Hasta La Gadget!

As Canon’s DSLR line of product increasingly comes under higher pressure from mirrorless camera from Sony or Olympus, Canon has explored a couple of ways to counter the competition without cannibalizing its own product line (too much). It’s fair to say that the first attempt with a mirrorless EOS M has been a “flop” at best, and our own review of the Canon EOS M shows that the poor auto-focus performance pretty much doomed that product. However, the Canon EOS Rebel SL1 potentially represents a much more successful path because it downsizes the EOS DSLR format (both size and weight) significantly, without losing the speed and image quality that one could get from a full-on DSLR in that price range. (more…)

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Canon EOS Rebel T5i Hands-On Review (EOS 700D), Canon EOS 6D Hands-On Review,

Canon is the last “big” player to enter the compact camera system market by introducing this small EOS M camera. It is fair to say that a compact system with the EOS name was eagerly awaited with great expectations given that the EOS line of DSLR cameras from Canon have such a glorious name. The camera has arrived, and we have used it for some time.

Among the selling points from Canon: the Canon EOS M shoots 1080p movies and can keep the image in focus, thanks to its continuous tracking. It has stereo microphones. Canon touts its hybrid autofocus (AF) to be fast for both still photos and video. That sounds great, but we have to put it to the test in the real world.

Finally, the EOS M has an optional adapter to for Canon EOS lenses designed for DSLR cameras, instead of the Canon EF-M lens format which has been created to suit Canon’s compact EOS line. OK, that’s enough for the introduction. Let’s see how it is to use this Canon EOS M camera in the field. (more…)

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: BlackBerry Z10 Review, Olympus OM-D E-M5 Review,

Canon just released its Q3 2012 earnings reported, and things aren’t looking peachy right now for the camera maker: revenue is down 13 percent to $10.3 billion from last Q3 last year, while profit tumbled by 42 percent. The Japanese company directed the blame toward the “negative impact of economic deterioration” in Europe and emerging markets like China, as well as the strong yen (again). DSLR sales fell over last year, with Canon mentioning that its launch of new models like the EOS 5D Mark III didn’t help to shore its camera figures up. Other units within the company didn’t fare much better, with printer sales falling and business-to-business numbers flatlining. The company doesn’t see a bright fourth quarter either, and is projecting that sales will stay in lockstep with the sluggish economy, resulting in a 6 percent decline in operating profit for the year. It may not want to count so much on the new mirrorless offering pulling it out of the mud, though — it got fairly mixed reviews.

Filed under: Cameras, Canon

Canon announces Q3 2012 results: operating profit down 42 percent to $908 million originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 25 Oct 2012 07:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Canon  | Email this | Comments

Nikon just announced its D600, a $2,100 DSLR with a full-frame sensor. Now, just four days later, we have a similar (and identically priced) offering from Canon. Coincidence? Not likely. Industry backchannel conspiracies aside, however, it’s only to our advantage to have a choice — if you’re looking to upgrade your digital SLR without taking out a second mortgage, you can now pick Nikon’s model, or the EOS 6D from Canon. The latter flavor, which offers built-in WiFi (the D600 requires an adapter), packs a 20.2-megapixel CMOS sensor, and it’s 20 percent lighter than the 5D Mark III, which will remain on the market, targeting professional users. The camera features a sensitivity range of ISO 100 through 102,400, it can shoot 4.5 fps stills and offers 1080/30p video capture. It also has an optical viewfinder, paired with a 3-inch 1.04-million-dot LCD on the rear, which looks just as sharp as you might expect.

What really blew us away, though, is the new camera’s size and weight. It’s more compact than the 5D and even the 7D, an APS-C camera, weighing in at 690 grams — a 20-percent decrease from that larger pro model. 20 percent may not sound like a tremendous improvement, but it’s certainly noticeable, boosting the 6D’s versatility, and making it an ideal choice for street and travel photography. We haven’t had a chance to shoot with the new high-end DSLR just yet, but it felt quite solid in hand, despite the more compact design and significant weight drop. Take a closer look in our gallery below, followed by our hands-on video after the break.

Continue reading Canon EOS 6D full-frame DSLR hands-on (video)

Filed under: Cameras

Canon EOS 6D full-frame DSLR hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Sep 2012 08:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Used to be, to get a full-frame sensor in a Canon camera, you had to shell out big bucks for a pro rig like the 5D Mark III or 1D X. No longer. Canon’s just unveiled its EOS 6D, the smallest, lightest and cheapest full-frame DSLR it’s ever made. Weighing 690g, the 6D is 20 percent lighter than the 5D Mark III, and at $2,099, it’s a full $1,400 less than its heftier stablemate — which also puts it directly in line with Nikon’s recently released full-frame shooter, the D600. In addition to that mammoth sensor, the 6D’s the first EOS camera to have built-in WiFi. When paired with the company’s free iOS and Android apps, you can use your phone to change the 6D’s settings, take and geotag photos using the live remote function, and even transfer those shots to your handset wirelessly.

The 6D packs a 20.2-megapixel CMOS sensor and DIGIC 5+ image processor that shoots stills at 4.5fps, does HDR (though it only saves the composite image, not the individual shots), and 1080p 30fps video in 29 minute 59 second clips. Its sensitivity runs from ISO 100 up to 102,400 (extended) and has an 11-point autofocus system with an EV -3 sensitivity rating for better low light performance. There’s a 3-inch, 1.04 million dot ClearView LCD on the back to supplement the optical viewfinder, plus it’s got a stereo mic jack to ensure the audio matches the quality of your HD videos. To store your imaging masterpieces, the 6D has a single SD card slot that’s SDHC and SDXC compatible. When it goes on sale this December, the 6D will be sold in two configurations: $2,099 for the body only, and a kit that throws in a 24-105mm f/4L USM zoom lens for $2,899.

Continue reading Canon unveils EOS 6D DSLR: full frame sensor and WiFi for $2,099 in December

Filed under: Cameras

Canon unveils EOS 6D DSLR: full frame sensor and WiFi for $2,099 in December originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Sep 2012 04:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments