My Take on Canon’s Announcements for Spring 2011

7Feb2011

10 min read

Looking for my take on the Canon EOS-1D X announced in Fall of 2011? Click here.

It’s that time again, time for Canon’s spring product announcements. The big, at least for me, announcement is a 200-400mm lens. However, Canon is also bringing to market a 2 new consumer level SLRs and a pair of new low end flashes.

Call this a day late and a dollar short. I’m not big or important enough for Canon to give prior notice to, so my comments are limited to what I can glean after the embargo’s end and the press releases go up.

Overall, Canon has put forward a couple of solid looking entry level cameras, finished replacing their new stabilized super-telephoto primes, and released a pair of low-end flashes, one with some very intriguing features. Moreover, Canon is clearly continuing to treat video support as a first class citizen in their SLRs by adding features that make sense and continuing to refine and improve the way you can use it.

(Press releases and Canon USA product pages for all new products can be found in the “references” section after the end of this article.)

The Rebel T3 (1100D) & Rebel T3i (600D)

Bringing up Canon’s entry-level bodies are the new Rebel T3 and T3i. The T3 brings a 12.3 megapixel sensor sensitive from ISO 100 to ISO 6400, 9-point AF system, and 63-zone metering system to the entry level. Moreover, it will shoot 1280×720 high definition video.

The T3i sits in the next tier above the T3, and below the 60D. The T3i brings the Rebel line an 18-megapixel sensor similar to the 7D, a 9-point AF system, and 63-segment dual-layer metering. Moreover, it has enough buffer space to shoot 34 JPEGs or 11 RAW images at up to 3.7 FPS.

Beyond the normal technical specs, Canon has continued to add features to the Rebel cameras. The new EOS guide function is aimed at novice photographer by explaining the effect changing various settings will do better. The second feature appears to offer more fine-tuned control over the basic shooting modes.

Canon has continued to add features to the Rebel cameras that make it easier for novice photographers to do more than just take snapshots. The new EOS guide function appears to be aimed at explaining the effect changing various settings will have on the images. The second feature appears to offer more fine-tuned control over the basic shooting modes.

Canon is continuing to with video being a first class citizen, with features aimed to be useful to the target markets. The T3i is no exception, with support for Full HD (1920×1080), HD (1280×720), and SD resolutions in selectable frame rates of 24p, 25p, and 30p. In addition, Canon has added a video snapshot mode that’s designed produce a quick—up to 8 seconds—video clip as easy as taking a picture.

All told, a 12.2MP entry level Rebel seems like a good step. It’s refreshing to see that Canon not go and put a crazy high resolution sensor in it. If the sensor in the T3 has any of the design improvements that have made their way into Canon’s other sensors, there’s a good chance that the camera could offer some very good image quality.

However, as a cost cutting measure, they seem to have done everything they could to have reduced the costs. For example, the Rebel XS (1000D) retained a depth-of-field preview button below the lens release, that’s not gone on the T3.

The T3i seems like a different story to me. Yet again, the T3i boots the resolution in the Rebel lines. An increase in resolution can be a good thing, or not, depending on how the camera handles noise. More resolution at this point is something of a downward spiral. Canon would likely have a hard time marketing a new Rebel without increasing the resolution; however, higher resolution sensors require better glass to take advantage of it. Moreover, unless noise is well controlled, the effective resolution doesn’t increase as much as the sensor’s resolution would imply.

The Canon EOS T3 is expected to be available towards the end of March, and will sell in kit form with the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II for about $600.

The Canon EOS T3i is expected to be available in March. The body alone is expected to go for about $800. It will also be offered as a kit with the new EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II lens, about $900. It will also be offered as a kit with the EF-S 18-135 f/3.5-5.6 IS for about $1100.

Speedlite 270Ex II & Speedlite 320Ex

Canon also announced two new flashes, the Speedlite 270Ex II and 320Ex. The 270Ex II is an upgrade to the current 270Ex. It adds the ability to configure the flash from the camera though the “Speedlite Functions” menu and the ability to be used as an ETTL wireless slave flash. Like it’s predecessor, the flash head can be tilted 90° but cannot be rotated.

The Speedlite 320Ex provides a more feature complete package for an entry-level flash as well as some new features to Canon’s Speedlites. The 320Ex shows Canon’s commitment to video functionality in their SLRs, as it has a powerful continuous LED light for use during continuous shooting in addition to the standard flash tube. Additionally the 320Ex can be used to remotely trigger any Canon camera with a wireless triggering mode.

The 270Ex II doesn’t appear to offer much to me, even as an entry-level flash. Some users may prefer it to the 320 or 430 due to its smaller size, but the limitations on the flash head’s movement and the diminutive power makes its bigger brothers a lot more attractive.

The Speedlite 320Ex on the other hand looks like a very interesting entry-level flash. Video light functionality is unique to a SLR Speedlite, as far as I know, and with the video snapshot functionality in the T3i, the 320Ex would offer users the ability shoot video in much lower light than before.

The Speelite 270Ex II is expected to reach U.S. dealers in April and retail for $170.

The Speedlite 320Ex is expected to reach dealers, again, in April, with a price of $250.

EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM and EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM

Continuing the trend in replacing super-telephoto lenses Canon started last fall, Canon has introduced the final 2 21^st century telephoto lenses. According to Canon, the design philosophy was to increase the optical quality, durability, and reduce the weight. To that end Canon seems to have succeeded at least in reducing weight, the new 500mm f/4L shedding 18% of its weight—from 8.5 pounds to just over 7 pounds—and the 600mm f/4L shedding an impressive 27%–dropping from 11.9 pounds to just over 8.6 pounds.

The lenses carry all the latest Canon L features; the latest IS system, with a new mode-3 which prevents the IS system from engaging until the shutter button is fully depressed. Ring-USM AF motors, for fast accurate AF. Fluorite and super UD lens elements to minimize chromatic aberrations. A 9-bladed circular aperture for smooth bokeh and sub-wavelength coatings to improve contrast and flare resistance, round out the feature set.

Considering that super-telephoto lenses have always tended to be Canon’s strong suit, I don’t expect these to be any different. The weight savings alone on the 600mm f/4 will make it a welcomed upgrade for many bird and wildlife photographers who have to trek gear far or deal with airline carry on restrictions.

In fact, as has been the case recently, the only real apparent downside to the two new super-telephoto primes is the price.

The Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM is expected to ship in May for around $9,500.00.

The Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM is expected to ship in June, for approximately $12,000.00.

EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM

Announced only, with no concrete ship date or price, Canon is fining bringing a lens to market aimed to compete with Nikon’s 200-400mm f/4. The details are sketchy right now, Canon hasn’t said much yet, but it will feature a built in 1.4x teleconverter. A built in teleconverter isn’t unheard of, though it’s quite rare. However, doing this allows the teleconverter to be matched and optimized for a single lens, the result of which will certainly mean better image quality than a generic teleconverter would provide.

To be honest, I’m a bit torn over this lens. I’ve been seriously hoping Canon would release a true successor to the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM, something with the same range and compact design but with improved image quality and a more modern image stabilizer.

It’s not that a very high quality 200-400 f/4 lens isn’t desirable, rather it’s the tradeoffs in size and weight that are problematic for me. If you look at the images in my Street Walker Pro backpack review, the 100-400 can be carried in a compact backpack, along with a good bit of other glass. That’s not something that’s likely to be possible with the new 200-400. Only time will tell though.

The other question I have is why build in a teleconverter at all? Why not simply make a 200-500 f/4-5.6 with 200-400 held at f/4 and 400-500 slipping to f/5.6? While a fixed aperture lens is nice and all, but having the built in teleconverter means a bulge in the lens barrel is needed so the teleconverter can be removed from the optical path, as well as more moving parts to move it. In addition, the built-in teleconverter also means that it will more than likely have to be manually activated when desired and arrived at but turning the zoom ring.

One thing I don’t even want to speculate on, let alone think about, is price.