Canon EOS M3 User Guide available for Download

The user guide for Canon’s new EOS M3 camera is online and can be downloaded.

Various Amazon EU sites have the Canon EOS M3 with EF-M 18-55mm IS STM lens available for pre-order: Amazon Italy, Amazon Germany, Amazon UK. You can also pre-order the M3 also at DigitalRev (ships internationally). DigitalRev’s price at checkout is inclusive of all taxes and customs for customers from Asia and the EU (and possibly a better price than Amazon), for customers from the US taxes depend by the state.

Detailed M3 specification can be read here. A round-up of hands-on and previews:

[via eos-m.net]

Canon Patent for 100x Zoom Compact Camera (24-2400mm equivalent)

2014_174524_fig07

Will this patent (spotted by Egami) ever hit the market? If it does it will probably yield a new Powershot camera with a wobbling 100x zoom. The patent refers to a 1/2.3″ sensor and an equivalent focal length of 24-2400mm.

  • Patent Publication No. 2014-174524
    • Published 2014.9.22
    • Filing date 2013.3.13
  • Example 4
    • Zoom ratio 98.52
    • The focal length f = 3.07 53.41 302.40mm
    • Fno. 1.85 8.14 9.00
    • Half angle ω = 36.2 2.40 0.50 °
    • Overall length of the lens 110.05mm
    • BF 12.67 27.40 5.19mm
    • 4-group zoom of positive and negative, positive
    • Inner zoom (the second group, the third group)
    • Rear focus (fourth group)
    • Anti-vibration (third group)

Do you think Canon will produce a Powershot with a 100x zoom anytime soon?

Deal Alert: Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art – $800 (compare to $900)

Authorised Sigma dealer CameraLand on eBay (99.8% positive ratings) has the . Free shipping in the US, limited stock. Compare to $899 on Amazon. Note: this is not a grey import item. Camera Land says:

As one of the largest Sigma dealers in the USA we are happy to offer this great lens at a super price. It comes with the USA Warranty.

We had an in store demo and these were shown and put back in the box. Because of this we won’t sell them as new never opened

More Canon deals on eBay.

Canon announces Firmware Upgrades for Canon XF205 and XF200 Professional Camcorders

xf

Canon announces two free firmware upgrades for the Canon XF205 and XF200 professional camcorders. These updates will add a new image quality setting and support for IP streaming, and will be released respectively mid-April and late-June 2015. Press release:

Free Firmware Upgrades For Canon XF205 and XF200 Professional Camcorders Deliver Improved Basic Performance

MELVILLE, N.Y., March 4, 2015 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, announced today two free firmware upgrades1 that the company will make available for the Canon XF205 and XF200 Professional Full HD camcorders (released in July 2014), one of which adds a new image-quality setting to the camcorder and another that enables the streaming of video over an IP network.

Since their launch in July 2014, the Canon XF205 and XF200 camcorders have proven popular in a wide variety of fields, from the production of news and other broadcasting content to the recording of weddings and other events. In response to the needs of a wide range of users, the new firmware upgrades will add such features as a new image-quality setting that facilitates video recording with reduced noise even in low-light conditions2, as well as numerous functions that deliver enhanced basic performance, such as the ability to stream live video over an IP network.

New image-quality setting (upgrade to be released in mid-April 2015)

One of the new upgrades, to be released in mid-April 2015, will add an image-quality setting to the XF205 and XF200 camcorders that facilitates the recording of video with noise reduction even in low-light conditions. This feature will enable users to choose the optimal image quality based on their shooting requirements, providing a choice between a setting that prioritizes the high-resolution capabilities of the camcorder – the camcorders’ default setting – and a new image-quality setting that gives priority to video with noise reduction.

Support for IP streaming (upgrade to be released in late-June 2015)

The firmware upgrade to be released in late-June 2015 will enable the XF205 and XF200 camcorders to support video streaming over an IP network, a method that is widely used in the broadcasting industry to send and receive video signals. By sending video over the internet while it is being captured, users will be able to provide live transfers of footage to news programs and video-sharing sites. In addition, the upgrade will enable the camcorders to be used with Fujitsu’s video transmission equipment, the Fujitsu Network IP-900IID and IP-920D HD/SD Compact Video Decoders3 as well as software supporting IP streaming. Thanks to these new capabilities, users will be able to stream video over an IP network without having to alter existing video-capture and editing workflows, such as those employed at broadcasting stations.

Canon will exhibit prototype-versions of the firmware upgrades at the Canon booth during the 2015 NAB Show from April 13 to 16 in Las Vegas.

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