Canon aids relief efforts following earthquake in central Nepal

Canon Rumor
Canon aids relief efforts following earthquake in central Nepal

TOKYO, April 27, 2015—On April 25, a powerful earthquake struck central Nepal, causing extensive destruction and loss of life. We at Canon would like to extend our heartfelt condolences to all those affected by this disaster and our thoughts go out to those suffering in its aftermath.

While we realize that the road to recovery will be challenging and time-consuming, we hope that the region will soon be able to begin the rebuilding and healing process.

To aid in the relief efforts for the earthquake victims, the Canon Group is making a donation of 5 million yen (approximately US$42,000) to the NGO Japan Platform.

Note:Currency translation based on exchange rate of US$1=JPY119.

(CW2) Canon EOS 6D Mark II coming with tiltable display?

Canon RumorCanon Rumor

I got a small new EOS 6D Mark II rumor (thanks). 

I have been told that Canon may well feature a tiltable display on the upcoming Canon EOS 6D Mark II (see yesterday’s rumor). I rate this rumor only CW2, for the following reason. The EOS 6D Mark II will be as much oriented to the video folks as its predecessor is. That is: very little. The EOS 6D is mainly a still camera (albeit having video features) and so will be the EOS 6D Mark II.

A tiltable display doesn’t make that much sense on a DSLR which is thought for still photography rather than for serious video work. However, in the past there was a rumor suggesting the EOS 6D Mark II may feature a tiltable display. The same rumor was also suggesting that the EOS 6D Mark II (and EOS 5D Mark IV) will sport Dual Pixel AF. So far no rumors have suggested this possibility. It’s a question I am particularly curious about: will Canon feature Dual Pixel AF on the 6D Mark II?

The Dual Pixel AF question is less obvious than you may think. For the time being, and excluding Canon’s Cinema cameras, only two Canon DSLR have Dual Pixel AF on board, the Canon EOS 70D and the EOS 7D Mark II. Canon isn’t putting DPAF in every new DSLR, as many of us thought they would. It seems that DPAF is not a technology Canon considers the to be the right one for any camera. The EOS M3 didn’t get it, to our all surprise.

What do you think?

About our rumor rating:

  • CW1 – probably fake rumor, not reliable (less than 15% chance to be real)
  • CW2 – rumor from an unknown/new source, but otherwise at least a plausible rumor (20%-40% chance to be real)
  • CW3 – around 50% chance to be real, coming from a known source, or from new source with good insight in Canon’s business
  • CW4 – rumor from a known source that was right in the past, high probability to be true (60%-80% chance to be real)
  • CW5 – as good as certain to be true

Canon Announces Results of Extended Acceptance Period for Public Cash Offer to the Shareholders of Axis

Canon Rumor

Canon press release:

Canon Announces Results of Extended Acceptance Period for Public Cash Offer to the Shareholders of Axis

TOKYO, Japan, April 24, 2015—On February 10, 2015, Canon Inc. (“Canon”; Chairman and CEO: Fujio Mitarai) announced a recommended public cash offer (the “Offer”) to the shareholders in the Swedish company Axis AB (“Axis”; President and CEO: Ray Mauritsson) to tender all their shares in Axis to Canon for 340 Swedish krona per share (the Offer Price). Following the end of the acceptance period under the Offer, Canon decided to extend the acceptance period from April 8 until 17:00 (CET) on April 21, 2015. During the extended acceptance period, Axis shareholders tendered 5,445,997 shares, which accounts for 7.84% of the total number of Axis’s outstanding shares. In addition, Canon has acquired 500,187 Axis shares outside of the Offer. As a result, the combination of these shares with the shares tendered by Axis shareholders during the initial acceptance period brings Canon’s current holdings in Axis to 58,362,081 shares, which corresponds to 84.02% of Axis’s outstanding common stock.

Click here to open the rest of the article

(CW3) Canon EOS-1D X Mark II talk (prototypes out in the wild?)

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The Canon EOS-1D X

 

Canon Rumors got some tidbits about the Canon EOS-1D X Mark II. Sum up of the rumor:

  • A “handful of Canon EOS-1D X Mark II bodies currently being tested in the field“
  • Announcement expected “some time in 2015“
  • Sensor will have more than 18MP (that’s the resolution of the EOS-1D X)
  • New AF system with more AF points and a “new technology” in the viewfinder display
  • New battery to lower the weight of the camera
  • Larger LCD than EOS-1D X
  • Some ergonomic changes

If the announcement really occurs in 2015 we should soon start to get more rumors Stay tuned…

About our rumor rating:

  • CW1 – probably fake rumor, not reliable (less than 15% chance to be real)
  • CW2 – rumor from an unknown/new source, but otherwise at least a plausible rumor (20%-40% chance to be real)
  • CW3 – around 50% chance to be real, coming from a known source, or from new source with good insight in Canon’s business
  • CW4 – rumor from a known source that was right in the past, high probability to be true (60%-80% chance to be real)
  • CW5 – as good as certain to be true

Deal Alert: Canon EOS 60D – $479 (B&H Photo, compare at $663 on Amazon)

60d

Thanks Niklas. Authorised US Canon dealer B&H Photo has the Canon EOS 60D (body only) for the bargain price of $479 (click here). Compare at $663 on Amazon. Free shipping in the US.

The EOS 60D is still a very good mid-range DSLR (DPReview’s review), if you are looking for a powerful back-up body or for your first semi-pro DSLR, this may be the deal for you. EOS 60D specs:

  • 18MP APS-C CMOS Sensor
  • 1920 x 1080 HD Video Capture
  • SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Card Slot
  • Vari-Angle Clear View 3.0″ Flip-Out LCD
  • DIGIC 4 Image Processor
  • 5.3 fps Continuous Shooting
  • Works with all Canon EF and EF-S Lenses
  • ISO 6400 – Expandable to 12800
  • HDMI Output to HDTV
  • In-Camera Editing Options

Canon publishes financial results for Q1 2015 (-29% net income, -22.5% compact cameras sold, compared to 2014)

cfr

Canon published the financial results for the first quarter 2015. Doesn’t look very good for Canon, given a net income loss of 29%.

There is also an article by Reuters about Canon’s financial results. Quoting:

“Sales volume for low-end (digital camera) models declined due to the ongoing contraction of the market in all regions from the previous year,” said Canon in its earnings release. Sales of high-end models increased, it said.

Canon also said it expects to sell 7.0 million compact cameras in 2015, versus a previous forecast of 7.8 million and 22.5 percent less than in 2014. It projects sales of cameras with interchangeable lenses to reach 5.8 million units rather than its previous view of 6.4 million.

If you want to have a look for yourself, look into the presentation material, since it is much easier to read and understand.