There were no real surprises among the new products just announced by Canon on the eve of Photokina; details of all the EOS 7D Mark II, three EF lenses and the two PowerShot cameras were leaked weeks beforehand.
Angled view of the EOS 7D Mark II with the EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens, one ot two that will be offered with the camera body. (Source: Canon.)
Leading the line-up is the EOS 7D Mark II, which is positioned as the ‘cropped sensor’ equivalent to the EOS 5D Mark III and boasts a more weather-resistant body, slightly higher resolution and the latest DIGIC 6 processor chips as well as more professional video capabilities. A detailed ‘First Look’ at the EOS 7D Mark II is published separately.
The EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM ‘pancake’ lens. (Source: Canon.)
Three new EF lenses have been announced concurrently with the 7D Mark II. The EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM (shown above) is designed specifically for ‘cropped sensor’ cameras and is Canon’s first 24mm EF-S pancake lens. Covering an angle of view equivalent to 38mm in 35mm format and with a 9 cm working distance, this lens can be used for close-ups as well as general photography. Its 7-bladed iris diaphragm and f/2.8 aperture combine to produce attractive bokeh and the compact size and light weight (125 grams) of this lens make it ideal for travellers.
The new EF 24-105mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM zoom lens. (Source: Canon.)
The EF 24-105mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM provides a lightweight alternative to the existing EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens. It is designed for Canon’s full-frame DSLRs and specified to suit the entry-level models. Combining a versatile zoom range with smooth and quiet STM autofocusing and optical stabilisation, it is an ideal general-purpose lens for new camera buyers and weighs just 525 grams. It boasts a minimum focusing distance of 40 cm and includes full-time manual focus over-ride in AF mode, making it easy to make fine adjustments just before shots are taken. Built-in stabilisation provides up to four f-stops of shake correction.
Canon’s new EF 400mm f/4 DO IS II USM lens combines light weight, compact size and high image quality. (Source: Canon.)
The new EF 400mm f/4 DO IS II USM features Canon’s third-generation Diffractive Optic technology and a new optical design that results in relatively light weight and compact dimensions, thanks to a magnesium-alloy mechanical structure and specialised DO lens elements. This lens is a useful option for sports and wildlife photographers and can also be used for reportage shooting when there is a wide distance between the photographer and subjects.
A dust- and drip-proof design and specialised fluorine coating make it well suited to photographing outdoor activities, while a 9-bladed iris diaphragm and f/4 maximum aperture can deliver attractive bokeh. The minimum focus is 3.3 metres, with a maximum magnification of 0.13x. Built-in stabilisation provides up to four f-stops of shake correction. This lens is compatible with Canon’s EF 1.4x II and EF 2x II extenders.
The new Canon PowerShot GX7 boasts a 1-inch type CMOS sensor and flip-up monitor for self-portraiture. (Source: Canon.)
Measuring 103 x 60.4 x 40.4 mm and weighing only 304 grams with battery and card, the PowerShot G7X is launched as Canon’s ‘most powerful pocket-sized camera to date’. Featuring a 1-inch type (12.8 x 9.6 mm) CMOS sensor with 20.2-megapixel effective resolution and a DIGIC 6 image processor, it can record both JPEG and CR2.RAW files, combining first-rate image quality and creative control in a highly compact body design. The retracting f/1.8-2.8 lens is stabilised and covers angles of view equivalent to 24-100mm in 35mm format and a 9-bladed iris diaphragm produces smooth background blurring at wide apertures. The 3-inch touch-screen monitor flips up through 180 degrees and has a resolution of 1,040,000 dots and five levels of brightness adjustment. No viewfinder is provided and there is no way to attach one.
The GX7 supports the regular P, Av, Tv and M shooting modes plus a Smart Auto mode that includes scene recognition with 58 scene types detectable for shooting stills and 21 for movies. Full HD movies can be recorded at 60 fps or 30 fps. Continuous shooting is available at up to 6.5 frames/second for up to 692 JPEG frames. The 31-point TTL autofocusing system can focus to within 5 cm of subjects. Manual focusing is aided by a peaking display.
The PowerShot SX60 has been designed for travellers who want shooting versatility. (Source: Canon.)
The PowerShot SX60 is Canon’s most powerful super-zoom camera to date, replacing the SX50 model. Combining a 65x optical zoom magnification with 30x Zoomplus digital zooming, it can cover angles of view equivalent to 21-1365mm in 35mm format with maximum apertures of f/3.4 to f/6.5. Lens-shift stabilisation provides up to 3.5 f-stops of shake compensation. Like its predecessor, the SX60 has a zoom framing assist button that helps users to focus on distant subjects.
The SX60 is equipped with a 16.8-megapixel CMOS sensor and DIGIC 6 image processor and an electronic viewfinder with 920.000 dots and dioptre correction. The 3-inch vari-angle monitor has a resolution of 230,000 dots and supports five levels of brightness adjustments. Both JPEG and RC2.RAW file capture are supported for stills shots and Full HD movies can be recorded at 60 fps or 30 fps. Shooting modes include P, Av, Tv and M, plus the same Smart Auto options as the GX7. The manual movie mode allows users to adjust aperture, shutter speed and ISO settings while recording.
Both the new PowerShot cameras feature built-in Wi-Fi and NFC (near field communication), making it easy for users to connect to the internet via a smart device and share images via social media or upload them to Cloud storage, including Canon’s digital image management service, irista. Images can also be geotagged with location data.
The PowerShot G7X and PowerShot SX60 HS will be available in retail stores across Australia from October. Prices will be set at dealers’ discretion. For more information on the PowerShot G7X visit: http://www.canon.com.au/en-AU/Personal/Products/Cameras-and-Accessories/Digital-Cameras/PowerShot-G7X . For more information on the PowerShot SX60 HS visit: http://www.canon.com.au/en-AU/Personal/Products/Cameras-and-Accessories/Digital-Cameras/PowerShot-SX60-HS.
The EOS 7D Mark II will be available in retail stores across Australia from mid-November. For more information on this camera visit: http://www.canon.com.au/en-AU/Personal/Products/Cameras-and-Accessories/EOS-Digital-SLR-Cameras/EOS-7D-Mark-II
