FLAGSHIP DSLR & MIRRORLESS COMING FROM CANON

The process of relocating its UK HQ from Reigate to join Canon Europe colleagues in Stockley Park hasn’t slowed the manufacturer’s release schedule.

First up is a new flagship DSLR in the full frame 20.1MP EOS-1D X Mark III (right), featuring a new AF system and sensor for what the manufacturer is calling ‘dramatically improved’ AF tracking performance, image quality and communication capabilities. But what most will want to know is that it delivers ‘industry leading’ shooting speeds at 20fps with AF tracking. The AF sensor offers 28x the centre resolution of its predecessor to address pro photographers’ need for greater accuracy and focusing on subjects in a wider range of scenarios.

As well as offering 4K video it boasts light sensitivity settings running from ISO 50 to ISO 819,200 and is Canon’s first EOS to support the ‘next generation’ HEIF (High Efficiency Image File) file format, enabling images with 10-bits of data to be saved in a file the equivalent size of a JPEG, while suffering less compression. The camera similarly uses ‘next generation’ CFexpress memory cards, which boast a write speed over 3x that of the previous swiftest CFast cards. Canon reckons this makes bursts of over 1000 Raw images possible. It’s also the first EOS-1 to feature built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. SRP is £6,499.99, making it comparable to Nikon’s equally new D6.

Also announced is the development of a ‘game changing’ EOS R5 full frame 8K video shooting mirrorless camera, as alluded to in our product interview in BPI News Dec/Jan. Aimed at photographers and filmmakers alike, the forthcoming flagship model will feature a 12fps burst rate using the mechanical shutter or 20fps if using the electronic shutter. It will also have body integral anti shake and support automatic transferal of images to its new image. canon cloud platform (which replaces Canon Image Gateway from early April). In the meantime we have a new RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS STM lens to go with the series, offering 13cm minimum focus distance, and Canon telling us it is developing nine RF lenses for release in 2020, including the RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 L IS USM and compatible Extender RF 1.4x and RF 2x options.

Customers looking for an affordable all rounder DSLR meanwhile are directed to the new 24.1MP APS-C sensor, Digic 8 processor incorporating EOS 850D, which boasts 4K video up to 25fps, 45 point all cross type AF sensor and Dual Pixel CMOS AF, plus Eye Detect AF in Live View mode. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity also features. On sale this April, SRP is £819.99. Finally, smartphone or tablet users who want to print without the need for cables haven’t been forgotten with the launch of the Selphy Square QX10 dye sub (£139.99), which, you’ve guessed it, outputs square format Canon XS-20L photo paper (£14.99 SRP for packs of 20). Dry photos are output in 43 seconds, which are resistant to the effects of fading for up to 100 years. The printers come in a choice of four colours: black, white, green and pink, with March availability. www.canon.co.uk