[Review] EOS 1D-X: Best DSLR Ever Made (According To Scott Bourne)

While still being on backorder everywhere, Canon’s new flagship, the full frameEOS-1D X ($6,799), is already getting enthusiastic reviews. Scott Bourne raves about this camera (emphasis mine):

This is without a doubt the most impressive camera I’ve seen since I went digital. There: You have the executive summary. The Canon 1D X is a certified monster of a camera. It’s the biggest, the fastest, and if you’ll permit me to create a word that is illegal in Scrabble, the bestest 35mm DSLR I’ve ever seen or used.

The EOS 1D-X features the same AF system as the EOS 5D Mark III, with just ome difference: the 1D-X has a dedicated CPU for this task. On the EOS 1D-X…

The autofocus is the best you can buy in this format. I’ve tested and used the 5D Mark III, so I was already familiar with Canon’s excellent new 61-point autofocus system. But on the Canon 1DX the autofocus gets a boost with its own dedicated DIGIC processor. This makes the AF even faster and more accurate than the 5D Mark III’s AF — and that is no small accomplishment.

I suggest you have a look at the original article. For the time being the EOS 1D-X can be pre-ordered for $6,799.00 at Adorama (click here), B&H (click here), Amazon US (click here) and DigitalRev (click here). Canon 1D-X features:

  • Newly designed 18.1 Megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor, 14-bit A/D conversion, wide range ISO setting 100-51,200 (L:50, H1: 102400, H2: 204800) for shooting from bright to dim light and next generation Dual DIGIC 5+ Image Processors for enhanced noise reduction and blazing processing speed
  • New 61-Point High Density Reticular AF including 41 cross-type AF points with f/4.0 lens support including 5 dual diagonal AF points (sensitive to f/2.8), plus EOS iTR (Intelligent Tracking and Recognition) AF for accurate subject tracking
  • EOS iSA (Intelligent Subject Analysis) powered by Canon’s DIGIC 4 Image Processor, featuring a 100,000-pixel RGB Metering Sensor with subject and color recognition for reliable AE
  • EOS HD Video with manual exposure control and multiple frame rates (1080: 30p (29.97) /24p (23.976) / 25p, 720: 60p (59.94) / 50p, 480: 60p (59.94) / 50p) with 4GB automatic file partitioning (continuous recording time 29 minutes 59 seconds) with selectable “All i-frame” or IPB compression
  • Outstanding shooting performance: up to 12.0 fps continuous shooting (14.0 fps in Super High Speed Mode) using a UDMA CF card
  • Magnesium alloy body with shutter durability tested up to 400,000 cycles, exclusive dust-and-weather resistance and new Ultrasonic Wave Motion Cleaning (UWMC) for improved vibration-based dust removal
  • Intelligent Viewfinder with superimposed LCD display, approximately 100% field of view, wide viewing angle of 35 degrees and 0.76x magnification
  • 3.2-inch Clear View II LCD monitor, 170 degree viewing angle, 1,040,000-dot VGA, reflection resistance with multi coating and high-transparency materials for bright and clear viewing
  • Improved handling with the addition of new customizable controls and enhanced recording options with Dual Card Slots, Gigabit-Ethernet terminal and compatibility with optional Canon Wireless File Transmitter and GPS Receiver

[via IR]

[Deal] Kingston 32GB CompactFlash Memory Card Ultimate 600x 20% Off

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The Kingston 32GB CompactFlash Memory Card Ultimate 600x is 20% off at B&H ($76.74, click here).

Designed for working professionals, for whom high-speed performance is essential, Kingston‘s 32GB CompactFlash Memory Card Ultimate 600x will satisfy even the most demanding shooter’s needs. The card features speed ratings of up to 600x, with read/write speeds of up to 90MB/sec. These lightning fast speeds translate into faster shooting and transfer of files. This CF card can hold up to 28,952 3MP JPEG images. Other compatible file types include RAW and TIFF.

The Ultimate CompactFlash 600x Memory Card also comes with data recovery software. MediaRECOVER 4.0 allows retrieval of lost or deleted files – translating into a saved job and hours of work. This software can also restore corrupted files on Windows and Mac machines. Kingston ensures that this card, like all their memory cards, has been tested, and is in 100% working order. In addition to this quality promise, Kingston provides a lifetime warranty and 24/7 live technical support.

[Rumor] Canon’s Entry-Level Full Frame Camera: Possible Specifications

Canonrumors reports new hints about an upcoming Canon full frame camera that could be announced in Fall (read Photokina). Apparently there are some prototypes out in the wild, undergoing testing. The most probable specifications are summed up:

  • 22mp (Same sensor as 5D3)
  • 19 AF Points
  • 4fps
  • ISO 100-51200
  • 3″ LCD
  • Smaller than the 5D Mark II
  • More Plastic than metal in the construction
  • Pop-Up Flash (On at least one prototype)
  • $1999 USD at launch
  • Launched with a new non-L full frame kit lens (Undisclosed what the lens is)
  • Compatible with full frame STM lenses

An sub $2000 full frame camera would be a great thing for a lot of people, wanting the benefits of a full frame sensor without the price tag such cameras are having for the time being. And while we are talking about full frame sensor, there is an interesting article by German photographer Falk Lumo [via petapixel] about the artificial separation between APS-C and full frame sensor because of mere business reasons. Worth to be read.

 by 2012 there is an artificial separation between the APS-C and full frame markets. Artificial because less people still believe that full frame must be expensive. And artificial because image qualities beyond an effective resolution of 20 MP may simply require full frame. The new offers from Nikon (D800 and D600) therefore directly address this and may accelerate the disappearence of the artificial market separation. This is known as “supercriticality”: the market ought to offer uncrippled, full frame enthusiast cameras in the $1,500 segment but offers APS-C cameras instead. Supercritical systems “fall” into their preferred state after only small perturbations occur. Once this happens, a D800 type camera will be in the $1,500 segment.

Let’s hope Canon gets the message.

[Patent] Canon 135mm f/2.8 and a 180mm f/3.5 Using An Apodization Filter

135mm f/2.8
180mm f/3.5

Japanese site Egami (machine translated) spotted another patent filed by Canon. This time it is about a 135mm f/2.8 and a 180mm f/3.5 lens. The news are an apodization filter that should help provide a more pleasant bokeh.

  • Patent Publication No. 2012-128151
    • 2012.7.5 Release Date
    • 2010.12.15 filing date
  • Example 1
    • 137.2mm – f = 135.0 focal length
    • Fno 2.83 -. 3.90
    • 9.1 deg half each painting.
    • Image height 21.60mm
    • 186.7mm – 150.0 full-length lens
    • BF 47.4 – 80.7mm
    • Lens Construction 10 elements in 7 groups sheet
    • 1 UD glass sheet
    • 0.25 times the maximum magnification ratio
  • Example 6
    • 179.1mm – f = 180.0 focal length
    • Fno 3.50 -. 4.00
    • 6.9 deg half each painting.
    • Image height 21.60mm
    • 218.0mm – 199.8 full-length lens
    • BF 70.0 – 89.8mm
    • Lens Construction 11 elements in 7 groups sheet
    • 1 UD glass sheet
    • 0.11 times the maximum magnification ratio
  • (Bokeh) out of focus look of the important
  • Apodization filter
    • The periphery of the filter transmittance is reduced
    • Added to the luminous flux intensity distribution
    • Bokeh is beautiful and the outline of the
  • Apodization element variable
    • If the liquid of same refractive index as the shape of the interface, no variation occurs in aberration
    • To be the same refractive power of the two liquids, the Abbe number is difficult
  • Canon‘s patented
    • Variable element shape
      • Voltage is applied, changing the shape of the interface
      • Obtain the effect of apodization
      • Varying refractive power, the Abbe number
    • To reduce the time variable aberrations of shape
      • By a twist of the material performed, to optimize the absorption coefficient, to suppress the generation of aberration to moderate the curvature of the interface
      • To reverse the two materials (such as liquid), the amount of chromatic aberration, do the negation
      • Suppress the two materials (such as liquid), refractive index, the difference between the Abbe number
    • The entire feeding (with floating)

 

Voigtländer 28 mm f/2.8 ColorSkopar SL II N Comes With EF Mount

Voigtländer added a new lens to its SL II line-up, the 28 mm f/2.8 ColorSkopar SL II N (machine translated). The lens comes with a Canon EF mount too (the other is for Nikon) and has manual focus. The price will be around €550/$673.

Focal length 28 mm
Aperture ratio 1:2,8
Minimum aperture F 22
Lens construction 7 elements in
6 groups
Angle 74.8 °
Diaphragm Blades 9
Shortest Distance setting 0.22 m
Macro area 1:5
Max diameter 63.3 mm Nikon AI-S
70.0 mm Canon EOS
Length 24.5 mm Nikon AI-S
27.0 mm Canon EOS
Weight 180 g Nikon AI-S
Canon EOS 230 g
Filter Size 52 mm
Color black
Connection AI-S (CPU integrated)
Canon EOS
Model 19 650 Nikon AI-S
19 651 Canon EOS
Retail price 529, – € Nikon 
549, – € Canon
Optional Accessories LH sunvisor 28N

Pixma MG4220 And Pixma MG3220 Support Airprint Wireless Printing

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., July 10, 2012 – Canon USA Inc., a leader in digital imaging, today announced that its PIXMA MG4220 ($129.99, click here) and MG3220 (79.99, click here) Wireless All-In-One inkjet printers will support AirPrint wireless printing for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch devices. AirPrint allows users to wirelessly print photos, email, web pages and documents without installing device drivers. AirPrint works with iPhone (3GS and later), iPad and iPod touch devices (3rd generation and later) and requires iOS 4.2 (or later).

Pixma MG4220 technical specifications:

  • Built-in automatic 2-sided printing helps the environment and can cut your paper usage by up to 50%
  • AirPrint enabled! Print wirelessly from your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch directly to your MG4220, no drivers needed!
  • My Image Garden software makes organizing and printing your photos fun and easy with great facial recognition, Fun Filters, Calendar Organization, Automatic Layout Suggestions and so much more!
  • Enjoy cloud printing convenience with PIXMA Cloud Link and Google Cloud Print
  • View images from your memory cards right on the built-in 2.5-Inch LCD and print

The compact PIXMA MG4220 Wireless Inkjet Photo All-In-One has features that make it an easy choice for the educated consumer. Built-in Wi-Fi technology allows you to easily print and scan wirelessly virtually anywhere around your house. Built-in AirPrintcompatibility allows you to print right from your iPhone, iPad and iPod touch wirelessly and with virtually no setup! Print gorgeous, borderless photos at home up to 8.5″ x 11″ size with a maximum print color resolution of 4800 x 1200 dpi, not to mention the convenience and quality of Canon FINE ink cartridges.

My Image Garden software puts all of your favorite printing features, such as Fun Filter Effects like Fish Eye and Blur Background, Full HD Movie Print and more all into one convenient software application. Plus, My Image Garden adds great photo organization convenience with calendar view and facial recognition. With your memories in one place it is easy to print beautiful, borderless photos to share and enjoy. It’s also your creative coach as the software offers creative templates in various color combinations and patterns for your fun photo projects. My Image Garden also gives you access to CREATIVE PARK PREMIUM where you can download exclusive creative projects and content.

The versatile PIXMA Cloud Link feature allows you to conveniently print pictures from online photo albums such as Canon image Gateway and Google Picasa as well as download web templates and seasonal calendars, all right on your printer. You can also take advantage of Google Cloud Printand send items to be printed from virtually anywhere. With the Canon iEPPapp you can also print and scan JPG and PDF files from compatible iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Android devices. On top of all that, you still have built-in Auto Duplex Printing which allows you to automatically print on both sides of the paper and can help reduce paper usage by up to 50%. Also, look for the Canon “Print Your Days” App on Facebook. You can create fun collages to print and share on your timeline.