Canon Gear Orgy

[Jay Beckman]

Canon has announced:
- 60D (@ reportedly 18Mp)
- New MkII versions of the 300 f/2.8, 400 f/2.8, 500 f/4 (Grrr...) and 600 f/4
- New MkIII Versions of both TCs
- New 8-15mm L Fishy
- New 70-300mm L f/4-5.6

The new 400mm f/2.8L IS is reportedly nearly 1/3 lighter which gets it down closer to the weight of the 500mm and means it's much more hand-holdable.

Get those lists to Santa Claus early!   

[Joe Copalman]

That fisheye sounds like a lot of fun, but I'm wondering who the hell focus-grouped the 60D.

[Jay Beckman]

If you read the specs (most notably the fold out screen and the fact it uses SD instead of CF for media), I think you'll find Canon is trying to expand the capabilities of the so-called "Gap" camera that is meant to usher P&S users into the world of the dSLR.  Get 'em hooked on SLR shooting but don't make it any more alien from their former P&S camera than it has to be.

The fold-out screen has a dual purpose.  Yes, it's more comfortable for the P&S users but it also has a certain appeal to those who are big on dSLR video.  It's interesting that they include all flavors of HD in this new offering.  1080 @ 30, 25 and 24 as well as 720 @ 30 and 60 (for slo mo)

If you look at the 60D from the "top down," it definately has some things about it that will leave experienced SLR users scratching their heads.  But, if you look at it from the "bottom up," as though you were a Powershot or Digital Elph user, it has a lot going for it as a bridge from P&S to SLR use.  Especially if it streets at $1K or lower...

Oh, and the 8-15mm, yeah, I want one!

[Joe Copalman]

If you read the specs (most notably the fold out screen and the fact it uses SD instead of CF for media), I think you'll find Canon is trying to expand the capabilities of the so-called "Gap" camera that is meant to usher P&S users into the world of the dSLR.

Um, that's the Rebel series, which they've been ratcheting up the gadget factor on quite a bit, and with very minimal time between new models.  If this "gap" isn't ably filled by the Rebel series, Canon should make the adjustments there, instead of dumbing down the xxD series and adding a few dad-cam gizmos.  Seems like Canon has been going gaga for gimmicks lately (i.e. HD video, flip screens, wifi compatibility) at the expense of the fundamentals. 

[Joe Copalman]

And I do see some utility in what we do with the flippity-do-dad screen.  For starters, it means we don't have to go into nipple-scorching prone position to get low-angle shots.  And while I've never shot from a KC-135, I've heard that there are two windows that flank the boomer's window that afford great shots of a/c approaching and coming off the boom, but that you need a camera with live-view and a flip screen to effectively utilize.  I know I'd actually use that.  But the HD video and Wifi stuff I'd hardly if ever use, and if that 18MP sensor is the one from the 7D, I'll most likely pass. 

[Jay Beckman]

Well, there you go...  You've already thought through how the adjustable screen can be beneficial...  You're light-years ahead of a lot of other folks.

The HD Video is really just an Oh By The Way.  They developed Live View and someone said "I wonder if we could capture this?"  Voila, HD Video is born.  The quality of the video is as good as it gets.  1080p is the gold standard of video these days (short of full-res, uncompressed footage .. but that takes a little more processing horsepower than your average iMac...)  When people complain that video is making cameras more expensive, I simply point out to them that the 5DMkII hit the street at a price point below that of the original 5D when it first came out.  I'm actually looking forward to trying some video stuff when my MkIV comes on Monday.  Jim Koepnick at EAA is shooting video on nearly every air to air gig he does.  Victor Archer was shooting it at El Centro last time.  It's a bus worth getting on, IMO...

I assume the WiFi to which you refer is the new 7Ds (7Dsv?)  That's a specialty thing and it does have a place for industrial or institutional users who need the ability to shoot and catalog on the fly.  They won't sell many but those who need that functionality will definately buy them.  Think Disneyland or Six Flags where people can have their picture taken here and go buy the print later over there.  Shooting class pictures at schools, player headshots in sports, etc...

Lastly, why so down on the 7D?  It's getting pretty much universally good reviews on most of the sites I visit...

[Joe Copalman]

I've heard bad things about the 7D from guys whose judgment I trust a lot regarding noise/grain.  I borrowed Ned's up in Valle and I was impressed with the speed of the AF system, the killer fps rate, and the ergonomics.  But when I got home and uploaded my shots, I immediately saw what everyone was talking about.  The grain is just out of control, especially as far as blue skies go.  In response to some of the criticisms, of noise/grain, I'd read/heard the rebuttal of "Well, when you increase the number of pixels and the size of the image they produce, you're bound to see more grain at full-res," but this was not that.  I found myself using levels of noise reduction I had been previously uncomfortable with to smooth things out enough for a good 1800x1200 image.  With all the limitations of the XTi, I've never had to deal with that much grain at ISO100. 

[Jay Beckman]

Can you email me a full res jpeg or two from that day from the 7D?  I'd like to see them if you don't mind.

I've not yet actually seen images first hand from a 7D.

[Joe Copalman]

Ha!  I almost sent you some last night while I was in rant-mode.  I'll shoot a few over to you this evening.

[Chris V]

Little more info here.

http://thephoblographer.com/2010/08/26/canon-announces-60d-and-lens-updates/

[phantomphan1974]

Kind of sucks that it does not use CF cards.  I have quite a few of them, probably like most of you and it too bad they did not use them.  Probably to save space.  Is the battery for the 7D the same as the 30D-40D?  Guess the battery grip is different....  Looks promising and price is not that bad for the body only...

[jslugman]

Kind of sucks that it does not use CF cards.  I have quite a few of them, probably like most of you and it too bad they did not use them.  Probably to save space.  Is the battery for the 7D the same as the 30D-40D?  Guess the battery grip is different....  Looks promising and price is not that bad for the body only...

The grips are almost ALWAYS different having bought a huge number of them over the years....