Canon Taiwan Expects Increase In Revenue

[source: The China Post]

Japanese multinational imaging and optical giant Canon recently reported robust business results in Taiwan in 2012 despite a sluggish economic climate, forecasting 2013 revenue to exceed NT$6 billion.

Canon Taiwan posted annual revenue of NT$5.5 billion in 2012 thanks to its strategy of multifaceted promotion campaigns and increased investment in the Taiwanese market, said Andy Kamata (鎌田篤), president of Canon Taiwan in a statement the company released on March 7.

The company’s top sellers in Taiwan are digital cameras, inkjet printers and office multifunction devices, the company pointed out. Canon topped the sales of digital cameras — including compact models and digital SLR cameras — in Taiwan last year in terms of both units and U.S. dollars.

Read the rest here.

Samyang/Rokinon 24mm Tilt Shift Lens Set To Be Released in May 2013

Samyang/Rokinon 24mm

Samyang/Rokinon released a statement saying that the new 24mm Tilt Shift lens will be shipping in May 2013. The lens does 12mm of shift with an 8.5 degree tilt. Product specs:

  • Wide-Angle Tilt-Shift Prime Lens
  • Full Frame/35mm Format
  • Aperture Range: f/3.5-22
  • Maximum Tilt: +/- 8.5º
  • Maximum Shift: +/- 12mm
  • Mount Rotation: 90º Left and Right

This is a photo of the Samyang 24mm Tilt Shift lens that Samyang/Rokinon announced a while back. Today, the company is saying that the lens will be shipping in May 2013. The new lens will allow 12mm of shift with an 8.5 degree tilt. Shifting upwards and around possible to around 90 degrees.

The Samyang/Rokinon 24mm Tilt Shift lens can be pre-ordered at Adorama and B&H and Amazon.

[source : The Phoblographer]

New Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC HSM Available For Pre-Order

Sigma 30mm

B&H has the new Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC HSM (part of Sigma’s “Art” line-up) available for pre-order for $499 (click here). The lens is expected to ship starting from March 31st.

  • Standard Focal Length Prime Lens
  • Aperture Range: f/1.4 – 16
  • Minimum Focus Distance: 11.8″ (30 cm)
  • Hyper Sonic Motor for Smooth Autofocus
  • Brass Bayonet Mount
  • For APS-C Format Cameras
  • Fits Canon EF-S Mount Cameras

From the product description:

The 30mm f/1.4 DC HSM Lens for Canon DSLR Cameras from Sigma is a prime lens designed for Canon APS-C format cameras. Its 35mm focal length equivalent is 45mm which places it in the category of standard focal length lenses. With its particularly fast maximum aperture of f/1.4, the lens will perform very well in low light situations and provides shallow depth of field focus. With updated optical configurations (9 elements in 8 groups), as well as rounded aperture blades, the lens delivers sharp detail and nice background bokeh. Its minimum focus distance is 11.8″ (30 cm).

The lens’ optimized light distribution helps to minimize field curvature preventing a loss of image quality at the edges of photographs and its double-sided aspheric lens element minimizes spherical distortion. A rear focusing system combined with a newly developed autofocus algorithm and Hyper Sonic Motor provide smooth and accurate autofocus. Fulltime manual focus is also supported. As part of Sigma’s “Art” line of lenses it is compatible with Sigma’s new USB Dock, which enables firmware updates and focusing adjustments.

Fast maximum aperture of f/1.4 allows fast shutter speeds for clear low-light imaging and shallow depth of field focus.
A Hyper Sonic Autofocus Motor (HSM) offers fast, smooth and quiet autofocus.
Compatible with the Sigma USB Dock which enables firmware updates and focusing adjustments.

Rumor: Is Canon Working On An Extra Small DSLR?

I got this rumor, it is the first time I hear about that. And here it comes…

The rumor says that Canon will announce a new entry-level DSLR that is not part of the Rebel/xxxD line. A DSLR that aims at the budget-conscious customers out there. This DSLR is said to be the lightest and smallest DSLR Canon has ever made. The source also says that this new extra-small DSLR is an attempt to counter the not so good selling figures of the Canon EOS M (price & specs). In other words: Canon will try to offer a small and compact DSLR as alternative to the EOS M. A DSLR that is almost as small and light as a mirrorless camera. The new DSLR will support EF and EF-S lenses, and it should not have the AF issues of the EOS M. And there should be also a new kit zoom lens for this new, super-small DSLR, a kit zoom that is also said to be light-weighted and of small size.

I do not really know how Canon can make a DSLR much smaller than a Rebel. There are for sure some possibilities to make it smaller, and for sure to make it lighter (using more plastic?). The question is: how small and compact it can get.

That’s it!

 

A Bit Of Everything

Canon EOS 6D Video Review And Comparison With 5D2, 7D And 60D

A Canon EOS 6D (price & specs) review and comparison with Canon EOS 5D Mark II (price & specs) and Canon EOS 7D (price & specs) and Canon EOS 60D (price & specs) video from Orange Wedding Films.

The sections in the video:

00:00 – 06:22 Intro
06:23 – 7:06 30 minute recording time
7:06 – 10:40 Menu items
10:41 – 17:23 Working with an external HDMI monitor
17:24 – 20:04 Moire Test 1 + 2
20:04 – 20:28 – sample clips
20:28 – 23:29 – Low Light with ISO Comparison
23:30 – End – my personal likes and dislikes

Some deals about mentioned DSLRs:

  • The EOS 6D body only option is now down to $1789 (Adorama | B&H| Amazon)
  • The EOS 6D with the EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens is $2329 (Adorama | B&H| Amazon) – B&H bundles the kit with these additional bonus items:  Lexar 16GB SDHC Professional 400x Class 10 UHS-I Memory Card and a Lowepro Adventura 170 Shoulder Bag
  • Adorama has refurbished EOS 7Ds for $979 (click here).