New Canon Super-Telephoto Lens Available For Pre-Orders

New Canon Super-Telephoto Lens

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Sports and wildlife photographers will have mixed feelings with the upcoming release of a new Canon super-telephoto lens from Canon that has an integrated 1.4x telephoto extender.

Photographers will likely shout for joy once the upcoming 200-400 mm lens enters the market. That is, until they see the price tag. The new super-telephoto lens will set back photographers by $11,799.

The integrated extender of the lens can be activated through a simple flip of a lever, which makes the lens easier to use. It is also designed for the optics of the lens since it is already integrated into the new Canon super-telephoto lens itself. This is not quite true for ordinary extenders that are attached into a camera.

Despite the prohibitive price, it appears that the demand for the new Canon super-telephoto lens is high. The pre-order page of Amazon revealed that the supply of the product is limited. The online retail company is expecting that it may not be able to comply with all of the orders of their clients in the initial allocation of the product.

The lens was initially announced over two years ago, and Canon wanted to release it last year.

The lens weighs around 8.3 pounds and is 14.4 inches long, without the lens hood.

It has twenty-five lens elements, which include some composed of fluorite as well as ultra-low dispersion glass. When the extender is engaged, it will increase the lens elements to thirty-three. Glare and reflection are also reduced due to the SubWavelength Structure Coating and the Super Spectra Coating technology of Canon.

The product is also weather-sealed and features an image stabilization feature that allows photographers to shoot four stops slower compared to their typical shooting situations. For stationary subjects, photographers can shoot at 1/60 sec instead of 1/1000 sec without any camera shake. However, it should be noted that the shake reduction statement is an optimistic view of the manufacturer of the new Canon super-telephoto lens.

Canon Firmware Update Available For Canon 5D Mark III

Canon EOS 5D Mark III

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Canon lovers have a reason to rejoice since the most important Canon firmware update was released for the Canon EOS 5D Mark III.

The version 1.2.1 firmware for the camera was initially announced by the camera manufacturer last October and it will give users the capability of producing a clean HDMI feed. However the firmware resulted to extra information being produced together with the Live View image when the HDMI out is used. Footages produced through this method will not be usable.

The latest Canon firmware update gives users the capability of recording uncompressed video into an external recorder. They can also display the video into an external monitor while recording. This means the Canon EOS 5D Mark III will be in the same level as the Nikon D4 and D800 when it comes to producing clean HDMI feeds.

The AF system will also be enhanced by the latest Canon firmware update making it possible for the center point to be used at f/8. This will be great news for wildlife and sports photography enthusiasts who require optimum performance while using their telephoto lenses. Previously, the Mark III can only use the center point at a maximum aperture of f/5.6.

The update will also make it possible for the EF 600 f/4 lens to be used by photographers with a 2X extender, increasing its effective focal length to 1200 mm without affecting the auto-focus performance.

The latest Canon firmware update is already available through the website of the camera manufacturer.

Price of Canon PowerShot SX150 IS Compact Megazoom Camera Reduced

Canon PowerShot SX150 IS

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The Canon PowerShot SX150 is considered to be a good compact megazoom camera for newcomers to photography.

This compact megazoom will allow them to learn more about controlling the aperture and shutter speed of a camera before they purchase a DSLR. The appeal of the Canon PowerShot SX150 has increased recently due to the reduction in its price tag at Target.

The price of the compact megazoom camera from Canon has reportedly gone down to around $100, which has made it a cheap option for newcomers to photography. The Canon PowerShot SX150 is a 14MP camera that offers a 12X 28mm to 336mm optical lens with an aperture value of f3.4 – f5.6 and image stabilization. This compact megazoom camera also features a three-inch LCD and a number of shooting modes from full manual up to full auto.

Since the Canon PowerShot SX150 IS uses AA batteries, it is ideal for travelers who will not have a hard time finding replacements for the batteries in case they run out of juice.

Although the performance of the Canon PowerShot SX150 may be slow, it may not matter for newcomers who are still trying to get a hang of changing the settings of this compact megazoom camera. For users who are looking for a faster performance, they can try using the Canon PowerShot SX160 IS, which is the successor to this particular compact megazoom camera.

The Canon PowerShot SX160 IS offers a better performance in terms of autofocus that enhances the speed while shooting. The lens of this compact megazoom camera is also longer compared to the Canon PowerShot SX150 IS at 28mm to 448mm.

Similar to the Canon PowerShot SX150 IS, the price of this compact megazoom camera has also been reduced in a number of retailers although it has been in the market for less than a year.

Canon EOS M Camera Unveiled Recently

Canon EOS M

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The Canon EOS M was unveiled recently by the company as it initial mirror-less system camera offering. The latest product will compete with the Nikon 1 V1 and 1 J1, the Micro Four Thirds camera line of Panasonic and Olympus as well as the NEX line of products of Sony.

The upcoming Canon EOS M is reportedly compatible with the EF-M lenses while the EF as well as the EF-S lenses can also be made compatible with the camera by using optional adapter.. The Canon EOS M will feature an 18MP APS C sensor together with the latest Canon DIgic 5 processor. Although the features of the latest camera offering of Canon are similar to the EOS 650D, it is lighter and smaller since it does not come with a moving mirror for the viewfinder.

The ISO sensitivity of the sensor on the Canon EOS M is capable of reaching 12,800, which can be expanded to ISO 25,600. The camera also features a three-inch touch screen display, which would minimize the need for dials and buttons on the frame.

The Canon EOS M is also capable of recording 1080p HD videos at speeds ranging from 24 fps to 30 fps. Continuous focusing will also be possible while recording due to the Movie Servo Autofocus feature of the upcoming camera.

Although the Canon EOS M is a late entry into the first mirror-less camera segment, it offers a mount adapter that will allow classic Canon lenses to be used on the camera. This capability offered by the Canon EOS M will make it quite appealing for photography enthusiasts who have already invested a good amount for their Canon lenses.

A pair of EF-M lenses is also going to be offered by the company for the Canon EOS M with the 22mm f/2 lens being offered together with the camera itself. Photography enthusiasts may also opt for the 18-rrmm f/3.5 to 5.6 lens when they purchase the latest camera offering of Canon.

The Canon EOS M camera is expected to become available in the market by October.

Mid-June Release for Canon EOS-1DX

Canon EOS-1DX

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It appears that the Canon EOS-1DX will be released into the market in the coming week. The upcoming release of the much-awaited powerhouse camera of Canon comes following months of waiting by photography enthusiasts.

Last February camera manufacturer had revealed that the upcoming Canon EOS-1DX will be released by the later part of April at a price tag of around $6,799. However it has yet to reach the shelves of major retailers, which gives indications that Canon may have miscalculated its schedule of release into the market.

However the wait for the upcoming Canon EOS-1DX may come to an end as Canon has reportedly announced recently that the upcoming DSLR will be officially released into the market by June 20. But it may not automatically mean that potential buyers of the Canon EOS-1DX will be able to get their hands on the upcoming Canon DSLR.

According to a US representative of Canon, the upcoming Canon EOS-1DX will be available in limited numbers through selected dealers by the middle of June. The inventory of the upcoming DSLR will reportedly be increased gradually although it will be arriving just in time for the London Olympics 2012.

The latest release schedule for the Canon EOS-1DX also comes as a number of accessories of the latest Canon DSLR will become available in the market. Among the accessories that will be introduced include the battery pack, battery charger, wireless file transmitter, wide strap, and focusing screen. The GPS receiver will reportedly be launched by Canon sometime in July.

The upcoming release of the Canon EOS-1DX will be good news for photography enthusiasts who have been waiting for a number of months to get their hands on the latest DSLR offering of Canon. 

Canon reportedly also released the official autofocus setting guidebook for the Canon EOS-1DX in PDF recently.

Flaw May Result To Canon EOS 5D Mark III Recall

Canon EOS 5D Mark III

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A product advisory was released recently by Canon for the Canon EOS 5D Mark III that confirmed that the recently released DSLR may have a manufacturing flaw.

Recently a number of reports on the possible flaw on the Canon EOS 5D Mark III have emerged on the net. Following these reports, a product advisory was issued by Canon for the DSLR as it conceded to the possibility that the device may have a problem.

According to Canon, the displayed exposure value on the Canon EOS 5D Mark III may change due to the detection of light by the AE sensor. The light reportedly comes from the LCD display panel of the DSLR and this happens when the Canon EOS 5D Mark III is used in exceptionally dark environments and the LCD display is lighted.

The company will work on solving this problem facing the Canon EOS 5D Mark III and once the solution is found, it will reportedly be posted on the website of the company.

It appears that the light form the LCD display is leaking through the top portion of the LCD panel and it goes into the AE sensor. Due to this the exposure values us affected. Videos were reportedly posted to show the problem affecting the Canon EOS 5D Mark III.

A user reportedly received a reply from Canon that confirmed the problem facing the Canon EOS 5D Mark III and it appears that a simple firmware update may not solve the problem that the recently-released DSLR from Canon. The defect found on the DSLR may be a connected to its physical build and it may be necessary for users to bring their products back in order to repair the defect.

Canon EOS-1D C Introduced by Canon For Cinematographers

Canon EOS-1D C

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The latest DSLR offering of Canon was unveiled recently and it is reportedly aimed to be promoted to professional cinematographers. Even though the Canon EOS-1D C looks similar to the Canon EOS-1D X, the features on this $15,000 DSLR will spell the difference between the two Canon DSLR offerings.

The Canon EOS-1D C features a full-frame 18MP image sensor that has the capability of recording 8bit 4K videos using the motion JPEG format that has a sampling rate of 4:2:2 at 24fps. The upcoming DSLR also has the capability of recording 1080p videos through a range of frames rates from 24fps up to 6-fps.

The focal length multiplication factor of 1.33x is due to the fact that the Canon EOS-1D C only uses part of the image sensor when it record 4K footage. However recording 1080p videos will require the entire 36mm image sensor width. The Canon EOS-1D C also imitates the cinematographic standard field of view through the Super 35 crop setting.

The Canon EOS-1D C can also use all the Canon EF and Canon EF cinema lenses that can be purchased or rented by the users. The dual Canon Digic 5+ image processors of eth DSLR also allows it to record stills of up to around 12fps while the JPEG shooting mode allows it to record at 14fps.

The maximum ISO setting for the Canon EOS-1D C is at 25600 for videos while capturing still images offers a maximum ISO setting of 51200. The Canon EOS-1D C was initially previewed last November when the Canon C300 was the inaugural camera of the Cinema EOS lineup.

Aside from the Canon EOS-1D C, the company also announced a pair of Canon EF Cinema Zoom lenses that is compatible to both PL and EF mounts. The CN-E30-105mm T2.8 L is considered a wide angle to short telephoto zoom lens while the CN-E 15.5-47mm T2.8 L is an ultra-wide angle to normal lens.

Canon 17mm-40mm F4 L USM Successor May Be On Its Way

Canon 17mm-40mm F4 L USM Lens

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The Canon 17mm-40mm F4 L USM lens is considered as among the more popular lenses of Canon. It is one of the best-selling lenses in the lineup of Canon and it appears that a successor may be in the offing.

A recently-discovered patent filing by Canon showed the supposed details of a replacement for this particular lens.

The new lens will reportedly come with a variable aperture range of F2.8 up to F4. The F2.8 aperture of the upcoming replacement to the Canon 17mm-40mm F4 L USM lens will facilitate the capture of sharper images under lowlight conditions. This is reportedly an enhancement from the Canon 17mm-40mm F4 L USM lens.

The moderate pricing coupled with its high quality has made the Canon 17mm-40mm F4 L USM lens among the most sought-after lenses of Canon. The F4 aperture of the lens along with its ultra-wide angle has also contributed to its popularity especially when photography enthusiasts use it on a full-frame digital camera.

The Canon 17mm-40mm F4 L USM lens is among the cheapest L lenses in the market. For the moment, no other details are available on the upcoming successor to this widely used Canon lens.

Which One is Better? The Canon EOS 5D Mark III or the Nikon D800?

Canon 5D Mark III

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Following the introduction of the Canon EOS 5D Mark III, industry watchers immediately made some comparisons between the Canon DSLR with the Nikon D800, which was announced earlier.

The two devices are upgrades of their respective full-frame DSLRs with the Canon EOS 5D Mark III an upgrade from the Canon EOS 5D Mark II while The Nikon D800 serves the replace the Nikon D700.

Among the first comparisons that observers will immediately see is the megapixel count. The Nikon D800 features a 36MP sensor compared to the 22MP sensor for the Canon EOS 5D Mark III. This has given the Nikon D800 a huge advantage over the Canon EOS 5D Mark III.

However for some industry watchers, the more notable distinction between the two devices is their lens mount. The main advantage of the Nikon D800 over the Canon EOS 5D Mark III is the fact that the autofocus of the Nikon device will continuously work while a video is being recorded. Users of the upcoming Canon device will have to click on a button each time they will want to re-focus while shooting a video.

Nikon D800

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But the Canon EOS 5D Mark III is faster in terms of continuous shooting as t offers a six frames-per-second continuous shooting rate compared to the four frames-per-second for the Nikon D800. The ISO setting for the Canon device reaches ISO 102400 on its expanded mode. The Nikon D800 is only limited to ISO 25600 while on an expanded mode.

Although the Canon EOS 5D Mark III and the Nikon D800 are full-frame cameras, the eyepoint of the Canon device is longer compared to the Nikon D800, which will facilitate shooting for users who wear glasses. The Nikon D800 has the advantage of featuring a USB 3.0 port which is faster compared to the USB 2.0 port that is found on the Canon EOS 5D Mark III.

However whichever camera a user will acquire will basically depend on personal preference. Some photography enthusiasts are lifetime Nikon users while others are die-hard Canon enthusiast. In the end both the Canon EOS 5D Mark III and the Nikon D800 will offer a number of features that are definite upgrades compared to the devices they are replacing.

Canon 5D Mark III Unveiled

Canon 5D Mark III

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The upcoming Canon 5D Mark III was launched recently and it reportedly offers a number of enhancements from the Canon 5D Mark II. Among the enhancements on the latest DSLR offering of Canon include the 22.3MP sensor, faster continuous shooting, enhanced viewfinder and a better video capability.

The Canon 5D Mark III is set to enter the market in the coming weeks and has a price tag of around $3,500.

For a number of photography enthusiasts who have money to burn, this may be the next thing to include on their to-buy list but for others who may be feeling the pinch of the economy, the Canon 5D Mark III may be another entry into their wish lists that may or may not be ticked off.

Obviously with the offering of the Canon 5D Mark III, the Canon 5D Mark II will likely see a price drop once the latest hardware fills up store shelves of retail outlets around the world. This would likely result to a number of smileys for numerous DSLR buyers who are waiting to score a good buy in the DSLR market.

The upcoming Canon 5D Mark III reportedly also combines a number of features of previous models with some new features. The upcoming DSLR will feature the 61-point autofocus system of the Canon EOS 1D X as well as the capability of customizing the AF point settings. The Canon 5D Mark III will also come with the same metering system of the Canon EOS 7D but the latest system will allow object and face tracking along with improvements in autofocus performance for burst-shooting

The sensor on the upcoming Canon 5D Mark III will also feature an enhanced efficiency, improvements on noise reduction as well as faster read-out for data.

The Digic 5+ is also incorporated into the Canon 5D Mark III and will feature SDXC/CF memory card shots, which is useful for a number of users. The multiple-exposure mode that is found on the Canon EOS 1D X is also featured on this upcoming device offering from Canon.

The shutter mechanism on the Canon 5D Mark III was also enhanced although it may not be as good as that of the 1D X. The enhancements on the AF system along with the faster cards have been negated by the increased resolution of the device, which may not provide it much enhancements on the shooting speed.

The viewfinder on the Canon 5D Mark III has also been enhanced as it can cover the entire scene while the spot meter was also reduced to 1.5 percent of the entire frame. Users are also provided the option to use a grid overlay while an alert is also available in case the settings will have an effect on the image quality of the device.

The dust-and-weather seal on the Canon 5D Mark III was also enhanced with a better magnesium alloy chassis and better gaskets. Although it may not be enough for users who may find themselves in rather rugged situations, but it may provide sufficient protection for most users of the Canon 5D Mark III.

Despite these enhancements, the price tag of the Canon 5D Mark III may cause a number of gadget enthusiasts to think long and hard on whether or not they would purchase this upcoming DSLR once it enters the market. For the moment no official release date was announced by Canon but it is expected that a number of photography websites to come out with a number of speculations on when the Canon 5D Mark III will finally become available in the market.

For those who may not have the finances to acquire the Canon 5D Mark III, they may want to wait for the price of the Canon 5D Mark II to go down further once the latest DSLR offering of Canon enters the market.

Delivery of Canon EOS-1D X DSLR Postponed

Canon EOS-1D X DSLR

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It appears that photography junkies will have to wait a little bit longer if they are aiming to purchase the Canon EOS-1D X DSLR as a recent announcement from Canon revealed that it will postpone its release into the market.

The Canon EOS-1D X was originally unveiled last October and was supposed to become available by March. However it appears that the upcoming DSLR offering from Canon will be released in the later part of April. Since the announcement indicated that the postponement was for the Japan and the UK, it remains uncertain if the company will also postpone the release of the Canon EOS-1D X in the US market.

Even as Canon UK reportedly confirmed the postponement in the release of the Canon EOS-1D X with a press release. Canon Japan only placed a note on the page showing the DSLR indicating its availability in the later part of April.

The upcoming Canon EOS-1D X is the successor to the Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III and the Canon EOS-1Ds Mark IV.

Aside from confirming the postponement in the release of the Canon EOS-1D X, the press release from Canon UK also provided some features of the upcoming first-generation camera from Canon. The Canon EOS-1D X will reportedly offer impressive images through its enhanced speed, image quality and resolution aside from offering users the capability of recording Full HD videos.

The Canon EOS-1D X has a full-frame 18.1MP CMOS sensor which offers an ISO range of 100 to 51,200 that can be expanded to 204,800. This will facilitate low-light photography for users of the upcoming DSLR offering from Canon.

The Canon EOS-1D X also offers a wide-area auto-focus system that provides accuracy and advanced sensitive across the frame. Accurate exposure levels are facilitated by the 100k pixel RGB metering sensor of the Canon EOS-1D X which detects colors and faces.

The upcoming first generation DSLR offering of Canon also features dual DIGIC 5+ processors that are capable of handling increased image data processing while reducing noise on the image.

The upcoming Canon EOS-1D X also offers Full HD video recording through a dull-frame sensor. The frame rate, focusing, and exposure control is facilitated by the manual settings that are provided by this latest DSLR offering from Canon.

The Clear View II LCD screen on the Canon EOS-1D X DSLR also allows users to have full control on all facets of the shoot.

Does The Canon PowerShot G1X Offer Value For Money?

Canon PowerShot G1X 

The price tag of the Canon PowerShot G1X along with its bugger-than-usual sensor has allowed the device to distinguish itself from a number of competing digital cameras in the market.

For a number of photography enthusiasts, the Canon PowerShot G1X will be considered as an expensive rival to a number of interchangeable lens or fixed lens cameras in the market. Others will look at it as a reasonably-priced option to the X100 of Fujifilm.

However the limitations on its shooting performance and the lens have reduced the value that the price of the Canon PowerShot G1X has given despite its good image quality and design. The image quality of the camera is also impressive even though its advantage of lower priced intermediate-level digital cameras is not that much.

The impressive noise reduction and JPEG processing of the Canon PowerShot G1X has allowed it to have an advantage over its competition. These features allows the camera to offer exceptionally clean images even as ISO 400 while the images from this level up to ISO 3200 are also considered usable for a number of photography enthusiasts.

Even though the edge sharpness of the lens of the Canon PowerShot G1X is not quite impressive, its center sharpness is quite good. The exposure and the color offered by the camera is also considered sufficient enough.

Focusing and zooming for the lens while shooting is considerably quiet and is comparable to that of the fixed lens digital cameras. However the shot-to-shot speed of the Canon PowerShot G1X is rather slow which has contributed to its poor performance.

The slow power on and shooting of the Canon PowerShot G1X is supposedly due to the poor buffer management of the camera. This has resulted to the lag in focusing for another shot until the buffer is cleared. The continuous shooting speed of the camera is reportedly at 2fps while the shot-to-shot performance while using a flash is at around 2.8 seconds.

In the end, the Canon PowerShot G1X has the capability of taking excellent images although the lag on the lens has taken away the value for money that the device is supposed to provide.

Value for Money Digital Cameras in the Market

With the current economic crisis, consumers are trying to find the best value for their money whenever they purchase anything. This is especially true when it comes to purchasing digital cameras. Consumers want to purchase value for money digital cameras that offer excellent features but will not leave them with a hole in their pockets.

Canon PowerShot Elph510 HS

The Canon PowerShot Elph510 HS is an ultra-compact camera which offers a zoom lens for faraway shots. This value for money digital camera offers a 3.2-inch touchscreen, 28mm to 336mm zoom lens, and a 12MP CMOS sensor which offers better performance and enhanced lowlight images. Although these value for money digital cameras were priced at $350 when it was initially released, it is already available at less than $200 at some retail outlets.

Canon PowerShot SX40 HS

Another value for money digital camera from Canon is the Canon PowerShot SX40 HS. This high-end mega-zoom digital camera is sold at a price $50 less than its original price tag. Some industry watchers may have some other choices for this category of digital cameras but their prices have remained quite high. In comparison, this value for money digital camera from Canon is sold at around $380 and it features a 35x ultra-wide angle zoom lens, vari-angle LCD, impressive image quality and numerous shooting modes.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 with its interchangeable lens is another value for money digital camera that consumers may want to consider purchasing if they are shopping around for a new toy. This particular camera may be considered as a bridge camera or in a category between the point-and-shoot and DSLRs. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 was initially priced at around $600 when it was initially offered but has recently gone down to around $380. This value for money digital camera offers a 14mm to 42mm lens that is interchangeable and is considered to be the most reasonably-priced in this category.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 is another value for money digital camera which is basically a point-and-shoot unit that features a bigger imaging sensor and enhanced lens compared to other compact cameras. This value for money digital camera offers users manual control on the aperture and shutter speed. Its original price was around $500 when it first came out in 2010 but has gone down to around $360 even though it recently received an important firmware update which enhanced its image quality and autofocus performance.

These are just some value for money digital cameras that consumers may take into consideration when they decide to purchase a new digital camera. Although there may be newer cameras in the market that offer better features, they may be offered at prices that will easily discourage any photography enthusiast.

Latest Compact Super-zoom Camera - the SX30 IS

Guess what! Canon has recently released its latest compact super-zoom camera - the SX30 IS. This 24 mm ultra wide angle camera has an optical zoom of up to 35x or an equivalent of up to 840mm. Imagine taking an action-shot of the slam by your favorite hoops superstar . . .  from the other end of the court. Or capturing the save by your favorite football team's goalkeeper . . . from the other end of the pitch.The Canon SX30 IS is a fitting follow-up to the PowerShot SX20 IS. This latest high performance camera blends the advanced optics that Canon is known for with a myriad of imaging technologies, allowing even greenhorn photo enthusiasts to capture high quality images. Aside from the huge optical zoom and wide angle lens, the other features of this latest offering by Canon include:

• 14.1 megapixel sensor
• Digic 4 processor
• Optical Image Stabilizer (4.5 stop), USM, UCM
• 720p HD movie recording
• 2.7 inch LCD screen
• Zoom Framing Assist function

This is one point and shoot camera that really packs a punch. With this out in the market, Canon has now raised the ante in the compact camera market. The next question will be - when will the other digital camera companies come up with their own version of Canon's latest compact super-zoom camera?

Sources: engadget and Canon
Images taken from Canon