Ten Facts From Canon's L Series Lens Factory

Want to know how Canon's L series lenses are manufactured and why they are'white' in color?  Click on the above Canon page link and see why these lenses cost more.

I will be in Europe on a Travel and Wildlife Photography tour. You can follow my travels on Facebook and Twitter, see my equipment bag and works on MichaelDanielHo.com 

Canon Japan Announced 2017 Third Quarter Results

2017 Third Quarter in Review

Looking back at the global economy in the third quarter of 2017, the U.S. economy continued to grow steadily as employment conditions continued to improve and consumer spending was stable. In Europe, unemployment rate decreased and capital investment showed signs of recovery mainly in such developed countries as Germany. The Chinese economy rallied due to public investments and the economies of emerging countries continued to realize moderate growth due to strong exports. In Japan, corporate earnings improved and consumer spending showed signs of recovery. As a result, the global economy overall continued to realize moderate growth……..

Results by Segment :

Within the Imaging System Business Unit, although sales volume of interchangeable-lens digital cameras declined compared with the previous year, owing to the shrinking market, unit sales of such newly launched models as EOS 6D Mark II enjoyed solid demand, allowing Canon to maintain the top share in the U.S., Japan, and major countries in Europe. As for digital compact cameras, sales of high-value-added models enjoyed solid demand; supported by healthy demand for the newly launched G9 X Mark II, part of the high-image-quality PowerShot G-series lineup, leading to an increase in unit sales from the same period of the previous year…….

Outlook

As for the outlook in the fourth quarter, the U.S. economy is expected to continue to recover as employment conditions and corporate earnings steadily improve. The European economy is expected to recover slowly due to increasing uncertainty surrounding the U.K.’s decision to leave the EU. Looking at China, the economy is expected to stabilize through changes in fiscal policy, while emerging economies, such as those of Southeast Asia, Russia and Brazil, are expected to recover along with the rising price of natural resources. With regard to the Japanese economy, the outlook indicates a trend of gradual recovery supported by improved employment conditions. Overall, the pace of recovery of the global economy is expected to grow stronger, despite such concerns as increasing geopolitical risks….

Read the full reports from Canon Inc. in PDF here.

What Is Your Favorite Canon Camera & Lens Combo and Why

Golden-hooded Tanager in Costa Rica

I am back from my Costa Rica Wildlife Photo Tour. It was quite a good trip and I got some very good Hummer photos. Now comes the tough part of processing the pics and getting back to the rhythm of things and writing my blog again.

On that score, I have decided to add a discussion forum on this blog as an experiment and connect further with my readers. Any feedback and comments are welcome.

My readers know I am The Wildlife Ho-tographer and have used Canon equipment for over a quarter of a century. Over the years, I have found some equipment to be more versatile than others and they always seem to find their way into my equipment bag every time I am on a wildlife photo tour anywhere in the world.

I am sure you have the same experience as well. So, the first topic of discussion in our new forum is, your favorite equipment. Please tell us.

What is your favorite Canon camera & lens combo and why

Canon EOS-80D Camera - $899 with Free Shipping

Canon EOS-80D with EF 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens

There is a highly-rated merchant on eBay selling the Canon EOS-80D camera for $899 including free shipping. As The Wildlife Ho-tographer, I consider this to be a worthwhile upgrade for those who have a Rebel T6i / EOS-60D or earlier models. You can download the User Manual and take a look at the camera closely yourself.

My main equipment are the EOS-1D, EOS-5D and EOS-7D cameras but I have used the EOS-XXD models on some of my wildlife photo shoots. You can see my lens and camera recommendations for nature and wildlife photography.

You will not find a link to this merchant because I do not accept any advertisement, commissioned link and tracking cookies on my Blog or website. I am completely unbiased in my recommendation and have no conflict of interest. You can find the listing easily by Googling it yourself. See my equipment bag, works and images taken with this lens on MichaelDanielHo.com

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II Lens - $1,599

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II lens

There is a highly-rated merchant on eBay selling the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II lens for $1,599 including free shipping. As The Wildlife Ho-tographer, this is my favorite 'L' short zoom lens in Canon's EF lens line up.

I have taken this lens all around the globe on many wildlife photo shoots, from the high Arctic to the Southern Ocean. You can see my lens recommendation for nature and wildlife photography.

You will not find a link to this merchant because I do not accept any advertisement, commissioned link and tracking cookies on my Blog or website. I am completely unbiased in my recommendation and have no conflict of interest. You can find the listing easily by Googling it yourself. See my equipment bag, works and images taken with this lens on MichaelDanielHo.com

Canon Australia Launches Light Awards for 2016

With thousands of submissions in its pocket from 2015, the Canon Light Awards sees a facelift for the new year

Rejuvenating the vibrant photography competition for photographers, by photographers, Canon Australia is excited to reveal a refreshed format for its Canon Light Awards from March 2016 – kicking off with a brief on Stillness by Canon Ambassador and Australian sweetheart, Guy Sebastian.

From today, there will be a new brief set every two months, as opposed to a monthly brief, allowing participants to fully immerse themselves in the challenge. Three device-focused categories will also replace the previous Open and Student categories, to further encourage participation from everyone who has a love for photography – whether a hobbyist using a compact camera, or a professional who works with full frame DSLRs.

To nurture the winner in each category’s’ imaging skills and knowledge, they will also be awarded unique experiences with some of the best photographers in the country, on top of vouchers and product prizes.

“I love the buzz and excitement of world tours and being focused on performing my music live to my fans, but outside this, some of my most precious moments are spent behind the lens, observing and capturing the world around me. It is in these moments of stillness where I can really appreciate the little hidden surprises at every turn, the small details that often go unnoticed as we hurtle through our days,” shares passionate photographer and Canon ambassador, Guy Sebastian.

“For my Canon Light Awards brief, I’m encouraging people to use their creativity to focus on ‘stillness’. When you stop, take a deep breath, and find your sense of wonder, you surprise yourself with the beauty that lies in your frame.”

The Canon Light Awards was launched in 2015, as a series of monthly creative photography challenges aimed at nurturing Australians’ love for visual storytelling. With 14 judges and briefs set to date, thousands of memories captured in time, and two 2015 Grand Final winners just announced last week, the Canon Light Awards truly had a remarkable year. For 2016, the Canon Light Awards is set to continue as the ultimate program for inspiration, experimentation and growth.

“What sets the Canon Light Awards apart from other photography competitions is that we actively encourage everyone from people tinkering with a camera for the first time, to professionals who have made a career of capturing moments through the lens. With every new brief set by some of the best in the industry, we encourage creative shooters to push the boundaries of their imagination, craft and skill. Our focus on unique experiences for Canon users is further exemplified by other great initiatives such as the Canon Collective’s ‘Shoot the Brief’ photography meets that take place with every new Canon Light Awards brief announced.” said Jason McLean, Director – Consumer Imaging, Canon Australia.

For more information on the Canon Light Awards, and should you or your community want to get involved, do spread the word and check out http://lightawards.canon.com.au

To see the outstanding submissions from the Canon Light Awards 2015’s 22 finalists and two Grand Final winners, please see the full gallery of high-res images available for download via http://bit.ly/1mVQ4qs

For more information on the Canon Collective, click here.

Overview of changes to the Canon Light Awards

To continue as the ultimate program for inspiration, experimentation and growth, these are the key changes made to the Canon Light Awards from March 2016 :

In line with the new categories and keeping unforgettable photography experiences at the heart of the prizes, winners and runners-up for each brief can expect :

About the Canon Light Awards

Created by photographers, for photographers, the Canon Light Awards encourages all creative shooters to push the boundaries of their imagination, craft and skill by responding to a creative brief with powerful images that tell a story. With a new challenge set every second month by Canon’s master photographers, the Canon Light Awards is designed to help Canon camera users to achieve their photography creative potential.

Canon USA Store - Refurbished Cameras and Lens Deals

The Canon USA Store has some interesting refurbished equipment for those who are still shopping for camera gear. All camera and lens are covered by a one year Canon USA warranty. Before you recoil at purchasing used stuff, read my post on buying refurbished camera equipment and my list of recommended lens and cameras for wildlife photography.

I do not have any advertisement, commissioned link and tracking cookies on my Blog or website. I am completely unbiased in my recommendation, do no receive compensation from any company and have no conflict of interest. You can see my equipment bag and works on MichaelDanielHo.com


DSLR Cameras

    Canon EOS-5D Mark III $1899 (Reg $2499)
    Canon EOS-6D $999 (Reg $1399)

EF and EF-S Lens

    Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM $199 (Reg $279)
    Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS $747 (Reg $1049)
    Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II $1087 (Reg $1499)
    Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L $543 (Reg $699)
    Canon EF 24mm f/2.8 IS $407 (Reg $549)
    Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 $271 (Reg $329)

Accessories

    Canon Extender 1.4 III $292 (Reg $429)
    Canon Speedlite 600EX-RT $373 (Reg $469)

Your First DSLR Camera - Expectation vs Reality

* * *  Ever wondered why Canon EOS-1D X costs so much? Find out  * * *

This time of the year, as you are contemplating on Christmas presents to give others or yourself, your thoughts may turn to your first DSLR camera. Perhaps you or someone on your list may be upgrading from a point-n-shoot or smartphone camera and want to get more serious into photography.

My readers know I have been a wildlife photographer using Canon equipment for 25 years. My fascination with world travel, nature and wildlife photography started from a young age. Minolta was my first SLR camera and eventually I ended up with the Canon EOS-10 and EOS-1 SLR cameras. When the digital D30 came out in 2000, I agonized over the high price but bought one in the end. It opened my eyes to the possibilities of digital photography. To me, photographing wildlife can be very frustrating sometimes. Huge expenses, long days of traveling and waiting come down to a few crucial shots. The instant feedback of the DSLR improves the odds. 

No advertisement or commission from equipment manufacturers and sellers are accepted on my website and blog. My observations and recommendation come from years of field experience. You can see my equipment bag and works on MichaelDanielHo.com. A combination of the above gear will go with me on my photo shoots, depending on need. Occasionally, I will get a loaner from Canon for evaluation but I always own the equipment that are essential to my work and I have access to other equipment when needed. Take a look at my post for the best Canon DSLR and PowerShot cameras.

The video below from DigitalRev offers a bit of levity to those shopping for their first DSLR camera.