Canon EOS R10 In-depth Review (DPReview)

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Soon to be extinct DPReview posted their full Canon EOS R10 review.

Canon EOS R10 at a glance:

  • 24.2MP APS-C CMOS Sensor
  • Dual Pixel CMOS AF II
  • 4K30 Video, 4K60 with Crop; HDR-PQ
  • 23 fps E. Shutter, 15 fps Mech. Shutter
  • 2.36m-Dot OLED EVF
  • 1.04m-Dot Vari-Angle Touchscreen LCD
  • Multi-Function Shoe, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
  • RF-S 18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM Lens

DPReview posted their full Canon EOS R10 review. They gave the EOS R10 a Silver Award and a 87% overall score. From their conclusion:

The R10, like its mid-level peers, is trying to answer the question of how to make a dedicated camera relevant in a smartphone world. Is it worth carrying around what may be an awkward and bulky device that does what your phone already does? Having used the R10, we’d say ‘Yes.’

The ability to take control over your shutter speed, use AF tracking, or mount a telephoto lens – if you’re taking pictures of wildlife or your kid’s soccer game – are all reasons to embrace the R10. But more fundamentally, you’re buying a device that gives you control over your images and makes you feel you are playing an active part in the creative process, rather than hitting a circle on the bottom of your phone’s screen.

The R10 is easy to use for beginners and its simplicity makes it a quick tool to start shooting and having fun. Many of its most complex menu items are presented with descriptions aimed at newcomers; for example, the AF system uses icons and short text to give information in multiple ways. In particular, the simple and dependable AF system makes the R10 easier to get results from than many of its peers.

If you’re a casual to intermediate photographer or videographer, someone who mostly makes images on vacation, birthday parties, family portraits or youth sports, the Canon EOS R10 is a very capable camera that can grow with you, offering the flexibility and potential to step up your photography game. If that sounds like you, give the R10 a good look. But if you’re looking for a camera to ‘grow into,’ it’s worth checking if the lenses you might want are available.

Read the full review at DPReview…

Get the Canon EOS R10 at B&H Photo.

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Firmware Update For Canon EOS R3 (version 1.4.1)

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Canon released a new firmware for the EOS R3, version 1.4.1.

This firmware includes the following enhancements and fixes:

  1. Compatible with Speedlite EL-5.
    *It is not compatible with the automatic dimming function of the AF auxiliary light.
  2. Added [Registered people priority] to the menu. Pre-registered people can now be preferentially detected and tracked.
    * The effect may not be obtained depending on the shooting environment and the scene where the subject is moving, when the face is small, oblique face/side profile, part of the face is hidden.
  3. [Save/load communication settings to card] has been added to the menu. Network settings can now be inherited between cameras of the same model.
  4. [Panning Assist] has been added to the menu. When panning with a compatible lens, “camera shake correction” and “subject blur correction” are performed during exposure.
  5. Shortened the time it takes for the AWB results to be reflected in the viewfinder when looking through the viewfinder with the auto white balance (AWB) setting.
  6. “Image protection” for FTP transfer has been added to the menu. Images transferred by FTP can now be automatically protected. This makes it possible to determine whether or not the image has been FTP-transferred.
  7. After updating to firmware version 1.4.0, the phenomenon that Err70 may occur under certain conditions in combination with some EF lenses has been corrected.
  8. After updating to firmware version 1.4.0, when using the electronic shutter for high-speed continuous shooting, the phenomenon that the original tracking performance of Servo AF may not be obtained depending on the shooting conditions has been corrected.
  9. Fixed minor bugs.

You can already download Canon EOS R3 firmware 1.4.1 from Canon Japan (scroll to the bottom).

Sony Wanted To Get Canon And Nikon Off-Guard, Telling Them “Mirrorless is no big deal”

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Interesting interview by Nikkei Business with Mr. Shigeki Ishizuka, a former Sony digital camera developer.

It seems, if nothing got lost in translation, that Sony endorsed a strategy consisting in telling Nikon and Canon (and others, the “SLR makers”) that “Mirrorless is not a big deal even in full size”. If I got it right, Sony wanted the “SLR makers” to not jump too early on the mirrorless bandwagon.

Mr. Shigeki Ishizuka:

In fact, I was calculating that I would let the top manufacturers of digital SLRs take the world by storm, saying, “Even full-frame mirrorless cameras are no big deal.” Externally, I dared not say once that I was going to be number one. In short, it is better to make people think that Sony has a low market share in interchangeable-lens cameras, and that it is an electronics manufacturer that has never understood cameras.

Sony played down mirrorless tech to be the first on the market? Did I get it right?

[via Digicame Info]

Interview With Sony Execs Reveals What The Company Plans For Future

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DPReview had the chance to interview two Sony executives. The interview touches many points and reveals what Sony plans for the future.

Here are some excerpts from the interview.

Sony has taken a different approach to support for third-party lens makers than some other companies. What was the strategy behind that decision?

I can’t say anything about other companies’ strategies, but we’re always considering the advantage of a total ecosystem. Sony is developing our business around the growth of E-mount as an entire ecosystem. We have a wide variety of products, not only bodies but also lenses. Each product connects using only one mount from APS-C to full-frame, from entry-level to professional, from still to cinema camera.

This is a real, ideal ecosystem. Expanding this ecosystem around E-mount is our strategy.

Does Sony see APS-C as a more versatile format for video?

I don’t think so. We don’t intend to focus on APS-C or full-frame in terms of video. Both are very important to us, but customers differ slightly between full-frame and APS-C.

If we think about the differentiation points between full-frame and APS-C for young video creators, it’s complicated but important. FX3 users are more likely to already know how to use a camera to create what they imagine. APS-C users may still be younger and earlier in their learning cycle.

In recent years we’ve seen a lot of AI and machine learning technologies improve autofocus systems. Beyond AF, how else could AI help photographers in the future?

We’re not just using AI for autofocus but are now using AI to clarify the scene itself. What would be in the scene? What would be the subject? Where would it be? What time would it be? How would the subject feel?

So, we’d like to utilize the power of AI to recognize the entire scene.

Concerning AI, I doubt Sony can hold up with Canon. I wrote a piece about Canon and AI.

It’s Here: Canon RF 100-300mm f/2.8L IS – $9499 (officially announced)

Canon RF 100-300mm F/2.8L IS
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Canon announced the Canon RF 100-300mm f/2.8L IS, a professional grade lens with a pro price.

At a glance:

  • Telephoto zoom lens that builds on the legacy of the popular EF300mm f/2.8 lens.
  • Fast f/2.8 maximum aperture throughout the whole zoom range for great control over depth of field, bokeh, and low-light shooting with fast and reliable autofocus.
  • Excellent image quality: highlights include one flourite lens, and 4 UD (Ultra-low Dispersion) glass elements, flourine coating, and Canon SSC (Super Spectra Coating) to minimize ghosting and flare.
  • Built-in function/focus preset selector switch allows you to program a focus preset recall into the buttons at the front of the lens.
  • Optical image stabilization — up to 5.5 stops* of shake correction. Up to 6.0 stops Coordinated IS when paired with EOS R series cameras featuring In-Body Image Stabilizer (IBIS).
  • 2 Nano USMs achieves outstanding image quality throughout the focusing range, from infinity to close-up thanks to 2 focusing groups that are independently actuated.
  • Dedicated, programmable Control Ring, with click-stop operation.
  • Impressively light at only 5.8 lbs., which makes it the lightest f/2.8 zoom lens with a 300mm focal length on the market.**
  • Circular (9 blades) aperture for beautiful, soft backgrounds.

The Canon RF 100-300mm f/2.8L IS sells at $9,499. Preorders are open.

America: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA
Europe & UK: Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon IT, Canon IT, WEX Photographic, Canon FR, Canon UK, Canon DE

Here is some stuff about the lens.

Press release:

Canon Introduces the RF100-300mm F2.8 L IS USM to Its Lens Lineup

The new lens combines the flexibility of a zoom lens with the quality of a telephoto lens

MELVILLE, NY, April 20, 2023 – Today, Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, announced the launch of the RF100-300mm F2.8 L IS USM lens, answering calls from photojournalists and professional level customers for a modern 300mm f/2.8 equivalent lens.

“This lens is an absolute game changer! It gives you the most incredible range, but without sacrificing the f/2.8 aperture. To have this kind of performance at your fingertips is incredible!”

Roberto Valenzuela, fashion and wedding photographer

For decades, the 300mm f/2.8 telephoto lens has been an industry standard for photojournalists, professionals, and aspiring enthusiast photographers due to its outstanding image quality, excellent speed for indoor shooting, and relatively light weight for hand-holding. Now, with the launch of the RF100-300mm F2.8 L IS USM, Canon delivers the flexibility of a zoom lens design with the truly outstanding quality of a 300mm f/2.8 L-series telephoto lens. Exceeding the reach and potential of traditional 70-200mm lenses, and adding zoom flexibility to its Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS predecessor, the RF100-300mm F2.8 L IS USM lens brings new value to customers with the following features:

  • Wide Focal Range — 100-300mm range
  • Extended Zoom — Optional RF1.4x and 2x extenders are supported with this lens, enabling a zoom range of up to 600mm
  • Spectacular Image Quality — f/2.8 constant wide aperture; Fluorite Aspherical and UD-glass design
  • Reliable Stabilization — Up to 5.5 stops correction with in-lens Optical Image Stabilization and up to 6.0 stops correction with in-body coordinated Image Stabilization (CIPA standard)
  • Weather and Dust Resistant — Durable in various environmental conditions
  • Compact and Lightweight Design — Despite capabilities to zoom over 300mm, this lens is unusually lightweight, just barely heavier than the EF300mm f/2.8L IS II

“I love this lens! It’s incredibly lightweight, versatile, and sharp. Toss on the 2x extender and you can snipe gorgeous frames at a distance, especially with the built in image stabilizer. This lens is going to change the game for live concerts, weddings, and so much more.”

Ben Hagarty, Grammy award-winning cinematographer

This telephoto zoom lens is ideal for professionals who use a Canon EOS R3, EOS R5 or EOS R6 Mark II full-frame mirrorless camera, but can also be a catalyst for users who have developed into serious, aspirational enthusiasts and are looking to step beyond their traditional telephoto lens experience. Best use cases include, but are not limited to, indoor sports, motorsports, outdoor fashion, video and cinema, photojournalism and theater work. For high-level shooters and videographers particularly working in low-light settings and seeking a hand-holdable solution, this lens provides the total answer.

How AI Technology is Changing Photography and How Canon Cameras are Incorporating AI

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I thought I could write a short post about artificial intelligence and what it means for photography. Nowadays everyone is talking about AI technology, often mystifying it. Here are my 2 cents, with an eye on Canon cameras, obviously ;-)

Introduction

Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the world of photography in many ways. From the emergence of new text-based diffusion models that allow anyone to create an image by typing a description, to the launch of more powerful AI image generators like DALL-E 2, the development of open-source tools like Stable Diffusion, and the experimentation of photographers with AI-generated creations, AI is transforming the way we think about photography.

Big players like Google and Microsoft are also developing more powerful AI tools. However, ethical and legal questions remain, and AI-generated images could start to replace photographs in specific areas like lifestyle stock imagery.

Canon cameras and AI

Canon cameras are incorporating AI technology. For example, the Canon EOS R3 features an AI-based autofocus system that can track subjects with incredible accuracy. The camera also has an AI-based image processor that can fix most major digital photo issues, such as distortion, vignetting, and chromatic aberration. AI is changing photography and Canon cameras are at the forefront of this transformation. As AI technology continues to evolve, we can expect to see even more exciting developments in the world of photography.

Canon’s Deep Learning AF

I decided to give this topic the most space, since it’s foundational to Canon’s approach to AI for auto-focus. To learn more about Deep Learning you might start here.

Canon’s Deep Learning AF is just one example of how AI is changing the photography industry. Deep Learning AF can improve the accuracy and speed of autofocus, which can help photographers capture better images. The technology can also help cameras focus on subjects more quickly and accurately, even in low light conditions. The algorithm was trained using Canon’s image database of sports photography and pictures of the company’s ambassadors who shoot sports. This has resulted in a highly accurate autofocus system that can track subjects even when they are moving quickly.

Deep Learning AF uses machine learning algorithms to analyze images and predict where the camera should focus. The algorithms are trained on large datasets of images to improve their accuracy over time. The technology can also learn from user feedback to improve its performance. Canon has integrated Deep Learning AF into several of its cameras, including the EOS-1D X Mark III and the EOS R5. The technology has enabled features such as Eye Detection AF and Head Detection AF, which can help photographers capture sharp images of people.

Canon plans to continue developing Deep Learning AF and integrating it into future products. By using machine learning algorithms to analyze images and predict where the camera should focus, the technology can help photographers capture better images. As Canon continues to develop and integrate Deep Learning AF into its products, we can expect to see even more advanced autofocus capabilities in the future.

Image Enhancement

AI is also being used to enhance the quality of photographs. By leveraging deep learning algorithms and neural networks, AI can improve various aspects of an image, even on the camera itself, including resolution, color balance, noise reduction, and more. Some of the key ways AI assists in image enhancement are:

  1. Super-resolution: AI algorithms can upscale low-resolution images by reconstructing high-frequency details and textures. This process, known as super-resolution, generates a higher-resolution image without sacrificing quality.
  2. Noise reduction: AI can effectively reduce image noise caused by low-light conditions or high ISO settings. By analyzing and differentiating between noise patterns and image details, AI can suppress noise while preserving essential information.
  3. High dynamic range (HDR): AI can help merge multiple exposures of the same scene into a single image with an extended dynamic range, preserving details in both the shadows and highlights. This creates a more balanced image with increased details and richer colors.
  4. Color correction and white balance: AI algorithms can analyze an image and make automatic adjustments to color temperature, saturation, and contrast, resulting in more accurate colors and improved overall image quality.
  5. Object and scene recognition: AI can identify and recognize objects, scenes, and even people within an image, enabling cameras to automatically adjust settings and apply appropriate image enhancements based on the subject matter.
  6. Autofocus and stabilization: AI can assist with faster and more accurate autofocus (see above), as well as image stabilization, by predicting subject motion and compensating for camera shake in real-time.

Conclusion

AI is changing the photography industry in many different ways, and it’s just the beginning. The best has yet to come. From improving autofocus systems to enhancing the quality of photographs and automating the editing process, AI is making it easier and more efficient to take great photographs. As AI continues to evolve, we can expect to see even more exciting developments in the world of photography. Stay tuned.