How To Know The Shutter Actuations Count Of Your Canon DSLR

5D Mark III shutter mechanism (image credit: lensrentals.com)

Who doesn’t want to know how many times the shutter of his or her DSLR has been actuated? You know that Canon DSLRs (like every other DSLR) are guaranteed to hold for a minimum number of actuation (typically 100000 for consumer oriented cams, and up to 300000 for pro oriented ones). This is an important information to know, especially if you are going to buy a used camera: the risk of failure increases after the actuation limit has been reached. Unfortunately there are no official ways to learn about the shutter actuations of your DSLR. But there are some freeware utilities that can do the job, and make your life more easy. Clicking here you can read a good background article with all the links to the utilities.

And since we are talking about used DSLRs, have a look at the box below to find some cool EOS 7D deal on eBay. The EOS 7D can be found refurbished at Canon Store for $1,359, click here) and on eBay too, starting refurbished from , and new from (.

[via thedigitalstory via canon5dtips] [shariff]

Canon EOS M: A Camera For The Ladies (according to Canon), And To Be Released In September

DC Watch (machine translated) published an interview with some Canon executives. The interview is rather long. A few of the discussed points:

  • The EOS M should be released to the public in mid September
  • The EOS M‘s target are women. According to Canon they prefer not to have a bulky DSLR in their hands
  • m43 is no competition since the sensor is too small
  • From the beginning the goal was to make the EOS-M as good as other EOS DSLR cameras. And to make it small and light.
  • First goal is to reach a 15% of the mirrorless market share in Japan (by October)
  • Shutter from the EOS DSLR series has been miniaturized to fit into the EOS-M
  • PowerShot G1 X sales are still strong (production is 30.000 units per month)
  • A Four Thirds sensor would bring an even further advantage in miniaturization but Canon wanted to make it fully EOS compatible
  • Canon chose to have phase detection pixel on sensor because that technology works better than contrast AF on moving objects
  • EOS-M mount can not accommodate a full frame sensor
  • There is no plan for a FF mirrorless
  • No plan for now to make an adapter for FD lenses.

 

EOS M pre-order links:

USA & world-wide:

EOS M page on Amazon (click here), Adorama (click here), B&H (click here)
EOS M Black at Amazon (click here), Amazon UK (click here), Adorama (click here) and BHphoto (click here).
EOS M White at BHphoto (click here).
EOS M 22mm pancake at Amazon (click here), Adorama (click here) and BHphoto (click here).
EOS M 18-55mm kit lens at Amazon (click here), Adorama (click here) and BHphoto (click here).
EOS M adapter at Amazon (click here) and BHphoto (click here).
EOS M Flash at Amazon (click here), Adorama (click here) and BHphoto (click here).

Germany (Amazon DE): EOS M black with EF-M 18-55mm 1:3,5-5,6 IS STM lens and Speedlite 90EX for €849 (click here), EOS M white with EF-M 18-55mm 1:3,5-5,6 IS STM lens and Speedlite 90EX for €849 (click here), EOS M red with EF-M 18-55mm 1:3,5-5,6 IS STM lens and Speedlite 90EX for €849 (click here), EF-M 22mm 1:2 STM Pancake lens for €249 (click here), EF-EOS M Adapter for €129 (click here), wexcameras.de (click here)

Italy: Amazon IT (click here)

UK: Amazon UK (click here)

More pre-order options here.

[via DCwatch]

Three New Samyang VDSLR Lenses To Be Released Soon (14mm, 24mm and 35mm)

Video making with a DSLR is having a big momentum. No surprise that Samyang just announced three new VDSRL lenses (with Canon mount). The lenses are  35mm T1.5 AS UMC , 24mm  T1.5 ED AS IF UMC and 14mm T3.1 ED AS IF UMC. The lenses will be released “in sequence”: the 35mm starting next week, the 24mm at the end of August and the 14mm in September. No prices have been communicated so far.

PRESS RELEASE 9th AUGUST 2012

Soon on sales!

SAMYANG T1.5 35mm AS UMC SAMYANG T1.5 24mm ED AS IF UMC SAMYANG T3.1 14mm ED AS IF UMC

Cracow, 9th August 2012 – Samyang Optics gladly informs, that Samyang Family has been enlarged by three new lenses dedicated for digital cinema purpose.

Lenses with focal 35mm, 24 mm and 14mm will be available on sales in sequence next week, at the end of August and in September.

The construction of the new lenses has been based on previous types dedicated for photography. Their main feature are racks co-operating with follow – focus system, and a ring rotated continously. Thanks to these alterations it is possible to precisely and silently operate focus and depth of field. Another facility is putting aperture and focus scale parallel to the axis of the lens and aperture marked with number of transmission T. Lenses are compatible with Nikon and Canon cameras.

Prices will be announced soon.

14mm
24mm
35mm

EOS M and EF-M Lenses Availability In Germany (Amazon DE)

Image credit: Jet Daisuke

Since short Amazon DE has more EOS M related items in offer.

Moreover, Amazon DE has the EF-S 18-135mm 1:3,5-5,6 IS STM in stock (just 4 items) for €509 (click here).

Canon USA Starts Its Own YouTube Channel

Good news for all of us who are Canon fans. Canon USA started a YouTube channel to showcase its products. For the time being there are four sub-channels, named How to use your Canon camera (5 videos), How to use your Canon printer (5 videos), Movie/inspiration (5 videos) and Advertising/promo (3 videos). Some videos explain specific camera functions (as AF-settings), others present products and features. Lots of things are covered, including service and support. Check it out!

[via IR]

[Hacks] Magic Lantern Installation And Operation On A Rebel T2i/550D (And Links For Refurbished 5D2 And 7D)

Found this little, 5 min video on YouTube. The installation of Magic Lantern is covered, plus an overview of operations. NOTE: Proceed at your own risk. Setting up Magic Lantern is easy and straightforward, but it is a firmware replacement and as such voids your guaranty. There should not be any problems, but I have to say this. :-) The video contains enough hints to teach you how to install Magic Lantern on other supported Canon DSLRs: EOS 5D Mark II (get it refurbished at the Canon Store for 1,759.20), EOS 60D, EOS 50D, Rebel T3i/600D. Unfortunately, and that’s a pity, the EOS 7D is not yet supported. But then: the 7D just got a massive firmware update, introducing new features and tweaking others. The EOS 7D can be found refurbished at Canon Store for $1,359, click here) and on eBay too, starting refurbished from , and new from (.

Click here to learn more about Magic Lantern, or click here to proceed straight to the download.

[via almostrocketscience on YouTube]