Canon and Sony News for Aug 2006

 Tuesday, August 1, 2006

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/1.2L USM Lens? Amazon is taking pre-orders ...

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

August 25, 2006 10:44 AM US Eastern time zone

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

CORRECTION...by Canon U.S.A., Inc.

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 25, 2006--Please replace the release dated Aug. 23, 2006 with the following corrected version due to multiple revisions.

The corrected release reads:

CANON LEADS DIGITAL CAMERA MARKET IN 2006; CANON BRAND CAPTURED NUMBER ONE MARKET SHARE IN 1H06

Canon is strengthening its leadership position as America's choice for digital cameras. In a recent IDC study*, the Canon brand captured number one position for total digital camera shipments in the first half of 2006, with a market share of 21.0 percent (which is up from 20.2 percent in 1H05).

"As the digital camera market matures, it is more important than ever for camera vendors to meet dealer requirements for timely product introductions, and properly address consumer desires with compelling designs and feature sets," said Christopher Chute, research manager for the worldwide digital imaging practice at IDC. "Canon continues to properly execute on these critical principles."

"Canon's long 70-plus year history of expertise in the photographic industry positions us for such market leadership," said Yukiaki Hashimoto, senior vice president and general manager of the consumer imaging group at Canon U.S.A., Inc. "We are proud to be the camera of choice for consumers and professionals. We are the only camera company today that truly offers a full line of consumer and professional digital imaging solutions. By designing and manufacturing our own lenses, CMOS image sensors (found on the company's digital SLRs) and image processors, we can control both image quality and cost -- ultimately providing consumers with the best digital imaging options."

More and more customers have come to recognize the high quality and reliability that Canon designs into its entire range of digital cameras, from the highly acclaimed PowerShot series to the full line up of award-winning EOS Digital SLRs. The digital camera category is clearly one of the best selling hardware segments in the photographic industry, and it is one of the most competitive. In the digital camera category, Canon has consistently turned in strong performances, thus enabling the company to expand its market share. In fact, IDC currently forecasts U.S. digital camera shipments to reach more than 31 million units in 2006, an all-time high.

A Brief History of Canon's Progress in the Digital Camera Market

Canon's success in the digital camera market was not built overnight. The company's first internally developed model, the PowerShot 600, was announced in 1996 and originally marketed as a computer peripheral through a subsidiary company. When it became apparent that the future of digital cameras was going to be in the consumer market, Canon reorganized itself from the top down and assigned responsibility for design, development, manufacturing and marketing to its Camera Division, which had a long history of success in traditional 35mm cameras. When the PowerShot S100 Digital ELPH and EOS D30 Digital SLR models appeared in 2000, their unique and innovative features catapulted Canon into the spotlight of media publicity and popularity with consumers. At that point, it was clear that Canon was on its way to the kind of success it had come to expect after nearly 25 years of market leadership in the traditional camera industry.

Advertising taglines such as "Make Every Shot a PowerShot" have sparked popular interest in the Canon brand. Each year, Canon gains market share and becomes more popular with consumers -- one reason for Canon's success is the breadth of its offerings. With class-leading products in the compact, consumer, advanced amateur and professional digital SLR categories, Canon appeals to a wide range of photographers. As the digital camera market grows, so has the success of Canon's revolutionary products and technologies.

To support its success, Canon designs, develops and manufactures its own lenses, image sensors, image processors and color rendering software. With consistently high annual investments in research and development, Canon continues to stay ahead of the market with its innovative imaging technologies, such as UA (Ultra High Refractive Index Aspherical) Lens Technology, the DIGIC II (Digital Imaging Integrated Circuit), as well as Canon CMOS image sensors for the company's EOS Digital SLR cameras.

Canon, which is one of the top holders of technology patents in the U.S., has created a unique synergy between its research and development team and its product groups that allows it to consistently introduce high quality and reliable imaging products for every level of user. In fact, the editors of PC Magazine honored Canon's digital cameras with the highest rankings in quality, reliability, and support in their annual reader satisfaction survey in both 2004 and 2005.

For more information on the history of Canon cameras, please visit www.canon.com/camera-museum/.

About Canon U.S.A., Inc.

Canon U.S.A., Inc. delivers consumer, business-to-business, and industrial imaging solutions. The Company is listed as one of Fortune's Most Admired Companies in America and is rated #35 on the BusinessWeek list of "Top 100 Brands." Its parent company Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ) is a top patent holder of technology, ranking second overall in the U.S. in 2005, with global revenues of $33.3 billion. For more information, visit www.usa.canon.com.

All referenced product names, and other marks, are trademarks of their respective owners.

*IDC, U.S. Digital Still Camera 1H06 Vendor Shares, Doc #202921, Aug. 2006

 
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/1.2L 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/2.8L 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/2.8L 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/2L 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.

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Posted to: Canon News   
Post Date: 8/1/2006 12:00:00 AM ET   Posted By: Bryan
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