In the run up to next week’s CP+ photo show in Yokohama, Japan, Canon has announced a little something for everyone. Two new full-frame DSLRs will push image resolution to bold new heights, while a pair of new EOS Rebel DSLRs are likely to make some serious mainstream waves.
Canon also teased a long-zoom premium compact that looks like it will use the same 1-inch-type Sony sensor found in that company’s RX series cameras. It’s likely to be a compelling alternative to Sony’s own RX10, and I only wish we knew more about it.
New Full-Frame DSLRs Crack the 50-Megapixel Mark
Starting at the upper reaches of sensor size and resolution, the new EOS 5DS andEOS 5DS R are the latest additions to Canon’s professional full-frame stable. Both cameras have 50.6-megapixel sensors; the main difference is that the 5DS has a moire-busting optical low-pass filter (OLPF), while the 5DS R does not. It’s a trend that started with Nikon’s D800/D800E DSLRs a few years back, the idea being that the lack of an anti-aliasing filter makes images sharper.
These new Canon DSLRs set a new bar for resolution compared to those 36.3-megapixel Nikons—and every other full-frame DSLR, for that matter. There are a few medium-format Hasselblad cameras with even higher-resolution sensors—they go for tens of thousands of dollars—but the 5DS series is winning the resolution race for the full-frame set.
The new models will sit right below the flagship EOS-1D X in Canon’s DSLR lineup, and they’ll cost a few thousand dollars less than that highest-end model when they become available in June. The EOS 5DS is priced at $3,700 for the body only, while the OLPF-free 5DS R will cost $3,900.
Rebel, Rebel: Two New APS-C DSLRs With Different Specialties
Canon is also splitting its APS-C-sensored Rebel T lineup into slightly divergent paths, but this time the difference is video capabilities. The 24.2-megapixel EOS Rebel T6s and EOS Rebel T6i both capture 1080p video at 30fps and 24fps, but the higher-priced T6s offers an HDR video mode and a few extras, according to Canon. The company says the T6s has deeper manual controls in video mode and a mic-in port, but the spec sheets for both cameras are a bit less clear. (I’ve asked for details.)
The T6s does have a few more differences, including an electronic level, an LCD panel up top to display exposure and battery-life info, and a different control scheme than the T6i—the major difference is that the mode dial is clear on the other side of the camera. Beyond that, they’re pretty much identical, with 19-point phase-/contrast-detection autofocus systems, ISO settings that range up to 12,800, a top shutter speed of 1/4000 of a second, and a continuous-shooting clip of 5fps. Both cameras also have flip-and-swivel LCD touchscreens, as well as built-in Wi-Fi and NFC features.
There’s one more difference with the Rebel T6s, and it’s the kit configuration. The higher-end model will come with a stabilized 18-135mm/F3.5-5.6 kit lens for $1,200 at the end of April. The T6i will come bundled with your standard 18-55mm/F3.5-5.6 kit lens for $900.
Coming Soon? A Big-Sensored 25X Premium Compact Camera
Canon didn’t officially announce the PowerShot G3 X this week, but it did make the camera official by confirming that it’s in the works. The new addition to the company’s premium fixed-lens lineup will offer the longest optical range in the G series with a 25x (24-600mm) zoom lens.
Compact cameras with that kind of reach usually have smaller (1/2.3-inch-type) sensors, but this one will pack the same size sensor as Sony’s RX100 and RX10 series cameras. The only similar camera in terms of sensor size and optical zoom is the RX10 itself, and it has a significantly tighter zoom range (8.3X, 24-200mm).
The sensor size and the zoom range are all that have been revealed for now, but there’s a picture that reveals the upcoming camera will have a sizable grip, a dedicated exposure-compensation dial, built-in Wi-Fi and NFC, and an adjustable LCD screen. There’s no release date, no price, and important things like maximum aperture, sensor resolution, and the size of the camera are all still a mystery.
Source: Wired By Tim Moynihan
