Do Not Use This Nikon Lens If You Have A Pacemaker (it’s the Silky Swift Voice Coil Motor)

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Not an everyday news. If you have a medical device, i.e. a pacemaker, you should not use this lens, Nikon says. The culprit is a technology named Silky Swift Voice Coil Motor (SSVCM).

The Nikkor Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S, a lens that sells for almost $14,000, might affect a pacemaker and hence put your health in danger. The user manual for the lens (download here) contains the following warning:

Do not use this product if you have a pacemaker or other medical device. The magnet or magnets in this product could cause medical devices to malfunction.

As PetaPixel explains:

The reason for the warning is the newly-unveiled autofocus drive system in the lens that Nikon has named Silky Swift Voice Coil Motor (SSVCM).

SSVCM uses magnets instead of gears to move the lens focus groups forward and backward within the lens body. It’s a new AF system that, compared to Nikon’s older systems, boasts higher initial speed, higher accuracy, and the smoothest and quietest operation of any Nikon autofocus drive system released thus far.

The magnets, however, are so powerful that they could interfere with pacemakers and other medical devices, which could potentially be fatal to the person the device is implanted in or used by. The risk is apparently so great that Nikon is not taking any chances, warning anyone with any medical device to simply not use lenses with this autofocus system (which is currently just the 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S lens)

Curious about the Nikkor Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S? Have a look at the short video below.

More about the lens after the break.

Click here to open the rest of the article

Canon Wants To Be No 1 In Mirrorless Market, Will Release Up To 8 New RF Lens Per Year

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Canon released their annual financial results, and reveals strategies and hopes for the future.

Canon aims to become the number 1 in the mirrorless market.

As for cameras, although the overall market continues to shrink, this mainly reflects lower sales of entry-class models. In contrast, demand among professionals and advanced amateurs seeking high-quality image expression remains strong. Overall, the market seems to be bottoming out. Over the past several years, we have worked to raise the appeal of the EOS R system by enhancing our lineup with highly competitive full- frame mirrorless cameras and RF lenses. As a result, we have established a solid position in mirrorless cameras, and are now in a situation where we can target the top market share position. Leveraging this, we will not only increase our market share, but also strive to improve our product mix, and combined with the effects of structural reforms we have been implementing, we feel we have created a system that can generate stable, high profits. Going forward, we will continue to expand our lineup in response to user feedback, secure the global No. 1 market share position in mirrorless cameras, maintain the level of sales, and further increase profitability by expanding automation and improving development efficiency.

[…]

As for the new imaging business that centers on optical technology, for consumers, last year we launched the PowerShot Pick, the third of our new concept cameras, which can automatically recognize people and capture natural and rich facial expressions of your family’s daily life etc. without being aware of the camera. Additionally, for the video production business, our free-viewpoint video system is increasingly being used in corporate commercials, TV programs, and recently in broadcasting professional sports. In addition, we have successfully launched exciting businesses such as the IP remote camera system, which contributes to more efficient and labor-saving video production, and the EOS VR system, which enables easy shooting of VR video that is being utilized in a wide range of industries such as entertainment, tourism, and education.

Furthermore, as for future product development, we expect to mass-produce SPAD sensors by the end of this year, which can take color images with excellent color reproducibility even in the dark, and are expected to be used for various applications, including advanced monitoring. Additionally, in the smart mobility field, where significant growth is expected, we will continue to develop in-vehicle cameras and expand the scale of our new imaging business.

Canon also plans to release many RF lenses per year through 2025. In the presentation material they say at the “same pace” as in the last years. So this could mean up to eight new RF lenses per year.

You can download the presentation material and the conference speeches here.

Anti Russian DDoS Attack Shuts Down Source of Pre-Release Camera Details

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Not sure how seriously to take this. However, here is the story.

Camnostic report that a Russian certification authority is down due to a DDoS attack (Distributed Denial of Service):

Once every few months a new camera or lens shows up on the Russian regulatory site that deals with electronics radio emissions licensing. It has long been the source of occasional product detail leaks that Canon filings reveal prior to actual announcements. Except, in Russia, this department also happens to be one of the primary bureaucracies censoring the internet. Yesterday and today, the site has been down – due, apparently, to a distributed denial of service attack.

Russian regulations over recording technology and radio technology have been some of the strictest in the world. During the Cold War, tourists were sometimes arrested for taking pictures of subway station entrances, and film was often confiscated or exposed in customs. Private transmission equipment wasn’t allowed in without special licenses. After the cold war, the regulation got a little more rational, but never lost the slightly paranoid, national security orientation.

Let’s hope this conflict is over soon and doesn’t escalate.

Canon Releases A New Supply Shortage Advisory, Including New RF 800mm & 1200mm Lenses

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Canon released a new supply shortage note. The recently announced RF 800mm f/5.6L IS and RF 1200mm f/8L IS telephoto lenses are included.

Here is the advisory (machine translated):

Apology and guidance regarding product supply status

Updated: February 28, 2022

Thank you for your continued patronage of Canon products.

Currently, we have received orders for each of the following products in excess of expectations, and due to the influence of global parts supply, delivery delays are occurring. We apologize for the inconvenience caused to our customers and business partners.
The products are scheduled to be shipped one by one, but it is expected that it will take a lot of time for the new camera body EOS R3 and RF lens RF14-35mm F4 L IS USM.
We sincerely apologize for the long wait for our long-awaited customers. We will continue to take measures to ensure a stable supply of products so that we can deliver our products as soon as possible. Thank you kindly look forward for your understanding.

Product nameAbout supply
EOS R3
RF14-35mm F4 L IS USM		It will be shipped in sequence, but it may take more than half a year to deliver when you place a new order.
RF16mm F2.8 STM
RF400mm F2.8 L IS USM
RF800mm F5.6 L IS USM
RF1200mm F8 L IS USM
Eye cup ER-hE
Lens hood EW-65C		We plan to ship the products one by one, but it may take longer than usual to deliver.

The Global Chip Shortage Might Soon Turn To An Oversupply Crisis

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So, it’s years that we are continuously told there is a global chip supply crisis and now it seems the problem will soon be the opposite.

Nikkei Asia broke the news:

[…]

All in all, chip shortages will ease slightly in 2022 with more production in Asia, but a massive wave of new supply will be on stream in 2023. Given that the bulk of that production will only be for mature node semiconductors, only higher-end chips will face shortages.

Of course, another potential bottleneck for the entire industry is the supply of vital rare earths and other raw materials needed to manufacture the semiconductors themselves, which could be in jeopardy as a result of rising geopolitical tensions.

Other uncertainties include climate change and the need to meet various emissions targets, which are bound to affect the production of semiconductors as well, and any resulting upward pressure on energy prices.

Still, the massive investment in mature node semiconductors does point to a potential bifurcation in the supply of semiconductors, with the least advanced ones experiencing huge supply increases, if geopolitics and rare earths are permitting, while the most advanced chips, which are key for new technologies, will remain scarce.

Read the story at Nikkei Asia

However, the recent geopolitical tensions might well cause a new chip shortage.