Canon EOS-1D X And EOS 5D Mark III Get Camera Of The Year Awards

Camera of the year

Both the Canon EOS-1D X (specs & price) and the Canon EOS 5D Mark III (specs & price) got a camera of the year award.

Digitalcamerainfo chose the EOS-1D X as the camera of the year, because:

While there were only a couple high-end cameras brought to market in 2011, this year saw the eventual release of some incredible full-frame models from each of the major players. With some fantastic mid-range bodies also seeing the light of day, the Canon 1D X had stiff competition for our top spot once it finally was released to the public. Despite the delay, the 1D X bested all comers in our lab tests, producing the highest overall score of the year. While it's certainly too big, too expensive, and simply too much for most people, the Canon 1D X is, hands-down, the best camera from 2012

Read digitalcamerainfo's EOS-1D X review here. Canon EOS-1D X price check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA

Scott Bourne and the staff at photofocus chose the EOS 5D Mark III as the camera of the year:

This year our team tested many cameras and one really stood out. It was the Canon 5D MK III. […] The 5D MK III is fast both in response time and frames-per-second (up to 6 fps.) It has much better chromatic aberration correction and it’s low-light performance is second to none. It has up to seven frame HDR/bracketing.

The biggest improvement in the 5D MK III is in the auto focus. The camera’s 61-point AF system has 41 cross-type sensors and is miles ahead of its competition and only a hair slower than its big brother the Canon 1DX which in my opinion, has the best DSLR AF system in the world. […]

Ultimately for our team, the selection boiled down to amazing low-light performance, super fast and accurate AF, premium build quality, and incredible DSLR film capabilities. If we had a nit it’s the price, but nothing is perfect.

Camera of the year

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

 

c|net Asia Reviewed The Canon EOS M

Now that the Canon EOS M, Canon’s first attempt in the mirrorless market, is going on sale (mainly in Asia, for the time being neither Amazon nor Adorama and B&H have the EOS M listed as in stock), there are more and more reviews showing up in the web. Shawn Low at c|net Asia reviewed the Canon EOS M and he has some good things to say about. The highlights, according to c|net Asia are excellent low-light performance and image quality, compact size and a responsive touchscreen interface. It is interesting to see that all reviewers are impressed by the small size of Canon’s foray into the mirrorless camera world.

The autofocus system doesn’t get much appraisal here neither, yet the accuracy is confirmed. Quoting c|net Asia:

In terms of autofocus (AF) performance, we were quite disappointed by the EOS M’s general sluggishness. In indoor lighting, the EOS M (in “Single” AF mode) took about one second to get a focus lock on our subject; speeds will differ in different lighting conditions as well. Also, we realized that the camera’s focusing speeds also varies according to the AF mode that you’ve set, with the “Single” mode setting being the fastest.

The video below gives an idea:

From the conclusion:

The EOS M should appeal to beginners looking for dSLR-like quality minus the bulk, as well as Canon users who require a secondary body–especially when they already own an existing stable of Canon dSLR lenses.

[…] We were impressed by the EOS M’s excellent low-light performance and fluid touchscreen interface, but were let down by its slow autofocus performance–a factor which prevented us from awarding it with our Editors’ Choice.

I guess it will not be possible to update the AF performance with a firmware update. The AF definitely appears to the Canon EOS M’s weakest point. The small size, the image quality and the possibility to use all of Canon’s EF and EF-S lenses (through an adapter) are its winning points.

Canon EOS M price and availability check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA

Roger Cicala’s First Impressions Of The Canon EOS M

”

Lenrentals owner Roger Cicala got a batch of Canon EOS M cameras and immediately tried out what this cute little mirrorless camera has to offer. Very few spoilers here since I think Roger's hands-on is worth to be read. Just some excerpts…

For those who don’t want to read this but do want to tell everyone what I said later, here’s the summary: it is the best of mirrorless, it is the worst of mirrorless, it is the camera of wise choices, it is the camera of foolishness, it is the epoch of accurate autofocus, and it is the epoch of slow autofocus. In other words, I’ve got mixed emotions.

Unfortunately, the auto-focus sluggishness is confirmed, but also its high accuracy. The Canon EOS M features an auto-focus system that isn't best suited for fast paced street photography, but works perfectly fine for portraits and landscape. The AF works best with the EF-M 18-55mm lens. Indeed, it looks as if the AF is acceptably fast when used with the EF-M 18-55mm lens (at least au pair with other mirrorless cams).

The EF adpater gets an appraisal:

No one has done adapters better. No one. We shot a variety of Canon EF lenses on it and they all were flawless. Autofocus like a dream, at least as fast as the native EOS-M lenses […], automatic vignetting control works perfectly, it was wonderful. Even some third-party lenses adapt rather nicely.

That's good to know, I ordered the EOS M with the adapter and I am happy to learn that Canon did it right. Another thing that positively impressed is the very small size of the EOS M, it may be the smallest mirrorless camera around.

DigitalRev has the Canon EOS M in stock and ready to ship. Various kits are offered, click here to see all their EOS M related bundles and items. Prices look good, also if shipped to Europe. I contacted DigitalRev and they confirmed me that the price you see in check-out is actually the price you have to pay, taxes and customs included. That sounds good.

Canon EOS M price and availability check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA

Canon EOS M Shipping News And Video Review

[via PetaPixel/Roger Cicala]

 

Canon EOS-1D X DXOMarks Published

To whom it concerns, DXOMark published the scores of the Canon EOS-1D X. Although these figures will start the usual discussions, be aware that this is a purely engineering measure. It tells something about a sensor, seldom the whole story and never the real world performance of a camera. But these are just my two cents.

Canon EOS-1D X price and availability check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA [via CR]

Canon’s Peter Yabsley Talks About The Idea The EOS C100 Was Born From

cinema5d posted the interview with Canon’s Peter Yabsley. The interview is about the idea the Canon C100 was born off. The Canon C100 is expected to be available for November 30, the price is $6,499 (click here to see more). The key specs of the C100:

  • Super 35mm 8.3MP CMOS Sensor
  • EF Lens Mount with EF Contacts
  • HDMI Outputs a Non-Compression Signal
  • Dual SDHC/SDXC Memory Card Slots
  • ISO 320 and up to ISO 20000
  • Wide DR and Canon Log Gamma
  • Reduced Rolling Shutter Skews
  • Built-in ND Filters with Manual Controls
  • Two XLR Audio Connectors
  • Peripheral Illumination Correction

More about the C100 after the break.

Click here to open the rest of the article

Chuck Westfall Shows The Canon EOS 6D Wireless Connectivity

Canon’s Chuck Westfall shows the Canon EOS 6D’s wireless connectivity and remote shooting features (source: The Digital Picture). While waiting for previews and hands-ons, this is better than nothing. :-) Canon EOS 6D DSLR specs:

  • 20.2MP Full-Frame CMOS Sensor
  • 3.0″ Clear View High Resolution LCD
  • DIGIC 5+ Image Processor
  • Built-In Wi-Fi and GPS Connectivity
  • Full HD 1080p with Manual Controls
  • 11-Point AF with Center Cross-Type Point
  • 63-Zone Dual Layer Metering Sensor
  • Extended ISO Range of 50-102400
  • Up to 4.5 Full Resolution FPS
  • Built-In HDR and Multiple Exposure Modes

The Canon EOS 6D DSLR can be preordered at the following shops: