Canon Lens Designers Talk About Latest RF Mount Lenses in Interview

Canon RF 85mm
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DPReview sat down with Canon lens designers (Manabu Kato – Head of EF + RF mount R&D, Yoichi Sato – EOS camera electronics R&D, Shogo Yamaguchi – Optical planning specialist).

The interview was about the new Canon EOS RP, the six RF lenses Canon is set to announce soon, and in general what’s going to happen with the EOS R system.

Excerpts from the interview:

How do you prioritize which [RF mount] lenses to develop?

So the idea for the initial four lenses was we wanted to deliver the surprise factor, so we decided to deliver the 28-70mm, as well as the 50mm F1.2, with stunning resolution. That was the concept behind these two lenses.

With 24-105mm we thought it would be the best match as a standard zoom lens to the EOS R camera, and the 35mm F1.8 was supposed to be an affordable and compact travel companion. Those were the concepts behind the four initial lenses.

With the six additional lenses that we introduced as development announcements this time, we believe we will be able to deliver more surprise factors, for some models compactness. These two concepts with the addition of these models.

About the Defocus Smoothing technology.

Can you give any insight into the DS technology?

With lens such as the 85mm F1.2 bokeh is a really important factor, because it’s a portrait lens. We really wanted to deliver something that was not possible with the conventional lenses, so we decided to develop this technology of defocus smoothing.

The fact with our DS technology is that it’s a coating technology, so it’s relatively easy to apply this technology to a range of different lenses. This is all we can say at this moment.

Read the interview at DPReview.

Canon Introduces Two New UHDgc 2/3-Inch Portable Zoom Lenses For 4K UHD Broadcast

Portable Zoom Lenses
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Press release:

Canon Introduces Two New UHDgc 2/3-Inch Portable Zoom Lenses Designed For 4K UHD Broadcast Cameras

Two New Lenses Deliver Key Features for the Broadcast Industry: High Image Quality and Mobility 

MELVILLE, NY, April 2, 2019 – Canon U.S.A. Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, today announced the launch of two new additions to its UHDgc series of portable-zoom 4K UHD broadcast lenses: the CJ18ex28B and CJ15ex8.5B. These new lenses are compatible with 4K UHD broadcast cameras that have 2/3-inch sensors. Both lenses provide 4K UHD imaging quality at a price point that is affordable to the majority of the broadcast market. Additionally, the new lenses provide impressive UHD optical performance, while maintaining a compact and lightweight design to meet versatile and ever-changing needs of a broad range of video productions including documentaries, sports, events and news coverage.

The new Canon CJ18ex28B and CJ15ex8.5B portable zoom lenses utilize Canon’s proprietary optical design technology featuring materials such as fluorite and Ultra-Low Dispersion (UD) glass to achieve high 4K UHD performance across the entire zoom range. In addition, these lenses support the wide color gamut approved by the ITU-R BT.2020 UHD broadcasting standard. These features are essential to HDR imaging. The ergonomics and digital servo operational controls of the lenses are similar to Canon’s current lineup of portable zoom lenses, providing users with maximum mobility in a variety of shooting situations. 

The CJ18ex28B lens features a zoom range of 28-500mm (56-1000mm with built-in 2X extender), making it ideal for capturing crisp shots at long distances, while remaining compact enough to be operated in a shoulder-mounted configuration. The CJ15ex8.5B features Canon’s exclusive Vari-Angle Prism (VAP) Image Stabilization technology to help minimize vibrations on both the horizontal and vertical axes during mobile shooting, such as during sporting events. Both of these lenses fill a unique need for specialized shooting environments in the broadcast market. 

“The demand for affordable, high-quality 4K UHD lenses for television news has continued to grow year over year, and as the needs of our customers mature, Canon continues to evolve to meet the needs of end-users,” said Kazuto Ogawa, president and chief operating officer, Canon U.S.A., Inc. “These new UHDgc lenses provide the optical brilliance that makes Canon a leader in broadcast lenses, while maintaining a price point that fits the budgetary needs of a large segment of the industry.”

The Canon CJ18ex28B and CJ15ex8.5B 4K Portable Zoom Lenses will make their public debut at the NAB Show 2019 in Las Vegas from April 8th-11th in the Canon booth (C4425). 

Availability

The Canon CJ18ex28B and CJ15ex8.5B 4K Portable Zoom Lenses are scheduled to be available in the beginning of Summer 2019*. For more information, please visit, usa.canon.com/broadcast.

Canon Announces Four New Professional Camcorders With 4K/30p Video

Professional Camcorders
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As anticipated, Canon announced new camcorders ahead of NAB 2019. Pre-orders are open:

Press release:

Four New Canon XA Professional Camcorders Feature 4K 30p High-Quality Recording

XA55, XA50, XA45 and XA40 Camcorders Deliver Crisp 4K Imagery in Compact Bodies at Affordable Price Points

MELVILLE, NY, April 2, 2019 – Meeting videographer needs for a variety of applications, Canon U.S.A. Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, today announced four new additions to the lineup of XA Series professional camcorders, the XA55, XA50, XA45 and XA40. These four camcorders are the first in the series to feature 4K 30p recording. They also include a detachable XLR handle and the XA55 and XA45 each feature an HD-SDI terminal. In addition, the company has announced the Canon VIXIA HF G60 4K UHD camcorder, a budget-friendly, compact-and-lightweight camcorder.

“Often spending their days and nights working in fast-paced environments, videographers need a camcorder that is affordable, reliable, and delivers great images,” said Kazuto Ogawa, president and COO, Canon U.S.A., Inc. “These new camcorders meet the needs of a variety of users, including those capturing news, shooting influential documentaries, educating young filmmakers or developing content for their companies.” 

All of the camcorders feature Canon’s five-axis Intelligent Optical Image Stabilization system, providing users with powerful image stabilization via a Dynamic mode, which helps reduce image distortion, even when shooting while moving. The ergonomically designed and highly portable camcorders have a three-inch LCD touch panel screen and user-friendly, tilting, high-resolution Electronic View Finder (EVF).

The XA55 and XA45 are excellent options for news reporting and documentary shooting, while the XA50 and XA40 are geared more towards broadcasting schools, government agencies and corporate-video production companies. The affordable VIXIA HF G60 caters to advanced amateur videographers who need a 4K UHD camcorder to shoot a wedding or a student film project. 

The XA55 and XA50 camcorders both feature a 1.0-inch sensor, nine-bladed circular aperture and Dual-Pixel CMOS AF with a 15x (25.5-382.5mm) genuine wide-angle Canon optical zoom lens. For natural and realistic life-like imagery the XA55 and XA50 camcorders feature a Wide Dynamic Range (DR) Gamma mode. This lowers the barrier for focusing, especially when shooting in 4K, which requires strict focus accuracy. By suppressing overexposure in high- brightness areas of the composition, this mode helps achieve a wide dynamic range of 800 percent to help produce seamless tone gradations, resulting in smooth detail, accurate color and virtually no blown-out highlights. The camera’s Dual Pixel Focus Guide takes advantage of Dual Pixel CMOS AF data to display focus-assist information on the screen. The camcorders also record 4K UHD/30p (4:2:0 8 bit) and 1080p Full HD (4:2:2 10 bit) via SDI/HDMI Output in XF-AVC and MP4 format to dual-card SD card slots with dual and relay recording.

The XA45 and XA40 camcorders both feature a 1.0-inch sensor, eight-bladed circular aperture with the ability to record 4K UHD/30p (4:2:0 8 bit) and 1080p Full HD (4:2:2 10 bit) via SDI/HDMI Output) in MP4 or XF-AVC format to dual-card SD card slots with dual and relay recording. To help provide enhanced image quality over its predecessor, over sample HD processing can be utilized with information obtained from the 4K 1/2.3-inch sensor and the DIGIC DV 6 image processor. Both camcorders boast a 20x (29.3-601mm) genuine wide-angle Canon optical zoom lens.

The Canon VIXIA HF G60 4K UHD camcorder is packed with many of the same great features found in the XA55 and XA50, like a nine-bladed circular aperture, Dual Pixel Focus Guide and Wide DR, but with the budget- conscious user in mind. The affordable camcorder is an ideal tool for young videographers taking their first steps in the craft and will be sure to please due to its compact-and-lightweight form factor in addition to ease of use.

Additionally, Canon today announced firmware updates for the XF705, XF405/XF400 and VIXIA GX10 camcorders. New features by model include:

  • XF705: Firmware Version 1.0.1.1 now features improved zoom response when using the zoom ring or zoom rocker, improved focus following speed during zooming, and improved image quality of interlaced recording.
  • XF405/XF400: Firmware Version 1.0.3.0 now features IP streaming, the ability to set custom white balance, support for the reset function that resets the clip number when the reel number is set and improved image quality of interlaced recording.
  • XF405 only: Firmware Version 1.0.3.0 now features 3G-SDI mapping at level A and level B.
  • VIXIA GX10: Firmware Version 1.0.3.0 now features the ability to set custom white balance.

Pricing and Availability

The Canon XA55, XA50 and VIXIA HF G60 are scheduled to be available in June 2019 for estimated retail prices of $2699.00, $2199.00 and $1699.00, respectively. The XA45 and XA40 4K UHD video camcorders are all scheduled to be available in April 2019 for estimated retails prices of $2199.00 and $1699.00, respectively*. For more information, please visit, usa.canon.com.

Sigma Announced Mount Converter MC-21, Pricing and Availability

Mount Converter MC-21
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Available April 2019, the Sigma MC-21 can already be pre-ordered.

Sigma MC-21 Mount Converter/Lens Adapter (Canon EF-Mount Lenses to Leica L) – $249 – B&H Photo | Adorama.

Sigma Announces Pricing & Availability for Sigma Mount Converter MC-21

Available in April 2019, the new accessory ensures compatibility of the Sigma lenses in EF and SA mounts with the L-Mount camera systems.

Ronkonkoma, NY – March 29, 2019 – Sigma Corporation of America, a leading still photo and cinema lens, camera, flash and accessory manufacturer, today announced pricing and availability for the new Sigma Mount Converter MC-21, offering photographers a wider range of lens options for L-Mount cameras from Sigma, Leica and Panasonic. The SigmaMC-21 will start shipping in April 2019 and will be priced at $169.00 USD for Sigma SA-L mount and $249.00 USD for Canon EF-L mount.

Features
The Sigma Mount Converter MC-21 allows for Sigma’s SA mount and Canon EF mount lenses to be used on L-Mount camera bodies. By attaching MC-21 to a Sigma SA mount or Sigma Canon EF mount lens, it becomes compatible with the L-Mount camera system without compromising usability and image quality. The development of Sigma MC-21 increases the number of interchangeable lenses manufactured by Sigma to be used with the L-Mount systems by 29, offering a total of 40 lens choices, including 11 DG Art primes with native L-mount. The addition of MC-21 to the Sigma accessory lineup will increase the accessibility of the L-Mount system and further Sigma’s role in the strategic L-Mount Alliance alongside Leica and Panasonic.

The full list of compatible lenses and technical specifications can be accessed here and product imagery can be downloaded here.

Pricing
The lower price for the Sigma MC-21 in Sigma SA-L mount reflects the company’s appreciation for the loyal Sigma camera users as the MC-21 in Sigma SA-L mount allows for Sigma SA mount lenses to be used on any L-Mount camera body. Eventually, Sigma will aim to replace its SA mount lenses with the native L-mount versions, but until then, Foveon shooters can rely on the existing offering of Sigma MC-21 at a lower price point to ease the transition to the new system.

Canon Announces Zoemini S and Zoemini C Instant Cameras With Built-in Printer

canon zoemini
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In the USA they are named Canon IVY CLIQ and IVY CLIQ+. Pre-order at B&H Photo | Adorama

Canon announced the Canon Zoemini S and Canon Zooming C, instant cameras with built-in printer and front-mounted mirror to enable users to get the perfect pose for their selfies.

Press release:

Shoot, print and share selfies on the go with the Canon Zoemini S and Canon Zoemini C instant camera printers

London, United Kingdom, Thursday 28th March 2019 – Canon Europe announces the release of two instant camera printers, the Canon Zoemini S and Canon Zoemini C. Building on the success of the original Canon Zoemini which launched in 2018, the new product range of all-in-one instant camera printers are the perfect pocket-sized companions for encouraging creativity with easy to print, peel-and-stick photos on the go.

The Canon Zoemini S is ideal for those wanting to capture, print and share their holiday adventures, a spontaneous selfie, photos with friends or an Instagram-worthy plate of food. Consisting of an eight-megapixel camera, front-mounted mirror, ring-light and remote shutter capability, the Canon Zoemini S is easy to use and will ensure its users are ready to take the perfect selfie in an instant.

The Canon Zoemini S comes in three stylish finishes; rose gold, matte black and pearl white and fits seamlessly into the palm of a hand, pocket or backpack for exceptional portability.

Whether out shopping with friends, celebrating a birthday party or attending a music festival, Canon Zoemini S and Canon Zoemini C users can shoot and print mini photos in a matter of moments on 2×3-Inch (5 x 7.6cm) Zink™ sticky-backed photo paper. Capturing everyday moments has never been easier or more fun with these compact and lightweight gadgets, so friends can share their stories whenever the mood takes them.

The Canon Zoemini S is supported by the free-to-download Canon Mini Print App (iOS/Android), which enables users to print their images directly from a smart device using Bluetooth® as well as edit from an array of creative filters and frames. Users can also remove the challenge of capturing group selfies, simply by using the Canon Mini Print App’s remote shutter and self-timer function, so no one will be out of shot.

In addition to Instagram and Facebook, the Canon Mini Print app enables users connect with Google Photos and Dropbox, so they can print physical copies of treasured memories while out and about.

For those seeking a streamlined version of the Canon Zoemini S, the Canon Zoemini C is available without the Canon Mini Print App compatibility and packs a five-megapixel camera, a selfie supporting reflective mirror and a Micro SD card slot. The Canon Zoemini C is available in four eye-catching colours; bubble gum pink, bumblebee yellow, mint green and seaside blue for instant keepsakes on the go.

Both the Canon Zoemini S and Canon Zoemini C come with 10 sheets of sticky-backed, smudge and tear-proof Zink™ printing paper, making it easy to print and decorate anything from a bedroom wall to a fridge or smart device. Additional paper is available to purchase in packs of 20 or 50.

Both models will be available from Canon’s online store and official Canon retailers from Thursday, 25th April 2019.

For more information or to locate your nearest retail outlet, please visit: 
https://www.canon-europe.com/cameras/zoemini-s 
https://www.canon-europe.com/cameras/zoemini-c

Canon Zoemini S: Key Features

  • Eight-megapixel camera with a Micro SD card slot1 to capture, print and share from the same device
  • Available in matte black, pearl white and rose gold, this lightweight camera printer is the perfect portable companion and fits easily into a pocket or bag
  • A front-mounted mirror and ring-light ensures selfies are captured spectacularly, while the Canon Mini Print App operates the remote shutter function, simplifying group shots via the self-timer
  • Use Bluetooth® and the Canon Mini Print App to print images from your smart device, with filter and collage options
  • Prints and refills with ink-free Zink™ technology which delivers smudge-proof, tear-proof, water-resistant and sticky-backed photos to print on the move
  • Device comes with 10 sheets of sticky-backed 2×3-inch Zink™ Printing Paper

Canon Zoemini C: Key Features

  • Five-megapixel camera with a Micro SD card slot2 to capture, print and export photographs
  • A front-mounted mirror enables users to perfect poses and print their ultimate selfies
  • Available in four vibrant colours, the lightweight and portable Zoemini C is the perfect pocket-sized companion
  • Prints and refills with ink-free Zink™ technology which delivers smudge-proof, tear-proof and water-resistant photos on the move
  • Device comes with 10 sheets of sticky-backed 2×3-inch Zink™ Printing Paper, to print, peel and stick

What’s in the box:

  • The Canon Zoemini S/C* (available colours detailed above)
  • One pack of Canon Zink™ Photo Paper (10 sheets of Photo Paper and 1 SMART SHEET™)
  • Micro USB charging cable (USB A to Micro)
  • Quick Start Guide
  • Regulation Sheet
  • Wrist strap

About Canon Mini Print App

A mobile device must be connected to the Canon Zoemini Photo Printer via Bluetooth® and the Canon Mini Print App, available for free on the App Store and at Google Play. Compatible with mobile devices running iOS 9.0 or later, and Android devices running Android 4.4 or later.