Sigma teases fast telephoto lens to be announced February 23

Sigma

Sigma Austria posted a teaser for a new lens on their Facebook page. The image above is accompanied by the text below (translation from German mine):

Today we can announce another world’s first, and we will show it on February 23. For the time being, we just want you to know that again it will be “sharp/fast”. What focal range do you wish? Write us and stay tuned.

Your Sigma Austria team.

The “sharp/fast” refers to a lens with wide aperture, possibly f/2.8, or even faster. The shape in the teaser image suggests a Sigma telephoto lens.

Thanks Aaron for the tip.

Canon Rebel SL2 coming for CP+, announcement end of February? [CW3]

Rebel SL2

Is Canon set to announce the Rebel SL2 at the end of February, just in time for the CP+ show? I’ve been told that the Rebel SL2 may indeed be announced in a few weeks. We are not going to see the EOS 80D for CP+, as suggested by others, but most likely the Rebel SL2.

The Rebel SL2 is rumored to feature the same 24MP sensor as other recent Canon DSLRs (namely, the EOS 750D/Rebel T6i and EOS 760D/Rebel T6s). Beside being suggested by the source, a 24MP on the Rebel SL2 sounds pretty plausible to me. There have been few rumors about the Rebel SL2 as of late. The SL2 was expected to get announced in 2015, but nope. Will we eventually see the Rebel SL1 replacement at the end of February?

For the time being, these are the supposed Rebel SL2 specs I got and consider reliable:

  • 24MP, same sensor as T6i/T6s
  • Smaller than SL1
  • Wireless battery charging, old charger still supplied and works as before
  • 19 point AF system
  • Hybrid CMOS AF III
  • Digic 6
  • New battery type

All Rebel Sl2 rumors are here. Stay tuned…

Canon EOS 80D talk, another suggestion points to a 28MP sensor [CW3]

EOS 70d

I got another rumor saying that the Canon EOS 80D might feature a 28MP sensor (thanks). The source also mentioned a “new sensor generation”. This wouldn’t come as a surprise given the amount of sensor-related patents filed by Canon in the last years.

I still expect the EOS 80D announcement to happen in Summer 2016 (others expect an announcement for CP+, towards the end of February, but I guess this is nothing but a hoax). However, there are also rumors suggesting a 24MP sensor for the Canon EOS 80D. For the time being I can’t say which one is more reliable, I am working on it with my sources.

The other bit I continuously get for the EOS 80D is about a new Auto-Focus system. Here too, I do not have reliable information, just wild speculations and clear hoaxes. The EOS 80D might indeed have a new AF system, but so far no hints about its features.

The EOS 750D/Rebel T6i and EOS 760D/Rebel T6s both have a 24MP sensor, as the EOS M3 has. Common sense may suggest that Canon should raise the resolution on the replacement for the highly popular Canon EOS 70D. 28MP sounds plausible to me. All Canon EOS 80D rumors are here.

That’s all for now. Stay tuned…

New Canon mirrorless camera coming Q3-Q4 2016? [CW4]

EOS M3

We already knew that Canon will likely announce a new mirrorless camera during 2016. Now we have sort of a confirmation by a Canon executive.

Please note: the following text is machine translated with some editorial additions and corrections. The original article was posted on ascii.jp (emphasis mine).

Canon Marketing Japan Imaging System Company, president Yagi Koichi Managing Executive Officer [says] “in the third quarter and fourth quarter of 2015, we have been able to ship a lot of mirror-less […] cameras, [but we are] not yet satisfied […]. At present [we are working on] new products, but [we can not] mention, the third quarter in 2016, towards the fourth quarter and that the mirror-less market is forecast to grow, Canon’s share of the mirror-less camera market [in the last] two years ago [was] the 4. position, we want to aim at the 3. position [intended as ranking, editor’s note]. By all means [we want to get the] second place this year […]. And, because second place [is the] middle of the goal, [as] soon as possible [we] want to take the seat of the number one[…].

Canon Marketing Japan Shibasaki Hiroshi Director and Senior Managing Executive Officer, says it also “to implement an aggressive sales promotion measures to tow the camera market with a focus on mirror-less camera.”

While a full-frame Canon mirrorless camera is rumored since a while, I guess the interview refers to a new model of the EOS M line-up. What do you think…?

[via ascii.jp]

Canon EOS-1D X Mark II product description text and full specs leaked

eos-1d x mark ii

The product presentation text for the Canon EOS-1D X Mark II (to be announced today) has leaked on the site of an online retailer (thanks Rick).

Immense power. Phenomenal speed. A remarkable combination of innovation and refinement.

The new EOS-1D X Mark II camera is nothing but legendary every step of the way. Building on a heritage of sophisticated innovation, the EOS-1D X Mark II is blazingly fast. Up to 14 fps*(up to 16 fps* in Live View mode) can be captured at a burst rate of up to 170 RAWs with a CFast™ card, and an improved 61-point AF system helps deliver clean, sharp images quickly, even in dim light. This remarkable speed means faster recording too: 4K video can be recorded at up to 60 fps with smooth AF and strikingly clear detail. Combined with superb low-light performance thanks to its powerful sensor and expandable ISO range, the EOS-1D X Mark II performs brilliantly, swiftly and stunningly no matter when or where the photographer is shooting. From the stadium, safari or studio to virtually everywhere in between, the EOS-1D X Mark II maintains and enhances all the hallmarks of what Canon has to offer, marking a new page in the legacy of the EOS series of cameras.

  • Fastest shooting EOS-1D, capable of up to 14 fps* full-resolution RAW or JPEG, and up to 16 fps* in Live View mode with new Dual DIGIC 6+ Image Processors.
  • Achieves a maximum burst rate of up to 170 RAWs in continuous shooting at up to 16 fps, and 4K movies using CFast™ cards in the new CFast 2.0™** slot.
  • Experience less noise in higher ISO images via a new 20.2 Megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor, with an ISO range of 100–51200; expansion to ISO 409600.
  • Improved AF performance through 61-point High Density Reticular AF II system with 41 cross-type points, improved center point focusing sensitivity to -3 EV and compatibility down to f/8***.
  • Accurate subject tracking for stills and video with new EOS Intelligent Tracking and Recognition AF with 360,000-pixel metering sensor.
  • 4K video (4096 x 2160) up to 60 fps (59.94), with an 8.8-Megapixel still frame grab**** in camera. Full 1080p HD capture up to 120 fps for slow motion.
  • Dual Pixel CMOS AF & Movie Servo AF for high speed, high frame rate and continuous autofocus during video shooting.
  • View and control high quality stills and videos via the 3.2-inch touch panel LCD with 1.62 million dots.
  • Increased resolution and fine detail, with lens aberration correction and diffraction correction via new in-camera Digital Lens Optimizer technology.
  • Built-in GPS***** provides geotag information including auto time syncing with Universal Time Code via satellites.
  • The new optional Wireless File Transmitter WFT-E8A is compatible with IEEE 802.11ac/n/a/g/b, supporting both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi® bands.
  • Durable and rugged magnesium alloy body with dust- and-weather resistance for demanding shooting situations.

* Continuous shooting speed may vary depending on the shutter speed, the aperture, the lens being used, the battery charge and various camera settings.

More after the break

Click here to open the rest of the article

UPDATED – Canon EOS-1D X Mark II images and specification leaked (Dual Pixel, 20MP, 4K@60fps etc) [CW5]

eos-1d x mark ii

eos-1d x mark ii

eos-1d x mark ii

Specification and images of the upcoming Canon EOS-1D X Mark II leaked at Digicame-Info. The long touted 22MP sensor resolution turned out to be a hoax.

EDIT: Digicame-Info posted an updated and more detailed EOS-1D X Mark II spec list.:

  • 20.2MP CMOS sensor. Dynamic range improvement 
  • Dual pixel CMOS AF 
  • Dual DIGIC6 + processor 
  • ISO100-51200 (expanded in 409600) 
  • Continuous shooting of 14 frames / sec. 16 frames / second in the live view mode 
  • New mirror drive system that enables high-speed continuous shooting 
  • Continuous shooting The number of storable RAW at 170 frames (at 16 frames / sec.). Unlimited in JPEG 
  • 61-point AF system, which range is expanded. 41-point cross-type 
  • AF is -3EV correspondence 
  • With lighting AF point red
  • AI AF accuracy and motion tracking has improved Servo AF III +
  • 360000 dot photometric sensor. EOS iSA. EOS iTR
  • 0.76 times the viewfinder magnification. 100% field of view
  • Video 4K 60fps. Full HD120fps. 4K video can be recorded in internal CFast2.0 media
  • Movie Servo AF
  • LCD monitor 3.2 inches, 1.62 million dots. Touch panel.
  • Camera digital lens Optimizer (DLO). Lens aberration correction. Diffraction correction
  • CFast2.0 and compact flash of dual card slot
  • GPS built-in
  • 2-axis electronic level
  • USB3.0 terminal, HDMI terminal
  • W-FI option (WFT-E8A)
  • The size of 158mm x 167.6mm x 82.6mm
  • Weight 1340g

As you can see many of the rumoured specs turned out to be reliable, other were not. This is going to be Canon’s next powerhouse for the professional photographers.

Stay tuned for more images coming soon. The announcement of the Canon EOS-1D X Mark II is expected on Monday next week.

[via Digicame-Info]