Archive for the 'Canon EOS 40D' category

Posts about EOS 40D: EOS 40D initial scoop All of them

Again, Chasseur d’Images provided its forecast/rumour collection for the upcoming Canon 40D. Since some people wanted to see the list because it may be difficult to find the magazine out of Western Europe, here is a summary:

• Same chassis as the 30D
• Same viewfinder as the 30D
• No specific weather protection (competitive disadvantage against Nikon and Pentax)
• 12/13 Mpixels APS-C sensor with LiveView (as on the Canon 1D MkIII) with a possible USB or Wifi control
• 14-bit encoding (as in the Canon 1D MkIII)
• 1600 and 3200 ISO
• Sensor cleaning
• Still no wireless flash
• Same read LCD as on the Canon 30D
• 5 frames/second
• Improved AF, but no real detail about it or any forecast
• 1/8000s max speed (with 1/250s flash synchro)

Personnally, I found interesting the possible convergence with some of the features of the Canon 5D (I see the advantage Canon would have to do this), but Chasseur d’Images still keeps a possible Canon 3D in a rumoured timeline for 2008.

This is what can be read out of a post on a DPReview forum. The production of Canon EOS 30D would be officially finished in expectation of the Canon EOS 40D (the latest sequel in the line of Canon mid-line of digital Single Lens Reflex cameras).

Confirmation, anybody?

On the frontline of new cameras for the digital SLR market, the Internet forums are agitated -again- with rumours and news quite surprising.

There was the publication of alleged photos of the Canon EOS 40D on a Korean web site (see below). The work of the graphic artist is quite sloppy (the 4 of the logo on the front of the camera is not correctly aligned with the rest and with the 0 of 40D ; The LCD on the back was stuck on the image without cheking the integration into the rest of the design : different colors for the plastic and parts are links quite quickly with little consideration for the manufacturability).

It’s less funnny than the nice work of Samuele Silva dreaming about the 40D.

But now comes that alleged Olympus document, supposedly intended to document the future E-P1 camera for the Olympus sales people and to provide comparison with its direct competition.

Here, we have a very complete PDF document. Parts of it are still availble here and there on the DPReview forums about the Olympus E-P1. The most interesting is certainly the table seen above. First, it is quite difficult to tell if the file is really authentic (if it really comes from Olympus). Then, even if authentic, it may not contain secret revelations Olympus got about its competition (personally, I tend to believe that if a company like Olympus had stolen such information, it would try to keep them near the body to avoid dirty legal consequences : sales people and marketing guys are notoriously bad at keeping secrets in any large company). Last but not least, it would be very surprising that data for two significant competitors such as the Canon 40D and the Nikon D300 would be of the same quality/precision.

In my humble opinion (but it is also the opinion I prefer to refer myself in most cases), it could well be reference data used internally by Olympus and based upon a mix of rumours heard here and there, and realistic projections that the marketing department must maintain in order to intelligently anticipate moves of other camera brands. Not even counting in the added publicity that Olympus gets for the E-P1 from people anxious to see news from the Canon 40D and Nikon D300.

Keeping these position and point of view, you can nevertheless read very interesting information from this table:

• A very probable resolution increase (12MP for Nikon and Canon)
• Olympus does not believe that either Nikon or Canon would abandon in-lens image stabilisation (adding an in-body stabilisation would blur the message to the public and could break the historical advantage of both brands). But Olympus sticks to the in-body solution that has been so positive for brands that could not easily close the lateness in adding IS in a full lens line.
• Nikon will stay with its exceptionally good Auto-Exposure (CCD with 1000+ pixels -for a long time now) but Olympus decide to keep the pace (49 zones on the E-P1).
• As we know it, reaction speed is no longer a real issue for modern SLR cameras, but the race is not finished yet with measurable (if not perceptible) differences between the three cameras.
• 5 frames per second is fast becoming the standard in high-end digital SLR cameras (I find it intersting how many forum talks are about whether 3fps or 5fps are enough for sports photo and how few are about the advantages of blindlingly fast shutter speeds).
• Olympus chose to have the best possible AutoFocus on the E-P1: The fastest and using 11 sensors (it will be interesting to see this in reality since this issue can be critical for fast shooting and sports)
• The viewfinders fields are still a little limited in Nikon an dCanon, but Olympus decided to reac for an excellent 100%
• VEry astonishing: the precision of information about the size of the LCD screen on the back. We know that the trend is to improve confort of the photographer with larger screens, but a Nikon D300 with a 3-inch LCD would be impressive and unpleasant to Olympus and Canon. However, this would present a serious ergonomic risk since the larger the screen, the less space left for fingers and buttons, if the camera body is not bulky…
• Then comes the body protection leaving only the Canon 40D as not splash-proof. You don’t have to work in Canon to understand that this is not their first priority : Even the outrageously expensive Canon 5D has only minimal protection. But the Nikon D300 has to follow in the footesteps of the D200 where it was already welcomed and while the Pentax 10D brought splash-proof designs to a price level never seen before.
• Being positive on the fact that the Canon 40D will include dust-remoal on the sensor does not require extra-sensorial powers since the technology is already here on the 400D/Xti. Nikon still uncertain about this? You bet! Olympus has no doubt for a long time since they even have the best technology on the market (ultrasonic vibration of the sensor).
• In the end, the presence of LiveView (or continuous display on the back of the camera) that requires a sensor low on power consumption and efficient on cooling is probably reachable for Canon, where Nikon (and Sony, their sensors provider for high-end cameras) seems not to be willing to epxlore the field yet.

I let you judge byb yourself, but everything shows that Fall will be very agitated (some even say that July could be the month of shockingly new announcements, but this is not the first time we heard this, is’nt it?).

Main source: Northlight Images.

All is calm on the front of rumors about the future new digital cameras. The beginning of the year 2007 was rich in ideas about the replacement of Nikon D200 and Canon 30D, but there is only now beginning-of-Summer rebates and promotions (rather a classic move for the photo market) to help people’s imaginations. It probably indicates that noting will happen before the Fall international photo fairs.

Posts about EOS 40D: EOS 40D initial scoop All of them

Nonetheless, speculations are raging in the forums on a probable cooperation between Sony and Nikon where the former would bring a full-frame sensor (not merely an APS-C sensor with a correction factor of 1.5) and the later would build a magnificent successor to the beautiful D200 under the name of Nikon D300. It is known that both companies are quite discreet, so hopes are hightened by Sony’s announcement that there will be a new SLR before the end of the year (a simultaneous presentation of a Sony Alpha 200 or Alpha 500 and of a Nikon D300 in September would be ideal).

Interestingly, parallel reasoning is heating up Canon-lovers’ minds. Since the successors to the 30D (very nice medium range semi-pro D-SLR) and to the 5D (excellent full-frame sensor but a body that is less than what is normally expected by pro photographers), hopes and dreams are orienting themselves toward a shock-solution for next Fall: A full-frame Canon 40D that would draw the best from both products, a proven body with a slightly improved full-frame sensor and able to bring the best in image quality.

Posts about EOS 40D: EOS 40D initial scoop All of them

It was quite some time that anybody had any news of the long-expected Canon EOS 40D digital camera. Today, a rumour is popping from a forum. It would be arriving on the shelves in July.

From Fred Miranda forum.

To be confirmed, of course.

Today in a DPReview forum, it was heard a set of features for the yet-unannounced Canon EOS 40D. You’d better be solidly in your seat:

• Live viewfinder (selectable)
• In Body IS (adding stabilisation to IS lenses when mounted)
• Good integrated sensor cleaning
• More Mega Pixels
• Better Noise management at higher Iso
• Weather sealed

Can this really be the feature set of the successor to the 20D and 30D? Will the Canon EOS 40D shooting at these heights? I admit that, even if given some time to finish the product, Canon would have a real hard time to do so (However they already surprised the competition before, so who knows?).

Live view finder (I suppose it means loosing the reflex viewfinder in favor of a video display) would be a major surprise and would not be accepted as a positive progress by most SLR users. However, if this is the addition of a Live View to support photo studio shooting connected to a computer, quite a few users would be delighted.

In-body image stabilization would be like an earthquake: Canon (one of the most active supporters of in-lens IS with Nikon) would follow the general move to in-body IS? Shocking! but if this allows to effectively have twice the stabilization, let’s congratulate Canon. Anyway, most automaton systems engineers would remember that two close-loop systems in synch like that would not automatically double the performance. It would depend a lot on how the body and the lens cooperate, and the specification of the lens IS system may be the limiting factor (even on high-end lenses). In short, this would be a surprising marketing move (albeit understandable for the entry-level positionning of Canon) and a significant technical achievement.

Sensor cleaning would be in line with the recent evolution and the Canon EOS 400D.

“More mega-pixels” looks a lot like an empty marketing line. Who would be surprised by this? What news is there in this?

“Better noise management at higher ISO” is a similar empty statement if we just look at what has been happening any time a new D-SLR product arrived on the market for many years.

Weather-sealed is more significant. I have been very impressed by the Pentax achievement with the K10D (now exploited by Samsung with the GX10, too). Canon must take notice of an SLR camera under $1000 and weather-sealed. This looks like the most pro-looking D-SLR camera on the market. What should Canon do with that? Offer more than this at a similar price or just a little higher. However, it is difficult to determine if Canon is ready now for this counter-move. However, the 40D would be the natural price point to introduce such a significant product.

Now, it’s up to you to decide whether or not this message in DPR was adding to the rumours about the future/upcoming Canon EOS 40D. To me, it feels like wishful thinking. I am looking a lot at what is found on the Internet about this future Canon product, but I am quite hesitant to accept this as information.

We’ll have to wait a little more to know the truth since Canon confirmed that there will be no additional announcement in the PMA this month. If there is a 40D, it will have to come later, maybe in the Summer of 2007.

Online shops start to prepare the launch of the Canon EOS 40D. Some are preparing virtual shelves for the new Canon DSLR. Some are already typing data in their web sites.

• Full specs at Geheugenkaart (Belgium)
• Empty space at EFlens (their home page has already a reserved space for the new digital camera (empty space at the right of the 30D))

The biggest news seems to be the price: 1698€. All the rest is as expected.

It seems that there would be some internal information spread on 12th/13th February inside Canon to prepare the announcement of the Canon EOS 40D digital SLR camera.

Around there, it is said that the AF will be using the 9+6 sensor of the 5D camera.

Stock-Photo-blogspot is also very precise in the list of rumoured characteristics it describes. This is a kind of rumour consensus list:

• 10.1 M-pixel
• Dust removal like the EOS 400D/Rebel XTi
• 1.6 crop factor
• Weather-sealed (this seems unsure even if it would make it very competitive against the Pentax K10D -sold at less than 1000$)
• Less than 1200€ (following the market epxectations)

Wait for the end of an embargo on the 24th of February.

This is official now! The Canon EOS 40D, that some are awaiting with strong impatience as the sequel to the successful Canon EOS 20D and 30D, should be classified as science-fiction more than photography gadgetry. At least this is our opinion when looking at the scoop from Samuele Silva:

Rumours are sometimes more than funny. And you, would you buy such a digital camera?

This time, this is for sure. Canon leaked information about the new D-SLR on its Hong-Kong web site. No technical data (only an empty page with the interesting name), but the name is now confirmed. We are probably only a few hours/days from real data coming from Canon.

After less than 24 hours, Canon replaced the contents with a good old description of the EOS 400D.

Let’s try a prediction (I was about to say prevision). While the end of 2006 was clearly marked by the lauch of digital cameras to attract some of the less wealthy to digital single lens reflex cameras (or D-SLR) with new products like the Canon 400D (Rebel Xti) or the Nikon D40, I can foresee a beginning of 2007 with a flood of high-end digital single lens reflex cameras.

We are alweady waiting for the Sigma SD14 (unfortunately delayed by a hardware bug, they say) and the Fuji S5 pro that should be quickly followed by an impressive Pentax K10D (10 MP, all-weather hardware preparation, stabilised image sensor with dust removal and excellent color image quality). Now, I can see the arrival of the high-end replacements from Canon and Nikon. These companies did not say anything yet, but the rumour has it that the Canon EOS 30D will soon be replaced by a new EOS 40D that is eagerly awaited by Canon lovers.

There were even some additonal rumours coming from South Korea a few days ago: An article posted on Egloos.com.

But there is even better. December is the month of a promotional campaign for the Canon EOS 30D: 150 euros coupon when buying an EOS 30D. The last time we saw something similar it was in November 2005, a promo coupon for the Canon 20D just 4 months before the launch of the Canon EOS 30D. So, I’d say that we are 3-4 months from its replacement (still named 40D by the street).

I let you choose if this is another rumour (we are indeed waiting a long time for this new beast from Canon) or if there fire behind the smoke.

PS: Please note that the 40D name seems to have such a high probability that a BKphoto advertisment [PDF] even used this name a few weeks ago (no price given, just NC - Call us).

Canon seems to have its hands full with the presentation of the low-end Canon 400D (Rebel XTi) and nothing is seen about any future replacement of the ageing 20D and 30D high-end SLR.

Some are now saying that there would be no 40D, but a lower-priced full-frame solution heir to the superb (but too expensive) Canon 5D.