This camera is ultra powerful at 22 megapixels, 61pt AF, and having the ability to capture 6.9fps. If these specs remain true, we could be looking at a replacement for the 7D. Shipping for this unit will likely be taking place in late March or early April. This camera does not trump the Nikon 36mp D800, so it seemed important for the man Masaya Maeda of Canon to destroy rumors that Canon was falling beyond recently:

“Regarding how Canon responds to the competition from Nikon’s D800 and the concern of the successor of 5D Mark II, Maeda indicates that although he cannot leak information about un-announced product, the way Canon develops new product is to satisfy the needs of professional photographers. For instance, the introduction of EOS-1D X is to satisfy professional photographers to photoshoot sports events like the Olympics, in terms of their requirement of high FPS and high image quality under high ISO settings. If Canon thinks the market wants the high resolution models such as the 30+ MP of Nikon’s D800, they can easily develop such products…” – Maeda

This quote comes from Canon Rumors where they’ve also got a tip that the 5D Mark II could remain “current” enough to gain additional hardware and attention from Canon even when the III is out and about. This would be great news for owners of the 5D Mark II and those who still want to pick one up now that the price will inevitably go down. Seeya then!

[via Canon Rumors]

PowerShot SX260 HS – 12.1-megapixel CMOS and 20x optical zoom with optical image stabilization. 1.29-inches thick. Supports 1080p Full HD video recording and GPS phototagging. 10.3fps burst mode. Ships March 2012 for $349.99.

PowerShot D20 – 12.1-megapixel CMOS and 5x optical zoom in waterproof, shock-proof and freeze-proof body. Full HD video recording and GPS integration for location tagging. 3-inch preview display. Ships May 2012 for $349.99.

PowerShot A4000 IS – 16-megapixel sensor, optical image stabilization and 8x optical zoom. 3-inch preview display. Ships February for $199.99.

PowerShot A3400 IS – 16-megapixel sensor, optical image stabilization and 5x optical zoom. 3-inch touchscreen with touch-focus and touch-shutter. Ships March for $179.99.

PowerShot A2400 IS / A2300 – 5x optical zoom and 2.7-inch display. A2400 IS adds optical image stabilization. A2400 IS due March for $159.99; A2300 due March for $149.99.

PowerShot A1300 – Optical viewfinder along with 2.7-inch LCD. 5x optical zoom and uses AA batteries. Due April for $199.99.

PowerShot A810 – 5x optical zoom and 2.7-inch LCD. Uses AA batteries. Due April for $109.99.

The 24-70mm zoom lens is a popular size, though not a cheap one if you go with first-party glass. Neither the Canon L-series F/2.8 lens ($1300 street) or Nikkor F/2.8 ($1900 street) comes with anti-vibration technology, which the two companies have focused on longer telephoto lenses thus far. Considering that Tamron’s budget competitor Sigma sells their copy of the 24-70mm lens for about $900, expect the SP 24-70mm F/2.8 Di VC USD to come at or near that price. There is no previous generation in this size for Tamron.

The company claims that its new image stabilization improved on the original VC design by using a reverse-mounted magnet and coil system, which attached the lens element directly to the coil. The lighter coil and magnet allows for a considerably more compact lens than other 24-70mm options, a design choice that Tamron employs in other models as well. Two extra refractive index elements help to keep chromatic aberration low.

For those without budgets that extend into five digits, Tamron makes some solid lenses. Typically they can’t quite match the clarity and definition on Canon and Nikon’s high-grade glass (even if Tamron claims “resolution at the top of its class”). They excell at cheap all-in-one zooms typified by their 18-270mm range, which I can personally report is quite satisfactory. Canon shooters looking for a top-end alternative might want to hold on to their wallets, though: the camera maker is rumored to have its own 24-70mm with anti-vibration technology in the pipeline.

[via Cnet]

This device will be looking rather similar to the current 7D and the 5D Mark II of course, but with a slightly larger display than either of them, appearing also to have a different aspect ratio than we’re currently used to seeing on either device. There’s a few button re-arrangements as well, starting with a “rate” button on the left, a joystick on the removable battery grip on the bottom, and no pop-up flash anywhere to be seen, not one!

There’s a brand new scroll wheel here, a slightly modified interface on the display if you look VERY closely, and the secondary display at the top of the camera does not appear to be active at all. Also that Canon 200-400mm lens is an absolute beast, and the source speaking with the photographer here in-person says that that piece of the equation should be released in March or April – soon!

[via Aperture Academy]

In fact, the lenses are actually more expensive than the C300 itself, each carrying a sticker in excess of $40k. The Canon CN-E 14.5-60mm T2.6 L S Cinema Zoom Lens with EF Mount comes in at $42,750, as does the Canon CN-E 14.5-60mm T2.6 L SP Cinema Zoom Lens with PL Mount. $44,650 gets you the Canon CN-E 30-300mm T2.95-3.7 L S EF Mount Cinema Zoom Lens or the Canon CN-E 30-300mm T2.95-3.7 L SP PL Mount Cinema Zoom Lens.

Inside the C300 there’s an 8.29-megapixel Super 35mm CMOS sensor, while on the outside there’s a 4-inch rotating 1.23-megapixel LCD preview display and dual-CompactFlash memory card slots. Recording is in Canon’s 4:2:2 50 Mb/s MPEG-2 XF codec, and if the Cine lenses are looking too rich for your blood then you’ll be pleased to hear that the company’s existing DSLR lenses are supported too.

Sample clips from the EOS C300 can be found here.

[via CanonRumors - thanks Paul!]

In “normal” mode, the Nikon1Dx rapid-fire shutter sounds rather similar to my 1D Mark IV. It’s loud and intriguing while the Canon 1Dx is slightly toned down from its predecessor. With pictures captured in largest jpeg format, we were told the Canon tipped 412 images before hitting the buffer while Nikon managed just half of that.

Nikon D4 D-SLR

Canon 1DX D-SLR

We aren’t certain of the buffer pipeline, and the factor of CF, as both storage compartments are locked and sealed. The reps have no knowledge of what cards are being used for the demo, but with a Dual Digic 5 image processor dedicated for image processing and a Digic 4 for AF and metering as opposed to a single EXPEED 3, despite higher pixel count, the 1Dx is clearly a winner here.

The new cameras will certainly be the benchmark for London 2012 Summer Olympics sport photographers.

Programming the camera with different identities basically involves shooting a frame of them and then adding them to the ELPH’s register. You can name them, as well as give them a date of birth – used to ID babies and young children – and in future shots the camera automatically identifies their face and floats their name underneath

You can apparently store up to six angles or expressions of any one person, too, so as to improve the ELPH’s ability to accurately spot the right person. It’s an impressive system, considering the new ELPH cameras come in at under $300 apiece.

More on the Canon ELPH 520HS in our hands-on.

[via Gizmodo]

But perhaps what’s really amazing is a 12x zoom cramped into a lens that only extends out about half an inch. That should cut down significantly on viewfinding and motor noises. It’s all visible on a 3-inch viewscreen that’s sadly not touch-enabled. An ISO range of 3200 should make for some good night performance.

What’s most interesting is the new facial detection, which can differentiate between children and adults. It can also be set – in a photo with up to 12 people, the ELPH can choose to focus on either infants, children or adults. When focusing on a baby, the photo will automatically take three shots when it detects a smile, and disable the autofocus beep and shutter sound when it detects that the baby is sleeping. Now that’s kid-friendly.

The PowerShot Digital ELPH 520HS will be available in March for $299.99. It comes in black, red, silver or blue.

Practically all of the settings for previous G series cameras are still available on the G1 X, so those looking to upgrade shouldn’t be too unfamiliar with it. But the only real reason to upgrade would be for the 4x optical zoom and the wide-angle 28mm lens. And of course, the improved sensor.

It’s hard to get past the $800 price tag, but it offers a pivotable viewing touchscreen that many other cameras lack. It takes full HD 1080p video and has a built in face detection system. The shooter should be available in February, and an exact date hasn’t quite been announced.

This new line of models are being pumped up to a 20 percent improvement over the last set of Canon video cameras in the low-light department with Canon’s own HD CMOS Pro Image Sensor. They’ve all got improvements over the past set in more than one category, each having the ability to export content directly to a hard-drive with no additional computer in-between, and the select models have the ability to work with Relay Recording which brings you seamless uninterrupted video recording, non stop, from one memory source to another and to another. Each has built-in memory features such as HD-to-SD Downconversion, this creating two files for you, one in the original HD and another moved down to a smaller format for easier transfer and upload.

VIXIA HF M-series

Each of the new line is 15 percent smaller than the 2011 models, is able to record in full HD 1920 x 1080, and has a Genuine Canon 10x HD video lens. Each of the three models has a flat touch 3.0-inch panel LCD screen, and both the VIXIA HF M52 and VIXIA HF M50 have a lovely 32GB and 8GB of internal flash memory. All three, the VIXIA HF M52, VIXIA HF M50 and VIXIA HF M500 will be available in March for prices of $749.99, $649.99 and $549.99, respectively.

VIXIA HF R-series

For the VIXIA HF R32, VIXIA HF R30 and VIXIA HF R300, you’ve got a set of budget models that are still able to record in Full HD 1920 x 1080 and are 21 percent smaller than their R-Series predecessors. Their “Genuine Canon HD Video Lens” allows for 51x Advanced Zoom, they’ve each 3.0-inch full-flat Touch Panel LCD screens, and all have a 3.28-megapixel Canon Full HD CMOS Image Sensor. Both the R32 and the R30 record to 32GB and 8GB of internal storage respectively, while the R300 is able to record directly to its SDXC-compatible slot for memory cards. All three of these models will be available in March, the R32 for $549.99, the R30 for $449.99, and the R300 for $349.99. Great deals to be had!

Also note that they look relatively similar, images of the M52 and M32 below:

The 520 HS supports ISO up to 3200 and 28mm wide-angle shots, along with 1080p Full HD video capture and 6.8fps continuous shooting. The 110 HS, meanwhile, also captures 1080p and has the 3200 ISO range, but manages 5.8fps continuous shooting. Its lens is even wider, 24mm, for fitting more into any one shot.

Each camera has an “Advanced Smart AUTO” mode that picks from 58 different scene presets – including people, landscapes, pets and vehicles – using Face ID to track people in each frame. Interestingly, users can input an age range for up to 12 different people, stored in the camera, and the ELPH duo uses that range to prioritize focus to the youngest person. It’s also possible to search through saved shots of one of those people.

The Canon PowerShot ELPH 520 HS will arrive in March, in black, silver, red and blue, priced at $299.99. As for the Canon PowerShot ELPH 110 HS, that will drop in February, in black, silver, red, blue, green and pink, priced at $249.99.

Canon has borrowed some of the features more commonly associated with its EOS DSLR line-up, such as 14-bit, RAW+JPEG simultaneous shooting and support for some of the company’s accessories. The Speedlite, Macro Twin Lite and the Macro Ring Light flashes will all work with the new PowerShot.

1080p Full HD video recording is supported too, and there’s a 3-inch 922k dot preview display that pulls out, rotates and tilts to suit your angle. Rather than leave everything to touch control, Canon has opted for a couple of easily-reached control dials: there’s a Mode Dial on the top and a Front Dial on – you guessed it – the front.

The Canon PowerShot G1 X will go on sale in February, priced at $799.99

The CMOS sensor measures in at a sizable 1.5-inches, has a shallow depth of field, and the new Canon is capable of up to 6fps high-speed burst shooting or 4.5fps at full resolution. There’s 14-bit RAW file support and one of Canon’s DIGIC 5 processors to crunch pictures, bringing improved low-light support with it.

Other features include multi-area white balance adjustment and new Smart Auto settings for those who prefer to leave complexities to the camera itself. A “child-weighted” face detection system sounds ideal for the Child Catcher in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang while there’s also an HDR mode and handheld night scene, presumably for reducing blur during longer exposure times.

Full HD 1080p video recording and a 720p “Movie Digest” mode for automatically collating a video log of stills round out the main specs; everything else will have to wait for Canon’s own unveil next week. The Canon PowerShot G1X will ship in February, Wells Fargo says, priced at $799.

This little monster is small enough to fit in your briefcase (or backpack, whatever the case may be), and has a folded-down size smaller than a footlong sub sandwich. Unless you get a lot of toppings, of course. A mister Jom Rosetta, vice president and general manager of Imaging Systems Group, Canon USA, had the following to say about the scanner, noting its double use and tiny size:

“The combination of simple use, high-image quality and a built-in card scanning capability in such a compact footprint make this solution ideal for office users and mobile professionals in healthcare, financial services, government and other areas looking to take document capture beyond the walls of the office to the convenience of any location.” – Rosetta

The unit measures in at 11 inches long, has a weight right around two pounds, and folds in and out easily for the documents you plan on working with. You’ll be powering this device with a single USB cable, and the whole unit can handle a batch of 20 documents at once at 15 pages per minute max speed. This scanner comes bundled with Canon CaptureOnTouch Lite software which launches right when you plug the device into your PC, requiring no additional drivers to function. You also get the full version of CaptureOnTouch which allows you to scan directly to several applications in the cloud including Google Docs, Microsoft SharePOint, and Evernote.

If you don’t want to use the bundled application for scanning, you also get Windows ISIS / TWAIN drivers and a Mac TWAIN driver (this is all software, mind you,) that you’ll be able to easily install and have your scanner work with essentially any 3rd party scan-ready app. The imageFORMULA P-215 Personal Document Scanner is available starting immediately through all Canon resellers for MSPR $325 USD.

Canon Chairman and CEO Fujio Mitarai stood in front of the in Hollywood noting that the camera is not only well-suited for accurate color correction, but is especially well made for skin tones. The C300 will be costing $20,000 USD in stores starting in 2012 and will be completely unaffordable by the likes of you and me. Word also states that the undeniably powerful sensor in addition to the versatile form factor are far more likely to be deciding factors for those in a position to purchase this camera.

The sensor is a Super 35mm CMOS and is capable of bringing 4k resolution with this devices many various EF zoom lenses. Lenses come in several sizes: two 14.5-60mm lenses, two 30-300mm lenses, three EF prime lenses at 24mm, 50mm, and 85mm. The CMOS sensor is able to deliver 1920 x 2160 pixels in greens and 1920 x 1080 pixels in reds and blues, incorporating approximately 8.29 million effective pixels with “a pixel size that is larger than that for conventional professional camcorders.”

Note also that both the Canon EOS C300 (EF mount) and the Canon EOS C300 PL (PL mount) will cost $20,000 while the EF will be available in January and the PL will be available inside March, both of them 2012. For a look at how awesome this camera can be, have a peek at the short film Mobius as filmed with the camera released by Canon this week. Vincent Laforet, the director of the film, used a pre-production unit of the C300 to film the movie, and below the film you can find a behind the scenes film as well:

The 12-color ink system offers a larger color gamut and the printer also has a new Chroma Optimizer for increased black levels. The inks are Lucia pigment inks for increased permanence. That permanence allows prints to be sold or exhibited without worrying they will fade over time. The printer supports 1200ppi input resolution and prints with resolution up to 4800 x 2400 dpi.

The print head is a Canon FINE unit with 12,288 nozzles. The printer also has an OIG system for color reproduction. The printer needs 2 minutes and 55 seconds to print a gallery quality image. The paper tray can handle up to 14-inch wide photo paper and heavy fine art paper. Pricing and availability on the printer is unknown. You can see more about the printer in the video below.

Canon says that the EOS series hit the 10 million mark in 1997 for its tenth anniversary. The 30 million mark was reached in 2007, and the 40 million mark in May of 2010. Along with the milestone for SLR, camera production also comes a milestone for production of interchangeable EF lenses. The 10 million produced mark came back in 1995. By 2001, production had hit 20 million, and by 2006, production had hit 30 million.

In 2008, Canon produced its 40 millionth lens, and 50 million came the next year in 2009. In January 2011, production hit 60 million and then by this month production had reached another 10 million produced at a total of 70 million. That is a lot of lenses and digital cameras. Canon has just today unveiled its latest EOS DSLR called the EOS-1D X.

There’s also a new Multiple Exposure feature, which captures up to nine shots and combines them into a composite image with the best elements of each, all in-camera. It’s also possible to use the same system with a previously-taken RAW image file. Phase detection AF and face-detection are both supported, and exposure is controlled using a huge 252 zones for general metering or 35 zones for low-light metering.

The regular ISO range is 100 to 51,200, but the EOS-1D X offers ISO 50 and 102,400 at H1 and 204,800 at H2 for specialist use. Canon has reworked the UI, including shifting some of the physical controls around and streamlining the menus; for instance, the AF functions now get their own tabs.

Connectivity includes an integrated gigabit ethernet port, HDMI, dual CF card slots, USB and audio input. However there are also two new accessory dongles, the Canon WFT-E6A Wireless File Transmitter for adding a WiFi b/g/n connection to the camera for wirelessly offloading new images, and the Canon GP-E1 GPS Receiver, which adds latitude, longitude, elevation, UTC and camera direction information to each shot.

The Canon EOS-1D X will go on sale in March 2012, priced at $6,800. The Wireless File Transmitter will arrive at the same time, at around $600, while the GPS Receiver will follow on in April 2012, priced at around $300.

The catch for Canon micro four thirds camera users is that even if they had a lens on with aperture control, the aperture settings didn’t work. The lenses need power to make the aperture function. If you are, a user that is in this boat the new LiveLens adapter will bring your aperture control back. The adapter snaps on the front of your camera and you can mount the lenses directly to it.

You can then control the aperture using a little screen on the adapter. The downside is that you lose your automatic focus capability. The adapter is for video shooters where you are using manual focus so that loss isn’t such a big deal. The adapter is expensive at $488 but if you have a bunch of lenses you want to use this may be the best route to go.

[via Wired]

It was October 1st when the photo you see above was taken by Adrian Kinloch and posted up on Flickr under Creative Commons reserve – the person you see in the photo is being called a 13 year old (even though she’s clearly 18 or older) and has in several cases (see: YouTube) been said to have been brutally ripped from the crowd and thrown in handcuffs. What’s really happening here, as you can see, is that she’s being peacefully taken (and isn’t that sad about it!) as the rest of the protesters stay protesting behind the police line.

This all happened yesterday on the Brooklyn Bridge where protesters from the Occupy Wallstreet gathering stopped all traffic on the bridge as a single unit crowd. You can see a video of her arrest (please excuse the yelling) on YouTube – not that I’ve changed the title so that the video does not get pulled as is sure to happen with the original. Two people get arrested at the same time, the girl in the green hat being arrested quite peacefully, the other – not so much.

This story is sure to spread far and wide. It’s not just because the girl appears young, and it’s not just because this is part of the Occupy Wallstreet protest – in fact its in spite of that. It’s because of three names:

1. the Brooklyn Bridge
2. Canon
3. Invader Zim – and GIR

The first I’m sure you understand, that’s where the incident took place, and it’s one of the most famous bridges in the world. Two, she’s wearing a Canon camera strap. I’m not sure at the moment what camera she actually has, but the fact that she’s got a potentially rather expensive camera around her neck is rather significant to the future legend of this person and this incident. Third, the green hat – this hat is a bit of branded clothing from the Invader Zim television show, the character its portraying being named GIR. Once this incident began to spread across the internet, one of the videos was seen by the creator of that television show Jhonen Vasquez, who let known his opinion on the matter on his own personal cartoon blog:

“When I first saw this picture I thought “GOOD! It’s about time the law did something about people who wear GIR hats!”, but then quickly realized this was a girl protesting as part of Occupy Wall Street.

Suddenly this girl, in my mind, was the most badass GIR hat wearer I had ever seen, existing in a Mad Max style world where she was simply wandering this fucked over wasteland, wearing whatever she found on corpses (a GIR hat in this case), just struggling to survive.

And yet, despite having to fight and claw a living out of a blasted nothingness, she still finds a spark inside to fight against what she thinks is wrong about the hell she lives in.

I imagine that shortly after that frame of video, she let out a monstrous battle-cry like Lord Humongous and head butted that officer, leaving a GIR-faced bruise on his terrified face.

GIR-hatted protester girl, this can of Dinky-Di’s for you.” – Jhonen Vasquez, creator of Invader Zim

Now there’s a whole new situation here. Because this young lady brought both cartoons and tech into the situation in such a simple one-off happening, a whole mass of additional readers will know of the protests as a whole. You probably wont read about this on every blog, as some are, indeed, owned by the same groups the protesters are protesting, but here you go, have a look. What a simple situation, catalyst for greater understanding.

I should also mention here that, though I and we have our own opinions about the protests, it’s not my intent with this post to take a side one way or another. If that’s what you want, you can head to my Google+ page if you want to see that action.

These new lenses that Canon is working on, feature the typical focus ring and zoom ring, but add a third ring for controlling the aperture. However, unlike old school cameras, this aperture ring controls the setting electronically rather than through a mechanical iris.

It’s not clear whether the new aperture ring would allow for smooth adjustments or 1/3-stop clicks. But judging from the filing, which indicates that there are two separate aperture adjustment options for movie capture and still images, it’s highly likely to adjust smoothly. The new aperture ring is used in movie capture mode, while the common controls on the camera body are used in still image mode.

[via TechCrunch]

Rather than just an auto-settings mode, Smart Photo Selector couples that with capturing multiple versions of the same frame, allowing different configurations to be tested and the best shot identified. The 1 Series cameras will automatically pick out whichever shot they believe is the best, but the user can also pick from a choice of five frames:

“When a “can’t miss” photo opportunity arises, users can switch to the Smart Photo Selector mode which uses the camera’s pre-cache to start shooting and storing images. All of these images are analyzed within the camera, and the best photo is selected based on a number of factors including exposure, focus and advanced facial recognition. While the camera suggests the best image, five frames are recorded, providing the user a choice of their favorite photo” Nikon PR

Questioned as to whether Nikon worried about Canon’s potential plans for a mirrorless camera range of its own, Kusakari said the company “do not fear it.” Earlier this year, Canon’s European head of consumer imaging argued that mirrorless cameras were what companies turned to when their DSLR ranges failed, though refused to deny long-standing rumors that Canon had a compact interchangeable lens model on the roadmap.

Canon has announced that several of its Pixma printer models now support Apple AirPrint for the iPad, iPhone, and iPod models. AirPrint support is now offered on the Pixma MG8220, MG6220, and MG5320 printers. That means you can print anything from photos to email, web pages and documents with no need to mess with drivers or apps.

AirPrint natively allows you to print that sort of document. You will need to update the firmware on the printers to support the new feature though. With the firmware installed, you will be ready to print your documents. The iOS devices need to be running iOS 4.2 or later to print.

The DIGIC 5 image processor in combination with the HS System’s high-sensitivity image sensor, means users will be able to capture more brilliant images and videos even in low-light conditions. The High-speed burst lets users capture up to eight frames in one snap, and the Intelligent IS or Image Stabilization reduces blur. And lastly, full HD means that the two new cameras can now capture video in 1080p.

The PowerShot S100 features all of the above and offers a 12.1-megapixel CMOS image sensor. It has a 24-120mm wide angle lens with 5x optical zoom, a 3-inch wide LCD screen, and GPS capabilities for EXIF image data. Its f/2.0 lens along with an ISO of up to 6400 allow for great low-light performance and pleasant bokeh. The S100 is super compact and comes in two colors of black or silver.

The PowerShot SX40 HS also features the above upgrades along with a 12.1-megapixel CMOS image sensor, but packs 35x optical zoom. It has a 24mm-840mm lens, an ISO of up to 3200, a 2.7-inch wide swivel LCD, and takes on a larger DSLR-like form factor.

Both cameras are priced at $429.99 with the more compact S100 to be available in November and the larger SX40 HS to be available in late September. For more details, visit the Canon product page.

The PIXMA MG8220 and MG6220 wireless AIO printers can be connected wirelessly to your desktop computer, laptop, tablet, or mobile phone. The Canon Easy-PhotoPrint mobile app will be needed for Android and iOS smartphones and tablets and has now been upgraded to allow PDFs to print directly. Users can also scan documents on the printer to be sent to a compatible wireless device.

An exclusive feature for these two printers is the ability to print select Google Docs and Gmail attachments from any accessible device. Registered users of Canon Image Gateway or Picasa Web Albums can also wirelessly print photos from those locations directly through the printer without the need for a computer.

The Easy-PhotoPrint EX has been upgraded with Fun-Filter Effects such as Firsh-Eye, Miniature, and Toy Camera. There’s also an option to selectively soften or blur certain areas of an image to create a shallow depth-of-field effect. CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray discs can also be directly printed on using these two printers for plenty of fun and creative personalization.

Full HD Movie Print allows for the capture of still images from videos recorded on compatible HD Canon EOS and PowerShot Digital Cameras, like the Powershot SX150 IS introduced earlier today. There’s aslo a new layout feature that can print up to 72 individual stills onto one sheet.

The printers will go on sale sometime later this year with the MG6220 priced at $199 and the MG8229 priced at $299. The latter model adds a Film Adapter Unit for converting negatives to a digital format as well as a larger 3.5-inch LCD screen and double-sided printing.

[via Canon]

The 310 HS has 8x optical zoom. All of the cameras have the 28mm wide-angle lens. The cameras also has a range of automatic features to choose the best settings for image quality no matter the environment. The three cameras use the HS System to reduce noise at high ISO speeds and expand the cameras dynamic range.

The SX150 has a 3-inch rear LCD and a 14.1MP resolution. It will ship next month for $249.99. The 510 HS and 310 HS are both 12.1MP resolution cameras. The 510 HS has a 3.2-inch touchscreen on the rear, high speed burst mode, 1080p video recording, and more for $349.99 with shipping in October. The 310 HS has a 3-inch LCD and will ship in October fort $259.99.

With a clever little gear system in place on this invention comes a simple twist to open, a flower that reveals the lens in a series of transformermers. So simple it’s hard to believe that such a thing hasn’t already been created for the good of humanity. Imagine using such a worm gear system and Thermoplastic Elastomer to block the sun while you take your ultra high-quality photographs and videos without needing the super expensive equipment that the super pros use.

This design is a winner of one of the 2011 Spark Awards and has been featured on Yanko Design and soon quite a few other sites now that we’ve published it – how would you like to own such a contraption as this? The first step to getting anything produced is convincing someone to invest in it. Show the world you’re interested and said items will come to you! This device again is just a concept at the moment but we’re sure its designers Rhie Hyi Joong & Lee Sang Hwa would be overjoyed to have it made and sold.

[via Yanko Design]

Those purchasing this early version will be upgraded to the final version for free, while the full v1.0 will cost more than this $8.51 price spot. Before we go any further, it’s important to note the following requirements of this application: you must have an Android device with USB host support – this is not just ANY Android device mind you, and only the Samsung Galaxy S II with KG1 firmware and the Motorola XOOM have been tested thus far. Next you need a Canon EOS DSLR – such a sweet camera deserves such a sweet app to go along with it, yes? Finally you’ll need what’s called the OTG cable, aka On-The-Go cable for your device, this being a converter for USB full size down to microUSB for your Android device.

At the moment, there is only ONE handset with USB host capabilities, that being the Samsung Galaxy S II once its got its firmware upgraded to KG1 or newer. On the other hand, all tablets running Android 3.1 or higher have this capability built in. The USB cable you get is just as important as having the correct device to work with. You will need, specifically, the OTG cable, and as Chainfire says, “rolling your own cable” will not work. As stated earlier, the Samsung Galaxy S II and the Motorola XOOM are the only devices with which this app has been tested thus far, as far as the Canon EOS goes, the following versions have been confirmed to work: 550D, 50D, 7D, 5D mk II, and 1D mk IV. Check out the demo video here:

Find the app on the Android Market via Chainfire: [DSLR Controller] and once you’ve downloaded and tested it out, let us know how it goes!

[thanks for the tip Rawat!]

The Canon EOS Rebel T3 was recently refreshed with a 12-megapixel sensor, Live View, and a 720p HD movie capture mode along with a revamped image-stabilizer for its 18-55mm IS II kit lens. Canon today unveiled three new body colors for the camera and lens kit in addition to the conventional black. The colors include Red, Brown, and Metallic Gray and are available exclusively through Canon’s online store.

Other features to note about the Canon EOS Rebel T3 include a new 9-point AF system, 63 zone dual-layer metering system, 3.0 fps continuous shooting, a 2.7-inch wide TFT LCD with Live View mode, and compatibility with the full line of Canon EF and EF-S lenses. The Rebet T3 with 18-55mm IS II Kit retails for $549.

They all share many of the same features with auto setup that corrects the keystone and identifies the input in use with the press of a button. The lamp in the projector is good for up to 6,000 hours and the filter is good for 5,500 hours. The lens is a 1.2x zoom unit and has manual zoom and focus.

The line are all quiet with 29dB of sound output in quiet mode. Connectivity includes computer, video, and audio connections and more. The 8225 has a resolution of 1280 x 800 and 2500 lumens. The 7490 has 4000 lumens and a resolution of 1024 x 768. The 7390, 7295, and 7290 have XGA resolution and light outputs of 3000, 2600, and 2200 lumens respectively. Pricing for the Canon LV-8225, LV-7490, LV-7390, LV-7295, and LV-7290 are $799, $1099, $799, $699, and $599 respectively.

While Fuehres would not rule out a Canon mirrorless camera in the future, he was clear that it would be more than just following rivals into the segment. “The idea of the compact system camera is nothing to do with whether the camera has a mirror or not, but about creating a small and more portable system” he said, “If Canon does take part I hope we won’t introduce just a me-too product, but we’ll use the opportunity to do something different.”

As for what that difference might be, all the outspoken exec would say is that “for Canon it would be about connectivity and providing high image quality in a small form.” Amateur Photographer theorizes that a retro-themed rangefinder – in the manner of the Canon P or Canon 7 – might make more sense, given the surprise popularity of Fuji’s X100.

[Image via Wikipedia]

However, there’s no exact indication of how – or indeed when – Canon might start using Thunderbolt in its products. The obvious implementation would be the addition of a Thunderbolt port to its DSLR cameras for high-speed offloading of photos and video, as well as real-time capture from the camera’s high-resolution sensor to a connected computer.

Interestingly, Canon and Apple were tipped to be collaborating on a new project yesterday, though the nature of the partnership is still a mystery. One suggestion was that Canon could be helping closely with the development of the next Final Cut update.

Canon and Apple are reportedly collaborating together on a project with mutual overlap, though the exact nature of the partnership is currently unknown. CanonRumors‘ source couldn’t say what product(s) might be in the pipeline, though there are several areas in which there’s potential for Canon’s involvement. The spring update to Final Cut is a likely possibility, tipped for a “dramatic and ambitious” update, though iMovie – now also on the iPad and iPhone 4 – could be another.

Meanwhile, Apple’s predicted updates to MobileMe, and recent enhancements to AirPlay, might also benefit from some Canon involvement. Mention of a new Photo Stream auto-upload app was spotted in iOS 4.3 betas – though not in the release version – suggesting Canon may be adding some sort of support to their cameras.

[via AppleInsider]

The Optio S1 has a high-resolution 14-megapixel sensor with a 5X optical zoom and a 2.7-inch display on the back. The high dynamic range mode overlays multiple shots to reduce the blown-out highlights and improve details in shadows. Other features include image stabilization, blink detection, and the ability to record 720p video. An IR remote for the camera is also available.

Shipments for the camera are due in April with a price tag of $200. There are three color styles to choose from: black with red accents, silver with black, and turquoise with silver.

[via Pocket-lint]

Compatible with most Canon DSLR cameras, the OkiUSB Follow Focus Knob, is a small, round device with a handful of control buttons and  uses the camera’s mini USB port to remotely manipulate the camera lens and focus it in and out.   The buttons can be pre-set for specific focal points so that the camera will rack focus from each point seemlessly every time.  Other buttons are used to start and stop recording, adjust ISO, aperture and shutter speed, as well as changing focus zones.   The only downside is that it seems the buttons aren’t labled, so the user has to memorize each function position.

To see the USB Follow Focus in action, check out this video from DSLR FilmNoob.

The USB Follow Focus Knob runs about $400, and is currently available pre-order.

[via Ubergizmo]

The PowerShot SX230 HS has a 14x optical zoom with optical image stabilization, a wide-angle 28mm equivalent lens and a 3-inch preview display, and will drop at the end of March for $349.99. It also has an integrated GPS receiver for geotagging photos.

As for the ELPH 500 HS, ELPH 300 HS and ELPH 100 HS, they have 4x, 5x and 4x optical zooms respectively, and 3.2-inch, 2.7-inch and 3.0-inch displays respectively. The Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS will drop at the end of March for $299.99, while the PowerShot ELPH 300 HS and PowerShot ELPH 100 HS will arrive mid-March for $249.99 and $199.99 respectively.

Press Release:

ELEVATING QUALITY WITHOUT COMPROMISE: CANON U.S.A. INTRODUCES FOUR NEW POWERSHOT CAMERAS WITH CANON’S HS SYSTEM AND FULL HD VIDEO CAPABILITY

Canon Premieres the World’s Thinnest Camera with 24mm equivalent lens, 5x Optical Zoom; Rebrands the PowerShot ELPH Models and Introduces GPS Capabilities in the PowerShot SX230 HS Digital camera

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y.,February 7, 2011 – When capturing a surprise wedding engagement on Valentine’s Day or a friend’s birthday celebration in a dimly lit lounge, a high-performance camera withextraordinary features is essential to enhance the ambiance of these moments. Helping to better capture the moment, Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging, today announced four new PowerShot Digital cameras: the PowerShot SX230 HS, ELPH 500 HS, ELPH 300 HS and ELPH 100 HS models. With these new introductions, Canon debuts the world’s thinnest 24mm wide angle, 5X Optical zoom model1, the PowerShot ELPH 300 HS, along with a Canon-first, GPS-equipped camera, the PowerShot SX230 HS model. In addition, all four cameras come equipped with Canon’s HS SYSTEM for exceptional shooting in low-light, Full 1080p HD video, new Movie Digest Mode and 32 Smart AUTO scenes.

“Canon’s core philosophy when launching a camera product is to discover new and innovative ways to redefine the photographic experience.” said Yuichi Ishizuka, executive vice president and general manager, Imaging Technologies and Communications Group, Canon U.S.A. “Consumers are always looking for the most advanced technologies and these new PowerShot models combine the high-level features and overall functionality the end-user has been seeking.”

Rebranding of the ELPH models:

Showcasing the true evolution of the ELPH brand, the new PowerShot ELPH models have now instituted a “HS” suffix to represent the inclusion of the HS SYSTEM in each model. The renaming of the ELPH model will help to better correlate with Canon’s ever-increasing capabilities in its PowerShot Digital cameras, while retaining its popular identity. With the ELPH 500 HS, ELPH 300 HS and ELPH 100 HS Digital cameras, the new names of the ELPH models will also serve as an easy solution to help consumers make an informed decision about which camera to purchase.

Introduced last year, the HS SYSTEM is a technology used to enhance image quality in low-light situations without the need for a flash. Making up the HS SYSTEM in these new models is Canon’s DIGIC 4 Image Processor combined with a High-Sensitivity CMOS sensor, which helps to reduce noise at high ISO levels and expand the camera’s dynamic range, ultimately capturing greater detail and color in images in darker settings, like a wedding reception. With the use of the HS SYSTEM, consumers are able to capture clearer images with less noise and blur, resulting in brilliant, sharp images.

It’s all about location, location, location

When vacationing in Venice or taking a family-camping trip, there are many opportunities to capture a keepsake photo. However, years later, it may be difficult to remember the location the image was taken. Canon’s new GPS feature in the Canon PowerShot SX230 HS model will help make it easier to pinpoint the exact spot2. Through a dedicated receiver, the camera is able to collect signals from GPS satellites to obtain the latitude, longitude and altitude and records this information to the image’s EXIF data3. The map utility software included with the camera permits viewing of photos on a map and shows the location of where the image was shot. The PowerShot SX230 HS also has an internal GPS logger, another first for a PowerShot model, helping to track the day’s route on a map, making it a useful application for long-term trips.

Shooting video like never before

Having the ability to shoot HD video is imperative when capturing a full sequence of events, such as attending a high-end runway show in New York City or witnessing a baby’s first steps. The Canon PowerShot SX230 HS, ELPH 500 HS, ELPH 300 HS and ELPH 100 HS now feature Full 1080p HD video with Dynamic Image Stabilizer, providing secure, stellar resolution in a compact frame. A new feature called Movie Digest mode can be found in all the new PowerShot models, allowing consumers to shoot a short video before capturing a still image and then combine a full day’s worth of videos into one clip, making it easier for consumers to relive those special moments again and again.

Increase intelligence with Smart AUTO

The quest to capture the perfect image can be difficult if the camera does not have the correct settings. Helping to make the photographic journey that much easier, the new Canon PowerShot Digital cameras have advanced Smart AUTO with 32 different shooting scenes. Smart AUTO is helpfulsince the camerawillautomatically select settings that match the scene without the need to switch modes, making it possible to take beautiful photos in a variety of situations. Tracking desired objects on a screen with ease, Advanced Subjection Detection has been added to the Smart AUTO function as well, providing the successful capture of fast moving objects, vehicles or birds flying across the sky. By simply pressing the shutter button, the Advanced Subject Detection automatically identifies certain objects like a fish in an aquarium. After pressing the shutter button, the Servo Auto Focus/Auto Exposure continues to function and the focus and exposure of the moving subject continues to be tracked, making it possible to shoot without the subject passing by.

Helping to add more artistic flair to images is the inclusion of Toy Camera effect and Monochrome effect to the scene mode category for all four of the new Canon PowerShot models. Toy Camera Effect adds a grainy, blurred look to soften photos, illustrating an old-school, 1960’s appearance and Monochrome mode can make a photo either have black-and-white, blue or sepia tones, displaying a more classic, antiqued appearance.

PowerShot SX230 HS Digital Camera:

Available in black, red and blue, the Canon PowerShot SX230 HS Digital camera features a

12.1-Megapixel High-Sensitivity CMOS Sensor with a powerful 14X Optical Zoom with Optical Image Stabilization. This new camera also includes a wide-angle 28mm equivalent lens, aiding in the capture of group pictures and a 3.0-inch LCD screen for easy viewing and scrolling through menus.

The PowerShot SX230 HS will be available at the end of March for an estimated selling price of $349.99.

PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, ELPH 300 HS and ELPH 100 HS Digital cameras:

Available in silver, brown and pink, the Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS features a 3.2-inch wide, intuitive, touch-panel LCD screen. The PowerShot ELPH 500 HS also has a bright f/2.0 lens, enabling users to take photos without a flash, resulting in a more natural look while providing greater depth of field. The camera also possesses a 12.1-Megapixel High-Sensitivity CMOS sensor along with a 4.4X Optical Zoom with Optical Image Stabilizer and an ultra-wide angle 24mm equivalent lens, which is ideal for large group shots at a family reunion or high school graduation.

The Canon PowerShot ELPH 300 HS Digital camera has a 12.1-Megapixel High-Sensitivity CMOS sensor, 5X Optical Zoom, an ultra-wide angle 24mm equivalent lens along with a 2.7-inch LCD screen and is available in red, black and silver. The PowerShot ELPH 100 HS Digital camera possesses a

12.1-Megapixel High-Sensitivity CMOS sensor, 4X Optical Zoom, a wide angle 28mm equivalent lens and 3.0-inch LCD screen and comes in blue, gray, pink, silver, and orange.

The PowerShot ELPH 500 HS is scheduled to be available at the end of March for the estimated retail price of $299.99, while PowerShot ELPH 300 HS and PowerShot ELPH 100 HS Digital cameras are scheduled to be available in mid-March for an estimated selling price of $249.99 and $199.99 respectively.

About Canon U.S.A., Inc.

Canon U.S.A., Inc., is a leading provider of consumer, business-to-business, and industrial digital imaging solutions. Its parent company, Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ), a top patent holder of technology, ranked fourth overall in the U.S. in 2009†, with 2009 global revenues of US $35 billion and is listed as number six in the computer industry on Fortune Magazine’s World’s Most Admired Companies 2010 list. Canon U.S.A. is committed to the highest levels of customer satisfaction and loyalty, providing 100 percent U.S.-based consumer service and support for all of the products it distributes. At Canon, we care because caring is essential to living together in harmony. Founded upon a corporate philosophy of kyosei – “all people, regardless of race, religion or culture, harmoniously living and working together into the future” – Canon U.S.A. supports a number of social, youth, educational and other programs, including environmental and recycling initiatives. Additional information about these programs can be found at www.usa.canon.com/kyosei.To keep apprised of the latest news from Canon U.S.A., sign up for the Company’s RSS news feed by visiting www.usa.canon.com/rss.

# # #

1As of January 28, 2011.

2In certain countries and regions, the use of GPS may be restricted. Therefore, be sure to use GPS in accordance with the laws and regulations of your country or region. Be particularly careful when traveling outside your home country.

3As a signal is received from GPS satellites, take sufficient measures when using in locations where the use of electronics is regulated.

†Based on weekly patent counts issued by United States Patent and Trademark Office.

All referenced product names, and other marks, are trademarks of their respective owners.

Availability, specifications and prices subject to change without notice. Actual prices are set by the individual dealer and may vary.

Both get a pop-up flash and Canon’s own DIGIC 4 Imaging Processor, while storage is courtesy of SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards. The Rebel T3i will also support Speedlite lenses, and both Rebels have Canon’s new Feature Guide menu system to help newer users get to grips with DSLR settings and how to get the most of our their new cameras.

The Canon EOS Rebel T3i will go on sale at the beginning of March, priced body-only at $799.99. Alternatively two kit versions will be on offer, with Canon’s new EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II zoom lens at $899.99, or with Canon’s EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS zoom lens at $1,099.

Meanwhile, the Canon EOS Rebel T3 will arrive at the end of March, priced at $599.99 with the company’s new EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II zoom lens. Full details – plus two new Speedlite lenses – in the press release below.

Press Release:

CANON EMPOWERS THE MASSES TO TAKE BETTER PHOTOGRAPHS AND VIDEO WITH THE NEW EOS REBEL T3i AND EOS REBEL T3 DIGITAL SLR CAMERAS

Two New Speedlites and a New EF-S Lens Round Out the Photographic Journey

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., February 7, 2011 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging, today announced the EOS Rebel T3i and EOS Rebel T3 Digital SLR Cameras, providing numerous intelligent high-end features at attractive price points. Complementing the award-winning EOS Rebel T2i DSLR, the EOS Rebel T3i, Canon’s new flagship Rebel, offers fun and easy-to-use features for beginning photographers, and the EOS Rebel T3 provides a more attractively priced option for those looking to experience the pleasure of shooting with a DSLR camera. For the young enthusiast learning photography or the adult looking to learn more, Canon’s new Feature Guide instruction will walk Rebel T3i users through functions and provide recommendations for various settings, a great hands-on learning tool. Point-and-Shoot users looking to step-up to a DSLR will enjoy the T3i camera’s Scene Intelligent Auto mode, the most intuitive automatic camera mode available in a Canon Rebel camera to date, providing complete scene analysis and optimized settings. One of the most sought-after and requested features for a DSLR camera is now part of the new EOS Rebel T3i, Canon’s three-inch Vari-Angle Clear View LCD screen, ideal for properly composing those difficult overhead shots. Comfortable, lightweight and affordable, Canon’s new EOS Rebel T3 is a great camera to welcome users to the world of DSLR photography.

“Everyone today is a photographer, and for those looking to capture stunning images and do more with photography, Canon has introduced the EOS Rebel T3i and T3, offering the right balance of high-end features and easy-to-use guidance at a great price. So regardless of experience level or budget, there is a Canon Rebel camera suited to a user’s needs and lifestyle,” stated Yuichi Ishizuka, executive vice president and general manager, Imaging Technologies and Communications Group, Canon U.S.A.

Boasting Canon’s EOS HD video capture, 18-megapixel resolution, a three-inch Vari-Angle Clear View LCD screen, new Scene Intelligent Auto, new Video Snapshot technology and new Feature Guide instruction, the EOS Rebel T3i DSLR has plenty of reasons for Mom and Dad to step up to a DSLR. Canon’s new EOS Rebel T3 DSLR camera offers users a small, lightweight interchangeable lens camera with fun options. The Rebel T3 features HD movie capture, 12-megapixel resolution and Canon’s new informative Feature Guide, to help educate and instruct users as they capture great images, along with the inherent speed and low-light image quality of a Canon DSLR camera. Both new Rebel models are compatible with Canon’s complete line of more than 60 Canon EF and EF-S lenses.

New EOS Feature Guide

Canon has also included a new EOS Feature Guide on both new Rebel cameras with an enhanced Quick Settings Screen that now includes detailed descriptions of camera settings. The EOS Feature Guide is designed to help first-time users and beginning enthusiasts better understand each camera setting with descriptions and guided recommendations for when to utilize certain settings. Along with an explanation of camera settings and modes, the Feature Guide includes easy-to-understand directions of how to use particular settings such as aperture adjustment in Canon’s Creative Auto mode:

Basic + Function

Canon helps beginners get more creative with photography by letting even the most entry-level novice make camera adjustments with easy to understand setting options. In automatic shooting modes such as Portrait, Landscape, Close-up, Action and Night Scene, Canon users can access a quick menu screen to make adjustments as per the scene’s ambience. When shooting in one of Canon’s “Basic Zones” users can make adjustments as per the scene’s lighting or scene type. An easy-to-read menu lets you select an ambience setting from Vivid, Soft, Warm, Intense, Cool, Brighter, Darker to Monochrome, while a Lighting setting allows users to select from Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten light, Fluorescent light or Sunset.

Rebel T3i Digital SLR Camera

An A+ for Automatic Mode

Canon aims to make everyone a better photographer and has enhanced the capabilities of the Rebel T3i’s automatic mode with new Scene Intelligent Auto technology, re-branding the green mode dial setting with a boxed “A+” design. This new camera setting now takes Picture Style into account as part of the camera’s “Auto” setting. By analyzing faces, colors, brightness, movement, and contrast, the camera will dynamically adjust picture-style parameters to match the subject and control vividness. Previously, the automatic setting on a Rebel DSLR adjusted exposure, focus, white balance, and Auto Lighting Optimizer, however on the new Rebel T3i, Picture Style Auto is also taken into account as part of the new Scene Intelligent Auto technology. By incorporating this fifth parameter the camera more intelligently analyzes scenes and adjusts settings based on the subject matter being shot. So when the camera is photographing a face it will reproduce more natural skin tones or blue skies for more vivid landscapes, a flashy red car for more saturated color and evening sunsets for more expressive images.

Fun Rebel Features

For the first time in a Rebel DSLR, the new Rebel T3i features a large Vari-Angle three-inch Clear View LCD screen with 1,040,000 dot/VGA resolution plus anti-reflective and smudge-resistant coatings for bright clear viewing from any angle. The large Vari-Angle screen helps compose low-angle or overhead shots whether capturing still images or Full HD video clips. Photographers will enjoy the convenience of capturing an overhead shot of a parade or low-angle shots of their children on the Vari-Angle screen.

Canon’s new EOS Rebel T3i DSLR gives creative photographers some fun in-camera tools that enable users to apply Creative Filters to images after they have been shot without altering the original file. Canon’s new Creative Image Filters, familiar to Canon PowerShot and EOS 60D users, help make a great image more dynamic by creating an altered copy of the image through any of Canon’s four artistic filter options:

The Soft Focus effect filter helps dramatize an image and smooth over shiny reflections.
The Grainy Black and White filter can give a different nostalgic perspective to any shot.
Canon’s “Toy Camera” filter deliberately adds vignetting and color shift for a creative option when shooting a colorful scene.
Users can also make a scene appear like a small-scale model, simulating the look from a tilt-shift lens, with Canon’s Miniature Effect filter, great when shooting any scene from a high vantage point.
Each of these filters can be applied to a captured still image in-camera to create a second “filtered” JPEG version, leaving the original JPEG file unaffected.

Another addition to the camera’s Live View function is Canon’s new Aspect Ratio feature whereby the Live View screen can display cropping lines for 1:1, 16:9 or 4:3 aspect ratios in addition to the standard 3:2 ratio. These cropping lines make it easier to compose images in Live View, and they can help to expedite printing when using Canon’s supplied Digital Photo Professional software. Custom aspect ratios are also applied to JPEG images captured directly in-camera.

EOS HD Video Specs

The EOS Rebel T3i with Full HD video capture at 1920 x 1080 resolution in selectable frame rates of 24p, 25p or 30p will grab the attention of film students and independent filmmakers alike. The Rebel T3i incorporates two Canon proprietary technologies for rendering amazing HD video, a DIGIC 4 Imaging Processor and a large APS-C–sized CMOS sensor capturing fine detail and color with an amazing cinematic depth of field. The Rebel T3i DSLR allows for three video recording modes – Full HD and HD in a 16:9 aspect ratio and Standard Definition (SD) in a 4:3 aspect ratio, all at selectable frame rates.

EOS HD Video: Ready For A Close-Up

When shooting Full HD video, the Rebel T3i digitally provides additional zoom power without sacrificing quality. The new Movie Digital Zoom feature, a first for Canon DSLRs, allows users to achieve 3x to 10x magnification while shooting Full HD video. Unlike standard digital zoom for still images, Movie Digital Zoom crops the video image directly from the CMOS sensor at Full HD resolution to preserve video quality and still provide amazing additional telephoto power beyond just the lens. The Movie Digital Zoom feature is great for those times when the lens isn’t enough to get you in close, but this feature provides the extra boost without a loss in video quality so a child’s smile on stage is just as clear and bright.

EOS Video Snapshot

Canon’s new EOS Video Snapshot feature borrows some innovation from Canon’s VIXIA line of camcorders for capturing, assembling and playing fun-to-watch video clips. EOS Video Snapshot enables users to capture the video highlights of family vacations, parties or milestone events, with the same ease as taking photos. Consumers can now record a series of two-, four- or eight-second video clips automatically. The scenes are assembled by the camera into continuous Video Snapshot Album files for easy playback and can even be further edited in camera or through Canon’s Video Snapshot Task software on a compatible personal computer for added flexibility and fun.

Valuable Additional Features

Along with the adjustable LCD screen, the new EOS Rebel T3i DSLR features a class-leading 18-megapixel Canon CMOS sensor, a proprietary DIGIC 4 Imaging Processor, a 9-point Autofocus system and a 63-zone dual-layer metering system. Capable of capturing kids at play or wildlife on the move, the Rebel T3i can shoot up to 34 consecutive full resolution JPEG still images or up to 11 consecutive RAW images at speeds up to 3.7-frames-per-second to either SD, SDHC or new extended capacity SDXC memory cards.

The Rebel T3i includes an ISO range from 100-6400, allowing it to capture beautiful images without the need for a flash during milestone events such as birthday celebrations, yet it still includes a built-in pop-up flash for those times requiring a little extra light. For the first time on a Rebel camera, the T3i features a built-in Integrated Speedlite Transmitter making it even easier to do multi-flash shoots and provide images with greater ambience. The new Integrated Speedlite settings are now even easier for beginners shooting with multiple flashes.

Pricing and Availability

The Canon EOS T3i Digital SLR camera is scheduled to be delivered to U.S. dealers in the beginning of March, and will be sold in a body-only configuration at an estimated retail price of $799.99. It will also be offered in a kit version with Canon’s new EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II zoom lens at an estimated retail price of $899.99. It will also be available in a second kit version with Canon’s EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS zoom lens at an estimated retail price of $1099.00.

Rebel T3 Digital SLR Camera

Canon is happy to introduce a chic camera for beginners to ease into the exciting world of DSLR photography and videography; the new EOS Rebel T3 Digital SLR camera. The Rebel T3 is designed to be the camera that can be expertly handled by anyone and allows great-looking photos to be taken with ease and style. The Rebel T3 is excellent in low-light shooting situations and simple to handle and operate.

Putting big imaging power in a small body, the new EOS Rebel T3 DSLR features a 12.2-megapixel Canon CMOS image sensor, a proprietary DIGIC 4 Imaging Processor, a 9-point Autofocus system and a 63-zone dual-layer metering system. With individual pixels measuring roughly 10x larger than a pixel from a point-and-shoot camera sensor, the Rebel T3 is able to absorb more light with less noise, making it ideal for capturing high-quality images in dimly lit situations. The increased efficiencies in gathering light also make the camera better suited to freeze fast-moving objects such as capturing images of children at play at speeds up to 3-frames per second. Compatible with SD, SDHC or new extended capacity SDXC memory cards, the Rebel T3 also shoots 1280×720 HD movies for amazing image quality for both stills and video. The Canon Rebel T3 features an ISO range from 100-6400 for capturing beautiful images in various light settings while also including a built-in pop-up flash. Designed for easy operation through the camera’s mode dial, users can go from taking great still images to great video quickly and easily, with simple to understand icons and buttons.

Pricing and Availability

The Canon EOS Rebel T3 Digital SLR camera is scheduled to be delivered to U.S. dealers at the end of March, and will be offered in a kit with Canon’s new EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II zoom lens at an estimated retail price of $599.99.

New Kit Lenses

Along with these DSLR cameras, Canon is also introducing a new kit lens, the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II zoom lens, the standard kit lens for both the Rebel T3i kit configuration and the Rebel T3 kit configuration.

The new EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II zoom lens features the wide-angle to mid-range zoom flexibility with the advantage of Canon’s optical lens-shift image stabilization system that yields up to a full four stops of image-shake correction. The version II of this lens includes new IS algorithms to distinguish between normal photographing and when the camera is panning to automatically provide the optimal level of image-shake correction.

New Canon Speedlite 320EX and Canon Speedlite 270EX II

The new Canon Speedlite 320EX is designed to provide DSLR users with a lightweight and versatile external flash solution. Along with the new Speedlite 320EX regular flash functions, it includes a built-in LED continuous light option that is capable of providing full-time illumination for short distances when shooting video on a DSLR or PowerShot digital camera. Ideally paired with the new EOS Rebel T3i, the new Speedlite 320EX enables bounce flash shooting with six positions including ceiling bounce for vertical shooting, and rear-wall bounce. The Speedlite 320EX also includes a new remote firing function and can remote fire any EOS DSLR camera that has a built-in wireless remote control function or Integrated Speedlite Transmitter such as the new Rebel T3i, EOS 60D, or EOS 7D DSLRs. The new Speedlite 320EX provides photographers with all the great lighting options Speedlites are known for with the added capability to shoot HD video with a full-time LED light option.

The new Canon Speedlite 270EX II, the successor to the popular 270EX Speedlite model, is a compact, lightweight external flash option for Canon cameras including select Canon PowerShot models. Ideal for use with the new EOS Rebel T3, the new Speedlite 270EX II uses only two AA batteries and enables bounce flash shooting with four position steps from 0 degrees to 90 degrees. Like Canon’s high-end Speedlite flash models, the 270EX II allows users to control flash functions and input settings using the camera’s LCD monitor. The flash also features a quick-lock mechanism and a metal mounting foot for secure and easy attachment and reliable contact. In addition to the features of 270EX model, the Speedlite 270EX II adds a remote firing function similar to that of the Speedlite 320EX. Both new Speedlites can also be used as slave flash units in E-TTL wireless autoflash configurations with other E-TTL compatible EOS and PowerShot cameras. Canon’s Speedlite 270EX II is the new compact and versatile lighting tool for photographers empowering them with multiple light options, compact-size and portability.

Pricing and Availability

The Canon Speedlite 320EX is scheduled to be delivered to U.S. dealers in April for an estimated retail price of $249.99. The Canon Speedlite 270EX II is scheduled to be delivered to U.S. dealers in the beginning of April for an estimated retail price of $169.99.

Although not confirmed, the EOS 600D could well be the successor to the Canon EOS 550D, known as the Canon Rebel T2i in the US. That might make it the Rebel T3i; it’s been almost a year since that DSLR was officially launched.

[via CanonRumors]

The internal investment from the company is a collected movement, and it is part of the production plant buy-back from Toshiba that took place recently. While Sony is investing $1.2 billion into doubling the output of its Complimentary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) sensors, it is also costing the company $600 million to buy back the plant from Toshiba. It’s expected that Sony, which has already confirmed the production plant’s purchase, will use part of that plant in Nagasaki, Japan, to roll out more sensors.

To help the whole thing get going, Sony is expecting to receive an unknown amount from the Japanese government in subsidies. These will be used to help environmentally-friendly businesses in Japan. With Canon in sight, which is Sony’s main competitor in the sensor market, the investment, as well as the extra production plant, may mean that Sony has what’s necessary to make the move to number 1 possible.

[via Reuters]

As soon as the camera and phone are moved within wireless range, the processors in each bump heads and figure out the exact capabilities on offer: so, if your phone has a data connection, you may be offered uploading functionality to put your pictures onto Flickr or another online gallery. Meanwhile, Canon expects the same wireless negotiation protocols to be used in other hardware, such as printers, so that moving the camera close to a printer would offer task-specific choices such as producing thumbnail previews or whole-page images.

Considering we’re seeing a push for NFC in mobile devices by Google, with Android 2.3 and the NFC hardware in the Nexus S, together with companies like Apple seemingly looking to the short-range wireless as well, this could well be a useful system for getting DSLR content online more easily and without a computer.