lens coverage on a full frame. While ideal for the new EOS R10 and EOS R7 APS-C sized sensor bodies, these lenses can be used for any R-series camera.

Price & Availability
The Canon EOS R10 camera body will be available for an estimated retail price of $979.99³. The Canon RF-S18-45mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM lens with the EOS R10 will have an estimated retail price of $1,099.00³. The Canon RF-S18-150mm F3.5-6.3 IS STM lens with the EOS R10 will have an estimated retail price of $1,379.00³.

Preorder: Canon EOS R7 // Canon EOS R10

The Canon EOS R7 camera body will be available for an estimated retail price $1,499.00. The Canon RF-S18-150mm lens F3.5-6.3 IS STM with the EOS R7 will have an estimated retail price of $1,899.00.

This post was originally published by - CanonNews / Wednesday, May 25, 2022
 

How Many Bags

Every photographer needs a camera bag. Preferably one that not only protects the equipment, but is also comfortable to use. It has to carry at least a camera and a couple of lenses, along with the necessary accessories. Unfortunately, there is not one camera bag that is perfect for every situation.

Camera bags come in all shapes and sizes. But what I discovered over the years is, that a perfect bag for every situation doesn’t exist. What’s perfect depends not only on the situation you’re in, but also on personal preferences. 

First of all, don’t go cheap on a camera bag. Remember, it will carry the expensive equipment you own. It has to protect your camera and lenses while transporting during travels. The material has to be strong enough and durable. It doesn’t mean a cheap bag is a bad bag. Just be careful when choosing one and don’t get fooled when a perfect bag for everything is presented; It doesn’t exist.

The Backpack

A camera backpack is perhaps the most used camera bag that exists, and for good reasons. In general, a backpack can carry a lot of weight without too much physical strain. A good backpack will let you wear the most weight on the waist. That’s why a good waist belt on a backpack is essential.

The remaining weight is carried on the shoulder, distributing the weight evenly. A good padded shoulder band is important, just like a sternum strap. This way it is relatively easy to carry up to 15 kilograms without a lot of problems. It means you can carry a lot of photography equipment for an extended amount of time.

This is why nearly every photographer I have met uses a camera backpack. But there is one big downside to a backpack: You need to remove it from your back to take the camera out, or when you need to change lenses. It has to be placed on the ground to reach for the equipment. This takes time and most of all, you need to have a safe location for the backpack to place on.

A backpack is perfect for taking equipment with you on a long hike. But it may not be the best choice in every situation. If you’re photographing on the beach, it's not wise to place the backpack near the shoreline. When standing on muddy grounds, your bag will get wet and dirty. When photographing in crowded locations you have to keep an eye for the criminal that is looking for an opportunity.

The Shoulder Bag

There are a lot of occasions where a shoulder bag can be a better choice. This kind of bag doesn’t have to be placed on the ground when you have to access the bag. Just open it while it’s on your shoulder and grab the camera or lens you need.

I found a shoulder bag very convenient on a beach, or whilst standing in mountain streams. And you can keep your bag close to your body in crowded locations. But there are downsides to a shoulder bag and perhaps the most important one is the strain it can have on your body. The weight of the bag and equipment is on one shoulder only.

On the other hand, a shoulder bag isn’t meant for the transport of large amounts of equipment or for hiking. But if you're on location, the weight isn't an issue. Most of the time you have the camera in your hands and the bag will only contain one or two lenses. This way the shoulder bag is more convenient compared to a backpack.

Something In-Between Backpack and Shoulder Bag

There are backpacks that allow easy access without the need of placing them on the ground. With some backpacks, you can remove your arms from the shoulder straps first, and then the backpack can be rotated in front of you. The back panel will allow access to your equipment.

Although this system obviously will work, it is often not a very convenient way of accessing the equipment. Rotating the backpack with the waist belt in place isn’t that easy, especially when wearing a winter jacket. Also, the weight of the equipment will place a lot of strain on the waist belt, and your waist also. Although I have tried, I rather place the backpack on the ground.

Another solution is presented with a sling bag. Just sling the bag in front of you and grab the camera or lens you need. It works better compared to the rotating backpack I mentioned. But to be honest, it's nothing more than an ordinary shoulder bag. When placed on your back, it’s still hanging over one shoulder.

I have also tried a modular system. A few lens pouches on a belt is a nice idea and it works quite well. You don’t have a bag over your shoulder, while you have easy access to the lenses you carry with you. Still, more than two lenses on your waist can get heavy over time because the complete weight is only placed on your waist. If you combine it with a backpack, the modular system works great. On location, grab the lenses you need from the backpack and store them in the lens pouches.

Every Photographer Should Have More Than One Bag

Over the years I owned a lot of camera bags. At present time I use a large backpack and a smaller shoulder bag. You need to choose the bag that is perfect for the job. If you don’t have to hike and not change lenses a lot, use a shoulder bag. In that case take one, or perhaps two additional lenses with you. If you go on a hike you need a backpack or If you carry a lot of equipment take the larger backpack. If you just need a camera and one or two lenses, or a single flash, grab a smaller backpack. 

So, how many camera bags does a photographer need? I think most photographers need at least two bags. One backpack and one shoulder bag. Do you agree?

What kind of camera bag do you have? Which one do you prefer and why? Please let me know in the comments below. I am looking forward to your response.

PS: With everything going on in the country or world we need to make the attempt to buy Made in the USA products and stop buying from China. But unfortunately with camera bags or backpacks they may be challenging. Below is a list to the  best of my ability as to where bags are made:

Made in the USA:

Copper River Bag Company in Nevada City, California

Hold Fast Inc, in Tulsa, Oklahoma

Pelican in Torrence, California & Plymouth Minnesota & South Deerfield, Massachusetts 

Porta Brace in Bennington, Vermont

The Tiffen Company (Domke Bags) - in Hauppauge, New York

Tuff Traveler Ltd in Schenectady, New York

Other than USA but not China:

Australia: Pelican

Dominican Republic: ONA

Germany: Compagnon, Evoc, Pelican

Italy: Manfrotto, Porta Brace

Mexico: Newswear

Sweeden: Case Logic, Thule

Taiwan: Wontan Craft

UK: Billingham

Vietnam: Peak Design, Think Tank, Vandra Prvk

STAY AWAY FROM CHINA:

• Artisan

• Crumpler

• Endurax (Cheap stuff from Amazon)

• F 64 ( last known)

• F Stop

• Jill-E Designa

• Kata

• Lightware

• Lowepro

• Mountainsmith

• National Geographic

• Pacsafe

• Petrol

• Shimoda

• Tamrac

• Tenba

• Think Tank - Mindshift

• Vanguard (Myanmar)

This post is published by - Michael Centofanti / Saturday, April 16, 2022
 

Canon New Shutter PatientScreenshot

Canon Patent Application: Shutter that minimizes shutter shock

In this patent application Canon is investigation shutters that minimize shutter shock.

If you are not aware, especially on mirrorless cameras there is a phenomenon called shutter shock, which very simplistically is that vibration from the mechanical shutter that can cause blur or a loss of resolution especially at slower shutter speeds starting at 1/100th of a second to around 1/8th of a second and sometimes slower.  This happens more frequently on a mirrorless camera because there are more actions the shutter has to perform because the sensor is normally exposed and open.  The shutter has to first close before exposing the image. These actions are a lot more than what a DSLR does.  This amplifies the vibration effect on mirrorless cameras more than DSLRs did in the past.

Canon looks to combat this with a floating shutter assembly.

They first attempted to do this with a floating shutter;

an image pickup device that holds a shutter in a floating state so as to be movable only in the traveling direction of the shutter blade by using a spring, and absorbs vibration due to the traveling of the shutter blade however, they found was not accurate enough.

And in this patent application, they describe a mechanism that uses electromagnets to move the shutter instead which reduces the amount of vibration caused by the assembly. (Thanks for the clarification - I'll blame it on 60 hours' worth of jetlag still).

This is pretty cool and could be useful on cheaper cameras that Canon makes in the future that do not have a global shutter - which of course eliminates this completely.

Canon New Shutter Patient-1Screenshot

Canon patent application 2022-039332 (Japan) discusses technologies to reduce “shutter shock”, i.e. mechanical vibrations induced by the shutter movement.

[Problem] To provide an imaging apparatus in which vibration generated by a shutter hardly propagates to another portion and a shutter is highly accurately positioned.

[Means for solving] An imaging device 100 is provided with an imaging element 103 a for picking up an image of an object, and a shutter 110 for driving the shutter blade 302 and controlling the exposure time of the imaging element ; This device has a holding member 120 for holding a shutter so as to be movable in a plane orthogonal to an imaging optical axis, and 1 urging members 402 a to 402 c for energizing the shutter in the 1 direction in the plane. The shutter has abutting portions 120 g to 120 I which contact the positioning portions 1 g to 301 I provided on the holding member and position the shutter at a predetermined position in the 301 direction. The shutter is movable from a predetermined position against an urging force of a 1 urging member, and the imaging device has 1 cushioning members 404 a and 404 b which contact a shutter which returns to a predetermined position by the energizing force of the 1 urging member.

This post was originally published by - CanonNews / Thursday, March 10, 2022

Body R1

Canon to Release the EOS R1, a High-Resolution Camera, and More

Canon has multiple EOS R cameras and a super-telephoto lens on the way.

Since the release of the EOS R3, a powerful, pro-level model for sports and action shooters, Canon has remained quiet, with a few minor exceptions (including the announcement of the RF 800mm f/5.6L and the RF 1200mm f/8L, two super-telephoto lenses that cost a whopping $17000 and $20000, respectively).

Fortunately, new cameras and lenses are coming later this year, and while they will cater to serious professionals, you can most likely expect prices in the four-figure – not five-figure! – range.

According to Canon Rumors, Canon will announce the EOS R1, the company’s first mirrorless flagship camera, before the year is out. The R1 will offer a combination of high-resolution imaging and lightning-fast shooting for sports photographers, wildlife photographers, photojournalists, and any other professionals in need of top-notch capabilities. 

When the EOS R1 debuts, it will be a first for Canon; until now, Canon’s high-end professional cameras have offered either action specs (the Canon 1D X Mark III, the Canon EOS R3) or a high-resolution sensor (the Canon 5DS). The EOS R5 threatened to bridge this gap, but despite its impressive 40+ MP sensor and 20 FPS shooting speeds, its design is that of a jack-of-all-trades professional body, not a flagship. 

So what can you expect from a Canon EOS R1?

The EOS R1 will likely boast at least 30 frames-per-second continuous-shooting speeds, top-notch in-body image stabilization, and groundbreaking autofocus features (including the latest and greatest tracking algorithms for action snappers). 

As for the EOS R1’s sensor: Canon Rumors claims that it will push beyond the 45 MP offered by the EOS R5. A sensor in the 55-65 MP range seems likely, especially as Canon seeks to outperform Sony and its 50 MP a1.

But the EOS R1 will likely fall short of a 70+ megapixel sensor. As Canon Rumors explains, while Canon is “not going to let Sony have that [high-resolution] crown for long,” the company will be releasing a second camera, designed specifically for high-res imaging and packing a 75 MP sensor. 

When will these new cameras drop? 

The EOS R1 should “begin shipping in Q4 of 2022,” though “an announcement may come as early as Q3.” In other words, we shouldn’t have too long to wait. 

The high-megapixel camera is more of an unknown, but a release date in the next 15 months would make sense, especially as Canon seeks to compete with the Sony a1 and Nikon Z9.

Note that, initially, Canon aimed to release the EOS R1 alongside a super-telephoto lens – most likely a 500mm f/4.5 or f/5 model. But “production delays may force Canon to do just a development announcement for [the] lens this year.” 

Canon EOS R1 specs (grain of salt required!)

• Approx. 85MP global shutter CMOS imaging sensor
• Approx. 85MP at 20fps, 21MP at 40fps unlimited continued shooting
• Full Sensor Large Quad Pixel Auto-focus technology
• 15.5 EV+ wide dynamic range
• ISO 160-1638400
• 5-axis IBIS up to 9 stop
• 3.5” 9.33MP 1280nit 10-bit WCG RGB-OLED touch screen with 120Hz AE-AF
• 9.44MP 120Hz SuperSpeed AE-AF electronic viewfinder
• Price $8,500 in USA

Now over to you:

Which Canon cameras do you hope to see this year? Which would you be interested in purchasing? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

This post was originally published by Digital Photography School/Jaymes Dempsey  - March 7, 2022

Canon 32 New LensesScreenshot

Canon Inc. has published its Corporate Strategy Conference 2022 presentation materials, revealing a number of interesting tidbits about the company’s past fiscal year and what it intends to do going forwards as part of its growth strategy.

Under the headline ‘2021 Results and Future Growth Strategy,’ Canon says part of its ‘Growth Strategy’ is to ‘develop imaging business centered on optical technology.’ Specifically, Canon says it wants to expand the scale of its optical technology by ‘cultivating new users’ and ‘developing new products.’ As a result, it hopes to target one trillion yen in imaging group sales, annually.

Canon says it maintains ‘firm demand among professionals and advanced amateurs,’ but does admit the ‘market as a whole seems to be bottoming out.’ To achieve its one trillion yen goal, Canon says it plans to ‘further enhance [its] lineup of EOS R system cameras and lenses,’ specifically stating it hopes to ‘expand [its] lens lineup at the same pace as it has between 2020 and 2021. That would mean Canon plans to release at least eight lenses each year from 2022 through 2025, for a total of 32 lenses. That would mean Canon plans to more than double its current lens lineup from 26 lenses to 58 lenses in roughly the same amount of time since the RF mount was announced in 2018.
 

Another part of Canon's growth strategy is to further develop its concept cameras, such as those it showed off at CES 2020, including the Canon IVY REC and its monocle-style PowerShot Zoom camera, which was released in Japan in September 2020.
 

Canon 32 New Lens GrowthScreenshot

If Canon is to achieve its goal of eight new lenses each year, it’s shaping up to be a busy year for Canon engineers and factory workers. But Canon says it’s off to a ‘good start towards achieving [its] 2025 targets’ and as the chip shortage starts to improve over the next year or two, it should be easier to get more products out of the factory and into the hands of end-users.
 

This post was originally published by DP Review/Gannon Burgett - March 7th, 2022
 

Lens RF 800mm & RF 1200mm

On the 35th anniversary of Canon’s EOS line, the company has announced two new RF-mount super-telephoto lenses: the RF 800mm F5.6 L IS USM and RF 1200mm F8 L IS USM. While these lenses are similar in name to their EF counterparts, both lenses feature new optical constructions and weigh quite a bit less.

CANON PRESS RELEASE:

Go Long: Canon Introduces the RF800mm F5.6 L IS USM 
and RF1200mm F8 L IS USM Super-Telephoto Lenses

The Newest RF Lenses are Ideal for Outdoor Sports, Motor Sports, 
Wildlife Photography, Photo News Journalism, and More

MELVILLE, NY, February 23, 2022 — Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, is excited to announce that the Canon RF lens family is growing by two, with the addition of the Canon RF800mm F5.6 L IS USM, and the longest focal length RF lens yet, the RF1200mm F8 L IS USM. Both super-telephoto fixed focal length lenses are quite light for their considerable abilities, and share many of the same features such as Super Spectra Coating (SSC) and Air Sphere Coating (ASC) to help minimize ghosting and flaring, compatibility with both the RF1.4x and RF2x extenders and a customizable electronic focusing ring with manual focus capability during Servo AF.

Additional features shared by both lenses include:

• Two focus presets, with the ability to instantly switch between memorized focus distances
• Circular nine-bladed aperture providing photographers with exceptionally beautiful and soft blurred backgrounds and bokeh
• Renowned Canon L-Series durability and construction with dust and water resistance, plus fluorine coating on the front element for easy cleaning

Canon RF800mm F5.6L IS USM

The RF800mm F5.6 L IS USM weighs in at just 6.9 lbs and features a minimum focusing distance of 8.53ft/2.6 meters — maximum close-up magnification is a superb 0.34x, allowing wildlife image creators to fill the frame with small subjects, such as birds, at its minimum focusing distance. Optical image stabilization is up to 4.5 stops* of shake correction and includes three IS operation modes. When using the RF1.4x or RF2x extenders, users can experience enhanced effective focal lengths of 1,120mm and 1,600mm respectively.

Canon RF1200mm F8 L IS USM

The RF1200mm F8 L IS USM is the most powerful super-telephoto lens in the Canon RF lens line. It weighs in at 7.4 lbs — an outstandingly light figure for a super-tele lens of this type — and features a minimum focusing distance of 14.1ft/4.3m. Optical image stabilization is up to 4.0 stops* of shake correction and, similar to the RF800mm F5.6 L IS USM lens, includes three IS operation modes. When using the RF1.4x or RF2x extenders, users can experience enhanced focal lengths of 1,680mm and 2,400mm, respectively.

Pricing and Availability

The Canon RF800mm F5.6 L IS USM and Canon RF1200mm F8 L IS USM are both scheduled to be available in late May 2022 for an estimated retail price of $16,999.00 and $19,999.00, respectively**. For more information please visit usa.canon.com.

Canon 800mm F5.6 L IS USM Specifications

Canon 1200mm F8 L IS USM Specifications

This post was originally published by usa.canon.com - February 23th, 2022

About Canon U.S.A., Inc.
Canon U.S.A., Inc., is a leading provider of consumer, business-to-business, and industrial digital imaging solutions to the United States and to Latin America and the Caribbean markets. With approximately $30.6 billion in global revenue, its parent company, Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ), as of 2021 has ranked in the top-five overall in U.S. patents granted for 36 consecutive years^† and was one of Fortune Magazine's World's Most Admired Companies in 2022. Canon U.S.A. was featured in Newsweek’s Most Loved Workplaces list for 2021, ranking among the top 100 companies for employee happiness and satisfaction at work. Canon U.S.A. is dedicated to its Kyosei philosophy of social and environmental responsibility. To keep apprised of the latest news from Canon U.S.A., sign up for the Company's RSS news feed by visiting www.usa.canon.com/rss and follow us on Twitter @CanonUSA.
 

Lenses Counterfeit

Canon U.S.A., Inc. Successfully Stops a New Method of Importing Counterfeit Goods Into the United States

MELVILLE, NY, February 9, 2022 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., and its parent company, Canon Inc. of Japan, are pleased to announce that they have successfully reached an agreement with one of China’s leading logistics and fulfillment companies in a dispute over the warehousing and shipping of counterfeit "Canon" camera batteries into the United States for China-based sellers. As part of the settlement, the fulfillment/shipping company agreed to cease distribution of infringing products to consumers in the United States.

Over the last two years, Canon’s investigation into counterfeiting uncovered a new shipping method that China-based sellers are using to bring their infringing goods into the United States. Instead of shipping the goods directly to consumers in the United States, China-based sellers are now sending their goods in bulk to large fulfillment warehouses that are located in the United States. These warehouses then ship the infringing goods to consumers in the United States. This new method not only enables China-based merchants to indirectly ship their counterfeit goods swiftly to American and Canadian consumers, but also makes it harder for branded manufacturers to track and prevent the flow of counterfeit goods.

"After we discovered that China-based infringers were using this new shipment method to bring counterfeit Canon batteries into the United States, we started working on a creative strategy to remove these counterfeit products from the market. We were able to find an innovative solution by proceeding directly against the fulfillment/warehouser to halt the distribution of these fake goods in the United States," said Seymour Liebman, Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer & General Counsel of Canon U.S.A., Inc. "We believe that we are the first intellectual property owner to successfully stop this new method of importation and distribution, and we hope other companies will follow our lead and utilize this novel approach to stopping counterfeiters."

The Canon companies are represented by Mark Schonfeld, a partner in the Boston office of Burns & Levinson LLP, who negotiated the settlement with the U.S.-based fulfillment company.

Canon aggressively pursues counterfeiters in the United States and around the world to protect its customers from potentially unsafe products that unlawfully use the Canon name, as well as to protect the value, trusted reputation and loyalty that the Canon brand has acquired over decades in producing high quality, safe and reliable products.

For more information about Canon’s anti-counterfeiting measures, please visit https://global.canon/en/intellectual-property/anti-counterfeit/.

About Canon U.S.A., Inc.
Canon U.S.A., Inc., is a leading provider of consumer, business-to-business, and industrial digital imaging solutions to the United States and to Latin America and the Caribbean markets. With approximately $30.6 billion in global revenue, its parent company, Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ), as of 2021 has ranked in the top-five overall in U.S. patents granted for 36 consecutive years^† and was one of Fortune Magazine's World's Most Admired Companies in 2022. Canon U.S.A. was featured in Newsweek’s Most Loved Workplaces list for 2021, ranking among the top 100 companies for employee happiness and satisfaction at work. Canon U.S.A. is dedicated to its Kyosei philosophy of social and environmental responsibility. To keep apprised of the latest news from Canon U.S.A., sign up for the Company's RSS news feed by visiting www.usa.canon.com/rss and follow us on Twitter @CanonUSA.

This post was originally published by USA.Canon.com/Canon USA of Japan - February 11, 2022
 

Canon HQ

It has been confirmed Canon is in the process of shutting down its Zhuhai manufacturing facility in south China.

On January 14, South China Morning Post reported Canon was planning on shutting down ‘part’ of its production line in its Zhuhai factory in southern China, where it manufactures many of its compact cameras. The move, according to a Canon China public relations representative, was being considered due to the shrinking demand for compact camera systems, problems from the pandemic and the ongoing chip shortage.

Later that day, Reuters shared a similar report, but suggested Canon was considering shutting down the entire factory, not just ‘part’ of the production line. The only site at the time to confirm it would be a full shut down was Canon News, in its coverage of the announcement. After speaking with a Canon representative, DPReview can now also confirm Canon is in the process of shutting down the Zhuhai plant in its entirety.

In a statement to DPReview, Canon Inc. said:

‘It is true that we are planning to cease manufacturing at Canon Zhuhai. With the guidance of the Zhuhai city government and High-Tech Zone authorities, discussions are currently underway with Canon Zhuhai employees, suppliers, and other affiliated parties. As these discussions are currently in progress, we cannot yet disclose any information. Further announcements will be made if and when deemed necessary.’

The ‘High-Tech Zone authorities Canon is referring to are government officials in charge of the Zhuhai National High-Tech Industrial Development District, which is a 9.8 square kilometer (3.8 square mile) district consisting of four industrial parks: Baijiao, Nanping, Sanzao and Zinqing.

According to Canon Asia’s website, 1,325 employees work at the factory, which was built in 1990. Canon Asia says the facility produces digital cameras, digital video cameras and lenses, although the specific models manufactured at this facility are unclear, even after inquiring with a Canon representative.

As Canon’s statement to DPReview notes, discussions are still ongoing and no definitive timeframes have been laid out. We will update this article accordingly when Canon releases any further news on the shuttering of its Zhuhai factory.

According to Canon Asia’s website, 1,325 employees work at the factory, which was built in 1990. Canon Asia says the facility produces digital cameras, digital video cameras and lenses, although the specific models manufactured at this facility are unclear, even after inquiring with a Canon representative.

As Canon’s statement to DPReview notes, discussions are still ongoing and no definitive timeframes have been laid out. We will update this article accordingly when Canon releases any further news on the shuttering of its Zhuhai factory.

This post was originally published by DP Review/Gannon Burgett - January 19, 2022

Canon R3 vs R5

Video spec

Canon R3 EVF

To me, Eye Control has always been some great 'what if,' that inevitably gets mentioned when camera geeks of a certain age spent too much time together. I went straight from a manual focus SLR to digital cameras, so I've never felt those pangs of nostalgia, myself: it just sounded like a failed technology that even Canon seemed happy to forget about.

But in the past months there have been three distinct moments that have made me think that, rather than being an evolutionary dead-end, the Eye Control concept (and maybe technologies similar to it) might come to be seen as a critical feature of cameras in the future.

Recognition of necessity

The first moment came when Canon, in the first of its drip-feeds of R3 specs, announced that it would be reviving the Eye Control idea. My initial thought was 'well, technology has moved on long way since the early 2000s, they can probably get it to work better,' but the more I thought about it, the more I wondered whether something like it has become necessary.

Back in the era of the EOS 5 and EOS-3, Eye Control was an interesting idea, but not really an essential one. The EOS 5 had just five AF points to select from, and even in its most ambitious implementation, the EOS-3's system could move between forty five autofocus points. The new EOS R3 has one thousand and fifty three.

The move to mirrorless has seen AF arrays extend across almost the whole field-of-view, and the number of selectable AF points stretch into and through the hundreds. The joysticks and button presses we've become used to simply aren't up to the job. Even Canon's own infrared swipeable Smart Controller struggles.

Intuitive to the point of invisibility

The second pang of recognition came when we were shooting football (soccer) with the EOS R3. I've shot sports with high-end cameras before, but I wouldn't consider myself particularly adept at it. I can sometimes set up the camera to do what I want, and I can sometimes focus enough on the action to anticipate what's might happen next, but I've only had fleeting periods where those two have overlapped.

The Eye Control interface seems initially chaotic and overwhelming: there's an AF box which is typically white, grey indicators around any potential subjects that the camera has recognized, which will occasionally go white if they're very close to the AF point finally there's the Eye Control target itself, dancing around the screen. Frankly, it seems too much.

Canon R3 Viewfinder Mockup

But once I'd started shooting, I found myself just concentrating on following and predicting the movement in the game. Then, for a brief moment, I became aware again of the Eye Control indicator, perfectly matching the size, position and movement of the football as it rolled from one player's feet to the next.

In that sudden moment of noticing the Eye Control point and what it was doing, I realized that I hadn't been paying it any attention before: I'd just been watching the players and the camera had been focusing on the player I'd been looking at. And, while none of this helped me position myself in the right place on the sidelines for those decisive moments in the game, it did mean I came back with better action shots (and more of them) than I'm used to getting.

At its best, Eye Control isn't just about more quickly selecting an AF point, it's also about it doing so in a way that's almost subconscious. I was setting focus without ever having to consciously think about focus, giving me one less thing to think about and leave me more able to concentrate on the game.

How will I live without it?

The moment that really sold me on the idea of Eye Control came just a few hours later. We'd finished up at the sports field and we'd headed down to the zoo to get some more shots. Alongside shooting the EOS R3 I was meant to be capturing some behind-the-scenes photos for social media.

A perfect moment presented itself: Chris and Carey, long-lensed cameras in hand were walking into a patch of light between an arch of trees. Both were gesticulating at one another, animatedly discussing some camera feature or another. Perfect, I thought, raising the camera to my eye.

I found that I'd become so used to a feature after just a few hours' shooting, that it's become something I want in my next camera.

I looked determinedly at Chris, and waited for him to take one step further forward. But, just as I was about to hit the shutter, I saw that the AF point was stubbornly glued to the lower right corner of the viewfinder. Had I messed up the calibration? Was there a blind spot which pushes the AF target beyond a point from which I could coax it back? What was I doing wrong? It was only when Chris stepped fully into shadow and the moment had passed that I noticed that there was no Eye Control indicator to be seen. And why would there be? The EOS R6 I was holding doesn't have Eye Control AF.

In that third moment of realization, I found that I'd become so used to a feature after just a few hours' shooting, that it's become something I want in my next camera. From historical footnote to a technology of the future in no time at all. Now we just have to see how reliable it is.

This post was originally published by DP Review/Richard Butler - September 19, 2021

Financials 2021-2Q

Canon today posted their 2nd quarter financials and the results were encouraging overall for the company with sales and profits rebounding from 2020's COVID-related struggles.  As a result, Canon is increasing its financial projections for the remainder of the year - but not by much.  As they note, they are still a little concerned with the rise in cases in some parts of the world, as COVID continues to sweep through hotspots in the world.

For imaging, they are increasing their sales projections from 617 billion yen to 661 billion yen. and projecting a dramatic increase in profit from 31 billion to 71 billion (essentially the margin increasing from 5% to 10%)

Canon expects the total camera market to be around 6 million units this year with Canon neatly taking 50% of that market with 3 million unit sales.

Canon stated in their summary;

Demand for cameras is growing steadily thanks to the strength of consumer spending in the United States and elsewhere, and the increasing number of people picking up cameras as a hobby and image expression as a new way of using time amid the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, we raised our outlook for the size of the global camera market by 200 thousand units and now expect the overall size to be 6 million units for the full year.

In the second quarter, the share of total sales attributable to the EOS R5 and EOS R6, for which sales remain strong, has increased more than expected.

In addition to this, the number of full-frame mirrorless camera users who purchase RF lenses has been accelerating since the launch of the R5 and R6, creating a situation where we cannot supply some products in a timely manner.

Buried a little deeper in their summary, Canon expects digital compact cameras to continue to fall, with sales going from 1.48 million units last year to around 1.25 million this year.  But with no new models (and none really even rumored) I'm not sure this is much of a surprise, as compacts, EF, and EOS-M are all notably missing from Canon's writeups and have been for more than a few quarters. As it should - Canon has a mount install base in the 10's of millions if not more with the EF mount, once the RF mount picks up enough momentum, that's a huge market that Canon is looking at moving over to the RF mount.

This post was originally published by CanonNews/Canon USA, Inc - Wednesday, July 28, 2021

Canon 2021 Olympics-2

(Canon establishes professional photographer Photo service center inside the Tokyo 2020 Main Press Center)

Professional photographers around the world require camera manufacturers to develop state-of-the-art technologies and top-class-performance equipment, as well as provide a comprehensive network of meticulous service and support.

Thus far, Canon has provided on-site support for press photographers, including camera and lens maintenance and technological support, behind the scenes at major sporting events around the world. The Tokyo 2020 Games are no exception—there too, Canon will apply its professional support know-how acquired over its long history in order to provide flexible and appropriate support for photographers and the various requests and equipment troubles they may have.

The Tokyo 2020 Games Main Press Center, located in the West Hall of the Tokyo Big Sight convention center, is expected to receive many members of the international press. As a Gold Partner of the Tokyo 2020 Games (still cameras and desktop printers), Canon aims to contribute to the successful operation of the event. With this goal in mind, the company will establish the largest camera photo service center of this event within the MPC.

Canon 2021 Olympics

At the photo service center, which will operate under the motto of "Zero Downtime" to ensure that photographers don't miss their chance at capturing decisive moments of this intense competition due to equipment trouble or other such problems, Canon will provide speedy maintenance service, equipment repairs and loaning of replacement equipment so that photographers can always be ready and in the best possible condition.

The Canon photo service center will provide such equipment as the company's professional flagship camera, the EOS-1D X Mark III, as well as the EOS R5 and EOS R6 mirrorless cameras and super-telephoto lenses. In addition, elite and highly trained staff will be working on-site to support photographers until the end of the closing ceremonies of the Tokyo 2020 Games.

In addition, Canon's remote camera system will be used at the event venues. The Robotic Camera System CR-S700R enables digital interchangeable-lens cameras (DILC) to be operated remotely, including the ability to adjust shooting angles, and can be installed and used in locations at the event areas where human photographers cannot access, such as from ceilings.

Canon strives to support photographers aiming to capture historic and powerful moments of top-class athletes engaged in fierce competition and contribute to the promotion and development of photographic culture. In addition, the company will support the efforts of the media to deliver to people around the world moments of passion and excitement during the sporting world's premiere event, thus contributing to the promotion of the Olympic and Paralympic movement.

Canon 2021 Olympics-1Screenshot

A "sea of white" at a sporting event, Canon adopts a white paint coating for its L-series telephoto and super-telephoto lenses.

Canon developed the signature white of its lens barrels as a tool for photographers at international sporting events. The first such lenses* produced by the company, the FD600mm f/4.5 S.S.C. and FD800mm f/5.6 S.S.C. large-diameter super-telephoto lenses, were released in June 1976.

Compared with standard lenses, super-telephoto lenses are much larger, and therefore more prone to the effects of sunlight and are frequently used under the intense heat of the summer sun.

In order to reduce the adverse effects that heat has on the lens' optical performance, Canon adopted its signature white coating for its lens barrels, which reflects heat more effectively than black. Canon continues to improve this technology through such improvements as a proprietary heat shield lens barrel coating used by the EF400mm f/2.8L IS III USM and EF600mm f/4L IS III USM lenses (released in 2018).

At various sporting events held worldwide, there is often a "sea of white" in the photographers' section—rows upon rows of professionals using Canon lenses. Among photographers, these lenses gained the nickname "white lenses," and the color white came to be known as a marker of a high-performance professional lens.

• *Among lenses for interchangeable-lens cameras. The lenses were used with the TV2000mm f/11 super-telephoto lens (released in September 1960) for broadcast cameras for broadcasting baseball matches.

This post was originally published by Canon Inc/Canon Marketing Japan Inc. - July 19, 2021

Lens RF 100mm F2.8

Canon has announced the RF 14-35mm F4 L IS USM, a more affordable wide-angle alternative to its existing RF 15-35mm F2.8. the new lens covers the broadest range of focal lengths of any current Canon zoom. Autofocus is taken care of via a Nano USM motor and it offers a maximum magnification of 0.38x at its maximum zoom setting.

The stabilized zoom lens offers up to 5.5 stops of correction, which increases to 7 stops when used on an RF camera with in-body stabilization. It includes both Canon's Sub-wavelength Structure Coating (SWC) and Air Sphere Coating (ASC), to minimize ghosting and flare.

The RF 14-35mm F4 L IS USM will be available in August at a recommended price of $1700.

Press release:

MELVILLE, NY, June 29, 2021– Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, today announced the RF14-35mm F4 L IS USM lens. This dramatic new lens brings 14mm, ultra wide-angle coverage to full-frame EOS R-series users. On top of the ultra-wide capabilities, the 14-35mm zoom range is the broadest ever in a Canon wide-angle zoom for full-frame AF cameras. For many Canon users, one single lens can potentially handle all wide-angle needs, from vivid, creative ultra-wide imagery to traditional street photography.

The new wide-angle lens is designed for use within the expanding family of EOS R full-frame mirrorless cameras, including the upcoming EOS R3, currently in development. Whether you capture stills, video, or like many creatives today – both – this new wide-angle lens from Canon can help elevate users’ content game when capturing images or video in a wide variety of situations, such as landscape, architecture, and travel.

A compact overall design, and extremely modest overall weight of just 1.2 lbs. — along with excellent balance, during hand-held or even gimbal-mounted operation — add to RF14-35mm F4 L IS USM inviting character. A key feature, sure to appeal to many landscape and nature photographers, is this lens’s ability to accept conventional, 77mm screw-in filters. This is especially noteworthy on a lens for full-frame cameras with 14mm ultra-wide coverage. Additionally, the lens’s close-focusing capability is exceptional for an ultra-wide zoom of its type.

Image Stabilization further enhances the RF14-35mm’s appeal for low-light still imagery, and for steady yet striking wide video footage. Up to 5.5 stops{1} of optical Image Stabilization is built-in, and Coordinated IS with cameras such as the EOS R6 and EOS R5 delivers up to 7 stops{2} of shake-correction. This can mean sharper hand-held images in low light, even at extremely slow shutter speeds.

The Canon RF 14-35mm F4 L IS USM lens features a bright, constant f/4 maximum aperture, L-Series optical construction — highlighted by three UD-glass elements, and three Aspherical elements — and many of the company’s most advanced proprietary lens coatings, including Sub-wavelength Structure Coating (SWC) and Air Sphere Coating (ASC). These superb lens coatings help minimize ghosting and flaring. Lens placement and coatings are also optimized to help users get clear, high-contrast images, even when there is a bright light source either in, or immediately outside, the frame. Additional features of the Canon RF14-35mm F4 L IS USM include:

• Compact design — Approximately 1.2 lbs. in weight.
• Minimum focusing of 7.9 inches at all focal lengths and a maximum magnification of 0.38x at 35mm zoom setting.
• Optical Image Stabilizer with up to 5.5 stops{1} of shake correction.
• Up to 7 stops{2} of shake correction when paired with Canon EOS R series cameras that feature In-Body Image Stabilizer (IBIS).
• High speed, smooth and quiet autofocus with Canon’s Nano USM.
• Control Ring for direct setting changes of aperture, shutter speed, ISO speed and exposure compensation.
• Superb dust and weather-resistance on par with other Canon L-series lenses.

Pricing and Availability
The Canon RF14-35mm F4 L IS USM lens is scheduled to be available in August 2021 for an estimated retail price of $1,699.00*. For additional information, please visit usa.canon.com.

About Canon U.S.A., Inc.
Canon U.S.A., Inc., is a leading provider of consumer, business-to-business, and industrial digital imaging solutions to the United States and to Latin America and the Caribbean markets. With approximately $30.4 billion in global revenue, its parent company, Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ), ranks third overall in U.S. patents granted in 2020† and is one of Fortune Magazine's World's Most Admired Companies in 2020. Canon U.S.A. is dedicated to its Kyosei philosophy of social and environmental responsibility. To keep apprised of the latest news from Canon U.S.A., sign up for the Company's RSS news feed by visiting www.usa.canon.com/rss and follow us on Twitter @CanonUSA.

^†Based on weekly patent counts issued by United States Patent and Trademark Office.

*Specifications, availability and prices are subject to change without notice. Actual prices are set by individual dealers and may vary.

^[1] Based on CIPA (Camera & Imaging Products Associations) standards. Testing performed at focal length of 35mm, using the EOS R camera.

^[2] Based on CIPA (Camera & Imaging Products Associations) standards. Testing performed at focal length of 35mm, using the EOS R5 camera.

Lens EF 1200mm F5.6

The lens is extremely rare, and not only for its original 9.8M Yen/$90,000 price tag but also because it took so long to build—it is said only two were made per year and there are believed to be only a dozen or so in total. Each example was built to order, and extremely large artificial fluorite crystals had to be grown to make two of the lens’s elements.

Amazingly for a lens of its size, it uses only 13 elements in 10 groups, but with the forward part of the barrel measuring 228mm (9") across, those front five elements, which include a biconvex single element in crystal fluorite, are impressively large. Fortunately, the filters go in a back of the lens, and you only need 48mm sized gels.

Lens EF 1200mm F5.6-1

I’ve actually used this lens on safari and can confirm it is something quite special. Well, when I say ‘used’ I mean I attached my camera to the back of it, looked through it, aimed at something and took a couple of pictures. I wasn’t allowed to move it to where I wanted it though.

B&H had an example in its used stock in 2015 that it listed for $180,000, but it isn’t certain if there’s a guide price for this newly turned-up model as the catalogue has yet to be published. It will go on sale at Wetzlar Camera Auctions on October 9th according to the company’s Facebook page

This post was originally published by DP Review/Damien Demolder - June 9th, 2021

Photo R3 Coming Soon

Stacked Sensor

Canon’s first full-frame, back-illuminated stacked CMOS image sensor in the EOS R3 will deliver substantially faster read-out speeds, and produce much lower "rolling shutter" distortion than previous EOS models

Canon R3 Review-3

Electronic Shutter

Electronic Shutter operation will take full advantage of the EOS R3’s sensor design. With its superb read-out speeds, continuous shooting up to 30fps (with RAW images), with full AF, in all auto exposure shooting modes, will be available with the EOS R3. And, Speedlite shooting will be possible with the R3’s electronic shutter active.

Canon R3 Review-2

Autofocus

The EOS R5 and R6 were only the beginning. Using Deep Learning technology, the upcoming EOS R3 will offer enhanced AF performance and tracking capabilities, with even better face-, eye-, head- and body-detection. And now, the EOS R3 will add vehicle subject recognition and tracking, for cars and motorcycles, especially in motorsports environments.

For the first time in an EOS R series camera, Eye Control AF will allow users to set the focus point in the viewfinder, by simply looking at it — for incredibly fast changes in where the camera focuses, or to set the initial point from which the EOS R3’s AF system will track moving subjects.¹

¹During still-image shooting only, through the electronic viewfinder. Eye Control AF may not be possible, depending upon individual characteristics or shooting conditions, and may not be possible for users wearing bifocal eyeglasses, certain types of sunglasses or mirror sunglasses, or certain hard contact lenses.

Rugged Body

Canon’s upcoming EOS R3 will feature a solid yet lightweight magnesium alloy body and carry forward the integrated vertical grip similar to the 1D series cameras, emphasizing both horizontal and vertical handling for challenging shooting situations. Weather-resistance and durability will equal Canon’s top-of-the-line EOS-1D X Mark III camera. Power will be delivered by the same Canon LP-E19 battery pack that powers the EOS-1D X Mark III. And, the EOS R3 will have three primary input dials, giving familiar operation to current Canon EOS users.

Low-light Performance

Able to autofocus in light as low as EV -7 or more², along with up to 8 stops³ of Coordinated IS control when used with RF lenses featuring Optical Image Stabilization, the EOS R3 will deliver amazing performance even in remarkably dark areas.

²Still photos, with an f/1.2 lens except RF lenses with a Defocus Smoothing (DS) coating, center AF point, and One-Shot AF, at room temperature and ISO 100.

³Using RF24-105mm F4 L IS USM, in yaw and pitch directions, with f=105mm, and as based on CIPA standards

Video Flexibility

With the EOS R3, you will be able to shoot in high-quality 4K with Canon Log3 and oversampled 4K, and RAW movie internal recording. AF tracking for people, animals and motorsports will be possible while recording video as well.

Network Capabilities

To assist with your professional or personal photo and video endeavors, the EOS R3 will have Wired LAN and 5GHz Wi-Fi⁴ (11ac equivalent) built-in so you have the flexibility of wired or wireless connections and the necessary support for high-speed image transfer.

⁴Supports 5GHz Wi-Fi-compatible models only. Specifications may vary depending on country and region

Designed to Deliver

The EOS R3 will feature a multi controller to help you easily select the AF point, quickly change Menu settings, and more. And, the R3 will also be equipped with a smart controller—similar to that on the EOS-1D X Mark III —that lets you quickly shift AF point locations, or a starting point for Servo AF tracking. A Vari-angle LCD will make it easy to compose shots at virtually any angle, and will be touchscreen to enable you to access menus, change settings and more on the fly. And a new accessory shoe will provide options for data communication and power, supporting new accessories.

This post was originally published by Canon USA - April 15th, 2021

Both lenses are anything but inexpensive, the RF 400mm goes for $11,999 and the RF 600mm for $12,999. Both lenses are scheduled to ship in July 2021 and preorders are open.

Lens RF 400mm F2.8

The Canon RF400mm F2.8L IS USM

Canon RF 400mm f/2.8L IS USM Lens 5053C002 B&H Photo Video (bhphotovideo.com)
 

Focal Length

400mm

Maximum and Minimum Aperture

F2.8-32

Lens Mount Type

RF Mount Canon RF mount; Exclusively for Canon EOS R-series cameras

Minimum Focusing Distance

8.20 ft. / 2.5m

Maximum Magnification

0.17x (Fills frame with subject 7.9 x 5.3 inches / 202 x 135mm in size)

Angle of View

Diagonal: 06°10′

Lens Construction

17 elements in 13 groups

Special Elements

Two Fluorite, One Super UD

Lens Coating

Super Spectra, Fluorine (front & rear elements), ASC

Filter Size Diameter

Ø52 mm (Drop-in filter — Drop-in Screw-type Filter Holder 52 [WIII] included, with 52mm clear Protect Filter)

Aperture Blades

9

Dust/Water Resistance

Supported (Rubber ring on lens mount, focus/playback rings, switch panel and switches)

IS Mode Selection

Provided: mode 1, 2, 3

Optical Image Stabilization

CIPA standard: 5.5 stops (using an EOS R / EOS R5)

Maximum Outer Diameter x Length

Approx. 6.4 in x 14.4 in. / 163mm x 367mm

Weight

Approx. 6.37 lbs. (102 oz.) / 2890g

Lens RF 600mm F4.0

Canon RF600mm F4L IS USM

Canon RF 600mm f/4L IS USM Lens 5054C002 B&H Photo Video (bhphotovideo.com)
 

Focal Length

600mm

Maximum and Minimum Aperture

F4-32

Lens Mount Type

RF Mount Canon RF mount; Exclusively for Canon EOS R-series cameras

Minimum Focusing Distance

13.78 ft. /4.2m

Maximum Magnification

0.15x

Angle of View

Diagonal: 04°10′

Lens Construction

17 elements in 13 groups

Special Elements

Two Fluorite, One Super UD

Lens Coating

Super Spectra, Fluorine (front & rear elements), ASC

Filter Size Diameter

Ø52 mm (Drop-in filter — Drop-in Screw-type Filter Holder 52 [WIII] included, with 52mm clear Protect Filter)

Aperture Blades

9

Dust/Water Resistance

Supported (Rubber ring on lens mount, focus/playback rings, switch panel and switches)

IS Mode Selection

Provided: mode 1, 2, 3

Optical Image Stabilization

CIPA standard: 5.5 stops (using an EOS R / EOS R5)

Maximum Outer Diameter x Length

Approx. 6.6 in x 18.6 in. / 168mm x 472mm

Weight

Approx. 6.8 lbs. / 3090g

Press Release:

The Canon RF400mm F2.8L IS USM and Canon RF600mm F4L IS USM are both designed to be optically identical to their EF counterparts. The RF400mm and RF600mm weigh in at 6.37 and 6.81 pounds with a minimum focusing distance of 8.2 and 13.8 feet, respectively. Both lenses share many of the same critical features that help professional high-end super-telephoto lenses stand out from the crowd. Those features include:

• Ideal for a wide variety of shooting situations, including sports, aviation, trains, automotive, and wildlife, such as birding.
• Optical Image Stabilization with up to 5.5 stops6 of shake correction. Including three IS Operation Modes — still subjects, panning, and irregular movement.
• Proprietary Canon lens coatings, Super Spectra Coating (SSC), and Air Sphere Coating (ASC) help minimize ghosting and flaring. Lens placement and coatings are optimized to provide users with clear, high-contrast images even when there is a bright light source.
• Lenses include fluorite and super UD lens elements arranged in such a way to help correct chromatic aberration and make the models more compact. Like the latest Canon EF400mm f/2.8L IS III USM and EF600mm f/4L IS III USM lenses, released in the fall of 2018, weight on these RF-series super-telephotos has been significantly reduced vs. previous-generation Canon super tele designs.
• Compatible with Canon RF 1.4x and 2x extenders, and feature a customizable electronic focus ring, with manual focus capability during SERVO AF.
• A nine-blade circular aperture provides users beautiful bokeh and ideally blurred backgrounds when the aperture is stopped down.
• For added convenience when on a shoot, two focus presets are available. Users can instantly return to one of two memorized focus distances.
• Rugged Canon L-series dust and water-resistant design with vibration and shock resistance. The front element has been dressed with a fluorine coating for easy cleaning.
• nfrared reflective pigments with high reflectance and titanium oxide lens barrel coating with silica provide excellent UV weather resistance and heat reduction.

• Canon RF Lenses Pricing and Availability
  The Canon RF 400mm f/2.8L IS USM and Canon RF 600mm f/4L IS USM are scheduled to be available in July 2021 for an estimated retail price of  $11,999.00 and $12,999.00, respectively.

This post was originally published by Canon Rumors - April 15th, 2021
 

Canon's new RF 100mm F2.8L Macro IS USM lens is the company's first RF-mount lens designed for close-up photography. Its minimum focus distance is 26cm (10"), giving a maximum magnification of 1.4X. The lens' image stabilization system switches to a 'hybrid' mode when focus distances are short, which activates shift (horizontal and vertical translation) reduction on top of the standard angular shake reduction. During regular shooting, the IS system reduces shake by up to 5 stops on its own and by up to 8 stops when attached to stabilized bodies, such as the EOS R5, according to CIPA standards.

The lens has 17 elements in 13 groups, and uses a Super Spectra coating to reduce flare and ghosting. The lens' autofocus system is powered by 'Dual Nano USM': two Nano USM linear motors ensure quick and silent focus, which afford a significant improvement over the ring-type USM drive found in the previous 100mm Macro. The lens also has a control ring for adjusting settings such as ISO and Exposure Compensation, and is threaded for 67mm filters.

Lens RF 100mm F2.8

The most interesting feature on the RF 100mm F2.8L is probably its 'spherical aberration' adjustment. Like the Defocus Control feature on some Nikon lenses of yesteryear, it provides a dial (which moves a lens element or elements) that lets shooters adjust the 'character and appearance' of bokeh, as well as the overall softness of the image. It does so by under-correcting or over-correcting spherical aberration to yield either soft-edged or hard-edged background bokeh, respectively, with the opposite effect resulting for foreground bokeh. We'll put the 'SA' feature through its paces when the lens arrives this summer.

As with all Canon recent L-series lenses, the 100mm F2.8 is sealed against dust and moisture, and has a fluorine coating on the front element to repel oil and water.

The Canon RF 100mm F2.8L Macro IS USM will be available in July at an MSRP of $1,400.

Press release:

The Canon RF100mm F2.8 L Macro IS USM lens is not only Canon’s first RF lens designed specifically for macro photography, but also the world’s first[1] medium telephoto macro lens with a maximum magnification of 1.4x. The new lens, designed for both advanced photo enthusiasts and professionals, takes macro photography expression to the next level with the introduction of a spherical aberration (SA) control ring. The SA control ring allows users to change the character and appearance of the bokeh and obtain a softer focus effect with a simple turning of the ring to the desired result.

Additional features of the Canon RF100mm F2.8L Macro IS USM include:

• Optical Image Stabilizer with up to five stops of Shake Correction[2].
• When combined with a camera featuring In-Body Image Stabilizer, up to eight stops of shake correction[3] is possible with coordinated operation of Optical and In-Body Image Stabilizer.
• Hybrid IS helps to compensate for angular and shift camera shake during macro shooting.
• High-speed, smooth and quiet auto focus with dual nano USM.
• Customizable control ring that allows photographers to adjust exposure compensation, shutter speed, aperture or ISO.
• Rugged Canon L-series dust and water-resistant design.

The Canon RF100mm F2.8 L Macro IS USM, Canon RF400mm F2.8 L IS USM and Canon RF600mm F4L IS USM are scheduled to be available in July 2021 for an estimated retail price of $1,399.00, $11,999.00 and $12,999.00, respectively*. For more information, please visit usa.canon.com.

Canon RF 100mm F2.8L Macro IS USM specifications

This post was originally published by DP Review staff - April 14th, 2021
 

The firmware releases are:

• EOS R5 (firmware v1.3)
• EOS R6 (firmware v1.3)
• EOS-1D X Mark III (firmware v1.4)

EOS R5

Firmware Version 1.3.0 incorporates the following fixes and enhancements:

1. Adds [Canon Log 3] to [Canon Log settings]. You can select [Canon Log] or [Canon Log 3] from [Canon Log settings] in the Shooting tab of the menu.

• Support for RAW movies shot with Canon Log3 and RAW (Light) will be available in Cinema RAW Development and in Digital Photo Professional version in a future update.
• Digital Photo Professional will also support the processing of RAW movies shot in Canon Log3 settings and the application of Viewing LUT in future update.

1. Adds [RAW (Light)] to the movie recording size and [IPB (Light)] to 8K/4K to enable lower bit rate shooting. These settings can also be selected when RAW+MP4 is set.
2. Adds a high frame rate of 119.9 fps/100.0 fps to the Full HD movie recording size.
3. Adds [Electronic full-time MF] to the AF tab of the menu. When a lens is attached, manual focus adjustment is always possible with both One-shot AF and Servo AF.
4. Adds [6: Monitor Off] to [Shooting info. disp.: Screen info. settings] in the Shooting tab of the menu. This update makes it possible for the camera’s monitor to be turned off at all times during shooting.
5. The transfer time (estimated value) now displays on the camera monitor during FTP transfer.
6. Adds the ability, when transferring images via FTP, to select protected images that failed to be transferred and protected images that have not yet been transferred and transfer them all at once.
7. Adds [Save/load cam settings on card] to the Function settings tab of the menu.
   This allows you to save the camera settings to a card, or load a saved file and restore the camera to the settings you saved to a card.
8. Fixes a phenomenon, in which, in rare instances, the camera does not function normally when using certain CFexpress cards.
9. Fixes a phenomenon, in which in rare instances, the camera cannot function normally when the drive mode is set to “High-speed continuous shooting” to shoot still images continuously.
10. Fixes a phenomenon in which the power may become suspended when the camera is powered via USB for an extended period of time.

Firmware Version 1.3.0 is for cameras with firmware up to Version 1.2.1. If the camera’s firmware is already Version 1.3.0, it is not necessary to update the firmware.

The following Applications have been updated accordingly:

• Camera Connect 2.7.30
• EOS Utility 3.13.20
• Digital Photo Professional 4.14.0
• Canon RAW Plugin 2.2 for Final Cut Pro X
• Canon RAW Plugin 2.7 for Avid Media Access
  Please download the Applications as well as the latest firmware.

The EOS R5 receives a number of upgrades including Full HD 120p and support for greater customization of the camera. Another new addition is the ability to capture lower bit rate RAW movies to reduce the size of the RAW video files which makes file transfer faster. The update also adds Canon Log 3 which is goodo see. Canon have also now given you the ability to record lower bit rate IPB movies.

Users will now be able to save personalized and preferred camera settings to a memory card, which can be copied across to a different camera or used when settings are adjusted. There is also the option to turn the LCD monitor off during shooting and use it for playback only. The EOS R5 also gets full-time manual support for RF lenses, allowing photographers to override the focus of RF lenses manually when in Servo AF mode.

You can also now share photos with the new Protect Image Transfer function that allows protected images to be locked – preventing them from accidentally being deleted – and transferred via FTP.

EOS-1D X Mark III

Firmware Version 1.4.0 incorporates the following fixes and enhancements:

1. Adds [RAW (Light)] to the movie recording size and [IPB (Light)] to 4K to enable lower bit rate shooting. These settings can also be selected when RAW+MP4 is set.
2. The transfer time (estimated value) now displays on the camera monitor during FTP transfer.
3. Improves communication reliability when using FTP and USB simultaneously.

Firmware Version 1.4.0 is for cameras with firmware up to Version 1.3.0. If the camera’s firmware is already Version 1.4.0, it is not necessary to update the firmware.

Just like with the EOS R5, the EOS-1D X Mark III gets the ability to record lower bit rate RAW video files. The EOS-1D X Mark III also gets Canon Log 3, the log gamma curve used by all Canon Cinema EOS cameras. The camera also receives the ability to capture lower bit rate IPB movies so you can create small, easily shareable video files.

EOS R6

Firmware Version 1.3.0 incorporates the following fixes and enhancements:

1. Adds [IPB (Light)] to 4K to enable lower bit rate shooting.
2. Adds [Electronic full-time MF] to the AF tab of the menu. When a lens is attached, manual focus adjustment is always possible with both One-shot AF and Servo AF.
3. The transfer time (estimated value) now displays on the camera monitor during FTP transfer.
4. Fixes a phenomenon, in which in rare instances, the camera cannot function normally when the drive mode is set to “High-speed continuous shooting” to shoot still images continuously.
5. Fixes a phenomenon that may corrupt the image displayed in the viewfinder.
6. Fixes a phenomenon in which the power may become suspended when the camera is powered via USB for an extended period of time.

Firmware Version 1.3.0 is for cameras with firmware up to Version 1.2.0. If the camera’s firmware is already Version 1.3.0, it is not necessary to update the firmware.

The R6 only receives IPB (Light) 4K, the option to turn the LCD monitor off during shooting and use for playback only, and the ability to now achieve full-time manual support for RF lenses, which allows users to override the focus of RF lenses manually when in Servo AF mode.

Apple M1 Support

Canon has also released several software updates today to complement the above firmware upgrades and bring support for Apple M1 processors via Rosetta for Digital Photo Professional (DPP) with v4.14 and EOS Utility with v3.13.20.

Canon will continue its commitment to photographers and videographers through further plans to bring new functionality to these three models based on user feedback.

The firmware and software updates are now available to download from the following links:
· EOS-1D X Mark III: https://www.canon.com.au/cameras/eos-1d-x-mark-iii/support?option=drivers
· EOS R5: https://www.canon.com.au/cameras/eos-r5/support?option=drivers
· EOS R6: https://www.canon.com.au/cameras/eos-r6/support?option=drivers

This post was originally published by New Shooter/Matthew Allard, ACS - March 29th, 2021
 

Canon Ink Cartridges

TOKYO, March 9, 2021—Canon today announced the filing of a complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) against 26 manufacturers, distributors and sellers of toner supply containers, asserting infringement of Canon's U.S. Patent Nos. 8,565,649; 9,354,551; 9,753,402; 10,209,667; 10,289,060; 10,289,061; 10,295,957; 10,488,814; 10,496,032; 10,496,033; 10,514,654; 10,520,881; and 10,520,882. The proposed respondents named in the ITC complaint are:

Ninestar Corporation
Ninestar Image Tech Limited
Ninestar Technology Company, Ltd.
Static Control Components, Inc.
General Plastic Industrial Co. Ltd.
Katun Corporation
Sichuan XingDian Technology Co., Ltd.
Sichuan Wiztoner Technology Co., Ltd.
Anhuiyatengshangmaoyouxiangongsi
ChengDuXiangChangNanShiYouSheBeiYouXianGongSi
Copier Repair Specialists, Inc.
Digital Marketing Corporation
Do It Wiser LLC
Easy Group, LLC
Hefeierlandianzishangwuyouxiangongsi
Ink Technologies Printer Supplies, LLC
Kuhlmann Enterprises, Inc.
LD Products, Inc.
NAR Cartridges
Shenzhenshi Keluodeng Kejiyouxiangognsi
Sun Data Supply, Inc.
The Supplies Guys, LLC
MITOCOLOR INC.
Xianshi yanliangqu canqiubaihuodianshanghang
Zhuhai Henyun Image Co., Ltd.
Zinyaw LLC

Canon also announced the filing of complaints against those companies in U.S. district courts across the country, asserting infringement of the above patents, including in the U.S. District Courts for the Central District of California, the Northern District of California, the District of Arizona, the District of Delaware, the District of Minnesota, the Eastern District of New York, the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the Eastern District of Texas, the Southern District of Texas, the Middle District of North Carolina, and the Southern District of Ohio.

Throughout the development, sales and marketing process, Canon respects the intellectual property of other companies and individuals and expects others to similarly respect Canon's intellectual property rights. Canon remains committed to pursuing legal enforcement against those who do not respect Canon's intellectual property.

This post was originally published by Global Canon, Inc - March 9th, 2021

Logo Canon Rumors

The rumor mill has been quiet for a little while now, well until yesterday. A good source has laid out the camera body plans for Canon in 2021.

High-resolution RF body

This has been long rumored, we were talking about it even before the EOS R5 hit the scene. Canon will release an RF mount body with at least twice the megapixels of the EOS R5. I was told that the new sensor will “utilize new technologies for Canon”.

APS-C RF Body

This is another long-rumored camera, and news of it has picked up steam over the last couple of months. The source claims that the new APS-C RF mount camera will be “directly aimed at sports, wildlife and videography”.

A pair of New Entry-Level RF Full-Frame Bodies

I have been told that the plan from Canon was to release two cameras simultaneously to replace the EOS R and the EOS RP in the RF mount lineup

The first body would be the most affordable full-frame camera Canon has ever made, so it sounds like it’ll come in under what the EOS RP launched at.

The second camera will slot in between the EOS RP replacement and the EOS R6. While pricing is obviously not known yet, I could see these bodies priced at $899 and $1499 respectively.

The timeline for an announcement is unknown. The source did say that these cameras could be delayed due to continued manufacturing challenges in Japan.

The EOS R1 Flagship

The camera everyone is waiting for will show its face in 2021, whether or not you’ll be able to actually buy one this year is not known. I have been told by the same source that the “EOS R1” will be shown off ahead of the Tokyo Olympics this summer.

Canon Cinema EOS C50

Canon will likely announce the EOS C50 in the first half of 2021, it was apparently scheduled to be released in late 2020, but that obviously didn’t happen.

The rumors point to the EOS C50 being a box camera design.

Canon Cinema EOS C90

While I have reported on this body in the past, however, the source doesn’t have any knowledge about this camera.

The Canon 8K Cinema  EOS Camera

Canon recently teased a new 8K camera, so an announcement can be expected soon. There have been some rumors of two 8K cameras coming in 2021, but that hasn’t been confirmed.

Eight new cameras in a single calendar year does seem like a lot, especially with the current manufacturing issues hampering the industry. If I had to guess, a few of these cameras will fall into next year, but we could see announcements in 2021.

More to come…

This post was originally published by Canon Rumors - March 3, 2021
 

Today, canon issued its financial report for its entire 2020 fiscal year (FY2020), which ran from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020. In it, Canon’s numbers and notes point towards a more positive path for its imaging division than it's seen in a number of years.

Since roughly 2012, the digital photography market has practically been in freefall, declining double-digit percentages year after year. 2020 isn’t any different, but even amidst the global COVID-19 pandemic, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Or, at the very least, the darkness is beginning to fade.

For reference, Canon’s Imaging System business includes its cameras, lenses, inkjet printers and other photo-related products. In this analysis, we’ll break down both the overall Imaging System business, as well as the camera-specific numbers, when available. All numbers are shown in Japanese Yen and American Dollars in parenthesis, with 'B' and 'M' representing billion and million, respectively.

Financials 2020 Year EndScreenshot

For its FY2020, Canon’s Imaging System business reported net sales of ¥712.2B ($6.8B) and an operating profit of ¥71.8B ($690M), down 11.8% and up 49.1% year-over-year (YoY), respectively. Despite net sales being down 11.8%, both of these numbers are better than Canon’s FY2020 Q3 projections, which expected full-year net sales to be down 14.7% and operating profit to be up 5.9% YoY.

Looking at only camera sales for the Imaging Systems business, Canon reported net sales of ¥347.7B ($3.4B). This is higher than the ¥330.1B ($3.2B) Canon last projected but is still down 25.5% YoY. On a unit level, Canon sold 2.76 million digital interchangeable lens cameras. This is higher than the 2.7 million unit sales it last projected but is still 34% decrease YoY. Canon is already projecting next year will see a 1% increase in digital interchangeable lens camera sales. If the 1% increase holds true, it will be just the second time Canon has reported an increase in unit sales since 2013, with the other instance being a 2% increase back in 2016.

The dramatic increase in operating profit YoY (especially when taking into account the decrease in net sales) shows Canon managed to dramatically reduce expenses for its Imaging Systems business in 2020. Based on the supplementary data provided by Canon, it managed to reduce expenses for its Imaging Systems business by roughly ¥30B ($290M) in FY2020 compared to FY2019. Most of that decrease is attributed to a massive ¥21B ($200M) decrease in research and development costs in FY2020.

As it did in its FY2020 Q3 documents, Canon attributes this to a ‘faster-than-expected’ recovery in camera demand following the initial plummet in sales due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Evidence of this can be seen in the following chart, which shows (highlighted) that Canon’s camera net sales were down just 6.1% in Q4, compared to being down 16% in Q3 and down a whopping 54.5% in Q2, which the initial surge of the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Canon specifically notes its EOS R5 and EOS R6 mirrorless cameras are ‘resonating very well’ and attributing to the recovery of its Imaging Systems business.

Financials 2020-4QScreenshot

While the COVID-19 pandemic continues to ravage much of the world, Canon notes the recent resurgence in cases — including the new strains of the novel coronavirus — doesn’t appear to have much of an impact on sales. Furthermore, Canon echoes the sentiments of Sigma CEO Kazuto Yamaki, who said in a recent interview he expects the photography market to stabilize in 2021. Canon says it expects the market contraction to be limited to just 3% YoY, which is a dramatic improvement compared to ~20% decreases seen over the past four years or so.

Looking forward to its 2021 fiscal year (FY2021), Canon is already projecting an increase in net camera sales of 4.8% and an increased operating profit (3.9%) for its entire Imaging Systems business.

Below are a few other tidbits from Canon’s full-year FY2020 presentation:

• 35% of Canon’s camera unit sales are still digital compact cameras (1.48 million units)
• Despite being 35% of unit sales, digital compact cameras account for only 13% of net sales by value (Canon includes lens sales in with the value of its interchangeable lens camera sales)
• Canon is turning its Imaging Systems inventory around at a faster rate YoY (an average of 59 days in 2020 compared to an average of 66 days in 2019). This could be due to increased demand for printers since more people are working from home and Canon includes inkjet printers in its Imaging Systems business)

Overall, it appears as though Canon has weathered the storm and is keeping its head held high going into a year where many think the camera market will begin to stabilize after nearly a decade of decline. Canon says it plans to strengthen its EOS R system and improve its product mix for 2021. What that entails remains to be seen, but we’ll be here and ready to cover the news as new products and services are announced.

You can read through all of Canon’s FY2020 investor relations materials on the Canon Global website.

This post was originally published by DP Review/Gannon Burgett - January 29th, 2021
 

As a stills camera, the Canon EOS R5 is simply Canon's finest product ever. It’s the perfect amalgamation of the EOS R’s form, the EOS 5D’s function, and the professional-grade autofocus of the EOS-1D X. If you're a stills or hybrid shooter who flits between photography and videography, it's one of the best cameras you will ever have the pleasure of using. Alas, we can’t recommend the R5 if your primary interest is pure video shooting. Don’t get us wrong, its video is incredible – but having to navigate the overheating restrictions prohibits it from being your A-camera (unless you only shoot 4K 30p, in which case you don’t need this anyway).

FOR

• Pristine image quality
• Best AF on the market
• Best full-frame IBIS
• 8K video is astounding
• Lightning-fast burst

AGAINST

• Recording limitations
• Standard 4K is just okay

The Canon EOS R5 is finally here after months of waiting and masterful teases by the – there’s no other word for it – exceptionally canny manufacturer. 

No camera in recent memory has received or, dare we say it, deserved this amount of hype. The Canon EOS R5 is a powerhouse performer in every possible respect; its 8K video outclasses many of the best cinema cameras, its shooting speed puts it on par with the best cameras for sport, its 45MP sensor outmuscles all but a few of the best mirrorless cameras, and its 8-stop in-body image stabilization is the new IBIS champion. 

So, just how painful is this sting in the tail – and is there anything else on that remarkable spec sheet that has also proved too good to be true? With the R5 otherwise having all the ingredients to be the best Canon camera we’ve ever seen, let's see if it can possibly live up to the ridiculous hype…

SPECIFICATIONS

Sensor: 45MP full-frame CMOS 36 x 24mm
Image processor: Digic X
AF points: 5,940 Dual Pixel CMOS AF II
ISO range: 100-51,200 (expandable to 50-102,400)
Stabilization: 5-axis, up to 8 stops
Max image size: 8,192 x 5,464px
Metering zones: 384
Video: 8K DCI or UHD at 30p, 24p / 4K DCI or UHD at 120p, 100p, 60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p / 1080p (FullHD) at 60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p
Viewfinder: 0.5-inch OLED EVF, 5,690k dots, 100% coverage, 0.76x magnification, 120fps refresh rate
Memory card: 1x CFexpress type B, 1x UHS-II SD/SDHC/SDXC
LCD: 3.15-inch fully articulating touchscreen, 2,100k dots.
Max burst: 12fps mechanical shutter, 20fps electronic shutter
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 5Ghz and 2.4GHz, Bluetooth 4.2, USB-C (USB 3.1 Gen 2), micro HDMI (type D), microphone, headphone, N3 remote, flash sync, gigabit ethernet (via WFT-R10 grip)
Size: 135.8 x 97.5 x 88mm
Weight: 650g body only (738g with card and battery)

Such are the lofty specs of the Canon EOS R5 that virtually every feature is a key feature. Obviously the headline attraction here is the remarkable video capability. The R5 can capture full-width (uncropped) raw 8K video using the entire readout of the 35mm sensor – and it does so internally at up to 29.97fps in 4:2:2 12-bit Canon Log or HDR PQ (both H.265) in both UHD and DCI. 

Its 4K capture is every bit as ferocious, recording at up to 119.88fps (in the same 4:2:2 Canon Log or HDR PQ, in UHD or DCI) with external HDMI recording up at up to 59.94fps.  However, the R5 is much more than just a video behemoth

Since the 8K DCI video has a resolution of 8,192 x 4,320, the camera has a Frame Grab function that enables you to take high-resolution 35.4MP stills (as JPEGs) from your footage – which is 5.1MP greater resolution than the Canon EOS R. 

All of this is thanks to the brand new 45MP image sensor, which Canon claims makes the R5 “the highest resolution EOS camera ever” – supposedly resolving even greater detail than the 50.6MP Canon EOS 5DS / R. This is thanks to the new low-pass filter design, which was introduced in the flagship Canon EOS-1D X Mark III. 

Traditional low-pass filters (employed to get rid of moiré) employ dual-layer, four-point subsampling and introduce a layer of softness to images. Canon’s new tech features quad-layer, 16-point subsampling and combines it with a Gaussian distribution technique to deliver sharpness rivaling the 5DS / R. (Our lab results for the 1D X Mark III didn’t quite bear this out, and we’re currently testing the R5 to see if it comes true this time). 

Canon R5-1

The flagship 1D X has served as donor for much of the tech in the EOS R5. The AI-powered Deep Learning AF system has been transplanted, enabling the new camera to perform spookily accurate eye, face and head tracking. However, the R5 has a trick that even the Mark III doesn’t have; it is also capable of Animal AF that can track the eyes, faces and bodies of dogs, cats and birds – including birds in flight. 

Underpinning the autofocus is the brand new Dual Pixel CMOS AF II – the latest generation of Canon’s much-lauded AF system. And best of all, all these autofocus technologies are available in stills as well as all video resolutions and frame-rates – with a staggering 5,940 AF points for photography and 4,500 for filming.

And the continuous shooting speed is also on par with the 1D X Mark III, as the R5 matches the flagship’s top speed of 20fps via the electronic shutter (and 12fps using the mechanical shutter). Backed up by dual card slots, including lightning-fast CFexpress support, this means that the R5 can stand toe-to-toe with sports cameras, video cameras and medium format cameras alike. 

Most excitingly, for long-suffering Canon users, the EOS R5 features the company’s agonizingly overdue implementation of 5-axis in-body stabilization. The wait, however, has been worth it, as Canon is now officially the king of IBIS – the R5 (and the Canon EOS R6) boasts up to 8 stops of CIPA-rated stabilization, depending on the lens. 

While you get the top stability when using specific RF-mount glass, the IBIS also works with EF lenses, EF-S lenses, as well as ‘dumb’ lenses with no electrical contacts – that means vintage lenses, cinema lenses, lenses adapted from other camera systems… essentially any lens.

BUILD AND HANDLING

In the hand, the EOS R5 feels like a slightly beefier EOS R. It’s almost imperceptibly thicker (literally just 3.6mm), but it has notably more heft, weighing about 70g more. The weight is very evenly distributed, though, and the body feels very well balanced – indeed, the extra mass makes it feel a better match for some of the notoriously larger RF lenses. 

From the top, the R5 is very similar to the EOS R and bears the same top OLED screen and mode button within the rear control dial. It’s the rear where the differences start to come into play, and the first thing you’ll notice is that the love-it-or-loathe it M-Fn touchbar has been abolished; in its place is a familiar joystick, with the AF-ON button assuming its more traditional position. 

A control wheel has also replaced the individual D-pad buttons seen on the EOS R and Canon EOS RP, all of which makes the R5 feel much more like using a Canon EOS 5D Mark IV – fitting, as this is a 5-series camera intended to sit alongside its DSLR counterpart.

Thankfully the camera retains the fully articulating touchscreen seen on the EOS R and RP, which is obviously important for recording video (as well as taking stills from elevated or low angles). 

Being a 5-series camera, you can expect the same robust weather sealing – though invariably, given that the mirrorless model is daintier (and also features an articulating screen), it doesn’t feel as sturdy as the 5D. For sure it will withstand some knocks, but unlike the DSLR you really wouldn’t want to drop it or leave it in the hands of children.

The R5 also features a brand new 2,130mAh battery, the LP-E6NH, which features 14% greater capacity than the LP-E6N that it replaces – and it’s backwards-compatible with any camera that accepts the LP-E6 family of batteries, so you can use it with your other cameras as well. 

Canon R5-2

BUILD AND HANDLING

In the hand, the EOS R5 feels like a slightly beefier EOS R. It’s almost imperceptibly thicker (literally just 3.6mm), but it has notably more heft, weighing about 70g more. The weight is very evenly distributed, though, and the body feels very well balanced – indeed, the extra mass makes it feel a better match for some of the notoriously larger RF lenses. 

From the top, the R5 is very similar to the EOS R and bears the same top OLED screen and mode button within the rear control dial. It’s the rear where the differences start to come into play, and the first thing you’ll notice is that the love-it-or-loathe it M-Fn touchbar has been abolished; in its place is a familiar joystick, with the AF-ON button assuming its more traditional position. 

A control wheel has also replaced the individual D-pad buttons seen on the EOS R and Canon EOS RP, all of which makes the R5 feel much more like using a Canon EOS 5D Mark IV – fitting, as this is a 5-series camera intended to sit alongside its DSLR counterpart.

Thankfully the camera retains the fully articulating touchscreen seen on the EOS R and RP, which is obviously important for recording video (as well as taking stills from elevated or low angles). 

Being a 5-series camera, you can expect the same robust weather sealing – though invariably, given that the mirrorless model is daintier (and also features an articulating screen), it doesn’t feel as sturdy as the 5D. For sure it will withstand some knocks, but unlike the DSLR you really wouldn’t want to drop it or leave it in the hands of children.

The R5 also features a brand new 2,130mAh battery, the LP-E6NH, which features 14% greater capacity than the LP-E6N that it replaces – and it’s backwards-compatible with any camera that accepts the LP-E6 family of batteries, so you can use it with your other cameras as well. 

If you don't fall foul of the recording limitations, though, you will behold 8K video that is astoundingly rich and detailed (and of course, 20 minutes of 8K is still 20 minutes more than any other camera right now), while the oversampled 4K modes produce some of the best footage we've ever seen. The standard line-skipped 4K feels a bit pedestrian, however, and the Canon EOS R6 is actually superior in this regard as it doesn't feature line-skipping.

As you can see in the sample 4K videos above (at 60fps) and below (at 120fps), the quality is crystal clear and the powerful IBIS truly enables you to shoot gimbal-free in most situations. Just bear in mind that if you're going to be filming 8K, oversampled 4K or 4K 120p, you will need to invest in one of the best external hard drives because you will fill up memory cards and disc space fast. You'll also need a very beefy computer to actually process 8K, as some won't even open the videos – let alone handle editing and grading the footage. 

There are other video restrictions worth being mindful of – you can't record the more demanding video modes (RAW, 8K 4K 120p and so on) unless you're using a CFexpress card, so bear that in mind if you're using SD. 

Accordingly, you can't record your video to both cards, to create a redundant backup, so you will need to get comfortable working with proxies – and with the idea that should you have a card failure, you will lose your work. And of course, you can't record 8K or 4K footage using EF-S lenses, as this crops the recording area, or with movie cropping enabled (which obviously does the same). 

If you don't fall foul of the recording limitations, though, you will behold 8K video that is astoundingly rich and detailed (and of course, 20 minutes of 8K is still 20 minutes more than any other camera right now), while the oversampled 4K modes produce some of the best footage we've ever seen. The standard line-skipped 4K feels a bit pedestrian, however, and the Canon EOS R6 is actually superior in this regard as it doesn't feature line-skipping.

As you can see in the sample 4K videos above (at 60fps) and below (at 120fps), the quality is crystal clear and the powerful IBIS truly enables you to shoot gimbal-free in most situations. Just bear in mind that if you're going to be filming 8K, oversampled 4K or 4K 120p, you will need to invest in one of the best external hard drives because you will fill up memory cards and disc space fast. You'll also need a very beefy computer to actually process 8K, as some won't even open the videos – let alone handle editing and grading the footage. 

There are other video restrictions worth being mindful of – you can't record the more demanding video modes (RAW, 8K 4K 120p and so on) unless you're using a CFexpress card, so bear that in mind if you're using SD. 

Accordingly, you can't record your video to both cards, to create a redundant backup, so you will need to get comfortable working with proxies – and with the idea that should you have a card failure, you will lose your work. And of course, you can't record 8K or 4K footage using EF-S lenses, as this crops the recording area, or with movie cropping enabled (which obviously does the same). 

Canon R5-3

No need to move any focus points, no need to touch the joystick at all; just set the camera to ‘Subject: Animals’, stick it in C-AF and hold it towards an animal. Canon only certifies it for dogs, cats and birds, but we successfully tested it on lions, monkeys, turtles, iguanas, fish, skunks, meerkats, raccoons, sand squirrels, Fennec foxes… if it’s got eyes and a face, the R5 will almost certainly recognize it.

No exaggeration, this is genuinely game-changing technology that is probably going to put a lot of wildlife photographers out of business. Because you could put this camera in the hands of your children, and they would come home from the zoo with a whole load of in-focus pictures of animals. It’s that easy and that good. 

And obviously the AF is even better when it comes to shooting human subjects, with a witchcraft-like ability to find and focus on faces and eyes in an instant – even when features are obscured or your tracking gets interrupted by hands, objects or passers-by. You can safely tell your Sony-owning friends that, yes, Canon now has the best autofocus in town – it really is black magic.

Best of all, these autofocus functions are all 100% available and effective when shooting video as well. So whether you’re filming videos of the bride and groom at a wedding, or footage of wild animals chasing each other across the Serengeti, the Canon EOS R5 will find your subjects and focus on them. The AF is spookily good – it’s just a shame that the R5 is haunted by the specter of its video.

Worth mentioning is the latest implementation of Canon's Dual Pixel RAW tech. This feature, which makes use of both photodiodes on a single pixel, was previously seen on the 5D Mark IV to ever-so-slightly change the focus in your images. While that was mostly unconvincing, here the technology is much more mature – and actually could be incredibly useful. 

On the R5 you can change the clarity of your backgrounds (as if adjusting the same slider in Photoshop), but more impressively you can add a lighting source and modifier to change the lighting of your images in camera. So, if you have an underexposed face and you want to add a key light with barn doors to selectively brighten it, you can do it without Photoshop – and it works pretty well, especially using the touchscreen. 

LAB DATA

We tested the Canon EOS R5 alongside the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, as the R5 could well be the indirect replacement for the DSLR. The Nikon Z7 and Sony A7R IV are obvious mirrorless rivals to the EOS R5, at least for stills shooting.

Resolution: 

Canon R5 Review-3

Our resolution test results mostly reflect what you'd expect from the varying megapixel counts offered by each camera. Unsurprisingly, the 61MP Sony A7R IV comes out on top and is the camera of choice for resolving the finest details. With 45.7 megapixels on tap, the Nikon Z7 comes in second to the Sony, yet it manages to score significantly higher than the 45MP EOS R5 – something we weren't expecting, given the two cameras have almost identical megapixel counts. 

The reason for this discrepancy seems to be the Nikon's slightly better resistance to moiré interference, which is more prominent in the EOS R5's resolution chart images, and it affects our scoring. The EOS R5's real-world images are comparably sharp to those from the Z7. Predictably, with only 30.4MP, the 5D Mark IV can't quite compete with its mirrorless counterparts for fine detail capture.

Dynamic range:

Canon R5 Review-4

At lower sensitivities, up to ISO1600, the EOS R5 is capable of capturing similarly high dynamic range to its 5D IV DSLR sibling and the Nikon Z7. However, at higher sensitivities the new Canon can't quite stay at the top of the pile, with the 5D IV and Z7 capable of up to 2 stops more dynamic range than the R5. It's worth noting that any in-camera dynamic range enhancement is disabled for our lab testing, in order to get a level playing field.

Signal to noise ratio:

Canon R5 Review-5

Our signal to noise test measures image clarity, specifically the ratio of the actual image 'data' you want to capture, versus the image noise that you don't want, but will inevitably be visible when shooting at higher ISO sensitivities. The higher the score at a given ISO sensitivity, the better.

Here the EOS R5 scores well, level-pegging with the Z7 and A7R IV throughout most of the tested sensitivity range. However, the good old 5D Mark IV generates cleaner images than the newer mirrorless cameras at ISO200 and above. This isn't all that surprising, as the DSLR's lower megapixel count is spread over the same full-frame sensor area, meaning that it has larger individual photosites that can be more light-sensitive and therefore generate less image noise.

Canon R5-6

VERDICT

The Canon EOS R5 is a real Jekyll and Hyde product. For photography, it is absolutely the camera to beat. Though the A7R IV is has more megapixels, and while we're surprised that the 5D Mark IV has superior ISO and dynamic range, the gestalt properties of the R5 – the resolution, frame-rates, IBIS, autofocus – make this hands-down the king of all-round, high resolution, high speed photography. 

The autofocus really can't be overstated. If you take pictures of people or animals, you will automatically benefit from the advantages that the R5 delivers. We'd go so far as to say that not only is it the best camera for wildlife photography, but that any serious wildlife shooter should really think about adopting it.

The image stabilization in the EOS R5 is the finest we've used on any full-frame system, and is only bested by Micro Four Thirds cameras from Olympus and Panasonic (which feature superior IBIS because their sensors are so much smaller). It makes such a difference whether you're shooting in low light, with long shutter speeds, on long lenses or filming video without a gimbal.

Alas, video is the Mr Hyde of the equation. The reality is that we can’t recommend the Canon EOS R5 if your primary interest is pure video shooting. Don’t get us wrong, its video is incredible – but having to navigate the overheating restrictions prohibits this from being an A camera (unless you only shoot 4K 30p, in which case you don’t need this anyway). 

It's perfectly possible to never once run into the recording limitations if you only film videos that are a few minutes long, which for many people will actually be fine. And in short bursts, its top-tier 4K and 8K modes are truly stunning – but the more video you shoot, the less usable it becomes, making it hard to recommend for video-first use when there are other cameras that shoot above 4K 30p with no limits. Sadly, it's not the magic camera that content creators and cinematographers hoped for.

However, as a stills camera, the R5 is simply Canon's finest product ever. It’s the perfect amalgamation of the EOS R’s form, the EOS 5D’s function, and the professional-grade autofocus of the EOS-1D X. If you're a stills or hybrid shooter who flits between photography and videography, the Canon EOS R5 is a remarkable piece of technology and one of the best cameras you will ever have the pleasure of using. 

This post was originally published by DP Review/James Artaius - August 06, 2020

First and foremost, firmware version 1.1.0 corrects a problem that would cause the camera to lock up when the electronic level is set to ‘Show’ in the viewfinder display and the shutter or AF-ON button is pressed.

Canon 1DX Update

The update, which was released on March 31 and only recently brought to our attention, also fixes an issue where the ‘Custom Shooting Mode’ settings could change when the shooting mode is switched and adds the option for a 23.98p frame rate option. Canon has also improved the communication speed when connected via wired LAN, added a ‘Browser Remote’ function and added the ability to transfer only images that are protected.

You can find the firmware update, available to download on both macOS and Windows computers, on Canon Europe’s 1D X Mark III support page.

Canon Factory

The five factories, located in the Oita, Miyazaki and Nagasaki prefectures, produce cameras and other photographic gear. The manufacturing facilities will shut down from March 2 to March 13, with Nikkei (translated) reporting these missed production days will be made up at a later time in the year when the supply of parts is more stable.

DPReview has contacted Canon for more details on what products these closures will affect. We will update this article accordingly if we receive a response.

This post was originally published by DP Review/ Gannon Burgett - Mar 2, 2020
 

Canon has announced the development of the R5 - a flagship RF-mount mirrorless camera with built-in image stabilization, capable of 8K video and 20fps stills shooting. Beyond that, details are scant, but the new camera is expected to be released at some point this year.

Key specifications (so far):

• Newly designed CMOS sensor (likely 40MP)
• In-camera image stabilization
• 20fps continuous shooting (silent shutter)
• 12ps continuous shooting (mechanical shutter)
• 8K video capture
• Twin card slots

Rumors have been swirling about an upcoming R-series camera for a while, and while Canon had already confirmed that IBIS was coming to the R lineup, we were skeptical about the '8K video' claim at first. This was for a few reasons, but principally the fact that the average consumer won't be able to view the footage at full resolution. However, it seems that the R5 will, indeed, offer some kind of 8K video capture option.

Canon's press release is rather non-specific when it comes to details, referring to the ability of photographers 'to extract high-resolution still images from video footage as well as process 8K video into higher-quality 4K video'. As such, it's possible that for practical purposes, the R5's main selling point will be 2X oversampled 4K, but we'll find out soon enough. The formidable amount of data generated by true 8K video capture (not to mention heat) would seem to present major technological challenges, but it's too early to say how (or if) Canon has dealt with them.

Ergonomically, the R5 appears to be a clear evolution of the original EOS R with more overt continuity with Canon's existing DSLR controls

To natively sample 8K video (usually defined as 7680 x 4320 pixels) would require a 7680 x 5120 pixel sensor. This being the case, if the 8K isn't cropped, we can make a pretty good guess that effective resolution of the R5 will be ~40MP. Beyond these very limited headline specs, all we know about the R5 is what we can glean from the limited views of the camera released by Canon. Ergonomically, the R5 appears to be a clear evolution of the original EOS R, with more DSLR-like ergonomics (and no M-Fn bar!) but we'll bring you more information when we have it.

Alongside the R5, Canon is also teasing '9 RF lenses' coming later this year, including a new telezoom - the RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM. Samples of the R5, the 100-500mm, and two new RF Extenders (1.4X and 2X) are expected to be shown at the WPPI show in Las Vegas, and the CP+ show in Yokohama, Japan, both scheduled to take place later this month.

Press release:

The Next Generation: Canon Announces The Development Of The Company’s Most Advanced Full-Frame Mirrorless Camera Ever – The EOS R5

The Company will Also Develop Seven RF Lenses and Two RF Lens Extenders in 2020

MELVILLE, NY, February 12, 2020 – Canon U.S.A. Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, today announced that its parent company, Canon Inc., is developing the highly anticipated Canon EOS R5 full-frame mirrorless camera. The camera will feature a newly designed CMOS sensor and new image processor, along with new state-of-the-art optical technologies the company has been able to cultivate through its long history of groundbreaking camera and digital imaging solutions development. In addition, Canon plans to release seven RF lenses and two RF lens extenders that are currently in development. These new photography tools will help to continue to strengthen the EOS R system and cement the RF mount as an industry leader.

“Today’s announcement comes as a direct result of the tireless effort of Canon engineers who have been tasked with developing the next generation of Canon EOS R camera and RF lenses to help elevate the popular system that was announced in 2018,” said Kazuto Ogawa, president and chief operating officer, Canon U.S.A., Inc. “In developing the new camera, Canon listened to extensive user-feedback from a variety of photographers. The outcome is a camera and lenses that will delight a variety of shooters and further helps to demonstrate Canon’s commitment to full-frame mirrorless cameras and lenses.”

The EOS R System was initially developed to provide engineers with the ability to design lenses that were thought to be impossible to create previously. The wide lens mount diameter, shorter back focus, and high-speed system for transmitting data between camera and lens have resulted in an imaging system that delivers higher image quality and greater ease-of-use than ever before.

The new full-frame mirrorless camera currently under development will fully leverage the advantages of the EOS R System, helping to produce a camera that features high-speed continuous shooting and 8K video recording. Furthermore, the camera will provide photographers with more efficient workflows thanks to improved transmission functionality, operability and reliability. These enhancements, along with many others, will help to further elevate and solidify the EOS Series concept of “Speed, Comfort and High-Image-Quality.”

Canon’s EOS R5, the first of the next generation of full-frame mirrorless cameras planned for EOS R System, will include a newly developed CMOS sensor. The new sensor will enable enhanced features such as high-speed continuous shooting up to approximately 20 frames-per-second (FPS) when using the silent shutter and up to approximately 12 FPS when using the mechanical shutter – A feature professional sports and wildlife photographers will find to be extremely impactful on their ability to capture fast-moving subjects. From a video perspective, the camera’s 8K video capture capability will prepare videographers for the future of movie-making- capturing 8K footage today allows for even higher-quality 4K productions in addition to the ability to extract high-resolution still images from the video footage. The EOS R5 will be the first Canon camera equipped with IBIS (In Body Image Stabilization) and when used in conjunction with the extremely effective in-lens stabilization (IS), will allow photographers to handhold the camera in light levels not previously imagined. Additionally, the camera will also feature dual-card slots and will support the automatic transfer of image files from the device to the new image. canon cloud platform.

Alongside the EOS R5, Canon is also developing seven RF lenses and two RF lens extenders scheduled for release during 2020, including the RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM, Extender RF 1.4x and Extender RF 2x.

Additional Information

Reference exhibits for the EOS R5 and RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM, Extender RF 1.4x and Extender RF 2x will be on display in the Canon booth at the CP+ Camera and Photo Imaging Show 2020, to be held from February 27 to March 1 at the Pacifico Yokohama convention hall in Yokohama, Japan.

A preview of the EOS R5 will be on display at the 2020 WPPI Show (February 25-27) in Las Vegas.