EOS magazine news

A number of new EF lenses announced at the end of last year had their launch dates delayed. Canon now expects to start sales of these lenses as follows: EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM - late August 2011 EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II USM - late August 2011 EF 8-15mm f/4L Fisheye USM - late July 2011 EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM - within 2011* EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM - within 2011* *sales start dates will be made available when known.

A first in garden design awaits visitors to this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show (24 to 28 May) with the integration of stunning, large-format printed images to create a unique urban garden at the show. The images, the work of contemporary landscape photographer, David Anthony Hall, will be incorporated into the external landscape being created by Thompson’s Galleries. Measuring up to 3 x 1.5 metres, the panoramic images have been produced on a Canon imagePROGRAF iPF9100 large format printer by Canon UK’s distributor, Surrey-based Velmex Distribution. The images are printed on 260gsm photo gloss paper and then face mounted on Perspex. Gallery owner Sue Thompson says that they "show how art can be an integral part of the structure of a garden". A Canon user from image capture to printed output, David Hall shoots his images on a Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III and uses a panoramic technique to capture a multitude of shots that go into the final image. Hall comments: “By integrating

Firmware Version 2.0.9 for the EOS 5D Mark II incorporates the following improvements and fixes: 1. Improves writing/reading speeds when using UDMA 7-compatible CF cards. 2. Fixes a phenomenon where the IS function will not work when custom function C.Fn III-2 is set to [5: IS start] and the lens attached does not have an AF stop button. This is because custom function C.Fn III-2 allows users to assign IS start to the AF stop button on the lens 3. Corrects misspellings in the menu screens displayed in Arabic, Portuguese, Spanish, and Thai languages. The firmware upgrade can be installed by the user. Full instructions and downloads are available at the >> Canon Download Centre

Firmware Version 1.1.0 for the EOS 1D Mark IV incorporates the following improvements and fixes: 1. Improves writing/reading speeds when using UDMA 7-compatible CF cards. 2. Fixes a phenomenon where the ability to shoot movies may be stopped under the following conditions: - when using high-capacity (32 GB or greater) CF cards with little available space remaining and the user attempts to start shooting movies; - when the camera's battery is removed and reinserted into the camera and the user immediately attempts to start shooting movies. 3. Corrects misspellings in the menu screens displayed in Arabic and Portuguese languages (applies to models outside of the the Japanese market only). The firmware upgrade can be installed by the user. Full instructions and downloads are available at the >> Canon Download Centre

Canon production was badly hit by the Japanese earthquake and tsunami last March, by the rolling electricity blackout which followed and by the difficulty in procuring raw materials, parts and other supplies. However, in an interview with Reuters, Fujio Mitarai, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Canon Inc., forecasts that production should return to normal by the end of June. Potential power shortages caused by serious damage at a nuclear power plant still remain a risk for the company. Canon is looking at expanding a factory under construction in Kyushu, southern Japan, to help spread the manufacture of key components .

Canon has moved into the top three in Interbrand’s ‘Japan’s Best Global Brands 2011’, rising from fourth place in the 2010 rankings. The ranking, which is now in its third year, ranks brands according to financial performance and is seen as a good indication of brand strength. To qualify, each brand must originate from Japan, be listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, have a good level of global recognition and derive at least 30 percent of its total sales from outside Japan. According to Interbrand, Canon’s brand value is $11,442 million, a significant improvement of 9% on last year’s valuation.

Canon has been voted as the top Camera Brand in the Reader’s Digest Most Trusted Brands Survey 2011, an annual pan-European survey of consumer attitudes to brand products and services. Reader’s Digest asked its readers across 16 European countries to nominate the brand they trusted most in a range of consumer categories, including cameras. Canon came out on top in 13 of the 16 countries based on the following four criteria: quality, excellent value, strong image and understands customer needs. This is the eleventh consecutive year that Canon has been voted as Europe’s top camera brand.

Fujio Mitarai, Canon's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, has made Barron’s annual list of the world’s 30 best chief executives for the fourth consecutive year. He has been recognised for his five-year growth plan to boost Canon’s revenue outside of Japan and invest in new business, and more recently for taking control of the company’s disaster recovery efforts following the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011. Barron’s compiled its annual roster of the top corporate leaders from around the world in 2011 by looking in particular at how individuals have tailored plans to approach Asia and other developing markets.  The selection of finalists was based on information collected from interviews with analysts, investors and executives. 2011 marks the 50th anniversary for Mr Mitarai as an employee of Canon.  He has served in a number of key roles for the company throughout his career, before being appointed President and CEO of Canon Inc. in 1995.

Firmware Version 1.0.1 for the EOS 600D incorporates the following fixes and changes: 1. Clarifies the feature guide description of the digital zoom function for movie-shooting that appears on the camera's LCD monitor; 2. Fixes a phenomenon in which, in rare cases, a computer connected to the camera with a USB cable cannot recognize the camera. The firmware upgrade can be installed by the user. Full instructions and downloads are available at the >> Canon Download Centre

The Technicolor CineStyle is a Picture Style for EOS cameras. It optimizes the dynamic range in the image by leveraging the capabilities of the Canon imaging chipset. Cinematographers and their post-production partners will have greater flexibility in color grading and finishing their projects. >>Technicolor CineStyle information and download page