The Wildlife Ho-tographer's Goodbye to 2019 and Hello to 2020

My readers know me as The Wildlife Ho-tographer. I have used Canon equipment for over 30 years and have embarked on many worldwide photo tours testing numerous pieces of Canon equipment. 

Below are a few photos from my 2019 tours to Africa, India, Alaska, Galapagos Islands, the Arctic and places in between. I will use the Canon EOS-1D X Mark III on more tours in 2020 once the camera is announced in February and hopefully take delivery in April. You can follow my travels on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and see my equipment bag and works on MichaelDanielHo.com

African Elephant calf in Amboselli NP

Saying hi to NatGeoWild film crew on loaction

Oryx and calf at Tsavo East NP

Serval cat in Maasai Mara NP

Zebra foal crossing Mara River

Bengal tiger at Ranthambore NP

Bengal tiger and cub, Corbett NP

A head turning Blue-footed Booby

Red-footed Booby on tree

Atlantic puffin gone fishing

Grey seal spy hopping

Humpback whale diving in SE Alaska

  

Brown bear fishing in Katmai NP

Polar bear cub gone fishing

A walk on the wild side

Pacific Sea otter and pup

Northern elephant seal and newborn pup

Canon EOS-1D X Mark III camera to be announced in early February. A late Merry Christmas present to myself

Canon announced the development of the EOS-1D X Mark III camera on October 24, 2019. I expect the official announcement to come before the CP+ trade show in February, 2020 and delivery to commence by around early April. I am ready to place my order and expect an invitation to preview the camera some time in early 2020. It's like a late Christmas present to myself. Happy Holidays to all my readers and all the best for 2020.

 I have been an EOS-1 user since the line was introduced in 1989. The latest and possibly last EOS-1D X Mark III DSLR body may have the following specs :

• All new mid 20MP sensor (most probably 24MP)
• Powered by dual DIGIC 9 processors
• Deep Learning AF system through viewfinder and Live View 
• Dual card slots - 2 CFexpress
• 10-bit HEIF file capture (in addition to JPEG and Raw)
• Shoots Super 4K 60p 10 bit video without cropping
• 6K video recording a possibility
• IBIS may be included. Models are being tested with and without this feature
• 3.2 million-dot touch screen
• Optical viewfinder with more information than the Mk II model
• 61 AF points spread wider than Mark II model
• 525 AF points in Live View
• AF-ON trackpad is fast and precise 
• LCD display on top of camera similar to EOS R
• Illuminated back buttons
• GPS plus built-in WiFi and Bluetooth
• Burst rate 16 fps in AF, 20 fps with Live View
• Improved silent shooting mode. Completely 'silent'.
• Improved LP-E19 battery with extended life
• Release date - Q1 2020

On the many Days of Christmas, Mother Nature gave to me the following gifts

On the many days of Christmas, Mother Nature gave to me :

One breaching Orca
Two adorable Cheetah cubs
Three sleepy Polar Bears
Four majestic White Rhinos
Five Humpback whales bubble net feeding
Six African Elephants in a loving family
Seven fluffy ducklings

No Turtle Doves but a group of massive Sequoia trees.

Will the upcoming Canon EOS-1D X Mark III camera have IBIS and 6K video?

Canon announced the development of the EOS-1D X Mark III camera on October 24, 2019.

 I have been an EOS-1 user since the line was introduced in 1989. The latest and possibly last EOS-1D X Mark III DSLR body may have the following specs :

• All new mid 20MP sensor (most probably 24MP)
• Powered by dual DIGIC 9 processors
• Deep Learning AF system through viewfinder and Live View 
• Dual card slots - 2 CFexpress
• 10-bit HEIF file capture (in addition to JPEG and Raw)
• Shoots Super 4K 60p 10 bit video without cropping
• 6K video recording a possibility
• IBIS may be included. Models are being tested with and without this feature
• 3.2 million-dot touch screen
• Optical viewfinder with more information than the Mk II model
• 61 AF points spread wider than Mark II model
• 525 AF points in Live View
• AF-ON trackpad is fast and precise 
• LCD display on top of camera similar to EOS R
• Illuminated back buttons
• GPS plus built-in WiFi and Bluetooth
• Burst rate 16 fps in AF, 20 fps with Live View
• Improved silent shooting mode. Completely 'silent'.
• Improved LP-E19 battery with extended life
• Release date - Q1 2020

Canon confirms RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS focusing issue. New firmware coming

Canon has officially confirmed that the new RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM lens has a front-focusing issue at minimum focus distance.

A firmware fix will be released as soon as possible but it has to be done by a Canon Service Center.
Keep checking back for details on how to get the newest firmware downloaded.

Canon EOS R Mark II and EOS Rs mirrorless cameras may be announced around May 2020 at Photokina Show

Canon may be ready to announce their megapixel EOS-Rs mirrorless model together with the EOS R Mark II camera some time around May, 2020 during the Photokina Show in Cologne, Germany.
Both cameras, including the EOS-1D X Mark III are all out in field testing. 2020 will be an exciting year for Canon cameras. Keep checking back for the latest information and development.

Canon EOS Rs rumored specifications :

• 75mp full frame CMOS
• Sensor “focused on the dynamic range”
• Frames per second “… Sounded similar to the EOS R”
• DIGIC 9 processor
• Dual Card Slots
• Joystick the same as the EOS-1D X Mark III
• Larger and higher resolution EVF than the EOS R
• Fully articulating LCD screen
• Fully weather-sealed
• Similar ergonomics as the EOS R (No touch bar)

Canon Megapixel EOS Rs mirrorless camera coming in February 2020?

Canon may be ready to announce their megapixel EOS-Rs mirrorless camera around the same time as the flagship EOS-1DX Mark III DSLR, some time in February 2020. Keep checking back for the latest information and development.

Canon EOS Rs rumored specifications :

• 75mp full frame CMOS
• Sensor “focused on the dynamic range”
• Frames per second “… Sounded similar to the EOS R”
• DIGIC 9 processor
• Dual Card Slots
• Joystick the same as the EOS-1D X Mark III
• Larger and higher resolution EVF than the EOS R
• Fully articulating LCD screen
• Fully weather-sealed
• Similar ergonomics as the EOS R (No touch bar)

Upcoming Canon Pro EOS-R camera may be the EOS-1D R with a hybrid EF/RF lens mount

My readers know me as The Wildlife Ho-tographer, using Canon equipment for over 30 years. I have been an EOS-1 user since 1989 when the first model came out and currently use the EOS-1D X Mark II as my main body.

You can read my post on the upcoming EOS-1D X Mark III here for possible camera specifications and follow my travels on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and this blog  plus my website.

Canon announced the EOS R system featuring the newly designed RF mount on September 5, 2018. You can download the whitepaper on this new body here. I was invited by Canon to a hands-on demonstration of the production camera on September 9. You can read my earlier post in October 2018, explaining why a long time user like myself will not buy the current EOS-R mirrorless camera.

Now it appears Canon may have listened to users like myself and is working on a pro version of the EOS-R mirrorless camera in an EOS-1 body and use both the EF and RF lenses without the need for an adapter.

As I mentioned in my 2018 post, there is no technical reason why Canon cannot make an EOS-1D mirrorless camera. They chose to go with the less weight solution and came up with an also-ran camera called EOS-R plus a new, expensive RF line of lenses.

In order for the EOS-1D camera body to accept the RF and EF lenses, Canon engineers will have to compensate for the different sensor-to-flange distance (20mm vs 44mm) and electrical connectors (12 vs 8) between the two mounts.

These difference can be overcome if Canon decides to listen to their professional and serious user community and remedy their mistake once and for all. The EOS-1D X Mark III will be announced in Q1, 2020. After that, Canon can work on the pro EOS-1D R mirrorless model and have a camera ready perhaps in late 2020 or early 2021. Keep checking back for the latest information and development.