Canon Advanced Image Sensors Now Available For Industrial Application

35MMFHDXSCA Image Sensors
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Canon’s advanced and super specialised image sensors are going to be available to businesses for all sort of applications, the sensor that can see in the dark inclusive. Canon’s advanced sensor technology is quite impressive.

Press release:

Canon Announces a New CMOS Sensor Business Platform

Patented Sensor Technology Now Available for Industrial Vision Applications

MELVILLE, N.Y., November 1, 2018 – Image sensors are an important driving force behind many of today’s successful brands, ranging from consumer products to industrial solutions. Today, Canon U.S.A, a leader in digital imaging solutions, announces that it is now offering select CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductors) sensor products for sale to the industrial marketplace. Manufacturers, solutions providers and integrators who are searching for advanced components to create their own unique products and solutions can now utilize Canon’s patented technology to help them create these products and solutions and expand their business potential.

“For several decades, Canon has been a leader in developing and manufacturing advanced CMOS sensors with state-of-the-art technologies, which until now, were for exclusive use in Canon products,” said Kazuto Ogawa, president and chief operating officer, Canon U.S.A., Inc. “It was a natural evolution to expand into a new business platform that leverages our expertise in sensor manufacturing to target the growing market demands for high-quality industrial imaging solutions.”

Launching this new business, Canon will be showcasing its CMOS sensors at VISION, the world’s leading trade fair for machine vision, on Tuesday, November 6 through Thursday, November 8, 2018, in Stuttgart, Germany. Attendees are invited to visit Hall 1 – Stand 1G74 to explore Canon’s CMOS sensor products and the variety of applications that can potentially be enhanced, including machine vision, inspection, surveillance, drones, traffic-monitoring systems and other industrial applications.

Canon sensors on display include:

  • 3U5MGXS CMOS Sensor – with an electronic global shutter, and an all pixel progressive reading at 120fps, the Canon 3U5MGXS CMOS 5MP sensor offers fast image capture with low power consumption. This helps to accurately capture images of subjects moving at high speeds without distortion to meet such industrial needs as medical imaging and inspecting parts during the manufacturing process. The Canon 3U5MGXS is now available.
  • 35MMFHDXSCA CMOS Sensor – featuring an enormous 19um pixel pitch, the 35MMFHDXSCA CMOS sensor is capable of capturing color images in exceptionally low-light environments where the naked eye struggles to distinguish objects.  Using new pixel and readout circuitry technologies that deliver a 2.76 megapixel resolution, these sensors can support a wide range of applications which require ultra-high sensitivity image capture, including defense, astronomy, surveillance and industrial operations. The Canon 35MMFHDXSCA is now available.
  • 120MXS CMOS Sensor – by incorporating close to the same number of pixels as photoreceptors in the human eye, the Canon 120MXS CMOS sensor delivers ultra-high 120 MP resolution at 9.4fps in a compact APS-H format. This sensor targets the needs of the inspection, aerial mapping, life sciences, digital archiving and transportation industries. The Canon 120MXS is now available.
  • 2U250MRXS CMOS Sensor – with a readout speed of 1.25 billion pixels per second, the prototype 2U250MRXS CMOS sensor, delivers ultra-high 250MP resolution in a compact APS-H format. Through advancements in circuit miniaturization and enhanced signal processing, this sensor delivers high resolution with incredible sensitivity and low noise.

For more information on Canon sensors, please visit canon-cmos-sensors.com.

Nikon Z7 Teardown, Best Build Mirrorless FF Camera Ever Seen Says Lens Rentals

Nikon Z7
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All images © lensrentals.com, used with permission.

Roger Cicala of Lens Rentals tore down a Nikon Z7, and was very impressed with the build quality.

Impressing Mr. Cicala doesn’t seem to be an easy task. He was impressed with the overall build quality, and praises the weather sealing of the Nikon Z7. From the the conclusion:

This is not marketing department weather resistance. This is engineering department weather resistance. Anything that can be sealed has been sealed. I’m impressed, and I will say for future cut-and-paste blurbs: this is as robustly weather sealed a camera as we’ve ever disassembled.

[…]

I’m impressed by the very solid construction of the chassis and IBIS unit. I’m impressed with the neat, modern engineering of the electrical connections. Yes, I’m aware that soldered wires carry electricity just fine, but to me, there’s something reassuring about seeing neat, well thought out, 2018 level engineering.

I’m not here to tell you which camera is best to use or has the best performance. I’m just here to say this is a damn well-built camera, the best built mirrorless full-frame camera we’ve taken apart. (For the record, I haven’t torn down a Leica SL.)

Roger Cicala’s teardown is documented step by step with pictures and descriptions.

The teardown of the Canon EOS R is featured here. Another EOS R teardown is here. Nothing to argue here, the Nikon Z7 is the better buld camera. As Mr Cicala points out, the Nikon Z7 is the flagship camera in Nikon’s Z system. When Canon will release their flagship mirrorless full frame camera, we’ll see if the build quality holds up with the Z7.

Nikon Z7: B&H Photo | Adorama | Amazon

Is 4K Video On The Canon EOS R Just Upscaled From 2K?

Eos R
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This is what the folks at Camera Conspiracies claim, and they posted a video about it.

Canon faced a lot of criticism for how they implemented 4K video on the Canon EOS R. But this claim is new, and so far the first we’ve seen it.

What do you think, is this true, is the EOS R’s 4K video nothing more than upscaled 2K?

Canon Financial Results For Q3 2018 Published, Sales Are Down A Bit, Still Looks Good

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Canon posted the financial results for Q3 2018. Things still look good for the company.

The Canon EOS M50 sells very good, and Canon acknowledges it.

Within the Imaging System Business Unit, Canon maintained the top share of the overall interchangeable-lens digital camera market, mainly in major countries in Europe and the Americas and in Japan. Within this, sales of mirrorless cameras increased mainly supported by sales of such new products as the EOS Kiss M [the EOS M50, editor’s note]. However, unit sales decreased overall compared with the same period of the previous year due to a temporary slowdown in demand, mainly for entry-level models. As for digital compact cameras, although unit sales decreased compared with the same period of the previous year amid the shrinking market, sales of high-value-added models such as the PowerShot G-series enjoyed solid demand. For inkjet printers, unit sales increased compared with the same period of the previous year, supported by steady sales of home-use models and refillable ink tank models due to the implementation of revised sales strategies tailored to each region. As a result, sales for the business unit decreased by 15.6% to ¥228.3 billion year on year, while operating profit totaled ¥21.4 billion, a year-on-year decrease of 45.3%. Sales for the combined first nine months of the year totaled ¥710.6 billion, a year-on-year decrease of 10.6%, while operating profit totaled ¥80.9 billion, a year-on-year decrease of 30.8%.

How’s the outlook for the imaging segment?

Upon taking into consideration the revised assumptions for sales for interchangeable-lens digital cameras, and postponement of capital investment in equipment by manufacturers in the Industry and Others sector, Canon projects full-year consolidated net sales of ¥4,000.0 billion, a year-on-year decrease of 2.0%; operating profit of ¥335.5 billion, a year-on-year increase of 4.3%; income before income taxes of ¥365.0 billion, a year-on-year increase of 3.1%; and net income attributable to Canon Inc. of ¥251.0 billion, a year-on-year increase of 3.8%.

canon financial
All Q3 2018 financial documents can be downloaded from here. An overview can be read below.

[pdf-embedder url=”https://www.canonwatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/conf2018q3e-all.pdf”]

The “R” In Canon EOS R Stays For “Reimagine”, APS-C Model Not Possible, Canon Exec

Canon Eos R Firmware
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DC Watch interviewed Mr. Tsuyoshi Togura, Executive Officer, Canon Inc. Image Communication Division Headquarters.

Its seems the “R” in “Canon EOS R” doesn’t stay for “Revolution”, as was suggested during the Hawaii announcement. It means “Reimagine” followed by “Optical excellence”. At least this is what Mr. Tsuyoshi Togura said in the interview when asked about the “R”. I don’t think the machine translation can get it that wrong.

Machine translated excerpt from the interview:

[when asked about the meaning of “R” in EOS R]

Mr. Tsuyoshi Togura: The development concept word for this new system is “Reimagine optical excellence.” The letter “R” took the first letter of its first word “Reimagine”. However, in the development stage, various words such as “Revert”, “Reborn”, etc. with “R” flickered with the meaning of “redefining” EOS again “to reactivate”. As a result, we have developed the concept of “Reimagine optical excellence.” And decided to use “R” for both product name and system name. I felt that I could put down the feelings of the development team well.

About the advantages of the new RF mount, Mr. Tsuyoshi Togura says that the RF 28-70 mm F/2L and RF 50mm F/1.2L lenses would have been difficult to make for the EF mount because of the resulting size and weight. The RF 28-70 mm F/2L and especially the RF 50mm F/1.2L are the lenses to showcase the capabilities of the system. Mr Togura compares the latter to the Canon EF 50mm f/1.0, which had a comparable role for the EF mount when it was introduced.

And how do the EOS M and the EOS R relate to each other? From the answer we understand that the EOS M system has its own role on Canon’s agenda, and that the EOS R can not be adapted to APS-C format:

Since EOS R is a full-size system, it can not be downsized to EOS M size. EOS M has a role / existence value as an APS-C system.

Here again we think not much could have been get lost in (machine) translation. EOS M system is Canon’s APS-C mirrorless system, EOS R is the full frame system. No intersection, no EOS R with APS-C sensor, as some rumors suggested.

Read the interview here.

Another interview, a very interesting one, is here.

The Canon EOS R and RF lenses are in stock and ready to ship

Please use the links below to put your order (international shipping available).

Order the Canon EOS R in the USA: B&H Photo | Adorama | Canon USA | Amazon

Order the Canon RF mount lenses in the USA: B&H Photo | Adorama | Canon USA | Amazon

Availability should be given also at major retailers in Europe and around the world (you have to check for your country). Please use the links below.

Canon EOS R world-wide order links:

America: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA
Europe & UK: Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon IT, Canon IT, WEX Photographic, Canon FR, Canon UK, Canon DE

Canon RF mount lenses world-wide order links:

America: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA
Europe & UK: Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon IT, Canon IT, WEX Photographic, Canon FR, Canon UK, Canon DE

Canon and China Are Closely Connected, Canon China Exec Says In Interview

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China Daily posted an interview with Mr. Howard Ozawa, Executive vice-president of Canon Inc., president of Canon Asia Marketing Group, and president & CEO of Canon China.

The interview is a bit different from the interviews with industry execs we are used to read. If you take the short time needed to read it you’ll get what I mean. This year marks the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening-up. China Daily interviewed top executives of well-known multinational companies for their views on the country’s socioeconomic development. Here is the interview with Canon.

Here are some excerpts:

Question: How has your company benefited from the country’s reform and opening-up policy?

Mr. Howard Ozawa: Canon and China have been closely connected with each other since the country began to implement the reform and opening-up policy. In 1979, Deng Yingchao, the wife of former premier Zhou Enlai, came to the Canon headquarters to meet our boss.

Our business in China includes production, research and development, and sales, which are very important segments in the whole value chain.

[…]

Question: What is the most unforgettable experience you have had in China?

Mr. Howard Ozawa: The 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, the 2010 Shanghai World Expo, and the Canon expos in 2011 and 2016 in Shanghai all left deep impressions on me.

Big sports events attract the media from all over the world. Whether they are photographers or journalists, we can see them in the stadium or in the news center. As most of their equipment is Canon, we set up an on-the-ground Canon professional service center, with professional staff to provide services, such as loaning cameras and lenses, as well as offering repair and maintenance.

Read the interview at China Daily.

Thanks Tom for sharing!