[Deal] Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS II Down To $149 For Limited Time

B&H has the EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS II lens down to $149 for limited time (48hrs, click here). Regular price is $255; not bad imo. Good travel lens.

The Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS II Lens is a compact and lightweight telephoto zoom lens that is specifically designed for the range of EOS digital SLR cameras that use the smaller EF-S lens mount. Combining powerful performance with high image quality, this lens offers the equivalent of 88-400mm in 35mm format, and is ideal for photographers seeking an affordable, versatile lens for general-purpose telephoto photography.

The EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS II Lens incorporates Canon’s 4-stop compensation Image Stabilizer technology. This allows the use of shutter speeds up to 4 times slower with no perceptible increase in image blur. Automatic panning detection automatically turns off the Image Stabilizer in either the horizontal or vertical direction when following moving subjects.

Note! Compatible with cameras that have APS-C size sensors

Image Stabilizer
4 step Image Stabilizer (IS) extends low light options to previously unavailable levels. Photographers normally shooting handheld at 1/250 sec can switch on IS to obtain a similarly steady and blur-free result with a shutter speed of just 1/15 second.
Superior Image Quality
One UD (Ultra-low Dispersion) lens element is used to suppress the effects of secondary chromatic aberrations – for crisp, sharp, high-contrast images without fringing throughout the zoom range.
Super Spectra Coatings

Optimized Super Spectra lens coatings and lens element shaping, suppress flare and ghosting – more prone to occur with digital cameras due to reflection off the image sensor. Coatings also help achieve true color balance and increase contrast for vivid hi-fidelity images.

Rebel T4i/EOS 650D With EF-M 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM In Stock And Ready To Ship (Update)

Edit: I was referring to the wrong lens, it is a 18-135mm IS STM.

Update: Check sample pics shot with a Rebel T4i/650D and the 18-135 IS STM lens – click here

Great news if you live in the States and can’t wait to get your hands on Canon’s new Rebel, the T4i/650D. B&H has the T4i as a kit with the 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens available for (free) shipping ($1,199.99 click here). Limited quantity, so be quick before others are. Core specs of the T4i/650D:

  • STM Lens Support for Quiet AF in Movies
  • 18.0MP APS-C CMOS Sensor
  • DIGIC 5 Image Processor
  • 3.0″ Vari-Angle Touch Screen LCD
  • ISO 100-12800, Expandable to 25600
  • Full HD Movie Mode with Continuous AF
  • 5.0 FPS Continuous Shooting
  • 9-Point All Cross-Type AF System
  • Multi Shot Noise Reduction
  • EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM Lens
Click here to open the rest of the article

Canon EOS M Available For Pre-Order At Amazon Germany And Italy

Image credits: Jet Daisuke

The EOS M now can be pre-ordered at Amazon Germany (click here, from Austria and Switzerland too) and at Amazon Italy (click here). For the time being the only EOS m-related item you can get at Amazon DE and IT is the camera itself, coming as a kit with the EF-M 18-55 f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens and the Speedlite 90EX. Price tag is €849 at Amazon German (click here) and €915,06 at Amazon Italy (click here). Why it costs €65 more in Italy is a mystery to me. German news site heise.de has a pro/contra article about the EOS M.

World-wide EOS M per-order links:

EOS M page on Amazon (click here), Adorama (click here), B&H (click here)
If you live in Germany: wexcameras.de (click here), Amazon DE (click here)
If you live in Italy: Amazon IT (click here)
If you live in the UK: Amazon UK (click here)

EOS M page on Amazon (click here), Adorama (click here), B&H (click here)
EOS M Black at Amazon (click here), Amazon UK (click here), Adorama (click here) and BHphoto (click here).
EOS M White at BHphoto (click here).
EOS M 22mm pancake at Amazon (click here), Adorama (click here) and BHphoto (click here).
EOS M 18-55mm kit lens at Amazon (click here), Adorama (click here) and BHphoto (click here).
EOS M adapter at Amazon (click here) and BHphoto (click here).
EOS M Flash at Amazon (click here), Adorama (click here) and BHphoto (click here).

More pre-order options here.

[Review] EOS M vs. Rebel T4i/650D, Panasonic GX1, Nikon 1 V1/1 J1

Techradar posted some comparisons/buying guides for you to check. Keep in mind that for the time being there are only pre-production models of the EOS M, so a professional made comparison with other gear is yet not feasible. The EOS M (click here to see all specs) is compared to the Rebel T4i/650D (which has the same sensor as the EOS M), the Panasonic GX1 and to Nikon’s 1 V1 and 1 J1.

Price check of cited cameras:

EOS M: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA Panasonic GX1: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA Nikon 1 V1: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA Nikon 1 J1: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA

[Patent] Canon Patent For Improved Phase Detection Auto Focus

Phase Detection AF

Egami (machine translated) found a patent by Canon regarding an improved Phase Detection Auto Focus. Such a “hybrid” autofocusing system has been featured on the Rebel T4i/650D and the recently announced EOS M. The patented technology aims at improving speed and accuracy. Is this the AF system that Canon will implement on its next, more pro-oriented mirrorless camera, expected to be announced later this year?

  • Patent Publication No. 2010-60771
    • 2010.3.18 Release Date
    • 2008.9.3 filing date
  • Existing techniques
    • Patent Publication No. H11-281878
    • Different lengths of baseline using the AF sensor
      • F2.8 sensor: high focusing accuracy
      • Can detect a wide range of defocus amount (the amount of deviation of focus): F5.6 sensor
      • After roughly at F5.6 sensor is focused, making focus F2.8 sensor with high accuracy
    • Drawback
      • Depending on the timing F2.8 sensor is not used, focusing accuracy is not good
  • Canon’s patent
    • Different lengths of baseline using the AF sensor
      • Because of the defocus amount detection range is limited, must search as duplicate detection range
      • By using the F5.6 sensor, within a limit not exceeding the amount of defocus, it is possible to focus lens is driven at high speed
    • If the Live View
      • The image plane using phase difference AF
      • Focus lens is driven at high speed
        • Using the central pixel: When low-intensity
        • Using the neighboring pixels: When high-intensity
Imaging surface phase detection AF
[via Egami]

[Deal] Refurbished EOS 5D Mark II $1759.20 At Canon Store

Refurbished EOS 5D Mark IIs are back in the Canon Direct Store for $1759.20 (click here). Have also a look on what you can do with your 5D Mark II if you apply the Magic Lantern firmware replacement. The full frame 5D mark II is still  a great camera and at this price it is a bargain. The specs (full specs on Amazon):

  • 21.1 Megapixel Full-Frame Sensor
  • 3.0″ High Resolution LCD Display
  • Live View Mode
  • 1080p Movie Mode
  • Dust & Weather-Resistant
  • Self Cleaning Sensor
  • Broad ISO Range (50-25600)
  • 3.9 fps Burst Mode

EOS 5D Mark II price check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA