Melville, NY—Canon’s EOS 80D digital SLR camera features a new 45-point, all-cross-type autofocus system and a 24.2 megapixel CMOS sensor. For videographers, the camera incorporates Dual Pixel CMOS Autofocus (DAF) technology coupled with a touch-screen capability for easier focusing when shooting video.
Canon also introduced the EF-S 18–135mm f/3.5–5.6 IS USM lens, which is optimized for high-speed autofocusing when shooting stills and quiet, smooth zoom when recording video. The lens is compatible with Canon’s new Power Zoom adapter for smooth cinematic “pulls” when changing focal length on a subject.
Other updated 80D features include: an intelligent viewfinder with approximately 100% coverage; a 24.2MP APS-C CMOS sensor; a Digic 6 image processor; an ISO range of 100–16,000 (video ISO range, 100–12,800) expandable to 25,600; a vari-angle, touch, 3-inch Clear View LCD II monitor; and built-in Wi-Fi and NFC (Near Field Communication) capability for transfer of images and movies to compatible mobile devices.
The DSLR can record 1080/60p Full HD video in the MP4 format for sharing on select social networking sites. For expanded creativity it has HDR movie and time-lapse movie modes as well as movie creative filters, like fantasy, old movie, memory, dramatic monochrome and miniature. Movie Servo AF custom settings let users speed up or slow down focusing speeds. The 80D also has a built-in headphone jack, a built-in stereo microphone with manual audio level adjustment, and an additional stereo microphone jack.
“In today’s world, where everyone is a photographer or videographer, we at Canon are looking to provide the tools and features that help creative-minded people stand out from the pack and get noticed. The right technology cannot make someone creative, but it will help bring a creative vision to life,” said Yuichi Ishizuka, president and COO, Canon USA, Inc. “The right combination of camera and lens helps those with a vision stand out and be recognized. We look forward to seeing what this new generation of passionate artists will create with these new tools.”
The 45-point all-cross-type viewfinder AF system, compared to 19-points in the EOS 70D, is wider horizontally and vertically for easier compositions with off-center subjects. Low-light AF performance was improved down to EV -3 at the center point for extreme low-light situations. The camera’s AI Servo AF II autofocusing system utilizes color tracking with a 7,560-pixel RGB+IR metering sensor that automatically detects skin tone and colors to enhance tracking sensitivity, even with moving subjects.
Dual Pixel CMOS AF employs a new Canon sensor where all the effective pixels are able to perform still imaging and phase-detection AF simultaneously. This improves AF performance during live view and video shooting. The technology provides enhanced tracking sensitivity and is compatible with the full line of Canon EF lenses.
High-speed continuous shooting at 7 frames per second (fps) combines with the AF system to allow photographers to capture fast moving subjects. And, the camera’s scene intelligent auto mode is designed to deliver optimized photos and offer outstanding scene detection, even in low light. HDR mode provides creative filter effects, such as natural, art standard, art bold, art vivid and art embossed. And the EOS 80D features anti-flicker shooting that produces consistent results when shooting in areas with fluorescent lighting or other flickering light sources.
News Lens, Power Zoom Adapter and Directional Stereo Microphone Enhance Video
The company also announced the Canon EF-S 18–135mm f/3.5–5.6 IS USM lens that will serve as the kit lens for the EOS 80D. This the first Canon lens equipped with Nano USM, a new type of focusing motor that combines the benefits of a ring USM (ultrasonic motor) for high-speed AF during still photo shooting and lead-screw type STM (stepping motor) for smooth, and quiet movie AF. It also offers improved AF speeds up to 4.3x (tele) and 2.5x (wide) faster than the previous model. The lens provides up to four stops of optical image stabilization. A new lens hood, the EW-73D, is included with the lens.
Canon also introduced the Power Zoom adapter PZ-E1, specifically constructed to be compatible with the design of the Canon EF-S 18–135mm f/3.5–5.6 IS USM lens. It is the first detachable zoom adapter engineered for silent, smooth zoom and can be adjusted incrementally to 10 levels of zoom speed. The PZ-E1 can be controlled remotely using the Canon Camera Connect app.
Other new EOS accessories include a Canon-branded external microphone—the Canon directional stereo microphone DM-E1. The accessory microphone helps improve sound quality while shooting video. It allows users to rotate the direction of the microphone up and down from 90º to 120º, depending on the shooting situation. The DM-E1’s shock-mount construction helps reduce camera operation noise and lens drive sounds and is built to withstand the rigors of various shooting situations. It has a frequency response range of 50Hz to 16kHz, comes with a wind screen to help limit peripheral sound from wind and other outside factors, and uses a built-in power supply from a single “button-type” lithium cell battery. Its power indicator lamp permits users to check its battery level.
Both the PZ-E1 adapter and the DM-E1 mic are scheduled to be available in June 2016, for SRPs of $149.99 and $249.99, respectively.
The Canon EOS 80D DSLR has an SRP of $1,199 body only or $1,799 with the EF-S 18–135mm f/3.5–5.6 IS USM lens. The lens alone retails for $599.99. usa.canon.com
