Ultra Cool Gadgets

Multiply the focal length of your 135mm or longer lens by 1.4x without sacrificing image quality with the Canon EF 1.4x II extender. Optically superb, the lens fits all Canon 135mm fixed focal length lenses (except the 135mm f/2.8 Softfocus lens), along with the EF 70-200mm f/2.8L, 70-200mm f/2.8L, 70-200mm f/4.0L, 70-200mm f/4.0L IS USM, and 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS zoom lenses. In addition, the extender doesn’t sacrifice your autofocus on any EOS camera as long as it’s combined with a lens having an f/4 or faster maximum aperture (the extender reduces the effective aperture by one f-stop). Best of all, this version maintains the outstanding optics of the earlier incarnation, but adds a weather-resistant construction and improved anti-reflective surfaces in the barrel. The EF 1.4x II extender, which measures 2.9 inches in diameter and 1.1 inches long, weighs 7.8 ounces.

Technical Details
1.4x telephoto extender for multiplying focal length of Canon 135mm or longer lenses
Fits all 135mm or longer fixed focal length lenses and some 70-200mm telephoto lenses
Preserves autofocus on any EOS camera when combined with f/4 or faster lens
Weather-resistant construction and improved anti-reflective surfaces in the barrel
Measures 2.9 inches in diameter and 1.1 inches long; weighs 7.8 ounces

Customer feedback:

1. The 1.4X II teleconverter is a modest update to Canon’s earlier 1.4X TC. The mark II allows this extender to be stacked with another of Canon’s extenders (either another 1.4X II or the 2X II) without having to separate the two with an extension tube (although the loss of sharpness from stacking extenders may not be acceptable to you). Otherwise, the quality of the newer 1.4X II is supposed to be very similar to the older model, which I’ve never owned.
The 1.4X II is a great way to extend the reach of compatible lenses. Note that not every Canon lens is compatible with this extender. The following is from Canon’s Web site: “This tele extender can be used with fixed focal length lenses 135mm and longer (except the 135mm f/2.8 Softfocus lens), and the EF 70-200 f/2.8L, 70-200 f/2.8L IS, 70-200 f/4.0L, and 100-400 f/4.5-5.6L IS zoom lenses.”
I use it frequently with my Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS, which turns it into a 98-280mm zoom. The extra reach it adds is not tremendous, but it’s very welcome when I just need a little more than what the lens alone can give me.

2. I have both the 1.4x and 2x teleconverters from Canon. Neither, despite what people say, produces an image that just as sharp as the original lens. But images through the 2x are noticably bad from even a casual inspection while images through the 1.4x hold up very well. Carefully controlled test shots are the easiest way to really see the problems in this converter. But for the most part the 1.4x won’t be a liability in sharpness.
The 1.4x loses one stop of light. So while this does work on a 100mm-400mm f/4.5-5.6 IS L lens, I wouldn’t reccommend it. Save this for the 200mm f/2.8 L, and the 300mm f/2.8 IS L, and any bigger primes you have.

The Canon EF 24-70mm standard zoom lens does what many pros thought couldn’t be done–it replaces the L-series 28-70mm f/2.8 lens with something even better. The lens offers extended coverage to an ultra-wide-angle 24mm, making it ideal for digital as well as film shooters. The new processing unit, meanwhile, makes the autofocus (AF) faster than ever. And thanks to the two aspherical elements and a totally new UD glass element, the optics are far superior to the earlier lens. Sealed and gasketed against dust and moisture, the EF 24-70mm lens carries a one-year warranty.
Focal length: 24-70mm
Maximum aperture: 1:2.8
Lens construction: 16 elements in 13 groups
Diagonal angle of view: 74 to 29 degrees
Focus adjustment: Front-focusing method
Closest focusing distance: 1.25 feet
Zoom system: Rotating type
Filter size: 77mm
Dimensions: 3.3 inches in diameter, 4.9 inches long
Weight: 2.1 pounds

Customer feedback:

1. Simply put, this is the best all-around lens that Canon manufactures. It produces razor-sharp images with startling color and saturation, and at f/2.8 across the zoom range is capable of shooting in all but the dimmest of lighting conditions. The “L” glass (Canon’s professional line of lenses) is simply the best out there, bar none, from any manufacturer. It’s pricey, but well worth it.
I use this lens for portrait and wedding photography, landscapes, sports, and anything else that doesn’t require extreme telephoto. In concert with my EF 70-200mm f/4 L USM lens, I find that these two lenses cover just about everything I ever want to shoot. Of the two lenses, if I could pick only one, it would be the 24-70mm, because it’s so versatile and can shoot so many situations (the 70-200mm is also a marvelous, invaluable lens, but at 70mm is limited in wide-angle situations).
I can’t recommend this lens highly enough. If you can afford the entry fee, you’ll have no hint of buyer’s remorse once you see the spectacular images this lens produces.

2. ‘ve owned the 24-70mm for almost a year now. This lens has been a favorite of many since it replaced its well-regarded predecessor, the 28-70mm. It shoots images that are very sharp and have excellent contrast and saturation. It’s sharp wide open and only gets better when stopping down. The USM (Ultrasonic Motor) focuses very fast, and full-time manual focusing is allowed. I’ve thought about buying a 50mm f/1.4, but the results from this lens are so good, I’m having a hard time justifying the purchase. I’ve been nothing but pleased with the pictures I get from the 24-70mm. The constant f/2.8 aperture is great for shooting indoors and produces a very nice bokeh (background blur) when shooting portraits. This lens is much heavier than comparable consumer-grade zooms, but I don’t object to the weight. I actually like the heft and feel of this lens on my 20D. The only feature I wish it had is IS (image stabilization).
The 24-70mm bests the 24-105mm in one way: It’s a faster lens. That translates into the following advantages: At f/4.0, the 24-105mm cannot stop subject motion blur as well in low-light situations where the 24-70mm’s f/2.8 can give you a shutter speed that is twice as fast. Note that IS does not have any impact at all on subject motion blur, only on camera shake on your end. If bokeh (background blur) is important to you, the 24-70mm will have a slight advantage over the 24-105mm given its wider aperture. A wider aperture also helps a camera focus a little better in low light.

Advanced amateur photographers are a discerning group, and they’ve flocked to Canon’s G-Series for its ability to meet and exceed their demands. The third-generation PowerShot G10 is a stunning successor, loaded with uncompromising specs like 14.7 megapixels, a 28mm wide-angle lens, and Canon’s new DIGIC 4 Image Processor for notably improved face and motion detection. This is a camera that supports and nurtures creativity, with a full range of shooting and recording modes and compatibility with exciting accessories including Speedlite flashes.
The PowerShot G10 is equipped with a 14.7-megapixel CCD. Combined with unsurpassed DIGIC 4 image processing, this impressive pixel count delivers richly detailed photos that resonate with lifelike depth from shadows to highlights. An important benefit to the G10’s lofty pixel count is the flexibility it lends to the editing process. With 14.7 megapixels of resolution, any portion of any shot is a great candidate for enlargement. Enlarge and crop as your creative vision demands, confident that the detail you need is there for you.

Technical Details:
14.7-megapixel resolution for the highest image quality and editing flexibility
5x optical zoom with Optical Image Stabilizer; 28mm wide-angle lens
DIGIC 4 Image Processor improves Face Detection; full range of shooting and recording modes, including RAW
3.0-inch PureColor LCD II with even greater true-to-life color reproduction
Capture images to SD/SDHC memory card

The Canon BU-20 Bluetooth Adapter uses Bluetooth wireless technology to print your photos. With this device you can quickly and easily send photos from your PDA, laptop, or PC to a Canon compact photo printer. With a maximum transmission speed of approximately 720 kbps, the handy BU-20 works quickly and efficiently so you can see your favorite prints almost as quickly as you can take them.

Technical Details

* Adapter works with Bluetooth technology to wirelessly print photos
* Send photos from PDA, laptop, or PC to Canon photo printer
* Maximum transmission speed of approximately 720 kbps
* Great for printing photos while on the go
* Quick, efficient, and reliable

Customer feedback:

1. I purchased the BU-20 last week and am using it in my home network with a Mac G4 Laptop running OS 10.4.11. I also connect with my desktop G5 running OS 10.4.11. I plugged into my Canon Pixma 610 printer and within 2-3 minutes was up and running. No software needed. Just plug it in and go. You do not need to be a computer guru to use this device. Just make sure your computer is bluetooth compatible and your printer has a USB port to insert it in. On a Mac you just go to the Bluetooth Icon on top of the screen and scroll down to “Set Up A Bluetooth Device” and with just a few keystrokes you are in sync and start printing from most anywhere in your home. I do not know the max distance but I am printing in from about 30 feet through walls on the same floor. I have not measured the speed difference between hard wired and Blue Tooth but in my case it is very close. I also can print photos from my Motorola RAZR 2 cell phone wirelessly. I am very pleased as it does all I want it to and it is very very small. The newer Canon Printers like the 610 are equipped to handle the Blue Tooth device. Older models are not. Five stars from me.

2. This product works like a charm!! I can print from almost anywhere in my home (30′)

The Canon PIXMA MP610 Photo All-in-One Inkjet Printer instantly transforms your home into an efficient office with its patented 4,608-nozzle print head, which produces vivid images and documents with 9600 by 2400 dpi color resolution in seconds (21, to be exact). With this all-in-one PIXMA, you’ll also be able to preview pictures in high resolution on its 2.5-inch TFT display before using the simple Easy Scroll Wheel to edit and print from memory cards, digital cameras, DV camcorders, or camera phones. The printer’s high-quality operating system ensures that document copies will be faithful to the originals, scanned photos will look as crystal clear as the real thing, and even hard-to-scan items such as thick notebooks will result in vivid 4800 by 9600 dpi color images.
Just press the Power button and get to work, thanks to the printer’s helpful Quick Start design. Copies come out crisper than ever with the system’s Dual Color Gamut Processing Technology. Even printing off location is a breeze with any compatible Bluetooth device when the printer is hooked up to the USB Bluetooth adapter. In addition, this printer comes backed by a 1-year limited manufacturer’s warranty.

Technical Details

* All-in-one printer can preview, scan, copy, and print
* Color resolution up to 2400 x 9600 dpi
* Patented 4,608-nozzle print head for high-quality resolution
* Easy Scoll Wheel to preview, edit, and print with ease
* 1-year limited warranty

Customer feedback:

1. I have used my MP610 for only one month, but am extremely pleased. I didn’t time it, but the “Fast” mode is very fast and better than draft quality for documents. Color does suffer in “Fast” mode. I had banding in a solid black field and colors weren’t as true to original. But in ’standard’ mode I detected no obvious faults. The ‘High’ mode with photo paper has outstanding color and detail to my layman eyes. I’ve printed heavy card stock (45#) with no problem. I dearly love the Duplex feature. I had paper feed problems with my previous HP printer, but this internal Duplex mechanism is much more than I expected at this price. The description and pictures of the product did not addequately show the paper feed options. There is a straight through feed from a raised paper holder in the rear requiring a height clearence of more than 7 inches over the height of the printer. The feed tray also leans slightly back requiring about 4 more inches clearance behind the machine. Also to my surprise there is a paper feed cassette in the bottom of the printer. It pulls out forward to load and then is reinserted. It can hold multiple sized paper, and presents a ‘U’ shaped feed path.

2. This was purchased as a replacement for a worn out all-in-one printer from a different manufacturer. It is used primarily as a text and graphics printer and photocopier. The quality of printed materials, in both black and in color, is excellent. Copy quality is also excellent. The Canon uses five ink cartridges — CYMK for color work, a separate black for black-only work. I’ve been in the computer industry for fifty years and have owned and used many different printers. I highly recommend this printer.

Broaden your perspective with the Canon EF 16-35mm ultra-wide-angle zoom lens. Specifically designed for improved edge-to-edge image quality that meets the strict requirements of professional and high-end amateur photographers alike, the lens lets you bring more area into focus while providing greater depth of field. The lens features three high-precision aspherical lens elements–ground, replica, and GMo–that produce even better image quality than the original Canon EF 16-35mm USM lens. The circular aperture, meanwhile, produces a beautiful and natural background blur when shooting at wider apertures. Other details include internal focusing, a ring-type ultra-sonic monitor (USM), and new AF algorithms for fast and quiet autofocusing. The lens carries a one-year warranty.

* Focal length: 16-35mm
* Maximum aperture: f/2.8
* Lens construction: 16 elements in 12 groups
* Diagonal angle of view: 108 degrees (at 10 feet) to 63 degrees
* Focus adjustment: AF with full-time manual
* Closest focusing distance: 0.92 feet
* Filter size: 82mm, P=0.75mm/1 filter
* Dimensions: 3.5 inches in diameter, 4.4 inches long
* Weight: 1.41 pounds

Technical Details

* 16-35mm ultra-wide-angle zoom lens with f/2.8 maximum aperture
* 3 high-precision aspherical lens elements produce superior image quality
* Circular aperture produces natural background blur at wider apertures
* Ring-type USM for fast and quiet autofocusing; internal focusing
* Measures 3.5 inches in diameter and 4.4 inches long

Customer feedback:

1. Fantastic lens from 16-24, perfectly OK from 24-35. This lens is one of the three zooms us full-frame shooters should always have in the bag: 16-35 f2.8 II, either the 24-70 or 24-105 IS, and a 70-200 or 70-300. 1.6X crop camera users are better served by the 10-22 EF-S.

2. I have owned both this and the original version. The new lens is better in the corners and flares less but the corners are still a little soft at f2.8 and you can get the lens to flare a little if you try. I haven’t seen the loss of clarity above 20mm that others reported. Perhaps you would see a slight difference in eyelashes if you did a lot of portraits but this is probably not the best choice for a portrait lens. It is a somewhat better lens for shooting landscapes and other shots where edge to edge clarity is important.
But the differences between the two versions are minor and in some instances irrelevant. If you don’t shoot a full frame camera the soft edges don’t appear in the photo. And flare is a minimal issue at most. It rarely appears and is easy to fix in Photoshop if it does. I would opt for the original if I didn’t shoot full frame based on the price difference alone.

Incorporating Canon’s second-generation Image Stabilization technology, this 70-200mm telephoto zoom responds in as little as 0.5 seconds while providing up to three stops of correction for camera shake. As a result, you can easily capture the far-off action of fast-paced sports or zoom in for an intimate portrait with a blurred background. The lens’s autofocus (AF) system, meanwhile, has been refined for better response time and tracking speed. And photographers will love the new eight-blade circular aperture, which offers a more pleasing out-of-focus image. Constructed to pro standards, the EF 70-200mm lens is highly dust- and moisture-resistant and carries a one-year warranty.

* Focal length: 70-200mm
* Maximum aperture: 1:2.8
* Lens construction: 23 elements in 18 groups
* Diagonal angle of view: 34 to 12 degrees
* Focus adjustment: Inner focusing system with USM
* Closest focusing distance: 4.3 feet
* Zoom system: Rotating type
* Filter size: 77mm
* Dimensions: 3.4 inches in diameter, 7.8 inches long
* Weight: 3.24 pounds

Customer feedback:

1. My copy of this lens is very sharp at all focal lengths. Color and contrast are excellent. I really don’t have a single complaint about this lens. Some people find the weight objectionable, but it hasn’t been an major issue for me. Unless you need to be physically running around to capture your images, or unless you have to hold the lens to your eye for lengthy periods (isn’t that what tripods are for?), I don’t see that it would be a problem for most average-sized, healthy adults. I often carry my 20D in a shoulder case with this lens, the 24-70mm L and a 580EX Speedlite. Hours of carrying this bag around does require transferring the load from shoulder to shoulder periodically, but it’s a price I’m willing to pay to get quality photos.

2. This is the best lens you can get in this zoom range for the Canon EOS. It’s not the cheapest and it’s not the lightest, but it’s the best. This lens is fast, it has excellent optics, the build quality is very solid and the image stabilization (IS) feature works wonders for hand held shooting. If you shoot hand held in marginal light, this is the lens for you. If you always use a tripod, you don’t really need IS — take a look at the less expensive non-IS version of this lens. If you always shoot in good light, the lighter and even less expensive 70-200mm f4.0 may do the job for you. But for me, the extra stop of light and the IS make the difference between unusable images and great images. This is an awesome lens.

Technical Details

* High-capacity Lithium Ion Battery Pack
* 3 cells, 11.1V, 2300 mAh
* Designed for exclusive use with the EOS-1D Mark III
* 40% less volume than NP-E3 and 46% lighter in weight
* Recharges in about 120 minutes

Having a good battery pack will help make sure that you have enough battery life for when you need additional battery power.

Customer feedback:

1. This battery lasted for over 1000 pictures, plus hours of lens micro-adjustments, mirror-locked cleaning, etc. This includes two shooting trips in sub-freezing weather. I just put a new battery in the camera, and I expect to get at least 2000 pictures off of that one.

2. I bought this battery as a backup for 1D Mark III camera. It turned out to be the longest lasting battery I have ever used. Put this in a camera and you never have to worry about it.

The new 21.1-megapixel, full-frame Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III digital SLR camera brings the power of Canon’s professional imaging excellence and innovation into sharper focus than ever before. While Canon’s EOS-1D series has dominated the 35mm-based professional Digital SLR market for the past six years, the new EOS-1Ds Mark III digital SLR takes Canon’s pro-digital prowess into and the realm of high-fashion and commercial photo studios where bulkier, medium-format cameras previously reigned.
The Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III’s compact, lighter-weight magnesium alloy body is rugged and versatile enough to take out of the studio and into the field. The camera’s fast, five-frame-per-second (fps) shooting rate for bursts of up to 56 Large/Fine (21-megapixel) JPEGS or 12 RAW images is unmatched in its class, making it the ideal instrument for capturing the fluid motion and free-flowing lines of location-based fashion photography as well as a wide range of other professional photographic applications.

Technical Details

* 21.1-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor
* Large 3.0-inch LCD display with Live View and seven brightness settings
* 5 fps at shutter speeds 1/500 second or faster (for bursts of up to 45 Large/Fine JPEGs or 15 RAW images)
* sRAW mode; 35-zone metering system; 45-point AF; integrated Self-Cleaning Sensor Unit
* Powered by LP-E4 lithium-ion battery pack; stores images on CF, SD, or some SDHC memory cards

Customer feedback:

1. 1st. The feel, just like the 1D M3, this beast is solid. Not too heavy, but solid in the hand. And here in Alaska, I do put the weather sealing to a test, and just like my trusty 1D M3, the 1Ds passes with flying colors.
2nd. Yes its 21.1 MP, but that should not be your main consideration to buy it. Yah 18×12 @ 300Dpi out of the Camera is nice, but nost people dont print over 16×20, and I have sold a lot of prints from my old 20D at that size or even upto 20×30, as long as you shoot it right in the first place. But this is also a drawback as well. Because of the large file size, esp in Raw, and most, if not all, buyers of this body will/should be shooting in raw, be aware that you will need larger CF cards for it. At least 8gig, I use 12Gig for mine, extreme 3’s and they work great! Also be aware if you use the internal high iso noise processing, it slows down the buffering a lot!!!
3rd. Full Frame, just like the earlier 1Ds models its a ful frame sensor. That means 2 things, not only does a 17mm or 14mm lens again be a true wide angle lens, but also with the larger sensor the pixels are more refined and this gives better color and less grain.
4th. The colors of the images in the files. WOW Again the 14bit processors are great!!! Esp for raw, where you can import it in as 16bit for the finer details. One draw back is if you use Photoshop, you will need CS3 to do the raw Conversions, unless you use the Canon program.

2. I’ve had the 1Ds Mark III for over a month now and have shot in churches, outdoors and in the studio. It excels in every environment. The first thing you’ll notice is the immensely big, bright viewfinder. It barely feels like looking through something! The LCD display is very good as well. Build is very solid. I’ve used it with the Canon 85mm 1.2 II L and the Canon 70-200mm 2.8 IS L. Both deliver outstanding results and are hand-holdable. The new automatic dust-removal system is very good, leaving only a couple of spots against the blue sky when shot at small apertures, when there used to be countless on the 5D. Image quality is fantastic, and the images are huge, making cropping while retaining a big image easy. The menu system is very easy to operate, custom functions offer a plethora of options. Shutter sound is wonderful, and at 5fps very fast for 21MP. It’s expensive for sure, but definitely worth it.

Building on the success of Canon’s perennially popular “prosumer” EOS 20D and 30D models, the EOS 40D advances the state-of-the-art for mid-range digital SLR cameras, making it a natural first choice for advanced amateur photographers and entry-level professionals, and an ideal second body for more established photo pros. Indeed, given the level of feature upgrades and improvements, technological wizardry, and user-requested creative controls, the Canon EOS 40D SLR’s “prosumer” appellation may refer more to its accessible price point than to the exceptional quality, clarity, and resolution of the images it creates.
From the camera’s newly enhanced, 10.1-megapixel CMOS imaging sensor (designed and manufactured by Canon) and its proprietary and super-efficient DIGIC III image processor, to its completely redesigned autofocus sensor and fast, 6.5 frame-per-second (fps) continuous shooting capability (for bursts of up to 75 Large/Fine JPEGs or 17 RAW images), the EOS 40D SLR puts the fun in functionality and makes serious photo business a positive pleasure.

Technical Details

* 10.1-megapixel CMOS sensor captures enough detail for photo-quality poster-size prints
* Large 3.0-inch LCD display with enhanced Live View and broadened color gamut
* 6.5 frame-per-second continuous shooting capability (for bursts of up to 75 Large/Fine JPEGs or 17 RAW images)
* sRAW mode; 35-zone metering system; integrated Self-Cleaning Sensor Unit
* Powered by BP-511A, BP-511, or BP-512 lithium-ion battery pack; stores images on CF cards

Customer feedback:

1. While the AF improvements usually get second billing, this may actually be the biggest benefit to sports photographers (although the boost to 6.5 fps is welcome). The 30D only used a cross-basis system at the center point, where the 40D uses this system at all nine positions. This should greatly improve the off center speed and accuracy. Additionally, the center point (the most often used) has been boosted in performance. The viewfinder has been increased in magnification, which should be welcomed to all. But people who must use eyeglasses should be amazed at the viewfinder being both larger and better eye relief (meaning they will be able to see the viewfinder better, even though their eyeglasses push their eye further back).
Durability has been improved (including extending the internal metal chassis inside the grip) making a good design even better. The sensor cleaning filter is also welcome.

2. The camera feels so much more solid than my 20D. The little motor that pops up the flash sounds really solid compared to the old 20D. Even the shutter sounds terrific. Very quick and quiet. The old 10D had a nice shutter sound as well. the 20D always sounded like thrashing metal to me. To contrast, the Nikon DSLRs have a slow sounding swish to them… this one is tight and quick. The camera feels about the same in my hand. Although the lines are smoothed out a bit compared to the 20D.