Rumor: More On Canon’s Extra Small DSLR (should be announced very soon)

After the rumor we got yesterday concerning a super-small DSLR that Canon’s is supposed to have in work, today we have a new information tidbit. We have been informed that the new smaller-than-a-Rebel DSLR should be announced very soon, possibly before end of March or during the first weeks of April.

This DSLR is rumored to be the lightest and smallest DSLR Canon has ever made and it will not be part of the Rebel/EOS xxx(x)D line-up. The rumor is totally plausible, though it is the first time I hear about such a DSLR. However, there are some patents that legitimate the rumor to some degree, for instance this patent about a very small optical view-finder. The interesting thing about the patent is that the viewfinder is a lot smaller than current optical view-finders. It appears to be the perfect solution for a new super small Canon DSLR. Exciting!

 

Nauticam Underwater Housing for Canon EOS M

Canon EOS M

Nauticam announced a new underwater housing for Canon’s EOS M (price & specs).Depth Rating: 100m, Dimensions: 168mm x 97mm 126mm. Estimated Shipping Date: 20 March, 2013. Canon EOS M price check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA

The press release:

Nauticam NA-EOSM

Nauticam takes great pleasure in announcing an exceptional new housing for a brand new competitor in the mirrorless interchangeable lens camera market: The NA-EOSM for the Canon EOS M. Once again Nauticam is the first to embrace the latest technology available from a leading camera manufacturer and deliver an aluminum underwater housing of superior quality at an unprecedented speed. The NA-EOSM offers Canon shooters the precision and excellence that underwater photographers have come to expect from the world’s leading aluminum underwater housing manufacturer: Nauticam.

Canon EOS M

Canon may be the most recent manufacturer to enter the mirrorless interchangeable lens camera field, but they certainly bring decades of camera development experience to the game. The stylish EOS M exudes quality and refinement from its magnesium alloy camera body to the solid and comfortable weight of the new EF-M series lenses. The superb image quality will be no surprise to shooters of Canon’s APS-C series of DSLRs. The EOS M borrows features, including the 18 MP sensor, from the recently released Canon T4i, in a much more compact mirrorless body. Along with this new Canon system, two new lenses have debuted: TheCanon EF-M 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM and the Canon EF-M 22mm f/2 STM. Both of these lenses employ Canon’s “stepper motor” that provides near silent auto focus when shooting video. In addition, Canon will be providing an optional Mount Adapter EF-EOS M that will allow the use of existing EF and EFS lenses on the new camera.

The Canon EOS M is designed to be user friendly for photographers of all levels of capability, but that doesn’t mean Canon held back on the specs. The in addition to the impressive 18 MP Hybrid CMOS sensor, the new Canon sports the latest 14 bit DIGIC5 processor, 4.3 fps, ISO expandable from 100 – 25,600 and a 1040k dot touch sensitive Clear View II LCD screen. An external Speedlite 90EX hot shoe mounted flash utilizes its own AAA power supply to prevent exhausting the camera battery prematurely. The LCD user interface borrows heavily from the Canon T4i/650D and that means it is one of the most useful available on any camera. Other controls are simply arranged and easy to operate.

Video features are expected from Canon and the EOS M does not disappoint with 1080p 30p in the MOV format and a dedicated record button. The new Hybrid CMOS sensor employs integrated phase detection AF pixels to provide some of the best live AF video capability of any interchangeable lens camera. This should open new doors for underwater videographers.

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Canon Taiwan Expects Increase In Revenue

[source: The China Post]

Japanese multinational imaging and optical giant Canon recently reported robust business results in Taiwan in 2012 despite a sluggish economic climate, forecasting 2013 revenue to exceed NT$6 billion.

Canon Taiwan posted annual revenue of NT$5.5 billion in 2012 thanks to its strategy of multifaceted promotion campaigns and increased investment in the Taiwanese market, said Andy Kamata (鎌田篤), president of Canon Taiwan in a statement the company released on March 7.

The company’s top sellers in Taiwan are digital cameras, inkjet printers and office multifunction devices, the company pointed out. Canon topped the sales of digital cameras — including compact models and digital SLR cameras — in Taiwan last year in terms of both units and U.S. dollars.

Read the rest here.

Samyang/Rokinon 24mm Tilt Shift Lens Set To Be Released in May 2013

Samyang/Rokinon 24mm

Samyang/Rokinon released a statement saying that the new 24mm Tilt Shift lens will be shipping in May 2013. The lens does 12mm of shift with an 8.5 degree tilt. Product specs:

  • Wide-Angle Tilt-Shift Prime Lens
  • Full Frame/35mm Format
  • Aperture Range: f/3.5-22
  • Maximum Tilt: +/- 8.5º
  • Maximum Shift: +/- 12mm
  • Mount Rotation: 90º Left and Right

This is a photo of the Samyang 24mm Tilt Shift lens that Samyang/Rokinon announced a while back. Today, the company is saying that the lens will be shipping in May 2013. The new lens will allow 12mm of shift with an 8.5 degree tilt. Shifting upwards and around possible to around 90 degrees.

The Samyang/Rokinon 24mm Tilt Shift lens can be pre-ordered at Adorama and B&H and Amazon.

[source : The Phoblographer]

New Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC HSM Available For Pre-Order

Sigma 30mm

B&H has the new Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC HSM (part of Sigma’s “Art” line-up) available for pre-order for $499 (click here). The lens is expected to ship starting from March 31st.

  • Standard Focal Length Prime Lens
  • Aperture Range: f/1.4 – 16
  • Minimum Focus Distance: 11.8″ (30 cm)
  • Hyper Sonic Motor for Smooth Autofocus
  • Brass Bayonet Mount
  • For APS-C Format Cameras
  • Fits Canon EF-S Mount Cameras

From the product description:

The 30mm f/1.4 DC HSM Lens for Canon DSLR Cameras from Sigma is a prime lens designed for Canon APS-C format cameras. Its 35mm focal length equivalent is 45mm which places it in the category of standard focal length lenses. With its particularly fast maximum aperture of f/1.4, the lens will perform very well in low light situations and provides shallow depth of field focus. With updated optical configurations (9 elements in 8 groups), as well as rounded aperture blades, the lens delivers sharp detail and nice background bokeh. Its minimum focus distance is 11.8″ (30 cm).

The lens’ optimized light distribution helps to minimize field curvature preventing a loss of image quality at the edges of photographs and its double-sided aspheric lens element minimizes spherical distortion. A rear focusing system combined with a newly developed autofocus algorithm and Hyper Sonic Motor provide smooth and accurate autofocus. Fulltime manual focus is also supported. As part of Sigma’s “Art” line of lenses it is compatible with Sigma’s new USB Dock, which enables firmware updates and focusing adjustments.

Fast maximum aperture of f/1.4 allows fast shutter speeds for clear low-light imaging and shallow depth of field focus.
A Hyper Sonic Autofocus Motor (HSM) offers fast, smooth and quiet autofocus.
Compatible with the Sigma USB Dock which enables firmware updates and focusing adjustments.