Is Canon Testing Its Mirrorless Technology On The Rebel T4i/650D/X6i?

Techradar had this pretty smart intuition: The [shoplink 5623]T4i/650D/X6i[/shoplink] features technologies that are needed in mirrorless cameras, and that, therefore, the T4i/650D/X6i could be Canon’s testbed for its upcoming mirrorless system cam. Well, there is something in that. As techradar writes:

[…] the EOS 650D [Rebel T4i/Kiss X6i] is Canon’s first DSLR to feature full-time autofocusing in Live View and video mode. Both of these modes require the reflex mirror to be lifted out of the way, so the camera in effect emulates a mirrorless model.

Right. The T4i/650D/X6i sports a new Hybrid AF system, combining phase detection and contrast detection. Hybrid AF system are already featured on mirrorless cameras such as Nikon’s [shoplink 5622]J1[/shoplink] and [shoplink 5621]V1[/shoplink]. techradar again:

[…] the technology […] doesn’t have to be DSLR specific. In Live View and movie mode, the camera’s reflex mirror is lifted, and Canon uses a dedicated AF system on the image sensor instead of the independent AF sensor in the camera’s mirror box. It’s a hybrid system that uses both contrast and phase detection to get superfast, precise autofocus. That’s important because it means Canon has built a sophisticated AF system that already works without a mirror.

Next, it’s the touchscreen that captures our attention. Mirrorless cameras are smaller than DSLR yet delivering all the advanced features of the latter. In other words: little room for buttons and controls. A touchscreen would solve that problem.

What do you think? Is the Rebel T4i/650D/X6i showing technologies that are perfectly suited for a mirrorless camera, and could this be a hint that Canon’s mirrorless system camera is really around the corner?

See here for more information (and pre-order links) about the new Rebel T4i/650D/X6i, here for hands-on videos, here for a comprehensive first impressions review.

[techradar via gizmodo]

Canon Mirrorless Concept by D. Riesenberg

[Rumor] Canon Working On A DSLR With A Sensor Bigger Than Full-Frame

I was a little bit uncertain if I should post this. The rumor comes from a new source, and it is the first time I hear this very rumor. After having had some emails with the source, I had the feeling that I could trust it. However, this is a rumor, and as all rumors it has to be taken with a grain of salt. Ok, here it is: I have been told that Canon is working on a new DSLR, a camera that will be a complete game changer and that will be announced in September (Photokina). Aimed at the super-pro photo-crowd, this DSLR will sport a entirely new sensor, a sensor that is said to be bigger than a full-frame sensor. No word, unfortunately, about resolution or other core specs, nor if it will be medium format or not. Just “bigger than full-frame” (see the pic below to get an idea about sensor sizes). If the rumor turns out to be true, it would mean that Canon is expanding its territory, not only jumping (hopefully soon) on the mirror-less bandwagon, but also invading a domain where others are the main players.

This is a hot summer regarding Canon announcements, and we can expect more rumors to leak in the next weeks and months. We should see a mirror-less camera announced in the next weeks (if all the rumors I and others reported are true). Then there is Photokina in September, where most of us expect the EOS 70D and the EOS 7D Mark II to be announced. And the new, mysterious DSLR with a sensor bigger than full-frame. Stay tuned!

[Rumor] New Sigma 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 DC MACRO OS HSM To Be Released In June?

Image credits: digicame-info.com

Japanese site digicame-info.com (Google translated) has posted a rumor received from a reader. It says that Sigma will release a new lens, 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 DC MACRO OS HSM for Canon mount, on June 25. They suggest this lens could be the successor of the [shoplink 5573]Sigma 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM[/shoplink]. Here is the posted article (machine translated):

  • The product name sigma 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 DC MACRO OS HSM
  • (For Canon mount) will be released June 25,

Because the data source has been published in the net shop, credibility is so high. The details are unknown at the moment, from the product name, sounds like the successor of the 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM of current.

The new product, as far as photos are impressive, such as are smaller than the current product. In addition, because it includes the “MACRO” in the product name, I might have have been enhanced close-up photography. Are aiming towards a high magnification zoom for APS-C is, this lens is going to be a strong candidate.

Sigma 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM price check: [shopcountry 5573] [via digicame-info]

[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 [shoplink 4119]EOS-1D X[/shoplink] 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 [shoplink 337]EOS 7D[/shoplink].

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