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Posts Tagged ‘Canon’

Portrait mode perspective: the iPhone X versus the Canon M100

22 Jan
With all the latest photo-centric smartphones including a form of Portrait mode, are interchangeable lens cameras still coming out on top?

It’s safe to say that Portrait mode, the artificial blurry-background generator on modern smartphones, isn’t going anywhere. And now that it’s here, it’s only going to get better. It’s an incredibly handy feature to have, and for the vast majority of users, is easily good enough that they may rethink the need to purchase a so-called ‘real’ camera in the future.

But ‘good enough’ is a subjective assessment. So, we set up a tripod and grabbed an accessible entry-level camera that’s specifically aimed at smartphone users, and did our own informal comparison. It turns out, though, that things aren’t all that simple.

The first comparison

We found through our informal exercise that the iPhone X’s built-in Portrait mode on its default camera app appears to roughly approximate the blur from shooting a 35mm F2.8 lens on an APS-C camera. In this case, we used the Canon EOS M100.

iPhone X in Portrait mode Canon EOS M100 w/ EF-S 35mm F2.8 @ F2.8

Unfortunately, the tripod needed adjustment of an inch or two to make sure the iPhone image and the Canon image ended up a broadly similar positioning of the subject in the frame (there may be some distortion or other corrective effects at work that we don’t have full insight into).

For this comparison, the iPhone X had HDR enabled in Portrait mode, and the M100 image was processed through Adobe Camera Raw using an adapted EF-S Macro 35mm F2.8 lens.

Apple also includes ‘lighting modes,’ so let’s see if that makes a difference in your preference.

The second comparison

iPhone X in Portrait mode with Contour Light Canon EOS M100 w/ EF-S 35mm F2.8 @ F2.8

Here, we re-processed the iPhone’s image to use the ‘Contour Light’ option. It gives the iPhone’s image a much more ‘purposed’ look to the light, almost as if there is an umbrella off-camera left, instead of just a window, while the Canon image looks the same, because, well, it doesn’t have ‘portrait lighting’ modes.

The third comparison

iPhone X in Portrait mode, Focos app set to F1.4 iPhone X in Portrait mode, Focos app set to F20 Canon EOS M100 w/ EF-S 35mm F2.8 @ F2.8

Lastly, there’s a free app called ‘Focos’ that allows you further tweaks on images taken in Portrait mode. You can even specify the level of blur you want, measured in approximate f-number. Here, we see the two ends of the spectrum currently included in the app, from ‘F1.4’ to ‘F20.’

What’s the big deal?

We’re approaching a time of reckoning for traditional camera manufacturers. Not only are computational cameras getting better, but they’re increasingly in people’s pockets, at the ready whenever they’re needed.

There are, of course, aspects of traditional cameras that phones can’t replace; the form factor, the controls, the feel of the thing. But those are increasingly diminishing requirements for a broad range of photographers (especially since, as you well know, everyone these days is a photographer).

But to remain relevant, these sort of software ‘tricks’ are something that camera manufacturers are going to need to think more and more about. There may yet come a time when, finally, you don’t absolutely need a bigger sensor for better results. And it’s not necessarily a matter of ‘if,’ but a matter of ‘when.’

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Video: Watch a YouTuber disassemble his Canon 1D X Mark II to see what’s inside

19 Jan

Photographer and filmmaker Peter McKinnon’s Canon 1DX Mark II recently took a tumble while he was out on an ATV ride. But rather than let this obviously traumatic experience scar him, he decided to use it as an opportunity. Before sending his camera to Canon for repair, he decided to disassembled the $ 6,000 DSLR himself… on video.

The teardown takes viewers through the careful process of removing the camera’s front and back, something McKinnon at one point describes as potentially “the dumbest thing I’ve ever done.” Not to put too fine a point on it, because we like Peter, but we totally agree with him.

Fortunately, everything ultimately ends well. McKinnon successfully disassembles and then reassembles the 1DX Mark II before sending it to Canon for repair. The camera maker even provided McKinnon with a loaner unit to use while his own camera was in the shop.

It’s a neat video that gives you a peek inside the very expensive and advanced DSLR, but we definitely don’t suggest you ever try this at home. As McKinnon notes in the video, disassembling a camera like this voids whatever warranties are covering it. In other words, if you’re curious to see what’s inside, watch this video… don’t try it yourself.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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2018 Japan BCN camera rankings: Canon dominates DSLRs, tops Sony in mirrorless

18 Jan
Photo by Mario Calvo

The 2018 Japan BCN camera rankings are in, and they show that (surprise, surprise) Canon is still veritably dominating the DSLR space with 61.1% marketshare, only a slight drop from its previous 63.3% share. More impressive is Canon’s performance in the mirrorless category where Canon took the number 2 position, hitting 21.3% versus Sony’s 20.2%. Olympus beat both to take top slot in mirrorless at 27.7%, though, a small increase over its previous 26.8% marketshare.

According to BCN, Canon also topped the “digital camera with integrated lens” category, holding 27.9% of marketshare over Nikon’s 25.5% and Casio’s 17.2%. The BCN rankings also look at action cameras, which saw GoPro take top slot with 67.2% marketshare (not that this has helped the company’s outlook lately…), as well as digital video cameras, which has Panasonic on top with a 42% marketshare.

When looking at previous figures, the rankings show Nikon growing in DSLR sales while Canon and Ricoh both saw decreases. Olympus, Canon, and Sony all experienced growth in the mirrorless category, while Canon and Nikon both experienced growth in the integrated lens digital camera market.

Notably, Canon continues to show strong growth in Japan’s mirrorless market despite Sony’s recovery from the disruption caused by the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake.

That earthquake had impacted Sony’s nearby image sensors facility, which supplied sensors for both Nikon and Olympus, among others. In its early 2017 fiscal quarterly results, Olympus had noted that the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake had a negative impact on its Imaging Business sales. Likewise, Nikon had revealed its own Imaging Products Business impact during the same time, resulting in downwardly revised forecasts.

However, despite Sony’s facility restoring operations in the many months since the earthquake, Canon is still outpacing Sony in the mirrorless segment.

Though Nikon saw DSLR marketshare growth in 2017, whereas Canon saw a slight decrease, the latter company still trounces its closest competitor at 61.1% versus Nikon’s 34.4%. Whether Canon’s biggest competitors will see any significant 2018 gains on the company in their respective categories is anyone’s guess.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Canon launches refillable ink printers in the UK

16 Jan

Canon has announced that it will introduce a series of printers that are fitted with ink tanks designed so that users can refill the inks themselves. In move that might be interpreted as an “if you can’t beat them, join them” attitude, the company will release four models in the new Pixma G range, each of which has four built-in tanks for black, cyan, magenta and yellow ink.

The company will also sell bottles of ink so that users can refill the printers without having to buy individual cartridges—they will also, in theory, save money.

The new printers will be filled via 70ml bottles of colored dye ink which cost £10, and a 135ml bottle of black pigment ink that will cost £13. This makes the colored ink 13p per ml and the black 9.5p per ml compared with the 200p per ml that UK consumers pay for ink for the Pixma MG series, and 106p paid for 1ml of ink that’s used in the Pixma Pro range.

It’s worth noting, however, that Canon hasn’t made any print-life claims with these inks, and the printers are being marketed as general-purpose photo-capable machines rather than photo-specialist printers, so perhaps we shouldn’t expect the same quality.

The Pixma G series consists of four models that range from basic printer to a multi-functional four-in-one (print, copy, scan and fax) with the second two models offering Wi-Fi connectivity and printing from a smartphone app.

For more information, visit the Canon website.

Pricing and Availability

  • The PIXMA G1510: Available from March 2018 with a SRP of £180/€200
  • The PIXMA G2510: Available from March 2018 with a SRP of £200/€230
  • The PIXMA G3510: Available from March 2018 with a SRP of £250/€280
  • The PIXMA G4510: Available from March 2018 with a SRP of £300/€350

Press Release:

Canon launches refillable ink tank printer range in the UK

Canon announces the anticipated launch of its new collection of refillable ink tank printers. The high yield, easy to use and compact PIXMA G Series printers are designed for those seeking high volume, low cost per page, productive printers for home, home office and small office environments.

The new PIXMA G series collection includes:

  • PIXMA G1510, a printer designed for high volume printing at low cost per page
  • PIXMA G2510, a high yield multi-function printer with added user benefits of copying and scanning
  • PIXMA G3510, a high yield multi-function 3-in-1 printer with Wi-Fi connectivity that supports smartphone and tablet print, copy and scanning via the Canon PRINT app
  • PIXMA G4510, a compact 4-in-1 printer with 20 sheet Automatic Document Feeder (ADF) and wireless connectivity to smart devices with a high page yield resulting in a low cost per page

Boost Productivity:

Created for home, home offices and small office environments, the PIXMA G Series has been designed to boost productivity. Keeping running costs down and delivering more prints, the PIXMA G Series offers convenience and efficiency to suit all printing requirements.

Key Features:

  • The strong focus across the range is the high page yield allowing users print up to 6,000 pages from the black ink or 7,000 pages from a set of colour inks[1] meaning you can print for longer without changing inks and ensuring very low cost per page
  • Auto Power ON/OFF setting[2] helps to save energy when the printer is not in use
  • High quality prints with genuine pigment black ink ensuring sharp and crisp text & dye colour inks for vibrant images; all the models within this series can produce borderless photos up to A4

Design & Technology

The new PIXMA G Series printers have been built with productivity and design at its forefront; with front facing ink tanks that make it easy to determine remaining ink levels, well designed ink bottles minimising potential spills or leaks and quick installation process due to the inherent technology of the printer.

Easy to set up and simple to use, the PIXMA G series models ensure better prints on plain paper for high quality prints every business will be proud of. PIXMA G2510 and PIXMA G3510 also feature a new 1.2” mono segment LCD screen while PIXMA G4510 retains the 2 line segment mono LCD. The handy screens make it easy to copy, check Wi-Fi connectivity and troubleshoot so your time is better spent on work.

With the FINE print head system the new printers are made to be durable and produce high volume printing meaning you can rely on the PIXMA G Series when printing weighty documents for that all important meeting. The air-tight ink tube technology for smooth printing ensuring every print is as good as the one before.

Connectivity

PIXMA G4510 and PIXMA G3510 both feature Wi-Fi technology, allowing users to print wirelessly via a laptop/PC or smart device. Use the Canon PRINT app[3] for printing, scanning and copying purposes, as well as printer maintenance. You can access PIXMA Cloud Link via the Canon PRINT app so you can print photos and documents remotely from cloud services such as Facebook, GoogleDrive, Dropbox, Instagram and more.

Both models are compatible with Mopria on Android so you can print without needing to download additional apps. PIXMA G4510 is compatible with Apple AirPrint which allows compatible iOS devices to print directly too.

PIXMA G4510 and PIXMA G3510 allow users to simultaneously handle both conventional Wi-Fi connection via a router and without access to a Wi-Fi router using Wireless Direct or Access Point Mode[4], making connecting a smart device to the printer simple.

Photo Printing

Users can now print borderless 4 x 6” photos in just 60 seconds and select from a range of templates with My Image Garden. Use the software to get creative with your photos and print various projects using your own images.

The rear paper feeding system capable of holding up to 100 sheets of plain paper enables a smooth paper pass for a wide range of media support including glossy photo paper Square Media (5×5”).

Get Creative

Enjoy a range of creative platforms to do more with your printer:

  • PosterArtist Lite[5] programme lets users create and print eye-catching posters and brochures for all business purposes.
  • Experiment with Canon’s Message In Print[6] app by sending invisible messages to friends and family when printing photos with PIXMA G3510 and PIXMA G4510. Add animations, URLs or text to the photo for the recipient to decode when using the Message In Print app
  • Organise photos, create collages or gift personalised calendars and cards to loved ones, with online platform My Image Garden – compatible with all printers in the PIXMA G Series with applications such photo layout print and Full HD Movie Print
  • Print arts and crafts from Canon’s Creative Park free online web platform, allowing users to print a range of crafts from 3D models, greeting cards, frames, masks and more

Convenient Copying

Make copies of hard documents at the touch of a button. Simply take a photo of any document with the Smartphone Capture and Copy function on the Canon PRINT app and convert it to a PDF to save, share or print; ideal for remote working.

Make copies of double sided ID cards with PIXMA G4510 for trips abroad or personal verification. The easy to use feature enables you to scan the front and back sides to print on one page.

Handy Design

Built for the home and office environment, the compact PIXMA G Series is designed to save space while optimising both print quality and quantity. The front-facing ink tanks make it easy for you to monitor your ink levels so you’re always prepared for your printing demands.

Make copies[7] at the touch of a button when you choose either PIXMA G2510 or PIXMA G3510 with built-in 1.2” LCD screen. With PIXMA G4510 users will also benefit from a two-line LCD screen to assist with initial setup, Wi-Fi status and troubleshooting.

The new PIXMA G Series range offers small businesses and home offices cost-effective printing solutions; increasing productivity and easing flexible working. The new printers guarantee long-lasting, durable prints, whether it’s vivid photos or documents for a professional-looking finish.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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On Assignment with Kylie Mazon and the Canon EOS M6

15 Jan

The M6 is a lightweight and compact mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, which features a 24MP APS-C format sensor, tilting touch-sensitive rear screen and Canon’s innovative Dual Pixel autofocus system, for fast and reliable AF in both stills and movie modes.

Recently, we spent a day in Los Angeles with the M6, in the company of photographer, cook and food blogger Kylie Mazon. Join us and see how Kylie approaches the challenge of shooting lifestyle and promotional images for a downtown hotel with the Canon EOS M6.

This is sponsored content, supported by Canon. What does this mean?

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Canon accidentally shared a composite photo shot with a Fuji all over social media

15 Jan

Well… this is awkward. Fstoppers has caught Canon Italy and Canon Spain sharing a photo to all of their social media accounts—Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram—the majority of which wasn’t even taken with a Canon camera. In fact, it was shot using a Fuji X-T1, by popular landscape and travel photographer Elia Locardi.

You can compare the two photos for yourself below, but there is little doubt that large parts of Elia’s photograph were used to create the one Canon shared:

The original photo, captured by Elia Locardi. Used with permission.
The image Canon Italy and Canon Spain have shared all over social media.

As you can see the entire sky, parts of the water, and some foreground elements as well were lifted directly from Elia’s original. In fact, as Fstoppers points out, there’s even a few-pixel-sized bird in Elia’s photo that was copied directly into the new shot.

We spoke to Elia this morning, and he told us that after a bit of sleuthing he was actually able to uncover the source of the image: a royalty free photograph on Unsplash that was allegedly taken in October of 2017 with a Canon 1D Mark IV. Elia has asked that we not “out” the photographer, but you can see the EXIF data in this screenshot:

From there, it doesn’t take an advanced degree to figure out what happened. A social media team at Canon Europe took to Unsplash to find a royalty free picture to share. They probably searched for “Canon 1D Mark IV” and “Italy,” and when they stumbled across this shot they had no idea that it was, in fact, not a single image but a composite of (at least) two photos… one of which was taken with a Fujifilm camera.

It’s embarrassing, sure, but probably an honest mistake. As of this writing, the post is still live on Canon Italia and Canon Estana’s Facebook and Instagram accounts, but we don’t expect that to last much longer as this story gains traction in the blogosphere.

The photo as seen on the Canon Italia Instagram account this morning.

We’ve reached out to Canon for comment, and will update this post if and when we hear back.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Canon defends embarrassing photo sharing gaff, photographer fires back

14 Jan

Yesterday, we reported on an understandable if embarrassing mistake by Canon Italy and Canon Spain. The two branches of Canon had shared a composite photo that contained stolen elements from a photo by travel photographer Elia Locardi all over their social media accounts; to make things worse, those elements were shot with a Fujifilm camera.

The reasonable response would have been to admit the mistake, apologize, and move on. This morning, however, Canon responded through social media and managed to somehow make things worse.

In its response, the company confirmed our assertion that it had pulled the photograph from the royalty free photo sharing website Unsplash, but claimed that it was not the same photo, pointing to “seasonal variation” between the two shots and completely ignoring the fact that parts of the photograph are exact clones.

Here is the response in full, posted as a comment on the Canon Italia Facebook share:

This answer, for obvious reasons, has photographers shaking their heads. There is no denying that the photograph uses stolen elements from Locardi’s—the same exact sky and water patterns don’t just repeat themselves willy nilly, making sure that the same bird is flying through the shot at the exact same time for good measure.

But the fact that Canon shared a composite with part of his work isn’t what bothers Locardi. Speaking with him yesterday and this morning, it was obvious that this was just an odd and funny moment for him. What does bother him about Canon’s response is something else entirely, as he explained on Facebook this morning:

Guy takes part of my Fujifilm photo, uploads it to a copyright free website. Then Canon shares it all over their social media. And now, Canon’s official response is that it’s not my photo? And the differences are just a “seasonal variation.”

LOL, really? As if this story couldn’t become more awkward.

But seriously, the greater part of this story and by far the largest issue here, is the fact that Canon is using a free image resource like Unsplash to fuel their social media rather than tapping into their large community of photographers. That’s incredibly insulting to both their own consumers and to the photography community itself.

Speaking with me directly this morning, Elia repeated the last part of his Facebook post before he continued on to say that this kind of thing, “encompasses almost everything that’s wrong with our industry today.” To really drive home the point, he also posted the comment as a response to Canon Italia’s comment on Facebook.

Here’s one last look at these two photos, just for good measure:

The original by Elia Locardi
A composite from Unsplash that obviously takes the sky and parts of the foreground directly from Elia’s image.

We have not received a response to yesterday’s request for comment from Canon, but we will update this post if and when we hear back.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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‘Water Torture Test’ compares Canon, Nikon, Sony and Olympus weather sealing

10 Jan

As part of their Camera of the Year comparison between the Nikon D850 and the Sony a7R III, Imaging Resource decided to test the cameras’ weather sealing with their very own “water torture test.” And just to spice things up a bit, they threw in the Canon 5D Mark IV and Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II for good measure.

All four cameras were subjected to a “brief, moderately heavy rain shower and misty conditions,” and despite what you may think about all top-tier cameras being more alike than different on the weather sealing front, not all four bodies coped well. You can watch the test above or visit Imaging Resource for an in-depth report on their weather sealing tests, but if you want the TL;DR (or DW), it goes something like this:

  • The Canon 5D Mark IV and Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II both passed without so much as a stutter. No water getting anywhere it shouldn’t have.
  • The Nikon D850 sprung a small leak into the viewfinder unless the Nikon BS-3 hot shoe cover was used. Everything else stayed dry.
  • The Sony a7R III performed the worst by far, leaking a significant amount of water into the battery compartment (seemingly from above), and malfunctioning entirely during IR’s 15-minute ‘heavy mist’ test.

Of course, one should be careful making sweeping generalizations based on testing one copy of each camera, but if this test is indicative of all Sony a7R III’s weather sealing, Sony might want to take note of IR’s results as they go about designing the Mark IV.

Check out the in-depth review for more details on how each of the four models performed.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Leak: Samyang to announce autofocus 14mm F2.8 lens for Canon EF mount

06 Jan

Nokishita has gotten their hands on two lens photos that have Canon users buzzing this morning. Just days after Yongnuo announced its (probably very cheap) YN 14mm F2.8 for Canon, Samyang/Rokinon are reportedly preparing to do you one better by releasing its own AF 14mm F2.8 for EF mount.

We have no details about the lens beyond the photos above, but if (or more likely when) this lens is announced, it will be the first Samyang autofocus lens for Canon’s EF mount—so far, all of the Samyang/Rokinon AF lenses released have been made for Sony’s FE mount.

Nokishita typically releases leaked image like the ones above only a day or two (if not hours) before the official announcement, so stay tuned for more.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Video: Using the $5,700 Canon 200mm F2 on the Sony a7R III

04 Jan

Photographer and YouTuber Manny Ortiz recently put together what he calls “the sexiest camera and lens combo” he has ever held: combining the DPReview Product of the Year Sony a7R III with Canon’s beastly 200mm F2L IS USM. He wanted to see if this $ 5,700 lens could live up to its potential on Sony’s latest mirrorless flagship, so he took it with him to a family photo shoot and brought along the vlogging camera to give us all a behind the scenes look.

He adapted the Canon lens to the Sony body using the Sigma MC-11 mount converter, and despite the fact that he was using three different brands at once, the Sony and Canon played well together. In particular, Manny was impressed that Sony’s Eye-AF worked as well as it did with the Canon 200mm, keeping focus locked even on the edges of the frame.

Summing up his final thoughts on this camera and lens combo, he says:

The performance of the Canon 200mm on the Sony a7RIII is really impressive […] It actually blows me away how far [Sony] have come in terms of improving autofocus performance with adapted lenses.

I did notice that in low light, autofocus, especially Eye-AF, isn’t as consistent […] but in good light I didn’t miss any focus.

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Beyond the low-light limitations Manny mentions, it’s also worth noting that you don’t exactly get “all of those” AF modes Sony offers. You still don’t have access to Zone or any of the Lock-on AF modes of the Sony a7R III with Canon glass. Also, max burst rate is just 3 fps. Still, for portrait photographers like Manny, face recognition and Eye-AF are the big ones, and the a7R III seemed to perform very well in those modes in Manny’s test shoot.

To see more of Manny’s photos or tag along on his next photo shoot, head over to his website, give him a follow on Instagram, or subscribe to his channel on YouTube.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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