[Patent] New Canon 44x (24-1060mm) Superzoom for Compact Cameras

 

Egami (Google translated) spotted another patent by Canon. This time it’s for a 44x (24-1060mm equivalent) superzoom for a compact camera. Egami suggests it will be featured on Canon’s Powershot SX series. This zoom will plausibly compete with the 42x zoom mounted on the Nikon Coolpix P510. The new Canon super-zoom features 13 elements in 10 groups, including two four-sided aspherical elements (see more specs below). A few excerpts: To compensate for aberration across the entire zoom range […] Canon seems to have constantly working on improving the performance using the fluorite. And more:

P510 employs a 1/2.3 type imaging element, the actual focal length is 4.3-180mm (24-1000mm converted). Canon’s patent will be equivalent to 24-1060mm and so rate 4.3-190mm, most will not change the zoom factor and feel of the P510. In the catalog specs, the difference between 42 times and 44 times might actually be important.

Patent summary:

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[Software] LightRoom 4.1 is out, Supports EOS 5D3, 1D-X, 60Da and Powershot G1 X

Adobe just released the first major update to the latest iteration of Lightroom, it’s release 4.1 [thanks for the anonymous indication, but the post was already scheduled]. There are many bug fixes, and some added cameras and lenses. The new supported Canon cameras are the EOS 5D Mark III, the EOS-1D X, the EOS 60Da and the PowerShot G1 X. The newly supported lenses are the CanonEF 35mm f/2, Sigma APO 50-150mm F2.8 EX DC OS HSM, Tokina AT-X 107 AF DX Fish-Eye 10-17mm f/3.5-4.5Tokina AT-X PRO FX 16-28mm f/2.8 and Tokina AT-X PRO FX 17-35mm f/4. Lightroom 4 was reviewed by DPreview (click here).

Download Lightroom 4.1 update for Windows (click here) and for Mac (click here). Together with the LR update, Adobe released updates for Adobe Camera Raw (ver. 7.1, Windows and Mac) and Adobe DNG Converter (rel. 7.1, Windows and Mac)

Adobe Lightroom 4.1 order options: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA

 Press release:

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[In Stock] Canon BG-E11 Battery Grip Available at Amazon US (Update: 7 items left)

Amazon US (through Cameta Camera) has just 9 7 Canon BG-E11 battery grips available for $379. If you’re looking for this battery grip for your brand new EOS 5D Mark III, and if you don’t want to wait on a pre-order list, then this is the deal for you. Just nine (9) seven (7) items left. Free shipping in the US. The live-ticker below checks for possible BG-E11 deals on eBay.

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[Video] Music Video Made Using 250 EOS 60Ds

Japanese band Androp made this music clip using 250 EOS 60D cameras, mounted on a steel frame and interconnected through a computer. The cams were not used to shot pics, but the mounted flashes were used to make up a big pixel screen. Being driven by a computer, the flashes can produce any light pattern you may wish. Ah, the song is called “Bright Siren”. There is just one thing that’s not clear to me: why the heck did they use all those cameras for their lighting FX?

The EOS 60D is a great DSLR. Check here to see the latest pics uploaded to Flickr, and/or check the live-ticker below for possible EOS 60D deals:

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[Rumor & Humor] Nikon camera with Canon EF mount…?

Well, this is probably more a joke than a rumor. However, since our mission here at CanonWatch is to report everything that’s in some way related to Canon, we cannot miss this one. The rumor comes from NL and it states:

Now for one from leftfield that I was told personally, yesterday. The suggestion was that Canon and Nikon are doing some patent swapping and that in return for various Nikon patent licenses, Nikon are going to produce an EF mount camera.

Sounds weird, doesn’t it? And a little bit late for an April Joke too :-) And since we are talking about “Canikon”, I think a little video that makes fun about a hypothetical merge of both brands is more than appropriate. Enjoy, it’s funny to see the “camera that combines the best of both worlds”, The Canikon 1D3s. :-)

[NL via CR, video via bloggang]