Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II lenses used to discover a new “Dark Galaxy” with Dragonfly Telephoto Array

Dragonfly Telephoto Array
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Do you remember the Dragonfly Telephoto Array developed by the University of Toronto’s Dunlap Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics? Well, there are some news.

First things first. What is the Dragonfly Telephoto Array?

Dragonfly is an innovative, multi-lens array designed for ultra-low surface brightness astronomy at visible wavelengths. Commissioned in 2013 with only three lenses, the array is growing in size and proving capable of detecting extremely faint, complex structure around galaxies. The most recent upgrade—completed in 2016—saw Dragonfly grow to 48 lenses in two clusters.

Last time I reported about Dragonfly it had 10 lenses mounted, now the lenses are 48. To build the Dragonfly, scientists used Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II lenses, because of “unprecedented nano-fabricated coatings with sub-wavelength structure on optical glasses“. I guess the lenses were modified according to the scientists’ needs.

Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II
Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II, yours for $10,000.

Next, what is the Dragonfly Telephoto Array good for?

Dragonfly is designed to reveal the faint structure [of the universe] by greatly reducing scattered light and internal reflections within its optics. It achieves this using commercially available Canon 400mm lenses with unprecedented nano-fabricated coatings with sub-wavelength structure on optical glasses.

Also, Dragonfly images a galaxy through multiple lenses simultaneously—akin to a dragonfly’s compound eye—enabling further removal of unwanted light. The result is an image in which extremely faint galaxy structure is visible.

Well, scientists discovered a previously unknown Dark Galaxy by using the Dragonfly Telephoto Array. The galaxy was named after the array. As The Atlantic reports:

Dragonfly 44 is a dim galaxy, with one star for every hundred in our Milky Way. But it spans roughly as much space as the Milky Way. In addition, it’s heavy enough to rival our own galaxy in mass, according to results published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters at the end of August. That odd combination is crucial: Dragonfly 44 is so dark, so fluffy, and so heavy that some astronomers believe it will either force a revision of our theories of galaxy formation or help us understand the properties of dark matter, the mysterious stuff that interacts with normal matter via gravity and not much else.

The discovery was made by astronomers Pieter van Dokkum of Yale University and Roberto Abraham of the University of Toronto. They did not use Canon sensors, tough. The lenses are mounted on SBIG STF-8300M CCD cameras. The array began imaging targets in 2013 from its home at the New Mexico Skies hosting facility.

If you are interested and want to know more, go for the videos below.

About the Dragonfly Telephoto Array

Below: about the newly discovered galaxy

[via The Atlantic]

Canon announce new PIXMA G-Series MegaTank printers with built-in refillable ink tank system

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Canon U.S.A. Launches First PIXMA Inkjet Printers with Built-In Refillable Ink Tank System

New PIXMA G-Series MegaTank Printers are Ideal for Users Seeking Convenient, Maintenance-Free Printing

MELVILLE, N.Y., December 27, 2016 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, today announced the launch of the new PIXMA G-series MegaTank Printers; PIXMA G1200 MegaTank Single Function Printer, PIXMA G2200 MegaTank All-In-One Printer, PIXMA MegaTank G3200 Wireless1 All-In-One Printer and PIXMA G4200 MegaTank Wireless All-In-One Printer. This new line of printers is ideal for high-print volume printing environments within home offices, dorm rooms or anywhere a user needs a low-maintenance printer with enhanced connectivity and convenient, high-quality printing.

Each of the PIXMA G-series MegaTank printers feature a front-facing, built-in refillable ink tank system that makes it easy for users to monitor ink levels and refill when needed. Paired with the ink bottle’s spill-resistant tops, the system is designed to provide seamless and clean usability at home and in the office. This new hybrid integrated system of replenishing ink is cost-effective and offers higher page yield than the prior generation of PIXMA printers. The black ink provides up to 6,000 pages2 per bottle and the total color ink combination provides up to 7,000 pages2. The PIXMA G-series printers’ easy-to-use refillable ink bottles offer substantial ink capacity with 135 ml in the black bottle and 70 ml in each color ink bottle. Another value-added feature for the new PIXMA G-series printers is the initial quick installation set-up timeframe (for ink installation only) which is approximately six minutes3.

“Our PIXMA G-series printer models offer smart design inside and out,” said Yuichi Ishizuka, president and COO, Canon U.S.A., Inc. “Expanding the line of PIXMA printers with the added benefit of a built-in refillable ink tank system highlights Canon’s commitment to continuing to enhance the printing experience in businesses and in the home with genuine Canon print reliability.”

Click here to open the rest of the article

Have a look at the refurbished listings at Canon Store, 15% and up discounts

rebel T6
Refurbished Canon Rebel T6 & 18-55 IS for $299.99

Do not miss to check the refurbished listings at the Canon Direct Store. All items come with 1 year Canon US warranty and likely are the best deals you can get from Canon. New discounts have been added, starting from 15% off on the regular price.

Dive in and look for your favourite gear. For instance, you can get the Canon EOS M3 for just $299.99, or the Rebel SL1  bundled with EF-S 18-55mm IS STM and EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III lenses for $329.99, or the Rebel T6 with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II for $299.99. 

If you’re living in the USA and looking for good deals to start your journey with serious Canon gear, then this is the place to have a close look. All refurbished listings:

Stay tuned for more…

Canon enters health field with acquisition of Toshiba Medical, report suggests

canon rumors

New horizons for Canon. Asian Nikkei Review reports:

TOKYO –Canon will make medical equipment a central part of its operations through its purchase of Toshiba Medical Systems — hoping to foster growth in the field as its core digital camera and office equipment businesses slow.

The 665.5 billion yen ($54.7 billion) purchase was finalized Monday. Canon, a Japanese electronics manufacturer, hopes to wring enough synergy from its new subsidiary to justify the price tag, with its own optics and imaging technology and production technology as the key.

Behind the purchase

“The fact that sales of digital cameras and office equipment aren’t growing, despite our high market share, is a sign of the market’s maturity,” Canon CEO Fujio Mitarai said at a press conference, revealing a sense of urgency behind the purchase. “We’d been considering where to base our next pivot for some time,” Mitarai said.

Read the report at Asian Nikkei Review.

Interview with Canon’s Tim Smith about the Canon C700 (video)

c700ProductionHUBTV posted an interview with Tim Smith of Canon USA.

Description:

An interview from the 2016 Band Pro ‘One World’ Open House in Burbank, California with Tim Smith of Canon USA. Canon manufactures their Cinema EOS Line of compact, modular cameras designed specifically for cinematography applications, featuring Canon’s unique Super 35mm CMOS sensor, revolutionary Canon DIGIC Image Processor, and 50Mbps 4:2:2 recording, in PL and EF-mount options. In this interview Tim recaps the year with us and talks with Mark about Canon’s new EOS C700 Super35 format Cinema Camera, equipped with a 4.5K CMOS image sensor and capable of recording 4K RAW through Canon’s Codex Digital Recorder.

Canon’s new EOS C700 Super35 format camera is designed to be a flexible “A” camera for various types of shooting scenarios. The EOS C700 features both internal 4K ProRes and XF-AVC recording. The inclusion of Apple’s ProRes codec inside the C700 enables shooters who require a quick turn-around to go direct-to-edit on many NLEs without any transcoding necessary. In 4K the 422 HQ flavor is implemented, and is supported up to 30 fps. In 2K mode, 10-bit 422, 10-bit 422HQ, and 12-bit 4444 can be used. High frame-rate recording is supported up to 180 fps using the 10-bit 422 flavor combined with the 2K center crop. All formats are conveniently recorded directly to the CFast 2.0 cards.

By removing the battery mount on the rear of the camera, and using the included bracket, a Codex Digital raw recorder made specifically for the EOS C700 can be installed using the included bracket. 12-bit DCI 4K RAW files will be recorded onto separately available Codex Digital Capture Drives and will be instantly compatible with the robust Codex Digital workflow. With the optional Codex CDX-36150 recorder attached, the EOS C700 is capable of recording uncompressed 10-bit or 12-bit 4K RAW up to 120 fps, 2K RAW up to 240 fps, or ProRes 4K up to 60 fps.

As Canon’s flagship cinema camera, the EOS C700 features the choice of one of two new Super 35mm CMOS sensors. With three models to choose from, users can choose the best tool for their shooting requirements. The EOS C700 is available in both EF and PL versions and features a pixel resolution up to 4.5K, a dynamic range of 15 stops, however the EF mount version of the camera features Dual Pixel CMOS AF Technology.

The PL mount only EOS C700 GS PL features 14 stops of dynamic range, up to 4K resolution and a Global Shutter. The image on a global shutter sensor is captured simultaneously by every pixel on the sensor. Standard CMOS sensors capture the image by scanning the scene from top to bottom. Depending on the speed of the scan, the time delay between the scan of the first line and the last sometimes results in a “jello” effect where straight lines appear curved or wobble as the camera or subject moves. By capturing the entire image at once these artifacts are removed.

Canon C700: B&H Photo | Adorama