New Canons For the Optical Artillery

It's New Time for Canon photographers and there are quite few press releases smoking hot on the internet today. Plus we have seen and handled one of the new products just this morning. ( It won't be here this afternoon as the rep has whisked it off to another dealer...but we saw it! )

I. Cameras

The new Canon EOS 70D mkII is here - we handled it and saw the detailed presentation regarding it. Don't be fooled - the designation might suggest that it is an update bit with all the new features...it's a new camera.

Okay. Start out with performance. 10 FPS for over 1000 jpegs! Or 33 RAW shots in a burst! 65-point all cross-type AF points and two processing computers inside! Full HD video at 60 p!

Darn, the ! button fell off the laptop. Pardon me while I glue it back on...

The part that iced my doughnut for this camera was the fact that they've put the radio command wireless control into it - you can fire off the superb Canon 600EX RT flash  wirelessly the same way that you can on the 5D MkIII.

There is GPS built -in. There is a widely adjustable interval timer. There is the HDR capability of the 5D MkIII. It is a knock-your-socks-off  APS-C sensor camera that should be perfect for sports action at a fair distance.

There will also be a new Canon Powershot travel or bridge camera - the SX 60 HS. This leads on from the wildly successful SX 50 HS but adds more zoom range and a wonderful new feature - it can compensate for the maddening moments when your subject runs out of frame and you can't find them again.

Okay, it won't locate Ambrose Bierce at this stage of the game... but if you lose the plot while shooting at the long telephoto end you can press a little button on the side of the lens barrel and it will zoom out but still let you see the AF point - pick up the subject and release the button and you're back in business.

If you're doing video, you can change things manually during filming - and if you're dong stills there are even more creative filters in-built.

And finally - a new small Powershot G7X camera - Pocket size with a tilting LCD screen. 1.0" 20.2 megapixel sensor. Digic 6 processor. And ultra-easy settings to deal with star photography, in-built ND filter work, HDR, full WiFi connectivity, and full 60pHD video recording.

Perfect travel pocket camera.

II. Lenses

The new 24-105 f:4 lens with the STM mechanism should become a firm favourite with full-frame users and video shooters. It is smooth and quiet.

Wide-angle? Here's an announcement of a 24mm f:2.8 STM pancake lens. Canon are saying it is a street lens but I say it is a landscape lens for those people who only want to take two lenses up the side of a mountain while breathing.

Should you wish to photograph tigers while feeding or family weddings from a safe distance, Canon have announced a new EF 400mm f:4 DO IS II USM lens. This is 400mm of focal length in a shorter frame - that's the DO lens element at work - and the rigidity and durability of the L series lenses with three IS modes. Best of all for the wedding food fight - the lens is listed as dust and drip proof...

You can't say that Canon are resting on their laurels...or any other portion of the corporate anatomy. They think ahead and bring out good stuff.