Canon EOS 100D

One comes along and then immediately another. This little camera is a departure from the trend in DSLR cameras in that is attempting to offer a full DSLR experience but in  a smaller lighter camera. It is on sale at Amazon for about £700 with lens

Last year Canon made its long-anticipated entry into the mirrorless camera market with the EOS M, taking aim at compact-camera upgraders who desire better image quality but don’t want the bulk or intimidating controls of a DSLR. Yet the company has long hinted that another path to competing with mirrorless entries from Nikon, Sony, Olympus and Panasonic lay in the miniaturization of its familiar SLR design. With the announcement of the EOS 100D / Rebel SL1, Canon has laid its cards on the table. Billed as ‘the world’s smallest, lightest APS-C DSLR’, the EOS 100D unabashedly merges the Rebel-series’ DSLR operational hallmarks with an impressively small body.

Thanks to a downsizing of internal components that has resulted in a smaller shutter mechanism, thinner sensor module and smaller-footprint circuit board, the EOS 100D is significantly smaller and lighter than the co-announced EOS 700D, while offering the same 18MP pixel count, DIGIC 5 processor and, presumably image quality. The EOS 100D is, in fact, comfortably the smallest DSLR we’ve yet seen, and not so far off ‘SLR-style’ mirrorless models such as the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5.

As attention-grabbing as the EOS 100D’s small footprint undoubtedly is, what’s equally impressive is that Canon has been able to retain most of the controls and features typically found on a Rebel-series camera. A front dial and dedicated ISO, exposure compensation and AF/AE lock buttons are among the controls that will be familiar to any Canon DSLR user. Its touchscreen is identical in resolution to that on the EOS 650Dand 700D, but is fixed, rather than articulated.

The EOS 100D introduces version two of Canon’s Hybrid CMOS AF system, originally seen in the EOS 650D. While Canon is making no claims about focus speed improvements of its hybrid phase/contrast detect system, the new version covers a significantly greater portion of the live view area (80% of the area). This should make it a significantly more useful option than the version found on the EOS M and 650D. FROM DP REVIEW SEE MORE HERE

This front view shows that the EOS 100D / Rebel SL1 is substantially smaller than the co-announced EOS 700D / Rebel T5i – itself not exactly a giant.

However, the 100D retains the majority of the external controls found on the larger camera. Although both cameras feature the same rear touchscreen, the 100D’s screen is fixed, not articulated.

The EOS 100D achieves its notable size reduction without sacrificing much in the way of external control compared to the EOS 650D. On the 100D the button at the center of the 4-way controller does double-duty as both the Q menu and Set button, and the surrounding buttons have lost their dedicated functions. The 100D has a lower capacity flash, with a guide number of 9m (versus 13mm on the 650D) and houses a mono versus stereo microphone, though it does retain a stereo mic input. And while the handgrip is not as deep as the one on its larger sibling, the 100D still provides a distinctly DSLR handling experience.

Canon EOS 700D

Canon have released details of the new camera added to their stable, this is effectively a replacement for the 650D, improvements keep coming and new cameras offer better facilities and quality and this one is no different.

With the EOS 700D/Rebel T5i, Canon’s made an early move to replace last year’s 650D/Rebel T4i, though one with only very minor refinements. Indeed the changes over the 650D are so subtle that it’s the olderT3i/600D that stays on alongside the 700D – while the too-similar 650D fades into the sunset. The only real changes are that the 700D offers real-time preview of Creative Filters in Live View mode, includes a redesigned new mode dial that turns 360 degrees, and has a new ‘upmarket’ body finish.

Apart from those additions, the 700D is essentially identical to the 650D, making this the least distinct upgrade we’ve seen in this range of cameras. Elements carried over include the 18MP CMOS sensor, a 9-point cross-type AF sensor, 3-inch, a 1.04m-dot vari-angle LCD screen, and Full HD video mode. Its Hybrid AF system was also brought over from the 650D, and while the simultaneously announced 100D/Rebel SL1′s Hybrid AF II covers a wider area than the one here, neither is said to be any faster than the rather slow implementation on the 650D.

Canon EOS 700D / Rebel T5i key features

• 18MP APS-C ‘Hybrid CMOS’ sensor
• Phase-detection AF from imaging sensor for Live View and Video
• Continuous autofocus in movie mode with subject tracking
• New 18-55mm STM kit lens with stepper motor for improved live view/video autofocus
• 14-bit DIGIC 5 processor
• ISO 100-12800 standard, 25600 expanded
• 5 fps continuous shooting
• 9 point AF system, all sensors cross type, central sensor F2.8 (from 60D)
• 63 zone iFCL metering
• 1080p30 video recording, stereo sound with internal or external mics
• 1.04m dot 3:2 touch-sensitive vari-angle ClearView II LCD (capacitative type, multi-touch support
• more information can be found of the excellent DP Review site here
• Amazon are currently offering this camera at £930

 

Canon 6D First Review

Hot on the heels of the new Nikon D600 comes the Canon 6D, bit like buses…. Calumet Photo are quoting about £1800 for the body only

The 6D is apparently not a replacement for the 5D but a stable mate designed with features for landscape, travel and outdoor photographers. It is lighter than the 5D so easier to carry around and has geo-location GPS facilities so you can tag images with their exact location and built in wifi for transmitting and sharing images. Here are some details

A 20.2-megapixel DSLR featuring a full-frame sensor and compact design. Ideal for portrait, landscape and travel photography, offering tight control over depth of field and a large choice of wide-angle EF lenses.

• Enjoy the full-frame advantage with a 20.2 megapixel CMOS sensor, for a wider choice of wide-angle lenses, great image quality, and more depth-of-field control
• Tough magnesium-alloy body and compact design
• Great in low-light. Shoot at max ISO 25,600 (expandable to ISO 102,400) and with precise AF, even in conditions as dark as -3EV
• Follow the action with 11-point AF and 4.5 fps shooting
• Built-in GPS geotags images with location
• Wirelessly control and download from your camera with built-in Wi-Fi • 14-bit DIGIC 5+ processor for accurate colour reproduction
• Shoot Full-HD video
• Live View composition on a 1,040,000-dot 7.7cm (3.0″) ClearView LCD screen
• 
• The ever reliable people at DP Review have a full preview available here

The EOS 6D is best seen as a full frame version of the EOS 60D – indeed it’s very similar in both control layout and dimensions. Its front profile is very similar to the Nikon D600, but it’s rather slimmer front-to-back, and lighter too. However it differs from the Nikon in a number of key respects; for example it has Wi-Fi and GPS built-in, while the D600 offers a distinctly higher spec’ed autofocus system, dual card slots and a built-in flash.

The EOS 6D is built around a new Canon CMOS sensor, which offers a pixel count of 20.2MP (compared to the D600 and A99′s 24MP, or the 5D Mark III’s 22MP). In concert with the DIGIC 5+ processor it offers a standard ISO range of 100-25600, expandable down to 50 and up to 102,400. The AF system has 11 points, but only the central one is cross-type (i.e. sensitive to both vertical and horizontal detail). However according to Canon to will operate at extremely low light levels; right down to -3 EV – a stop dimmer than the 5D Mark III.

The EOS 6D’s most eye-catching additions are integrated GPS and Wi-Fi – their first appearance on a Canon SLR. The GPS unit includes exactly the same functionality as on the company’s compacts – it can embed location data into every image, and has a logging function that can keep track of where you’ve been through the day. This, we suspect, will be most-popular with landscape and travel photographers.

The integrated Wi-Fi unit has the basic functionality you might expect, allowing transfer of images to a smartphone or tablet, and direct upload to social media sites such as Facebook and YouTube. You can also send images directly to a Wi-Fi-enabled printer. But we think more photographers are likely be interested by the fact that it can also be used to turn your smartphone into a wireless remote control via Canon’s EOS Remote app for iOS or Android, complete with live view and full control of exposure settings.

The EOS 6D gains Canon’s silent shutter mode that we saw on the 5D Mark III, which offers quieter, more discreet shooting. It gets in-camera HDR and Multiple Exposure modes, but disappointingly these are JPEG only, unlike on the 5D Mark III that also records RAW files. There’s also a single-axis electronic level to check for wonky horizons. READ THE FULL PREVIEW

You may find this comparison site useful as well as the DP Review pages, this lists the differences between the Nikon D600 and the Canon 6D

Best DSLR Cameras 2012

If you want to understand why you would buy one camera rather than another you would not do worse than consulting Ken Rockwell to start, however if you know little about why a camera is better you might just want to be told the best in a top five or ten and then be guided by other factors, here we give you a selection of sites that will help you to decide which camera is best for you.

From Tech Radar we get this summation of the current cameras offered.

Choosing the best DSLR for your needs can be a decision fraught with difficulties, not least because there are so many capable models on the market that it’s hard to know which camera is the top digital camera for your needs.

At one end of the scale manufacturers compete fiercely to provide the easiest entry point into DSLR photography, with intelligent exposure modes and in-camera guides to make the journey as painless as possible, while at the other they battle to deliver the most environmentally-sealed, fastest-shooting models complete with high-resolution sensors, detailed LCD screens and, of course, video recording.

Buying guide

Such variety means that you as the consumer are more likely to end up with a camera tailored to your requirements, but finding the best camera for your needs is a question of weighing the many pros and cons attached to each.

The following guide has been designed to make your decision easier. See here for the cameras recommended

CNET has a list of Best entry-level digital SLR cameras here and Top 10 Reviews lists about every camera you are likely to consider as entry level here

Squidoo lists the best cameras based on numbers sold here

What Camera has information on The Best Semi Pro DSLR Cameras 2012

The ever informative and intelligent Ken Rockwell has a lot of information and advice, here is some of what he has to say

Forget Resolution and ISO

Resolution and ISO are silly numbers used to try to sell you more expensive cameras.

Resolution, expressed in megapixels, hasn’t been relevant since the 1990s. I’ve made great 12 x 18″ (30 x 45cm) prints from a 3MP camera, and 40×60″ (100 x 150cm) prints from a 6MP camera. 6 Megapixels is all anyone needs for anything, and every camera here has two or three times that today.

Resolution is nothing more than a sales pitch to get you to pay more.

Now that every camera has double-digit megapixels, camera makers invented another meaningless number they use to extract more money from the innocent, called ISO (pronounced eye-ess-oh).

ISO is a rough measure of low-light sensitivity. It only matters if you shoot in the dark, and then shoot without flash. As soon as your flash pops up, the higher ISOs aren’t used anyway. Even if you learn how to use the higher ISO settings (few people do), there isn’t much difference between cameras of the same type and era, regardless of cost! All the higher ISO settings do is make the picture look grainier, and the cameras that sport the highest ISO settings look horrible at those settings!  READ MORE FROM KEN HERE

When  you have chosen and bought that new camera you may wish to take a course, our new schedule for the autumn is just out and you can have a look at what we currently have on offer here

Send us an email and receive the new course dates as soon as they are available Understanding Your Digital SLR Evening Classes:start dates 17.9.12; 7.11.12 Understanding Your Digital SLR Saturday Morning Classes start date 3.11.12 Understanding Your Digital Compact Camera – starts: 26.9.12 Introduction to Photoshop and Photoshop Elements starts 25.10.12 Composition In Photography – Seeing Pictures - starts 15.10.12 Portrait Photography: starts: 25.9.12 Intermediate Photography - starts: 23.10.12 Black and White Digital Photography – starts 27.9.12 Travel Photography next start March 2013 One Day Understanding Your DSLR - 23.9.12; 21.10.12; 18.11.12; Most courses are 4 sessions one per week, (Photoshop and Intermediate Photography are 6 sessions) all run on consecutive weeks from start dates. 1 Day DSLR is a one day course, there are 4 dates this term To book a place please send us an email with the course title and start date you wish to attend.

Best Point-and-Shoot Cameras, Spring 2012

By Mike Perlman on May 9, 2012 in Photography

The Point-and-Shoot market has evolved substantially within the past few years. Pocket-sized models can shoot better in low light, are faster with up to 10fps full resolution burst modes, have enhanced optics and focusing capabilities, to name a few general improvements. But it wasn’t until the end of last year that we began to see a major shift in the point-and-shoot market: the bigger sensor. Up until then, even advanced point-and-shoot models were saddled with smaller sensors, but that’s not the case anymore. While manufacturers continue to crack the code that enables them to outfit portable, fixed lens models with sensors from DSLRs, we’re only in the beginning stages of the point-and-shoot revolution.

That’s why it’s harder to buy a point-and-shoot now than it ever was. I guarantee in a few years, most serious point-and-shoots will have DSLR sensors inside of them. But for now, I’ve rounded up my top point-and-shoot models to prevent you from a bogus buy. These are models that have raised the bar time and again. Some models I’m in the midst of testing, but they are proving themselves worthy adversaries. So, if you need to buy a decent point-and-shoot before the summer, have no fear! Heed my Best Point-and-Shoot list and all will be well...Read the reviews here

Relates Links

Squidoo

PRweb

PCWorld

DPReview forum

Canon EOS 5D MkIII Hands-on Review

From Photo.net by Bob Atkins, comes this in depth review of the Canon 5DM3.

On March 2nd 2012 Canon announced the Canon EOS 5D MkIII, (compare prices) as an upgrade of – but not a replacement for – the EOS 5D MkII. Among the major new features of the EOS 5D MkIII are:

• A new 22.3MP CMOS sensor with a gapless microlens, 8 channel readout and low noise
• A new 61 point AF system with 41 cross sensors (same as EOS 1D X) with AF to -2EV
• A 63 Zone iFCL metering (same as EOS 7D)
• Native ISO settings of 100-25600 with expansion to 50-102400
• A new Digic 5+ processor (30% faster than Digic 5, 17x faster than Digic 4)
• 6fps continuous shooting
• In-camera HDR. 3 images taken at +/- 3 stop intervals with in-camera image alignment

Currently (July 2012), the EOS 5D MkIII sells for around $3450 and the EOS 5D MkII sells for around $2100

There were a host of other features that were upgraded or added, but the new sensor, new AF system and new processor are the major advances which enable many of the other upgrades such as faster shooting (6 fps vs 3.9 fps) and more extensive in-camera processing. With a processor 17x faster than that in the EOS 5D MkII, real time chromatic aberration correction is now available for JPEGs, and in video modes the extra processing power enables better moire fringing correction.

Bob Atkins

Outwardly the EOS 5D MkIII resembles the EOS 5D MkII quite closely, but the user interface is closer to that found on the Canon EOS 7D, with a similar menu structure and control layout….MORE of this extensive review here

and for comparison here is the review on the DP Review site

 

Canon enters mirrorless market, EOS M system

 

Canon has introduced its EOS M compact interchangeable lens camera, which features an 18-megapixel APS-C-sized hybrid sensor writes Olivier Laurent in the BJP

Canon will release in October its first ever compact system camera, the EOS M, which uses its own models of lenses while being compatible, via an adapter, with a range of 70 EF lenses

The EOS M marks Canon’s entry in the highly competitive mirrorless market, and comes more than four years after Olympus and Panasonic introduced their Micro Four Thirds system. However, similarly to what Sony offers, Canon has chosen a large APS-C-sized sensor to be at the heart of its compact system.The EOS M, which will be presented at this year’s Photokina trade show in Cologne, uses an 18-megapixel APS-C hybrid CMOS sensor, and is also fitted with Canon’s Digic 5 processor. The camera offers a sensitivity range of ISO100 to ISO12,800, expandable to ISO25,600.

 

 

It will retail at £770 (€910) with the EF-M 18-55 f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens, at £880  with the EF-M 22mm f/2 STM and Lens Adapter. The lens adapter alone will retail at £130.

There is a preview on the DPReview site which always has excellent detailed information

 

The EOS M features a clean, simple design that’s clearly designed to look as much like a compact camera, and as little like an SLR, as possible. The rounded edges and angled area around the shutter button go some way to softening the somewhat boxy profile, and the main body panels are made from magnesium alloy. There’s no handgrip as such, just a minimalist fingergrip on the front and a slightly-contoured rubberised thumbpad on the back. READ MORE HERE

The overall layout is notable for its simplicity – the front of the camera features just the lens release button and vertical window for the autofocus illuminator and IR remote receiver. The back of the camera features a red movie record button, combined four-way controller and dial, and Menu, Info and Playback buttons. The SET button in the centre of the 4-way controller also brings up a Quick Menu for on-screen access to an array of functions – this is fully controllable via the touchscreen.

This link will take you to the Canon site with all the specs and info and guff you might need

Read more: http://www.bjp-online.com/british-journal-of-photography/news/2193345/canon-enters-mirrorless-market-unveils-eos-m-system#ixzz21eAaHmFl
Subscribe to BJP and save money. Click here to save 29% today.

Photography Tutorial: Travel Photography See the world

Canon have tutorials on their site and this month they turn their gaze towards travel photography, if you are about to go away or plan a trip in the future you might want to check out what they have to say

Travel photography has changed a lot over the last few years. Not so long ago you would take a few pictures and wouldn’t see the results until you got prints made when you returned home.

Today, you can shoot hundreds of images and upload the best to a personal blog or a photo-sharing site. This tutorial will help you make your photos stand out and give other people a real idea of the places you a visited.

         • Packing for your trip
         • What to photograph
         • Camera techniques
         • Back home

Read MORE HERE

Thailand ©Keith Barnes Canon 5D Mk2 24 – 105 f4L

Canon EOS 7D Firmware update

If you own a Canon 7D you need to update it’s firmware, detail have just been announced by Canon and they promise enhanced features.

 On the CPN website you can find out all about a new firmware update – 7D Firmware Version 2 – that will add a raft of new features to the EOS 7D DSLR. There’s also a technical article that explains all of the features of the EOS 7D, plus full information on all the key specifications, technologies and benefits of Canon’s flagship APS-C format DSLR. To read CPN’s latest EOS 7D articles, watch films, and view images shot with the 18 Megapixel SLR, just click here

Canon EOS 650D

Canon have added a new model to its range and all the evidence before full user reviews are available is that it has the new Digic 5 processor plus other new technologies like a dual focusing system and articulated screen with touch screen capabilities.

Introducing the latest model in the Canon EOS system, the 650D featuring a 270 degree vari-angle clear view touch screen – a first on any Canon DSLR. View your images, pinch to zoom and even fire your shutter on the 1,040,000 dot LCD screen.

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The Canon EOS-650D also features

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• 18 MP CMOS sensor
• Full HD movies with continuous AF and editable video snapshot modes
• Digic 5 processing
• 63 zone light metering for optimum exposure in all light conditions
• 4 ways to focus
• Integrated Canon Speedlite transmitter

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As always my first place for decent info rather than just rumours is the excellent DP Review

Here is a brief summary of what they have to say

“The EOS 650D offers outstanding image quality and performance. Its newly-developed 18MP APS-C Hybrid CMOS sensor provides super-fine resolution, capturing poster-sized images that are rich in colour and detail. Ideal for shooting in low light without flash, the camera features a native 100-12,800 ISO range, allowing the capture of naturallooking shots with minimal noise, while an expanded ISO 25,600 range also offers the ability to shoot in more extreme low-light conditions.

The EOS 650D is the first entry-level EOS to be powered by Canon DIGIC 5 processing, offering greater speed, responsiveness and advanced colour rendition. DIGIC 5′s 14-bit image processing provides beautiful and subtle transitions between colour tones, such as those of an evening sky, and its vastly-increased power also makes the camera ideal for capturing fast-moving action such as football or other sports.

The new dual AF system makes it easy to capture sharply-focused shots of all subjects, whether capturing stills or movies. A superior 9-point all cross-type AF system provides exceptional performance during stills shooting, offering precision accuracy when capturing sports, action and wildlife. Additionally, a new Hybrid AF System offers continuous autofocusing during movie recording, and when shooting in Live View1 mode…….

Touch control and Vari-angle flexibility

Getting the perfect shot has never been easier thanks to the new 7.7cm (3.0″) Vari-angle Clear View LCD II Touch screen. Featuring capacitive technology, the screen is highly responsive and supports a variety of multi-touch gestures, such as pinching and swiping – making it easy to access shooting modes, alter settings and even capture a shot using the screen alone.

Touch control adds a different dimension to Live View shooting. You can select AF points, track faces and objects, and fine-tune image settings via the camera’s Quick Control screen. Navigation is instant and intuitive, while pinch-zooming in playback provides a great way to check the finer details of a shot. The Vari-angle hinge allows the screen to be angled and tilted to suit virtually any situation, while a super-sharp 1,040k-dot resolution ensures every detail is clearly displayed.”.…MORE

The expected price upon release is from £699 so it is not excessive expensive for a state of the art digital slr camera, release dates seem to vary but will be generally available over the summer.

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Here is a bit more info in easy to digest points Canon EOS 650D: 10 things you need to know