Canon EOS R3 Firmware Update Released (version 1.5.1)

Canon Eos R3 Sensor

Canon release a firmware update for the Canon EOS R3.

Canon EOS R3 firmware version 1.5.1 brings:

  1. Adds the ability to register the focus position in the preset functions of the CR-A100 Camera Remote Application.
    When used with the Robotic Camera System CR-S700R, it helps the user to focus on the intended subject distance when shooting.
  2. Adds the ability to erase voice memos added to images and to add voice memos to protected images.
  3. Adds the ability to check the time in the viewfinder by pressing the Exposure Compensation/Aperture button while looking through the viewfinder.  
  4. Adds enhanced security when transferring images via FTPS transfer.
  5. Fixes an issue, in which, after touchscreen operation, in rare circumstances, the camera operations cannot be performed, and even if the camera is operated, [BUSY] appears on the screen.
  6. Fixes an issue that, in rare instances, may result in the camera may not operating normally and having no viewfinder or screen display depending on the timing of operating the button and viewfinder activation sensor.
  7. Fixes minor issues.

More information and download at Canon Europe.

Canon EOS R50 Review (bang for bucks, lacks native lenses)

Canon Eos R50 Review

Here is a Canon EOS R50 review. The EOS R50 is one of the more affordable cameras in the EOS R lineup, and comes with an APS-C imaging sensor.

At a glance:

  • 24.2MP APS-C CMOS Sensor
  • DIGIC X Image Processor
  • UHD 4K 30p Video Recording
  • Dual Pixel CMOS AF II with 651 Points
  • 2.36m-Dot Electronic Viewfinder
  • 3.0″ 1.62m-Dot Vari-Angle Touchscreen
  • 15 fps Electronic Shutter
  • Movie for Close-Up Demos Mode
  • Vertical Movie Mode

DPReview posted their full Canon EOS R50 review. They gave the EOS R50 a “Silver Award” and a scoring of 84/100. From their conclusion:

The Canon EOS R50 is a very capable mirrorless camera, especially when you take its $799 (with lens) price into account. It delivers in nearly all areas, most importantly photo quality and autofocus. Full-width 4K video with 10-bit HDR are big pluses, as well. The R50 is not without its flaws, however. Its controls are tight, the kit lens so-so, and 4K video suffers from noticeable rolling shutter.

While the R50 is easy to hold, with a surprisingly large grip, its rear controls are very tight, which led to many accidental button presses in our experience. The EVF is on the small side, but there’s just no room for a larger one.

One of the major issues with Canon’s APS-C RF-mount cameras at the moment is a lack of available lenses. As of September 2023, there were just three, and since Canon does not publish roadmaps, what comes next is unclear. In the meantime, you can use full-frame RF lenses, but they’re pricey, or adapt EF lenses, which can end up being bulky.

[…] in conclusion, the Canon EOS R50 offers a lot of bang for the buck, though the RF-S system has a way to go when it comes to lens selection. It’s one of the most portable mirrorless bodies out there

Read the full review at dpreview.com

Canon EOS R50:

America: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA
Europe & UK: Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon IT, Canon IT, WEX Photographic, Canon FR, Canon UK, Canon DE

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Canon Patent: 11mm F2, 13mm F2, 22mm F2, And 30mm F2 Lenses For RF-S Mount

Canon Patent

Here is a new Canon patent application, for a bunch of fast primes for the RF-S mount.

Canon patent application P2023130885 (Japan, published 9/21/2023) discusses optical formulas for RF-S mount prime lenses:

  • 11mm F2
  • 13mm F2
  • 22mm F2
  • 30mm F2

From the patent literature:

An object of the present invention is to provide a rear focus optical system that is compact and capable of good aberration correction.

BACKGROUND ART

In imaging, it is required to suppress the generation of noise during zooming and focusing. In order to suppress noise during focusing, the rear focus (inner focus) method, in which focusing is performed by moving the lens group closest to the image side than the lens group closest to the object side, is recommended because it provides the best sound isolation effect from the object side lens. suitable.

Rear focus type optical systems are also required to be compact and have good aberration correction. In order to realize such an optical system, it is necessary to appropriately set the lens arrangement and the focal length of each lens.

The present invention provides a rear focus type optical system that is compact and capable of good aberration correction, and an imaging device equipped with the same.

Example 1

  • Focal length: 13.40
  • F value: 2.06
  • Half angle of view: 43.01
  • Image height: 12.50
  • Total length: 77.83
  • Back focus: 12.43

Example 2

  • Focal length: 11.30
  • F value: 2.06
  • Half angle of view: 47.89
  • Image height: 12.50
  • Total length: 77.85
  • Back focus: 12.44

Example 3

  • Focal length: 22.00
  • F value: 2.06
  • Half angle of view: 29.60
  • Image height: 12.50
  • Total length: 72.85
  • Back focus: 12.444

Example 4

  • Focal length: 30.52
  • F value: 2.06
  • Half angle of view: 22.27
  • Image height: 12.50
  • Total length: 75.88
  • Back focus: 14.49

More Canon patents are listed here.

[via asobinet]

Canon Set To Release A New Version Of The RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS?

Canon RF 70-200mm F/2.8L IS Review

Canon might be set to release a mark II version of the RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS lens. Might be.

A new rumor surfaced from the interweb of wishes and desires. It says Canon might soon release a new version of the RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS lens for the EOS R camera system.

Says the source of the rumor:

[…] have been told that a lot of Canon sports shooters have stuck with their EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM II or III for its internal zoom, even if they’re not in love with using an adapter. We have learned since yesterday that a lot of sports shooters find the current RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM quite unbalanced and lacks a “consistency in feel”. A few mentioned that the locations of the rings were difficult to get used to, and felt “cramped”.

So, that would be the reason for Canon to release a new version of the RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS. Why not.

Your thoughts?

Source: Canon Rumors

Nikon Announced the Nikon Z f Retro-looking MILC

Nikon Z F

Nijkon announced the Nikon Z f, a retro-looking full-frame mirrorless camera.

The new Nikon Z f will be available in mid- October 2023 for a suggested retail price of $1999.95* for the body only, with the retro-styled NIKKOR Z 40mm f/2.0 SE for an SRP of $2239.95*, or with a NIKKOR Z 24-70mm F/4 S lens for an SRP of $2599.95*. The additional color options will be available as body-only for an SRP of $2099.95* exclusively from the Nikon Store.

At a glance:

  • 24.5MP FX-Format BSI CMOS Sensor
  • EXPEED 7 Image Processor
  • UHD 4K 30p Video and Full HD 120p Video
  • AF Subject Recognition with 3D Tracking
  • 5-Axis In-Body Vibration Reduction
  • Focus-Point Stabilization
  • 3.2″ Vari-Angle Touchscreen
  • 96MP High-Res Mode

Pre-order the Nikon Z f at B&H Photo | Adorama

Nikon press release:

THE NIKON Z f: INNOVATION THAT DRIVES CREATIVITY

The Nikon Z f is the Beautiful Convergence of Groundbreaking Technology + Iconic Design

Today Nikon announced the release of the Z f, a full-frame mirrorless camera that harmonizes a timeless aesthetic with the best of Nikon’s next-gen camera technology, derived directly from the acclaimed Z 8 and flagship Z 9. At first glance, the Z f is a definitive statement in functional design that ignites the desire to craft an image. Looking closer, it’s a veritable powerhouse of modern performance fueled by the EXPEED 7 processing engine that enables an enhanced AF system, impressive speed and astounding low-light capability. The new processing power also adds incredible new features such as pixel-shift shooting, the most advanced in-body stabilization of any Z series camera, plus the addition of a dedicated monochrome mode.

“It’s exciting to see the leaps in innovation that propelled the Z 9 trickling down, making the latest technology and features more accessible than ever before inside the Z f, a camera which is a beautiful marriage of form and function,” said Jay Vannatter, Executive Vice President, Nikon Inc. “The Z f is more than a means to simply capturing an image; using the camera is an experience unto itself, one which not only sparks creativity, but also elevates the user’s intent with its advanced performance and feature set.”

Technology Forward
The Z f is equipped with the EXPEED 7 image-processing engine, enhancing response time, burst speed and AF performance, while adding new features to create an entirely new category of Z series full-frame mirrorless. The 24.5-megapixel full frame BSI CMOS sensor effortlessly captures stunning colors and incredible definition with minimal noise and stellar dynamic range, even in challenging light. This well-balanced sensor is paired with an AF system that offers 3-D Tracking plus subject detection developed with Deep Learning technology, detecting and locking on to 9 different types of subjects. Similar to the Nikon Z 8, the camera finds people, dogs, cats, birds, cars, motorcycles, bicycles, trains and planes. It can even detect the world’s smallest1 size of a face in the frame — approx. 3% of the frame’s longest side. The AF system uses 299 AF points in Auto Area AF, covering 96% of the horizontal axis of the frame, making it easy to lock on and track a subject, even near the edge of the viewfinder. When the inspiration hits to go fully manual, the Z f uses Eye/Face-Detection in MF mode, recognizing the eye and allowing users to magnify the area on the screen to nail critical focus.

With the additional processing power, the Z f achieves 5-axis in-camera vibration reduction (VR) image stabilization equivalent to an 8.0-stop2 increase in shutter speed, the best among Nikon Z series cameras. The Z f is also the world’s first camera3 to support focus-point VR4, which minimizes blurring at the focus point rather than the center of the frame, even when subject is positioned near the edge of the viewfinder. The camera is also capable of high-speed continuous shooting at approx. 14 frames per second, or up to 30 frames per second5, when High-Speed Frame Capture+ (C30) is set. To ensure no shot is missed, the camera is also capable of using the Pre-Release function to start recording before the shutter is fully pressed.6  What’s more, the additional processing power in combination with the BSI sensor improves low-light performance, raising the standard ISO range from 100 to 64,000. In challenging light, even fine details and textures come out sharp and clear with rich saturation, while mid-tones, where noise tends to increase, come out much cleaner than before.

For those who want the ultimate in fidelity while reducing moiré, false colors and noise for immersive depth, the Z f is the first Nikon camera capable of pixel-shift shooting7 to create images up to 96 megapixels. Ideal for landscape, architecture and commercial artists, the system works by subtly shifting the image sensor position when capturing between 4, 8, 16 or 32 RAW (NEF) files, acquiring more accurate color information and massive resolution.

Forever Iconic
The heart of the Z f is “fusion”- an idea embedded in the name while paying homage to important models through Nikon’s history. It represents the fusion of past, present and future. With an iconic exterior design reminiscent of the FM2, the Z f links Nikon’s heritage of innovation and precision craftsmanship. The magnesium-alloy body is durable and features a glossy finish, which is adorned with a classic Nikon logo.  The characters on the mechanical dials for shutter speed, ISO and exposure compensation are all etched, and provide the user with satisfying tactile response, while the feel of the shutter-release button was given meticulous consideration.

Black and white capture is an ageless medium, one that lets the user see a different perspective and explore the principles of light in new ways. The Z f includes a physical switch to engage a dedicated B&W photo mode, which enables multiple monochromatic Picture Controls. In addition to the sharp, dynamic and higher-contrast “Monochrome” mode in Picture Control, the new “Flat Monochrome” mode reproduces tones with a smooth gradation from shadow to light, rich in mid-tones for a warm, soft impression. The new “Deep Tone Monochrome” mode expresses high-contrast and highlights by bringing more emphasis to dark tones, keeping mid-tones dark and with fewer blocked shadows.

nikon z f

Primary features of the Z f

  • Full-frame 24.5-megapixel BSI CMOS sensor combined with the new EXPEED 7 Processing engine for amazing fidelity and image quality paired with stellar processing power.
  • Excellent AF tracking capability with 3D-tracking mode for photographers and dedicated Subject-tracking AF in video mode.
  • With up to 299 points in Auto-area AF, the range of coverage and number of focus points used in Auto-area AF mode have been increased for better focus acquisition performance with distant or moving subjects.
  • The first full-frame Z-series mirrorless camera to be equipped with a vari-angle touchscreen
  • Starlight view mode boosts display brightness for users to visually confirm composition in extremely dark scenes. It also achieves sharp focus with the low-light limit extendable down to -10 EV.8
  • Video frame rates and resolutions up to 4K UHD 30 oversampled from 6K,9 as well as 4KUHD 60P (DX-mode) and 1080/120P with recording times up to 125 minutes.10
  • The first Nikon camera to feature video recording in shutter-priority auto mode, letting the user select the shutter speed, while the camera adjusts the aperture and ISO.
  • In-camera, 10-bit H.265 recording, allowing users to record full-scale video directly to the camera without the need for an external recorder.
  • The first Z-series camera to support Touch Fn for adjustment of camera settings while framing pictures in the viewfinder. The user is now able to move the focus point via the LCD screen while looking through the viewfinder.
  • Supports the merging of NEF (RAW) images shot with pixel shift shooting to create a highly detailed image up to 96 megapixels.
  • Fast shooting, with up 14 fps bursts plus High-Speed Frame Capture+ (C30), which achieves high-speed continuous shooting at up to 30 fps. Pre-Release Capture is also available, buffering the images before the shutter is fully depressed.
  • Advanced features for dedicated portrait photographers include the skin softening function and a portrait impression balance function for users to better achieve the portraits they intended. Rich Tone Portrait Picture Control is a new setting that better captures details of the subject’s complexion.
  • Equipped with two memory card slots, one compatible with widely available UHS II SD cards and the other compatible with Micro SD cards.
  • Rugged and reliable construction, with magnesium alloy on the front and top covers, for maximum durability with minimal weight. The camera is engineered with high dust- and drip-resistance,11 effective sealing on the exterior cover joints, shutter-release button and vari-angle mechanism. Additionally, an electro-conductive coat that keeps the surface clean from dust and a fluorine coat that makes for easier cleaning.

In addition to the basic black body, the Z f lets users express their own style through six different color options. These premium exteriors render the embossed artificial leather sections of the camera — covering the grip and all around to the rear of the folding camera monitor — in three rich, expressive standard colors (Indigo Blue, Sepia Brown, Bordeaux Red) and three deep, warm natural colors (Sunset Orange, Moss Green, Stone Gray), rendered with individually matching surface textures. These colors will be sold in limited quantity and will be sold exclusively through the Nikon Store.

Price and Availability
The new Nikon Z f will be available in mid- October 2023 for a suggested retail price of $1999.95* for the body only, with the retro-styled NIKKOR Z 40mm f/2.0 SE for an SRP of $2239.95*, or with a NIKKOR Z 24-70mm F/4 S lens for an SRP of $2599.95*. The additional color options will be available as body-only for an SRP of $2099.95* exclusively from the Nikon Store. Nikon is working with SmallRig to develop a custom grip bracket, which will be available at a later date.  For more information about the latest Nikon products, including the vast collection of NIKKOR Z lenses and the entire line of Z series cameras, please visit Nikonusa.com.

Canon patent: 55mm F1.24 Lens With Double Gauss Element Arrangement

Canon Patent

Another Canon patent, although we doubt that this one will ever hit the market.

Canon patent application 2023127280 (Japan, published 9/13/2023) discusses optical formulas for a 55mm F1.24 lens with a double Gauss element arrangement.

From the patent literature:

An object of the present invention is to provide an optical system that has a bright F number, is compact, has high optical performance, and also suppresses fluctuations in various aberrations associated with focusing.

Background Art

In recent years, photographing optical systems with a standard angle of view, where the half angle of view is about 20 degrees to 30 degrees, used in imaging devices have a bright F number and have high optical performance despite the small size of the entire system. That is required. A so-called double Gauss type optical system is known as a standard angle of view photographing optical system. In a Gauss type optical system, the lenses are arranged symmetrically around the aperture, and with a small number of lenses, it is possible to obtain high optical performance despite being compact.

However, in the optical system described in Patent Document 1, the back focus tends to become long and the total length of the lens becomes long, so it is difficult to suppress the increase in size of the imaging device.

In order to achieve a compact lens with a high F-number, high optical performance, and suppression of fluctuations in various aberrations associated with focusing, it is important to appropriately set the structure and material of the lens.

An object of the present invention is to provide an optical system that has a bright F number, is compact, has high optical performance, and also suppresses fluctuations in various aberrations associated with focusing.

Example 1

  • Focal length: 53.80
  • F value: 1.24
  • Half angle of view: 21.91
  • Image height: 21.64
  • Total length: 78.46
  • Back focus: 29.83

Example 2

  • Focal length: 55.98
  • F value: 1.24
  • Half angle of view: 21.13
  • Image height: 21.64
  • Total length: 84.99
  • Back focus: 30.07

Example 3

  • Focal length: 56.00
  • F value: 1.24
  • Half angle of view: 21.12
  • Image height: 21.64
  • Total length: 79.92
  • Back focus: 30.00

More Canon patents are listed here.

[via asobinet]