Canon Announces New SDK and API Programming Interfaces for Selected Cameras

Powershot SX70
View Post

Hackers enjoy. Canon is releasing a new version of its Software Development Kit (SDK) and Application Programming Interface (API) for selected cameras. The first camera to be supported will be the PowerShot SX70 HS. The EOS Digital SDK is already available for download.

Press release:

London, UK, Wednesday 2nd January 2019 — Canon Europe, a world leader in digital imaging solutions, announces the release of its new camera API package, offering a range of resources to developers. The combined EOS Digital software development kit (SDK) and all-new Camera Control API (CCAPI) create unique opportunities for developers and software engineers to take advantage of select Canon cameras and lenses, launching with the PowerShot SX70 HS.

Many developers have already benefited from Canon SDKs, enabling them to integrate Canon cameras and lenses in their solutions and control them remotely, wired via USB. Such applications include photo booths, robotic / automated units, event photography and recording, mass portrait / passport and photogrammetry systems.

Click here to open the rest of the article

Canon EF-M 32mm F/1.4 Sample Gallery (DPReview)

Canon EF-M 32mm
View Post

Canon EF-M 32mm F/1.4 at a glance:

  • EF-M-Mount Lens/APS-C Format
  • 51.2mm (35mm Equivalent)
  • Aperture Range: f/1.4 to f/16
  • One Aspherical Element
  • Super Spectra Coating
  • Gear-Type STM Stepping AF Motor
  • Rounded 7-Blade Diaphragm

DPReview posted a gallery of sample photos shot with the new Canon EF-M 32mm F/1.4 lens for Canon EOS M mirrorless cameras.

Canon EF-M 32mm F/1.4: [shopcountry 53995]

Canon Explains The Advantages Of The Larger Mount On The Canon EOS R

eos r
View Post

DCWatch posted some information about an internal Canon presentation.

The benefits and advantages of the large diameter of the RF mount featured on the Canon EOS R are discussed. The main reason is that the RF mount allows for a new and improved lens design.

Apparently, Canon had a try to use the EF M mount for their EOS R full frame mirrorless camera (machine translated text):

Initially, Canon also considered to realize a 35mm full size with the EF-M mount of the APS – C mirrorless “EOS M” series, but satisfactory results were not obtained, such as no performance aimed at . And since the system becomes large when unnecessarily increasing the mount diameter, we actually designed multiple lenses, decided to 54mm while looking at the balance of optical merit and size, the strength of the camera and so on.

This didn’t work out well, as it seems.

Canon sees these main advantages of the larger mount:

  • more flexibility on where the optical elements have to go
  • larger elements can be placed closer to the sensor
  • lenses are easier to design
  • complex lenses like the RF 50mm f/1.2L and 24-70mm f/2L are feasible
  • vignetting and other optical issues are better controlled

Note that while most of the above points would have been technically done also with the EF M mount, Canon clearly decided to go for the new mount type on the Canon EOS R because of the many advantages.

Some rumor outlets still push the rumor that Canon might release an APS-C model in the EOS R line-up; that’s not going to happen.

Canon Dominates: EOS R Ranked First By Map Camera

canon eos r firmware update
View Post

Things look good for the EOS R in Japan. Map Camera reports that the EOS R was the top selling camera in November 2018. This stats are slightly different from BCN. BCN considers different camera kits while Map Camera rolls up all kits to a camera model.

The ranking:

  1. Canon EOS R
  2. Sony α7 III
  3. Nikon Z6
  4. Fujifilm X-T3
  5. Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100M6
  6. Sony α7R III
  7. Nikon Z7
  8. Olympus Tough TG – 5
  9. Nikon D850
  10. Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II

The Nikon Z6, although released earlier than the EOS R, didn’t manage to get above rank 3. The Fujifilm X-T3 on the other hand shows it can hold up to the full frame cameras and gets a respectable 4 place. It’s the highest ranking APS-C camera. However, it’s Canon to dominate. And that’s after just a short time the EOS R was released. So much to the “Canon has failed/is dead/will die soon” arguments.

[via Digicame Info]

The Most Popular Photo Gear Rentals at Lensrentals, Canon Dominates

canon lens rentals
View Post

Lensrentals posted some stats about the gear they rent. As expected Canon has quite a presence.

  1. Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L II
  2. Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II
  3. Canon 5D Mark IV
  4. Canon 5D Mark III
  5. Sennheiser G3 Wireless Mic Kit -Freq A
  6. Sony Alpha a7S II
  7. Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM
  8. Canon 35mm f/1.4L II
  9. Canon 50mm f/1.2L
  10. Sony Alpha a7 III
  11. Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS
  12. Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L
  13. Canon 100mm f/2.8L IS Macro
  14. Zhiyun-Tech Crane-2 3-Axis Stabiliser
  15. Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L III
  16. Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II
  17. Panasonic GH5
  18. Sony Alpha a7R III
  19. GoPro HERO6 Black
  20. Nikon D750

And here is the share of camera brands:

Brand This Year Last Year
Canon 41.57% 44.90%
Sony 26.31% 24.67%
Nikon 15.28% 15.06%
Panasonic 9.41% 6.72%
FujiFilm 4.27% 4.65%
Leica 1.49% 1.72%
Olympus 0.95% 1.47%
Pentax 0.49% 0.60%
Hasselblad 0.22% 0.22%

 

Canon Might Make A Mirrorless Version Of The EOS-1D X, Exec Suggests

EOS-1D X Mark ii mirrorless
View Post

Amateur Photographer editor Nigel Atherton had a talk with three top Canon executives to discuss the EOS R. In the excerpts below it’s Mr Shingo Hayakawa, Deputy Group Executive, ICB Optical Business Group, Image Communications Business Operations, to answer.

The interview is all about the new Canon EOS R mirrorless system.

AP: When you decided to make a full frame mirrorless camera what were the main priorities for the system?

SH: We started out thinking about the lenses we wanted to make and what the ideal lenses would be. That gave us the mount specifications and flange distance we needed. Only then did we start to consider how Canon could improve the main body. We decided that we wanted to make a completely new body, and to reconsider the ergonomics and operation so that it would be different from previous models. Our task is to give our customers more choice and then let them choose. […]

Do you think that in five years time, Canon will still be making new DSLR’s?

SH: Of course the situation is always changing and in the future, DSLRs will most likely experience a decline in popularity compared to mirrorless cameras, , but the optical viewfinder still has some advantages and we will continue to offer a choice for as long as our customers want it.

The next question is particularly interesting. In the answer Mr.  Shingo Hayakawa seems to suggest there will be a mirrorless versions of the EOS-1D X within 5 years.

AP: If there was a mirrorless version of the EOS- 1D X, do you think people would still buy the EOS- 1D X?

SH: We would guess that a mirrorless camera like that would be popular, and have already analysed which technology will be required in a camera in five years time.

Read the interview here.

What do you think, does this mean we have to wait 5 years to see a mirrorless version if the EOS-1D X?