CCD technology explained (video)

 

Have you ever wondered how those CCD sensors work? What’s behind the science that captures light and outputs all these nice pics you are shooting? We all know that having a larger sensor is usually a pretty good thing, but how exactly is a sensor working? Well, there is one thing you can take for granted: there’s a lot of sophisticated work to do. And Bill Hammack (The Engineer Guy) is here to help us understand. Enjoy the video!

[via engadget]

 

Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 DI VC USD Review

Update: the following shops have the Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 VC USD in stock and ready to ship (world-wide availability check at the end of the post):

ephotozine just reviewed the eagerly awaited Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 VC USD lens. It’s an interesting lens: it covers a popular zoom range and has a constant 2.8 aperture. It weights 825g (29.1 ox) and has an 82mm filter mount. Closest focusing distance is 0.38m (15.0 in). Having a price tag of $1,299 it’s cheaper than Canon’s equivalent EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM, which sells at $1,599 and does not have image stabilization (called vibration compensation in the Tamron galaxy). Build quality is rather good: High quality plastics have been used for much of the lens barrel’s construction and the wide rubberised zoom ring is well enough damped to prevent lens creep. Generally speaking, the performance of this lens is very good. Some excerpts from the review:

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Fashion Shots – Mused by EOS 5D Mark III

Just a quick post to point you to the work of my friend Mike Kobal. These are summer fashion shots done using a EOS 5D Mark III with the kit lens. If you want to see more pics taken with a 5D Mark III (and uploaded to Flickr) have a look here.

EOS 5D Mark III availability and price check for your country: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA.

World-wide EOS 5D Mark III availability and price check:

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

Rumor: Two new Canon Cameras in June? (T4i/650D & mirrorless)

www.davidriesenberg.com

The rumors I reported about in the last weeks are getting more consistent. A few days ago CanonWatch broke the news about a possible announcement at the end of May or beginning of June of a mirrorless system camera. Now more information about such an announcement seem to have leaked. What can we expect Canon to announce in June? The Rebel T4i/EOS 650D and a mirrorless system camera. Both were expected for Photokina in September. Now it looks like they are around the corner. In September we will probably see a new EOS 7D and a second mirrorless camera. Stay tuned!

Update: these are the rumored specs of the next EOS 7D:

  • 26MP
  • Advanced AF system like the 5D Mark III
  • Digic V
  • 10-12 fps
  • 3.2 inch OLED screen
  • Wireless flash control E-TTL III

For the time being, the PowerShot G1 X is Canon’s only attempt to jump on the mirrorless bandwagon. It’s a wonderful camera with an outstanding lens, but it’s a fixed lens. And that’s not what most of us were expecting. So, let’s wait what will happen in June!

In the meantime, check the latest PowerShot G1 X pictures upload to Flickr.

[via CR]

 

Samyang Lenses for Canon In Stock at B&H

B&H has four Samyang lenses with Canon mount in stock and ready to ship. These are mechanical things: no AF nor camera controlled aperture, but very good build quality at a decent price. All listed lenses are compatible with the APC-S format. The following lenses are available:


  • Samyang 14mm Ultra Wide-Angle f/2.8 IF ED UMC for $399.00 (click here). Core specs (review):

    • Ultra Wide-Angle 14mm Lens
    • Compatible With Full Frame Cameras
    • Compatible With APS-C Cameras
    • Hybrid Aspherical Lenses — Sharp Images
    • Multi-Layer Coating to Reduce Flare
    • Manual Focus Lens
    • Built-In Petal-Type Lens Hood

 


  • Samyang 85mm f/1.4 Aspherical Lens at $299.00 (click here). Core specifications (review):

    • Telephoto Portrait Lens
    • Designed For Full-Frame Cameras
    • Manual Focus
    • Minimum Focusing Distance of 3.3′
    • Hybrid Aspherical Lense — Sharp Images
    • Multi-Layer Coating to Reduce Flare

     

 


  • Samyang 8mm Ultra Wide Angle f/3.5 Fisheye Lens
    at $299.00 (click here). Core specifications (review):

    • Ultra Wide-Angle 8mm Fisheye Lens
    • For APS-C Size Image Formats
    • Hybrid Aspherical Lenses — Sharp Images
    • Multi-Layer Coating to Reduce Flare
    • Minimum Focusing Distance of 12″
    • Built-In Petal-Type Lens Hood

 


  • Samyang 35mm f/1.4 WIDE ANGLE UMC lens at $499.00 (click here). Core specifications (review):

    • 12 elements in 10 groups inc. 1x aspherical & 2 HR elements
    • 8 blades
    • 0.3m min. focus distance
    • 111x83mm
    • 77mm filter size
    • petal-shaped lens hood, bayonet mount

EOS 5D3 and EF200mm f/2L IS USM & EF800mm f/5.6L IS USM Service Note

Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos

Canon released a product advisory for the EF200mm f/2L IS USM & EF800mm f/5.6L IS USM lenses when used with an EOS 5D Mark III: It has been confirmed that when the Canon EOS 5D Mark III Digital SLR Camera is used with the EF200mm f/2L IS USM and some units of the EF800mm f/5.6L IS USM lenses […], the Lenses may emit an abnormal noise. This is not an issue of the 5D Mark III, it concerns the mentioned lenses. The units that are affected can be identified by the serial number. See the service note below to check if you have such an unit.

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