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Thank you – thank you – thank you!

Since February 2009 (just six months ago) this blog has been visited by people from no less than 112 different countries – WOW, how awesome is that?!?

From Barbados to the Sudan, from The Islamic Republic of Iran to Senegal, from isolated nations such as Mauritius, Mongolia, Iceland and the Maldives, to populous places like the US, UK, Germany, France, Australia and Russia.  All that and only 6 months since starting the count. I am humbled and proud all at the same time.

In the map below, each red dot represents a country of origin. The larger the dot, the more people from there visited this site. This cool map is maintained by Clustermaps, who monitor the visits. Have no fear, it cannot track who you are, but it does know where in the world you came from.

Please do not stop coming, I will increase my work on the site, provide more presets and new content.

Thank you all, whoever you are!

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July, 2009 – Canon has announced the development of Hybrid Image Stabilizer (IS), the world’s first optical image stabilization technology that compensates for both angle camera shake and shift camera shake. The technology will be featured in a lens planned for release before the end of 2009.

Several different preventative methods and corrective procedures have been introduced to compensate for errors caused by camera shake, which occurs when a camera moves while its shutter is open and its image sensor is exposed to light.

Canon began researching methods to compensate for camera shake in the 1980s, and in 1995 launched the EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM, the world’s first interchangeable SLR camera lens to feature a mechanism that compensates for optical camera shake. Since then, the company has continued to produce a variety of interchangeable lenses with image stabilization capabilities, and boasts a total of 21 such lenses in its current product lineup.

Canon’s newly developed Hybrid IS technology optimally compensates for angle and shift camera shake. Sudden changes in camera angle can significantly affect images taken during standard shooting, whereas shift-based shaking, which occurs when a camera moves parallel to the imaging scene, is more pronounced in macro photography and other close-range shooting.

The new Hybrid IS technology incorporates an angular velocity sensor that detects the extent of angle-based shaking and is found in all previous Canon optical image stabilizer mechanisms, as well as a new acceleration sensor that determines the amount of shift-based camera shake. Hybrid IS also employs a newly developed algorithm that synthesizes information from the two sensors to make optimal adjustments, thereby dramatically enhancing the effects of image stabilization during shooting, including macro shooting, which had proven difficult for conventional image stabilization technologies.

Canon is actively engaged in ongoing research and development of interchangeable SLR camera lenses incorporating Hybrid IS technology, and is aiming for the early commercialization and inclusion of the lenses in a wide range of products.

What does this mean – Our Interpretation

In camera stabilization has become very popular thanks to brands like Sony, Pentax and Olympus. In these systems, it is the sensor that moves to compensate for minor movements due to handheld shaking. The benefit of this is, of course, is that ANY lens can be used and you still get the advantage of stabilization.

Canon (and Nikon too) put stabilization in their lenses and charge a premium for them. For example, Canon’s 70-200mm L f/2.8 lens lists at $1249 while version with image stabilization (IS) lists at $1699, a $450 premium.

The forums are full of people asking (demanding) that Canon and Nikon introduce in camera stabilization.

It would appear that Canon is listening to this (to a degree), but obviously is resisting to go that way. Most likely they are concerned it would erode the premium they can charge for image stabilized lenses. So, Canon is obviously trying to raise the bar by introducing newer generation stabilization techniques into their lens systems, thus trying to differentiate from the in camera stabilization techniques.

So which is better? Time will tell, but in the mean time, this type of one-up-man-ship is good for consumers as it drives technology to become better and better, and that benefits us all.

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May 1, 2009 – Canon U.S.A., Inc. and Canon Virginia, Inc., today joined with Virginia state and local officials to announce the grand opening of Canon’s Newport News production facility. It marks the completion of a new 700,000 square foot facility on the Canon Virginia (CVI) campus for the manufacturing of cartridges for laser printers that will incorporate Canon’s proprietary high-speed, automated technology for cartridge production.

Canon first announced plans to expand in Virginia on May 1, 2008. Exactly one year later, building construction is complete and the new facility, which will produce cartridges for the North American market, will be operational by the end of the year. With assistance from the Commonwealth of Virginia, Canon’s investment will exceed $640 million in major expansion projects in the Hampton Roads area that are expected to create more than 1,000 new jobs.

“Today’s announcement symbolizes Canon’s commitment to continue U.S.-based manufacturing operations in the Virginia area,” said Joe Adachi, president and chief executive officer, Canon U.S.A. “By producing, selling, collecting and recycling cartridges locally, we reduce the need to transport products around the world, which allows us to have a positive environmental impact by helping to reduce CO2 emissions, reduce energy consumption and help preserve environmental resources.”

An important component of the expansion project’s success has been the ability to quickly hire and develop a highly skilled and technical workforce. With the announcement of the expansion in 2008, partnerships were established between Canon Virginia and a network of workforce development resources throughout Southeastern Virginia. This alliance included the Virginia Community College System, local schools and the Virginia Department of Business Assistance, among others, who assisted with the development of a Technical Training Academy, designed to equip Canon Virginia’s and the IRT’s growing workforce with the skills necessary to support advanced manufacturing and product repair operations. More than 300 current and new employees have been trained at Canon’s Workforce Development Center. The training center is located within a mile of the Canon Virginia campus.

Takayoshi Hanagata, president and chief executive officer, Canon Virginia and IRT, added, “Our relationships with the state, local officials and the community have been invaluable. Their support and involvement with our company has enabled us to grow and continually meet changing market demand.”

“Canon was one of the first Japanese companies to locate in Virginia and has been a Virginia business partner for more than two decades,” said Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine. “This company is not only a major employer in Virginia. It is a team player, an important ambassador for the Commonwealth, and a valued philanthropist in the community. I congratulate Canon on its continued success. We’re proud this company calls Virginia its home.”

Canon also plans to establish a center for the research and development of automated and robotic manufacturing technologies for the Americas region in Newport News to expand both cartridge production and recycling and reclaiming of toner cartridges. CVI and the Commonwealth are currently exploring strategies for collaboration on this project with Virginia’s higher education institutions.

In addition to the new Automated Cartridge Manufacturing building and the IRT expansion, Canon Virginia has also expanded its repair and refurbishing facilities for digital consumer products. Most of the growth has come from the camera and camcorder market. CVI has hired more than 250 camera repair technicians for the refurbishing and the end-user repair areas.

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OBERKOCHEN/Germany, September 15, 2008.
Carl Zeiss is expanding its successful line of SLR lenses: ZE lenses with EF bayonet for all analog and digital EOS camera models. As with all EF lenses, the new ZE lenses from Carl Zeiss transfer all information exclusively via electronic contacts. This means that all exposure modes such as programmed auto exposure, shutter priority, aperture priority and manual settings are supported. The camera’s automatic focus confirmation also remains available to an unlimited extent with these manual focus lenses.

With digital SLRs, the lens data and all exposure data can also be accessed via the camera’s EXIF file. Even E-TTL flash metering is supported.

The first lenses to be available will be the Planar T* 1.4/50 ZE and the Planar T* 1.4/85 ZE in the last quarter of this year.Further focal lengths will be added to the line within the next few months.

Recommended retail price of both lenses:

• Planar T 1.4/50 ZE €579.
• Planar T 1.4/85 ZE €999.

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Canon has answered the call from advanced amateur photographers looking for a solid all-around lens with the introduction of the new EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS zoom lens.

With an incredible focal length range equivalent to 29-320mm in the 35mm format, the new EF-S 18-200mm lens will make an excellent addition to any camera bag, and it gives shooters a great lens to capture both standard as well as telephoto images.

The new lens features Canon’s built in Optical Image Stabilization system which gives the equivalent effect of a shutter speed roughly 4 steps faster, for better image clarity, even in shaky shooting conditions. With a minimum focusing distance of 0.45m/1.5 ft. at all zoom settings, this new lens should prove to be ideal for those situations where swapping lenses isn’t an option.

An ideal complement to the EOS 50D SLR camera and all other EF-S compatible EOS SLR cameras, the EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens is scheduled to be in stores this October at an estimated selling price of $699.00.

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Canon has announced the EOS 50D Digital SLR Camera with 15.1 megapixel resolution and Canon’s new DIGIC 4 image processor. Designed to offer extraordinary quality and image control for the advanced photographer with a passion for the art, the Canon EOS 50D Digital SLR camera includes an expanded ISO range, improved noise reduction, and in-camera photo editing features. Canon has loaded the EOS 50D camera with a number of enhancements and some trickle-down technology from Canon’s professional Digital SLR cameras, as well as a new Creative Auto Mode (CA) that gives users more creative flexibility to make image setting adjustments conveniently without the need to be a photo expert.

Canon has built upon the success of the popular EOS 40D model – which will remain in Canon’s line – with the EOS 50D Digital SLR camera. Expected to be the camera body of choice for advanced amateur photographers this holiday season, the Canon EOS 50D Digital SLR camera carries over the EOS 40D’s 14-bit Analog-to-Digital conversion process for smooth tones, and also includes enhanced noise reduction, especially at higher ISO ranges which will help bring those romantic nighttime shots into greater focus and clarity. Capable of shooting 6.3 frames per second (fps), the EOS 50D Digital SLR camera is ideal for shooting everything from beautiful night landscapes to fast-action sports.

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