Event Coverage

Canon announces 4 new cameras, including the highly anticipated EOS 7D Mk II & PowerShot G7 X

By Marcus Wong - 16 Sep 2014

Canon announces 4 new cameras, including the highly anticipated EOS 7D Mk II & PowerShot G7 X

Canon's mega year-end camera launch

Canon has just unveiled seven new products; and among them are the highly anticipated EOS 7D Mk II DSLR and the PowerShot G7 X large sensor compact camera. As usual, we were on hand to get you the latest scoop on these new cameras and lenses.

 

EOS 7D Mk II

The star of the launch is without doubt the EOS 7D Mk II, which features dual Digic 6 processors, a 20.2-megapixel CMOS sensor, and a new mirror and shutter system that allows a continuous shooting of up to 10 frames per second. Autofocus is noticeably speedy, thanks to the fact that the 7D Mk II uses a 65 point all-cross-type autofocus system that rapidly tracks and focuses on your chosen subject. Slightly heavier than the EOS 7D (820g vs. 816g, body only), the EOS 7D Mk II feels solid in our hands, and its large handgrip makes it easy to pick up and handle.

In addition, the center AF point is compatible up to f/8, and the AF system features a new 150,000-pixel RGB 252-zone AE sensor; with the EOS iTR AF (intelligent Tracking and Recognition) facilitating quick face recognition by recognizing a subject’s face and color. A Dual Pixel CMOS AF function provides smooth and accurate focusing when doing video work, and during our hands-on with it, the camera certainly seemed extremely responsive. What’s interesting is that the AF speed can be adjusted to allow for slower focus shifts for a softer effect.

As can be seen from chart above, the 7D Mk II supports advanced movie functions, with high-speed phase-difference detection AF on the CMOS sensor plane. This allows for extremely fast AF and smooth subject tracking in both live view and movie shooting mode. Movie Servo AF can also be enabled for quiet autofocus operation, with videos captured in industry-standard 24fps or high speed 60fps for slow motion playback in either MOV or MP4 format.

Pricing and availability of the EOS 7D Mk II will be announced at a later date.

 

EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM

The new EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM lens offers the equivalent field of view of a 38mm wide-angle lens, and with a minimum focusing distance of just 16cm, allows you to really go closer to bring the environment into the shot. Measuring just 22.8mm in thickness and weighing only 125g, the EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM lens is easily the smallest and thinnest lens in Canon’s EF-S lens series, and makes for a super attractive walkabout lens option.

 

EF24-105mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM

A do-it-all lens, the EF24-105mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM is a full-frame lens that uses two GMo (glass-molded) aspherical lenses and a UD lens to correct chromatic aberration and reduce color fringing. Macro photography is an option with this lens, as it has a minimum focusing distance of 40cm and a maximum magnification of 0.3x at all zoom ranges.

 

EF400mm f/4 DO IS USM

Finally, we've the EF400mm f/4 DO IS USM, a lens that's perfectly suited for shooting F1 races, with its long reach in a relatively portable form factor. The lens is roughly about the size and weight of a 70-200mm f/2.8 lens, and has been designed with three image stabilization modes with one to shoot still subjects, one for action scenes that require frequent panning, and a new mode for subjects with erratic movements, like soccer players.

Pricing and availability for all three lenses will be announced at a later date; we'll update this page once we have them.

 

PowerShot G7 X

Canon’s new premium compact in the PowerShot G series, the PowerShot G7 X features a large 1-inch, 20.2-megapixel CMOS sensor that’s about 2.8 times the area of the PowerShot G16 and PowerShot S120 before it. With its bright f/1.8-2.8 lens (24-100mm equivalent) and larger sensor, the PowerShot G7 X shines in low light, and the 9-blade circular aperture diaphragm creates a beautiful bokeh effect. Canon’s ZoomPlus technology allows the 4.2x zoom lens to be extended to 8.4x without noticeable image quality loss.

Macro shots can be captured at a minimum focus distance of 5cm, while the PowerShot G7 X’s Digic 6 imaging processor makes for speedy start-up and supports high speed AF, where the camera can shoot continuously until either the battery runs out or the memory card is full. In addition, manual movie mode allows you to make aperture, shutter or ISO settings while recording by using the control rings and the touchscreen. Not only that, the PowerShot G7 X can even do full HD 60p MP4 movies! At 304g, and measuring just 103 x 60.4 x 40.4mm, the PowerShot G7 X certainly makes for an ideal portable travel solution. Should Sony be worried?

Alas, pricing and availability for the PowerShot G7 X has yet to be announced as well.

 

PowerShot SX60 HS

Yet another super-zoom compact to add to Canon’s stable, the PowerShot SX60 HS has a 65x optical zoom lens, which gives you an equivalent focal range of 21-1,365mm (in 35mm terms). While it is a bit of a larger compact, the bigger grip offered does make for quite comfortable handling, and with a Macro mode that focuses at 0cm - yes, the object can be right against the lens - the PowerShot SX60 HS is one camera that truly covers all your bases.

A flip-out LCD monitor offers greater flexibility in handling, and the Advanced Zoom Framing Assist feature now comes with more options for subject size detection, thus allowing you to fine-tune the performance. Zoom memory stores your last used zoom and manual focus settings, even after the camera has been turned off, making it easy for you to pick up where you left off following a battery or SD card change. Finally, the PowerShot SX60 HS comes with Wi-Fi and NFC capabilities for easy photo sharing via the Canon CameraWindow app.

The PowerShot SX60 HS will be available from all Canon authorized dealers for S$679 from end September 2014.

 

PowerShot N2

Yet another member of Canon’s N series, the PowerShot N2 takes the form of the PowerShot N before it, but has a much larger zoom ring/shutter release combo dial. The touchscreen LCD now flips up a full 180 degrees (which reflects the feedback on the previous PowerShot N), and there’s now a Self-Portrait mode that enhances self portraits by brightening and smoothing skin digitally, and then applies background defocus to place emphasis on the face against a soft background. Interestingly enough, this mode activates automatically when the LCD is flipped up, so it appears Canon is truly targeting the selfie market with this one.

The PowerShot N2 will be retailing at a recommended retail price of S$399, but availability has yet to be announced.

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