Digital Camera News and Reviews

Updates from the camera world



Month: February, 2009

Canon brings PowerShot SX1 IS to the US marked and adds RAW file compatibility

18 February, 2009 (19:46) | Canon, Compact Camera | By: Camera News

Canon PowerShot SX1 IS
Canon PowerShot SX1 IS

Canon has announced that they are releasing the Canon PowerShot SX1 IS compact digital camera on the US marked. In addition they upgrading the firmware in the camera so it is able to capture RAW files.

Some key features for the Canon PowerShot SX1 IS:
-1080p (1,920 x 1080 pixel) movies at 30 frames per second
-2.8″ 16:9 wide-aspect screen
-10 megapixel sensor
-20x optical zoom lens (28 – 560mm)

The Canon PowerShot SX1 IS will be available in US in April 2009 and cost about $600.

Press release:
Ultimate image control: RAW shooting arrives for
the PowerShot SX1 IS

Amstelveen, The Netherlands, 18 February 2009: Canon announces an exciting add-on for its celebrated PowerShot SX1 IS digital compact camera: firmware that allows users to capture images in RAW format.

Owners of the PowerShot SX1 IS will be able to download a firmware update which gives them the option of shooting images in high-detail, unprocessed RAW format. This is ideal for photographers seeking control over key image parameters after they shoot – rather than before.

Plus, for powerful, intuitive post-production, users of the PowerShot SX1 IS can also download Canon’s Digital Photo Professional software. This high-speed RAW editor lets users adjust key settings, such as white balance, exposure compensation and sharpness before conversion to JPEG.

The firmware will be available for download from mid-March. PowerShot SX1 IS owners should check http://web.canon.jp/imaging/BeBit-e.html for information and availability. Digital Photo Professional will also be available to download from the Canon BeBit site.

Canon updates TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II tilt shift lens

18 February, 2009 (13:58) | Canon, Lens | By: Camera News

Among the two tilt shift lenses Canon announced today we find an updated version of the Canon TS-E 24mm f/3.5L tilt shift lens. Version II of the lens features the latest technology from Canon.

The Canon TS-E 24mm f/3.5L lens will be available in May 2009 and cost about $2,199.00.

Press release:
Canon U.S.A. Expands Its Lens Portfolio With The Introduction Of Two New Wide-Angle Tilt-Shift Lenses

Canon Introduces the New TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II and the TS-E 17mm f/4L Tilt-Shift Lenses

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., February 17, 2009 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging and optics, today introduced two new Tilt-Shift lenses, the TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II and the TS-E 17mm f/4L. These two new L series lenses expand the Company’s extensive lens line-up of TS-E lenses giving photographers creative control over perspective and depth of field in their images. Both the TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II and the TS-E 17mm f/4L are specialty lenses ideal for landscape and architectural photography and are compatible with all Canon EOS system single lens reflex cameras1. The TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II, a replacement for Canon’s TS-E 24mm f/3.5L introduced in 1991, has significantly improved operability with low distortion when photographing buildings, consistent image quality throughout the image and reduced chromatic aberration when shooting at ultra-wide angles. The TS-E 17mm f/4L is the world’s shortest focal length Tilt-Shift lens with full-frame 35mm coverage.

“These two new lenses are Canon’s answer to photographers who have requested wider angle Tilt-Shift lenses, with the new TS-E 24mm for wide angles and the all new TS-E 17mm for ultra-wide angles. We continually seek to expand our optics portfolio to meet the demands of our photographers to ensure that they have the best tools available to capture some of the most stunning images on the planet,” stated Yuichi Ishizuka, senior vice president and general manager, Consumer Imaging Group, Canon U.S.A.

An innovative feature on both the TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II and the TS-E 17mm f/4L lenses is Canon’s new TS Revolving System. This feature allows tilting and shifting lens movements to be adjusted in parallel or at right angles to each other, with detents at 45˚ intervals. Additionally, once the TS Revolving System has been set, the orientation of the entire lens can be rotated freely through a range of ±90˚, with detents at 30˚ intervals. The amount of tilt is ±8.5˚ for the TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II and ±6.5˚ for the TS-E 17mm f/4L. The amount of shift is ±12mm for both lenses. The image circle diameter for both lenses is an impressive 67.2mm. (The diagonal measurement of the full-frame 35mm format is only 43.2mm.)

The high-precision glass molded aspherical and UD glass lens elements and accurate aspherical GMo along with a large diameter in new TS-E lenses deliver outstanding image quality, high resolution and super-low distortion to all edges of the image. Each lens incorporates a new type of anti-reflection coating, Canon’s SubWavelength structure Coating (SWC) that continuously changes the refractive index on the lens surface via wedge-shaped structures more minute than wavelength of visible light. Canon’s SWC helps minimize flare and ghosting caused by bright light from large angles of incidence. The new TS-E lenses are the 2nd and 3rd Canon EF series lenses with SWC, following the EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM that was introduced in 2008.

Pricing and Availability
The TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II is expected to ship in May for an estimated retail price of $2,199.00*. The TS-E 17mm f/4L is expected to ship in May for an estimated retail price of $2,499.00*.

Canon introduces Ultra-Wide angle TS-E 17mm f/4L tilt shift lens

18 February, 2009 (13:45) | Canon, Lens | By: Camera News

Canon has today announced two new tilt shift lenses. The first one is called Canon TS-E 17mm f/4L and is a ultra wide tilt shift lens. According to Canon this lens is actually the widest tilt shift lens on the marked today.
The lens features sub-wavelength structure coating (SWC) for the minimization of flare and ghosting, high-precision aspherical front elements to keep distortion to a minimum and multiple UD elements to reduce chromatic aberration.

The Canon TS-E 17mm f/4L will be available in May 2009 and cost about $2,499.

Press release:
Canon U.S.A. Expands Its Lens Portfolio With The Introduction Of Two New Wide-Angle Tilt-Shift Lenses

Canon Introduces the New TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II and the TS-E 17mm f/4L Tilt-Shift Lenses

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., February 17, 2009 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging and optics, today introduced two new Tilt-Shift lenses, the TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II and the TS-E 17mm f/4L. These two new L series lenses expand the Company’s extensive lens line-up of TS-E lenses giving photographers creative control over perspective and depth of field in their images. Both the TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II and the TS-E 17mm f/4L are specialty lenses ideal for landscape and architectural photography and are compatible with all Canon EOS system single lens reflex cameras1. The TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II, a replacement for Canon’s TS-E 24mm f/3.5L introduced in 1991, has significantly improved operability with low distortion when photographing buildings, consistent image quality throughout the image and reduced chromatic aberration when shooting at ultra-wide angles. The TS-E 17mm f/4L is the world’s shortest focal length Tilt-Shift lens with full-frame 35mm coverage.

“These two new lenses are Canon’s answer to photographers who have requested wider angle Tilt-Shift lenses, with the new TS-E 24mm for wide angles and the all new TS-E 17mm for ultra-wide angles. We continually seek to expand our optics portfolio to meet the demands of our photographers to ensure that they have the best tools available to capture some of the most stunning images on the planet,” stated Yuichi Ishizuka, senior vice president and general manager, Consumer Imaging Group, Canon U.S.A.

An innovative feature on both the TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II and the TS-E 17mm f/4L lenses is Canon’s new TS Revolving System. This feature allows tilting and shifting lens movements to be adjusted in parallel or at right angles to each other, with detents at 45˚ intervals. Additionally, once the TS Revolving System has been set, the orientation of the entire lens can be rotated freely through a range of ±90˚, with detents at 30˚ intervals. The amount of tilt is ±8.5˚ for the TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II and ±6.5˚ for the TS-E 17mm f/4L. The amount of shift is ±12mm for both lenses. The image circle diameter for both lenses is an impressive 67.2mm. (The diagonal measurement of the full-frame 35mm format is only 43.2mm.)

The high-precision glass molded aspherical and UD glass lens elements and accurate aspherical GMo along with a large diameter in new TS-E lenses deliver outstanding image quality, high resolution and super-low distortion to all edges of the image. Each lens incorporates a new type of anti-reflection coating, Canon’s SubWavelength structure Coating (SWC) that continuously changes the refractive index on the lens surface via wedge-shaped structures more minute than wavelength of visible light. Canon’s SWC helps minimize flare and ghosting caused by bright light from large angles of incidence. The new TS-E lenses are the 2nd and 3rd Canon EF series lenses with SWC, following the EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM that was introduced in 2008.

Pricing and Availability
The TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II is expected to ship in May for an estimated retail price of $2,199.00*. The TS-E 17mm f/4L is expected to ship in May for an estimated retail price of $2,499.00*.

Canon PIXMA iP4600 Inkjet Photo Printer test / review by Printer Comparison

15 February, 2009 (12:46) | Canon, Printer, Review | By: Camera News

Canon PIXMA iP4600 Inkjet Photo Printer
Canon PIXMA iP4600

PrinterComparison.com has reviewed the Canon PIXMA iP4600 Inkjet Photo printer. This printer is very basic and seems to be targeted at regular consumers who want to print photos.

PrinterComparison.com ends up giving the Canon PIXMA iP4600 Inkjet Photo Printer a pretty good review as the printer is able to print photos of high quality. The only downsides are a bit flimsy build and that the printer is pretty slow.
Seems like a nice printer for amateurs who want to save some money.
Read the full review of the Canon PIXMA iP4600 printer here.


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