Canon EOS 7D Mark II Announced

After a long 5 years, the newly announced Canon EOS 7D Mark II replaces the venerable Canon EOS 7D. Considered the semi professional crop sensor workhorse, the original Canon 7D has been in a crowded market place since 2009. Canon finally stepped up the high performance crop sensor segment with the 20 megapixel Dual Digic 6 Canon EOS 7D Mark II with a host of new photo and video features for a MSRP of $1,799 USD.

The major highlights for photographers are AF points and the fast action frames per second. No more 7D 19 AF points, the 7D Mark II has 65 AF points to the likes of sports photographers paired with a fast 10 fps like the Canon 1D Mark IV. All this speed is supported by Dual DIGIC 6 processors to keep up with the faster buffer rate.

Okay, now for the good stuff for all those HD DSLR video fanatics. Headphone jack, uncompressed HDMI out and Dual Pixel CMOS AF during video recording like the Canon EOS 70D briefly touches the amazing video specifications. Full HD video is now with a 60fps frame rate for slow motion applications and with the now commonplace ALL-I and IPB compression rates. I almost forgot, Time Code as well.
Let me mention again, HEADPHONE jack for audio monitoring. Hurray! (Like the more expensive Canon 5D Mark III)

Now for the not so good stuff of the Canon EOS 7D Mark II. No swivel touchscreen like the Canon EOS 70D as well as no built in Wi-Fi for remote monitoring and uploading with Canon EOS Remote App. IMHO, quite a strange product marketing move for Canon. The HD DSLR marketplace is very crowded with shrinking sales in a saturated environment nowadays. We will have to wait until a November 2014 product release date to get a hands on review of this long awaited Canon EOS 7D replacement.

In the meantime, the impatient will be appeased by new affordable lenses recently announced as well. The new EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM pancake lens for $149 will satisfy the compact form factor crowd. We have already seen the Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM pancake lens for full frame but this shorter focal length will be a quick seller at this price point.

The newly announced Canon EF 24-105mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM kit lens for $599 USD will gladly replace the aging Canon EF 28-135mm IS kit lens seen with the Canon 5D Mark II and the original Canon EOS 7D. The only kit lens that has impressed me is the current Canon EF-S 18-135mm IS STM for its price point and lens quality.

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New Canon EOS Rebel SL1/100D Announced

Big things do come in small packages, especially when it comes to Canon's smallest and lightest creation, the Canon EOS Rebel SL1/100D DSLR. Boasting an impressive 14.36 ounces for body only with a size smaller than the current Canon Rebel T4i/650D, the new Canon Rebel SL1/100d still packs a mighty punch like the Canon EOS M digital mirrorless camera.



The new Rebel SL1/100d touts an 18 megapixel CMOS APS-C sensor with DIGIC V processor. 9 AF points fill the frames along with 4 frames per second shutter rate. A new version of the AF Servo called Hybrid AF II allegedly has better AF Servo during video recording. I will keep my fingers crossed for that past disappointing AF feature in the previous Canon Rebel T4i/650D.



For an upcoming retail price of $649 body only and $799 with the new STM enabled kit lens in April 2013, the new Canon EOS Rebel SL1/100D will be a great value just like the previous Canon EOS Rebel T3i/600D. The new Rebel SL1/100D has an impressive 1080p capable video function with an external microphone input for audio as well. Of course, video and audio have full manual control for ultimate creativity. Just like the previous Canon Rebel T4i/650D and the Canon EOS M, the new Canon Rebel SL1/100D keeps the touch screen user interface but only with a fixed 3.0 inch LCD screen. Beggars cannot be choosers!



I almost forgot! It has only been 10 months since the previous Canon Rebel T4i/650D was released, but there is an almost identical and new Canon EOS Rebel T5i/700D coming soon to replace it. What's the point? There is really nothing new besides a "real time" Live View of Creative Filter Effects and other minor things not worth mentioning. Just keep your current full size Canon Rebel and save up for the smallest and lightest DSLR from Canon next month.

Canon EOS Rebel T4i/650D DSLR Announced

Canon has done it again! The announcement of the new Canon EOS Rebel T4i/650D DSLR with a 18mp APS-C sensor with DIGIC V+ processor gains new ground in the entry level DSLR market. The previous Canon Rebel T3i/600D was already impressive, but from all the added features of the new Canon Rebel T4i/650D makes this camera shine brighter. In a nutshell, consider this entry level DSLR a Canon 60D in a Rebel body, but with touchscreen LCD capabilities and a new Hybrid AF system for even smoother focus during video recording. On top of all that, you can add the Canon 60D 9 point AF system. As soon as the new 5 frames per second Canon EOS Rebel T4i/650D hits the store shelves, I will post my upcoming Canon Rebel T4i/650D Verdict and Video Review very soon.



Pancakes are not for breakfast anymore! The new Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM prime lens or pancake lens was also introduced as a compact travel lens for full frame and APS-C sensor DSLR's. A very thin and low profile standard prime lens featuring the new stepper motor technology to make focus even smoother during HD video capture with the new Canon Rebel T4i/650D DSLR. The budget filmmaker can rejoice because the retail price of this small gem is $199. Call it a "nifty forty"?



The ultimate entry level walk around lens is reinvented. The new Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens makes a fabulous pair with the new Canon Rebel T4i/650D DSLR. The new stepper motor technology combined with the T4i/650D's hybrid AF system makes it possible to focus smoothly during video recording. This sounds like a promising budget kit lens for soccer moms and amateur filmmakers.



***MAJOR UPDATE***

I posted a Canon Rebel T4i/650D and EF 40mm f/2.8 STM Hybrid AF Video Test here. See this amazing pancake lens when paired with the new Canon Rebel T4i/650D.



Stay updated with more Canon Rebel T4i/650D updates,reviews and video tests by Becoming a Fan on my Facebook Fan Page and following me on Twitter!


***Major Update***

I just posted my Canon EOS Rebel T4i/650D Verdict and Video Test here.

Newly Announced Apple iPhone 4S

Apple CEO, Tim Cook announced the much anticipated Apple iPhone 4S today from Cupertino, California. To everybody's surprise, the successor to the iPhone 4 was not called iPhone 5. Just like previous generations of the iPhone, the "S" designation for "speed" is just tacked on the end of the fourth generation label. All the fanfare and hoopla preceding the iPhone event makes the new iPhone 4S name very anti climactic.



As you noticed, the pictures above are from the last Apple iPhone 4 release. I used the pictures because the new iPhone 4S has the same exact body. Same glass front and back with the same button placement. The good news is your iPhone 4 case will fit the new iPhone 4S. Hooray!



Now for the nitty gritty. The new iPhone 4S has the new dual core A5 processor like the iPad 2. For photographers, the new iPhone 4S sports a 8 megapixel camera with a f/2.4 lens. On top of that, the dual core A5 chip with iOS 5 enables an amazing camera one half second recycle rate. I know it is not 10 fps but for all those Facebook photographers, it is a welcome new feature. For HD DSLR purists, the new iPhone 4S features 1080p video with built in image stabilization. Wow! The new optics combined with the new noise reduction feature should give an astounding HD video and not so grainy high resolution pictures.



Convinced yet? You will have to preorder on October 7th, 2011 and wait in line for your iPhone 4S at your local Apple store on October 14th, 2011. All the high res pics and HD video will not overload your iPhone because there is finally a 64gb model to soak up all that goodness. So, the 64gb iPhone 4S is $399, the 32gb iPhone 4S is $299 and the 16gb iPhone 4S is $199. The best news is the previous iPhone 4 8gb is now $99 and the very old iPhone 3GS 8gb is now free with new contract. What a bargain!



I will probably be waiting in line with the rest of the world on October 14th for the new "World" iPhone 4S. The new Apple iPhone 4S has both GSM and CDMA built in, so it can reach all wireless carriers like AT&T, Sprint and Verizon. Former Apple CEO Steve Jobs may have gotten his ultimate wish for every man, woman and child to have an iPhone in their hand. My children certainly agree!



Here is my Apple iPhone 4 unboxing Youtube video from a year ago. Your new Apple iPhone 4S will look exactly the same.

You can also check out my Apple iPhone 4 Unboxing Gallery.

Stay updated on this Apple iPhone 4S product release, become a Fan on my Facebook Fan Page and follow me on Twitter!

Youtube Releases Stylish Cosmic Panda Makeover

The Google Aliens abducted my ChadSorianoPhotoBlog Youtube Channel and imposed their stylish Cosmic Panda redesign to my surprise this morning. This abduction phenomenon began like this. My 6 year old son woke me up from bed at 5am to alert me he had an "accident". After a quick load of soiled linens in my trusty Whirlpool Duet, I discovered paranormal activity on my "Canon1dm4" Youtube Channel before sunrise.



A rub of my sleepy eyes and a swig of my morning coffee did not lessen the shock of this obvious experimental redesign of my Youtube Channel. Doubt and disbelief filled my mind by this foreign intrusion of my ChadSorianoPhotoBlog.



A quick "Google" search of the subject revealed the truth to the conspiracy. Over a month late to the news of "Cosmic Panda", Youtube's fresh and stylish redesign has mixed reviews. The new user interface, playlists, templates and other undiscovered features give a cleaner and simpler look in my opinion. I embrace change, especially when my videos have better presentation with clearer thumbnails and an improved video player interface. Despite the lack of medical probing during this abduction, I am puzzled by Google's brief visit. My ChadSorianoPhotoBlog Youtube Channel reverted back to normal 2 hours later. Hmmm...secret cover up? No, just Cosmic Panda.

New Canon EOS Rebel T3i and T3 Announced

You may have seen the posts on the internet already, the Canon EOS Rebel T3i and T3 are coming to a store near you. It has been exactly a year since the Canon EOS Rebel T2i impressed the entry level DSLR market and it looks like the magic will appear again. As you noticed in the screen grab from the Canon USA website, the new T3i has an articulating screen just like the Canon EOS 60D. Also, like the 60D it has remote flash control, Full HD video capture and finally manual audio control over video. So, in a nutshell it is a baby 60D for a sub-$1000 entry level DSLR price! Amazing!
The Canon EOS T3 is projected as the Canon EOS Rebel XS replacement. It is bargain priced with a 12 megapixel sensor and the addition of 720p HD video. Consider it a slightly higher megapixel Rebel XS with 720p video. Not too shabby considering it is the basement entry level DSLR out there for Canon.
As expected, keep updated on my PhotoBlog for my upcoming review of the Canon EOS Rebel T3i and all of its wonderful features. See you all soon!

The Bronx Zoo Experience !

My trip to New York City would not be complete without a visit to The Bronx Zoo. I just completed my Canon EXPO 2010 Visual Journey at the Javits Convention Center and looked forward for more sights and sounds of the Empire State.



The Bronx Zoo is the largest urban zoo in the United States. I felt every step as my family pounded the pavement of this "Jungle in an Urban Jungle". Bronx Zoo patrons are transported into a lush environment filled with species contained in natural barriers. From elephants, gorillas, every type of bird, butterfly and of course a petting zoo for kids. I almost forgot about the Sea Lions too!



The best exhibits at The Bronx Zoo were the Petting Zoo, Butterfly Garden, the World of Birds and finally the Wild Asia Monorail. My kids saw prairie dogs up close, every type of deer and a Red Panda that looks more like a fuzzy red fox.



Just like I was "Eyes Wide Open" at the Canon EXPO 2010, my family was enthralled by all the Bronx Zoo wonders. My son said he wanted to live at The Bronx Zoo forever!



You can view more photos and videos in my The Bronx Zoo 2010 Gallery.
Shot with the Canon EOS 5D Mark II with the EF 24-105mm f/4L IS lens.



This is a 1080p video shot with the Canon EOS 5D Mark II at 29.97fps. Edited with iMovie'09 and compressed with Quicktime. I used the Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS lens.

Tampa Bay Devil Rays Win Over New York Yankees!

Kudos to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for the 3 to 2 victory against the New York Yankees in the July 30th American League East baseball game. I witnessed Rays Matt Joyce hit a three run homer in the sixth inning. The sold out crowd at Tropicana Field roared into a frenzy as number 20 knocked the ball beyond right field granting the Rays with all their runs.



The brief moment my son unglued his eyes from his Nintendo DSi, he got into the ballgame spirit with his own personalized Devil Rays wooden bat. A black bat for my son and of course a pink bat for my daughter.



New York Yankees Alex Rodriguez strikes out. A-Rod fails his attempted 600th career homer.



Our family Friday night out would not be complete without overpriced sugary cotton candy. Nintendo DSi followed with souvenir bats and finally sugar overload to finish off the July 30th Devil Rays victory over the Yankees.



The competition is not over for the American League East. Baseball fans of Tampa Bay look forward to another Rays win and my kids are hopeful for more cotton candy.



I used a Canon EOS 1D Mark IV with the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II, 24-70mm f/2.8L and 35mm f/1.4L lenses.
You can view more in my Tampa Bay Devil Rays vs. New York Yankees American League East Baseball Game Gallery.