Canon EF 24-70 f/4L IS Appears To Be Around The Corner

There was some confusion with yesterday’s news that an EF 24-70 f/2.8L IS lens could be around the corner. It is the EF 24-70 f/4L that appears to be close to announcement. Quoting Canon Rumors:

A new EF 24-70 f/4L IS is on the horizon. It appears something was lost in translation in regards to yesterday’s rumor.  While a prototype of the 2.8 version in IS form exists, the f/4L version is what will be coming to market.

Neither the price nor the announcement date are known.

Is The Next Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L Around The Corner (with image stabilization)?

Canon Rumors reports a rumor saying that Canon is testing prototypes of an EF 24-70mm lens, supposedly named EF 24-70 f/2.8L IS. Quoting CR:

[…] received two separate communications in regards to an EF 24-70 f/2.8L IS  being in the wild in prototype form. We knew this prototype has existed for quite some time, however we figured the concept was dead with the release of the EF 24-70 f/2.8L II. Canon would bring this lens to market alongside the non-IS version. Canon already does this with the 70-200 f/2.8s & 70-200 f/4s, so it’s possible they bring it to the standard zooms as well.

None of my sources confirmed this rumor to me. However, according to CR an image stabilized version of this lens definitely exists.

[via CR]

What Is Canon Going To Do Next? (new rumor tidbits) -Update

The big question: What is Canon going to do next?

Canon Rumors reports that Canon is developing a new Canon EF 800mm f/5.6L IS II lens, primarily to take advantage of new technologies that reduce the weight (which is an issue in an 800mm telephoto lens). There is no information about the timeline. CR also pointed on the fact that the EF 200mm f/2L IS was announced together with the EF 800mm f/5.6L IS II back in 2008

Canon Rumors is also reporting that Canon wasn’t all that happy with the probably photo-shopped picture of the upcoming (so I think) 46 MP DSLR that showed up on B&H and immediately disappeared (to be honest: there is no evidence that the pic really showed up on B&H’s site). That’s somewhat strange, as CR points out: Why get upset if there is no reason to be? I still think that the image was photo-shopped. On the other hand. if Canon really got upset because of the image, then we are allowed to think that there is something more waiting to be discovered (at least a real 46MP DSLR in developement). No news about the name. For the time being EOS-1S is the most quoted, in the past we saw EOS 3D, EOS 4D and EOS-1D S. Al sources said it will be a series-1 shaped body. But there is more. It appears that Canon could make an announcement before the end of the week, at Photoplus in NY, although there have not been sent out any media invitations. Strange.

Update. Northlight Images [via CR] got slightly different informations, referring to two big megapixel DSLR, still in an 1-series shaped body. Prototypes or gear in its early developement state.

From the US, a 39MP sensor in a 1 series body, has apparently been used for several test video productions. In the Far East, two other comments both pointed to ‘well over 50’ MP, once again in a 1 series body. All stressed that these were not production model test cameras.

And then….then there are the usual suspects: EOS 700D, EOS 70D (the EOS 60D is listed as discontinued on Amazon Germany), EOS 7D Mark II, the pro-oriented mirror-less camera we hope Canon is working on. No news here. Do you know something?

As usual with rumors, we can only wait and see what happens.

Canon EF 800mm f/5.6L IS price check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA

What Is Canon Going To Do Next?

Canon EOS-1D C vs EOS-1D X – More Than Just Firmware

Some time ago we reported a news saying that the only difference between the Canon EOS-1D X ($6,799 – click here for specs) and the Canon EOS 1D C ($12,999 – click here for specs) was the firmware and that the two cameras had the same hardware. Exactly the same hardware, and $7000 more to pay for the EOS-1D C and its Cinema features (4k recording). The information we reported (source: EOSHD) came from a Canon Europe product manager

Canon confirmed me today the 1D C 4K DSLR is a 1D X with a firmware update. Identical hardware. […] I also had a impromptu talk to a Canon Europe product manager who was very open and honest about Canon’s approach with this camera

The 1D C is a 1D X with a 4K firmware update. Canon’s man told me that the only hardware change was to do with the flash sync jack (or one of the other jacks if my exact memory fails me). So essentially the 1D X hardware – sensor, processor, everything – is capable of 4K video, 100%, no heat or bandwidth issues either.

But things are not as they appeared. Canon Rumors investigated further and it seems there is more than just firmware that differentiates the EOS-1D C from the EOS-1D X. While it wasn’t possible (so far) to find someone who agreed to open his or hers EOS-1D C and have a look inside, some more information came in about the EOS 1D C internals, saying that, yes, the CPU, the image sensor and the auto-focus system are the same as in the EOS 1D X, but there is «reworked circuitry and design to dissipate heat for the 4K recording». I guess the info came from someone at Canon. Sounds plausible, but does this legitimate the $7000 price difference between the two cameras? We will know for sure as soon as someone will open the camera. It’s a pity that Canon doesn’t release an official statement about this issue.

One of the reasons for the higher price tag of the EOS-1D C are taxes. In Europe, for instance, there are much higher import taxes to pay for the EOS-1D C than for the EOS-1D X. The reason is: the 1D C is classified as a video camera, hence the different tax tarrifs. Have you ever questioned why there is a 29 minutes limit for clips you record with your DSLR? For exactly the same reason. If a camera can record clips longer than 30 minutes it would be classified as a video camera and get a higer price because of the taxes.

Canon EOS-1D X price check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA

 

Will Canon Announce New Lenses Next Week?

Latest rumors suggest that Canon will announce new lenses next week. CR reports that

There is some talk about lens announcements taking place early next week. Although no one is committing to which lenses will get announced. The usual suspects are an EF 35 f/1.4L II and the EF 200-400 f/4L IS 1.4x. The latter is the most likely, with the other less of a possibility.

What about camera announcements? No news about Canon's high resolution DSLR or a more pro-oriented mirrorless camera. However, the EOS-1D C will most probably become official before the end lf 2012.

Canon EOS 60D Listed As Discontinued On Amazon Germany (EOS 70D hint?)

Canon EOS 60D Listed As Discontinued?

Canon EOS 60D Listed As Discontinued? Thanks to our reader Chris who emailed this. Not sure what is going on here. Amazon Germany lists both the EOS 60D body only and the kit with the EF-S 18-135mm IS lens as discontinued. The last line in the picture above says that the item has been discontinued by the manufacturer [Auslaufartikel (Produktion durch Hersteller eingestellt): Ja]. Click on the links above and scroll down to the paragraph titled Produktinformation.

Typo or an embarrassing error that may suggest an upcoming EOS 70D? The latest rumor we heard about the Canon EOS 70D was saying that there will not be any announcement soon. What do you think?