Want to know how these flagship cameras compare? Here you are.

The folks at PetaPixel compared the Canon EOS R1 with the Nikon Z 9 with the Sony a1 II.

From their conclusion:

The Z9 is an awesome camera despite being slightly older than the others, and there is no arguing that it represents the best value for the dollar at just under $5,000. It has an excellent sensor, can handle any kind of photography, and is still the most capable video/photo hybrid of the bunch. 

[…] The Canon EOS R1 is undoubtedly pricey at $6,300 and is clearly more specialized as a dedicated sports and action kind of camera. Canon has certainly made an innovative body with a fast-scanning sensor and state-of-the-art autofocusing. It’s a decent video camera as well but I feel like if I’m paying the high price of admission, I want a camera that can tackle more types of photography.

[…] The Sony a1 II is proving to be a controversial camera. On the one hand, it borrows technology already present in the Sony lineup as a basic mashup of the a9 III body and the older a1 internals without providing much innovation. On the other hand, the camera still ends up being incredibly capable and delivers fast shooting, high burst rates, and more megapixels than anyone else. It’s a testament to the original a1 for being so ahead of its time but any updates like pre-capture and auto subject detection are fairly minor.

Read the review at PetaPixel…

If you prefer, you can watch the entire comparison in the video below.

Here is a new Canon patent application.

Canon patent application 2024163673 (Japan, published 11/22/2024) discusses optical formulas for three telephoto lenses:

• 400mm F4
• 500mm F5.6
• 800mm F6.3

From the patent literature:

• A compact optical system is provided that has a sufficient aperture ratio and can effectively correct various aberrations.
• Background Art: As a small telephoto lens, an optical system has been disclosed that has a first lens group with positive refractive power, a second lens group with negative refractive power that moves during focusing, and a third lens group with positive refractive power, which are arranged in order from the object side to the image side. In addition, as an optical system advantageous for video shooting and dustproofing and drip-proofing, an optical system employing an inner focus method or a rear focus method in which focusing is performed by moving a lens group on the image side rather than the first lens group, which is the closest to the object side, has been disclosed. These optical systems have good correction of various aberrations such as spherical aberration and chromatic aberration. In addition, the optical system may have an anti-vibration function for reducing (correcting) image blur caused by camera shake such as hand shake. Furthermore, these optical systems are also required to have a large aperture ratio and high optical performance.

Example 1

• Focal length: 388.73
• F-number: 4.08
• Half angle of view: 3.19
• Image height: 21.64
• Total length: 310.74
• Back Focus: 55.06

Example 2

• Focal length: 479.13
• F-number: 5.65
• Half angle of view: 2.59
• Image height: 21.64
• Total length: 331.00
• Back focal length: 55.35

Example 3

• Focal length: 583.80
• F-number: 5.65
• Half angle of view: 2.12
• Image height: 21.64
• Total length: 366.23
• Back focal length: 67.52

Example 4

• Focal length: 584.06
• F-number: 6.40
• Half angle of view: 2.12
• Image height: 21.64
• Total length: 366.13
• Back Focus: 69.91

Example 5

• Focal length: 789.38
• F-number: 6.40
• Half angle of view: 1.57
• Image height: 21.64
• Overall length: 600.18
• Back Focus: 62.06

More Canon patents are listed here.

[via asobinet]

There are some great refurbished deals for Black Friday at Canon USA, and they will be over soon.

Check all refurbished Canon USA deals here. You can get an EOS R100 body for just $199.

More Black Friday deals are listed here:

• B&H Photo’s Black Friday general deal listings and Canon deal listings
• Amazon US and Amazon Germany

Topaz Labs has a rather good deal on their award winning Photo Ai software.

You can get the Photo AI starter kit on Black Friday sale at $199. Compare at $399.

Save on Photo AI 3 + 800 Cloud Credits to use when Cloud Render is available in the coming week. Soon, you can use credits for even faster image enhancements through our powerful, secure server. Your Cloud Credits will allow you to enhance images with the latest AI models at peak performance. It’s up to you: Run Photo AI 3 in the cloud when it’s available, or run it locally.

More Black Friday deals are listed here:

• B&H Photo’s Black Friday general deal listings and Canon deal listings
• Amazon US and Amazon Germany
• Canon USA

More deals to come…

Here is anew Canon patent application for three telephoto lenses.

Canon patent application 2024163673 (Japan, published 11/22/2024) discusses optical formulas for three telephoto lenses:

• 400mm F4
• 500mm F5.6
• 800mm F6.3

From the patent literature:

• A compact optical system is provided that has a sufficient aperture ratio and can effectively correct various aberrations.
• Background Art: As a small telephoto lens, an optical system has been disclosed that has a first lens group with positive refractive power, a second lens group with negative refractive power that moves during focusing, and a third lens group with positive refractive power, which are arranged in order from the object side to the image side. In addition, as an optical system advantageous for video shooting and dustproofing and drip-proofing, an optical system employing an inner focus method or a rear focus method in which focusing is performed by moving a lens group on the image side rather than the first lens group, which is the closest to the object side, has been disclosed. These optical systems have good correction of various aberrations such as spherical aberration and chromatic aberration. In addition, the optical system may have an anti-vibration function for reducing (correcting) image blur caused by camera shake such as hand shake. Furthermore, these optical systems are also required to have a large aperture ratio and high optical performance.

Example 1

• Focal length: 388.73
• F-number: 4.08
• Half angle of view: 3.19
• Image height: 21.64
• Total length: 310.74
• Back Focus: 55.06

Example 2

• Focal length: 479.13
• F-number: 5.65
• Half angle of view: 2.59
• Image height: 21.64
• Total length: 331.00
• Back focal length: 55.35

Example 3

• Focal length: 583.80
• F-number: 5.65
• Half angle of view: 2.12
• Image height: 21.64
• Total length: 366.23
• Back focal length: 67.52

Example 4

• Focal length: 584.06
• F-number: 6.40
• Half angle of view: 2.12
• Image height: 21.64
• Total length: 366.13
• Back Focus: 69.91

Example 5

• Focal length: 789.38
• F-number: 6.40
• Half angle of view: 1.57
• Image height: 21.64
• Overall length: 600.18
• Back Focus: 62.06

More Canon patents are listed here.

[via asobinet]