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Posts Tagged ‘Canon’

Two Autofocusing Tilt-Shift Lenses From Canon May Debut Next Year

08 May

The post Two Autofocusing Tilt-Shift Lenses From Canon May Debut Next Year appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.

two autofocusing tilt-shift lenses may debut next year

Canon will release its first RF-mount tilt-shift lenses within the next year, claims Canon Rumors. What’s more, these will “be the first tilt-shift lenses with autofocus.”

At the time of writing, Canon offers a number of tilt-shift lenses for its DSLR lineup, including the 17mm f/4L, the 24mm f/3.5L II, and the 90mm f/2.8L Macro. But all of Canon’s TS lenses are manual focus only, and Canon has not yet produced a tilt-shift option for mirrorless shooters. 

If the rumors are right, Canon will release two wide-angle TS lenses:

  • A 14mm f/4L lens
  • A 24mm f/3.5L lens

The 14mm f/4L lens should be perfect for ultra-wide landscape photography; with a 14mm focal length, you gain the expansive field of view that’s especially popular among pro landscape photographers. It’s a perspective that cannot be matched by Canon’s current tilt-shift offerings (Canon’s widest TS lens is the aforementioned 17mm f/4L, followed by the 24mm f/3.5L II).

The 24mm f/3.5L, while perhaps less groundbreaking, offers a “standard” wide-angle perspective. It’ll undoubtedly excel when shooting landscapes, architecture, and even environmental portraits, either as a conventional lens or with the tilt-shift effects applied. 

But what’s the value of a tilt-shift lens?

Lenses featuring tilt-shift capabilities allow you to address certain problems posed by architecture and landscape photography (though the TS effect is also just cool!). Specifically, tilting the lens adjusts the plane of focus. You can use this to produce a “miniature” effect, where all the elements look small and human-made – or you can use it to keep certain elements in focus while blurring out other elements. 

So a landscape photographer might use the tilt effect to keep an entire scene in focus from front to back, even with a shallow depth of field. And a portrait photographer might use the tilt effect to creatively blur out all but the subject’s face.

You can also shift the lens; this essentially lets you choose a vantage point off to the side of your camera, but without having to move the camera body. It’s invaluable for architectural photography, where shifting the lens upward prevents unwanted distortion. You can also use the shift effect when capturing panoramas in landscape photography (it makes for beautiful, easily stitched results!).

Currently, Canon’s tilt-shift lenses are relatively expensive, and I doubt this RF-mount glass will break the mold, especially given the added autofocus capabilities. But we’ll ultimately have to wait and see; Canon Rumors suggests a “first half of 2022” announcement (one that should, incidentally, come “alongside a high-megapixel camera”).

So keep an eye out for more information. And if you’re thinking about purchasing a tilt-shift lens, you might want to hold off until these RF-mount options have been unveiled.

Now over to you:

What do you think of Canon’s potential tilt-shift lenses? Would you be interested? What draws you toward tilt-shift glass? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

The post Two Autofocusing Tilt-Shift Lenses From Canon May Debut Next Year appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.


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What are the Differences Between Canon EF, EF-S, EF-M, RF lenses

20 Apr

When you’re beginning to learn about photography, there is a lot to understand. Apart from the basics of cameras and photography, if there is one thing that trips most beginner photographers, it’s the different kinds of lenses available for a single brand of camera body. I’ve been there myself, so I thought I’ll clear up some basics. Let’s talk about Continue Reading
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Canon EOS R3: Eye-Control AF, 30 FPS, a BSI Sensor, and More

16 Apr

The post Canon EOS R3: Eye-Control AF, 30 FPS, a BSI Sensor, and More appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.

Canon EOS R3 with Eye-Control AF, 30 FPS, a BSI sensor, and more

Canon has introduced the EOS R3, a full-frame, mirrorless “high-performance professional camera,” designed for sports and action photographers.

As Canon explains, “The camera will put great emphasis on superb AF performance and speed,” and will lie “squarely between the EOS R5 and EOS-1D X Mark III cameras.”

In other words, while the EOS R3 will be Canon’s most powerful mirrorless model to date, don’t expect it to outcompete the EOS 1D X Mark III in every way. The EOS R3 won’t be a mirrorless 1D X replacement, and it likely isn’t a high-resolution action camera, either.

That said, the EOS R3 sounds pretty darn impressive. Here’s everything we know about this upcoming mirrorless powerhouse:

Canon EOS R3 specs

The EOS R3 will feature Canon’s own back-illuminated sensor. BSI technology packs key circuitry behind the sensor – rather than in front – to further expose photodiodes to light. This makes for enhanced high-ISO performance, and it also delivers superior dynamic range, a feature appreciated by photographers of all stripes.

The EOS R3 boasts a whopping 30 frames-per-second continuous shooting speed (using the electronic shutter, that is; Canon hasn’t released any information on continuous shooting via the mechanical shutter). And while many action photographers have resisted mirrorless technology, in part due to slow electronic shutter read-out speeds, Canon has made significant strides toward eliminating the problem; the company claims the R3 “provid[es] substantially faster read-out speeds during still-imaging recording,” and that the camera “is designed to produce less ‘rolling shutter’ distortion during electronic shutter operation.”

As for the AF system itself, brace yourself. The EOS R3 packs technology from the Canon EOS R5 and R6, both of which deliver lightning-fast AF performance. And the EOS R3 offers “even better performance during portrait and action-type shooting” thanks to Canon’s Deep Learning technology. If you’re a sports photographer, wildlife photographer, or photojournalist, the EOS R3 may soon be the camera to beat – even if Canon officially ranks it below the 1D X Mark III.

Build quality is on par with the 1D X Mark III series, and like the 1D X cameras, the EOS R3’s design sports an integrated vertical grip:

Canon EOS R3

Last but certainly not least, the Canon EOS R3 will debut a never-before-seen mirrorless feature: Eye-Control AF, which promises to set focus based on where your eye is looking.

Canon writes:

The electronic viewfinder of the EOS R3 will offer photographers the ability to select the initial area for AF tracking by simply looking directly at the viewfinder location where they want to begin AF. With Eye-Control AF and Servo AF activated, the camera will focus on and track moving subjects at that location in the frame.

Of course, we don’t yet know how well Eye-Control AF will work. Canon has implemented a similar feature in the past, with mixed results. But given Canon’s recent autofocus successes, I’m cautiously optimistic that Canon can offer a pro-level Eye-Control AF this time around.

Canon EOS R3 release date and price

The EOS R3 is still under development and has no official release date. The R3’s sports-focused marketing does hint at a pre-Olympics (i.e., June or early July) introduction, however.

The EOS R3’s price is also a mystery, though the camera’s position between the $ 3900 USD EOS R5 and the $ 6500 USD 1D X Mark III suggests a $ 4500 to $ 5500 price tag.

Final words

While we’re still missing plenty of information on the EOS R3, new tidbits will likely leak in the coming weeks and months.

So make sure to keep an eye out for the latest R3 news.

Now over to you:

What do you think of the Canon EOS R3? Are you impressed? Excited? Disappointed? How much do you think the camera will cost? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

The post Canon EOS R3: Eye-Control AF, 30 FPS, a BSI Sensor, and More appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.


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Canon to Unveil 3 RF Lenses, but Discontinues 9 EF Lenses

12 Apr

The post Canon to Unveil 3 RF Lenses, but Discontinues 9 EF Lenses appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.

Canon to unveil 3 RF lenses, but discontinues 9 EF lenses

This past week brought both good news and bad news for Canon fans. 

The good news: Later this month, Canon will unveil three new RF lenses, including two pro-level super-telephotos.

The bad news: Canon has discontinued nine EF lenses, with plans to drop at least four more lenses before 2021 is out. 

Let’s take a closer look.

Canon unveils new RF lenses

According to Canon Rumors, Canon will likely be announcing three RF-mount lenses before April is out:

  • Canon RF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM Macro
  • Canon RF 400mm f/2.8L IS USM
  • Canon RF 600mm f/4L IS USM

The 400mm f/2.8L and the 600mm f/4L will go a long way toward making Canon’s full-frame mirrorless lineup appealing to professional sports and wildlife shooters, who frequently work with snappy f/2.8 and f/4 super-telephotos. While Canon currently offers a handful of long RF lenses (including the well-reviewed RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM), the narrow maximum apertures are a dealbreaker for serious action and low-light photography. 

The Canon RF 100mm f/2.8L Macro will debut as a mirrorless successor to the popular Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro, an ultra-sharp, close-focusing lens used by macro enthusiasts and professionals alike, plus product photographers and event photographers for key detail shots. Of course, the price remains to be seen (currently, the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L goes for around $ 1300 USD, though when I bought mine – around five years ago – the price was a more tolerable $ 750 USD). But close-up photographers will undoubtedly appreciate the addition of another powerful lens to the list of macro options. 

So if you do wildlife photography, sports photography, or macro photography, keep an eye out for Canon’s announcement later this month.

Canon discontinues a long list of EF lenses

While Canon’s dedication to the new RF lineup is praised by many (myself included), it’s sad to see the flip side: the wasting away of the EF/EF-S lineup. 

Here’s the list of EF and EF-S lenses Canon has discontinued in the last month, as tracked by Canon Rumors:

  • Canon EF 14mm f/2.8L II USM
  • Canon EF-S 35mm f/2.8 Macro IS STM
  • Canon EF 135mm f/2L USM
  • Canon EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro USM
  • Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-f/4.5 USM
  • Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
  • Canon EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM
  • Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
  • Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM

And according to Canon Rumors, these lenses will also be discontinued in 2021:

  • Canon EF 35mm f/2 IS USM
  • Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM
  • Canon EF 400mm f/4 DO IS II USM
  • Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM

While some of these discontinued lenses undoubtedly have RF replacements on the way, others will be forgotten, at least for the foreseeable future. So if any of the above glass interests you, I’d highly recommend you buy while products remain available. 

Now over to you:

How do you feel about Canon’s decision to discontinue these lenses? Did you expect such a fast break with the EF lineup? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

The post Canon to Unveil 3 RF Lenses, but Discontinues 9 EF Lenses appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.


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Spring colors: Canon RF 70-200mm F4L IS USM sample gallery

28 Mar

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The Canon RF 70-200mm F4L IS USM is a very compact, medium-aperture zoom lens for the company’s mirrorless RF mount. With an innovative design and advanced optical makeup, it offers the promise of high image quality in a package not much larger than most standard zooms. So how does it perform?

We’ve been shooting with a production sample for a few days, and you can view our gallery from the links above and below.

View our gallery of samples from the Canon RF 70-200mm F4L IS USM

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Canon to Announce a New Camera and “Many, Many Lenses”

05 Mar

The post Canon to Announce a New Camera and “Many, Many Lenses” appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.

Canon to announce a new camera and "many, many lenses"

Canon will soon be announcing “more lenses at once than ever before,” according to the often-reliable Canon Rumors.

This information comes from an unnamed source “with a stellar track record.” 

According to CR’s source, “Canon is going to make a ‘massive splash with a new camera and many, many lenses.’” And while the source – and Canon Rumors – offered no information as to which lenses and camera this will be, we can certainly speculate, based on the Canon RF lens roadmap and leaked information on upcoming Canon mirrorless models.

So what gear can we expect from Canon? And when can we expect it?

Regarding lenses: 

Canon’s leaked roadmap is pretty sizable, featuring a whopping 15 lenses to be released over the next couple of years:

  • Canon TS-R 14mm f/4L
  • Canon TS-R 24mm f/3.5L
  • Canon RF 10-24mm f/4L USM
  • Canon RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM
  • Canon RF 18-45mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
  • Canon RF 100-400mm f/5-6-7.1 IS USM
  • Canon RF 35mm f/1.2L USM
  • Canon RF 135mm f/1.4L USM
  • Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 IS STM Macro
  • Canon RF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM
  • Canon RF 400mm f/2.8L IS USM
  • Canon RF 500mm f/4L IS USM
  • Canon RF 600mm f/4L IS USM
  • Canon RF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM
  • Canon RF 1200mm f/8L IS USM

As you can see, Canon’s new lenses cater to wide-angle landscape shooters and sports/wildlife super-telephoto photographers, with a few fast primes sprinkled in. 

I could certainly see Canon announcing most or all of the super-telephoto glass in one breath, especially if their release coincides with the announcement of Canon’s flagship, sports-focused mirrorless camera, the highly-anticipated EOS R1. 

And previously, Canon Rumors did claim that the EOS R1 will “show its face in 2021” – and that the R1 will likely be teased prior to the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. 

So does Canon’s “massive splash” announcement refer to a summer reveal of the EOS R1 plus a series of super telephotos? This seems plausible; releasing sports- and wildlife-focused super-telephoto lenses alongside Canon’s highest-performance mirrorless model to date certainly makes sense, though hopefully Canon will include a couple of non-specialist lenses to keep other users satisfied. 

Another camera possibility is an EOS R5s, rumored to pack 90+ megapixels into a 35mm sensor, or an APS-C RF-mount EOS R7, designed as a mirrorless successor to Canon’s popular 7D lineup.

Regardless, I do think a summer 2021 announcement date is likely, especially given Canon’s current “supply chain and manufacturing issues.” 

So if you’re a Canon shooter looking for additional lenses, or you’re a non-Canon shooter considering a switch to Canon, make sure you keep an eye out for more information!

Now over to you:

Which Canon RF lenses do you think will be announced? And which camera? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

The post Canon to Announce a New Camera and “Many, Many Lenses” appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.


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Canon unveils AI-powered automatic camera, the PowerShot PICK

01 Feb

Canon has launched a campaign on the Japanese crowdfunding site Makuake for an AI-powered camera, the PowerShot PICK. The campaign has proven to be highly successful, attracting nearly ¥100,000,000 in support. The goal was ¥1,000,000.

The experimental PowerShot PICK camera can analyze a scene, identify people, track their faces and then, using artificial intelligence, determine the ideal moment to capture a photo. In a rough translation, Canon refers to the PICK as an ‘automatic shooting camera.’ The PowerShot PICK combines Canon’s optical, video processing, and artificial intelligence technology.

In terms of design, the PowerShot PICK is a compact, modern-looking device. It has been designed to blend in, while Canon has also considered ways to give the PICK some character. You can also take the PICK with you when you leave the house, such as when going to a family gathering or an event. You can place the PICK on a tripod as well, and Canon is offering special Velbon tripods as part of the campaign.

The PowerShot PICK uses a 1/2.3-inch 12MP CMOS image sensor. The sensor is paired with a 19-57mm equivalent zoom lens with a maximum aperture of F2.8. The PICK includes built-in image stabilization. The PICK pans 170° in both directions and can tilt 110°. The PICK records to a microSD card and weighs a mere 170g. As you can see in the video above, the PICK is small, with a height of about 3.5″ (90mm) tall.

The Canon PowerShot PICK is a compact device. It has a 360° field of view and incorporates a 12MP image sensor. Image credit: Canon on Masuake

While the PICK is designed to take photos automatically in the background, which Canon believes will result in more authentic images and better mementos, the PowerShot PICK can also be manually controlled using keywords. A user says, ‘Hello PICK,’ followed by commands to take a photo, record video, change subjects and stop capturing.

The PICK will launch alongside a dedicated smartphone app, allowing you to view and share photos and videos captured by PICK. The app automatically recommends the best photos, although you can view all images.

The setup process promises to be easy. After pairing with your smartphone, which is required, you simply power on PICK and place it somewhere, depending on the situation. You could place it on a table at the center of a family meal, on a tripod near an event, on a bookshelf, etc. As mentioned, although PICK can operate automatically, it can be controlled using voice or by using the smartphone app.

The Canon PowerShot PICK is currently available only to backers on Makuake. The price for the PICK works out to just under $ 400. Given the campaign’s success, the only remaining units are for the PICK and charging cable. The tripod bundle has sold out. Canon intends to ship the PICK to backers this July. Canon hasn’t announced global or public release plans, so it’s unclear if the PowerShot PICK will be available outside of Japan. You can learn more about the PowerShot PICK by visiting Makuake.

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Lensrentals tears down a Canon RF 100-500mm F4.7-7.1 lens to solve the mystery of a cracked element

22 Jan

Roger and Aaron are back at it again for Lensrentals, this time with a teardown of a Canon RF 100–500mm F4.7–7.1 lens with a little secret inside.

As Roger tells it, Lensrentals has come across ‘several’ copies of Canon’s RF 100–500mm F4.7–7.1 lens with a cracked element inside. He believes this crack occurs during shipping, but notes that ‘if you’ve ever rented from [Lensrentals], you know how we pack […] Nothing should break in shipping.’ As such, he did what he usually does when he can’t get an answer from the outside, he tore the lens down (with the help of Aaron, of course).

The large crack, seen through the rear elements of the lens. Click to enlarge.

Upon taking a closer look, Roger suspected the cracked element was inside the image stabilization module of the lens, due to the crack appearing to move when the lens was shifted around. He explains that while Canon was known for physically locking down IS units in its EF lenses, that practice has become less commonplace with RF lenses due to improved engineering measures. Naturally, he assumed this lack of lockdown could be the culprit for the cracked element in shipping.

As it turns out though, that wasn’t quite the case.

Roger and Aaron went through the usual routine, starting at the front of the lens. Despite easily removing the filter barrel and front optical group, they hit a roadblock with the light baffle inside. So, ‘like the cowards [they] are,’ Roger and Aaron turned the lens around and started to take it apart from the lens mount side.

A close-up view of the ribbon cables neatly tucked away inside the barrel of the lens.

Along the way, the pair ran into the usual array of screws, ribbon cables and sensors. But it wasn’t all that bad to take apart, thanks to the lens’ modular construction. Roger particularly appreciated how Canon managed to integrate almost all of the ribbon cables into the barrel of the lens, meaning there was little need to trace and mark down where every cable was supposed to be routed to:

‘I get accused every so often of being a Canon fanboy (or Sony, or Sigma, etc.). I’m not, but I’ll readily admit I’m a Canon lens construction fan; these are a pleasure to work on compared to most brands.’

A comparison of how the internals of the lens look when zoomed out versus zoomed in. Click to enlarge.

With the rear barrel off, Roger and Aaron took a look at the intricacies of the zoom section of the lens. Roger notes ‘everything moves in an impressively complex fashion’ and is almost overbuilt in some areas. Specifically, Roger points out that the front barrel moves along six heavy-duty rollers (as opposed to three in most other zoom lenses), each of which has custom-fitted nylon bearings to ensure the tightest fit possible while still offering a smooth glide. To this, Roger says ‘This is why nice things cost more; a lesser lens has three same-size small nylon bushings over screws.’

A close-up of one of the nylon bushings precisely fitted to the guide rail. Click to enlarge.

Another detail Roger noticed is that the two optical groups responsible for zoom operate independent of one another. That is, rather than both optical groups extending together with the barrel, the rear zoom optical group moves into the barrel, but isn’t doing so at the same rate as the front optical group.

From there, it was on to the inner barrel to see if the duo could get to the broken element. Before getting to the IS module though, Roger noted the use of springs to hold the rear baffle in place. He says Canon has been using more and more tensioning springs in its lenses over the years, ‘which suggests they originally thought it was a good idea, found out they were correct and increased usage.’ This particular lens has ‘over a dozen springs.’

A look at the tensioning springs used to hold the rear baffle tight. ‘It’s a complex little bit of engineering for a baffle,’ says Roger. Click to enlarge.

Eventually, Roger and Aaron hit the IS module, which Roger describes as ‘a pretty robust unit.’ He elaborates:

‘In older lenses, we sometimes saw IS units that were encased in a ‘cage’ of plastic bars, which broke sometimes. This is not that at all, it’s heavy-duty interlocking plastic shells with multiple screws and tension springs. We could (OK, we did) shake the heck out of it. It just rattled a bit, but there was nothing but solidness here.’

A close-up view of the ‘robust’ IS unit inside the RF 100-500mm F4.7-7.1 lens. Click to enlarge.

However, as you can see in the above image, there was no crack in sight. So it was on to more disassembling to get to the problematic element. After removing countless cams, spacers, screws and more, Roger and Aaron were able to find the cracked element — a thin, single element that sits right behind the aperture assembly and is also the forward focusing element.

Note the aperture assembly in front of the cracked element. Click to enlarge.

Still confused as to how the element cracked, the pair measured and tested everything around the element and determined there’s no way it could’ve impacted anything inside the lens. So, what could’ve caused it to crack? Roger doesn’t really know.

In his conclusion, Roger says:

‘My first thought, given that it’s winter, was perhaps temperature shock, moving from sub-zero trucks to warm indoors or something. But I’ve asked several people more knowledgeable than I and none think that’s a possibility. The ones that cracked are all early copies from a similar serial number range, perhaps there were some flawed elements early on. Maybe it’s just a statistical anomaly; we have a lot of copies and stuff happens. Or maybe it’s something we do or something with shipping. Nobody else has reported this. It’s worth looking into further, there are a number of things we’ve noticed before anyone else just because we have a lot of gear and a lot of repairs and inspections. But it may be an oddity that never happens again.’

Whatever the case, Lensrentals has sent all of its data and broken lenses to Canon, who already has a team assigned to more thoroughly investigating the issue. Roger says ‘Canon is always proactive about investigating these things and [is] one of the few companies willing to publicly say when they actually have a problem.’

Broken element aside, Roger says the rest of the teardown is what he’s come to expect from Canon RF L series lenses:

‘It’s filled with very robust construction, neatly and clearly laid out in a modular manner. It’s a very well-built and sturdy lens with cutting edge technology.’

To conclude, we’ll let Roger’s Rule of Broken Parts speak for itself: ‘the hardest to get to part is the one that’s broken.’

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Canon to Drop Its EOS M Lineup in Favor of Crop-Sensor EOS R Cameras

04 Jan

The post Canon to Drop Its EOS M Lineup in Favor of Crop-Sensor EOS R Cameras appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.

Canon to drop its EOS M lineup

Bad news for Canon EOS M fans: 

The Canon EOS M lineup, which includes popular models such as the EOS M50 and the EOS M6 Mark II, may soon be no more.

This comes from Canon Rumors, which reports that “two sources…suggested that 2021 will be the last year of the EOS M lineup.” 

Over the better part of the last decade, Canon has developed two mirrorless camera lines: 

The dedicated APS-C EOS M series, and the full-frame EOS R series. 

But while sibling APS-C and full-frame cameras are nothing new, the EF-M mount is incompatible with the RF mount, forcing Canon to produce two independent sets of lenses. And as the EOS R series continues to soar in popularity, it seems that Canon has decided to throw all of its resources into expanding the RF-mount cameras and lenses while leaving the EOS M lineup behind.

Of course, this doesn’t mean Canon will stop selling its EOS M models; the EOS M50 Mark II was only announced this past fall, and EOS M cameras are, by all accounts, performing well. But I wouldn’t hold out hope for any additional EOS M cameras or lenses. According to Canon Rumors, “the EOS M50 Mark II was a ‘stop-gap for a couple of future RF-mount APS-C cameras’” – which implies that the M50 Mark II will be the last of the EOS M cameras, and that Canon will try to channel its APS-C demand into new RF-mount models.

Rumors of an APS-C EOS R7 have abounded for months now, but the crop-sensor RF-mount models discussed by Canon Rumors are likely entirely different, catering to beginner photographers, walkaround shooters, and vloggers. Canon Rumors also reports that “there will not be RF-S lenses for APS-C EOS R cameras.” Instead, “future lens design will ‘fill the void of no dedicated APS-C lenses.’”

In other words, you can expect a handful of full-frame lenses that will also appeal to APS-C shooters – in the form of lightweight, kit RF lenses – rather than lenses designed solely for APS-C R bodies.

Personally, I welcome this move away from the EOS M series, as it gives APS-C shooters the opportunity to work with higher-end RF glass while allowing Canon to focus its resources on a single camera lineup. But I can also understand the frustration that EOS M users will undoubtedly feel as Canon lets a successful camera series fade away.

Now over to you:

What are your thoughts about the end of the EOS M lineup? Are you happy? Frustrated? Worried? Do you think Canon will end production of its EOS M cameras anytime soon? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

The post Canon to Drop Its EOS M Lineup in Favor of Crop-Sensor EOS R Cameras appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.


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Lensrentals’ most popular gear: Canon once again dominates with Sony, Nikon far behind

01 Jan

It’s the end of the year and that means Lensrentals has once again rounded up a list of the most popular camera bodies, lenses and accessories rented from Lensrentals and LensProToGo customers in 2020. Although this year has been, shall we say, different than most, the macro-level look at the most popular rental gear hasn’t changed much. That said, there are a few interesting trends emerging based on the 2020 data.

As it has been since 2017, the Canon 24–70mm F2.8L II lens takes the top spot of the most popular item to fly off Lensrentals’ shelves. Following it is the Canon 5D Mark IV, Canon 70–200mm F2.8L IS II, Sony a7 III and Canon 70–200mm F2.8L IS III. It isn’t until sixth place that we see a change of places. Instead of the Ronin-S, Canon’s 35mm F1.4L II lens snatches up sixth place.

A list of the most popular individual pieces of gear for 2020. Click to enlarge.

As has been the case for a number of years now, Canon absolutely dominates the list of most-rented gear. Canon holds 7 of the top 10 (70%) items and 13 of the top 20 (65%). Lensrentals also note Canon easily took the top spot for new releases in 2020, suggesting people seem more comfortable renting newer Canon gear compared to new offerings from other brands. To that end, Lensrentals’ data also shows that RF mount lenses rent at eight times the rate of Nikon Z mount lenses—a rather staggering statistic considering the new mirrorless mounts were released at the same time and have roughly the same number of lenses available for both mounts.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise, but there’s been significant growth in mirrorless camera and lens rentals. This backs up essentially all other data showing the migration away from DSLRs is undoubtedly happening. Another interesting trend is third-party lenses, such as those offered by Sigma and Tamron, are on the rise.

An ordered list of the most popular brands by rental market share. Click to enlarge.

All in all, across the board, the top five rental brands are Canon, Sony, Nikon, Sigma and Blackmagic, respectively. The only change in the top five compared to 2019 is Blackmagic, which overtook Panasonic for the final spot.

The full blog post from Lensrentals is a great read, so be sure to visit via the link below to ingest all the data there is to offer.

The Top Rented Photo and Video Products of 2020

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
Comments Off on Lensrentals’ most popular gear: Canon once again dominates with Sony, Nikon far behind

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