[Rumor] Does This Guy Know Something About Canon’s Mirrorless Camera? (Update: No!)

Image credits: Wikipedia

Update: it turned out that D. Pogue meant the Sony RX100. Pogue confirmed it in the comments section of the post. Thanks to reader okumonux for pointing me to this.

We should learn something new about Canon’s mirror-less plans in the next few weeks. In the meantime, a statement by David Pogue caused some curiosity. On his blog, David Pogue (New York Times’ gadget columnist) was really enthusiastic about an upcoming, hot camera “with astonishing photographic results”:

[…] in two weeks, I’ll be switching my allegiance. You cannot believe what’s about to come down the photographic pike. Trust me: If you’re in the market for a small camera with astonishing photographic results, hold off for a few weeks.

Speculation is, David Pogue could know something about the Canon mirroless camera that is expected to be announced in the next weeks. The time frame, at least, could match. It’s getting hot and hotter. Do you think we will see a Canon mirror-less in the next weeks?

[via petapixel]
Canon mirror-less camera concept by D. Riesenberg (davidriesenberg.com)

[Rumor] EOS 1D-X Availability Update

This comes from canonrumors:

Canon Canada has started to confirm the preorder lists from retailers for the EOS-1D X. Retailers have to prove the people buying the camera are CPS members, and have prepaid for the camera. If the camera is needed for the Olympics, it appears you’re moved to the front of the line. I don’t know if any other countries are going to experience the same limitations with the initial shipment of cameras.

Canon Canada expects a very small number of cameras in July, and that should be the same across the globe.

Moreover, CR suggests that the EOS-1D X will not start to ship regularly before August-September 2012.

For the time being the EOS 1D-X can be pre-ordered at Adorama (click here), B&H (click here), Amazon US (click here).

[Rumor] EOS 7D Firmware Update Next To Be Released

CR reports about an official Canon announcement that «briefly appeared on a Canon CPN site» (and after that, supposedly disappeared) about a new firmware release for the EOS 7D.

Canon has announced an upcoming firmware update, 7D Firmware Version 2, for the 18 Megapixel EOS 7D that includes a raft of new features to further enhance the capabilities of Canon’s flagship APS-C format DSLR.

The firmware will target the following features/issues (more details in the original post):

  • IMPROVED RAW MAXIMUM BURST
  • IN-CAMERA RAW CONVERSION
  • IMAGE RATING CAPABILITIES
  • AUTO ISO MAXIMUM SETTING
  • MANUAL ADJUSTMENT FOR AUDIO RECORDING LEVELS
  • JPEG RESIZING
  • SUPPORT FOR THE GP-E2 GPS UNIT
  • QUICK CONTROL DURING PLAYBACK
  • FILE NAME SETTING
  • TIME ZONE SETTING
  • FASTER SCROLLING OF MAGNIFIED IMAGES

[Hot Rumor] EOS 650D/Rebel T4i/Kiss X6i Specification Leaked (Update)

Image: www.canonpricewatch.com

Now we have even more specification leaking. Digicame-info (Google translated) published a list of supposed specs of the Rebel T4i/EOS 650D expected to be announced tomorrow.

EOS Kiss X6i of spec (T4i/650D) – [machine translated]

  • AF sensor at the time of shooting all points in the viewfinder is a cross 9-point sensor
  • Combined with phase difference AF using the contrast and CMOS sensor AF “hybrid CMOS AF”
  • During movie shooting, Live View is faster than a conventional hybrid AF by CMOSAF
  • Servo AF focusing on a smooth motion to continue work on the subject when shooting movies
  • CMOS 18 million pixel sensor newly developed
  • DIGIC5
  • Continuous shooting is 5 fps / best
  • ISO sensitivity (extension 25600) 12800 maximum
  • Vari-angle LCD monitor wide 3:2 type touch panel 3.0
  • Capacitive touchscreen
  • Added the synthesis of four taken to the mode dial to the “hand-held Twilight mode”
  • Added the synthesis of three taken to the mode dial to “backlight correction HDR”
  • EOS Full HD movies
  • Creative filters
Update: CR has two example videos showing the use of the touch screen (click here)
Update: more and more pictures are leaking. The following come from canonrumors.com:
image via canonrumors.com
image via canonrumors.com
Update: CR has some information and pics regarding the touch screen:
  • With a simple touch menu selection and auto-focus area selection, zoom in and out of the picture can be more convenient and can be used.
  • By adopting Clearview LCD on the LCD even in bright outdoor viewing pictures is easy.
  • Swivel LCD for self portraits, as well as using high-angle, low angle can be used to express a more diverse picture can be
  • Touch-button operation and the operation can be used simultaneously, depending on the preference of the user can use conveniently

[Rumor] EF 40mm f/2.8 Pancake & 18-135mm STM Specification Leaked

Rebel T4i/650D with 18-135mm STM lens - image: www.canonpricewatch.com

Thanks to reader nini we can post the supposed specs of the EF 40mm f/2.8 pancake and the 18-135mm STM, both expected to be announced tomorrow, Friday 8th. The specifications have been published on Japanese site digicame-info (Google translated). If I got it right, they received the specs from an anonymous source. Here they are (this is machine-translated text, I made some corrections):

  • EF-S18-135mm F3.5-5.6 IS STM [see image above]

– […] new focus by (STM) stepping motor and six-group zoom
– Greatly improved performance [of] video AF
– AF achieve smooth video recording of a moving subject in combination with the EOS Kiss X6i[Rebel T4i/EOS 650D] – Adopted a single sheet and high-precision aspherical lens 1 UD lens, achieving high image quality compared with conventional models
– The first with a dynamic IS valid when shooting motion
– Stage 4 minute camera shake correction in terms of shutter speed

  • EF40mm F2.8 STM specs [see image below]
    – The thinnest and lightest lens in the EF line-up
    – […] smooth and quiet AF drive [adopting a] (STM) stepping motor
    – 22.8mm Length
    – 130 grams in weight
    – […] one glass mold aspherical lens
    – 7-blade circular aperture
    – noise reduction control is [achieved] adopt[ing a] micro-step drive to the diaphragm mechanism
    – Minimum focusing distance is 0.3m
    – full-time manual focus adjustment is possible to focus one-shot AF

[Rumor] Is Canon Testing A New Full-Frame Camera?

New rumors about a Canon full-frame camera emerged. NL talks about a camera with 1D form factor that is currently under test in Asia. Such rumors reached CR too, and here at CW we have also been told that Canon is testing a prototype of a high resolution (>30MP) full-frame camera, though no one named a “3D” (suggested by other rumor sites). It is really difficult to make predictions having so little information at hand. If the rumor is reliable, then we could have i) a specced down 1D, ii) an entry level full-frame camera, or iii) an entirely new, pro-level camera. On the other hand, if this thing is going to have a >30MP sensor, it will hardly be an entry level FF camera, nor, I think, it will be an 1D-X with lower specs.

We can only wait. And, btw, stay tuned tomorrow for the Rebel T4i/EOS 650D (and 40mm pancake & 18-135mm STM lenses) announcement.

[NL via CR]