Canon EOS 7D Mark II In-Depth Video Tutorial Series

CanonUSA on YuoTube posted a set of in-depth tutorial videos about the top features and functions of Canon’s brand new EOS 7D Mark II. The video above highlights the broad coverage of the 7D2’s auto-focus system. The other videos:

Want to know more about the game changing EOS 7D Mark II? Read more about the EOS 7D Mark II’s excellent weather sealing, the highly advanced AF, and the industry leading high ISO performance (have a look here too). All our coverage on the EOS 7D Mark II can be seen here (and there is a lot).

Canon EOS 7D Mark II price check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA EOS 7D Mark II Tutorial

Canon CINE-SERVO 50-1000mm T5.0-8.9 Lens Overview Video

CanonUSA on YouTube posted this video where Canon USA’s Larry Thorpe discusses features and benefits of the Canon cine-servo 50-1000mm lens. The lens is yours if you have some $70,000 you don’t need (better you ask your wife before purchasing).

  • Covers up to Super 35mm Sized Sensors
  • 50 to 1000/75 to 1500mm Zoom
  • ENG-Style Zoom, Focus, Iris Servos
  • For Broadcast or Cinema Shooting Styles
  • 180° Focus Ring with Knurled Grip
  • Double Focus Markings in Feet and Meters
  • Detachable Drive Unit
  • Zoom Speed: 1.5 to 180 Seconds
  • Programmable Zoom, Focus, Iris Positions
  • 11-Blade Aperture Design

50-1000mm

[via TDP]

Canon EF 24mm f/2.8 USM IS Review (Photozone)

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Photozone.de reviewed the 2 years old Canon EF 24mm f/2.8 IS USM lens. The lens didn’t score very well.

From the conclusion:

The Canon EF 28mm f/2.8 USM IS and EF 35mm f/2 USM IS delivered pretty impressive results in our lab. Can the Canon EF 24mm f/2.8 USM IS continue this tradition? Unfortunately it doesn’t quite convince as much. The image quality is far from being bad in general but it could be clearly better at f/2.8 at least. The quality in the image center is great but the corners are soft and there’s a quite massive degree of vignetting. At medium aperture settings the quality is much better but it doesn’t provide anything extraordinary here either. On the positive side, the lateral CAs are low and bokeh fringing is not an issue. The bokeh itself is very decent within its class. Image distortions reach a slight to medium degree only.

Never the less, the build quality is excellent and this is a light-weight lens that may appeal to many photographers. The lens has a $50 mail-in rebate to take advantage of, and sells for $549 at Adorama and B&H Photo, but not on Amazon (where it is $599).

Specs:

  • EF Mount Lens
  • Aperture Range: f/2.8-22
  • Aspherical Lens Elements
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • Ultrasonic Focus Motor
  • Rear Focusing System
  • Fulltime Manual Focus Override
  • Lens Coatings Minimize Ghosting & Flare
  • Minimum Focusing Distance: 7.9″
  • 58mm Filter Thread Diameter

EF 24mm f/2.8 IS USM price check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA [via Photozone.de] 244

Canon Patent For Star Tracking in Astrophotography

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Egami (translated) spotted another patent filed by Canon.

The patent refers to a technique for the generation of sharp images without star trails when taking photos of the night sky with long exposures. The purpose is to generate an image where a landscape and a star are made bright and a track of the star is prevented from appearing when a star and landscape photograph is taken.

How does this work? A first detection process concerns the landscape in the test image, first detection data is produced. A second detection process detects the star from the test image in accordance with the first detection data and obtains second detection data. The exposure condition setting section obtains a first image by the imaging section with a first exposure condition which is set in accordance with the first detection data, controls the imaging section with a second exposure condition which is set in accordance with the second detection data, and obtains a second image. A first synthesis corrects a luminance value of the star to a prescribed luminance value in the second image data, and sets it to be a first synthesized image. A second synthesis synthesizes the first synthesized image and the first image, and generates a second synthesized image.

Canon patent

  • Low sensitivity, I will test taken at the proper exposure
  • Place the time, to test shooting with the same settings
  • From the difference of the two test images to detect a movement of the star, and also to calculate the proper exposure time from the mobile width
  • The production shot with appropriate exposure to the subject of non-star
  • The production shot with appropriate exposure to star
  • To obtain the final output image by synthesizing two images production
[via Egami]

Deal Alert: Canon PowerShot SX520 HS ($199), PowerShot SX400 IS ($149)

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Adorama has two good deals on Powershot cameras, both with huge instant discounts.

  • Canon PowerShot SX520 HS IS, 16MP, 42x Optical Zoom, 3″ LCD Display, AV Output/HDMI/USB 2.0, 1080pHD Video, Optical Image Stabilization, Black – on sale for $199 after $200 instant rebate
  • Canon PowerShot SX400 IS, 16MP, 30x Optical Zoom, 3″ LCD Display, AV Output/USB 2.0, Optical Image Stabilization, HD 1280x720p Video, Black – on sale for $149 after $100 instant rebate

 

End of Year Clearance Sale at Canon Direct Store (up to 66% off)

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You are still in time to get the perfect gift for X-Mas.

The Canon Direct Store has 66% off on select products (click here). You get a $9 flat rate on overnight shipping and handling when entering code RUDOLPH at checkout.

Be sure to check also the Canon Direct Store‘s refurbished DSLRsPowershot cameras, and lenses.

More links to holiday deals. Note: most retailers offer free overnight or expedited shipping.

Adorama offers free overnight shipping, click the banner below.

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