Digital Cameras

Canon 5d mk2 reviewed by wedding photographer

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 20:45:40 +0000

A Canon 5d mk2 pre production model has been tested by top UK wedding photographer Jeff Ascough on his blog. For a quick CV he is one of the top wedding photographers in the world (according to American Photo Magazine), is a Canon Ambassador, has shot over 1000 weddings…. You get the idea!

Using a preproduction model he has shot high ISO shots at a wedding and also in his local area. In the hands of a master it shows the 5D mk2 is going to be a great camera, have a look

http://jeffascough.bigfolioblog.com/category/747

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Canon 50D review on dpreview

Thu, 30 Oct 2008 12:45:36 +0000

Dpreview have posted their review of the new EOS 50d. It receives a highly recommended but only just (in their own words) follow the link to the review. One of the interesting conclusions is that Canon have pushed sensor technology to a point where for good performance any other manufacturer shouldn’t try to go further

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0810/08103001canoneos50dreview.asp

In the UK the 50D price from the main web retailers has fallen again to £899, a £50 drop in price. Whether sales are soft due to the economic climate or competition it’s good news to those of us looking ot upgrade. Add a rebate to the body and it would be very nice :o)

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Nikon D300 firmware update

Wed, 29 Oct 2008 17:46:46 +0000

Following on from their competitors Canon 50D firmware update Nikon has announced a firmware update for the D300, taking it to v1.10. The update improves focus performance in dynamic-area AF mode contrast-detect mode in live view and also looks at a whole range of other issues in total probably 20+ including auto white balance performance and altered display settings.

Find the details

http://nikoneurope-en.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/nikoneurope_en.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=25962&p

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Canon 50D Err99 problem fixed

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 13:20:10 +0000

Canon has released a new firmware version for the EOS 50D - version 1.0.3. This is supposed to fix the much-discussed Err99 error message that can prevent the camera taking photos and certainly wasn’t a good start for the early adoptors with their new cameras. Some posters in forums have already posted that their cameras have this version so hopefully that will be an end to Err99.

This firmware corrects three issues, two of which the company describes as ‘rare.’ Details below as copied from Canon

EOS 50D Firmware Update Version 1.0.3

This firmware update (Version 1.0.3) incorporates the following fixes.

Corrects a phenomenon in which an image becomes overexposed when C.Fn.II-3 Highlight tone priority is set to “1″ together with other camera settings. (This correction has already been incorporated in the Version 1.0.2 and later firmware.

Corrects a rare phenomenon in which “busy” blinks on the camera’s display panel and the shutter cannot be released due to the timing of battery installation.

Corrects a rare phenomenon in which “Err 99″ appears on the camera’s display panel and LCD monitor and the shutter cannot be released due to the timing of pressing the shutter button.

Firmware Version 1.0.3 is for cameras with firmware up to Version 1.0.2. If the camera’s firmware is already Version 1.0.3, it is not necessary to update the firmware.

Link to site

http://web.canon.jp/imaging/eosd/firm-e/eos50d/firmware.html

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Canon 5D mk2 deliveries

Sat, 25 Oct 2008 18:39:52 +0000

There’s indications in the UK that the 5D may be turning up into stock in the first week of November but there may not be general availability for some time due to the pre-orders. Maybe the pros have been getting their cash ready prior to in depth reviews, of which there is no sign yet.

In the mean time you can see the manual and see what’s coming

http://gdlp01.c-wss.com/gds/6/0300001676/01/eos5dmkii-im-en.pdf

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Canon SLR lens rebates for USA

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 16:11:48 +0000

As expected the lens rebates for the US have been announced with Instant Savings on Canon Lenses in the run up to Christmas and early new year.
I don’t know how this compares in the US versus previous years but looking at the EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM rebate of $75 (£43 in the UK) it’s a lot less than the rebate I got a year ago which was £100 ($174). That said I could buy the lens in the US for less than the UK. No doubt they will run in the UK soon so I’ll report if they do.

Details of the US rebates;

Product                                          Rebate Amount
EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM          $125
EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM             $100
EF 300mm f/4L IS USM                    $85
EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM               $80
EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM                 $80
EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM              $75
EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS USM                 $70
EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM        $50
EF 17-40mm f/4L USM                    $50
EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM $100
EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS          $50
EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM         $50
EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM            $35
EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM          $30
Extender EF 1.4x II                          $25
Extender EF 2x II                             $25

Purchases eligible for this rebate must be made between October 19, 2008 and January 17, 2009.

For more details
http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=PromotionsAct

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Canon 18-200mm IS lens review

Fri, 17 Oct 2008 06:54:27 +0000

Dpreview have a review of the new Canon zoom for APS-C sized sensors. It’s Canons latest Superzoom for those who want a single lens to cover different shooting occasions and one that will stay on the camera. Not only that it’s equipped with Optical stabilisation, a key ingredient for these style of lenses.

http://www.dpreview.com/lensreviews/canon_18-200_3p5-5p6_is_c16/

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Canon 50D reviewed on CameraLabs.com

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 19:07:28 +0000

Another site reviews the 50D and it’s not dpreview despite many Canon readers hopes. This time it’s Camera Labs who provide their opinion with the usual review of the body & features along with a comparison between the 50D, 40D and the Nikon D90.

Overall it performs well. The camera was reviewed with the new 18-200mm lens which is available as a kit bundle option, a lens which is going to test cameras with such a wide zoom ratio. It does get noted that the lens doesn’t offer the best performance from the 50D and a better lens will benefit the increased resolution of the sensor, that said this is true of many lenses and the review still shows it takes good shots.

http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Canon_EOS_50D/

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Canon rebates in Canada

Sun, 12 Oct 2008 06:42:21 +0000

Canon are offering price drops and rebates in Canada reports Canon Rumors. There are price drops across low end kits for the Rebel XS & XSi. The rebates apply also to some XS/XSi kits but also the new 50D and 40D.
Apparently Canon sales have been soft so these are aimed no doubt to give them a boost. Will the credit crunch see prices fall across consumer products fall further?
Rebates in Canada are;

Rebel XS

XS w/18-55 IS $599.99 (-$50)
XS w/18-55 IS & 55-250 IS $899.99 (-$50)
XS w/18-55 IS & 75-300 $799.99 (-$50)

Rebel XSi

XSi Body Only $679.99 (-$50)
XSi w/18-55 IS $799.99 (-$50)
XSi w/18-200 IS $1299.99 (-$50)
XSi w/18-55 IS & 55-250 IS $1099.99 (-$50)
XSi w/18-55 & 75-300 $999.99 (-$50)

November 1 - December 31 Retailer Rebates

50D w/70-300 IS - $150 (This is also available Oct 17 - Oct 24)
40D w 70-300 IS - $120
XSi w/55-250 IS - $100 (2 lens kit will be down to $999.99)
XSi w/75-300 - $100 (2 lens kit will be down to $899.99)
XS w/55-250 IS - $100 (2 lens kit will be down to $799.99)
XS w/75-300 - $100 (2 lens kit will be down to $699.99)
Body only kits are included in these rebates

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Canon 50D reviewed in Amateur Photographer magazine

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 19:00:52 +0000

The Canon 50D has been reviewed in print. I sat down this evening in Starbucks to read the first print review that I have seen, in UK based photography magazine Amateur Photographer.

It’s an in depth review some 7 pages long with data and images. Unsurprisingly it begins with the comparisons to the 40D but soon moves on to the 50D and the new features and specs, images and data. Obviously the new screen gets a thumbs up as does the new layout of the user interface, with the one exception of the mirror lock up function being still hidden in the depths of the menus.

There were positives with the detail of the images in the main but then comments on the noise at ISO settings higher than ISO 800. In ISO settings of 2000 and over there were reports of banding in darker areas, this isn’t the first time this has been mentioned by new owners. As has been seen across many forums there are conflicting comments on the performance, some happy, some not. The magazine reads as they are not unhappy, perhaps disappointed at the performance but do say that the images can be cleaned up in software, perhaps with some loss of some fine detail. They don’t forget that of course the higher megapixel sensor accounts for some of this. I’ve seen plenty of good high ISO postings on various forums, shot’s that I’d accept.

It scores 90/100 just two points behind the D300 and two above the 40D. A note of realism is in their summary (paraphrased), if you don’t spend lots of time shooting photos at ISO 800 or over then you’ve nothing to worry about.

I keep reading about high ISO and I do use it but accept it’s limitations but in the main part I don’t so maybe it’s the new camera for me.

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