The Canon EOS M5 drops Sony’s mirrorless market share figures by 7% in Japan

eos m5

Edit: I was a bit too quick to claim all the merit goes to the EOS M5. It’s more likely that the [shoplink 29518]EOS M3[/shoplink] and [shoplink 35612]EOS M10[/shoplink] made it.

Well well, despite all the crap about the Canon EOS M5 I get in my inbox, it appears that Japanese customers really like Canon’s feature-rich mirrorless camera.

Mirrorless Rumors posted market share figures for cameras and lenses in Japan (unfortunately with no further link to the source material. Edit: the figures appear to be drawn from the latest BCN Awards). Looking at the figures you can see that Sony lost 7% market share and that Canon gained 5% on the mirrorless market.

Canon is estimated to become the second most important mirrorless camera manufacturer in Japan in 2017, and I am sure it is to a large degree due to the excellent [shoplink 40697]EOS M5[/shoplink] camera, and to the EOS M3 and M10, which hit the market before the M5. It appears that a lot of people waited for Canon to build a serious mirrorless camera. And Canon delivered.

The other market shares have no story. Canon rules in Japan.

fixed-lens

lenses

dslr-cameras

Canon EOS M5 at a glance:

  • 24.2MP APS-C CMOS Sensor
  • DIGIC 7 Image Processor
  • 2.36m-Dot EVF, Touch and Drag AF Control
  • 3.2″ 1.62m-Dot Tilting Touchscreen LCD
  • Full HD 1080p Video Recording at 60 fps
  • Built-In Wi-Fi with NFC, Bluetooth Smart
  • Dual Pixel CMOS AF
  • Up to 9 fps Shooting and ISO 25600
  • Digital IS 5-Axis Image Stabilization

Canon EOS M5: [shopcountry 40697]

eos m5

Canon EF 70-300mm F4-5.6 IS II sample pictures gallery (DPReview)

EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II
View Post

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II: [shopcountry 43039]

At a glance:

  • EF-Mount/Full-Frame Format
  • Maximum Aperture: f/4-5.6
  • One Ultra Low Dispersion Element
  • NANO USM Autofocus System
  • Optical Image Stabilizer
  • Lens Information Display
  • Full-Time Manual Focus
  • Rounded 9-Blade Diaphragm

DPReview posted a set of 39 sample photos shot with the new Canon EF 70-300mm F4-5.6 IS II lens.

The new Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II is available at major authorised Canon retailers at $549: B&H Photo | Adorama | Amazon

Japan’s low cost mini-rocket, aided by Canon tech, failed launch

canon rumors

Some time ago I reported about Canon joining the space race by helping Japan build a low-cost “mini-rocket”. Engineers from Canon joined a team led by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). Canon’s contribution was to “choose the best rocket parts as well as make key control instruments smaller and lighter”.

Unfortunately the launch of the Japanese mini-rocket, the SS-520, failed. Nikkei Asian Review reports:

The rocket, about 10 metres (35 feet) long and 50 centimeters (20 inches) in diameter, was carrying a 3-kg (6.6 lb), 35-centimetre satellite to take images of the earth and gather other data.

The first stage of the rocket launch was carried out but not the second, after communication problems were discovered, JAXA’s spokeswoman told Reuters.

The mini-rocket SS-520 fell into the sea southeast of Uchinoura. The launch was supposed to be a proof of concept that Japan has the technology to launch micro-satellites using mini-rockets. JAXA hopes to use this technology for commercial operations made available to private companies.

More technical information about the failed launch can be read at Nasa Spaceflight. Thanks Barry for the tip!

 

Harvard release whole set of university-level photography courses for free

Part of the list of offered courses
Part of the list of offered courses (there are more)

Harvard released their university-level photography classes for free. including classes on software and retouching.

All courses are accessible through Harvard’s Alison platform, just click here, register and start learning.

The courses cover anything from exposure, optics, histograms, light and how to use it best, and much more. At the end you can take an evaluation module to assess what you have learned. This is a cool, professional and totally free resource. Do not miss it and enjoy!

[via Fstoppers]

Canon U.S.A. Announces 2017 Executive Promotions

canon rumors

Canon U.S.A. Proudly Announces 2017 Executive Promotions

MELVILLE, N.Y., January 12, 2017 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, today announced several senior executive appointments and promotions. Through their collaborative vision for success and dedication to excellence, these individuals have continually delivered the highest level of leadership and commitment to both Canon’s customers and partners, helping the Company to maintain its position as an industry leader.

“Our employees are a tremendous asset to our Company, and we are pleased to begin the year with six hard-earned and well-deserved executive promotions,” said Joe Adachi, chairman and chief executive officer, Canon U.S.A., Inc. “I congratulate these executives, and thank them for their pledge to continued growth and success. With these professionals at the helm, I am confident their merits will drive further success for Canon in 2017.”

Click here to open the rest of the article

Canon tops among Japanese companies in U.S. patent rankings for twelve years running

canon rumors

Well, for sure Canon files an impressing number of patents.

Press release:

Canon tops among Japanese companies in U.S. patent rankings for twelve years running

TOKYO, January 12, 2017—Canon Inc. again ranked first among Japanese companies and third overall for the number of U.S. patents awarded in 2016, according to the latest ranking of preliminary patent results issued by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services.

Canon actively promotes the globalization of its business and places great value on obtaining patents overseas, carefully adhering to a patent-filing strategy that pursues patents in essential countries and regions while taking into consideration the business strategies and technology and product trends unique to each location. Among these, the United States, with its many high-tech companies and large market scale, represents a particularly important region in terms of business expansion and technology alliances.

Canon U.S. patent rankings among Japanese companies 2005–2016

Year Ranking* No. of patents
2016 1st (3rd) 3,665
2015 1st (3rd) 4,127
2014 1st (3rd) 4,048
2013 1st (3rd) 3,820
2012 1st (3rd) 3,173
2011 1st (3rd) 2,818
2010 1st (4th) 2,551
2009 1st (4th) 2,200
2008 1st (3rd) 2,107
2007 1st (3rd) 1,983
2006 1st (3rd) 2,366
2005 1st (2nd) 1,829
* Number in parenthesis represents Canon’s ranking among all companies
Note: Number of patents for 2016 based on preliminary figures released by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services. Figures for 2005 to 2015 are based on information issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

 

Canon prizes its corporate DNA of placing a high priority on technology. And with regard to research and development results, the Company actively promotes the acquisition of patent rights in accordance with the management direction of the Canon Group and technology trends while conducting thorough pre-application searches to raise the quality of applications. Through close cooperation between Canon’s technology and intellectual property divisions, the Company aims to improve its technological capabilities while further enhancing its intellectual property rights.