Canon News and Rumors

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May 2008 -

•  [05/01/08] - As reported below [4/26/08], Canon lens prices are increasing. Some stores have raised them already and some will do so soon. I'm writing a review of the EF100-400/4.5-5.6L IS USM right now which will appear on the site in a week or so. However I've noticed the price of the lens is going up in many stores. Right now, Amazon have it for $1310, but it's in the $1410-$1450 range at most other stores. Though it's marked as out of stock at Amazon, they normally honor their web prices, so if you are thinking of buying the 100-400 and you want to save $100-$150, put an order in with Amazon right away before their prices go up too! My testing of the lens showed it to be very good, close to the 300/4 (+1.4x) at comparable focal lengths (full review coming shortly!)

April 2008 -

•  [04/26/08] - There's a firmware update (v1.2.3) for the EOS 1D MkIII at http://web.canon.jp/imaging/eos1dm3/firmware.html. According to Canon the following changes have been made:
• Direct selection of AF points by the Multi-controller is added to C.Fn III-9.
• Alternate access to Exposure compensation is added to C.Fn IV-3.
•With the camera’s External Speedlite control menu, Flash function settings can be used to set the Wireless setting and Zoom.
The update also improves the stability of AF accuracy in AI servo AF when shooting extremely low-contrast subjects.

•  [04/26/08] - Canon have announced that most lens prices (along with EOS and powershot accessories and binoculars) will rise to dealers by 3-5% on May 1st. Canon Canada follow on May 5th. For more information see Canon Price Increases 2008

•  [04/25/08] - This is more of a non-news item, but the rumored date of April 22nd for a release of info on an EOS 5D MkII has come and gone. I'm not ignoring 5D MkII rumors (see entry below for [03/14/08]), but I don't report stuff I think is wrong or isn't backed up by some credible source. So far I haven't seen any such rumors. I'm beginning to suspect that people post rumors just to attract visitors to their websites. I still think that Photokina 2008 is currently the most likely place for Canon to debut a new 5D MkII (or whatever they end up calling it). That means some sort of annoucement might be made in late August (Photokina 2008 is in late September this year). My thoughts on any new EOS 5D haven't changed since I posted them last year (see EOS 5D MkII ?). Note they are just my thoughts based on some industry knowledge and experience. They're not rumors and they are not based on any "inside information".

•  [04/19/08] - I've posted a very brief "first look" at the Digital Rebel XSi HERE

•  [04/18/08] - I can now confirm that Amazon have started to ship the Digital Rebel XSi + 18-55IS lens kits. If you have pre-ordered one, it should ship out soon.

•  [04/17/08] - I'm reliably informed that the first Canon EOS Rebel XSi kits (w/18-55IS) have been shipped to dealers and a few of them are already in the hands of customers. If you want to pay a little extra to get one early, several dealers are advertising them as being "in-stock" through Amazon - Rebel XSi with 18-55IS lens in stock . Prices range from $939 to $999.99. It also seems to be available from TigerDirect through Amazon for the Canon suggested price of $899.99. TigerDirect are usually pretty reliable. Amazon themselves still have June 15th release date showing, but that's typical of what they have done in the past. They normally ship much sooner than the stated date and I've heard rumors they are actually promising delivery by next week. Neither B&H, J&R nor Adorama are currently showing the XSi as being in stock. It may be that the kits are starting to ship earlier than the body only.

•  [04/08/08] - Canon have issues a firmware update for the EOS 40D. You can download it from http://web.canon.jp/imaging/eosd/eos40d/eos40d-firmware-e.html. It's a fairly minor tweak. According to Canon it "Fixes a phenomenon in which Image Stabilization operation emits a sound when certain buttons are pressed, with the EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS lens attached to the camera. Fixes a phenomenon in which the Image Stabilization operation emits a sound from the lens when IS lenses are attached to the camera. Fixes a phenomenon in which a part of the image looks unnatural when reviewed on the LCD. Corrects errors in the Spanish and Norwegian menu screens."

March 2008 -

•  [03/14/08] - There are new firmware updates now available for the EOS 30D ( http://web.canon.jp/imaging/eos30d/eos30d_firmware-e.html) and the EOS 5D (http://web.canon.jp/imaging/eos5d/eos5d_firmware-e.html). The 5D update (to v1.1.1) adds support for high-capacity CF cards (8GB and up) and both the 5D and 30D (to v1.0.6) updates allow the latest lens names to be recorded in the Exif information of images taken and add lenses that are compatible with the Digital Photo Professional 3.2 lens aberration correction function.

•  [03/14/08] - Canon CANADA have announced a rebate program for EOS cameras and lenses which will run from March 15th 2008 to June 30th 2008. You can view full details HERE . It's a somewhat complex "chinese menu" program where you can combine items from columns A, B and C to increase the rebate, but basically it's $200 on a 5D, $100 on a 40D and $50-$100 on a selection of lenses, though you can double those amounts by buying the right combination of products!

•  [03/14/08] - I'm sure by now you may have seen the rapidly circulating rumor that an EOS 5D MkII will be released in June at a price of $3500. The "specs" are usually given as 15.3MP, ISO to 12800, 6fps frame rate, 1.6 stops more sensitive than any previous DSLR, full weathersealing, 300,000 exposure shutter etc. So where does all this come from. Well, as far as I can tell it all comes from a single post in the Dpreview forums, citing an "unknown source". Some sites are even posting a picture. However note that the picture they are using is the same one they used to illustrate the previous EOS 5D MkII rumor that it would appear at PMA 2008 - which it obviously didn't. The "picture" is just a Photoshop mockup.

Could it be true? Yes, of course it could. Pretty much anything could be true. I don't think it will surprise anyone when Canon finally do announce a new camera to replace the 5D. However right now I really don't see any confirmation of this one (unnamed) source. So I'm not getting too excited about this rumor until I see some confirmation from a second independant source. There's always an aspect of "wishful thinking" to rumors. If you like the rumor, you'll repeat it and believe it's true, so it tends to spread. I'm not saying that such a camera isn't coming soon, I'm just saying that I'm not holding my breath at this point. If Canon dropped the 5D (now selling for around $2000) and replaced it with a 5D MkII at $3500, there would be a large hole in the lineup between the $1150 EOS 40D and a new $3500 EOS 5D MkII. I can't help but feel that there would then be an untapped market for a $2000 full frame DSLR like the EOS 5D is today. With 6fps and a full frame sensor, an EOS 5D MkII with the specs given above would be also be a very serious competitor for the EOS 1D MkIII which is now selling for around $4000

•  [03/06/08] - Canon have issues an update on the Canon EOS 1D MkIII AF problem. You can read their comments HERE. Basically the 1D MkIII has sometimes exhibited inconsistent focusing accuracy or inconsistent focus tracking with moving subjects when using AI-Servo AF and continuous shooting modes, particularly in high temperatures. Canon now claim that after hardware and software updates, the 1D MkIII now has the best AF performance of any EOS body, past or present.

•  [03/04/08] - Canon Europe have a cashback program running from March 1st 2008 to June 30th 2008. In the UK there's £150 off the EOS 5D, £100 off the EOS 40D and £40 to £70 off a selection of lenses. For full details for the UK see http://canon2008promotions.onlinerebates.com/intro.aspx?country=uk&view=promos

•  [03/04/08] - EOS 30D for $649.95. Adorama now have official Canon factory refurbished EOS 30Ds in stock for $649.95. A pretty good price for what is pretty much a brand new camera. If you can't afford a 40D, a rebfurbished 30D is excellent value at this price.

February 2008 -

•  [02/15/08] - Just a reminder that the Canon Rebate Program ends in 2 days on the 17th. If you're thinking of buying one of the lenses included in the program, now would be a good time to place the order!

•  [02/12/08] - If you're wondering what's the next bell and whistle that's going to show up on an EOS DSLR, take a look at this Canon Patent filing. Basically it's n application for a patent on a system which takes a biometric reading from your eye (you eye's "fingerprint") and embeds that information into the images you shoot. That way you can prove who was looking through the viewfinder at the moment the shot was taken! I'd still rather have stabilization built into the body though...grumble, grumble... BTW Applied Minds were awarded a similar patent back in 2006.

•  [02/06/08] - If you missed the last round of rebates and you still want an Canon EOS 5D ($2099.95), you can get a $200 rebate if you also buy an Canon MP970, Pro9000 or Pro9500 printer. [Actually you can get the same $200 rebate if you buy a 1D MkIII, 1Ds MkIII or EOS 40D]. In addition you also get $100 rebate on the printers, so that makes $300 in all. If you don't actually need a printer, the MP970 is only $270 from Adorama, so after the $300 total rebate, you still save $30 and you have a printer which you can sell! You can also get a similar deal from J&R and B&H , both recommended vendors.

•  [02/05/08] - This may not be new, but it's new to me! Canon have a set of inline tutorials explaining how to use Digital Photo Professional 3.2 (DPP 3.2), which is provided free with all Canon DSLRs. The URL is http://www.usa.canon.com/content/dpp2/index.html. If you aren't familar with DPP, it has multiple uses including RAW conversion, basic image editing and file renaming.

January 2008 -

•  [01/24/08] - Canon have now provided more details on the 200/2 and 800/5.6 which they showed prototypes of last year. The new Canon EF200mm f/2L IS USM is scheduled to be available in April at an estimated retail price of $5,999.00 and the new Canon EF800mm f/5.6L IS USM is scheduled to be available in May for an estimated retail price of $11,999.00. I doubt I'll be buying either one unless I win the lottery :-(

•  [01/24/08] - Canon have just announce a new Canon digital Rebel XSi, with a 12.2MP sensor and 14-bit A/D. Full details here Canon Digital Rebel XSi

•  [01/12/08] - Canon lens rebates are due to end tomorrow...or not... In spite of the January 13th 2008 expiration date on the Canon rebate .pdf page, it appears they may have extended it to February 17th. I've seen no announcement from Canon but several vendors, including Amazon.com, are now listing February 17th 2008 as the end date of the promotion. See for example Amazon's page for the Canon EF-S 10-22/3.5-4.5, where they say "...Instant Rebate: Purchase this product from Amazon.com and save instantly. Price includes manufacturer's instant rebate. Plus, save up to $125 instantly on select Canon lenses and Speedlites. Offer extended through February 17, 2008. See details..."

•  [01/12/08] - This is your LAST day to take advantage of the $500 rebate on an EOS 5D + Pixma Pro printer, so if you want a 5D and you want to save some money, act now. It's possible there could be a 5D MkII announced at PMA, but if there is my guess is that you'll end up paying at least $1000 more for it and you probably won't be able to get one until March or April.

•  [01/03/08] - No real news, but just a reminder that the Canon Lens Rebates expire on January 13th and the $500 rebate on the EOS 5D + Pixma Pro printer expires on January 12th, so if you are interested in either one, now's a good time to act. With the rebate, the price on a 5D is around $1730, which is probably as cheap as it will ever be.

The PMA (Photo Marketing Association) trade show takes place from January 30th to February 1st this year (2008), which is a bit earlier than usual. It looks like Canon will be making announcements the week before, probably on January 24th. There's no reliable word on what they will be announcing, but a replacement for the EOS 5D is certainly a 50/50 bet. If one is announced I suspect the price will be at least $1000 more than the current 5D after the $500 rebate (maybe $2800??).

November 2007 -

•  [11/27/07] - Canon have released firmware version 1.1.3 for the EOS 1D MkIII. It can be downloaded from http://web.canon.jp/imaging/eos1dm3/firmware.html It increases transmission speed when using high-speed SD cards, fixes a phenomenon involving not being able to release the shutter, improves AF tracking in specific conditions and corrects errors in the Spanish and Korean menu screens.

•  [11/18/07] - Canon have released firmware version 1.0.5 for the EOS 40D. It can be downloaded from http://web.canon.jp/imaging/eosd/eos40d/eos40d-firmware-e.html. It doesn't look like there is anything critical in the update (you can read the full details via the link). Canon don't comment on whether or not it fixed the problem of ACR not being able to read RAW files from firmware v1.0.4 (see 11/09/07 entry below), though users are reporting that it does.

•  [11/18/07] - Here's a pretty good deal if you are looking for an EOS 5D. Buy a Canon Pro9000 printer from ADORAMA (via this link and before 11/23) and the final price after rebate will be $299.95. If you also buy an EOS 5D at the same time you get a $400 rebate. So even if you never took the printer out of its box, you've still have saved $100 on your 5D! You can also get $100 rebate on an EOS 40D, XT or XTi bought at the same time as the printer.

•  [11/09/07] - Word on the street is that Canon will be making new firmware available before the end of the month (November 2007) which will correct the problems with ACR and RAW files that users who have received recent EOS 40D cameras with the 1.0.4 firmware have been experiencing (see item from 11/06/07 below). I still don't know what 1.0.4 was supposed to address over the original 1.0.3 firmware that most 40Ds have shipped with, but I expect that Canon will have a list of changes when they make 1.0.5 available for download.

•  [11/09/07] - Another heads-up. ADORAMA are offering a free Spyder2 Suite Color Calibration System with purchase of the Canon Pixma Pro 9500 printer. The Spyder2 Suite typically sells for around $120 and there's also a $100 rebate on the printer from Canon, which makes this a pretty good deal. Even better, if you buy an EOS 5D at the same time you get a $400 rebate on the 5D from Canon, making the final EOS 5D cost only $1699.95. Not bad for a full frame DSLR! On top of all this, if you use this special link: Canon Pixma Pro 9500 printer, you'll see a price on the printer that's $60 lower than the price you'll find if you just do a normal search of ADORAMA's website! This offer of an extra $60 off the price will expire on November 16th, so don't wait too long before ordering.

•  [11/09/07] - Just a heads-up that Amazon are now listing the 12 MP Canon EOS 5D for $2099.95, available from stock and with free shipping. If you buy a Pro9000/9500 printer you get $400 rebate on the 5D making it only $1699.95, plus you get $100 off the printer too!

•  [11/06/07] - It seem that some new Canon EOS 40Ds are shipping with revised firmware (v1.0.4, most cameras seem to have v1.0.3) which causes a problems for ACR (Adobe Camera Raw) when reading .CR2 (RAW) files. Canon's own RAW file processor, DPP is not affected. The problem seems to be a small change in the EXIF file data which is confusing the Adobe program. You can read more about this on the Adobe forum at http://adobeforums.com/webx/.3c033307. Someone there has posted a fix for the problem. I suspect Canon will be doing a firmware revision soon! I have no idea what the firmware change from v1.0.3 to v1.0.4 was supposed to do, and v1.0.4 is not currently listed as a firmware update for the 40D, so if you have v1.0.3 just sit back and don't worry! If you just got your 40D and it's v1.0.4, you may have a problem if you use ACR to convert your RAW files, but I'm sure either Adobe or Canon will soon have a solution for this issue. UPDATE 11/09/07 - Looks like Canon will be making revised firmware available for download before the end of the month (11/07) which will restore compatibility with ACR.

October 2007 -

•  [10/27/07] - You can now download the latest version of DPP (DPP 3.2.0) from the Canon Europe website at http://software.canon-europe.com/software/0027547.asp. DPP 3.2.0 has support for EOS-1Ds Mark III and EOS 40D, a lens aberration correction function (for correcting peripheral illumination, distortion, chromatic aberration, and color blur), a highlight/shadow warning function and several other improvements over DPP 3.1. Note that it's a 24MB download, so I hope you're not still on a dialup connection!

•  [10/27/07] - The new Canon EF-S 18-55/3.5-5.6IS USM "Kit" lens is now shipping from stock at Amazon.con for $199.99 (free shipping). This lens uses Canon's new lower cost Image Stabilization hardware, which Canon claims can give up top 4 stops of stabilization. It's the lowest cost IS lens that Canon have ever offered and includes automatic panning detection. Sounds very interesting!

•  [10/18/07] - Cannon announced their Fall 200& Rebate program today. Included are 15 lenses and the 580EX II speedlite, with rebates from $125 to $20. No cameras are included, but see the entry below for rebates when a 5D/40D/XT/XTi is bought at the same times with an eligible printer. Full details are here: http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/digital/rebates.html

While at PhotoPlus Expo today I spoke with Chuck Westfall of Canon. He said that the fix for the servo AF problem that some 1D MkIII users have reported has been finalized. It's a hardware fix related to an issue with the sub mirror used for focusing. There should be an announcement soon detailing the procedure to be followed for the repair. Not all 1D MkIII cameras have the problem. The 1Ds MkIII, due to be released later this year, does not have the same focus issue.

•  [10/16/07] - Canon USA did announce a rebate scheme yesterday, but it didn't get much press and I only just stumbled on it! You can get a $400 rebate on an EOS 5D or a $100 rebate on an EOS 40D, XT or XTi. However you have to buy a PIXMA Pro9000 or Pro9500 at the same time. There's an additional $100 on the printer itself. Full details can be found on this page: http://bobatkins.com/photography/digital/eos_5D_40D_XT_pixma_rebate.html

•  [10/15/07] - Canon have announce they are working on two new lenses, 200mm f2.0L IS USM and an 800mm f5.6L IS USM. They will be displaying prototypes at PhotoPlus Expo in NYC later this week. They have no word on when the lenses will be commercially available or what the prices will be. For more information see http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/reviews/canon_200f2_800f56.html

No word on any Canon rebates for the USA yet. However on items like the EOS 5D, the current price of just under $2200 is less than what you'd pay in Canada after taking advantage of their current rebate program which offers $350 on a 5D. Henry's price is $2800(Canadian) and the rebate is $350 making the price $2450. If you buy two items you can double the rebate to $700 which gives a final price around $100 less than in the US.

September 2007 -

•  [09/30/07] - The Canon Europe Cashback reported here a week or so ago has been confirmed. See http://canon2007promotions.onlinerebates.com/ for specific details for each country. Canon Canada have also announced a spring rebate program (see for example http://instacontent.mirror-image.net/henrys/resources/rebateforms/CanonDoubleSavings.pdf. The only camera body included in the Canon Canada program is the EOS 5D which comes with a $350 rebate ($700 if you buy two items on the list). That puts the 5D price at around $2300 (after $700 rebate) at Henry's (prices in Canadian Dollars). No word yet on a USA rebate program, but remember that the Spring rebate program was a month late this year, so it's possible the USA fall rebate could be delayed. I do expect to see a USA program, but when, what items will be included and how much the rebates will be I just don't know yet. I'd expect it to be more similar to the Canadian program than the Europe program though, and a likely start date might be around October 15th

•  [09/22/07] - According to this website: http://www.photouniversal.de/template/download/Canon_CashBack2007.pdf Canon EUROPE will have a cashback program starting on October 1st which will include a number of lenses, the 40D, the 400D and the 5D as well as a number of 40D and 5D camera/lens kits. Does this mean there will definitely be a US rebate program? No, it doesn't. Canon USA and Canon EUROPE are separate companies. Will there likely be a USA rebate program? Yes, I think there probably will, though the items offered and the amount of the rebates will almost certainly be somewhat different. Canon Europe prices are already quite a bit higher than Canon USA prices so they do have a little more room to cut!

•  [09/16/07] - I don't think it's new, but I just came across the Canon Technology Highlights for 2007. It covers all aspects of Canon's technology from still and video cameras to printers and optics. Here's the URL:http://www.usa.canon.com/templatedata/AboutCanon/images/pdf/tech2007e.pdf

•  [09/12/07] - Canon have published a 44 page White Paper on the EOS 40D, giving you the most comprehensive review of the technical details of the 40D that you're likely to find anywhere. There's nothing in there that hasn't been known and reported before, but Canon have now collected at all in one place! The white papaer is a 2.8MB pdf file and can be download from this URL:
http://www.usa.canon.com/uploadedimages/FCK/Image/2007/White%20Paper/40D/EOS_40D_WhitePaper_070817.pdf

•  [09/06/07] - I've just posted an initial "hands-on" review of the new Canon EOS 40D. You can read it here: http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/digital/canon_eos_40D_review_1.html

August 2007 -

•  [08/26/07] - There are two Japanese websites which have examples of shots taken with the new EOS 40D at various ISO setting from ISO 100 to ISO 3200. The high ISO performance looks very good. Without side by side shots from a 20D/30D it's hard to quantify any improvement, but the performance at high ISO looks quite impressive.
• http://dc.watch.impress.co.jp/cda/review/2007/08/24/6904.html (opens new window)
• http://www.photo-cafe.jp/scoop/archives/2007/08/eos_40d_iso.html (opens new window)

•  [08/21/07] - Canon are developing a Canon EOS 40D "Special Site" which you can view at http://cweb.canon.jp/camera/40d/index.html, Some of it's in Japanese and some of it is "coming soon". It seems pretty bandwith intensive, so it might not be much fun on a dialup connection. Worth watching for future developments. There's a more conventional information site at http://web.canon.jp/imaging/eosd/eos40d/index.html

•  [08/20/07] - Canon have issued a firmware update for the EOS 1D MkIII. You can download it from http://web.canon.jp/imaging/eos1dm3/firmware.html. Among other things it is said that it "Reduces the tendency to autofocus on the background instead of the main subject when shooting in AI Servo AF under certain conditions", so it looks like it may be the fix for the servo AF problems that some people have reported seeing

•  [08/20/07] - Just posted: Specs and preview of the Canon EOS 40D; Specs and preview of the Canon EOS 1Ds MkIII. Also news of an EF 14/2.8L II and an EF-S 18-55/3.5-5.6IS USM

•  [08/06/07] - Well, the 40D has a UPC code, so it must be real! See the EOS 40D page for details.

•  [08/06/07] - It's not just Canon who are getting ready to make new product announcements. Pentax have a European press conference scheduled for August 23rd; Canon have one on August 21st and Nikon have one in London on August 24th. I'd expect new lenses from Pentax. There's a rumor (unconfirmed) that there will be a Sony press conference around September 6/7th with two new DSLRs. I expect the new canon EOS 40D may have a little competition! Of course not just DSLRs will be announced. I'm sure everyone will have a few new P&S digicams too.

•  [08/03/07] - There are some new product shots which appear to be leaks of the EOS 40D floating around the web (original source unknown). You can see them on my 40D "news and rumor" pages HERE and on my 40D "Specs and Preview" page HERE. They suggest a 3" LCD, ISO display in the viewfinder, a dedicated "picture styles" button, CF card use and 3 "custom" shooting modes on the main dial. No information on pixel count, but I'm guessing around 10-10.5MP.

July 2007 -

•  [07/31/07] - Canon EOS 1D MkIII firmware version 1.1.0 is now available for download from http://web.canon.jp/imaging/eos1dm3/firmware.html. It contains the same fixes as 1.0.9, but fixes a problem that 1.0.9 caused!

•  [07/28/07] - According to material published in the UK magazine "Amateur Photographer", it seems that Canon (UK) have scheduled a meeting for dealers on August 21st (08/21/07) where they will announce information on some new products. Just for reference, the 20D was announced on 08/19/04, the EOS 5D and EOS 1D MkII N were announced on 08/22/05 and the Rebel XTi was announced on 08/24/06. Late August has also been a popular time to announce new P&S digicams (e.g. A610, A620, A630, SD550, SD30, A710IS etc.).

•  [07/19/07] - Canon now have a firmware update for the EOS 1D MkIII camera. The firmware is v1.0.9 and can currently be installed by Canon service centers. The update is expected to be available on the web by the end of the month.

•  [07/19/07] - Canon EOS 40D name was found on a CIPA (Camera Imaging Products Association) PictBridge certification list, which suggests that Canon are certainly working on it and that the name will be the 40D. The listing is now gone of course (see http://www.cipa.jp/pictbridge/CertifiedModels/PictBridgeCertifiedModels_E.html#DSC_CANON), but I found this via Google's cache of the site, so it certainly was there and someone has pulled the listing.

•  [07/13/07] - Canon have updates for DPP (3.0.2) and EOS Utility (2.0.2) for both Windows and Mac operating systems. The changes include support for the EOS 1D MkIII and the windows Windows updates add more support for Vista. You can find the updates via this page: http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=DownloadIndexAct. Just type in your camera model and follow the "Software" link when it appears.

•  [07/11/07] - Canon have issued a minor firmware update for the EOs 400D (Rebel XTi. It adds support for the new Media Transfer Protocol (MTP) USB protocol and Corrects errors in the Simplified Chinese menu screens. You can download it from http://web.canon.jp/imaging/eosdigital3/e4kr3_firmware-e.html

•  [07/10/07] - Canon have announce three new "lower end" (under $100) personal photo printers. See the full article Canon CP740, MP470 and MP210

June 2007

I went on vacation and not much happened!

May 2007

•  [05/17/07] - Canon rebates announced as expected. Full details HERE

•  [05/15/07] - While nothing is for sure until it actually happens, it now seems highly probable that a Canon rebate program for the US will be officially announced on May 17th. I will have full details on the rebates page as soon as an official announcement is released. Preliminary data suggests that there will be rebates from $25 to $100 on a number of lenses and it looks like it will be an "Instant Rebate". I'm not quite sure what the mechanics of this will be, but if it avoids mailing rebate forms and proof of purchase to a 3rd party rebate fulfillment company, it can only be a good thing! I have no information that there will be rebates on any camera bodies this spring, so if you were waiting for a lower price on a 5D or 30D, you may be disappointed.

•  [05/07/07] - Canon has announce a couple of new Powershot digicams. The first is the Powershot S5 IS, 8MP, 12x optical zoom (36-432mm) with IS, ISO 1600. The second is the SD 850 IS, 8MP, 4x zoom (35-140mm) with IS, ISO 1600. Those hoping for the ability to store images in RAW format will be disappointed. JPEG only I'm afraid. The S5 should sell initially for just under $500 and the SD850 for just under $400. The S5 looks like a pretty capable camera, though like many similar cameras, it's not too wide at the wide end of the zoom range at 36mm (equiv.)

•  [05/02/07] - Canon have released an update for DPP from version 3.0 to version 3.0.1. Just some small tweaks:

Changes: The following functions are not available on Windows Vista PC: Trimming tool, Quick check tool, Prints with detailed settings, Contact sheet prints
Fixes:When significantly adjusting the tone curve for RAW images taken with specific models* and executing [Convert and Save] or [Batch Save], gradation was partially lost. But this problem has been fixed. * EOS 5D, EOS-1D Mark II N, EOS 30D, EOS 400D, EOS-1D Mark III

I couldn't get the Canon USA site to talk to me properly. They've done something to it that my system doesn't like and I couldn't get to the page with software updates. However Canon Europe came to the rescue! This link http://software.canon-europe.com/software/0026524.asp?model= seems to work OK.

•  [05/01/07] - Well, I wish there was some news to report about Canon USA spring rebates, but as far as I can tell, there isn't. Nothing on the Canon USA website, no rebate notices on any of the major vendor websites, no announcements in any of the usual internet photography forums. While they say "no news is good news", that doesn't really apply in this case for those waiting for a Canon rebate. It's around 10 weeks since the fall rebate program ended on February 19th now. I suppose there may still be a chance of a rebate program starting in a couple of weeks (3 months after the end of the fall program), but they chances aren't looking particularly good. If I hear anything, I'll certainly post the information here.

Despite the ludicrously low prices advertised by the usual "scum of the earth" vendors, the lowest street price from a reputable vendor on the Canon EOS 5D is currently around $2770 and on the Canon EOS 30D it's around $1120.

April 2007

•  [04/20/07] - The new Canon Professional Network site is now live. Note it's a Canon EUROPE site. The URL is http://cpn.canon-europe.com/content/index.do

•  [04/19/07] - Amazon are now taking pre-orders for the EOS 1D MkIII . The price is $4499 with a free shipping option. They suggest a release date of June 20th, but I think they're probably being a bit conservative as usual. I'd expect initial shipments to begin in late May. If you want one ASAP, a pre-order isn't a bad idea.

•  [04/17/07] - Canon have released a firmware update for the EOS 400D (Rebel XTi). You can download it HERE. According to Canon it fixes the printing of lens names when using PictBridge, allows [Redeye 1] to be selected when connecting with specific printers and improves the reliability of communication with the Speedlite 380EX.

•  [04/17/07] - You can download the full text of Canon's "Lens Work III" book from the Canon Europe website via THIS LINK. There are 11 chapters (as .pdf files) which total 32MB, so you'll need broadband. You can also download the "Flash Work" brochure (4.4MB) HERE

•  [04/15/07] - Well, it's April 15th and still no word of a US rebate program. The 15th is the latest date for announcement in recent years, but maybe the extension of the fall rebate program end to February 19th instead of the initial end date of January 13th has pushed their spring rebate schedule back a bit. It's less than 2 months since the fall program ended, and they usually have more like a 3 month gap between rebate programs. Maybe we'll see something by May. We can only hope!

On another note, I'm hearing a date of May 15th or thereabouts for the first shipments of the 1D MkIII. There's still some confusion on US pricing. Despite Canon's prediction of a $3999 street price it's looking like it might initially sell for closer to $4500 based on pre-release price listings by stores such as B&H, Canoga Camera, Samy's etc.

•  [04/01/07] - Canon Canada have announced their rebate program for the Spring (April 1st - June 30th). They're offering a $CA 350 rebate on the EOS 5D, a $CA 150 rebate on the EOS 30D, $CA 20 on the 589EX and 430EX speedlites and up to $50 on a selection of lenses. So far it's not up on the Canon Canada website, but you can see details here: http://www.vistek.ca/rebates/Eos5D,30D.pdf. Still no word on any Canon USA rebate program either from Canon or via listings on the major vendor websites.

March 2007

•  [03/31/07] - Canon have issued software updates for a number of utilities including Zoombrowser and DPP (now version 3.0), as well as RAW Codecs for Windows Vista. They are available for most EOS DLSRs from the 20D and 300D on to current models. Check out what's available from the main product support page http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=DownloadIndexAct

•  [03/31/07] - Canon Europe have announced their Spring Rebate program. You can read the details at http://canonlensacc2007.onlinerebates.com/terms.aspx They are offering a 150 Euro rebate on the 5D, 100 Euros on the 30D and 150 Euros on the EF-S 17-85, which is about a 30% discount. The program runs from April 1st to June 30th 2007. There are also rebates on a number of "Camera + lens" and "multiple lens" kits, listed here - http://canonlensacc2007.onlinerebates.com/kits.aspx. No new yet of any US rebate program, but I suspect there will be an announcement soon.

•  [03/29/07] - The first US retail listing (that I know of) for the new EOS 1D MkIII has appeared on the B&H Photo website. They are quoting a price of $4495 and anticipate availabilty in May 2007. The original data fron Canon suggested a street price of $4000, but I guess it's supply and demand while the camera is new and you'll have to pay a premium to be one of the first to get one! From what I hear, the Canadian stores Henry's and Vistek are projecting a price of $5500 CA (which works out to about $4750 US today) and also say delivery in May is likely. No listings yet on Adorama or Amazon.

•  [03/18/07] - Canon have issued a warning about possible data loss when using Windows Vista . "...We have discovered that the original image data of TIFF (RAW) images shot with an EOS-1D or EOS-1Ds Digital SLR Camera, and rotated or edited using Windows Explorer or Windows Gallery on a computer running Windows Vista, will disappear from the computer's memory...". Full details can be found HERE. See also a warning on the same subject (image data loss in Vista) from Microsoft - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927527/en-us

•  [03/06/07] - No surprise here, but it looks like Canon Europe will be offering rebates in the Spring. See http://canon2007promotions.onlinerebates.com/. No word from Canon USA yet, but if history repeats, we should be seeing something in April.

•  [03/06/07] - No solid news on any Canon price cuts, though the price on the 30D has fallen to around $1100 (from $1175) and the 5D price has fallen to $2700 (from $2800) since the fall rebate program ended. Obviously you should ignore the bogus lower prices from the scammers

There are new "kits" but they aren't too exciting. There's a "5D + 24-105/4L" kit which is being listed at $3799. Since you can get the 5D for $2700 and the 24-105/4L for $1060 this isn't very enticing! There's also a "30D + 28-135" kit, which is a bit of an odd choice of lens. It's listed at $1499. Since the 30D is around $1100 and the 28-135 is around $410 it's still not a very impressive deal (you save $11!)

•  [03/01/07] - Put this one solidly in the rumor department. I hear that Canon may soon be announcing a price drop on the 30D and 5D. This wouldn't be much of a shock of course, and the rumors don't specify exactly how much the list prices will be lowered. The reason suggested is that there are still lots of these cameras in stock and canon want to sell them before announcing replacements in the fall. Again this makes some sense if you note that the 2006 Fall rebate program was extended by a month, presumably to try to move existing stock on the 30D and 5D and sales on those cameras have been slow, presumably not helped by people waiting to see if there would be something new at PMA (and it looks very much like there won't be). Again, right now just a rumor. However it's supposed to be going to happen in the next day or two and if it does, I'll report the details here.

February 2007

•  [02/24/07] - It looks like Canon-Europe will be launching a new website soon which replaces the old CPS (Canon Professional Services) website. It will be called the "Canon Professional Network". You can view a "teaser" at http://public.cps.canon-europe.com/index2.asp

•  [02/20/07] - There's an interesting document at http://www.photographyblog.com/pdfs/canon_eos_kits_spring_2007.pdf which seems to indicate Canon maybe selling a number of different EOS 400D, 30D and EOS 5D "kits" with various lenses from widangles to macros to telephoto zooms. This looks like something that was probably circulated to Canon dealers. There are also lens "kits" listed (basically two lenses in one box). I've no idea if such "kits" would be sold at a discount compared to the prices of the individual items, when they will be for sale or which counties they will be sold in. However they do seem to indicate that the 30D and 5D aren't due for an upgrade at PMA.

•  [02/20/07] - Well the News has broken and the 1D MkIII, 16-35/2.8L II and 580EX II were the major announcements (along with a few digicams, of which the Powershot TX-1 seems the most interesting). What's next? Well, the Canon Press Release had the title "TWENTY YEARS OF THE CANON EOS SYSTEM LEADS TO THIS MOMENT: CANON RELEASES THE EOS-1D MARK III DIGITAL SLR", which makes me think that the 1D MkIII is the big news from Canon at PMA. This surprises me a bit since there is no Photokina in 2007, so there would be no reason to save a 1Ds MkIII for the "big show". As for the 5D, it's still full frame and 12MP vs 10MP and 1.3x - and it's $1200 cheaper - so Canon haven't totally upstaged it with the 1D MkIII. None of this sheds any light on whether the EOS 40D will appear at PMA, but if it does and it inherits some of the features of the 1D MkIII, it could be quite interesting!

There is a report that at one product rollout for the 1D MkIII Canon said that this was it for now and that there would be no more product announcements before or during PMA, so the chances of a 40D this spring seem to be fading, as do chances of any more new lenses. However it ain't over 'till it's over, so we will just have to wait and see. I wouldn't hold my breath though.

•  [02/20/07] - BREAKING NEWS....It's the EOS 1D Mk III. 10MP, 1.3x, 10fps with a buffer good for 100 JPEGS or 30RAW, 19 user selectable AF zones with 26 "assist" zones, Dual Digic III processors for lower shadow noise, 3" LCD monitor. ISO 50-6400, self cleaning sensor, 14 bit A/D. I'll be posting a full preview shortly.

....and here it is http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/digital/canon_eos_1D_MkIII.html

There's also a new EF 16-35/2.8L USM II (see: http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/reviews/canon_ef_16-35_II.html) and a new version of the 580EX speedlite, the 580EX II (see: http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/reviews/canon_580EX_II.html)

•  [02/20/07] - Not exactly earth shattering news, but a UK store (theflashcenter.com) has sent out a flier announcing they will be showing a new professional Canon DSLR in their store on March 6th. This is after the "Focus on Imaging" UK trade show (25th-28th Feb) and just before PMA (March 8th-11th), so the timing is right. The only real surprise would be if Canon didn't announce a new professional DSLR before PMA...

Other current rumors are suggesting that Canon will be saying something on Thursday February 22nd at 5pm Tokyo time (8am London, 3am New York), so if that's true we won't have to wait much longer!

•  [02/20/07] - The same store as below is also listing a Canon EF400/5.6L IS on their website (http://www.geheugenkaart.be/English/store/viewitem.asp?idproduct=8982630 ay 1995 Euros. That sounds like a reasonable price and would probably translate to a street price in the US just under $2000. Again it's hard to say if they are just guessing and listing the lens in order to try to get publicity. Some stores do that. Last September at least one store guessed on a 22MP 1DsMkIII and advertised it "just in case". They were wrong.

They also have an EOS 40D listing (http://www.geheugenkaart.be/english/store/viewitem.asp?idproduct=8981440) which has a few specs in it. The specs are exactly what I'd guess at. Basically a 30D with a 10MP sensor and the anti-dust features of the XTi. A logical if not very exciting upgrade. Personally I think they are just guessing. If they knew any of this stuff for sure from Canon, Canon would come down on them fast for breaking a non-disclosure agreement and probably wouldn't ship them any cameras!

•  [02/19/07] - There's a listing on the website of a Belgian camara store for a new 100-400/4L IS USM. Right now it's visible at http://www.geheugenkaart.be/English/store/viewitem.asp?idproduct=8981222. The price quoted is around 2500 Euros. On things like lenses the conversion rate between European and US prices is very roughly 1:1, so that would predict a price of a little under $2500. That's quite suspicious because the Nikon 200-400/4 VR sells for around $5000 and the same Belgian website lists it a 6000 Euros. So I'd say that either the whole thing is bogus, or they are way off on the price, If there ever was a 100-400/4L IS USM, I'd expect it to be priced close to the Nikon lens and be around $5000. For $2500 it would be an absolute bargain, but I wouldn't celebrate yet....

•  [02/18/07] - Just a reminder that the Canon Rebates end tomorrow, February 19th. It's not likely rebates will be available again for several months, so now's not a bad time to buy a lens. Whether it's worth buying a 30D or 5D depends a bit on whether you expect replacement models to be announced before PMA in early March and whether you need a camera before April (when I expect any new cameras to be available) A 30D replacement I think is a good bet, a 5D replacement is maybe a 50/50 shot.

•  [02/14/07] - In the "film's not quite dead yet but it's not feeling well" department, Canon Hong Kong now have a page (LINK) which describes the EOS 1v as the only current Canon EOS film camera. The EOS 30V (Elan 7N), EOS 300X (Rebel T2) and EOS 3000V (Rebel K2) are all listed as "discontinued" products in 2007, along with the EOS 3 which was discontinued in 2006 and all other EOS film bodies. Note that Canon USA still list the 1v, EOS3, Elan 7N, Rebel T2 and Rebel K2 as current, as do Canon UK and most other Canon sites. Maybe Hong Kong knows something that we don't?

January 2007

•  [01/29/07] - Canon released their financial statement for 2006 today. You can read it in all its boring detail at http://www.canon.com/ir/results/2006/rslt2006e.pdf. Basically earnings are up, profits are up and the company is doing just fine! In the camera segment, they report particularly strong sales of the EOS 30D and XTi and overall sales in the digital camera market are up by 20% over 2005 (in terms of number of units sold).

•  [01/22/07] - There's an image supposedly grabbed from the Canon UK website of an 800mm f5.6 DO USM lens. You can see it HERE (http://forum.xitek.com/showthread.php?threadid=422166). There are a few problems though. If you look at the URL and the "breadcrumbs" trail, you'll see one references the "fixed focal length" directory and the other references the "Image Stabilized Lenses" directory. On the real site for other lenses the URL and breadcrumbs match. Also the word "difractive" and "incorperates" are mis-spelled and the final sentence of the description makes no grammatical sense. The URL is also inconsistent with other lenses in that it puts a period in the aperture (i.e. 5.6), whereas other lenses like the 400/2.8 has a URL with no period in the aperture (i.e. 28), So the URL for this lens contains "_f5.6DOIS_", whereas the URL for the 400/2.8 contains the string "_f28DOIS_"

So either it's a pretty good, but imperfect fake or Canon need to hire better proof readers for their website and sort out the problems with their breadcrumbs and URLs!

•  [01/22/07] - Interesting "slip" on the Canon Hong Kong website today. For a brief period there was a page with a headline of "EOS 40D" - but with no accompanying picture or text.

This seems to have caused a huge upsurge in the speculative rumor department, but I really don't know why. This certainly should come as no big shock for anyone who is familiar with Canon's product cycle and is exactly inline with what's been on my 2007 predictions page for a while now!

•  [01/10/07] - Looks like Canon have extended the current rebate program from January 13th 2007 (when it was originally supposed to end) to February 19th 2007, so you have an extra month to decide if you really want that camera or lens! See the rebates page for full rebate details.