It has been a while since we posted news digest on the camera industry. We thought that you can obtain any new news better and faster else where but we can’t stop ourselves for highlighting these few pieces of news in this issue. Hope that we have enough resources to keep the news digest going on periodically!
Speed redefined: What’s so special about Sony SLT-A55 and Sony SLT-A33?
You may think that this is yet another model that Sony going to release to flood the market. NO, you are so wrong.
The entirely new Sony Alpha SLT series features a “translucent mirror“, more commonly known as a pellicle mirror. This advanced translucent mirror remains fixed in place during operation, allowing most of the light to reach the imaging sensor, while a small percentage is reflected to a dedicated autofocus sensor.
It’s what this high technology allows that’s so exciting: real-time, phase-detect autofocus while firing off up to ten 16-megapixel images per second in the A55, and seven 14-megapixel frames per second in the A33.
To get 10 frames per second from any other camera, you’d need to look at professional cameras that cost around USD5,000; and they’re still not capable of real-time autofocus betwen shots like the new Sony Alpha SLT cameras. Real-time phase-detect autofocus is also constantly available in Movie mode, something no current SLR can achieve.
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Canon successfully develops world’s first APS-H-size CMOS image sensor to realize record-high resolution of 120 megapixels
We will not be seeing this sensor in a few years to come but this is one earth-scattering piece of news on how quickly technology evolves!
TOKYO, August 24, 2010—Canon Inc. announced today that it has successfully developed an APS-H-size*1 CMOS image sensor that delivers an image resolution of approximately 120 megapixels (13,280 x 9,184 pixels), the world’s highest level of resolution for its size.
Compared with Canon’s highest-resolution commercial CMOS sensor of the same size, comprising approximately 16.1 million pixels, the newly developed sensor features a pixel count that, at approximately 120 million pixels, is nearly 7.5 times larger and offers a 2.4-fold improvement in resolution….
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In 2007, Canon announced that it has developed a prototype sensor capable of putting out 50 megapixels on the sensor of the same dimension too. 3 years after, it crams 120MP into one!
Canon EOS 60D is out!
Today, the highly anticipated successor of EOS 50D that people have been discussing all their life have been announced! It’s the new Canon EOS 60D that sits in between the EOS 50D and EOS 7D.
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Canon announces six new professional “L” series lenses
Canon Focuses On Professionals By Introducing Six New L-Series EF Lenses And Accessories Canon Introduces the World’s Widest Fisheye Zoom Lens, a New Telephoto Zoom Lens and Two New Super Telephoto Lenses with Optional New Extenders.
- Canon EF 8-15mm f/4L Fisheye USM (~$1400)
- Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM (~1500)
- Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens (~$7000)
- Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II USM (~$11000)
- Canon Extender EF 1.4x III (~$500)
- Canon Extender EF 2x III (~$500)
LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., August 26, 2010 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging, rounds out its Summer product introductions with four new L-series lenses and two new accessory extenders for professionals and advanced amateurs. Leading the introductions, the EF 8-15mm f/4L Fisheye USM lens is the world’s widest fisheye zoom lens, providing professional photographers and cinematographers with a unique optical tool for capturing 180° angle-of-view shots on all EOS Digital SLR cameras. Photographers looking for a broad focal length range with excellent image quality will enjoy the Company’s first L-series 70-300mm telephoto zoom lens, the new EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM lens, delivering outstanding sharpness, contrast and color fidelity in a compact, lightweight form factor. Canon is introducing two new versions of its popular super telephoto lenses, the new EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM and EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II USM super-telephoto lenses delivering incredible image quality at all apertures for professional photojournalists, sports and wildlife photographers. For professionals and advanced amateurs looking to push their L-series Canon telephotos to the limit, the Company is proud to upgrade its two popular extenders with the new Canon Extender EF 1.4x III and Extender EF 2x III for additional telephoto reach and exceptional clarity. Photographers will immediately notice that the latest Canon L-series telephoto lenses and extenders have a more neutral white tone compared to earlier models. This new shade of white will be used with all L-series telephoto lenses and extenders beginning in the second half of 2010. The introductions of these Canon lenses have been timed with Canon’s latest camera introduction, the Canon EOS 60D Digital SLR camera, designed for advanced amateurs and emerging professional photographers.
“Canon’s core has always been our optics, and we are constantly challenging ourselves to produce better and more advanced optical systems for our customers. These six new products advance the state of the art in Canon lens technology and provide new and innovative tools for professionals and advanced amateur photographers,” stated Yuichi Ishizuka, executive vice president and general manager, Consumer Imaging Group, Canon U.S.A.
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Canon develops 500mm F/4L IS II USM and the 600mm F/4L IS II USM
London, UK, 26 August 2010 – Canon today announces the development of two new super telephoto lenses for its leading range of EOS Digital SLR cameras – the EF 500mm F/4L IS II USM and the EF 600mm F/4L IS II USM. The new lenses will be displayed for the first time in Europe during Photokina 2010 in Cologne, Germany.
Developed as part of Canon’s acclaimed L-series of professional lenses, the new lenses will achieve new and advanced levels of image quality. Each will include the highest quality components, featuring high specification Image Stabilizer technology alongside the use of optical materials such as Fluorite, to correct aberrations ensuring high resolution images rich in detail and contrast.
Succeeding the widely-respected EF 500mm F/4L IS USM and EF 600mm F/4L IS USM, the EF 500mm F/4L IS II USM and EF 600mm F/4L IS II USM are being developed for photographers who require high performance, fast aperture and a longer focal length. Redesigned, lightweight bodies will provide added mobility alongside enhanced protection against dust and water, making them ideal for the toughest shooting conditions.
Both new lenses have been designed to reflect Canon’s renowned high standards for the elite L-series, combining exceptional-quality optics with easy-to-reach controls and signature designs. The models will be released as part of Canon’s continued development of its EF lens line-up, offering enhanced performance and improved functions that cater for the needs of photographers from beginners through to professionals.
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