Interview With Canon Europe About The 6D, Project 1709, And More

 

The interview was conducted by megapixel.co.il and dates back to photokina, though it was posted in English a few days ago. Mike Owen, Professional Image Marketing Manager for Canon Europe and Richard Shepherd, Senior Product Specialist, Digital SLR and EF Lenses for Canon Europe talk about the Canon EOS 6D, Project 1709, the delays in announcing the long telephoto lenses, and more.

The guys at megapixel.co.il summed up the main points of the interview:

    • Richard Shepherd explained in a few words in the interview about project 1709 (the name is actually the date of the beta announcement). The project is invitation only at this stage.
    • The events in Japan in 2011 had a lot of influence on the actual launch of the 1D-X – Canon used the time to tweak and improve the finished product.
    • Regarding the delays in launching some of the long telephoto lenses – Canon states that it was important to reach full production capability as to not cause delays later on.
    • For Canon – the 6D is the idea travel camera. Although there might be other target audiences for the 6D – people who travel and like a quality camera they can carry are very high on the list.
    • The 6D will not be the only DSLR wit GPS and WIFI but don't expect every model from now on to come with these features.
    • Although we asked – we didn't get a direct answer whether or not the EOS-M can be fitted with and external digital viewfinder and if it can – does Canon has any plans to do so.
    • According to Canon, Pro photographers do not trust digital viewfinders and so for pro cameras, optical viewfinders are here to stay.
    • Adding a focus limiter in the camera is possible technically, however Mike Owen explained that so far Canon did not receive substantial enough request for this feature from its costumers.
    • The APS-H format is not necessarily dead – this actually depends on the market and the consumer needs.
    • The eye-control-focus technology (used for example in the Canon EOS-3) is gone, but it might return again in the future. In the past some photographers liked it but some didn't so its an open issue.
    • Don't expect a road map from Canon for its EOS-M lenses (unlike Sony, Samsung, Fuji, Panasonic etc.). Canon is going to focus on what it feels are the right lenses for this format (i.e. mostly compact lenses).

[via Megapixel]

Deals: Canon EOS 5D Mark II, EOS 6D, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, And Sigma 35mm f/1.4 In Stock

Next round of discounts and new arrivals at B&H and Adorama.

Note: All prices show up after having added the item to the cart.

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First, the now discontinued EOS 5D Mark II is sold for $1599.99 (click here). Adorama has the 5D Mark II body for $50 less, $1529 (click here) and the 5D Mark II with the EF 24-105L for $2,399 (click here). Good deals for a full frame DSLR that still delivers excellent performance.

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Next, Canon’s entry-level full frame DSLR, the EOS 6D, is sold for $1999 (click here). Adorama has the EOS 6D for the same price, $1999 (click here). And for $2099 (click here) they sells the EOS 6D with the following accessories: an 8GB SDHC Class 10 memory card, a spare LP-E6 battery, a camera bag and an LCD screen protector with cleaning cloth. More Canon EOS 6D kits and bundles clicking here.

 

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Then there is the Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4 DC Macro OS HSM which gets an instant saving of $150 and is sold for $299 (click here).

 

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Finally, the amazing Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM A1 is in stock again (limited quantity) at B&H for $899 (click here). and at Adorama too for the same price: $899 (click here)

Canon Working On A Successor Of The G1X With APS-C Sensor?

Egami (translated) spotted a 18-70mm F2.8-6 lens patent for a filed by Canon that suggests the company is working on a fixed lens camera with an APS-C sensor. In other words: the successor of the G1X with a new sensor.

Patent Publication No. 2012-247758

  • Release Date 2012.12.13
  • Filing date 2011.5.31
  • Example 1
  • Zoom ratio 3.80
  • 35.12 – – 69.05mm f = 18.17 focal length
  • Fno 2.89 -. 4.58 – 5.94
  • Half angle of view ω = 33.37 – 20.87 – 11.14 °
  • 13.39 – – 13.60mm 11.97 image height
  • 89.56 – – 110.05mm 86.88 overall length of the lens
  • BF 0.36mm
  • 11 pictures in 9 groups lens configuration
  • 5 three aspherical surface
  • 4-group zoom positive negative positive
  • Rear Focus (Group 4)
Image credit: Egami

 

 

[Readers Contribute] Possible Canon EOS 70D Release Date Based On (clever) Math

Our reader Chris did an interesting reasoning about when the Canon EOS 70D may be released. I post his thoughts as they were sent to me.

I've tried to calculate a possible release for the “70D” and on the Dutch Wikipedia of the 60D, I've seen a interesting chart. Two facts: The 40D (2007), 50D (2008) and 60D (2010) we're all released by the 3rd quarter of the year. The whole xxD-series has been released between the first and third quarter, never the 4th quarter. And the 60D is now by far out the recordholder of all the Dxx / xxD's if you look at the time between an existing and announced xxD:

1. 60D 27 months old (release: 26 august 2010 and still getting older)

2. 50D 24 months old (release: 28 august 2008)

3. 40D 12 months old (release: 20 August 2007)

So add everything together: 60D is at low stock at least in Western Europe (Netherlands, Germany and Belgium) while the (body)price is dropping for 2 months. Even with a “low” price, Canon offers an 50-100 euro cashback on the 60D body/kit. It looks like they're trying to get rid of the last stock. The cashback is untill 29th of january 2013, and combine with the fact that the release will be between january and august or 3rd quarter 2013.

Between now and 6 months, we'll see at least a replacer for the 60D or an official press release…thats a fact.

PS: Here's the Dutch Wikipedia chart (underneath the page) of the xxD releases: http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canon_EOS_60D

Yes, this really makes a sense. Thank you Chris! The discussion about the 60D stock levels started here.

Canon EOS 60D price check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA