New Canon Gear Announced

Canon announced the 60D as expected today, and at first glance it looks like it does everything the same as the 7D, except that the 7D has better AF and probably a more robust build. The 60D is 18MP, 1080p video of course, and a pull out swivel LCD. That alone makes it a macro lover's delight! But the best part is the price: $1099, for an 18MP camera. OK, it has the lousy 9-point focus of the 5D MKII, but that price!

But the more interesting story are the new lenses and Extenders (yep, version 3 Extenders are out, hope the 2.0x is sharper!), all of them L glass. But the most interesting is, and I'm totally serious, the 8-15mm f/4 Fisheye zoom L lens! That'd be fun, but it does cost $1400. You get full 180 degress on a FF sensor body! Here is the press release. New 300/2.8 and 400/2.8 also, that 400 being the ultimate dream lens for me... BUT, eleven grand! Yikes, this lens release is for the wealthy!

I like my lenses, I'm staying put for now, lol. Wellll, the 2.0 extender may need to be investigated, as long as it doesn't sell for the full $500 MSRP.

I'd expect the new EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM to be a popular lens.

Glad to see Canon going utra-wide in an EF lens. I don't really need a fisheye lens but still I'd like to use one, but the price is a little off-putting. I wonder why they made the new ultra-wide fisheye as a zoom. I've wondered that about my Sigma 12-24mm lens that I use almost exclusively at 12mm. Wouldn't a prime lens in that 8 to 15mm range (the wider the better) be optically superior and less expensive?

Is there any information on how the zoom works on the 70-300? (meaning is it a push/pull type)

Is there any information on how the zoom works on the 70-300? (meaning is it a push/pull type)

Looking at the pictures of it on dpreview.com, it looks like it is NOT a push/pull zoom. I just scanned the info and didn't see that it said anything specific so I'm not absolutely certain.

I bet Canon is hoping to win back the market taken by Sigma on the 10-20mm. With an 8-15mm, folks will want to buy that to complement the 16-35mm and the 24-105mm thereby covering all of that range with no gaps and no need to leave Canon for Sigma. The reason I didn't get the Canon 12-22 was that extra 2mm on the wide end, which on a crop body, is crucial.

Thanks for the tip.

Bill Brennan

I hope they didn't put a rotating front lens on the new 70-300. I use the original 70-300, and trying to use a circular polarizer on the lens is a real pain since the filter rotates as the camera focuses. The original isn't push/pull either, and manual focusing is trickier than other lens.

I would hope that 75-300mm isn't an air pump, lol. I know it's an L and it's white, but what turns me off is the non-fixed aperture, but I guess I'm being picky... that'd be even pricier. And at that price it oughtta be internal focus I would think. My max focal length is 200mm so I'd like a bit more reach... then I look at the 300mm f/4 and that's only $1269 and it's a sharp prime, but no IS, although it'd be on a tripod 98% of the time. Oy, decisions!

Paul, the Canon 300mm f/4 does have IS. I have that lens and it is a very nice one.

OH! You're right! I just looked, missed that before... it's the 400/5.6 that doesn't have it. Thanks for the clarification. Hmmm, that 300mm prime might be the winner...

Canon certainly has no shame in cranking up the prices. The 70-300 4-5.6 IS L at 1500, seems just a bit steep when compared to the EF 70-300 f4-5.6 IS at ~$700 (which has apparently been dropped from their lineup). I'm not sure I see the value proposition there.

The 400/2.8 is bordering on insanity at 11K MSRP, $3000 more than its predecessor. The 300/2.8L at $7000 is only 1K behind the release price of the 600/4L and $2200 more than its predecessor. And this trend of massive price increases has been there on every single lens they've released over the last several years.

Its seems as if Nikon and Canon are in a price war... To see who can price their bodies and lenses at the most absurd levels.

I know, eleven grand, can you imagine? "Honey, I know it's $11,000, but I NEED this lens... it's really well made."

The very next decision would undoubtedly be whether she whacks you on the left or the right side of your noggin with a rolling pin...

Seriously, these ridiculous prices also drive up the used prices... great if you're selling, bad if you're shopping. The used 400/2.8 market just leaped a thousand bucks.

I went to the canon website and compared the 60D to the 7D, yes, they are almost the same in every aspect, same sensor size, 18mp, and just about everything else.

1. The two differences that stood out between the two was the 60D shoots 5 frames a second to the 7D at 8 frames.

2. As mentioned, the 60D has the 9 point focus to the 7D's 19 point.

I currently use the 40D, does anyone have a personal opinion about the difference between the 9 point and 19 point focus? I can get by with the 5 frames a second, but will the 19 point justify the $700 difference between two cameras that are almost identicial in every aspect??

David - what do you primarily shoot? If you do a lot of closeup, still lifes, landscapes or things that just aren't going to run away on you, I suspect that the focussing points really don't matter all that much.

Dan - I have never really given that a thought, I shoot all that you mention and also alot of wildlife. Not to sound dumb, what if any are the advantages if any with additional focus points, how do thay come into play...using the 9 point against the 19 point?

Again, I have never had the option to shoot a camera with alot of focal points to make a comparison, maybe this is something I need to consider once I understand the advantage.

Thanks for your input and anyone else that wants to give their insite!

My first Canon was a 5D, then the 5D2, so I've always been on 9-points, so while I referenced the "lousy 9-point focus", that was really a response to others who aren't happy with just 9-points. Confession: I'm old-school in a few ways, and ever since my first AF SLR, I've always used centerpoint only, on purpose. I hit where I want to focus and recompose holding the shutter button. It's so second nature I don;t think I can change at this point. I tried 9-point for an hour and it kept messing me up. I fought it, wanting to aim with CP only, so back I went. So my summary statement is: 9 points are too many for me, lol!

Ok, thanks...I pretty much use the center point for most of my shooting also then recompose.

The 60 D sounds intriguing. At $1100 now, I can see them going for around $900 with just a little patience. Is it an improvement over the 7D with a better price, or more or less the same? The number of AF points is a non-issue as far as I'm concerned, but what about noise, fps and overall performance?
As far as lenses, great but why not a 100 to 400 f4, rotary zoom, ie w/o the "air pump".?
Need to win the mega lottery to even consider the rest. Those prices are ridiculous considering we're in a recession.

Mark
From what I've read, the new 60D is not necessarily the next iteration following directly from the 50D. For instance it does not have a metal body. It will be somewhere in the middle between the 7D and the Rebel, in size, cost, and performance. All three have 18MP sensors.