Powershot G1 X reviews round-up

New reviews for you. For Canon G1 X sample pics click here. Note that I will no longer post links to forum posts with sample images. Since the Powershot G1 X is now available, there is an increasing number of pics that appear on on Flickr (click here).

ephotozine posted a detailed review with lots of samples (high ISO too). They conclude:

The Canon Powershot G1 X is an interesting camera, simply because it has a large 14.3 megapixel CMOS sensor that is capable of producing high quality images with lots of detail. ISO noise performance is impressive with low noise right up to high ISO settings.

dcresource is next with a review extending on several pages and also the obligatory set of sample pictures. From their conclusion:

if you’ve got $800 burning a hole in your pocket and want a semi-compact camera with D-SLR image quality, then look no further than the Canon PowerShot G1 X.

Finally, I always like to here what photographers say about a camera, beside the pure technical issues. Elizabeth Halford got her hands on a brand new G1 X and tells us what she thinks about. She says:

So overall, I’m really excited to start using this camera more. And keep an eye out because my videos will be filmed with this camera from now on, too!

Enjoy your reading!

For more G1 X pictures click here.

Canon Powershot G1 Xprice check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA Check also our eBay live-ticker below for possible G1 X deals.

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Canon USA (Chuck Westfall) about the EOS 5D Mark III

Photographer Arash Hazeghi interviewed Chuck Westfall, technical advisor at the Professional Engineering & Solutions Division, Canon U.S.A. The interview focuses on the principal technical features of the EOS 5D Mark III. It is worth to be read, especially if you want to know  what Canon itself has to say about its new full-frame camera. However, no hints about future developments, i.e. about a possible high res full-frame camera by Canon. Mr. Westfall’s answer: «no comment on Canon’s future plans or products». That’s a pity!

Here some excerpts from the interview (click here to read the interview):

  • Sensor IQ-related improvements
    • Gapless Microlenses: more light can reach each photodiode on the sensor (5D Mark II had gapless microlenses)
    • New photodiode structure: improved photoelectric conversion rate.
    • On-chip noise reduction: has been improved
  • Higher data throughput: good for EOS movie-making
  • Why 22 Megapixel?
    • base level IQ
    • high continuous shooting spead (6 fps)
  • A new DPP version to come out
    • will have digital lens optimizing
  • 5D Mark III AF sensor and AI Servo III have same tracking algorithm as EOS 1DX
  • Shutter lag time is 59milliseconds (5D2: 73msec)
  • Viewfinder blackout time is 112msec (5D2: 145msec)

For more information about the EOS 5D Mark III (reviews, sample pics, world-wide order and pre-order options) click here. For a comprehensive hands-on review of the EOS 5D Mark III by DPreview click here.

EOS 5D Mark III price check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA EOS 5D Mark II price check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA

Check our eBay live-ticker for possible 5D Mark II deals

 

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New 5D Mark III round-up: high ISO, hands-on, and more stuff

Note: For more information about the EOS Canon 5D Mark III, including world-wide pre-order options, click here.

Engadget has a pre-production 5D Mark III, and while we wait for the full review they have posted some sample pictures shot with high ISO settings. They conclude:

As expected, the camera offered excellent performance at all of the native settings — as you can see from the image above, there’s some noise noticeable when viewing an image at full size, though considering the camera’s top resolution of 22.3 megapixels, we hardly see ISO 25,600 being an issue

For a true pixel-peeping exercise nothing fits better than this post on dcdv.zol.com (Google translated). Comparison with the 5D Mark II is done using various sets of crops. digitalcamerainfo started a work in progress review (click here to read, they started with a pre-production model and will finish tech specs on the production one). Lots of sample pictures. Next, I have two hands-on videos for you. whatdigitalcamera got its hands on the 5D Mark III (at the Canon stand at the Focus On Imaging show) and shows an overview about features and specifications.

And there is another guy lucky enough to have had the 5D Mark III in his hands (again at Focus On Imaging)

 

I also found four videos on youtube about high ISO samples that are examined with a post-processing software.

ISO 4000 test shots (pre-production 5D Mark III & 70-200 2.8 IS II)
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ISO 6400 test shots (pre-production 5D Mark III & 24-105mm):

and ISO 12800 (pre-production 5D Mark III & 24-105mm):

and finally ISO 25600 (pre-production 5D Mark III & 24-105mm):

For more information about the EOS Canon 5D Mark III, including world-wide pre-order, options click here.

Canon 5D Mark III price check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA Canon 5D Mark II price check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA [via engadget, NC]

New Zeiss teaser for the upcoming Distagon T* 2,8/15 super wide angle lens

Zeiss posted a new teaser of the awaited (and most probably to be a) Distagon T 2.8 15mm ZF.2/ZE lens on its blog. The new information we have: the lens hood is integrated and has a 95 mm filter thread. On Zeiss’ Facebook fan page you can read the following:

Here’s the next close-up of the newest member of our SLR family of lenses. The lens shade with 95mm filter thread is integrated into the design. This new super wide-angle lens from Carl Zeiss will be available from May 2012.

We still have to wait…

A new Zeiss 15 f/2.8 lens to come out soon?

Zeiss' new super wide angle lens

I have another teaser to report. On Zeiss’ site a post showed up :

It is here: the lens at the top of the wish list of our community on Facebook and Flickr. Now you can look forward to exploring entirely new creative opportunities. In the next few days, this is where we will be showing you everything our new SLR lens has to offer.

If you register on their Facebook page you can get the latest news (and pics) about the the upcoming super wide lens. Since they write that this lens is «at the top of the wish list of our community» I hope it will be a 15mm f/2.8 lens. Just to make us all happy. :-)

And, yeah, the lens will be available with a Canon mount too.