Canon Rules The Astrophotography Universe (pun intended)

Astrophotography
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Yes they do: Canon is the most used camera gear in astrophotography (see image on top). That’s what came out from a recent research.

The folks at Skies & Scopes analyzed 828 images listed for the Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition in the past six years to learn what equipment was used:

  • 315 Landscape Astrophotography images (including aurora)
  • 284 Deep Sky images (galaxies, nebulae, etc)
  • 229 Planetary images (including solar and lunar)

Here is a short list of their findings:

  • The trend towards mirrorless camera use increases every year – 58% Mirrorless vs 42% DSLR in 2023
  • Full-frame sensor DSLR and mirrorless models are overwhelmingly favored – 87% full-frame vs 13% APS-C
  • The most successful models are:
    • Canon EOS 6D
    • Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
    • Nikon D850
    • Nikon D750
    • Nikon D810A
    • Nikon Z6 II
    • Sony A7 III
    • Sony A7R III
  • Camera Lenses
    • Sigma is the top lens maker
    • 14mm f/2.8 and 14mm f/1.8 lenses are the most used for landscape astrophotography

Get the story and more information at Skies & Scopes.

Canon R6 Mark II vs Sony a7 IV Comparison (video review)

EOS R6 Mark II Vs Sony A7 IV
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Here is a Canon EOS R6 Mark II vs Sony a7 IV comparison review.

Sony a7 IV at a glance:

  • 33MP Full-Frame Exmor R CMOS Sensor
  • Up to 10 fps Shooting, ISO 100-51200
  • 4K 60p Video in 10-Bit, S-Cinetone
  • 3.68m-Dot EVF with 120 fps Refresh Rate
  • 3″ 1.03m-Dot Vari-Angle Touchscreen LCD
  • 759-Pt. Fast Hybrid AF, Real-time Eye AF
  • Focus Breathing Compensation
  • 5-Axis SteadyShot Image Stabilization
  • Creative Looks and Soft Skin Effect
  • 4K 15p UVC/UAC Streaming via USB Type-C

Canon EOS R6 Mark II 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

PetaPixel’s Chris is the host of the video comparison between the EOS R6 Mark II and the Sony a7 IV.

The Sony a7 IV and Canon R6 Mark II are two of the most well-rounded full-frame cameras on the market. Both are capable of outstanding photos and video, but in which areas do they excel? Art Of Photography host Ted Forbes joined us up in Calgary for a no-holds-barred camera throwdown!

For those who know what they want so see, here is the index of the video:

  • 0:00 – Intro
  • 2:14 – Handling
  • 4:17 – Image quality
  • 5:59 – Autofocus
  • 7:16 – Speed round!
  • 8:51 – Burst shooting
  • 9:52 – Video
  • 10:53 – Battery life
  • 11:26 – Lens lineup
  • 12:03 – The wrap

The Worst Thing About Canon (and other brand’s) Cameras, According To PetaPixel’s Chris

Canon
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This is just for fun so do not take it seriously or start a war about it. What’s the worst in Canon cameras? And other cameras?

Chris of DPReview fame and now employed at PetaPixel, discusses what he believes is the worst of Sony, Nikon, Canon, Leica, and some other manufactures. He says:

Every camera company has an achilles heel that annoys Chris and he’s ready to dish. Here are the worst things about every camera company.

Curious? Just watch the video. Canon related rants start at minute 2:50.

Nikon Z 8 vs Sony a7R V, A Battle of Mirrorless ALL-STARS?

Nikon Z 8
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DPReview’s Chris, now employed at PetaPixel, posted a video where he compares the Nikon Z 8 with the Sony a7R V. Mirrorless all-stars? I doubt so.

Chris seems to have forgotten Canon’s rich offering on mirrorless cameras. While the Nikon Z 8 is a great camera (and the Sony seems to be too), we have an EOS R5 and EOS R3. Not all-stars? Enjoy the video.

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

Sony
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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
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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.