Firmware Update For Canon EOS R3 (version 1.4.1)

Canon Eos R3 Price

Canon released a new firmware for the EOS R3, version 1.4.1.

This firmware includes the following enhancements and fixes:

  1. Compatible with Speedlite EL-5.
    *It is not compatible with the automatic dimming function of the AF auxiliary light.
  2. Added [Registered people priority] to the menu. Pre-registered people can now be preferentially detected and tracked.
    * The effect may not be obtained depending on the shooting environment and the scene where the subject is moving, when the face is small, oblique face/side profile, part of the face is hidden.
  3. [Save/load communication settings to card] has been added to the menu. Network settings can now be inherited between cameras of the same model.
  4. [Panning Assist] has been added to the menu. When panning with a compatible lens, “camera shake correction” and “subject blur correction” are performed during exposure.
  5. Shortened the time it takes for the AWB results to be reflected in the viewfinder when looking through the viewfinder with the auto white balance (AWB) setting.
  6. “Image protection” for FTP transfer has been added to the menu. Images transferred by FTP can now be automatically protected. This makes it possible to determine whether or not the image has been FTP-transferred.
  7. After updating to firmware version 1.4.0, the phenomenon that Err70 may occur under certain conditions in combination with some EF lenses has been corrected.
  8. After updating to firmware version 1.4.0, when using the electronic shutter for high-speed continuous shooting, the phenomenon that the original tracking performance of Servo AF may not be obtained depending on the shooting conditions has been corrected.
  9. Fixed minor bugs.

You can already download Canon EOS R3 firmware 1.4.1 from Canon Japan (scroll to the bottom).

Today Only: Lensbaby Composer Pro with Sweet 80 Optic for Canon EF – $179.95 (reg. $379.95)

Lensbaby Composer Pro

Only for today (4/20/2023) B&H Photo has a $200 instant discount on the Lensbaby Composer Pro with Sweet 80 Optic for Canon EF.

At a glance:

  • EF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
  • Aperture Range: f/2.8 to f/22
  • Lensbaby Optic Swap System
  • Tiltable Design
  • Produces Sweet Spot of Focus
  • 12-Blade Diaphragm

Get the Lensbaby Composer Pro with Sweet 80 Optic for Canon EF on sale at $179.95. Compare at $379.95.

More selected deals:

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Sony Wanted To Get Canon And Nikon Off-Guard, Telling Them “Mirrorless is no big deal”

Sony

Interesting interview by Nikkei Business with Mr. Shigeki Ishizuka, a former Sony digital camera developer.

It seems, if nothing got lost in translation, that Sony endorsed a strategy consisting in telling Nikon and Canon (and others, the “SLR makers”) that “Mirrorless is not a big deal even in full size”. If I got it right, Sony wanted the “SLR makers” to not jump too early on the mirrorless bandwagon.

Mr. Shigeki Ishizuka:

In fact, I was calculating that I would let the top manufacturers of digital SLRs take the world by storm, saying, “Even full-frame mirrorless cameras are no big deal.” Externally, I dared not say once that I was going to be number one. In short, it is better to make people think that Sony has a low market share in interchangeable-lens cameras, and that it is an electronics manufacturer that has never understood cameras.

Sony played down mirrorless tech to be the first on the market? Did I get it right?

[via Digicame Info]

Interview With Sony Execs Reveals What The Company Plans For Future

Sony

DPReview had the chance to interview two Sony executives. The interview touches many points and reveals what Sony plans for the future.

Here are some excerpts from the interview.

Sony has taken a different approach to support for third-party lens makers than some other companies. What was the strategy behind that decision?

I can’t say anything about other companies’ strategies, but we’re always considering the advantage of a total ecosystem. Sony is developing our business around the growth of E-mount as an entire ecosystem. We have a wide variety of products, not only bodies but also lenses. Each product connects using only one mount from APS-C to full-frame, from entry-level to professional, from still to cinema camera.

This is a real, ideal ecosystem. Expanding this ecosystem around E-mount is our strategy.

Does Sony see APS-C as a more versatile format for video?

I don’t think so. We don’t intend to focus on APS-C or full-frame in terms of video. Both are very important to us, but customers differ slightly between full-frame and APS-C.

If we think about the differentiation points between full-frame and APS-C for young video creators, it’s complicated but important. FX3 users are more likely to already know how to use a camera to create what they imagine. APS-C users may still be younger and earlier in their learning cycle.

In recent years we’ve seen a lot of AI and machine learning technologies improve autofocus systems. Beyond AF, how else could AI help photographers in the future?

We’re not just using AI for autofocus but are now using AI to clarify the scene itself. What would be in the scene? What would be the subject? Where would it be? What time would it be? How would the subject feel?

So, we’d like to utilize the power of AI to recognize the entire scene.

Concerning AI, I doubt Sony can hold up with Canon. I wrote a piece about Canon and AI.

It’s Here: Canon RF 100-300mm f/2.8L IS – $9499 (officially announced)

Canon RF 100-300mm F/2.8L IS

Canon announced the Canon RF 100-300mm f/2.8L IS, a professional grade lens with a pro price.

At a glance:

  • Telephoto zoom lens that builds on the legacy of the popular EF300mm f/2.8 lens.
  • Fast f/2.8 maximum aperture throughout the whole zoom range for great control over depth of field, bokeh, and low-light shooting with fast and reliable autofocus.
  • Excellent image quality: highlights include one flourite lens, and 4 UD (Ultra-low Dispersion) glass elements, flourine coating, and Canon SSC (Super Spectra Coating) to minimize ghosting and flare.
  • Built-in function/focus preset selector switch allows you to program a focus preset recall into the buttons at the front of the lens.
  • Optical image stabilization — up to 5.5 stops* of shake correction. Up to 6.0 stops Coordinated IS when paired with EOS R series cameras featuring In-Body Image Stabilizer (IBIS).
  • 2 Nano USMs achieves outstanding image quality throughout the focusing range, from infinity to close-up thanks to 2 focusing groups that are independently actuated.
  • Dedicated, programmable Control Ring, with click-stop operation.
  • Impressively light at only 5.8 lbs., which makes it the lightest f/2.8 zoom lens with a 300mm focal length on the market.**
  • Circular (9 blades) aperture for beautiful, soft backgrounds.

The Canon RF 100-300mm f/2.8L IS sells at $9,499. Preorders are open.

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

Here is some stuff about the lens.

Press release:

Canon Introduces the RF100-300mm F2.8 L IS USM to Its Lens Lineup

The new lens combines the flexibility of a zoom lens with the quality of a telephoto lens

MELVILLE, NY, April 20, 2023 – Today, Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, announced the launch of the RF100-300mm F2.8 L IS USM lens, answering calls from photojournalists and professional level customers for a modern 300mm f/2.8 equivalent lens.

“This lens is an absolute game changer! It gives you the most incredible range, but without sacrificing the f/2.8 aperture. To have this kind of performance at your fingertips is incredible!”

Roberto Valenzuela, fashion and wedding photographer

For decades, the 300mm f/2.8 telephoto lens has been an industry standard for photojournalists, professionals, and aspiring enthusiast photographers due to its outstanding image quality, excellent speed for indoor shooting, and relatively light weight for hand-holding. Now, with the launch of the RF100-300mm F2.8 L IS USM, Canon delivers the flexibility of a zoom lens design with the truly outstanding quality of a 300mm f/2.8 L-series telephoto lens. Exceeding the reach and potential of traditional 70-200mm lenses, and adding zoom flexibility to its Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS predecessor, the RF100-300mm F2.8 L IS USM lens brings new value to customers with the following features:

  • Wide Focal Range — 100-300mm range
  • Extended Zoom — Optional RF1.4x and 2x extenders are supported with this lens, enabling a zoom range of up to 600mm
  • Spectacular Image Quality — f/2.8 constant wide aperture; Fluorite Aspherical and UD-glass design
  • Reliable Stabilization — Up to 5.5 stops correction with in-lens Optical Image Stabilization and up to 6.0 stops correction with in-body coordinated Image Stabilization (CIPA standard)
  • Weather and Dust Resistant — Durable in various environmental conditions
  • Compact and Lightweight Design — Despite capabilities to zoom over 300mm, this lens is unusually lightweight, just barely heavier than the EF300mm f/2.8L IS II

“I love this lens! It’s incredibly lightweight, versatile, and sharp. Toss on the 2x extender and you can snipe gorgeous frames at a distance, especially with the built in image stabilizer. This lens is going to change the game for live concerts, weddings, and so much more.”

Ben Hagarty, Grammy award-winning cinematographer

This telephoto zoom lens is ideal for professionals who use a Canon EOS R3, EOS R5 or EOS R6 Mark II full-frame mirrorless camera, but can also be a catalyst for users who have developed into serious, aspirational enthusiasts and are looking to step beyond their traditional telephoto lens experience. Best use cases include, but are not limited to, indoor sports, motorsports, outdoor fashion, video and cinema, photojournalism and theater work. For high-level shooters and videographers particularly working in low-light settings and seeking a hand-holdable solution, this lens provides the total answer.

Canon EOS R6 Mark II Review (a mini EOS R3?)

Canon EOS R6 Mark II Review

Here is a Canon EOS R6 Mark II review by a professional and reliable reviewer.

At a glance:

  • 24.2MP Full-Frame CMOS Sensor
  • 4K60 10-Bit Internal Video, C-Log 3
  • External 6K ProRes RAW Recording
  • Dual Pixel CMOS AF II
  • 12 fps Mech. Shutter, 40 fps E. Shutter
  • Sensor-Shift 5-Axis Image Stabilization
  • 3.69m-Dot OLED EVF
  • 3″ 1.62m-Dot Vari-Angle Touchscreen LCD
  • Dual UHS-II Memory Card Slots
  • Multi-Function Shoe, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

Dustin Abbott posted his full and exhaustive Canon EOS R6 Mark II review. A review that doesn’t let a question unanswered. From his conclusion:

In conclusion, the Canon EOS R6 MKII is a great improvement on its predecessor. I liked the R6, but going back to 20MP felt like a serious step back. The R6 MKII is improved in a variety of ways and has a great new sensor. I wouldn’t have minded seeing that resolution point moving up nearer to 30MP, but that’s not what happened. In most other ways, however, the R6 MKII’s sensor is very competitive with competing cameras on the market and even bests them in areas like High ISO performance and color fidelity.

The focus system is largely borrowed from the EOS R3, which means that it is among Canon’s best, and this can serve as a pretty great sports camera without breaking the bank.  The buffer depth isn’t as robust as the dedicated sports models, but it’s deep enough for many situations, and there are some easy workarounds (like using CRAW) that can help raise those limits.

When my biggest gripe is the position of the power switch you know that things are pretty good.  The Canon EOS R6 MKII is a great camera that is destined to be very popular and makes me anticipate what Canon does in the next generation of my beloved EOS R5 […] Read the review at Dustin Abbott’s…

All reviews by Dustin Abbott come with test charts, sample pics, dynamic range tests, and much more. Mr. Abbott also provides a video-review that someone might prefer to the written review. It’s here (below) for your viewing pleasure.

More Canon EOS R6 Mark II review coverage is listed here.

Canon EOS R6 Mark II world wide orders:

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

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