Irix Announce Irix Edge Light Pollution Filters

Irix Edge Light Pollution

Irix announced the availability of their Irix Edge Light Pollution Filters.

So far only prices in Euro are known

  • Irix Edge Light Pollution (SE) 67mm – €95
  • Irix Edge Light Pollution (SE) 72mm – €107
  • Irix Edge Light Pollution (SE) 77mm – €125
  • Irix Edge Light Pollution (SE) 82mm – €135
  • Irix Edge Light Pollution (SE) 95mm – €149

If someone knows who has these filters available for order, please let me know.

Press release below.

Meike MK-50mm f/1.7 For Canon EOS R Available For Pre-Order (and more Meike lenses)

Meike MK-50mm F/1.7

Meike MK-50mm f/1.7 at a glance:

  • RF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
  • Aperture Range: f/1.7 to f/22
  • Multi-Layer Coating
  • Manual Focus Design
  • Metal Lens Barrel and Bayonet Mount

The Meike MK-50mm f/1.7 manual focus lens for the Canon EOS R system is now available for pre-order at $139.99 at B&H Photo. As far as I know this should be the first third party lens for the Canon EOS R.

Other Meike lenses are also in stock now, have a look here.

The Meike MK-85mm f/2.8 Macro Lens for Canon EF sells at $269.99.

Meike MK-8mm f/3.5 Fisheye Lens for Canon EF sells at $164.99.

The Meike MK-85mm f/1.8 Lens for Canon EF sells at $189.99.

Canon Financials 2018, Market Going Down But Company Stands Ground, EOS R Key To Future Success

Canon published the company’s financial reports for 2018.

Concerning the imaging sector:

Looking at the Imaging System Business Unit, although unit sales of interchangeable-lens digital cameras decreased overall compared with the previous year due to shrinking market, Canon maintained the top share of the overall interchangeable-lens digital cameras market, mainly in key countries in Europe and the Americas as well as in Japan and China. In mirrorless cameras, sales were strong for such new models as the EOS R, Canon’s first mirrorless camera equipped with a full-frame sensor, and the entry-class EOS Kiss M. As for digital compact cameras, although unit sales decreased compared with the previous year amid the shrinking market, sales of such high-value-added models as the PowerShot G-series enjoyed solid demand. For inkjet printers, unit sales of refillable ink tank models increased significantly in emerging markets. However, unit sales decreased overall compared with the previous year, mainly due to the shrinking market in developed economies. For large format inkjet printers, the imagePROGRAF TX series, which is suitable for outputting CAD drawings and poster designs, garnered high praise from the market and enjoyed solid sales. As a result, sales for the business unit decreased by 11.3% year on year to ¥1,008.2 billion, while income before income taxes decreased by 31.1% year on year to ¥121.3 billion

Canon looks considers “accelerating the expansion of our mirrorless lineup” a priority. In this sense:

The key to this is the EOS R, our first full-frame mirrorless model, launched in the second half of last year. Although its contribution to last year’s performance was limited, sales have been strong due to its significantly improved optical performance, which has been highly rated by users. In order to further increase our presence in the mirrorless camera market, this year we will continue to expand our entire mirrorless camera lineup, consecutively launching new R-System products, including lenses. Additionally, we will also promote change in the distribution of internal resources, from development to production as well as sales & marketing.

Additionally, we will work to improve product mix, raising the proportion attributable to full-frame models that have high profitability by enhancing our mirrorless camera lineup and also expanding sales of full-frame models, particularly the EOS R.

We expect the market for camera equipped with full-frame sensors, which offer superlative descriptive performance, to continue growing at a stable rate. The customer base of this market are particular about image expression and pair their cameras with various lenses depending on the images they intend to capture. We will strive to improve total profitability by expanding sales of the full-frame model like the EOS R which will lead to expanded sales of lenses that have high profitability.

Canon’s financial reports are available here. The presentation material can be viewed below:

Canon And Nikon Execs Discuss Mirrorless Camera Technology And The Future Of Photography

Canon

During CES 2019, Engadget interviewed Canon Senior Technical Specialist Drew MacCallum and Nikon Senior Technical Manager Steve Heiner about the Canon EOS R and Nikon Z 6/Z 7 full frame mirrorless cameras and possible future developments in the photography industry, the role of mirrorless technology, and more stuff. Interesting interview/discussion.

Developers Of Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS III and EF 600mm f/4L IS III Lenses Interviewed

Canon EF 400mm

Canon posted an interview with the engineers who designed and developed the Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS III and Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS III telephoto lenses.

The interview is available as a PDF and you can see it here.

An excerpt:

Interviewer: Please tell me about the background, design policy, and your enthusiasm at the start of development.

Nagao (Development Leader): Pro photography situations require the ability to capture split-second, one-of-a-kind moments in high quality. I accompanied pro photographers as they shot, and I noticed how many times that they were all packed into a tight space while tracking a subject. In order to capture such photo opportunities, I realized just how important it is to have a piece of equipment that feels like a part of you and that can be manipulated with complete ease in such tense shooting situations. We then started research from the question of “what should the pinnacle of next-generation lenses be?” We listened to the opinions of experienced photographers, thinking of how we could provide the best piece of equipment to satisfy such users, and engaged in the development process with the ideal lens in mind, but without being caught up in the framework of the conventional lens. 

Shimada (Product Planning): The foremost product concept was a lightweight design. This means a dramatic sense of lightness that one can feel when holding in the hand, as we achieved with the EF400mm f/2.8L IS III USM and EF600mm f/4L IS III USM. The reason we are committed to a lightweight design is because even though the pro and advanced amateur photographers who use super-telephoto lenses have their own ideals when it comes to specifications and style, they all invariably request a lighter lens. We also took into consideration the common view that simply lighter is not enough — rather, the weight balance when holding the camera is an important factor as a professional tool of the trade. Of course one requirement that absolutely must be met is high image quality. Just how light could we make the lens while achieving high image quality? That was the key point of this project.


Canon USA Celebrates Filmmakers As A Sponsor Of The 2019 Sundance Film Festival

Ibis Canon Rumors Canon Full Frame Mirrorless Canon PowerShot G7 X Canon Eos 90d Coronavirus

Canon press release:

Lights, Camera, Action: Canon U.S.A. Celebrates Filmmakers As A Sponsor Of The 2019 Sundance Film Festival

MELVILLE, NY, January 25, 2019 – Canon U.S.A. Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, returns as a Sustaining Sponsor to the 2019 Sundance Film Festival (January 24 – February 3) in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Sundance, Utah. Canon will celebrate filmmakers with programming at the Canon Creative Studio, located at 592 Main Street.

At least 61 of the 241 films and projects that will screen as part of this year’s slate – over 25% percent — are shot using Canon equipment. Festival projects filmed using Canon cinema cameras include Paddleton, Tigerland, This Is Personal, Ask Dr. Ruth, Raise Hell: The Life and Times of Molly Ivins, American Factory, Hail Satan?, Lorena, The Great Hack and others.

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