Canon joins private sector in Japan to establish rocket launching sites, report

Ce-sat-i
Image courtesy of Canon

Next step in Canon’s race to the space. Our previous reports about Canon’s space efforts. Canon also build its own micro satellite with Canon EOS 5D Mark III cameras on board.

Nikkei Asian Review reports:

TOKYO — Japan’s first private-sector effort to build rocket-launching facilities is underway as new aerospace legislation paves the way for meeting growth in demand for small observation satellites.

Canon Electronics, a Canon unit, has joined IHI subsidiary IHI Aerospace, construction company Shimizu and the state-owned Development Bank of Japan to establish joint venture New Generation Small Rocket Development Planning. The new company had begun scouting potential sites nationwide by Tuesday, aiming to shorten the list in time to embark on operations in fiscal 2018 at the earliest, following government checks.

The government has led Japanese space development. Launches have generally been at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s Tanegashima or Uchinoura space centers in Kagoshima Prefecture in the south.

Read the report at Nikkei Asian Review…

Canon EF 85mm f/1.4L IS first impression video

Canon EF 85mm f/1.4L IS
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Pre-orders are available at $1,599 at Adorama | B&H Photo | Amazon | Canon Store

Canon EF 85mm f/1.4L IS at a glance:

  • EF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
  • Aperture Range: f/1.4 to f/32
  • One GMo Aspherical Element
  • Air Sphere and Fluorine Coatings
  • Ring-Type Ultrasonic Motor AF System
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • Dust- and Water-Resistant Construction
  • Rounded 9-Blade Diaphragm

Photographer David Flores shares his first impression on B&H’s YouTube channel about Canon’s first image stabilised 85mm lens, the brand new Canon EF 85mm f/1.4L IS.

Canon EF 85mm f/1.4L IS pre-order links:

[shoplist 46811]

 

Canon EOS 5Ds R deal – $2460 (reg. $3699)

Canon eos 5ds r deal
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Canon EOS 5Ds R at a glance:

  • 50.6MP Full-Frame CMOS Sensor
  • Dual DIGIC 6 Image Processors
  • Low-Pass Filter Effect Cancellation
  • 3.2″ 1.04m-Dot ClearView II LCD Monitor
  • Full HD 1080p Video Recording at 30 fps
  • 61-Point High Density Reticular AF
  • ISO 100-6400; 5 fps Continuous Shooting
  • 150,000-Pixel RGB+IR Metering Sensor
  • User-Selectable Shutter Release Time Lag
  • Anti-Flicker Compensation

Top Rated seller DealsAllYear on eBay (99.8% positive ratings) has the Canon EOS 5Ds R on sale at $2,459.99. Compare at $3699. Free shipping. Please note: this is an import model, 1 year warranty by US seller.

Canon PowerShot G5 X & PIXMA PRO-100 photo printer kit deal – $649 (reg. $1099)

powershot g5 xCanon PowerShot G5 X at a glance:

  • 20.2MP 1″ High-Sensitivity CMOS Sensor
  • DIGIC 6 Image Processor
  • 4.2x Optical Zoom f/1.8-2.8 Lens
  • 24-100mm (35mm Equivalent)
  • 2.36m-Dot Electronic Viewfinder
  • 3.0″ 1.04m-Dot Multi-Angle Touchscreen
  • Full HD 1080p Video Recording at 60 fps
  • Built-In Wi-Fi Connectivity with NFC
  • ISO 12800 & 5.9 fps Continuous Shooting

Pretty good deal at B&H Photo. Get the Canon PowerShot G5 X with the PIXMA PRO-100 photo printer and 50-sheet pack of 13 x 19″ photo paper on sale at $649, after $100 instant discount and $350 mail-in rebate (instructions).

Today’s Gold Box and one day only deals at Amazon US, Amazon DE, Amazon UK, B&H Photo, eBay, Adorama, and refurbished lenses and DSLRs at Canon Store.

Canon Makes Donation to Americares for the Relief Efforts From Hurricane Harvey

canon rumors
Canon press release:

Canon U.S.A. Makes Donation to Americares for the Relief Efforts From Hurricane Harvey

MELVILLE, N.Y., September 5, 2017 – With massive flooding, thousands left homeless and communities in need of medical supplies, Canon U.S.A. Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, today announced it will be making a donation of $100,000 to Americares to be used toward the relief efforts from Hurricane Harvey.

“On behalf of all employees at Canon U.S.A., we extend our heartfelt thoughts and prayers to our customers, partners and all the people in the communities affected by Hurricane Harvey,” said Joe Adachi, chairman and CEO, Canon U.S.A. Inc. “May you have strength, peace and hope during this difficult time.”

Americares is a health-focused relief and development organization that responds to people affected by poverty or disaster with life-changing health programs, medicine and medical supplies. The organization responds to an average of 30 natural disasters and humanitarian crises worldwide each year, establishes long-term recovery projects and brings disaster preparedness programs to vulnerable communities. Americares has a long history of responding to severe storms in the United States including Hurricane Ike in 2008 and Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

First Canon EOS 5Ds R Mark II suggestions appear

eos 5ds r mark ii
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It was already murmured that a Canon EOS 5Ds/5Ds R replacement might come in 2018. Now some specifications appeared as well. It’s suggested that the two current 5Ds models will become one, and that working prototypes of the EOS 5Ds R Mark II are already undergoing testing.

Let’s see the specifications:

  • No low pass filter.
  • All new 60.1mp image sensor.
  • A new type of low megapixel mode.
  • 4K video (video is not a big part of the cameras design).
  • Identical body to the EOS 5D Mark IV.
  • Focus peaking present, may appear first on another DSLR.
  • Expect all the other features such as DPAF, Wifi, Touchscreen and GPS.

All in all a list of plausible specifications. That Canon will abbandon the 5Ds (with low pass filter) also makes sense. The EOS 5Ds R sold much better than its sibling with low pass filter.

The announcement may happen in Q3/Q4 2018, i.e. In over a year possibly.  Take this with a grain of salt.

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