Jul, Aug 2006: Canon EOS News and What's New at The-Digital-Picture.com

Thursday, August 31, 2006

Here is another chance to get on the top of the list - J&R is now taking Rebel XTi/400D preorders ...

Black XTi with Kit Lens
Black XTi Body Only
Silver XTi with Kit Lens
Silver XTi Body Only

 
The vignetting contour test results page has been updated to use a similar mouse-over format as the ISO 12233 chart sample crops tool. This should make it easier to compare lenses in this regard.

 
The Canon Digital Learning Center has posted a Rebel XTi information section on the site. In adddition, a Canon Integrated Cleaning System video is available from the home page.

Wednesday, August 30, 2006

In order to fulfill the many requests I have been receiving, I interrupt the regularly scheduled reviews to bring you the ...

Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II Lens Review

Friday, August 25, 2006

Want to be the first on the block to get the new Canon EOS 400D Digital Rebel XTi or the Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 L USM Lens? Amazon is taking pre-orders ...

Canon Digital Rebel XTi with Kit Lens
Canon Digital Rebel XTi Body Only
Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 L USM Lens

 
As you are probably well aware of by now, Canon issued many press releases yesterday including information on their many new printers and point & shoot digicams. I spent most of my available time pouring over the 400D, 50 f/1.2 and 70-200 f/4 IS information and didn't get to what looked like a brand marketing press release. A friend emailed to point out that Canon mentioned an unavailable-in-a-current-DSLR "DIGIC III" chip in this release. Of course, I was intrigued. So, I finally took the time to read the press release and discovered that a "Correcting and Replacing" press release has been issued - with DIGIC III removed. Here is the press release sans DIGIC III ...

Canon Leads Digital Camera Market in 2006; Canon Brand Captured Number One Market Share in 1H06

 
Be sure to check for updates/links on the new gear place-holder pages posted yesterday.

Thursday, August 24, 2006

New stuff from Canon! I have posted review place-holder pages with pictures, links to the press releases and other information. I am actively updating these pages, so check back frequently.

Canon EOS 400D Digital Rebel XTi SLR Camera
Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0 L IS USM Lens
Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 L USM Lens

 
On the same day they release a 1.6x Digital SLR and 2 full-frame capable L lenses, Canon releases a Full-Frame CMOS White Paper (1.1 MB .PDF file). So, does Canon plan to release an EOS 1Ds Mark II replacement yet this fall? Photokina is still a month away. This white paper is an interesting marketing move either way - Introduce the sure-to-be-market-leader entry level DSLR and secure the higher end market by promoting a Canon exclusive sensor size.

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Chuck Westfall's August 2006 are online (I'm a little late on this one).

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

Now online ...

Sigma 20mm F/1.8 EX DG Lens Review

Friday, August 11, 2006

Now online ...

Sigma 70-200mm F/2.8 EX DG HSM Lens Sample Pictures
Sigma 28-70mm F/2.8 EX DG Lens Sample Pictures

 
Newly announced is the Sigma 50-150mm f/2.8 EX DC HSM Lens. This is an interesting new model that will complement the Canon/Sigma/Tamron 17/18-50/55mm f/2.8 APS-C lenses that are becoming very popular.

Thursday, August 10, 2006

I have posted some sample pictures from the Canada trip. As you can see, I took a rather large assortment of lenses ...

Canadian Black Bears (500 L)
Damselfly on Pink Water Lily Flower (400 DO)
Pickerel Weed (100 f/2)
Slalom Waterski Start Picture (100-400 L)
Slalom Waterskiing Picture (100-400 L)
Young One in Life Jacket (100-400 L)
Lake Ahmic Sunset (17-55 IS)
Another Lake Ahmic Sunset (24-105 IS)
Magnetawan Locks (15 f/2.8 Fisheye)
The Explorers (70-200 f/4 L)
Slalom Waterskiing on the Boom (17-40 L)

I even made it into a couple of shots ...

Barefoot Waterskiing (100-400 L)

Wednesday, August 9, 2006

Now online ...

Sigma 70-200mm F/2.8 EX DG HSM Lens Review

Friday, August 4, 2006

ISO 12233 Resolution Test Chart sample crops are now included in the ...

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L USM Review
Sigma 70-200mm F/2.8 EX DG HSM Lens Review

Be sure to read the notes at the top of the Sigma review before delving into the chart results as some explanation is necessary. I should also mention that I am not pleased with my lighting in the recent 70-200 results - My right-most flash was positioned too directly to the chart making the right-most crops too bright. Ignore the brightness when comparing the non-center crops.

With four sets of 70-200mm lens results online, many comparisons can be done between them. Have fun!

Wednesday, August 2, 2006

ISO 12233 Resolution Test Chart sample crops are now included in the ...

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM Review

Tuesday, August 1, 2006

I had a surprise in my mailbox - A Canon rebate check - For the correct amount. I always complain about Canon's rebate fulfillment center failures, so I suppose it is fitting for me to mention a (rare-for-me) success.

And a piece of trivia - Having an out-of-warranty Canon 135mm f/2 L lens autofocus-calibrated costs $95.00 at Canon USA's Factory Service Center. Then add your state sales tax and about $16 or so for the return shipping.

Tuesday, July 25, 2006

Sorry about the lack of updates in the last week and a half or so - We pulled our Mastercraft Prostar 190 ski boat to Woodland Echoes Resort in Magnetawan, Ontario, Canada for a week of fun on and in Lake Ahmic. It was a great time spent with our extended family. Of course, I took as much photography gear as I could fit in and will be sharing some of the results (including black bears and watersports) on the site in the coming weeks. It was a great trip; however, I managed to totally shred two properly-inflated and differently-aged boat trailer tires within 30 driving minutes of each other. Right - I only carry one spare. :)

 
My Sigma 70-200mm F/2.8 EX DG HSM Lens is due back from Sigma service today. I hope to be able to properly review this lens in the next week or so.

 
In other news, Adobe has released Lightroom Beta 3 for the Mac and Windows.

The Canon Digital Learning Center has posted information about the Wireless File Transmitter WFT-E1A.

Due to my delay in reviewing the third party lenses and thanks to a suggestion from a site visitor (thanks Yosef), I have denoted the uncompleted Sigma and Tamron reviews with an * in the bottom-of-the-page navigation section. Vignetting results are available for most of these lenses, ISO 12233 information is available for some of them.

Thursday, July 13, 2006

Many of you are familiar with the name Chuck Westfall. As Director of Media & Customer Relationship for Canon USA's Consumer Imaging Group, Chuck is extremely knowledgeable about Canon's Digital SLR and lens products - and he shares some of this knowledge in a Q&A format on the DigitalJournalist.org web site. Here are links to Chuck's history on this site ...

July 2006
June 2006
May 2006
April 2006
March 2006
February 2006
January 2006
December 2005
November 2005
October 2005
September 2005
August 2005
July 2005
June 2005
May 2005

 
As the next two days are travel days for me, my Internet access will likely be limited or non-existent. And since the current Canon rebates will expire during this time (on the 15th), I am removing them from the site today as I don't want to err by keeping them posted too long. You can still download the Canon rebate form to view the available rebates.

Tuesday, July 11, 2006

Now online ...

Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 EX DG Lens Review

 
Last call to take advantage of the current Canon USA rebates as they end this week. The Canon EOS 5D ($300) and Canon EOS 350D/Rebel XT ($100) rebates create especially great deals.

Thursday, July 6, 2006

ISO 12233 sample crops have been added to the ...

Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 EX DG Lens Review
Sigma 20mm F/1.8 EX DG Lens Review
Sigma 50mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro Lens Review
Sigma 105mm F/2.8 EX DG Macro Lens Review
Canon EF 50mm f/2.5 Macro Lens Review

Wednesday, July 5, 2006

Canon has released EOS 1D Mark II N Firmware Update v1.1.0. "It includes the following improvements: Enhancement of direct printing with specific printers. The printing function in EOS-1D Mark II N will be improved in combination with the "PIXMA Pro 9000" or "PIXMA Pro 9500" professional photo printers that will go on sale later. For setting details, please download the instruction manual (PDF file) at the end of [the firmware] page."

Canon has released EOS 5D Firmware Update v1.1.0. In addition to the above noted direct print enhancement, this firmware update includes ... "Correction of the communication errors that occurred when shooting with EOS 5D and EOS Capture software after shooting about 138 shots" and "Correction of the phenomenon in which the flash mode settings are changed from E-TTL to M (Manual) when EOS 5D is used in combination with Speedlite Transmitter ST-E2 and Speedlite 580EX."

I hope they didn't spend too much time engineering that Direct Print Button enhancement.

 
Canon has posted some 30 Millionth Lens Wallpaper Images. They are nicely done - Take a look.