Taking Stills From Motion – Is Canon Starting A Revolution With The EOS-1D C?

Micro Expressions: exploring motion image photography from untitled film works on Vimeo.

Is Canon starting a revolution with the EOS-1D C? The Canon EOS-1D C could be the camera that starts a small revolution in the photography world: Taking stills from motion. The concept is not new, this was often done in the last century from 35mm film, particularly by press photographers. The difference that the 1D-C introduces is named “4k”. The ability to shot 4k footage, i.e. 4096 x 2160 resolution, with 24 frames per seconds, means every frame is around 9 Megapixel. Compare it to 1080p resolution where you get a 2MP still.

You probably already got it: You can extract high quality stills from motion footage. And that makes a BIG difference for a professional photographer. Some may say: but 9MP is not state of the art in 2012! Resolution is not everything, light, skills, framing etc, all make up a good photo. And then: 4k is just the beginning, 8k is the next step.

The video above shows and explains that. Australian photographer and film maker Abraham Joffe received some sample units of the EOS-1D C and was able to test it for several weeks. The results are spectacular! Check the quality of the extracted stills, which have been printed and undergone deep analysis by other photographers (Philip Bloom is in the video). The idea behind the video was to investigate the possibility to take photos from the motion footage during video processing, to print them and to allow a quality test by asking professional photographers their opinion. Most of the photogs were skeptical initially, and later surprised by the results. Enough said: watch the video.

The Canon EOS-1D C is expected to (finally) be released in April 2013, and can be pre-ordered for $11,999 at the following shops (click on shop name): B&H | Adorama

[via planet5d, megapixel (translated)]

Is Canon Introducing A Revolution With The EOS-1D C?

 

Gizmodo’s 10 Most Important Cameras Of 2012, EOS 5D Mark III On First Position

EOS 5D Mark III On First Position

Gizmodo posted the 10 most important cameras of 2012, putting the Canon EOS 5D Mark III on first position.

Beside the awesome 61 point AF system (the same featured on the EOS-1D X), the EOS 5D Mark III (price & specs) is seen as the update to the EOS 5D Mark II (price & specs) that users wanted. If the EOS 5D Mark II was the game changer it was, especially for indie film makers, then Canon did the right thing to listen to customers and to improve the EOS 5D Mark III following users suggestions. Some excerpts from Gizmodo’s motivation to rank the EOS 5D Mark III on first place among the 10 top cameras of 2012:

  • In creating the 5D Mark III, Canon listened to all of the critiques and complaints about the Mark II, refining the hardware, functionality, and capabilities of its insanely popular shooter. It may be more update than revolution, but damn: This camera is sweet.
  • The biggest differences between the Mark II and Mark III are hidden inside, but the 5D Mark III’s body and exterior control layout have also seen some improvements. It’s nicer to hold and easier to use. The power switch […] has been beefed up and moved to the top of the camera next to the mode dial. It’s easier to find, and harder to accidentally flip.
  • […]  one of the things that distinguished the 5D Mark II was its amazing low-light performance. The Mark III improves on this noticeably. Its full-frame 22.3-megapixel sensor might only be marginally larger than the 21.1-megapixel sensor on the Mark II. But its new design uses pixels that work better in low-light conditions […] the new design includes a gapless micro lens—also borrowed from the 1D X—that basically lets more light reach the sensor’s pixels.
  • Combined with a smoking new Digic 5+ processor the Mark III focuses shockingly fast, even when there’s not a lot of light. […] rofessionals can tweak and fine-tune the camera’s tracking sensitivity and characteristics to their needs, but regular people can get shockingly good results with the six presets.

The Canon EOS 5D Mark II, which still is an absolutely great camera, can be yours for a steal, $1749 in these days (click on shopname: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA. The EOS 5D Mark III is seeing price drop after price drop, and is sold for by top rated eBay seller getitdigital. The usual price is around $2975 in these days (click on shopname: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA).

[via fujirumors]

 

Canon EOS 6D Review By Photofocus (Highly Recommended)

Canon' amazing entry level full-frame DSLR, the Canon EOS 6D (price & specs), got reviewed by Richard Harrington at photofocus, additional comments by Scott Bourne. Some the cool features of the EOS 6D include WiFi connectivity and GPS. Unfortunately it does not have the awesome AF of the EOS 5D Mark III (price & specs), but the reviewers found it to be very accurate even in low light. Sample images are provided. The DSLR gets a “highly recommended”. Quoting Scott Bourne's conclusion:

The camera doesn’t feel cheap. I like the button layout much better than on some older Canon models. Everything you need is accessible. The image quality is a close match to that of the 5D MK III and the price is right if you want affordable full-frame. If you match this camera with Canon’s high-end “L” glass you’re going to get amazing image quality. This camera (in my opinion) makes the 7D obsolete. It lacks the high-speed, highly-adjustable AF of the 5D MK III so it’s not able to compete there. But everywhere else, it bumps up closely enough to the MK III that if you don’t need the high-end AF the 6D should be your pick. One last complaint. Who names these things? Whoever is in charge of naming cameras at Canon should be lashed – 50 times in fact. In what world does it make sense to name your cameras in two different ways? We had the Canon 30D and the Canon D30. We had the 5D with all the MKs i.e., MK II, MK III but we added the 7D – which isn’t as much camera as the five and filled in with the 6D!)

Canon EOS 6D price check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA [via photofocus]

 

Canon EOS 6DSample Pics (Imaging Resource)

Imaging Resource, while working on the full review of the EOS 6D (price and specs), posted a full set of samples images taken in a lab setting. If you are following CanonWatch then you probaly know that the EOS 6D sensor produces less noise than the sensor featured on the EOS 5D Mark III (price and specs). Not bad for Canon's entry level full-frame DSLR, which by the way also sports WiFi connectivity and GPS.

Canon EOS 6D price check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA

Canon EOS 5D Mark III price check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA

[via IR]

 

Canon EF 35mm f/2 Resolution Test (Lensrentals)

[Thanks Daniel]

Roger Cicala and the Lensrentals team just published the resolution test of Canon's new (and relatively pricy, $849, non-L) EF 35mm f/2. Resolution charts and MFTs are available. The lens performs well, but given Sigma's amazing 35mm f/1.4 lens, which comes more or less for the same price, Canon could have some hard time to make this lens a bestseller.

This is a nice lens with a very nice IS system at a fairly high price. If you need a 35mm Image Stabilized lens, this is the one for you. If you don’t need an Image Stabilized lens, it’s not. Not when you can get the Sigma for the same money. Or you can get the still-surprisingly-good-and-a-real-bargain 35mm f/2 for less than half the money.Roger Cicala synthetic conclusion:

Image credit: lensrentals.com

The graph above shows the resolution compared to other Canon lenses and to the Sigma.

Canon EF 35mm f/2 IS price check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA

Sigma 35mm f/1.4 price check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA [via lensrentals]

 

Canon EOS 6D Sensor Less Noisy Than EOS 5D Mark III

Interesting test made by Don Marcotte, a photographer with interests in astrophotography. He wanted to know which camera sensor among the EOS 6D and the EOS 5D Mark III produces less noise. The test was made with a rather simple setting: long exposures wit the cap on the lens (no light). Before looking at the results it is best to read Marcotte's disclaimer:

Please remember that this test was designed to determine the best camera for a very specific night photography project. I would expect that no one could detect a noise difference between the 6D and 5D3 for the vast majority of daylight photography. Only in low light conditions would a 6D deliver observably better results.

Ok, the EOS 6D produces less noise than the EOS 5D Mark III. Check the following images:

Image credits: Don Marcotte

Above, 15 seconds exposure: Shot using camera store demo units at room temperature. RAW images converted to 16 bit TIFFs by Canon Digital Photo Professional. Created 400px X 400px crops and applied Gamma=3.0 in CS5.

Below, the 30 seconds exposure results:

Image credit: Don Marcotte

It is amazing that Canon's entry level full-frame DSLR produces less noise than the much more pricey EOS 5D Mark III!

On planet5D you can find Marcotte's full description of the test along with more informations and a comparison with the EOS 5D Mark II.

Canon EOS 6D price check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA

Canon EOS 5D Mark III price check:B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA [planet5D via PetaPixel]