Canon (Canada) Opens First Experience Store

It has been anticipated, now it is official. Canon started their first experience store in Calgary, Canada. It is called “Image Square”:

Visit us at Image Square: The Canon Experience Centre. At Canon Image Square, you can explore and interact with Canon’s line of consumer and office equipment. Experience our PowerShot digital cameras; the EOS lineup of digital SLR cameras; a wide selection of lenses & accessories; VIXIA HD camcorders; PIXMA inkjet printers; imageRUNNER ADVANCE lineup of office equipment; imagePRESS solutions for production printing and our software applications in an innovative and dynamic environment unlike anywhere else.

The press release:

Canon Canada Opens ‘Image Square,’ the Canon Experience Centre in Calgary, Alberta

First centre of its kind showcases the best of Canon photography and print imaging technology in a hands-on, experiential environment

CALGARY, Alberta, January 15, 2013 – Canon Canada Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions celebrating its 40th Anniversary, today announced the opening of Image Square, the Canon Experience Centre – a unique destination where visitors can interact with the latest Canon technology and benefit from the expertise of photography and business consultants.

Located at Eighth Avenue Place in downtown Calgary, Alberta, Canon Image Square is a ground-breaking, innovative and technologically-advanced space specifically designed to encourage exploration and discovery. Visitors will learn how Canon products and solutions can help them capture their experiences, enhance their memories, and increase their productivity, at home, at work, and at play.

Canon Image Square is open to the public beginning today at 12:00pm.

“Canon Image Square represents a true first for Canada, and it sets the standard for how our industry interacts with customers by offering an opportunity to experience first-hand our state-of-the-art products and technology,” said Kevin Ogawa, President and CEO of Canon Canada. “We are committed to providing our customers and prospective customers with the best experience with our products, and that includes allowing them to touch and try our products before they purchase.”

As part of the Canon Image Square vision, expert staff will direct visitors to purchase through authorized local dealers or direct from Canon.

Canon Image Square features dynamic displays and demonstrations that give visitors a true look at how Canon products work. This innovative approach to the consumer experience includes:

• Expert staff dedicated to answering questions, sharing tips, and finding information for visitors.

• Full-motion thematic settings and sculptural exhibits where visitors can test point-and-shoot and digital SLR cameras, a range of lenses and accessories, and a selection of printers.

• A touch screen media wall where visitors can post and interact with their own images.

• Interactive discovery tables where visitors can select an image, learn about its features, and find directions to the related product station.

• A fully-operational showroom exhibiting a range of Canon print production devices and solutions for business needs.

• A photo studio outfitted with professional Canon digital SLR cameras, Speedlight flashes, and photo production software.

• A classroom-style learning space where expert staff will conduct seminars, projector demos, presentations, and Canon College photography classes.

• Photo gallery curated by 500px, featuring the works of Alberta-based photographers who use Canon equipment to bring remarkable images to life.

Canon Image Square occupies approximately 6,600 square feet on the ground floor of Eighth Avenue Place, a pre-certified LEED Platinum building. Canon Image Square is accessible off 8th Avenue as well as through the building’s main concourse.

For more information, visit www.canon.ca/imagesquare

[via CR]

 

A Little Bit Of Everything

First Canon EOS-1D C Unboxing Video

I you like unboxing videos, and if you’re dreaming about the EOS-1D C, then this is for your viewing pleasure. Planet5D has the first unboxing video for the EOS-1D C.

The EOS-1D C could be a strong innovator, or even a game changer in photography. Being able to shot 4k footage, it allows photogs to get high quality stills from motion. A hot issue we covered in the past.

The Canon EOS-1D C is in stock at B&H (click here) and Adorama (click here). Price is a whooping $11.999.

Canon EOS-1D C price check: [shopcountry 4119]

[via planet5d]

 

Metabone Does The Optical Voodoo (want faster and wider lenses?)

This is the perfect Monday morning news. Want to use the awesome Canon lens collection on your MFT gear? And maybe you want your EF lenses to get faster and wider? Sounds impossible, or sounds like magic? Well, it is possible, at least it appears to be.

Metabones just announced the new “Speed Booster” Adapter that makes any Canon full-frame (i.e. EF and not EF-S) lens faster and wider (some say also sharper)! Philip Bloom posted this for first, and he explains how it works:

“The Metabones ‘Speed Booster’ is a 0.71 x focal reducer, that will effectively turn your full frame 50mm f/1.8 lens into a 35mm f/1.2 lens. Note, doing so (as a guide) will increase the aperture of that lens by one stop. It will be available in January 2013 from Metabones’ web site http://www.metabones.com and its worldwide dealer network for US$599 / £372 plus shipping and applicable taxes and duties“

Let me sum it up:

  1. The adapter reduces the image circle of full-frame lenses in order to cover the MFT sensor area
  2. You can use only full-frame lenses (Canon EF lenses)
  3. While the adapter supports automatic aperture and image stabilization it doens’t support AF control

Here is an image that shows you how it works:

The image circle gets reduced and this actually doesn’t decrease the image quality!

Below is a video sample shot by Philip Bloom using an Canon EF 17-40 f/4L lens shot at 24mm and a Sony FS100 camcorder

Take some time to read Philip Bloom post (there are more videos, lots of information, excerpts from the adapter’s white paper) and let me know what you think about all this optical voodoo. This is what Philip Bloom thinks:

Does it work? Well yes. After what has been some very speedy non scientific tests, I am very happy with the images produced so far. From what I have seen, will I be ordering one on release? Again yes, yes I will. The adapter I’ve tested is a prototype, so final judgment should be reserved until a production version is used and tested. I love that I can have a real 50mm on the FS100.

[via 43rumors]

 

A Little Bit Of Everything